By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Dec 19, 2016 at 11:01 AM

Moxie, a cozy new eatery located at 501 E. Silver Spring Dr. in Whitefish Bay, officially opened to the public on Thursday, Dec. 15. And it’s spunky, cozy and full of comforting new dishes.

The restaurant which seats about 40 at both tables and a full bar, is owned by Tamela Greene and Anne Marie Arroyo with Chef Antonio Evans heading up the kitchen.

The interior of the restaurant captures both the restaurant’s tenacious attitude along with numerous personal touches, like photographs from Greene and Arroyo’s travels to Europe as well as their wedding in Massachusetts. A focal point, located on the far wall of the restaurant, is a piece by artist Michael Stodola reinterpreting the image from the cover of Diana Ross' 1972 album "Blue" onto the hood of a 1972 Cutlass Supreme.

There’s also a painting depicting Gloria Struck, a notable "wild woman" who defied stereotypes by riding a motorcycle during the 1940s. And a peek inside the women’s bathroom reveals a shadowbox featuring two Moxie Girlz dolls whose hair has been styled to vaguely resemble that of the owners.

Moxie features a full bar which serves numerous classic cocktails including "The Moxie," a take on the whiskey sour. A wine list featuring both domestic and international selections is priced at $21 to $72 for bottles and $7 to $12 for glass pours. In terms of beer, bottled varieties are available along with two taps from Third Space Brewing.

The menu features starters including a Wisconsin cheese board, grilled bread, bruschetta, scallops carbonara and brandied liver pate, priced $6-12. Classic shrimp cocktail features five large shrimp with a mild cocktail sauce, served up in a martini glass ($10).

Flatbreads, including one featuring char-grilled asparagus, mushrooms, gorgonzola and parmesan is served topped with arugula ($11).

Salads run the gamut from tomato, basil and feta quinoa salad to classic Caesar and tomato caprese, along with specialty salads like grilled romaine heart with tomatoes, lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan ($10) and shrimp mista salad with pork belly featuring grilled pesto shrimp, crisped pork belly and feta cheese ($13). A daily soup is also available.

Sandwiches, served with baked cracked pepper fries and a choice of soup or salad, are also available and include the Moxie Burger, featuring a seasoned house blended beef patty topped with lettuce, marinated tomato and peppercorn aioli ($12), along with a grilled portabella ($10), grilled salmon ($11) or a steak sandwich with wild mushroom tapenade and peppercorn aioli ($14).

Entrees, including honey bourbon glazed chicken, chicken piccata and whitefish, are served with a featured side of the day and a choice of soup or salad.

A salmon filet comes topped with a flavorful breadcrumb coating alongside crisp tender grilled green beans and roasted fingerling potatoes ($19).

A Tomahawk pork chop is crusted with herbs and cheese and served up with natural au jus ($30).

Meanwhile steaks, including filet mignon, Tomahawk ribeye and Kansas City Strip, are served au poivre or with bernaise or wild mushroom demi and priced priced well at $25-34.

Pasta options include butternut ravioli with sage brown butter sauce ($14), shrimp and scallop scampi ($18) and both a garden vegetable rigatoni ($14) and a generous portion of short rib bolognese featuring braised prime shortribs in an herbed tomato sauce ($16).

Moxie’s hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.