Where to drink

Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 7 best frozen cocktail flights

The August heat is on, and the time is right to sip something frozen — stat. But decisions, decisions…with so many summer-licious flavors showing up on menus — from spicy mangonada margaritas to boozy cherry limeades — it’s challenging to choose just one frosty concoction.

The solution is a frozen cocktail flight, a clever way for bars and restaurants to showcase their selections while the lucky imbiber gets to sample smaller versions of several drinks. They’re potently popular and social media superstars thanks to their array of colors and garnishes. For this month's Where to Drink column, we present seven of the best frozen flights around Fort Worth.

America Gardens
Get on island time without leaving America — Gardens, that is. The West 7th district bar (2833 Morton St.), popular for its 7,000-square-foot, tree-lined and string-lit patio, offers an array of frozen concoctions with tropical vibes. The Ocean Water is made with coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple, and cream of coconut; and the Peach Bellini is blended with organic mandarin vodka, bubbly brut, and peach puree. Create a colorful flight by adding the purple-hued Horned Frog, which is whirled with tequila, orange, and raspberry liqueurs and Abita purple haze beer, and the rum-infused Wild Berry Mojito. Flights are $18 for four.

Cartel Taco Bar
Located in the Urban Union complex in downtown Arlington (506 E. Division St.), about two miles from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, Cartel Taco Bar is popular for its elaborate street tacos (think fried chicken with cilantro slaw and blue cheese crumbles), as well as its beverages. (The craft beer and tequila list runs deep.) Cool off with a flight of frozen cocktails, only $10 for four including frozen sangria, pina coladas, and margaritas like strawberry, prickly pear, and mango chamoy. Grab a seat under the string-lit covered patio, or sit inside for live acoustic music under the wall-mounted longhorn skull.

Crawlin’ Crab
Frozen drinks and spicy Cajun boil go hand-in-hand at this southwest Fort Worth restaurant (6080 S. Hulen St.), which specializes in Louisiana comfort food like crawfish, gumbo, and fried seafood baskets. There are several choices for the frozen flight of four ($12.99), from the Blue Hawaiian made with rum and coconut milk to the Beer-Rita served with a little bottle of Coronita. Pair a flight with some crab legs and find all of the Bayou vibes.

Mesero
The colorfully outfitted Clearfork Tex-Mex destination (4955 Gage Avenue) is a go-to for frozen margs with neatly salted rims. Try three with a flight ($16, or $14 during happy hour) and choose from The Original; El Santo whirled with sangria; The Brandon with mango and strawberry puree; the Berry Street with house-made blueberry liqueur; or the Frozé blended with rosé and vodka. Multiple trips might be required.

Muy Frio
Sip-and-stay or grab-and-go at this this frozen margarita and daiquiri shop (3616 W. Vickery Blvd.), where there are always nine flavors ready to pour. Favorites range from the El Clasico margarita and Mangolicious, to Pina Colada and blue Coco Loco. Create your own flight with a four-pack of 8-ounce Shorty’s for $15, which are typically $4 each. Sizes run all the way up to a half-gallon for $22. A colorful interior filled with artwork by local artists (all available for purchase) attracts many customers to enjoy their frosty beverages on-site; as do Muy Frio’s tamales, chips and salsa. Note that an attached event room may be reserved for private parties.

Rio Mambo
With two patios, two full bars, and 9,000 square feet, the Tex-Mex destination will mark 20 years of its flagship Cityview location (6125 SW Loop 820) on September 11. Standout frozen flight possibilities here include the jalapeño melon margarita; the Loco-Rita served with a Dos XX or Corona topper; the Mambellini blended with rum, peach puree, and bubbly; and the Attitude Adjustment whirled with mango, sangria, and topped with a Herradura Gold floater. Flights are $12.99 for four.

The Social House
The Crockett Row restaurant and bar, with its popular street corner patio and breezy open window interior, lets patrons choose margaritas and more for its frosty flights. Selections range from the swirl margarita and spicy mangonada, made with jalapeño tequila and mango puree, to the wild berry mojito and vodka-infused cherry limeade. Choose four for $18 or six for $28 to share with a friend.

There are always nine frozen marg flavors ready to pour at Muy Frio.

Photo courtesy of Muy Frio

There are always nine frozen marg flavors ready to pour at Muy Frio.

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Pancake News

Tres leches pancakes are a must-get at Fort Worth Mexican snack shop

Kokitos

Kokitos tres leches pancakes

A Fort Worth snack shop serving Mexican treats and drinks has an adorable new dish that's a must-get. The shop is Kokitos, a family-owned mini-chain with two locations in Fort Worth: 6708 Camp Bowie Blvd., which opened in 2012; and 6425 McCart Ave. which opened in 2017.

Kokitos comes from the Santos family, owned by Alicia and Ruben Santos, who run it with their daughters, including Briana who runs the social media accounts and helps with marketing. Each item is inspired by their cultural roots in Mexico, with a goal to take traditional items and bring them into the modern world.

Their latest and greatest is a delight called tres leches mini-pancakes, which come 18 mini pancakes to a serving.

“My dad loves to think of new ideas and is always pushing for new items because he just loves to get in there and try something,” Briana says. "His inspiration on this was to do a pancake version of tres leches cake — it's such a popular cake and he wanted to do a breakfast version."

It starts with mini pancakes, which they make in a cute little muffin-style pan with cut-outs for each mini pancake. Once the pancakes are done, they get drenched in the sweet tres leches milk sauce, the same as tres leches cake. They're layered on a plate in symmetrical little rows, then drizzled with chocolate and tres leches sauces and topped with choice of fresh fruit like bananas and kiwi or even chocolate chips, before being garnished with whipped cream and fresh mint. (If you want to see it made, they've posted a helpful reel.)

Brianna says it's just the latest invention from Ruben, who rotates in specials that embrace hot trends and ingredients like Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Decadent and fruity drinks are the centerpiece of their menu such as the rusa, with chile, chamoy, Squirt soda, stacked with oranges and pineapple; and the mango Kokilocos, a smoothie-like drink topped with mango.

They also serve cheesecakes, milkshakes, cochinadas, nachos, fruit bowls, and crepes. Prices range from $4.25 for a slice of cheesecake to $13.50 for a shrimp cocktail.

Before opening Kokitos, Ruben was in the AC business, while Alicia worked in El Fenix restaurants for 10 years. Many of their recipes such as the rusas and escamochas come from family members who have similar stores in Mexico. According to Briana, some of the recipes they use are held so dear that her mom Alicia will only make them herself rather than the employees.

“My dad opened it because he saw that there wasn’t another store like ours around at that time on the west side of town,” Briana says. “He saw an opening for Mexican culture, and both of my parents are from Mexico, and they wanted to open it to a different crowd that might not have experienced Mexican desserts.”

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