Eat Beneath the Clock Tower

In Walker’s Point, just south of the old Allen Bradley tower, nowadays the world’s second-largest, four-sided clock, Chad and Malissa Meier are preparing for the opening of Meraki, planned for mid-December. The building is located at 939 S. 2nd St. and the owners have been refurbishing it. Last month they installed leather booths, a custom stained-glass window and crystal chandeliers and built a new bar with hundred year-old bridge railings built into the corners. Chad Meier is the former chef of Blue Jacket and has constructed Meraki’s menu. The cuisine encompasses different international regions like Italy and Spain. Diners will find langoustine, oyster mushrooms with cocoa cavatelli, pork shoulder, game and fresh white anchovies cured in house and served on grilled bread. Dish sizes of the small seasonal menu are not categorized as appetizer or entrée, but rather presented in a range from small to large. The bar menu will be separate and includes pickled vegetables and fried chickpeas alongside a rotating selection of house cocktails, a variety of taps, sake and wine.

-As we reported last week, the Pleasant Kafe, at the corner of Pleasant and Jackson streets, has opened a new coffee shop and wine bar that will serve small plates. Its grand opening will be December 15. The building, as Michael Horne writes, has an interesting history.

–Turner Hall Restaurant is officially open after a transition of ownership that we reported on last month. The menu is a conglomeration of staff favorites from the owners’ other restaurant-bars: Major Goolsby’s, McGinn’s Irish Sports Bar, Leff’s Lucky Town, Elsa’s, Highlands Café and Someplace Else. A Friday fish fry is featured on the menu alongside appetizers, soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and burgers. The restaurant’s hours coincide with events at the Bradley Center (so it always good to check). This week they are open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 4:30 p.m.– close, Friday 3:00 p.m. – close, Saturday 12:00 p.m. – close and Sunday 11:00 – close.

-Last week, Nino’s Southern Sides opened in Shorewood. The restaurant, which we reported on last month, is located at 4475 N. Oakland Ave. It occupies the former space of Al Calderone Club and has a small area for seating. Home-style southern dishes like cole slaw, sweet potatoes, fried and smothered chicken comprise the menu. Dishes are sold individually as well as family-style.

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. owners Lacee Perry and Matt McClutchy have installed an Italian wood-fired oven in their Bay View location. The oven is now in the space which housed the roaster before it was transferred to the Walker’s Point café. The small Neapolitan pizzas will be served Tuesday through Saturday evenings beginning at 4:30 p.m. Nine different varieties of pizza are on the menu ranging from $8 – $12. The owners plan to rotate in-season ingredients on the menu.

Simmer Café opened yesterday which we reported on last week. The café is located at 718 N. Water St. and serves breakfast and lunch. Omelettes, croissants, soups and paninis are some available items. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

American Euros announced on social media last week they will be closing their location at 3133 N. Oakland Ave. in mid-December. A new restaurant is scheduled to open soon that will have a similar menu.