Brisbane’s new outrageous Mexican restaurant

Go inside Brisbane’s newest, most outrageous Mexican restaurant with supersized serves and 3L margarita towers.

Three litre margarita towers, $55 giant nachos and arguably the largest loaded fries in Australia – Brisbane get ready for a new take on Mexican.

Hugely popular eatery California Tacos, with stores in Burleigh Heads, Townsville and Caloundra, will take over the site previously home to Indian restaurant Kulcha’d at 120 Boundary St, West End.

New owners Nathan McElroyand Rudy Lewis want to deliver the great flavours the brand is known for, but with a fun and edgy West End twist. That means a funky, tequila-inspired mural on the wall leading through bi-fold doors to an astro-turfed back courtyard, with the indoor-outdoor area with seating for up to 120.

The loaded fries at California Tacos.

The food and drink will mimic that at Burleigh Heads with a mix of classic and signature tacos, burritos, nachos, including ­supersized versions, quesadillas and bowls topped with meat and vegetarian options.

A margarita menu will also be in play, offering six varieties in sizes up to whopping 3L towers.

Jugs of other classic cocktails will also be available, alongside local craft beer, with the venue hoping to become a drinking and live music haven on Thursday nights and Sundays.

California Tacos West End is set to open mid to late January.

WOODFORD RESERVE OLD FASHIONED WEEK COMES TO BRISBANE

A  $400 Old Fashioned? How about a chestnut, raspberry and sherry one? Or maybe one inspired by the popular banana, cream and caramel dessert banoffee pie?

The much-loved classic cocktail is in for a shake-up, when Old Fashioned Week kicks off across the country on Saturday.

Running from November 5-14, the Woodford Reserve-sponsored affair will feature more than 200 bars across Australia paying homage to the whisky-based drink, as they roll out a variety of twists on the favourite and special promotions.

Brisbane City’s Death & Taxes will be one watering hole involved, unveiling four spins on the original version, including one with a syrup made from Special K cereal, another infused with charred pineapple, raspberry and dark chocolate, and a play featuring a matcha syrup that turns it green.

“It’s a little bit of us showing the customer that with such a simple template you can push it quite far but also saying, ‘There’s a reason this classic cocktail has been around for so, so long’,” said Kieran Reekie, from Death & Taxes.

Death and Taxes manager, Kieran Reekie, making an Old Fashioned. Picture: Matthew Poon

In fact, the Old Fashioned was first created in the 19th century and Reekie said weeks like this helped reacquaint drinkers with the beauty of the whisky, sugar, water and bitters combo.

“It’s a good opportunity to educate our staff and also the public on how to make a good one, especially being such a simple drink, as they’re so easy to mess up,” he said.

Eleven Queensland bars will be participating in the week, including the likes of The Gresham Bar in Brisbane, The Loose Moose and HOTA on the Gold Coast, and Whisky Boy in Noosa.

Among the most unique Old Fashioneds on offer will be a $400 version, starring Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition (valued at $3000 a bottle) from La Luna at Main Beach, and a coffee, coconut and pandan incarnation at awarded bar Dr Gimlette, in Brisbane.

For all the details and promotions see woodfordreserve.com/oldfashionedweek/