Cinco De Mayo In Atlanta

Atlanta is one of the Southeast's largest urban areas, and there are plenty of opportunities for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Here are a few places worth checking out:

Moderna 
Suave and swank with a modern edge, this relatively new establishment features an outdoor cabana with top-notch cocktails and great Mexican cuisine.

"For Cinco de Mayo, we've built a Miami-style cabana lounge outdoors, with private alcoves and plush drapery, a full soundstage, a custom-built rectangular bar made of reclaimed materials, and lots of beach balls," explains partner Josh Ahlzadeh.

To help absorb the amazing flavors and spices of chef Ignacio "Nacho" Barquera's contemporary take on Mexican classics, they will serve pint-sized margaritas, or "Cinco-Ritas," made with Don Julio tequila, Grand Marnier, agave, fresh lime, basil, and cilantro. 

Mi Cocina 
Mi Cocina is home of the legendary "Mambo Taxi," a classic frozen margarita featuring Sauza Blanco tequila with Mi Cocina house-made sangria. This spot also happens to be a new brunch hot spot in the city.

The new Tex-Mex-style brunch menu includes brunch tacos, breakfast quesadillas, and breakfast classics on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The eggs with brisket tacos come with slow-roasted brisket, scrambled eggs, and Cheddar cheese, while the eggs with chorizo tacos are served with beans and crispy potatoes. Other traditional favorites are served with beans, fresh fruit, sweet crema, and warm tortillas. The newest creation on the brunch menu is the Omelette Mexicana: a three-egg omelette stuffed with chorizo, poblano peppers, onions, tomatoes, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar cheese.

Escorpion
This regionally inspired Mexican tequila bar and cantina from chef-owner Riccardo Ullio vows to ring in the celebration by capturing the authentic tastes and ingredients of Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo festivities include live Mariachi music on both Saturday and Sunday, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday's menu features El Jimador and Herradurra tequila and Dos XX beer specials, as well as special fajita combos.

Food Trucks
"Cinco de Maybe" is the theme of the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Atlanta Food Truck Park & Market on Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Specials include $2 tacos and other delights from the Sweet Auburn, Yumbii, and Texas Tacos food trucks. There will also be live music from The Band Benefield. Mexican beer and virgin margaritas are expected to make this a BYOT (bring your own tequila) Cinco de Mayo to remember!

Taqueria del Sol
At all three of its Atlanta locations, Taqueria del Sol's chef Eddie Hernandez and owner Mike Klank (multiple James Beard Award nominees) put a Southern twist on Mexican cuisine. The Memphis taco (chopped smoked pork with a spicy jalapeño coleslaw and tequila BBQ sauce), the fried chicken taco (strips of fried chicken breast, lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato) are two perfect examples. Think cheeseburger taco, or the recent "blue plate" special: a shrimp and grits taco.

If you're planning on celebrating Cinco de Mayo here, do so either on Saturday or Monday, as the restaurants are closed on Sundays.