The menu is "comfort food with a twist," he said. "Something people can really enjoy while they're eating, and they can feel good after they've eaten it, if you know what I mean."

Burgers include the Tip Top burger, made with aged sirloin, all the usual fixings, and Tip Top's "special sauce"; and a "vedge burger" with an in-house veggie patty made with cremini mushrooms, toasted walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, quinoa and tahini paste, and finished with an avocado cream sauce.

Altschul talks up the green chile mac & cheese with puréed roasted poblanos and jalapenos.

One way he is paying homage to nearby Oscar Mayer is with a sandwich called "The Little Oscar." It's bologna, potato chips, mayo and yellow mustard on white bread." And is $3.25.

"Everything is going to be reasonably priced," Altschul said. "That's part of it being a neighborhood place. We want it to be accessible on a really day-to-day level."

The bar will serve craft beers and craft cocktails. Nine of the 12 taps are devoted to Wisconsin microbrews and Altschul describes the cocktail list as "a nice balance of sweet and savory."

Altschul grew up in both Mickey's and Lazy Jane's, as well as erstwhile restaurants Botticelli's, the Wild Iris and Ovens of Brittany East.