A new Mexican restaurant is open on the river in downtown Wilmington. Here's what to expect.

Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·3 min read
Tequila Comida & Cantina, also known as Tequila's Waterfront, at 14 Harnett St. at Pier 33 in downtown Wilmington, N.C.
Tequila Comida & Cantina, also known as Tequila's Waterfront, at 14 Harnett St. at Pier 33 in downtown Wilmington, N.C.

The newly opened Tequila Comida & Cantina in downtown Wilmington joins a sister restaurant at 5607 Carolina Beach Road in the Monkey Junction area. It’s the latest project from brothers Miguel and Ramón Villaseñor, who also own the Los Portales brand.

The new restaurant beside Marina Grill on Harnett Street will be familiar to fans of the original restaurant but there are a few things that set it apart. For this project, the brothers partnered with developer Chuck Schoninger. After opening Marina Grill at Pier 33 in 2018, Schoninger said was looking for the right fit for a neighboring restaurant.

“It’s a lesson I’ve learned,” he said. “Go with what you like.”

He’s a fan of the Villaseñors and their restaurants. The new Tequila Comida, also known as Tequila's Waterfront, officially opened on Jan. 17 and is now open serving lunch and dinner. Here’s a look at what to expect.

More: These restaurateurs are changing the Mexican dining scene in Wilmington

River Views

Tequila's Waterfront is a two-story restaurant, with a bar and dining area on the first floor. There’s also an additional L-shaped patio outside. A large mural and interesting Mexican art enhance the interior, but the space is dominated by the large glass panels that allow diners to look out over the Cape Fear River, the boats and the marina.

Schoninger said the restaurants, and the whole Pier 33 complex, have big things in store. Look for free concerts this summer. Some of them will offer guests the chance to buy VIP packages with seating at Tequila Comida. Plus, he’s working with the Villaseñors to schedule a few festivals throughout the year. That could include one for Cinco de Mayo and for Mexican Inpendence Day in September.

Miguel and Ramón Villaseñor in the upstairs tequila lounge at their new Tequila Comida & Cantina location on Harnett Street at Pier 33 in downtown Wilmington, N.C.
Miguel and Ramón Villaseñor in the upstairs tequila lounge at their new Tequila Comida & Cantina location on Harnett Street at Pier 33 in downtown Wilmington, N.C.

Tequila Lounge

The second floor of the new location is a lounge with comfy seating and a selection of high-end tequilas and mezcals. The dedicated bar will be staffed with bartenders who can guide those interested through the tasting experience, which could also include sangrita, a traditional chaser for tequilas. On Jan. 19, the lounge hosted a launch party for Chactun Tequila, made by the Wrightsville Beach-based Daytoon Distributors with mariachi music.

The lounge opens to the dining room and bar below. There’s also an additional seating area and bar on another outdoor patio, as well.

Modern Mexican

The menu is very similar to the original Tequila Comida. But Ramon Villaseñor said the focus is less on Tex-Mex and more on authentic fare. He said he wants to represent some of the different areas of Mexico and the innovative culinary scene happening there now.

The menu includes a selection of street tacos and ceviche, a shrimp tower, seafood entrees (like the Pescado a la Talla and a tuna dish with a chile ancho demi glace). Other options include quesa birra, with cheese and braised brisket, Villaseñor’s authentic Mole Poblano, and a 10-ounce ribeye with a creamy roasted pepper sauce.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Tequila Comida & Cantina opens at Pier 33 in Wilmington, NC