Restaurants that opened in the Milwaukee area in 2023

The former Monster Pizza and Black Rose space at 2856 N Oakland Ave. opened as Cafe Terrazza and Baccara in July. The new concept focuses on Italian fare and pizza. Read more here. 

1033 Restaurant opened May 25. It offers a European-style happy hour with wains, raw fish and charcuter. Dinner is an elevated and intimate experience with just 14 chairs around an L shaped bar that takes up most of the space.Read more here. 

Pizza Man opened its new location on Humboldt on April 26. The new spot features a patio that overlooks the Milwaukee River. It was formerly home to Stubby's Gastro and Beer Pub.

Tater tots and cheese curds are on the menu at Hot Dish Pantry, which opened April 13 at 4125 S. Howell Ave., previously home to Iron Grate BBQ Co. Hot Dish upgraded from its stall at 3rd Street Market Hall, and it serves foods including hot dishes and pierogi. Read about its new home, and the financing issues it had to overcome.

J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard opened for the Milwaukee Brewers' home opener on April 3. The restaurant is at American Family Field, in the space that previously held A Restaurant to Be Named Later. The Barrel Yard has a  "new Northwoods Kitchen" theme and a three-barrel brewing system. Read about its food. 

Toucan Food & Custard, 620 W. Grand Ave. in Port Washington, held its grand opening April 1.  The restaurant serves custard (with a flavor of the day), burgers and Middle Eastern cuisine. Read the story.

District Four opened March 13 at 233 E. Chicago St., in Milwaukee Third Ward. The sports bar is packed with televisions, dartboards and golf simulators. Food is New York-style pizza and sports bar staples such as chicken wings and burgers. Read the story.

Fiddleheads Coffee opened its eighth cafe on March 16 at 8807 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa. It serves coffee drinks, nonalcoholic beverages, baked goods, soup and sandwiches. Read the story. 

Jackson's Soul Food Redefined held a soft opening in mid-February, with a grand opening set March 1 at 4519 W. Center St. The soul food restaurant serves dishes such as jerk chicken, catfish and fried ribs, plus sandwiches and desserts.

Music-themed artwork is found inside Milwaukee's new Cheba Hut in Bay View. The sub restaurant, 2022 S. Kinnickinnick Ave., opened Feb. 13. It has a marijuana theme but doesn't serve any actual pot. It's the second Cheba Hut in Milwaukee; the first is geared toward college students on the east side.

The double bacon sandwich at Sully's Sandwiches on Milwaukee's west side is thick-cut bacon, beefsteak tomatoes, leaf lettuce, house bacon shallot jam and black pepper mayo on brioche, for $16. Sully's, 9211 W. Center St., opened Feb. 11, just a couple doors down from Miss Molly's Cafe; both are run by Molly Sullivan.

A wood-fired oven quickly bakes the pizzas at Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza, 7212 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa, which officially opened Feb. 8. The restaurant serves Neopolitan-like pizzas in the former site of Tosa Bowl and Bun.

La Cocina del Sur's appetizer of pastel de yuca, three cakes made from cassava root and queso fresco, is served with salad, avocado and aji chile sauce. Pedro Tejada, owner of Pedro's South American Food truck, opened the restaurant at 701 E. Keefe Ave. on Feb. 8, eight years after starting his business with a food cart.

Tables are ready for customers on the second level of the new Ninja Steakhouse, 770 N. Milwaukee St. The new Ninja, the third of its kind, serves sushi and hibachi-style dining on different floors.

Birria pizza is one of the offerings at Romero’s Taco Truck. The owners of three successful taco trucks opened Romero’s Restaurant and Bar, 4171 S. 76 St., Greenfield, on Jan 29. It serves a similar menu.

Sweet Joy Brazilian Cafe,  1208 E. Brady St., takes the place of Brewed Cafe, which closed in the pandemic. Sweet Joy opened Jan. 17. It specializes in Brazilian dishes such as a guava pastry, flourless cheese bread and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.