An opening date has been set for the new North Shore location of Café Hollander, a venue known for its curated selection of rare and exclusive Belgian beer in a comfortable European-inspired café setting.
The location at at 5900 W. Mequon Rd., which will make its public debut on May 20, is the seventh restaurant opened by Lowlands Group since 2006.
The building, which was built as part of the Mequon Town Center, features second floor seating, a large rooftop patio facing the Mequon Town Center courtyard and an outdoor pétanque court. Its unique design allows the entire restaurant to be open to the outdoors during clement weather. In line with the company’s passion for cycling, covered bike parking will also be available along with water and a convenient bike pump.
PHOTO: Cafe Hollander
As part of its grand opening celebration, Lowlands Group will host a three-day benefit during which 100 percent of sales from food and select beer will be donated to three organizations, including the Milwaukee Riverkeeper, The Ozaukee Interurban Trail and The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
Special features during the weekend include:
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Two group bike rides will take place along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail on Saturday, May 21, including a moderate-paced, 48-mile group ride led by the Hollander Benelux Racing Team from the restaurant to Belgium, and a more leisurely, 16-mile ride to Grafton and back. The public is welcome to join the rides and can meet at Café Hollander in Mequon at 9 a.m. Riders should park at the Logemann Community Center.
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Throughout the weekend, Jef Versele, the seventh-generation owner of Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, Belgium and Lowlands Brewing Collaborative collaborator, will be in attendance at the festivities. Brouwerij Van Steenberge will be donating all sales from its beer during the opening weekend to the three charitable partners.
During opening weekend, the cafe will be open Friday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with brunch service and 5 to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended due to limited seating during the opening weekend and can be made beginning Wednesday, May 11 at cafehollander.com. The bar and upstairs patio will be open to the public during this time for beverage-only service.
On Tuesday, May 24, the cafe will begin its regular hours, open daily at 8 a.m. for breakfast and serving brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
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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