Karma
Bar & Grill occupies a space somewhere between a sports bar and a
restaurant. Located in the former John Ernst Café and the recent Vivo
Urban Bar and Grill, Karma’s owners kept the original fireplace and
the lovely hand-carved door from John Ernst. Look for the door above
the hearth. They kept it rustic then added sports bar accouterments
— or more precisely — 17 hi-def TVs. In the front room, each of
the oversized booths — comfy, plush and inviting — have their own
TV mounted on the wall above them. Next to the booth, a control panel
potentially activates everything direct TV offers.
That’s an appropriate segue into the name Karma, or as manager
J.P. Clemente says, "Karma means circular, all encompassing and
that’s what we want. We want it to be more than just a sports
bar." Glance at the menu and you’ll see contemporary cuisine at
reasonable prices.
We enjoyed a late lunch, seated in one of the four raised booths
designed to host a crowd. The Karma Brisket Sandwich, a drippy heap of
thinly sliced brisket in BBQ sauce, overwhelmed the alleged whiskey
cream. But having said that, I found it fork tender, flavorful and
still delicious the next day. Since I dithered over the sides, the
friendly server suggested a split. Both the Asian slaw and the hint of
cinnamon in the sweet potato fries surpassed expectations, as did my
friend’s Ostrich Burger. Vegetarians will find options, such as a
black bean burger, mac and cheese, white bean chili and spinach and
citrus salad. Burgers come in many flavors — Kobe, Black Angus,
Turkey, Ostrich and Buffalo — while entrées move toward more
upscale cuisine featuring Alaskan Salmon, New York Strip and Tiger
Shrimp.
For a relaxed evening or an after-dinner drink, visit the
downstairs Sutra Lounge, where the lights are dim and the couches
cushy.
Karma Bar & Grill
600 E. Ogden Ave., Milwaukee(414) 220-4118
