Paulius Musteikis
A flatbread pizza; a glass of wine; and a canvas.
PaintBar’s menu is the only one I've ever seen that lists canvases. They range from $9 to $20 and include the use of acrylic paint and brushes. But there’s also beer, wine and a selection of flatbread pizzas and panini sandwiches.
Keeping the food menu simple is smart for a place devoted to painting. Here, patrons get creative both through classes and “freestyle” (non-guided) painting options.
Drinks are currently limited to wine and beer (PaintBar is still pursuing a full liquor license), but wine-based cocktails are a fun solution to the challenge. The Monet Mojito has a base of pinot grigio with additions of lime, mint and Sprite. It’s slightly fizzy and refreshing, the mint and lime playing second fiddle to the piney pinot. The Cranfusion is PaintBar’s twist on sangria. A mix of merlot, cranberry juice, Sprite and muddled lime, it’s tart and summery.
Even though you may have paint on your fingers (the staff notes that it’s nontoxic), flatbread pizzas and paninis are perfect fuel while you work on your masterpiece.
The pancetta and arugula pizza comes topped with an ample portion of fresh arugula, tossed in a vinegary dressing. The honey goat cheese offered a slightly sweet note, which worked well with the spiciness of the arugula. The oven-roasted tomatoes were also served cold. The chilled toppings caught me off guard; while this pizza might be a nice option on a hot night, I preferred the more conventional ones.
The margherita is a gorgeous choice: large dollops of pesto and fresh mozzarella splash onto a canvas of red sauce and oven-roasted tomatoes. The pesto was pleasantly salty, complementing the super-sweet tomatoes. The flatbread crust, reminiscent of an airy pita bread, couldn’t quite contain all the moisture, and got soggy as it cooled. The flavors held up though.
The sausage and pepperoni pizza was a stylized version of the classic combo, with a circle of pepperoni topped with a slice of sausage on each piece.
Pizzas and panini are very similar in their ingredients, but some work better as sandwiches, like the pancetta arugula panini, others as pizzas.
The bread on all of the sandwiches is nicely grilled and crunchy on the outside. Inside, it stayed soft and got a touch mushy. A denser, chewier bread may have fared better, especially with the juicier ingredients (a roasted veggie and hummus panini was a bit on the wet side, as well).
For dessert, there’s one option: dessert pizza. PaintBar’s take features a thick layer of Nutella, fresh raspberries and a tangy, citrusy balsamic reduction. Under the heat of the pizza oven, the Nutella’s texture changed, cracking on top to look a bit like brownies. The result was a success. I could take or leave the balsamic reduction, though it did look pretty on the plate — which makes sense, I guess.
PaintBar offers good food, but it’s the overall experience that will keep customers coming back. Each time I visited, I had a blast making a piece of art while eating, drinking and hanging out with friends. Prices are reasonable — a sandwich or pizza, a drink and a small canvas will run about $25 total — and helpful staff offer plenty of artistic encouragement along the way. While you might not go to PaintBar just for the food, it makes a great addition to the painting experience.
PaintBar: 1224 Williamson St., 608-518-3044, paint-bar.com, 11 am-10 pm Sun.-Thurs., 11 am-midnight Fri.-Sat., 11 am-1, $6-$11.