The cafe is the sister venue of much-loved restaurant Chido Way
Tocayo on Old Market Street(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Do they have brunch in Mexico? Well, we now have Mexican brunch in Bristol thanks to a brand new cafe.
I went down to try out Tocayo, “younger sister” and next door neighbour of beloved institution Chido Way on Old Market Street.
My first impressions were that, despite only having been open since mid-June, Tocayo was well on the way to becoming as popular as its older sibling. On a sweltering July weekday morning, the outside tables were packed and so was the seating in the pleasantly airy first floor.
The main dining area was based around a long table adorned with vibrant tiles, with additional window seating looking out onto bustling Old Market. Shelves on the wall were filled with Mexican goodies and decorated with plants.
The “full Mexican” breakfast at Tocayo (fried egg, refried beans, asada mushrooms, avocado, chorizo, bacon, corn tortillas) (Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
I was directed to the basement, with space for about 20 diners on tables draped in colourful tablecloths. I was the only one on that floor when I arrived so there wasn’t much atmosphere, but the venue can hardly be criticised for being popular enough at 10am on a Wednesday to have to shunt me downstairs.
I went for the somewhat unadventurous order of a “Full Mexican” breakfast and a flat white. Both arrived promptly.
My breakfast was an absolute treat, featuring refried beans sprinkled with cheese, avocado and chorizo alongside bacon, fried eggs, mushrooms and corn tacos. The mushrooms were particularly enjoyable, cooked “asada” style – grilled after being marinated in a secret house blend of Mexican delight.
The tacos were a slight downside, as despite being tasty in their own right they lacked the structural integrity required to mop up the sauces from everything else.
At £14.90, my Mexican take on a full English was considerably more expensive than your average greasy spoon and despite the delicious flavours I felt it was slightly undersized for the price. However, everything else on the menu was under a tenner.
I am still getting used to the idea of £3.50 being the going rate for a decent flat white, but what I paid at Tocayo is par for the course at most upmarket places in Bristol. My coffee was great, easily as good as anything else I’ve had in the city.
My dining companion was also impressed, and not just because our waiter was as handsome as he was friendly.
My flat white was delicious and lovingly crafted(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
As a vegetarian, she went for a classic “huevos rancheros” (£9.90), or eggs covered in chilli, beans, sauce and cheese. The sauce reportedly had the perfect amount of spicy kick without overpowering the other flavours.
Her iced latte (£3.70) was also the same price as a hot one, a pleasing break from the disturbing trend of cafes charging extra for the pleasure of putting a bit of frozen water in your coffee.
She said her drink was delicious, even though it remains my belief that iced coffees, even in a heatwave, are of the devil.
Along with their brunch menu, Tocayo also serves three salads, a range of savoury tarts and some very devilish-looking sweets in the form of brownies and a cointreau cake.
You can also buy a range of Mexican food and drink items, mostly sourced from Otomi in Clifton Village, to enjoy at home.
All in all, my visit to Tocayo was an excellent experience and one I intend to repeat as soon as possible.
Tocayo Cafe and Bar
25A Old Market Street, Bristol, BS2 0HB
Opening Hours: 07:30-16:00 Mon-Fri, 08:30-16:00 Sat, 09:00-16:00 Sun
Full menu and more info: https://www.tocayo.co.uk/