Bar Louis Sans Bar

Disclaimer: As much as I enjoy lounging on a patio, taking in the sounds of and smells of summer (Harleys and construction dust) while nursing a Weiss beer, I am not in the habit of propping The Daughter on a bar stool. I think that was a late 70's early 80's family outing if you lived in the North Woods.

This mini-critique is more of a response to the recent backlash the downtown grill Bar Louis has received, rather than an extensive reflection of the food. That said, here goes:

The Daughter & I were out on the town one Saturday morning, walking Water Street, doing the museums, craft fairs, etc. when I decided to see what the deal was with Bar Louis. I had been reading the bad press it had received due to the loss of liquor licence, in addition to the huffing and puffing by other local bar owners. Evidently, some higher up in Corporate had failed to renew not one but three licences and, whoops, forgotten to pay the sales tax. According to several sources, 5 Alderman were called in for a special meeting (forced to leave their vacations!? oh the horror) to address the issue so that the chain tavern and grill could re-open. At this point, it seems they exist only to serve food, and can not serve alcohol until next month when the Common Council can reconvene to deal with the sales tax issue.

So, what's the essential problem? Local (and smaller) bar owners are taking issue with the "special treatment" given to Mr. Corporate Restaurant Owner. What's my problem? Has anyone considered the 90+ employees that will suffer if the Bar Louis is closed for a month? I spoke to one employee who told me they were only forced to close for a week and the management was assisting in giving the staff extra working to make up for lost hours. The waitress, who is also a student, said she didn't know what she would've done had they closed for the month of August. Perhaps there is a time and place for special treatment, even if it appears to benefit the Big Man. It may also favor the less obvious in the long run (i.e. Sir Dish Washer, Miss Bar Back). Besides, doesn't Milwaukee ache for more businesses to take up shop in our downtown? This may actually seems like a warm fuzzy blanket to those who fear diving into a downtown that tends to verge on Ghost Town rather than Hopping Metropolis. Or are we a city that is controlled by political motivation rather than the good of our economy?

Having no answers, except for the obvious: open restaurant good, closed bar bad, I would like to dwell a moment on what hit me straight on about Bar Louis. On a comfortable early Saturday afternoon, the place was almost vacant (circumstances perchance?), they have a roomy and appealing outdoor dining room that has shade and a jumbo view of Water Street. In the past, we've walked on by due to the number of smokers and the size of the childless crowd, but on a quieter day, this place seemed quite welcoming. The waitress was quick to offer a menu for The Small One, brought the "Kid Cup" and was extremely helpful in getting our meal in a timely way.

Bar Louis does have a kids menu, the typical Mac n Cheese, corn dogs, hamburgers. They also offer the small plate menu for kids that has, gasp! veggies on it (ok, they're fried) nachos, dips, calamari and a number of other fun fried options. This is bar food, BIG bar food.

This wee review is also due to our non-adventurous meal. I had a cheeseburger with everything and Kid had the slider plate. This was decidely more burger than Kid could swallow and gave her a meal to take home. Typically I have no problem with doggy bags but it could have been fore mentioned. I was given the option of having my burger done medium, but it was really not even close. Not a pink tinge in sight the burger appeared to have been pre-made in such a way that they were overhandled and dry, but the garnish was ample and the tomatos fresh and ripe. Both plates came with seasoned salty fries that we both loved very much. Salty is highly regarded in our family.

So that's that: Above average food, really nice service on a quiet day, great outdoor seating and food to take home to The Husband.

BAR LOUIS 1114 NORTH WATER

KID RATING: 4

PARENT RATING: 3

BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5

1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR GIN
5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW IF I WAS A DOG