04.26.14 Dinner. Milwaukee Beer Bistro (Riverwest. Milwaukee, WI)

It was a nice productive Saturday.  While Christina and I were running errands, we drove past the Milwaukee Beer Bistro in Riverwest and decided to pick that as our dinner destination for the evening.  We arrived to the Milwaukee Beer Bistro for dinner at around 7:00pm.  We were seated right away at a table to the right of the host/hostess stand and had some good sunlight from the large windows at the front of the restaurant.  

Bar in the main dining area.

Cute wood burning stove.

The restaurant had a earthy type feel.  The colors were primarily browns and helped with minimal lighting in the restaurant itself but was supplemented quite nicely by the large windows that make up the majority of the front of the restaurant.  To the left of the entrance is a long bar with bar seating available.  To the right, there was the main dining area partitioned by a half wall.  The back section has a wood burning stove to add to the homey, comfort type feel to the area.  A couple TVs adorn the walls and are at the bar that played the current baseball game on and other walls had vine themed sconces with candles.  Along the restaurant are

One of the many classic beer shelves.

clever wood shelves with classic beer bottles and cans that add to the beer themed restaurant.  There are about 30-40 tables in the main area that seat 2-4.  The server commented on the fact there is a "private" room that accommodates larger groups of up to 10'ish.  Also, there is a basement that has a full bar, games which include racing arcade games and darts.  The tables were long banquet style tables.  Beer related picturescover the walls and there was a stage that would welcome performances.  I'm thinking this might be where they have their accordion Fridays that they advertise.  There was a bachelor party in the basement so I didn't think it'd be appropriate to go and take a ton of pics.  You will have to check it out yourself because it's a nice option for a private party.  Other than the bachelor party in the lower level, the restaurant had a good number of people present.  The people were primarily in their late 20s to 50s.  

Not too long after we were seated, our nice server, Jordan, greeted us and informed us of the drink options including the beer list and provided us the beers on tap.  The beers, what appeared to me, were mostly Wisconsin based microbreweries but, they also had other microbreweries from around the country.  Jamie and I asked for tasters.  Jamie had ordered some type of brown ale to taste, which I unfortunately, I don't remember the name of and didn't particularly care for it.  She

Bells Oberon and Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter.

attempted to order a Spotted Cow.  Yes, "attempted" because I ended up giving her a hard time for picking one of her usuals.  With the help of the server, she instead ordered a Bells Oberon, which is one of my favorite spring/summer brews. Prior to deciding what we wanted, the server allowed us to have tasters of a couple of the beers on tap.  I ordered the Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter.  It was a nice darker beer that I'll probably have it again if it's an option.  Christina, of course, attempted to order a Diet Coke but they only have Pepsi products but she still got it and wasn't too disappointed.

When Jordan brought our beverages, he introduced us to the menu and informed us that the restaurant falls in line with the name.   All items on the menu have beer infused into it in some sort of way.  He then continued to tell us that their dinner is more of a small plate style but they do have sandwiches and burgers that can also be ordered and they come with a choice of side.  For the 3 of us, he recommended that 5 or 6 small plates would be appropriate.  We took a look at the menu to see what we'd all like to get.  We decided to get a bunch of small plates to share.   I noticed that the menu was vegetarian and gluten free friendly.  They made sure to stay true to the gluten free form by using gluten free
beers.  Definitely going along with the current trends and cater to all dietary restrictions.  Definitely appropriate for the location that the restaurant is in.  

Now, let's get into the good stuff, the food.  We ordered the food in two batches.  Didn't want to over-order as we can tend to do.  So, ordered a few plates and then ordered a couple more.  The food came out in typical small plates form, it came as it was ready.

Details:  Caesar Salad.  Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with house Caesar Ale dressing topped with garlic croutons and parmesan cheese.  $6.00

Our Thoughts: Christina is the Caesar salad connoisseur and commented that she couldn't really tell that there was dressing.  Jamie thought it wasn't too bad but agreed with Christina's thoughts.  I myself thought it was perfect as I tend to go lighter on the

Caesar Salad.

dressing.  It was actually one of my favorite small plates.  I think it was a nice balance for the heavier items on the menu.  Nothing too fancy about it, really.  The thing that stood out to me was there was a nice ratio of the white crisp portions of the romaine and the greener ends.  It provided nice texture.  Also, can't deny how good that fresh shaved Parmesan cheese adds to the salad.  

Details:  Sensational Parmesan Meatballs.  Meatballs slow simmered in light lager and baked to order in our secret creamy parmesan gravy.  $6.00

Our Thoughts:  Covered in the fresh shaved parmesan cheese that was also on the Caesar.  Added to the creaminess of the sauce itself.  Meatballs were

Parmesan Meatballs.

nice and tender and fell along the lines of a Swedish meatball in texture and due to the cream sauce versus a marinara.  Not surprising that the meatballs were so tender since it was simmered in beer.  Beer has been known to be a good meat tenderizer so perhaps when cooking it in the beer it does the same.  And, you know it adds some good flavor.  Just ask anyone tailgating at Miller Park, I'm sure they've all boiled their brats in beer at some point.  It had a great onion flavor to it and you can even see the little bits of onion in the meatball when you cut them in half.  This was definitely one of the favorites for all of us.   

Details:  Brussels Sprouts (GF - gluten free).  Tender Brussels sprouts braised in Sorghum Ale and tossed in seasoned brown butter.  $5.00

Brussels Sprouts (GF).

Our Thoughts:  We all thought they were ok but we all like Brussels sprouts in general.  But, who wouldn't?  They are considered a "hipster food" per the Huffington Post.  I found this article quite funny...check it out.  Nothing super spectacular about the dish though.  They came in all different sizes, which Brussels sprouts always do, but because of this, it caused them to be variably cooked.  The smaller ones were overcooked for my preference but the larger ones were perfectly cooked to al dente. 

Details:  Stout Braised Barbeque Short Ribs.  Melt in your mouth slow cooked beef short ribs smothered in our tangy secret recipe beerbeque sauce and served with a side of beer cheese (we ordered on the sauce on the side for my lactose sensitive tummy... sad.  I know, we have other things with cream sauces as well but you pick and choose, right? At least I do...) cavatappi pasta. $9.00

Our Thoughts:  This was the first time I have had short ribs without the bones.  It was butchered in a style that made me think of more of a beef brisket.  But, after more research, there are a

Stout Braised Short Ribs with Beer Cheese Cavatappi.

few ways that short ribs can be butchered.  The sauce was sweet and tangy, not too spicy.  I tasted a slight smokey flavor to the sauce but Christina had disagreed with that part of it.  I prefer dry rubs and to sauce my meat myself but this wasn't too bad.  The meat was super tender and didn't require much muscle to cut.  The amount of fat was perfect to provide great flavor but not be overbearing.  This was Christina's favorite of the night.  She had strongly commented that it tasted like her mom's brisket and was as good as her mom's.  You know something is legit when it's "as good as Mom's" right?  The beer cheese sauce was delicious and paired nicely with the tangy sauce.  Raw, undressed spinach was on the plate as well and provided a nice bitterness to balance out all the different aspects of the dish itself.  

Herb Marinated Sauteed Portabellas (GF).

Details:  Herb Marinated Sauteed Portabellas (GF).  Thickly sliced portabellas marinated with fresh herbs, butter and gluten free ale. $5.00

Our Thoughts:  Very flavorful and meaty mushrooms.   I was definitely able to taste the fresh herbs.  They were nicely prepared and not overcooked and soft.  Large serving of mushrooms for one of the lower cost small plates.  Definitely filling.  Obviously, if you don't like mushrooms, don't get this.  It's just a plate of mushrooms.  Due to this, it was not the prettiest  plate we were served (see picture).  Don't let the looks fool you.  Try it out. 

Honey and Porter Stuck Chicken.

Details: Honey and Porter Stuck Chicken.  All white meat chicken marinated in sensational blend of sweet amber honey and smooth porter, skewered and served fresh from the oven. $6.00

Our Thoughts: I typically don't order chicken in restaurants unless it looks like something I wouldn't be able toproduce myself at home since it's what I cook the most.  But, we decided to get this one.  It was a tad overcooked causing it to be dry.  But, the honey added a good flavor to the meat itself.  Christina really enjoyed it and thought it was pretty delicious.  May have been good if it was served with some sort of sauce on the side.  Perhaps a honey based sauce?

Details: Ice cream/custard sampler  (brought out by the chef for us to try... we didn't order that much!  but, we did eat it.) 

Ice Cream/Custard Sampler.

Unfortunately, I didn't make note of all the different types of stouts and beers in these custards, but, I do know that all of them have beer in them.  Vanilla, coffee, blueberry sorbet and caramel.  $0.00 (didn't note the usual price)

Our Thoughts: The vanilla flavor to start and finished with a definite hint of wheat/hop beer flavor that wasn't overpowering.  If we were on the show Iron Chef, this custard would have scored high for using the secret ingredient and allowing the natural flavor to come through.  The vanilla was the most creamy of the three custards.  The coffee custard wasn't as creamy.  It was one of my favorites since I love coffee and had a good texture to it with the added bits of coffee/espresso bean.  The blueberry had a very fresh fruit flavor to it.  The blueberry flavor wasn't masked by

Bread Pudding with Almonds and Cranberry.

any other ingredients.  The caramel, as informed by the chef, had a different texture from the others due to the high amounts of caramel to it.  In my opinion, it was the sweetest of the four and almost tasted like a caramel sauce. 

Details:  Bread Pudding with Almonds and Cranberry with beer infused sauce.  $6.00  (Warning from server that it was the largest piece of bread pudding that he's ever seen so wasn't going to be disappointed if we didn't finish it.)

Our Thoughts: Almonds added a good texture and the cranberries provided a tart balance to the sweetness.  Incorporated the warm and comforting spices that a bread pudding usually has.  I prefer my bread pudding to be warmed all the way through when I eat it.  The piece we were served may have been pretty large so took longer to warm.  But, still tasted good.  It had a slight crisp to the  outside and soft on the inside. 

Front of Restaurant Before Leaving.

With further investigation about the restaurant and information provided by our knowledgeable server, I found out that the restaurant is the same owners as the previous restaurant at the same location Rio West Cantina.  I didn't ever try it out when it was the Cantina but, have been to their other restaurant the Twisted Fisherman in the Valley.  They are also the same company for the Hubbard Park Lodge in Shorewood which the word on thestreet says is a hot spot for awedding.  This restaurant was opened in January 2014.  Their website boasted that they arebringing French and Belgium beer infused culinary traditions to Milwaukee and feel that their food is "American Craft Beer comfort food."  Their menu sure did reflect this as it included mac and cheese, braised short ribs and potato salad.  And, after this first experience at the restaurant, it definitely had the comfort food type of feel. 

Other things to consider:
- Lots of items include cheese on the menu... not particularly lactose free friendly but, definitely wisconsin. comfort food.  They were able to accommodate by putting sauces on side or negating things as able.  Just ask.
-Chef was very nice and friendly.  Mingled with people in the restaurant.  Cleared our table.  That's what I call team work.
-Very good service. 
-Christina said it was the first time she's been anywhere that she actually liked everything she got... rare.
-Option for outdoor seating on the patio in front of the restaurant.
-Parking available. 
-Nightly specials available including $2 taco night Tuesdays and fish fry Fridays. 
-Live music.
-Per the website, there is a late night menu.   

This was a great first trip leaving me wanting to come back for more.  We were good after sharing 6 small plates and the dessert almost threw us over the edge but was worth it.  I want to go back and try out the fish fry, brunch and a burger or sandwich.  The menu had some good options for all.  This places screams Wisconsin.  It was definitely a place to bring some out-of-towners for a nice beer infused dinner.  Try it out!  Cheers.

Milwaukee Beer Bistro

2730 N Humboldt Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53212

(414) 562-5540
www.milwaukeebeerbistro.com

OPEN

Monday - Friday 11am- 2am (Lunch, 11am - 4pm, Dinner 4pm - 10pm)

Saturday and Sunday 10am-2am (Brunch 10am -4pm, Dinner 4pm - 10pm)



04.27.14 Coming Out of Hibernation

It's been a long time since I've blogged. Some friends have even commented on wanting to take it over since it's been so long.  Things got busy and unfortunately the blog had to be put on the back-burner.  But, things are now starting to slow down and I've been encouraged to come out of my long hibernation from the blog.  I was hesitant at first since it's been a long time but so far, it's gotten me excited about it all over again.  So, here we go! 

02.23.13 Dessert. Cupcake Anarchy (Located in New Berlin, WI but delivery provided)

Cupcakes have made their amazing little niche in the food world lately.  I don't even know when this all started but what comes to mind are Sex and the City and the Magnolia bakery.  Also, who doesn't know Sprinkles?  I did a Google search "when did the cupcake craze start?" to see if I could get any background on this topic.  The top link was a Wikipedia page for Magnolia Bakery.  Per this page, it stated that Magnolia Bakery was "credited with starting a 1990s 'cupcake craze.'"  So, I guess that's the answer... because Wikipedia is the all knowing reference right?

Cupcake Delivery

I've noticed cupcake places popping up in the past couple of years here in good ol' Milwaukee.  We often see these places when we drive around but sometimes we miss out on the smaller companies that we only hear about via social media, word of mouth or via ads here and there in the Shepherd Express.  So, thought I'd blog about my cupcake experience with the Cupcake Anarchy. 

Through the blogging and foodie networking, I noticed a name that stood out, Cupcake Anarchy.  It made me smile and so thought I'd check it out.   Saw that the company was local and they had a bunch of great options for cupcake flavors.  It just so happened that I was going to have a gathering at my home with some friends and so I decided to place an order for some mini cupcakes.

Apple Pie, Brownie and Bacon Maple Whiskey

I got in contact with Karen, the Cupcake Anarchist, to see what she offered.  I wanted to get two dozen cupcakes because sometimes, people don't want a full cupcake but still want a cupcake ya know?  And, who's going to only take half a cupcake at a party? Most won't.  And, it's time consuming to see who would do a "splitsies" with you.  Anyway, let me get of my tangent.  I asked her if she could do a mix and match for the two dozen mini cupcakes since there is a minimum number needed for the cupcakes (a dozen for the large and two dozen for the mini's).    She said she could and I left it up to her to pick the cupcakes to include in the two dozen.  I can sometimes be indecisive and with the number of flavors, I was struggling.  So, I left it up to her since she knows the cupcakes the best.   Prior to her deciding, she asked me if there were any allergies she had to be concerned about which was thorough and considerate of her. 

Vegan Chocolate, Coconut Cream and Cookie Dough

I provided her almost two weeks in advance notice for it which was plenty of time for her to plan.  Per the Facebook site, one week notice is requested for orders of two dozen or more and two weeks for custom cupcakes... yes, I said custom.  In addition to four categories (traditional, seasonal, anarchist and booze-infused cupcakes) of almost 90 cupcakes, you can request a cupcake of your own creation.  Something to also note is that they offer vegan and gluten-free options.   Karen got in touch with me and we set plans for her to deliver to my home the morning of the event.  Delivery is always a nice perk.  The boxes were nice because the cupcake had their own little slots that prevented them from sliding around and the box was tall enough that there wasn't a risk for smearing the frosting.  Some were so snug in their house though that they were a tad hard to get out but that's no biggie because if worse came to worse, cut into the box a tad.  The flavors she chose for me was a surprised and I didn't find out until I received them.  The flavors that she included in the dozen were apple pie, vegan chocolate chocolate, bacon maple whiskey, coconut cream, cookie dough and brownie.  There was four of each flavor.
 
I had about nine ladies over for a little gathering and the cupcakes were our dessert.  I asked those that ate the cupcakes, to provide some feedback on them.  So, here we go, let's get into the nitty gritty of the Cupcake Anarchy mini cupcakes. 

We will review the cupcakes in an order that I placed them in regard to which I liked the most to the one I liked the least out of the group.   But, I will include some thoughts that were provided to by the group as well.

Cupcake 1: Coconut cream
Our thoughts:  Definitely the one that people enjoyed the most.   Obviously though, if you don't like coconut, you might not find it you favorite.  But, even if you don't like coconut, I would recommend trying this one because it is delicious.  It's not too sweet or overwhelmed with coconut flavor.  I neglected to try the cake and frosting separately so not completely sure if there is coconut in just the cake, just the frosting, or both. 

Cupcake 2: Cookie Dough
Our thoughts:  The swirl to the frosting is pretty.  When you cut into the cupcake, you can definitely see that it's filled with cookie dough.  This was my second favorite.  I'm not always the biggest fan of cookie dough desserts but this one I enjoyed quite a bit.  Definitely a sweeter cupcake than the coconut cream.  This is a cupcake that I would like a mini versus a full one unless I had a nice cup of coffee to eat with it.  I can see this one being a popular among the masses.

Cupcake 3:  Vegan Chocolate
My thoughts:  I struggled with placing this one at third instead of second.  I think the main reason cookie dough beat this one out is due to how pretty and fun cookie dough looked.  What I enjoyed about the vegan chocolate cupcake is that they were nice and moist and the cake was a little more spongy versus a more dense cupcake.  This cupcake wasn't too sweet either which surprised me.  I'm typically not a huge fan of chocolate on chocolate but it was sooooo good, I had to have a half of another one.  (Yes, I did a splitsie and left the other half hanging only because it was my party and I could do what I want.  I actually broke all my rules by cutting them all in half because I wanted people to get the opportunity to try a little of each flavor and not feel bad about hogging all the cupcakes.)

Cupcake 4: Apple Pie
Our thoughts:  This one was another favorite for the group.  This one was so cute with its piping work and the apples on top.  Apples were also in the cupcake.  The cake itself was drier than the other ones.  But, we all found it rather enjoyable with this specific cupcake because, as Katie best stated, "it reminds her of an actual pie crust."  This cupcake is one that lives up to its flavor and name.  Definitely not only tastes like an apple pie but has all the textures of one including the fresh apple compote that it was filled with.

Cupcake 5: Brownie
My thoughts: Definitely had a struggle with where to put brownie.  Apple pie beat it out because of how pretty it looked.  I'm a sucker for presentation.  Brownie was oh so delicious but a little too rich and sweet for my liking.  It definitely wasn't bad and I almost feel bad placing is in fifth of six cupcakes but I think it's more of my bias of preferring fruit desserts over chocolate.  Also, if I do have something chocolatey, I prefer it to be less rich.  As said with the cookie dough one, it would pair very well with a cup of Coffee or glass of milk.  It was a treat to have the pieces of brownie because of the texture it added to it.  It was a little more chewy which I love about a good brownie.  The frosting was oh so good.  I had the childlike urge to lick the frosting off of all the brownie ones.  But, that definitely would have crossed the "I do what I want" line.

Cupcake 6:  Bacon Maple Whiskey
I wanted to love this one because if you know me, I love me some bacon.  The bacon was surprisingly still crisp.  And, when you take a nice even bite of the cake and frosting, it's actually pretty good.  But, the whiskey was definitely present and a stronger flavor than I would have liked.  I enjoy a whiskey here and there so that's why i was surprised I didn't love it in a cake.   It makes me think that it would a "guy friendly cupcake."  Could be a nice little valentine's present for a guy or even as a grooms cake if people go the cupcake route.  The maple frosting was delicious and I would be interested in having this on an apple flavored cake or even a nut flavored cake.  Perhaps if the bacon was crumbled over the top to disperse it out a little more, you can get a little bit in each bite  Definitely wouldn't be as pretty but with this cupcake, having even amounts in each bite would be nice. 

Brownie and Cookie Dough Splitsies

Overall, the cupcakes were very good.  The actual cake part of the cupcakes was inconsistent in regard to how moist they were.  Some were dry and some were perfect.  I'm definitely not a cupcake connoisseur but this was the group consensus.  From my mini cupcake experience from different smaller businesses and bakeries, I've noticed that it's tough to have consistently moist cupcakes.  The common trend with the cupcakes we had from Cupcake Anarchy were that the ones that had filling in the middle had a cake that was more moist.  But, I did have a few cupcake left over and put them in a Tupperware together and had them the next day.  They were definitely all a tad more moist.  Perhaps it was because of the container they are kept in?  I'm not quite sure.  Could it have been when they were made?  Or, I did see an episode of DC cupcakes and they did comment that if the batter is over mixed, it could be dry.  I'm not much of a baker other than things out of the box baking.  I prefer the decorating part versus the measuring and mixing.

Tower of Cupcakes

Despite them being a little dry there were a lot of good things that would make me want more. The flavors and all the flavor options are impressive.  I can't speak for all of them but the ones we had lived up to their names and what flavors they had in them.  The best part of the cupcakes was the frosting.  I could have eaten the frosting off of all of the cupcakes.  They had such great flavor, weren't too sweet and the consistency was divine.  It wasn't hard, dry or gritty.

Would I get cupcakes again?  Definitely.  I would try the regular cupcakes versus the minis.  There are so many fun flavors and options that it wants you to keep coming back.  Also, being a follower of Cupcake Anarchy on Facebook is a tease due to all the awesome pictures and the seasonal cupcakes that are offered are always fun.   I would recommend following them if you enjoy some food eye candy.  It definitely reflects the art side of food.

Do yourself a favor and check Cupcake Anarchy out.  Cheers!

Cupcake Anarchy

 https://www.facebook.com/cupcakeanarchy

info@cupcakeanarchy.com

(262) 844-8712

02.09.13 Brunch. Simple Cafe (Lower East Side. Milwaukee, WI)

So, yeah, told you I'd be back... and brought Eddie and Jen with me this time to introduce them to the lovely Simple Cafe.  I won't go into all the details about the space and the service as it is pretty darn similar to the last blog.  This shows consistency with visits, which is good.  This time, they immediately sat us at one of the larger front tables and called them the community tables.  Some may not like this as you can be sitting immediately next to another group if it's a crowded time.  But, I typically don't mind this because it can open up to the opportunity to making a new friend.  And, friends are good.  

Jen and I ordered coffee and Eddie was content with water.  When Jen said she wanted milk, the server provided options for one or two percent or soy milk.  Lots of options.  

Let's get into the nitty gritty. 

Jen's pick.
Details:  Roasted butternut squash, sweet potato, baby spinach, tofu, zucchini, topped with two eggs any style (ordered over medium) and a side of wheat toast that she passed off to Eddie.  $9.95

Squash, sweet potato, tofu, and zucchini hash with two over medium eggs.

What she thought: The color to the hash was beautiful with all the different veggies mixed in.  Definitely a healthier option.  She enjoyed it.  Asked for a side of ketchup to eat with it.  Without it, it would be a little dry/bland.  This is usually why I get my eggs over medium.  The tofu was firm and lightly sauteed.  It didn't have a lot of flavor if you ate it separate from the remaining ingredients in the hash, but, that's not the intention of a hash right?  When the ingredients were eaten together in one bite, it was a nice combination.  A recommendation that I provided was to perhaps pour a little of the maple syrup on the hash for a little special kick. 

Two egg platter with Canadian bacon, Simple potatoes and wheat toast.

Eddie's pick.
Details: Simple egg platter with eggs scrambled, Canadian bacon and wheat toast with a side of Simple potatoes.  $7.95

What he thought:  He thought it was good.  It came with three pieces of what appeared to be pan sauteed/fried Canadian bacon that was thinly sliced.  The scrambled eggs were fluffy and not overcooked.  He enjoyed his meal so much that he already thought of inviting other people to come check it out. 

What I chose.
Details: Pumpkin Pancakes.  Buttermilk pancakes with roasted pumpkin and toasted pumpkin seed crumble, dusted with cinnamon powdered sugar.  $8.25 and a side of Bacon $2.50'ish.

Pumpkin pancakes and side of extra crispy bacon.

What I thought:  As expected, it was a like a dessert.  It was sweet and needed minimal syrup... or maybe the light syrup is just my preference.  The pancakes are moist and prepared well.  The spices are light and not overpowering unlike some pumpkin/squash/carrot baked goods can be.  The crumble and toasted pumpkin seeds added a nice texture to the bites.   I often can't go with just pancakes and that's why I ordered a side of extra crispy bacon.  The bacon wasn't necessarily thick cut but it wasn't thin and flimsy.  It was prepared as ordered, nice and crispy and no soggy parts.  It was a hearty serving of pancakes which provided an opportunity for left overs.  Some can't do left over pancakes but I love 'em. 

As we were finishing up our meals, I noticed outside and coming through the door a familiar face.  Four of our friends came through and into the restaurant per a recommendation I provided them a week ago after my first Simple Cafe adventure.  It was a nice surprise as I haven't seen a few of them in a while.  This is a situation in which the community table was PERFECT!  They joined our table.  Of course, we talked about the food for at least 10 minutes or so and, I stayed to see what they would order and what they thought.  Heather ordered the Korean breakfast bowl and a twinge of jealousy came over me.  I will definitely get that next time. All were intrigued by the Korean dish and it was topic of conversation for a while.  From the positive responses I heard (yes, I was eaves dropping) the Korean breakfast bowl was the highlight of their group's dishes. 

I think all enjoyed and may all go back again.  I know I will. Korean breakfast bowl... get ready for me.

P.S.  No rating for this one as it would be redundant to the last rating for Simple Cafe. 

"Does Lisa ever post a restaurant review with a rating lower than 4/5?"

Just a side note...

I've been approached in the past and have thought about this topic recently.  A friend asked me "where are the bad ratings, Lis?"  It's not that I haven't had any bad dining experiences, because trust me I have... whether it's bad service, bad food or a combination of both.  But, it usually takes me a while to write one blog and I'm usually more excited to share the good experiences and not the bad.  When I like a place, I want to share it with everyone because I want them to be in the food heaven that I was in when I dined at a good restaurant.  The rating system isn't all that scientific or specific anyway, so take it with a grain of salt.  It just acts as a quick reference for those that want a quick look into what a place has to offer... somewhat like a Clif'sf notes version.  Plus, even if i have a bad experience at a restaurant, I typically want to give it a second try before I strike it off my "go-to" list for restaurants.

With that, I leave you to continue to enjoy my four and up rating blogs.... just kidding.  I'm sure I'll eventually post one that's below.  Who knows? I might even have one that's below four but I'm too lazy to look back to all my posts to check. 

Eat, drink, and support local. 

02.03.13 Brunch. Simple Cafe (Lower East Side. Milwaukee, WI)

Last week, we were walking home from Landmark Lanes after a riveting bout of bowling and saw the Simple Cafe.  This was the first I heard about the new restaurants that opened up in the old Crank Daddy's location Farwell Avenue.  One of them was Simple Cafe, a brunch joint.  So, Christina and I decided to try it out for Sunday brunch.  Christina thought this was a great location for a brunch place to pop up because this block of the lower east side was lacking solid restaurant to pull people in. 

From the back of the restaurant.

It was a Saturday, around 1:00pm.  Upon looking into the store front, it looked empty but when you walk in, you realize that it's such a long space that you almost can't seen the whole place at a quick glance.  The building is long and the space has larger rectangle tables at the front and smaller square tables seated along both sides of the restaurant in the back.  When you first walk in, there is a counter with registers and happy people greeting you and waiting to seat you.  In the back, there is a coffee bar and benches along each wall that seat small square tables.  The restaurant is full of fun bright colors.  When you look around you notice small details that they have put into the space that include different light fixtures that include recycled pots and pans painted white hanging from the ceiling as light fixtures and all different types of bulbs above the tables.  The tables are a wood butcher block'ish style with brightly colored chairs... red along the walls and orange straight down the middle to pull your eye along the length of the restaurant.  The decor is very similar to their first location in Lake Geneva, per their website.  There is a good mix of the people that the restaurant have pulled in, middle aged couples, younger pairs of friends and smaller groups of people.

Coffee bar and the pot and pan lights.

There was immediate seating and when we first arrived the restaurant was about a third full but before we left, it was filling up nicely and bustling.  They sat us at a table in the back.  It was only a few minutes before a server took our beverage order and with coffee cups pre-set at the tables, how could you say no? I took the bait and had coffee especially since they support local and brew Alterra coffee... yum.   Christina, of course, was happy to find out they serve Coke.  It was out of the can, but a safe bet, especially when, per Christina, out of the gun Coke, is sub par.   First glance at the menu is overwhelming.  Not a good menu for the indecisive ones out there.  They may have a mini panic attack (not really).  The menu includes breakfast dishes, lunch dishes, soups, salads and a kid menu.  You definitely want to look at it all because it's not your usual breakfast menu.  Of course they have the simple egg dishes... the two egg, meat and bread... but then they have omelets, frittatas and hashes but with unique options and farm to table flare.  What's also unique to most brunch places is that they have Korean inspired dishes.  They have a Korean breakfast bowl that looks strikingly similar to bibimbap.  I noticed this immediately and got a little excited since I love me some bibimbap and made a mental note of it in case I didn't get it this round.  This would be a good moment to take an aside and fill you in on the 411 of the restaurant itself.

The original restaurant is located in Lake Geneva and per a blog on onmilwaukee.com, the restaurant owners were searching far and wide, from coast to coast to find the best location.  Lucky for us, they decided on Milwaukee.  The restaurant boasts its commitment to supporting local by being farm to table and having a commitment to sustainability through recycling and composting.  Christina had done some background reading on the establishment and informed me that, they are still currently using Lake Geneva for their source of food until they develop relationships with local Milwaukee area farmers.  Also, you will notice the Korean flare to the menu as she read that one of the owners brings their cultural cuisine to the menu. 

Now back to the important stuff, the food.  It was terribly difficult to decide on what to eat and our server was very patient with us and she actually complimented us on being very polite diners which was sweet of her to say. But, we finally decided and here's what we thought.  

Christina's pick
Details: The Simple Club.  House roasted pesto marinated turkey breast, fruitwood smoke bacon, lettuce, tomato, overnight oven roasted tomato mayo served on a toasted whole wheat bread with a side of Simple potatoes.  $9.25  She asked for the bacon on the side because doesn't really like bacon on a cold sandwich... to each their own, right?  I myself would want double the bacon on each side of the sandwich... it makes everything better. 

Blurry pic of the Simple club with side of Simple potatoes.

What she thought:  The sandwich was stacked 4 layers high which is always an impressive presentation.   Everything tasted very fresh.  She thought the pesto was a nice addition to the sandwich.   This was a nice accent because sometimes she feels that if it says it's marinated, you don't always taste it.  But, with this sandwich, she didn't.  She really enjoyed the bread that it was served on.  It was toasted but still soft.  It was a more dense bread versus an airy Wonder bread'ish slice (you know what I mean).  Lettuce was fresh and crisp which added nicely to the texture of the sandwich.   Between bites, she said that "this is definitely something she can't make at home."  She often rates things on if it is reproduce-able at home or not.  I think it could be, but as I always say, everything tastes better when someone else makes it for you, even a simple PB&J.  The hearty side of potatoes were simple, no pun intended, yet good.  They were a lightly seasoned roasted potato with the perfect crisp on the outside and a green onion confetti on top. 

My pick
Details:  Turkey, Bacon, Brussels Sprouts Hash.  House roasted turkey, shredded brussels sprouts, bacon, gruyere cheese, caramelized onion, potato and two eggs any style (I chose over easy).    $9.95 I chose to substitute a short stack of their buttermilk pancakes instead of bread. $2.50

Turkey, Bacon, Brussels Sprouts Hash with a short stack.

What I thought:   Love at first glance.  The presentation is great.  Love the large white plates (mind you... everything matches from the plates to the salt and pepper shaker).  Quite a large serving.  The eggs were prepared just right.  Any time there is a hash, I prefer a runny egg to use the yolk as something to give the hash a sauce.  Nobody wants a dry hash and when I mean nobody, I mean me.  But, with this hash, it was moist enough without the yolk running over it.  I've had a new found love for brussels sprouts lately so I loved this.   You'd think that the usual slightly bitter flavor of them might be overwhelming in this dish especially with the light flavor of turkey but it wasn't.  This was most likely due to them being shredded (for the most part, as there were some larger bites so if you're a anti-brussels don't get this), the creaminess of the gruyere and the sweetness of the caramelized onions.  This hash was nicely distributed and evenly balanced each ingredient so you got a little in each bite.  Of course, I may be biased, but the bacon made it just lovely.  It added that salt kick that most egg dishes need.  I'm typically a salter and a hot saucer, I know, I know, it's rude to do so... but, this one didn't need either of the two since it had good flavor.  This dish made me think of a Thanksgiving turkey dinner in one dish.  Would be a great idea for turkey day leftovers.  Definitely beware of how well the cheese is melted... not a first date dish as you do need to watch out for the long cheese strands that can be hanging from your mouth.  Don't pretend like you don't know what I mean.  The pancakes were cooked well... fluffy yet not overcooked and dry.  It had a nice moisture to it and didn't need a lot of syrup.

Other things to consider:
- Free, off-street parking available which is always nice for east side locations.  But, some of this may be removed as they do plan on expanding to outdoor seating
- Kid friendly as they do provide a kid menu
- Gluten free and vegetarian friendly
- Thorough with quality checks, refills on coffee and water
- No alcohol... so if you're in the bloody mary or mimosa mood, either pick somewhere else, plan to go to two places (one for food and one for brunch spirits) or make you're own at home.
- Changing seasonal menu since it is farm to table
- Christina commented that the bathroom was awesome and recommends checking it out
- They offer to give you a cup of coffee in a to-go mug on your way out

This was a great first experience.  I will definitely add it to my "bring people from out of town for brunch," list.  It's fresh, supports local and has a unique flare to the traditional brunch menu.  The size and appeal of the menu pulls me into wanting to go back again and again.   Plus, the nice server said we were the most polite she had all day and who doesn't like a compliment?   I know I do.  Check it out and feed your belly with some tasty, fresh, local food.  Cheers!

Simple Cafe

2124 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202

  (414) 271-2124

simplecafelakegeneva.com  (on their flier they have simplecafemilwaukee.com but it's not up and running yet as of 2/9/13)

OPEN

Monday - Friday 6am - 3pm

Saturday 7am - 3pm

Sunday 8am - 3pm

11.07.12 Dinner. Oscar's Pub & Grill (Clark Square/South Side. Milwaukee, WI)

Restaurant front to back

It's been a very busy time lately and Jamie and I haven't hung out in a while.  So, why not hang out?  Right?  Of course, we decided to go out to eat and catch up.  After emails back and forth trying to pick a restaurant, we decided on burgers and fries at Oscar's Pub & Grill.  We decided to head over there earlier since we had a light lunch and with us (not sure about Jamie but definitely know it's true about me) hunger does not wait and if it does, crabbiness comes out.   Anywho, we decided to head over around and get there around 6pm.  Christina met us there.   

As you enter the pub, first thing that will probably catch your eye is the bar that takes up the majority of the right side of the front room.  Across the bar are a few high top tables in the front left and then a longer high top in the front rear.  There is also a back room that isn't as hoping and busy as the front room with the bar.  The rear is filled with low top tables and another long high top in the left rear.  When we arrived, there were a few tables that were occupied and a handful of people at the bar.  During the time we were there, the crowd was very diverse which included people coming after work for a drink, a younger family, middle aged couples and college folk.  We walked toward the bar where most of the employees were and they instructed us to seat ourselves.  We decided on a front room high top.  The decor was a typical Milwaukee type bar with Milwaukee sports

The bar

gear and neon beer signs that adorn the walls.  The decor is darker with red and black walls and a tin/copper tiled ceiling.  As we looked at the menu, I noticed myself jamming to some Bob Marley... I mean who doesn't get into a slight trance when listening to Bob? 
The music was decent.  Was a mish mosh of top 40s from different decades.  Caters to all ages.  The music wasn't too loud that you couldn't keep conversation, which is nice.   The bar has a simple wood back bar that included a Green Bay Packers sombrero and an old school turn dial telephone. 

The server came to get our drink order within a reasonable time.  Christina and Jamie ordered diet coke and I ordered a tallboy bud light.   Why bud?  Why not?  It, along with Budweiser, was the special of the evening for $2 each.  Can't pass up a tallboy deal!... or maybe you can.  If you don't like the cheaper tallboy specials, they offer microbrews too.  They do have a full bar and a pretty decent selection of drafts and bottles/cans.  Christina and Jamie thought that their diet coke was one of the best bar diet cokes they have encountered.  That's a pretty big deal as Christina is somewhat a diet Coke connoisseur.  Typically, at a bar that serves coke through a gun, it's watery...per Christina.  But here, just right.  Jamie second the notion.  

Jamie had reviewed the menu prior to coming tonight, as both of us usually do.  But, I only had enough time to look at pictures.  I thought they looked similar to another local burger joint's burgers.  But, once I read a little review found on OnMilwaukee.com, it made much more sense.  I won't go into the details but this little review on the place provided a tid bit of history.  Also, on the website for the restaurant, finding that the owners are from Mexico and Austria helps to provide some reason for some of the flavors of the burger options.  On that note, let's get on to to good stuff.... The food!

The food menu is simple, yet inclusive.  The have apps, burgers and other delicious options.  Pricing is pretty good as the sandwiches do include home fries or Oscar's fries (sweet potato fries) for a dollar up charge.  Also, the burgers are all 8oz patties which is a hearty serving.  One item that I noted on the menu that isn't on the online menu is a vegetarian burger but can't completely remember the details of the burger.  And, they have a Friday fish fry... classic Milwaukee.  A theme that I noticed is that this menu is not super lactose intolerant friendly.  Cheese on almost everything and anything.  But, I'm sure you can request to not have it as well.  But, let's get real... This is Wisconsin.  I think we'd sometimes wonder where the heck the fried cheese curds are on the bar/pub menu.  Mmmmm cheese curds. 

Here is what we ordered!  Jamie and I pulled a half and half split and Christina got her own. 

Christina's Pick (when we asked what she was getting, she started off with "I know that it's weird to order a salad in a bar but....")
Details: Caesar Salad, hold the croutons (peanut gallery aka Jamie thought "no croutons...not a real Caesar")  and add the Chicken Littles.   Fresh romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and scallions topped with pieces of fried chicken tenders. $4 plus $1.50 up charge

Caesar Salad with Chicken Littles

Her thoughts: Mid first bite, Christina flashed a big thumbs up.  In regard to the Caesar salad, Christina is again the connoisseur.  If you know this girl, when she likes something, she likes something.  And, when I say connoisseur... I mean she eats it often.  When asked to elaborate upon what she liked about it, she noted that the dressing was very good and similar to what she had growing up.  It had good accents of garlic in the dressing accented by the grated Parmesan cheese dusted over the salad.  As I closely dissected the salad with my eyes, which I do often and people that I hang out with are probably used to by now, I asked if the chicken tenders were good and if they tasted like they were previously frozen.  She said no, and thought they were really good.  Also noted during my visual inspection, I saw a lot of larger pieces of red onion which would throw me off due to the size.  Plus, the menu said scallions which, while writing this, made me second guess my food knowledge but was confirmed by wikipedia that it is a green onion.  But, none the less, Christina was very happy by her choice of food despite initially feeling apprehensive about getting a salad at a bar.  She rated it a 10/10 on her own rating scale.

Mine and Jamie's Picks
Details:  The Big O.  8 oz. Premium Black Angus Burger, Chipotle Jack, Smoked Gouda, Hickory Bacon, Chorizo, Fried Onions, Jalapeños, Side of House Guacamole.  Prepared medium.  Side of home fries.  $7.25
The Big Hongo. 8 oz. Premium Black Angus Burger, Swiss Cheese, Sautéed Mushrooms. Prepared medium.  Side of Oscar's fries.  $6.50

The Big Hongo with a side of Oscar's Fries

Our thoughts: When they first came out to the table, I thought two things: 1. Thank God I didn't push for an appetizer because these burgers were ginormous 2. I should have worn my "I'm going to eat a lot of food" pants.  Jamie's initial thought the burgers had a great bun to meat ratio which we find very important in a good burger.  You don't ever want more of one or the other.  Your last bite should always have sufficient amounts of both meat and bread.   Every time you bit into either of the burgers, you can taste how juicy the burgers were.  The Big Hongo was the first one that I took a bite out of as it's a common burger that most burger joints offer so wanted to start with a clear palate as it could be a good comparison burger.  It had good flavor to it the mushrooms weren't overcooked but instead al dente which provided some nice texture.  The meat of both burgers weren't overly seasoned which was a great template for the flavorful options on the burger list.  The Big O burger was bursting with flavor.  You would think that with the both the bacon and the chorizo, it might be somewhat salty but it definitely wasn't.  My first bite was without the guacamole which was good and you can taste the creamy flavor of the melted gouda.  But, when you add the guacamole, it adds another layer of creaminess and cuts down on some of hot spice to the burger.  In regard to spice,

The Big O with a side of home fries.

due to the jalapenos and possibly the chorizo, there definitely is a kick.  So, spice wusses beware...this burger definitely has a spice alert.  The burger almost reminds me of having classic Mexican cuisine topped on a burger.  It had so many layers of flavor... creamy, savory, and spicy.  A nice compliment to this spicy burger was eating it with the sweet potato fries.  They are dusted with some cinnamon which adds a nice counter to the sweetness.  The aioli provided some savory flavor to
the sweet potatoes but, if paired with the Big O, probably not necessary.  The home fries were fair.  Salted just right but tasted as if they sat a little longer than we'd probably want them to... a little flat.  The home fries were even dusted with grated Parmesan... cheese love for all.  The sweet potato fries definitely trumped the home fries.  

Other things to consider: 
-Jamie noted that "It's a keeper" and possibly one of her top Milwaukee place for burgers
-Vegetarian options available and Friday fish fry option
-Both street and parking lot adjacent to the restaurant as options... plus for those that hate parallel parking 
-Appears to be family friendly as there was a family with younger children that were sitting down to dinner
-There is an option for take out and lunch delivery (M-F 11-2pm)
-Business started to pick up around 7pm with most of the tables occupied
-Come hungry because the burgers are HUGE 
-Offers some bar games options (darts, video games, etc)

To wrap it all up, this was a pretty awesome first trip to a fairly new (2011) burger joint to Milwaukee.  It definitely reflects the owners background and experience.  And if the food speaks for their experiences, it must have been an awesome one.  The food is great and we'd definitely go back again to try the other options if not eat the same thing all over again... but with some "eat a whole lotta food" type of clothes.  Check it out.  Eat, drink and be merry.  

Oscar's Pub & Grill

1712 W. Pierce Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204 

 (414) 810-1820  Fax: (414) 810-1824

www.oscarsonpierce.com

OPEN

Monday-Wednesday 11am -12am (kitchen 11am - 11pm)

Thursday- Saturday 11am - bar close (kitchen 11am - 11pm)

Sunday 11-10pm (kitchen all day)