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Tortilla Coast Throws Down for Silver Anniversary

(CQ Roll Call archives)
(CQ Roll Call archives)

The original Tortilla Coast is turning the big 2-5 this month, and the Capitol Hill fixture plans to celebrate by giving back to its most fervent fans, as well as to neighbors in need.

The festivities commence Thursday with a “Retro Happy Hour” (3:30-8 p.m.) that turns back prices to the Reagan era. A slew of beers, including Dos Equis Lager, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Sol and the Shiner seasonal, will set you back just $2.75 a pop, while frozen margaritas will drop to $5. A bevy of bar snacks, including chicken wings, Tex-Mex chicken spring rolls, crispy onion strings, mini tacos and chili con queso will also be available for $3 an order.

Attendees can partake in Trivia Night, which promises to bore down on the politics and pop culture of the past quarter-century. Winners will carve up $500 in prizes, including camp chairs and hats.

The restaurant gets more philanthropic Friday night, turning over the bar to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and local first responders for a fundraising event (7:30-9 p.m.) benefiting fire-ravaged Frager’s Hardware. All tips collected at the bar, plus $1 from every dinner entree sold in the restaurant, will be donated to Frager’s relief efforts.

The party rolls into Saturday with the return of all-you-can-eat chicken fajitas for “Reunion Night.” Event planners said former hospitality staff and members of the congressional community have been invited to come reminisce, but it seems the restaurant’s most high-profile alumnus won’t be there.

An aide to Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., told HOH that the former server has no plans to revisit his salsa-slinging youth.

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