Spicy Blood Orange Margarita at Base Camp Pizza in South Lake Tahoe

I was in South Lake Tahoe for one evening this summer and my friends decided to meet at Base Camp Pizza for dinner. We made the mistake of not making a reservation during a busy Friday night. There was some confusion prior to our seating. We were all thirsty to order something when we were finally seated. My friends immediately ordered beers and wine before I could even open the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see several cocktails on the menu and promptly ordered the Spicy Blood Orange Margarita. When I placed my order, my friends all changed their drink orders to a cocktail. Most of them variations on the Blood Orange Margarita. Since we were all fortunate enough to be able to walk back to our hotels, we all ordered more than a few rounds of this margarita.

*This post is dedicated to a friend who shared drinks that evening who died a few weeks ago in an accident. RIP Tommy.

The Drink Spicy Blood Orange Margarita, $9.75
Jalapeno infused tequila, blood orange puree and a splash of sweet and sour.

The Place
South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly
Restaurant with full bar
Per their website, call for hours of operation
http://basecamppizzaco.com/

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The Carbonated M**** Margarita at Kronnerburger

A recent Thrillist article about the best burgers in San Francisco dragged me to Kronnerburger in the Mission District. I usually make my way through rom the bottom up. But this time, I decided to start with the #1 burger in the city. When you look at the list of 5 drinks on the menu, you know you have to order the "Motherfucking Margarita". Like most of the other patrons while I was there, I asked the server for the margarita on the menu. I know with a few more, I would have ordered by it's proper name!

The Drink - The Motherfucking Margarita

Tequila, lime, agave, bitters

The Place - Kronnerburger

San Francisco, Mission District

Restaurant

Dinner nightly, full bar

Other pictures from the visit

 Onion Rings

 Kronnerburge, Make it a Double

Kronnerburger

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Blood Orange Margarita, Bluestem

Bluestem Brasserie is located in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. It's been a while since I've been there. I had to organize a small happy hour event for a group and chose Bluestem Brasserie. The lounge offers the perfect meeting space and a good selection of happy hour drinks from $1 to $7. After having a delicious Blood Orange Margarita at Oola a few weeks ago, I just had to try Bluestem's version. What a beautiful color and equally delicious taste. It's really hard to drink just one.

Happy National Margarita Day! How are you celebrating?

The Drink - Blood Orange Margarita, $11
Tequila, Blood Orange, Lime

The Place - Bluestem Brasserie

San Francisco, South of Market (SOMA)
Daily lunch and dinner, full bar, happy hour
http://www.bluestembrasserie.com

Other pictures from the visit

Ruffled Espellete Potato Chips, $3

Honey Spiced Nuts, $3 and Feta and Olives, $3

Old Bay Chiccharones and Malt Vinegar, $3

 

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Xalapa Margarita, Azucar

Azucar is a Mexican Lounge located in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. When I sawAzucar's drink posting of the Xalapa Margarita in the Drinks in the City Facebook newsfeed, I knew I had to venture over to Azucar to give it a try. I was even more excited once I arrived and saw that the drink is made with jalapenos. At the first sip it wows you with the intense flavor and heat. I just love drinks that gets you thinking. In this case, what's Xalapa. Xalapa is a region of Mexico with is the home of jalapeno peppers. Yum!

The Drink - Xalapa Margarita, $9
Zarco Tequila, fresh cucumber, fresh jalapeno, lime juice, agave syrup.

The Place - Azucar
San Francisco, South of Market
Open Monday - Saturday 4pm onwards and Sunday 11AM - 3pm, happy hour
www.azucarsf.com
Tuesdays, Taco Tuesday. All you can eat tacos for $10 plus $4 margaritas. One of the best deals in town for happy hour. Delish food and rock solid cocktails.
Not to be missed is the International Taco Wednesday.

Other Azucar drinks
Azucar
Bailar con Frida

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Jalapeño Margarita, Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar

Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar is on the corner of Cranberry and Henry in Brooklyn borough of New York City. Don't let the pretty pink color of the Jalapeño Margarita fool you into thinking this is just another sweet fruity margarita. This cocktail is the real deal made from scratch. Bartender Brian's house made jalapeño infused tequila puts a bit of a heat on making for a unique and appealing twist on a classic margarita. 

Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar also touts a great selection of great wines and a respectable food menu.

The Drink, Jalapeño Margarita

Jalapeño Infused Tequila, Luxardo Triplum, Fresh Lime and Blood Orange. 

The Place - Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar

New York City, Brooklyn Heights

www.brooklynheightswinebar.com

Hours of Operation:
12pm - 11pm   Mon - Thurs
12pm - 12am   Friday
11am - 12am   Saturday
11am - 10:30pm   Sunday:
* Kitchen closes 30 min before bar
** Small plate items only from 4 pm - 5:30 pm (5 Sun)

*** Written by Drinks in the City correspondent Steven Ballinger.

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Margarita de la Casa, Tacolicious

Tacolicious has two locations in San Francisco, in the Marina and Mission neighborhoods. The Margarita de la Casa is a refreshing cocktail with El Jimador tequila, fresh lime, and agave nectar. It never disappoints! There are so many twists on the margarita at Tacolicious not only with the fruits but with the spirits. It's hard to choose which one. As I've said before, my personal favorite is the Pasion. At their Marina location, they have a few frozen margaritas available too.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The Place - Tacolicious
San Francisco, Mission District
Mexican restaurant
Lunch, Dinner, 7 nights a week, full bar
http://tacolicioussf.com/
Pasion, $9.50/glass or $30/pitcher

Other Tacolicous drinks

Pasion

La Paloma at Mosto
Granizados

Margarita Fresca

Margarita Fresca
Lolita Squeeze
Mucho Gusto

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House Margarita, Tropisueno

Tropisueno is located on Yerba Buena Alley in between Market and Mission Streets in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. With Cinco de Mayo coming up this weekend, I thought I'd give those who live, work or play an idea on where to enjoy a margarita. The House Margarita at Tropisueno is my kind of twist on a typical house margarita. There are appropriate measures of agave nectar, fresh lime juice and tequila. It's served on the rocks but with an arbol chili salt rim. It also has two personalities to the drink.  When you sip through the straw, there's a strong spiciness.  When you sip from the glass, even with the chili salt rim, there's a strong sweet flavor.  Mix it a bit and you have the best of both!

Happy Early Cinco de Mayo!

The Skinny
Lunch, Dinner, full bar
http://www.tropisueno.com/
House Margarita, $8

Other Tropisueno drinks 
Pomegranate Margarita
Tropisueno

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Margaritas, Centrico

Centrico is located in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Food Network's Aaron Sanchez is the chef at Centrico, a Mexican restaurant. The only cocktail to order at a Mexican restaurant is a margarita, but do I frozen, up or on the rocks? My dining companion and I decided on one frozen and one on the rocks. Both margaritas were delicious. The frozen Mango Margarita is made with fresh mango juice and tequila.  The Centrico Margarita is made with Sauza Hornitos Silver, agave nectar, and lime juice. Both drinks were on the tart side and strong. At first we were a bit surprised by the flavor...not sweet like a lot of places tend to make frozen drinks...but with the second sip I really started to like it!

Next visit, perhaps the Frozen Strawberry Caipirinka for $12, the Jala-Pina for $14, the Smokin' Rita with a float of mezcal for $19 or the Big Papi with the frida kahlo anejo and 100 year grand marnier for $27.  I just love when there are so many choices.  Perhaps with the next visit, I'll get a chance to meet Aaron and add him to my Meeting Celebrity Chefs album!

The Skinny
Monday-Sunday Dinner, Sunday brunch, full bar
http://www.myriadrestaurantgroup.com/centrico/
Frozen Mango Margarita, $12
Centrico Margarita, $13

Written in collaboration with a Drinks in the City New York correspondent.

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Peach Margarita, Ago

Ago, an Italian restaurant specializing in Tuscan cuisine, is located in the West Hollywood neighborhood in Los Angeles. The restaurant is a partnernship between Chef Agostino Sciandri and the actor Robert Deniro. Given my weakness for tequila, I ordered the Peach Margarita. With premium tequila, fresh peach puree, and lime, this drink is simply refreshing. I must admit, I asked for an additional lime just in case the peach was too sweet. With the squeeze of the lime, the cocktail was perfect.

The Skinny
Weekday lunch and dinner 7 nights a week, full bar
http://agorestaurant.com/
Peach Margarita, $12

More pictures from dinner:

Piccola Parmagiana (eggplant)

Cherry

Creme Brulee

Cannoli 

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Jalapeno-rita, Lark Creek Steak

Lark Creek Steak is located in the Westfield Shopping Center in San Francisco. As soon as I saw the menu, I knew that I had to order the Jalapeno-rita with Espalon Reposado tequila, Cointreau, sweet and sour, fresh lime juice and jalapeno. I enjoyed the consistent kick of heat (between mild and medium) throughout the drink and in between sips. Next thing I knew, the glass was empty. If you need to take a break from shopping or want to watch a game on tv, head to Lark Creek bar.  During happy hour, svedka vodka cocktails are $6, wine is $5 and bar bites are half off.

The Skinny
Lunch and dinner 7 days a week, happy hour, full bar
http://larkcreek.com/larkcreek_steak/index.html
Jalapeno-rita, $12

 Caesar Salad (kids), $5

 Oysters Rockefeller (top view), $13.95

 Oysters Rockefeller (side view), $13.95

Asparagus with Hollandaise, $7.95

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Chipotle Margarita, Tipsy Pig

My dining companions wanted to head to Tipsy Pig in the Marina neighborhood of San Francisco for their comforting mac and cheese.  My choice cocktail for the meal, the Chipotle Margarita, at the Tipsy Pig is not your usual margarita since it's vodka based not tequila based.  But with Hangar One chipotle vodka, fresh cilantro, fresh lime and simple syrup, you barely miss the tequila. I must admit the margarita was a tad sweet and only a touch smoky when sipped through the straw.  What a better flavor experience to drink the margarita with the spiced rim.  The drink is more smoky, spicy, herbaceous, and tantalizing.

The Skinny
Lunch Wed - Sunday, Dinner 7 days a week, full bar
http://thetipsypigsf.com/
Chipotle Margarita, $10

Past posts from the Tipsy Pig

The Tipsy Tea

Other pictures from this visit:

Fried Chicken Sando with sweet potato fries

 The Tipsy Burger with fries

 The Wedge with pan roasted salmon

Kids mac and cheese (no bacon as in the adult version)

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Pasion, Tacolicious

The Pasion at Tacolicious hands down is my favorite drink in the city of San Francisco. The combination of the habanero, traditional silver tequila, the lime and the passion fruit deliver the one-two punch to claim the title. If you like drinks with a hint of sweet and a lot of heat, you'll enjoy this drink.

Tacolicious currently has 2 locations in San Francisco in the Marina and Mission neighborhoods. Both are fun!

The Place - Tacolicious
San Francisco, Mission District
Mexican Restaurant
Lunch, Dinner, 7 nights a week, full bar
http://tacolicioussf.com/
Pasion, $9.50/glass or $30/pitcher

Other Tacolicous drinks

Margarita de la Casa

Pasion

La Paloma at Mosto
Granizados

Margarita Fresca
Lolita Squeeze
Mucho Gusto

Other pictures from this visit

 Margarita de la casa, $9.50/glass, $28/pitcher

Corona (32oz), $9

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