Mostly Openings, But a Few Closings
• The Downtown chain steak and chophouse Kincaid’s closed in late March. This space – once belonging to Third Street Pier – is close to making its new transition to… Molly Cool’s Seafood Tavern. I’ve got an opening date for you: May 14th at 11 a.m. Among the specials here: Lobster Lovers Sundays and Crab Lovers Thursdays. Molly Cool’s Minnesota-based parent company also owns Bootleggers Bar & Grill, a block south on Third Street. (1110 N. Old World Third St., 414-831-8862)
• There’s been some chatter in the local media over Coast Restaurant’s closing earlier this year. It had shut down to become a private party facility. As you may have read elsewhere, this was not to be. The restaurant – now called Coast at Zilli Lake & Gardens – is back. GM Paul Raasch tells me the restaurant’s return to dinner service next week will be “small and quiet.” After serving Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday, the restaurant will be open for dinner Tuesday through Friday, 5-9 p.m. Brunch will continue on Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (931 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-727-5555)
• On Wednesday, MP: Margarita Paradise served its first tacos at the Milwaukee Public Market. MP is in the spot vacated by Kehr’s Candies (which now occupies part of departed El Rey’s space). When I was there the other day, they had tamales, salsas and a modest amount of produce for sale. The hot menu was limited to tacos, but will at some point include enchiladas, fajitas, burritos and other Mexican dishes. The MP people are waiting on their liquor license, which will allow them to serve Margaritas at their bar. Right now, the hours are the same as those at the market: Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (400 N. Water St.)
• It was a blow to breakfast when the Heinemann’s restaurants closed earlier this year. But things are turning around in Fox Point. Up and running in the old Heinemann’s in Audubon Court, Maxfields Pancake House (333 W. Brown Deer Rd.) is doing waffles, crêpes, pancakes (of course), salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches and lots more on its breakfast and lunch menu ($4.95-$10.95). It’s open daily 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Strolling down Broadway earlier today, a few of us Milmaggers noticed a sign outside Broadway Bakery & Cafe (241 N.). “Taco De Bajo, Coming Soon, Lower Level,” the sign reads. Turns out the people who run Broadway Bakery are opening another restaurant in their downstairs space. I don’t have the full story on this, but it sounds like the Mexican-themed eatery could be competition for the public market’s MP: Margarita Paradise.
• Irish and Italian can peacefully co-exist. Of course, it helps when the parental unit is the same. R.C. Schmidt recently opened The Dark Rose (2856 N. Oakland Ave.) next door to his Oakland Trattoria. The pub is also serving food. Reuben rolls, Buffalo wings, nachos, meatball sandwiches, ultimate grilled cheese, burgers, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, mac and cheese and a selection of pizzas. With the Trattoria’s wood-burning oven, the pizzas are no surprise there. The pub is open at 11 a.m. daily.
• A reader alerted me to the apparent closing of the two Las Palmas restaurants – 1901 S. 60th St. in West Allis and 6869 W. Forest Home Ave. in Greenfield. (The restaurants are known for all-you-can-eat crab night.) What’s the deal here? According to Las Palmas’ Seung Kapusta, the Greenfield location is completely kaput, while the West Allis restaurant has been leased to two former Las Palmas employees, who, she says, will operate the business under its current name and serve the same menu. The reopening of that location is expected soon.
Bistro Feast-ro
North Star American Bistro has been busy, busy, busy. Later this month, the owners will showcase a Guest Chef Series, which sounds pretty cool. Four local chefs will cook a meal on a specific Tuesday evening at the restaurant’s Brookfield location (19115 W. Capitol Dr.). The chefs will team up with North Star chef/co-owner Duffy O’Neil. For the week leading up to the dinner, the guest chef will work with O’Neil on a prix fixe menu. Now for the guest chef roster: Meritage owner/chef Jan Kelly is suiting up for May 26th. Paul Zerkel, executive chef at Roots Restaurant, is in the ring on June 2nd. Maxie’s Southern Comfort’s Joe Meunch takes June 9th. And finally, Larry Lariviere, exec chef of Piano Blu, covers the last Tuesday, June 16th. The meals are $35 per person. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Call 262-754-1515 for reservations.… One other recent North Star development is the Family Room at the Shorewood location (4515 N. Oakland Ave.). It’s the restaurant’s party room redone, with eight tables, a play area (blocks, books, a play kitchen) and an expanded kid’s menu. Reservations are a good idea during peak dinner hours, which are 5-6:30 p.m. Call 414-964-4663.
Your (Very Important) Opinion
There’s a link on this Web site to a dining survey. Not just any dining survey. The most provocative, groundbreaking dining survey to come along in, well, like a 100 years. All kidding aside, I’m shamelessly asking for your help. If you haven’t taken the time to fill out the survey bound into the May issue of Milwaukee Magazine, please give the online version of that same survey a go. It asks for your opinion on topics ranging from the best Italian restaurant to favorite patio to top newcomer. In exchange for your input, you have the chance to win a prize, such as dinner at a local restaurant. Here’s the link, and thanks for your time.
http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/readerschoice/
Time for Mom
There’s just a tad more time left if you want to make a reservation for Mother’s Day brunch (May 10th). Here’s the list I started last week, with some additions. Call this very minute.
Pfister Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-273-8222: Brunch buffet. Five serving stations. Adults $49; children 5 to 12 $20; children under 4 free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cafe Manna, 3815 N. Brookfield Rd., Brookfield, 262-790-2340: The menu at this vegetarian menu includes baked French toast, a savory strudel, made-to-order omelets, vegetable tofu stir-fry ($7.95-$15.25). 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Meritage, 5921 W. Vliet St., 414-479-0620: The menu features eggs Benedict, corned beef hash and eggs, quiche, breakfast tostada and French toast ($6-$10.50). 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., 414-278-2728: Catered by Zilli’s. Includes butterfly tours in the Rain Forest. Seating times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. MPM members and mothers $29; non-members $34. Reduced price for kids.
Envoy (at the Ambassador Hotel), 2308 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-345-5015: Brunch buffet includes carving station, made-to-order omelets, seafood, desserts. Adults $25.95; children 12 and under $12.95. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Berkeley’s Café, 342 E. Silver Spring Dr., 414-897-8624: Brunch buffet featuring made-to-order omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes, entrées, soups, salads and desserts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Adults $17.95; children under 10 $8.95
Sake Tumi, 714 N. Milwaukee St., 414-224-7253: Accepting reservations until May 8th. All-you-can-eat menu includes nori rolls, nigiri-style fish, shrimp and vegetable tempura and bulgogi (marinated, shaved rib eye). 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Adults $29; children age 6-12 $10; children under age 6 free.
Tess, 2499 N. Bartlett Ave., 414-964-8377: Choices: steak and eggs, banana walnut French toast, crab cake Benedict, Southern scramble and others ($8-$14). Brunch 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dinner also served: 5-9 p.m.
If you’ve listened to me dish with Jane and Kidd on 99.1 WMYX-FM, now you can listen to our food chats anytime right here.
If you learn of any local restaurant news out there, don’t hesitate to post it on my column, or e-mail me directly:
ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com
