MEJICO
Sydney, New South Wales

Just when you thought good-ol' Sydney town couldn't take another taco… hola, Mejico! Swinging open its doors, right next to Jamie's Italian on Pitt Street, Mejico has set itself apart from its fellow quesadilla-loving counterparts in various arenas. Firstly, the name. It's not pronounced Mexico, it's "meh-he-co" – the way you say it in North America. I'm usually not one for silly restaurant names but just saying "meh-he-co" gets me all excited. I almost want to break into a Mexican hat dance and twirl my brightly coloured skirt. Almost.

Secondly, the fitout. You may want to leave your feathered headdress at home because Mejico is no ordinary cantina. Owner Dr Sam Prince, of Zambrero Fresh Mex Grill, has spent over $4 million on a design that features fluro pink stools, leather lounges, an open bar and bold hand-painted striped walls. This vibrant aesthetic, together with a team of staff that strut around in fluro pink-and-white striped t-shirts mean that energy levels at Mejico are high. Thirdly, Mejico does not serve Mexican street food. Chef Daniel Schai (imported from Singapore) has created an upmarket menu with dishes such as Achiote chicken and 24 hour smoked pork belly tacos. But the key component in all dishes is freshness. And this isn't the standard claim-to-fresh-produce statement. It's; "You want guac to start?". Smack, bang – the wait staff mash it up right in front of you. "Need a corn fix?" Out comes the grill. Plantain chips are made by hand and the tostadas are baked in-house.

Lastly, there's more than margaritas on the drinks list. In fact, Mejico has the longest tequila list in Sydney. If you don't want to eat, guests can perch themselves at the open bar and enjoy a cocktail or two. Restaurants love to make a claim but most are just that; statements that aren't followed though. At Mejico, they practise what they preach.