Even if you're paying close attention, it's sometimes difficult to keep up with the latest in food news here in Milwaukee. So here's a taste of what's new and notable – including the opening of BelAir Cantina in Wauwatosa, the end of lunch service at Wolf Peach and a fond farewell to Jeppa Joes.
BelAir Tosa opening today!
UPDATED 6/24 at 2 p.m. : The brand new BelAir Cantina at 6817 W. North Ave. is open for lunch today.
Operated by the same owners as BelAir Cantina on the East Side and Fink's, the restaurant will be a mirror image of the East Side location at 1935 N. Water St. with a menu featuring tacos, tamales, fajitas, burritos and salads. The restaurant also features beer, margaritas, cocktails and an expansive tequila list boasting mescal, otro, blanco, reposado and anejo varieties.
The restaurant will feature two patios – one in front of the restaurant, and the other behind – which will open later this summer. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight. Tentative hours for brunch on Saturday and Sundays are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Alterra Tosa, too
The new Alterra at 68th and Wells Streets in Wauwatosa is slated to open this weekend, too. There will be an opening party from 1 until 5 p.m. Saturday and the cafe at 6745 W. Wells St. will open to the public on Sunday, June 30.
Quick! Get your Wolf Peach lunch fix
You only have a few more days to escape the daily grind and grab that wood-fired pizza over the lunch hour, so do it. Wolf Peach, 1818 N. Hubbard St., is discontinuing lunch service starting on June 29.
On the bright side, beginning in July, the restaurant will open slightly earlier on weekdays and feature a happy hour food and drink menu from 3 to 6 p.m.
Weekend brunch will also last a little bit longer, until 3 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays, so you can enjoy one more Bloody Mary.
Jeppa Joes leaves Milwaukee
And yet more sad news in the eating world… Jeff Steckel of Jeppa Joes fame, will be moving to Madison this month. His wife will be pursuing her Ph.D. in counseling psychology at UW-Madison, and Steckel has taken a chef position at The Edgewater, a supper club in Jefferson. The restaurant, which offers some typical supper club fare, also has a farm to table focus with a variety of specials that take it well beyond the typical.
If you’d like to get your banh mi or Korean beef fix before he leaves Milwaukee, you’ll find the Jeppa Joes cart at the U.S. Bank building, 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., on Monday and Wednesday, Schlitz Park on Tuesday,Thursday at the courthouse, and Friday at Red Arrow Park.
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.
