If life gives you limes…make Margaritas.
This is a drink that embodies the essence of joviality, the patron saint of fun and the joy of life at its absolute best – this is the Margarita!
If any cocktail deserves to have a National Day in its honour, it is this tequila concoction that has us all in raptures; get ready to celebrate all things Margarita on Thursday, February 22 at these five venues:
Bad-ass Tacos & Tequila
Inspired by the thriving restaurant scene in Mexico City’s cool neighbourhoods of Roma and Condesa, find high-end restaurant and Mezcal bar, Sonora on Bayswater Road in Potts Point. Step off the street to discover a fun and funky vibe of authentic accents, banquette and table seating, ideal for lingering over a tequila with amigos from a menu showcasing tacos chingones – literally bad-ass tacos.
Stop in on Thursday – the Valentine’s Day for singles – and sip spicy and classic Margaritas for just $15 each, along with $7 tacos and $6 oysters; think tempters such as pork mojo tacos with sauerkraut and quatro epices, or spicy octopus, pickled wakame, smoked eel and salsa macha.
Feel Like You Are in Baja
Those seeking Tex-Mex fare with flair on the Gold Coast head to Panchos on Gold Coast Springbrook Road in Mudgeeraba. There are sombreros and bright murals on the walls, along with well-worn brick, a fireplace and an alfresco area which feels like you are in Baja with cacti, wagon wheels and wine barrels.
Grab your amigos and a chilli Margarita this Thursday to go with a starter of grilled corn, chipotle mayo, queso fresco and tajin; before wrapping your mouth around slow-cooked brisket tacos, with caramelised onion, rocket and burnt tomato salsa, or a pulled pork burrito with rice, beans, caramelised pineapple, cheese and sour cream.
Traditional Recipes and Fresh Ingredients
Glenunga amigos say hola to Mexican fare with flair at Cha Chi’s Mexican Cantina on Portrush Road. Step into a vibe of aqua and orange-coloured walls and accents, where sombreros, a rustic water feature and potted greenery add a zen-like touch and chandelier lighting sets the mood for inspired dining.
Every flavourful dish on the menu has been created using traditional recipes and fresh ingredients, from fall-off-the-bone ribs to yummy sides and authentic desserts; team a mango Margarita with house specialties such as slow-cooked sticky pork ribs, zesty smoky BBQ salsa, Mexican rice and crema red cabbage slaw.
Mexican with a Twist
Fresh, flavourful, festive and fun, find Mexican with a twist on the plate at The Prickly Pinata on The Esplanade in Cotton Tree. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, this Sunshine Coast dining destination boasts a funky vibe of colourful wall murals, recycled timber tables and Mexican accents, while the alfresco area beckons on balmy days for tequila and tacos with amigos.
There are plenty of Margaritas to choose from as you celebrate on Thursday from frozen concoctions to grilled pineapple and coconut, ideally accompanied by Mexican spiced fried calamari and chipotle aioli; or share Prickly’s ultimate taco platter with marinated chicken, brisket beef, pulled pork, baby spinach, salsa, guac and sour cream.
Bright & Breezy Taqueria
A laidback vibe and Mexican fare with flair have East Brisbane foodies returning time and again to La Bodega on the corner of Lytton Road and Latrobe Street. This bright and breezy terracotta-hued taqueria boasts bright yellow chairs at cosy tables, potted cacti and twinkling fairy lights setting the mood for tacos and Margaritas.
Join the crowd for starters like spicy chipotle chicken wings and house crema, before grilled rump steak tacos, with Mexican chimichurri, corn salsa, crumbled queso and fresh radish, washed down with a frozen mango Margarita; finish with chilli chocolate brownie and vanilla crema.
