The Ardent Tasting Room & Lounge, 1751 N. Farwell Ave., will both close their doors after service on Dec. 31, 2024.
During its final weeks of service, the Ardent Lounge will be open Thursday through Sunday. Meanwhile, the Ardent Tasting Room will be open Thursday through Saturday.
The news was announced over the weekend on Instagram:
"We want to announce that December 31st will be Ardent Tasting Room and The Lounge last day of service. It is time to close this chapter for now. The last 11 years have been nothing short of unbelievable and amazing. Ardent has achieved more than we ever thought possible. Thank you to all the past and present staff, family and friends. To all the patrons and diners that have walked thru our grey door over the years thank you so much for your support.
"For the last few weeks of service we will be adjusting our hours to Thursday thru Sunday for the Lounge. Tasting Room will be available Thursday thru Saturday. So make your last reservations or walk into the lounge and have another snack or cocktail with us.
"Stay tuned as the story of the little basement in 1751 Farwell continues, now written by someone else."
A look back
October marked 11 years since Ardent opened to the public in the artfully hidden garden-level space that once housed the Sphinx Coffee Shop. The 20-seat restaurant came out of the gate with a splash, introducing Milwaukee to a concept that would evolve into a tasting menu-only eatery and attract accolades on both local and national levels.
Over the years Carlisle's work paying homage to Wisconsin and its agricultural bounty at the fine dining restaurant earned him nominations for the James Beard Awards for four years running (2015-2018).
Ardent was also the destination for countless dinners with a variety of notable chefs including Phillip Foss of El Ideas (Chicago), Thomas Lents of the Detroit Foundation Hotel, Evan Hennessey of Stages (Dover, NH), the Rivera-Rio brothers of Koli, Chris Pandel of the Boka Group (Chicago), Brian Fisher of Entente (Chicago), Oswaldo Oliva of Lorea (Mexico City), Michael Corvino of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room (Kansas City, MO), Tony Mantuano and Joe Flamm of Spiaggia (Chicago) and Diego Moya of Racines NYC among others.
Last November, in an effort to adapt to tough economic times, Ardent expanded it footprint, moving the tasting room into the former Red Light Ramen space and introducing the Ardent Lounge, a more casual concept featuring a wine bar and menu that Carlisle hoped would appeal to the increasingly frugal dining market. Despite those efforts, business continued to lag.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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