More Chicago Hot Dogs for Milwaukee

Yet another new vendor joins the lineup at 3rd Street Market Hall — the food hall that occupies the first floor of the previous Shops of Grand Avenue building. Dawg City, a vendor specializing in East Coast and Chicago hot dog styles, is now open. A press release states that owners Ken and Tonya Hughes “wanted to create a unique style of hot dog that is specific to Wisconsin.” Ingredients for Dawg City’s menu items will be locally sourced, and recipes aim to be “unique to the state.”

The press release goes on to state that Ken and Tonya have a strong connection to the city, and aim to hire teens and young adults from Milwaukee’s inner-city to “give them a chance to grow and expand their wings.”

Dawg City is open daily at 11 a.m.

Bavette Reopens in New Space

Restaurant and butcher shop Bavette La Boucherie reopened in its new location at 217 N. Broadway on April 29. The new space features a bigger kitchen, which has allowed Bavette to expand its menu, and the butcher’s table is now visible to patrons at the bar and some nearby tables. The restaurant’s hours moving forward will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carol Deptolla reports:

The first one on the new menu is a toro steak, which comes from the beef belly, or navel. “It looks a little like a flank steak” but with more integrated fat, chef-owner Karen Bell said. “It has the texture of a flank steak, a little more chew to it, but great flavor.”

Diners will find four or five sandwiches on the menu and about five of the large plates. The lunchtime salads will become vegetable dishes at night. For example, the cauliflower salad will be served as a warm roasted dish for dinner.

The new Bavette has room for an espresso machine and for more retail items. Beyond wine, crackers, condiments and other food and drink, the restaurant is selling home goods, such as glasses, vases, plates and platters.

Vendetta Coffee Bar Plans Location in Walker’s Point

Vendetta Coffee Bar, an Italian-style cafe, is planning a second location in Walker’s Point. The Wauwatosa-based cafe will expand upon its offerings at its second location, adding cocktails to the mix. Deptolla reports:

It will be at 524 S. Second St., according to an application filed with the city of Milwaukee. That’s the original location of the tapas restaurant Movida.

According to a tavern license application, Vendetta in Walker’s Point is seeking permission to operate a full bar, as well as approval for live music.

The projected opening of the Walker’s Point location is early June, according to the application, which also indicates Vendetta plans to open early and stay open late

Bartolotta Restaurants Opening Lakefront Concession

The Bartolotta Restaurants, known for high-end dining destinations like Lake Park Bistro, Bacchus and more, is planning to open a concession business in the McKinley Marina Roundhouse. Located at 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., the space will be leased by Bartolotta, with 4% of sales going to the county. Graham Kilmer reports:

The application calls the new business “The Roundhouse” and it describes what might be considered a beer garden, catering to boaters in the marina. A statement from the hospitality group released to Urban Milwaukee said the plans are to open in time for summer.

“During this season’s soft opening, the space will offer light snacks, refreshments, and a sundry store. The Bartolotta team hopes to use this season to learn what would be the best iteration of this special venue for the years to come and will continue to build upon its long partnership with Milwaukee County,” the hospitality group said.

Current plans for The Roundhouse combine an indoor food counter and sales area with outdoor seating and service, “serving beer, wine, cocktails with counter pickup service,” according to the application recently filed with the city. Also possible in the future is live entertainment.

Cocktail Lounge Planned for Downtown

A new cocktail lounge is planned for the former site of Shah Jee’s at 228 W. Wells St. The lounge will be called Edith, and is awaiting approval of a tavern license. Kilmer reports:

The owner,  Rhondi Love, states in the application that the plan is to open by August this year, and the proposed hours of operation would be from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and an earlier close time of 12 a.m. on Sunday.

Love is the co-founder of Every Second Counts, a nonprofit working on preventing domestic violence re-victimization. In 2016, Love was profiled by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service for her work with the Sojourner Family Peace Center and the Milwaukee Police Department to help domestic violence victims in MPD’s District 5.

The proposed cocktail bar is in a bustling section of Downtown, near the intersection of W. Wells St. and N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. It’s a block north of W. Wisconsin Ave. and approximately two and a half blocks south of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Deer District. Its next door neighbor would be the Vietnamese-American restaurant, Xankia.

Campbell’s Irish Pub is Closing

As was the case with the other Milwaukee bar that was featured on the Paramount Network television show “Bar Rescue,” Campbell’s Irish Pub will be closing. The bar, located at 4068 S. Howell Ave., was in business for 22 years — changing its name from Packy’s Pub in 2014 after its television debut. The former bar Y-Not III, which was remade by Bar Rescue in 2014 into Nick’s House, went out of business in 2016. The story on Campbell’s closing was reported by Jeramey Jannene:

Majority owner Patrick “Packy” Campbell, an Irish immigrant, doubled down on his heritage at the suggestion of show host Jon Taffer, expanding the Irish-themed food and drink offerings.

But the bar and underlying property were listed for sale in 2017. Five years later, it sold.

A social media post says Wednesday is the last day Campell’s is serving wings. A goodbye party was held April 23.