Margarita Paradise

Located at one end of the Milwaukee Public Market, Margarita Paradise has a bar where you can eat, and a couple of tables by the window. You can get food to go and eat upstairs, but then you are burdened with an enormous amount of packaging, I find the upstairs at the Public Market depressing, like a hospital cafeteria. There are good people watching options while sitting at the bar, especially if you use the magical looking round mirror. While people watching at the Public Market might put you off your lunch, it can be amusing if one has the right attitude.

     The magical people watching mirror, viewing another market vendor.

Talking about attitude, my biggest complaint with this place is that in the past I've felt like they don't like me. Maybe it's my long, greasy hair, or my generally unkempt appearance, but I expected to be treated at least as well as the teeming market yuppies, or preferably better. But one thing that really bugs me about websites like "yelp" is how their "reviewers" constantly complain about service and rude treatment, when most of the time it's because they are the rude ones and deserve it! Also, I noticed on the Margarita Paradise website that they "welcome you like part of the family"—so maybe it's just kind of an informal attitude... or taking that family thing literally. Anyway, it's OK, and I decided to be patient and engaging, and not worry if I keep feeling like I'm going to get in trouble.

Also, the name of the place sounds like it's a melding of Jimmy Buffett's two biggest hits, which isn't exactly appetizing. But let's forget about all that and order tacos. Happily, you can order avocado tacos right off the menu, PLUS cilantro, onion, and lime is a menu option (called "Raza" on the menu; one can can also get "Gringo"—lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese—if you are nostalgic for grade school lunch). Two tacos with rice and beans is $7.00, not bad, and you get more rice and beans when you eat there than you get as take-out. These tacos are delicious, not the best I've ever had, but then when does that ever happen?

     There it is, your two avocado tacos with cilantro and onions and lime!

They do not make enchiladas, so the unhealthy, fast-food part of the equation is absent, which isn't a criticism. The cheese and onion enchilada is a guilty pleasure (often more guilty than pleasure) and will be dealt with more than enough in the future, I'm sure. Margarita Paradise does offer tamales, which is more than welcome, as well as various breakfast options which are served all day. (Served all day!!)

You can drink here to your heart's content, as well, and while this is not the place to review that side of the restaurant spectrum, I noticed they have one of those huge "slurpee-like" frozen drink machines, and the thought of people hanging out at the Public Market getting wasted on enormous Tequila-based dessert drinks both sickens and amuses me.

Overall, I feel like I've shifted my position on this place and, while it will never be a hangout for me, it's a real taco option, and when you eat tacos two or three times a day like I do, you can always use options.

Plan of Attack

I realize in a venture as large as this, it is important to have some rules or guidance. First of all, considering the massive size of the universe, at least for the initial stages of the project, we will limit the restaurants covered to the planet Earth.

It seems helpful to have a starting place, so we will establish the epicenter of the project as my penthouse apartment at the Cudahy Tower in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and work outwards from there.

That said, we don't want to limit any review opportunities that come up if happening to visit, say,  Mexico. Restaurants will be indexed and listed in a sidebar for easy reference.

Also, the decision has been made to include the widest possible definition of "Mexican restaurant" to include any place serving Mexican-like food, regardless of the extent of authenticity. This will include hipster cafes, heath food places, fast food establishments and chain restaurants, food trucks, stands, temporary set-ups, and school cafeterias.

Also, if a restaurant has multiple locations, all locations should be included, potentially, especially if there is some unique feature to each one.

Finally, while our primary reviewer will be encouraged to focus on a limited scope of dishes, for the sake of consistency, we will welcome coverage on any and all varieties and variations of Mexican cuisine, especially notable, unusual, and unique preparations.

Plus, keep in mind that, as well as food, we would like a full overview of a restaurant's decor and atmosphere, as well as the personality created by the owners and employees.

Avocado Taco

This is an online journal documenting the attempt to visit and review all Mexican restaurants in the known universe, starting with Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Prediction for success in completion of project: Poor to Fair

Q. Why start in Milwaukee? A. That is where I am living at this time.

Method: A core group of reviewers will randomly select Mexican restaurants to visit, eat at, photograph, and write about. We will be focusing on two primary dishes: Avocado Taco, and Cheese and Onion Enchilada. Also, included: salsa, rice, and beans. We would like to encourage two visits to each restaurant, but because of the sheer volume of Mexican restaurants in the known universe, in some cases one visit will have to suffice.

The future: If we are able to secure funding, we will expand the search to cities beyond Milwaukee. Also, additional reviewers may be allowed to focus on other dishes, depending on what might be their area of expertise.