restaurant of the month - september 2007

Barclay Gallery & Garden Café offers feast for all the senses

BARCLAY GALLLERY & GARDEN CAFÉ, 158 S. Barclay St., provides a feast for all the senses. Located just across the river from the trendy Third Ward, the Barclay is in an area of former warehouses and factories that are being converted into condos, boutiques and bistros.

Legacies from the factory that once occupied Barclay’s building include 17-foot-high ceilings, airy display and dining areas, and cranes and pulleys that have been incorporated into the décor.

Here, you can indulge in the two favorite activities for visitors…shopping and dining. A glass waterfall “curtain” divides the gallery from the dining area and there are surprises on both sides.

The gallery at the Barclay is spacious enough to showcase furniture and large-scale wall hangings, as well as home accessories from candles to bowls. With handmade fine crafts from more than 300 North American artists, there is something for every taste, with works in glass, wood, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more.

There’s something for everyone as well on the Garden Café menu. Rave reviews have lauded the creativity of Barclay’s chef. The eclectic choices make this a favorite stop for lunch, dinner and Saturday and Sunday Brunch.

Lunch offers appetizers, salads, signature sandwiches and wraps, and entrees. The creativity, appropriately, begins with the appetizer list. Quesadillas, for example, come in Spinach and Artichoke, Chicken, and BBQ Shrimp versions. If you choose a salad, select a dressing from a list that includes Zesty Garden Café, Blue Cheese, Catalina, Caesar, Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Greek, or Lemon Honey Herbed Olive Oil.

In the evening entrees include Vegetable Lasagna, Barclay “Kabob of the Week,” and fish/seafood special of the week.

At brunch, choose from Barclay Blueberry and Crunch Granola Pancakes, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Barclay Breakfast Burrito, Barclay Crab Benedict and more. There’s whole array of three-egg omelets available, served up with sourdough, whole grain or rye toast and Homemade Barclay Potatoes. Barclay’s “Skillets” creatively combine eggs to create veggie, bacon and sausage versions.

September brings some of the best weather in Milwaukee and the Barclay’s patio is one of the prettiest in town. The artistic touches of the Gallery translate to a flower-filled planter that screens the patio from the street, colorful table covers, and funky salt and pepper shakers. Heavy-duty patio umbrellas lend a practical touch and shield diners from sun or sudden rain showers. 

Good news for travelers – a cooler and bakery/deli counter provides wine and goodies for a feast “to go.”

Barclay Gallery & Garden Café is open 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.  Weekends, brunch is served 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Sat. and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, phone 414-347-0500 or visit www.barclaygalleryonline.com.