Ellya Sam:
After what seems to have been ages, I decided to go to Mamasita for a good wind down on a Sunday night. I brought a friend with me this time because you cannot go to a place like Mamasita and keep it to yourself. This place is highly acclaimed by many food bloggers; with really good reviews, and I cannot agree more. I love this place! I was not disappointed at all. It definitely lives up to the hype! (IMO).
This place is located very conveniently next to a 7 eleven (incase you need to cash out. We'll get to that later). You won't miss it! You also won't miss it because there is always a line of hungry humans waiting outside of the restaurant. Sometimes, even in the cold. Dedication to good food, I say!
If you decide to come here early (and you've never been here) and there is nobody outside, then yeah.. you'd probably be lost looking for this place. The entrance is literally a glass front door and a single flight of stairs leading to a small space upstairs on level 1. The sign is minute. Don't say I didn't tell you. ;)
As you walk upstairs, your eyes have to adjust because of the dim lighting (I notice this is becoming a trend for hip, and upcoming restaurants). Im guessing because it's so hard to plate mexican food, you need the dark ambience to heighten your taste buds? I'm not sure. Don't hold me to that. Also, the music here is pretty awesome. Gotta love me a bit of jazz. The place is also VERY small. The very few seats really do explain why there are so little vacancies during peak dinner time (hence the long lines on the outside ALL THE TIME). I was lucky I came here on a Sunday though. Such a smart idea coming with just one friend as well, instead of a whole bunch because we were accommodated immediately.
In saying that, the place was no doubt, emptier than it's usual, but still, nonetheless busy as ever. So busy, they mucked up our orders and we got extras from the kitchen to eat. YAY for us ;) The food is so good, I was glad enough to eat extras free of charge. In fact I was hoping they'd muck up more just so we'd get more free food HAH.
I don't go to Mexican places very often, but I can say from the glance of the menu, it looks pretty authentic. The headings of the food are in spanish with english descriptions, to help us non- espanols. They also have a very wide selection of drinks served here with very tempting cocktails. And their bar is pretty big for such a small space. It's decorated with all those lovely liquor bottles and fancy smancy bartenders. ;)
Now, just a warning, this place is pretty expensive. Hence the whole 7 elevel cash out thing I mentioned earlier. But then again, I expected it. The food was worth the money I say.
ANYWAY, to the food!
Elotes callejeros (v) $5.40 each
“Street Style” chargrilled corn, queso, chipotle mayo & lime.
Holy crap. The much raved little corn on a cobs these babies are. They are so simply made but they tasted so heavenly! I myself tried to recreate this back home and I couldn't get the tastes going right! Everything about this was so well balanced! Recommended fo sho. Would definitely get this when I go to Mamasita again.
Left: Mamasita Margarita $17
El Jimador reposado, Cointreau, agave, fresh lime, salt rim, on the rocks.
Right: Tequito Granita $18
Tromba blanco, sugar, mint, lime.
The drinks were magnificent! The margarita was so nice and alcoholic. :P The taste I mean. And the mint granita was so good as well! Loved how they slushied it up. Also, both recommended.
Tostaditas (2.5 inch fried tortilla with toppings: 4 tostaditas per board)
de Pollo $15.40
Chargrilled chicken, avocado, chipotle mayo & queso fresco
Yummy bite sized tortillas. I loved how they were small enough to put to the whole thing in your mouth without making a mess. I wish they were served in larger portions as it only came in 4s! So good!! :) Loved how the tortillas were so crispy and crunchy that it contrasted the chicken and avocado, being so tender and soft. And the mayo complimented and finished the whole thing, adding a bit of a zing! The price is pretty steep though. But still, I will overlook that. It was very yummy!
Quesadillas (9 inch tortillas with filling)
de Huitlacoche (v) $15.40
Huitlacoche, queso criollo, mushrooms, corn, epazote, pico de gallo & queso fresco
Piping hot, this thing arrived. And it was lovely! You could taste the fruitiness of the mushrooms which was the highlight for me of the dish. It was married in harmony with the cheese, salsa fresca and huitlacoche (which is a mushroom that grows on corn). Also the tortillas were a mix of a soft and crispy texture. The middle bits being soft and the edges being crunchy. Once again, another recommended dish!
$6.60 each
Left: de chocolate choc chilli icecream,
sesame seed praline
Right: de maracuya (vgn) passionfruit sorbet,
coconut
One of the ice creams were the ones that came mucked up. So glad we got to try both instead of just the one we ordered! Wow were these two ice creams amazing. I've never really tried chocolate and chilli and the hit of it has just electrified me! I love it! I can't explain the million different sensations that happened on my tongue as I ate the chillichoc ice cream. :) The other ice cream was also another steal. You cannot go wrong with a good passionfruit sorbet. It was so lovely and zesty. And it came topped with fried coconut flesh bits. Very satisfying! I could have sat here all night eating this.
Pastel de chocolate $12.10
Flourless chocolate cake, tequila white chocolate sauce & PX jelly
This however, was the winner of all the desserts though. The cake was so moist and decadent, and the richness of the chocolate was perfect for it's portion! The white chocolate sauce had no trace of an alcoholic taste contrary to what it suggests in the menu, but it was still good! And the PX jelly was divine! It tasted like coffee? Or raisins? Im not too sure, but when I asked the waitress what it was she said it was infused with Pedro Ximenez which is a sweet ad dark fortified sherry. Very tasty!
Definitely happy with my visit to Mamasita. Will LOVE to come back for more (when I get my next paycheck)! :P
9.25/10
Level 1, 11 Collins Street, CBD
Melbourne.
