I live in Milwaukee and my boyfriend lives in Racine, so I end up spending a decent amount of time there. Â I was pleasantly surprised to find someplace in Racine that didnt have that "hometown towny bar everyone knows everyone and they dont like outsiders" feel. Â I love going out in Milwaukee and hope they can expand Envi north because it would go over really well!
Review Source:You could have knocked me over with a feather when I walked into Envi. Â I used to live in Chicago and was used to a variety of upscale clubs. Â We've live in Racine for six years and I had NO IDEA Envi existed. Â What a fun place! Â Very well appointed, plenty of beautiful people, lots of art, lots of levels, good music at a level that was conversation-friendly, an outdoor lounge - marvelous! Â As far as pricing - a buddy of mine and I went out to a few places the other night and we paid FAR more for drinks at a bar across the street than at Envi. Â Next time I'm coming back earlier and will try the appetizers and some different kinds of drinks.
Review Source:On our first visit my wife and I, along with a group of my coworkers experienced less than stellar service at the bar, on an evening when our group accounted for 80 percent of their entire crowd.
Not wanting to be soured by one bad experience we tried again on another evening. Â This time the bar was much busier but we were lucky enough to find two open stools at the end of the bar. Â It took us fifteen minutes to get our first order in because the bartender at our end of the bar was busy talking to another customer about some jewelry that he was trying to sell. Â When she finished her transaction and took our order she apologized for neglecting us and was more attentive, but the experienced left us less than impressed with the whole Envi experience.
Great drinks, and I appreciate that they don't let in street riff-raff, but they do need to loosen up a bit. This is Racine, not New York. I came in with a couple friends, and we went upstairs to sit down and chat and where then asked to leave the couch because it was reserved. We of course obliged, and probably stayed for about an hour and a half, and before we left, we checked the upstairs and there was still no one sitting on that couch. Kind of rude if you ask me.
Review Source:Envi is by far the best place in Racine to go for a night out on the town. Â I went there for the first time with past weekend and was pleasantly surprised at the entire experience. Â The bar staff and waitstaff were friendly, knowledgeable, and patient when interacting with and my group and answering our questions. Â The wait time for food was great (it was a full house on a Friday night). Â We had the California, Spicy Tuna, and Spring Rolls and the food was excellent (and I am not even a sushi fan). Â The beer selection was great (I only drink beer, so I didn't really look at anything else) and were on par with anything else you'd see in downtown Racine. Â Overall,I had an excellent time at Envi and it will be my new favorite place to go in downtown Racine!
Review Source:(Update: Just to comment on Caledonia G's remark that "anyone can have a close friend write a marvelous review," let me just state that I hadn't crossed paths with the Nicholsons in over four years before my envi review. The simple truth is that I absolutely love the place.)
Last week, the doors of envi, Racine's first ultralounge (and arguably one that will soon be considered amongst the Midwest's finest), coolly slid open to reveal a sexy, moody playground for those who find themselves in need of nocturnal potions.
Sensuous decor repurposed from such venues as The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee- one of co-owner (with wife, Sara) Doug Nicholson's many fastidious nods to envi's commitment to a green footprint- beckons with come hither vibes from all directions. Wherever the eye casts a glance, it will likely come to rest on one of the myriad types of wood salvaged from an otherwise grim fate and transformed into buttery smooth banisters or creative flooring installations.
Envi was three years in the making and it shows. Every detail has a story, every corner a well-thought out intention. Ascend the stairs and you will find a backlit Dali quote sprawled along the route. Visit the restroom and indulge the bamboo waiting by the sink with a drink of water. Let your hand slide along the silky walls as Nicholson's voice drifts across the room to let you know that what, at first touch, appears to be a couture wall is actually flooring that has been given a vertical second life. Through three levels and an outdoor terrace, the creativity and craftsmanship tease every sense.
But envi is more than simply an eco-cool design showpiece. It is, above all else, an intoxicating oasis within which awaits great cocktails and a killer line-up of small plate food items. (see below). The vibe is calm and relaxing with the promise of escalation beckoning from the dance floor.
It is a new concept for Racine, the ultralounge, but in cities across the country its success is evident. Â I often drive to Chicago for a night out in a place like this- now I don't have to. Yes, there is a dress code (club casual or better) and yes, the drinks are pricier than the bucket of beer specials around town. And that's ok. All are welcome- but all most dress for the occasion. What's wrong with raising the bar a bit, no pun intended? Nothing. There is nothing wrong with that.
This is the future of Racine, now.
Debut Menu:
SALADS
House Salad - chef's selection of micro greens, boston bibb lettuce, lychee fruit vinaigrette, strawberry cup, orange zest - 7
Reconstructed Tamato Mozzarella - a modern twist on a classic dish, cherry tomatoes, balsamic pearls, fresh mozzarella foam, basil terrine - 8
VEGETARIAN
Roasted Beet - layers of roasted golden and sweet baby red beets, montrachet goat cheese, chives, balsamic-beet reduction drizzle, crème fraiche, lemon zest - 8
Fresh Spring Roll - mango, carrots, daikon, boston bibb lettuce, thai pepper, cilantro, basil, lime zest, roasted pistachio dipping sauce - 7
SEAFOOD
Amaebi Ceviche - citrus marinated sweet shrimp, peppers, cilantro, avocado, cuccumber - 8
Tuna martini - sushi grade maguro and hammachi, ponzu, black sesame seeds, yuzu wasabi and natural roe, on a bed of seaweed salad - 14
Trio of Oyster's - fresh oysters of the day on a half shell, garnished with pomegranite pearls, ginger-lime pearls, and lemon hot pepper pearls - 9
Lobster Spring Roll - fresh live lobster, mango, carrot, daikon, boston bibb lettuce, thai pepper, cilantro, basil, lime zest, roasted pistachio dipping sauce -10
MEAT N CHEESE
30 day dry aged Carpaccio - Seasoned extra virgin olive oil, capers - 14
Artisan Charcuterie - Molinari Coppa, Molinari salami, Redondo Iglesias Serrano, Il Numero Uno Prosciutto 600 day, Nueskes Smoked Duck Breast (Wisconsin) - 18
Wisconsin Artisan Cheese - Little boy blue (Hooks), Grumpy Goat (Nordic), Cumin gouda (White Jasmin), 4 Year Cheddar (Red Spruce), Capriko (Nordic) - 15
Big Baller plate with artisan charcuterie and Wisconsin cheeses - 34
DESSERT
Bacon infused Guinness dipping dots - 5
Rosemary scented juniper berry sorbet - 5
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