Great Britwood
Hey, how ’bout a toad in the hole? It’s not like a
knuckle sandwich, honest. The aforementioned toad is an English dish of sausages
in a bed of Yorkshire pudding. I’ve never seen it served here in town, but pub
owner Tony Wright mentioned it the other day. He’s opening The BritInn
(4473 N. Oakland Ave.) in a space near and dear to the people of Shorewood – the
late Shorewood Inn. Wright is English – a job with Rockwell International
brought him to Milwaukee nine years ago – and has cousins in the U.K. who run
pubs. Wright says he wants The BritInn to resemble a 15th century Tudor cottage.
But the sign is all 1960s rock-‘n’-roll. Drive by and take a look. Beers will
all be imports, Wright says, and even though the kitchen isn’t ready, he hopes
to be open early next week. Some time after that – at least a month, since he’s
had to gut the place – the kitchen will start to serve a half-English,
half-American menu. Cornish pasties, Scotch eggs and fish and chips are all
possible additions, but give it time.
Mojo With the Flow
Get your mojo on. Or something like that.
Menomonee Falls has a new place in the village. Mojo’s Steakhouse opened
in March (N88 W16495 Main St., 262-251-4157). Competition for Germantown’s
Lohmann’s? Mojo’s advertises “hand-cut Sterling Silver beef, the top 10
percent of steer meat available.” The filet runs $17.49 and $20.95, the rib-eye
$17.95, the Porterhouse $29.95 and $32.95. Prices include soup or salad, veggie
or potato and bread. There are choices for the non-red meat eater, too, and the
compulsory weekend specials – Friday fish fry and Saturday night prime rib. An
all-you-can-eat lunch buffet is supposed to start June 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mojo’s
hours: L Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-2 p.m. D Mon-Sat 5-9 p.m.
Another Crossroads
Have you been to Boulder Junction on
124th and Burleigh? They have this surreal taxidermic wildlife motif – you’d
remember seeing it. Anyway, a second location opened a few days ago (June 13) on
76th and Forest Home (4395 S. 76th St., 238-2111; last seen as The Milwaukee
Grill). The Southwest Side joint has the same big menu, heavy on the
protein. Steaks, ribs, chicken, seafood, also sandwiches, stir-fries and
fajitas. Hours are Sun-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m. I haven’t
ventured over, but I hear murals and “some animals” are part of the Southwestern
decor.
Looking Out for Number One
Courtesy of a library used-book sale, I
have a copy of the 2002 Table for One: New York City, a guide to
dining alone. Now the book has a list of NYC restaurants that are friendly for
solo diners, but that’s not my reason for mentioning it. The book has good, if
commonsensical “survival” tips for people who’d like to feel more comfortable
about eating in restaurants alone. The more you do it, obviously, the easier it
gets. You want to build confidence? Try doing it often. Don’t be afraid to
complain about the table at which the waitstaff wants to seat you, if it’s a
lousy table. Ask for a table near windows, a spot with good lighting.
Restaurants can be a great place to read, write (seriously!) and just watch (and
listen to) the world around you. I don’t dine out on my own enough – like going
to the movies solo, it’s awfully freeing. What it takes is the confidence to not
allow yourself to be rushed or neglected. It’s easy to forget about single
diners. But it shouldn’t be.
Can’t get enough dining? I chat about restaurants every Friday with Jane
Matenaer and Kidd O’Shea on “The Mix.” Listen between 8 and 9 a.m. on June 16.
That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
And check out calendar editor Julie Waldren’s picks for the best events
in arts and entertainment on This
Weekend.
