Twenty years ago, Janet Boettner co-owned a Japanese restaurant on Brady Street, in the spot The Diplomat occupies now. Called Konohana, it served traditional Japanese food. What Boettner wishes she had opened instead was a place serving yōshoku – a Westernized version of Japanese cuisine, the equivalent of, in Boettner’s mind, “Mom cooking.”
It’s comforting and homey, and she’s banking on it filling a need at her new Cute Robot Japanese Kitchen, which offers onigiri (rice balls wrapped in nori), Japanese street fries, shoyu butter noodles, pork and chicken katsu, sandos on Japanese milk bread, several curries, and the list goes on. This restaurant is also a family affair, with Boettner’s husband, son and brother all taking on different roles.
Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating great design!
Cute Robot – inspired by Japanese pop culture and “kids’ shows that feature giant robots” – occupies two floors at 704 S. Second St., formerly The Noble. The ground level is centered around the curry counter; upstairs, there’s a 14-spot bar and tatami-style seating on the floor. Says Boettner: “I really wanted to have this warm, vibrant, relaxed [vibe] where you can come in two, three times a week and not spend too much money – someplace fun to just hang out.”
Happy Dry January! Waunakee-based brewer Untitled Art made its name with the big flavors of the trendiest styles of craft beer. But now, similar nonalcoholic beers are its most lucrative and fastest-growing product line. To help you make the most of your abstention, I tried UA’s NA lineup of eight lagers, IPAs, sours and stouts.
My overall favorite is the crisp, light and barely sweet American Gold, which does exactly what you want an American lager to do (except give you a buzz). Best for hopheads is Juicy IPA – tropical and balanced, it’s the best of UA’s three NA IPAs. And S’mores Dark Brew (stout), billowing with all three components of the campfire treat, is quite sweet but delivers on the premise in full. 6-packs $17-$18
Hurry into Gene’s Supper Club on the River; the popup at Barnacle Bud’s (1955 S. Hilbert St.) named after Bud’s owner Gene McKiernan will finish its three-month run at the end of January. Relish trays, old fashioneds and ice cream drinks are among the fare. • Serious dumpling lovers – especially of Shanghai soup dumplings – are in their element at the new Serious Sanji (853 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa). The first Wisconsin location of a Florida-based dumpling chain serves several styles of the small dough pocket (“sanji” is a pan-fried variety), noodles and noodle soup, and dim sum items like lotus wraps and BBQ pork buns. • Wioletta’s Polish Kitchen, a Polish restaurant featuring soups and “lots of traditional dishes,” according to co-owner Adam Bartoszek, is gearing up for a late winter opening in South Milwaukee. It will be the second business for Bartoszek and his namesake wife, who also run Wioletta’s Polish Market (3955 S. Howell Ave.).
