The Mexican craze continues with new kid on the block Mejico opening up digs next to the popular Jamie's Italian. It's great to see more CBD dining options on offer these days - even when they are a tad expensive for my wallet. Options are options and that's all good in my books.
The Mejico team have made good use of the long narrow space. Bright walls and exposed bricks give this place a groovy, modern edge. I think it's a good place to have a drink or two and a morsel to eat before heading out for the rest of the evening.
The menu here leans more towards a modern take on Mexican food rather than good old Mexican street food that I'm still dying to wrap my laughing gear around in Old Sydney Town. Whilst tacos, grilled corn, ceviche and guacamole all appear on the menu you'll also find unusual suspects such as glazed pork ribs (which I've read are pretty spectacular).
We kick this off with Mejico's signature Market Fresh Guacamole ($9.00) which has the added theatre of being made by the deft-handed waitstaff right at our table. Our avocado, Spanish onion, coriander are all pounded to smithereens within a matter of minutes in a traditional "molcajete". With a splash of lime juice the guacamole is ready to be devoured with a serve of crispy plantains. This is a great dip, really flavoursome and smooth and the salty plantains are a great texture balance.
Compared to the fabulous guacamole my blackened corn is a bit of a let down for me. Our serve is tiny and for $7.00 I would have hoped for more than a teeny piece of corn split into for little rounds. For my taste buds I also think they were a little heavy handed on the smoked paprika (and I'm part Hungarian so that is saying something as we're born with paprika running through our veins). More corn + less paprika = a winning dish.
Although vegetarian tacos don't feature on the menu for some strange reason they are available if you ask your waitstaff. I asked a few staff a few times before I finally heard what I wanted to hear, that "yes - of course Vegetarian Tacos are available". I think the contents of the taco change often hence it's not on the menu though I don't see why they can't add "vegetarians tacos - ask your server for today's options". I thought my three petite quinoa tacos were really tasty and fresh, but was hoping for a bigger serve for $16.00. The taco shells themselves are quite little - about palm sized.
The Portobello Mushrooms and Croquetas ($28.00) is a tasty but unexpected dish to see on this menu as the flavour and presentation of our serving seemed more towards modern Australian than Mexican for me. That said there are some Mexican flavours pushing through - tomatillo salsa, black bean puree, ancho chilli, cumin and manchgo. It was a nice dish - I just wanted more, especially when you're sharing with two other hungry ladies.
Am I getting tight in my old age? I was hoping for a more substantial meal for the price we paid. I think I've been hanging around in Chinatown too much this year where for $15 you're full as a goog when you waddle home. Have you been to Mejico yet? Am I just being a grumpy old tight-wad?
