I was surprised when a friend told me she had found the best margaritas in Dallas, and they were at Las Ranitas. I’ve had lunch at this Tex-Mex place on Columbia many times, but I never thought to order a drink there. So I decided to give them a try on a Thursday night. At $6.95, I figured they better be good. And they are. The freshly squeezed lime mix is tart and not too sweet, and the peppery tequila flavor comes through. The manager mixed my margarita and blended it herself — there is no frozen drink machine. And the ice-to-drink ratio was right on. The drink is pricey, but it’s strong. Indulging in more than one probably would be a mistake. They remind me a little of the famous Mexican Martinis at Trudy’s in Austin.
Las Ranitas has a typical Tex-Mex menu with influences from Northern Mexico and seafood dishes, plus some bar food. Skewered chicken thighs were slathered in a savory barbecue sauce and served with fried shoestring potatoes and sweet potato fries. The chicken was moist and falls-off-the-bone tender, and the fries were crispy and hot.
The complimentary salsa is watery and unimpressive. Order the salsa molcajeteada, which is blended to your preference tableside.
