Cinco de Mayo 2009 NYC: Where to Eat, Drink, Hit Pinatas

Battle of Puebla

In the immortal words of Ween, Cinco de Mayo's on Tuesday. Which is tomorrow. It will be raining, but did a little rain stop some 4,000 Mexican soldiers from defeating almost twice as many French invaders back on May 5th, 1862? No, they vanquished their oppressors, just as we shall vanquish the temptation to stay inside watching Biggest Loser: Couples tomorrow night. Here is where you'll find us raising a glass to General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, who we've been big fans of since we looked all this up on Wikipedia five seconds ago.

Elizabeth restaurant in Nolita has a loco deal from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., during which they'll be selling 50 cent shots of Tanteo tequila, 50 cent pulled-pork tacos, and $5 Tanteo cocktails. There will also be a special Chocolate Tequila Sorbet and Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila Gelato (1 scoop for 50 cents) made by Il Laboratorio del Gelato. All this climaxes at 7 with the feral breaking of a pinata in the restaurant's garden, which has a retractable roof to accommodate the festivities rain or shine. 265 Elizabeth Street (South of Houston), (212) 334-2426, Cash only.

The big beautiful Bell House in Gowanus is throwing down with the 2009 "Guactacular Invitational." A number of unspecified restaurants are said to be participating by dishing out their guacamole, to be judged by the audience and a panel of food writers, including a representative from the city's authority on nachos, Nachos NY. Drink specials to cleanse the palate between tastings include $2 for Tecate and Modello, $3 for Corona. 149 7th Street, Brooklyn, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All three NYC locations of Rosa Mexicano are hosting a Mexican Masquerade, encouraging diners to don sombreros, Lucha Libre wrestling masks, or other reductive sartorial stereotypes. Those with the most creative attire will be eligible for special prizes, and the first 200 guests to show up in costume after 5 p.m. get a free shot of 1800 tequila in a collectible shot glass. Special Cinco de Mayo menu additions include Shrimp Quesadillas made with garlic and guajillo chile and Chile Ancho Relleno, ancho chiles stuffed with slow-cooked marinated pork. Union Square, 9 East 18th Street, (212) 533-3350; 61 Columbus Avenue (212) 977-7700; 1063 First Avenue (212) 753-7407

Toloache restaurant in midtown is celebrating with "Margarita Madness" through Friday [menu pdf]. In addition to a beefed up dinner menu, they're offering a wide range of fancy margaritas, such as the Moras, made with El Tesoro Blanco, muddled blackberry, fresh lime, and Combier orange. There will also be a live mariachi band for you to clap loudly along with. 251 West 50th Street, (212) 581-1818

The popular Cabrito restaurant in the West Village has double the excuse to party tomorrow; their goat has been returned and it's their first anniversary. Throughout the day they'll be offering their $9 brunch drink special, which will gets you a choice of three Bloody Marys, Sangrias, or Mimosas. At 4 p.m., the Cinco de Mayo Happy Hour kicks off with $5 margaritas, $3 Coronas, and pints ($3) / pitchers ($12) of Dos Equis. The regular happy hour menu will be complemented by a special street food menu featuring assorted tacos, flautas and tostadas. And the staff will be handing out drink tokens redeemable at their evening fiesta starting at 9 p.m. There will be Mexican hip hop, two pinatas, and hourly raffles. 50 Carmine Street, (212) 929- 5050

Elegant yet casual French Mexican fusion restaurant Crema is hosting five hours of happy hour from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring 2-for-1 beers, sangria (agua loca) and margaritas $6-$13. Special cocktails planned include the Tepache, a traditional Pueblan drink featuring fermented pineapple, sugar cane, tequila and topped with mezcal. 111 West 17th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue), (212) 691-4477.

All three Mercadito restaurants will have a live mariachi band; at the Avenue B Mercadito there's a huge Cinco de Mayo tasting menu for $30 per person, which starts with guacamole and—many tacos and ceviches later—culminates with orange flan. The restaurant will also be pushing $6 shots of Herradura tequila, which Mercadito Grove in the West Village will also be pouring. At Mercadito Cantina, they're doing $5 shots of their unique tric-quila blend, which blends sake to deliciously evoke the taste of tequila. Mercadito: 179 Avenue B between 11th and 12th Streets (212) 529-6490. Mercadito Grove: 100 Seventh Avenue South at Grove Street, (212) 647-0830. Mercadito Cantina: 172 Avenue B between 10th and 11th Streets, (212)388-1750.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on May 4, 2009 4:48 PM

Comments [rss]

blablanyc

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. We don't celebrate that here in the USA. You're all mindless sheep for falling into a alcoholic beverage marketer's trap.

whitecastlerock

The swine flu was enough... thanks

DanielJ

Any excuse to drink is a big holiday here in the U.S. of A.

Cacheton

Props to JDS for at least acknowledging the significance of 4/5, even if it's practically ignored everywhere in Mexico (except Puebla.)

Mr Mel

Did you mean 5/5?

Cacheton

Nice, there are a few other things to do this May 5th...

http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/cinco-ways-to-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-2/

MidC Frank

Keep in mind that Cinco de Mayo is about as meaningful in Mexico as Flag Day is here in the US.

GoToHell

P.S. May 5th is Japanese Boy's day. Why don't families in the U.S. hang carp windsocks outside of their homes, one for each son in the family, to fly in the wind??? Couldn't everyone get drunk on Sake? Oh wait, that's a Japanese holiday so we don't celebrate it...oh wait......