Eat Your Way Across Milwaukee’s South Side
Southside Dining Week returning this fall with more specials, more participants.
Taqueria la Guelaguetza. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Milwaukee’s south side restaurants will again take center stage this fall as Southside Dining Week returns for its sixth year.
The weeklong event will run Sept. 27 through Oct. 3, with participating restaurants offering limited-time menu specials, exclusive dishes and other promotions. The event is organized and presented by North Shore Bank and is intended to showcase locally owned businesses and the culinary diversity of neighborhoods across Milwaukee’s South Side.
More than 20 restaurants have already signed on, with additional businesses still encouraged to participate.
The current lineup includes returning favorites Braise, Centraal Grand Café & Tappery, El Atorón, Guadalajara Restaurant, La Esperanza Restaurant y Taqueria, LuLu Cafe & Bar, Steny’s Tavern & Grill, Transfer Pizzeria Café and Tres Hermanos.
Other participating businesses include Doh’p, Rollup MKE, El Tlaxcalteca Restaurant, Café el Sol, Benny’s Pizza, El Local Restaurante, Vientiane Noodle Shop, Taqueria la Guelaguetza, Thai Bar-B-Que, Carnitas de Rafa and La Casa de Alberto.
“We’re proud to shine a spotlight on the culinary talent and cultural diversity of Milwaukee’s southside neighborhoods,” said Alfredo Martin, assistant vice president and community engagement manager at North Shore Bank, in a statement. “Now in our sixth year, we’re adding new restaurants and an even bigger kickoff celebration to introduce the community to these local businesses.”
With the highly disruptive reconstruction underway on W. National Avenue, the event will also draw attention to several businesses likely to be facing slower-than-usual sales.
The festivities will begin Sunday, Sept. 27, with the Southside Dining Week Preview at Zócalo Food Park. The free event, presented by Mastercard, will run from noon to 4 p.m. and feature food and drinks, family-friendly activities and live performances.
New this year, organizers are adding interactive cooking demonstrations and free samples from participating restaurants, available while supplies last. Attendees can RSVP for the preview event at the Southside Dining Week website.
“North Shore Bank Southside Dining Week shows that food is one of the best ways to bring people together,” Martin said.
The event launched in 2021 as a south side-focused counterpart to Downtown Dining Week and has continued to expand its roster of participating restaurants and neighborhoods.
Last year’s event featured 20 restaurants offering everything from discounts and free desserts to event-exclusive dishes. Participating businesses ranged from long-running establishments to newer restaurants and represented cuisines from around the world.
This year’s geographic footprint stretches across more than two dozen neighborhoods, including Silver City, Clarke Square, Walker’s Point, Harbor View, Burnham Park, Muskego Way, Historic Mitchell Street, Lincoln Village, Bay View, Jackson Park, Polonia, Morgandale and Tippecanoe.
A complete list of participating restaurants, along with menus and offers as they are announced, is available at SouthsideDiningWeek.com.
Existing members must be signed in to see the interactive map. Sign in.
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