Rhode Island’s Best Margaritas
Thursday, July 18, 2013
This hot, humid weather has us in need of a cocktail, and what better summer cocktail than the margarita? A seemingly simple concoction, the margarita is one of our favorites. A refreshing mix of tequila, lime and--traditionally--orange flavored liquor--the margarita is an all time classic. Today, daring bartenders have raised the bar on what the margarita can be. We picked five of our favorites. Cheers!
Perro Salado, Newport
Our first foray into Perro Salado had us enjoying the cool name--it means"salty dog"--but the drinks and food keep us coming back. This is Mexican food and drink in the style of the day -- meaning fresh and seasonal. Top-notch meats, fish and produce, often culled locally, is transformed into tasty authentic dishes by Chef Dan, a master with a passion for what he does. The cocktails follow the same route to deliciousness. Front of the house maven Andi and her team have created a menu full of compelling concoctions, but the margaritas lead the pack, as they should at an authentic Mexican eatery. We love the blood orange version made with top shelf tequila and fresh juice -- talk about refreshing! And the cilantro jalapeño version will challenge your idea of what a cocktail is -- it's a tour de force that straddles the line between cocktail and vegetable. Traditionalist? The classic version is a perfect representation of the ideal. 49 Charles St. 619-4777, www.perrosalado.com
El Rancho Grande, Providence
As Perro is our favorite spot in the East Bay, El Rancho Grande is our favorite near the city. The flavors produced by the Mezza family are as authentic as you can get--just like Maria and Joaquin! This little spot just outside of Olnyville Square has become a "must-go" for local food lovers looking for delicious food and drinks. The Mezzas use family- and village-inspired recipes and techniques and the authenticity shines through. They feature an incredible selection of tequilas and mezcals to make your margarita shine. We tend to keep it simple with the house margarita with a salted rim. It is as well-balanced a drink as you'll find in the city. An adventurous member of our party really enjoyed the passion fruit version with Milagro barrel select tequila. It was a little sweet and very smooth. All in all, it's a top spot for Mexican food lovers. 311 Plainfield St. 275-0808, www.elranchogranderestaurant.com
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What if you want really good barbecue to go along with your margarita? We have a simple answer: head over to the Jewelry District and settle in at Rick's Roadhouse. The Chow Fun Food Group's ode to all things barbecue has also developed a reputation for delicious margaritas. Bonus -- they are also the biggest and cheapest we have found so far, but don't budge on quality ingredients. The Roadhouse is a perfect take on the classic and rings up for a cool $6.50. There are raspberry and jalapeno versions that are excellent too. But our favorite is the Gold Rush, made with Sauza Gold Tequila, Grand Marnier and citrus juices and coming in at $7.50. Alongside a rack of ribs or their enormous and piled-high tray of nachos, it's a pretty perfect match. 370 Richmond St. 272-7675, www.ricksroadhouseri.com
Lola's Cantina, Providence
What would summer in Rhode Island be without the waterfront? We know...hellish. Thankfully we have a wide array of places--and cuisines--to visit along the water. In Providence, we love sitting on the deck at Lola's with some chips and salsa and an ice cold margarita. There's an ample array of drinks on the cocktail menu with spiffy names that are tasty takes on this classic cocktail, but we always treat ourselves to the eponymous Lola margarita, a delicious version of the classic that's always four bucks. We also love the Spicy, which has jalapeno peppers muddled with oranges and limes for a nice kick as well as the Flirty, which is a tequila version of a Cosmopolitan. Tequila purists will appreciate that Lola's sports one of the largest tequila selections in the state. Grab some tacos and settle in at a picnic table with your shades on and enjoy! 525 South Water St. 383-0220, www.lolascantina.com
Chilangos, Providence
Friends first introduced us to this authentic joint promising we'd be amazed by the homemade guacamole. They were right, and we fell in love with just about everything here. As we worked our way through the menu on subsequent visits we always came back to the margaritas. Not only were they the perfect accompaniment to the food, they're worth the trip all by themselves. We ordered a few house specialties--we really liked the bistek encebollado-- and a couple of the classic margaritas. The freshness of everything really stood out. We let our server guide us on the choice of tequila and we were glad we did. We experienced two very different drinks and both were tasty. Definitely worth finding this place. 447 Manton Ave. 383-4877 www.facebook.com/pages/Chilangos-RI
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