El Beso

I've been passing by El Beso (full name: El Beso Mexican Restaurante & Cantina – 5030 S. 74th Street, Greenfield, WI) on my way to Half Price Books for years now, wrongly assuming that its larger-than-life presence in the middle of that shopping center parking lot necessarily means something negative about its quality. Of course, I should know better. When if comes to Mexican restaurants, it really holds true that you can't judge a book by its cover (that is true with all restaurants, of course—I mean, that you can't make assumptions by superficial viewings of the exterior—or even the dining areas—and it's even more true with Mexican restaurants, where often the quality of food seems to follow no logic whatsoever).

I came here in the middle of the afternoon on a summer Monday, expecting it to be as empty and echoey as weekday morning church, but it was bustling, happening, groups of a dozen, the fajitas sizzling and the Margaritas pouring freely. As big as the place looks outside, it feels even bigger inside, like you just took a magical trip to old Las Vegas, and you could get lost trying to find the bathroom, so ask. There's a giant bar, and some high tables, which places always try to seat you at when you're alone, but I hate those high tables and I've taken to requesting to sit anywhere else. They gladly seated me at a booth, and it was perfect. I had a view of the main dining room, and groups who looked like they were having office outings, or retirement parties, who knows. It's so crazy-looking in there, and dark, you do forget you're in a strip mall parking lot for awhile, and that's the point.

I ordered from the lunch menu, which is quite reasonable (the way to go here, if you're on a 2 taco sized budget, like me)—I got a couple of pork tacos with avocado, onions, and cilantro, and rice and beans, all for $10. A giant bowl of chips when I came in, and some very tasty salsa, and it was more than I could eat. I didn't realize it—until I looked at the picture I took of my plate-o-food—but I was bathed in some kind of blue light, I suppose neon. When I used to drink, I would love to find the darkest bar possible on the brightest summer day, and kind of hide out from the sun. You can get that same feeling here, but of course it's not a bar. Even if the drinking that happens here likely rivals most bars in sheer quantity.

Later I looked at the El Beso website—and it's really pretty extensive, and actually helpful. A lot of restaurants either have no website, or have one that looks like it's fulfilling a night-school requirement. The menu part is kind of overwhelming. It makes me want to go back there sometime and try some more specialities. They even have an entire gluten-free section of the website, and on the restaurant menu there are GF indicators. I rarely ever get dessert, ever since I've been more conscious of my mortality, but this one dessert listed here would be a suitable “last meal.” It's called Platanos Machos, and it's described as: “Fried plantains with vanilla ice cream, topped with strawberries, condensed milk, chocolate, caramel, and whipped cream.” Bon appetit, RIP.

Pico's Tacos & Cerveza

Even though I'm limiting this blog to restaurants in the Milwaukee area, and Pico's is in Racine, it's north of Racine (550 3 Mile Road, Racine, WI) and close enough to Milwaukee that I could ride my bike there, and so might you be able to. It's worth the little bit out of the way jaunt, too, as the food—at least what I ate on this initial visit—Barbacoa taco—was delicious.

I know that it seems like there is very little difference from place to place, sometimes, when you're just eating this taco and that taco, rice and beans. Chips and salsa. But all the different variations of salsa is fascinating in itself. I could just focus on salsa, here, and have endless stuff to write about. Also, take rice and beans. Kind of the same everywhere, right? Not at all, of course. I'm kind of obsessed with Mexican restaurant refried beans, actually, the subtle differences in the beans from place to place. Some—to me, anyway—rise to the level of gourmet cuisine. Anyway, all this is to say, you might pass by this little joint, it doesn't look like much, it's small and modest, but the food here is first rate, really good. It's really something when you chance on to a place you've never seen before and discover excellence.

Los Paisa

I know that it's ridiculous for me to review a place I've already reviewed when there are 200 Mexican restaurants in the Milwaukee area I haven't even eaten at yet, but until I get my funding and can buy a car I'm going to be limited somewhat by geography, not to mention circumstances. I'm eventually going to return to places I like, anyway, and if I have something else to say about a restaurant, why not? Los Paisa is technically in Bayside (600 W. Brown Deer Rd.), but it's one of my favorite places to eat, as they have a kind of eclectic and varied menu. 

On this visit I tried a vegetable enchilada with white corn-based sauce, which was delicious and very different than the usual enchilada. I want to try everything on their menu, eventually. My original idea about picking one Mexican dish as a kind of standard and getting that in each place I visit, that's kind of a dumb idea. I mean, it's an OK idea, kind of a fun notion, but realistically, each place has things they specialize in and are sometimes known for, and it only makes sense to try what looks most special, rather than limiting myself to avocado tacos, only. 

Another odd thing about Los Paisa is that it's in a strange, chateau-style house, and there is a bar in he basement. The one that used to be there seems to have closed or changed its name, and now there is something that seems more Tequila oriented, anyway, though it's going to be like never by the time I ever get around to going to a bar in the evening in Bayside. But that's just another wrinkle in the quirkiness of this place, along with the Mexican folk art decor. Also, the men's room is fantastic - it's warm, cheery, well-ventilated with a window, painted red, and decorated with paintings of Mexican wrestlers. This is the kind of thing that really makes my day.