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 – with warm weather news the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee, Bacchus, Hi-Hat Lounge, Umami Moto and Dream Dance Steak.
Discounts for Armed Forces Week
The Milwaukee Armed Services Committee has partnered with local area restaurants to offer special discounts to all active, reserve and veteran personnel with a valid military ID during lunch and dinner hours as part of Milwaukee’s Armed Forces Week celebration.
The following discounts are available for lunch and dinner, Monday, May 13-Friday, May 17. Tax, tip and gratuity are excluded from the following discounts.
Café at the Pfister: 10% off the bill
Catch 22: 15% off the bill
Milwaukee Sail Loft: free beer with purchase
Molly Cools: 15% off the bill
Mo’s Irish Pub: 25% off the bill
Rock Bottom Brewery: 10% off the bill
The Knick: 20% off the bill
The Loaded Slate: 20% off the bill
This is the third year the Milwaukee Armed Services Committee and local restaurants have joined together to support our local troops.
Umami Moto summer kick-off
Take a break on Wednesday, May 8 and check out the newly remodeled Umami Moto, 718 N. Milwaukee St., including its new sushi bar. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., enjoy complimentary Ty-Ku sake and sake cocktails paired with the sushi stylings of Executive Chef Justin Carlisle and Sushi Chef Israel Cruz.
First Morel dinner of spring
Spring is fleeting and so is its foraged beauty. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste the Midwest’s most decadent mushroom as it takes center stage for a five-course dinner at Dream Dance Steak at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Hosted by Jarvis winemaker Ted Henry, each course will be paired perfectly with a Jarvis Estate wine. Arrival is at 6 p.m.; dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person, gratuity is not included. Call (414) 847-7883 for reservations.
Dive bar paradise
If you can't resist the charms of traditional dive bar food, you won't want to miss the the Beggar's Banquet at Hi-Hat Lounge, 1701 N. Arlington Pl., on Monday, May 13 beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy three "dive bar" courses with carefully selected cocktail pairings all for just $65. Call (414) 220-8090 to reserve your tickets.
Spring at Bacchus
Spring has sprung, and Bacchus’ new menu has a spring in its step. Creative cocktails like "Jack Frost’s Last Stand" with gin, cynar, agave and lemon, and the Avernal Equinox featuring Averna amaro, cola syrup and lime will warm you up, while a brand new dinner menu tempts carnivores and vegetarians alike.
Chefs Adam Siegel and Nick Wirth have collaborated to feature the best of the season, including spring pea soup, fava bean risotto, braised artichokes, lobster ragout with spring vegetables and more. View the full menu online.
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.
