There’s another new restaurant brewing in Walker’s Point. Wayward Kitchen, 1407 S. 1st St., is expected to open in early August. The space formerly housed MO'NA’s, a bar and nightclub which closed its doors in summer 2012.
Wayward Kitchen will be run by Megan and Tyler Mason. The latter is best known for his recent eight-year stint as the executive chef at the Milwaukee Ale House.
According to Megan Mason, the food will emphasize fare that takes full advantage of the best in local, seasonal produce. She says they’re carefully constructing a concept that will be flexible enough to accommodate trends and experimentation.
"There will be ethnic influences from both Latin and Asian cuisine," she says. "The impact of many cultures has been very exciting, and so well receive, that it’s becoming our new American.
Cocktails will reflect a similar philosophy, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients.
According to Mason, the space itself is getting a facelift – new seating and the like – but the couple won’t be changing the footprint of the restaurant. The bar area will be revamped to make it more sleek and modern, and the patio behind the building will be spruced up.
"Our goal date is Aug. 1," she says. "We are looking forward to being open for the Harley-Davidson event Labor Day weekend."
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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