It’s been just over eight months since John’s Sandwich Shop quietly closed its doors at 8913 W. North Ave. But thanks to North Avenue Grill owner Mike Topolovich, there’s a brand new neighborhood spot to enjoy.
Now called MidTown Grill, the restaurant sports a new look, an updated open kitchen, and a menu filled with hearty options for breakfast and lunch.
The new venue, which sports neutral decor augmented with warm wood, seats about 35 inside, with options for both counter and booth seating. Outside, there's a patio that seats around 15.
Meanwhile, guests will find a menu showcasing hearty breakfast options and comforting diner-style fare, including a menu of housemade shakes and malts. There are also a smattering of healthful options including salads, grain-based bowls and offerings like the Impossible Burger.
The menu
Breakfast options vary from basic to grande with two eggs and toast priced at just $4. There are also pancakes and waffles ($6-7) along with classics like eggs Benedict with a choice of ham or pork belly served up on English muffins with hollandaise sauce and fruit or potatoes ($12). Those are featured alongside unique offerings like pork belly sweet potato power hash featuring two eggs, crispy sweet potato, pork belly, onions, peppers and a veggie power blend ($11)
Folks will also find myriad skillets ($11-12) and three-egg omelettes including "The Farm" with peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, avocado and cheddar jack to "Marco’s Revenge" featuring beef barbacoa with jalapeño, pickled shallots, pepper jack and sour cream. "The Jackson Park" is filled with chicken sausage, spinach, artichokes, shaved parmesan and fire-roasted tomato. Each are served with hand cut ribbon fries and choice of toast or fruit for $11.
On the sweeter side, there’s a pancake flight featuring a sweet bacon pecan pancake, a multigrain cake with plantains and a cinnamon swirl flapjack ($10) and creme brûlée French toast with caramelized turbinado sugar and a topping of macerated berries and creme anglaise ($9).
Lunch options include burgers, wraps and sandwiches including classics like a reuben, turkey and prosciutto club, and the cheesezilla with killer tomato soup and new classics like the "Better Dig the Pig" featuring a brat patty, pork belly, smoked gouda and bacon-onion jam (pictured below). Sandwiches are priced $9-13.
There’s also a soup of the day ($4) along with several salads and options like the five grain power bowl with shaved vegetables, sweet potatoes, avocado, beets, toasted pistachios and a balsamic glaze. All are priced ($11-12).
You can view the full menu at midtowngrilltosa.com. MidTown Grill is open daily from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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)
