Appetizer
El Vez’ Tito Santana Guacamole
The Mexican restaurant in the W Hotel offers any number of amazing dishes and drinks. If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend starting with this not-for-the-faint-of-heart guac featuring mango, red pepper, jicama, habanero and serrano.We also recommend having a drink handy. elvezftlauderdale.com
Main course
Casa Frida’s Barbacoa de Borrego
Casa Frida is known for its commitment to authentic and sometimes off-the-beaten-path Mexican cuisine, and this dish isn’t the sort of thing you’ll see at every Mexican restaurant. They take a lamb leg, marinate it in adobo, wrap it in banana leaves, roast it and serve it with cactus pico de gallo, lamb stew, refried beans and warm corn tortillas. casafridamexicancuisine.com
Dessert
Lona’s Volcan Cake
Chef Jorge Gutierrez is passionate about Mexican cuisine, something that’s evident when you peruse the menu at this oceanfront spot. And that passion extends all the way to the dessert menu, which includes this rich chocolatey treat. With its volcanic chocolate sauce as well as peanuts and berries with vanilla ice cream, this gooey dessert soothes after even the spiciest of main courses. lonarestaurant.com
Beverage
Gingers Bar and Restaurant’s Mango Habanero Margarita
This popular new Oakland Park spot does world and American gastropub cuisine, and on Cinco de Mayo you can bet the menu will include favorites like their elote and signature taco platters. It’ll also feature the margarita that’s an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, all in one glass. It’s sweet, but it also packs a swift habanero kick. gingersbarandrestaurant.com
