We ate last night (for about the 500th time) at Jalapeño Loco - hands down the best Mexican restaurant in Milwaukee. Just north of the airport (5067 S. Howell Avenue), it looks from the street like a place you'd pass by, but inside it's cozy, particularly on the bar side (best option if you're two or one is the bar, which is friendly and plenty of space for food).Order the High Taste Margarita while you consider your menu options. It is a superior concoction made with the Sauza Conmemorativo. The house and gold versions are fine - and there are flavors if that's your speed, but if you don't go high taste you're selling yourself short.
The reason there are so few great Mexican restaurants is finding a balance of a great margarita with exceptional authentic food. Jalapeño Loco (or "Jalapanoes" {hard 'J'} as my in-laws fondly refer to it) specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, and dabble in a number of other regions of Mexico. You really can't go wrong on their menu, although their moles are quite special and not to be missed. The weekly specials are also generally quite good, and we frequently visit and only stay on this ever-changing list. Last night, it was the Chalupas appetizer and Pollo Estofado and a few High Taste Margaritas.
As we were entering last night, we were bemoaning the fact that Milwaukee doesn't have any truly upscale Mexican places, which are coming into favor in larger metros. So we propose a new restaurant in Milwaukee - in the same vein as Jalapeño Loco (perhaps even with the exact same menu!). I think we should call it Jalapeño Serioso, and it should probably find a location in the 3rd Ward/5th Ward fluidity. A lofty, industrial space - if Hugo and Janet want to start it, that would be awesome (!), but if they don't want to, that's okay... your spot is a favorite already.
But i duly submit this as a brilliant idea...
