Photo of centro cafe by Adam Ryan Morris
A Happy Hear
Is a Whitman’s Sampler calling your name? Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. This year, the Day of Love falls on a Tuesday, and since many couples will celebrate the weekend before, some restaurants are offering several nights of Valentine dining specials. Take a look at some examples:
centro cafe: Four-course Aphrodisiac Menu offered Tuesday, Feb. 14. Choices could be a half-dozen oysters on the half-shell, roasted pear and fennel salad, seared scallops over fettuccini, and berry tiramisu. Cost $75 per couple, with wine pairings available. Open 5-9 p.m. Accepting reservations: Call 414-455-3751. (808 E. Center St.)
Smyth: Prix-fixe menu offered Friday Feb. 10-Tuesday Feb. 14. Courses include winter squash salad, roasted pheasant breast with risotto; petit Kobe beef short rib, and Iron Horse velvet cake. Cost: $90 per person. Dinner hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5:30-11 p.m. (Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W. Florida St., 414-831-4615)
Mr. B’s: A Bartolotta Steakhouse: Specials will be offered Saturday, Feb. 11-Tuesday, Feb. 14. They include classic beef Wellington with mushroom duxelle, 20-ounce certified Angus beef bone-in rib eye; half-pound South African lobster tail, and triple-chocolate ganache tart with hazelnut crust. Hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30-9 p.m.; Fri 5:30-10 p.m.; Sat 5-10 p.m.; Sun 5-8 p.m. (18380 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, 262-790-7005)
Mason Street Grill: Three-course dinner and live music. The main course choices: filet mignon, NY strip, grilled mahi mahi and others. Ladies will get a $25 gift card to WELL Spa. $79 per couple without wine; $109 per couple, with a bottle of sparkling wine. (Pfister Hotel, 425 E. Mason St., 414-298-3131)
Kilawat: Five-course tasting menu includes optional wine pairings. $85 per person with wine pairings: $65 per person without wine pairings. Friday Feb. 10, Saturday Feb. 11, and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30-10 p.m. (Intercontinental Milwaukee Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., 414-291-4793)
Dream Dance Steak: Four-course menu, includes a glass of sparkling wine. $65 per person. Offered Saturday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Hours: Fri-Sat 5-10 p.m.; Tues-Thurs 5-9 p.m. (Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St., 414-847-7883)
On a High
If you’re hungry and in the Heights, don’t despair. The West Side neighborhood just east of Tosa is putting its spot on the map for mid-priced dining. On 59th and Vliet – same side of the street as Meritage – there is Cafe Perrin. A block or so west is Highlands Cafe, which will soon make a much larger impression in Washington Heights. The ground hog predicted six more weeks of winter. If that critter is right, the beginning of spring will coincide with when owners Sandy Murphy and Brett Swider debut their expanded restaurant. The new Highlands Cafe will be 44 seats bigger and have a full kitchen. The addition of a fryer and oven will enable them to serve a full breakfast menu and a roster of dinner entrées. That will make for some happy Heights residents. The business partners also offer gelato and sorbetto a few storefronts away at Cold Spoons Gelato. (1413 N. 60th St., 414-727-1799)
Look for Dish on Dining on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
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If you spot a restaurant opening or closing, post it on the comments section of my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com