The Mission

The Mission restaurant in Scottsdale. A luxurious, romantic setting with dark wood and rustic furnishings with glittering chandeliers and glass fixtures. It’s a beautiful atmosphere. Any pretension evaporates with the warm greetings and friendliness of the staff. Expect to spend the time to enjoy your experience. And in case you can’t get enough, the chef has two other restaurants in Scottsdale, Zinc Bistro and The House Brasserie.

Tableside Guacamole
Chunky haas avocado, jalapeño red onion, fresh garlic, sea salt, lime, tomatoes, chipotle puree, cilantro, cotija & roasted pepitas

Duck Carnitas Empanada 
Duck confit, foie gras, orange habanero glaze, oregano, mushroom & queso Oaxaca

Roast Corn Gordita
Roasted corn, squash, zucchini, mushroom, gordita & huitlacoche crema

Chorizo Porchetta
Pork shoulder, house made chorizo, rosemary, cotija, white bean puree & sweet garlic crema

Poblano Grits
Tennessee grits, poblano & horseradish

Pumpkin Bread Pudding 
Pumpkin bread pudding, scotch, pepitas & pomegranate

Guatamelan Chocolate Pastilla 
XO tequila, fig and guajillo glaze, tres leches ice cream & spicy cocoa nibs

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Taqueria Guadalajara

Don’t let the peeling paint and crumbling exterior fool you.  Taqueria Guadalajara is has the best mexican food in town.  Get a table in the back dining room, and prepare for a culinary trip south of the border.  The staff is friendly and obliging. The decor is typical comfort meets hole-in-the-wall, pink walls and diner furniture, complete with soccer matches on the tv.  I adore this place.  One of the family opened another restaurant: Francisco’s Mexican Cantina on E. Main St, equally great! 

Burrito Mexicano
A fantastic giant burrito beautifully topped with guacamole, sour cream and red sauce.  I usually end up getting this, because it’s so completely satisfying and delicious.  The steak is cooked perfectly tender, the tortilla is soft and chewy.  It’s a full meal, so come hungry.

1033 S. Park St • Madison, WI • 53715
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 10pm • Saturday & Sunday: 9am – 10pm • Closed Mondays
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Juan’s Flying Burrito

Fun, funky local tex-mex.  With two locations, Juan’s Flying Burrito is a great lunch spot.  Don’t expect peppy servers covered in flair.  This is real the New Orleans, not Bourbon St.  From the booths and cafe tables to the tall bar stools, the interior is covered in rustic artsy decor, almost as colorful as the ink on the staff.  Painted tequila bottles are the shades for the pendant lights over the bar.  Inside, outside, this is a great place to relax, eat, drink and enjoy the afternoon with friends. 

Flying Burrito
Grilled steak, gulf shrimp, and chicken with cheddar and jack cheese, black beans, yellow rice, salsa, sour cream and guacamole rolled in a grilled tortilla. Yum.

4724 S Carolton • New Orleans, LA • 70119
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am-10pm • Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm
Menu

Nacho Mama’s Mexican Grill

Situated along the eclectic stroll of Magazine Street, the sidewalk cafe tables at Nacho Mama’s are instantly inviting. It’s definitely a great place to hang out on a nice afternoon or evening and enjoy the wildlife. The casual atmosphere and brightly painted everything is like an instant vacation south of the border.

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
Their homemade Mexican cuisine is delicious and reasonably portioned, and they have the best Margaritas in town.  The Fish Tacos comes with a pick of four different fish, a choice of flour, whole wheat or corn tortilla, and black or refried beans. I opted for Mahi Mahi on the server’s recommendation. Two fish tacos came wrapped in parchment paper, a scoop of seasoned rice and a cup of beans.  Just the right size, but no room for dessert.  If you’re not into Margaritas, they have Abita Amber on draft.

3242 Magazine Street • New Orleans, LA • (504) 899-0031
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm • Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm
Menu