A Last and a First
Easter Sunday is the last time you can have a meal (and slowly spin) inside the revolving, rooftop restaurant Polaris. That’s right. After Sunday brunch, it’s lights out, for good. (Actually, Polaris will be open for private parties.) But also part of the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee’s $19 million renovation is a new restaurant, located on the first floor of the hotel. The projected arrival of Bistro 333 is next week – can’t give you a day, though. The description I’ve got for the cuisine is “comfort classics infused with a local twist.” Some items from the dinner menu: beer-battered walleye fingers, braised spare ribs with Lakefront Brewery Maple Root Beer glaze, and veal schnitzel with a sunny-side-up egg. The drink list will have more than 60 regional and imported wines. Because it’s a hotel restaurant, the bistro will also be open for breakfast. And you’ll read more details on this as I have them. (333 W. Kilbourn Ave., 414-270-6130)
What’s Going On
Monday was, among other things, the day mobs of people converged on St. Francis Brewery & Restaurant. I heard the first business day for this brewpub was pretty intense. So I waited a few days to check it out. The smoke-free establishment has an open set-up with the bar facing the tables and booths. The menu features five house beers, although the South Shore Stout wasn’t ready the day I was there. As for the food, the menu is diverse one. It’s got appetizers (wings, chicken quesadilla), salads (Thai tuna), sandwiches (grilled cheese, burgers), and entrées (bangers and mash, mussels and frites). Prices are roughly $7 to $25. (3825 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., St. Francis, 414-744-4448)
In a post at the end of last week’s column, “Mike” mentioned a couple of places that have popped up on the Southwest Side. One of them, Passport Brewhaus (4900 S. Moorland Rd., New Berlin) is not brewing its own beer yet, although that’s supposedly coming in the next several months. Some of the menu sounds pubby – mushroom Swiss burger, grilled chicken sandwich. Some of it doesn’t – Cajun pasta, stuffed halibut, scallops with mango salsa. If you see any new restaurants out there, don’t hesitate to post the info on my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com. Thanks!
Back to the Q
Spring and barbecue. That has a nice ring to it. Frank Hornick, owner of Silver Spur Texas Smokehouse BBQ, tells me he has scheduled the grand opening for his Elm Grove restaurant. The date is April 27th. As you may recall, Silver Spur’s New Berlin location was destroyed by fire in 2008. The new digs (13275 Watertown Plank Rd.) are the old digs of the Elm Grove Inn. The building dates to 1855.
Meatless Meal
Craving something healthy? The Jamaican spiced lentil burger at Brookfield’s Cafe Manna got some national ink in the form of Shape magazine’s May issue. A reader recommended the dish in Shape’s “Restaurant Road Test.” Cafe Manna (3815 N. Brookfield Rd., 262-790-2340) is also one of the restaurants profiled in Milwaukee Magazine’s “45 Great Lunches” feature, which subscribers should be receiving in the mail this very week. The issue will hit newsstands starting April 20th. If you’re game for trying Cafe Manna’s lentil burger at home, the recipe is posted on Shape’s Web site.
The Cheese Is Out There
A friend recently gave my brother two pounds of cheddar for his birthday. It’s an inside joke, but there’s no mystery which state we come from. Some people may stop their cheese pursuits with cheddar but Larry’s Brown Deer Market, where cheese is treated like the Crown Jewels, is gearing up for two months of cheese classes. “Cheese 101” (the Basics), “Cheese 102” (Pairing Cheese and Wine) and “Beers and Blues” are a few titles. The series kicks off next week, and there are still spots open. Cheese 101 (Tuesday, April 14th at 6:30 p.m.) covers cheese-making and classification, tasting skills and some of the world’s cheesemaking regions. The best part is each 90-minute class includes samples (8 to 10 cheeses, typically) and beverage pairings. Local cookbook writer Lucy Saunders helms the Beer & Cheese class on Thursday, April 16th (6:30 p.m.). The cost is $25 per class. Call Larry’s to register: 414-355-9650. (8737 N. Deerwood Dr., Brown Deer)
Burgers on the Barbie
In other Larry’s Brown Deer Market news, the store’s first cookout of 2009 is this Friday. (Does that mean spring is really here?) What it does mean is lunch is served. The shop gets the grills fired up during lunchtime only, and offers teriyaki tenderloin ($6.50), lemon basil salmon ($6.50), curried chicken breast ($4.25), Angus burgers and cheeseburgers ($4 and $4.25), and Klement’s brats ($4). The Friday cookout hours are 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
The Peeps Countdown
OK, folks. This is the last time I’m running the List of Easter Brunches. If you still think you can squeeze into a restaurant this Sunday without a reservation, think again. A lot of places will be filled, but it’s worth a call to find out.
Pfister Hotel’s Grand Ballroom: Buffet includes seafood display, hot entrées, action stations (eggs Benedict, omelets, pasta), kid’s buffet and dessert station. Adults $49; children 5 to 12 $20; children 4 and under free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (424 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-273-8222)
Kilawat (InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel): Regular brunch menu, and special items like leg of lamb and grilled honey ham. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (139 E. Kilbourn Ave., 414-291-4793)
Pier Wisconsin (Bartolotta Catering): Buffet-style brunch includes several stations – egg, salad, waffle, carving, dessert. Also, children’s buffet. Adults $34.95; children 12 and under $15.95. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (500 N. Harbor Dr., 414-765-8610)
Bacchus: Three-course, sit-down brunch. Entrée options: filet mignon with Bourbon peppercorn cream sauce, grilled lamb loin chops, smoked salmon Benedict. Adults $38.95; children $25. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (925 E. Wells St., 414-765-1166)
Osteria del Mondo: Three-course meal. Main dish choices include steak and eggs, roast halibut and a crab frittata. Adults $21-$29; children $12. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (1028 E. Juneau Ave., 414-291-3770)
Weissgerber’s Seven Seas: Sit-down brunch served in main dining room; “deluxe” buffet served in Grand Ballroom. Adults $22.95 (sit-down) and $25.95 (buffet); children $10.95. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (1807 Nagawicka Rd., Hartland, 262-367-3903)
Carini’s La Conca d’Oro: Buffet ($21.95 per person), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It includes 15 different entrées, like spiedini and roast ham. (3468 N. Oakland Ave., 414-963-9623)
Saz’s: Buffet brunch served 9:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Selections include salad and dessert bars, omelet station, ribs, waffles and French toast. $23.95 for adults; $10.50 children 3-11. (5539 W. State St., 414-453-2410)
Sheridan’s (at Sheridan House): Serving a sit-down Easter brunch, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Breakfast items include pecan Belgian waffles, vegetable egg soufflé and steak and eggs, $6.50-$10.95. After 11 a.m., the chef’s features kick in: balsamic-Dijon glazed ham ($13.95), roasted leg of lamb ($16.95) and others. (5133 S. Lake Dr., Cudahy, 414-747-9800)
Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro: Sit-down brunch served 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $38.95 per person. (3133 E. Newberry Blvd., 414-962-6300)
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.
Don’t miss the fashion tips in this week’s Shopaholic.
