By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Mar 15, 2023 at 1:31 PM Photography: Fiddleheads

After months of construction and much anticipation, the new Fiddleheads Coffee is nearly ready for its debut at 8807 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa.

The cafe will host its soft opening beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 16.  A grand opening will follow on March 25, which will include a ribbon cutting with Mayor Dennis McBride at 11 a.m. along with a week-long promotion offering customers 50% off at the new Wauwatosa cafe from March 25-31.

Fiddleheads Wauwatosa exterior of cafeX

The Wauwatosa coffee shop will be the largest of Fiddleheads’ eight locations, and will offer seating split between two floors, as well as on a rooftop deck and ground floor patio. A walk-up window facing North Avenue will also offer customers an easy way to order basics like coffee or tea and ready to eat baked goods. 

Designed in collaboration with Wauwatosa-based Galbraith Carnahan Architects, the cafe features ground-floor “garden seating” showcasing glass garage doors that can be opened during the warmer months as well as a mural created by local artist Emma Daisy, who also fashioned the mural on the exterior of Fiddleheads Menomonee Falls cafe.

“Overall our cafes are designed to reflect the neighborhoods which they serve,” notes Emily Fedewa, marketing manager for Fiddleheads. “The Midtown district is an ever-growing vibrant area, so the interior at the Wauwatosa reflects that with bright colors and eye-catching design.”

Second floor seatingX

The two story mural extends to the second floor of the cafe, where guests can choose from seating at  traditional tables as well as lounge-style soft seating. The second floor also offers customers access to a 600 square foot rooftop deck, which connects via a staircase to the ground floor patio and fire pit on the eastern side of the building.

New spring menu items

Guests who visit the new cafe will be able to enjoy the full Fiddleheads menu, along with a selection of new seasonal drinks and housemade baked goods created at the Grafton roastery and bakery.

New spring drinks include the Wildflower Latte (honey and lavender) and Cardamom Latte (honey, cinnamon and cardamom infused milk); along with iced drinks like Spring Chai (Rishi masala chai with raspberry syrup; Macha Lemonade; and Blueberry Green Tea Lemonade (citrus green tea with blueberry flavoring and lemonade).

Spring baked goods include two gluten-free oat bars (lemon blueberry and strawberry rhubarb) along with gluten-free Monster Cookies (chewy oatmeal cookies packed with M&Ms and butterscotch, chocolate and peanut butter chips).

Additional items include a Lemon Balm Cookie (a sugar cookie with a lemon curd center); an updated chocolate chip cookie made with brown butter and sea salt; coconut orange muffins topped with streusel and coconut glaze; and fig and orange scones featuring dried figs, orange zest and an orange glaze.

The Wauwatosa cafe is  the eighth for the family owned and operated coffee roaster, which also operates locations in Cedarburg, Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Shorewood, Thiensville and Downtown Milwaukee.

Beginning March 16, Fiddleheads Wauwatosa will be open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

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.