El Loco (Excelsior)

Off to Belvoir theatre and in need of a nice drop and some food.

Given that Frank Moreau (of Merivale group) always chooses good wine I head to one of the most recent venues acquired by Merivale, the Excelsior, now El Taco. Given it is a marginally warm Friday evening in September with the Manly Sea Eagles vs the Broncos up the road at Moore Park, the place is heaving. Locals, trendies and corporates squish into the old pub that has been left mostly as-is, garnished with little bits of Mexican stereotypes (think sombreros, skulls and things with moustaches).

The restaurant (really just an extension of the bar with food, based on the crowds and noise level) is bright and spacious with plenty of places to park your bum (when empty) and eat some re-interpreted Mexican food. If it isn't a school night there is a selection of three margaritas for $13.50 to choose from and a long list a Tequilas to get stuck into.

I meet The Teacher and Ms. N (formerly The Norwegian) and we get a bottle of 2010 Mt Difficulty 'Roaring Meg' from Central Otago NZ. Margheritas are a great love of mine, but I feel that if one is going to the theatre one must stay away from away from hard spirits. Margheritas next time, I promise. Anyway I'm still swept up in the Central Otago craze over here. We manage to grab the end of one of the long benches outside on the footpath, a perfect spot to watch the comings and goings of people. Halfway through the wine some nachos with guacamole and salsa are ordered. The corn chips have satisfying crunch, and the guacamole is among the best I have tried. Lots of sour cream in that one. The salsa is sharp and fresh, but a tad difficult to get to stay on the corn chip!

Deciding that isn't enough we order two tacos: "Carne Asada"; lemongrass, beef, salsa verde and "Al Pastor"; spit-roaster pork, pineapple salsa, the Excelsior hotdog and an Al Pastor Pork Torta Sandwich. I hardly make it back to the table with a second round of drinks before the food is dropped at the table. Both of the tacos contain crispy, tender morsels of meat on a bed of freshly grated lettuce and sweet/tangy salsa. They are a lovely, light snack full of zest. The hotdog is piled high with cheese, we actually sell the first one to a Manly Eagles fan running late to the match! The second looks and tastes (we assume) just as good. The Frankfurt is not your Woolworth's standard. Oh no. This baby be gourmet. The pork sandwich is filled with the same little gems of pork found in the taco, on a soft white bun accompanied by mayonnaise, corriander, cabbage and spring onion. It is everything you want it to be, best-margherita soaker-upper (I presume and intend to test).

Given the quick service we have enough time for another round of drinks before we head off to the theatre. Good thing there wasn't time for a 4th round though. There was some unanticipated nudity, and I may have laughed had I done another glass of wine.
 
http://www.elloco.com.au/