Restaurant Roundup: Pizza battle, new menu items, Halloween drinks
Oct. 12, 2023
Seven Brandon restaurants are competing in the Brandon Pizza Battle, which runs through October. Bottoms Up features the Midwest, Double D Saloon has the Hot Honey Pizza, 212 The Boiling Point created The Golden Clucker, The Gruff Plates + Pours crafted the Truffalooo, Kingbird Coffee has Liberty’s Lottza Mottza, Pizza Ranch entered its Bucking Bronco and Tailgators Grill & Bar has the Tailgators Breakfast Pizza. For a description of each offering and to vote for your favorite, go to brandonvalleychamber.com/pizza-battle.
Dunn Brothers Coffee on West 12th Street has several new menu items. The coffee shop has added breakfast pizza with a choice of meat, an everything bagel breakfast sandwich, a blood orange mango Red Bull infusion, strawberry vanilla Red Bull infusion and the Birthday Cake Nirvana drink. It’s also offering a BOGO special on pastries at least through October and possibly longer. The offer is good after 3 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on the weekend. Baked-good choices include muffins, scones, filled croissants, cinnamon rolls and doughnuts.
Monthly specials are back on the menu at Maribella Ristorante after September’s Downtown Pork Showdown. The offerings are Asiago Gnocchi, which are tossed in pomodoro sauce and topped with fresh parmigiana reggiano, and Braciola di Maile, which is a grilled tomahawk Duroc pork chop served with boursin mashed potatoes and topped with a cognac glaze. For dessert, there’s the Torta Colonne, a chocolate almond tart crust filled with cherry jam and topped with vanilla whipped cream.
The Cookie Jar Eatery has started to use the espresso machine it gained with its new location in the Lumber Exchange building on Reid Street. The expanded coffee menu includes hot or iced lattes and an Americano. The cafe also has started to serve its breakfast pizza all day.
Through Saturday, order the Dawson Strong Dozen at Flyboy Donuts, and $6 of each purchase will go to Dawson Aberson, a Roosevelt High School soccer player who was severely injured during a soccer game. Order online at flyboydonuts.com.
Daily specials have returned to MacKenzie River Pizza, Pub & Grill. Here’s what you’ll find: Member Monday: Every Sunday, an offer is loaded into River Rewards loyalty accounts for redemption on Monday. Two Pie Tuesday: Buy one pizza, get a second for half-price. Kids Eat Free Wednesday: Those 12 and younger get a free meal with a purchase of $13 or more. Thank You Thursday: Get free Lodgepoles with a purchase of $30 or more.
Stop by Pomegranate Market on Wednesdays for a deal from the new Ace Sushi partnership. Get a fresh, handmade sushi roll for $6. Limited selections are available.
Perkins is celebrating its 65th year with 65-cent pancakes through Sunday. They’re available for dine-in orders at participating locations.
The burger of the month at Wileys is The Philly Special. A toasted brioche bun features two smash patties topped with melted provolone and pepper jack cheese, covered in mushrooms, bell peppers and sauteed onions, smothered in black garlic aioli.
At Crooked Pint Ale House, the lucy of the month for October is the Cheesesteak Lucy. The American cheese-stuffed patty is topped with more American cheese, sauteed onions, poblano peppers, mushrooms, sliced prime rib and queso con carne sauce.
The Orion Pub teamed up with WoodGrain Brewing Co. to create its own beer. O-Ryein’ Pils is described by WoodGrain as “a crispy lager with a wonderful floral aroma and flavor and a hint of rye spice.” It’s available on tap at both locations and in crowlers at the brewery.
Bin201 and Stogeez are hosting their 14th annual customer appreciation weekend. It’s the last outdoor concert of the season with GPO on Friday and Saturday, with the music starting at 8 p.m. The patio will be covered with a tent, and there will be fire pits and heaters. Drink specials will be offered, and the businesses will serve free hors d’oeuvres. On Saturday, DJ Dontai will provide music from 3 to 6 p.m.
Find a costume and grab your friends for the annual Downtown Hartford Inc. Witches and Warlocks Wine Walk on Saturday. The night of fun includes a little beer too. Buffalo Ridge Brewing Co. is hosting a Big Sioux Brewing Society competition. Six brews will be available to sample, and the People’s Choice winner has the option to have the beer brewed for the following year’s event. Last year’s winning beer, Joe Anderson’s Howling Wolf Hefeweizen, will be released Saturday. For information on the wine walk, click here.
Now that The Wine Bar at Allure has a liquor license, it’s crafting autumn drink features. The Maple New York Sour features Makers Mark whiskey with sweet and sour, and a maple simple syrup. The Spiced Honey Bourbon Old-Fashioned features Basil Hayden bourbon with a spiced honey simple syrup and a candied rosemary garnish.
There’s also a new food menu for fall.
Remedy Brewing Co. is releasing a candy beer every Friday during October. Last week’s release was Bit-O-Honey Queen Bee.
Spooky Sips are back at Applebees through Halloween. For $5, choose Dracula’s Juice with Barcardi Superior Rum and Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila or the Tipsy Zombie, featuring Barcardi Superior Rum, melon liqueur and tropical flavors.
The Margarita of the Month at Chili’s Grill & Bar has a Halloween vibe. Get a Trick or Treat-a-Rita for $6.
Juice Stop has crafted a menu of featured smoothies for October.
On the Hook Fish & Chips is back in the area for a second week. Find the traveling food truck from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Harrisburg at Ace Hardware.
Changes in hours, service
- Closing dates have been set for the remaining B&G Milkyway locations that are still open. Final dates are Sunday for Brandon and Harrisburg, Oct. 22 for Tea and Sycamore Avenue, Oct. 29 for Harmodon Park and 69th & Louise, and Oct. 31 for 69th & Cliff. Each store has different year-end specials.
- Lava’s Coffee in Harrisburg is adding Sunday hours: 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. if it’s still busy.
- Windy City Bites has abandoned its trial for Sunday hours during football season and added Tuesday back into the lineup. New hours are 3 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Here are other food and drink headlines from the past week.
Late-season addition to food truck scene will run year-round
