January 10, 2009

La Terraza restaurant opens on Sixth Street


A couple of early diners tryout the new La Terraza on Sixth Street.

A new Mexican restaurant is the latest to join a growing nightlife district on the west end of downtown Sixth Street.

The appropriately named La Terraza opened on the second floor of the former Historic Century Market in the space that was formerly Sticky Rice. La Terraza means balcony or terrace in Spanish.

The business opened last week and had its grand opening this weekend. I met briefly with owner Carlos Cervantes on Saturday afternoon.

Cervantes has 25 years' experience working in restaurants in the Milwaukee area. He's started other Mexican kitchens, but this is his first full restaurant.

The restaurant looks great in the balcony location and the menu has a wide variety of Mexican standards and specials, plus appetizers and salads. Prices range from about $7-$12 per entree. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

There's parking east of the building, which is in the middle of a suddenly strong bar and restaurant district. Blueberries cafe is downstairs, Fireside BBQ, Henry and Wanda's and Timothy York's Bistro are across the street and Asiana, Shogun and Olde Madrid are nearby. The Park 6 bar is also on the block, and the Hopes Center coffee shop is close by.

Not bad for an area that looked pretty desolate a few years ago after the impressive, but money-losing, Century Market was forced to close. Let's hope this area keeps up its momentum.

7 comments:

  1. New photo uploaded ... previous comments deleted because it was my mistake, not the restaurant's. Thanks to readers for the heads up ... and buena suerte to La Terraza.

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  2. I had a Chile Relleno for lunch there the other day. It was good. I can't say that I know what "real" Mexican food is like, but it doesn't seem as though La Terraza is trying to serve Americanized versions of Mexican dishes. I mean that it a good way. I'll go back for sure.

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  3. Going to try this place tonight, will report back asap.!

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  4. Anon 11:46 - so how was your dinner last night??

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  5. We had a nice dinner at La Terraza on Friday evening. It is a little strange walking into the mostly vacant main level, but up on the terrace is some great food. Not your franchise Mexican like stuff. The wait person was inexperienced, but the food looked and tasted like it was done by an expert chef.

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  6. Buen trabajo Dustin.

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  7. The food was authentic and very good! Will definitely go back.

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