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’s been a sweet, successful 15 years for Swig, an early pioneer of Milwaukee’s modern dining scene. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.
Hospitality Democracy announced today that the restaurant, located at 217 N. Broadway, will close its doors following brunch service on Sunday, Oct. 14.
"Our lease option was up at the end of this year. We intended to reimagine the space, as we did with the former Water Buffalo space, when we transformed it into Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria," noted John Walch, President of Hospitality Democracy in a press release announcing the news.
"Unfortunately, both parties were unable to come to a lease agreement that would allow Hospitality Democracy the ability to invest in a new concept in this existing space.
"We have truly enjoyed the experience and camaraderie at Swig over the past 15 years, and we are sad to see it go. In addition to our current Third Ward dining options – Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria, Onesto, and Smoke Shack – we look forward to working on other exciting options in the Third Ward and greater Milwaukee as a whole."
Among plans moving forward in the near future is the launch of brunch at Onesto, which is slated to begin in November, as well as expansion of Hospitality Democracy’s catering and events.
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.
.jpeg)
