1000MonkeysOnline | A “must” patio to visit: El Catrin
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19 Mar A “must” patio to visit: El Catrin

 

If you like guac and margaritas, you can’t miss The Catrin patio ($$$), located in thee heart of the Distillery District, at 18 Tank House Lane.

The award-winning restaurant is, of course, always busy, so prepare to wait, but completely worth it. Extensive cocktails list – try the margaritas of different flavours, no, it is not only lime, my personal favorite Strawberry margarita. The sprawling patio is surrounded by colourfully enameled screens, lantern-like lighting and a central firepit, so cute!  The bar menu numbers 85 tequilas, though the plan is to accumulate at least 140 different bottles. For now you’ll have to settle for shots ranging from $4 to $208 per ounce (come’on ballers you know you want to try this 15 year aged Clase Azul Ultra Extra Anejo that comes in a platinum, gold and silver gilded bottle). Cocktails and mezcalteles are soooo good, and dangerously easy to drink.

The drama and scale of the main dining room designed by Munge Leung is impressive. Jaw dropping features include oversized folk art inspired chandeliers and a massive mural by Oscar Flores that’s lit with black lights so that the colours glow and vibrate. Glowing sugar skulls peak out from various nooks — it’s kind of like a moneyed Mexican funhouse. Perfect for those Instagram pictures we all love to post and like.

The oversized (almost ridiculously so) menus unfold like a map offering delicious points of interest to visit. The Vuelve a la Vida El Catrin ($8) is one of several ceviches on offer. It’s a three-bite max, oyster shell loaded with chopped shrimp, octopus, scallops and oyster mixed with cucumber, jicama and cocktail sauce.

El Catrin opens daily at noon for lunch until 5pm when dinner is served until 11pm. Make sure you make a reservation before showing up, or you will be waiting for a long time. The good things is, though, El Catrin is at a very good location so you can just walk around The Distillery District while you wait for your table.

 

My next two posts will be more about the drinks, less about food. Until next time!