Craft Beers and Old-World Dining in Bay View

The spotlight falls again this week on Bay View for restaurant openings, with the newest one located just next door to Café Lulu at 2273 S. Howell Ave. District 14 Brewery and Pub had its soft opening Saturday Sept 13th and presented its craft brewing menu via American Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Dark Chocolate Ale and Kolsch. Those visiting District 14’s Facebook page will discover images of the grain room, brewing system and work that went into building the Basswood bar. Updates on the day’s featured craft beers have been cropping up there also.

Sifting through various reviews and photographs of Goodkind, it was hard not to take another look at the menu. The enticing location opened this past July at 2457 S. Wentworth Ave. Chefs Paul Zerkel and Lisa Kirkpatrick collaborate with bartender Katie Rose on food and drink pairings, which incorporate ingredients the restaurant has delivered daily. They describe their food as “a modern approach to Old-World dining.” Diners will find a section of the menu dedicated to rotisserie that includes a lavender-anchovy crusted leg of lamb and comes with seasonal vegetables and roasted potatoes au jus. Hours are Wednesday through Monday 4:00 – 2:00 a.m., dinner is available 5:00 – 1:00 a.m.

A thread of collaboration was carried through recently with the Plate Collective, an event hosted by the restaurant on September 9th that involved six local chefs creating dishes on plates made by artist Kate Riley. Another collaborative dining event, Coast vs Coast, is scheduled for September 23rd. This 5-course cocktail pairing dinner will include Wisconsin’s Death’s Door Spirits and Michigan’s New Holland Brewing Co. and Distillery.

Franchisee Nick Marking opens The Brass Tap late November out in Greenfield at 7808 W. Layton Ave. Located mostly in southern parts of the country, The Brass Tap is similar to the Wisconsin – Illinois – Michigan based franchise World of Beer. The bar will possess an extensive list of beer that may include up to 225 bottled varieties with 30 of 78 taps dedicated to local beers and include live music on the weekends. Appetizers, burgers and pretzel pizzas will be available on the menu.

The Bartolotta restaurants group opened its newest location Downtown Kitchen in the US Bank Tower September 9th. With breakfast and lunch as the focus of the menu, customers can order eggs any style, and pancakes with options to add items like bacon or toast. Classic deli sandwiches like Vienna corned beef, Vienna pastrami on rye and the familiar Ruben are available. Downtown Kitchen also has a grill serving burgers and bratwurst, among other options. DK is open Monday through Friday 10:30 – 4:00 p.m., but from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. only Northpoint custard and grab-and-go dishes are available to customers.

Two more restaurants are scheduled to open in the months to come, including Merkai, located in Walker’s Point at 939 S. 2nd St. The former Blue Jacket chef Chad Meier looks to open mid-November.

Martha Navejar will be opening Botanas ll sometime early next year at 1421 E. Howard Ave. The new restaurant will utilize the same recipes as Botanas.