Celebrate Snowfalls with Margaritas at Mexicali Blues
There’s no use trying to resist that funky hot-pink-and-aqua building with the West Coast vibe on the corner of North Garfield and Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. Mexicali Blues, a Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant, fairly beckons to passers-by to stop in and take a break from winter — whenever it snows, margaritas are only $3. Our future neighbor in Crystal City doesn’t even deliver used books at those prices.
The small dining room was just beginning to fill up when I was seated for happy hour at 5:30 on Friday. Word about the end of the government shutdown was buzzing, but that wasn’t the only reason I immediately decompressed. Salsa music, bright colors and boho murals made me feel I was in a cozy neighborhood bar in Key West. The staff was attentive but not pushy. My waiter, Isaac, said the family-friendly atmosphere was what he most appreciated about working there. Right on cue, two guys came in with toddlers in baby carriers.
Isaac swiftly brought me a menu, chips and salsa — and not the standard big-red-bowl/little-green-bowl-with-basket-of-bland-salty-triangles. This serrano pepper salsa had a smoky mesquite flavor and sturdy chips that actually tasted like roasted corn. The aforementioned margarita ($5 at happy hour when skies are clear) also defied convention with its pleasantly surprising Key lime flavor.
The menu has a wide selection of Mexican and Salvadoran dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The priciest entree is the shrimp fajita dinner at $21.95, with the average price being $9. Happy hour prices are a great deal, with two-for-one appetizers and $4.95 guacamole.
Mexicali Blues is known for its pupusas ($3.50) — stuffed corn tortillas — so I ordered the two vegetarian options: the loroco, made of a Salvadoran edible flower, and the bean and cheese. They were delicately browned and delicious, served with an equally tasty side of cabbage and carrots marinated in vinegar —very fresh and very spicy. My Salvadoran-American guest said she enjoyed her platanos fritas (served with sour cream and refried beans for $11).
The closeness of the tables allowed for easy mingling with other patrons. Caitlin, a 20-something woman who just moved from Boston, was celebrating her escape from two catastrophes — the shutdown and her home city’s quasi-prohibition.
“In Boston, happy hour is illegal, so I’m sold on the $5 margaritas,” she said.
She was seated with Raven, visiting from Newport News, who sang the praises of both the margaritas and the fried onion rings with chipotle ranch sauce.
Other eye-catchers on the menu: yuca con chicharron, $11.95, is yuca (a South American root plant similar to cassava) boiled or fried and served with fried pork, marinated cabbage, tomato and pica crema. Breakfast features the Placido Domingo, sautéed home fries with melted cheddar, fried eggs and ranchero salsa with a side of tortillas, and an option to add steak or chorizo. Huevos rancheros are also on the menu, of course.
Mexicali Blues celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party last summer, which Isaac said was a rousing success. Mardis Gras and Dia del Muertos are also big draws, as is Sunday night karaoke. The biggest crowds are in the summer, when the sidewalk patio is opens. But I, along with many others I’m sure, don’t intend to wait that long. When the polar vortex hits in a couple weeks, I will be taking my seat at one of those umbrella-covered tables buried in snow, drinking my $3 margaritas and not feeling at all cold.
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Mexicali Blues, 2933 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22201; hours, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
