Irish Arrival
The neighborhood quickly evolving around it, the former home of the Five & Ten tavern is evolving, too. Do you remember the Five & Ten? The last time you would have eaten the bar’s legendary Friday night fish fry was back in 2001. That space (1850 N. Water St.) is in transition right now, in the process of becoming Brocach, an Irish pub whose first (and only other) location is in Madison. By mid-fall, you may be eating Shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash in this refurbished 1880 building. (“Brocach” is Gaelic for “badger den.”) An Ontario-based design firm called Bar None is responsible for the interior, though the historic elements of the building – brick, hardwood – will be worked into the look. (Bar None has created the interiors of a number of very attractive Irish pubs in Canada and on the East Coast.) The menu will include staples like fish and chips and Guinness Irish stew, but it’ll have an American bent, too, including steak, roast chicken, a burger and a few salads. I’ll keep you posted on its progress.
Set in Mo-tion
Word has likely reached you that restaurateur Johnny V has reduced his quartet of businesses on Plankinton to three. (Mo’s Cucina is kaput. Mo’s Steakhouse and Irish Pub, and Mocha: A Coffee Bistro remain.) And on Broadway, V’s seafood restaurant in the old Grenadier’s space, Moceans, is gonesville as well. V told me he still has time on the lease at the Moceans space (747 N. Broadway), but isn’t rushing into either leasing it out or opening up something else. Former Moceans (and Eddie Martini’s) head chef Andy Stiyer has moved over to the Irish pub. The Downtown pub location is going a little Italian. It has already picked up calamari, spaghetti and meatballs and penne with Bolognese sauce. Next week, the menu – a portion they’re calling “Part Gaelic-Part Garlic” – will also have a caprese salad and chicken fettuccini Alfredo.
Incidentally, Moceans’ closing put an end to a worthy event that would have taken place there on Sept. 19. The wine tasting benefit for Angel on My Shoulder, a nonprofit organization that helps those affected by cancer, unfortunately has been cancelled. For more on this organization, go to www.angelonmyshoulder.org.
Freebie Monday
I like Mondays only when someone brings in a treat at work. And that’s not often enough. Kenadee’s (725 N. Milwaukee St., 431-5556) has the right idea about Mondays: free lunch or dinner – with a catch. You have a 50/50 chance of getting it free. Play the coin toss game with your server. Pick heads or tails and if you’re right, you get a free meal. If you’re wrong, you’re not out of much. You just pay the regular price for your food. This offer is good all day Monday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. A catchy voice on Kenadee’s Web site (www.kenadees.com) promises a “carboriffically fun” experience. Put that pledge to the test with Mac of All Cheese (four-cheese pasta shells topped with chicken strips), barbecue bacon cheeseburger (have it with fries, onion straws or Tater Tots), tuna melt, BLT or Buffalo chicken sandwich with blue cheese dressing. I’m bringing my own quarter.
Party Like You’re German
I’m afraid this is going to depress you, although probably not any more than the weather for the last five days. Labor Day is a week from now, and after that, you need to stop wearing linen and start thinking about events like Oktoberfest. Yeah, Oktoberfest in September. So close you can taste the spanferkel. The Bavarian Inn’s Oktoberfest celebration runs for three weekends in September. And yes, it’s going to have music, but better than that, food. Friday nights feature a fish boil. On Saturday and Sunday, the cooks will be roasting chicken and pig (if you want to sound hip, call it spanferkel), and serving brats and rollbraten. German cakes, tortes and strudel will also be served. After all this, they’ll entertain you, too. Yodeling, folk dancing, German brass bands, sing-alongs. What a deal. Sept. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23. Fridays 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturdays 4 p.m.-midnight; Sundays 1-7 p.m. Tickets $3-$4. 700 W. Lexington Blvd., 414-964-0300.
Can’t get enough dining? I chat about restaurants every week with Jane Matenaer and Kidd O’Shea on “The Mix.” Listen between 8 and 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 30. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
And check out our Events Editor Evan Solochek’s picks for the best events in arts and entertainment on This Weekend.
