Openings, Closings, Updates
• Yes, indeed. The village of Tosa has a new restaurant. Cafe Hollander opened, as planned, a few nights ago. It’s on the south side of State Street, next to the Chancery. The menu is very similar to the restaurant’s East Side brother. For example: Belgian cheese plate ($7.95), fried meatballs with curry ketchup($7.95), frites cone served with dipping sauces ($4.95), the Trocadero Brie, tomato and basil sandwich ($8.95) and Hollander burger ($8.95). Also entrées such as apricot roasted chicken ($12.95), lemon-crusted salmon ($15.95) and Benelux meatloaf ($11.95). Hours are Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-12 a.m. (7677 W. State St., 414-475-6771)
• The Social became very unsocial earlier this year when it, plain and simple, went out of business. You may have noticed that burgers are apparently the go-to food during a struggling economy. The owners of Sobelmans on 19th and Saint Paul are now running Sobelmans Tallgrass Grill on Farwell Avenue. Bartolotta Restaurant Group is keeping burgers front and center at Northpoint snack bar. Developer Tim Dixon, who owns the building vacated by the Social (170 S. First St.), is more specific about the physical appearance of the burgers at his very new Stacked. Pretty much everything you order here is stacked. Onion rings, salads, burgers. The menu has a build-your-own burger section – the burgers made with grass-fed beef or a black bean patty ($12, including toppings). The hand-crafted specialty burgers ($10-$13.75) range from the Hangover Stack (fried onions, Nueske’s bacon, a fried egg; served with a bottle of Tabasco) to the Fahgettaboudit (made with ground lamb and veal). Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; 414-273-7800.
• Papered windows at Abu’s Jerusalem of the Gold? What up? Remodeling is what up. The Middle Eastern restaurant is getting a fresh look, plus longer hours (until 3 a.m. on Fri-Sat nights). I’m also hearing more variety to the menu and lower prices are a possibility. (1978 N. Farwell Ave., 414-277-0485)
Pitasize Me
According to Twitter, the guys who run Pita Brothers were at Catalano Square in the Third Ward today, selling sandwiches out of their electric food cart. Vijay and Manoj Swearingen – brothers and partners in this mobile food enterprise – drive a low-speed electric vehicle. When I say “low-speed,” I mean it. The Racine brothers can’t go much above 25 miles an hour in their pita mobile. But they can stop, park, cook and serve. And you can get on Twitter (https://twitter.com/PitaBros) to see where they go on a daily basis. The menu is short and sweet – fillings like chicken Caesar, meatball marinara, BLT and falafel served inside a Lebanese flatbread. They’ve also got snacks, smoothies and other cold beverages. Lunch will probably set you back $6-$9. Catalano Square is a popular spot for them, as is the US Bank building. Hours are generally 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon-Sat. Check out their menu here.
Paging Isaac and Gopher
Come aboard. They’re expecting you.… It’s no cruise ship, but Rustico’s (223 N. Water St.) brunch “cruise” on July 26th is a way to satisfy the urge to escape dry land. The Milwaukee Boat Line vessel will begin boarding at this Third Ward restaurant (rather, at the boat slip behind it, along the RiverWalk) at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26th. Brunch items will be available at food stations set up on the boat. For thirsty sailors: mimosas and Bloody Marys. Diners will return to port at 3 p.m. Interested? Call Rustico for reservations: 414-220-9933. Cost: $75 per person. ($65 per person if you book a party of four or more.)
Beer Is Near
Here’s something fun that came through my e-mail inbox. A Japanese microbrew tasting at Nanakusa (408 E. Chicago St.). Fifteen bucks lets you taste beers from Hitachino, Baird Brewing Company and Ise Kadoya. Keep Saturday, July 25th open (5-7 p.m.). The tasting includes appetizers from the kitchen. Call 414-223-3200 to make a reservation.
Buttered Buns
Can’t get enough burgers? You can watch a Solly’s burger come to life over and over on Andrew Zimmern’s Web show, “Appetite for Life.” Zimmern is the so-called “stomach of steel” who hosts a Travel Channel series on bizarre foods. On “Appetite,” Zimmern profiles “America’s most interesting people and places.” A recent stop was, of course, the Glendale burger joint. Take a look at the steel stomach’s take on these sirloin patties.
Don’t miss this week’s Shopaholic to learn about new stores and events in the world of local retail.
If you spot any restaurant openings or closings out there, don’t hesitate to post it on my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com
