Cinco De Mayo In Temecula: Celebrate With Pechanga's 1882 Cantina Chef's Specials

TEMECULA, CA —Temecula's Cinco de Mayo planning got a bit easier. If you want to spend an evening out on May 5 with the perfect margarita, Pechanga Resort Casino has the solution.

The 1882 Cantina, one of the newest restaurants at the resort, is an ideal get-away-from-the-ordinary kind of place. On Cinco de Mayo, there will be both Margarita and taco specials from the mind of Chef Andre Alto, who has a classical training and upscale approach to Mexican fare.

"The cantina’s bartenders are mixing up the tasty Paraíso margarita for $12," a restaurant spokesperson told Patch.

Each of the mellow, flavorful drinks is concocted with tequila, watermelon liqueur, lime juice, a dash of cucumber puree and agave syrup, making it as refreshing as it is relaxing to sip. It's an ideal pairing with the cantina's signature Cinco de Mayo special: Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos for $18.

The dish comes complete with two shrimp tacos with cabbage, pico de gallo, bang-bang sauce and sides of beans and rice.

Have you ever heard of it? BangBang Sauce is sweet, spicy, creamy, and a perfect sauce for seafood, according to the chef. These specials are alongside the restaurant’s daily menu.

Also, at 1882 Cantina, check out their $5 Corona beer special for Cinco de Mayo.

If you cannot get out to eat on Thursday, May 5, no worries. The 1882 Cantina Cinco de Mayo food and drink specials run until Sunday, May 7.

The1882 Cantina is named after the important year when President Chester A. Arthur reestablished a government-to-government relationship with the Pechanga, setting aside a mere 4,000 acres for the Pechanga Indian Reservation.

The restaurant, located on the atrium level, in between the resort and casino towers on the property, is open Thursday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Cinco de Mayo or any other of Pechanga’s numerous dining options, please visit www.pechanga.com.