You can sip a premium tequila drink at the bar, but it’s insane to not taste the food responsible for Mesa’s longevity (it’s been open since 1991) from celeb-status chef Bobby Flay. For a small sample, try the pumpkin tamale side ($7), or the $14 blue corn pancake with barbecued duck appetizer. The wine list is impressive, as are the tequila and margarita varieties, like the Mesa Fresca which has the freshness of grapefruit and a light quality Fresca soft drink fans know well. The motif is spicy, but aside from a sprinkling of Villagers the spot fills with weary shoppers and button-down-shirt dates. A mezzanine and scattering of ta-bles and banquettes prevent an overwhelmingly crowded feel, while high ceilings, starry silver lighting fixtures, and gigantic fans overhead create the feeling of circulation. Grand clay-colored columns, cowboy print upholstery, and the bar’s red and yellow confetti-like flooring create a cheesy Southwestern look, lest visitors forget what they’re gorging on.
