A tortilla makes a handy mouse pad, an acceptable patch for stiff denim jeans, and, if you draw a face on it, an ideal companion on fishing trips. But there are many other uses for it, as today's Groupon proves: for $15, you get $30 worth of Mexican cuisine and drinks at Diego's Newport at Bowen's Wharf.

Diego's Newport crafts its refined menu of West Coast–style Mexican fare from fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Unlike a visit to the combination dentist office/DMV, the Baja calamari ($11) appetizer can be enjoyed two ways––sautéed with vegetables, jalapenos, lime juice, and diced tomatoes, or fried with Baja seasoning and a cup of spicy aioli for dipping. For lunch and dinner entrees, taste buds awaken to the perfect burrito ($11) that unfurls a plump tortilla pillow stuffed with chicken, avocado tomatillo, pineapple jicama salsa, and tomatoes, while an order of tequila-lime hanger steak frites ($18) quells carnivorous cravings with a grilled-to-order steak, tucked under a blanket of cilantro and garlic butter. Diego's Newport also serves breakfast dishes, such as the Paul Bunyan–sized poplar omelet ($9), which melds farm eggs with sautéed red onions, black bean salsa, lumberjack'd slices of spicy red bliss potatoes, and Babe's Oaxaca cheese.

Diego's Newport also boasts an inventive menu of adult beverages, including the Three B's Manhattan ($9)––an intoxicating blend of Jim Beam Bourbon, butter, and chocolate-covered bacon that blurs the boundaries between cocktails, breakfast, and Nobel Prize-winning genius.

Reviews

Rhode Island Monthly named Diego's Newport one of its "Best of Rhode Island 2010 Editors' Picks." Seven Yelpers give the restaurant an average of three stars, and TripAdvisors give it an average of 3.5 owl eyes. Almost 1,500 Facebookers are fans:

• Newport's got a restaurant on every corner, but it's not always easy to find one that's both inexpensive and good. Thankfully, the relatively new Diego's has begun to fill that void with its menu of fresh Mex favorites like fish tacos with pineapple jimica salsa, house-made gazpacho and build-your-own burritos. You can't beat its outdoor dining space on Bowen's Wharf for people watching... – Rhode Island Monthly
• So good! We have been with our kids and they like it also. The drinks are great! The margaritas are very good and use fresh juice. The service is very fun and casual~a no stress spot!!! – eatsout, TripAdvisor