Openings and Updates
• Just before 6 p.m. last Tuesday, a fire broke out at Maxie’s Southern Comfort (6732 W. Fairview, 414-292-3969). No one was injured, and the damage was limited to the exterior of the building – a fence, plastic linen bin and an electrical panel. As a result, Maxie’s was closed two nights. But co-owner Dan Sidner says the restaurant is back up and running tonight. As a matter of fact, Thursday is Ladies’ Night at Maxie’s. So girls, time to get your $3 house-infused martinis on.
• The neon “open” sign was flashing the other day at Lucky Liu’s, in the former Orlando’s Deli (1664 N. Van Buren St.). That means the green light for Chinese selections like Cantonese lobster, General Tso’s chicken and Kung pao beef. Lucky Liu’s also serves Japanese food – 66 items, by my count; everything from special nori rolls to the sashimi deluxe. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun 1-10 p.m. (414-223-1699)
• Can’t get enough of SONIC? The chain of drive-ins, which opened a location near Miller Park stadium last winter, will unveil another SONIC next week. The new Waukesha drive-in (2208 E. Moreland Blvd.) opens bright and early on Monday, Aug. 3rd. So if you wake up craving an Ex-Long Chili Cheese Coney, you’re in luck. Hours: Daily 6 a.m.-midnight.
• The front windows of downtown Waukesha’s Generations at 5 Points are wide enough for voyeurs like me. I was hanging out in one of the swivel chairs at the front of Generations, staring at the people and storefronts across the street. The hostess saw me looking at the papered windows of the building opposite. “That place is going to be like ‘Happy Days,’ ” she said. So it would seem. Sloppy Joe’s Soda Fountain (208 W. Broadway, 262-544-1610) opened in mid-July, but the grand opening is this Saturday, nostalgic theme in full force. They’ve scheduled a ’50s band, sock hop and dancers dressed in poodle skirts. The menu sets the mood – chili dogs, Sloppy Joes, pie à la mode, floats, malts, specialty sundaes and phosphates.
Last Dance
What do I miss? Right now – and many times a month – I miss the Indian fusion Dancing Ganesha (1692 N. Van Buren St.). The restaurant that replaced it, Indian Rasoi, has been no substitute. Now that, too, is gone. Ami Bedi – whose mother (and former partner), Usha, co-owns the building – confirmed the closing. The Bedis are looking for a new restaurant to move in.
Brain Freeze
Cold Spoons is no longer a baby (5924 W. Vliet St., 414-727-9457). The Washington Heights gelato joint is almost a year old. The dense, frozen Italian confection is the business’ raison d’être (or the Italian equivalent of that term). I can think of nothing sweeter than coming up with new flavors. Owner Sandy Murphy is finding success with her newest gelatos (green tea and crème brûlée) and sorbettos – pink guava, blueberry and peach ginger. On August 22nd, Murphy is throwing an anniversary party featuring a “gelato entertainment artist.” (Murphy says this person makes flowers, animals and faces out of gelato.) And she’ll serve two signature gelatos – classic swirl (think of a banana split) and gelato cookie crunch. Sat., August 22nd, 6-9 p.m.
Taco Entreaty
Lately we’ve gotten a little obsessed with fish tacos – “we” being a select few in the Mil Mag editorial department. I like these tacos with fried or grilled fish and a crunchy slaw inside a warm corn tortilla. It’s not fancy. It’s just great combination of flavors and textures. I’ve had them at a lot of places – Mexican (the taquerias inside the El Rey markets) and not (Hinterland in the Third Ward) – but somehow missed my chance to try the fish tacos at the St. Paul Fish Company (Milwaukee Public Market, corner of Water and St. Paul). The tacos are no longer on the menu. In the last few months, the public market has found a new Mexican vendor – MP (Margarita Paradise) – and there’s a fish taco on its menu. Pan-fried tilapia topped with a cabbage-cilantro slaw, $4 each. But is it greedy to say I want more tacos? That one vendor just isn’t enough? That I – we – want St. Paul to relent and… bring back the fish taco.
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
