Cinco de Mayo Events Roundup

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 5, 2010 6:20PM

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo commemorates an unlikely military victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla. North of the still-free-to-cross border (offer may not be valid in Arizona), liquor distributors and bars regard Cinco de Mayo as "Mexican St. Patrick's Day." Simply replace Guinness with Mexican beer, Irish whiskey with tequila, corned beef with taquitos...you get the idea.

To be fair, there are some nice Cinco de Mayo restaurant specials around town that don't involve Cabo Wabo tequila. And, Cinco de mayo also falls on a Wednesday this year, which means that a lot of folks will use today to get an early start on the weekend. This roundup is for you.

Check out our full list of places to get all kinds of margarita, tequila, Corona, etc. deals after the jump. And, please, whatever you do, enjoy the festivities responsibly.

Please?

• English celebrates Cinco with all-day specials such as $5 Don Julio shots, $7 Don Julio margaritas and $4 Corona and Dos Equis bottles. The outdoor patio is now open and Radhika Desai’s menu revamp should be in full swing (444 N. LaSalle, 312-222-6200)
• Dos Diablos (15 W. Hubbard) will have a mariachi band playing at 5 p.m. Also, guests can try the 4 pound chimichanga—The Big Mel—and if they eat it in under 20 minutes they get their name on the wall.
• Mercadito (108 W. Kinzie, 312-329-9555) celebrates Cinco de Mayo with live mariachi music from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., a special lunch and dinner menu for $40 per person, $5 tequila shots, and the chance to try the “Vato Loco.” Mercadito Restaurants and libation specialists the Tippling Bros., have concocted a secret recipe for a tequila-based drink with seven different fresh, marinated and smoked chils that a waiver is required. The $12 "Vato Loco" will only be offered today.
• Cinco de Mayo serve as the official grand opening of Zocalo’s sidewalk patio, with $5 drink specials in honor of the occasion, including pineapple-lime margaritas, tequila sunrises and citrus palomas. Appetizer and entrée specials are also available. (358 W. Ontario, 312-302-9977)
• Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron, 312-664-2727) will commemorate the Mexican holiday with a party package that includes margaritas, sangria, Corona beer and a delicious array of paella, tapas and Latin snacks for $27 per person (plus tax and gratuity). A live percussionist will set the sexy south-of-the-border vibe throughout the evening. Nacional 27’s Cinco de Mayo party package will be available from 6-9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at www.n27chicago.com. A la carte dinner service will also be available throughout the night, and a cash bar begins at 9 p.m.
• $32 three-course prix-fixe menu (excluding tax and gratuity)
• Cinco de Mayo is certainly cause for a dining and drinking celebration each year. Sabor Saveur, the dramatic Wicker Park nouveau Mexican restaurant, offers a departure from the run-of-the-mill Cinco de Mayo event by teaming up with five popular area restaurants on a fun and affordable dining promotion in honor of the occasion.
• Sabor Saveur (2013 W. Division St., 773-235-7310), Mexique (1529 W. Chicago Ave., 312-850-0288), Chilam Balam (3023 N. Broadway, 773-296-6901) and May St. Café (1146 W. Cermak, 312-421-4442) will each present a three-course prix-fixe menu through Sunday for $32 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).