Since its quiet opening in Bayview on Nov. 6, one Milwaukee restaurant has been stirring up attention.Â
Axolotl Cafe opened in the former Blackwood Brothers space and has since gained social media traction.
Influencers have taken to social media to hype up the restaurant, including one viral post from the owner’s daughter, which garnered over 700,000 views. Yelp Wisconsin even made a post raving about their breakfast.
In their warm, wood-paneled dining room, Axolotl Cafe serves breakfast staples and traditional Mexican comfort dishes.
Other menu items feature Mexican twists on brunch classics like their biscuits and gravy ($17.95), which comes with a creamy chorizo gravy atop two biscuits, two eggs, any style and a side of roasted potatoes or fruit.
The chorizo imbues every bite with the flavor of Mexican spices. The biscuits were tall and fluffy, and paired well with the rich gravy. The over-medium eggs were cooked perfectly, with a slightly runny inside and fully set whites.
The chilaquiles tradicionales ($16.95) are also a standout dish at Axolotl Cafe.Â
Chilaquiles are tortilla chips cooked in red or green salsa, topped with items like cheese, meat, onions and sour cream.
Axolotl Cafe tops their chilaquiles with your choice of chicken (+$6), cecina (+$7), chorizo (+$4) or birria (+$7).
While I was not able to try all of the protein and salsa options, I still enjoyed the birria with the red salsa. The chili flavor that saturates the soft chips pairs well with the juicy braised beef. Good chilaquiles should be almost like al dente pasta, soft and pliable with a slight bite at the center, and Axolotl Cafe achieved this.
The chilaquiles also come with avocado, queso fresco, toasted bolillo rolls and refried black beans.
The inclusion of bolillo rolls was nice as the mixture of over-easy egg yolk, beans and salsa left a delicious sauce on the plate that was begging to get sopped up with some bread.
The beans could use some more salt and fat, as they were noticeably more bland than the rest of the dish.
The horchata pancakes ($16.95) are another must-order. These fluffy buttermilk pancakes come topped with a sweet icing made of homemade RumChata and whipped cream. They are also available as a shortstack ($8.50), which comes with two pancakes instead of three, so I would be sure to order these alongside another tasty dish.
In online reviews, diners frequently complain about high prices. While I agree Axolotl Cafe is pushing it a bit on cost; Sweet Diner, Café Benelux and Tupelo Honey all serve breakfast food at similar price points.Â
Unfortunately, the reality of dining out in 2026 is that even a brunch for two will cost upwards of $50. At least Axolotl Cafe will leave you feeling full, as the portions make up for the seemingly high price.
Axolotl Cafe is open daily at 3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If you come on the weekends, be sure to put yourself on the waitlist, as they can have up to an hour wait per table.
This story was written by Joseph Schamber. He can be reached at [email protected].
