Yup, you read it right. $3 margaritas are what Blockheads, a Mexican franchise throughout Manhattan, serves up all day, every day. You'll love their kitschy style (read: strange monkey sock puppets everywhere) and their veg-friendly menu. Not to mention, the food is cheap and tasty. I always order the Sauteed Spinach Burrito, stuffed with black beans, Spanish rice, and Monterey Jack cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla and served with salsa and sour cream on the side. And for all you vegans out there, Blockheads will gladly substitute soy cheese and tofu sour cream for the usual dairy products. They also have brown rice and whole wheat tortillas if you really wanna get healthy. 

I frequent my neighborhood Blockheads (50th between 8th & 9th) with my girlfriends and go here for a fun date night. It’s always obnoxiously loud and filled with residential 20-somethings, but that’s part of the appeal. The food is your average mainstream Americanized Mexican, but perfectly suitable for a fun night out with friends. As for the frozen margaritas, they’re saccharine-sweet, and strong with bottom-shelf tequila. But they’re $3! So drink up and celebrate the New Year the savvy way.

 Have a safe and tasty 2010 from The Savvy Soybean!

El Centro is the place to go for authentic Mexican cuisine without putting a hole in your wallet. Located on the corner of 54th and 9th in Hell’s Kitchen, it’s a super fun place to take a date, a friend, or even your kids. You’ll love the kitschy, brightly colored get-up and accommodating staff- and you’ll squeal with excitement when you realize the grilled vegetable taco with red rice & salsa roja is only 5 bucks! 

The food itself tastes extremely fresh. Unlike the usual senseless slathering of cheese and sauce in other Mexican establishments, El Centro carefully balances flavors and spices to achieve a taste all its own. Though prices range from $5-16, I found that the less expensive choices easily fill up a mildly hungry individual. I’ve dined here on a number of occasions and was particularly impressed by the Mexican corn on the cob ($3, covered in melted queso blanco, paprika and cilantro) and the aforementioned veggie taco. 

Not the usual pepper and onion parade, the vegetable filling ranged from sweet yellow squash to grilled zucchini. I especially appreciated the conservative cheese sprinkling- it allowed the vegetables to maintain their crispness and flavor without the palate becoming overwhelmed by a single component. Very, very tasty. If you’re in the area and thinking Mexican, El Centro is a solid option.