Welcome to Food/Drink Week at Milwaukee Record, brought to you by Third Space Brewing. From May 12 through May 19, belly up and enjoy adventurous, odd, and elaborate coverage of all things edible and drinkable in Milwaukee and beyond.
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: Temple Goddess Café!
• Temple Goddess Café, a plant-based Middle Eastern restaurant that was launched in the now-closed Crossroads Collective food hall, is moving into its own place: the former Lafayette Place, 1978 N. Farwell Ave., to be exact. Co-owners Gregory Cilmi and Evanthia Savva have set a grand opening for Sunday, June 1.
“Crossroads was an incubator,” Cilmi says in a press release. “Like all birds in a nest, sometimes the little bird needs to be challenged to learn to stretch its wings and fly. It took a moment to let the initial shock [of Crossroads’ sudden closure] wear off, but we are ready to accept that challenge and soar in our own dedicated space.”
Here’s more from the press release:
Get ready for a vibrant and delicious new dining experience! With a core focus on comfort foods crafted from simple, organic, and non-GMO ingredients, and a commitment to being almost entirely gluten-free, Temple Goddess Cafe promises meals that appeal to everyone.
The cafe will take diners on a global culinary journey, serving up delectable dishes inspired by Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian/Asian, and American fusion cuisines. Temple Goddess Cafe is dedicated to sourcing ingredients from local farms whenever possible, ensuring the freshest and highest quality in every bite.
Whether you’re looking for a nourishing start to your day, a satisfying midday meal, or a flavorful dinner, Temple Goddess Cafe has you covered, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, six days per week – 8 am-8 pm Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and from 8 am-9 pm Friday and Saturday. (Closed Wednesday).
Crossroads closed last week after nearly seven years in business. Lafayette Place closed last fall after a car ran into its building for what seemed like the 47th time. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• A conveyor belt sushi joint called Sooshibay plans to open a Milwaukee location at 1154 N. Water St. Sooshibay has another location in Kenosha. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Bar and cocktail lounge Belmont Tavern, 784 N. Jefferson St., has closed. A new bar and cocktail lounge, Foy’s, is set to take its place. [Urban Milwaukee]
• The owners of Italian restaurant and bar Santino’s Little Italy, 352 E. Stewart St., plan to open another Italian restaurant and bar, Calogero’s, in the former Bay Street Pub at 338 E. Bay St. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Valentine Coffee Roasters has opened a location at 3124 N. Downer Ave., right next to Old Guard Games. [OnMilwaukee]
• Lobster truck concept Cousins Maine Lobster is coming to Milwaukee this June. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Headline: “What’s up with the former Balzac space on Brady Street?” Answer: Not much. Balzac closed in 2023, and plans for a new restaurant to take over the space fell through in 2024. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.