For the ninth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee, presented by the restaurants of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, dining guides, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as voting for your "Best of Dining 2015."

El Canaveral
2501 W. Greenfield Ave.
(414) 585-0577

Located inside a vintage 1904 Schlitz tavern, El Canaveral is often outside the spotlight when it comes to local popular Mexican eateries, but it shouldn’t be.

The space is clean, colorful and artistically arranged with an attentive staff and a diverse menu that ranges from familiar options like tacos and quesadillas to more unique Latin American dishes.

Type of food: Mexican.

Prices: Affordable; most entrees are between $7.95 and $12.95.

Vegetarian friendly: Yes, bean and cheese dishes are available.

Hours: Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday-Monday. Closed on Tuesdays.

Parking: Plenty of street parking.

Vibe / dress: Casual but festive. The vintage building has many attractive features, including leaded glass and high ceilings, and the restaurant owners did a tasteful and creative job with the decor. It’s brightly painted with interesting – not stereotypical – Mexican art, instruments and fresh flowers.

Hits: The complimentary tortilla chips came warm with four different, delicious sauces that ranged in color, texture and heat factor.

The molcate was the stand-out menu item. Served in a stone mortar, it features a generous pile of chicken breast pieces, pork loin, sliced beef ribs, chorizo, onions and, best of all, bacon-wrapped jalapenos. The dish is drizzled in a sauce that is tangy and not overpowering, which allows the tantalizing grilled meats to be the star of the show.

The mole was also very good and the presentation made the dish even more appealing. The chicken was moist and tender and, while the sauce wasn’t too thick or too runny, it could have been a tad more flavorful.

Next time we plan to try the molcajete de carne and the alambre Mexicano or Hawaiano. We’ve also heard the classic Tex-Mex items are tasty, particularly the tacos.

Misses: As mentioned earlier, the mole sauce could have had a little more zing. It was good, but this diner prefers a little richer and spicier flavor.

Insider tip: El Canaveral would make a great special occasion spot. There are two, moderate-sized dining areas with a range of table sizes. Plus, the decor is very festive and adds to a fun vibe that made us eager to return as a family, on a date and with a larger group of friends.