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Tropic Lounge, 518 N. Water St., is a Milwaukee hidden gem – but not for long. On Sunday, March 23, the Jamaican bar and restaurant will appear on the Paramount reality TV show “Bar Rescue” and it will be revealed to the masses.
Owner Hyacinth Nembhardt is well aware of Bar Rescue’s track record with Milwaukee bars, but it didn't stop her from accepting the show's offer to remodel her business. In 2014, Bar Rescue morphed The Y-NOT III into Nick’s Place and Packy’s Irish Pub into Campbell’s Irish Pub. Both establishments have since shuttered.
“Some people might be scared to go on ‘Bar Rescue’ because the other bars failed, but I’m not,” says Nembhardt. “I’ve seen every episode of the show, so I knew what I was getting into. I also knew what our problems were. They were interpersonal, not issues of cleanliness or mismanagement, so I’m not worried.”
Tropic opened in April of 2022. Nembhardt also opened Concoctions, 1316 E. Brady St., in July of 2022.
“Tropic is a mature Caribbean lounge that brings a little taste of Jamaica to Milwaukee,” says Nembhardt, who is half Jamaican.
Prior to Bar Rescue’s remodel, which took place in September, Tropic had an emerald green, white and black motif. Now, some of the walls are painted a dark teal – a nod to the Caribbean Sea – and tropical-patterned wallpaper adorns the wall behind the bar. Rattan light sconces, bamboo and blue light on the bar front, paintings of Jamaica on the walls and natural-toned seating also create a relaxing, irie vibe.
“Bar Rescue took my vision and elevated it,” says Nembhardt. “They brought in design elements I would have never thought of.”
Bar Rescue renamed the bar “Montego Bay Beach Club,” but Nembhardt says she is keeping the original Tropic Lounge name.
The food and drink menus are a confluence of Nembhardt's father’s recipes, the suggestions from Bar Rescue and her chef’s fresh take. During a recent visit, we tried the Jerk Wings and the Juicy Jerk Tacos. Both were flavorful and nicely plated with a tropical flower garnish. The menu also includes “Rasta pasta,” dips, cheese curds, patties, vegan dumplings, desserts and a variety of pizzas including a tropic pie with white sauces, jerk chicken, mozzarella cheese, banana peppers, green onions and a house jerk sauce drizzle.
The drink menu includes specialty cocktails, frozen drinks, wine and beers. Customers can pick the brand and type of booze they want in any of the drinks or they can be made without alcohol. During our visit we tried two mocktails – the Marley Margarita and The Treasure Beach – in honor of Dry January.
“The Treasure Beach is named after the beach that’s in the parish where my father is from in Jamaica,” says Nembhardt. “Eating mangoes with my dad is one of my first food memories, so this drink is special to me.”
Family is at the core of Tropic Lounge. Nembhardt's daughter, Hyleah Pulley, is the General Manager. The mother-daughter team work many hours a week side-by-side, and although it can be a challenge, Nembhardt says it’s been really good for their relationship and for the business.
“We’ve had our struggles – and that plays out on 'Bar Rescue' – but overall we’ve come such a long way and we value this business so much,” says Nembhardt. “We both understand it’s about taking our time and getting it right.”
Tropic Lounge also offers hookah service and rental of the second-floor space. The lounge hosts many events every month. R&B Date Night takes place every second Saturday night and features live music and dancing. “The tagline is ‘Bring a date or meet a date,'” says Nembhardt. “It gets lively and is a great mix of all different types of people.”
Tropic hosts Candles & Cocktails every second Tuesday; Culture Crush on the fourth Friday of every month: an evening of reggae, Afrobeats, Dance Hall music, and island culture. On Sunday evenings, authentic Jamaican dinners are available. Tropic is also a festive place to watch sports and hosts many one-off events including an upcoming Valentine's and Galentine's celebration.
And, of course, Tropic will host a Watch Party when their "Bar Rescue" episode airs on March 23.
"You can go anywhere for a drink, but I want people to have an experience when they come to Tropic," says Nembhardt.
The last few years have been a lot of work for Nembhardt, but she's satisfied with the results and where her businesses are headed. It helps that she's a natural in the industry.
"I love the hospitality business. It makes me feel good when I see people enjoying our food or when they take a sip of a drink, push it back and nod their head," says Nembhardt. "I treat Tropic as if I'm opening up my home."
Tropic Lounge is open Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
