Brunch with Punch at Bandita
There’s nothing more soul-filling than a weekend brunch. Ali Smith hit Bandita Mexican Cantina’s new brunch menu and found the Mexican take ‘excelente’.
Noosa has a unique breakfast culture. As a seriously outdoorsy community spoiled for choice with a wonderful natural setting and a plethora of places to dine, brunch gives us the chance to slow down and soak up the sunshine and good vibes until our hearts and bellies are full. The newest player to the delicious weekend brunch scene is Bandita Mexican Cantina’s All-Day Mexi-Breakky which ticks all the right boxes.
Located on Gympie Terrace, Bandita’s front balcony is bathed in Noosa sunshine making it the ideal spot for people-watching. It’s also dog-friendly which makes it the perfect place to stop for a bite after you’ve taken your furry pal for a riverside walk. Arriving at the cantina, Jakki Goodall and I were excited to see all the menu options noticing that there were a few traditional crowd-pleasers like their Açaí Bowl, Eggs Benny and a lightly spiced Avocado Toast for those not quite ready to make the full leap into a flavour-filled Mexican journey.
But Jakki and I were ready to jump in tastebuds-first and it was the true flavours of Mexico that got us channelling our inner bandita. I chose the Huevos Rancheros – sunny side eggs, Oaxaca beans, cheese quesadilla, salsa roja, guacamole, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, and coriander. It’s a mouthful to pronounce but every bite of my Huevos Rancheros was a flavour-filled sensation, not too spicy but spicy enough to feel like we were hanging with the muchachos in Cancun. Plus, it ticked my gluten-free box.
Jakki had been dreaming of breakfast tequila so it was a challenge to pull her away from her reverie to order something more substantial. Thankfully, the Classic No-Meat-O Burrito teased her taste buds and ticked her no-dairy needs. Setting aside her tequila fantasies, Jakki tucked into the burrito which was a balanced blend of scrambled tofu, white beans, chipotle, cashew, quinoa, corn slaw, pickles, and avocado. Jakki reported that the milder flavours like the tofu and avo balanced perfectly with the spicy chipotle while the beans, cashews, and fresh ingredients added texture. Overall, she was very satisfied with her burrito adding that it was also wholesomely filling – and would be great with a shot of tequila!
Alas, our dietary requirements didn’t allow for the W.T.FFLES of Churros waffles, caramel banana, dulche de leche ice cream, salted dark chocolate, honeycomb and berries but we’re sure it will become a must-do dish for the perfect Noosa brunch! Using the freshest local ingredients, Bandita’s breakfast portions start at $12 for a meal, offering a great value option for brunch on a budget.
For those really looking to ease into the weekend, there are also breakfast cocktails to enjoy. Brunch at Bandita is available every weekend from 8am to 3pm so there is plenty of time to make a day of it – and if it happens to spill over into dinner (you just never know), be like Jakki and sneak in a cheeky tequila – or two.
Bandita’s owner Amy was excited to share what was on offer.
“We have a fantastic line up of tequilas, mezcals and other Mexican spirits which are a must try and we have several types of margaritas available from the timeless classics to variations that feature chilli, coconut, mango, and more,” she enthused as we drooled.
Next time, for sure. Whether you’re looking for an easy breezy brunch or fiery weekend fiesta vibes, grab your amigos and make Bandita Mexican Cantina your next stop. Sombrero, optional.
