No signs are up yet, but AP Bar & Kitchen has announced that it will open to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 814 S. 2nd St.
Peggy Magister, chef and owner of Crazy Water in Walker’s Point will be the executive chef with Daniel Pope as chef de cuisine. Pope is a Chicago native whose most recent posts include the Wisconsin Club.
AP Bar & Kitchen will feature what spokesperson Antony Betzhold refers to as "rustic urban North American fare." The menu will be primarily small plates – with selections including fried catfish with malt vinegar, fried sweetbreads, Thai style meatballs with curry, baby octopus panzanella salad, burrata with warm crusty bread, olive oil and olives, and fried chicken with soy ginger vinaigrette and kimchee.
Full-sized entrees will include whole roasted fish and house-made tagliatelle with braised lamb shoulder and mustard greens. Pricing will range between $6 and $18.
The restaurant, which boasts a 40-foot bar that seats 16, will feature an oyster bar with daily specials from both the east and west coasts, along with cheese and charcuterie plates.
Craft cocktails with house-made syrups and fresh juices will co-exist with beer and a frequently changing boutique wine selection hand-selected by general manager and food and beverage director, Justin Anthony, who brings 14 years of experience working in restaurants in Boulder, CO, and most recently San Francisco. Wines will reflect European influence, with an emphasis on small purveyors in France and Italy.
According to Betzhold, diners can expect a casual "artisan" experience.
AP Bar & Kitchen will be open Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. Reservations are accepted, but space will also be reserved for walk-ins. Call (414) 672-6000 for reservations.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
