Penguin Sequel Is a Let Down

The Penguin Drive In
3900 Calumet Ave.
Manitowoc, WI


I’m always skeptical of sequels.

I mean, just because they slap a “2” or -- even worse -- a “II” after the name of some awesome blockbuster movie, why do they assume I’m going to go rushing to the nearest Cineplex to plop down my ten bucks to see it?

Especially when the movie doesn’t even have the same actors or director?

Give me a break.

Don’t even get me started about version “3” or “4”. Or “V”.

No thanks.

I began contemplating this not-so-profound theory of mine about 20 minutes into my toe tapping at the take out window of the latest incarnation of the famous Penguin Dive In here on the shores of Lake Michigan.

My bratwurst and onion straws were getting cold in the passenger seat of my Ford Focus rental.

See, I knew all about the famous Penguin.

How it has been serving generations of hungry Dairy Staters butter drenched cheese burgers, cheese curds and custard for six decades. How the art deco neon sign on top of the joint has become a virtual shrine of vernacular architecture.

Heck, a fellow suit of mine even shared with me fond childhood memories of her dining at The Penguin with her grandparents. (Let’s just say, that was a long time ago.)

But I also knew how The Penguin has been closed down.

And reopened. And closed down. And reopened. And closed down again over the past decade or so.

These things happen. Even to the best places in America.

My pre-trip research indicated (a quick Google search and a phone call to a disconnected number) that the latest status of The Penguin was – closed.

So I settled on a corporate chain version of a take-out bratwurst and onion straws.

But a funny thing happened on my way back to the Best Western.

I saw a flashing neon sign up ahead.

Could it be?

Yes.

The famous Penguin Drive In was open for business after all!

Uh, oh. Dilemma.

I just plunked down ten bucks for dinner. It was sitting on the floorboard of the passenger side of my Alamo rental car.

Surely I wouldn’t stop and buy a second dinner?

Oh, yes I did.

I mean, when the hell will I ever again find myself in Manitowoc, Wisconsin during normal business hours?

Maybe next month. But, more likely…never.

Such is the life of a Suit in Strange Places.

So I veered my rental into the near empty parking lot and made my way to the take out counter.

“Three days ago.”

That was the answer to my question regarding how long they had been open. At least in The Penguin’s latest incarnation under its latest new ownership.

I must be one lucky Irishman!

Or unlucky, depending upon how you look at it.

Of course it’s not fair to judge a place three days into its resurrection. The two high school girls waiting tables and handling the take out orders were doing their best to learn on the fly such fundamental tasks as “How do you serve take-out cole slaw?”

When I finally got my cheeseburger back to Room 365 at the Best Western, it was clear that this was not the same burger that made The Penguin famous.

No dripping butter or oozing Daily State cheese.

Just a standard cheese burger. Not bad. It had a nice char-grilled taste to it.

But somehow I couldn’t help but feeling a bit cheated. Like sitting through a Michael Moore directed sequel to a Steve Spielberg classic.

It’s just not the same.

But why would I expect it to be the same?

The Penguin has changed hands more often than the gloves on the TSA agent who fondled my testicles this morning.

That’s the problem with sequels. It’s always a tough act to follow.

But at least I still had my now room temperature corporate chain bratwurst and onion straws.

What?

You thought I’d let my second dinner go to waste? Not on your life.

And, just so you know, consuming two dinners has nothing to do with me being a glutton. It has everything to do with research.

For you. Our loyal Suits in Strange Places reader.

You’re welcome.

Rating: Would Wear A Free Shirt

Brewing with St. Francis

St. Francis Brewery

3825 Kinnickinnic Avenue

St. Francis, WI 53235

Being that this is my first post, there is one thing everyone should know about me.

I love micro-breweries.

I believe that they are one of the finest examples of the American spirit.

They are independent, local and unique.

I once participated in a tour of micro-breweries for a friend's Bachelor Party that took us to at least five different micro-breweries in southwest Michigan.

It impresses me how five different breweries can produce such a large variety of beers. At one brewery I can have a nice Scotch Ale, while a few breweries later I can have an ale on the wild side that is brewed with Jamaican jerk spices.

So, naturally, during my first visit to Milwaukee, arguably the beer capital of America, I found it appropriate to visit a brewery and, I must say, I was not disappointed.

St. Francis Brewery and Restaurant is located in St. Francis, Wisconsin, just miles away from the Milwaukee airport. Their beer menu includes the basics: a light beer, a wheat beer, an amber, and a rotating stock of dark beers.

The first beer that I tried was their KK Weisse (in picture on left), their wheat beer. I enjoyed this while I was looking over their impressive food menu. Being a fan of BBQ, I ordered a rack of their baby back ribs that is dressed with their Oatmeal Stout BBQ Sauce. It came with garlic mash potatoes and coleslaw.

While I awaited the arrival of my food, I took a chance to look around the place. According to the bartender, St. Francis has only been open for two years and its youth really showed. The place looks brand new. It is spacious and offers a view of their brewing facility. There was also outside seating, but with temperatures peaking over 100 degrees, there was no way I was going to test it out.

Once my food arrived, I decided it was time to try out their seasonal beer which was appropriately named Summer Night Saison. It tasted like candy, was absolutely delicious, and a good pair to my BBQ Ribs.

As for the ribs, they were delicious, as was the coleslaw and garlic mashed potatoes that came with it. The ribs had a very good flavor that was enhanced, not hidden, by the Oatmeal Stout BBQ Sauce.

I also had the opportunity to sample their dark beer of the month, a Porter aptly named Smokey the Beer. This beer was very dark and very flavorful.

One thing I did find upsetting at this place was that the bar did serve Miller Lite. With so many great beers freshly brewed on tap at this place, how could anyone even think to ask if this establishment served Miller Lite?

I mentioned to the bartender that it almost seemed criminal that such a liquid masquerading as "beer" could be served at this place. Of course, he first said the politically correct thing, stating that everyone has their own taste, but later assured me that he thought it was garbage as well.

Rating: Bought the Shirt