New Milwaukee area restaurants that opened in 2022

Journal Sentinel staff
·12 min read
1

In the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants continued to deal with COVID-19's effects. Health issues, worker shortages and high food costs made serving difficult.

Yet dozens of restaurants have opened in the Milwaukee area, many in the same buildings where previous diners faltered.

Here are this year's new local, sit-down restaurants.

Hen's Deli is serving bagels and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch at 209 W. Florida St. in Walker's Point.
Hen's Deli is serving bagels and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch at 209 W. Florida St. in Walker's Point.

Hen's Deli

209 W. Florida St.

The bagel and sandwich shop opened in late December in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood.

The counter service restaurant has such breakfast items as toasted bagels with cream cheese and egg sandwiches with American cheese on bagel. Lunch offering include sub sandwiches, pork pastrami, torta with lengua and vegetarian bagel sandwiches.

At El Jimador Mexican Restaurant in Sussex, customers can order mangonada, a frozen mango drink with the spiciness of tamarind vodka.
At El Jimador Mexican Restaurant in Sussex, customers can order mangonada, a frozen mango drink with the spiciness of tamarind vodka.

El Jimador Mexican Restaurant

N65 W24838 Main St., Sussex

Serving authentic Mexican food and a family atmosphere, El Jimador has a full menu, ranging from steaks to seafood to lunches. It opened Dec. 11.

Toast, a brunch restaurant, now has two locations.
Toast, a brunch restaurant, now has two locations.

Toast

1302 Washington Ave., Cedarburg

The southwestern-flavored brunch restaurant opened its second restaurant Nov. 25 in Cedarburg's Five Corners area.

The restaurant is owned by Gordon Goggin and Tricia Dooley, and their menu is the same as the Milwaukee location, at 231 S. 2nd St. "We love the area. There's a lot of potential, a lot of growth going on up here," Goggin said.

C-viche opens their second location in Shorewood at 4330 N. Oakland on Nov. 22, 2022.
C-viche opens their second location in Shorewood at 4330 N. Oakland on Nov. 22, 2022.

C-Viche

C-viche started at 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View area. On Nov. 22, after months of pandemic-related delays, it opened a second location, at 4330 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood.

"We decided to open in Shorewood because we felt like there was nothing like our concept around here," said co-owner Karlos Soriano.

C-viche features Latin-American dishes such as Scallop Tacos, Enchiladas Verdes de Pollo, Half Pollo a la Brasa and Churrasco Argentino.

The Stillery opened their new location in Grafton on Nov. 21, 2022.
The Stillery opened their new location in Grafton on Nov. 21, 2022.

The Stillery

The Stillery's second location, at 1404 12th Ave. in Grafton, opened Nov. 21 in the former site of Atlas BBQ. The restaurant features a long list of bourbons and whiskeys, and a lot of its food is made in-house..

The newest Cafe Corazon, at 4102 W. Bradley Road, Brown Deer, is now open. It will have a patio and outdoor bar when warm weather returns.
The newest Cafe Corazon, at 4102 W. Bradley Road, Brown Deer, is now open. It will have a patio and outdoor bar when warm weather returns.

Cafe Corazón

Cafe Corazon opened Nov. 16 at 4102 W. Bradley Road, Brown Deer. The Mexican restaurant serves locally raised beef and vegan plates. It's run by George and Wendy Mireles, who opened the first Corazón in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood in 2009.

Here Chicky Chicky

The fast-casual chicken restaurant opened in November at 20340 W Lord St. in The Corners of Brookfield. It's run by the owners of the Goddess and the Baker, which also has a location at The Corners.

A co-owner said the product and the atmosphere make Here Chicky Chicky different. "It’s meant to be fun, playful and inviting," said Tami Mizrahi.

Veracruz, a Mexican restaurant, may open within 60 days in Germantown.
Veracruz, a Mexican restaurant, may open within 60 days in Germantown.

Veracruz Mexican Cantina

With a traditional Mexican menu, Veracruz opened in November, at N112 W 16344 Mequon Road in Germantown, sharing a building with Mama Mia's. Its focus is carryout, but it has some bar seating.

The restaurant has the same owners as Big Boy in Germantown.

A burrito is one of the offerings of Kalibre's Tacos food truck. The owner of Kalibre's Tacos, Alejandro Hernandez, opened a Mexican restaurant in the former Burger King location at 4555 W. Forest Home Ave. in Greenfield.
A burrito is one of the offerings of Kalibre's Tacos food truck. The owner of Kalibre's Tacos, Alejandro Hernandez, opened a Mexican restaurant in the former Burger King location at 4555 W. Forest Home Ave. in Greenfield.

Kalibre's Restaurant & Bar

The Mexican restaurant opened at the end of October at  4555 W. Forest Home Ave. in Greenfield, in what used to be a Burger King. The restaurant started as Kalibre's Tacos food truck, a family business run by Alejandro Hernandez, his father, mother and sister.

This is the pulled duck tostada from The Bridgewater Modern Grill, which is located at 2011 S. First St. in the new River 1 complex. It features duck barbacoa, ancho chile, avocado puree, yellow pico, cotija, radish and lime.
This is the pulled duck tostada from The Bridgewater Modern Grill, which is located at 2011 S. First St. in the new River 1 complex. It features duck barbacoa, ancho chile, avocado puree, yellow pico, cotija, radish and lime.

The Bridgewater

The open-kitchen concept restaurant opened Oct. 25 at  2011 S. First St. in the new River 1 complex. With a wood-fired grill, it specializes in such items as roasted oysters, trout, steaks, chicken and veggies.

The restaurant is operated by Benson's Restaurant Group, and it aims for a "casual California feel."

Just Smokin' Barbecue has had a food truck for years. Now it has a sit-down restaurant in Lannon.
Just Smokin' Barbecue has had a food truck for years. Now it has a sit-down restaurant in Lannon.

Just Smokin' Barbecue

Just Smokin' Barbecue opened in mid-September at 20316 W. Main St. in Lannon, the former home of Quarry Coffee & Cafe. Owner Justin Kahle said he's hoping for "a rustic smokehouse, southern barbecue vibe."

Just Smokin' has been in business for five years, operating as a food truck and out of temporary locations. The Lannon restaurant has space for the food truck.

North Avenue Market food hall is now open at 5900 W. North Ave.
North Avenue Market food hall is now open at 5900 W. North Ave.

North Avenue Market

North Avenue Market food hall opened Sept. 7 at 5900 W. North Ave., in Milwaukee's Uptown neighborhood. It has several food and drink providers and 150 seats for diners in what used to be an Associated Bank branch.

Paper Table Food Co.

Paper Table is a combination of ghost kitchen and food hall. It opened in September at 733 N. Milwaukee St. with vendors Blac Bistro, Freshwerks and Miltex Kitchen. Other vendor applications are in process.

Food is mostly ordered online and prepared for carryout, but the site has a few tables along the front windows.

Steaks at Henry Flach's in West Allis are served with sauteed fresh mushrooms, fries and toast.
Steaks at Henry Flach's in West Allis are served with sauteed fresh mushrooms, fries and toast.

Henry Flach's

Henry Flach's in West Allis, billed as a "blue-collar steakhouse," opened in June at the former Butch's Pub and Eatery, at 9140 W. National Ave., West Allis. Owners John Roots and Bryan Wolf also operate Natty Oaks Pub and Eatery in West Allis.

The basket that sticky rice traditionally is served in and the steamer it sits on are depicted in neon at the new Sticky Rice restaurant, 707 E. Brady St. It serves Lao and Thai dishes.
The basket that sticky rice traditionally is served in and the steamer it sits on are depicted in neon at the new Sticky Rice restaurant, 707 E. Brady St. It serves Lao and Thai dishes.

Sticky Rice

Sticky Rice restaurant, 707 E. Brady St., serves Lao and Thai dishes. Sticky Rice opened the restaurant in July; it will continue to operate its takeout-only location in Riverwest. The new Brady Street location has counter service and six tables.

Frank Sanchez, chef-owner of Sisu Cafe, 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., also makes the pastries sold at the breakfast-lunch spot, some of them Finnish.
Frank Sanchez, chef-owner of Sisu Cafe, 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., also makes the pastries sold at the breakfast-lunch spot, some of them Finnish.

Sisu Cafe

Sisu Cafe, 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is a breakfast and lunch spot partly known for Finnish pastries. The fast-casual breakfast and lunch spot had its soft opening July 12. It has counter service and 10 tables.

This custom mural features the famous Argentinian El Gaucho of which the restaurant is named after.
This custom mural features the famous Argentinian El Gaucho of which the restaurant is named after.

El Gaucho Grill

El Gaucho Grill opened in June at 17800 W. Blue Mound Road in Brookfield.

The family-run business aims to make patrons feel as if they had been transported to Argentina, said Antonio Paez, one of the owners. The restaurant has Argentine artifacts and décor, Latin music and Argentine food.

Jessica and John Ludwig opened Riley's Social House and their second Riley's Sandwich Co. next door on June 23 in the Third Ward.
Jessica and John Ludwig opened Riley's Social House and their second Riley's Sandwich Co. next door on June 23 in the Third Ward.

Riley's Social House/Sandwich Co.

Riley's Social House opened along with the second Riley's Sandwich Co. next door on June 23 in the Third Ward. The social house, 411 E. Menomonee St., is set up to accommodate dogs, and their owners can order food from the sandwich company next door at 148 N. Milwaukee St..

The original Riley's Sandwich Co. is on Oakland Avenue in Shorewood.

The patio at 1758 N. Water St., where a fountain is the centerpiece, is open again. Tauro Cocina, a Mexican-Italian restaurant, opened in June in the building that formerly housed Trocadero and Di Moda Pizza.
The patio at 1758 N. Water St., where a fountain is the centerpiece, is open again. Tauro Cocina, a Mexican-Italian restaurant, opened in June in the building that formerly housed Trocadero and Di Moda Pizza.

Tauro Cocina

Tauro Cocina, a Mexican-Italian restaurant, opened in June at 1758 N. Water St., the building that formerly housed Trocadero and Di Moda Pizza.

A mirror at Saffron Modern Indian Dining, 223 N. Water St., reflects a mural on the opposite wall. The restaurant, which has a full bar and patio dining on the Milwaukee Riverwalk, opened to the public June 4.
A mirror at Saffron Modern Indian Dining, 223 N. Water St., reflects a mural on the opposite wall. The restaurant, which has a full bar and patio dining on the Milwaukee Riverwalk, opened to the public June 4.

Saffron Modern Indian Dining

Saffron Modern Indian Dining, 223 N. Water St., has a full bar and patio dining on the Milwaukee Riverwalk. It opened to the public June 4. Saffron combines traditional Indian flavors with contemporary plating and cooking techniques from beyond India.

State Street Pizza Pub opened in a Cream City brick building near Fiserv Forum.
State Street Pizza Pub opened in a Cream City brick building near Fiserv Forum.

State Street Pizza Pub

State Street Pizza Pub opened June 10 at the former site of Point Burger Express, 322 W. State St. The pub, created by Milwaukee bar veteran Jake Dehne, specializes in personal pizzas, beer and hard seltzer.

Twisted Plants' u0022Up in Smokeu0022 burger features a Beyond patty, American cheese, smoky bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, Twisted Smokehouse Sauce, and a Pretzilla bun. It's served with a side of waffle fries.
Twisted Plants' u0022Up in Smokeu0022 burger features a Beyond patty, American cheese, smoky bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, Twisted Smokehouse Sauce, and a Pretzilla bun. It's served with a side of waffle fries.

Twisted Plants

Twisted Plants, which serves all-plant-based versions of comfort foods, opened its second location in June at 1233 E. Brady St. The original remains open at 4905 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy.

The restaurant's vegan items include gyros, Italian beef sandwiches, burgers, chick'n patties and shredded barbecue jackfruit sandwiches.

AsianRican Foods serves dishes such as Asian short ribs with chicken egg roll, arroz chino boricua, plantains and seasoned fries.
AsianRican Foods serves dishes such as Asian short ribs with chicken egg roll, arroz chino boricua, plantains and seasoned fries.

AsianRican Foods

AsianRican Foods opened in early June at 3300 W. Lincoln Ave. The restaurant previously operated out of Snifters in Walker's Point.

The restaurant sprang from the popularity of Chinese food in Puerto Rico and from the backgrounds of chef-owner Julie Valcarcel, who is Lao, and her husband, who is Puerto Rican.

Frankies Restaurant and Catering is open at 1815 E. Kenilworth Place.
Frankies Restaurant and Catering is open at 1815 E. Kenilworth Place.

Frankies Restaurant and Catering

Frankies Restaurant and Catering, serving African, Caribbean and American menu items, opened in May at 1815 E. Kenilworth Place. Frankies previously operated as a food truck and at the Southridge Mall food court.

The counter-service restaurant has such African dishes such as fataya (fried pastries filled with beef), chicken or beef suya (skewers) and jollof rice.

Chef Adam Siegel designed the kitchen for his restaurant, Lupi u0026 Iris. The restaurant has a French and Italian Mediterranean menu,
Chef Adam Siegel designed the kitchen for his restaurant, Lupi u0026 Iris. The restaurant has a French and Italian Mediterranean menu,

Lupi & Iris

Lupi & Iris opened May 17 at 777 N. Van Buren St. The restaurant serves a French and Italian Mediterranean menu. The detailed décor — including two olive trees — reflects the cuisine.

Chef Adam Siegel was named best chef in the Midwest in 2008 by the James Beard Foundation for his work at Lake Park Bistro.

Artwork by Slawek Miskow, including this mural, keeps the theme in Flourchild.
Artwork by Slawek Miskow, including this mural, keeps the theme in Flourchild.

Flourchild

Flourchild debuted its dining room and bar April 29 at 722 N. Milwaukee St. Artwork by Slawek Miskow decorates the restaurant, which serves sourdough pizzas, sandwiches and other menu items.

Executive chef and partner Andrew Miller described Flourchild’s pizza crust as a meeting of New York, Detroit and New Haven styles; the dough ferments up to 90 hours before baking.

Immy Kaggwa, chef-owner of Immy's African Cuisine, makes chapati, a flatbread.
Immy Kaggwa, chef-owner of Immy's African Cuisine, makes chapati, a flatbread.

Immy's African Cuisine

Immy Kaggwa started by working at festivals and farmers markets, then began offering takeout in 2020, in the height of the pandemic. Her dine-in restaurant opened April 22 at 2845 N. Oakland Ave.

Main dishes at Immy's are stews such as chicken curry with spinach, jerk chicken and vegetable stew, lentil stew, and peanut stew with chicken or eggplant and mushrooms.

Hyacinth Nembhardt (middle) pictured here with some of her staff behind the bar at Concoctions
Hyacinth Nembhardt (middle) pictured here with some of her staff behind the bar at Concoctions

Tropic Jamaican Kitchen & Cocktails

Tropic Jamaican Kitchen & Cocktails, 518 N. Water St., opened in mid-April, serving "elevated Jamaican bar food" such as jerk chicken paninis.

Owner Hyacinth Nembhardt also moved Concoctions bar from Fond du Lac Avenue to 1316 E. Brady St.

4one4 Nutrition, a new cafe featuring healthy shakes and energizing teas, plans to open on Milwaukee's lower east side in mid-March.
4one4 Nutrition, a new cafe featuring healthy shakes and energizing teas, plans to open on Milwaukee's lower east side in mid-March.

4one4 Nutrition

4one4 Nutrition, a cafe featuring healthy shakes and energizing teas, opened April 14 at 823 E. Kilbourn Ave., on Milwaukee's lower east side. Katy Murphy, the owner, is a Milwaukee native who is aiming to create a healthy fast food alternative.

Bulldog Ale House opened in 2022 in West Allis, but the format soon changed to Honey Berry Cafe, under the same owners.
Bulldog Ale House opened in 2022 in West Allis, but the format soon changed to Honey Berry Cafe, under the same owners.

Bulldog Ale House, Honey Berry Cafe

Bulldog Ale House opened its first Wisconsin location April 13 in the former West Allis Perkins, 2878 S. 108th St. The ale house had more than 40 beers on draft, and pizza and burgers to go along with it. But in late November or early December the owners, WeEat Hospitality Group, changed the theme again. Now the site is a Honey Berry Cafe, the third in the Milwaukee area, serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

Dwight Jackson, chef-owner of the Jamaican restaurant Pepperpot, opened a much larger location with table-service dining and a bar at 2215 N. King Drive.
Dwight Jackson, chef-owner of the Jamaican restaurant Pepperpot, opened a much larger location with table-service dining and a bar at 2215 N. King Drive.

Pepperpot

Dwight Jackson opened the Jamaican restaurant Pepperpot, with table service and a bar, at 2215 N. King Drive on April 12. Pepperpot previously was a takeout-only location at 4120 W. Capitol Drive.

The restaurant is known for its traditional Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken, oxtails and curry chicken, but also for its hefty jerk chicken egg rolls.

Il Mito Cafe is in downtown Delafield.
Il Mito Cafe is in downtown Delafield.

Il Mito Cafe

Il Mito Cafe, an Italian restaurant, opened in downtown Delafield on April 7. Chef Michael Feker, who also owns Il Mito Trattoria e Enoteca in Wauwatosa and Zesti in Hartland, opened the restaurant.

Il Mito's lower floor is café style with casual seating, while the upper floor is more traditional Italian sit-down with red and white checkered tablecloths.

Antique Indian Restaurant, 3933 S. 76th St., serves cuisine from around India; its chef-owner is from Punjab, in India's north.
Antique Indian Restaurant, 3933 S. 76th St., serves cuisine from around India; its chef-owner is from Punjab, in India's north.

Antique Indian Restaurant

Antique Indian Restaurant opened in January at 3933 S. 76th St. It serves cuisine from around India; its chef-owner is from Punjab, in India's north. The "antique" reflects the traditional decor and table settings.

Donteah and April Morehouse opened Atwood Hwy BBQ Company in South Milwaukee in January.
Donteah and April Morehouse opened Atwood Hwy BBQ Company in South Milwaukee in January.

Atwood Hwy BBQ Company

Donteah and April Morehouse opened Atwood Hwy BBQ Company at 925 Madison Ave. in South Milwaukee on March 10. The couple, serving Tennessee-style barbecue, worked from pop-up tents for a while, then from their own kitchen, then from rented kitchen space.

Within months, the restaurant was expanding, adding outdoor seating in a parklet style.

The longtime family-owned Mu0026M Restaurant in Sussex (shown) reopened as u0022theu0022 Kitchen on March 7.
The longtime family-owned Mu0026M Restaurant in Sussex (shown) reopened as u0022theu0022 Kitchen on March 7.

'the' Kitchen

The longtime family-owned M&M Restaurant in Sussex (shown) reopened as "the" Kitchen on March 7. The new owners serve food "home-cooked just like Mom used to make," with daily specials for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Gerardo Flores and his sister Claudia Flores are shown at La Crema.
Gerardo Flores and his sister Claudia Flores are shown at La Crema.

La Crema

Gerardo Flores and his sister Claudia Flores opened La Crema, a breakfast and lunch restaurant, in February in the former Samano’s building at 3431 E. Plankinton Ave. in Cudahy. They kept the historic features of the 1894 building.

AN OX Cafe officially opened in February on West Hampton Avenue in Milwaukee.
AN OX Cafe officially opened in February on West Hampton Avenue in Milwaukee.

An Ox Cafe

An Ox Cafe officially opened Feb. 2 at 7411 W. Hampton Ave. Sia Xiong and Johnni Sihavong, originally from Laos, named the restaurant for their zodiac birth year: the year of the ox. The restaurant-bar serves Lao, Thai and Hmong food.

With 9,000 square feet, the restaurant is large enough to host a big event and keep the dining room open. It has become a diverse gathering spot, says dining critic Carol Deptolla.

Valentine Third Ward Cafe took the space of the former Bella Cafe in the Third Ward.
Valentine Third Ward Cafe took the space of the former Bella Cafe in the Third Ward.

Valentine Third Ward Cafe

Valentine Third Ward Cafe opened Feb. 7 at 189 N. Milwaukee St., replacing Bella Cafe, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Valentine, which started as a coffee roaster, also has a tasting room at 5918 W. Vliet St. and a cafe at Oak Creek's Drexel Town Square.

Cee Cee Ceeman opened C.C.’s Elbow Room in Brookfield at 2850 N. Brookfield Rd.
Cee Cee Ceeman opened C.C.’s Elbow Room in Brookfield at 2850 N. Brookfield Rd.

C.C.'s Elbow Room

Cee Cee Ceeman opened C.C.’s Elbow Room on Feb. 1 at 2850 N. Brookfield Road in Brookfield. The longtime restaurant worker's restaurant and bar serves a variety of items, including burgers, Friday fish Fry and pizza.

The restaurant space formerly was Sabella's Pub.

Colorful decor and murals are seen at Dave's Hot Chicken, which opened Jan. 28 in Menomonee Falls.
Colorful decor and murals are seen at Dave's Hot Chicken, which opened Jan. 28 in Menomonee Falls.

Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken opened its first Wisconsin restaurant Jan. 28 at N92-W16125 Falls Parkway in Menomonee Falls. The fast-casual concept restaurant specializes in hot chicken tenders and sliders,

The site, formerly occupied by Grate Pizza, has been touched up with custom artwork.

Twisted Cafe, an American fusion spot, took the place of the former Elephant Cafe.
Twisted Cafe, an American fusion spot, took the place of the former Elephant Cafe.

Twisted Cafe

Twisted Cafe, an American fusion spot, took the place of the former Elephant Cafe at 1505 N. Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee's lower east side. After a soft opening on Dec. 29, 2021, the restaurant officially opened Jan 21.

The cafe features items such as cheeseburger egg rolls, Korean-style corn dogs, and coconut waffles stuffed with Thai pandan custard.

The 3rd Street Market Hall previewed its site to host United for Waukesha Community Fund in December 2021.
The 3rd Street Market Hall previewed its site to host United for Waukesha Community Fund in December 2021.

3rd Street Market Hall

The 3rd Street Market Hall opened Jan. 14 at The Avenue, formerly the Grand Avenue, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.

The first restaurants serving at the food hall were Dairyland, Hot Dish Pantry, Mid-Way Bakery, Strega MKE, and Amano Pan. Since then, several vendors have joined the food hall, and a few have left.

Bryant Johnson and his fiancé, Kimberly Stark, pose in front of Bryant's on the Round in Okauchee.
Bryant Johnson and his fiancé, Kimberly Stark, pose in front of Bryant's on the Round in Okauchee.

Bryant's on the Round

Bryant Johnson and his fiancé, Kimberly Stark, opened Bryant's on the Round in Okauchee. The small-plate restaurant opened in January at N51-W34911 Wisconsin Ave.

The restaurant has a continually rotating menu with emphases on unique items.

McCoco's Restaurant owner Edwin Ordones is shown behind a plate of ranch wings and loaded fries.
McCoco's Restaurant owner Edwin Ordones is shown behind a plate of ranch wings and loaded fries.

McCoco's Restaurant

McCoco's Restaurant, at 7420 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis, features air fryer-cooked food and candy-adorned alcoholic drinks aimed at families. The restaurant opened Jan. 7.

The space continues the theme, with neon colors and wall-mounted TVs.

Brama's Italian Pizzeria

Brama's Italian Pizzeria opened Jan. 6 at N112-W16700 Mequon Road in Germantown. The site previously was Kurt Schulz Deli.

The restaurant features specialty pizzas and Italian dishes such as chicken Parmesan, veggie lasagna and eggplant Parmesan.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Milwaukee area restaurants that have opened in 2022