Hernandos Wyong — Restaurant in Wyong

Located in the heart of Wyong is this little Mexican style restaurant and bar. Traditionally themed and decorated in a dark black low light hue with a colourful array of banners posters and neon lights, with loud trumpeting Mexican music set a party theme.

Happily greeted I was shown to my table, and was immediately offered water and drinks without hesitation.

Ordering a selection of entrees, fish tacos and Mexican rice the food all arrived together ( as I requested ) in less than 10 minutes. By this time the restaurant had completely filled, the music got even louder and although I realise this is also a bar, the music was just too loud. You couldn’t really speak which made everyones talking turned to shouting and everything seemed to keep getting louder and louder as the cocktail shakers and kitchen noises also added to already very loud restaurant. It made eating unpleasant and talking almost impossible.

The food itself was pleasant and most of it unlike Mexican I have had previously, everything was hot fresh and tasty, the Mexican rice was the stand out, although the food choices fairly limited in comparison to the very large alcohol menu.

There were several different tables of people there with very young children but I personally feel it’s not a suitable place to take children. And also, there is no children’s menu.

The staff were all very helpful, pleasant and attentive, There was someone always checking to see if I needed anything etc.

Overall the food was different to the usual expectations but in a good way, my favourite food is corn especially Mexican style corn and I really wanted to try it and I’m not shy at spending money on good food but I do draw the line at $16 for 1 corn cob and so for that reason I didn’t order it.

I was in and out in 30 minutes.

I would return here but not for a while because of the limited menu.

I would recommend this restaurant.

Bookings essential ( with credit card)

Most items are not overly priced but also not cheap either, as food is a la carte / tapas style portions. ( But the rice was a decent portion )

Suitable for small or medium groups

A good place to go if you want to have a few drinks and...

(3.5 stars)

With an enjoyable lunch at Kefi under my belt, I hit up Hernandos in Wyong. They’re both in the Meraki Group stable of Central Coast restaurants, along with Little Miss (which recently dropped Mezza from its name and relocated from West Gosford to Terrigal). Hernandos certainly looks the part, with contemporary Frida Kahlo art depicting the Mexican painter in an Acca Dacca t-shirt. While this might lead you to believe it’s Mexican, the menu also draws influence from South America.

Cocktails lack the sophistication of Kefi. While I appreciate the use of Mexican soft drinks, I’m too old want my booze mixed with high sugar (37-42 grams/370ml) Jarritos cola or mandarin. Even the Paloma ($21) drank a bit sweet, and the Bloody Maria ($22) buried any trace of the Espolon Silver tequila. The floor team also lack sophistication. They’re clearly used to getting things out fast for the bottomless brunch ($75/each). Despite not ordering the (mostly fried) brunch, all three dishes we picked landed simultaneously. Crab rolls ($18/4) were also a deep-fryer job, with cheesy crab meat bound in crisp rolled up tortilla, painted in sticky chipotle-based sauce. While lacking nuance, I must admit I didn’t hate eating them.

Beef empanadas ($22/2) had flaky pastry and tasty interiors that only wanted for a bit more spice. With quality hot sauce provided on the table, it was easy to make them taste great, especially with the accompanying corn salsa. Birra beef tamales ($22/2) were plump, fluffy parcels of steamed corn masa bisected by a line of slow-braised birria beef. They come with a cup of the dark consommé the beef is cooked in. Drizzle it over the top, then add lashings of hot sauce, and punctuate bites with the pickles for some...

Like a previous review stated, I was part of the group who was referred to as “children” by the manager/host. Myself and 4 other peers came here by my recommendation as we were looking to celebrate a professional milestone for all of us. We were grateful that they could accommodate us without a booking, however after the lovely waitress took our order, the manager Sam? Stopped her and proceeded to berate and humiliate the poor waitress at the front counter and within full view of patrons. Sam told her that she should have not taken our tables order because we are “children” and somehow less of a priority? We decided to confront Sam who was only sorry that he got caught and tried to blame how he was speaking about us and to her on “stress”. Stress is not excuse to disrespect your PAYING customers and your staff, he should absolutely not be in the role of management if he can not conduct himself in a way that doesn’t disrespect others. The owner? Did come and speak to us and apologised for his behaviour and comped our drinks but I will never return to this venue. It was incredibly embarrassing for me to be the one to recommend this place and to have myself and my friends treated in this manner. Incredibly disappointing, oh and all this happened on the weekend of international women’s...