By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Oct 05, 2015 at 1:06 PM

For the ninth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee, presented by the restaurants of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, dining guides, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as voting for your "Best of Dining 2015."

This month MOVIDA, 524 S 2nd St., will launch a new casual family dinner concept, which aims to bring diners together in a brand new fashion.

Community Nights will be held on Sunday evenings about once a month and will offer guests the opportunity to sit around a community table, enjoy five Spanish inspired courses (served family style), and connect with MOVIDA owners, selected local purveyors, and one another.

The idea stems from traditions that have roots in Spain, but which will resonate with many who grew up with the idea of big Sunday dinners with family.

"Family is such a big thing there," says co-owner Andrei Mikhail. "And it’s almost a ritual that families get together and have dinner together on the weekend. And it’s not just mom and dad, it’s extended family too. So, we want people who are regulars, people who are new, and people who are visiting town to really feel like they’re a part of it."

Mikhail says that it’s an opportunity for both Milwaukeeans and visitors to get to know more about what MOVIDA is really about.

"We’re really a family here at MOVIDA, and that extends to our staff and our customers," he notes. "It’s a community effort. We’ll take all the tables in the restaurant and pull them together. The idea is to be able to dine family style with some of the farmers, ranchers, producers, and really get to know who they are and what they do."

Community Nights are a casual affair, Mikhail explains, but they won’t be devoid of the hospitality which has made MOVIDA a favorite dining destination for many.

"When I go out to dine, I like to be treated well," he says. "And we make a point of making MOVIDA the type of place that people want to come – because we value that experience. And we make a point of making sure that people who visit have a reason to come back again and again."

MOVIDA will hold its very first Community Night on Sunday, Oct.18. The featured purveyor will be Ney’s Big Sky.

Courses will include:

  • Cider braised pork belly, pomegranate

  • Beef carpaccio, arugula, 12-month manchego, olive oil

  • Orange blossom honey-glazed ham, roasted garlic potato, cippolini

  • Paella, chicken, shrimp, spinach, piquillo

  • Candied house-cured bacon, cranberry, pure maple syrup, dark chocolate

Community Night is $35 per person, which includes five courses and sangria. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Reserve your spot online.