FOOD’S MIAMI NICE

In the midst of Broadbeach’s struggling culinary climate, one of the Coast’s longest-running eateries reveals how it’s fighting back, writes Sally Coates

MEXICAN stalwart The Aztec is moving with the times. Established in the early ’90s and in the same spot on Victoria Avenue since 1995, “unreasonable rent and non-existent support” from body corporate was all the encouragement the Day family needed to relocate, revitalise and relaunch their restaurant.

They’ve taken up a new spot on Albert Avenue underneath Aria Apartments, who made them feel right at home with a great deal and a contribution to a modern fit-out.

While the original owners Michelle and Glen Day are still involved, son Jared is steering the ship at the Broadbeach eatery and he says it’s necessary to adapt to keep up with the times.

“We wanted to bring it into the modern age,” he says.

“The way the restaurant was, we’ve been doing the same thing for a long time and you’ve got to update to appeal to a young crowd.

“People care about how their food looks just as much as they care about taste, so we’ve worked on making it look and taste amazing. We were worried about alienating our older customers who have been coming in for years and always get the same thing, but they seem to be enjoying it too and we can still do everything they want.”

With the relocation and moody Mexican themed fit-out comes a new food and drink menu. What some may get most excited about is the scrawled neon “Tequila Bar” sign adorning The Aztec’s facade.

“We’ve got 40 different types of tequila here at the moment and we’re doing tequila flights,” Jared says.

“That’s three tequilas with salt and lime or orange and cinnamon to accompany and we do horizontal and vertical flights.

“Vertical flights are different brands and horizontal flights are different types.

“Most commonly you’ve got three different types of tequila — blanco, which is silver, reposado, which is golden, and anejo, which is a dark golden colour. So you can either try the same type from three brands, or all three from the same brand. We’ve got some really funky types of tequila and some that are still waiting to be cleared by customs.”

Along with the tequila bar, the Days have given the wine list a makeover, added beers on tap and modernised the cocktail list.

The food menu has received an overhaul too, keeping to the style of Aus-Mexican food that The Aztec has become known for, but with a few fresh modifications.

“We’re doing jalapeño poppers we make from scratch with fresh jalapeños, and we’re not just filling them with plain cream cheese, we’re filling it with queso, then crumbing them in crushed corn chips all from scratch,” Jared says.

“We’ve changed how we’re doing our fajitas, preparing them to order and doing a massive nachos we’re calling the grande — everything you can think of piled on a plate and covered with cheese.

“A lot of what we do is vegetarian. It’s really simple to make our food vegetarian – and even vegan by keeping the cheese off – so people have always liked that.”

The Aztec, Aria Building, 7 Albert Avenue, Broadbeach, open daily for lunch and dinner