2017 has been quite the year for the Milwaukee dining scene! Here's a roundup of the 54 new restaurant openings we've covered in the last year.
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Santino's Little Italy
352 E Stewart St, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207A new Italian spot focusing on pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy has opened in Bay View in January. The crust of the Neapolitan style pizzas is made with Caputo flour, an Italian brand of finely ground wheat favored by the best pizza restaurants in Naples. The Margherita pizza ($13), topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil, is a traditional favorite. Other options include Melanzana ($14) with grilled eggplant and oregano, Diavolo ($14) with salami, cayenne and red bell peppers, and an Italian beef and giardiniera-topped pie ($15). Antipasti, salads and a few pasta dishes are also available, including pasta with giant 10-ounce meatballs ($13). (Lacey Muszynski)
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FreshFin Poké (North Ave.)
1806 E North Ave, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211Poké, a Hawaiian salad of fresh raw fish, is a growing food trend around the country. It officially made its way to Milwaukee in January with the opening of the city’s first poké-centric restaurant, FreshFin Poké. Newbies to poké may want to order a signature bowl, like the Mango Tango ($8.95-$12.95) with salmon, mango, edamame, avocado, sweet shoyu sauce and crispy onion. If you already know what you like, you can also build your own poké bowl ($7.95+) by choosing a protein, base of rice or greens, sauces, and toppings. A vegan bowl ($7.95-11.95) and cilantro chicken ($7.95-$11.95) are also available for the fish-averse. (Lacey Muszynski)
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The Phoenix Cocktail Club
785 N Jefferson St, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202A modern cocktail club opened in the 1858 William Webber House in January. True to its name, The Phoenix is first a foremost a bar and lounge, but also serves a small menu of globally inspired dishes that changes weekly. Dishes from their first menus have included goodies like mushroom bibimbap ($15), roasted fingerling potatoes with mint and cucumber salad ($8) and fresh doughnut holes filled with mint cream ($6). The playful seasonal cocktail menu is divided into sections like Kick Ass Potions, Colors!, and Fancy. Drink names are just as fanciful, like the One Armed Boxer ($13) made with pear brandy, sherry, brown sugar cordial and root beer tincture. (Lacey Muszynski)
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4
The Ruckus
4144 N Oakland Ave, Shorewood, Wisconsin 53211The owners of Colectivo Coffee are branching out: They opened The Ruckus in January, a burger, ice cream and churro spot in Shorewood. Burgers are quarter-pound and come with a variety of toppings, from the signature Ruckus burger ($9) with pork chorizo mixed right into the patty and topped with bacon, grilled pineapple and salsa, to the more tame Classic burger ($5.75) with cheddar, veggies, ketchup and mustard. Besides burgers, a couple hot dogs and sides round out the menu. For dessert, freshly fried churros ($3) and various ice cream creations, like shakes ($5) and “Saturdaes”($5)—their name for sundae—are a sweet ending to a meal. In warmer months, garage doors lining the building will open to patio seating. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Explorium Brewpub (Southridge)
Southridge Mall hasn’t exactly been a bastion of dining options, but a man from Florida who grew up at his family’s brewpubs hopes to change that. Mike Doble is all about exploring: new tastes, new beers, new experiences. The beers brewed on site all are named for famous explorers, like Livingstone’s Porter and Captain Kidd’s Lost IPA. Quotes from explorers or about exploring appear on the walls of the large space that’s kept cozy with a brick fireplace and warm wood furniture. Even the patio has a fireplace, though the weather needs to warm up a little before it gets any use. You can explore various parts of the globe through the menu as well: Belgian-style mussels ($16) are available in three flavors, Cantonese calamari ($14) is tossed in a sweet chili sauce, and a Wisconsin Rarebit soup ($5-$7) is a local take on the Welsh favorite. Burgers, pizzas, steaks and chops round out the rest of the menu. (Lacey Muszynski)
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San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana
The operator of the Downtown Calderone Club opened a Neopolitan-style pizzeria next door in the former Thai Palace space in February. Gino Fazzari has obtained what’s called VPN certification for San Giorgio by the Naples-based Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. To get certified, pizzerias must adhere to strict standards in ingredients, methods and equipment in order to faithfully recreate Naples-style pizza. The wood-burning oven, imported from Italy, will cook pizzas in about a minute and a half at blistering temperature, resulting in the leopard spot-like char on the crust. Ten varieties of pizza ($10-$16) are offered, most of them traditional. Margherita has tomatoes from San Marzano, Italy, fresh mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil. The restaurant’s namesake pizza forgoes tomatoes for a splash of olive oil along with braised fennel, pancetta, mozzarella and an egg cracked in the middle. Appetizers, soup, panini, meatballs and rotisserie meats are also on the menu. (Lacey Muszynski)
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7
Eagle Park Brewing Company (East Side)
Eagle Park is owned by brothers Jackson and Max Borgardt and Jake Schinker. The brothers also front a band called Eagle Trace, which was formed in the New Berlin garage of the house they grew up in. Also formed in that garage: the brothers’ love of beer and brewing. Their space in the warehouse—on the second floor and reached by buzzing in—contains a small taproom and equally small amount of brewing equipment. That’s because they're currently contract-brewing most of their beers in an effort to stay within budget while delivering a superior product. Signature brews include Loop Station, a golden ale with hints of agave nectar, lime peel and sea salt, and Line Check, a light-bodied brown porter. Currently, the taproom is open Friday and Saturday, but you can find their beer at The Explorium Brewpub and at local beer festivals. (Lacey Muszynski)
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City Lights Brewing Company
You’ve probably seen the 1904 Milwaukee Gas Light Company building in the Menomonee Valley from I-94: The large turret-like tower is hard to miss. The Alexander Eschweiler-designed building used to supply coal gas to light Milwaukee’s streetlamps, but now it supplies some of the city’s beer. City Lights Brewing has renovated the huge space, creating a brewing room, large taproom and an outdoor beer garden. The industrial vibe remains the same, with exposed beams, ductwork and brick walls. Reclaimed wood and leather furnishing warm the space up, inviting you to stay a while and try a flight. An amber ale, brown ale, IPA and session IPA are all on tap, and will soon be canned as well. Tours of the 115-year-old building and brand new brewing equipment are available. Food trucks are often parked outside, so check City Lights’ social media pages for details. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Kindred on KK
2535 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207The goal of Kindred is to gather people together around food and drink. In fact, the word “gather” is in the restaurant’s logo, written on the menu, and even implied in its location on the main level of a welcoming guesthouse, the Kinn. The space is plush and inviting, with purple upholstered chairs, reclaimed wood dividers and bright abstract artwork. Enjoy a selection of shareable plates at the long communal table like edam cheese croquettes ($9) with baby leeks and chokeberry jam, lemongrass mussels ($13) with roasted heirloom carrots, or pink Argentine shrimp ($15) with white corn grits and andouille. Some large plates are also offered, ranging from a black Angus burger ($13) to seared striped bass ($23) with caramelized carrot purée. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Fuel Cafe (5th St.)
Fuel Cafe, a staple in Riverwest, opened a second location in Walker’s Point in March. The space is much larger than the original location, with soaring ceilings and a sleek, modern aesthetic. (Purists will appreciate the “lousy service” neon sign that has been duplicated for the new space.) A full espresso bar with grab-and-go items and a full-service restaurant and bar operate within the space. The menu is much expanded, with appetizers like smoked trout deviled eggs ($6) and grilled, soy-glazed shishito peppers ($7). The popular toasted cheesy tomato ($9) and buttafuoco variant ($10) are available, along with more substantial offerings like the fried chicken biscuit ($10), steak sandwich ($13) and hot dish ($12) with ground brisket and veggies topped with hash browns and a poached egg. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Mimosa (Franklin)
9405 S 27th St, City of Franklin, Wisconsin 53132A new breakfast and brunch restaurant opened in Franklin in March. Mimosa specializes in reimagining classic breakfast items, like a jambalaya-inspired skillet ($12.95) with pulled chicken breast, sausage and shrimp in a Cajun sauce over potatoes and eggs. The house potatoes are a recipe from the mother of the owner, Apostoli Evreniadis. Unlike typical shredded hash browns, these are chunky and cooked in olive oil until golden. Get them topped with feta, lemon and bacon ($4.95) or with Greek yogurt avocado sauce ($3.45), both nods to Evreniadis’ Greek heritage. Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible and only Wisconsin-laid cage-free eggs are used. Try three of them in the shrimp omelet ($11.95) with avocado, garlic, tomato, onion and cheese. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Margarita City
8201 S Howell Ave, City of Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154A new Mexican restaurant has opened in Oak Creek. Margarita City is located in the former Tazinos space, which has been renovated to include a semicircular bar with multiple TVs, murals on the walls and even a dessert showcase. The menu includes all the standard Mexican favorites, like tacos, enchiladas, burritos and fajitas. For something unique, try the pozole verde ($3.49-$7.99), a green version of pozole made with tomatillos and garnished with radishes and cabbage. Seafood fans might enjoy the chiles rellenos ($14.99), served two to an order: one stuffed with shrimp and cheese, and the other with spinach and cheese. And of course there are a number of margaritas ($5.99-$12.99) on the drink menu, including a version made with tamarind and one that incorporates watermelon liqueur. (Lacey Muszynski)
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On The Way Café
6005 W Mequon Rd, City of Mequon, Wisconsin 53092A café focusing on organic food for customers with busy lifestyles and special diets has opened in a strip mall in Mequon. Owner Jill Check has studied and worked in the fields of natural healthcare and nutrition for 26 years and uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Café offers grab-and-go options, fresh juices and smoothies, and retail supplements, snacks and wine. For breakfast, a homemade granola ($7) is served with non-dairy milk made from nuts. Lunch and dinner feature mainly salads, sandwiches and bowls with various proteins and grains, plus creative burgers like the Mediterranean lamb burger ($15.50) with manchego cheese and raita. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Crafty Cow (Bay View)
2675 S Kinnickinnic Ave, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207A Milwaukee outpost of the Oconomowoc burger spot Crafty Cow opened in Bay View in April. Located in one side of Bumstead Provisions—both restaurants are owned and operated by the same team of owners—Crafty Cow specializes in Twin Cities-style cheese-stuffed burgers called Jucy Lucys. The original Lucy ($8) is stuffed with American cheese, or you can choose from any number of variations, like the Twice Baked ($9) stuffed with white cheddar and bacon, then topped with ranch chips, bacon sour cream and caramelized onions. A portion of the menu dubbed The Great Milwaukee Project features collaboration burgers between local businesses and restaurants with proceeds going to local charities. The Southsider ($12.50), stuffed with honey goat cheese and topped with gin-pickled red onions, mushroom ragout and thick pork belly, is a collaboration between five local restaurants plus Milwaukee Record that benefits Milwaukee Community Gardens. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Broken Bat Brewery
Childhood friends Tim Pauly and Dan McElwee opened a baseball-themed brewery and sports bar in the Third Ward in April. The space, located on the lower level, is bright and lined with Cream City brick, TVs and a few curated sports memorabilia items. The restrooms, on the other hand, are all decked out in baseball cards in the men’s room or photos of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the ladies’. As for brews, IPAs are going to be their bread and butter, though other styles and seasonals will pop up from time to time. Straight Chedd Apricot IPA is brewed with apricots for a slightly sweet finish. Double Play IPA is an 8% double IPA brewed with Skyrocket and Cascade hops. Mint Condition Porter, fermented and served with fresh mint leaves, and Climb the Wall Farmhouse Ale with orange peel are available on the non-IPA front. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Westallion Brewing Company
1825 S 72nd St, City of West Allis, Wisconsin 53214In development since 2015, Westallion is the first brewery to open in West Allis. The beers of Erik and Kim Dorfner have been available on tap in some bars for a while now, but the brewery’s tasting room facility has only just opened. Erik has previous brewing experience, working a number of positions at Lakefront Brewery, but it was his dream to open his own brewery. Beers are named for famous West Allis residents and local events. Western Days Vienna Lager is the brewery’s flagship beer, named after a defunct annual event with parades and rodeos, and is aggressively malted. Mustang APA is heavy on Citra hops and named after the mascot of the closed West Milwaukee High School that Liberace attended. Olympic gold medal speed skater Dan Jansen even inspired the Lillehammer Gold Kölsch-style ale. (Lacey Muszynski)
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BelAir Cantina (Brookfield)
250 High Street, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045BelAir Cantina has opened in The Corners of Brookfield, a mixed-use development anchored by Von Maur. This was the fifth location of the Tex-Mex restaurants in the area, with a sixth that opened in Madison later in the year. All locations serve up burritos, margaritas, fajitas and tacos in a variety of Mexican and international flavors.
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Dorsia
1301 E Brady St, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202A new Italian spot named after a fictional restaurant in the movie American Psycho has opened in the former Mimma’s space on Brady Street. Dorsia is owned by Geno Cataldo, whose family owns Jo-Cat’s Pub next door. The space was completely remodeled with a modern aesthetic, including dark gray walls in the bar and bright pop art posters. The focus of the menu is antipasti meant for sharing, along with homemade pastas. Pasta dishes can be ordered as an entrée or as a flight of three or more. Bucatini ($13) is dressed with tomatoes, guanciale, Parmesan and basil. Crudo ($15) is an appetizer meant for sharing with raw scallops, hamachi, peppers and cucumbers. Brunch, cocktails and an extensive wine list are also available. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Boo Boo's Sandwiches
415 S 2nd St, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204Richard Regner, owner of Soup Bros., has opened a sandwich shop named Boo Boo’s. Located right around the corner from Soup Bros. in the former Philly Way space, Boo Boo’s serves up a variety of hot and cold sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Regner will be baking the various breads used for the sandwiches, along with sourcing some from local bakeries. Sandwiches are priced between $8 and $9, and all include homemade fries. Classics like deli turkey, tuna salad with capers and grilled liverwurst with onions and mustard are on the menu, plus griddled items like cheesesteak. The tiny space including the enclosed patio has been remodeled, but with limited seating. Takeout is a good bet. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Likkle Jamayka
235 S. 2nd Street, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204A Caribbean restaurant has opened in Walker’s Point. Likkle Jamayka will focus on Jamaican cuisine but will include influences from around the Caribbean. Owner Adriel McFarlane is from Jamaica and moved to the U.S. six years ago. The menu is small, with 10 appetizers and salads, half a dozen entrées, sides and a few desserts. Seafood plays heavily, including appetizers like blue lump crab cakes ($14.25) with Cajun remoulade and fried conch ($14.75); the latter called “Jewels of the Bahamas” here. Jamaican patties ($8.25), a hand-held pastry filled with curried chicken and beef, are a favorite island food, as is the curried goat ($22.95) with snow peas, carrots and potatoes. Classic jerk chicken gets a makeover here into jerk chicken and waffles ($23.75) with strawberry salsa and rum and coconut maple glaze. Lunch brings sandwiches and small plates, like the Caribbean delight ($13.75), a sandwich with smoked salmon and slaw served with sweet potato fries. (Lacey Muszynski)
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