Earlier this summer, I talked to the owners of Wela – the modern Thai restaurant that is going to bring life back to 217 N. Broadway, where Bavette lived the latter part of its life before its closure in January. They were eager, understandably, to debut their new concept. This week, they came one step closer, announcing a soft opening date of Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Nini Trick, one of Wela’s four owners and also a co-owner of Milwaukee’s Thai-namite restaurants, described the mission of the new business as honoring “traditional Thai flavors while presenting modern techniques and thoughtful hospitality.”
Those modern techniques are the trademark of chef and co-owner Somchok “Sam” Sansawas, whose cooking background includes classic French cuisine.
Wela – pronounced “Way-lah” – comes from the Thai word meaning time. The restaurant tagline is “Taste of Time.” Those tastes include raw and chilled items such as scallop crudo and crab tartare tartlets…