Red Mesa Restaurant has been a St. Pete staple for nearly 30 years, a favorite on 4th Street since opening its doors in 1995. Their traditional menu featuring favorites from all seven regions of Mexico has made it a stalwart in the city, but it isn’t just the great taste that’s kept people coming back. The restaurant is always introducing new dishes and fun twists, and two recent additions have given us even more reason to return to its original location at 4912 4th Street North.

Red Mesa Restaurant now features a full liquor bar, rocking more than 20 tequilas and mezcals alongside a cocktail menu crafted to pair perfectly with the delicious Mexican eats. Margaritas (and pitchers of margaritas, let’s be honest) are a go-to when chowing down and salsa, tacos and the like, and in addition, the full cocktail list also offers creative and flavorful drinks that go far beyond the typical fare.

One of our personal favorites is the Downtown Cadillac, made with Hornitos Plata Tequila, lime juice, agave nectar and a floater of St. Pete Distillery Tippler’s Orange Liquer, capped off with a salted rim. For those who want a little spice in their life, the jalapeno-infused Hot Carlos is a sweat-inducing delight, and the Diva Paloma is refreshing new take on the traditional Paloma, made with Aha Yeto Diva tequila, fresh-squeezed ruby red grapefruit, lime juice, organic agave and a chile salt rim.

Full menu includes award-winning sangria, Mexican lagers

For a Mexican twist on an American classic, Red Mesa’s “New Fashioned” stirs together Hornitos Añejo Black Barrel, Bruxo x Mezcal, Morita chile simple syrup and Mexican chocolate bitters.

And of course, this is all in addition to Red Mesa’s award-winning specialty sangrias, available by the glass or the pitcher, each handmade to order with fresh ingredients. A large selection of beer and wine rounds out the bar menu, including more than half a dozen Mexican lagers and ales. Red Mesa has also crafted a list of tasty mocktails for those steering away from alcohol (or just steering the car home).

Red Mesa brings boozy brunch to 4th Street North

The addition of the full liquor bar followed Red Mesa’s recent debut of its Mexican brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am – 3 pm. The brunch menu welcomes a few of the usual suspects like brunch tacos, a breakfast burrito, and the carne asada and eggs, But fans of Red Mesa won’t be surprised to hear the restaurant broke out some supremely creative dishes for their new offering.

At the top of our must-try list is the chicken and churros, a Mexican take on chicken and waffles, made with doughy churros and covered in a bacon and chile morita agave syrup and powdered sugar. More favorites include the shrimp and grits with poblano and chipotle, the huevos con chorizo, and the sweet potato and chorizo hash.

We may also be going back for day two to make sure we can try the tamales and eggs, two chicken tamales with fried eggs, chile verde sauce, queso fresco, and cilantro onion. And going back for more is always a good idea, considering the chef whips up regular rotating specials available for a limited time only.

And of course, what brunch isn’t best with a little hair of the dog? Red Mesa offers Bloody Marys, mimosas and Micheladas, in addition to their standard bar menu. Even the mimosas come with a Red Mesa twist, allowing imbibers to choose between orange, mango, passionfruit, pomegranate or cranberry juice.

Check out the full bar and brunch menu for Red Mesa Restaurant here.

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