Corey Smith had a vision for his restaurant and bar long before it opened. An entrepreneur who travels frequently, Smith wanted to create a unique space combining elements from establishments he'd seen in Chicago, New York and Miami. Last month, he and his wife, Lamonica, introduced Milwaukee to Soche, 2213 N. Martin Luther King Dr.

Soche, which rhymes with "posh," is a sleek, contemporary restaurant with two lounges, one on the upper level and one on the lower. The décor, fashioned by Flux Design, is upscale yet comfortable and warm. The first floor is more casual, has a VIP lounge and features live music on the weekends. Upstairs, the environment is slightly more formal and soon will feature a baby grand piano.

The entire facility is smoke-free, something Smith says is not going to change.

The Smiths purchased the building from restaurateur Karl Kopp, who originally planned to open his own restaurant and lounge in the space. The couple own three Cup-A-Java coffee shops and have rehabbed more than 100 commercial and residential buildings. They live in Menomonee Falls with their twin son and daughter.

Smith says he and executive chef Dereck Nackers created a high quality but simple menu. "We wanted a menu that people can enjoy on a daily basis and food that people easily recognize," he says.

The prices are fair, with appetizers ranging from $4 to $10; entrees between $10 and $20; and burgers and sandwiches between $8-$9. Soche features two full bars will a nice selection of cocktails, wine and martinis.

Many of the menu items tempted us, but we finally settled on a few items. Overall, the dishes were well presented, the perfect temperature and very tasty. 

The shrimp trio is a generous mix of 10 fat shrimp, including garlic, fried and grilled. All of the seafood was fresh and flavorful, and the meal comes with a mountain of black pepper fries. We also tried the pork chop sandwich, which includes a teriyaki chop, sautéed peppers and caramelized onions on a Kaiser roll. It's grilled and tender.

The highlight of the evening was the catfish, which is truly -- excuse the cliché -- "melt in your mouth." It has a light crust and comes with a side of spaghetti.

Next time we would definitely try the Soche burger and the calamari appetizer.

For now, Soche serves dinner only, but the Smiths plan to add lunch service in the spring. This summer, Soche will also open a gated patio, and Corey says customers should expect to see more art on the walls in the near future.

"Our plan is to be open for lunch every day come spring, but right now, we're focusing on the customer experience," he says.

Soche is one of a few new establishments to open in the progressing Bronzeville neighborhood. Just Jazz & Blues Lounge and Garfield's 502 opened last year.

Soche's service is very good, with friendly bartenders and a diverse clientele. Word of mouth has drawn people from all over the city, and Smith says business has exceeded his and Lamonica's expectations.

"We created a destination spot," he says. "It's an exciting, new location in the Bronzeville district and everyone is welcome here."