Looking for a roundup of Milwaukee food and drink news? Then take a bite of our cleverly titled, bi-weekly Food/Drink Roundup! This week: More news about the former Ardent space!
On November 29, chef Justin Carlisle announced the end-of-year-closure of his long-running fine-dining hotspot, Ardent, 1751 N. Farwell Ave. The following week, the replacement for Ardent was announced: Purslane, an eastern Mediterranean restaurant from James Beard-nominated chef Mary Kastman. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Purslane is expected to open “in late spring or early summer of 2025.”
But first the former Ardent space will be something else! Urban Milwaukee reports that former Ardent sous chef Vanessa Rose will host her pop-up, Mother’s, in the Farwell Avenue location throughout January. Rose previously hosted the pop-up in the Ardent space on Sundays.
According to Urban Milwaukee…
Though it changes frequently, the Mother’s menu reliably features comfort-forward dishes with global inspiration. Tikka masala gnocchi, beet carpaccio, madeira mushrooms and more have found a place on past menus, alongside creative desserts from pastry chef Nick Hoover.
New additions might include chashu (Japanese braised pork belly) with aji amarillo and parsnip, and berbere hanger steak with olive oil, celery root puree and pecorino. Rose also plans to bring back favorites such as monkfish and aromatic rice with saffron broth and red chard.
Mother’s will be open Friday through Monday, 5-9 p.m. Reservations can be made HERE. [Urban Milwaukee]
• This spring, the former Chancery space at 2575 N. Downer Ave. will celebrate a big milestone: 18 years of being vacant! Eighteen years! It’ll be old enough to vote!
OR WILL IT? Yes, nearly two years after bubble tea joint SereniTea Lounge filed paperwork to occupy part of the now-divided space, it appears that bubble tea joint SereniTea Lounge might actually open! The business has applied for an exterior sign permit, and owner Manpreet Singh tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he plans to open by the end of January. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• A new restaurant/marketplace called Radish is planned for 2986 S. Kinnickinnick Ave. “Micaela Erickson and her colleague Joe Sutter are behind the concept,” says OnMilwaukee, “which builds on their collective experience in the restaurant industry and—most recently—their work together offering personalized chef services under the Radish moniker.” [OnMilwaukee]
• A new “beverage-forward all-day cafe” called Haven Cafe is coming soon to the Nova Apartment Building, 1237 N. Van Buren St. [OnMilwaukee]
• NOW OPEN: spring roll joint Roll Up, and mochi doughnuts and boba tea joint Mochinut, both at 2144 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. [Urban Milwaukee]
• KWIK TRIP NEWS: Kwik Trip will move to a new location (N112 W18741 Mequon Rd.) in Germantown. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
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RELATED ARTICLES
• Food/Drink Roundup: What’s next for the soon-to-be-former Ardent space?
• Ardent will close Farwell Avenue home December 31
• Shout-out to the old Chancery on Downer, which has been empty for 17 years