Los Vida Crows Nest
Los Vida, purveyors of the freshest and healthiest authentic food from South of the Border, are open… north of the Bridge. Crows Nest is the lucky suburb, playing host to Los Vida’s exciting third venue; a 200 seater restaurant and a cocktail bar inspired by Mexican food, drinks and culture. Being “over the bridge” has never been cooler, punchier or tastier.
Having nailed their busy Westfield’s Sydney and The Wintergarden’s locations, the Crows Nest locale is bigger, bolder and more brazen. Open seven days, lunch and dinner, she’s replete with a restaurant, two bars, a bar snacks menu offering authentic Mexican street food, and a private function area for up to 50.
There’s one of Australia’s largest boutique mezcal and tequila lists, so expect to sling on some drinks the way Mexicans do! Entry is even via a laneway ‘round the back, giving Crows Nest a little bit of cool it’s lacked until now.
Reviewers, bloggers and customers are raving about Los Vida’s signature dishes like the Yucatan fish taco (grilled barramundi in Yucatan marinade, smokey rojo sauce, zesty lime cabbage and pineapple salsa), guacamole with totopos (avocado, lime, coriander, garlic, chili, paprika & jicama with pomegranate), and the superfood packed Ancient grain salad (quinoa, broccoli, kale, butternut pumpkin, corn kernels, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, parsley, jalapenos & pomegranate with a tequila dressing).
The Los Vida Crew formed six months ago and has some experienced players at the helm. Director Mark Dopson formerly Ruby L’otel in Rozelle and Sumo Salad has partnered up with Designer Adam Ziino of Shout Media and Octavio Gomez Haro of the Casa Mexico Group. They have surrounded themselves with some movers and shakers in the industry. Heading up the bar is Rodrigo Vega formerly Hello Sailor and Low 302, Ulysses Svoronos of the Wellington Club (London) and Ben Magree, ex Norfolk and Abercrombie Hotel. They have also secured renowned Mexican Chef Pablo Galindo Vargas, formerly Mejico, Mr Moustache and Rojo Rocket.
“The support from our guests has been amazing and encouraged us to share the Mexicano love outside the city boarders. So we thought it was time to take Los Vida across the bridge and into the heaving and lively area of Crows Nest” says Brand Ambassador and Co- Owner Octavio Gomez Haro.
“We wanted to incorporate cuisine from all across our beloved Mexico. From the north of Mexico we offer the beef brisket a 350gram sliced beef with chimichurri. From Oaxaca in the south Pacific we bring our Enchiladas made with our house coloradito mole sauce – which has over 32 ingredients. A dish Pablo is very proud of and one that sets Mexican cuisine apart! We also pay respect to the beautiful coastal line from the Pacific all the way to the Caribbean – so we bring an array of ceviche’s with choices of tuna, scallops and prawns,” says Octavio.
The emphasis on freshness will be echoed in the 10 metre cocktail bar, where veteran Licensee Rodrigo Vega will head up a list that’s all about fresh and colourful produce, artisan mezcals, unique agave blends and one of Mexico’s favourite drinks: rum.
“Cocktails rely on fresh ingredients just the way that food does. Our cocktail list has been crafted alongside Pablo our Head Chef to maximize the use of fresh ingredients. A drink might only have three ingredients in it, so each needs to be presented in its optimal state. People can come to the new bar just for a drink so my goal is to blow people away with drinks that have energy, that are clever and most importantly, that are insanely delicious: that’s the Mexican way,” says Vega.
Los Vida opened their first restaurant on level 6 Westfields just five months ago, quickly gaining a loyal following of diners hungry for a healthy and authentic Mexican experience. In March they opened their Wintergarden store which is followed by the new Crows Nest restaurant. The unprecedented demand the team are experiencing means plans are in the works for another four locations to open at key sites around Sydney City by the end of 2016, with a key site at Barangaroo already under construction and set to open before 2015 is out.
Dopson says the demand for healthy Mexican has helped drive their success “The demand for Los Vida’s fresh food and energetic vibe means we’re expanding quicker than we could have hoped for! Sydney’s restaurant scene is so vibrant so to be backed liked this by all those food lovers out there – it’s incredible,” he says.
Los Vida has a corporate edge to it with Gomez Haro’s background in consulting for companies like JP Morgan, GE and PwC to list a few. As a result they have already been receiving backing from various corporate sponsors. “It’s very encouraging that the sponsors see the value in what we are delivering and getting involved with us,” says Dopson.
Open seven days for lunch, dinner, functions or just a drink head to Los Vida for a taste that goes south of the border, down Mexico way.
LOS VIDA CROWS NEST
419 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest