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: Il Ponte!
• Two weeks ago, Milwaukee learned that Lupi & Iris owners Adam Siegel and Daria Aitken-Siegel will open a “New York-style” Italian restaurant on the first floor of the Northwestern Mutual North Building, 818 E. Mason St., in the fall of 2026. Now, more details have emerged. For one, the restaurant will be called Il Ponte (“the bridge” in Italian). Also, according to Adam Siegel: “The menu won’t be overwhelmed with spaghetti and meatballs. In fact, we’re planning to introduce quite a few dishes that aren’t being served currently in Milwaukee. We’re excited for that.” [OnMilwaukee]
• For the first time ever, Summerfest has a sober lounge! You can find The Phoenix Sober lounge—which offers “mocktails, sober activities and recovery support”—on the south end of the grounds, near the Ferris wheel. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• The Bartolotta Restaurants’ Rumpus Room, 1030 N. Water St., has been closed since 2020. Finally, after five years, Bartolotta is in the process of “reconceptualizing” the space. [OnMilwaukee]
• The owners of the former Cafe Brucke are opening a new cafe in the former Sabrosa space, 3216 S. Howell Ave. The new cafe will be called Swan Song. Why? “It will be our sort of swan song. We chose the name because it will be our final performance before retirement,” co-owner Chrisa Lorch told the [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel].
• Poppy Bakery, a new East Side bakery in the old Sip & Purr space, 2021 E. Ivanhoe Pl., is open. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Mother’s, the LGBTQ+ third space/restaurant/bar that has taken up residence in The White House building, 2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., opens June 26. [OnMilwaukee]
• New bar and restaurant proposed for the Harambee neighborhood! [Urban Milwaukee]
• New restaurant proposed for the the Kops Park neighborhood! [Urban Milwaukee]
• Another week, another Milwaukee neighborhood name we never heard of until today! Kops Park!
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