Belli’s Bistro finds a home in Bay View
The former Pastiche location in Bay View is vacant no more; now it’s the home of Belli’s Bistro & Spirits.
Owner Charmice Dodson launched the restaurant’s soft opening at 3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. a couple of weeks ago, and it’s been drawing neighborhood residents who were passing by, she said. The grand opening is set for April 7.
A number of Belli’s menu items are based on old family recipes, many coming from Dodson’s grandmother, the owner said.
Dodson decided to open the restaurant after demand grew for her catering business, which cooked for get-togethers in clients’ homes, such as wedding showers and birthday parties.
The family recipes are supplemented by dishes from Belli’s chef, Marco Lezamata.
Diners can expect to find appetizers ($9 to $14) such as spicy battered cauliflower, loaded fries and whole wings.
The menu spans sandwiches (such as a black-and-blue burger, $14), salads (chicken with mixed greens, blue cheese and walnuts, $12), Southern dishes (jambalaya, $14), entrées (honey-glazed salmon, $16, and fried chicken, $16), and steaks (14-ounce rib-eye, $30).
Dodson expects to add vegan dishes to the menu later.
The bar serves wines, beers by the bottle and mixed drinks, with happy hour 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday
to Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Brunch is served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the lunch menu resumes at 3 p.m. on the weekend.
“The response we’re getting from the community has been overwhelming,” Dodson said. She recommended making reservations for tables Thursday to Sunday; that can be done through the restaurant’s website,
Belli’s phone number is (414) 2103665.
Pho Saigon in West Allis
Pho Saigon, a restaurant serving Vietnamese and Chinese menu items, is in the works in West Allis.
Tu Tan Nguyen plans to open his restaurant at 10534 W. Greenfield Ave., the former home of Sammy’s Taste of Chicago. (The hot dog shop moved to 1234 S. 108th St.)
Plans call for switching the Greenfield Ave. site’s format from counter service to table service. The new owner plans everything from new plumbing to additional landscaping for Pho Saigon.
As the name says, the restaurant will sell pho, the broth-and-noodle bowls, and other Vietnamese dishes, as well as Chinese menu items. Restaurants and shops that offer traditional Chinese dishes have cropped up in West Allis in recent years, including Sze Chuan, Lucky Barbecue and Bakery, and Fusion Cafe.
If all goes as scheduled, Pho Saigon would open in August for daily lunch and dinner. Nguyen plans to pursue a license to serve beer and wine.
Changes at Rare
Some changes have been taking place at Rare Steakhouse, 833 E. Michigan St., including the departure of one partner and the hiring of a new chef.
Jack Sasnowski, who had been the public face of Rare, sold his share of the Rare restaurants Feb. 15 to his business partners, Mark Burish, a founder of the Hurley, Burish and Stanton law firm in Madison; Adam Burish, Mark’s son and a former National Hockey League player; and Tim Neuville, a friend of Mark Burish’s since high school.
Sasnowski, who has four other Madi-
son-area restaurants, also has three children younger than 5, Mark Burish said, and the sale allows him to stay in Madison and spend more time with his family.
Besides the Milwaukee steakhouse, Rare has its original restaurant in Madison and a steakhouse that opened in Washington, D.C., in November.
At the Milwaukee restaurant, Sunday hours have ended and a new lunch menu focused on value and lighter fare is set to debut in April, Burish said.
The restaurant has hired a new chef: Adam Schmude, who has worked in Las Vegas and D.C.
“If I had to describe my style, it’s taking familiar, approachable dishes and then putting a little modern twist with different flavor profiles and complementary ingredients,” Schmude said in a written statement.
And Rare has hired an assistant general manager: Joshua Wolter, general manager of c. 1880, who begins in mid-April.
Make other plans
Add these to this year’s closings:
Laredo’s Mexican Kitchen at 19035 W. Blue Mound Road, Brookfield, has closed after 17 years, the restaurant posted on Facebook March 9.
B.J. Wentker’s, 230 Milwaukee Ave. in Burlington, posted on its Facebook page March 19 that it was permanently closed. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.