Linda Falkenstein
New food and drink options are coming to the underserved North Sherman corridor.
Construction is underway on a new California-inspired gastropub in the Lakewood Plaza Shopping Center in the village of Maple Bluff. Slated to open in the spring of 2017, the restaurant is the latest project of Tim Thompson and Stephani Dalbesio, who also own Waypoint Public House in Monona, the Library Cafe & Bar on the UW-Madison campus and Flying Hound Alehouse in Fitchburg.
“We want to give people a downtown experience without having to drive downtown,” says Thompson. “We are heading toward a specific influence here: California coastal cuisine mashed up with Wisconsin pub food. That’ll extend through cocktails, wine and beer.”
Waypoint chef Cody Charbarneau is helping finalize the menu. The food will draw inspiration from the Pacific Rim as well as Latin America.
“The [menu] is centered around things that you eat when you’re near the beach. There will be lots of seafood, fresh greens and fruit,” says Thompson. “The Wisconsin pub is traditionally the opposite of that, generally on the heavier side.” Nonethless, Thompson is enthused about introducing “the freshness and multicultural influence” of the California coast.
The interior of the restaurant will have a “free-flowing” concept that includes a 35-seat bar and up to 140-seat dining area. During the warm months, the restaurant will seat close to 50 additional people on an outdoor patio.
The pub, at the corner of Commercial and North Sherman avenues, will open just as several new housing projects will be nearing completion on the edges of Maple Bluff. New luxury apartments are being built across from Burrows Park where Sherman meets Fordem. Condos are also scheduled to be built where the defunct Maple Bluff Antique Mall now sits, directly across the street from Lakewood Plaza. Thompson sees the area as eventually having a similar vibe to downtown Middleton.
“I’m excited about the direction that the neighborhood is heading,” says Thompson. “We’re looking forward to serving the north side at large. It’s an exciting time for the area, and we are happy to be part of it.”
