Review: El Beso Mexican Restaurant Brings Flavors of Mexico to Greendale
Getting Here
El Beso Mexican Restaurante and Cantina opened its doors in 2012 and has been a hotspot among shoppers in the Southridge Mall area of Greendale ever since. Nestled comfortably in one of Milwaukee's largest shopping districts, El Beso gets visitors from all directions. But while visitors may stop in because of the restaurant's convenient location, it's the delicious food and festive atmosphere that keeps people coming back again and again! I hadn’t visited in a while, so I recently stopped in to see if some of my favorites tasted as good as I remembered. |
| The outside of the restaurant is well-kept and colorful; the colors put guests in mind of traditional Mexican cities, such as Guanajuato. |
The decor inside is really vibrant:
 |
| Just one of the many colorful murals that create the feeling that diners have been transported to Mexico. |
The Appetizer
We were immediately seated and a waiter brought us homemade chips and salsa, a tasty snack that diners can munch on while they contemplate El Beso's extensive menu. |
| Our chip basket never emptied for long; several staff members go table to table bringing more chips and salsa as needed. |
The Margaritas
My dining companion and I weren’t seated more than a minute before our waiter came over and took our drink order. El Beso has incredible happy hour specials from 2:30 to 6:00 every afternoon. Although the restaurant has an extensive drink menu, I went with a Mexican restaurant classic: raspberry margarita! |
| The margarita was good! Sweet (including sugar on the rim), but not too strong. |
The Entrees
I opted for the enchiladas verdes, chicken enchiladas smothered in green chili sauce served with a side of refried beans and rice. Priced at $13.95, this dish is pretty standard for the dinner menu at Milwaukee restaurants, but admittedly it’s the kind of place that I save for special occasions.
My entrée arrived less than 10
minutes after I ordered. The smell was
incredible! The enchiladas are filled
with shredded chicken, smothered with green sauce, and topped with a unique
cheese I haven’t found at other Mexican restaurants: Chihuahua cheese. Named for the region in Mexico where it
originated, Chihuahua cheese tastes a bit like mozzarella but is much smoother,
richer, and a bit tangier.
 |
| Enchiladas verdes with chicken: a generous portion for hungry diners. |
My dining companion ordered a vegetable quesadilla, which he assured me was flavorful and satisfying. It came with homemade guacamole.
 |
| Vegetable quesadilla filled with peppers, onions, cheese, and tomatoes. |
Many of El Beso's signature menu options are also customizable and offer guests a choice among chicken, beef, chorizo, pork, cheese, or onions and cheese filling, meaning that El Beso is a great place for vegetarians to find a variety of entree options.
The Big Finish
I ordered the sopapilla cheesecake, a fried cheesecake
that comes topped with strawberries and whipped cream. At $5.95 plus a dollar for strawberries, it's certainly not the cheapest dessert you'll find at a restaurant, but it's large enough that I had enough to take half of it home with me for leftovers.
 |
| The dessert comes out warm and the light sprinkling of cinnamon sugar adds a nice contrast to the smoothness of the cheesecake. |
Final Thoughts
El Beso does not disappoint. The food was attractively presented and the taste was pretty incredible. The service was also excellent; the waitstaff was attentive and our drinks or chip baskets were never empty before a waiter or waitress would stop at our table and ask if we wanted more. The portions here are generous, too, and the atmosphere is great because it’s really fun, colorful, and festive.While the cost may be a little too high for everyday casual dining, I’d highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who’s ever in the Southridge Mall shopping area.
For more information...
On getting here: http://elbesomke.com/location.htmlOn El Beso's menu and prices: http://elbesomke.com/menu.html
On El Beso's drink specials and happy hour: http://elbesomke.com/drinkSpecials.html
On Chihuahua cheese: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queso_Chihuahua)
Or a second opinion: http://elbesomke.com/reviews.html
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