Muy Maine-O

There are many things in this world that I love. At the tippy top of this list are Maine and Mexican food. Last weekend, Mom needed some help getting the ducks in order at her home on Drake's Island....(haha...just realized how funny that sounded)...so I was a very willing assistant. It's been a while since I've been able to visit....the working hours for a retail shop owner are long...and I rarely am able to get away for a weekend. Needless to say...(insert happy face here). Mom shares my madness for Mexican and had told me about Pedro's before. This was my choice for our first dinner of the weekend. If the top photo didn't already have you salivating...better grab a napkin now. 

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Don't say I didn't warn you. Ok--on to the show. The decor at Pedro's is just plain fun. Yeah...you expect bright colors splashed everywhere at most Mexican restaurants...but...sombreros on the ceiling? A super cute touch that my hat-loving self appreciated. There is a rather large bar area as well, something you really don't encounter that often in Maine...and something that will serve Pedro's well, I think. Hubster and I are BIG bar-eaters and always like it when we have that option when dining out.
Margarita Time! 
The margarita offerings were fresh, fun and inventive. The "La Saracita" (pictured above) was the perfect mix of Milagro Rep, Patron Citronge, fresh orange and lime juices and just a splash of housemade sour. Perfectly made. Additional options include the Pedro's take on the ubiquitous "skinny" margarita...except THIS one actually tastes good and is made from Milagro Silver, agave nectar and fresh lime. See? Easy to create your own skinny drink!!! But--I digress. Their "El Pepino" includes Hornitos Plata, muddled cucumber, fresh lime and agave nectar; the "Margarita en Fuego" is a delightfully wicked 3 chile infused little number...just the right amount of heat. Their featured special margarita of the evening was a Strawberry Hibiscus...a touch too sweet for ME...but would really make strawberry margarita sippers silly.
I judge MANY a Mexican restaurant by the quality of their guac and salsa...if THOSE are well-made, the rest of the menu usually is too. So...we chose the guac and the nachos grande (without any add-ons of meat options including chipotle braised pork, chicken, grilled steak, roasted corn or beans) as our prelude to Pedro's. The nachos (pic above) were NOT of the heavy melted cheese-laden ilk. With just a little salsa fresca, guac, fresh jalapenos, and chipotle crema...with some queso fresca scattered prettily on top, these were a SUPERB and light interpretation of the standard. Excellent. 
The entree options were equally excellent. My Chicken Tinga Tacos were nothing short of extraordinary. Stay tuned for my replication of these in the Fare Test Kitchen. On the advice of our server, i also ordered the Queso Fundido, which I was told is a House Specialty. Here, I got my gobs of melty cheese daily requirement and then some. Was wishing the house made sausage packed a touch more heat, but I do understand that a lot of places like this must take ALL palates into consideration..and on that front, the dish delivered. Mom's Chile Relleno met with her approval as well. I was stuffed like a burrito at this point, but inquired about dessert options nevertheless. They offered the cinnamon-spiced Churros, as well as a coconut panna cotta and a dense Mexican chocolate cake, spiked with Mexican cinnamon. I took a pass on dessert this time and enjoyed the sweetness of the strawberry hibiscus margarita to satisfy my dessert craving...THIS time. Honestly, I just think I was so tired from the drive up that I was afraid I would end up face down in my panna cotta. NOT a good look. 
If you find yourself fortunate enough to be headed up to Kport...and you dig Mexican...Pedro's does not disappoint. I would have been perfectly thrilled dining at Pedro's for the remainder of the weekend. Verdad.

Winners: Chicken Tinga Tacos, La Saracita Margarita, Nachos
Just Missed: Guac (wanted a touch more spice), Strawberry Hibiscus Margarita (wanted a touch less sweet)
Scratches: NONE to report.