Give us all the frozen margaritas and tacos, Cartel Taqueria has arrived!

Posted on 1 December, 2022

Get ready to sip sangria and watch the sun set over the river at Queanbeyan’s (and let’s face it, Canberra’s) newest summer hotspot: Cartel Taqueria.

It’s filling the hole that the Riverside Café left on this prime waterfront location.

“When I went and saw the location for the first time it was love at first sight. It’s in such a unique location and I was never really planning to look in Queanbeyan but when I saw this space, I knew I had to have it,” founder Anna Petridis says.

As the former owner of Manuka’s iconic Patissez café, you just know that the menu is going to be full of mouth-watering options. Think low and slow Birria-braised beef, crispy corn and zucchini fritters, Michoacán-style braised pork shoulder with house-made guac, Mexican cheese and caramelised pineapple and chilli salsa, all nestled in a crispy flour tortilla shell.

 

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Gluten-free peeps, have no fear! Choose between a purple corn tortilla or a fully cheesed-up tortilla shell to enjoy all the taco-y goodness without the gluten.

A lover (like all of us) of Pinterest, Anna’s mood boards have come to life through personal touches that fill the space—from the décor (including a rope ceiling) to the finer details like the crockery.

“I found these water jugs and matching cups that are a Mexican folklore design. They’ve got these freehand artworks on them that just look really fun and it’s the kind of thing I imagined a cartel leader’s mother would serve out of,” Anna says.

“It’s rustic and you can tell it has all been done by hand. We didn’t want it to be some polished high-end expensive restaurant. We want people to be able to walk in and go ‘oh wow this feels like a little Mexican joint’ and so we’ve added little details to do that.”

 

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From the start, Anna knew that she wanted a large feature to complete the space, and with the help of Hunter Valley-based artist Elisa Krey her eye-catching tile feature wall was created.

Summer catch-ups are beginning to fill our calendars to the brim, and you can bet the promise of house-made frozen margaritas and jugs of sangria will have us suggesting Cartel Taqueria as the new go-to destination. Especially as you’re transported to the sunny paradise of Mexico with perfect combinations including classic lime and chilli mango—and Anna’s current favourite—the passionfruit coconut.

There will be no premixes in sight, with the team making them fresh every day.

For those who turn redder than a tomato after more than two minutes in the sun, chill out with a range of indoor seating—including a deck chair hand-built by Anna’s husband. But if you are a sun soaker,  grab one of their gorgeous bohemian picnic rugs and speciality-made picnic tables to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere out on the grass.

This is truly the perfect start to the summer season—and we can guarantee that we will be trying one of everything on the menu.