The space on the southwest corner of Lincoln and Howell Avenues is destined to be a Mexican restaurant. Now that Guanajuato moved down the street to new digs, the latest Latin eatery to fill the space is Mr. Webo's, which opened last week.
Mr. Webo's – a play on the word "huevos" which means eggs in Spanish – is owner Roman Torrez's first venture and he wanted it to be different from other Mexican eateries in the city.
"This is a modern Mexican restaurant. Not the traditional Mexican decor or the usual Mexican music," says Torrez.
The menu features a range of offerings from classics like burritos and enchiladas to more unique items such as sopes and a Yucatan-style pork plate. Chef Jeremy Hoch commends his fish tacos and fajitas.
There is a nice balance between meat, seafood and veggie items and all of the vegetarian items are clearly identified.
The prices are higher than what you'd pay at other neighborhood and near-to-the-neighborhood Mexican restaurants. The fish tacos are $12.95, the veggie burritos are $10.95-$11.95. Entrees range from $8.95 to $12.95 and specialty plates from $12.95 to $15.95. Fajitas are $15.95 to $18.95.
All of the food is made to order so it takes a little bit longer to receive at the table. We appreciated this because it gave us time to enjoy the delicious homemade tortilla chips – thin strips that arrived still warm – and three very different salsas.
We also enjoyed the handcrafted margaritas which, when ordered on the rocks, are made from scratch. Blended margaritas are made with a mix.
Our meals were worth the wait. The shrimp enchilado ($15.95) was really good and smothered in one of the tangiest, smokiest sauces I've experienced on similar dishes.
The fish tacos featured flavorful pieces of tilapia very lightly seasoned and crusted in white and blue cornmeal and topped with avocado crema, chipotle aoli and amazing glazed shredded cabbage.
Both meals came with un-lardy beans and the perfectly steamed white rice with lime and cilantro was different from the usual Mexican restaurant offerings.
We found the service to be excellent, with a very personable waiter making sure that everyone was comfortable.
The decor is another appealing aspect of Mr. Webo's. The walls are adorned with massive, tattoo-style murals created by a local tattoo artist. The black table cloths and fresh red roses on each table create an environment that is, indeed, different from other local cantinas.
In short, although it costs more than other Mexican restaurants, Mr. Webo's is worth it for the quality of food, service and the environment. The key will be to keep it going. We'll be back to check in later this year.
Mr. Webo's is open late night and is available for carry-out and delivery. Patio service is coming this summer.
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.