{image1} You wouldn't mistake Pewaukee's small-town lakefront strip for downtown Milwaukee, but the addition of a restaurant, bakery and ice cream shop sure spruced things up for the beach crowd this summer. And even though the cold weather is on its way, so is Piano Blu, a cozy new bar sure to keep things hot on the chilly lake.
Entrepreneurs Ed and Amy Seckinger and Jane Howe say their upcoming upscale restaurant and bar -- due to open Tuesday, Oct. 26 -- will offer "Downtown style in a Lake Country setting." And with backgrounds in design, music, sales and the restaurant business, the owners of the two-story Piano Blu, 179 W. Wisconsin Ave., seem to possess the skills required.
The first floor, with a capacity of 115, houses the main bar, which holds up to 30, and an adjacent private lounge area decked out with comfy leather seating. Not far from that is the stage with a 7-foot grand piano, equipped with a sound system for musicians to "plug and play," says Howe. {image2}
Amy says they'll book Milwaukee and Chicago jazz and blues musicians, bringing in the traditional Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel types, too. "We're still looking for up and coming talent," she says.
And there'll be plenty to nosh and sip while listening to the tunes. Piano Blu has an extensive wine list, wine flights, iced-glass martinis and plenty of small plates (not quite full meals) prepared by chef Brian Shoemake.
"The idea (of the small plates) is that you order a few and everybody shares," says Amy. "It's enough food to get you going, but nothing to stuff you."
Shoemake is a WCTC culinary school grad and will serve up Thai spring rolls, bruschetta, soups, spinach and artichoke dip, Oriental duck salad, lamb and cilantro-lime chicken kebabs, to name a few, and his favorite, tuna tartare. Amy says, "Not only will it taste good, but it'll look good, too," describing the fine drizzles and sauces that'll dress up the plates. {image3}
And there is a steady blaze in the fireplace that not only radiates heat, but also, hopefully, Amy says, "the feeling of coming into someone's home."
In the warmer months a patio overlooking the lake will probably steal the show. With 10-15 tables covered in classy linen, Amy says this will be "the more upscale eating area." But until next year, customers may have to enjoy the view from the second story windows.
Along with the sunset dining upstairs in what Ed calls the rhino room ("The rhino stands for entrepreneur, it means go after your dreams," he says.) there is a wine bar complete with an entire glass wall covered in wine racks, a private tasting room, a fireplace and a Power Point screen for corporate or private events.
This area can hold 110 and can be rented for parties. And with the chocolate, tan, ivory and black décor, upstairs and down, accompanied by hardwood floors, live music and the lighting, "the whole mood will be set," Ed promises.
With little parking on the streets by the lake, the valet parking is a convenience, and so is the trip out from the city, says Amy. Piano Blu is accessible off of Interstate-94 and Highway 16 or Capitol Drive and will be open Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m.-midnight and Fridays and Saturdays 4 p.m.-1 a.m.
