{image1}The new Lava Bar and Grill, 2028 E. North Ave., strives to appease all tastes. The decor, for instance, is an intriguing mix of cream city brick, exposed steel and warm colors, creating a cozy yet industrial feel.
The menu is also a mosaic of many tastes, with rotating specials and staples like crab cake appetizers, certified Angus beef burgers and vegetarian entrees. Food is available for lunch, dinner and late night noshing.
But the best part of the place is the second-story deck, offering patrons a completely new view of the popular street. (Hopefully the new Hooligan's sign won't overwhelm the scenery.)
"North Avenue has been changing for the better the last few years and we thought that it was the perfect time to offer something new and unique to the area," says co-owner, Joshua Krish, who worked at The American Club for the past five years as a banquet manager.
{image2}Lava (not to be confused with Lava Java in Walker's Point) opened on Saturday, June 19.
Daily drink specials are: Miller Mondays with $2 bottles and $1.50 taps. Tuesdays feature half price martinis. Wednesday: House wine for $3 glass and Blue Moon for $2 pint. Thursday is Ladies' Night with free Smirnoff drinks starting at 9 p.m. Sunday is "SIN" night with half-off drinks for anyone in the service industry.
Krish, who has lived in Milwaukee for the past three years, says the dominant age group in his bar is 20s and 30s, but he is hoping to attract people of all ages and backgrounds.
{image3}"Lava brings something different to North Avenue. We have tiled floors instead of hardwood floors that you see everywhere and an all-glass facade with sliding windows as well as unique lighting schemes and fixtures that you really don't see anywhere else," he says.
Krish -- who leases the building with partner Bob Overmier -- is only 23 years old and his diverse approach to his establishment hopefully represents the future of finally tolerating differences and embracing diversity.
Or maybe Lava is just a great place to people watch while slugging a brew.
Lava is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Lava's Web site is www.lavamilwaukee.com
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.
