Customer Spotlight
Delighting in Growth
Paloma Taco & Tequila Bay View
Many a business plan has been hatched over cocktails, but in the case of Paloma Taco & Tequila, you could say it was hatched, to a degree, because of cocktails. Owner Pattie Ford had spent her career in the service industry, a good portion of it as a craft bartender. So, when she decided to start a place of her own, a restaurant that focused on drinks as much as food seemed the way to go.
Paloma Taco & Tequila first opened on North Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee in July of 2020. Though the world had shut down, it’s desire for restaurant dining did not. Between outdoor dining and carry out, Paloma was hopping. “[The pandemic] probably saved our lives. We were so busy,” Pattie said. The neighborhood knew her from her recent work at the nearby Juniper 61 restaurant and was ready to see her new venture. “The support of the neighborhood was overwhelmingly amazing,” she said.
"I just want to put delicious food in front of people."
Paloma’s popularity continued, and by late 2022, Pattie was thinking of an additional location. “We wanted more room in the kitchen and more outdoor space for spring and summer months,” she said. Pattie teamed up with New Land Enterprises and took on a space in one of their developments in Bay View. MEDC helped with the funding for the kitchen and bar equipment. The new location opened on April 14, 2024, Milwaukee Day, as Pattie notes. “[The new space] is bigger than I ever dreamed. Our patio butts up against Zillman Park. It’s gorgeous.” With seating for 65 inside and 40 outside and a bigger kitchen, Paloma can now service even more of its fans and is set to make new ones too.
The Bay View location has expanded on North Avenue’s already-extensive mezcal and tequila list. Both Paloma menus are vegetarian and vegan friendly, and while they are rooted in Mexican cuisine, dishes like a smash patty quesadilla, loaded frites and Cajun shrimp bust boundaries. “I just want to put delicious food in front of people,” Pattie said. “I don’t have to be crazy authentic; I want to be crazy good.” To this end, they make all their seasoning blends in house and work with local vendors to ensure ingredients are fresh, including that smash patty. Menu items are a la carte by design to allow people to order just what they want. There are even a few specialties for your dog dining companions.
With both locations now running smoothly, Pattie is looking forward to moving beyond the hustle. “We’re sitting pretty. I can’t express how that feels,” she said. “The popularity makes us feel good and reassures us we’re doing things right.”
Pattie Ford
You can find Paloma Taco & Tequila’s Bay View location at 2156 S. Kinnickinnick Ave. The North Avenue location is at 5419 W. North Ave. in Milwaukee. Explore the menus and order online.