Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010—Bar 249

Day 249—Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
Tortilla Flats
Okay, last night’s post was a little flat, because I was knocked-out flat from a bad night at work. But tonight’s another night so it’s onward, upward and Ward I’m worried about the Beaver.

I found a place called Tortilla Flats online that’s supposed to have great margaritas and it’s a kitschy place that kind of reminded me of the Trailer Park bar which was bar number 47. Hard to believe I went there over 200 nights ago when it was winter. It seems like its only been 199. Anyhoo, this place looks kind of festive and I could go for a margarita or six, so it’s off we go.

And through the magic of the internet, here we are.

The bar is crowded, but I spy a seat right there in the middle.

Wow, look at all the tinsel hanging from the ceiling. It's as if a Christmas tree threw up in here.

Leslie the friendly and cute bartender on duty serves up the first margarita of the evening.

Here's the bar with the bottles lit up at the bottom instead of the top.

Homemade Elvis art hangs amidst the tinsel and lights above the bar.

Prath and Ryan were seated next to me at the bar and wished me luck on my 365 journey. Thanks guys!

Margaritas and tequila shots are house favorites, but there's also a decent selection of beer to be had.

Kitschy and nostalgic art hangs on every square inch of the walls.

Here's Elvis with his very own security camera attached. Thank ya...thank ya very much!

Here's the infamous Ernest Borgnine wall.

Not to be outdone, Elvis has his own wall as well. Thank ya...thank ya...oh shit, I did that already. Never mind.

Wednesday is hula hoop night here. If you can spin a hula hoop for two minutes you win.

She started out with a bang...

But in the end the hula hoop won. Maybe next time!

The host for the evening's festivities is...

John, who's also the manager for the evening.

Here's Dries and Cristina relaxing at a back booth. Cristina had recently won the hula hoop challenge. Congratulations, Cristina!

Meanwhile, back at the bar I met Shawn, the other bartender on duty.

Shawn suggested a shot of tequila and who am I to say no?

Glasses are clinked...

And the shots are had. Cheers!

Ouch! Where's that pickle juice when I need it? Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Tortilla Flats bills itself as a West Village innovator in eclectic and eccentric New York life. And when you’ve had a night devoted to honoring Ernest Borgnine 18 years in a row, you have a right to make that claim. The bar area is tiny with a wooden bar festooned with homemade drawings of Elvis and light and tinsel hanging from it. The bartenders are friendly and the patrons are mainly tequila shot drinkers from the neighborhood. There’s booths opposite the bar and tables in the back. The decor is all kitsch and kaboodle, leaning heavy on equal parts Elvis and Ernest Borgnine.

There’s a full bar here with 10 different brands of tequila. Margaritas can be had by the pitcher and there’s a good selection of bottled beer. As expected the menu is Mexican (expect most of the crowd to be facebook devotees--somewhat private joke alert) and in addition to your standard tacos, burrtos and enchiladas, some of the specialities include: Carne Asada which is grilled sliced steak with a spicy rancheros sauce rolled into two burritos; Flautas Camarones are deep-fried shrimp filled tortilla flutes; New Mexican Short Stack which is three blue corn tortillas, stacked on top of each other, with layers of black beans, ancho chili salsa and your choice of beef, chicken or veggies and topped with jack cheese and Pollo Verde which has fresh tomatillo, serrano chili and garlic salsa atop grilled boneless chicken breast with melted cheese.

Monday and Tuesday nights there’s bingo at the bar, Wednesday is hula hoop night and on Friday’s you’re invited to wear your pajamas for V.I.P treatment. I gotta stop by here this year for the Ernest Borgnine night. My name is Marty after all!

Tortilla Flats
767 Washington St. (@12th St.)
212-243-1053