New eatery spices up Ballina

MEXICAN-inspired eatery 187 Cantina has opened in the space previously occupied by Hola Bonita in Ballina.

Owner Dylan Clifford, who operates another 187 Cantina outlet in Lismore, hadn’t been planning to venture into Ballina until the opportunity was presented to him.

“It’s been a Mexican restaurant for as long as I can remember – it was Mexican Del Rio before Hola Bonita,” he said.

“My father grew up in Ballina so it’s always been a place I’m interested in, but it was only when I saw the restaurant advertised for sale online that I looked at it.

“It’s run by staff from both Lismore and Ballina who go back and forth between the restaurants to make sure the quality is similar between the two.”

The menu includes tacos, nachos, ceviche, beef brisket and cauliflower bites, which can be washed down with margaritas and tequila.

“The fish tacos and Dirty Fries are among our most ordered meals,” Mr Clifford said. “The fries are quite a large meal and a bit of an eye-opener when they make it to the table. It’s essentially nachos with shoestring fries instead of corn chips.”

Mr Clifford previously worked in the public service and had no experience in the hospitality industry before opening the Lismore restaurant in April 2023.

“I opened it because there were so few food options after the floods,” he said. “I was tired of driving around town looking for a place to eat.

“I really enjoy Mexican food and I’d always cooked at home for friends and they seemed to love the food that I made.

“I’m blessed with the guidance of the wonderful people I have hired and all the people who helped me open the original site.”