Saturday, October 9th, 2010—Bar 272

Day 272—Friday, October 8th, 2010
Salsa y Salsa
Okay, it’s Friday night and as usual I’m burned out from a week of bar crawling and work has been a little stressful this week. There’s a Mexican restaurant called Salsa y Salsa on 7th Avenue that’s on my way home. It’s got a little colorful little bar inside and there’s usually a seat because most people come for dinner and are seated at the tables. I’ve been saving this for a night that I could stop in on my way home and then it’s just a quick walk home. Well, I think tonight this is going to be the stop. And I’m craving a Michelada, so let’s go check it out. ¡Y salimos!

It's a nice night out, so we'll walk down 7th Avenue. It's just about eight blocks away.

And baboom, here we is! And I think I spy seats at the bar. Areeba!

Some of the specials of the evening, but I've eaten and crave a Michelada, so it's off to the bar we go.

Inside the bar and restaurant it's colorful with fun Mexican flourishes. And there's a seat at the bar!

Chelsie is a regular and jumped behind the bar to help bartender Rubens serve up my Michelada. Chelsie is one of the hosts of the online TV show, Body Shots. Check it out here: Body Shots TV. It's a show devoted to booze and hosted by beautiful women like Chelsie, count me in as a regular viewer.

And here I am with my Michelada. Cheers to you all and especially Tiki Bar Susie who turned me on to the drink! Salud!

The bottles behind the bar.

The bar is small and informal and gives you the feeling of drinking in someone's basement.

Here's Tony who ordered a fresh bottle of Corona.

Tables and chairs line the walls and lead to...

The outside patio area that overlooks Seventh Ave.

Sparkly lights dangle overhead in the back dining area.

Here's Carolina with a big and beautiful smile. You'd smile to if you had a pile of dough like that in front of you! Mucho dinero!

Here's Chelsie and Juan chilling out at a table near the bar.

And speaking of the bar, I went back and tried a margarita. It was delicious.

A lone sombrero hangs on the colorful wall behind the bar.

And the bar itself is illuminated by this grand and glorious chandelier.

For my last cocktail of the evening, Rubens suggested a Brazilian drink called a caipirinha. Rubens is Brazilian, so I took his word for it and ordered one. Here he is preparing it.

And here's the finished product. Rubens warned me that it's a strong drink and really packs a punch!

I drank it and kept a lookout for the Oompa-Loompa men that Jaws has warned me about. ¡Buonas noches, todos!

Review
Salsa y Salsa is a nice and laid back place to have a genuine Mexican siesta. Comfortable banquette-styled booth seats line both walls and there’s tables in the center. The walls are blue with flowers and lights dangle from the ceiling with a red chandelier illuminating the small bar area. The bartenders and waitstaff are fun, friendly and quick with a suggestion about a drink or a choice from the menu. There’s an outside patio for dining and drinking when weather permits.

The bar may be small but it serves quality drinks. They have a good selection of bottled beers, several styles of margaritas including a cactus pear margarita and pomegranate mojitos. I can highly recommend the caipirinha, especially if bartender Rubens is mixing the drinks, it’s his specialty. Just be ready to have someone help you out the door if you have more than one though, they pack a punch! There’s a daily happy hour at the bar that runs from 4pm to 7pm with daily drink specials.

The food is authentic Mexican. There’s a full lunch menu and some of the dinner entrees include: Flautas de Pato—rolled tortilla with salsa duck served with roasted chipotle tomato salsa and guacamole; Panucho de Cochinita—slow cooked spiced pork with black beans, pickled yucatan onion on soft tortilla; Ceviche de Mariscos—seafood ceviche with mango, avocado, olives, capers in sweet & spicy habanero lime broth atop tequila and Taquitos Rancheros—salsa chicken filled in corn tortilla. served with roasted tomato sauce.

Salsa y Salsa
206 Seventh Ave. (@22nd St.)
212-929-2678

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Today would've been John Lennon's 70th birthday. So in tribute, I'm putting up my favorite John Lennon song, "Whatever Gets You Through The Night." This song could also be the theme for this bar crawl! Take it away, Johnny!