News of the Week
Last week after I’d posted Dish, I went back into the column and added a mention of Alterra Coffee Roaster’s new cafe in Riverwest (2999 N. Humboldt Blvd., 414-292-3320). If you missed that, no worries. I’ll flesh out the details one more time. The cafe, part of a spiffy looking development that includes Loop Yarn Shop and the Alterra Baking Company, is serving soups, sandwiches, salads and of course, espresso drinks and baked goods. The cafe is just north of Locust on Humboldt.… You may have heard about the morphing of R.C. Schmidt’s Brew City into Trinity Three Irish Pubs (125 E. Juneau Ave., 414-278-7033). If not, let me fill you in. The changeover officially happened just several days ago. The new Schmidt operation includes, as its name suggests, three pubs – Duffy’s, Foy’s and Gallagher’s. As I’m writing this, only Duffy’s has opened for business. (Foy’s is close to opening….) The remodel of this space included adding dark wood, stained glass, bookcases – little touches that are supposed to conjure up that magical place of leprechauns and beer as dark as maple syrup. You can eat at Duffy’s from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (12 a.m. on the weekends). The “Irish” menu: fish and chips, pot roast, Irish stew and marinated steak tips, among others. They also serve all kinds of American fare like wings, chicken tenders, burgers, brats and mac and cheese.
Phatty Patty
We mustn’t forget that before next week’s holiday will come a day of monumental importance – National Hamburger Day, celebrated tomorrow, Dec. 21. If you choose to honor the day with a burger, you could also hold on to the last day of fall, seizing the remaining hours with each bite of your bun (the hamburger bun, I mean.…). For every appetite, it would seem, there is a hamburger. If you like butter burgers that cry out for a pile of napkins, there is Solly’s (4629 N. Port Washington Rd., 414-332-8808). Is a prodigious two-fister on a sturdy bun more your style? The Sobelman Burger could be the answer (Sobelman’s, 1900 W. St. Paul Ave., 414-931-1919). You want to be around swanky people drinking Cosmopolitans? Now doesn’t that sound like Elsa’s (833 N. Jefferson St., 414-765-0615). The thing about burgers is just about every restaurant menu has one. Slip some Swiss cheese and extra pickles under my top bun. So to speak.
All About Eve
What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? I’m fine with low-key. But if high-key is what you want, my e-mail inbox is starting to fill with news about dinners and such at some popular locales around town. Here’s what I’ve been hearing about:
• Osteria del Mondo: Six-course prix fixe tasting menu. First course: Champagne, caviar and brioche. Fourth course: butter-poached lobster and house pappardelle with seafood cream sauce. Dessert: Italian doughnuts with hot chocolate. Menu: $65. With paired wines: $95. Call 414-291-3770 for reservations.
• Bayou: Four courses – foie gras mousse, crab Napoleon or “Black Pearl #8,” Cajun rack of lamb or blackened beef tenderloin, white chocolate bread pudding. First seating ($85) at 6 p.m. Second seating ($95) at 8:30 p.m. With Champagne toast at midnight. Call 414-431-1511.
• Jake’s Restaurant: Four-course menu and chance to win a $100 Jake’s gift certificate, Champagne and more. $59 per person. Reservations: 4-10 p.m. Call 262-781-7995.
• The Social: Raw bar/Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m. Dinner specials include turtle ravioli with ginger beurre blanc (appetizer); seared beef tenderloin with béarnaise and lobster with sauce homard (entrée). From 5-7 a.m. (yes, a.m.), an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet bar ($10 per person). It features scrambled eggs with accompaniments, bacon, sausage, Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Call 414-270-0438.
• Bacchus: Five-course menu – $115 per person. Four-course menu before 6:30 p.m. – $75 per person. Live music and dancing. Call 414-765-1166.
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, Jan. 3. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
Also check out Colleen Heather Rogan’s weekly Shopping column and our Events Editor Evan Solochek’s picks for the best events in arts and entertainment in This Weekend.
