Mezcal

A neon sign ringed with a decorative trim of rusted metal hangs on the façade of Mezal, evoking the look of a friendly, working-class cantina or the faded elegance of an old movie palace. Inside, the warm glow of Moroccan-style lamps and the sunny colors of floral tablecloths complement the aromas of sizzling skirt steak, vegetarian tamales, and posole soup. Creating pairings for these traditional morsels, manager Danielle Scott personally selects more than 275 tequilas and mescals to appear on the eatery's extensive beverage list.

A good-natured irreverence pervades Mezcal, where the walls are plastered with Mexican comics, retro movie posters, and photographs of luchador wrestlers flexing their muscles.