Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering in West Bend to open in June with an earthy and garden vibe
Ashley Gregoriou of Kewaskum and Audra Grueneberg of West Bend always knew at some point in their lives they would each own a restaurant. Both came from a family of restaurant owners and it is the industry they grew up in.
When they worked together at Timmer's Resort in West Bend, they were able to make their dreams a reality. Gregoriou was the general manager at Timmer's while Grueneberg was the executive chef.
"We enjoyed working together, and we had a good connection. We wanted to branch out and do our own thing that is smaller and more intimate," said Gregoriou.
Their new West Bend restaurant, called Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering, is slated to open early June. It will have an earthy and garden vibe "with a lot of plants inside."
"(The restaurant) is the love we put into what we do. It is the cooking and the connection to the community," Grueneberg said.
Why did they name their restaurant Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering?
The eatery's name is a tribute to the owners' German heritage. Grün Hexe translates to "green witch" in German, said Gregoriou.
"The meaning to me is someone who has a passion for all things green such as plants, herbs, flowers and vegetables and respects nature," said Gregoriou.
"We both love to cook, and gardening has always felt like magic to us," she said. "We also wanted to give acknowledgement to our German heritage."
Where will the Grün Hexe Kitchen and Catering be located?
The Grün Hexe Kitchen and Catering will be at 705 Village Green Way in West Bend. It will be where Tochi Ramen was before it relocated to Sheboygan in October 2021. It will be in the same mixed-used building as Cast Iron Luxury Apartments and Cafe Floriana.
Will there be outdoor seating?
Gregoriou and Grueneberg said there will be about 10 tables outside and that there will be patio seating. There will be indoor seating and a counter where people can order. Customers can order to go, but if they stay, the food will be brought to them. They will also be offering event catering and online ordering.
What kind of food will be served?
The two said that they are working on the menu. It will have items made from scratch and will feature soups, salads, paninis and pasta dishes. Since they both have experience with Italian and German cooking, they said that the food "will have that Italian and German flair."
Gregoriou also said there will be a broth- and a cream-based soup served each day and that a lot of the menu depends on what is seasonal and what the local farmers have.
They said that they will be using vendors from Witte's Vegetable Market of West Bend and Farm Happy from Jackson. Others will be added.
"We are planning on having a Caesar salad with our touch, and we want to have a seasonal salad," said Gregoriou, citing a strawberry salad during the strawberry season as an example. "It is whatever is in season and all fresh," she said.
Gregoriou said that they will support the local farmers, saying it's healthier to eat local. "The food lasts longer, is fresher and it is good to support them rather than having the food shipped. The quality is better," she said.
The owners also said there will be desserts such as homemade cookies, crème brûlée and cheesecake.
The owners said they are applying for a liquor license.
What will the hours be?
The hours are tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and open for a Saturday brunch.
Where can I get updates?
To get updates, find The Grün Hexe on Facebook.
More: Housing development featuring 'garden style' buildings proposed near downtown West Bend
More: Main Street in downtown West Bend is closed due to construction. Here's what you need to know.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New restaurant in West Bend will have eclectic menu and earthy vibe
