A Passion for Tacos Spurs New Restaurant

MIX OF OWNERS TRANSFORMING FORMER STILLWATER SITE

The simplest of foods draw us to them, out of comfort, often for convenience. Combine delicious food in a to-go form, locate it in a fun outdoor setting one block from the beach, and the name of the newest restaurant in Fish Creek tells potential customers exactly what to expect: Taco Cerveza.

The only other addition will be wine and a team, both cooking and serving, that is incredibly passionate about tacos.

“I have always wanted to have a taco place,” said Mike Holmes, co-owner of Wickman House in Ellison Bay, and now part owner of Taco Cerveza. “Tacos are one of my favorite foods. I love cooking and eating tacos. Travis (Ward) is from Texas and he grew up eating tacos.”

Holmes and the team behind Wickman House and its little sister Trixie’s (in Ephraim), Linden Ray (owner of Mink River Basin) and Ward collaborated to purchase the former Stillwater’s Grill by the Bay on the corner of Pine Street and Highway 42 in downtown Fish Creek.

“We wanted a place for Taco Cerveza that’s fun and gives off a fresh, summer feel. It’s all outdoors there and close to the beach.” — Mike Holmes, co-owner

Brian Stillwater operated a summertime hot dog-hamburger-sandwich stand at the location for 18 years. Prior to its life as a food joint, the spot was a fi lling station; the building part of the Town of Gibraltar’s historic tour.

“It’s a cool location,” said Holmes. “We wanted a place for Taco Cerveza that’s fun and gives off a fresh, summer feel. It’s all outdoors there and close to the beach.”

For the first season, Taco Cerveza will offer tacos with a twist of Baja/Southern California fl avor: a whitefi sh taco, a foraged taco with “whatever we can fi nd in the woods” and tacos that will use pork and beef from Waseda Farms in Baileys Harbor. Produce will come from the Wickman House’s own garden and from Door County producers. Most noteworthy: Taco Cerveza experts will make the tortillas from scratch.

“We will be making our own hot sauces and salsas,” Holmes said with a glint in his eye. “We do already for Wickman House. There will be a range from salsa verde – using tomatillos from our garden at the Wick – to fermented hot sauce. Salsas for days!”

Hang by the outdoor bar and sip a beer while you wait for your tacos to go, or indulge yourself with a bottle of fi ner wine from a list cultivated by the same wine lovers who curated the Wickman House list.

Taco Cerveza will also offer two beers on tap: One will be a Taco Cerveza Mexican-style lager crafted by 3 Sheets brewery in Sheboygan. Isley Coffee Roasters will make drinks like horchata, and Taco Cerveza will offer frozen sangrias and fun wine cocktails. The wine list will also showcase some of the cool new stuff happening in cans.

“Wineries have realized that using cans is so much better for the environment,” Holmes explained. “We’ll do a selection of higher-end wines by the bottle. We’ll have good, fun beers that are perfect to sit outside with and enjoy.”

Taco Cerveza will be open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day with reduced hours in September and October. For the seasonal menu and hours, visit Tacocerveza.com.