Beginning April 14, the former Glass + Griddle, 1130 N. 9th St., will officially make its debut under a brand new moniker: Bottle House 42.
The F Street Hospitality venue – which encompasses a beer hall, restaurant, events venue, beer garden, ground floor patio and rooftop bar – will celebrate the change with a special 414 Day celebration that begins at 4 p.m. and includes tailgating games, live music, bonfires and a special featured cocktail, which will be sold for the apt price of $4.14.
In addition, the first 42 guests to stop in on Milwaukee Day will receive a free Bottle House 42 branded pint glass.
The birth of a beautiful beer hall
When Glass + Griddle opened its doors to the public in summer of 2018, it was like no other venue in the city. From its expansive glass ceiling and eye-catching living wall, to its spacious beer hall, dining room, outdoor patio and beer garden, it was a restaurant and gathering space that bucked the trend of smaller, more intimate venues and created a destination for beer, food and sports lovers.
A year later, it unveiled a rooftop patio that was just as breathtaking, with amazing views of both the Brewery District and Downtown Milwaukee.
Beginning April 14, the venue will also have a name that's truly befitting of its brand and place in Milwaukee history.
What’s in a name?
The Bottle House 42 name is – at its root – a nod to history. It’s a tribute to all the years that its building and event space was an essential part of Pabst Brewery operations. Long known as building #42, the space was part of the Pabst bottling facility, which packaged and distributed the countless bottles of Pabst Beer that shipped out of Milwaukee on a daily basis.
Guests will find the Bottle House 42 name outside the venue on brand new visible signage atop the restaurant, as well as integrated throughout the property (the mural pictured below is located in the front dining room, and was created by local artist Michael Cerda of Cerda Design Co.)
Guests will also still be able to enjoy all of the aspects of the Bottle House 42 venue, including the front beer garden and the rooftop bar. All areas will be open to the public during regular operating hours. But they are also available to reserve for private parties and events accommodating 10 to 2,000 guests.
On the Bottle House 42 menu
In keeping with its name, Bottle House 42 will also be unveiling a brand new food menu created by Executive Chef Josh Peterson (former Glass + Griddle events and catering chef) and Sous Chef Chris Paulos, formerly of the Milwaukee Art Museum and Kettle Range Meat Co.
Favorite items, including the beer-basted MKE Pretzel served with beer cheese and Dusseldorf mustard ($10) will remain, along with options like the (delicious) O-G smash burger featuring two smashed beef patties, sharp American cheese and caramelized onions on a Kaiser roll ($10).
But, the Bottle House 42 menu will also feature a variety of new dishes, including a signature Friday night fish fry featuring an ultra light, crisp batter made with a combination of Tito’s Vodka and Milwaukee Brewing Co. Golden Lager ($15).
There will also be ranch seasoned cheese curds ($12) and a collection of Stacked Sliders including the classic smash burger, the Lil’ Funky Chicken (buttermilk brined fried chicken breast, beer cheese spread, bacon, hot honey slaw); pulled ham with beer cheese and pickled onions or the CBR (chicken, bacon and ranch), and a weekly featured slider ($3.50 each; buy three or more and get fries and dipping sauce free).
At the bar, folks can indulge in a diverse beer list which promises a minimum of 42 selections at any given time. The restaurant will also introduce a new weekday happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring $4 craft cocktails, $5 MKE Brewing pints and house wine pours, and $6 select appetizers.
More ways to enjoy Bottle House 42
In addition to offering a quality restaurant and bar experience, Bottle House 42 will also see a new reactivation as a destination for events and entertainment.
The name change was made to simplify branding and focus on the success of events according to Kaelyn Cervero, F Street Hospitality’s Vice President. “We hope to simplify our business model, and to focus on events, entertainment, and a quality restaurant experience,” she says.
New events will include a series of open mic nights, comedy performances and beer dinners, both inside the venue and out (including the rooftop, patio and beer garden).
Guests are also invited to consider any one of the Bottle House 42 spaces for private parties, weddings and events. Visit bottlehouse42.com/events for more information or to reserve a space.
Guests can also follow @BottleHouse42 on both Facebook and Instagram for updates, specials and information on upcoming events.
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.
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