Best Patio IN LAKE HIGHLANDS

VOTE ONCE A DAY, MARCH 1ST UNTIL MARCH 20TH.

And the winner is Mi Cocina

The staff at Mi Cocina in Lake Highlands hooted and hollered when they heard that Lake Highlands Advocate readers voted their patio No. 1. But they weren’t terribly surprised. On any given spring day, Mi Cocina’s patio, overlooking Skillman near Walnut Hill, is packed with a cross section of the Lake Highlands population — moms, dads, babies, students, seniors, hipsters, jocks, nerds, singles, daters, drinkers, teetotalers, omnivores, vegetarians and various combinations thereof. No, the patio is nothing physically profound. But it is pleasant, featuring plenty of plants and a trickling waterfall, plus the perfect amount of sunshine and fresh air to complement a tangy Mambo Taxi cocktail, fresh guacamole and chips, and a robust bowl of greens, if you’re going light, or a hearty brisket taco platter if you’re not. Diners — insiders and outsiders alike — should know about the special secret menu items. The Señor Chico, for example, is a grilled chicken breast with chili guajillo sautéed in garlic and olive oil, with mushrooms, green rice and avocado salad. “It is delicious,” Lake Highlands’ Mi Cocina store director Juan “Billy” Aguirre assures. The chile relleno, despite its absence from the menu, also is requested frequently, he says. “It’s a poblano pepper, deep fried and filled with Monterrey cheese and your choice of shredded chicken or ground beef

(if you want to upgrade to fajita it’s possible, too) topped off with ranchero sauce. It also comes with green rice and beans and our famous Mexican coleslaw.”

—Christina Hughes Babb

Runner up: Neighbors Casual Kitchen

Third: Lake House Bar and Grill

NEXT UP FOR ADVOCATE’S 2015 BEST OF CONTEST: Best bar. Vote for your favorite at lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/bestof2015