We’re just over a month into 2026 and the Milwaukee area has already experienced some significant restaurant and bar closures in the new year. One local closing that failed to wind up on our radar until recently was The Landing (2234 E. Layton Ave.), a St. Francis bar and grill that quietly called it quits after 15 years of service at the edge of the 794 on ramp. Signage posted on the property’s doors confirmed it has “closed for good, due to retirement.”
Longtime Milwaukee Record readers might recall the time we ate fish fry at The Landing with then-St. Francis mayor CoryAnn St. Marie-Carls in 2016. In December 2021, our resident fish fry correspondent Caleb Westphal ate a fish fry meal at The Landing as well, remarking on the bar and grill’s deceivingly large old fashioned, “on-point sour cream and onion pancakes,” and its “classic beer batter on somewhat succulent cod.”
Though The Landing is permanently closed, the property is for sale or available to be leased. If someone eventually takes over the space after learning about it from this article, we’d greatly appreciate if you gave us that awesome “Food Fish Fry” exterior sign as a finder’s fee. It’s only fair.
Other Suburban Dining News
About one mile east of The Landing sits the now-former site of Mister Bar-B-Que. Back in October 2024, Jervel “Mr. Barbecue” Williams—whose Mister-Bar-B-Que food truck had become something of a fixture in southeastern Milwaukee County in recent years—officially opened a brick and mortar location for his established BBQ venture at 4666 S. Packard Ave. in the former home of a George Webb, a cozy eatery called Suzy’s Cafe, and Hibachi Express.
After paying the restaurant a few visits and enjoying its fare, we declared Mister Bar-B-Que to have “staying power in Cudahy.” Evidently, that wasn’t the case. Though the restaurant’s website still lists the Packard Ave. property as its address, exterior signage has been taken down and equipment has been removed. However, it appears as if Mister Bar-B-Que lives on elsewhere. Its Uber Eats account now lists 924 E. Rawson Ave. in Oak Creek as its address.
In better Packard Ave. news, the Cudahy thoroughfare is now home to a brand new pizzeria. Bella’s Pizza & Caffé officially opened at 4759 S. Packard Ave. on Monday. The self-described “New York Style” concept specializes in pizza by the slice, but also offers a wide selection of 18-inch specialty pizza, 10-inch thin crust varietals, as well as salads, garlic bread, and dessert options. Bella’s is “open daily.” Stop by or call them at 414-249-4386 for more information.
Finally, in “we forgot to take a photo, but that’s fine”-level news, The Broasted Bird is temporarily closed. We learned the new broasted chicken joint, which opened inside of the BP gas station at 5606 S. Packard Ave. last October, was not open when a mixture of hunger, general curiosity, and needing gas brought us to the station yesterday. According to a BP clerk, The Broasted Bird—which has also been referred to as “The BIRD of Cudahy” and simply “The Bird” online—is closed “for a few months” as owners make some changes. Stay tuned for that.
Photo: Facebook.com/birdofcudahy