Each week on This Bites, dining critic Ann Christenson from Milwaukee Magazine and Radio Milwaukee’s resident foodie Tarik Moody dig into the city’s culinary and restaurant culture to help you find new spots, old favorites and the best ingestibles around Milwaukee.
The “official” calendar says that it’s February. But for the last 11 years, one neighborhood in Milwaukee has changed the spelling slightly to honor a dish native to Vietnam and shine a light on restaurants that bring a taste of the region to our city.
Yes, Phobruary is back for the 11th time, which means that for the next few weeks you can score specials at three eateries in Silver City, all of which can be found on the same stretch of West National Avenue between 34th and 35th streets. Here are the specials they’re serving up all throughout February:
- Vientiane Noodle Shop — $7 Regular Beef & Meatballs Pho Bowl (dine-in only, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday)
- Thai Bar-B-Que — $6.99 Small Steak Pho Bowl, $6.99 Chicken Fried Rice, $2.99 two-piece Egg Roll and $6.99 10-piece Crab Rangoon (dine-in only, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday)
- Bamboo Restaurant $7 Small Beef Pho Bowl (dine-in only, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday)
The event organized by VIA Community Development Corporation also has a giveaway element. Just scan the QR code that’ll be at your table, enter a few pieces of info, and you could win a $25 gift card to one of the three restaurants. You can check out the info at VIA’s website while you listen to us run through a busy week of culinary news from around the Milwaukee area:
- We had to say a painful goodbye to Red Light Ramen last summer, but the concept from Justin Carlisle is popping back up this Sunday at 2A Wine Merchants.
- In other ramen poppin’ news, Nite Wolf announced its next four pop-up dates: Feb. 2, 3, 9 and 10 at Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern.
- Ann dropped a review on us last week, heading over to Sebastian’s in Caledonia for a welcome taste of tradition.
- Sabor Divino turned its food truck into a storefront, serving flavorful Puerto Rican dishes in the Layton Park neighborhood.
- Momo Mee has an authentic Chinese New Year menu for a limited time, running from now through Feb. 25.
- Mardi Gras and its less-well-known partner Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) will get the Maxie’s treatment once again Feb 9-10 and 12-14.
We’re glad you treat yourself to our food talk every week and hope you keep coming back for more. If you haven’t yet, subscribe wherever you listen, and think about sending us to a friend who might like what we have to offer. Thanks.
