Editor’s note: Below is the Thursday, Dec. 11, edition of The Corner Table, our weekly newsletter about the Madison dining scene. It’s produced by Lindsay Christians and Beck Henreckson. If you want to receive it in your email inbox every Thursday (it’s free!), subscribe at captimes.com/newsletters.
Madison meets New York 🍎
By Beck Henreckson, social media and membership strategist
“We are in sister cities and your city is the cool older sister,” Lindsay messaged me Sunday. She was on a (planned) trip to Philadelphia, I on a (spur-of-the-moment) trip to New York City. When I say my adventure was spontaneous, I mean the idea was first suggested Thursday night, plane tickets were purchased Friday morning and I was in the city by noon on Saturday.
My favorite thing about how little time I had to prepare was … how little time I had to prepare. With no advance notice came no pressure to see or do anything. In general, I’m not someone drawn to tourist attractions, museums or so-called must-see destinations when I travel (“you’re a flâneur,” said Lindsay), but with time to plan out every step I would have felt the need to make sure every restaurant, coffeeshop and bar I went to was the best restaurant, coffeeshop and bar I could have chosen. As it was, I felt free to follow my travel companion’s lead or, on the days I was solo, simply wander till something drew me in.
Joseph Leonard, located in New York City’s West Village, is part of Happy Cooking Hospitality, co-owned by Settle Down Tavern owner Brian Bartels.
BECK HENRECKSON
Our first night my friend Katie led the way to Joseph Leonard, a restaurant in the West Village she knew had a Madison connection, the exact nature of which we debated as we sat tucked at a corner of the bar with cocktails and fries. A quick Google search would have solved this, but instead I got the answer — Brian Bartels of Settle Down/Turn Key/Oz by Oz is a co-owner of the hospitality group Joseph Leonard belongs to — from a Wisconsin State Journal story published this morning.
Not to be a main character, but the timing of this news for me personally! The article reports that a former general manager of Joseph Leonard plans to open a tavern — whimsically named Friends Applaud — in the former Funk Factory/Black Rose Blending space at 1602 Gilson St. in Madison. “I want it to be a place that people just want to hang out at all the time. You know, how the Weary is,” Adam Bendetto told Samara Kalk Derby. Weary Traveler, which Bendetto helped open, is my cozy neighborhood hang of choice, so I look forward to watching the progress of this new spot, still in the very early stages.
A new tavern called Friends Applaud is planned for the space at 1602 Gilson St. which formerly housed Black Rose Blending Co. and, prior to that, Funk Factory Geuzeria.
BECK HENRECKSON
My first visit to the Big Apple was a delight (best meal: omakase and a citrus martini at Kinjo), but I’m glad to be home to water my Christmas tree and pet my cat. Hope you’re keeping warm! — Beck
*What I’m reading: I like to match my book to my destination when traveling, so I chose a New England author, Richard Russo, for this trip. I enjoyed “Empire Falls,” but ended it feeling dissatisfied and a bit bummed out by how unlikeable and/or pathetic every character was. The novel follows people who can’t seem to escape their hometown, so “stagnant” is perhaps an appropriate descriptor — but just a little bit of personal growth, from someone, would have been nice to see.
Freska Mediterranean Grill at 8310 Greenway Blvd. will close Dec. 15, with plans to reopen in the spring across the street in The Waverly apartments.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE STOCKER
Restaurant news
Freska Mediterranean Grill is closing its doors Dec. 15, with plans to reopen in the spring inside The Waverly apartments at 8309 Greenway Blvd., just across the street from its current location in Greenway Station.
Taj Indian Cuisine & Bar opens Dec. 15 in the former The Borough Beer Co. & Kitchen space at 444 S. Park St.
An everything bagel with garlic and vegetable cream cheese from Broad Nosh Bagels in New York is best enjoyed on a bench in Central Park.
BECK HENRECKSON
What’s on our table
Lindsay’s advice for my trip: “The bagels are good everywhere. New Yorkers are picky but like — they don’t understand where we come from.”
So, my bagel spot was based more on convenience of location than anything else — only to have Lindsay tell me, when she saw me posting from Broad Nosh Bagels, that that’s exactly where she went on her visit last month. It was even in our Nov. 13 newsletter! I ought to have remembered.
I can’t speak for all New York bagels. But this bagel (everything, with garlic veggie cream cheese), eaten at a scenic overlook in Central Park, was perfect.