Jetting off to Mexico at this time of year brings no relief from the weather, so we might as well stick around here and discover our own Cozumel at Rudy’s Café & Tequila Bar, in Somerville’s Teele Square. Its bar is stocked with 52 different types of tequila; it’s probably safe to assume that the folks manning that kind of arsenal knew what they were doing when they dreamed up the 15 margaritas featured on the drink menu.
For the purist, Rudy’s offers the House and Tradicional margaritas ($4.95). Both are made with tequila and triple sec, but the Tradicional includes lime juice instead of the standard mix of juices and sugar, making it as refreshing as it is tart. On the sweeter side, there’s Ol’ Blue ($4.95), an attention-grabbing margarita that owes its aqua color to the blue curaçao mixed in with tequila and juices. The Prickly Pear ($5.95) is a treat for those looking for a sweet drink with a bit more kick, courtesy of Sauza Gold tequila and Cointreau combined with prickly-pear juice. Of course, the sweet treats most appropriate for summer are the frozen margaritas ($5.95). The raspberry version is well complemented by its lime garnish, but it is completely upstaged by its strawberry sister, which so resembles a fresh smoothie (complete with strawberry seeds) that it insidiously masks the liquor contained within.
Tequila connoisseurs will appreciate the nuances of the Gold ($5.76), 18 Karat ($6.24), and Oaxaca ($5.95) margaritas, each of which draws from Rudy’s vast tequila library. However, even the savviest aficionado will be humbled by the Calientes margarita ($4.95), a sick little number made with jalapeño tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice. According to the staff, the tart juice balances out the tequila, which Rudy’s marinates in a bottle of hot peppers for between a week and a month. Those brave enough to try it could wind up mistaking the familiar climes of Somerville for those of sultry (and spicy) Mexico.
Available at Rudy’s Café & Tequila Bar, 248 Holland Street, Somerville. Call (617) 623-9201.
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