Taking inspiration from the colours and flavours of Mexico, Agave Rosa is the latest offering from Franz Zdesar, who locals may recognise as the friendly founder of Project Tokyo in Mermaid Waters. After satisfying local tastebuds for years, Franz had an itch to do something completely different, drawing upon his wealth of experience working in and managing some of London’s most esteemed Asian eateries including Nobu, Hakkasan, Zuma and Roka. In the end, he settled on a concept of elevated Mexican-inspired fare with an Asian twist. He wanted it to be fresh, bold and unlike anything else on the southern beachfront strip, so to realise his very specific vision he enlisted fellow chef Eduardo Castro, who honed his craft at Jonah’s and Cranky Fins in Sydney, and locally at the former FireCue in Nobby Beach. Together, they have curated a colourful and vibrant dining experience that is befitting the venue’s incredible location. Nestled next door to Kirra’s iconic Bread and Butter, Agave Rosa features a bold interior painted by local artist Bastian Allfrey, highlighted with plenty of pink alongside a mural that reads, ‘let them eat tacos’. Plush booth seating frames the outside of the dining room, with smaller table settings filling the space in between.
Agave Rosa’s menu meanders from share plates such as kingfish ceviche and grilled octopus with ancho chilli, chipotle mayo, baby beets, sesame onion dressing and wasabi, through to tasty tacos, which are served in pairs. The crispy-skin pork belly with pickled cabbage, ‘Mexlaw’ and salsa verde has emerged as an early crowd favourite, alongside the melt-in-your-mouth beef, which is topped with the venue’s own recado negro spice mix, lashings of chipotle sauce and guacamole. Accompanying the fare is a generous selection of cocktails, including four different margaritas that range from mild to wild, a scattering of geographically diverse wines and craft beers. Agave Rosa is Mexican, but not as you know it.
Agave Rosa is open now! Skip over to our Stumble Guide for opening times and booking details.
