4. Restaurants

Gus’ Mexican Cantina

6514 S Lovers Lane Rd, Franklin, WI, 53132
  • (414) 425-4499
  • Store is closed

Gus’ Mexican Cantina Menu

  • Soups And Salads
  • Botanas
  • Botanas - Nachos
  • Sandwiches
  • Platos Mexicanos
  • Cenas
  • Extras

Healthy Meal suggestions for Gus’ Mexican Cantina

  • Soups And Salads
  • Botanas
  • Botanas - Nachos
  • Sandwiches
  • Platos Mexicanos
  • Cenas
  • Extras

  • Patrick L.

    Good family atmosphere with a wide selection, courteous staff, and good value. Very responsive to dietary restrictions. Large dining room with plenty of space for strollers and high chairs for young children. Gus' has become our go-to, nearby Mexican restaurant.

    (4)

  • Margaret C.

    You are in for a treat! I met Gus back in 1992 when his restaurant was in the Sydney HiH building. The thing I remember most, aside from his magnanimous personality was his salsa. After 23 years, I have never forgotten the taste of his salsa and I have never tasted anything like it since. But I moved away from Milwaukee in 1993 and lost touch with Gus' Mexican Cantina... until last week. My husband and I were up for a visit and I decided to track him down and found him via Google operating business in Franklin, WI. Well, I've got good news. It's still Gus and the salsa is still the same, delicious creation! And the margaritas and chorizo quesadillas were amazing. I'm looking forward to our next visit. Well worth it go get yourself out to Franklin. You are in for a real treat!

    (5)

  • Melissa D.

    Never again! "Gus" - the owner/server barely said 2 words to us the whole entire time, besides very rudely asking what we wanted. We felt very un welcomed, and quite frankly like we were a bother to have there. The food was almost as bad as the service. I have had better rice a roni! I work with a lot of people in the area and will absolutely discourage anyone from going here. So disappointing. I guess this explains why it was so empty...especially on Cinco de Mayo :(

    (1)

  • Adam S.

    We have tried this place numerous times, and each time I go there expecting that the previous trip(s) were just a fluke. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It seems the owner wanted to open a restaurant and please everyone. It seems silly to me to serve crab legs, burgers, and "mexican" cuisine. Pick a theme, and stick to it. A solid restaurant should be able to have a one paged menu of entrees, and serve them well with confidence. This is not the case at all. Chips taste stale, salsa is atrocious, and the meat in the tacos tastes bland.

    (2)

  • James M.

    We have been to Gus' multiple times as it is a good place to get decent mexican food in the area. We stopped on Cinco de Mayo and the place was packed. Typically it is not busy at all, but many others might have had the same idea. We were seated promptly after a few minute wait. Our margaritas from the bar were great, and we ordered a quesadilla to share as an appetizer. We were specific to order without guacamole, as my wife is allergic. When they arrived, they had guacamole. The server apologized and returned a few minutes later with a new order without guacamole. When I had my first bite, I noticed a green residue on the bottom of the quesadilla. When I turned all 3 of them over, you could clearly see that we were re-served our original dish. The only difference is the kitchen had scraped off the guacamole and flipped the quesadillas to the other side. That is very low for a restaurant to do, especially when we are dealing with a serious food allergy. The server did apologize again, comped it from our bill and brought out a new one. Everything else was great, including the fajitas. One of the managers also came out to apologize. We have always gone here for convenience and the fact that the food was pretty good. Based on the last experience, we may be looking elsewhere for mexican dining options.

    (2)

  • Bill K.

    I've been to Gus's twice, the first time I was there I had the enchiladas, which were great. The second time I was there I had chile rellenjos and it was pretty bad. Very bland pepper, the chicken had a very strange texture and was very bland. My wife said her tamales were just so-so and the tacos were below average. The worst part was the chips and salsa. And just like everyone else on yelp says, stale chips and horrible salsa. It was also strange to see Greek food on the menu, very strange. The waitress was very nice and somewhat prompt, but did not speak a lick of English, which made ordering difficult. I hope Gus is on yelp, i really wanted to like this place

    (2)

  • Michael T.

    My experience here was very sub par, and could be one of the worst Mexican restaurants I've eaten at. While ordering, I was informed I could not mix the meats in my tacos. Food was bland with no real taste. The chicken in my fajitas were a toxic looking orange/red color. I was here at 6 and the place had three tables full. I now know why. Salsa was a watered down tomato paste look and tasted the same. Price was pricey for the quality. I can can 10x better food in Milwaukee at the same price or lower. This is the one and only time I'll eat here.

    (1)

  • Mollie S.

    Went there for lunch, service was immediate because it was our table and one other. The salsa had lots of cilantro, which I love, however the chips had some kind of seasoning all over then that ruined the salsa. What a disappointment. I had the 3 taco lunch special for 8.50- a little steep. The food was just bland- had ground beef bland tacos and very bland rice. I would go again for lunch but probably not dinner

    (3)

  • Ed R.

    This is definitely an above average Mexican restaurant. The food is tasty and service pretty good. Had the no. 1 combo and my guest had the mini chimi's. No issues what so ever. The service was fast and friendly. We keep coming back.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    I am coming out of Yelp hiding to review Gus'. I should preface by saying that one of my biggest fears about moving to the suburbs was that there would be no decent restaurants anywhere (hashtag first world problems). We stopped by this place today and it confirmed what I suspected - basically everything sucks infinitely worse here than in the city. We sat at the bar to have a drink and to contemplate if we wanted to eat a meal or just do chips and salsa or guac. We ordered margaritas and the bartender slammed them down and walked away without saying more than two words. We decided to just do chips and salsa and asked if we could be served...to say Gus is kind of an asshole is to say that Whitney Houston kind of liked crack (too soon?). We were charged almost $5 for chips & salsa, which is the first time I've ever seen that in any Mexican restaurant ever. That wasn't even the issue so much as the fact that the chips were tasteless and stale and the salsa tasted like marinara sauce with cilantro. We did eat it (tequila, ammirite?) but damn, it was kind of gross. We thought about asking for guac but basically, the bartender - who I came to assume by reading other reviews was probably THE Gus - was such a jag off that we just wanted to leave. I would never go back here and I would never recommend it to anyone. It's embarrassing that someone would own a restaurant and treat customers like scum for no reason. Stay away!

    (1)

  • Kim L.

    New to the area , stopped in on a Saturday for lunch . Food was great , staff was great ! Decor tropical feeling ! Drink well was a little weak . But will definitely be going back as a regular ! And by the looks they have an outside patio we will be trying out this summer . Highly recommend this spot

    (4)

  • Pamela M.

    First thing I noticed was that it was 1230pm on a weekday in a big place and I was only the 3rd table. Eeek! Bad sign? Chips came out warm. Nice. There was seasoning on them, but not too much. The salsa was VERY mild so I asked for hot. Green came out and whoo-wee that'll put hair on your chest! I found it best to mix a little of each :) The worst thing was the rice. It had zero flavor. The taco meat and/or shells were greasier than my liking. I am indifferent about the diced green peppers. I don't mind a place being different but I've def not seen that atop tacos in any Mexican joint. Beans were 'ok'. Was in & out fast but again, there was barely anyone in there. Overall just kind of average.

    (3)

  • Nick F.

    Not my favorite mexican place, actually not even a place i go to on a regular basis. I've been here on a few different occasions and was never really that fond of it. The decor in the restaurant is nice, just wish the food was a bit better, and if you're not going to make the food better make the prices inline with what the food you're going to get is worth.

    (3)

  • Ryan J.

    STAY AWAY. 15-20 minutes wait to get a table when there was no line and the tables were 2/3 empty... we gave up after being seated and STILL had to wait 20-25 minutes without so much as a waitress even bringing us water... we walked right out the front door after being there for 40+ minutes on a slow night without having a chance to place an order. We DID notice before we left that they stick you for $5 on extra chips / salsa... who the heck does that??? We won't be back; don't waste your time / money. It won't surprise me when when they're closed for good in the next few months.

    (1)

  • Allyson H.

    Not sure why this place gets so much hate on Yelp. It's your average, run of the mill, strip mall Mexican food joint. No complaints with our stop in tonight. Our water glasses were always full, our food was out in the blink of an eye, and the decor is bright and fun. The enchiladas were a little bland, but I was already full from the chips and salsa anyway. Seriously, for $20 my husband and I were full. The beans were tasty, the rice was delicious, and all in all it wasn't a bad night - at least not as bad as most of the Yelpers would have you believe!

    (4)

  • Aubrey D.

    I wish I could give this shit hole zero stars it is a horrible horrible place. I worked there for almost 2 months didn't get a paycheck until three weeks after I started working there he picked on me all of the time he acts like a perfect man to all the customers and is a total dick to all of his employees. I would get in trouble for giving out too many napkins, not overfilling the ice over the cup before putting soda in it. The cooks are illegal immigrants and do not wear gloves when they cook. I would always get complains about how the chips are stale and the salsa is too hot. Gus does not know how to run a business. He has literally a joke.

    (1)

  • Mandy M.

    This place is in the strip mall and our stop for lunch was fabulous. The seasoned chips and salsa were delicious. Service was prompt. Our food came quickly. Everything tasted delicious. Enchiladas tacos and burritos were great. Even the rice was good. We will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Deb H.

    Awful place!! Mediocre food. Way too expensive for what you get. Atmosphere like a gymnasium. Pitchers of diluted Margaritas, (a quart at best) for $34. This guy is a total ripoff. Charges $10 shot of tequila for a bottle that costs less than $35 and tells you that it is top shelf and rare tequila. The food will give you heart burn. The salsa that was served was old and fermented, and when I told him about it, he told me I was crazy that it was just freshly made. No wonder you are going down the drain. Extremely poor customer service and terrible food!!! Will never set foot in this place again!

    (1)

  • Gina B.

    Tried Gus's back in the day when it first opened and I was not impressed. Didn't care for the food, service and Gus himself was very rude to me. I said I would never return. Fast Forward about a few years and I went back..... WHY? Friday night and the place was dead. I knew this was the first sign of nothing good to come. Service was pretty good. Server was a bit cocky though and thought he was a comedian. Menu selection is not impressive and some selections are down right over the top expensive for what they are. I ended up ordering an appetizer, a quesadilla. It was nothing impressive at all, basically pot roast on a tortilla shell, fried in butter - YUK! Margaritas are always a necessity for Mexican food so we ordered a pitcher, original on the rocks, salt on the rims. Well...... glasses game out with sugar, the pitcher turned out to be a juice carafe with no ice. They were very strong but yet really had no flavor other than the alcohol. I couldn't even finish mine off to finish the "pitcher" carafe. That is saying something since we never leave any behind. To top it all, they were more expensive than any other place I've been to, even when we upgrade the tequila. $32.50 for a carafe of warm margarita. So not worth it. After wasting $65 on one appetizer, one meal and a carafe of margarita, I should have listened to myself in the past when I said I would never come back. Now it's for sure, I will never return. There are so many good Mexican restuarants out there, don't waste your time with Gus's.

    (2)

  • Josh O.

    Gus' wasn't that great of an experience. My order was wrong but I still ate it because I didn't want to wait for it to be fixed. The server was nice but came back at what seemed strange times and seemed to be lacking in serving skills. The frozen blue melon margarita I had was oddly cold and a little warm at the same time. The food itself tasted okay and I like that they put taco seasoning on their chips and salsa but there are many better Mexican restaurants in the greater MKE area. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Rudy W.

    Our family has gone her a few times over the past few years. We literally go here out of convenience knowing that the service and food are just average. I've never seen more than a few tables ever full at dinner time. The food lacks any real flavors and is just overall bland. There is always so many workers just standing around looking at everyone eating that it makes you feel uncomfortable. I agree with another poster that the food comes out fairly quickly and almost seems as things are just microwaved and not fresh.

    (2)

  • Rob R.

    I literally live 2 blocks from Gus'. Over the past 6 years I have given Gus' a try 3 times and each time it was the same result. Average to poor service and average to poor food. I am more than willing to drive to other Mexican restaurants that are 10 or even 20 miles away (and drive past Gus' on my way to them) in order to get good Mexican food. I cannot comprehend why there are so many cars in the lot everytime I drive by. I even ask myself, "how can so many people like bad food?" If you want the convenience of semi flavored food in the burbs and not have to drive a few miles, this might be your spot. But if you want good Mexican food look elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Jessica S.

    Had three margaritas. Not good. Pretty expensive too. And I didn't even get buzzed. Ordered burritos. flavorless, dry. Beans have no flavor, rice just plain doesn't taste good. Sat at table for 20 minutes before server came to get drink order. Refills were non existent.

    (1)

  • Dan V.

    I've never had more bland food in my life. It's truly terrible. The only reason individuals would go to this place is for the nice bar. If you're coming here for authentic mexican food, I suggest going somewhere else. The service was pretty good. The food is just so awful it weighs over everything. I can make better mexican food at home.

    (1)

  • nick W.

    Walked over while my car was getting some work done at the dealership! Wish I would've just walked to taco bell, chips were stale and the salsa was soo bad; way to much cumin are something really bland! (I don't think they sample the food while doing prep bec is was just simply bad! overpriced and low quality of food! My enchiladas were swimming on a pool of oil too! I would almost bet they used the microwave to cook them! Drive to the south side for good Mexican food!

    (1)

  • Darren T.

    The food was over priced. The chips were stale and the salsa was dark and bitter tasting. The shrimp tacos were good. Our server was very awkward like it was her first day but was nice.

    (2)

  • Heather M.

    Favorite part about Gus' is the car show every Wednesday during the summer! Classic cars, music Great margaritas, great nachos, great seasoned chips. Not so much a fan of the fajitas here. The meat isn't too flavorful, at least compared to a place like Las Mariachis. Gus, the owner, is very friendly. He's usually working the bar on weeknights. It also has a nice outdoor patio for warm nights and a number of TVs if you want to catch a game!

    (4)

  • Kari M.

    Blah. This place is WAY overpriced for mediocre Mexican. I ordered a combo with an enchilada ... I cut into the enchilada and it was shredded cheese on the inside that wasn't even melted! The other items were not good either--a huge disappointment at $14 for a plate! Why would I pay that here again for bad food when I can get much cheaper, super yummy Mexican elsewhere?

    (1)

  • Nick M.

    I know Gus only through my visits to his restaurants. He's a good guy and definitely good for some interesting conversation about Milwaukee history if you catch him when he's not too busy. I find some of the earlier reviews humorous but not surprising. Gus is a direct heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guy. If you want your margarita for free because you found a piece of ice in it then you're probably not going to get along with Gus very well. Same thing if you want half off of your meal because the flavoring was not quite your style. But come in for a visit, be respectful, try the foods on his menu, and I think you'll have great experiences. I've had only great times at his restaurants. He greets me by name, asks about my wife and friends, occasionally buys me a drink, and is good for a few hours of conversation about sports and politics. Give it a try!

    (4)

  • Brandon B.

    The server was nice. We were forced to order prior to getting the cops and salsa. The chips were cold. The salsa was good. The steak was thick and chewy. Not a large selection of margaritas. Was not impressed.

    (1)

  • Kathy G.

    The margaritas were good, a little expensive but good. The staff was really nice. The food was not that great. The tortillas were soggy, and the flavors in the meat were bland. Even the chips and salsa seemed close to store bought.

    (2)

  • Matt H.

    If you're looking for some good Americanized-Mexican food in the 'burbs, this is one of the best. I've been going to Gus' Mexican Cantina since the '90s when it used to be downtown on Old World 3rd St. & Highland Ave. Although I liked that location more, the food is still as good as ever. The chips and salsa are great. The chips are seasoned very well, not stale and unflavored like some places. I've had nearly everything on the menu and I have never been disappointed. From the burritos, to the enchiladas, to the combination platters, it's all top notch. I LOVE their rice by the way. They have a very large, open dining room with a nicely sized bar area as well. Gus is nearly always behind the bar making margaritas and such. Real nice guy. A party/banquet room is also available for use. During the summers, their is always a pretty large car show that goes on every Wednesday. Gus has grills going outside with brats and hot dogs available to order too. If you haven't been out, you should definitely try to make your way down to the south end of Hwy 100 for some great food and fun.

    (4)

  • Gomez L.

    This is the worst restaurant that I've ever had the misfortune to visit. Insulting horrible service and food unfit for human consumption. Stay away and thank your lucky stars the day this place goes out of business.

    (1)

  • Christine C.

    Disappointing :-(. The food was very bland (beef tacos & pork burritos). The burritos looked like tiny enchiladas and were an insult to real burritos everywhere. The salsa was OK. My margarita was good. We should have known from the empty parking lot that this place wouldn't be good.

    (2)

  • Barbara D.

    If all my visits had been as good as my last, I would probably give 4 stars. However, I was here several times when that food didn't seem to have much flavor. I'm not into spicy hot food so that was not the issue. It just seemed mundane or even bland. I was not impressed with their Fish Fry or Tacos. My last visit however, was for Cheese Enchiladas. They were just right and a good combo with the beans and rice that were served with them. I didn't have a Margarita this time because previously it didn't have that sour zing from lime which I like. In addition, I prefer the blended and was not offered that choice. Now I wonder if those have improved too. Their salsa is good (not too hot) and previously I used some of it to top off the rice for more flavor. This time I didn't have to do so. I love their salsa chips. Crisp and seasoned just right. I've gone there several times with a group and they always make us comfy, never rushed. They get our orders right and even allowed us individual checks which I know can be a hassle.

    (3)

  • Ann H.

    Before I moved this was one of my favorites places. Having tried to find good tex-mex food with a more authentic flair than someone's idea of an upgraded fast-food chain, I finally found Gus's not long after they opened. The cheese enchiladas or fish enchiladas are some of the best in the area. The portions are huge, the prices reasonable. One entree could feed two -- seriously. The outdoor seating is rather small and isn't open that much (typical Wisconsin weather) but it does make the food taste better.

    (4)

  • Erica K.

    I have eaten at Gus' a few times-usually when I am visiting my parents who live right down the street. I was here this past weekend at got the taco plate which includes 3 tacos, beans and rice for about $8. I thought it was pretty good- not very spicy which is great for me. The salsa was too hot for me but the chips are awesome- they are a little thicker than normal and are seasoned so well that I didn't need something to dip them in. Gus was bartending (we ate at the bar) and he was very friendly and our order was out within minutes. I split it with my mom and we weren't charged a plate fee and it was plenty for the 2 of us to eat. I'm sure we will be back in the future.

    (4)

  • David N.

    Thought I would give it a try, as I liked the one downtown when it was open. I have to say I was disappointed to say the least. Hostess tried to seat 4 adults and 3 children in highchairs at a 4-top. Our server did not know the beers they had and there was no list. Margarita was fairly expensive, and about 1/2 as good as Botanas. Kids' menu consisted only of a hot dog, brat or grilled cheese (at a Mexican restaurant). I ordered a combination platter with 4 items, all with ground beef. I received all four, but 2 had ground beef and the other 2, chicken! I hope for their sake they improve, because they have done it right in the past before the move. I probably will not be back anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Neal L.

    We stopped here on a whim. We were seated quickly and our waiter was kind. I got the 3 chimichanga platter which consisted of 3 TINY chimichangas and rice. The chimichangas had no cheese in them, and the chicken tasted very poor. The rice was very bland. The restaurant does have a lot of TVs. We were watching them while we were eating until the manager came by and rudely turned them off. As we continued to eat we noticed that the kitchen staff had left and the wait staff was preparing leave. By the time we were done eating, the manager and our waiter both had their coats on and were waiting by the door. Most of the lights had already been turned off. Thinking that we had stopped in late, we rushed out without relaxing or allowing our food to settle. Upon leaving, we noticed that the restaurant wasn't even supposed close for another half hour. We will never eat here again. What a waste of money.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

    Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Gus’ Mexican Cantina

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