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)



9.28.11 Dinner. Rustico Pizzeria (Third Ward. Milwaukee, WI)

Bar Side of Restaurant.

Toward Rear of Restaurant.

So, it was a Wednesday night and Jamie and I were due for a dinner out.  We both are obsessed with Groupon and I had one for Rustico Pizzeria so we decided that it would be the night to use it.  Both of us had been there before and enjoyed it.  It was an earlier time for dinner, 6pm, and a Wednesday night so of course we didn't have a problem with being seated.  There were many tables open.  It was so early that I think that the after work "happy hour" crowd was still at the bar.  We're getting old... our stomachs demand early bird dinners.

The space itself was the typical Third Ward Milwaukee feel.  Cream city brick walls, long and narrow building and exposed pipes and beams.   It provided a darker ambiance.  The bar is immediately to the right when you enter and there are some high top tables across from it.  Along the rest of the restaurant are low top tables. Old photographs adorn the walls that are painted a nice earthy color.  Despite the brick and exposed beans and pipes, the restaurant provides a warm and homey vibe.

When we were at the table, we must have not hung out in a while because we were a pair of chatty Cathy's.  It took us forever to decide on what we wanted to drink and eat.  Our server was nice and patient with us as we often apologized for not knowing what we wanted time after time that she stopped to check in.  We finally decided on some beverages.  I hoped for an Oktoberfest brew, which they didn't have, but she did offer me a seasonal that they had on tap, Birra Moretti's La Rossa, a doppelbock.  Jamie chose Schlitz, she would.  Side note, Jamie calls me a hipster for drinking PBR while she often drinks Schlitz.  Same thing right? I think it is.  Hypocrite...just saying.  Her Schlitz was a Schlitz.  Not much to say about it but it was nice and cold.  Nobody likes a luke warm and flat lager.  My doppelbock was delicious.  Doppelbock is a darker malty beer.  It was a very smooth beer but of course, since it's dark, it's something I would only have one of.   To me, it had chocolate and coffee tinges to it but on websites, some would describe it as a smokey and oak type of flavor.  Try it out for yourself.

La Rossa and Schlitz.

After more chit chat, we finally started to decide what we wanted to eat.  The menu had lots of pizza options.  We went into this knowing we wanted pizza.  Of course, they had other Italian options.  Since this was a pizzeria, I obviously won't break it up into what we individually ordered as we just shared. We are good sharers.  Although, I'm not the best sharer/split'er unless we each split our own meals and half'sies.  I can eat quite a lot and I like me some food fo' sho'.  Let's get into the goodness then, shall we?

Grandma's Meatballs Served with Bread.

App details:
Grandma's Meatballs.  Three hearty sized meatballs served within their tomato sauce and served with warm bread.  $6.95 

Our Thoughts:
Let me tell ya, my grandma doesn't make meatballs...or at least I don't think she does... But, if she did, I would hope they would taste like these.  These were amazing.  Who knows if it was because I was hungry but Jamie agreed with me.  These meatballs were so flavorful and tender.  It may be the best meatball I've had in a long time (sorry Mom, yours are delicious but these were a party in my mouth).  The meatballs were garnished with some Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.  The blend of italian spices was perfect.  I'm a marinara snob and their sauce passed my inspection.  It wasn't too acidic like some marinara and tomato sauces can be.  Of course, the soft bread is a nice addition to mop up any left over sauce on our plates or the bowls.  If it weren't frowned upon, I would have licked the bowl and my plate clean.  But, of course I didn't.  Jamie would probably just shake her head at me.

Toscana Pizza.

Pizza Details:
12" Toscana Pizza.  Sausage, porcini mushroom, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and asiago. $13.95

Our Thoughts:
The sausage came in slices of sausage.  Jamie didn't like the fact that it was in slices.  I myself, don't mind the slices but the sausage is somewhat off.  We both agreed that it didn't taste like the typical Italian sausage that we're used to.  But, who knows, we're not Italian sausage specialists.  I couldn't pin point the typical spice I taste in Italian sausage but with some research I found that it was the fennel seed that I didn't notice.  But, who knows, it could have been ground in.  Then, I wondered if it was too porky... couldn't pin point it.  Loved the sauce.  Not sure if it was the same as the one on the meatballs but either way, Rustico knows how to work their tomatoes.  The crust was on the thinner side.  Cheese was good.  Mushrooms were barely noticeable.  So, if you're a mushroom hater, you may be able to slide by with this one.  Overall, the pizza was good but it was a hard act to follow after the meatballs.

Other things to keep in mind:
-Menu included Italian inspired sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes along with pizza's.
-They do have a brunch menu.
-They may be the same owner as Zarletti and Stubby's (noted that they advertise these locations on their website) so if you like those places, you might like this place. 
-Street parking only so you have to consider this.  But, there is a parking structure just down the block and East of their location. 

I really really enjoyed the appetizer in case you already didn't know.  I do enjoy the crust of their pizza's.  They do have desserts and other dishes that I may try another time.  The restaurant set up itself is typical third ward which I do enjoy.  Obviously, I'll come again since I've enjoyed my visits.  If there is another Groupon, I'll definitely get it.  Go and try their food.  If you go, and try out the sausage, let me know what your thoughts are in regard to the slice factor and the flavor flav.

Rustico Pizzeria

223 N Water St 

Milwaukee, WI 53202

(414) 220-9933

www.rusticopizzeria.com

OPEN

Lunch: Monday - Friday 11am

Brunch: Saturday/Sunday 11am

Kitchen open late: Monday - Thursday 12am, Friday/Saturday 1:30am

6.18.11 Brunch. Trocadero Gastrobar (Lower East Side. Milwaukee, WI)

Entrance of the building.  from ztrocadero.com

It was a great summer weekend and the sun was shining.   Since he missed my birthday dinner and drinks, Jordan thought it would be a good idea to go to brunch.  So, Jordan, Phil, Laura and I decided to go to Trocadero since it’s one of our favorite brunch spots.  I biked over there to meet them around 11.  As I rode my bike over, I saw various different groups of people running in matching shirts.  Some sort of challenge was going on and later we found out it was the Great Milwaukee Race.  One of their challenges was to play a life sized game of jacks.  Pretty entertaining to watch.  People were intensely competitive.  My kind of people!  I decided that I will start training for it that day for the next one.  It looked like a lot of fun.

Since it was a nice day out, we decided to sit outside.  Just like any other  weekend morning, it was pretty packed.  But, we didn’t have a wait.  Trocadero has a great set up both inside and out.  On the inside, you will see that it has a nice European style charm to it, just like the other Diablo restaurants (Cafe Benelux, Cafe Centraal and Cafe Hollander).  There is a bar in the front entrance that you can immediately order on of their delicious bloody mary's or  a mimosa if there does happen to be a wait.  Between the inside dining area there is a, what I would call a “four seasons room type area.”  It’s as if it was part outdoor seating with heaters and four season type walls with large windows to them.  Then, it leads to the outside patio that’s fenced in from the sidewalk and has a nice little fountain to it.   The crowd tends to be quite mixed.  Groups in their 20s, parent’s with their adult children and sometimes the church crowd that come for some good eats after their church service.  Who doesn’t like to grub down after hearing about God?  I know I do.  

We weaved our way through all the tight knit tables on the patio and was sat at a cute little table close to one of the walls and just a table away from the fence.  It was nice and shaded so that we didn’t burn to a crisp in the sun.  Felt just right.   When the server came, she informed us of both food and drink specials for the day.  

Traditional Lime Mojito.

Glorioso's Bloody Mary Special and High Speed Wit Chaser.

Laura, Jordan and I ordered the special bloody Mary of the day which was the Glorioso’s bloody Mary.  For those of you that don’t know, Glorioso’s is a local Italian grocery store located on Brady which serves prepared meals, makes hot sandwiches to order,  serves desserts and provides a complete grocery for all your Italian needs.   The bloody Mary included garlic and basil infused vodka and Glorioso’s fixin’s.  The fixin’s included fresh mozzarella, lemon and lime, pepperoni and a sport pepper.  The bloody Mary’s, as they should in Milwaukee, come with a high speed wit chaser.  Jordan enjoyed the pepperoni, Laura liked the mozzarella ball.  I thought the pepperoni was a tad on the greasy side.  As I do with bloodies that come with bacon, I would probably remove it from the drink to minimize the congeal factor. Gross.   The bloody Mary wasn’t overpowered by garlic as we had anticipated it might be.   I thought it had a great tomato to vodka balance and not all that spicy.  Because of the lack of spice factor, I squeezed and submersed the pepper into the beverage to give it that extra kick.   Phil ordered a mojito.  He’s not a bloody kind of guy.  It included three limes along the rim and per Phil, it had a pretty smooth and neutral flavor.  Great summer drink. 

We looked at the menus for a bit before decided.  The menu tends to lean toward the southwest feel with items that come with black beans and pico de gallo.  Of course, they have standard brunch items like an all American type plate, omelets and pancakes.  But, all with a little troc flare to it.  Let’s get down to the real deal… the food. 

Mamacita Burger with frites.

We’ll go in order of the person to my left and then around the table.  Of course, we all know I like to be organized and structured that way.  So, here we go!

Phil

Details:   Mamacita Burger.  Burger cooked to order (medium well is what Phil chose), pico de gallo, queso fresco, avocado and garlic aioli.  Served with frites.  $13.00

His Thoughts:   The temperature looked to be perfect to me.  Nice and Pink.  Phil enjoyed the burger and said it was pretty tasty and juicy.  The fries, looked delicious and from past experience, I remember them to be pretty darn good.  They’re the cut that I usually enjoy… not too meaty. 

Jordan

Details: Spicy Black Bean Cakes. Hand-crafted bean cakes, poached eggs, queso fresco, salsa verde, pico de gallo.  $10.00

Spicy Black Bean Cakes

His Thoughts:  Jordan is a foodie like me.  We often talk about food a minimum of twice when we hang out.  No complaints here about that.  I can talk about food for hours.  But, on this day, Jordan had little to say about this dish.  He said he had no complaints but would probably put a spicier salsa on if he were to prepare it.  So, the spicy in the name is more so regarding spices that are used versus a heat factor.  Good thing to know for SPICE wimps. 

Quiche Lorraine with side of fruit.

Laura

Details:  Quiche Lorraine. Bacon, onion, and Gruyere cheese.  Served with a side of seasonal fruit. $9.00

Her Thoughts:  She thought it was good.  She really digs quiche in general and was in the mood for one that day. The quiche crust was the same as mine so you will see details regarding it in my thoughts below.  Never go wrong with the rosemary potatoes.  Are a nice addition to the quiche but creates a pretty hearty platter.  

My Food

Details: Veggie quiche of the day.  Veggie quiche that consisted of onion, artichoke, white cheddar and a sundried tomato pesto. Served with a side of rosemary potatoes. $9.00

Veggie Quiche of the Day with rosemary potatoes.

My Thoughts:  Amazing.  So flavorful at the first bite.  Definitely a kick of flavor in the mouth.  Nice blend of fillers for the quiche and the crust was nice and flaky but not dry. I do like when the crust is a flakier consistency and doesn't just crumble when you bring your knife or fork to it.  Nobody wants a crumbs with their egg goodness.  At least, I know I don't.  The top of the filler had a nice baked crusted finish to it and the pesto was primarily just placed on top and did not appear to be mixed into the quiche itself.  It was just the right amount of pesto.  This is especially important because pesto, in my opinion, can be a little overpowering in large amounts.   It was a hearty meal with the quiche and the potatoes so I was only able to eat half of both.  But, then again it could have been partially due to the bloody Mary and its fixin’s. 

Other things to consider:

-Street parking only.  Plan accordingly.  Bike!  Save the ozone.

-Large servings.  So, if you eat like a bird, find some kind person to split with you unless you are a leftover eater.

-Typically a wait for a table during the brunch time rush.

-Vegetarian and gluten intolerance options.

-Daily specials for both drink and food during brunch. 

-Outside seating not the most wheelchair friendly due to proximity of tables and the steps.  (I know, somewhat random but it is a tight squeeze and I’m a physical therapist by trade.)

Overall, this was another enjoyable experience at Troc.  Great weather added to the experience for sure.  The quiche is always a delight and filling so be ready to share of take home left overs.  The bloody Mary options are out of this world.  Try it out!

Trocadero Gastrobar

1758 N Water St

Milwaukee, WI 53202

(414) 272-0205

www.ztrocadero.com

OPEN

Monday - Friday 8am-close

Saturday/Sunday 9am - close

6.14.11 Dinner. Crisp Pizza Bar and Lounge (Lower East Side/Brady Street. Milwaukee, WI)

 1st flr from 2nd. From Yelp.com

Since he was going out of town, Bryan and I decided to celebrate my birthday with dinner and some drinks since he was going to miss the birthday festivities.  So, we decided to hit up Brady Street, one of our favorite places to hang out.   Always an opportunity for good people watching.  We decided to go to Crisp Pizza Bar and Lounge.  It helped that I had a Groupon to use.  I'm a Groupon junkie.  Why not get some great deals for fun places to eat?  Right? Right. 

It was a lovely Tuesday evening around 630pm so we didn't have much of a wait to get a table.  Our time inside was brief as it was just to talk with the hostess.  We asked for a table outside.  I had been to crisp prior to this experience but only to check out the vibe and grab a drink.  In regard to their food, we were both Crisp virgins.  The place was two floors.  The main floor, from what I noticed, has a bar, tables and a walk up counter for orders to go.  The second floor wraps around to look down at the main part of the first floor.  Very modern and clean lines decorate this place.  There is a place for a DJ to mix some tunes for the later bar hours.  The place overall seems somewhat out of place on Brady street and instead has a Milwaukee Street type feel.  In my opinion it would be more appropriate to be located by Kenadees, Umami Moto, Sake Tumi, etc.  But, then again, maybe that's their strategy... to be the only place like this on Brady that can attract the fist pumping crew of Brady Street. Anyway, we sat down at a table on the sidewalk and the hostess brought some waters and the menus.  

The menus were loose pieces of paper on little clipboards.  On a breezy night as that night, they were hard to handle and read because the paper was all over the place.  But, nothing to really complain too much about.  Just enough to mention.  Of course, since it was me and Bryan, we attempted to order PBR tallboys, which were cheaper than the regular PBR cans on the menu... I'm thinking it was a typo.  Either way, we were left disappointed because they were all out of them.  So, we had to settle for the regular sized ones ($2).  Definitely not heartbroken over it.  We looked through the menu to try to decide what to get.  It was a rather extensive menu but we knew we wanted pizza so that helped.  Also, not a toughy because we share similar tastes in pizza toppings. 

Obviously PBR and water.

Here's what we got!
Details: As an app, the Crisp Bread Sticks and chose the garlic butter as our dipping sauce. $6
Signature Large Pizza.  Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper.  Italian sausage, mozzarella, goat cheese, and fontina paired with roasted red peppers in a spicy red sauce and topped with basil.  $20

Thoughts:  



Crisp Bread Sticks with Garlic Butter.



Appetizer.  The bread sticks were light and fluffy and drizzled with what seemed to be a balsamic vinegar reduction, some grated parm and herbs.  At first glance, it reminded me of funnel cake with much bigger pieces of dough and the balsamic drizzle looked like chocolate sauce.   Wasn't the prettiest looking thing, that's for sure.  Shaped like pieces of ginger root.  But, this was very delicious.  The bread itself was very light.  The balsamic reduction provided a sweet and tangy zing to it.  The garlic butter was just that...nice, what appeared to be, drawn butter with larger fresh pieces of roasted garlic that settled to the bottom.  Despite the larger pieces of garlic, it wasn't overpowering.  Even though the sticks being light, they were rather filling and a great amount for the price.  

Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza.

Pizza. The crust was the same as the bread sticks.  Hand tossed, thinner crust to the pizza.  Crisp yet chewy on the inside.  First bite...  so fresh.  The sauce has great fresh tomato flavor but isn't overly acidic, as some sauces can be.  Every ingredient tasted like it was just cut up and put together right before it came out.  Crust was dusted with corn meal which provided some nice texture.  Goat cheese creaminess and flavor countered this crunch.  The fontina was barely noticeable to me. The sausage itself was crumbled into smaller pieces which allowed it to be in every bite.  The sweetness of the peppers balanced and paired well with the savory sausage. 

Other things to consider:

-Server was rarely mentioned because she was barely present.  Someone always kept our water full though, which was nice.

-App came on a nice Fiesta-ware style plate but the dipping sauce came in a little plastic cup... cheesy for such a higher end type of pizza joint

-They do serve brunch and have other menu items that include salads (which is a bar that you can pick all the topics), sandwiches, individual slices, dessert and various apps.  Gluten free (crust) options!  Yay Jen!

-Their menu gloats about supporting the slow food movement.

-Large drink menu.  Didn't glance at it all that closely because when with Bryan, we go PBR.

-Happy Hour:  3-5pm on weeknights.  Half priced slices and $2 selected taps (per yelp.com)

I'll definitely come here again.  The vibe itself is a little different and I can see myself being a brunch, lunch and early dinner patron versus the bar and late night crew.  Instead you'll most likely see me fist pumping at Jo-Cat's on Brady.  But yes, I'll come back to try some of the other menu items especially brunch.  They offer a 24oz bloody Mary with a tallboy PBR chaser.  That's intense...

Crisp Pizza Bar and Lounge

1323 East Brady St

Milwaukee, WI

(414) 727-4217

http://www.crispmilwaukee.com/

Open

 Fri/Sat 1130am - 230am

Sun-Thurs 11:30am - 2am

Slices served until close

6.12.11 Brunch. Comet Cafe (Lower East Side. Milwaukee, WI)

Sunday Funday!  I don't know if you are aware that I like, no, I LOVE brunch.  So, Maretes and I were due for some hang out one on one time.  We decided to hit up Comet... huge surprise right? I got there first and signed up for a table.  It was only about a 20 minute wait which was pretty darn good but, it was earlier for the Sunday Brunch crowd... 10am.  Remember, this is a "slow food" restaurant who prides themselves in good food from scratch, so don't expect a speedy in and out kinda joint. 

Bloody Mary with High Life Mini for the Chaser

Maretes was running late but placed an order with me to get her a bloody Mary with a chaser.  So, I ordered two bloody Marys with chasers and both with bacon.  The Server was very attentive and got me a drink right away despite the other person not being there.  I ordered mine spicy (SPICE alert.  not for spice wimps.  constant Tabasco heat to the back of your throat.)  When you order a bloody, they ask you with bacon or not.  If you've been following my blog, you've gotten the idea that I'm down with the bacon movement.  Please keep in mind, when you order a bloody with bacon, I recommend that you remove the bacon and either eat it immediately or put it to the side.  The bacon fat starts to congeal and it's not appetizing...unless you like a film of fat in your mouth.  Gross.  The other fixins in the bloody include pickled mushroom, pickled brussel sprout, lime, lemon, olive and bacon.  I don't like brussel sprouts but I do love me some pickled brussel sprouts that has been bathed in bloody Mary goodness.  The bloody Marys come with a cute mini high light life bottle.  Love it. 

Diner side.  Obtained from Yelp.com

Crowd is usually 20-30s typical east side crowd but also people from all around Milwaukee and people coming into town.  As noted in my last blog on Comet, the restaurant was shown on Diners, Drive ins and Dives so it brings in quite the foodie crowd sometimes.  There are two sides to the restaurant, the diner side and the bar side.  You can eat on both sides and can also eat at the counter and the bar. On nice days, there is also an option for sitting outside.  So many options.  It can get rather busy and you usually sign in on the sheet on the cafe side.  Next to the sign in sheet is their beautiful baked good display.  Great placement.  The cupcakes and pies always look delectable.  The servers and bartenders are usually very friendly.  On this visit, the server was very nice despite the place being pretty crowded as time went on that we were there.  There is usually some music playing can be from a wide variety of genres.

Due to my need to try something different every time I go to Comet (still have no doubled up on menu items...thank you very much), I ended up ordering an omelet.  Maretes was excited to be part of the blog and asked me what else I have not adventured to try on the brunch menu and so she ended up getting the meat and eggs. 

Maretes' Meal (I like alliteration.)

Details: Meat and Eggs.  Meatloaf covered with homemade sausage gravy, two eggs which she ordered over easy and covered with cheddar, hash-browns and asked for onions added to it, and chose cinnamon toast. $11.00 (additional cost for her cheddar and cinnamon toast as well, I think, but I don't know how much.)

Meat and Eggs. Hashbrowns, Over Easy Eggs covered and Cinnamon Toast.

Maretes' thoughts:  Initially, she was surprised and disappointed when she noticed that the sauteed onions were in a little clump under the hashbrowns instead of mixed into them but when she tasted them with the hash-browns, they were so good.  She was happy and impressed with how fresh everything tasted.  The eggs were overcooked and not over-easy as she had ordered.  Possibly because they had to let the cheese melt onto them.  Cinnamon toast was made from scratch in her opinion and was oh so delicious.  Kind of like they took a piece of white toast and spread some butter on it and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar.  Their homemade gravy is creamy and full of flavor.  Large helping of meatloaf so come hungry.  Per the servers, it's made daily.  Let me tell you, this meal was comfort food in a nutshell.  It's like getting a hug from an all American Grandma.  Now, who wouldn't like that?

My go.

Details:   3 egg omelet with tomato, spinach and mozzarella, served with hashbrowns and I chose rye bread (I know, I've already been told that only old people eat rye but I love it!... Not just bread for a Ruben... a bread for all occasions.) $7.50 and $0.75 cents for an extra ingredient since the omelets come with a choice of two. 

3 Egg Omelet (tom, spin and moz).  Rye Toast and Hashbrowns

My thoughts:  The mozzarella tasted so good.  I really enjoy omelets with good fresh mozzarella.  It was melted just perfectly and maintained a good melted consistency versus hardening up.  The omelet, overall, was tasty but pretty simple.  Not something that really stands out but when you order something like this, you can't expect anything mind-blowing and unique right? Right.  It's an omelet that you can get at other places.  Hash-browns were made just how I like them.  I added a few shakes of Tabasco to my potatoes and it really brought them up a notch but that's my style.  Dig the spice.  Crispy and well done on the outside yet still soft on the inside.  The rye is unique, as stated in the past Comet blog, since it has a salted crust.  I love salt so this could be a turn off to those that don't enjoy it.  Just like with a salted pretzel, I'm thinking it could be rubbed off if someone doesn't dig it. 

Other things to consider:

-Since I had a bloody Mary, I was in need of some caffeine.  I was able to order a coffee to go.  BONUS was that I wasn't charged for it.  God, I love this place.

-Great service on this visit despite the crowd and how busy it gets.

-Able to get your meal how you want it... ie all Maretes' add ons and the option for vegan and vegetarian dishes.

-Parking can be terrible on the lower east side.  Maretes was struggling with this one. 

-Brunch menu is more extensive than their typical daily breakfast menu.  Brunch is served on both Saturday and Sunday.

Overall, this was a good visit.  You know I'll always come back here. Love this place to death.  Of course, there are some things I like more than others.  On this visit, my meal was average, the bloody was good as always and the company and service was fantastic. 

Comet Cafe

1947 N Farwell Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53202 

(414) 273-7677

www.thecometcafe.com

OPEN

Monday - Thursday 10:30am-2am

Friday 10:30am - 2:30am

Saturday 9am - 230am

Sunday 9am - 2am

Food service ends at 10pm nightly

Happy Hour M-F 3:30 - 6:30pm

Daily Drink Specials start at 6:30pm

6.10.11 Dinner. Bel Air Cantina. (East Side. Milwaukee, Wi)



Tall Boy PBR and Water.

As I said in my 5.28.11 post on Bel Air Cantina, it's a place worth going back to.  And so I did.  Bryan had never been there and we were down for some grub on a Friday night.  Renee was going to meet up with us because she was in the mood for some Friday fun as well.  It was earlier in the night and it didn't take us long to get a table.  We ended up sitting at a booth.   Like the last time I was here, it was a bit drafty.  Who knows where it was coming from but it was tolerable.  We both ordered tall boy PBRs of course.  Any time Bryan and I hang out it's all hipster all the time.  Whether we're true hipsters or just posers is a discussion for another time and depends on who you ask.  As always, they bring their trio of salsas and chips.  Love me some chips and salsa.

The green tomatillo salsa is still my favorite and Bryan agreed with me on this one... I have pretty good taste in food. Check it out for yourself and challenge it if you wish.  We looked over the menu for a bit of time to try to figure out what we wanted to get.  I, myself, knew I need to try something different from the tacos to try and redeem the food from my previous experiences.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but it left me wanting more.  Renee wasn't going to join us for food.  Only drinks and chips and salsa so we ordered before she got there.  We both decided on getting a burrito.

Since we've already gone through the details for the location and the setting in my previous blog, let's get on to the more important topics of conversation, the food. 

Blog guest first...What Bryan ordered.

Carne Asada Burrito.

Details:   Carne Asada Burrito.  Grilled skirt steak with black beans, crema fresca, guacamole, rice, shredded lettuce, cilantro, onions and topped with queso fundido and salsa roja. $9.89.

Bryan's Thoughts:  Bryan gave his burrito a solid B+. It was pretty cheesy from the cheese sauce.  He really liked the flavor to his burrito. He didn't have complaints about his burrito and he was obviously digging it because he joined the clean plate club.  Winner! I tried a bite of his.  I thought the fact that it was refried black beans versus whole black beans made the burrito a little mushy for my palate.  Compared to mine, it didn't have as much flavor.  I rarely try other people's food in fear that I'll like their better than mine and be jealous but in this case, I didn't.  Phew.

Corona Lite.

A little side note away from the food.  Renee finally met up with us a little bit after we got our food.  She ordered a Corona Lite and enjoyed some of the delicious chips and salsa.  She asked me, "could you take a picture of my awesome corona lite?  It makes my night."  Who knew she was a poet in addition to a physical therapist? Now we do! Unlike Jamie from the previous visit, Renee really enjoyed the fact that her beer came in a can.  To each their own...to each their own.

My turn

Details:   Pollo Yucatan Burrito.  Grilled chicken with achiote (a ground spicy seed), pinto beans, avocado salsa, cotija queso, shredded lettuce, crema fresca, pineapple and topped with salsa roja.  $9.23

My Thoughts:   The burrito was soooooo flavorful.  Renee had a bite and agreed that it was tasty too (not just one opinion but two!).  The chicken had a smoky flavor to it (kinda like Qdoba and

Pollo Yucatan Burrito.

Chipotle chicken).   I found it a bit odd that there was peas in the burrito.  May have been from the rice as I do recall that their rice has carrots and peas, maybe?  Also, I often don't dig the idea of having lettuce in a burrito as it gets warm and wilts but that's just a personal preference.  There was some spice to it but wasn't anything that really called for spice alert for readers.  Just enough spice to add some good flavor and possibly the sweet and tart pineapple countered the spice factor.  Overall, it was a very enjoyable dish and I would even rate it ten times better than my previous taco experiences.  From what I've learned the chicken dishes are my favorites... so far. 

Other things to consider:

-Fun group of servers and tenders.  Looked over at one point and the servers and bartenders were enjoying a shot together.  That's what I call teamwork.  (Hope this doesn't get them into trouble.  Service was very good during this visit). 

-As always, it's on the East Side and only street parking available.  Not difficult to find parking when you get there early.

-Corona in a can is definitely relative to the person who is enjoying the beverage.  Renee was just a happy little duck with her can of corona lite. 

-Great atmosphere to hang with friends.  

I definitely enjoyed the food much more during this round at the Cantina.  The place itself is always fun and I'll definitely consider it when I'm craving some Mexican.  There are a number of items that I want to try out (brunch, nachos, tostadas and burrito bowls). 

Bel Air Cantina

1935 N Water St

Milwaukee, WI 53202

414.226.2245

http://www.belaircantina.com/

OPEN

Weekdays: 11am-2am

 Weekends: 10am-2am

Happy Hour: Regular M-F 3pm-7pm

Late night: 11pm-1am (except Tues)