The East Side gets a new café-restaurant combo, a Downtown spot rebrands itself, and more Latin flavors move into Bay View. Plus, a new spot from the owners of McBob’s (minus the corned beef).
East Town Kitchen & Bar 323 E. Wisconsin Ave. 414-847-3162 easttownkitchenandbar.com
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Millioke has rebranded and changed formats to an upscale comfort food venue. East Town Kitchen & Bar has a focus on Milwaukee and local ingredients, just like its new name. The space features a new layout with a subway tile-backed relocated bar and new banquette seating. Small plates include BLT deviled eggs, a jumbo pretzel with cheddar beer cheese and Widmer’s cheese curds. Two burgers feature Fred Linz Farms beef and toppings like white barbecue sauce and thick-cut peppered bacon. Beer-battered walleye, fried chicken with a hot honey drizzle and baked macaroni and cheese round out the entrees. Brunch includes items like biscuits and gravy and an appropriately named 32-ounce “Big Ass Bloody Mary.”
Freshii 250 E. Wisconsin Ave. 414-921-0819 freshii.com/ca/en-ca/milwaukee
A Canadian-based fast casual chain has opened in the Two-Fifty Building Downtown. Freshii serves salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, frozen yogurt and fresh juices to health-conscious diners. Salads and wraps can be ordered in styles like Cobb and Southwestern fiesta or as build-your-own. Bowls are made with bases like brown rice, quinoa or rice noodles with flavor influences from the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. This is the first location in Milwaukee, but not the first in the state. Madison’s two locations closed last month, leaving an Appleton, Wisc., location outside of our area.
Interval 1600 N. Jackson St. intervalmke.com $-$$$
A café by day and restaurant by night has opened in the former Pleasant Kafe space. Interval is operated by the guys behind Pilcrow Coffee and aims to be a casual meeting space for the neighborhood all day long. Breakfast includes homemade biscuits served with or without sausage ($4-$6), banana bread ($4) and nitro, pour-over, espresso and Brazilian drinks. At dinner, the atmosphere will remain relaxed and comfortable in the minimalist space, while the menu will serve upscale small plates, pasta and larger plates for sharing. Dishes will change frequently, but expect items like pork belly with popped sorghum, vegetable salads with black garlic, pork fat madelines with cheese foam and steak tartare—all for around $10.
Merge 1932 E. Kenilworth Place mergemke.com
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A modern bar and restaurant serving Korean-style fried chicken wings has opened in the former Yokohama space. Merge owners Choonghoon Lee and Lane Kim also own Char’d, a Korean restaurant that opened earlier this year. The fusion menu will include bar snacks and appetizers like Korean-influenced loaded fries, tacos and burgers. The signature item will be Korean fried chicken, which is known for its extreme crispness and sweet-and-spicy sauce. Cocktails with homemade syrups and weekend brunch will be available. The interior of the space is sleek and playful, and includes custom murals inspired by Black Cat Alley next door.
Sabor Tropical 2258 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. 414-988-8030 sabortropicalmke.com $$
A Caribbean and Latin American-inspired restaurant has opened in the former Riviera Maya spot (which has moved about a block down the street). Sabor Tropical serves dishes from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Mexico and Cuba, among others. Plantains play a big role on the menu in items like tostones rellenos ($8-$10) stuffed with your choice of meat; mofongo rellenos ($15-$24), an entree made of mashed plantains with chicharrónes and topped with shrimp, lobster or fish; and el jibarito ($11), a sandwich with smashed plantains taking the place of bread. Other options include Cuban ropa vieja ($12) with shredded flank steak and olives, pechuga con mole ($12) and gazpacho with shrimp, cucumbers and onion served with chicharrónes ($10). Tropical drinks like mojitos, caipirinhas and piña coladas are the bar’s specialty.
Tusk 5513 W. North Ave. $$
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A new restaurant named after the owner’s appreciation for elephants has opened in Washington Heights. Tusk is run by Christine McRoberts, who also owns McBob’s just a few blocks away. The restaurant will be collaborating with the new Vennture Brew Co. next door to incorporate their beer, coffee and brewing byproducts into the menu, as well as several items for customers with special diets. A make-your-own board item includes meats, cheeses and accoutrements for sharing, along with apps like tempura green beans and chicken wings. Beef ramen made with stout ($15), sandwiches like grilled cheese and pulled pork and entrees such as blackened salmon ($14) round out the menu.
