By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Oct 08, 2017 at 8:08 PM

Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

It looks the space at 750 N. Jefferson St. that last housed Blackthorn Pub will finally see new life after more than four years of vacancy.

Longtime Milwaukee bar owner and restaurateur Mike Eitel has signed a lease on the space with plans to open a new bar and restaurant. 

According to paperwork filed with the City of Milwaukee, the space will get a refresh including new paint, fixtures and light renovation completed by Kubala Washatko Architects.

Eitel, who has over 20 years of experience and is current owner of Nomad World Pub (Milwaukee and Madison locations) as well as co-owner of Panga Bar & Grill in Oconomowoc, says that details about the concept are forthcoming, as he will be meeting with Alderman Bob Bauman about his current operational plans this week. 

According to Eitel, additional details will be released later this week. Watch OnMilwaukee for details as they become available.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “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 recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.