In dining news around Milwaukee this month, a new sharable plates spot opens with one of the best views of the city, the South Side gets an eclectic mix of cuisines and two local spots open new locations. Plus, even more poke and ramen.
View MKE
facebook.com/ViewMKE
1818 N. Hubbard St. 414-763-0003 viewmke.com $$$
Despite a contentious start related to the sale of the restaurant’s building and subsequent closing of Wolf Peach, View MKE has opened in the enviable building in Brewer’s Hill. Owners Carl Tomich and his wife, Kim, also operate StoneFire Pizza Co. in New Berlin. Chefs Zach Panoske, formerly at Harbor House, and Paris Dreibelbis, formerly at Ardent, are behind the menu of locally sourced small plates and pizzas with international flavors. The dinner menu is divided into sections land, sea and garden, along with boards and snacks and Milwaukee-style pizza. Charcuterie and cheese boards ($19-$22) are chef’s choice, and adobo roasted peanuts ($6) go well with cocktails. Korean beef tartare is served with a gochujang aioli and soy egg yolk, seared sea scallops come with creamed corn and mole, and a tomato salad has cucumber, ricotta, and basil-walnut pesto. Thin-crust pizzas ($14-$15) come with toppings like chicken and chorizo with Peppadew peppers, pimento cheese and kale with lardons, and wild mushrooms. Brunch is served on weekends and includes okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake, and baklava French toast.
OYeah Chicken & More
facebook.com/oyeahchickenandmore
3322 W. Loomis Road 414-916-9324 $-$$ oyeahchickenandmore.com
A counter service restaurant has opened in the former Pizza Hut building near Point Loomis. OYeah Chicken & More serves up food from three cuisines: Southern, Chinese and Mexican, along with American standards like burgers and cheesesteaks. Fried chicken comes in individual ($3.99-$6.99) or family meals ($8.99-$19.98) served with biscuits. Whole chicken wings baked with Indian and Middle Eastern spices ($6.99-$8.99) are topped with thinly sliced potatoes. Mexican dishes include quesadillas ($4.99) and a taco bowl ($4.99) that can be topped with various meats. Stir-fried noodles ($5.99), fried rice ($5.99), pepper steak ($9.99) and sesame chicken ($8.99) round out the Chinese American menu.
Casablanca
facebook.com/CasablancaOnBluemound
17800 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield 262-261-6000 $$
Casablanca, a Middle Eastern restaurant on Brady Street, has opened a second location in Brookfield. The new location is about 12,000 square feet and took about a year longer to open than expected due to expanding plans for renovations of the building which formerly housed Hōm Wood-Fired Grill. Like the Brady location, the new Casablanca has a second-floor rooftop deck and bar, along with windows at the front of the restaurant that can be fully opened in good weather. The menu at the new location is similar to Brady Street’s, including a full daily vegetarian buffet (sides of meat can be ordered separately). A hummus appetizer ($5.95-$7.95) can be topped with meat ($9.95) for a heartier starter. Chicken, beef, lamb and shrimp shish kabobs ($16.95-$21.95) are cooked with tomatoes, peppers and onions and served with basmati rice. Wraps come stuffed with chicken shawarma ($10.95), lamb kifta ($10.95) and falafel ($9.95), among others.
Jose’s Blue Sombrero
7615 W. State St. 414-453-2300 josesbluesombrero.com $$
Jose’s Blue Sombrero has opened in the former Chancery location in downtown Wauwatosa. This is the fourth location for the local restaurant. The space has been remodeled to include seating on two floors, a balcony on the second floor overlooking Downtown and private party spaces. The décor is colorful and bright, with a brand-new bar and exposed Cream City brick. The menu is similar to that of the other locations. Guacamole is made tableside in a molcajete ($9.95). A hot molcajete also holds various combinations of sizzling meats and vegetables ($15.95-$27.95), served with tortillas and beans. A large section of tacos runs the gamut from beef short ribs marinated in soy sauce and mirin ($3) to chipotle and tequila shrimp ($3).
Fusion Poke
facebook.com/Fusion-Poke
1813 E. Kenilworth Place 414-763-4525 $-$$
Another new poke and ramen spot has opened on the East Side in the former Hotch space. Fusion Poke is the second location of a Chicago restaurant that’s capitalizing on the trend of Hawaiian seafood. And though the focus is on poke, ramen, Thai rolled ice cream, bubble tea and shaved ice are also available. Poke is available in six signature bowls in two sizes ($9.59-$12.59), or customers can choose to make their own with options like tuna, salmon, octopus and five different sauces and unlimited toppings included in the price. There are a number of styles of ramen ($11.99), including ever popular tonkotsu. Shaved ice ($5.75) is made with a Taiwanese machine that makes ribbons of ice and is available in flavors like mango and matcha.
In closings this month: El Cañaveral on Greenfield Avenue, a Mexican restaurant known for their homemade tortillas, announced on Facebook they were closed permanently. Sofia’s on Lincoln Avenue in West Allis has closed, and Chilango Express will be moving in.
