By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published May 13, 2021 at 10:03 AM Photography: Lori Fredrich

Last July, Honeypie Cafe announced that they’d be moving to a new location at 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

In preparation for the transition, the restaurant closed its 2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. location in November 2020, and  – until a few weeks ago – offered carry-out for pick-up at Palomino, 2491 S. Superior St. 

But starting today, the restaurant will quietly welcome guests back to dine on the patio in their newly remodeled building, with an official grand opening for the new location on Wednesday, May 19. Serendipitously, that’s exactly 13 years from the day they opened the original cafe (in 2009).

Delicious flashbacks

As a result, the inaugural Honeypie Cafe menu will pay homage to customer favorites, bringing back a slew of dishes from years past, including dinner entrees like Airline Farm Chicken with whipped potatoes, jus and seasonal vegetables ($24); and seared pork loin with cheesy polenta, spinach and bourbon sauce ($24).

The Iowa Skinny sandwich has also returned with its crispy fried pork loin, braised leeks, harissa, arugula and garlic aioli on sesame seed bun ($14) is back. And yes, there will be standards like the oh-so-indulgent Pork Fries with pulled pork, house bbq, fries, mornay sauce, pickled jalapenos, green onion, bacon and a sunny egg ($15). View the full menus online.

More pie!

The new location also comes with tasty benefits. For one, there will be more pie, available daily by the slice or whole pie for dine-in or carry-out. And, if you are a baker, you might be excited to see the new pie-themed retail area where you can purchase a variety of co-owner and chief pie maker Valeri Lucks’ favorite pie-making supplies.

What you need to know

To start, Honeypie will offer full-service outdoor dining (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) on the brand new patio behind the new building. The space accommodates up to 56 guests at 14 four-top tables.

Patio seating is first-come, first-served; but they have implemented a text-based waiting list. So, if there’s not a table when you arrive, you can explore the neighborhood until they notify you that a table is available. Carry-out will also be available on a call ahead or walk-in basis. Masks are required for both employees and guests inside the restaurant.

For now, the dining room is still under construction, but Lucks says she is hopeful that, as more people are vaccinated, it will be safe enough to reopen for dine-in service by the end of summer.

“It feels really good to be opening our doors," says Lucks. "I’m excited to be able to serve things on real plates instead of everything in boxes. And I’m really excited to be able to bring breakfast back!"

Starting May 13, Honeypie Cafe will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and brunch will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

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.