By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jul 25, 2019 at 1:30 PM

Beginning this fall, Wisconsin will officially have its very own WhirlyBall.

The Chicago-area creation is a family friendly activity often described as a combination of lacrosse and bumper cars. The first Wisconsin WhirlyBall will be located on the southern end of Brookfield Square, 185 S. Moorland Rd.

The two-story, 45,000-square foot entertainment mecca will feature two famed WhirlyBall courts on the ground level along with eight bowling lanes with lane-side service, a four-lane VIP Bowling Suite, HyperBowling and a multi-level laser tag arena.

The Brookfield location will also feature The Pivot Room, a restaurant offering a relaxed-yet-elevated dining experience showcasing twists on American fare, seasonal cocktails wine by the glass or bottle and a rotating selection of craft brews including selections from Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee Brewing Co. and Raised Grain Brewing Co. Bell’s Brewery and Founders Brewing Co.

Located on the ground floor of the WhirlyBall location, The Pivot Room will feature a 75-seat dining room with a playful design inspired by 1980s nostalgia and a menu created by Chef Larry Donahue offering dishes like pork belly and pineapple flatbread; greens salad with white balsamic vinaigrette; the Pivot Burger featuring smoked gouda, bourbon grilled onions, bacon jam, arugula, garlic aioli; and brick chicken served with fingerling Lyonnaise potatoes, asparagus, capers and garlic chicken jus.

A selection of The Pivot Room’s shareable items and handhelds will also be available to order throughout the venue, so guests can fill up on delicious food while partaking in activities.

The experience will be enhanced by an outdoor patio and terrace plus spacious private and semi-private event spaces to accommodate groups of any size.

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. 

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.