Fritzi Brings Rotisserie Chicken & Waffles And Carrot Dogs To The Arts District

A new restaurant attached to the Arts District Brewery offers bacon and beef burgers, rotisserie chicken and potato waffles, beer cocktails and more.

Fritzi, the latest offering from chef Neal Fraser of downtown's celebrated Redbird, is a slick, yet laid-back spot to grab a bite and drink before heading next door to the brewery for some skeeball. While you may recognize the name from Fraser's gourmet hot dog and tater tot offerings at the Original Farmer's Market and in the courtyard by Redbird, this time around, he showcases a wider and more refined menu of options in an industrial chic setting. There's also the added bonus of cocktails, wine and beer from the connected brewery.

A major draw at Fritzi is the crisp, golden chicken, slowly blistering on the wood-fired rotisserie, which can be seen when you walk into the modern, high-ceilinged space on Traction Ave. The chicken is smartly paired with potato waffles—essentially mashed potatoes in wonderful waffle form—unless you prefer fries or tater tots. You also get a choice of a vegetable side and can pick among the excellent dipping sauces of green harissa, romesco and yuzu citrus aioli (though we recommend them all). Another menu standout is the burger blended with slab bacon, topped with fontina fondue, Calabrese relish, 1000 island and iceberg lettuce. There's also a bacon-free beef option and a turkey patty, but let's be real here. The patty may be relatively small at 4 oz. compared to your typical whopper of a belly buster, but it packs a serious flavor punch and when paired with the accompanying tater tots, fries or potato waffle, makes for a satisfying option.

And you'll definitely want to save room to share the excellent vegetable sides like the charred Brussels sprouts with pickled mustard seed and Manchego, and the spit-roasted cauliflower with lemon, herbs and Calabrese pepper. Both sides can also pair well with the forbidden rice and quinoa salad with winter squash, smoked blue cheese and hazelnuts to make for an excellent vegetarian option. All of the above is available both at lunch and dinner, and at lunch vegetarians can also enjoy the notable Fritzi carrot dog, which has been sous-vide in 26 spices for maximum kick. And, of course, there's the smoky Snappy O'Brien dog and jalapeño chicken dog during the day, too. At night, you can feast on larger dishes like the steak frites and Santa Barbara white fish.

And, of course, let's not forget about those excellent drink options. The convenient proximity of the new Arts District Brewery will make the choice obvious for some with standout beer options including their “Spirited” Saison, the “Redbird” Red Rye IPA and the “Velveteen Rabbit” Oatmeal Stout. For cocktails, you may be tempted by the refreshing Milwaukee Sour with bourbon, dry curaçao, lemon and the "Spirited" Saison, or the tropical Nitro Mai Tai with martinique rum, Jamaican rum, dry curaçao, lime and orgeat. You can also opt for the limited, yet well curated list of wines by the glass from home and abroad.

While the space is sleek and attractive, Fritzi's casual vibe makes it a great option for meeting up with friends or date night. And though select items from the menu in a pared down format are available through a window in the brewery, we recommend sitting down for a meal before heading next door for more brews and games.

Fritzi is located at 814 Traction Ave, Arts District, (213) 537-0527.