Back in February, Crafty Cow opened a seafood concept in a portion of its Wauwatosa location (6519 W. North Ave.). Originally debuted as a pop-up, Outlaw Oyster quickly earned oodles of positive press for its inventive “Northeast meets Northwoods” offerings and brought an influx of new customers to the business that was previously known for its burger and poultry selection. Within a few months of opening, ownership announced Outlaw Oyster would become a permanent fixture at Crafty Cow Tosa.
With a proven concept and local interest that extends far beyond its intimate 34-seat and approximately 500 square foot dining area in East Tosa, Outlaw Oyster is preparing to expand into Milwaukee proper by opening in a section of Crafty Cow’s Bay View location (2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) before the end of the summer. The second Outlaw Oyster will begin serving out of the southernmost half of Bay View property on Friday, September 12. The other side (closest to the corner of S. Lenox St. and Kinnickinnic Ave.) will continue to operate as a Crafty Cow.
The incoming Outlaw will offer all the same flavors of its predecessor, including its Connecticut-style Lobster Roll Sliders, sandwiches that feature smoked salmon and trout, specialty seafood-forward sides like its Smoked Whitefish Dip and a Seafood Tower, and—as the name suggests—oysters on the half shell. Its iconic and decidedly Midwest chic Pimento Cheese Ball is also migrating to the Milwaukee menu. And for the less seafood enthused among us, Crafty Cow’s Oklahoma-style “OK Burger” can be ordered and enjoyed on the Outlaw Oyster side of the property.
Another similarity the Bay View Outlaw Oyster will have to the Tosa location will be seen in its bar offerings. Diners will find a range of amaro and other spritz-suited spirits present in house cocktails, along with chilled wines, craft beer, N/A drinks, and THC drinks on hand. And yes, customers at the second Outlaw will be able to take advantage of the restaurant’s rotating Daily Spritz and Bitter Reward specials.
Its daily “Yappy Hour” specials—in which oysters, snack plates, and select drinks are discounted from 4-5 p.m.—and its “Still Yappin” deals on select foods and champagne (plus all Yappy Hour specials) from 8:30-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday will also be available at Outlaw’s new digs. With the existing Crafty Cow draft lines in the forthcoming Outlaw space, you can also expect to see draft beer and spritz-leaning draft cocktails available.
Though the first Outlaw Oyster location was initially just a temporary pop-up before eventually becoming a permanent fixture, owner Devin Eichler says he’s going all in on making Bay View’s new Outlaw Oyster a year-round offering.
“Testing it out in Tosa really gave us the confidence to be able to do it in Bay View,” Eichler says. “I think there’s a space in the Bay View scene for something like this. There’s not that seafood spot [in the neighborhood], and we’re hoping our late night happy hour will kind of add to the late night food scene in the area.”
After Outlaw Oyster opens its Bay View location on Friday, September 12, it will be open Wednesday through Sunday each week. Hours will initially be 4-9 p.m. on Wednesday, 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 12-10 p.m. Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. Sundays. Check out Outlaw Oyster’s website for more information on the menu and its daily specials.
