Three New Dining Choices for Walker’s Point

Walker’s Point has become the hottest neighborhood in the metro area for new restaurants and dining options.

A new Mexican restaurant, La Casa de Alberto, has opened in the former Lopez Bakery space at 624 W. National Ave. The owners, Alberto and Laura Gonzalez, worked at the venerable Conejito’s for 18 years.

The menu offers a basic selection of tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and light or dark meat mole, along with fajitas and shrimp diablo. Prices range from $1.50 for a single taco or enchilada to $10 for the shrimp dish. La Casa de Alberto is closed Tuesday and open Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Richard’s Cafe: Another new restaurant is being planned by Richard Kerhin, who has worked in the service industry for for more than two decades. He announced he will open Richard’s Cafe in the Tannery Business Center, 700 W. Virginia St (suite 203). The cafe will offer primarily sandwiches and deli items. Kerhin hopes to open in October.

El Comedor: This new food truck had its grand opening yesterday at S. 6th St. at W. Greenfield Ave. Owner Natalio Perez, who worked in the kitchen at Five O’Clock Steakhouse for about six years, plans to serve the mole of his native state of Oaxaca, Mexico, as one of the truck’s daily specials.

The truck will serve steak, chicken and chorizo tacos and tortas, but also breakfast items like huevos rancheros and omelets, along with soup and sandwiches. El Comedor is open until 9 p.m. daily at 6th and Greenfield.

New at Nourri: We reported last month on the remodel of Washington Heights restaurant Café Perrin and its official re-opening as Nourri on August 22^nd. Diners will find upon entering the new space an L-shaped hardwood bar in place of the bakery case and several paintings by Pamela Anderson. Anderson is a local artist-in-residence at Plaid Tuba who paints in an abstract expressionist style.

Executive chef Christian Schroeder’s drink menu includes craft cocktails and a wide selection of beer and wines sourced from all over the world, including Super Tuscan, Chilean and Australian wines. Schroeder and sous chef Sean Pickarts have developed a menu of “modern American cuisine,” 20 plates, that highlight locally-sourced produce, dairy and grass fed meats. Schroeder mentioned partnerships with Third Ward cheese factory Clockshadow Creamery, Mushroom Mike LLC, Growing Power and Yuppie Hill Farms for sourcing ingredients.

In addition, Schroeder plans on reviving the in-house garden next summer to feature a wide range of fresh herbs and vegetables such as garden beets and heirloom tomatoes. The culinary team can convert most of the menu to gluten-free upon request and while the new website is currently under construction, diners can visit Nourri’s Facebook page for more details.

Nourri will continue to offer catering services and with the exception of Tuesdays, the restaurant’s hours remain the same. Monday 10:30 – 3:00pm, Tuesday through Thursday 10:30 – 9:00pm, Friday 10:30 – 10:00pm, Saturday 9:00 – 10:00pm, Sunday 9:00 – 3:00pm.

Ono Kine Grindz: The small Hawaiian restaurant in Wauwatosa has now transitioned to takeout and catering-centered dining. The decision was a result of an impractical remodeling cost for the 20 seat dining area the owners would have had to undertake in order to maintain health code compliance.

The restaurant featured Bento Boxes with options like Korean Kim Chee and Grilled Tofu & Mango Salsa. Diners can order Hawaiian dishes like Kalua Pork, a slow-smoked shredded pork with alaea clay salt (traditional Hawaiian sea salt rich in trace minerals), a Poke’ consisting of raw Yellowfin Ahi Tuna, spicy sesame shoyu and onions, and a Huli Huli Chicken made with Cornish Hen and teriyaki glaze. All come with purple sticky rice, mac salad and carrot-pineapple slaw. The menu has a section dedicated to Pupu platters and sides with options to order certain dishes by the pound. During the summer the restaurant offers Hawaiian Shave Ice on the weekends. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 11:00 – 12:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 – 8:00pm, and Sunday 11:00 – 6:00 pm.

Ruscello: The Nordstrom department store under construction at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa will include a restaurant called Ruscello and a coffee bar called eBar, according to plans submitted to the city. Ruscello would be on the store’s first floor, with seats for 127 diners, and an adjoining patio seating 44. The coffee bar would be on the second floor.

The menu for the Ruscello Restaurant in Nordstrom in Oak Brook, Ill., includes appetizers, pizzas, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, entrees and desserts. Prices for pastas range from $11.95 to $17.25.