Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Sunday, July 5, 2009
Today
Hi: 80
Lo: 61
Mon
Hi: 78
Lo: 60
Tue
Hi: 68
Lo: 57
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Dining Reviews
Popular Jose's Blue Sombrero offers quick fare
Jose's immediately reminded us, décor-wise, of the extinct Chi Chi's chain of Mexican restaurants, with loud colors and flashy menus.
By Amy L. Schubert RSS Feed
Food Writer
Photography by Whitney Teska
E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Amy L. Schubert

Published Nov. 10, 2008 at 8:27 a.m.
Tags: jose's blue sombrero

With a name like Jose's Blue Sombrero, and a tagline of "hip, cheap and no sleep," diners at Jose's Blue Sombrero, 20371 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, are likely not looking for freshly made, authentic Mexican food when they walk into the doors, but rather a party atmosphere, margaritas on tap and drive-through fast Mexican food -- and that's exactly what they'll get -- after the lengthy wait for a table, which on one visit, was close to 45 minutes.

Jose's immediately reminded us, décor-wise, of the extinct Chi Chi's chain of Mexican restaurants, with loud colors and flashy menus. The Brookfield location is popular, with a healthy bar crowd and slews of people waiting for tables at the front entrance; I asked around and heard the same about the Racine location: it appears you can usually expect a wait at both locations, especially on a busy weekend night.

Jose's offers standard, quick, non-spectacular Americanized Mexican fare with some interesting options added for good measure. If you conflate your ideals of what you expect to find at a 6th Street Mexican restaurant in Milwaukee with the menu of a bar appetizer list, you'll have Jose's menu at your fingertips.

Starters like ranchero wings ($6.95) and jalapeno poppers (jalawhoppers, $6.45) join nachos ($6.25) and a tableside guacamole ($7.65), for a Mexican meets American dining spin.

The tableside guacamole is a fun addition to the menu, and is mixed fresh at your table in record time. Jalapenos, onions, avocado, cilantro and tomato make up the mix -- the making of which is entertaining to watch -- and pleasantly hot, but is conspicuously missing a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

The entrée section of Jose's menu mirrors the appetizers, with hamburgers ($5.95-$7.95) and a Southside of Philly beef sandwich ($7.75) adjacent to tacos ($8.25) and burritos ($9.25).

Chicken enchiladas ($9.75) rolled three corn tortillas with shredded chicken in a tomato heavy enchilada sauce that tasted closer to a marinara. Beans and rice are standard accompaniments with the enchiladas and most of the Platos Especiales that venture into seafood combinations with chipotle cream sauces (seafood burritos, $13.95) and roasted chicken with potatoes (Benjamin Adrian's Pollo Ala Parrilla, $12.45). And while tack tacos ($8.25) with beef were unremarkable, they were on par with other Mexican restaurants of this genre.

Service at Jose's was fast and flawless, and a pitcher of water pre-positioned on our table guaranteed there was never a moment with an empty glass. All told, even on the evening with the 45-minute wait, we were in and out in under 90 minutes with our food flying out of the kitchen almost as we ordered it.



More Information ...
Jose's is open Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m. Jose's offers curbside delivery and non-smoking dining.

Related links:

6 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Preview
zach01 only been there once for a friends bday. quite possibly the blandest food i've ...
older/wiser Comparing Blue Sombrero to Chi Chi's is completely accurate. If you enjoy very ...
InTheView Who would drive all the way out to Brookfield for a Mexican restaurant? I'd ...
jalisciense This reviewer strikes me as particularly uninitiated as regards Mexican cuisine. ...
svdodge I've been to Jose's twice. Out of a total of 6 meals ordered, they screwed up ...


Show me the other Talkback

OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest