La Merenda to include patio, outdoor bar 
La Merenda owner Peter Sandroni was thinking about starting a new place in another part of Milwaukee, but then property next to his existing restaurant became available.
“(I thought), ‘We know La Merenda works, so why not invest more in that?’” he said.
He’s investing $350,000 to expand his property and add a patio, lounge and outdoor bar. Work started on the project last week.
Sandroni bought a vacant lot and a home to the east of the small-plate restaurant at 125 E. National Ave., Milwaukee. He’s keeping the house to use as storage space and building an outdoor bar.
He's opening up the side of the restaurant so you can walk through the dining room directly to a concrete outdoor lounge. Connected to that is a wooden patio with room for 40 diners.
"I don't know if our kitchen can support more than that," he said.
He also plans to put a garden in the new space with a combination of flowers, vegetables and herbs that can be used in the restaurant, he said. He hopes to open the patio by Labor Day but isn't sure it will be ready by then.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/print-edition/2012/07/27/la-merenda-to-include-patio-outdoor-bar.html
