Posts Tagged ‘east side’

bd’s closing is HuHot’s gain

Friday, July 16th, 2010

And then there were two.

A little more than a year ago, Madison suddenly found itself with three stir-fry restaurants spread throughout the city–Flat Top Grill at Hilldale, HuHot Mongolian Grill on the far west side and bd’s Mongolian Grill near East Towne. But now bd’s has closed, and HuHot is there to swoop in.

According to a brand ambassador from Appetize, which owns HuHot, “We are looking to help these patrons redeem a bit of their (gift card) money and experience our restaurant. We are also looking to help employ a number of bd’s employees who have suddenly lost their jobs.”

Regarding the first point, HuHot will accept bd’s gift cards from now until further notice. That means dollar for dollar up to $20 and $0.50 for every dollar over $20 (up to $100). So, a $20 gift card is worth $20 and a $100 gift card is worth $60.

That’s a nice business tactic by HuHot, whom I applaud for also trying to hire some people who just lost their jobs.

Knuckle Down Saloon

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Hidden on a street parallel to Stoughton Road is the new Knuckle Down Saloon, which takes over the space formerly occupied by AREA 51. Even if you’re driving on the cross street of Pflaum Road, you’re likely to miss the bar and grill because it’s in a non-descript building on the seldom-driven Seiferth Road.

Knuckle Down had a soft opening (mainly to friends and family) until its grand opening on March 20. It still has a ways to go–food isn’t being served yet, it hasn’t determined how/when it will have live bands, the happy hour isn’t set and the talks of an outdoor volleyball court are still preliminary–but you certainly can get a cold beer, and that’s all that matters now.

Regarding the atmosphere, it is indeed a saloon-esque bar that feels like it could be located in a smaller Wisconsin city. For example, it serves free peanuts at the bar (throw the shells on the floor) and it’s not a place you would order a cosmo; yet at the same time, Knuckle Down takes credit cards (surprisingly) and serves Absinthe (complete with the spoon).

Without any advertising, Knuckle Down Saloon has done a good job of spreading the word about its existence, judging by its 400+ fans on Facebook and the large crowd on Saturday. That certainly bodes well for the future. In fact, I see a lot of potential in this bar and will return some day to grab a bite to eat.

Green Owl Cafe

Monday, February 8th, 2010

A good cuisine type in the right neighborhood. That’s how I would describe the Green Owl Cafe, a vegetarian restaurant which opened in December not too far from the Barrymore Theatre. It probably wouldn’t thrive on other sides of town (except maybe Monroe Street), but it fills a niche in Schenk’s Corners.

I have eaten at one other vegetarian restaurant (in Athens, Ga.) and surprisingly enjoyed the “Buffalo chicken” sandwich I had. But I was left unfulfilled at the Green Owl. I tried the meatball sandwich, the BBQ jackfruit and the hot dog. The portions were small and pricey, and I left the restaurant still hungry (note: I am aware that protein helps you feel full).

While I would recommend the first two items, I definitely would not recommend the hot dog. My dining companions had the po’ boy and Italian beef, and both were good, but again: small portions for the price you pay ($8-$9 for a small sandwich).

As for the sides, I was impressed with the fried kale that came with my sandwich. It was crispy and well-seasoned, and it showed that you can indeed fry anything.

I would hope some day the Green Owl Cafe expands its menu to include more non-fake-meat items, such as a vegetarian pizza or falafel.

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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