Pop Up Brings Back Menu Items From Cult Favorite Restaurant

Menu items from South Water Snacks. Photo courtesy of Mitch Ciohon.

South Water Snacks may be the only Milwaukee culinary concept that doubles as a pharmacy.

With menu items ranging from queso-drenched fries to something called Dumpster Brownies, the pop-up promises to deliver on indulgence and, perhaps, a bit of indigestion.

The solution? Put meds on the menu. Miniature bags of Lactaid (for lactose intolerance) and Tums (antacid relief) are available for $1 each.

These over-the-counter offerings are just one example of owner Mitch Ciohon‘s good-humored approach to the business, which also features a list of “rules” advising customers: no reservations, no plates, no pickled radish, no questions.

South Water Snacks quietly opened at Boone & Crockett last weekend, and will remain in residency throughout the winter while Taco Moto, also owned by Ciohon, takes a seasonal break. The pop-up offers a rotating menu of snack-sized and shareable items, including some throwback dishes from Ciohon’s past venture, Snack Boys, which closed during the pandemic.

Highlights include Sticky A$$ Ribs—slow-roasted and tossed with house barbecue sauce, scallions and sesame seeds—crispy fried chicken wings and fried meatballs with blue cheese, whose NSFW name can be found online.

Meat-eaters can also enjoy ahi tuna nachos, shrimp-fried steamed buns and gyoza salad, featuring deep-fried dumplings tossed with soy-ginger vinaigrette, cucumber, sweet peppers, scallion, cilantro, radish and sesame seeds.

Vegetarian options range from kale and cremini salad and deviled eggs to tempura-fried broccoli and sweet chili fried tofu, while a “Dippers” category rounds out the menu with options like French onion dip, cheese fries, queso, corn fritters and Bosco sticks served with butter chicken-inspired sauce.

Ciohon said he wants the pop-up to have its own identity, while also satisfying guests’ nostalgic cravings.

“Everybody misses Snack Boys — I miss it more than anybody,” he said. “But it’s not a version of Snack Boys. There’s going to be some new, fun stuff — but I guess, inevitably, there are some throwbacks.”

Ciohon plans to showcase between 12 and 15 items daily, with up to 30 dishes set to rotate through the ever-changing menu in the coming months. However, he assured patrons that best-sellers like sticky ribs and meatballs will have a permanent spot on the list.

“Because of the size and the nature of service, I’m not tied down to anything,” he said. “I can make anything happen on a small scale and make it approachable and affordable.”

Ciohon also operates Dooby Dogs, currently in residence at The Mothership, and co-owns The Cooperage. Boone & Crockett owner John Revord was a partner in Snack Boys when it operated on the East Side.

In honor of the pop-up, Revord is reviving six classic Snack Boys cocktails. The menu features LaCroix Boy, a refreshing mix of gin or vodka, lime and seltzer; I Heart Black Metal, which gets its jet-black hue from activated charcoal; and Ferrari Boys, with fernet, Campari, Carpano Antica and chipotle cacao bitters.

Alpine Hippie Juice, Just Follow Your Nose and Designated Driver, an N/A offering, also made the cut.

South Water Snacks is open at 818 S. Water St. Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Diners can scan a QR code to place their order online, with food delivered directly to the table. The pop-up is its own entity, so food and drink tabs must remain separate.

As news of the pop-up spreads, Ciohon said he’s already served a number of former regulars.

“I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces, which is awesome. I’m just stoked to to be able to make some things that I know people love, and I look forward to seeing some some happy faces here in the next couple of winter weeks.”

Existing members must be signed in to see the interactive map. Sign in.