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There’s something special about dining at the bar: the interaction with the tender; the communal yet not intrusive group seating; the real possibility of getting cocktail samples.
“Everything goes up a level at the bar,” says Tamela Greene, co-owner of Moxie Food + Drink, 501 E. Silver Spring Dr. “The immediacy, the closeness to the action, and the chance to experience the amazing personalities of our bartenders.”
Such was our experience during a recent visit to Moxie. We were immediately drawn to the floor-to-ceiling, dark wood bar with an old-timey feel, and knew we made the right choice when our bartender, Ron, instantly welcomed us. (And yes, he gave us a sample of a tasty Cosmo.)
Moxie is known for its fresh and attractive food, but this time, we put beverages in the spotlight. The drink menu is impressive with pages of offerings: reds, whites, rosé, sparkling, champagne, martinis, cocktails – both full-proof and zero-proof – gins, vodkas, whiskeys, tequilas and beers.
"Since day one, we built our bar according to what our guests want," says co-owner Anne Marie Arroyo. "We started with the basics and our customers took it from there."
And if Moxie doesn't stock your drink of choice, just ask, and chances are they will in the near future.
“A customer brought in a bottle of Crown Royal and said, ‘put this back there,’ and we love it when our customers feel a sense of ownership, but I still told him, ‘I’ll buy it, you don’t have to leave that here,’” says Arroyo.
The popularity of NA beverages has increased dramatically in recent years, and Moxie is on trend with many to choose from, including a booze-free negroni; NA sparkling rosé and a zero-proof hibiscus mojito – cleverly called a “Fauxito” – that's light and summery, but so popular it remains on the menu year ‘round.
“We’ve really upped our NA game. Our goal is to have things you don't normally see on a drink menu,” says Arroyo.
Every day that Moxie opens at 5 p.m., the bar usually fills up first. Customers have drinks and appetizers, but despite ample table seating and a seasonal patio, some choose to stay and have dinner right at the bar. Customers can even request bar seating when making a reservation via the Open Table app.
During our visit, we tried the New Orleans shrimp served with andouille sausage, cream sauce and cornbread; burrata cheese with pesto, roasted red peppers, capers, balsamic glaze and crustinis; and a bruschetta topped with a variety of flavorful, sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes.
Other menu items on our list for next time include the grilled romaine salad, braised short ribs and the Moxie Burger which is topped with local Hooks cheddar, caramelized onions and remoulade on a brioche roll.
Starting Tuesday, May 20, Moxie's menu will switch up for spring and summer with smoked trout, pasta del mar and a cheese plate featuring fine cheeses from women-owned creameries.
"Our menus are created through a collaborative effort," says Arroyo. "It's not a traditional model. Everyone is involved. We really work together as a team."
Greene and Arroyo – who are life partners as well as business partners –opened Moxie in 2016 after Harley-Davidson downsized their positions in 2015. Instead of returning to corporate jobs, the couple decided to build a restaurant from the ground up in the corner space that was formerly a gift shop.
Prior to opening, they sent out 40 surveys to people in the neighborhood, asking them what they wanted from their new establishment. Survey recipients forwarded the email to friends and family, and in the end they received more than 200 responses.
"The neighborhood helped us build the restaurant, the bar and the feel," says Arroyo.
Moxie is warm with an abundance of natural light. The walls are adorned with art and photos, all of which have a unique and personal story.
"It's definitely a mix," says Greene. "A bit of an old school vibe with a dash of steampunk and a lot of us."
Moxie's high level of hospitality permeates throughout the environment, and Arroyo and Greene greet many customers by their first name. They emphasized that everyone who comes through the door is a friend.
"We want people to feel comfortable, like this is their home," says Arroyo. "Whether dressed to the nines or wearing jeans and a T-shirt, we don't care. Literally, everyone is welcome here," says Arroyo.
Moxie is open Tuesday-Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner and Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow Moxie on Facebook and Instagram.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
