A work colleague and I are discussing margaritas. (It seems like the perfect day
for one after work.) She likes her non-sweet and on the rocks. I like my slushy.
We both like the salted rim, and prefer that they be made with good ingredients
rather than mixes. What suggestions do Ed-hatters have for the best ones in town?
COMMENT 168908
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2011-04-29 01:41 PM |
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Cava, Carlitos, El Torito, El Paseo, Paradise Cafe, Plaza Azul, I would Think Sojourner would make a good one.
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COMMENT 168910
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2011-04-29 01:44 PM |
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cafe del sol by the bird refuge..... if you're in luck manny is behind the bar. done and done.
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COMMENT 168911
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2011-04-29 01:44 PM |
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Harry's and Joe's.
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COMMENT 168912P
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2011-04-29 01:45 PM |
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ugh now i want one
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COMMENT 168914
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2011-04-29 01:47 PM |
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All above are good but just make sure its a REAL margarita on the rocks. None of that blended Slurpee type BS.
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COMMENT 168915
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2011-04-29 01:51 PM |
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Cafe Del Sol!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT 168916
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2011-04-29 01:53 PM |
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Cava is pretty good. Carlitos imo is too sweet (too much of the juice and not enough of the JUICE.) Tho the one in Santa Ynez makes better margaritas. Also, Los Arroyos makes a decent one.
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MESARATS
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2011-04-29 01:57 PM |
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Order your 100 percent agave of choice on the rocks salted rim if you like. Ask for a rocks glass of limes on the side and squeeze to taste. We have found that to be the best way of avoiding felony Margarita crimes. At home we like them with limes, Meyer lemons and passion fruit. Sorry no advice about the frozen drinks, but I sure the Edhaters will come to the rescue Is it tequila thirty yet?
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COMMENT 168922
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2011-04-29 01:59 PM |
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Brewhouse on Montecito makes excellent margis regardless of the tequila - even their well margs are great...
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COMMENT 168924P
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2011-04-29 02:02 PM |
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I had an awesome margarita last night at China Pavillion!
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COMMENT 168927
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2011-04-29 02:17 PM |
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Enterprise Fish Co. makes a generous margy. Can't go wrong with Joe's and Harry's.
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COMMENT 168935
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2011-04-29 02:29 PM |
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And apparently if you are a toddler, Appleby's in Michigan.
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COMMENT 168942
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2011-04-29 02:42 PM |
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Playa Azul on Canon Perdido and SB Street. They have many different ones to choose from and all are good. Their house margie is perfect and you can't beat the outdoor area.
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COMMENT 168943P
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2011-04-29 02:43 PM |
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We are margarita snobs... On the rocks with salt, none of that blended crapola. Cafe del Sol or Los Arroyos are good. We also stumbled into a gem at The Beachside in Goleta of all places, just make sure and ask for the 'Back Bar Margarita'...the one the employees have after work!...yum.
A real margarita is pretty simple to make at home...fresh squeezed lime juice, maybe a splash of orange, tequila of course and countrieau(sp?)
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COMMENT 168953
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2011-04-29 03:20 PM |
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The best 'rita is homemade, but if I go out I have three favorites. Carlitos, Cafe del Sol, or Brophys if Ara is working.
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COMMENT 168956
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2011-04-29 03:24 PM |
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Milk and Honey has greaaaat margaritas with delicious (and often local) juices and they can be made with habanero infused tequila if you like 'em spicy!
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COMMENT 168974
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2011-04-29 04:21 PM |
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The Biltmore Lounge has a really good one too. They make their own "mix" that is all fresh ingredients, simple syrup etc. I really like theirs.
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COMMENT 168975
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2011-04-29 04:22 PM |
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BLUE AGAVE! Blood orange margies!
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COMMENT 168976
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2011-04-29 04:22 PM |
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Carlitos is the only one I've had that wasn't slushy junk (and I like slushy junk, btw, but Carlitos was a real margarita). Good stuff.
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COMMENT 168988
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2011-04-29 04:55 PM |
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Peabody's makes blood orange margaritas! I like Cafe del Sol, Beachside, Brophy's and Pepe's. I prefer the cadillac margaritas made with Gran Marnier instead of Cointreau. Yummy now you've got me salivating!!!!
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COMMENT 168999
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2011-04-29 05:36 PM |
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There are no better cocktails to be found in town than those served at The Hungry Cat, and their happy hour starts every day at 3pm!
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COMMENT 169007
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2011-04-29 06:01 PM |
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First of all, most of the bars and restaurants make their margaritas with a mix that uses Sweet n Sour or some other overly sweet stuff. A true aficianado would never drink such a thing. For purists you may want to try one made with GOOD tequila, fresh lime juice and agave syrup shaken with ice. That's it. Or instead of the agave syrup (many bars won't stock that) use a little cointreau. But Please, no mixes or rotgut tequila.... life is too short....
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COMMENT 169008
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2011-04-29 06:01 PM |
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Elephant Bar
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COMMENT 169011P
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2011-04-29 06:08 PM |
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I don't think that a purist requires GOOD tequilla. Good tequilla is a relatively new thing. A true purist likes the gritty stuff.
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COMMENT 169013P
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2011-04-29 06:15 PM |
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007 - Maybe a foo-foo hoity-toity purist. A real margarita is made tequila, lime, and triple sec. That's all.
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COMMENT 169024
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2011-04-29 07:18 PM |
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Margarita snob here. Only 100% agave, not too sweet, well crafted is what I'm after. Brewhouse; the Don Julio Cadillac Margarita is a favorite. Its a hefty pour and Don Julio silver is a solid choice for a margarita tequila. Playa Azul has some good ones as well, just choose wisely. Cafe del Sol from what I remember has legit ones as well.
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COMMENT 169047P
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2011-04-29 09:37 PM |
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The Barefoot Contessa's Margarita recipe, serves 4 Ingredients: 1 lime, halved Kosher salt 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (5 limes) 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon) 1 cup Triple Sec 1 cup white tequila Directions:
If you like margaritas served in a glass with salt, rub the outside rims of six glasses with a cut lime and dip each glass lightly into a plate of kosher salt. Combine the lime juice, lemon juice, Triple Sec,Tequila in a pitcher, stir and serve over ice with an additional lime wedge if desired.
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PATRICK
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2011-04-30 06:04 AM |
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Once we started making them at home, we haven't found one we like at a bar or restaurant. Equal parts tequila, lime juice and triple sec, on the rocks. Sometimes we use passion fruit instead of lime juice.
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COMMENT 169059
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2011-04-30 07:04 AM |
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Here's yet another delicious margarita suggestion: Brophy's...it's tasty & complements the spectacular view while getting you where you want to be.
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SPAGNOLA
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2011-04-30 07:48 AM |
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Blue Agave, without a doubt. Add a float of Damiana and it is heaven.
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COMMENT 169066
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2011-04-30 07:52 AM |
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You put a margarita in a blender and it ceases to be a margarita. Period. End of discussion. I am a margarita expert, and lifelong drinker. Just as you should NEVER waste an extremely expensive vodka in a bloody mary, you should NEVER waste a top-of-the-line tequila in a margarita. Now, I'm talking the tequilas that cost more than $40 or so for a fifth. You are wasting your money using Cazadores, Patron, Don Julio, etc. You really do not want a smooth, sipping tequila in a margarita. You want one that has a pungent agave bite to it, and trust me, at a bar, you can get that in just about every house tequila. But my choice for margarita tequila is regular old Jose Cuervo. I wouldn't drink it straight it you paid me, but it is perfect for a margarita. As far as the other ingredients, I agree that a lightly salted rim is a must. Next is lime juice, and not any lime juice, but KEY LIME juice. Yes, you have to squeeze 5 times as many to ge the same amount of juice, and yes, they have bigger seeds in them. But key limes do not have the bitterness that regular limes do. Whichever lime juice you use, mix it half and half with water. If you use regular lime juice, add about a teaspoon of sugar per cup of juice mix, to cut the bitterness. Next is your orange flavoring. You can get this with either triple sec (now here I would not use the super cheap stuff...you are not using a lot) or fresh squeezed orange juice orange juice. I don't like using orange juice because I don't like the color of the margarita that you get, so I use a triple sec. Proportions are the key. I always go heavy on the tequila. 4 parts tequila, 2 parts lime mix, 1 part triple sec. DO NOT overdo the triple sec. If you make a big pitcher of these, do not put ice in it...it will get too watered down. Pour over an ice-filled glass with a salted rim. Garnish with a lime or orange wedge, if it's for the ladies. And careful...these tasty quaffs go down quick and hit you like a hammer. 95% of bars in town use sour mix in a margarita. The whole point is it is NOT supposed to be sour. However, most of your high-end restaurants make good margaritas.
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GRANNYFRANNY
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2011-04-30 08:44 AM |
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I will second the vote for the Back Bar Margarita at Beachside Bar/Cafe at Goleta Beach. Large serving (one is Truly Enough); good balance of real lime juice and tequila; and topped with a float of Grand Marnier. Nothing grander in SB, folks.
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MADMAX
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2011-04-30 08:45 AM |
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Cazadoras Margarita at Brophies made by Ara! Cafe Del Sol too, tasty. Hungry Cat I bet makes a good one.
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AGENTSME
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2011-04-30 08:56 AM |
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Brophy's
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COMMENT 169088
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2011-04-30 09:28 AM |
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Palapa has a great rocks margarita, and the patio makes you feel you're in Mexico. Rose Cafe on the Mesa is good too. I don't drink slushies so can't help you there. Homemade is by far the best. Follow The Highlander's proportions (and advice about tequila). The only things I do differently is substitute Cointreau for the triple sec & use limes from my tree (Bearss, see Western Garden Book). Key limes may a cut above, but they couldn't be fresher. Salud!
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COMMENT 169091
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2011-04-30 09:40 AM |
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007 is the ONLY one to have hit it 100% correct. 100% agave tequila (silver or blanco, please) fresh lime juice (key lime, if you can) agave nectar and ice. Shake and pour in a salt rimmed glass. No Cointreau or Grand Marinier, no triple sec, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and NO blender. ANY orange juice or flavoring, like blending, ends it's margarita-ness!
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COMMENT 169102
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2011-04-30 10:30 AM |
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Dos Carlitos in Santa Ynez
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AQUAHOLIC
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2011-04-30 10:56 AM |
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I nominate HIGHLANDER to host an Edhat Margarita party....I agree 99.9% with what he said. Ole'
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COMMENT 169143
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2011-04-30 12:59 PM |
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I have not had a better margarita than at Pepe's in Goleta. You have to get the Grande on the Rocks with Hornitos so it is hand mixed not from a bottled mix. Maria makes them the best. Joes and Harrys both have a decent margy but its mostly good cause its basically a glass of TaKillYa with a hint of everything else. I can not believe the Beachside is even mentioned here. YUCK Guess you've never had a real margarita.
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COMMENT 169158
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2011-04-30 02:06 PM |
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Beachside Backbar is fantastic.
Hollister Brewing Company makes an excellent tart 'rita with fresh lime juice and an excellent amount of good tequila - must ask though for the "Classic" Margarita.
Boathouse does a good Blood Orange Margarita.
And yes, Harry's and Joe's will knock your socks off.
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GOWEST
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2011-04-30 02:41 PM |
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Well which is the best? How can I try them all? :-) Any special offers to Edhat subscribers?
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COMMENT 169169
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2011-04-30 03:29 PM |
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Del Dueno Margarita at Los Arroyos Montecito is the best.
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DOUGBUCK
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2011-05-02 03:17 PM |
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Playa Azul
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