Most of us head to Friendship Heights for high-end and discount retail adventures, but the area, home to Sushiko, Indique Heights, and Lia’s, has recently attracted a few more good dining options. Bryan Voltaggio’s Range jumps to mind—he’ll open a second location of Lunchbox there soon, too. And on May 10, Chevy Chasers can start ordering margaritas and tamales at Mi Cocina, a Dallas export specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine.
The new restaurant at the Collection (5471 Wisconsin Avenue, Northwest) has a modern, fairly sparse design with potted cacti, massive, modern chandeliers, and some large canvas paintings of desert flowers by artist Luis Sottil. There’s a stone patio off to the side and a pretty glass-walled private dining area that seats 25 people.
This is the 22nd restaurant for the Dallas-based chain, which debuted in 1991. The menu doesn’t reinvent any wheels—you’ll find enchiladas, nachos, tacos, and tamales, and nearly everything is under $20. There’s no happy hour, but drink prices are relatively low for Washington—signature cocktails include a frozen margarita-sangria mashup called the Mambo Taxi. The Mambo Limousine adds Chambord to the slushie and costs $10. Mi Cocina also caters.
Mi Cocina. 5471 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite F-1; 301-652-1195 Open Sunday through Thursday 11 to 10 and Friday and Saturday 11 to 11.
