Don Casamigos raises the bar on tacos and tequilas
Don Casamigos, a new restaurant and bar to hit the Darlinghurst food scene is establishing itself as one of a handful of places to experience elevated Mexican cuisine in Sydney. The theme of sharing food with loved ones in a beautiful and luxurious space is a task that venue manager Brenden Kanikevich (the genius behind Lola’s, Maybe Sammy, Fortuna) knows how to handle.
Once you step through the entrance, you might feel like you have left Sydney. The space is a mix between a high-end Cubano restaurant and a modern speakeasy. The roof offers a teasing amount of natural light to the dimly lit space which is a perfect match with crystal chandeliers, marble table tops and leather seats. There is a lot to see as the walls are lined with black and white still photos of Mexican life including the traditional dances and the charros and escaramuzas horse riders.
The bar is lined by a red light that lures your eyes towards the top shelf. It's no surprise that bottles of Don Julio and Martell are perched on the middle of the top shelf. Don Casamigos has its own signature cocktail menu with your favourite liquors transformed with fruity and zesty flavours. There is also an extensive wine list representing many Australian and European wine regions.
The menu itself is curated by executive chef Andreas, with a focus on high quality ingredients and unique flavours imbued into your favourite Latin American dishes. Don Casamigos has done well by creating an exclusive ceviche bar in a corner of the restaurant which seats only six at a time. Ceviche lovers will delight in the selection of Kingfish, Australian King Prawn and scallop. All the seafood is fresh with a buttery texture. Andreas bombards this with other contrasting textures - like the crunchiness from the pickled radish and the softness of the avocado cream. The twists and turns that your taste buds are taken on are all intentional. Andreas ensures that each bite packs a punch of flavour and is wrapped up with a light, citrusy finish that makes you beg for more. The popular ceviche dish that you know and love from Latin America is reinvented at Don Casamigos. Here you can also get your dose of caviar sourced only from the highest quality fish. There is Oscietra caviar and Beluga caviar, one of the most valued and admired caviar types.
If the ceviche and caviar is not for you, the bar also serves Jamon Iberico, a type of cured leg of pork produced from Spain. This variety of Jamon is unique and produced under the strictest of Spanish regulations to ensure it is sourced from the purest bred black Iberian pigs. The exclusivity of the ingredients really speaks to the dedication of the Don Casamigos team, to provide a dining experience that allows patrons to enjoy a piece of the world’s best produce right in the comfort of their own city.
The restaurant also offers a bottomless brunch menu called their Ilimitada Mexican Fiesta’ which gives patrons the chance to taste a diverse range of dishes from Latin America. The patata bravas is a crispy potato tossed in a spicy tomato sauce and the empanadas are a fluffy pastry filled with beef. The pork neck tacos are another highlight of the menu with the soft tortilla and filling that melts in your mouth. Mimosas can move aside because here they serve bottomless margaritas catering for all types - classic, spicy or sweet! For something more substantial, you can order a 300g MB5+ Black Onyx sliced wagyu with salsa, chicken chilindron (tomato based stew) and Spanish mackerel with escalivada (Catalonian dish of smoky roasted vegetables). For dessert, you can't go wrong with apple pie tacos and flan Mexicano - the Mexican version of créme caramel.
Level 1, 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst is a place for many occasions, whether a date or dinner with friends. Bring the people you love to do life with and celebrate Mexican cuisine with Don Casamigos.
