Tassie foodies’ Mexican wave as Hobart restaurants boom

HOBART is in for a Mexican invasion with two new restaurants set to serve up Mexican cuisine like Tasmania has never seen.

Dante DiTommaso, left, Fabio DiTommaso, Ken Chong and Aaron Brazendale are opening a new gourmet Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in North Hobart. pic Sam Rosewarne

HOBART is in for a Mexican invasion with two new restaurants set to serve up Mexican cuisine like Tasmania has never seen.

Dante and Fabio DiTommaso, Ken Chong and Aaron Brazendale have opened a new gourmet Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in North Hobart. Pancho Villa is the fourth venture for the entrepreneurial lads, adding to Capital, Burger Haus and Ragazzi on the restaurant strip.

Fabio said he was inspired by great Mexican food after living in Melbourne and travelling in New York.

“It’s something Hobart has never seen before, there’s not even nachos on the menu,” he said.

The menu includes sharing plates, a bar menu, 12 different tacos and street-style food in the courtyard.

Mr Chong is running the tequila bar.

“We’ll have 45 different tequilas covering all kinds of styles. There’ll be cocktails such as Margueritas and a lot of new Mexican beers that are not on the market here yet,” he said.

Another new Mexican restaurant is opening in the old Prouds jewellers site in the CBD on December 18.

Australian-owned Mexican franchise Zambrero opens its 101st restaurant and will offer 1000 free burritos to celebrate its first Tasmanian business.

Owner Stuart Churton and his business partner plan to open 10 Zambrero restaurants in Tasmania during the next seven years, employing more than 150 staff.

Zambrero is a humanitarian enterprise committed to tackling world hunger via its Plate 4 Plate initiative where for every burrito or bowl sold, one meal is donated to someone in need.

Zambrero’s menu includes favourites such as tacos, burritos and nachos, using slow-cooked meats, fresh accompaniments and six unique sauces.

The Fuel So Good team Anthony, left, and Maya Arnold with Najjib Aziz. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

In other restaurant news:

FUEL SO GOOD is a new healthy eating option in North Hobart. Husband and wife team Anthony and Maya Arnold recently moved to Hobart to open one of the state’s first superfood smoothie and healthy takeaway counters.

“We have everything from vegan to paleo but really it’s just about healthy, wholesome food,” said Mr Arnold, who has been a trainer and yoga instructor for 20 years.

URBAN GREEK restaurant opened this week at the former Garagistes site in Murray St. The Kakkos family offer diners a taste of the traditional cuisine from the Greek island of Crete, where their family comes from.

SUCCULENT: The cafe at the Royal Botanical Gardens has reopened after about six months, with new lease holders Niall Mitchel, from the Hobart Function Centre, giving it a new look, menu and name.