Iron Grate BBQ on Milwaukee's south side will close Nov. 20

Iron Grate BBQ Co., the wood-fired-barbecue restaurant on the south side that was perennially listed among Milwaukee's best restaurants, will close after service Nov. 20.

Chef-owner Aaron Patin announced the closing to customers via email on Wednesday.

The counter-service restaurant at 4125 S. Howell Ave. will be open for walk-up and online orders from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 20.

"We'll do our best to maintain a diverse menu offering," Patin said by text.

Asked why he decided to close Iron Grate, he said simply, "I'm ready to take some time."

Patin had worked as a fine-dining chef in Milwaukee before opening his restaurant, first in Hawthorne Coffee Roasters in 2016 and then expanding to the building that was a former Boy Blue ice cream shop on the same block, parking his custom smoker outside the building.

Having the meats, which are cooked low and slow, ready to serve by lunchtime has meant starting work in the middle of the night, in the elements.

Patin uses meats for menu items like his Texas-style brisket from local producers and makes all the sides from scratch, down to the baked beans. Iron Grate also incorporates an element of smoke into its side dishes, such as smoked tomato in the mac and cheese.

A notable cut on the Iron Grate menu is what Patin calls the Milwaukee rib, smoked ribs with the pork belly attached.

More:Milwaukee-area restaurants that permanently closed in 2022

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Iron Grate BBQ on Milwaukee's south side will close Nov. 20