The sun is shining and our great Milwaukee summer has begun. That means there's plenty of daylight for chillin' on the patio and enjoying happy hours with friends. This year, we invite you to read along as we get to know our city even better using the 2017 Thirsty Passport, a pocket-sized field guide contains over 30 two-for-one drink offers (including cocktails, beer and wine) from some of the city's best bars, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.
I admit I was somewhat hesitant to try The Love Shack, the new tiki bar and restaurant in Walker’s Point, because I thought I’d have that song earworming in my brain for days. Walking into the space – which is really welcoming – I immediately noticed the lyrics from the overplayed party tune above the bar, but luckily, that was the last I thought of it. (Well, until now, so if the song is stuck in my head for the rest of today it’s on me, not the tiki joint.)
Anyway, we had our Thirsty Passports in hand and quickly realized the Love Shack’s offering of buy-one-get-one is a great deal since most of the Polynesian-themed potions are $9-15.
I’m not a fan of sweet drinks, but the bartender, who was really conversational and informed, suggested I try one of two drinks that were heavier on the lemon which would balance out the sweet. I chose The Saturn ($12), made with Plymouth gin, lemon, passionfruit, Falernum, orgeat and Bittercube Jamaican #1 bitters, and he was absolutely right. It was still sweet-ish (no, not Swedish) but definitely not sickeningly so.
My partner got the Hula Babe ($10) – I don’t think it was because it was served in a ceramic glass shaped like a sexy woman – and he was pleased with his drink as well, made from Plymouth gin, peach liqueur, Cachaca 61, lime and Bittercube Jamaican #2 bitters.
We were amused to see wasabi peas on the snacks menu and completely surprised by the portion after we ordered it. We actually needed a "doggy bag" for our peas.
The menu looked good and the place smelled incredible, so we will definitely go back for more food sometime. I would like to go after dark – we went for happy hour – because there are so many interesting lights / lamps in the place.
Thirsty Passports are available for $30 each (that's less than $1 per venue) and are good through Nov. 30. Get yours here. Tip your bartenders and remember the new Milwaukee toast: 414 let's have one more!
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.
