Reyes Mezcaleria - Orlando, Florida. USA
When walking into Reyes Mezcaleria in Orlando Florida you know you're in for a treat. Large windows allow for plenty of natural light, and over the course of the evening the dimly lit amber lights re-affirm the chill atmosphere. The day I was there, 80's and 90's era salsa music softly played overhead. I swear, this place felt inviting and familiar. I'd say the interior design is a juxtaposition of mid-century modern with toned-down traditional Mexican touches, something reminiscent of Cabo perhaps.
The ambiance is incredibly laid back. It's easy to hang out at the bar or take your drink to a seating area near the entrance and let time slip away. The subtle scent of cumin and chili peppers can be appreciated as the wonderful aromas linger from the kitchen.
The other patrons were between 21-45 years of age. The younger people were very well-dressed, and well-mannered. I mention this because even during the height of happy hour, people were behaving correctly.
This is important because things getting too loud would ruin the overall vibe of this place.
The Drinks
I may be a bit biased. If there's a spicy drink on the menu, I'm ordering it. I like the heat, it's as simple as that. I ordered the Matador because it had hellfire bitters. It was delicious, albeit mild. It did its job. The tart lemon juice mixed with the sweetness of the pineapple and agave allowed the Banhez mezcal to go down even smoother than it would've on its own. The light color of the drink contrasted with the deep red chile pepper garnish.
Next up was the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, Bahnez mezcal and Cimarron Reposado tequila served with mole bitters and an orange peel to garnish. Yes. Aside from being into heat, I'm also a fan of a hard drink. This is the one to choose if you want to cut to the chase. A sipping drink for sure, you'll be under its effects in no time.
Lastly, Yucatan Punch. Why not? The Yucatan is known for hurricanes, beautiful beaches, and Mayan ruins. Once finished, this seemingly benign "not just a fruit drink" will blow you away. Crafted with Cenote Blanco tequila, aperol, lime, and ginger hibiscus tea, the Yucatan Punch was delicious and deceiving.
The Food
I should mention that I didn't have much to eat. After all, it was happy hour and frankly, I just wanted a drink. Nevertheless, the bar bites were on point, and ordering only one won’t suffice. Fair warning, they do seem to rotate their happy hour menu often.
As any Mexican themed anything, chips, guacamole, and salsa were an option, and I would be lying if I said I turned them down. The guac was fresh, and the salsa had a smokey chipotle taste to it. The tortilla chips are thick-cut and had a hint of something that made them irresistible.
I also ordered the Chicken Tinga Tostada, a crunchy tortilla foundation stacked with refried black beans and shredded chipotle chicken, topped with pickled red onions, and cotija cheese. Fire. The calories were worth it, they didn't even matter at that point.
Notable Mentions
-Parking is not bad. There are parallel spaces along Orange Ave. An adjacent parking garage is also available that can be accessed from Park Lake Street. It has an elevator right next to the restaurant. In that same garage you'll see plenty of visitor spots, but you'll also notice some "reserved" spots. Look closely at the reserved signage and you'll notice that most of these spots are only reserved from 8AM-6PM Monday-Friday.
-The bar area is spacious with adequate seating and hooks for hanging bags. Happy hour is from 3PM-7PM every day.
-This is a great date night location.
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