“Are you going to search me,” the giggling girl at the table next to us asks. Wearing rubber gloves, we’re about to dive into a Tortita Ahogada ($12), the messiest dish in the cantina. Co-owner Bildo Saravia (a.k.a. Mr. Moustache himself) tells us to “drown” this delicious pork sandwich with spicy salsa. It’s exactly the kind of cheekiness you should expect at this Bondi hotspot. On one side you’ve got an opulent bar, inspired by ex-dictator Porfirio Diaz’s obsession with France, and on the other, a colourful kitchen reflecting Mexican street food culture. Soon we’re presented with an array of share plates: Seasonal Ceviche ($10); Tostaditas Pato ($12/3), mini tacos with spicy duck, and Huitlacoche ($12/3), black corn truffle, roasted corn and fresco cheese; and soft shell Fish Tacos ($6) – possibly the most ‘Western’ of all the dishes. A lot of the cocktails are Mezcal-based, like the El Original del Diablo ($18) a Mezcal version of the El Diablo with homemade ginger beer; but you can also “go French” with D’vine ($16) – a popular cocktail with apricot-infused gin. Their star dessert is Plantos Machos ($11) – plantain sautéed with coffee liquor and burnt goat’s milk – it’s hard to believe this stunning dish is considered ‘street food’.
Mr. Moustache
75-79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Ph: (02) 9300 8892 mr-moustache.com.au
Mexican, Cocktails $-$$
