Impending beer action: Brauhaus Schmitz and The Blockley
Roll out the barrel on South Street; let the music flow in University City.
Two lively joints are on the way this weekend.
Brauhaus Schmitz, an old-fashioned bierhall, is due to open to the public Monday (6/29) at 718 South St. under husband-wife owners Kelly Schmitz and Doug Hagen. Environs are high-ceilinged and gorgeous, with much light wood and brick, and church pews serving as banquettes on the first floor. Twenty beers on draft, including 16 German varieties. And waitresses wearing dirndls. If you're 6 feet tall or over, you may wish to sit on the first floor, as upstairs dining on the balcony lacks headroom. The Hagens smartly put the kitchen in the basement to get in more seating. They've brought in as executive chef Jeremy Nolen (formerly of Bridget Foy's and Coquette) to do a straight-ahead German menu.
Here's lunch and dinner (part one) and dinner (part two). In so many words, Schmitz asks for people to keep their schnitzels in their Hose, as the entire menu will not be available from the outset.
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The Blockley Pourhouse, a spacious bar with (eventually) live music, will soft-open Thursday night (6/25) and open officially Friday at 3801 Chestnut St. (You sticklers for geography will note that there's a Chili's at what appears to be that address. The Blockley is actually a half-block north on 38th Street, at the corner of 38th and Ludlow.) Ross Essner (Django, Rx) is aiming for what he calls "quality bar food." Here's the menu. In August, the room next door -- Mary Oaks -- will open with a wine- and beer-friendly menu.
