spring drink ‘19
DOWNTOWN
DRINKING New places and old favorites near the Fiserv Forum
springdrink‘19
Old World Third St.
Good City Brewing
DOWNTOWN DRINKING
New places and old favorites near the Fiserv Forum ::BY LACEY MUSZYNSKI
The young Fiserv Forum has been a generally well-received addition to Downtown and is sparking some of the revitalization that everyone hoped for. Throngs of people head to games, concerts and other events at the arena and adjoining entertainment block, and many are looking for places to get a drink beforehand. Next time you’re thirsty, head to one of these bars and restaurants within a two-block radius of the Fiserv. This spring, two more places will open in the area, Drink Wisconsinbly and The MECCA.
Buck Bradley’s
1983 Arcade Bar
Cantina Tequila & Taco Bar
Arcades have grown up along with the millennials that frequented them in childhood. Now, they all have bars so you can drink while you wax nostalgic and beat the high score in Galaga. At 1983, the drink menu is inexpensive and spans from Hamm’s to Toppling Goliath’s Pseudo Sue. Cocktails and shots are sweet and brightly colored, and there’s a supply of Red Bull so you can hop from pinball machine to Pac-man all night.
1110 N. Old World Third St. 414-763-9311 1983mke.com
Ale Asylum Riverhouse
With a large covered patio overlooking the river, Ale Asylum Riverhouse is a great place to spend the afternoon enjoying the breeze. Brews from Madison-based Ale Asylum are on tap, but if you’re more of a hard liquor fan there’s more than 40 whiskeys, a couple dozen bourbons and a selection of Wisconsin spirits. The gastropub menu features a popular meaty poutine and steak frites with homemade steak sauce.
1110 N. Old World Third St. 414-269-8700 riverhousemke.com
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Buck Bradley’s feels homey and comfortable, with its brick walls, plush banquettes, and famously long wood bar. This building and saloon has a long history, and you can feel it in its atmosphere that’s unique in this strip of bars. Dining rooms and pool rooms are separated from the main bar, sometimes by red theater curtains. The food and drinks may be no-frills, but it’s all made with care and better than average.
1019 N. Old World Third St. 414-224-8500 buckbradleys.com
The best spot for tequila lovers in the vicinity, Cantina has more than 100 tequilas and smoky mezcals. Try them in margaritas—both on the rocks and frozen—cocktails like palomas, or choose from a number of different flights highlighting various aspects of the spirit. Tacos make up the bulk of the food menu, with flavors from a Greek Freak-inspired wonton version to jerk seasoned pork carnitas.
1110 N. Old World Third St. 414-897-8137 cantinamilwaukee.com
Carson’s
If you’re feeling swanky before a Bucks game, Carson’s should be your first stop. The sleek bar area is upscale but not pretentious, so you won’t feel out of place sipping a martini in your #34 jersey. A happy hour menu includes substantial plates like a quarter rack of ribs for $5, plus deals on beer, wine and martinis.
301 W. Juneau Ave. 414-223-3311 ribs.com/milwaukee
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SPRING DRINK ‘19
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Mamie’s 3300 W. NATIONAL AVE. (414) 643-1673
Sunday, March 17
Glass + Griddle
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY! THE SQUEEZETTES 8 PM-MIDNIGHT
GREEN BEER, IRISH STEW, AND DRINK SPECIALS
Happy Hour • MON-FRI 3-6PM • 2 FOR 1 TAPAS • $3 TAP BEERS $5 SELECT WINES • $5 COCKTAILS
enjoy brunch everyday! • 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 3PM • INCLUDING THE PASTICHE $16 3-COURSE PRIX FIXE MENU
• RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED • • COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING • 414-214-3624 • pastichebistro.com 411 E. Mason Street Milwaukee
JOIN US FOR THE BIGGEST ST. PADDY’S DAY PARTY ON MILWAUKEE’S SOUTH SIDE
16 BEERS ON TAP!
w
21 HDTVS
he
re
eve ryone gets an extr
ke ro t s a
Authentic Irish Specialties
all day starting at 11 a.m.
Huge Heated Party Tent Dani Kueper
PHOTO BY ALTVRA
LIVE MUSIC BY
APPEARANCES BY
Ian Gould
Trinity Irish Dancers Guinness Girls Irish Bagpipers
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Bushwood 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Clove
6 p.m.-10 p.m.
t of es Bilw aukee
013 2010- 2E R
VOTED MKE’S BEST IRISH PUB BY WISN A-LIST
Best of Milwaukee 2016 WINNER
Happy Hour
8933 S. 27th St. • 414-304-0300 • mulliganson27th.com 4 | MARCH 14, 2019
Good City Brewing
A second outpost of the popular brewpub on the East Side, Good City’s space on the Entertainment Block includes brewing for their experimental and wild beers program. The taproom on the first floor of the space seats 200 with a wall of garage doors to open onto the block’s outdoor concourse. While the first beers brewed at this site won’t be finished aging for a couple more months, you can still choose from 32 other taps, as well as a food menu built around a pizza oven.
Loaded Slate
Full Irish Breakfast and Housemade Corned Beef Hash & Eggs served 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WINN
1130 N. Ninth St. 414-988-1551 glassgriddle.com
333 W. Juneau Ave. 414-539-4343 goodcitybrewing.com
Open at 6 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day
M
Glass + Griddle is a modern beer hall in the Milwaukee Brewing Co. complex. A live plant wall, atrium skylights and huge garage door windows give the effect of being inside a greenhouse. About half of the 20 draft beers are MKE Brewing, while the others are mostly local. A small cocktail menu is mostly classics, with Manhattan and old fashioned variations. Food spans everything from pizza dip to falafel sandwiches.
No matter the day of the week, Loaded Slate will have a drink or food special for you. This is a feel good, play games, hang out all day type of bar, with every surface coated in sports and pop culture ephemera. A weekend brunch makes this a good spot for non-primetime events, plus the extra-long happy hour goes until 7 p.m. or later.
1137 N. Old World Third St. 414-273-5700 theloadedslate.com
Mader’s
Everyone knows Mader’s as the place to get great German food but don’t forget: you can stop for a couple of drinks. The bar, which feels a bit like a castle, even has its own name, Knights Bar, thanks to the antique suits of armor in the window. You can’t go wrong with one of their German beers, but there’s also a primo cocktail menu and even ice cream drinks like grasshoppers.
1041 N. Old World Third St. 414-271-3377 madersrestaurant.com
Major Goolsby’s
If you’re looking for a no-frills, hardcore sports bar near the Fiserv, then Major Goolsby’s is your place. It’s been around since before Old World Third became a hangout strip and will get crowded before and after events at the Fiserv just like it did with the Bradley Center. There are about a million TVs tuned to many different channels, so no worries on whether you’ll be able to see your obscure team. Pitchers of macro beers are the norm, but there’s some local micros too. Big, flat burgers and
all sorts of deep-fried bar snacks are crowd pleasers.
340 W. Kilbourn Ave. 414-271-3414 majorgoolsbys.com
Milwaukee Brat House
As with most of the bars on this stretch of Old World Third, the Milwaukee Brat House is long and narrow, and dimly lit because of it. A tin ceiling, lots of worn dark wood and stained-glass lamps give this spot a vintage, collegiate feel. Plenty of TVs above the bar and great happy hour specials attract more than just late-night bar hoppers, as does the crowded shuttles to various sporting events. The namesake brats from Usinger’s across the street are hard to beat, especially when topped with jalapeno popper mac and cheese.
1013 N. Old World Third St. 414-273-8709 milwaukeebrathouse.com
Oak Barrel Public House
Sophisticated but far from stuffy, Oak Barrel tends to be more mellow than some other bars on this strip of Third. Whiskey is the drink of choice here, whether it’s in a cocktail, straight or in a flight. There are drink specials every day of the week, including a $4 weekly craft beer pick. The food menu is long, including whiskey-battered cheese curds and beer mac and cheese.
1033 N. Old World Third St. 414-897-8320 oakbarrelmilwaukee.com
Old German Beer Hall
If Mader’s is the refined German bar, then Old German Beer Hall is its raucous, energetic cousin. Everything emulates the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, from the heavy glass liters of beer to the personal steins for regulars. Order some wurst from the traditional menu and wash it down with a beer and soda cocktail. The more you drink, the better you get at hammerschlagen.
1009 N. Old World Third St. 414-226-2728 oldgermanbeerhall.com
Point Burger Express
An outpost of Point Burger Bar, the Express location features a small bar area surrounded by TVs plus a side room with bar games. The menu has received the fast-food treatment, right down to an order counter topped by electronic menu boards. Sixteen taps are available along with growlers to go and a full bar. Milkshakes with alcohol added like the macadamia nut mocha are a sweet treat.
322 W. State St. 414-488-8315 pointburgerexpress.com
Pub Club
A pub and restaurant by day, Pub Club turns into a full-blown dance club at night, complete with DJs, LED dance floor and fog SHEPHERD EXPRESS
springdrink‘19
Sandra’s on the Park Mader’s
machines. The backdrop for all of it is the color-changing, windowed keg cooler behind the bar that help sets the mood. A drink menu is made up of crowd pleasers like mojitos and sangria, while the food menu focuses on playful shareables, sandwiches and a giant corn dog for good measure.
1103 N. Old World Third St. 414-988-5000 mke.thepubclubmilwaukee.com
Punch Bowl Social
Billed as an adult playground, the Denverbased Punch Bowl Social is spread out over two floors in the entertainment block. The huge space includes multiple bowling alleys, arcade games, karaoke and ping pong, with numerous bars to keep customers hydrated. Craft cocktails and shareable punch bowlsized drinks are the norm but there’s also a focus on non-alcoholic beverages like “mocktails” and kombucha.
1122 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. punchbowlsocial.com/ location/milwaukee
Tavern at Turner Hall
The Tavern inside Turner Hall is a swanky, old-school retreat for sports fans. The centerpiece of the space is the Palm Room, which has high wood ceilings, antique upholstered leather couches, and the “SIDNEY HIH” sign that used to grace that building. A frenetic happy hour includes $1, $2 and $3 drink specials in intervals of over an hour. A large international menu has plenty of shareables, burgers and entrees.
1034 Vel R. Phillips Ave. 414-346-0800 tavernmke.com
Trio
Trio gets its name from the fact that it takes up three floors. The first is a relaxed restaurant and bar, the second is a lounge with ping pong tables and the third is a rooftop bar and patio usually rented out for parties. Besides a typical beer menu and some sweet cocktails, there’s also frozen drinks like blue Hawaiian, lending it a party-like, high-energy atmosphere, especially late at night.
1023 N. Old World Third St. 414-800-6240 trio1023.com
SPRING DRINK ‘19
2016 & 2017 FINALIST
WINO WEDNESDAYS
HALF OFF BOTTLES OF WINE
Truth Lounge
OUR SPECIALTY BBQ RIBS
Truth is where you go when you’re looking for something to do after a Fiserv event. The lounge hosts DJs, karaoke and “anything goes” art performance nights on the regular. And if there’s no party swinging, there’s hookah and bar games. A large menu of signature cocktails and a small menu of bar food favorites like wings and spinach dip are available.
1111 N. Old World Third St. 414-581-5540 facebook.com/truthloungemke
Uber Tap Room
If cheese is what you’re after before an event, head to Uber Tap Room, an extension of the Wisconsin Cheese Mart that’s often overlooked. Loaded grilled cheese sandwiches and numerous cheese boards complement the 30 tap beers and six nitros. Drink specials are offered every day of the week, including a happy hour with $2, $3 and $4 prices. Digs are simple, bright and comfortable.
Best of Milwaukee
“Absolute Best Fish Fry I have ever had. Potato pancakes are delicious. Our server was just wonderful.” -Donna D. 10049 W. Forest Home Ave. sandrasonthepark.com 414-235-8889
1048 N. Old World Third St. 414-755-2424 ubertaproom.com
Ugly’s
On the main floor at Ugly’s, you’ll find an industrial-chic modern bar, complete with Edison light bulbs and horizontal wood paneling. But the real magic is upstairs, where a second bar is encased in a greenhouse-like room that opens on to a large, lounge-like patio overlooking Downtown. As long as there’s not a blizzard, the patio is one of the nicest spots on Third.
1125 N. Old World Third St. 414-763-3852 facebook.com/UglysMKE
Who’s on Third
It’s not uncommon to see a table stacked with empty PBR tallboys at Who’s on Third, especially before a Brewers game when customers use this as a stand-in for tailgating and hop on the shuttle. Unlike some sports bars, the memorabilia decor is more restrained, and you’ll be able to view a TV from anywhere in this bar. The drink menu is utilitarian, but the food menu is large, including some very good crispy cheese curds.
1007 N. Old World Third St. 414-897-8373 whosonthirdmke.com
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VOTED BEST SPIRITS
Ben Caya
Milwaukee’s Spike Brewing Makes Home Brewing Affordable
B
greatlakesdistillery.com — CLOSED ON EASTER —
16 Taps - 9 Rotating Continuously SPECIALS M: $2 TACOS $1 OFF MEXICAN BEERS T: $2.50 PINTS OF MILLER LITE $3.25 PINTS Riverwest Stein or Blue Moon
$6 BLACK ANGUS BURGER 4-11 p.m. Dine-in only.
W: $2 PBR OR ROLLING ROCK TH: $2.25 RAIL HIGHBALLS $4.50 RAIL HIGHBALL DOUBLES $3.00 HIGHBALLS
est ofe B Milwauke
18 2014- 20 ER
WINN
BEST WINGS FIVE YEARS IN A ROW! 1501 N. Jackson St. | (414) 277-0122 thepointseastpub.com
(all the Great Lakes Distillery liquors)
$6.00 HIGHBALL DOUBLES
(all the Great Lakes Distillery liquors)
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NO TO-GO OR PHONE ORDERS. NO CHILDREN ALLOWED WITH OR WITHOUT PARENTS.
::BY CATHERINE JOZWIK
en Caya, 30, has been business-minded since he was a pre-teen. At age 12, he and a friend embarked on their first moneymaking venture—selling knockoff designer T-shirts over the internet. “Being a schemer, and always trying to make a buck, I’d try to make something happen,” he says. About a decade ago, while a mechanical engineering student at UW-Milwaukee, Caya found empty beer kegs in the basement of his East Side apartment. This sparked the idea for manufacturer Spike Brewing Equipment. Caya posted flyers around his college campus, seeking used kegs, which he acquired and then sold to home brewers, who cut the keg tops off and prepared beer inside the containers. According to Caya, beer kegs are significantly cheaper than specialized kettles, which can cost hundreds of dollars. “For less than $100, people would have a very inexpensive vessel,” he adds. Caya drove a U-Haul as far as Iowa to pick up kegs, which he then stored in his grandmother’s basement in Oconomowoc. Gradually, the company, named after Caya’s childhood pet, transitioned from buying and selling beer kegs to manufacturing brewing equipment like custom kettles and fermenters. In recent years, Spike has experienced considerable growth, and its revenue has more than doubled. The company’s electric brewing systems are sold internationally in more than 20 countries. Caya says the majority of the company’s customers are home brewers. Two years ago, Spike moved to a 14,000-square foot facility at 3866 N. Fratney
St. in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, a far cry from the small garage spaces the business once occupied. Caya added 8,000 square feet of office and warehousing space to the building. Now, the company employs over 20 people, including metal fabricators and customer service personnel. According to a press statement, the Spike facility now “houses an engineering lab, a dedicated showroom and an employee taproom with eight beer taps featuring employee-brewed beers and cold brew coffee from fellow startup Pilcrow Coffee, whose roasters use Spike equipment to make their cold brew variety.” “Spike’s commitment to innovation and creating an unmatched customer service experience bleeds into the local community as well,” says Caya. Several Milwaukee breweries, including 1840 Brewing Company, MobCraft, and Gathering Place Brewing, have used Spike’s test equipment facility to brew new recipes. This year, the company, which has two production lines dedicated to kettles and conical fermenters, plans to add a third focusing on brewing systems. Caya says he will be hiring six to eight new employees for higher-level positions. “2019 will be a big year for us. We’re looking to have a very strong team,” he notes. As a business owner, Caya is constantly learning new things, which keeps him on his toes. Sometimes, he finds it hard to believe that his company, which began as a few empty beer kegs in a college student’s basement, has evolved so much. “Never in a million years would I have guessed it would have gone to this point,” Caya concludes. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
HAPPY HOUR MONDAY - FRIDAY | 3-6PM
4.00 SELECT CRAFT BEERS 2 FOR 1 COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH @MotorRestaurant | 401 W. Canal St. Milwaukee, WI 53201 motorrestaurant.com
MI CASA ES SU CASA AT THE ORIGINAL BOTANAS!
est ofe B Milwauke
015 2010- 2E R
WINN
Best Mexican
816 S. 5th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204 414-672-3755 botanasrestaurant.com ALSO SERVING FISH FRYS AND OTHER SEAFOOD DISHES! SPRING DRINK ‘19
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