Sometimes you just have to trust the artist. Duchamp’s urinal, Damien Hirst’s dead cow head, Warhol’s soup cans – all works of art that turned heads for trying something different.
La Chineseca is that something different. Mexican Chinese fusion. It sounds odd but obviously the artist knows what he’s doing.
Archibald Prize Winner Vincent Fantauzzo is one part of a trio determined to bring Melbourne up to speed on a new cuisine. You remember Fantauzzo. He made us all wish our boyfriends picked up a paintbrush when his stunning portrait of long time partner Asher Keddie.
Well, now you’ll find that portrait on the walls of this basement bar off Collins St. That probably rules out Offspring ever filming inside, but that just means more room for us. This is a Melbourne basement, so expect exposed concrete, pipes and plenty of booths.
Drinks take precedence over food – with plenty of mescal and tequila on the menu. Try the Happy Ending Roulette if you’re feeling lucky. And chipotle infused cocktails if you like a little heat. The syrups are made in house too.
For snacking, there’s Szechuan chicken wings, Loco fried rice, scallop dumplings, chilli oil and XO sauce. Like we said, a little Mexican, a little Chinese.
Melbourne has plenty of awesome Taquerías and Yum Cha restaurants so La Chinesca just takes out the middle man for those of us who just can’t make up our minds. And why would we want to when we can have the best of both worlds.
La Chinesca
Harley House Basement,
71 Collins Street
Enter via Strachan Lane
Melbourne
T: 03 9663 8333
