Puerto Alegre Restaurant   

It's all about the margaritas at Puerto Alegre, and that's what the long line outside on a Saturday night is waiting for. There's something to be said about the perfectly frozen or on-the-rocks combination of tangy, pucker-inducing citrus, backed by the soft, under-palate taste of just the right amount of salt, floating atop a buoy of a well-balanced alcoholic kick. And at $15 for a pitcher, you and all your friends will get schnockered without realizing it, and without spending a whole lot of cash. Thank goodness there's food nearby when you need it most. Not great food, mind you, but decent-enough neighborhood-style eats to battle the tequila's race to your stomach. If you can't wait to eat elsewhere, then a couple of tacos or a dirt-cheap burrito will do the trick. Or, share a quesadilla with the table as a snack. Keep your expectations low and you won't be too disappointed. And if you are, the next pitcher is bound to cheer you back up. -- Karen Solomon