Owners must be gnashing their restauranteur teeth. But it seems we’ve got two new Mexican eatery/bars on Smith Street, located just two blocks from each other, to vie for  your pork taco and tequila desires.
The first, Bar San Miguel, at 307 Smith between Union and President, is a colorful joint partly owned by Regina Myers of Black Mountain Wine House on Union/Hoyt, and CNBC “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer, who lives in Carroll Gardens, who fashioned the restaurant with his wife to match the environs in Mexico where they own a vacation home. San Miguel offers specialty Mezcal as well as tequilas. Drinking Mezcal could help Mexico, according to this spot on NPR… so do your part.
The second place is Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina, in the former Arthur on Smith space, at 276 Smith between Sackett and Degraw. It’s got the kind of atmosphere that we seem to prefer in Brooklyn — wood on the walls, brass, candlelight. Mad Dog and Beans was formerly a popular hangout in South Street Seaport. From the website, it looks a little “theme” restaurant-ee, says it’s based on Mexican outlaws, but hey, we sure could use a cozy Mexican saloon in these parts so bring it.
As a comparison, the guacamole at San Miguel is $7, while it’s $12 for a small at Mad Dog & Beans; $24 for a large. Whoa. $24 for guacamole… that flies in the financial district, will it work on Smith Street?
