DRIZZLE, SIZZLE, SPROUT. A new curated, chef-driven restaurant will soon hit one month of operations in the Chippewa Valley: Sprout Bistro (312 East Lincoln St., Augusta). Its two chefs – Tyler Thelen and Danielle Menting – offer inventive, cost-conscious breakfast and dinner options.

Just over a half hour's drive outside Eau Claire, where the city noise fades, a new culinary gem has taken root – or, should we say sprouted – in Augusta. Open on Fridays and Saturdays, Sprout Bistro (312 East Lincoln St., Augusta) proves you don’t have to drive all the way to a major metro to experience high-quality, locally-sourced, inventive dishes.

The restaurant’s operators and two chefs, Tyler Thelen and Danielle Menting, have honed in their culinary chops for decades across current and former Chippewa Valley institutions like the Informalist, Hangar 54 Grill, The Cranky Buzzard, Locavore Mobile Kitchen and WiLD: A Feral Kitchen by Live Great Food, among others.

Yet, amidst the ever-changing foodie scenes in the Chippewa Valley, both have harbored a desire for something more. With respective roots in small-town communities, the pair looks to build a space with approachable and high-quality fare for locals who may yearn for more culinary variety.

“I feel like we’ve kind of spent our whole careers here making connections,” Menting said. “Now, it’s all coming full circle. We are very grateful for all those people and that we can get the chance to buy locally and help each other more.”

The chefs approach every plate with intentionality and select flavors they not only personally enjoy, but believe will resonate with the community’s palates.

Since Sprout Bistro opened its doors in early June, the menu – across its brunch, lunch and dinner services – has highlighted a harmony of familiar comforts with creative twists.

“We want to be able to take our time with the dishes and give people beautiful, but delicious food.”

tyler thelen and danielle menting

co-owners, chefs of sprout bistro

Sprout Bistro (pictured above) will call Augusta home – alongside Kite's Cafe – for the foreseeable future. However, its co-owners welcome the idea for future expansion in other smaller cities across Wisconsin.

One of the brunch menu's breakout hits is Sprout Bistro's take on “Chicken & Waffles.” The dish, with crispy chicken thighs resting atop house-made buttermilk waffles, is finished with honey butter, an intricate honeycomb tuile and an essential drizzle of Wisconsin maple syrup.

It's at the top of the pricing spectrum for brunch, which ranges from $8-$16.

Breakfast traditions shine through in “The Vintage,” a quintessential pairing of eggs alongside choice of bacon or house-made sausage patties, accompanied by savory breakfast potatoes and toast. 

Or, try the “King Benny” with layers of sliced prime rib, poached eggs upon a toasted English muffin – all blanketed in a tarragon and black garlic hollandaise and garnished with delicate fried leeks.

“Perfecting hollandaise was one of the things at the Informalist that (Amy Ann Huo) used to bang into our heads every day,” Menting said. “That’s one (thing) we really like to keep obviously scratch made, because people just love it.”

Sprout Bistro's take on “Chicken & Waffles” (pictured above), which features an intricate honeycomb tuile: a thin, crisp French wafer used as a garnish. This styling choice pays homage to Thelen's background in French-style cuisines.

Sprout Bistro's “Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich” features a tempura fried chicken with an arugula and cabbage salad and fried potatoes. Ingredients throughout the restaurant's menu are sourced through regional distributors and growers, the two chefs said.

Diners who seek a vibrant kick for lunch can opt for Menting’s “Kimchi Fried Rice,” a vegan and gluten-free menu item where seasonal veggies and a sweet-and-spicy soy glaze meet a fried egg – garnished with curly green onions.

For those who visit the restaurant during its dinner service, Sprout Bistro’s current selection of “starters” offers a ceviche and watermelon salad ($10 each), alongside crispy brussels sprouts ($12) and the timeless regional favorite – fried pickles ($10).

In Sprout Bistro’s current rotation of featured entrées, Thelen’s “Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich” spotlights a tempura fried chicken accompanied by an arugula and cabbage salad; green chile aioli, house pickles, a brioche bun and fried potatoes complete the dish.

“We want to be able to take our time with the dishes and give people beautiful, but delicious food,” the duo said.

Sprout Bistro currently operates out of a shared brick-and-mortar alongside Kite’s Cafe – owned and operated by Laci Kitelinger. The respective business ventures, Thelen said, breathes new life into the space once occupied by Tugger’s, Brian’s & Trisha’s Cafe & Catering.

“We seat 46 people, so we don't have a huge space (but) I would say it’s a perfect space,” Thelen said. “We have a lot of returning customers that are coming to us that have followed us from Eau Claire.”

Chef Tyler Thelen, one of two chefs behind Sprout Bistro, pictured. Thelen and co-owner Danielle Menting were first introduced to one another through Amy Ann Huo, former chef at the Informalist in Eau Claire.

With a community-driven spirit in mind, Thelen and Menting have begun to host “Sprouts Community Market,” to give other locals the same opportunity to grow their small business.

Markets are often scheduled when the restaurant is open on Fridays and Saturdays, with featured vendors including Two Ovens’ baked goods, Thurston Ridge Soap Co., Teddy & Friends - Produce & Eggs, among others.

With just a month of operations under their belts, Thelen and Menting are already cultivating a long-term vision for their new venture. To locals in the city of Augusta and beyond, extend a warm welcome to Sprout Bistro – where patrons can savor home-grown traditions through delightful culinary creations in their own backyard.

“(We’re) staying true to who we are, getting the (locals) to love what we do and hopefully, it will bring greatness and happiness to their communities,” the two chefs said.

Stop by Sprout Bistro (312 East Lincoln St., Augusta), open 12-9pm on Fridays and 8am-3pm + 4-9pm on Saturdays. Keep up with the new eatery online through Facebook.