Back in April, it was announced that Waukesha food truck and catering company Nadi Plates (pronounced “naughty plates”) would open its first brick-and-mortar location in the recently closed Crossroads Collective food hall, 2238 N. Farwell Ave. A press release at the time noted that the Italian restaurant was aiming for a fall 2025 opening.
But after months of construction work, and with winter now knocking on the door, Nadi Plates is still not open. A cheeky Instagram post from October 30 illustrates just how not open it is:
View this post on Instagram
But fear not, fans of “scratch-made Italian classics and original recipes, quirky street food staples, and whimsical company culture”! A recent license application reveals that Nadi Plates is still coming to the East Side, though it’s now aiming for an early 2026 opening.
“Our construction hit a few unexpected delays, but we’re excited for work to be ramping up now and are looking forward to opening early in the new year,” Nadi Plates’ Head of Administration Austin Santaniello tells Milwaukee Record.
The license application also reveals the possible name of a morning/daytime cafe and lunch space that will occupy the southeast corner of the restaurant: Il Grande Bambino.
“We will also have a lot more to share about Il Grande Bambino soon,” Santaniello says.
A previous press release explained that, when open, Nadi Plates will feature “innovative Italian small plates, expertly-crafted cocktails and wine pairings, and a commitment to offering delicious plant-based and gluten-free options.”
“This business grew out of our home from conversations around our own kitchen table, and we are so excited to bring it back to where it all began,” owner and executive chef Nadia Santaniello Bucholtz said in the previous press release. “With this new space, we’ll not only be closer to our neighbors and our community, but we’ll finally be able to welcome them all to join us at the table to celebrate what we love about Italian cuisine: spending time with people we love around great food, great wine, and even better company.”
In addition to its existing food truck and catering service, Nadi Plates also operates a stall at American Family Field.
Crossroads Collective opened on the corner of North and Farwell in late 2018, and closed in May 2025. Longtime Milwaukeeans will remember the space as the former home of Oriental Drugs pharmacy.
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.
RELATED ARTICLES
• Nadi Plates will open brick-and-mortar Italian restaurant in full Crossroads Collective space