Mexican or not, chances are you will declare yourself Mexican on May 5. Tampa may not be the “Cinco de Mayo capitol” of the U.S. (Los Angeles or San Antonio would take that crown), but we’re making strides with these Mexican food and drink events and specials.
CANTINA LAREDO 2000 Piazza Ave., Wesley Chapel, 813-907-3068, cantinalaredo.com. If shopping and partying are on your Cinco de Mayo agenda, head to the Shops at Wiregrass for both activities. The outside area near Laredo will be closed to make room for the stage, where two bands will be playing. Drink specials include $3 tequila shots and Coronas and $5 margarita. The $5 cover may go toward food purchase inside Larado.
CARMELITA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 5042 E. Bay Drive, Clearwater, 727-524-8226; 5211 Park St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-545-2956, carmelitas.net. Enjoy food and drink specials while listening to the sounds of live Spanish guitars. Carmelita’s has been serving inexpensive, authentic fare and plenty of it for almost 30 years, and has received numerous awards.
CASA TINA 369 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-9226, casatinas.com. The street outside Tina’s will be closed in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy live Spanish music outside while grabbing a beverage from a tent. Festival menu will be available inside Tina’s casa if you’re hungry for a full meal. Quesadillas, rice and beans, and chips with salsa and guac will be available outside. Drink specials include margaritas and sangrias for $8. Animal stock and lard are nowhere to be found in the dishes at this vegan-friendly destination.
ESTELA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 10478 Roosevelt Blvd. N, St. Petersburg, 727-578-5380; estelas.com. Put on your dancing shoes and head to the Cinco de Mayo Dance Party. Fiesta begins at 11 a.m., and food and drink specials will be available all day. Enjoy the giveaways and prizes, including a free Tablet. Score Cinco de Mayo coupons via Estela’s Facebook page. Free Wi-Fi is available if you like to party with your laptop.
LIME 915 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-868-LIME, thelimetampa.com. Block off your evening for this charity Cinco de Mayo block party. Watch contestants stuff their face at the giant burrito eating contest. Food and drink specials will be available in addition to the full menu. Shake your hips along with the salsa dancers. A stilt walker and Nacho Libre will be there as well. Music will be provided by several DJs. Proceeds go to Children’s Home. Fiesta begins at 5 p.m. Lime offers modern Mexican fare and 22 craft beers on tap.
LODGE RESTAURANT AND BAR 516 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-251-5634, lodgetampa.com. Put on your favorite sombrero and receive a free drink at Lodge’s Cinco de Drinko. If you feel like a dunce in a sombrero, several drink specials will be available, whether or not you’re sporting a sombrero. Specials include $2 Jell-O shots, $3 Coronas, $4 tequila shots and $5 margarita pints. Fiesta begins at 11:30 a.m. Lodge is notorious for interesting menu items, such as Eyeballs Caprese Salad and Twinkimisu.
MIGUEL’S MEXICAN CAFE 3035 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-876-2587, miguelscafe.com. Cinco de Mayo celebrations will last three days at Miguel’s (May 4–6), with live music each day. Corona will be available for $3 on May 5. If you have multiple cravings, try Fajitas Ixtapa, which satisfies your Mexican, seafood and meat cravings simultaneously.
MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 2683 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, 727-536-3100; 11140 Starkey Road, Largo, 727-398-4684, moes.com. The first 100 customers will get a free shirt. But if Moe’s is shirtless when you arrive, the $5 burrito and drink special will cheer you up. Try the Homewrecker burrito. Free chips and salsa will be served as usual. Moe’s specializes in southwestern selections made with cage-free, steroid free, grain and grass-fed poultry and meat.
QDOBA MEXICAL GRILL 3801 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, 813-837-0101; 5001 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-984-4650; 1013 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, 813-689-9998, qdoba.com. Stuff yourself with $5 burritos stuffed with your favorite items. Or, place a catering order (to be fulfilled through May 6) and receive coupons for free entrees. A catering order for 25 people or less will earn you coupons for two free entrees. You’ll receive coupons for four free entrees for catering orders placed for over 25 people.
RED MESA CANTINA 128 Third St. S, St. Petersburg, 727-896-8226, redmesacantina.com. Forget just one day of Cinco de Mayo; Red Mesa Cantina is hosting Fiesta Week. Win a big prize in the raffles on May 3 and enjoy Corona, Tecate, tequila shot and margarita specials. Enjoy those same drink specials at First Friday Fiesta. Cinco de Mayo Festival will include drink specials, five bars, tacos and nachos from Taco Man, tents and live music from several acts.
SALTY RIM GRILL 9524 Blind Pass Road, St. Pete Beach, 727-851-9955, thesaltyrim.com. Raise a salty glass in honor of Cinco de Mayo (and Kentucky Derby) at this Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, located seconds from the Gulf. Sport a sombrero or derby hat and receive a free drink. Enjoy specials such as $12 Corona buckets, $3 margaritas, $2 tacos and $5 nachos. Fiesta begins at 11 a.m.
TAMPA BAY BREW BUS tampabaybrewbus.com. All aboard for an afternoon of cruising and boozing on Tampa Bay Brew Bus. Consider this your Cinco de Mayo pre-party. $55 plus tax; 12–6 p.m. Will meet at Cigar City Brewing (3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa, 813-348-6363), head to Tampa Bay Brewing Company for lunch, then to Pour House. For more information, visit facebook.com/tampabaybrewbus.
TIJUANA FLATS tijuanaflats.com. Walk in and be greeted by (male and female) staff sporting mustaches. Once you finish laughing, take advantage of the $2 beer special, occurring all day. Balloons and face painting will add to the festivities. Receive a $20 gift card if you place a $100 catering order for May 4 or 5. These Cinco de Mayo specials are available at all Tampa Bay locations.
URBAN CANTINA 200 E. Madison St., Tampa, 813-221-8226, urbancantina.com. Get the popular Cantina Fajitas with your choice of chicken, steak and/or shrimp, with your choice of beer or homemade melon beverage, for $8.99. Win prizes during the raffles and giveaways. Located in urban downtown Tampa, Urban Cantina serves authentic Mexican food and offers a Skinny Mexican menu for the health-conscious.
This article appears in May 3-9, 2012.