Cafe Benelux will once-again be taking winter patio enjoyment to a new level during the holiday season (as will a variety of other Lowlands Group restaurants)
For the third year running, the Lowlands Group has announced that the Lux Domes will return to the roof of Café Benelux, 346 N. Broadway, on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
The first round of reservations for the Lux Domes experience will go live for the general public on Friday, Nov. 20 at cafebenelux.com/luxdomes. The six domes will be available Nov. 25, 27, 28 and 29 (closed Thanksgiving), and then Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 23.
In addition to its enhanced COVID-19 cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing processes, Lowlands Group is implementing a variety of procedures to keep outdoor dining safe. Staggered reservation times allow the individual domes to be disinfected with a fog atomizer machine between dining groups. All of the outdoor structures will be heated by industrial blowers that exchange 100% of the air every five to 15 minutes with fresh air from the outside. Additional mushroom heaters will be installed overhead for added guest comfort.
New this year, the Lux Domes experience will be expanded to include the Lux Winter Loft Bar, a heated tent and warming bar where guests can safely wait before and after their domes experience. New food and beverage packages will also be available, including the "Sweater Weather Mule Drink Package" with Rehorst vodka and house-made orange cinnamon syrup; and the "Mezze Platter" featuring fresh mozzarella, salami and baba ghanoush dip with veggies.
There will also be a new outdoor dining experience. The Lux Winter Porch on Broadway will accommodate between 20-25 diners in a socially distanced heated canopy located on Broadway. The new dining porch is open at both ends to provide air circulation, while still offering protection from the elements.
“In Europe, outdoor dining and entertainment run year-round,” notes Eric Wagner, Lowlands Group CEO. “Wisconsinites possess that same adventurous winter spirit, and our goal is to bring a bit of that gezellig vibe to these ‘outside is the new inside’ spaces as we pivot and respond to evolving circumstances and changing seasons.”
But there's more
Lowlands will also be introducing a variety of dining and holiday experiences over the next several weeks.
Centraal Grand Café & Tappery, 2306 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., has announced its "Winter Garden of Eten in the Courtyard", a secret garden-like courtyard patio complete wiith a heated tent, clear roof panels and whimsical Bohemian decor. The new patio allows for socially distant dining as well as a location for a brand new live music series which will debut Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 19 through Dec. 19.
Meanwhile, Café Hollander at The Corners of Brookfield will be introducing a new outdoor heated pop-up bar. Beginning Nov. 19, guests can enjoy the ground-level open air environment as a place to refuel before or after holiday shopping.
Additional outdoor experiences will roll out at all Lowlands Milwaukee-area locations starting in December, including cozy canal houses and Northwoods shanties. Guests are encouraged to join Lowlands Group’s loyalty program to be the first to find out about openings and reservations. To sign up, download “Lowlands Rewards” in the App Store or text the word “Lowlands” to 43618. Up to date information is also available at lowlandsgroup.com.
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.
