Dish on Dining

Restaurant, American Style
Roots Restaurant & Cellar is one of the Top 25 restaurants listed in the May issue of Milwaukee Magazine. If you read the story, I mentioned Roots co-owner John Raymond’s plans to open a restaurant called Supper. Raymond has back-burnered those plans for now, and joined a Walker’s Point project that you will undoubtedly hear more about in the months to come: developer Tim Dixon’s Iron Horse Hotel, a boutique hotel offering 102 loft-style guestrooms (500 W. Florida St.). Raymond will lead the crew operating the on-site restaurant and bar. The restaurant – Smyth – will serve regional American cuisine. Raymond isn’t interested in doing pretentious, fussy food here. A “restaurant anyone can go to” is the mantra – we’re talking a person wearing “chaps to the lady in high heels.” The bar, called Branded, will have its own menu. The hotel’s location – inside a 100-year-old building neighboring the new Harley-Davidson Museum (scheduled to open in July) – ties into its atmosphere. There’s the history of the building/neighborhood and the motorcycle culture that’ll filter over from the museum. I will share the details as they come to me. For now, you can check out the hotel’s Web site: www.theironhorsehotel.com.

Charcoal Dreams
You know summer is more than an intense yearning when Larry’s Brown Deer Market throws its beef on the barbie on Friday afternoons. The formal name of this event is Friday Grill Outs. Every Friday for as long as words like “wind chill” and “snow” are not in the forecast, you can pick up lunch at Larry’s – an assortment of de rigueur grilled fare: Cajun tenderloin, Angus burgers (and cheeseburgers), Klement’s brats, lemon-tarragon swordfish and basil pesto chicken breast ($4-$6.50). If it rains, no problem. They’ll just do the cooking indoors. Eat there or take it to go. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., through the end of October. 8737 N. Deerwood Dr., 414-355-9650.

Foodie Calling
What are you doing this Saturday at noon – and the following three Saturdays? Producers of “Wisconsin Foodie” hope you’ve switched on the tube to Channel 12, eyes glued to host Kyle Cherek. The local culinary show starts its four-week run on May 10. Topics on this half-hour program are restaurants, markets, chefs and farms, all of them local. At the end of May, the powers-that-be will decide whether to film more episodes. Show time: Saturday, 12 p.m. on Channel 12.

Mother Knows Best
If you don’t know what Sunday is, the next

few sentences will be especially important. You might be lured in by the ads for heart-shaped necklaces or cookie bouquets. Or you could get your mom what she really wants, and we all know that’s a restaurant meal. Brunch is apparently Mom-Tested, Mom-approved. Last week, I gave a few suggestions for places to go. I have more, but keep in mind you’ll probably be looking at waiting lists. But going to bat for Mom is worth it. Here’s what I’ve got:

The Copper Dock: Overlooking lovely Friess Lake in Hubertus. The buffet runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Breakfast items transitioning into dinner fare. $21.95. 1474 E. Friess Lake Dr., 262-628-3718.

Envoy: Located inside the restored art deco Ambassador Hotel. A buffet featuring salmon, lamb, ham, omelets, waffles, pastries, cheeses, etc. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Adults $25.95; kids 12 and under $12.95. 2308 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-345-5015.

Pfister Hotel, Grand Ballroom: “Action stations” preparing omelets to pancakes. Also seafood, prime rib, pasta salad, cheese display, pastries. Adults $49; kids 5 to 12 $20. 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-390-3830.

Trocadero: A prix fixe menu, and Moms (with proof of identification) get a complimentary rose and glass of Champagne. 1758 N. Water St., 414-272-0205.

Pier Wisconsin: Bartolotta Catering handles the food. Brunch buffet, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 500 N. Harbor Dr., 414-765-8610.

This Is Hot Stuff
There’s still time. I’m not trying to hound you, but…. If you haven’t filled out your Readers’ Choice Dining Awards survey, what the heck are you waiting for? One way to do it to send in the ballot found in the May issue of Milwaukee Magazine. Another way – an easier, faster way – is to fill out our online access survey and hit submit. Please do us the favor of completing the survey, whether it’s the online or print version. Surveys submitted through our Web site will also be eligible for a prize in our random drawing. Note that we will accept only one survey per person. (I promise you, we’ll be able to sniff out duplicates online, so don’t try it. We have the technology….) Click on the link below to access the survey. And please vote!

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/readerschoice/

Can’t get enough dining? I chat about restaurants every week with Jane Matenaer and Kidd O’Shea on “The Mix.” Listen between 8 and 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 15. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.

Also check out critic Paul Kosidowki’s picks for the best events in arts and entertainment in Culture Club.