Dish on Dining

Happening Right Here, Right Now
• At night, it looks like glow worms illuminate Cafe Brücke, the charming smoke-free bar/restaurant living in the shadows of that monstrous condo development on Lafayette and Prospect (2101 N. Prospect Ave, 414-287-2053). The patio tables always look inviting when I’m cruising past. Co-owner Jerry Patzwald told me that the 5-year-old is having its best year in business. At the same time, oddly enough, he and partner Christine Lorch are trying to sell Brücke. However, what they want is someone to continue to run it. So Brücke is not closing. I repeat, not closing. No fretting, then, if you’re a fan of Spaten on tap and Brücke’s creamy chicken pâté.

• As I write this, the crew at Brookfield’s Charro Tacos & Tequila are getting ready for…. Let me backtrack a moment. Charro (which has a sister restaurant on tony Milwaukee Street) replaces Umami Moto, which replaced Monsoon (at 17800 W. Bluemound Rd.). The new Charro officially opens today (Thurs, Sept. 3) at 4 p.m. If you’ve been to the location Downtown, the menu at Brookfield’s Charro will look familiar. Chimichangas, paella, enchiladas, various ceviches and burritos “as big as your head” are some options. Hours L Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun 12-4 p.m. D Mon-Sat 4-10 p.m.; Sun 4-8 p.m. (262-782-7253)

• The cafe on the corner of Ninth and National in Walker's Point is appropriately called The National. In the past, it’s been home to Brooklyn Bob’s sub shop. Now the space is all about local, sustainable and organic foods. Open since December 2008, The National is primarily known as a breakfast and lunch place, opening daily at 8 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m. Tofu scramble, ultimate ham and cheese sandwich and lemon-caper tuna salad, to name a few ($4-$7.25). (Today’s special was meatloaf made with Wisconsin grass-fed beef.) Things are changing, though, as of next week. You could say The National is growing. Starting on September 8, the cafe will stay open until 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday nights. Each evening, chef A.J. Dixon will offer two dinner entrées based on the cafe’s connections with local farms and the local organization Braise RSA. One of the two entrées will be vegetarian. Intrigued? You can follow The National on Twitter and Facebook to find out the daily entrée specials. First go to the cafe’s Web site: http://www.nationaleats.com/

• This fall, when Tomaso’s of Mequon moves to its new home – in the

old Albanese’s on River Road – pizza will of course be its staple menu item. But owner Nancy Horrigan says she plans to add some things – perhaps a steak or two – but still keep the prices moderate. And the space needs some work. (A crew is demo-ing the dining room , for instance.) Horrigan is shooting for late October or early November to reopen Tomaso’s at 12020 W. River Rd. In the meanwhile, you can still get your ’za fix at the Mequon digs (River Centre Plaza, 6075 W. Mequon Rd.).

A Big Q
This weekend, a lot of barbies will be fired up, I guarantee it. If you’re hankering for something bigger than your backyard Weber, check out a sanctioned Kansas City Barbecue competition this Saturday (Sept. 5). More than 50 teams will start barbecuing on the evening of the 4th, with judging held in the morning of the following day. This is part of the MLK Street Jam & BBQ. A special “people’s choice” competition lets any festival-goer judge the amateur chicken barbecue cook-off (3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.). You need to buy a $10 wristband to be a judge. You don’t have to do that, though. You can simply eat. There’ll be plenty of barbecued food for sale. Lots of other activities here, too – a family fun tent with rock-climbing wall and four live bands. (The Tempters, a Temptations tribute band, perform at 8 p.m.) Special kid’s meal: $2. No admission charge to the event. Sat., Sept. 5, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Location: Martin Luther King Drive from Walnut to Brown streets.

Bad Butter
Ugh. It’s hard to believe that someone would take a stick of butter, dip it in batter and deep-fry it. What’s even harder to believe is that it’s meant to be eaten. But word just reached my desk that one of the finalists in the Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair of Texas is deep-fried butter. Seasoned butter, if that makes a difference. This delicacy is going up against things like “twisted yam on a stick” and country-fried pork chips. In 2008, the Best Taste Award went to chicken-fried bacon, while the fried banana split was deemed Most Creative.

Don’t miss this week’s Shopaholic to learn about new stores and events in the world of local retail.

If you spot any restaurant openings or closings out there, don’t hesitate to post it on my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com