’Tis Dining Month, the tastiest time of year! This means we’re dishing up fun and fascinating food content throughout October. Dig in, Milwaukee! OnMilwaukee Dining Month is served up by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Wollersheim Winery & Distillery.
The Bridgewater Modern Grill, 2011 S. 1st St., has announced that it will be opening the doors to its riverfront restaurant on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
Accompanying the opening, guests can look forward to give-back nights supporting local non-profits as well as a fall fest environment throughout opening week.
During the week-long celebration, guests will get a first taste of menu items, many prepared with the restaurant’s custom oak-fed Jade grill. Dishes will include items like an ancient grain salad with miso sweet potato puree, charred onion, snap peas, wild mushroom, avocado, cilantro pumpkin pesto; a pulled duck tostada featuring duck barbacoa, ancho chili, avocado puree, yellow pico, cotija, radish, lime; and veal tenderloin served with smoked wild mushrooms and a sherry reduction.
“We’ve created an experience unlike any other in the area, and are excited to debut it to our friends, neighbors and community,” said David Marcus, CEO of Benson’s Restaurant Group, the ownership and management group of The Bridgewater Modern Grill.
“The Bridgewater is ideal for special occasions and everyday celebrations alike, and we’re partnering with amazing organizations for opening week to welcome the community into the space and toast to fantastic food, drinks and company while benefiting these non-profits.”
Autumn on the partio
Guests will also find a festive autumnal atmosphere on The Bridgewater’s 245-foot riverfront patio, which will be transformed with a larger-than-life professionally carved pumpkin wall depicting an anchor design, which pays homage to the riverfront location. Lawn games and live music will also be a part of the celebration.
The patio will be activated for fall weather enjoyment with umerous fire tables and lounge seating and custom cocktails, wine and local craft brews available from the indoor/outdoor bar. Each reservation during opening week will include a complimentary Bridgewater lap blanket (while supplies last).
Giving back
On opening day, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10% of all proceeds from the day will be donated to the Bay View Community Center Food Pantry, which tackles food insecurity in the area.
“We’re excited to welcome The Bridgewater Modern Grill to our backyard, and we are so pleased to be partnering with the restaurant on this Give-Back Night during a time of increased need for our organization and Food Pantry,” notes Chad VanDierendonck, food pantry director at Bay View Community Center. “We thank The Bridgewater team and the public who will turn out for the event as they will greatly help us further our mission to address food insecurity.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 10% of The Bridgewater Modern Grill proceeds will be donated to the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) to support the organization’s 47 local performing arts member groups.
Beginning Oct. 25, The Bridgewater will be open for both lunch and dinner with hours Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
To book a reservation for either Give Back Night or grand opening festivities, or to apply for a position at the new restaurant, visit bridgewatermke.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.
.jpeg)
