Banderas, a Latin American tavern and eatery, opened to the public this week in the former Lost Valley Cider Co., 408 W. Florida St., in Walker's Point.
The new concept focuses on agave-based spirits, South and Central American food and Spanish-language soccer games – AKA fútbol.
The goal is to attract Spanish-speaking and English-speaking folks to the space for food, drink and sports. Banderas will host Latin nights with a DJ spinning Latin jazz, bachata and cumbia.
Behind the scenes at Banderas
Banderas is a collaboration between Mike Eitel of Caravan Hospitality Group, which owns Nomad World Pub. According to Eitel, there are two other owners in the Banderas group from Brazil and Mexico. A Honduran chef created the menu.
Banderas' vibe
The decor is rich, warm and earthy, with clay, coral and green tones, wood accents, lush plants and cacti, and an appealing airy openness.
Banderas' eats
The space does not have a kitchen, so all of Banderas' food is prepared in Caravan Hospitality's commercial kitchen on Jefferson Street and heated up onsite in high-tech warmers.
For now, the food offerings are limited to pizzas and selected food items. During our visit, Sonoran hot dogs were also available. The 12-inch, thin crust pizzas are topped with birria, chorizo black bean sauce, al pastor, Oaxacan mole and more.
The full menu will include street eats (totopos, plantanos fritas con crema, choriqueso, costillas Argentinas, walking tacos, walking elote, albondigas); rice bowls (carne asada; Argentinian steak bite, birria, Caribbean, Pervuvian, Sonoran); sandwiches (Cubano, choripán, Brazilian steak, vegetarian, campechano, tortas); enchiladas; sopas; ensaladas and more.
Banderas' drinks
On the bar side, David Gonzalez is the manager. His cocktail menu includes a dozen unique concoctions.
"I love making classic cocktails and infusing them with Latin ingredients," says Gonzalez. "This has been a lot of fun. Mike (Eitel) gave me free rein of the cocktails."
During our visit, Gonzalez whipped up a foamy and refreshing Pico Sour, Oaxacan Old Fashioned and a Watermelon Mezcalita.
Banderas stocks 25-30 different Mezcals and 55-65 tequilas and will continue to expand the offerings. Flights are readily available.
There's also an extensive beer, wine, seltzer and mocktail menu. "I don't want anyone to feel left out with the drinks," says Gonzalez.
Here are seven more photos of Banderas:
Banderas' hours
Banderas is open daily at 4 p.m. Extended hours will be implemented to accommodate fútbol games.
Follow Banderas on Instagram here.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
