The Palomino

I do not give many places a 5 star rating, but this place gets it.
From what I am to understand this place was a great dive bar that got a bit of a face lift. I have heard from multiple people that the greatness was gone, and now it was this, or that.
Well let me tell you this, anyone who does not like what it is now may need to look into there opinions, and get their head checked.

I cannot think of something not to like.
The food was stellar, the brisket was some of the best I have ever had.
A good craft brew selection.
Great Service.
Wonderful patio, with a nice view of a park.
We went at 8pm on a Saturday night, and we waited on a table for.......... ZERO minutes.
There were no hipsters, no tools, no assclowns, and at no point did I feel the need to get up a stop the living shit out of some snot nose punk.
There were no trendy soccer moms, no $500.00 haircuts on a slumming it night.
Just people from all walks of life, and all ages having a nice meal.
It was cheap, beyond cheap.
Punk rock & Glam rock playing on the sound system.
Bourbon
Pie
I really cannot say enough good things about this place.

Go here, eat, be happy.

Definitely one of my few go to places on the south side.  Good eats, nice location, a Milwaukee bar vibe.  The new menu doesn't have too many veg friendly options though.

I met up with a friend to check out the new menu and vibe at Palomino in Bay View. The establishment had recently partnered up with the owners of Comet and Honeypie to update their offerings and give the building a face lift.

Upon arrival, I noticed the patio now has additional privacy from the planters that were installed. It is nice to have a little green at that intersection and there were several people enjoying the seating, despite the extreme temperatures. Walking in, the bar had a familiar feel. The wet cardboard smell never quite went away, but added a bit of nostalgia. The decor and seating is still more rustic, but comfortable. Newer televisions were installed behind the bar area, which would be great for those looking to catch a game.

Once seated, Palomino offers a full bar and a variety of rotating draft selections, alongside bottles. I thought the pricing was on par to more reasonable for the area. I opted for the Dark Horse Thirsty Trout Porter. The glassware was cling to present a creamy head on the beer and the tap lines were clean, leaving a fresh taste on the brew as well. I also found a new favorite. I also would like to note this beer had the coolest tap handle - a sawed off shotgun. I requested that the bartender make a gun noise when tapping this beer so we all had a good time with that.

As tummies started to rumble, it was time to experience the new menu. There were a few fried favorites left from the old menu, but they added many smoked meats and lighter fare to compliment them. The theme would still be Southern inspired comfort food, but now I would add modernized to the description. I ordered the Smoked Duck Sandwich with Rhubarb Mustard and Arugula. I did request that they do not serve me the bun, so I was pleased with my pile of smokey deliciousness without feeling like I was wasting the bread I did not plan to eat. I was happy that they did not make a big deal about my request or even look at me funny. Bonus points again. The collard greens on the side were a nice compliment. They were served in a tiny cast iron dish and had a hint of apple flavor.

If I had room, I would have ordered the S'mores Cake or the Pear Hand Pie. I drool at the thought. Next time...

I know there were a lot of mixed reviews comparing the old to the new. Here is my take:
The heart of Palomino is there. I think the remodel and the redesign of the menu keeps them moving forward and improves their business. The old menu had a lot of choices, which delighted some and overwhelmed others, as did the amount of "deep fry". People in the area are becoming more health conscious and business costs are rising. They need to attract the most amount of folks and control their costs as well. Having a large menu is expensive and having a few, simple items you do well and taste good is also impressive. I imagine I would enjoy most of the items on the menu and plan to be back. Thanks for being one of my favorite places for over a decade, Palamino.

Fun facts: One of my favorite memories was NYE at Palomino. Evan Barnes, Milwaukee bartender extraordinaire, made me a delicious Bloody Mary and I watched John Carpenter's , 'The Thing', closed captioned on their TV. Sparks malted beverage was popular then, if I recall. *shudder*