Tag Archives: mexican

Zocalo Cocina Mexicana

Zocalo Cocian Mexicana is a fast and friendly neighborhood restaurant. They feature authentic and delicious Mexican food based on the culinary traditions of Oaxaca and Veracruz. They prepare each dish individually, using only the freshest available produce. Visit zocalobackbay.com for more information.

Modern Mexican food comes to the East Village at The Black Ant

Black Ant, a modern Mexican restaurant, is slated to open in the East Village next month at 60 Second Ave. between Third and Fourth avenues.

The 2,800-square-foot location will have four different dining areas — a small lounge that seats 15 with an additional 15 seats at the bar, two dining rooms seating a total of 60 plus an open garden that will seat 40.

Black Ant also will feature a private dining room with 25 seats.

Owners Jorge Guzman and Mario Hernandez, the general manager and executive chief, respectively, are in talks to launch a Mexican restaurant in the West Village called Bacanora, which is named after a plant that grows in Mexico’s Sonora province. The duo also own Ofrenda in the West Village.

Andale to Huahua’s Taqueria for Mexican grub

Authentic Mexican has come to Lincoln Road on South Beach by way of Chef Todd Erickson’s latest venture, a casual and pet-friendly eatery Huahua’s Taqueria set on the quieter side of the famous street. Chef Erickson knows his Mexican cuisine, hailing from Arizona and spending much of his childhood also traveling to New Mexico.

You’ll know you’ve found the place when you spot the adorable grey cartoon chihuaha with the blue Mexican hat, bright silver chairs and shelves brimming with hot sauces.

Those 21 hot sauce varieties are perfect on their tacos and enchiladas. But start first with the grilled Mexican sweet corn topped with cotija cheese and fresh cilantro or the chips with queso blanco, a mild and flavorful cheese sauce perfect for dipping. It’s a nice change from the traditional tomato-based salsa. Then move on to either the chili rubbed shrimp taco topped with jicama, lime, cilantro and spicy mayo or the pollo al pastor taco with chicken topped with charred pineapple, cilantro, onion and lime crema.

There’s a reason for the doggie on the signage too, because they’re welcomed here. With just limited seating indoors, tables and chairs are outside and all of them equipped with nearby silver bowls in four sizes to accommodate the tiniest to the largest pooch.

They’re at 1211 Lincoln Road. Call 305-534-TACO (8226) or click here to visit their website.

Eat your way around the “City Beautiful” during Coral Gables Restaurant Week

Getting a jump on the summer season, when mostly locals are in town, Coral Gables known as the “City Beautiful” is offering diners incredible deals at some of the area’s best known restaurants. Similar to the Miami Spice promotion in August, this one lasts only two weeks from June 4-17.

Caffe Abbracci

The Fifth Annual Coral Gables Restaurant (a misnomer since the promotion lasts two weeks) includes 20% off regular prices on a fixed three-course lunch and/or dinner menu. The list of restaurants is impressive and features some of the city’s finest, as well as some newcomers.

Italian restaurants like Anacapri on Ponce, the classic and institution of Italian cuisine in the Gables Caffe Abbracci, Caffe Vialetto and Randazzo’s Little Italy are participating as are Le Provencal, Cibo Wine Bar, Talavera Cocina Mexicana and John Martin’s Irish Pub.

Click here to view all participating restaurants and their menus.

Enjoy Tex-Mex favorites at the Blue Goose

The Blue Goose Cantina offers up Tex-Mex favorites at five locations across the metroplex. The menu boasts all the favorites: enchiladas, fajitas, tamales, and of course a big ‘ol bowl of chile con queso. They also have rotating weekly specials, including specials during hatch chile season. The Blue Goose additionally offers a weekend brunch menu, complete with a Bloody Mary bar and is one of the few places in town that offers Machacado con heuvos, a shredded dry beef in a scramble. It’s also not Tex-Mex without a darn good margarita, and their ritas are award winning. Try their classic house margarita or for something a little sweeter the mango and prickly pear margaritas do not disappoint.

Tex’s Tacos

Affectionately dubbed the ‘Antonio Banderas’ of food trucks, Tex’s Tacos is nothing short of suavé – a fully equipped kitchen & restaurant on wheels. Serving-up a delicious array of ‘Nueva Texicana’ eats with style and grace, we keep the good times rolling…literally. Spice up your day and embark on a friendly adventure to our taco trough. What’s there not to love about eating deliciously fresh tacos, quesadillas, & lime fries out of a truck!?!? See texstacos.com for more information and locations.

Mixteco Grill: a flair for gourmet Mexican

Rick Bayless long ago set a precedent for quality, gourmet Mexican food in Chicago. And with its top of the line ingredients and flair for the traditional mixed with modern, Mixteco Grill impresses. Proportions for both appetizers and entrees are sizeable too, so no one will go hungry, whether you try the delicious guacamole (with cucumbers) for starters or the spicy camarones glaseados for your meal. Don’t leave without getting dessert either; their traditional tres leches and flan are absolutely superb. What makes this place even better is not only the friendly wait staff but also that it’s BYOB every night of the week.

Feel At Home at 51st State Tavern

51st State Tavern is a cozy, homey place for a diverse crowd of local residents, working professionals, and college students. With an outdoor patio and two floors equipped with two antique wooden bars, classic Guinness posters, a jukebox that everyone fights over, a pool table, and six plasma TV screens, this is the right place to kick back, relax, and have fun. With a wide selection of beers on tap, make sure to gulp it down with some classic American and Mexican food from the menu. Visit 51ststatetavern.com for more information.

Shhhhh… Wanna know a little secret? On Mondays, 51st serves delicious 50 cent tacos and on Tuesdays, 20 cent wings, plus various other beer specials!

Distrito Serves Modern & Creative Mexican

Distrito serves modern Mexican food in a fun and quirky environment – Pepto-Bismol pink walls and VW bugs as booths to be exact. Located in University City among three of Philadelphia’s major universities, Distrito is always packed with the young and young at heart that are ready to have a good time. And Chef Jose Garces (of Top Chef and Philadelphia restaurant fame) is ready all the time for the taco-loving crowds: Distrito is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, lunch 5 days a week and dinner 7 nights a week.

The first floor bar and tequila lounge serves a fun cantina menu, full of all different types of tacos, enchiladas and especialidades, then when served alongside a house specialty margarita, you are good to go. For the heavier appetite or a night out with friends, it’s best to get a table and be prepared to share. All of the dishes are based on traditional Mexican ingredients but modernized – like the Fish Tacos with yellowtail, chipotle remoulade, avocado, red cabbage and lime juice, or the Skirt Steak Nachos with refried beans and queso mixto.

Tasting menus are also always available, with tequila pairings, which are not recommended for the faint of heart.

2. Viva Cinco in the Park! May 8-9

There’s no better place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Denver than at Cinco in the Park. With three large stages of live entertainment, 350 exhibitors and food venders, a children’s carnival, free samples and giveaways, and interactive sponsor exhibits, there is an endless amount of things to do to get into the Cinco de Mayo spirit.

The band Conjunto Atardecer will headline the entertainment, which ranges from festive mariachi to duranguense to ballet folklorico. There will also be a multitude of events this year, including a rock climbing wall, a home run derby park, a freestyle soccer competition, and a tricked out DJ car. To top it off, there will also be the Green Chili Bowl Cook Off, which features 10 of Denver’s best Mexican restaurants, a celebrity judging panel and a public voting process.

3. Party at Cinco De Mayo Festival May 1-2

Celebrating Mexico’s victory over French forces in Puebla, Mexico in 1862, this free festival takes place during one of Mexico’s most important holidays. The Cinco de Mayo festival is located along LA’s oldest street that was first settled by Mexican immigrants in the 1780s, and today attracts thousands to partake in traditional food, drinks, music, entertainment and art. There are plenty of twirling folklorico dancers, mariachi music and sizzling Mexican food to be found here. The vendors also offer a variety of authentic items and carnival rides and games. There are also community-service oriented booths and arts and crafts stations. This year, the headliner is still being kept a secret, but other groups that will be playing include Roncovacoco and La Santa Cecilia.

Bartenders are Friends at Jose Pistola’s

When considering Philadelphia bars, Jose Pistola’s gets the rare A++ for its bartenders. These guys will be your friend and laugh with you all evening all while still managing to be unintrusive in your own conversations. The exposed brick walls, industrial-chic feel and long curving bars are a welcome surprise to the plain view of the outside.

Philly residents know Pistola’s for its beer list, which is long, lovely and always changing. If you get a good conversation going with the bartender, they’ve been known to pull some unique brews from the back for curious customers. Highlights of the menu are the nachos, which can be split for a table and are covered in some serious queso fresco, and the melt in your mouth, take me to Mexico empanadas. Whether you’rd singing work woes away at happy hour or hitting margaritas and burritos late night, Jose Pistola’s will be a good time.