Summer Ladies Night with Cat Shell

Patron-ize Me

By John Linn

The only thing smoother than acoustic jazz vixen Cat Shell’s steamy vocals? Fine, aged tequila. The two are pairing up together every Wednesday at MoQuila Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar (99 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton) as part of its new Summer Ladies Night and Happy Hour. Head down to the restaurant from 4 to 7 p.m. and indulge in half-price drinks and apps from the bar menu — goodies like marinated chicken wings with mango-chili sauce, chili fried onion rings, and yucca cheese fries. With belly and mind sated you’ll be ready to focus on your hungry heart. Enter Shell — her lovesick crooning first caught our ear last year when she released her debut disc, Cat’s Outta the Bag; tonight she’ll be making fellas weak in the knees starting at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the femmes in the crowd can get started on their 2-4-1 drinks and free bottles of tequila (for dinner parties of 6 or more only, gals). See, something for everyone. For more info call 561-394-9990, or visit www.moquila.com.

Price: Free

The 200-plus list of rare and hard-to-find tequilas is the main draw at Moquila, where the young and the restless come to drink pitchers of margaritas and make their pitches. Those margaritas are fine, but order them straight up (the ones served on the rocks go watery fast) – you can also order your tequila neat, as a “flight” or by the bottle. And the guacamole, made tableside, is no slouch either. Generally the Mexican specialties at this upscale eatery are quite good: Chicken tortilla soup is rich enough to make a meal, but save room for tostadas of spit-roasted duck, shrimp ceviche, pork tenderloin with salsa verde, and molcajete de carne. The only weak note here appears with the tacos – after several years in business, the homemade tortillas are still too thick and bland. Save your taco cravings for a roadside cart.

• Cuisine(s): Contemporary, Mexican

  Hours: Lunch: Mon to Fri • 11:30 - 3:30 Dinner: Every Day• 4:00 - Close Happy Hour: Mon to Fri • 5:00 - 7:00

  Price: $$, $$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

• Attire: Business casual

  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly

  Serving: Dinner, Lunch

  Alcohol: Full bar

• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended

  Parking: Street, Valet