Amigos (St. Kilda)
92B Acland Street, St Kilda,
03 9534 3322
Mexican
$$
Food
- Nachos with Chilli Con Carne
- Taco Al Pastor (Pork Shoulder)
- Taco De Carne Seca (Minced Beef)
- Taco De Camarones (Grilled Prawns)
- Chicken Taco
- Fish Taco
- Bean Taco
- Fajita with Beef, Chicken & Chorizo
- Seafood Paella
- Sizzling Brownie
- Churros
- Flan de Queso (Creme Caramel)
The Good
Chilli Con Carne Nachos were apparently a crowd favourite and we quickly came to understand why. Topping the nachos were an abundance of the usual suspects, rich and flavourful tomato salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Hiding underneath the crunchy chips, we uncovered a base heavily laden with stringy melted cheese and of course, a bed of chilli con carne. The mince mixture was bursting with flavour and perfectly combined with a variety of soft beans. The cheesy, savoury combination made for a very appetising start to our meal.
We thoroughly enjoyed the spread of tacos, all served on a lightly toasted, warm and soft tortilla. However our favourite would be the beef, fish and the prawn varieties.
Incredibly juicy, the beef aroma of the Taco De Carne Seca was bold and forward. This was accompanied by the liberal application of fresh tomato salsa and coriander which provided a refreshing twist.
The Fish Taco was another crowd favourite. With a brilliant crunch, the beer batter gave way to flavoursome and tender fish protein that simply melted away in your mouth. The crunch elements were further enhanced by the sweetness of the corn and crispiness of the cabbage, which were made even better by the slightly spicy chipotle mayo.
We found the Taco De Camarones exceptionally fresh and flavoursome. Char grilled to perfection, the prawns were sizeable and crunchy. The slight charring enhanced the seafood aroma, and was well complemented by the various chillies and garlic sauces drizzled on top.
The Mixed Fajita didn’t disappoint either. Filled to the brim on the hot plate was a variety of perfectly cooked meats. From the tender strips of chicken, to the slightly spicy chorizo and the flavoursome shredded beef, the dish was made even more aromatic by an abundance of capsicum, mushrooms and onions. In true Tex-Mex fashion, we wrapped the ingredients within the soft tortillas along with rice, lettuce guacamole and cheese. A tasty and meaty DIY taco of sorts that was refreshingly flavoursome and diverse if textures.
It was dessert time and the Sizzling Brownie came highly recommended. Served once again on a sizzling hotplate, two huge chocolate brownies were topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pouring on the slightly dark, melted chocolate allowed the dish to sizzle and generated much fanfare. While the theatrics looked mighty spectacular, the taste was definitely not a sideshow. The slight crispness of the outer was the perfect contrast to the soft and fudgey inner. Without being overly sweet or rich, the chocolate was forward and flavoursome. All served with the slightly melted vanilla ice cream, this was the perfect conclusion to our meal.
The other desserts, namely the Churros and the Flan de Queso, didn’t disappoint either. The churros were exceptionally fresh, crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. While I would’ve preferred a thicker chocolate dipping sauce, the cinnamon sugar dust coating the outer provided a nice sweetness nonetheless. The Flan, creme caramel, was aptly jiggly and incredibly smooth. With a milky, vanilla aroma permeating throughout, the highlight of the show was of course the caramelised sugar that provided just a hint of bitterness. Well balanced and delicious.
The Mediocre
We found the Seafood Paella rather unimpressive in comparison. While the prawns were once again very fresh and wholesome, the scallops were unfortunately chewier than expected. The rice was also a bit too wet for our liking, and could’ve benefitted from being slightly drier which would result in a better concentration and reduction in flavours.
The Bad
We were disappointed by the Taco Al Pastor. The protein was much much tougher and coarser than expected and made for an extremely chewy experience. This was accompanied by chunks of pineapple, which I personally wasn’t a fan of either. All in all, we felt that this was the weakest point of our meal.
The Verdict
Amigos provides a tasty and satisfying taste of Mexican-inspired cuisine. While I certainly can’t comment on the authenticity of the food, what we did sample tonight were generally well-executed and exceeded our expectations.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Absolutely. Delicious tacos and nachos always hits the spot, and I will definitely be back for more.
Penguineats would like to thank Amigos in St Kilda for inviting us.