We all have that “one night at the bar” story. Maybe it was your 21st birthday, or watching some live music at your favorite destination. For me, my most epic and evil evenings contained one common factor…Tequila. Now if you haven’t had it before, let me tell you, it can make you the life of the party or your next hangover in the making. With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I decided to take a look around for a place to have my guacamole binge for the night, but also where I can get an amazing margarita or a simple shot of tequila. Where did my research take me? Blue Moon Mexican Cafe.
First thing’s first…let’s talk a little bit about tequila. Established in 1974, the word tequila belongs to the Mexican State. It is a designated region known for growing blue agave, distilling, and bottling. It also is a production standard, and a self-regulated industry. Currently there are over 154 registered distillers, (wow!) who are inspected for compliance and maintenance by the Tequila Regulatory Industry. There are 2 main classifications of tequila: mixto and 100% agave, and over five different varieties which I will discuss later that are both aged and non-aged. Now let’s take a trip to Blue Moon Mexican Cafe!
With 3 locations in Jersey, and 1 in New York, you can have your pick of where to go. For my guacamole craving, I decided to try the Woodcliff Lake location with my friend Melissa and though we hit a bit of traffic along the way, (i’d recommend leaving before 5 on weekdays to avoid traffic and the crowds that will most certainly be there for Cinco de Mayo) it was totally worth the trip! If you have a GPS handy, it will get you there in no time at all. You could also Uber down if you intend on making a night of it. Again, leave early so you can get a good parking spot. You don’t want to be having your tequila and trying to walk to your car on May 5th.
The ambience of Blue Moon upon entry very laid back, and chill. The decor gave me a cantina sort of vibe, and the guests that were seated all had smiles on their faces. To see a restaurant that’s so involved with their customers and community…it was a sight to behold! Now let’s talk about food and tequila!
Each Blue Moon Mexican Cafe location has something that it brings to the table, one thing is for sure though, it’s never short on tequila options! You have your choice:
Blanco, Silver, or Plata – Which is unnaged and bottled immediately after distillation, or aged less than 2 months in stainless steel or oak barrels. Brands to pick from include: Lunazul, Patron, Hornitos, Don Julio, Herradura, 1800, Milagro, Cabo Wabo, Casamigos, Clase Azul
Reposado – Which is aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size. Brands to pick from include: Lunazul, Patron, Hornitos, Sauza Blue, Don Julio, 1800, Cabo Wabo, Milagro, Herradura, Casamigos, Clase Azul.
Anejo – Which is aged a minimum of one year, but less that three years in small oak barrels. Brands to pick from include: Lunazul, Don Julio, Patron, Herradura, Hornitos Black Barrel, Casamigos.
Extra or Super Anejo: Which is aged over three years in small oak barrels. Brands to pick from include: Cuervo Reserve, Don Julio, 1942.
Other options include Cuervo Gold, Patron XO, Patron Incindiary, and 1800 Coconut.
With so many picks to choose from, I didn’t even know where to begin! Lucky for me, Blue Moon’s staff is more than equipped to point me in the right direction since they provide training to their employees upon hiring.
This ensures you not only the best dining experience, but a safe experience as well. With a big group? No problem! Order up a famous tequila flight. Prices range from $18-$23.95, but will provide more than enough for you and your friends. Since I needed to still be able to walk for the night, I decided to opt for one of Blue Moon’s margaritas complete with their signature blue salted rim. Now I’m not really a big tequila fan, but this margarita was delicious! It was very smooth to the palate, and you barely tasted the tequila. It was a great starter for my appetizer: The Guacamole. Oh my, did I love this app. Beautiful presentation served in a corn tortilla dish, the guac came served with chips, radishes, tomatoes, and cilantro on the top. You’ll notice that the guac had a hint of lime juice flavor, but it’s not overpowering. This is what made the dish for me, and I was in heaven. Now let’s talk tacos.
Melissa decided to try the Fish tacos consisting of beer battered cod filets fried golden brown, topped with delicious jalapeno tartar sauce and fresh Mexican slaw served on white corn tortillas. I opted for the Brisket Tacos complete with ancho flavored brisket, chopped radishes, cilantro and queso fresco served on white corn tortillas. Both options were delicious, made only of the freshest ingredients. The tacos come served with beans and rice making it very filling and a great addition to any tequila beverage you decide to partake in.
There are many places to get Mexican food, but there is truly only one Blue Moon Mexican Cafe. This community restaurant is a treasure, and if you are looking for the best tequila experience, it should be top on your go-to list this Cinco de Mayo. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, their webpage to countdown the days til May 5th, and see all their upcoming deals and promos. Thanks for the fun time, Blue Moon Mexican Cafe! Cheers, stay safe, and happy tequila drinking to you all!