This Saturday, July 22, happens to be pastry chef Molly Sullivan’s birthday. It’s also the day on which her lifelong dream of opening a neighborhood cafe officially comes true.
So, when you pay your first visit to Miss Molly's Cafe & Pastry Shop at 9201 W. Center St. ordering a piece of cake is absolutely the right thing to do.
But it’s not the only sweet thing you’ll find at Miss Molly’s.
When you walk through the doors, you’ll be greeted by a bright, friendly dining area. On our visit during the cafe's soft opening, there were folks of all ages enjoying lunch, sipping coffee and chattering with excitement in their new neighborhood gathering place.
The cafe is bright, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the daylight to stream in on diners. Walls are painted in warm peachy tones. And bakers' tools hang from sea foam green pegboard (a la Julia Child) on the southern wall.
If you're in the mood for coffee or espresso, there's plenty of Anodyne to be found. There are also cups of hot (or iced) Rishi tea, Tapuat kombucha or Wisco Pop soda.
There are scores of beautifully displayed baked goods, including grab-and-go breakfast stratas, French macarons, citrus and olive oil bundt cake, or a slice of that blueberry lemon verbena cake that screams summer with every bite.
Speaking of summer, you’re visiting near the lunch hour, you can indulge in a fresh tomato tarte tatin with its flaky buttery pastry crust, caramelized cherry tomatoes and topping of balsamic vinegar, basil and ricotta cheese.
You can grab a seat at one of the two- or four-top tables. Or relax on the the couch or one of the chairs near the fireplace.
When you're through, don't forget to bus your dishes. There's a cute little cart where you can drop them off, as well as a bin for composting (because don't you just love the idea of your waste going to a better place?).
Of course, if I were you, I'd also grab a few big, bakery-sized cookies on the way out. They come in flavors like chocolate chip sea salt, chocolate toffee and cherry chocolate oatmeal for $2 each.
Miss Molly's is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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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