Calle Rey

Overview

You've tried a pisco sour, but have you had a pisco margarita or a pisco-spiked cosmopolitan? What about a pisco espresso martini? At King Street locale Calle Rey, you'll find all four. It's showcasing the true potential of this under-represented Peruvian spirit at its Diablo Pisco Bar alongside scrumptious plant-based dishes.

There is a range of pisco cocktails on offer from a classic pisco sour to more unusual combinations like the pisco espresso which is similar to an espresso martini but a touch sweeter. If you can't choose, you can opt for the pisco-tasting flight with four of the most popular pisco cocktails — available on Thursdays.

For something a little 'extra,' you can go for the enormous (and seriously sweet) 'Largaritas', which come topped with either a Vodka Cruiser or a Sol beer — and could easily be shared between four.

The Newtown restaurant offers a 100% plant-based menu that melds Mexican, Peruvian and Japanese cuisines. About 90% of the menu is made in-house from some of the faux-meat options to the sauces.

At Calle Rey, you'll find cauliflower buffalo wings in a smoky barbecue sauce; 'chicken' nachos (aka jackfruit) topped with guacamole and sour cream; and 'cheeseburger', 'smoked chicken' and crowd favourite 'fried calamari' tacos (konjac) — all of which are made with vegan ingredients, but do a fair job of making you think otherwise.

On the Japanese fusion side, there's the sweet chilli togerashi cauliflower with wasabi mayo, black and white sesame, spring onions and crisp shallots.

For a true taste of the menu offerings, you can choose between two set menus — The Calle Rey set or the Japanese Fusion — or opt for the 'Taco Experience', available Tuesday to Thursday which includes all of the available tacos. There are also share plates and midweek specials to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.