There’s never a bad time to support a local restaurant. Still, it’s helpful having the handful of awareness weeks that happen around the Milwaukee area to remind us to leave the house and grab some great food made by our neighbors, friends and other community members.
One of those helpful weeks starts today: Milwaukee Black Restaurant Week, which is back for the eighth time and runs through Sunday, April 30. The event is organized by BlankSpace MKE, an urban artist cooperative co-founded by Symphony Swan-Zawadi and Bridget Whitaker, with the intention of getting more attention — and more money — flowing to the city’s minority-owned businesses.
As the group says on the event website, “Milwaukee Black Restaurant Week becomes an opportunity for us to demonstrate the power of cash mobs when strategically aimed at supporting minority owned businesses. We believe that by supporting Black restaurants (and other local businesses), we can make a significant impact on strengthening communities and creating new opportunities for future entrepreneurs.”
The whole thing is very straightforward. Just show up at one of the 17 participating restaurants, all of which have a special lineup up for the week. There’s also a kickoff event today, April 25, from 3 to 7 p.m. at The Sherman Phoenix (3536 West Fond du Lac Ave.), home of several businesses taking part in the week-long event.
For more information on each eatery, click their name in the list below. You can also get more information about Milwaukee Black Restaurant Week and BlankSpace MKE by visiting the organization’s website.
Participating restaurants
- 1700 Pull Up
- Belli's Bistro
- Big Daddy's BBQ and Soul Food Restaurant
- Brooks’ Balanced Kitchen
- Brownstone Social Lounge
- Buffalo Boss
- Confectionately Yours Cafe
- Crave BBQ
- Cream City Sports Bar
- Delicious Bites
- Funky Fresh Spring Rolls
- Grandma’s Hands
- Happy Days Day Bar
- Junior’s Smoked BBQ
- Rise and Grind Cafe (opens Saturday, April 29)
- Turning Tables Tavern & Eatery
- Twisted Plants
