Nopales Mexican — Restaurant in Sydney

Possibly the worst dining experience of the year. The occasion was my daughter's birthday and we were a party of 6.The restaurant had at most 14 people dining the entire excruciating time we were there. In summary; No recognition of the birthday - more later. Non existent service Torturous wait between courses- when I enquired about the time the food was taking our “waiter” never got back to me! The food was mediocre at best - over chilled guacamole, measly portions ( we had to order extra tacos to supplement what was on offer from the set menu) Runny sauces - really poor presentation. -No description from any staff member as to what we were being served - particularly as some items still remain a mystery.

Almost 2.5 hours later we sat like lemons waiting for the usual birthday candle/sparkler moment ( which I spoke to the restaurant about the day before) We said we wanted it to go ( obvs ruining the moment) and we were presented with a miserable looking fairy cake surrounded with 5 blueberries- honestly it looked like it had been scraped off the floor. Honestly the only thing that was good here were the Margaritas. The bill btw came to nearly $700

As we left ( with no farewells from anyone) I told my family to have a good look around because we are never coming back to this place- you have...

A Slice of Mexico on the Northern Beaches: Nopales is a Hidden Gem

Tucked just off the main drag in Newport, Nopales is a transportive dining experience that feels like stepping into a vibrant courtyard somewhere in Oaxaca or Mexico City. The moment you walk through the doors, you’re enveloped in warm hospitality, bold colours, and the unmistakable aroma of slow-cooked spices and fresh tortillas.

The menu is a joyful celebration of traditional Mexican cuisine, elevated with finesse and heart. Their house-made corn tortillas are reason enough to return—pillowy, rustic, and the perfect vessel for their deeply flavoured fillings.

Vegetarians and seafood lovers will delight in dishes like the charred corn esquites and the baja-style fish tacos, crisp and light with a zippy lime crema.

What truly sets Nopales apart is its authenticity—not just in the food, but in the atmosphere. It’s a place where stories are told over shared plates, where the music is as lively as the conversation, and where each meal feels like a celebration.

Nopales isn’t just one of the best Mexican restaurants on the Northern Beaches—it’s one of the best...

Booked a table for 6 at 6.30. First thing that we got told when we came in was that we had to be out by 8 because the French waiter “it was going to storm outside and he moved people inside and was just trying to make everyone happy’. Kinda put a damper on the night before we even started. While the food was good, the service did not het better. Had to repeatedly ask for drink service, staff would just ignore us. The French dude took my cocktail glass away at some point while it wasn’t even empty. When I asked him friendly if he took my glass away he was very defensive and rude. He eventually served me a new one with loads of attitude. When he would pick up glasses again he would make a big show of saying “This is empty is it” “are you sure it’s empty I take it?”, trying to make me feel like an idiot.

As someone who has been in hospitality for year, the service was embarrassing to say the least. It is such a shame as we would all come back for the food, but wouldn’t go again because of...