These times are uncertain. But folks are still making big plans for the future.
Take for instance the team at Lost Whale, 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View, who have been spending the past few weeks musing and planning for a pending Tiki-themed pop-up bar for their patio.
The pop-up is set to take place as soon as bars in the City of Milwaukee are allowed to reopen (and the staff at Lost Whale feels they can accommodate customers safely).
When that moment comes, here’s what you can look forward to.
The idea for PufferFish is a concept that has long lingered in the mind of Lost Whale bar manager J.C. Cunningham, and he expresses gratitude to Lost Whale owners Daniel Beres and Tripper Duval for assisting him in bringing it to fruition.
"Part of the decision to bring me over here to Lost Whale was so that we could open a brick and mortar together someday..." notes Cunningham. "The unfortunate events of what’s going on globally has given us the unique opportunity to ramp that time table up, and test run it as a pop- up."
The concept focuses on modern Tiki cocktails – along with a smattering of Lost Whale classics – which will be served up in a fun, tropically themed, yet socially-distant environment.
"The entire patio is being redesigned to have coverage for inclement weather," says Beres, "We are also keeping it open and spacious to allow for more than six feet of social distancing between sections."
"It’s really important to me that, in these unfortunate times," he adds. "If someone trusts us enough to leave their house and come out for a good time, that we provide that in the best and safest way possible."
Due to the limited amount of patio space at Lost Whale, tables will be available by reservation only.
"We’ve worked really hard to make Lost Whale what it is," notes Duval. "And the idea of only being able to give guests a fraction of it didn’t sit well with me. So instead of giving them 50% of the Whale experience, we’ve decided to give them 100% of something new: a Tiki Bar."
Even as the pop-up launches, Lost Whale does not have immediate plans to open its indoor seating area. They also plan to continue offering cocktail kits and growlers via their take-out window.
Keep an eye on Lost Whale’s Instagram and Facebook feeds for hours, menus and details as they continue to develop.
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.
