cheaper and Mexican in inspiration. Expect a hip
drinks list and savvy service culture from McCormack,
a smart cocktail selection from Fleet partner Robert
Mudge and, from Lewis, the likes of a ceviche of local
snapper studded with fresh coriander seeds, shellfish
oil and avocado, and tostadas topped with chunks of
Ballina prawn tossed with chintextle, a nutty, spicy
salsa that could be the XO of Oaxaca.Cnr Fawcett
and Tweed sts, Brunswick Heads, (02) 6685 1955
Chupacabra
The backblocks of a shopping centre in the Byron
Bay suburb of Suffolk Park might seem an odd setting
for an eatery inspired by the cuisines of coastal Mexico,
but incongruity is part of Chupacabra’s charm. What
could from the outside appear to be just another fajita
place opened on the strength of no more research
than a sun, surf and sensimilla Kombi trip to Puerto
Escondido or Cancún, turns out to conceal quiet
wonders. It’s casual enough for local stoners and
families to pop in for huevos rancheros and guacamole,
or breakfast nachos on the weekend, but nuanced
enough to round out that offer with suckling pig or
grilled watermelon and pepita tacos. Chef Evan White
and manager Amelia Stokes are passionate about their
subject and are excellent hosts – never more so than
when dishing up excellent whole grilled local fish
to share in a DIY-taco situation with hot tortillas and
a wealth of salsas and salads.12a/3 Clifford St, Suffolk
Park, 0448 077 401, chupacabra.com.auLocura
The Ducks are on a roll. The six-person chef collective
opened a branch of its signature Three Blue Ducks
café-restaurant at the W hotel in Brisbane last year,
while the branch they opened in 2014 at The Farm,
the 32-hectare complex on the outskirts of Byron,
is almost a postcode in itself. Now they’ve have moved
into town (four of the guys live in the neighbourhood),
taking over what was once La La Land. If your key
impressions of La La’s (as it’s called by the hordes
barrelling down Lawson Street after midnight) are
more oriented towards nightclubbing than farm-to-table
dining, don’t fret: the name means something like “the
madness” and it remains a place to lose yourself in the
small hours of the morning. The Ducks have added
a short menu of dishes inspired by theiradventures
in Latin America – tacos, corn, salsa – but for now➤