PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Anyone who has travelled through Mexico will know that its cuisine does not consist solely of refried beans, hard shell tacos and dishes smothered in a layer of sour cream and cheese. Anyone who hasn’t can probably guess. A proliferation of bad Mexican is what prompted Arturo Morales to open shop here several years ago, and his restaurant is well known among Melbourne’s small Mexican community and beyond for its authentic, fresh and varied regional dishes. The walls are festooned with simple, colourful decorations, and paintings and artwork that add a homely, vibrant touch to proceedings.
A combination platter makes an excellent starter and gives a range of tastes including sopes, taquitos, quesadillas, molletes and guacamole. Or, dig into a plate of nachos or “make your own” tacos with soft tortillas. Mains include chicken enchiladas with mole poblano or porterhouse steak served with hot chipotle salsa, rice and frijoles. Sauces don’t have to be hot to be full of flavour; the diced pork served with tomatillo, green chilli and coriander salsa is a case in point. There’s a kid friendly menu and plenty of daily specials. Naturally, there is a superlative selection of aged tequilas to work your way through, plenty of Mexican beers, and of course, margaritas are a specialty. Try your beer with michelada, a salt encrusted glass of fresh lime juice, or “Cubano” with salsa Tabasco added for an extra kick! Cocktails such as “Castro’s Pain” enliven an already cheery evening in this restaurant.
Angela Costanzo, December 2008