By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Nov 11, 2009 at 9:02 AM

After more than a year of buzz and anticipation, Cafe Corazón, 3129 N. Bremen St., quietly opened last weekend. Currently, only the bar is operating, but at the end of the month, George and Wendy Mireles -- who own the cafe with John Kelly -- say they will serve food, too.

Corazón (which means "heart" in Spanish) will be able to accommodate vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters,  serving Latin and American dishes for lunch, dinner and a weekend brunch. Also, it will house a taqueria that will provide burrito and taco take-out.

"Our recipes are dictated by what’s growing in the field," says Wendy Mireles.

The menu will change with the seasons, offering dishes that are made with local, ripe ingredients. The owners will buy most of their ingredients through an RSA, and a lot of the beef and produce will come from Wendy’s parents’ farm in Waupun, where she has a natural, pesticide-free garden.

Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A diverse mix of entrees will be available, including carne mechada -- which is slow-cooked, Venezuelan-style shredded beef -- along with "drunken amaretto pancakes," baked breakfast empanadas, huevos rancheros, a breakfast burger and classics like eggs and sausage.

"The neighborhood wants brunch, we’re giving them brunch," says Wendy.

Dinner options for November range from vegan enchiladas to a ribeye steak sandwich. Fridays will feature ceviche -- Chilean sea bass with green peppers, white onions and white wine -- along with a weekly fish special.

All of the menu items are under $13 and many are under $10. The taqueria will feature burritos and "taco truck tacos" that are made to order with fillings that range from grilled vegetables to chorizo.

The bar stocks bottled beer, mixed drinks, signature margaritas made with tequila Corazón and many different wines that are mostly from sustainable vineyards and some of which are organic.

George and Wendy returned to Riverwest last year to open the restaurant after living in San Francisco for a decade. The Mireleses moved back to Riverwest to take advantage of La Escuela Fratney’s solid bilingual education for their two children and to open their restaurant that would, hopefully, bolster the north end of Riverwest, which they refer to as "NoLo" (North of Locust).

Corazón is a half-block east of Art Bar, Two and the West Bank Cafe.

Kelly, who was a longtime friend of the Mireleses before becoming their business partner, owns the uniquely-shaped building that was originally a general store, then a bar in the '30s called Ye Ol’ Triangle Tap and later, a watering hole named Auggie’s Lighthouse Tap.

"I have always loved this building, it’s like none other in Riverwest," says George Mireles.

Mireles and Kelly completely renovated the space with new bathrooms, water lines, windows and a kitchen. They preserved the original ceiling, floors and a portion of the bar.

Corazón is cozy with a half-dozen tables and a medium-sized bar. During the warmer months, it will have outdoor seating, too. The bar and restaurant is completely non-smoking and kid-friendly.

The decor is thrift store Latin, a fun combination of color and Mexican / religious tchotchke that Kelly collected for many years. There is a large mural by Cristian Muñoz and an altar made by Escuela Fratney art teacher Sue Pezanoski Browne and a group of Fratney students. The art will rotate on a regular basis.

The large, heart shape sign on the front of the building illuminates in the evening, and was created by Kelly’s friend, Minneapolis metal artist Adam Croft.

Corazón has two flat-screen TVs and will air Packers games on Sundays. "We’re not a sports bar," says George. "But we’ll have the Packers games on."

Wendy says the cafe will host holiday and special event dinners, including a aphrodisiac dinner for Valentine’s Day.

Corazon’s commitment to quality, seasonal food and affordable prices has it on track to join the ranks of Nessun Dorma, 2778 N. Weil St., and Centro, 808 E. Center St., as a restaurant that understands the complicated Riverwest demographic that includes educated, eco-friendly people with a discerning palate on a limited budget. Because of Corazon’s unique menu and environment, it will most likely attract diners from all over the city.

"So far, we’ve been thrilled with the turnout in here," says Wendy. "We can definitely feel the love."


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.