Restaurant Review: Habanero in Hyderabad for Tex-Mex

A brain child of Griffith & Elizabeth who together spent years in the American southwest, soaking up the region’s cheerful culture and the flavors of Mexican border cuisine partnered with Dan Durkin, an American chef with more than 15 years of experience in the US and Asia to bring the authentic Tex-Mex flavors to their clientele in India.

Was invited for the grand opening fiesta event on March 13th which was a lively meet with foodies savoring the aromatic flavors of Mexican food, soaking in the rustic Mexico inspired interiors and dancing the night away to the rhythms of renowned Latin percussionist from Columbia, Viviana Gonzales and guitarist, John Fernandes from Goa.

The moment you walk into the Second floor of the Phoenix Building, you are transformed into beautiful Latin American setting with beautifully done artwork, impeccable attention has been given to the details.

The menu at Habanero features hearty vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare such as fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and tenderloin which can be accompanied with their signature tamarind & seasonal fruits margaritas that go perfectly well with the cuisine.

I started my hedonistic journey with their signature tamarind margarita that just blew my mind off, it had the tangy taste of tamarind nectar and spicy, salt crusted rim that complimented each other quite well.

Loved it ! The classic pomegranate margarita martini was the next to follow that had perfect concoction of both flavors. The humble Red wine sangria that followed well dint really go well Four seasons wine, would’ve loved it to be a little more sweetened, but nevertheless it was decent.

The Jalapeno poppers were highly recommended by quite a few friends of mine from Bangalore and true to my expectations this one was good inspite of being an offseason for jalapenos. The Jalapeno peppers stuffed with a mixture of melted cheese breaded ovals were too good.

The Zucchini Fritters were another delight, the shredded zucchini served with salsa, guacamole and sour cream was nice. The handmade corn nachos complimented different arrays of salsa dips, like the papaya, cucumber, spicy chilli, but the best of the lot was the Queso Dip, a warm cheesy dip that was spiced with green chillies.The Onion Rings were a little chewy and just a passé but the Tostada chips were the best I’ve ever had.

Topped with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, grilled pineapple and cheese along with honey mustard vinaigrette dressing, they were soft, crisp and brilliant. From the mains, the Eggplant & Black bean Stack was the first, it had a distinct combination of brinjal, black bean, tomato sauce and grated cheese.

While the taste was decent, would’ve loved more flavor in the mashed potato which was in itself was quite bland. Coming to Habanero and not having Fajita is like a sin. Making your fajita is an art in itself and was glad to have learnt the art sometime back.

The grilled vegetable skewer filling was decent enough while the rice lacked flavor. Also tried the Veg Burrito & Veg Enchilada, had it not been for their sour cream, guacamole & different varieties of salsa, the main course wouldn’t have been exciting.

Had the opportunity to savor the spicy salsa with nachos prepared live by Dan Durkin himself and must say, he truly lived up to the Hyderabadi’s palate, with salsa being more on the spicy side. Iam sure he must’ve done his homework.

Was never a fan of desserts at any of the Tex Mex places, and Habanero took me by surprise with its offerings. The Churros with hot chocolate sauce was the star among them all, doughnut sticks rolled in cinnamon sugar with a dark chocolate sauce couldn’t have been better.

The Caramel Cheesecake was exactly per my liking, I have always been a fan of Philadelphia over mascarpone and this one dolloped with loads of caramel was super good ! Couldn’t savor, the Chocolate crumble cake and Tres Leches Cake but that something I would definitely try the next time.

Habanero is a vibrant spot to kick back and relax with friends and family, With flat –screen TVs and Live performances, it is also an ideal place to gather to watch a sporting event or to enjoy live music. With its close proximity to the IT hub makes it is a perfect place for business meals and celebratory gatherings. Habanero would definitely be a great addition to the food scene of Hyderabad ! Thumbs up for this one !