Forget about the snow and cold for a minute and transport yourself to warmer climes with a little tequila. National Margarita Day falls on Feb. 22, and these Connecticut restaurants want to celebrate with you. All specials are available on that date unless otherwise specified.
Artisan, 1 Memorial Road, West Hartford, offers three special margaritas on Feb. 22 for $8 apiece, in classic, ginger peach and spicy blood orange flavors. 860-937-2525, artisanwesthartford.com.
Ocho Cafe, 330 N. Main St., West Hartford, offers $8 ultimate margaritas all day. 860-310-3063, ochocafe.com.
Chango Rosa, 1 Union Place, Hartford, offers $6 classic margaritas all day. 860-438-8746, changorosa.com.
Bartaco, with Connecticut locations in Stamford, West Hartford and Westport, kicks off its Margarita Month on National Margarita Day, introducing a new margarita each week through March 31. The Ernesto en Jalisco launches Feb. 22, with Bartaco’s proprietary Libélula tequila, Luxardo maraschino, Liber grapefruit cordial and lime. The Blood, Sweat and Cheers runs from March 1 to 7, with Libélula, lime, jalapeño, blood orange and smoked pepper agave syrup. From March 8 to 14, it’s the Purple Haze, with Libélula, Banhez mezcal, Luxardo morlacco, basil blossom sprigs and lime. The Green Goddess debuts March 15 through 21, with Libélula, triple sec, avocado, agave and lime in a pistachio salt rimmed glass, and Margarita Month wraps up with the La Rosita, with Libélula, Cappelletti, Casa Berger Garnacha Sorbet rosé, Flower Power moscato, agave simple and lemon juice. All margaritas are $12. bartaco.com.
SolToro at Mohegan Sun offers a new margarita for the holiday: the “Most Interesting” margarita, made with Astral blanco tequila (promoted by Jonathan Goldstein of Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man in the World” ads) and SolToro’s fresh-squeezed lime and agave blend. The special margarita is $13 or $65 for a pitcher. SolToro also offers its full menu of margaritas, including the “High Roller” ($75) with Don Julio Real and Grand Marnier Centenaire. soltorotequilagrill.com.
At Angelico’s Lake House, 81 N. Main St., East Hampton, a taco and margarita dinner marks National Margarita Day, with assorted tacos (crack chicken, blackened shrimp, carne asada, Nutella and red berry) paired with Casamigos margaritas. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.; cost is $45 per person. angelicoslakehouse.com/taco-tasting.html.
Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, with locations in Fairfield and New Haven, offers two National Margarita Day specials: a MezcalRita ($13) with Banhez mezcal, Riazul blanco, lime juice, agave syrup and orange bitters and a blue corn tlayuda (a street snack made with a large, thin toasted tortilla) with tequila-marinated shrimp for $18. geronimobarandgrill.com.
On The Border, with locations in Orange and Rocky Hill, offers 1800 Gran’ Ritas for $4 from now through Feb. 22, made with 1800 silver tequila, Gran Gala orange liquor and OTB’s fresh lime sour mix. ontheborder.com.
Wood-n-Tap’s nine locations offer $3 house recipe margaritas all day and night. woodntap.com.
Agave Grill, 100 Allyn St., Hartford, offers $4 house margaritas, $6 Mi Campo silver margaritas and $5 reposado shots. agavehartford.com.
Margaritas, with Connecticut locations in East Hartford and Mystic, offers $6 margaritas (original, strawberry, raspberry, ginger, peach, mango and “blue moon” with blue curacao), as well as $5 Hornitos shots. Enter to win a pair of tickets to a 2019 Red Sox game. margs.com/nmd2019/.
Commonwealth Bar & Lounge at MGM Springfield offers a special strawberry Don-a-rita shooter served in a mini Don Julio Blanco bottle for $6 and a shared strawberry Don-a-rita cocktail ($32) in a 375ml Don Julio bottle. The tequila cocktail features strawberry puree, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, lime and simple syrup. mgmspringfield.com.
Coyote Blue, 1960 Saybrook Road, Middletown, opens its bar at 4 p.m. on National Margarita Day, and its dining room opens at 5 p.m. From 4 to 5:30 p.m., house margaritas will be $6.50; 1800 margaritas will be $8.75 and the ultimate margarita will be $11 (regular prices are $8; $10.25; and $12.50 respectively). coyoteblue.com.
Los Mariachis, 105 N. Colony St., Wallingford, offers $5 house margaritas all day with Don Julio silver tequila, triple sec and sour mix, and $5 tequila shots. 203-265-1838, losmariachisgrill.com.
Chili’s, with multiple Connecticut locations, offers three special National Margarita Day margaritas for $5 each: a Tropical Sunrise with melon schnapps, pineapple juice and grenadine; a blueberry pineapple margarita with fruit-infused Jose Cuervo Especial tequila and a Cuervo Blue margarita with blue curacao. chilis.com.
Leeanne Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@courant.com.
