Take an Hour. Get Happy at Fred’s

Best new Happy Hour in town? We think the honors go to Fred’s Mexican Café, for its delicious margaritas, tasty new menu, and football-friendly atmosphere. Drink, nosh, cheer – Fred’s makes for a great pit stop on your way home from work or for displaced Crown City Brewery fans who want sports, drinks and eats.

Fred’s is now offering a special menu during happy hour, each item is $3.95 and well drinks, house margaritas and domestic drafts are half price. So, two people can share two menu items and each have a drink all for around $20.00. In this day and age that’s a great deal.

The cantina menu is offered in the bar area only, but don’t let that put you off they have nice tables and booths in addition to seating at the bar. Six items are offered on the Cantina Menu: Mexican Pizza, Mini Chimis, TJ Street Tacos, Potato Tacos, Jalapeno Bites and Mini Nachos.

The Mexican Pizza is a large crispy homemade flour tortilla generously topped with black beans, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce and melted cheese. The tortilla is just crispy enough to hold all the toppings without breaking; the result is a delicious mingling of flavors. Add a little salsa to the mix and yum.

TJ Street Tacos are just that. Three small corn tortillas filled with beef, chicken and pork (you get one of each-no choosing). These tacos are topped with Fred’s Acapulco sauce, a deceptively simple sauce of ranch dressing and guacamole that is really good. The tacos are finished off with cilantro and onions. These tacos are a favorite of manager; Greg Baderian’s who says the tacos are, “kind of a more authentic taco from Mexico.”

Potato tacos come in a crispy shell, American-style with lettuce, cheese, and pico de gallo. These are a great alternative for the vegetarians among us. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, potato tacos are a nice treat.

A basket of golden fried jalapeno bites beckoned to me. I was a little concerned about the heat, I like hot but I’m not a masochist. These golden gems had just the right amount of kick when dipped in the cool ranch dressing that accompanied them. The heat does build on you though, so I’d keep an ice cold cerveza or margarita close at hand.

Mini nachos are far from “mini”. Crisp corn tortilla chips are topped with refried beans, tomatoes, jalapeno slices and plenty of cheese. Top these puppies off with some of Fred’s smokin’ hot chipotle salsa and your mouth will thank you.

Happy Hour at Fred’s is from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Monday – Friday (yes boys, we’re talking Monday Night Football). They also offer other specials in addition to their happy hour. Tacolicious Tuesdays where most tacos are only $2.00 each, Family Night on Sunday’s from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. Kid meals from the kids menu are half price. They also have coloring contests and piñata parties to keep said kids happy while you enjoy your dinner.

Fred’s is located at 119 East Colorado Boulevard. For more information call (626) 304-9955 or log onto www.fredsmexicancafe.com.