New Owner for Jazz Estate

The Jazz Estate. Photo by Rose Balistreri.

John Dye, owner of Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, is buying East Side jazz venue Jazz Estate, as reported by OnMilwaukee. Dye was thinking of operating a new nightspot for a while, but when he was approached by Jazz Estate owner Mike Honkamp and longtime employee and musician Matt Turner, he decided to take over the business.

Honkamp owned the business, which opened in 1977 and is located at 2423 N. Murray Ave., since 2000 along with his partner Brian Sanders. Honkamp is selling the business to work on new projects.

“John is an established and successful operator who has all the right skills and knowledge to take The Estate to the next level and keep the positive evolutions we started in 2000,” Honkamp told OnMilwaukee.

Dye is committed to keeping nearly everything the same, including the name and the emphasis on jazz music. However, he will add some new whiskey- and cognac-based drinks to the menu. Bryant’s is known for the huge variety of cocktails it serves.

“The Jazz Estate is an institution and I don’t plan to make too many changes,” Dye told OMC. “I’m definitely going to keep the feel of it, but make some cosmetic changes.”

Dye is in the final stages of financing and licensing. He plans to reopen the venue in March of next year.

Supper

Supper, a new supper club located in the historic Shorecrest hotel at 1962 N. Prospect Ave. which we covered over a month ago, has just opened, according to Milwaukee Magazine. The menu includes steak Diane, rack of lamb and an “Everynight Fish Fry” with beer-battered cod, crispy potato, creamy slaw, tartar sauce and apple butter. The restaurant is open daily from 3 to 10 p.m. Ask for reservations at 414-509-6074.

Astor Café & Pub

The Nantucket Shores, located in the Historic Astor Hotel at 924 E. Juneau Ave., reopened as the Astor Café & Pub last Sunday, as reported by OnMilwaukee. The bar and restaurant boasts new dishes, drinks and specials.

Patrons can chow down on corned beef hash ($10), bourbon and almond French toast ($7), lox and bagel benedict ($9) and steak and eggs ($14) during breakfast. Lunch offers sandwiches and salads along with a build-your-own burger ($8). The bar offers drinks daily from 7 a.m. to midnight include craft beers, specialty wines and signature drinks. Breakfast and lunch is served daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For the rest of 2015, patrons receive two free mimosas with every meal. On Veteran’s Day, veterans and armed service members eat free and table guests receive a free dessert. There is also a 50-guest Fotunda Room banquet facility for special events outside of the restaurant’s dining hours.

What’s good? Osgood’s!

Osgood’s is a brand new concept from Bartolotta’s Restaurants in partnership with Phoenix Development Partners. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the restaurant opened this week at 11530 W. Burleigh St. It will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The counter-service restaurant also has a double drive-through combines features of a couple other Bartolotta places, like Miss Beverly’s BBQ and Northpoint Custard — with Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef and other sandwiches.

Also on the menu: burgers, brats, soups and salads such as strawberry, Mandarin orange and brie. There will of course be frozen custard along with shakes, malts and specialty sundaes like the Hunka Hunka with chocolate custard, peanut butter and banana ($4.75).

Prices start at $2.95 for a cup of chicken noodle soup and up to to $16.95 for a smoked chicken or rack of baby back ribs. You can check out a full menu here.

Irie Zulu

African cuisine will be coming to Wauwatosa. That’s because Irie Zulu is opening today at 11 a.m. at 7237 W. North Ave, according to OnMilwaukee. The restaurant will be open regularly Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The restaurant, owned by Yollande Deacon of Afro Fusion Cuisine, will serve soup, salads, wraps and lunch bowls ($6.99 – $12.99) during lunch hours. For dinner, the restaurant is serving West African beef skewers with peanut sauce and plantains ($11.99), the Akara sampler, a selection of savory fritters with salad and sauces ($8.99); mushroom tofu pepper and seafood soups and more. Entrees include Efo Riro with sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, tomatoes, herbs, smoked shrimp and assorted meats served with Jasmine rice ($17.99); Thiou Vegan Heaven with sautéed seasonal vegetables, joloff sauce, plantains and yellow coconut rice ($16.99) and more.

Cooking sauces, spices and sausages from Afro Fusion Cuisine will also be sold at the restaurant. Deacon plans to hold cooking classes in the space later this year.

Wisconsin Tap Room

Milwaukee is getting yet another opportunity to enjoy local brews. A new venue by the name of Wisconsin Tap Room is opening on Dec. 1^st at 725 N. Plankinton Ave., according to OnMilwaukee. It will be open daily from 3 p.m. to midnight.

The building also holds the MKE Lofts. The bar itself will be located on the street-level floor and is currently being renovated for a more industrial look. The space previously held Mo’s Cucina Italian restaurant.

The bar will hold 24 taps from Wisconsin breweries. Happy hour features 22 beers for $2.22 each Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. Beer tastings and tap takeovers will also be held. Food will also be served, including a smaller menu filled with Wisconsin cheeses and products beginning early next year.

The lobby of the former Posner Building (formerly known as the Caswell Building) is also being restored and converted into an indoor beer garden for patrons of both Mo’s Irish Pub and the Wisconsin Tap Room to enjoy. The beer garden, along with the Wisconsin Tap Room, will also be available for private party rentals.

“It’s going to be a cool little space where you can hang out with friends,” owner John Vassallo (Johnny V) told the publication. “You’ll have access to the beer from both venues. You just have to go up to the counter, order your beer and then take a seat.”

Now Closing: Lucky Joe’s Tiki Room

Last weekend, Lucky Joe’s Tiki Room at 196 S. 2^nd St. closed its doors after service since 2012. Owner Lee Guk told OnMilwaukee that he sold the building for development. He will continue to focus on Lucky Joe’s Alchemy & Eatery at 427 Underwood Ave. in Tosa and is looking into “possibly finding a different location for the tiki concept.”

“Sometimes a business decision has to weigh over a heart decision,” Guk said. “I’m sad, but at the same time, it’s a lot of stress and debt off my plate.”

You can check out our coverage of Lucky Joe’s Tiki Room here.

What were your favorite moments at the bar? Let us know in the comment section below.