(3.5 stars)
The Exotik Latin Cafe in Newtown had a lively vibe last Friday evening when I descended, with a gaggle of girlfriends, for cocktails & Latin eats. A minty frozen caipiroska ($13.50) and a (tequila) sunrise skull ($14.95) helped pave the way for tequenos ($9.50) crumbed batons of cheese dipped in chipotle sauce. My main meal mazorcada ($17.95) was a bit of a hot mess with corn kernels, chicken and Spanish chorizo stir fried and then mixed with a creamy sauce and cheese over lettuce leaves and potato straws. It lacked chilli bite.
On a Friday night there was a steady stream of walk-up patrons, so they were on the very edge of COVIDSafe capacity, but with the windows open to King Street, it felt reasonably okay.