Cajun Restaurant Planned For Harambee
A new spot for beignets and etouffee is coming to the former Twisters Inn.
508 W. Center St. Photo by Sophie Bolich.
From biker bar to the Bayou, one Harambee building is preparing for a major shift in operations for the first time since the 90s.
With more than 20 years of cooking experience, Jason Gold plans to open Cajun Soul MKE at 508 W. Center St., in the former home of Twisters Inn, which closed last October.
The proposed restaurant would focus on Cajun dishes, such as stuffed oysters and etouffee, inspired by Gold’s grandfather. The Oakdale, Louisiana native taught Gold everything he knows — from cooking techniques to life lessons: “whatever you do, be damn good at it.”
Gold said he’s eager to bring “something totally different” to the neighborhood, starting with his unique stuffed oysters, which are shucked, grilled and then filled with blue crab, lobster or shrimp. “I’ve never seen that done here,” he said.
He’ll also serve gumbo, Cajun-spiced pasta and etouffee featuring shrimp or crawfish. As he continues to assemble the menu, Gold is keeping customer preferences in mind, allowing guests to choose their protein and decide how it’s cooked — fried or blackened.
“Most restaurants have a lot of fried food,” he said. “With us, you’re going to have a choice.”
The restaurant would also offer sweets like beignets, and hopes to secure a liquor license for specialty cocktails like French 75, lemon drop and the hurricane.
Gold is currently renovating the 2,484-square-foot building, gutting the existing space and rebuilding its kitchen and restrooms. When weather permits, he plans to paint the exterior and build a new outdoor patio.
Plans for the interior are still up in the air, though Gold has already ruled out one possibility.
“It won’t be a New Orleans theme, because I don’t want to get into rifts with people who say, ‘hey man, this isn’t the authentic way,’” Gold said with a laugh. “It’s our twist — a Midwest twist.”
Gold hopes to open the new business in early June, though the final date will depend on construction timelines and the licensing process. Food and liquor licenses are pending before the Milwaukee Common Council.
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