Cha-Cha's Cantina

By Tess Tallman

Collegian Reporter

Are you tired of going to Mexico's? Cha Cha's Cantina in Shockoe Bottom is a great alternative. Not only is Cha Cha's a great bar for the weekends but it also serves excellent food. Many of the Mexican restaurants in the Richmond area serve mediocre food. Cha Cha's is fairly priced and the food is the closest to authentic that I've had since moving to Richmond.

I ordered a cheese and a shredded chicken enchilada as well as Cha Cha's nachos and a margarita. The nachos are covered in black bean chili, cheese, jalapenos, salsa and sour cream. For an appetizer it is a large amount of food and would be served great as a snack for someone who is not that hungry.

The enchilada meal comes with three enchiladas, Mexican rice and black beans. I tried both the red and the green sauce and they both were great. Enchiladas have always been my favorite meal at Mexican restaurants and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these.

Of course, no Mexican meal can be complete without a margarita to chase it down. The Cha Cha's classic margarita is an excellent blend. You have the choice of having it blended or on the rocks and it is a great deal for only $7.

Every night has a different theme and for starving college students, Wednesdays are a great night to go to Cha Cha's because its college appreciation night. With a college ID you get a discount and all burritos are just $2. Mondays are dedicated to football, Tuesdays are karaoke night, Tijuana Thursdays, Friday and Saturday both have great specials and DJ entertainment and Sundays are reserved for the Redskins with $1 tacos and 25 cent wings.

You can't go wrong with Cha Cha's whether you are going there just to eat or to party on the weekends. For those pong lovers out there, they host a water pong tournament (because its illegal for them to host drinking games) and for bar lovers Halloween night they host a bar crawl around the bottom!

I would recommend Cha Cha's to anyone as a date night dinner location or a night-time destination.