Despite the challenges of 2020, the past year was filled with an impressive list of openings, a good percentage of which opened since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The slate of new eateries includes a wide range of options, from Lao to Mexican and burgers to pizza, plus a little of everything in between.

We’ve organized this list of new spots by type of cuisine so that you can reference it based on your current cravings. We hope you’ll consider supporting as many of these new ventures as you can. We’re certain you’ll find at least a few new favorites among them.

What are you craving? 

African
American / New American
Aperitivo / Small plates
BBQ / Southern / Soul Food
Breakfast / Brunch / Lunch
Burgers / Pub fare
Caribbean
Fried Chicken
Italian / Pizza
Lao
Mexican / Tacos
Middle Eastern
Peruvian
Poke / Sushi
Spanish
Scandinavian

African

Immy’s African Cuisine
8103 W. Tower Ave., (414) 406-1706
immysafricancuisine.com
Serving: Sambusas, bajia, chapati, chicken, goat and vegetable curries

American / New American

414 Bar + Kitchen - Cambria Hotel
503 N. Plankinton Ave., (414) 223-4484
cambriamilwaukee.com
Serving: New American fare
[Read more]

Americas Continental Eatery
515 Wells St., Delafield, (262) 303-5070
americaswi.com
Serving: Cuisine from the U.S., Canada and South America
[Read more]

Ash at Iron Horse Hotel
500 W Florida St. Suite 100, (414) 374-4766
theironhorsehotel.com
Serving: Wood-fired cuisine prepared in the restaurant’s open hearth
[Read more]

Bonobo American Bistro
4518 N Oakland Ave., (414) 964-4663
bonoboamericanbistro.com
Serving: Modern bistro style fare
[Read more]

Buckatabon Supper Club
7700 Harwood Ave., (414) 271-7700
thebuckatabon.com
Serving: Classic supper club fare with a twist
[Read more] 

Restaurant to be Named Later 
1 Brewers Way, (414) 902-4201
rtbnl.com
Serving: American fare with a local twist
[Read more]

The Truck Stop
**Relocated to Hi Hat Lounge**
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
thetruckstopmke.com
Serving: Street food including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, loaded fries
[Read more]

Wonderland
732 E. Burleigh St., (414) 372-7880
artbarwonderland.com
Serving: Diner style comfort food
[Read more]

Makk ‘n’ Cheese
2242 S Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 837-3054
makkncheese.com
Serving: Inventive macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches
[Read more]

Aperitivo / small plates

Aperitivo
311 N Plankinton Ave., (414) 276-4400
aperitivomke.com
Serving: Breakfast, sandwiches and apertivo style snacks (perfect with drinks)
[Read more] 

Mina @ Crossroads Collective
**CLOSED**
Serving: Basque inspired fare
[Read more]

Snack Boys (moved to the East Side)
**CLOSED**
Serving: Fun high end small plates, daily specials (like pizza and pho)
[Read more]

BBQ / Soul food

Big Daddy’s BBQ and Soul Food
Relocated to: 9201 W. Capitol Dr., (262) 202-7726
facebook.com/Big-Daddys-BBQ-and-Soul-Food
Serving: Smoked meats, burgers
[Read more]

Crab It Your Way
**CLOSED**
Serving: Louisiana crab boils
[Read more]

Grandma’s Hands
2721 N Blaine Pl., (414) 455-3685
grandmahands64.wixsite.com
Serving: Burgers, wings, daily specials and soul food on Saturday and Sunday

Breakfast / brunch / lunch

Allie Boys Bagelry & Luncheonette
135 East National Ave., (414) 988-0388
allieboysmke.com
Serving: Modern takes on East Coast deli fare
[Read more]

The Coop
350 Delafield St., Waukesha, (262) 408-2748
thecoopwi.com
Serving: Breakfast and brunch
[Read more]

Donut Monster
5169 N. Elkhart Ave., Whitefish Bay, (414) 988-2910
donutmonstermke.com
Serving: Doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches
[Read more]

Fairgrounds Coffee + Tea
916 E State St., (414) 395-3003
fairgrounds.cafe
Serving: Breakfast items, bowls, sandwiches
[Read more]

Golden Nest Pancakes Cafe
11250 W Burleigh St., (414) 935-2135
goldennestpancake.com
Serving: Breakfast and brunch items including their secret recipe pancakes
[Read more]

Honey Butter Cafe
7221 S. 76th St., Franklin, (414) 367-2800
honeybuttercafe.com
Serving: Breakfast, brunch, lunch
[Read more]

Press au Marche
207 E. Buffalo St., (414) 810-0445
presswafflesaumarche.com
Serving: Belgian liege waffles with sweet or savory toppings (currently pre-order only)
[Read more]

Burgers / pub fare

Betty’s Burgers & Custard
**CLOSED**
Serving: Burgers, custard and globally inspired hot dogs
[Read more]

Camino - West Allis
7211 W Greenfield Ave., (414) 810-4838
caminomke.com
Serving: Scratch-made pub fare, including fish fry, daily specials
[Read more] 

Dairyland 
3rd Street Market Hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
ilovedairyland.com 
Serving: Carry-out burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and desserts
[Read more]

Explorium Brewpub - Third Ward
143 W. Saint Paul Ave., (414) 423-1365
exploriumbrew.com
Serving: Beer-worthy and beer-infused fare
[Read more]

Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub - West Milwaukee
1203 N 10th St., (414) 276-7271
jacksonsmke.com
Serving: Scratch-made pub fare
[Read more]

JC’s Parkside Pub - Cudahy
4671 S Lake Dr., (414) 249-4734
facebook.com/JCs-Parkside-Pub-Grill
Serving: Pub fare, including Friday fish fry
[Read more]

Neighborhood Draft
5921 W Vliet St., (414) 885-2028
neighborhooddraft.com
Serving: Clever twists on pub favorites from wings to tacos
[Read more]

Pete’s Pub
1234 E Brady St., (414) 312-7457
petespubonbrady.com
Serving: Elevated pub fare
[Read more]

Pivot Room
185 S Moorland Rd., (262) 317-3400
thepivotroom.com
Serving: Casual bites, flatbreads and sandwiches
[Read more]

Third Street Tavern
1110 N Old World 3rd St., (414) 897-8137
thirdstreettavernmke.com
Serving: Appetizers, burgers and sandwiches
[Read more]

Twisted Plants
4905 S Packard Ave., (414) 800-4005
twistedplants.com
Serving:  Vegan comfort food, burgers
[Read more]

Uncle Bucks 
1125 N. Old World Third St., (414) 988-0355
unclebucksonthird.com
Serving:  Elevated bar fare
[Read more]

Wahlburgers - Third Ward
322 N Broadway, (414) 223-3005
wahlburgers.com/milwaukee
Serving: Burgers and casual fare
[Read more]

Caribbean

Jamaican Season Island
9207 W Capitol Dr., (414) 763-8177
jamaican-season-island.business.site
Serving: Jamaican staples including jerk and curry chicken
[Read more]

Kings & Queens
1119 S. 108th St., (262) 444-6108
Serving: Jamaican staples including jerk chicken, curry goat, callaloo, oxtail

Mobay Cafe
1022 S 1st St., (414) 988-9196
facebook.com/MobayCafeMke
Serving: Caribbean dishes, including jerk chicken, conch fritters, ackee and saltfish
[Read more]

Fried chicken

Arlanderz Chicken & Fish
**CLOSED**
Serving: Fried chicken, chicken tenders, fried fish and sides
[Read more]

Cream City Cluckery
400 W Highland Ave., (414) 422-6992
creamcitycluckery.com
Serving: Chicken tenders and sides
[Read more]

Mad Chicken
2045 E North Ave., (414) 616-1299
madchickenusa.com
Serving: Fried chicken, fried chicken sandwiches
[Read more]

Pat's Niche Pub & Grub
**CLOSED**
Serving: Wings, fried chicken, fish fry
[Read More]

Italian / Pizza

BB's on North
7237 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 810-0252
bbspizzabar.com
[Read More]

Brute Pizza
5169 North Elkhart Ave., (563) 580-7242
brutemke.com
Serving: Chef-driven pizza with sourdough crust
[Read more]

Egg & Flour - Bay View
2273 S Howell Ave., (414) 885-0204
greateffingpasta.com
Serving: Fast casual housemade pasta
[Read more]

Flour Girl & Flame 
**Relocated**
8121 W National Ave, West Allis, (414) 662-7921
flourgirlandflame.com
Serving: Wood-fired pizza
[Read More]

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria 
15795 W Bluemound Rd., (414) 930-4500
8799 N Port Washington Rd., (414) 446-3500
loumalnatis.com/brookfield
Serving: Deep dish and thin crust pizza, entrees
[Read more]

Pizza de Brazil
**CLOSED**
Serving: Brazilian style pizza (all you care to eat)
[Read more]

The Red Mill Inn & Pizza
1005 S Elm Grove Rd., (262) 599-8900
theredmillpizza.com
Serving: Pizza, Italian-inspired dishes
[Read more]

Tavolino
2315 N Murray Ave., (414) 797-1400
tavolinomke.com
Serving: Pasta, pizza, Italian entrees
[Read more]

Sorella
2535 S Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 301-6255
sorellamke.com
Serving: Italian American fare, wood-fired pizza
[Read more]

Tua Pasta
100 E Wisconsin Ave LL101, (414) 988-4016
tuapastatp.com
Serving: Build your own pasta and salads
[Read more]

Lao

Sticky Rice
1000 E Locust St., (414) 226-6483
stickyricemke.com
Serving: Classic Lao dishes
[Read more]

Sweet Basil
6509 S 27th St B, (414) 301-4126
sweetbasilmke.com
Serving: Lao Street food inspired fare
[Read more]

Thum @ Crossroads
**CLOSED**
Serving: Modern takes on traditional Lao fare
[Read more] 

Mexican / Tacos

Al Pastor (moved)
6533 W Mitchell St., (414) 210-5714
al-pastor.com
Serving: Mexican staples, tacos
[Read more]

Chucho’s Red Tacos
4511 S 6th St., (414) 419-0000
facebook.com/ChuchosRedTacos
Serving: Birria tacos, plus inventive variations
[Read more]

Daily Taco + Cantina
105 W. Freistadt Rd., Thiensville, (262) 302-4030
dailytaco.com
Serving: Tacos, burritos, bowls and sides
[Read more]

HIYA Taco
**CLOSED**
Serving: Non-traditional tacos and sides
[Read more]

La Dama
839 S. 2nd St., (414) 645-2606
ladamamke.com
Serving: Modern regional Mexican fare
[Read more]

Lazo’s Taco Shack
641 N James Lovell St., (414) 988-6567
lazostacoshackmke.com
Serving: Mexican staples, including breakfast
[Read more]

Paloma Taco & Tequila
5419 W North Ave., (414) 810-0404
palomatacoandtequila.com
Serving: Twists on classic Mexican fare
[Read more]

Taco Mike’s
1001 N Old World 3rd St., (414) 763-3325
tacomikes.com
Serving: Gluten-free menu of tacos, sides
[Read more]

Middle Eastern

Damascus Gate
807 W. Historic Mitchell St., (414) 810-3561
damascusgatemilwaukee.com
Serving: Syrian fare including kefta, kebabs, fatayer
[Read more]

Falafel Guys
6300 W Mequon Rd., (262) 302-4122
falafelguysmke.com
Serving: Falafel, shawarma, vegetarian plates
[Read more]

Taqwa's Restaurant & Bakery
4651 S 27th St., (414) 539-6878
facebook.com/TaqwasBnR
Serving: Palistinian and Jordanian fare, including stone oven flatbread
[Read more]

Peruvian

Triciclo Peru
3801 W. Vliet St., (414) 239-8388
tricicloperumke.com
Serving: Peruvian fare, pisco-based cocktails
[Read more]

Triciclo Peru Express
Crossroads Collective
2238 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 763-9081
crossroadscollectivemke.com
Serving: Peruvian empanadas, salads, desserts
[Read more]

Poke / Sushi

Aloha Poke - Wauwatosa
1417 N Wauwatosa Ave., (414) 231-3138
alohapokeco.com
Serving: Poke bowls
[Read more]

Freshfin Poke - Tosa
6927 W North Ave., (414) 763-2968
freshfinpoke.com
Serving: Poke bowls
[Read more]

Jin's Sushi & Seafood
7401 W. Barnard Ave., Greenfield, (414) 616-1766
jinssushiseafood.com
Serving: AYCE sushi, Japanese dishes
[Read more]

Modern Maki (truck)
Zocalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St., (414) 737-1191
facebook.com/modernmake20
Serving: Sushi and ramen
[Read more]

Spanish

Cavas
401 E Erie St., (414) 930-9088
cavasmke.com
Serving: Spanish fare, including paella
[Read more]

Scandinavian

Eldr+Rime
2300 N Mayfair Rd., (414) 867-9200
eldrandrime.com
Serving: Scandinavian-inspired fare, wood-fired dishes, fresh seafood
[Read more]