Fauntleroy to open next week in the Third Ward
Modern French menu to be served in traditional format
Fauntleroy, the rock ‘n’ roll French restaurant by chefs Dan Van Rite and Dan Jacobs, is set to debut on July 26 in the Third Ward.
Van Rite and Jacobs, who also own the modern American Chinese restaurant Dandan and the tastingmenu restaurant EsterEv, are opening their modern French restaurant at 316 N. Milwaukee St.
That was the site of Coquette, the casual French brasserie that closed in February after 19 years in business.
Jacobs and Van Rite said in May they would open a restaurant in the vacant space and announced in June that it would be a modern French restaurant named Fauntleroy.
Modern takes on French restaurants are in vogue across the country, at places such as Frenchette and Le Coucou in New York and Grand Cafe in Minneapolis.
Although Fauntleroy’s menu was still being finalized this week, the format will be traditional rather than shared plates: hors d’oeuvres that are finger foods, appetizers, salads and main dishes, plus desserts.
Prices will be about $16 to $25 for most entrees, but the showpiece main dish, duck à l’orange for two, will be $70.
It will be the equivalent of three courses, served at once: duck breast, dry-aged 15 days, with orange sauce; salad of foie gras,
grilled duck hearts, frisée and foiegras vinaigrette; and duck leg ragout with potato mousseline and fried potatoes.
Fauntleroy’s chef de cuisine is Blair Herridge, former sous chef at Goodkind in Bay View.
The culinary director for Fauntleroy and the other Jacobs-Van Rite restaurants is Matt Haase, formerly of Ardent. Fauntleroy’s pastry chef is Jaceleen Latin-Kasper of Dandan and Batches bakery.
The restaurant’s floor plan remains the same as when it was Coquette, but the space is being redecorated by the design firm 360 Degrees. One wall, visible from Milwaukee St., bears “Nineteen Seventy One” — a reference to music journalist David Hepworth’s argument that 1971 was rock’s greatest year.
Fauntleroy will play ‘70s rock because that’s what Van Rite and Jacobs like.
“It reminds me and Dan of being with our dads. It was the music they listened to,” Jacobs said. “Our theory is that people will be happy with things that make us happy.”
Fauntleroy will be open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch would be added in a couple of months, Jacobs said, and Monday hours are likely early next year.
The restaurant will take reservations online through OpenTable.