3904 E Washington Ave
One Monday I found myself waiting for new tires to be put on my car at the Discount Tire on E Washington by Stoughton Rd. Having heard good things, I decided to walk to Vaquero Mexican Grill for some lunch. The walk is dicey, which is no big surprise. Unlike most of the crosswalks closer to the city center, people walking need to push a button to get a pedestrian signal. The BRT construction meant that button was hard to find, so I only noticed it on my way back.
Even though though Vacquero is in a strip mall, the parking lot isn’t too big. It doesn’t feel oppressive to cross if you’re approaching from the sidewalk. Inside, the dining room is filled with sturdy tables and chairs, cozy booths, and a beautiful mural of an aqueduct. The restaurant has counter service with a format that will be familiar to anyone who’s eaten at a Chipotle or Qdoba, but the selection is a lot broader and definitely more exciting.
I was there well after the lunch hour, so it was very quiet. I ordered a burrito with braised beef. It was really good. The beef was tender, the beans were flavorful, and all the garnishes were perfectly seasoned. Even the tortilla was better than the competition. Bottled drinks are available, including a good selection of Jarritos, which is what I decided to have.
In a rare display of good journalism during their Lee Enterprises era, the Wisconsin State Journal published a very through review of Vaquero (non-subscribers should check out 12ft.io). In addition to interviewing the owner and some staff, the author returned multiple times. I am awed by the dedication. The food at Vaquero is very excellent, but getting there doesn’t feel good. Even in a car, everything about E Washington, especially that section, tells you that you should be moving though as quickly as possible. Stopping for a meal reads like the wrong thing to do.
All that said, it’s definitely worth going out of your way to try Vaquero. In addition to driving or suffering through a walk on E Washington, you can access the restaurant by cutting through the Madison Water Utility driveway by the bike path through Reindahl park. Or plan on doing your shopping near East Towne so that you finish up just before dinner and can stop by on your way home.
Hungry in Madison 