Columbia, MOMexican

Las Margaritas has run on Nifong Boulevard for years, and Vox Magazine covered it opening a second, downtown room, describing a different take on the cocktail the restaurant is named for. The magazine photographed the mango margarita, a bright orange drink built on gold tequila and served blended or on the rocks, at the South location on Southampton Drive. Come for the margarita alongside the standard plates, and expect a full dining room on a weekend evening.

David and Delia Lopez opened Delia’s Mexican Grill downtown, and Vox Magazine puts the room on North Tenth Street with a second Columbia location added later. The magazine’s margarita survey calls the spicy cilantro margarita tangy and revitalizing, built on your choice of tequila with fresh jalapeños and a touch of cilantro. Waiter and bartender Jesús Hernández pairs it with the enchiladas ahogadas, or with the ceviche for something lighter.

Vox Magazine covered José Jalapeños opening on Grindstone Parkway, in part of the space the Galactic Fun Zone had used, and found the dark laser-tag room turned into something bright: green walls, light stone tiles, painted fixtures and custom carved chairs at every table. The menu runs the standard Mexican fare plus fourteen vegetarian options and twelve seafood dishes, among them Mojarra Frita, a whole fried tilapia served with avocado, lettuce, pico de gallo, rice and tortillas. Order the whole fish if you want the part of the menu that is not standard.