Email
PrintTrending In 2012: Kitschy Mexican
In Columbus, the words “kitschy” and “Mexican dining” go together like chips and salsa or Corona and lime. Just look at staple local chain El Vaquero, which has long entertained diners with its hacienda-style decor, colorful woven knickknacks and religious figurines. Two notable openings this past year riff on the kitschy Mex theme: El Camino Inn Downtown and Local Cantina in Grandview. The very American owners of each insist their places are more bar than eatery and more Tex than Mex. These are casual joints where the tastefully cheesy vibe reminds patrons to not take things too seriously.
El Camino Inn In style, El Camino Inn is a retro version of West Coast meets south of the border. There’s nothing quiet about this tiny Americanized Mexican spot on Fourth Street, with a vibrant orange and blue color scheme inspired by the giant lacquered sailfish hanging above the bar that follows through to the blue pleather chairs.
“We thought a ’70s feel would be fun for a cocktail environment,” explains Tina Corbin, who opened the spot with her husband Randy last year.
Despite its ode in name to a classic American car, Mexican touches are everywhere. The small, food-truck-like menu has tacos, gorditas and tortas inspired by the dishes the kitchen staffs at the couple’s other restaurants, Club 185 and Little Palace, cook for themselves. The bar boasts 60 tequila options, a hearty Mexican beer list, and even a few Mexican cocktails like beer and tomato juice. Head over during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. for $2 Mexican beers.
Local Cantina Grandview’s restaurant row lacked two things, according to George Tanchevski: a Mexican joint, and a good neighborhood bar. So when the Aladdin’s owner moved his franchise a few doors down in the Grandview Center, he decided to fill the vacant space with Local Cantina in October.
The bar is intentionally cheesy, from its mustache logo to Polaroid-style photos of customers sporting great ’staches displayed behind the bar. Local Cantina does self-serve chips and salsa at a station made out of an old green laundry tub. Wash them down with one of 16 craft beers on tap, or choose from a cocktail list that puts spins on some classics.
The Mustache Ride is the cantina’s version of a gold margarita with tequila, lime, agave nectar and Grand Marnier. The Don Takes Manhattan subs whiskey for tequila, plus orange bitters, sweet vermouth and Cointreau.
As for food, it’s standard Mex fare—tacos, fajitas, nachos and quesadillas.
“I call it Mexican food for gringos,” Tanchevski says.
1423 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-488-6146
