Milwaukee-Based Mexican Restaurant Belair Cantina Serves Fresh Flavors To The Midwest [REVIEW]

I just want to preference this review by saying I don’t like Mexican food, but I absolutely adore Belair Cantina. No Chipotle or Qdoba could ever hold a candle it.

Belair Cantina has six locations in Milwaukee and one in Madison. Their menu consists of “Mexican-fusion” food. This includes tacos (corn or flour shell), burritos, burrito bowls, soups, and even a special brunch menu.

The local chain started in 2010 with their first location being on Water St. in Milwaukee by Kristyn Eitel, Leslie Montemurro and Scott Johnson. The restaurant and it’s bull mascot has become an icon in the city. Since their initial opening, the restaurant has been greatly expanding, making it a sort of local chain for Wisconsin.

And, if we’re being honest here, they can open as many locations as they want because I will go to every one of them. I absolutely adore this restaurant and everything about it – it’s 100% worth every penny, second, breath spent there.

What can be so unique about Belair is the vibe they are trying to bring. Not only is it centered around a taste of Mexican-fusion, but the restaurant aims to feel very carefree California-like. Belair strives to take you to boardwalks and never-ending happy hours through the power of food. It’s exactly what a cold Midwestern state like Wisconsin needs. This whole concept really just clicks for me especially since my fondest memories from Belair came from when it was snowy and freezing outside.

No – this wasn’t my first time at Belair. This was probably like my fifth trip, but every time feels like the first, I believe. I went specifically to the Downer Avenue location with my parents accompanying me. We decided on it for a nice meal during the Thursday dinner rush. This probably wasn’t our best idea since it is so close to a college campus where very few people have Friday classes and just want to go out, but I didn’t care I want tacos.

Service started out pretty slow. We had a good 30-minute wait and even experience some people who came in after us get seated before us. That is probably my number one pet-peeve with restaurants, but I kind of get it. It was busy, who can really keep track and all?

I will say, I wish there was more waiting room especially since this location gets super busy. I am sure the small, cozy feel serves a very valuable purpose, but when you have such a popping restaurant… make accommodations! Give us more than two chairs and an awkward space next to an ATM machine. I think that’d be helpful for any restaurant.

But maybe I can just look past it because the food and how fast it gets to my mouth makes up for it in the end. I could probably write a whole essay on the free chips and salsa they give you to go crazy with.

Anyways, my go-to is always tacos. No matter what, you cannot go wrong with corn shelled tacos. My standards order is the black bean and corn tacos, but on this particular trip I spiced it up a bit. I went with a bit of meat (so naughty, I know) instead of going my vegetarian route. The homemade chorizo tacos ($3.99/taco) were calling my name. This is chorizo (Mexican spicy pork suasage) mixed with some softened potatoes topped with radishes, cilantro, and queso fresco (Mexican cheese) on two corn taco shells.

It really is the most flavorful taco I have ever had. The chorizo on its own is the perfect amount of spice and balanced to lovely with just regular potatoes (who would’ve thought!). Then the radishes come in and they’re just sliced radishes. Nothing fancy done to them – which is perfect! They give a beautiful crunch and just a hint of spiciness with them. The cheese finally kicks in and is essentially like a parmesan which gives the taco a really nice sharp flavor. All of it is totally balanced with the soft, chewy corn shell. Oh, and don’t forget the squeeze of lime on top to make your heart sing.

On the side you get rice and a choice of pinto or refried black beans. I will admit, I don’t like rice. This isn’t Belair’s fault, don’t worry, this is just my own taste buds that reject rice in any form. Due to this, I like to substitute the rice for an extra side of refried beans which is the most beautiful side to tacos every created. The refried beans are on the liquid-side which is not totally my favorite, but the flavor saves it. They don’t taste like beans at all. They just taste like something… delicious. They have such a richness and a (good) fry flavor. I really can’t even begin to describe refried beans. They truly are in their own world when being served.

All while you’re eating this fine food, you just feel like you’re in the hippest place on Earth. There is so much character within this little restaurant. From the unique layout where it feels so cramped but so open at once to the collage of stickers covering every available inch of the place. It feels so college, but so fun. It feels like you and your waiter are going to be best friends by the end of the night. That’s how casual the whole thing feels.

Decorations are, as previously mentioned, really a lot of Belair fancy themed stickers (which I adore) and some artwork with Mexican themes on them. I was also particularly a fan of the sign that read, “Tequila may not be the answer to everything, but it’s worth a shot!”

The whole vibe is very friendly and just overall fun. You feel like you’re going have a great night out just right when you walk in, and honestly you do because the food brings the party. The tacos and chips and salsa bring you to somewhere on the West coast. You feel like you just got some dang good tacos from a taco truck after an exhausting week. Everything kind of aligns with this place, and that makes it totally worth going. Tacos are just a couple of bucks for up to three of them with the richest, freshest ingredients ever. The layers from food to atmosphere make this restaurant unlike any other that I’ve been to in Milwaukee.