After serving the Waukesha community for 27 years, Eric's Porter Haus has closed its doors at 229 Wisconsin Ave.
The news was shared Tuesday in a Facebook post which reads:
"Eric would like to personally thank his loyal customers for 27 years of patronage. We have served our last steak. Eric's Porter Haus is closed for business as of today 9/3/24. Please join me in wishing Eric a very happy and much deserved retirement!"
Founded by Eric Holm in 1997 and named for the "king of all steaks", the porterhouse, Eric's offered a distinctive supper club experience enhanced by its location in an eye-catching Greek Revival-style building that dates back to 1848.
Originally home to industrialist and civic leader Isaac Lain, from 1904 to 1944 it was also occupied by Edward Estberg, the former mayor of Waukesha. In 1974, the building was designated as a National Historic site.
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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