By Jean Totti
Mr. Tequila Authentic Mexican Restaurant
Mr. Tequila offers the liveliest environment of all the Mexican restaurants we’ve visited so far and is a solid choice for traditional Mexican dishes. The restaurant was started by Rafael, who was born and raised in Guanajuato where he worked on his father’s ranch. Fast forward 27 years to when he started a very successful food truck business with his wife Maria.
Rafael and Maria opened their first restaurant in Florida and now run locations in Sarasota and Bradenton. We visited their restaurant in Bradenton where we found a warm and welcoming staff and excellent food.
Mariachis were playing on the day of our visit—a celebration of classic Spanish music that gave our experience a jovial touch. Many tables hosted families celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.
Our visit started with a nice serving of house-made salsa and chips, and we were excited to try their Chicken Wings. I know that chicken wings are outside the realm of Mexican dishes, but I love them and couldn’t help myself. Sometimes you find some of the best versions of certain dishes where you least expect them. Wings are offered with BBQ or Buffalo sauce, and they were meaty and tender.
We enjoyed two entrées, a Beef Chimichanga and a California Chimichanga. The traditional chimichanga is made from two flour tortillas and is fried. It is also offered soft and filled with ground beef, topped with red salsa, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and guacamole. The California version is similar, except it is filled with shredded chicken. This one is served with a salad instead of rice and beans. The chimichangas are humongous and are always good for leftovers back at home.
I can also never walk away without dessert, so I ordered some Fried Ice Cream served in a taco shell with hot chocolate sauce and honey whipped cream. Believe me, there was nothing left of that ice cream. It was a fantastic meal.
Locations & Contact
Bradenton: 491 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34207 | (941) 751-9006
Sarasota: 3969 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233
Hours: Open 7 days a week between 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM (and a bit later on the weekends).
For more info, check out their website.
Habanero’s Mexican Grill & Bar
Habanero’s is family-owned as well and has been in business for over 18 years. Their story offers some insight into their traditional dishes as well as the exploration of some new flavors they aim to bring into their kitchen. They take great pride in their margaritas and have an extensive list of specialty margaritas to prove it.
Service and a varied menu are guiding principles of this very busy restaurant. An order of chips and salsa was the start of the meal. I accompanied the chips with a Margaritini. A little out of the ordinary—more of a margarita-inspired martini—but I really enjoyed it.
Our two entrées were the Steak Mexicano and the Tostadas & Chile Relleno. The steak is served with grilled onions, tomatoes, rice, and beans. The Tostadas are topped with beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese while the chile pepper is filled with cheese and grilled.
There are many combinations you can order or just make your own. Again, leftovers seem like a good option if you want dessert. I went for the Fried Ice Cream again. It always seems like a good idea to me!
Location & Contact
Address: 5120 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34209
Phone: (941) 746-5299
Hours: Open 7 days a week between 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM (and a bit later on the weekends).
To learn more, check out their website.
Mr. Fajitas
A cantina-style restaurant in the heart of Downtown Bradenton’s Main Street, Mr. Fajitas offers Mexican and Latin American dishes. They have bar seating as well as indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great spot to enjoy your meal during events on Historic Main Street such as the Downtown Bradenton Public Market or Main Street Live.
Their menu includes Taco Tuesday and $5 margarita specials. On our visit, we started with a good helping of chips and salsa. That seems to be a trend, isn’t it?
We had several entrées to try: a Carnitas Quesadilla, a Taco Salad, Shrimp Fajitas, a Burrito, and a Lunch Chimichanga. These were some of the freshest meals we’ve had. It’s simple, good food.
The quesadilla is bigger than your plate and it’s good as a starter to share or to have as a meal. Chimichangas are served two to a plate with rice and beans. The fajitas are served with colossal shrimp and chicken, grilled onions, peppers, and tomatoes. They have a smaller menu than the other restaurants we visited, but every dish has earned its place on that list.
Meats are well-seasoned, vegetables are fresh, sauces are house-made, and they have great attention to personal service. The restaurant is family-owned and run and offers a great, warm feel.
Location & Contact
Address: 316 Old Main St, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 242-0297
Hours: * Monday through Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
For more info, check out their website.
DINING GUIDE
