If you’re hankering for a Southwestern skillet or the expertly prepared Rushing Waters trout from Locavore restaurant at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, you’ll want to head over to enjoy it sooner than later.
The restaurant, which opened in August 2014, will close sometime in mid-summer, according to Ryan Amundson, external communications manager for Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. Amundson notes that the new concept is still under wraps, but that information would be released in the coming weeks. He also noted that Executive Chef Van Luu, who has been with the restaurant for its duration, will depart the Casino prior to the opening of the new concept.
What could it be?
With so many questions still hanging in the balance, we gave some thought to concepts we’d like to see in the space.
"What about a Mexican restaurant?" mused Senior Writer Molly Snyder.
"All breakfast, all the time," was just one of the suggestions from co-founder Jeff Sherman, whose ideal wishlist also includes a concept from Chef David Chang and an upscale make-your-own burger place "with AJ Bombers or someone notable."
"I loved Locavore, for the record," Sherman notes. "Was never, though, a fan of the name. And the design at the space never really worked for me. The food was great. No matter what concept, I’ll vote for an amazing breakfast-all-day, all-the-time place. And the space has to be made more appealing, for sure."
"How about dim sum?" asked managing editor Bobby Tanzilo, echoing an item that’s been on my personal gustatory wish list for years.
"I would actually love to see a wine bar with good food," suggests Carolyn Buser, social media and content manager. "Apps, cheeses, charcuterie. Make it a place I want to come to drink and then I end up playing more Britney Spears!"
As for me, I'd be very much OK with a wine bar. Although, at my core, what I'd love to see (always) is something truly different that makes a splash and fills a niche in the Milwaukee scene. But I keep hearkening back to: What would really take off there?
When it comes down to that, there could be something to the build-your-own burger concept, which has taken off on the Vegas strip and seems to be doing well on the North side at the Point Burger Bar.
After all, part of the trick is appealing to peoples' most basic cravings ... and in some ways, I can't help but come back to the image of Howard Johnson’s, which in its glory days served up happiness to its guests in the form of fried clam strips and house-made ice cream.
What concepts would draw you to visit this Potawatomi venue? Let us know in the comments!
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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