Mercadito Cantina: Consider this taqueria Mercadito’s easygoing blonde (wood) little sister, where DIY tacos and inventive cocktails go hand-in-hand. In addition to a house menu serving pairs of tacos for $6.50 to $8.50 (standouts include the Negra Modelo-battered shrimp), there is a make-your-own option featuring jumbo shrimp, grass-fed skirt steak, organic chicken, and pork belly sold by weight, starting at $8.50 for a half-pounder. Choose from beer, wine, and cocktails by Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci (aka the Tippling Brothers) to wash down the spicy handheld goodness. Here, the beverage consultants are debuting a new spirit they call "Tric-quila," made from sake and agave that tastes like tequila. Try the Paper Daisy ($9) for a variation on the traditional margarita, or the Papa Low ($10), a zesty blend of passion fruit, papalo (Mexican herb), and jalapeno, with a salt and pepper rim. |
