El Pescador Mexican Restaurant, 2810 E. Washington Ave., should be added to the Madisonian's Mexican food lover's regular repertoire - especially if that person loves seafood. El Pescador offers all the standard Mexican restaurant staples like chimichangas, enchiladas and nachos. But, as its name suggests, it also offers a large variety of seafood-based entrées.
Inside, the spacious restaurant is remarkably clean with only slight notes of seafood wafting on the air. The high ceiling and the fishing net that decorates the wall above the kitchen service counter evoke images of an open-aired wharf teeming with the day's catch - minus the unpleasant, fishy smell.
Similarly, the beige-orange walls of the restaurant are reminiscent of adobe brick even though the large windows along the restaurant's east wall give a good view of Ella's Deli, reminding diners of their proximity to the northern border.
From the hostess who greeted and sat us, to our server, to the gentleman refilling our complimentary corn tortillas and salsa, the service was always prompt and friendly.
While the corn tortilla chips are delicious, served slightly warm, the salsa is somewhat lacking in both body and flavor. Those who prefer chunky salsa will be disappointed to learn that El Pescador serves a virtually liquefied puree of tomato, onion and maybe a teensy crumble of cilantro for added flavor. On the spiciness scale, the salsa ranks as a weak medium. The salsa is unworthy to grace the fluted edges of the golden, perfectly cooked, perfectly salted chips it accompanies.
Nevertheless, you will manage to eat enough to need a refill.
The menu, which is not available to preview online, is large and unusually extensive for a Mexican restaurant. Entrées range in price with most around either $7 or $14. The most expensive choice, the Botanna Mixta ($45), includes a whole fried tilapia, breaded and boiled shrimp, scallops, octopus, crab, fish, shrimp and octopus ceviche (a citrus marinade). If you get bored waiting, see if you find the numerous spelling errors on the menu.
One downside is that only one vegetarian option (Fajita Jardin) appears on the menu, although a server told a woman at another table vegetables can be substituted for the meat in any entrée. Likewise, those who either do not like seafood or are disturbed by receiving the entire fish in several of the entrées (that's right, expect an eyeball staring back at you) will be happy to know that beef or chicken can easily be substituted for the seafood. It is also possible to substitute beans for rice or vice versa.
Those who enjoy seafood will enjoy the variety of dishes at reasonable prices found on El Pescador's menu. For example, Camarones Flameados - shrimp and mushrooms sautéed with a garlic and Brandy cream-based sauce, with rice and beans on the side - is available for only $12.95, as is a salmon dish with artichokes and portabella mushrooms in a creamy sauce of sundried tomatoes.
The quality and speed at which the dishes are prepared is exceptional. The Quesadilla Poblanas are stuffed with cheese and chicken, fried until the outside is just slightly crispy and served beneath a blanket of molé, which dresses up the otherwise ordinary quesadilla. The quesadilla platter ($6.95), which is the perfect quantity, comes with beans and the usual garnish.
The Texas Fajita ($12.50) includes chicken, steak, shrimp, skinny slivers of purple onion and green and red bell peppers - all loudly sizzling - as well as lettuce, refried beans, sour cream, a few chopped tomatoes and guacamole on the side. Only four small corn tortillas accompany the large skillet of deliciousness, but the server quickly brings more, free of charge and upon request.
The strawberry margaritas ($4.95 for a small 12 oz.) are pleasantly strong and dense. The small chunks of strawberry in the purée base may even have some diners convincing themselves that the strawberry margarita is, in fact, health food, as the strawberry clearly counts as a daily serving of fruit. The margaritas are only available in lime and strawberry. Margaritas are half-price on Mondays and Tuesdays.
El Pescador's menu differentiates it from other Mexican restaurants while still providing plenty of classic"" fare for less adventurous eaters. The restaurant's willingness to accommodate guests truly distinguishes El Pescador from its competition.
