Talk about timing. Days before Cinco de Mayo, Javier and Michelle Geminiano opened the 98-seat Más Tequila Cantina on Laclede’s Landing, at 708 N. 2nd.
As the name implies, the new restaurant features more than 50 types of tequila and serves 2-ounce tequila shots. “Tequila is actually more for sipping,” notes Michelle.
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“And our margaritas are always made with good tequila,” Javier adds.
But don’t overlook the authentic Mexican food. Javier used to own bars and restaurants in Central Mexico centered around micheladas, a Mexican drink made with beer and lime juice. Around 2011, his brother Jesus invited him to join him in St. Louis, where he met Michelle while dancing at Club Viva. After getting married last year, they opened Más Tequila in the former Jake’s Steaks space, because “Javier has always loved the Landing” says Michelle.
Street tacos are made “the way we offer them in Mexico,” says Javier. They’re made with corn tortillas, steak, chicken, chorizo or carnitas, and diced onion and cilantro, as well as lime and a choice of salsa.
Another authentic offering: the carne asada, made from a particular type of skirt steak, arrachera, along with beans, grilled jalapeno, nopales (cactus), onions, and guacamole.
The restaurant’s chilaquiles (corn tortilla chips topped with red sauce, carne asada, crema, and queso fresco) are also “more authentic” than many other Mexican restaurants, Javier adds.
There are also platters, such as the Mas Tequila special (featuring skirt steak, chorizo, ham, peppers, onions, and cheese) and sopes (fried corn dough topped with beans, lettuce, crema, and a choice of meat).
The dishes range from $10.95–$14.95.
In late summer, the Geminianos plan to open a 2,000 square-foot patio, which will host Mexican and Latino bands. “There will be live music and dancing,” Michelle says. “It will be really, really fun.”
