There’s food and then THERE IS THE BEST, OH MY GOD I COULD DIE & BE HAPPY food. Mesa Verde delivered that feeling from my first mouthful. Located on one of the many floors that house several authentically Australian bars and restaurants, if the restaurant is in this building you know it’s going to deliver the very best.
Mesa Verde takes Mexican tradition, flavours and techniques to push the boundaries of taste and precision in their dishes. Their drink selection boasts one of Australia’s largest collections of Tequila and Mezcal. One of my last meals in Australia was in this restaurant on Level 6 of Curtin House. The lights are dim during evening service and it adds an intimate touch to what is a loud and busy establishment. Somehow you can find the seclusion needed for a private booking but welcoming the rowdier crowds in the same breath.
Can you go to a Mexican and forget Tacos? I can’t think of any other starter for my Mexican meal. I tried the Mesa fried chicken, tomatillo & avocado salsa with smoked morita mayo ($7). The theme of the night became ‘smoked’ as it was so dominant on the menu. In line with my newfound ‘taste’ for seafood, we also ate Butterflied grilled prawn, corn salsa, chipotle mayo and lime ($8). Add a side of Charred corn esquites, smoked morita mayo, cotija cheese and crispy totopos ($12).
There are larger dishes, but I stuck to the sharer plates. I can never resist a margarita, especially in a restaurant specialising in Mexican tastes. I went for the Margarita De La Casa. What I LOVED about Mesa Verde is the salt selection. I chose the Alderwood smoked salt to accompany my margarita and the smoky taste complemented my food choices. Other salt options are black truffle, Jalapeno, lime infused and more.
Overall
Hands down one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in Melbourne. Make sure you try the margarita with at least three different salts. Three margaritas down, the world starts to take shape and everything tastes even better.
Fun fact: Their namesake is inspired from Sergio Leone’s 1971 masterpiece ‘Duck, You Sucker’, where a lone soldier of fortune with a love for TNT becomes involved with a rebellious group who attempt to rob a bank in a town called Mesa Verde.
Level 6, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
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