BelAir Cantina
Tastes in margaritas vary greatly. Some prefer tall bowl-like glasses and frozen fruit flavors, while others stick with the basics and want fresh lime juice, ice and tequila in a tumbler. Whichever type is your favorite, everyone can agree that margaritas are most fun to drink with friends in a place with a good vibe. The following restaurants and bars are some of the many in the Milwaukee area that serve up margaritas that please the masses as well as the aficionados.
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BelAir Cantina (Water Street)
1935 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202The tequila selection here may be the most extensive in the area with more than 100 varieties to choose from. The basic margarita mix is of fresh lime juice with a dash of sugar syrup. This is not a large place and is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Thursdays when “mystery” tequila shots are just $2. The priciest tequilas, on the other hand, can run as high as $40 per shot. There are several margarita options and frozen ones in three flavors. It’s possible to purchase a private tequila bottle poured from a barrel of Herradura double reposado. Tasty stuff but maybe too good to be mixed with lime juice. (Jeff Beutner)
Other locations on Downer Ave, in Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, and Brookfield.
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Botanas Restaurant
Botanas is one of the most popular local Mexican restaurants. The interior has a Mayan jungle theme and the main bar is at the heart of it all. While there are 19 tequilas, only some of these are used for margaritas. The premium margaritas still offer fine tequilas such as Tres Generaciones and Don Julio—no skimping here. Add Grand Marnier for a slight extra charge. Fruit margaritas are a specialty here with the usual strawberry and raspberry, as well as the more unusual watermelon, Midori, and mango with orange. Sit back and have a sip in this urban jungle setting. (J.B.)
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El Beso
The exterior is like a Technicolor ChiChi's, a large hacienda painted in blazing neon colors. The interior is a faux Mexican village with tables on several levels, a congenial bar, and outdoor patio seating. Though this is miles from any other Mex...
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El Fuego Mexican Restaurant
El Beso and its older sister restaurant, El Fuego, offer Mexican fare and drinks in neighborhoods that are more suburban. The interiors are dramatic spaces, a Disneyfied vision of Mexico. Both have long bars and outdoor seating in warmer weather. The outdoor patio at El Fuego is especially inviting and features a second bar. El Fuego will customize a margarita with any one of its many available tequilas. The standard margarita offers nine additional flavor options. El Beso offers similar variety but one-ups El Beso with its black-and-blue margarita made with muddled blackberries. (J.B.)
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Highland House
For 30 years Highland House has been serving up delicious Tex-Mex-Caribbean food and drink, so they’ve had lots of time to perfect their margaritas. Nine flavors are on the menu, including lip-smacking peach, pomegranate, mango and a rotating flavor of the month. Upgrade to a premium margarita made with your choice of more than 25 premium tequilas, fresh lime juice and Cointreau, all served in a personal shaker. Happy hour specials are offered Monday-Friday, and Highway Robbery Monday means all margaritas are $2 off. (Susan Harpt Grimes)
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Jalapeno Loco
5067 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207It could be easy to overlook Jalapeño Loco. This family-run restaurant is tucked away near Mitchell Field, but is well worth the trip—and you don’t have to take a plane to get there. The margaritas are strong and delicious. Traditional lime is a favorite, but fruity flavors like melon, banana and mango are fun too. Several premium tequila margaritas are featured on the menu. For a super smooth, tasty drink, try the Don Loco Royal, which is mixed with Don Julio Añejo tequila and Grand Marnier. (S.H.G.)
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Jose's Blue Sombrero (Brookfield)
Jose’s Blue Sombrero boasts an amazingly large selection of margarita flavors. The list is made up of 10-15 flavors including everything from cranberry and cherry, to grape and passion fruit. The house specialty is the very pretty El Toronado—frozen sangria that has been swirled with a margarita. Visit during happy hour for $3 small margaritas and $4 larges: 3-6 p.m. (also the time to take advantage of a free taco bar) and again after 9 p.m. If margaritas aren’t your thing, Jose’s also makes killer tableside sangria where the ingredients are muddled before your eyes. Good stuff! (S.H.G.)
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La Estacion
Housed in a former train depot, La Estacion is a unique place to take a margarita journey. Fourteen flavors of margarita are served here, some like lime and strawberry are expected, but passion fruit and guava trend to the exotic. La Estacion will even mix two flavors together, per customer request—perfect for those of two minds. Top shelf tequilas and fresh ingredients make for some truly spectacular drinks, whether blended or on the rocks. Happy hour specials (Monday-Thursday) include $3.50 house margaritas. (S.H.G.)
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La Fuente (Wauwatosa)
Great margaritas start with quality tequila. They feature creative, balanced flavors brought together through smooth blending, veteran craftsmanship and know-how. Not skimping on the tequila is a good touch, too. For all these regards, try La Fuente; 20 years on top. A rainbow of fruit flavors; blended, or on the rocks. Smooth pours and well-salted rims. Pitchers are the crowd pleaser. The comfortable atmosphere and accompanying comida are excelente también. Bring your friends. (Willy Thorn)
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Poco Loco
“Brown Deer’s little slice of old Mexico” should be the tagline for Poco Loco Cantina. A one-time coffee shop, the building has quite effectively been transformed into a vintage 1920s Mexican cantina. The seating is counter-only, or at least until the patio thaws out for the season. Margaritas are taken seriously here, traditional lime, tequila, on the rocks or straight up. What sets the margaritas apart at Poco Loco is the brand and age of tequila used. Tequila mellows with aging, and pleasantly mellow is how you will feel after a visit to Poco Loco. (S.H.G.)
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Rio West Cantina
Sometimes simplicity is perfection. Rio West Cantina has a simply perfect basic lime margarita on the rocks. No fancy umbrellas or swizzle sticks, just clean and simple. They do offer fresh fruit, mango, or tropical flavors, but it’s pretty hard to top the classic lime. Plus, with more than 70 different tequilas, Rio West has one of the biggest selections around. Margarita lovers who boast a developed tequila palate will truly appreciate the extensive list to choose from. (S.H.G.)
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