Cinco de Mayo

Where to celebrate Cinco De Mayo 2018 at Dallas restaurants and bars

Margaritas are an essential Cinco de Mayo ingredient.

Photo courtesy of Taqueria La Ventana

Officially, Cinco de Mayo marks the date of a victory in the Franco-Mexico War. Unofficially, it's an excuse to drink margaritas.

The date isn't anywhere near the big deal in Mexico it is at various cities across the U.S. But if it sparks some business at Dallas-area bars and restaurants, then that's not such a bad thing.

In 2018, May 5 is not only Cinco de Mayo but also the Kentucky Derby, so this list has hybrid events that morph from brunch to Derby contests on the very same day. Check out the list:

Cantina Laredo
Parking lot will transform to a party destination for guests of all ages to dine in and enjoy live music from 6-10 pm. Beer and margarita specials include $5 margaritas (Sunshine Margarita, 3 G's Please, and the Cabo Flip); $4 for Mexican imported beer; and $3 for domestic beers.

Cedars Social
Day long celebration will feature taco specials made with chef Anastacia Quinones' infused masa tortillas, and special cocktails from bartender Leann Berry, including serving $5 Monte Albán frozen and rocks, and a special hibiscus and elderflower cocktail featuring Ambhar tequila called La Batalla. 11 am-11 pm. 214-928-7700.

El Bolero
Day-long celebration includes $5 house margaritas, a mechanical bull from 5-11 pm, and live mariachi music from 7:30-9:30 pm. 214-741-1986.

El Rincon
Downtown Carrollton restaurant throws its inaugural Cinco de Mayo block party. Festivities include a live DJ, outside bar, food, and drink specials, including $5 margaritas (rocks & frozen); $5 bloody Marias with chipotle-infused tequila; $3 El Jimador Blanco shots; $5 Dos Equis (16-ounce); and $4 Tecate Light (16 -ounce). Bounce house and games for kids. 12-9 pm.

Fearing's
Ritz-Carlton's finest will serve $7 happy hour cocktails and $10 appetizers, a first for a Fearing's weekend afternoon. The menu features two-bite lobster tacos, sloppy Dean sliders, and bacon-wrapped jalapeño quail. Beverage specials include Dean’s margarita, A Fish Called Wanda, the Scottish Cowboy, and Paul’s Select Red or White Wine. Festivities will take place both at the Rattlesnake Bar and outdoors on the Live Oak Patio. 11 am-9 pm.

Firenza Pizza
Special promotio will feature the Fiesta Pizza, a unique signature 10-inch pie with chipotle sauce, mozzarella, beef, black olives, jalapeños, red onions, cheddar, pico de gallo, and a creme drizzle. $5. May 4-6.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Steakhouse is partnering with Tequila Herradura ultra-premium agave tequila and Baccarat, the fine crystal manufacturer, to offer a $100 prime margarita from served in Baccarat's Diamant Highball, which guests will take home in Baccarat's iconic red box. The drink includes Tequila Herradura’s Selección Suprema, the world’s first extra-añejo tequila, aged for 49 months. This tequila was first introduced by Casa Herradura in 1995 and has garnered awards for its notes of rich vanilla and dried fruit. May 4-6.

Harlowe MXM
Deep Ellum restaurant-bar has a special cocktail, Dusk till Dawn, served during those hours. Conceived by veteran barman Alex Fletcher, it combines tequila, fresh watermelon, serrano peppers, lime juice, agave nectar, and tajin seasoning. $7.

Holy Grail Pub
Annual taco fest features house-made tacos served street-style along with jalapeno infused cocktails, Tapping Epic Brewing Company Los Locos, Oskar Blues Brewery Beerito, and Avery Brewing Company El Gose. Choose from honey bourbon chicken, blackened cod, habanero pork, carne asada, or citrus glazed shrimp. May 5-6.

José
Combination Cinco de Mayo party with the restaurant's one-year anniversary will feature tequila and mezcal tastings all day, from 11 am–7 pm including Don Julio, Cointreau, Casamigos, and Luna Azul. From 4 pm–5 pm, play Loteria and win prizes.

La Popular Tamale House
East Dallas spot will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with its fifth anniversary by servin all-you-can-eat tamales for $10, plus free margaritas, for dine-in only. 11 am-10 pm.

Lee Harvey's
First adult-only Cinco de Mayo piñata party will include a steak-and-chicken fajita plate for $11, along with four custom piñatas filled with scratch tickets, drink tickets, candy, and dollar coins. A raffle for restaurant gift cards, movie theater cards, Kroger certificates will be held after the last piñata; must be present to win.

Mexican Sugar Cocina y Cantina
Second annual Cinco de Mayo Block Party features live music by DJ UneeqMuzik and a mariachi band. Exploring food tents and pop-up bars with margaritas, steak tacos, and churros, starting at $4. The Keeper will serve tiki cocktails and seafood skewers starting at $7. 11 am-12 am.

Mi Dia From Scratch
Margarita specials will include a $5 Mi Dia Frozen Over, the house frozen margarita featuring Sauza Blue Silver, Triple Sec, lemon juice, and agave nectar; and a $5 Mi Dia Rita Rocks, the house rocks margarita. 11 am-10 pm.

Mutts Canine Cantina
Day-after Hair of the Dog Happy Hour will cure your hangover with $3 mimosas and $3.50 breakfast tacos. Pets welcome. May 6, 11 am-2 pm.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
Steakhouse debuts the Rita Rosé Olé, a wine-based cocktail made with Mexican wine and Mexican tequila: Casa Madero Rosé wine and Código 1530 Rosa Tequila. Available through May 10 for $15.

Pinstripes Fort Worth
Drink specials include $2 Neato Banditos, $2 Pacificos, and $3 Margarita Italianos, a refreshing cocktail made with Don Julio Silver, Koval Limoncello, Royal Rose Sour Mix, Frothee Splash, lime juice, Pom pomegranate juice, and lime wedge. Neato Bandito is the Mexican-style lager from Deep Ellum Brewing Company, and Pacifico Clara is a Mexican pilsner.

RJ Mexican Cuisine
West End restaurant will boast a special Mexican flag margarita for $12.50, with red, white, and green in three layers: frozen strawberries, tequila, pineapple juice, coconut cream, white rum, and Midori. "RJ Fiesta" includes chicken chile relleno with queso, two chicken enchiladas, rib eye taco, cheese quesadilla, red rice, and choice of beans, for $21.

Playground Bar Uptown
Live mariachi band, a raffle for a trip to Mexico, and $2 tacos, $4 Dos Equis, and $5 Sauza Margaritas until 10 pm.

The Rustic
Cinco de Derby begins with brunch from 10 am-2 pm, with a live mariachi band. At 2 pm, the Derby action begins with three Derby Best Dressed categories and one Cinco de Mayo/Derby combo category, judged by local celebrities.

Scout
Statler hotel will host a weekend-long celebration titled Cinco de Statler, with a rotation of live entertainment and notable DJ’s along with passed shots from Uno Por Favor tequila. Beverage director Kyle Hilla has three, off-menu margaritas at Scout: a simple margarita, passionfruit, and hibiscus, for $10.

Stampede 66
Special Cuatro De Mayo fiesta will be sponsored by Espolon Tequila and Paula's Texas Orange Liqueur. Festivities include free samples of Espolon, Paula's Texas Orange Liqueur, and two raffles (one for Espolon and one for Paula's). Margaritas will be $6 all day.

Taco Cabana
Tex-Mex food and drink specials at all TC restaurants include $3 margaritas, $4 frozen vodka raspberry lemonade, and one dozen flautas for $10. May 4-6.

Taqueria La Ventana
Block party at the downtown location will feature DJ xClusive, music by Tambarrazo de Arranque, street tacos for $2, margaritas, and beer. 4-11 p.m. Addison location will feature DJ Kurve, food, and drink specials. 4 pm-12 am.

Thirsty Lion
South of the Border menu will include guacamole and chips, queso dip, smoked chicken nachos, Southwest chicken salad, jalapeno pepperjack burger, carnitas or fish tacos, green chili chicken sandwich on ciabatta, and chicken enchilada stack. Drinks include passion fruit mojitos, sangria, and margaritas in flavors such as spicy grapefruit and blood orange. Kentucky Derby races will air on TV, with mint julep specials.

Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
West End eatery will celebrate Cinco de Mayo as well as Dallas' West End Fest, which falls on the same day, with half-off appetizers. A Tex-Mex margarita, served throughout the month of May, combines jalapeno-infused Y.O. Tequila Blanco, Cointreau, lime juice, and club soda, with a festive, tri-color ice cube, for $10.

This week in gluttony

Pork chops sizzle in 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

perrysteakhouse.com

The famous pork chop at Perry's Steakhouse & Grille.

Temperatures are still hot but the grand opening of a new Italian ice and frozen custard shop will help keep things cool this week. A pizza joint's 10th anniversary provides for pies at a price that's easy on the wallet, and there's also a steal of a deal on a legendary steakhouse pork chop come Thursday. Plan for a family-friendly brewery birthday party come Saturday.

Tuesday, August 25

Pie Tap 10th Anniversary
The Dallas pizza chain known for its multi-day fermented sourdough crust will celebrate 10 years in business with $10 pizzas at all seven DFW locations. Choose from options like hot pepperoni with jalapenos and hot honey; and mushroom with caramelized onion with fontina cheese and a farm egg. Guests will want to visit throughout the rest of August as well, as Pie Tap is also randomly picking up patron tabs as a “thank you” to the communities that have supported the brand over the past decade.

iichiko Shochu x Midnight Rambler
The subterranean speakeasy under The Joule will welcome guest bartender George Kailho of Tei-An for an educational happy hour celebrating 100 years of Japanese cocktail culture in conjunction with iichiko Shochu, a native spirit of Japan. A seminar for industry professionals starts at 4 pm followed by happy hour at 5 pm (open to the public, no reservation required) featuring three Japanese cocktails by Kailho: the Million Dollar, Bamboo, and Lemon Sour. The event will run until 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 26

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Grand Opening
The world’s largest Italian ice concept will celebrate the opening of its new shop in Carrollton (4213 N. Josey Lane) with sweet giveaways. The first 50 guests will receive a Rita’s gift bag with merch, and in select bags, a golden ticket good for a week’s worth of Italian ice or frozen custard. The Pennsylvania-based brand opened a North Richland Hills location in July, and locations in Farmers Branch and Flower Mound will follow later this year. The grand opening will take place at 12 noon.

Thursday, August 27

National Pork Chop Day at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Perry’s enormous pecan-wood roasted pork chop has anchored the steakhouse’s menu since its early beginnings in Houston. Now the restaurant will celebrate the signature dish (in conjunction with National Pork Chop Day) with a four-course dinner. Highlights from the prix-fixe menu include skewers of pork chop “bites,” white bean pork chili, Perry’s famous 18-ounce pork chop, and orange vanilla cream cheesecake. The dinner is $44 and is available after 4 pm by request. Perry’s has locations in Dallas, Frisco, and Grapevine.

A Lucky Pairing: Chef’s Dinner with Suerte Tequila at Ollie’s Azul House
Suerte means “luck” in Spanish, and Ollie’s Azul House in Rowlett will toast to buena suerte during this four-course tequila pairing dinner featuring four expressions of Suerte Tequila. The menu includes shrimp aguachile with blanco tequila, charred octopus with still strength tequila, duck breast with mole negro with reposado tequila, and olive oil cake with anejo tequila. The dinner is $55 and will run from 7-9 pm.

Saturday, August 29

Lakewood Brewing 14th Anniversary
The Garland brewery will mark 14 years with a day-long anniversary bash. The free-to-attend, family-friendly event will feature live music, local vendors, food from the Lakewood kitchen, and lots of craft beer, including a special American barley wine called Lion’s Share XIV brewed just for the occasion. Guests can also sample a selection of anniversary beers from years past. The agenda also includes beer poking, a centuries-old technique that uses a heated brewing poker to caramelize sugars in the beer. Don’t miss vendors T-Rex Pickles and Married to Sugar who’ll bring specialty creations made using Lakewood beers. The party will run from 12-7 pm.

Monday, August 31

Mixology Mondays at The Parlor
The speakeasy-inspired lounge inside Sheraton Dallas will launch Mixology Mondays, an opportunity to learn the art of cocktail-making with a different signature drink featured each week. Participants will get to shake up classics like the Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Sidecar, and Old Fashioned during the hour-long experience. Class is $30 (includes free parking) and begins at 5 pm.

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