Señorita WITH A MARGARITA. Azul Tequila owner Felix Aca says, “We wanted to make people feel as if they were in a Hacienda.” The eatery is located on London Road.

With temperatures lowering in Eau Claire, the heat is certainly rising at the new restaurant Azul Tequila, which opened its doors on Dec. 22. This locally owned Mexican restaurant is more authentic than any other I’ve encountered in Eau Claire, with the added bonus of a wide variety of dishes at a reasonable price.

Azul Tequila took the dull exterior of its box-shaped, London Road locale and gave it a fresh look. As soon as customers arrive in the parking lot they will notice a beautiful entrance marked by a big fountain, made from a “sensible but heavy rock called Cantera, which was brought all the way from Mexico,” co-owner Felix Aca said. Upon opening the doors you’re welcomed in a small, warm room with another flowing fountain. Open a second set of doors and it is as if you’ve just arrived to Mexico. Don’t expect to hear Daddy Yankee or Shakira in here. The music is strictly Mexican Folklore.

The walls at Azul Tequila may not be blue (as the name may suggest), but they are a nice reflective yellow, giving the restaurant a warm feel. Scattered around are paintings, colorful traditional ornaments and ceramic figurines, and arches decorated with tile.

“We wanted to make people feel as if they were in a Hacienda,” Aca said. “Every piece of furniture, all the paintings and decorations were all made and brought from Mexico.”

As customers sit on the comfortable high-backed wooden chairs, upholstered with leather, their wide wooden tables await with menus.

Not sure what the difference is between a chalupa, enchilada, or tamales? Don’t worry; the menu has a description of the Mexican plates on the back, as well as their pronunciations.

    Soon the nachos and salsa arrive. Most Mexican restaurants serve salsa and guacamole, but none serves a salsa and guacamole like Azul Tequila. This is not a watery salsa. This is chunky salsa with warm nachos, and a nice kick of spicy to the palate. And the guacamole is surprisingly pure, with avocado taste to its fullest and a consistency enjoyable enough to eat alone.

“Our cooks start at 8 a.m., everyday, preparing the nachos, guacamole, salsa, and others to make sure everything is fresh for the day,” Aca said.

As for the main dishes, they have a wide variety of lunch and dinner specials, not to mention their vegetarian selections and kids menu, with lunches starting at $4 and dinners capped at $9.

The signature dish of Azul Tequila is the Fajita Special. As soon as this plate leaves the kitchen customers can hear it sizzling, leaving behind the aroma of a combination of chorizo, shrimp, chicken, and beef with rice, beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, and tortillas. Wash it down with Agua de Horchata (rice water), one of their five Mexican sodas, eight imported Mexican beers, or several types of margaritas. Aca said he and his two business partners used their family recipes to create the menu, adding that none of their food is spicy unless a customer asks for it.

Even though the restaurant just opened, it is starting to be noticed by locals. It is not only their décor and ambiance that gives Azul Tequila the upper hand in Mexican dining. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much food you’re served, how fresh it is, the tastes, and how little you will pay.

    Azul Tequila • open seven days a week • 2503 London Road • 833-0200