Fiesta Cafe, the new breakfast and lunch spot from the owners of Fiesta Garibaldi and Chicken Palace, opened quietly this weekend in the former Wayward Kitchen at 1407 S. 1st St.
And it’s hard to miss the new restaurant, which welcomes visitors with its new red and yellow exterior and gleaming rooster statue along the sidewalk.
Inside, the cafe is just as bright and welcoming. Six garage doors surround the main dining area, which features a white marble-topped bar and modern rustic decor, including warm woods, industrial metal accents and a variety of rustic signs proclaiming messages like "farm fresh" and "organic," indicative of the restaurant's mission to serve items like locally procured products and organic eggs.
A back dining room features a mix of coffee themed wall art, rustic paneling and shelving.
There are also numerous clocks, which owner Valdemar Escobar procured to round out the restaurant’s decor.
The theme also plays out in the main dining room with a giant industrial clock light fixture that hangs on the ceiling above the tables, complete with steampunk-style gears.
Beverages
On the menu, guests will find a variety of options for both breakfast and lunch, including freshly squeezed juices like the Mean Green with kale, spinach, romaine, green apple, cucumber and lemon, and the Gingersnap with carrots, apples and ginger ($6 each). There’s Colectivo coffee – with options from drip to espresso, lattes and nitro cold brew – along with tea and soda.
At the bar, there’s a variety of locally brewed beers, including selections from New Glarus, Good City, Milwaukee Brewing, Left Hand and Miller, along with a small selection of wines (all priced in the $9-10 range).
Cocktails include brunch classics like the mimosa and bloody mary (both a house and Southwest version, $10), along with the Walking Spanglish featuring housemade jalapeno-infused tequila, pineapple, lime and herbsaint ($10) and the Wildwood Smash with Rehorst vodka, agave nectar and fresh lime ($9).
Breakfast
Breakfast items include traditional egg plates with accompaniments like bacon, sausage, ham or corned beef hash ($10) or upgrades like salmon, New York strip steak, skirt steak or chicken breast ($13). There are also a variety of skillets featuring items like steak, chorizo, bacon and sausage ($11-12) or a build-your-own option starting at $11.
Omelettes include classic options as well as Mexican inspired offerings like Mexican steak with jalapenos, onions and tomatoes ($11) or the Enchilada with chicken, onions, tomato, peppers, green salsa, avocado and cilantro ($11, pictured).
Sweeter items include pancakes (original, multigrain, banana walnut, chocolate chip, banana walnut and fruit, $9-11), waffles ($9-12) and French toast (original, churro, fruit or cinnacrunch ($9-12). There are also crepes with either sweet or savory fillings for $10-11.
Mexican breakfasts include items like chilaquiles ($12), huevos rancheros ($10), enfrijoladas ($10) and moyetes featuring black beans, melted chihuahua cheese and pico de gallo with a choice of meat ($11). There are also Divorced Eggs featuring two eggs paired with green and red salsa and chilaquiles ($10).
Lunch & more
Lunch options include salads ($9-12) and sandwiches including a veggie sandwich, BLT, grilled chicken breast and club sandwiches as well as a variety of burgers. The signature Fiesta Burger features avocado, jalapeno, colby and onions. All are priced $10-12.
Moving forward, general manager Victor Rosaldo says the restaurant will also feature a variety of housemade sweet and savory Mexican breads and pastries in a case near the entrance. Escobar says they may also extend the cafe’s hours if customer demand warrants.
Fiesta Cafe is open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.