Casa N.O.M Bar y Restaurante

Overview

They've tackled southern American fare with their Greville Street original White Oaks Saloon, and recreated the Southern Cali taphouse experience for follow-up Silverlake Social. Now, brothers Nicholas and Thomas Welch are trekking across the border for their latest hospitality project, Prahran's Casa N.O.M. Bar y Restaurante.

Sitting just across the road from its oldest sibling, this mezcaleria and restaurant is dishing up an authentic taste of Central and South America, with a focus on fine booze offerings from all across the regions.

Here, a diverse lineup of mezcal reigns supreme, while strong collections of tequila, rum, pisco, aguardiente and cachaça showcase the Latin America's broad-ranging spirits offering. You'll also spy an impressive rotation of imported craft beers and lots of cocktails, such as the Jamaica Crush — a blend of hibiscus, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and lime.

And the Welches have good game when it comes to the boozy stuff, having spent the past few years scouting out countless interesting international drops through their importing business, High Spirits Beverages. They've even named this newcomer after the Norma Oficial Mexicana (Official Mexican Standard), which refer to the guidelines and standards for mezcal and tequila production in Mexico.

The food menu is also replete with traditional Latin American flavours, kicking off with punchy snacks like loaded blue corn chilaquiles, and Yucatan-style croquettes stuffed with plantain and raisins. Larger plates include Colombian-style black bean arepas served with spring pea guacamole, quesadillas filled with mushroom, asparagus and leek, and fried globe artichokes starring the house chipotle mayo.

Dulce de leche-loaded alfajores headline the dessert lineup, and you'll find a swag of great weekly specials, including Wednesday's $20 quesadilla and beer deal, and $15 margaritas each Sunday.

Images: Griffin Simm.