New Mexican Restaurant Opening

1606 S. 84 St. Photo from the submission for a special use permit from the City of West Allis.

A new full-service Mexican restaurant and bar called Wrestling Taco could potentially take over the former Wisconsin Pizza Authority space located at 1606 S. 84th St. BizTimes’ Maredithe Meyer reports:  

Nicole DeBack is listed as the owner of Wrestling Taco. She expects dine-in business to generate 80% of total sales and carryout to make up the remaining 20%. Wrestling Taco would gradually hire six to seven people. The DeBack family has previous experience operating a local tavern, according to city documents.

Prior to closing its West Allis location last year, Wisconsin Pizza Authority had built a new kitchen and dining area in the space. DeBack plans to add a new central bar and remove a few interior walls to open the layout. The restaurant will have a total seating capacity of 68, which includes its private party room.

Plans for Wrestling Taco will be reviewed by the West Allis Plan Commission on March 24, followed by a Common Council public hearing regarding a special use permit application on April 7.

The restaurant’s proposed hours of operation are weekdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Central American Restaurant To Offer Brunch

A Greendale restaurant specializing in dishes from Central America, South America and the Caribbean is now adding a brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays. Dia Y Noche, located at 6601 Northway, will serve sweet and savory items inspired by Latin American climes as well as American brunch classics and cocktails. OnMilwaukee’s Lori Fredrich reports: 

Brunch dishes will include items like Salvadoran huevos rancheros with eggs, peppers, tomato sauce, refried beans, sweet plantains, rice and queso fresco along with toast or a housemade Salvadoran tortilla ($12.50); Dominican short ribs with grilled asparagus and rosemary potatoes ($15); and the quesadilla desayuno filled with a fried egg, guest’s choice of ham or chorizo and cheddar jack cheese and served with rice and refried beans ($12).

Diners will also find Benedict a la Oscar featuring crab, asparagus and poached egg on an English muffin with hollandaise ($13); a steak sandwich with sauteed peppers, onions, fried egg,  provolone and golfo sauce served with potatoes ($14); plus build-your own omelettes with a choice of cheeses, meats and vegetables ($12 for three fillings; +$1 for each additional).

On the sweeter side, guests can enjoy options like daily housemade pastries; dulce de leche French toast or pancakes ($11); along with options like lemon poppyseed pancakes with blueberry compote ($11); cocoa loco pancakes filled with chocolate chips and topped with white chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, berries and syrup ($11).

Guests can pair their brunch with a full selection of coffee drinks, including Dia Cafe’s signature Latte de Coquito (espresso, coconut milk, cinnamon syrup, vanilla syrup, whipped cream, nutmeg, $4.75), along with spiked options like the Havana Cafecito witth havana club rum, vanilla, mucho macho dark roast coffee and half n half ($6); or the Iced Dulce with espresso, rumhaven coconut, dulce de leche, milk, sea salt, whipped cream and a cookie ($7.50).

There are also brunch cocktails, including a variety of mimosas (classic, grapefruit or mango, $7) along with the crowd-pleasing Todamosa featuring a bottle of sparkling brut and carafe of orange juice ($40) and the Tropical Blush with guava nectar, pineapple juice, coconut rum and sparkling rose ($8).

Reservations for groups of six or more can be made by phone at (414) 246-2022.

Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser Begins with New Format

WMSE Rockabilly Chili

WMSE’s annual Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser (which was canceled last year) will take on a new format to keep the event socially distanced. Instead of a expo-center style layout at the MSOE Kern Center, chili-tasters will instead pick up competing chili straight from participating restaurants. Participants will then vote on their favorites through WMSE’s website. Participating restaurants include: 

The Bay
Beans & Barley
Blue’s Egg
Braise
Brewed Café
Café Corazon
Café Hollander
Café Lulu
Colectivo Coffee (multiple locations)
Company Brewing
Dorsia
Goodkind
Foltz’s Family Market
Hector’s A Mexican Restaurant
Iron Grate BBQ Co.
Lakefront Brewery
Lazy Susan
Maxie’s
Milwaukee Burger Company
Old German Beer Hall
Odd Duck
Palomino 
Public Table
Puddler’s Hall
Red Lion Pub
Riverwest Co-op
SALA
Saz’s State House
Story Hill BKC
Strange Town
Three Lions Pub
Transfer Pizzeria Cafe
The Vanguard
Wonderland

Chili will be available at these restaurants from April 5-11. 

Now Closing: Tenuta’s Howard Ave. Location

Italian restaurant Tenuta’s has decided to close its to-go only location at 3902 S. Whitnall Ave., accessible from Howard Ave. The announcement was made via a Facebook post signed off by owner Frank Tenuta. The post reads:

After some very difficult evaluation, we have come to the decision to close our Tenuta’s To Go location on Howard Ave. 

While we are grateful for the support of the community and our staff, we need to make this business decision at this time. 

Thank you for your continued patronage through these difficult times and stay safe. We look forward to seeing you soon.

The Howard Ave. location’s final day of business was on March 28. The restaurant’s flagship location at 2995 S. Clement Ave. will remain open for to-go, delivery and dine-in. 

Tenuta opened the Bay View restaurant in December 2003, using recipes from his parents, who emigrated from southern Italy to the United States in the 60’s. Tenuta’s expanded with the to-go location in 2019.