Several established restaurateurs have opened new spots in Milwaukee this month, including Mediterranean, Mexican-inspired breakfast, Pakistani food and a pie bakery. Plus, a new pizzeria comes to Greenfield. Alas, there are also a few closings to mention.
Fiesta Café 1407 S. First St. 414-914-9569 fiestacafe.net $$
Carlos Medina
A new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot has opened in the former Wayward Kitchen building on South First Street. Fiesta Café is owned by Rosa-Isela Real and Valdemar Escobar, who also own Fat Valdy’s and the Chicken Palace restaurants. They serve American and Mexican cuisine, including chilaquiles ($12); Florentine crepes ($11) with spinach, mushrooms and hollandaise; and churro French toast ($12) for breakfast. Lunch items include a chicken avocado salad ($9) with citrus chipotle dressing and sandwiches and burgers like the Monterrey club ($12). Fresh juices, a coffee bar, beer, wine and cocktails, including a Southwest bloody ($10) garnished with a beef stick, are available.
Pita Palace Mediterranean Cuisine 789 W. Layton Ave. 414-988-8100 facebook.com/pitapalacemke $$
The owners of Al-Yousef Supermarket, which is well known for its small restaurant, have opened a counter-service, standalone restaurant. Pita Palace serves much of the same Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu with some additions. Appetizers are mostly classics, like falafel (six pieces for $2.99) and foul mudamas ($5.99), a dip of mashed fava beans, garlic and lemon. Sandwiches like beef shawarma ($5.99) come in Lebanon or pita bread with pickles, onions, tomatoes and tahini. Entrees come as a platter with rice, hummus and Jerusalem salad, topped with items like beef shish kabob ($12.99), lamb chops ($15.99) and chicken kafta kabob ($10.95).
Shah Jee’s 3116 N. Downer Ave. 414-271-5354 facebook.com/shahjeesmke $
Popular Downtown lunch spot Shah Jee’s has opened a second location on the East Side in the former Dog Haus space (with plans to open two other locations soon as well). The menu at the new location will be the same as the Jefferson Street location, and the food will be prepared in that location as well. The largely vegetarian menu includes chana masala ($7), aalu palak ($8) with spinach and potatoes, saag paneer ($8) and chicken masala ($9). Unlike the original location, the Downer spot is open for lunch and dinner. There is a small seating area, but the owners expect to do a lot of takeout for UW-Milwaukee students and employees.
SmallPie 2504 E. Oklahoma Ave. 414-763-7067 smallpiemke.com $
The owner of Honeypie and Palomino has opened a pie shop in a former commercial garage in Bay View. SmallPie serves a variety of sweet and savory pies and other baked goods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pies are individual servings and include a rotating mix of fillings. On the savory side ($6) are Wisconsin cheeseburger pies, Cuban pork with shredded pork, ham and pickles, and curry vegetable. Sweet pies ($5-$7) come in hand-pie varieties or mini pies in flavors like chocolate cream, peach and apple. Side salads, a few sandwiches and bagels are also available.
Uncle Paulie’s Brick Oven Pizzeria 4395 S. 76th St. 414-246-2236 unclepauliesbrickovenpizzeria.com $$
A pizzeria has opened in the former Mad Dog Saloon in Greenfield. Uncle Paulie’s owners installed a huge, rotating, brick pizza oven imported from Italy that can hold up to 14 pizzas at a time. It turns out 12-inch pizzas on a thin, yeasted crust with some charring. The My Cousin Vinny ($15.50) includes ricotta, sausage, meatballs, roasted red peppers and basil, while the bianco ($14) is a white pie with garlic sauce, fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, olive oil and shaved parmesan cheese. There are also appetizers like antipasto ($16.50) with cured meats, cheeses and garnishes, pasta entrees from meat lasagna ($14) to linguine carbonara ($12) and a Friday night fish fry ($13.50).
Closings
After reopening a couple of years ago, Crawdaddy’s in West Allis has, for a second time, called it quits. Louise’s Downtown has chosen not to renew its lease and has closed. And, finally, The Love Shack on Seeboth has closed for a rebranding, which is planned to be revealed later this year.
