To call the Fifth Ward's new Fuzion just a café and lounge, as its name suggests, might be undercutting its complexity. Officially opening Friday, Dec. 5 at 524 S. 2nd St., the neighborhood's newest addition is best described as a "collision of culture," incorporating elements of style -- music, art, fashion -- with contemporary cuisine and cocktails.
A true fusion, if you will.
Owner Tara Ali loves her Walker's Point locale, citing its eclectic charm, artistic draw and diversity of foods as a perfect complement to her concept.
The building's previous tenant, Wildgrove Roastery coffees hop, lasted less than two years in the spot, but as South 2nd Street gains more momentum -- Ginger recently opened in the former Barossa space at 235 S. 2nd -- Fuzion is poised to become a nightlife destination.
It's difficult to pinpoint Fuzion's focus; the food is a blend of various ethnic cuisines, from Mexican to Middle Eastern and from Cajun to Caribbean. At first, it might come off as confused, but Ali's got her themes well organized and has fantastic, fun ways of presenting them.
Tuesdays, for example, are island- and Caribbean-themed nights, featuring reggae and calypso coupled with jerk chicken and a drink special.
"It's like a prix-fix style menu, with a drink, appetizer, entrée and dessert in a theme," Ali says. "In addition to our regular chefs, we showcase different chefs that have experience with that particular cuisine."
Thursdays boast a Middle Eastern motif, with regional foods, belly dancing and henna tattoos, if you so desire.
For now, Fuzion is open Tuesday through Saturday, with themed nights only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Eventually, Ali will add an Afro Cuban night and a Latin night in homage to Milwaukee's Latin Quarter.
During the day, the 2,500-sq. ft. café is open for customers to sip coffee, play chess or peruse the retail selection.
"Our retail component coincides with our food and drinks," explains Ali. "So, if we feature a dish made with goat milk cheese, we'll sell goat milk soaps to go along with it."
She's working with Private Harvest, a gourmet foods company based near Napa Valley, to create Fuzion's own olive oil blend, and if you like it in your vinaigrette salad dressing, you can buy a bottle to take home. The same goes for the Nutorious Gourmet candied walnuts, based out of Green Bay.
She'll also feature small products for the home and kitchen, like Jimmy Belasco soy candles.
Fuzion opens its doors Friday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Opening day includes a showcase of the restaurant's signature fusion dishes, such as Mexican wontons and crawfish egg rolls. Watch for belly dancers and live music from Caribbean Eclipse.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
