Earlier this week we announced that Osgood’s, the fast casual restaurant at The Mayfair Collection, had closed its doors after just over four years of operation.
As it turns out, the closure is part of a larger plan which will shake up the restaurant offerings at the Burleigh development in an effort to better serve guests, shoppers and residents at the 69-acre mixed use development.
Italian pasta will replace French fare
Among the changes, Cafe Grace, the upscale French Bistro which opened in 2015, is also slated to close, but will remain open for the next few weeks. So diners still have the opportunity to enjoy a final visit to enjoy the restaurant's menu of modern French fare. Gift cards for the restaurant which remain after the closing will be redeemable at ABV Social and Taqueria El Jefe.
In the weeks following the closure, the restaurant will undergo an interior remodel in preparation for its transformation into Truli Italian Kitchen, a Southern Italian concept which is expected to offer a menu of classic pasta dishes served up at an approachable price point. Truli is projected to open this May and will serve both lunch and dinner.
"Based on the feedback that we’ve received from our guests and the community in Wauwatosa, we felt that we needed to take steps toward reinvigorating the restaurant lineup at The Mayfair Collection and create a fun, casual concept for this space suitable for a dinner with family, business entertaining or a special occasion," noted John Mangel, president of Phoenix Hospitality in a release on the plans. "Truli will offer Italian comfort food classics in a relaxed, warm environment at a price that’s reasonable for a quick lunch or a big group dinner."
The future of former Osgood's
The former Osgood’s will also be reimagined, with ownership currently exploring whether to expand and re-tenant the existing building or rebuild on the parcel.
"Since the current drive-thru building only utilizes about half of the buildable area for the site, we are excited to explore how best to maximize the development potential of this prime outlot at The Mayfair Collection," notes Tim Blum, executive vice president of HSA Commercial Real Estate. "With over 140,000 vehicles traveling by each day, it’s essentially a billboard location best suited for a retail flagship."
Phoenix Hospitality, the Chicago-based entity which took over full operations of Osgood’s, Cafe Grace, ABV Social and Taqueria El Jefe in 2017, has noted that it will strive to retrain and redeploy as much of its staff as possible during the change-over.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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