Ringing Endorsement Maria Curro

This week, Maria Curro of Bay View salon Freya offers her ringing endorsement of a fresh twist on the traditional Milwaukee fish fry.

Pretty much every restaurant in Milwaukee has a fish fry—it’s probably a requirement for getting a food service license or something. Even ethnic restaurants join in the tradition, putting their own special spin on the average slab of fish. Greek restaurants, German, Italian—everyone has their own version of what is basically a British dish, right? Like Cafe El Sol, which is strangely located in the basement of a Hispanic community center. It’s weird because there’s this big sign out front that says “Cafe El Sol,” but when you walk in there’s a day care on your right and you think you’re seriously in the wrong place. But then you go down the elevator and suddenly you’re in a traditional Mexican-looking restaurant, with the fake peeling stucco walls and chips and salsa on every table. There’s even a live band that plays Latin music on the weekends. If you go there on a Friday, there’s no menu—just the fish fry buffet. They have fried and baked fish, and while the baked is mostly standard, the fried has some sort of Spanish seasoning to it and it’s extra crispy and delicious. They don’t serve any kind of potato side dish, but they have Puerto Rican-style beans and rice that’s a fitting substitute. Pair all that with a few Tecates or margaritas—awesome.