Since opening its doors in 2004, The Wicked Hop has been a trailblazer in the development of Milwaukee’s brunch and bloody mary culture. It has also won the hearts of OnMilwaukee readers with its signature bloody mary, winning "Best Drink in Milwaukee" in the our annual readers poll for four years running.
This month, the bar and restaurant will celebrate its 15-year anniversary, pulling together four days of events and programming to commemorate the occasion.
"We had no idea that The Wicked Hop would become so special to so many people," says co-owner Miles O’Neil. "We wanted to create a place that was fun, welcoming and truthfully, inspired by what we like...who knew we had so much in common with our customers!"
The festivities kick off with a grand anniversary party on Thursday, April 18 featuring a series of events beginning at 4 p.m.
- 4 p.m.: Margarita Social featuring a complimentary Casamigos margarita for each guest while they last.
- 5 p.m.: Complimentary pig roast, complete with a selection of side dishes.
- 6 p.m.: 100 lucky guests will have the opportunity to dip custom glassware in the Maker’s Mark signature red wax for the perfect memento.
- 8 p.m.: The real party begins. Enjoy old school vinyl from DJ E.Rich, followed by DJ WhyB with special guest DJ Madhatter, one of The Wicked Hop’s original DJs.
The celebration continues on Friday with a custom, giant ice sculpture, specialty drinks and specials all day long. Meanwhile, during brunch service on both Saturday and Sunday, The Wicked Hop will give away free mimosas to lucky diners every 15 minutes.
"When I first applied to work here, I remember driving to the interview thinking ‘this is so cool ... there’s nothing else around here yet, what a hidden gem …" notes Wicked Hop General Manager Angela Erstad, who has been with the restaurant since its inception. "Now, look back and think who knew this was going to happen?"
Follow The Wicked Hop on Facebook and Instagram at @TheWickedHop for daily updates and sneak peeks of party preparation.
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.
