Darlinghurst’s own bite size of Mexico has just launched their Spring menu and their combination of authenticity and innovation will transport your taste buds from Sydney to Mexico. Tommy’s Darlinghurst is a unique dining experience inspired by Mexican & South American flavours with a Modern Australian touch.
What differentiates Tommy’s from other Mexican-inspired restaurants in Sydney is their unique approach and food philosophy. In the kitchen, they cook over charcoal on a traditional Parrilla charcoal grill, utilising cultural methods of Mexican cuisine to truly enhance the flavours of the food and experience. Tommy’s takes pride in using both authentic ingredients and fresh, locally sourced produce.
The Head Chef is Marcão Michel has over 10 years of experience in the kitchen and has been with us since we reopened from lockdown last October.
The inspiration behind Tommy’s: Brett and Marcão both love Mexican and South American cuisine, We have both been to Mexico and loved it there. The food and the culture were something we really enjoyed, so we wanted to bring something like that to Sydney but with our own little touches here and there. We hadn’t owned a restaurant at this point, only bars, so when thinking of a name, Tommy’s margarita was on the mind and seemed like the perfect name to describe what we were trying to create: A unique dining experience inspired by Mexican & South American flavours with a Modern Australian touch.
One thing we noticed over there was so much was cooked over fire and charcoal, and this brought out such amazing flavours in the food, so this is something we really wanted to implement in our restaurant. From there, with a lot of help from our chefs and bar team, we got to where we are now.
We ask Head Chef Marcão, what key ingredient is shown throughout the menu. “It has to be the Chillies!
They are Indigenous to Central and South America and were used there for centuries to fire up and enhance the flavour of pretty much every dish in all different cultures contained in the region. At Tommy’s, we use more than 20 different species of chilli, local and imported, fresh, pickled, fermented or dried, every one carefully selected to perfectly compose our dishes to please even the ones that don’t like the “heat”, with delicate and fragrant compositions, and to challenge the brave ones bringing all the heat it can give”.
Behind the bar, this philosophy stands with an immense focus on freshness. Every juice is freshly squeezed daily, and every syrup and cordial is made in-house to accompany their delicious Tequila Patrón partnered cocktails, using Patrón Silver, Reposado, and Anejo, and a unique and extensive range of Mezcals.
Table for 4 and don’t know what to order. The top choices are:
- Guacamole & Chips (can’t go past),
- Kingfish Ceviche w/ Passionfruit aguachile, micro herbs & Watermelon reddish
- Achiote chicken taco and the prawn taco with mango habanero salsa
- Chargrilled Turro Octopus
- Papas Huancaina: Heirloom Potatoes, aji amarillo dressing & aioli
- If they’re steak lovers then we couldn’t recommend the Tomahawk a la Parilla highly enough: 1.2kg Tomahawk steak with beetroot gel, pickled daikon, papas huancaina & brussel sprouts
- Pavlova for dessert
Other dishes from the new and revamped menu that you can’t miss include the mouthwatering Peruvian Red Snapper Ceviche with Lime and Ginger Marinade, Coconut Dressing and House-made Pickles, the charcoal roasted Pato A La Brasa, Half a Duck served with Tommy’s original dark mole – a sauce flavour packed with chillies, cacao, onions, garlic, and spices – and roasted pumpkin, to their classic homemade Churros with Dulce De Leche with Salted Caramel Ice Cream.
Must-have cocktails include their titular cocktail, Tommy’s Tommy’s, made with Jalapeño infused Patrón Silver Tequila, Fresh Pineapple, Agave Syrup, and Lime, as well as their Al Fresco, a juicy and spicy watermelon Margarita made with Patrón Silver Tequila, fresh Watermelon, Green Grape, Orange, and Citrus.
Travel & Lifestyle spoke with Patrón’s Brand Ambassador, Joseph Chisholm, who, as one would expect, knows how to make the perfect margarita. “Our production style is what makes PATRÓN so unique. At PATRÓN we make two different styles of tequila, an old-world style tequila using a Tahona Wheel, and a new-world style tequila using a Roller Mill. A Tahona Wheel is a large volcanic rock used to crush and pulverise the cooked agave to release the juice. A Roller Mill is a long conveyor that crushes the cooked agave but separates the juice from the fibres. The Roller Mill gives that delicious spice and vegetable note to the aroma of the tequila and the Tahona Wheel gives a beautiful sweetness to the taste”, Joseph explains.
We are all familiar with the three amigos – Silver, Reposado, and Anejo. “PATRÓN Silver is the perfect spirit for your long refreshing style cocktails or simply a tequila lime and soda”. Joseph added, “PATRÓN Reposado is the most versatile spirit and is enjoyed in a classic Tommy’s Margarita or any flavour variation, like spicy Margarita’s or watermelon Margaritas. PATRÓN Anejo is that decadent after dinner spirit which can be enjoyed on the straight or on the rocks, but if you are feeling adventurous try an old fashioned”.
Tommy’s Darlinghurst’s new menu is both refreshing and delicious to accompany the warmer weather nights, combine this with a Tequila Patrón cocktail or two, and spring has truly sprung.
Tommy’s Darlinghurst
263 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
T: +61 456 631 365 | e: hello@tommysdarlinghurst.com.au
