Hey Beauties! (in desperate need of a breakfast taco and coffee..) Growing up and hearing the word “fruteria” meant one thing… fruit cups with salt, lime, and chile which always led to the best day ever. Now as a grown a** woman… thanks to my newest cocktail experience… trips to the “fruteria” means fruit infused cocktails.
I was in the “arts district” of downtown San Antonio, known as “Southtown” which is commonly recognized for its hip and trendy vibe. You can expect to find local eats, shopping, and entertainment all in one area. Clearly I was there for the entertainment aspect of this sector and was on the hunt for something to quench my thirst.. as in, I needed a drink. I was actually put on to this restaurant by a friend of mine and let’s just say that this friend KNOWS COCKTAILS… There really wasn’t any more convincing I needed and my mind was made up… off to “The Fruteria” we go.
Skinny… Extra Skinny?
I was a bit confused when finding the location since it seemed to be in the lobby of an apartment/condo complex (I passed it up once and had to whip around.. but then again I am directionally challenged at times… I mean unless I have a few drinks in me and I seem to know every detail about where I am..) *wink* Once I was standing out front I laughed at myself for missing it.. I blame the night sky for this one. It was 7:30pm on a Saturday and there were 6 customers in the restaurant, I personally didn’t mind it but if you are looking for something lively and crowded, this aint it sis.. It could have just been a fluke but nonetheless I was here to accomplish a mission and that mission included Tequila! AYYYYYY!
Now I will fully admit that I am a cliché when it comes to Mexican restaurants… I feel the need to ALWAYS try their margarita. “Skinny” margaritas are how I roll because I prefer less sugar and more tart and let’s be real, I don’t need the sugar.. I love ordering it this way to merely know if they are familiar with what a skinny marg is. I was sticking with tradition and had plans of a margarita on the brain.
Tequila For Dinner
I decided to take a seat at the bar where I’d begin to assess the area. This was a large eatery with several tables and plenty of space. I loved the feel of the establishment with its authentic décor and vibe. It was extremely clean and was not only inviting but very welcoming as every employee I encountered acknowledged me. I was immediately greeted by the bartender and presented a menu.
I was pleased to discover that all the cocktails are not only made with fresh ingredients, but they also curate their own house infusions. WINNER.. WINNER.. TEQUILA FOR DINNER.. Can you guess what I went for?….. You guessed it “The Fruteria Infusion Margarita” which called for fresh lime, pineapple & orange juice, Cointreau and one of their house infusions. There were 6 “house infusions” total and of decent variety. There were 4 tequila, 1 mezcal, and 1 vodka, peep below to get the full menu experience.
I went for the mango melon infusion since I feel it went well with the base notes of the margarita. Watching the preparation of this drink was entertaining all in itself watching the fruit being cut and squeezed and witnessing the freshness was making my mouth water. The wait was finally over and my drink was presented to me in all its freshness and it smelled amazing.
Fresh Fruit For Days
The first sip was everything I could hope for, fresh, strong, and not too sweet. My top 3 drink requirements were met, and I couldn’t be more pleased. It was hard taking my time and enjoying this drink when all I wanted to do was devour it. If something is fresh and you add tequila, there’s really no way to mess it up but this was next level.
The citrus blend with the melon after taste was something I’ve never tasted together and loved it. As I was painfully taking my time with this cocktail, I noticed a member of the staff was steady peeling and cutting fresh fruit, I didn’t truly realize or appreciate what he was doing since it was a repetitive movement till he made his way to the commercial juicer behind him. I was intrigued at this point and actually realized what was happening at this point. I was witnessing the prep for the infusion process and was genuinely impressed, the time and effort it took to do this was mind blowing and made me enjoy my cocktail that much more.
I sadly didn’t have the pleasure of enjoying dinner but can only imagine what I missed out on. I did take a peek at the food menu and noticed an offering of traditional and creative authentic dishes. There wasn’t much traffic in and out of the restaurant so as far as I can tell, wait time shouldn’t be an issue. I can’t wait to make my way back on an empty stomach and experience the full dining experience along with a new cocktail choice and break the margarita must have. I stumbled across their “First Friday” specials so ummm…. you’re welcome! *wink*
