Whilst travelling overseas may be off the cards at the moment, that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge what the world has to offer at your favourite restaurants. From the team at Tequila Mockingbird, the Atticus Hospitality Group is expanding with their second instalment, Esteban. After their success with their recent pop-up, Tequila on York, the latest Mexican joint will be permanently taking up residence at the former pop-up location in Temperance Lane in the CBD.
Aesthetically, the restaurant features natural granite bar tops and custom timber mezcal and tequila cabinets. A bit of “visual punch” will come from a giant custom 400kg acid-aged steel masterpiece that was crafted by Byron Bay artist Daniel Heapy. While custom artwork is presented around the venue including murals by artist Nanami Cowdroy and hand-painted and beaded bottles indigenous Oaxacan tribes in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Diners can expect a thriving taqueria joint with an abundance of authentic Mexican dishes with influences from Mayan, Aztec, Spanish, Portuguese, Afro Caribbean with a flair of Australian native ingredients. From street-vendor inspired dishes to large share plates, the eatery is curated by Chef Frid, who has extensive culinary skills in regional and traditional Mexican cuisine. With handcrafted tortillas to a tailor-made Parilla grill and vertical charcoal rotisserie for those charcoal-grilled meats and vegetables, Esteban will your favourite go-to on Taco Tuesdays.
The menu will serve up Hiramasa Kingfish Ceviche served with watermelon sorbet, chile Verde, eschalot, sea bananas and plantain Frito. For meat lovers, indulge in their Wattleseed Rubbed Duck Breast with aji Amarillo or their 1KG Wagyu Delmonico Rib Eye MBS 6+ accompanied by a choice of salsa flight or porcini Mulato butter. Whilst dessert lovers can rejoice in their Tres Camotes, which is a sweet potato tart, sweet potato ice cream and sweet potato meringue. A street-food style menu will also available in the basement bar and alfresco in the Temperance laneway outdoor seating area from Tuesday through to Saturday for lunch, dinner until late.
On the drinks front, Latin flavours will take the scene and Tequila and Mezcal will be the centre of attention. Esteban’s signature Margarita will be on offer, featuring 3 mini Margarita-style cocktails paired with 3 signature tacos. A selection of contemporary and vintage wines will be available along with with an array of signature cocktails. A mezcal and tequila trolley will be moving around to entice diners with Tequila and Mescal tastings paired with nibbles or some aperitifs and digestifs.
Esteban is now open from Tues – Sat 11:30am – 1am. For more information, head on over to Esteban
