LINCOLN SQUARE — There's an extra reason to thank God it's Friday this week — it's also Cinco de Mayo.
Not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day (that's Sept. 16), Cinco de Mayo has evolved in the United States as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.
Restaurants across Chicago are serving up food and drink specials in honor of the day.
• Check out chef Dudley Nieto's five-course Cinco Feast at both the Albany Park and Ravenswood locations of Rojo Gusano. Choose a salsa, three guacamoles, four tacos, two sides and a dessert from the menu — all for $24.99 — available 4-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3830 W. Lawrence Ave. and 4217 N. Ravenswood Ave.
The Ravenswood restaurant is BYOB; the Albany Park location has a full bar and will have $5 margaritas Friday and Saturday.
Tacos at Rojo Gusano. [Provided]
• Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose Ave., will have beer specials from 5 Rabbits Cerveceria and Mexican-inspired barbecue from Rubicon BBQ. Belly up to the buffet from 6 p.m. til close for $12 per person.
• El Carrito, 6019 N. Lincoln Ave. in West Ridge/North Park, is celebrating its second anniversary on Cinco de Mayo and offering up half-priced tacos for anyone dining in or picking up orders from the restaurant.
• Revival Social Club, 1133 W. Granville Ave. in Edgewater, is serving up holiday-themed specials all week including $4 queso and chips Thursday and $5 Tequila Lemonades on Friday.
• Artango Bar and Steakhouse, 4767 N. Lincoln Ave., has two specials: a "Cinco for Cinco" happy hour menu from 5-7 p.m. offering featured cocktails, tacos, quesadillas and guacamole for $5. Or swing by for a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for $40 featuring your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert.
La Viruta — tequila, chili vodka, blue curaçao, jalapeño, lime juice — on Artango's Cinco for Cinco happy hour menu. [Provided]
• Rhyme or Reason, 1938 W. Division St. in Wicker Park, features taco "flights" with four different kinds of tacos (chicken, grilled steak, carnitas, grilled shrimp or roasted poblano for vegetarians). The $12 flight includes a "margarita shooter" to augment a special frozen "Rhyme-Arita" Mezcal cocktail, which costs $10 per glass or $70 per table.
• Remedy, 1910 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Bucktown, starts early with a "sugar skull face painting and happy hour" at 4 p.m. Other specials include Victoria Beer cans with a shot of Altos tequila for $8 and $9 El Diablo cocktails all evening (silver tequila, Creme de Cassis, lime juice and ginger beer).
• Flo Cafe & Bar, 1434 W. Chicago Ave. in West Town, will offer $3 cans of Pacifico, Victoria, Cabotella, $3 margaritas, plus $3 tacos (carnitas, chicken, nopalas or chorizo and potato).
• High Noon Saloon, 1560 N. Milwaukee Ave., is hosting a "Cinco de Mayo fiesta" with live music by Mariachi Monumental de Mexico beginning at 6:15 p.m., along with lots of swag and giveaways.
Drink specials include $5 Modelo Especial drafts, $6 Casa Noble tequila shots and $8 margaritas.
• After all that eating and drinking, head to Duet Dance Studio, 2412 W. North Ave. Suite 201 in Humboldt Park, for a Latin dance party inspired by Cinco De Mayo. From 9-10:45 p.m. Friday, the studio will host a beginner salsa class, as well as an open dance session and performances by students and instructors.
Tickets cost $25 per person and can be bought online.
