When I heard that the owners of the Elk had opened a new Mexican spot, I wasted no time. EL QUE, located in the former Cabin Coffee space in Browne’s Addition, did not even have a sign up yet, but the warm lighting and cozy interior beckoned me in. The orange and lime green walls, along with pink and mint-colored bar stools, give the place a hip, Latin feel. Votive candles with images of Mary glow softly and paintings of Jesus watch over the beer at the bar.
Past the religious décor, El Que is a serious tequila bar. In addition to the 20 different tequilas listed on the menu, the shelves behind the bar are lined with mason jars of house-made flavored tequilas.
Tequila infusions include flavors such as jalapeno-honeydew, pineapple, beet, vanilla bean, Serrano chile, cilantro and strawberry. “It’s amazing how much the flavors come through,” says manager Marshall Powell. El Que also serves wine, several cocktails and a good selection of Mexican beer.
If you’re not a tequila fan, El Que is worth a visit for the food alone. While the menu is fairly short, the dishes are long on flavor and at $3-$6 each, a night out won’t break the bank. The sopa de tortilla ($3 for a cup) is perfect for a cold night, with its slightly spicy chicken stock rich with avocado chunks, crunchy tortilla strips and fresh lime. Add a banana leaf tamale ($6), with chicken, roasted tomato sauce and poblano chiles and you’ve got a great, light dinner.
The menu also includes several kinds of tacos, a guajillo chili Caesar salad, and Vietnamese guacamole with fresh mint.
With a great neighborhood feel, interesting food and reasonable prices, it looks like El Que is set to mirror the success of the Elk in its own unique way.— KIRSTEN HARRINGTON
El Que, 141 S. Cannon, is open 4 pm-late, 7 days. Kitchen closes at 11 pm, 12 pm Thurs-Sat. Call (509) 624-5412.
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