Casual, upscale Rewined planned for Elm Grove
Anew restaurant by the proprietor of the Inn at Kristofer’s in Sister Bay could open as soon as March in Elm Grove, with a past Top 30 chef leading the kitchen. The restaurant, called
Rewined, would open at the former site of the Grove restaurant, said Rewined’s chef, Brad Clark. The Grove closed in 2011 in the Village Court shopping center off Elm Grove Road.
Clark was the chef at the former Bunker’s in West Allis; his cooking brought the casual pub onto the Top 30 list in 2010. He previously worked in fine dining at the former Sticks and Stones in Brookfield, at the late Elm Grove Inn and at Ristorante Bartolotta, among other places, and most recently was at Trocadero, leaving after a recent ownership change.
The owner of the new Elm Grove restaurant is Mark Antczak, who also operates Kristofer’s. The new restaurant would focus on casual upscale dining, with a contemporary American menu of small and large plates, Clark said.
“We want people to be comfortable,” Clark said.
The restaurant likely would be open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday and have a happy hour with its own menu of small bites priced at $3 to $5, adding lunch service in warmer weather. Clark said he would like to offer Sunday dinners served family style, with specials on bottles of wine.
With a name like Rewined, the restaurant will emphasize its wine list, although it also will have craft beer and craft cocktails.
Both the kitchen and dining room were gutted for renovation. In all, the restaurant will have about 135 seats, with outdoor seating in the courtyard come summer.
Botanas II on March 2
The murals are painted and the remodeling is finished; the Mexican restaurant
Botanas II is set to open to the public March 2 at 1421 E. Howard Ave.
The new restaurant shares a name and recipes with the popular Walker’s Point restaurant but is under separate ownership. Martha Navejar is the owner of Botanas II; she no longer is a partner in the original Botanas at 816 S. 5th St., which she opened in 2000 with her then-husband, Jaime Gonzalez.
Botanas II, which will open for a friends-and-family event Feb. 28, is in the building that was Patio Banquet Hall, with room for 360 guests. In spring, work will begin on the patio, Navejar said.
Murals in the restaurant — of parrots, leopards, a waterfall and more — were painted by Juan Flores. Colors of terra cotta and beet decorate the space.
The dinner menu lists appetizers such as choriqueso, cheese melted with chorizo ($9.95 or $6.95 for a half order), seafood including shrimp soup ($14.95 or $11.95 for a half order with rice), enchiladas with mole and a choice of meat ($13.95) and house specialties such as chicken empanadas ($12.50), Oaxacan pork tamales ($12.95) and chile steak ($14.95).
The 20-seat bar, with more seating at high-top tables, will serve a variety of margaritas and Mexican beers, along with other drinks.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To contact: (414) 489-0529.
Sandra’s on the Park
The restaurant replacing the former Mia Famiglia at 10049 W. Forest Home Ave. in Hales Corners will be Sandra’s on the Park.
It will serve steaks, ribs, pasta and pizza at dinner, with a fish fry on Fridays, said Sandra Van Remmen Prosser, who said she long has wanted to open a place for dinner. During happy hour, guests will find complimentary cheese fondue at the bar.
Prosser also manages the Traditional Pancake House at 5121 S. 76th St. in Greendale; her father, Gene Van Remmen, is the owner of both restaurants.
Her father has been in the restaurant business 60 years, Prosser said, starting with the former Dutchland Dairy chain before moving on to Marc’s Big Boy, where he ultimately became vice president of operations. He owned Van Remmen’s restaurant in South Milwaukee and was a regional director for International House of Pancakes, taking over the Greendale restaurant himself in 1992 when IHOP left.
Mia Famiglia closed in January, with chef Tom White Jr. working to open a new restaurant in downtown Waukesha in the coming months.
Prosser will redecorate the Hales Corners building, which has banquet space in the lower level and a large patio in summer. Sandra’s on the Park could open in late March or early April, she said.
It’s expected to be open daily, serving dinner beginning at 5 p.m. and eventually adding breakfast, beginning at 7 a.m.
Love Handle’s last weeks
Love Handle, one of Milwaukee’s best sandwich and small-plates shops, will close after service March 21.
Owners Chris and Ally Benedyk, who became parents during their time in Milwaukee, are returning to Indianapolis. Ally Benedyk and daughter Sylvia already are in Indiana, Chris Benedyk said; his wife has many family members in Indianapolis and nearby.
The shop opened in spring 2013 at 2215 E. North Ave. It made its name serving creative, delicious food with an ever-changing roster of sandwiches such as pulled pork with carrot-fennel slaw and duck-fat jalapeño mayonnaise, and small plates such as the glorious Egg on Top of Headcheese Mountain, gelée encasing a tower of beef cheek and beef tongue with a poached egg yolk in the peak.
Love Handle’s bold combinations and full flavors earned it a place on a list of 20 Good Eats in Milwaukee in 2013. It also was a best new restaurant of 2013.
It will continue with regular hours through March 21, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.