El Catrin, the Distillery District’s jazzy new joint for tacos, is a visual feast. A loud mural dancing with colour is splayed across one accent wall; neon skulls glow from a back room; and eye-catching dioramas of rural scenes from the homeland are dotted throughout the space. Liquor also plays a role in the decor scheme, with bottles of tequila and mescal surveying the scene from mammoth shelves behind the bar.
The star of the coctel menu is a pricey bottle of Clase Azul Ultra Extra Anejo, visible behind the bar and costing a cool $200 for a shot. Our pick is a wee bit cheaper. The so-called Pepino Diablo — or the Cucumber Devil — pairs Milagro Blanco tequila with both muddled cucumber and serrano peppers, for some added kick ($9). The drink is finished with agave nectar, a spritz of citrus and is rimmed with Tajin, a Mexican seasoning rife with chili and lime.
El Catrin, 18 Tank House Ln., 416-203-2121
Karolyne Ellacott is a features editor at Post City Magazines. She pedals around town in heels, eating sandwiches and drinking cocktails. She writes about that, and about about other stuff too. She is also on Twitter.
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