Serious Eats: New York
Happy Hour: Pequena in Fort Greene
Usually I spend my happy hour time in an actual bar, not a restaurant, but when my friend and I walked by Pequeña and saw the sign for two-for-one fresh margaritas ($6), I was hooked. And I wasn't the only one—the tiny Southwest-themed Mexican joint was packed at 2 p.m. on a recent Friday. True, "packed" is relative since the restaurant only sat about 16 people, and is it ever too early to have a margarita?
Because I am constantly craving pork tacos ($7), that's what I got while my friend ordered the shrimp tostada ($9). As part of the lunch special we got free homemade chips and pico de gallo, plus we splurged the extra $1 for guacamole (cool, fresh, and well worth the buck). The margaritas were also winners, totally lacking any of that super sweet stuff people so often mix into drink concoctions.
The Happy Deal: Two margaritas for $6 is hard to beat, especially when both the frozen and on-the-rocks options are made with fresh ingredients. Also, right nextdoor is the spacious, couch-laden sister restaurant Moe's where the specials (two-for-one drafts and $5 frozen margaritas/mimosas) don't end until 7:30 p.m. Pequeña wraps up at 6 p.m.
In Conclusion:The atmosphere at Pequeña is cozy and comfortable even when it's crowded. Their tacos kind of tasted like the chef had slapped some brisket on a soft corn tortilla and added a little sauce, but they were still good enough to finish. The shrimp tostada was better; the shrimp were firm with a nice, non-fishy flavor. Amazing tacos or not, it's a good way to spend happy hour.
Pequeña
86 South Portland Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217 (map)
718-643-0000
pequenarestaurant.com