restaurant of the month - july 2007

New concept for former Bjonda in Wauwatosa

Firefly – Urban Bar & Grill

FIREFLY - URBAN Bar & Grill is the new identity for the former Bjonda.

Bjonda, a critically acclaimed fine dining restaurant, was transformed last month by owners Marija and Vesna Madunic into a fun, relaxed dining experience.

The restaurant is located at 7754 Harwood Ave.  in Wauwatosa, a charming community founded by some of the area’s earliest settlers. Just minutes from downtown, the city’s streets wind up and around the banks of the Menomonee River.

“It was time for a change,” say the restaurant owners, who also operate Gracious Catering & Event Design. “The new concept is more casual and approachable, yet will maintain our standard of great food and warm, friendly service in an attractive environment.”

The quiet, formal front dining rooms now sport a funky, bright plaid décor. Also, new flat-screen TVs, to be watched from the comfortable, cushioned chairs Bjonda’s customers will remember.

The outdoor dining area sports trellises wrapped in lights, making it a statement for the restaurant’s name. Actually, the name “Firefly” was chosen because “Wauwatosa” means “firefly” in the Potawatomi language.

The popular Skylight Room bar area has been retained, with its appetizer specialties expanded and part of the regular menu. Sample favorites such as micro burgers, topped with choices like mushroom boursin or gorgonzola and smoked onions; chopped salad, combining bok choy and baby spinach with Wasabi peas and jalapeno and pommes frites, hand-cut, double fried potatoes prepared authentically enough to deserve the French title.

Chef Ryan Whitman stills leads the culinary team and has fashioned a menu that features appetizers, sandwiches and entrees from the wood-burning grill and smoker.

Entrees include pineapple Jerk half chicken, beer beef brisket, sausage stuffed pork loin, rosemary leg of lamb and chili soy salmon. All are from the grill and smoker, with a plethora of side sauces to choose from. For vegetarians, there are balsamic glazed vegetables.  With entrees comes a choice of two sides–creamy polenta, mustard leek potato salad or Bill’s drunken beans, for example. Even the sides get the smoker treatment, as in apple-smoked collard greens.

A sampling of desserts is mouth-watering: warm chocolate bombe, Tiramisu, strawberry cheesecake cannoli. Cocktails such as the mango margarita are available, but there’s also a great beer selection and a number of wines available by the glass.

In its four years, Bjonda earned accolades that included “Best New Restaurant,” “Best Place to have a Cocktail” and “Best Décor in Wisconsin.”

But the owners are convinced the new concept is the best “fit” for this location at this time. “As our market and competitive environment changes, so must we. We are looking forward to delivering a menu with delicious yet casual offerings at a price point our customers can enjoy frequently.”

(Marija and Vesna do hint that “You may see Bjonda reborn in a new location in the near future.”)

Hours at Firefly are 4:30-10 p.m. Monday, 4:30-midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30-close Friday and 5 p.m.-close Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.  For more information or to learn more about private parties at Firefly, phone 414-431-1444 or visit www.firefly-grill.com. Gracious Catering & Event Design can be reached at 414-777-0440.