Satchmo's sports bar and Todd I Believe I Can Fry are now open in Bay View

Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
Seven TVs provide plenty of spots for watching games at Satchmo's Bar & Resturant, 182 E. Lincoln Ave.
Seven TVs provide plenty of spots for watching games at Satchmo's Bar & Resturant, 182 E. Lincoln Ave.

Two new dining spots opened in Bay View, just two blocks from each other, within the last two weeks.

Satchmo's Bar & Restaurant, billing itself as a sports bar, opened on January 13 and celebrated its grand opening the following Saturday. Todd I Believe I Can Fry, a Korean and Japanese fried chicken spot, opened on January 21.

Satchmo's Bar & Restaurant

This new spot, in the former Baby Boomers space at 182 E. Lincoln Ave., celebrated a week of business with a grand opening the same day the Packers and Bucks played on Saturday.

"It was great," said Jason Walz, general manager at Satchmo's. "We saw a lot of familiar faces from around the neighborhood."

Satchmo's is upholding Baby Boomers' tradition of being a Friday fish fry spot. They also serve pub food with their own twist, including a cheese curd flight with flavors like dill pickle, breaded garlic and spicy ($14); shiitake potstickers ($10); a few sandwiches ($13 to $15); and a cheeseburger ($13), which Walz said has been popular so far.

Satchmo's is bringing a much-needed sports bar to the area, Walz said.

"The sports bar concept, it's a good one for Bay View. There aren't a ton of places that pitch themselves as one," Walz said.

The bar has seven televisions for game watching and plans to add more.

Satchmo's is open 3 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to bar close Friday, 11 a.m. to bar close Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Todd I Believe I Can Fry

This primarily to-go restaurant opened Jan. 21, offering a variety of Asian fried food dishes.

It opened in a new building, somewhat offset from the street at 2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

The name "todd" comes from the pronunciation of the Thai word for "fry," and the rest of the name is a play on the 1996 R. Kelly song, "I Believe I Can Fly."

Owner Paphitchaya "May" Liotrakun said the first 48 hours open have "been great."

"It was more than I expected," she said. "A lot of people came and supported. People are spreading the word and giving a good review."

Liotrakun said some of their top dishes so far included Karaage, Japanese-style fried chicken thigh (6 for $10); Todd wings (6 for $10); cheesy beef bulgogi gyoza ($12); snow onion wings ($15); and Takoyaki, fried Japanese octopus ($10).

The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Satchmo's sports bar and Todd I Believe I Can Fry open in Bay View