Senor Tequila Cantina Grill is a hidden gem in South Charlotte

There’s a little strip mall in southeast Charlotte, NC that is home to one of Charlotte’s hidden gems: Señor Tequila Cantina Grill, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar that has a decent selection of tequilas and a menu packed with food choices from south of the border.

Tequila Examiner By Ryan Kelley

First thing to note is that Señor Tequila is cozy. That’s real estate lingo for “small.” There’s about a dozen tables inside and a few outside, with four stools at the small bar in the back of the restaurant. You do not step into a whole new world from the suburban strip mall that’s outside, but the warm, brightly decorated interior attempts to convince you that you are elsewhere, with bright yellow and deep blue walls, geckos painted with southwestern flair, and a Mexican mask or bronze sculpted sun here and there. The coolest decorations are the barrels that hang from the ceiling which are labeled with brand names of different tequilas. Strangely enough, I thought the bathroom was also really cool (see slideshow for a picture).

The menu is huge. There are tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos, steaks, seafood, beer, margaritas, and, of course, tequila. There are about 20 or so listed on the menu, but they are not always available - they were out of the first few I ordered. I ended up with Cabo Wabo resposado, which was brought out in a kitschy green cactus shot glass and garnished with a lime. I sipped the Cabo while enjoying my complimentary chips and salsa and watched a Carolina Panthers game projected onto the wall. According to user reviews on restaurant review web sites, there have been complaints about the wait on weekend nights. On this particular Sunday afternoon, however, it was a great place to relax. There were only a few other people, and service was friendly and attentive.

I always have a difficult time selecting from a large menu, especially one with standard Mexican fare. Prices at Señor Tequila are reasonable bordering on inexpensive, with entrees ranging from about $10 to $15. Even though it was only lunch, I selected one of the larger plates, the carne asada steak that comes with rice and beans. I also ordered a margarita, made with Hornitos.

The food was fantastic! It arrived piping hot, with a wonderful, spicy beef aroma. The carne asada was perfect - moist, juicy and tender. I didn’t even bother with tortillas, preferring to fill up on the meat and the unremarkable (yet still good) rice and refried beans in a fried tortilla shell. Unfortunately, the margarita was not great. It is your typical, run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant margarita that is made with a bottled mix. It was too sweet, and the taste of the tequila was all but lost.

With my stomach full, my tequila palate still needed to be quenched, so I opted for a shot of Cuervo Reserva de Familia Añejo. I was planning to finish with Cabo añejo, but I have never had the Cuervo Reserva and my server was rather emphatic that I try it. He even brought out the bottle to show it to me. (I humored him with some ohhs and ahhs). Señor Tequila seemed like it would be the perfect place to try some top-notch Cuervo, which also arrived in that kitschy cactus shot glass. I was not blown out of the water by the Cuervo, but it is certainly one of Casa Cuervo’s better offerings and was a great way to end a satisfying meal.

OVERALL GRADE B
Tequila Selection C+
Food and Cocktails B+
Service A-
Ambiance B


Señor Tequila Cantina Grill
Piper Glen
6414 Rea Road
Charlotte, NC 28277-2528
(704) 543-0706‎