Machete

10 Reviews on “Machete”

• Becks Dobson

  A stroll through Victoria Park took us to the village and grabbing the first empty table we could find, we ended up at Machete, a small Mexican cafe that promises big things. The cocktail menu looks inspired but, I’ll be honest, I barely looked past the Bloody Jesus Mom – the classic Mary made with tequila and a definite lifesaver with the perfect amount of kick.The food menu is simple with towering plates of nachos on offer, tacos and, of course, burritos. There’s a first time for everything so I bit the bullet and ordered the carnitas (pork) burrito and was definitely not disappointed. As thick as my arm, the burrito was stuffed with the melt-in-the-mouth pork, black beans, salsa, lettuce and warm brown rice that made eating it in an attractive manner nigh impossible. No big deal though, dip it in the cool tomatoey salsa and hope that your old pal Pete doesn’t notice it smeared all over your face. thenotsosecretdiary.com

  March 14, 2016, 11:09 pm

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• Emma Copland

  I love a stroll along the canal and through Victoria Park at the weekend. If I am with my Boyfriend, one of these weekend walks usually ends with a boozy picnic or going to the pub, but since we had just purchased a camper van we decided to celebrate in style by going to Machete for a proper lunch.There are a few great little restaurants around Victoria Park but the human heart and swords on the windows of this little blue Mexican was an unusual approach to enticing customers and intrigued me.The restaurant was small and, though the interior dark, pops of colour from the quirky decor such as the salad strainer lights make it far from dull.Starting lunch as any good Saturday should with cocktails!! We both went for the classic margarita which was sharp, salty and lethal just how I like them!Next it was onto Nachos which came served in what I initially though was a small bowl but as I dug a little deeper under the gorgeous spicy salsa verde and guacamole I discovered layer upon layer of chips, cheese, sour cream and black beans that were not only tasty but incredibly filling. With so many toppings some of the chips at the bottoms did go soggy and things got a little messy (I could have used cutlery like a civilized person but where is the fun in that). Though sloppy, these nachos could not be faulted on flavour.OK, so sharing nachos was probably enough for lunch but we were celebrating and I the menu was too appealing to simply order one thing. There are not many vegetarian options on the menu which made it easy for me to pick the Hongos tacos however if you are veggie and not into mushrooms give this place a miss because apart from nachos thats all you are getting offered. I am mad for mushrooms so it worked out well for me!The tacos were small but loaded with topping as they are supposed to be; super light and fresh, the flavours almost took me back to Venice Beach LA (This is the closest I have ever been to Mexico despite having a half Mexican boyfriend). The tacos were great but for me the smokey chipotle sauce that they came served with was the star of the show; fiery & spicy, yet packed with smoldering flavours.I think that the food being served on silver plates is very much a love or hate feeling; I loved it as it reminded me of the sharing platters that you get at parties. I hate the idea of food being stuffy or pretentious it should be about sharing, comfort and conversation so for me these plates, though simple, encapsulated that chilled out fiesta feeling.The whole vibe of the restaurant was laid back and local, sitting next to the kitchen the staff worked hard yet chatted away. You may have to wait a little while for your food, drink or bill but I would much rather step into this type of chilled environment than one filled with robot staff that are ushering you out the door as soon as you have put your fork down. A fun little neighbourhood restaurant that I cant wait to return to with friends. emmainks.com

  May 12, 2015, 9:30 pm

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• The Awkward Blog

  Saturday night was spent eating our fill of Mexican food and mojitos in Machete, a little neighbourhood restaurant in Victoria Village, Hackney. I think Ive had my quota of guacamole and tortilla chips to last the yearsweeping statement! Maybe just for February then.Sipping on ice cold mojitos, we snacked on chunky guacamole and chips until everyone arrived- we had a big L shaped table at the back of the restaurant, where there was a window into the kitchen. Unless you like the burning sensation of your tongue frying off, I would avoid the green hot sauce. Or any of the hot sauce bottles on the table in that case. We squished up around the table on a mish mash of odd chairs and benches, and shared a main dish as a starter- Seabass CevicheThe seabass had a very meaty texture, but it was the dressing I liked the most. The lime juice and red onion gave it a tangy crunch, and the addition of pomegranate gave it a small bite of sweetness. I scooped it up with yet more tortilla chips. In fact, everything came with tortilla chips, including my beef burritoLesson learntgo easy on the starter! By the time my burrito came, I was almost fit to burst. It was massive. It was generously stuffed with rice, jalapenos, tender and juicy pulled meat, refried beans, and lettuce. I could only manage the first half before calling it a defeat.All in all, Machete is a nice neighbourhood restaurant. The staff were super friendly, it had a laid back vibe and is the kind of place I wish I had within walking distance of my own home. theawkwardblog.com

  May 4, 2015, 2:54 am

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