¡Viva México! Here’s where to find bands, buffets, margaritas and Cinco de Mayo fun
As the old saying goes, Texans love Cinco de Mayo for two reasons:
▪ The hero of the day is a Texan.
▪ It’s easier to pronounce than Diez y Seis de Septiembre.
The American celebration of Mexico’s victory over Napoleon actually didn’t go national until 1989. Back then, a beer company started a big promotion to sell more Corona.
In this 35th year, restaurants now use it to peddle more margaritas.
But every now and then, somebody actually mentions the heroism of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza of what is now Goliad, Texas. He led Mexico to victory over the French army May 5, 1862, 80 miles east of Mexico City in Puebla.
I have no idea what Zaragoza would think of Taco Cabana using the day to sell its Ghost Pepper Ground Beef Double Crunch Mexican Pizza.
But “¡Viva México!” Here are a few restaurants pouring or serving fun May 5:
▪ Taco Heads, a margarita mainstay serving one of the city’s best, is throwing its second annual block party at the Stockyards location, 2349 N. Main St.; 817-420-6299.
The party stars one of the best local bands, Latin Express, and Taco Heads’ menu of loaded nachos, quesadillas, eight different classic tacos and a wide choice of margaritas, including an obscenely large one.
Or celebrate at the Cultural District location, 1812 Montgonery St., 817-615-9899; tacoheads.com.
▪ Toro Toro Pan-Latin Restaurant, 200 Main St., nationally known chef Richard Sandoval’s wood-fired steakhouse, deserves applause for an unusual Cinco de Mayo promotion.
Toro Toro is actually promoting food along with the margaritas.
It’s inside the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth hotel, where — take note — valet parking is free.
Toro Toro is serving special chili-rubbed rib-eye tacos May 5 with green salsa, avocado and charred serrano, all on a cheese-crusted tortilla.
Toro Toro and local chef Jonathan Esparza offer upscale interior-Mexico steaks and dining. It’s open for lunch weekdays, all-you-can-eat brunch weekends and dinner nightly; 817-975-9895, torotorofortworth.com.
▪ Enchiladas Olé, 2418 Forest Park Blvd., is also throwing a party and concert.
Conjunto Baja de Oro, one of the best regional bands, will play a parking-lot concert along with music from xtremetejano.com. Fajita tacos will be available for $5..
Enchiladas Olé is a home for artisan enchilada sauces along with classic Tex-Mex. A new summer menu starts next week with new spinach and chipotle sauces, owner Mary Patino Vásquez said.
It’s open for lunch and dinner daily except Sunday; 817-984-1360, enchiladasole.com
A second location in North Richland Hills is also open for lunch and dinner daily except Sunday; 817-849-2455.
▪ Blue Mesa Grill, 612 Carroll St., known for its “blue margaritas,” will offer a $25 Cinco de Mayo dinner buffet.
The buffet will start at 4 p.m. and will feature street tacos, enchiladas, sides and desserts.
The margaritas are $5 at happy hour between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. It’s an easy, central location to start a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Blue Mesa, a Dallas-founded restaurant that has made Fort Worth its flagship, is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch Sunday; 817-332-6372, bluemesagrill.com.
▪ Blue Goose Cantina in Fort Worth, Grapevine and new in Grand Prairie, will have mariachis at every location and offer $5 margaritas.
The hibiscus margarita is a new classic.
Blue Goose is open for lunch or brunch and dinner daily at 1612 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, 817-386-5433; 2455 E. Grapevine Mills Circle, 817-251-3303, or the new location at 2536 Interstate 20 West, Grand Prairie, 469-909-2583, bluegoosecantina.com.
