New Mexican Cuisine, Rust Belt Comfort Food and Classic American Cocktails are on the Menu in Deutschtown

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Married couple Michael Schmidt and Jess Frandsen welcomed their daughter, Murphy, seven weeks ago.

Their other baby, a North Side restaurant and bar called The Eastman, debuts on Saturday.

Located in the former Fat Cat at 320 East Ohio St., the laidback, family-friendly joint serves classic cocktails, 10 rotating draft beers, an array of non-alcoholic offerings and a menu influenced by both New Mexico and Buffalo, New York.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Schmidt was raised just south of the Nickel City and wanted to showcase some of his hometown comfort food, including pizza logs (mozzarella cheese and pepperoni wrapped in an egg roll), Beef on Weck sandwiches (thinly sliced, rare roast beef on a Kimmelweck bun with a side of au jus) and, of course, Buffalo wings.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Chef Chris Acosta will whip up his New Mexican favorites and ancestral riffs on the Rust Belt standards Frandsen grew up on in Indiana. Every dish is made with fresh ingredients and good vibes.

Entrees inspired by the Land of Enchantment will dazzle the taste buds of both vegetarians and carnivores with offerings ranging from The Cauli-Wower, a marinated half-head of cauliflower that’s oven-roasted until it’s crispy, to Carne Asada.

Acosta and his wife, Roberta, launched the roving Taqueria Acosta in Deutschtown in 2021 and, in 2024, started a residency at Fat Cat called tacOcat (that’s where Schmidt and Frandsen fell in love with the food and forged a friendship.)

Acosta says it feels good to be “home” again.

Another industry veteran, Patrick Cassidy, most recently the bar lead at Downtown’s Gi-Jin, designed The Eastman’s beverage program. He’s mastered the classics, from The Old Fashioned and Gin Gimlet to the Dirty Martini, and can create custom libations and boozeless refreshments with ease.

Schmidt and Fransenen are taking the arrival of their “twins” in stride.

From April 18 through May, The Eastman will be in Rolling Preview Party-mode to solicit community feedback on everything from food and beverage to programming. The second floor of the building is fully licensed and includes an event space and a deck.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The eatery is situated smack-dab in the middle of a burgeoning restaurant row that includes Fig & Ash, Smash Shack, Siempre Algo, EYV, Subba, Bistro To Go Cafe & Catering and the recently restored Park House.

Inside The Eastman, there’s a familial atmosphere, with Schmidt and Frandsen welcoming both culinary and parenting advice from the Acostas, whose children are grown.

“I believe things from the past come circling back around in a better form or fashion,” Acosta says. “Mike and Jess knew what we were about and they have a finger on the heartbeat of what folks want here.”