If you’ve been in mourning since Dairyland left 3rd St. Market Hall last summer (275 W. Wisconsin Ave.), you are not alone. But this news should get you out from under that black cloud. Dairyland – maker of those most American of foods: burgers and fries, chicken sandwiches, fries and fried curds – is back! Almost.
Black Friday, Nov. 28, is the restaurant’s “super soft” opening at its new home, Redbar (2245 E. St. Francis Ave., St. Francis).
Today, the bar announced the opening date on social media, clarifying that Dairyland will have “limited” offerings. Those include chicken tenders, fries, cheese fries, bacon cheese fries and onion rings. No burgers yet. But be patient, they’re coming. And overall, be patient – it’s gonna be busy. Dairyland’s hours on Nov. 28 will be 5-9 p.m.
Exciting is an understatement. Owners/chefs Kurt and Katie Fogle and Joe McCormick shared a week prior that they had been looking for a space to land pretty much since they were asked to leave the Downtown market hall. “There was a lot of belief that we weren’t done,” Kurt says. “And that means the world to us.”
Of the partnership with Redbar, he said, “The personalities clicked, the ideology clicked, and the food that we do works really well with a Wisconsin bar like this.”
And Redbar, Kurt said, is not going to be a restaurant, but rather “a bar with food.”
Just a few weeks ago, Redbar lost the business that was operating out of its kitchen for eight years. The Saucy Swine, known for its BBQ and fish fries, announced it was closing and served its last dish on Nov. 2.
When they’re fully up to speed, the menu will include everything on the Dairyland menu of yore, except frozen custard. (Now, don’t get all bent out of shape. They don’t know if hot fudge sundaes are going to fly in a bar. They’re going to “wait and see,” says Kurt.) Expect burgers (including the double-decker Big Man on Campus), fried chicken sandwiches, french fries, cheese fries, onion rings, fried cheese curds and ranch! Yep, they have better-than home-made ranch.
They also plan to do a Friday fish fry – you might remember their beer-battered cod fry when Dairyland was located at Central Waters Brewing Co. back in 2021.
“Some people have asked for sweets to come back [too],” Katie noted. Before opening Mid-Way Bakery, which had operated in 3rd St. alongside the burger business, she sold cookies and other treats through Dairyland.
Besides serving food to eat inside Redbar, Dairyland also plans to offer carryout.
