By Franz Scheurer
It would be very easy to mistake Vera Cruz for a pharmacy with its stark interior and large illuminated crosses on all the walls; it is however a Mexican restaurant with a difference. Most Mexican restaurants in Australia serve Tex-Mex food whereas Vera Cruz is specialising in the unadulterated Mexican cuisine.
Once the menus arrive and you have read though the astounding list of Tequilas, you will have forgotten all about the pharmacy theme, unless you overindulge, then it might come back to haunt you in the morning.
We tried the ‘Mushroom empanadas with chile jam’, the ‘Vegetarian Fajitas with guacamole, black beans, salsa, crème fraiche, the ‘Char-grilled chipotle chile lamb cutlets with corn torta & salsa fresca’ and the ‘Four-grain enchilada of rice, barley, lentils, black beans with mushrooms, carrot & raisin’. The food was generally competent but lacked intensity of flavour and although I am not really a chilli-head I found it lacked heat. The empanada shell was very hard (unlike the softer varieties I am used to) and the mushrooms tasted suspiciously like canned buttered mushrooms.
Service is friendly and helpful and the wine list is adequate. The list of Tequilas, however, must be the best in town. BYO (wine only) is ok and the corkage is $ 3 per person.
Score: 6/10
For more information or bookings:
Vera Cruz
314 Military Road
Cremorne NSW 2090
Tel.: 02 9904 5818