More Mexican for Milwaukee

Gypsy Taco. Photo from Facebook.

It’s summer in Milwaukee and that usually means more food trucks and Mexican food. They’ve been known to go well with beer.

Taqueria El Jefe

The new fast casual taco joint, Taqeuria El Jefe, is set to open at 11200 W. Burleigh St. in the Mayfair Collection on Monday, June 21. The restaurant will promises to serve  some unique styles of tacos. The Mayfair Collection also includes Osgood’s, ABV Social and the future Café Grace, which is slated to open on July 19. Lori Fredrich of OnMilwaukee.com adds more detail:

When it comes to tacos, El Jefe aims to offer up spectacular, chef-inspired tacos with creative fillings that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. There will also be housemade tortillas that are grilled to order.”

“Margaritas – batched and served from a machine – will be available for order either blended or on the rocks. There will be tequila shots. And agua fresca. And plenty of Mexican Coca-Cola.

Gypsy Taco

Boone & Crockett, the Bay View bar, has made a nice addition to its outdoor patio this season by adding an Austin, Texas-style food truck to the area. Chef Mitch Ciohon first opened his truck, called Gypsy Taco, there in May, offering affordable meals. Boone and Crockett is located at 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Carol Deptolla of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel lauds the food truck’s fare:

The menu is brief; customers order at the trailer’s window. It’s not elaborate. But the food is strikingly delicious, and the vibe is happy on this patio (and Boone & Crockett’s smart cocktails are just steps away at the patio’s bar or indoors).

Missing out isn’t something I’d advise with Gypsy Taco. Go to Boone & Crockett for a cocktail or craft beer, yes, but be sure to get in line for the food.

Eggs&Bakin’

A new food truck with breakfast offerings is now serving in the Third Ward. Eggs&Bakin’ is owned and operated by Erin Broderick and offers made-to-order egg sandwiches and fresh baked goods every day. Each egg sandwich is organic and comes with homemade, organic applesauce. The baked goods offered vary daily from chocolate chip cookies to sweet rolls. Ann Christenson adds more:

Sandwiches include the American Piglet (egg, bacon, cheddar) and The Legend (egg, arugula, green onion, tomato, avocado, Havarti and bacon).

For updates on the truck’s whereabouts, check its Facebook page.

North Ave. Grill

After closing in April to make improvements, such as expanding the dining room and kitchen, North Ave. Grill has reopened. The restaurant at 7225 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa nearly doubled its seating capacity and the size of its kitchen. New restrooms and a new waiting area were also added. The project was scheduled to take over two months, but was finished by Braatz Building of Milwaukee in just six weeks. North Ave. Grill is open every day of the week, with shortened hours on Sunday. Deptolla details the reopening:

North Ave. Grill now can seat about 70 diners indoors; 15 more seats are at sidewalk tables.

The restaurant also launched a new website and menu. Some popular specials have landed a spot on the permanent menu, such as the pork belly eggs Benedict ($10.50) and the country-fried steak and eggs with biscuits and gravy ($11.99). The diner now features a burger of the month and a craft beer of the month, more specials daily, and also added flatbreads and appetizers.

Milwaukee Brat House

By September, Milwaukee Brat House expects to open an added, upstairs space for overflow customers and special events. Scott Schaefer said the restaurant’s beer garden would remain open now that the building has been purchased. Located at 1013 N. Old World 3^rd St., Milwaukee Brat House has seen business steadily grow this summer and is excited to create more room for hungry customers. Deptolla reports:

The second floor, which also will be open to overflow crowds on weekends and nights when there are events at nearby venues, could be completed by Sept. 1. “It’s going to be a mirror of the first floor,” Schaefer said, complete with its own bar.

WGS Land LLC, which lists Michelle Schaefer, Scott Schaefer’s mother, as the registered agent, bought the building from the Ehr family trust for $1.2 million.

Pending construction of the new Bucks arena just north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center “absolutely” factored into the decision to buy the building, Schaefer said. “Knowing what’s going on down here, it’s pretty exciting,” he said.

Now Closing — And Reopening: Pastiche Bistro

The Bay View restaurant at 3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. has set a tentative closing date of Sunday, August 21, and will move into Hotel Metro in downtown Milwaukee. The new location is at 411 E. Mason St. and is scheduled to open on September 1. Fredrich adds more:

According to Pastiche Partner and Chef Rachael Carr, the Bistro will be planning a special event during their final week in business to express thanks to their guests and neighbors. Details of the celebration will be forthcoming.

The menu at Hotel Metro is expected to resemble that of a Parisian bistro, and will also offer breakfast and lunch service, in addition to dinner.

Pastiche will also handle weddings and banquets for Hotel Metro and food for Zen on Seven, the rooftop deck and event space.