BYO Tequila: Socially Distant Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Boston

It’s time to pick out a fiesta-ready Zoom background for your virtual happy hour: Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday next week. Planning to cook at home? Tune in on Instagram at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, for a special edition of Cooking Live with Boston Magazine Events, which will host Citrus & Salt chef Jason Santos for a dinner demo accompanied by tequila-spiked cocktails. But if you’d rather leave the margarita mixers and taco toppings to the professionals, check out these curbside pickup and delivery options that’ll help you recreate restaurant-level Cinco de Mayo celebrations at home.

Colorful cocktail mixers are on the new takeout menu from Citrus & Salt. / Photo courtesy of Citrus & Salt

Citrus & Salt Fiesta Box

The colorful, coastal-inspired cantina from chef Jason Santos has been closed for a few weeks, but it’s getting into the takeout game just in time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Beginning on Tuesday, May 5, Citrus & Salt will reopen for pickup or delivery-dinner service Tuesday-Saturday (4-9 p.m.), plus Sunday brunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.). The debut menu includes a $48 Fiesta Kit of six tacos, chips and guacamole, and churros for two; along with signature dishes like pulled pork empanadas, Flamin’ Hot Cheeto-dusted Mexican-style street corn, and a soft-serve flavor of the day. Besides some takeout cervezas, you can also fuel the fiesta with bottled margarita mixers to make drinks at home. Call or click to order for curbside pickup or delivery.

142 Berkeley St., Back Bay, Boston, 833-324-8787, citrusandsaltboston.com.

Photo courtesy of Cosmica

Contact-Free Pop-Up with Cósmica Chef Colton Coburn-Wood

The South End’s new Mexican eatery and bar, Cósmica, was just getting fired up in February before it had to shut the doors. While it’s not yet patio season at the Revolution Hotel restaurant, it is Cinco de Mayo, and chef Colton Coburn-Wood is suiting up to help locals celebrate at home. His menu centers on taco kits with fillings like chili-roasted brisket and spring vegetable vegano. Each kit is packed to feed 3-4 people, and comes with corn tortillas, pico slaw and salsa verde, black beans, and ancient grains. Extras include bottles of Jarritos sodas and margarita mixers. Preorder by May 3 for contactless pickup between noon and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5.

The Revolution Hotel, 40 Berkeley St., South End, Boston, 617-313-7878, cosmicaboston.com.

Michelada Meal Kits from Lamplighter Brewing Co. and Brato Brewhouse

Visit the Lamplighter taproom in Cambridge on Tuesday night to snag preordered michelada kits, anchored by a four-pack of lager and all the accompaniments you need to make a spicy beer-tail at home. They’re being offered alongside taco kits—loaded with tacos, guac, and dessert—from Brato Brewhouse chef Jonathan Gilman’s next takeout popup. Pickup at Lamplighter’s walkup window begins at noon on Tuesday, May 5.

284 Broadway, Cambridge, 617-945-0450, lamplighterbrewing.com.

Nathalie’s “Drinko de Mayo” package includes a bottle of Mexican rose and a porron to festively pour it into your mouth. / Photo courtesy of Nathalie Wine Bar

Drinko de Mayo with Nathálie Wine Bar

If your at-home fiesta needs some high-flying wine, place a pickup order with this Fenway bar. Nathálie’s special, $100 “Drinko de Mayo” package not only includes chips and guac, pork tacos for two, and a sweet treat from chef Alex Bhojwani—it also comes with a bottle of Bichi Pet-Mex Tecate Rosé from Baja California, Mexico; and a porron to pour it from on high. A Spanish style of glass wine decanter, a porron has a spout for pouring wine right into your mouth—traditionally, it’s a fun and festive way to share a bottle with friends, but for these unusual times, it’s your next most-liked Instagram post, probably. Preorder by May 2 for pickup between 3-5 p.m. on May 5.

186 Brookline Ave., Boston, 857-317-3884, nathaliebar.com.

DJ Ryan Brown not pictured—but his tunes will be part of your Cinco party pack from Loco. / Photo courtesy of Loco Taqueria

Loco Taqueria’s Cinco Box

Southie’s tacos-and-tequila bar turns up the volume on its nightly takeout menu with a party in a “cinco box”: There are wings, nachos, tacos and sauces—plus mini piñatas, Loco sunglasses, Mexican beer and cocktail mixers, and more. For a little extra atmosphere, DJ Ryan Brown, a regular presence during Loco’s IRL fiestas, will be live-streaming tunes to accompany your eating. Call the restaurant to order a box ($150) and schedule a pickup time between 11-5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5.

412 W. Broadway, South Boston, 617-917-LOCO, locosouthboston.com.

Photo courtesy of Naco Taco

Naco Taco Party Packs

Quarantined with kids? Promise them a four-pack of Jarritos, then make them set the table to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with help from this Cambridge cantina. Along with colorful mix-packs of Mexican sodas, Naco Taco’s build-your-own kits include a choice of two proteins, plus taco garnishes, tortillas, street corn salad, chips, and guac. It’s a delicious DIY activity that feeds four people for $75, and all sales support the restaurant and food truck’s out-of-work staff. Order by Sunday, May 3, to schedule a 15-minute window for contactless pickup on the patio.

297 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-945-1548, nacocentral.com.

Scorpion Bar

The Boston and Foxborough locations of Scorpion Bar are back on the scene May 5 with the launch of takeout and delivery service. Things heat up on Cinco de Mayo with burritos, nachos, and more cantina favorites, plus beer, wine, and signature Scorpion Bar margarita glasses to go along with cocktail kits.

58 Seaport Blvd., Boston, 617-322-0200, thescorpionbar.com; 253 Patriot Place, Foxborough, 617-274-1742, scorpionpatriotplace.com.

Tacos Arabes at Simcha bring Mexican-inspired Middle Eastern flavors to Sharon. / Photo courtesy of Simcha

Taco Tuesday with Simcha and Arabé

At his Sharon restaurant Simcha, chef Avi Shemtov’s Arab-influenced “taco Tuesdays” became so popular that he plans to launch a new food truck concept, Arabé. Get a taste of what’s to come with a Cinco de Mayo order, as Tuesday night’s takeout options will feature staples from the forthcoming Arabé menu. Think: house-made pita shells filled with grilled mahi mahi, pickled lemon, grilled romaine, and banana pepper; and harissa pork shoulder with salty cucumber, tahini, and sheep’s milk feta. Make sure you have tequila at home to complement the limonana margarita mixers. Other festive add-ons include nachos, and fermented banana churros for dessert. Call Simcha restaurant on Tuesday to order no-contact pickup or local delivery in the area.

370 South Main St., Sharon, 781-867-7997, simcharestaurant.com.

Stillwater’s Cinco de Mayo Box

Along with biscuits and butter, burgers, and more comfort food from chef Sarah Wade’s still-new downtown restaurant, the Stillwater takeout menu will be party-ready on Tuesday with a package including chips and queso, pork carnitas tacos, sides like lime and cumin black beans, and more. Each $55 Cinco de Mayo box also includes fresh cucumber margarita mix—which, pro bar-stocking tip: pairs well with spicy tequila. You’ll find the ordering option for pickup on Tuesday on Stillwater’s website—no preorders necessary.

120 Kingston St., Boston, 617-936-3079, stillwaterboston.com.

Photo courtesy of WECO Hospitality

Taco Tuesday Delivery from WECO Hospitality

When chef Gavin Lambert was laid off from Woods Hill Table last month, he launched a new meal delivery service out of its Concord kitchen with his girlfriend, Rachel Amiralian. As WECO Hospitality, the duo prepares weekly, restaurant-quality meals ($8-$14) available to newsletter subscribers—including a popular taco Tuesday offering. For Cinco de Mayo, the package comes with a special cocktail kit addition, complete with some Spindrift bubbles as an alcohol-free option. For dinner, it’ll be short rib barbacoa tacos, salsa verde, refried black beans, and corn tortilla with easy toasting instructions. Sign up for the email list for a chance to order—all the info will hit your inbox Sunday at 2 p.m. Delivery will be scheduled around Boston and surrounding suburbs, or you can opt for curbside pickup at Woods Hill Table in Concord.

wecohospitality.com.

Yellow Door Taqueria Quarantaco Boxes

Totally loaded and appropriately named “quarantaco boxes” are added to YDT’s takeout menu for Tuesday night: There are a few different options ($75-$200), with various taco combinations, snacks, and margarita mixers—but they all include some added entertainment. Each package comes with a movie link and code to watch Agave: The Spirit Of A Nation, a documentary about Mexico’s most spirited export: Tequila. Added bonus: Yellow Door is sharing its Instagram Live stream with Celtics DJ BREK.ONE, who will be spinning tunes from 6-7 p.m. Preorders are live online now to pick up on Tuesday in Dorchester or the South End, or you can call ahead for takeout. No delivery for the quarantine boxes.

2297 Dorchester Ave., Lower Mills, 857-267-4201; 354 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, 857-239-9276, yellowdoortaqueria.com.