Photo by Rachel Buth
Botanas II, modeled after the original Botanas in Walker’s Point, opened recently in the old Patio Banquet Hall. The spacious bar, with its red lighting, comfortable seating and two large, curved-screen TVs, make it a great place for sports fans to watch a game while enjoying a delicious margarita or any of the 15 tequilas on offer. The main dining room still has that banquet hall feeling, but with an updated bar, orange décor and murals on the wall; it all seems to work with the atmosphere and food. The restaurant is great for large parties and family friendly with a typical children’s menu.
Parking is a dream at this location, with friendly attendants on busy nights that even came up the walkway to open the door. That excellent service didn’t stop there. Everyone was very accommodating.
Owner Martha Navejar brought the same recipes and menu from the original restaurant along with some familiar faces. It was all spot-on in flavor and authenticity, including the prices that were a good value for the portion size.
The chips were delivered immediately as we sat down at our table and hot from the fryer with salsa that was smooth and had just the right amount of heat. There are two types of guacamole to choose from and the option of full or half order ($7.25-$8.50). The chunky guacamole was fresh and bright in color, but lacked a little salt. I found that all of the dishes were not overly salty as you find in a lot of Mexican restaurants. The ingredients are allowed to speak for themselves. The Firecrackers ($9.95)—six roasted jalapeños overstuffed with melted Chihuahua cheese—were not as spicy as one might imagine and had the perfect balance of heat and cheese, served with sour cream to cool the taste buds.
Lunch special combination platters come with a choice of meat including chicken, ground or chunky beef, or pork and are served with a choice of black bean or enchilada soup. The enchilada soup was delicious and creamy, and the beef chimichanga was crisp on the outside with nicely seasoned meat inside. I opted for the pork enchilada in a combination covered in a rich sauce and topped with a good helping of melted cheese.
The Nachos Gringos ($9.95-$11.95) was one of our favorites and chicken was our protein of choice. The chicken was moist and plentiful with a good amount of cheese, although a little light on beans. The tortilla chips where crispy down to the bottom of the plate. The nachos were served with an equally large portion of jalapeño, olives, sour cream and smooth guacamole. The a la carte pico de gallo, with perfectly diced fresh tomatoes and jalapeños, were bursting with flavor.
The fajitas ($16.95-$21.95) gave an olfactory experience that surely had the tables next to us ordering them, but surpassing the aroma were the tender pieces of meat themselves, along with the sizzling peppers and onions, which remained crisp. The chicken picado ($14.95) with special chef’s sauce was fresh and tangy and paired well with the warm corn tortilla.
Botanas II has happy hour from 2-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and already started breaking ground for the outdoor patio that will open this summer.
Botanas II
1421 E. Howard Ave.
414-489-0529
$$
Handicap access: Yes
