As far as Mexican restaurants go, Brisbane is pretty much covered. By my count we're looking at well over 40 places where you can enjoy a few tacos, drink too much tequila, and shout 'arriba!' at regular intervals. It seems that Mexican is the new Chinese.
Now throwing their sombrero into the Lucha Libre ring is new Fortitude Valley venue Chilliwow (in the space that formerly housed Barsoma), a fully-themed Mexican cantina offering music 'til late, a tequila-stocked bar, and a fresh menu.
But co-owner Adrian Mezzina wants something cleared up right away. “A few people still think we're going to be a restaurant, which we're not; we're definitely a cantina, we're a bar, first and foremost.”
Got that? You won't be heading to Chilliwow for grandma's birthday (unless she's into the bar scene), but you might well be spending your weekend nights there, dancing to DJ sets or a mariachi band, drinking exceptional Mexican cocktails, and sampling a taco or chilli dog if the mood takes you.
The Constance Street spot has undergone a Mexican makeover, and has two levels to suit whatever vibe you're feeling. “The DJ or mariachi band will be placed downstairs, so a bit louder, a bit more fun downstairs. And then upstairs will be a little bit different, a little bit more relaxed maybe. The bar upstairs will be slightly more complex with what we do with our cocktail list as well,” Mezzina explains.
“Then, we've extended the license to the courtyard as well. So we've extended more seating outside and put the the smoking area down towards the footpath, so that you can actually eat and drink up in the courtyard as well, outside.”
Brisbane certainly has a big crush on Mexico, but is it true love or just infatuation? “I think the boom is because the culture's really fun, the food's really tasty—it's always been a very popular cuisine internationally—and I think it's something that's probably beyond a trend, because it's been around for so long. But I think that more and more people eat it and start to discover it. Culturally it's probably just something that Australians, and I guess people in Brisbane as well for the same reason, love and enjoy, and it's fun and festive.”
What of the food, you ask? “We're going to have a really simple selection of tacos and chilli dogs, shaker fries, and corn chips and dips that we'll serve til late.”
And there's no need for pitchforks, Guzman, Gomez, Montezuma, Cactus Jack, Mad Mex, and Pepe. “We're not trying to be Brisbane's best Mexican restaurant or serve up the best. It's good simple fresh tacos—there's five variations—and a couple of chilli dogs in there. But I think people will enjoy them, and they're at a price point that will work. So you can try a couple, or share some corn chips, and have a few drinks. The drinks menu's awesome; I love it especially.
“I guess it's all about that kind of entertainment, fun, party, a bit silly even at times, and less about just sitting down and having a Mexican meal, which is what the majority of Mexican venues do in Brisbane. Not that they don't offer some great tequilas and beers—they do—but it's more so about having a meal with friends, whereas this is about having a night out, having a dance, and really a nighttime venue, late night even.”
The venue will open tomorrow night, but the official grand opening party won't happen until next month, says Mezzina. “We just wanna make sure that we get everything right before we really have the big party and, you know, celebrate the opening of the venue. We'll see what everyone likes, and what they don't, and try to adapt as much as we can.”
With no end to the Mexi-boom in sight, we're thinking Brisbanites will be saying "me gusta" to this one.
