Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, Wilmington

With only two locations, Del Pez Mexican Gastropub is hardly a chain restaurant in a traditional sense, offering fresh, delicious and authentic Mexican food in a laidback pub environment.

I visited the restaurant in Wilmington (the other is in Newark), and started by browsing the draft list of more than 60 craft beers, 40 different tequilas and crafted margaritas. We opted for flights of both, followed by house-infused fruit margaritas with pomegranate, melon and jalapeno.

Next up: guac and queso — which did not disappoint. The guacamole was served in a large stone bowl and clearly made fresh by hand. They offer several variations: a traditional blend; Diablo, made with serranos, Arbol sauce, lump crab and fried habaneros; Cabra, made with huitlacoche and goat cheese; Granada, made with mango, jicama, peppers and pomegranate; and Sol, made with sun-dried tomatoes, cotija cheese and pine nuts.

We got the queso with chorizo, and also split Brussels sprouts, made with bacon and a Coca-Cola raisin reduction — to die for.

For the main course, there are several tacos to choose from — I went with the tried-and-true carnitas. There are other several entrees on the menu, including chipotle chicken pasta, enchiladas and fajitas, and delicious sides include the restaurant’s popular sweet corn cake and grilled corn, topped with chipotle aioli, queso blanco and chili piquin.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get better, our waiter rolled over an entire bar cart filled with dozens of hot sauces, ranging from sweet and tangy to you’ll-never-taste-anything-again hot.

I always love a good Mexican restaurant, and Del Pez was up there with my all-time favorites.

Del Pez Mexican Gastropub

400 Justison St.

Wilmington, DE 19801

tel 302 691 7974