After several visits to Fuegos, I sense that it’s an underappreciated tapas restaurant that would probably double the amount of business if it was located on the Capitol Square or on the far west or east sides of town.
Inside you’ll find multiple dining spaces and a bar that would be suitable for after-work happy hours, if only it were closer to more businesses (Fuegos is located on the corner of Willy Street and Paterson Street, competing with other nearby bars and restaurants for street parking).
Two to three people should be able to share the tapas. One of my favorites was the chorizo de lagarto ($12). I’ve always enjoyed chorizo, but I like it even more with alligator (what the chorizo was made from), apparently. The links were juicy, had the right amount of spices and were not at all gamey.
I also was a big fan of the pulpo en ajo y tomate ($14). The grilled octopus isn’t chewy; in fact, it is very tender. The ancho tomato sauce adds a subtle smoky complement to this incredibly tasty dish.
On the other hand, the tuna in the torre de atun ceviche ($14) was a little chewy. Otherwise, the dish had a nice heat and sweetness to this beautiful dish.
For a little more substance, I turned to the parrilla (grilled) section of the menu. The lomito abierto ($13) is a mouthful. The tender steak shines through, but you do get enough of the ham, cheese and avocado for a satisfying open-faced sandwich. (Note: the egg was missing on my sandwich, and a replacement was brought out on a separate plate.)
If you’re willing, try the torta de lengua ($11). The beef tongue is tender and delicious. In fact, you don’t need any of the toppings, such as the pickled onions or avocado, as the tongue is perfect by itself. The toasted bun was a nice touch.
I do want to come back to explore more of the cocktail menu. I will say that the big margaritas are a steal when they are discounted to $4. I paid the extra dollar for pineapple flavor, and it was definitely worth it.
Dinner features entrees such as a 28-oz. ribeye, grilled lobster tail and a 12-oz. pork chop. Fuegos also sports a vegan menu, which includes tostones (fried plantains), potato empanadas and pastelito (coconut rice cake).
Fuegos is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday, dinner Tuesday-Saturday and brunch on Sundays.
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See more photos in our Fuegos Flickr album.
The host for the entertainment stage will be Milwaukee native Brian Kato Kaelin, who was gracious enough to do an interview with EatDrinkMadison.com:
I wasn’t sure what to make of Indonesian BBQ at first, but it turns out, it’s one or the other, not both combined, at Jakarta Barbecue Station. That makes for a wide-ranging menu.
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