La Tavola on the Beach will bring fresh, modern Italian fare to a former office space at 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. in the Village of Pewaukee.
The new eatery, which is slated to open by early May, will be operated by restaurateur and chef Llazar Konda, who opened The Beach House Bistro, a Mediterranean small plates restaurant just to the east of La Tavola, in 2022.
Located across from Lakefront Park, La Tavola on the Beach will offer lakefront views and a menu showcasing items like housemade Neapolitan-style pizzas, fresh pastas, pasta flights and cheese and charcuterie boards.
“We really want to create an Italian concept that’s simple and light,” says Konda, noting that the restaurant will distinguish itself from the heavier Italian fare that’s prevalent in Wisconsin “That’s me. That’s how I like to cook.”
Currently, the former office space is pretty much a large white box; but Konda has plans to transform it into a convivial dining space featuring a butcher block bar on the west side of the space and a dining room decorated in a palette of light green, cream and brown with dark wood accents.
Konda says he’ll be installing a pizza oven in the back of the space; he’ll also create additional efficiency by knocking out a portion of the wall between La Tavola and The Beach House to create a shared kitchen.
As one might expect, the eatery will also feature a sidewalk patio overlooking the popular local beach.
Konda says that operating The Beach House has been a pleasure and he’s looking forward to branching out and sharing more of his food with residents in the area.
“I really love Lake Country,” says Konda. “I have gotten such a great reception here, and I’m excited to bring something new to the area.”
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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