For 14 years, Valentine Coffee Roasters has been delivering on both unwavering hospitality and excellent coffee at their cafes in Washington Heights and (more recently) the Historic Third Ward.
But beginning at 7 a.m. tomorrow (July 1), the local coffee roaster will officially unveil their newest cafe at 5835 W National Ave. adjacent to Kegel’s Inn and the adjoining beer garden.
The building, which formerly housed Public Table, an eatery that closed late last year, will now welcome guests as a neighborhood coffee shop offering up a full complement of coffee and espresso drinks, teas and a menu of housemade breakfast and lunch fare.
“We’re excited to finally be a part of the West Allis community,” notes Robb Kashevarof, who operates Valentine Coffee Roasters with co-owner Joe Gilsdorf. “The city has been great to work with and we’re more than happy to have great neighbors like Julian and Stephanie Kegel.”
A welcoming neighborhood cafe
Inside, guests will find a welcoming cafe showcasing a convivial coffee bar, welcoming displays of plants and greenery maintained by Kirsten Peterson of Sweet P Designs, and four-top seating along the adjacent wall.
The eastern wall in the cafe, which currently displays a series of mirrors left from Public Table, will soon be augmented with expressive wall art depicting the coffee process from farm to cup. Guests may also notice some changes at the bar, which will be enhanced by a stainless back bar area.
But, even without those additions, the cafe offers a welcoming spot for morning brews, afternoon pick-me-ups and casual social meet-ups.
On the menu
In addition to Valentine’s full coffee and espresso menu, guests will also find a food menu similar to that offered at the Third Ward cafe. That means breakfast-worthy options like yogurt parfaits, quiche Loraine (with bacon, caramelized onions and Swiss cheese), bagel and lox, breakfast burritos (chorizo, egg, cheddar and sweet potato hash) and egg sandwiches along with muffins, cookies and scones.
Meanwhile, guests will also find a seasonal soup, salads and sandwiches including summery options like the Valentine BLT with (bacon, herbed cheese spread, zesty tomato jam and baby arugula on toasted sourdough) and Caprese (sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and pesto mayo on herb focaccia).
More to come
In the coming weeks, Valentine will also introduce beer, wine and a selection of cocktails, which will be available to customers during extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings – during which Kegel’s Inn guests are invited to stop by while they wait for tables on busy nights – as well as during events at the adjacent Kegel’s Beer Garden.
Valentine’s West Allis cafe will debut with hours Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moving forward, the cafe will also offer extended hours on Fridays and Saturday evenings until 8 or 9 p.m.
Interested in joining the Valentine Coffee Roasting team? Check out the available positions online and stop by the cafe to inquire. Or reach out by email at info@valentinecoffeeco.com.
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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