Fajitas, Tapas & Bar, the place it’s essential get the tacos

The restaurant that opened June 27 the place a Roman Candle Pizza place was once has considerably of an ungainly format, and from the surface it’s not instantly apparent the place the entrance door is.

My pal and I received a desk by the bar, the place “Wheel of Fortune” was on a large TV. My pal mentioned its glare was like a large headlight coming at him.

Miguel Dominguez, who owns the restaurant together with his spouse, Jennifer Dominguez, was an amazing host and wound up doubling as our server when the Middleton Excessive College senior who took our order received busy elsewhere.

At a spot named for fajitas, the fajitas higher be good — and ours had been, if dear. However one order can feed two moderately hungry folks. There are 12 varieties, and we went with the fajitas poblanos ($22.99) as a result of I can by no means get sufficient poblano peppers. Right here they had been lower into small strips once I would have most well-liked bigger ones, nevertheless it was a wonderful dish, nonetheless.

Every part labored properly collectively: tender hen, bacon, corn, grilled onions, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers and particularly the grilled queso fresco. Bacon was an uncommon a part of a fajita plate, and I want it had been crispy, as a substitute of soggy.

The platter got here out scorching sizzling. Even the accompanying dinner plate with rice and beans was tremendous sizzling. I appreciated the lettuce, pico de gallo, bitter cream and guacamole, however the latter two had been extra of a garnish and did not go far. The white corn tortillas on the aspect had been unbelievable.

Those self same tortillas additionally made for nice tacos. Once more, they had been costly, most of them $5, but in addition $5.50 and $6 relying on the filling.

All of the tacos, from the asada ($5) to the grilled hen ($5) to the crunchy chorizo ($5) to the grilled shrimp ($5.50) to the grilled tilapia ($6) had been distinctive, and that is as a result of the meat or seafood in every was completely seasoned and grilled. The asada, or steak, was lean and notably flavorful.

Dominguez requested if we wished the tacos made historically with simply onion and cilantro. We did, and so they had been scrumptious that means. He informed me later that the opposite possibility is “American model” with a flour tortilla, lettuce and cheese.

Our tacos weren’t doubled up, as they usually are at Mexican eating places, and served with lime.

The largest letdown was a quesadilla with chorizo ($10). It was mild on cheese and fairly sad-looking. Reducing it into quarters and presumably including a bit garnish to the plate may’ve helped.

The opposite disappointment was the home margarita ($8), which was touted as having lemon, lime and orange juice “fermented” with gold tequila. It had a foamy prime and many salt across the rim, however a style that was barely off.

After I talked to Dominguez after my meal, I requested if most of his clients order fajitas. He mentioned tons do, however the enchiladas are additionally a giant vendor. Enchiladas present up within the menu underneath tapas and underneath specials, relying on how huge a portion you are on the lookout for and the way a lot you need to spend. There’s additionally a tapas model of the fajitas for $13.99.

Dominguez mentioned he tries to innovate with varied meats and greens in his fajitas and is at all times developing with new ones.

He got here to Madison from Puebla, Mexico, in 2001 and moved to Verona three years later. He has household within the space, together with cousin Vicente Sacramento, who co-owns Monona Bakery and Eatery.

For years, Dominguez commuted to downtown Beloit, the place he had a profitable restaurant referred to as Fresco Fajita Home from 2016 till this previous Could. He closed it to focus on the Middleton restaurant. The Beloit restaurant may solely seat 49, whereas the brand new restaurant has a capability of 140, should you embody the decrease stage, which may be rented for personal events, he mentioned.

The restaurant’s chef, Fermin Mejia, nonetheless lives in Beloit. Dominguez mentioned he buys the tortillas I like from a small retailer there and does not need to change, so he has Mejia carry them.

Dominguez mentioned on weekdays, Jennifer works with special-education college students at Savanna Oaks Center College. And when she’s on the restaurant she does a little bit of every part. “She’s the boss.”

I used to be there two days after Halloween and so they nonetheless had a lot of Halloween decorations up. “Most likely tomorrow is Christmastime,” Dominguez mentioned, including that he has a tree by the door able to go.

Anybody who likes good tacos and fajitas must strive Fajitas, Tapas & Bar. Consider it as an early Christmas present for your self.