Cinco De Mayo may be upon us, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hide out indoors while waiting out the parade of rowdy college kids ripped on their first taste of tequila that will likely wend its way through many of the city’s Mexican joints. If you’re looking for a spirited celebration sans the tequila-shooter riff raff, consider what Xochitl has going on. Chef Lucio Palazzo is dishing up a Mexican street food-inspired menu, with all the dishes coming in at less than $10. Some of the tasty goodies include Tostadas de Tinga with chipotle-braised chicken with crema, avocado and queso, Esquites, sweet corn with mayonnaise, chile and lime and Alhambres, pork belly skewers with salsa verde and pineapple. Plus the bar’s serving Margaritas, made with juiced-to-order limes, for only $6.
Matyson: For a more sophisticated affair, Matyson comes through with a Cinco de Mayo-inspired tasting menu. The $45 five-course prix fixe features ahi tuna ceviche, with avocado, radish, mango and tequila, a rock shrimp tamale with huitlacoche, ramps, wild mushrooms and truffle oil, and Tostadas al Pastor with
pineapple glazed pork shoulder, pickled jalapeno and salsa verde and more.
Distrito: Iron Chef Garces is getting it on with two separate ways to celebrate. With a DJ, $5 Margaritas and special small plates priced between $5 and $7, things kick off downstairs at Distrito’s cantina at 3 p.m. Later, starting at 8 p.m. Distrito will serve a tequila tasting dinner in its upstairs private dining room, featuring 10 different tequilas and passed dishes, like Atun Ceviche, yellowfin tuna, serrano-coconut sauce, lime sorbet, tomatillo and tostadita, Los Hongos Huaraches with forest mushrooms, huitlacoche sauce, queso mixto, black truffle, and corn shoots, and Duck barbacoa quesadillas.
Lolita: Marcie Turney and Valarie Safran’s Mexican BYOB is offering a three-course prix fixe dinner for $38. It includes tequila-cured salmon tostadas, chile braised short ribs, grilled pork adobado, a Yucatan style chicken breast, and much more. Plus they’ll have fresh made mixers and margarita fixin’s. All you need to do is bring your own tequila.
Cantina Los Caballitos and Cantina Dos Segundos: If you’re looking for a livelier and less stuffy place to guzzle tequila and stuff your face, Cantina Los Caballitos and Cantina Dos Segundos are both perfect choices. And both will be offering specially priced Margaritas, sangria and Modelo Especial tallboys and all-day snack specials priced at $5.55 from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Cantina Feliz: Jose Garces protégé Tim Spinner will celebrate his first Cinco de Mayo at his own restaurant with 50 different types of tequilas (offered individually and as part of eight flights), three styles of Margaritas and a whole, roasted in-house pig.
