We were big fans of Los Charros in Centerbrook and grateful that it saw us through COVID with a giant tent, live music, flights of margaritas, and yummy tacos (not to mention that crazy queso!). Needless to say, we were disappointed to hear of its departure for Branford, which is a bit far for us for dinner. However, it didn’t stop us from making the trek for Happy Hour and seeing the new digs. In owner Colt Taylor’s typical fashion, he’s transformed a rather bland building into an airy, modern space with a super-sized bar.

We had our favorite flight of Margaritas, which includes three daily flavors and one traditional version. Laura favors cucumber, but for me, it’s all about the watermelon: sweet, tart and salty! We dug into gooey, melty queso with sautéed mushrooms (let’s call it a veg!) and a hefty helping of Chilaquiles with slightly spicy shredded chicken from the Happy Hour menu. The two dishes were plenty for us for dinner, and we didn’t even dig into their fantastic guac.

The menu offerings here are essentially the same as Centerbrook so expect well-executed and fresh Mexican fare and a lively bar scene.

Happy Hour at the Bar: 3:30 – 5:00

Dinner: Tuesday through Saturday 5:00 – 9:00, closed Sunday and Monday

loscharroscantina.com