Who's on Layton attempted to open quietly at the end of August, but it didn't play out that way. Partner Jack Roman says they put on their marquee the sports bar and restaurant would open at 4 p.m. the following Monday, and by 2 p.m., people were already lining up to come inside.
"This community has welcomed us since day one, and we couldn't be happier to be here in the Garden District," says Roman, who also owns Who's On Third, Oak Barrel Public House and Third Street Tavern with Bobby Wiltgen and Gabe Burkhalzer.
This is the group's first venture in a neighborhood other than Downtown.
"A lot of our Downtown customers live in the greater community and visit us before or after going to Fiserv Forum," says Roman. "We are really excited to bring our brand to them."
An official grand opening party will take place this weekend, Sept. 22-24. The fun starts at 3 p.m. on Friday with drink specials, outdoor bars and live music from The Toys (Friday) and Rebel Grace (Saturday). Saturday is dog-friendly and also a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Humane Society and Sunday is the bar's first official Packers party with free prizes and touchdown shots.
Who's On Layton's menu is similar to Who's on Third, with a focus on wings, burgers, brats, pastas, sandwiches, wraps, salads, a Friday fish fry and more.
Stand-out items include the Belly Buster, a double brat patty with beer cheese spread and sauerkraut on a brioche bun that pays homage to BeerBelly's, the business that formerly occupied the space. The classic club came with all the usual fixings but with the twist of french fries actually on the sandwich. The wings, like the wings at Who's On First, are grilled and available in about a dozen sauces, including their signature Sriracha ginger.
Who's On Layton has cans, bottles and taps of beer, along with a full bar and a specialty cocktail menu. They also offer a Jameson Bottle Club, which invites patrons to buy a bottle of Jameson and keep it on-site for their personal consumption when visiting.
The decor is clean and modern, with large custom art pieces by local artist Jimmy Cha Cha including a large mural of the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo. Large flat screen TVs are strategically placed throughout the restaurant and a welcoming patio with massive garage doors is located in the front of the building.
"We are definitely a sports bar and restaurant, but we're also very family friendly," says Roman. "We have fun – especially during Packers games – but we don't get too rowdy."
Who's On Layton will also offer shuttles to and from every home Packers game this season.
"We have a lot planned and are really looking forward to becoming a part of this new-to-us community," says Roman.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
