Eating Out: BALZAC

I got a text from a friend asking what I was up too.  I replied back saying that I was heading over to Balzac for dinner. His reply was "Lol ball sack". True story.

I know, not my best intro.

Walking into Balzac, you are confronted with the question of getting a table or joining the shenanigans already in progress at the bar. The tables are dark and quite, perfect for a date night or just a nice meal out. Some places try and cram so many tables in their dining room that you feel like your eating with the table next to you. This is not the case at Balzac, you get enough space to really zone out into your own world. However if you are looking for more of a pub, the bar is fun and full of eastside charm. Balzac is casual, so if you are dressed to the nines, or if your vintage outfit cost a total of 9 dollars, either way you'll fit in here.

Balzac is sure to please even the geekiest of wine snobs. The wine list is an impressive 18 pages long. Prices range from a 4 dollar taste of 2009 Luzon Red Blend,  up to a 360 dollar bottle of 2001 Guigal Cote-Rotie "La Mouline" and they have everything in between. So even if you don't know much about wine you'll find something at your level and flights are available if you want to explore. *They have beer too.*

DUAL CHEESE PLATE - 15

Roth Grand Cru Gruyere Surchoix
&
Carr Valley Billy Boy Bleu

This cheese plate is the perfect appetizer to pair with a wine flight.

SAFFRON CHORIZO MUSSELS - $9
Fresh Prince Edward Island mussels and smoky
chorizo sausage served in a saffron garlic broth with bread

Sometimes you order mussels and they come soaked in oil and butter... refreshingly these are not.

OXTAIL POT PIE - $10

Stewed oxtail and shank with carrots, potatoes, pearl
onions and topped with a flaky crust

If I lived close I would eat this every day.

So Balzac, lets wrap it up.  Awesome food. Great wine list. Prices are super affordable but if you want to be a big spender they are more then happy to take your money. You can wear jeans; you can wear a suit or a fancy dress. If you are a corporate planner and you're looking for an impressive place to rent out for a night to wow some big wigs or if you're just a college student with 50 bucks to spend on a date Balzac is absolutely a great choice.


GO EAT.

BALZAC: 

1716 North Arlington Place
Milwaukee, WI 53202-1619
(414) 755-0099
Across from Hi Hat Lounge and Garage at the corner of Arlington & Brady.
HOURS:
3pm to Bartime Monday to Saturday
10am to Bartime Sunday
http://balzacwinebar.com/

Oh and Eat MKE is on Facebook.  We'd be thrilled to death if you would like us.  Come on. You've "liked" dumber things in the past. Do it. Thank you.





Cocktail of the Week: INdustrial Size Bloody Mary.

The weekend is here and you are probably wondering where you can get the best Bloody Mary in Milwaukee. Well, wonder no more. We found it, INdustri’s Loaded Bloody w/ Jumbo Grilled Prawn Skewer at INdustri Café in Walkers Point.

This 24 ounce behemoth starts with a roasted garlic, roasted red onion, roasted poblano, fresh basil and fresh horse radish house-INfused Rehorst vodka, then they add some tomato juice. The INfused Rehorst vodka has so much smoky flavor that there is no need to add any of the traditional Bloody Mary ingredients, it is great all on its own. (If you are feeling daring….ask them to add a little of their habenarro INfused Rehorst vodka)

Now, for maybe the best part of INdustri’s Bloody Mary (other than the vodka of course)…the fixings!!! The only thing INdustri doesn’t put in their Bloody is the kitchen sink. There is a house made spiced rim. Beef stick, a huge chunk of Wisconsin Gouda cheese, a JUMBO grilled prawn and every pickled veggie that you could ever want. You might not have room from brunch after this Bloody!

If you don’t have time to make it out for brunch this weekend be sure to check out their Happy Hour from 2-6pm Monday through Friday or for those of you who are like me and are normally working at that time, check out their S.I.N Happy Reverse Happy Hour Friday and Saturday night from 10 pm to 1 am



For those of you who want to play bartender, here is one of my Bloody Mary recipes. (I know we don’t all have infused vodka sitting around)

2 oz of your favorite vodka (please don’t waste the Goose on a bloody!)
5 oz your favorite Bloody Mary Mix (I like Mr. & Mrs. T’s)
A splash of pickle juice (try Famous Dave’s Sweet and Spicy Pickles it adds a bit of a kick)
Squeeze of lemon and lime juice
Garnish as desired (you can’t go wrong with blue cheese olives)