Asia de Cuba sets stage for cheap Friday nights

Pineapple mojito and the Asian mist at Asia de Cuba. (Credit: Catherine J. Jun/azcentral.com)

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This is a story about how to drink cheaply on a Friday night at a really nice place.

Select drinks, including the mojito and caipirinha and glasses of sangria, are only $5 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Asia de Cuba at the Mondrian Scottsdale during its South Beach Friday night parties.

So, get dressed up, find a fancy friend and go out. Even if you go to the dollar movie theater afterward, you will still feel like you had a big night out.

It's refreshing to think about kicking off an evening with $5 Latin-inspired cocktails and listening to music from Valley tropical band Arroz Con Mango. Another highlight is the chance to see so very many handsome men in pastel guayaberas paired with fetching fedoras. I am referring to the servers.

And while the prices on the main dinner menu at this swanky restaurant reflect the quality of the ingredients and the flair with which they're served, guests can keep the night less expensive by making a meal out of all the small plates and appetizers. Highlights include the plantain fried rice with avocado salad, lemongrass-skewered chicken, and the lobster-boniato mash. The last item is similar to mashed potatoes only better, because it's a mashed root vegetable dotted with lobster.

Details: 7353 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, 480-308-1131, mondrianscottsdale.com, Twitter @adcscottsdale.