NYC's 5 Best Cinco De Mayo Celebrations
Make sure to save up some energy after your Kentucky Derby party this weekend to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with specialty cocktails, Mexican meals and festive music. Make reservations for a fiesta at one of these city restaurants and bars on May 5. By Sarah Shaker.
Put on that sombrero from your last Mexican getaway then head to Toloache Thompson to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with upscale Mexican cuisine and fresh margaritas. Dine on chef Julian Medina's Quesadilla de Huitlacoche y Trufas made with homemade tortilla, manchego cheese and topped with black truffle crema and huitlacoche salsa or sample the Trio of Guacamole. With tweleve margaritas to choose from, including chef Medina's signature Chef Selection, made using his custom Herradura Double Barrel Reposado Tequila blend, agavero and lime, this will certainly be a fiesta you won't forget. They are also offering a list of specials for the day and a signature Cinco de Mayo Spicy Shot for $5 to toast the live mariachi band.
The fiesta starts at noon at Coney Island's Place to Beach restaurant and bar. The Mexican-themed restaurant and bar is having a live DJ and offering drink specials, like Frozen Margaritas for $5, to debut its annual "ArchiTaco Contest". Vote for the top 5 tacos now via their Facebook page, and on Cinco de Mayo, the winning contestant will be crowned champion by a panel of judges, receive a $500 gift certificate to Place to Beach and have their winning taco featured on the menu for the entire season (May-October).
Chef David Santos is turning Louro into a pop-up taquería for one night only on Cinco de Mayo. A casual drop-in option for your fiesta, the Tacos & Tequila Pop-up will serve a selection of tacos, tequila and margaritas from 5pm – Midnight. Santos will offer a selection of tacos (3 for $5) that include crispy pig's ear, goat, lamb's tongue, charred cactus, short rib, pork belly and rock shrimp, all topped with pickled onion, cilantro, lettuce, sour cream, housemade salsa, guacamole and tomatillo sauce. Classic, pomegranate and jalapeño margaritas will be available by the glass and by the pitcher, and both Mexican and house beers and tequila shots will be offered as specials. For the table, order 15 tacos and a pitcher of margaritas for $35.
For something deliciously out of the ordinary, stop by Mira Sushi & Izakaya, serving Beef Bulgogi Tacos in a crispy wonton shell topped with kimchi slaw, Asian pear, scallions and toasted sesame. Chef Brian Tsao recently went head to head with Bobby Flay on the new Food Network series "Beat Bobby Flay" and won a taco challenge with these signature tacos. The series just wrapped up its first season and out of 16 competing chefs, Tsao was the only one to beat Bobby Flay, making these a must for your Cinco celebration.
On Monday, May 5, Hudson's Tequila Park will host a grand opening party for its second outdoor season in the hotel's private park space offering Mexican eats, fresh fruit margaritas and beer. Beginning at 6 p.m., there will be common and uncommon tacos, 40 varieties of tequila, a live mariachi performance and music by Florencia Galarza. New menu items this year include Kimchi Shrimp Nachos, Pork Chicharron Nachos, Fried Oyster Po'Boy Taco and a Raspberry Jalapeño Margarita.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.
