A Mexican St. Patty's Day?

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Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, but not everyone chooses to celebrate in the traditional way. Express contributor Scott Reitz offers a double helping of venue ideas, some for those whose Irish eyes are smiling, and some for those who want to skip the Guinness to try a little Latin flavor.

WHY DO SOME people celebrate St. Patrick's day so excessively? It's hard to be sure. But it does seem clear that some partygoers' tolerance for long lines and crowds — and their desire to hit one of the area's numerous faux Irish pubs — increases when everyone's clad in green.

But who says you have to spend the day cramped in a dimly lit pub bumping elbows with your drunken brethren? If Irish fare isn't your thing, go somewhere they'll never find you — a Mexican restaurant. The food is almost certain to be more flavorful and the crowds more manageable — or even non-existent.

So in an effort to please both camps, we offer this two-pronged St. Patrick's Day guide. Want to imbibe in the traditional way? Check out the pubs below. Want to flee? A Mexican alternative is only a stone's throw away.

GALLERY PLACE-CHINATOWN-VERIZONVILLE-PENN QUARTER:
» Irish: Chinatown's staple Irish pub Fado packs in the patrons before, during and after every Verizon Center event. This Saturday, management gets serious, opening at 7:30 a.m. and popping 6 Nations Rugby up on the tubes at 9:30 a.m. If you're lucky enough to snag a table and can keep your waitress' attention, the quirky seating layout provides plenty of charm. Hidden in nooks and crannies behind fake stone walls, you can carve out your own piece of Ireland. Crowds, however, will reach cattle-car status quickly, so be forewarned.

» Mexican: If it's after 5 p.m. and you step off the Metro to find Fado already mobbed, head down 7th Street NW to the newly reopened Oyamel for authentic Mexican tacos, ceviches and antojitos. Feeling adventurous? Dare your friends to order up some grasshopper tacos while trying the Signature Margarita. Boasting top-shelf tequila and citrus, bartenders finish the cocktail with a gimmicky concoction called "salt air." More like sea foam, the salty lime froth suspended with soy lecithin adds a delicate quality to an outstanding cocktail. Semantics aside, it's a welcome alternative to the mouth-puckering salt normally found on the rim of your glass, and gently compliments every sip. And despite the Nickelodeon-style fun factor, the grasshopper tacos are surprisingly tasty, with a nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch.
» Fado, 808 7th St. NW, 202-789-0066 (Gallery Place-Chinatown)
» Oyamel, 401 7th St. NW, 202-628-1005 (Gallery Place-Chinatown)

CLEVELAND PARK:
» Irish: The doors at Nanny O'Brien's open at 9 a.m., with live music at noon. If you get hungry during your visit, skip the Irish staples and scarf down a Nanny Burger. Topped with cheese, bacon and sauteed onions, the namesake sandwich will put Five Guys to shame. But the second someone drops a blinking "Kiss me I'm Irish" button in your beer, it's time to leave.

» Mexican: With friendly service and competitive prices Alero continues to gather a neighborhood following, making it a shame that the food can be hit or miss. Skip the margaritas (sometimes described as watery) and order a Herradura with lime on the rocks or a Dos Equis. If a Nanny Burger's not on your menu, the chimichanga and black beans come highly recommended. Regardless of your food choice, you'll relish in a staff that has infinitely more time to spend on their customers than those stuck at the fiasco you left behind.
» Nanny O'Brien's, 3319 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-686-9189 (Cleveland Park)
» Alero, 3500 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-966-2530 (Cleveland Park)

ADAMS MORGAN/DUPONT CIRCLE:
» Irish, sort of: A relative newcomer to the 18th Street strip scene, Nolan's provides some of the cheapest drafts on the strip while catering to a crowd similar to those who populated the space when it was called Crush. Raucous St. Patrick's Day crowds and ear-splitting tunes will likely make the place standing room only quite early in the evening, and shoulder to sweaty shoulder soon after.

» Mexican: For those who value their personal space and hygiene more than cheap bottles of Bud Lite, a walk south on 18th Street reveals a festive alternative. Many know Lauriol Plaza for its consistent — but over-hyped — Mexican fare and stellar roof deck scene. Unfortunately, warm evenings bring customers in droves, easily pushing the wait for a table across the 90-minute mark. Since Saturday's set to be a bit on the chilly side and with the masses distracted by green clover, rooftop die-hards could find an open sea of tables ready to greet them. Most others, though, will want to stick indoors with their warm chips and salsa.
» Nolan's, 2323 18th St. NW, 202-319-1111
» Lauriol Plaza, 1835 18th St. NW, 202-387-0035

CLARENDON-COURT HOUSE:
» Irish: Arlington has more than its fair share of Irish pubs, but it also has tons of young single professionals within walking distance. Since Clarendon's newest Irish bar, Ri Ra, has a substantial wait at the door on regular Saturday evenings, you can plan to cool your heels even longer this weekend. Although purists would quibble with Ri Ra's authenticity, the bar, pictured at right, will definitely be pulling out the stops for St. Patrick's Day. Opening's at 9 a.m.; the Irish music starts at noon. At 9 p.m., Philadelphia dark pop band Eleven Eleven takes the stage.

» Mexican: Unfortunately, Ri Ra's menu will be limited, so when hunger strikes, head down the Orange Line to Guajillo between the Rosslyn and Court House stations. Chicken Tamales, pork carnitas and other menu specials are sure to outflank neighboring competition. The restaurant's fiery orange walls and blue ceiling may not create a space that's conducive to your typical St. Patty's Day debauchery, but the margaritas will be tasty, the wait should be reasonable and the chicken enchiladas with mole will destroy a played-out Irish lamb stew.
» Ri Ra, 2915 Wilson Blvd, 703-248-9888 (Clarendon)
» Guajillo, 1727 Wilson Blvd., 703-807-0840 (Court House)

Photos by Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post; James M. Thesher/The Washington Post; Nancy Andrews/The Washington Post