Picoso, which means “spicy” in Spanish, sits confidently between casual cantina and refined diner, bringing its own heat and personality to the neighbourhood. The menu is full of carefully crafted and layered dishes. It moves through small plates – think citrus-cured ceviche blanco, SA prawns in aguachile verde, smoked cod roe with chicharron, charred elote with chipotle mayo – into tacos and larger dishes. The drinks list celebrates the Margarita in all its forms: shaken or frozen, Tommy-style, coconut-infused or garnished with spicy pineapple with
jalapenos and tajin. But for the Marg-avoidant, there are also cocktail classics, local and Mexican beers and a well-considered edit of local wines. The fit-out of the art deco building – led by Simone Eichler of Coda Design – draws on the warm desert and sunset tones of Mexico: earthy oranges, deep reds, dusty-rose walls and bold checks throughout.
Picoso, Picoso Mexican Bar y Cocina, Mexican bar, Mexican diner, Margaritas, ceviche blanco, aguachile verde, tacos, art deco, Simone Eichler, Coda Design
Picoso sounds like a place I’d accidentally get too much spice at.
So it’s Mexican food but like “Mexican heat to diners’ door”?? Are they doing delivery or is that just the vibe lol. The margarita stuff sounds wild though, jalapenos in drinks feels like a prank.
Replying to the menu part—ceviche blanco?? I thought ceviche was always like… lime and fish, not “white” ceviche. And aguachile verde sounds like something you’d order if you hated yourself a little. Also art deco + Mexican desert tones?? Seems like random design choices but I guess it works.
Every time I see “margaritas in all forms” I immediately assume it’s gonna be expensive and loud, like a place where the music is too bright. But charred elote with chipotle mayo actually makes sense to me, I’ll give them that. Not sure why they keep saying “Marg-avoidant” like that’s a real category, I just want a normal drink. If it’s actually spicy, I hope they warn people because my friend went once and said the tajin got everywhere.