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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Tequila Mexican Restaurant Is A Festive Place To EatBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
 Jose
Hernandez may be Tequila Mexican Restaurant's biggest fan.
He has been with the restaurant seven years and has already seen the comfortable eatery grow from one small place in Centralia, Ill., to seven festive dining establishments scattered from Southern Illinois to across the Mississippi and Missouri rivers into St. Charles County. "I guess you'd call me the right hand man to the owner," Hernandez said. "Business is good. We get more and more customers and they comment and ask us to open more locations. They tell us of new locations, and people keep saying 'open here, open there.' That's how we've been growing." The newest Tequila restaurant, at least as this edition of MRN goes to press, is located at 2641 Muegge Rd. in St. Charles. However, take a deep breath and look further to the west and before you know it you will find another opening in Weldon Spring at Hwy. 94 and Wolfrum Rd. in about a week. With a menu almost as large as the restaurant's seating capacity, Tequila Mexican Restaurant accommodates 200 people with a barrage of delectable dishes like Monster Burritos and Tequila Fajitas. "They're huge, both in size and popularity," Hernandez said. Each brightly hand-painted restaurant is filled with its own unique murals depicting various Mexican fiestas. Walls of stucco, metal sculptures and cozy wooden booths are privately reminiscent of Old Mexico, making the perfect spot for a meal at lunch, a festive family dinner or a cozy rendezvous and a night of margaritas. There is a full page of lunch specials at $5.19, with choices that include Chili releno, a taco and refried beans; one burrito, Mexican rice and refried beans; a bean burrito, cheese enchiladas, Mexican rice and refried beans and plenty more. This first venture into Missouri opened six months ago with a menu filled with appetizers and salads and entrees all reasonably priced. Guacamole dip is only $2.59, complimentary warm tortilla chips are promptly brought to your table and a small carafe of freshly made salsa can be poured at will into a small wooden bowl at your table. Cheese and chicken quesadillas are just $2.99, cooked with tomatoes, onions and bell peppers. Domestic and imported beer is sold; wine comes by the glass in fruity flavors like Sangria, White Zinfandel, Rose, Burgundy, Chablis and Chardonnay. A regular margarita at 10 ounces sells for just $3.99, but if a pitcher is in order, 72 ounces sells for $13.99. There are plenty of other sizes in-between. Hand artistry abounds in the restaurant's décor. Handmade ceramic tile tabletops and arched "windows" separate your dining experience from that of others. Painted glass chandeliers light your meal and etched concrete flooring creates a casual atmosphere. Combination dinners run at about $8, and there are unique items like potato enchiladas rarely found in these parts. If vegetarian meals are in order, there are plenty of those as well. Moreover, if you wonder about what to order, the menu has photos. Children's plates need not be Mexican. There are children's choices like grilled chicken, cheeseburgers and cheese enchiladas and accompaniments all for only $4.25 for children under age 12. Get happy at Tequilas during their Monday through Thursday Happy Hours featuring 20-ounce Juarez Margaritas or go for the 32-ounce. Get even happier with a two-finger lime-berry tequila shot or go straight up at a discounted price during Happy Hour. Ahh, and dessert. Flip through the stair-step price options with Chimi Xango, a cheesecake wrapped in a sugary crust, deep fried and drizzled with chocolate ($3.29); deep-fried ice cream in a crispy cinnamon crumbs topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce ($2.99) or a flan, a Mexican custard with a light caramel glaze topped with whipped cream ($1.99) Tequilas Mexican Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. For reservations, a place in their special party room or carryouts, call 636-926-0835. Visit www.tequila-restaurant.com or www.tequilaJaybe.com for free promotional coupons.
Tequila Mexican Restaurant 3641 Muegge Rd. (across from Watson's)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily For reservations, a place in their special party room or carryouts, call 636-926-0835.
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