Unfortunately, the drink's history is as unclear as its mixers, but the most popular account is about a Dallas socialite called - surprise - Margarita Sames.

Margarita loved to throw parties at her vacation home in Acapulco, Mexico, and got her kicks out of mixing drinks for guests to taste and rate.

One night she threw together tequila, lime juice and Cointreau to everyone's delight, and the recipe spread quickly among the Texas elite and Hollywood.

Another prevalent story revolves around a showgirl, Marjorie King, who was apparently allergic to all alcohol except tequila.

During a visit to Rosarita Beach, Mexico, she asked the bartender, Danny Herrera, to create her a cocktail with tequila.

The drink he came up with made such a splash with Marjorie that he named it after her name's equivalent in Spanish.

However, unlike Marjorie, tequila spells trouble for some people and is a large reason why many steer clear of the colorful concoction.

But at Anita's in Simpsonville you can still enjoy a feel-good margarita minus the feisty liquor.

That's because they sub white wine in their margaritas instead of tequila.

"It's a different, sweeter taste, and it has just as much flavor," says co- owner Ken Baldwin, "It just doesn't have the kick of a tequila margarita."

Baldwin says that a wine margarita isn't something you're going to find in Mexico, but this was Anita's idea to compensate for lack of a liquor license when they opened in 1985.

Anita's
101 Alice Ave., Simpsonville
864.963.3855
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday.
Details: Their decorative and festive-looking wine margaritas are lime or strawberry flavored and come in three sizes, frozen or on the rocks. Sangria (also available non-alcoholic) and Coronas are crowd-pleasers too. You won't find a "Speedy Gonzalez" lunch special here, but instead Anita's versions of Mexican favorites. Co-owner Ken Baldwin compares the biggest seller, the pollo fundido (shredded chicken or beef in a crispy tortilla pocket smothered in cheese sauce) to a "Mexican pot pie." Another popular item is the Michoacan salad with gulf shrimp. Or check out the jalapeno bean dip, Mexican pizzas, carnitas and various vegetarian entrees. To top it off, there are plenty of desserts including flan, rice pudding, xangos (cheesecake wrapped in a pastry tortilla) and Mexican coffee.
History: Open since 1985 when the Baldwin family moved here from San Diego. Dad is a native of Florence but mom Anita Navaro Baldwin, who is from Mexico, was the mastermind behind many of the restaurant's recipes. Now Anita's is captained by son Ken and his two brothers, Kevin and Keith.
Insider Info: If you want to try some authentic Mexican morsels, check out the jicamas (a legume that kind of tastes like a water chestnut or unsweetened apple) or the molé sauce, which is a dark and tasty paste used on poultry and made from cloves, raisins, chocolate, cinnamon, peanuts, almonds chilies and chicken stock.