Experience Downtown Blog

Belly Up to the Bar! Taste & Toast Returns Feb. 24-28

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Lift your spirits during five exclusive nights of sampling and sipping. The 10th annual Taste & Toast is back February 24-28. Satisfy your palate, and pocketbook, with specially priced apps, mixers, brews, wines and spirit-free drinks at over 20 downtown hot spots. So, round up your friends and belly up to the bar. Cheers!

New Participants:
Every year, Taste & Toast brings fresh and exciting restaurants into the mix, and this category highlights the newest additions to this event. Whether they’re brand-new restaurants or just new to Taste & Toast, these spots are eager to impress with unique appetizers, handcrafted cocktails, and creative flavors. Be among the first to experience what they have to offer! 

• 90s2k Café: Try a Pop Star Martini with vodka, passion fruit and a citrus cordial. Plus, you get a ring pop with the drink! Browse the menu here!
• LP MKE: There are many options to choose from at LP MKE! Enjoy some Popcorn Chicken with your choice of sauce on the side; and experience the LP Espresso Martini with hazelnut syrup and coffee liqueur…yum! Check out all the offerings here.
• Oggie’s Kitchen & Bar: Savor Midwestern classics with a twist, including Smoked Salmon Rillettes and a Chicken & Waffle Old Fashioned. Browse the full menu here. 
• Old German Beer Hall: Experience rich German history, spirit, and tradition with the Beer Hall Flight or a scrumptious Beer Cheese Soup! See app and drink options here.
• The Social American Tavern: This is just the place to gather and be social in the heart of Milwaukee! Come Taste & Toast with amazing Espresso Martinis and an NA Aperol Spritz! Also try out their Garlic Breaded, Dill Pickled, Jalapeno Cheddar, Cheese Curd Trio. See the full menu here.
• Tropic: A Caribbean-inspired oasis right here in Milwaukee! Stop by Tropic to get a Prickly Pear Paloma, some Crispy Vegan Dumplings and much more. View the offerings here! 
• Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar: With food responsibly sourced by farmers, come and taste their delicious Famous Fried Green Tomatoes, and toast with their Southern Hospitality Mimosa! More menu items here!
• Wards House of Prime: Where Prime Rib is King, come celebrate Taste & Toast with some delicious drinks and appetizers. Try their Maple Whiskey Sour and their Bacon Wrapped Prime Rib! View other menu offerings here.

Best Places for Groups: 
Planning a night out with friends, coworkers, or family? These locations are perfect for larger parties, offering plenty of space, a lively atmosphere, and shareable bites that make the experience even more fun! Whether you’re looking for a casual, laid-back setting or an upbeat, energetic vibe, these spots ensure everyone in your group has a great time with delicious food and drinks to match! 

• AJ Bombers: Can’t complain much with deals like these! Relish AJ Bombers’ Bloody Mary garnished with a strip of their signature burger, muenster cheese, and much more! View other offerings here.
• Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria: Enjoy delicious apps like Milwaukee Street Corn and Brussels Sprouts, while sipping on a Pretty Perfect Paloma! View the menu here.
• Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen: Located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Central Standard will be serving up craft cocktails with their signature spirits, alongside their famous Cheese Curds and Fries with Housemade Garlic Aioli! Preview all items here.
• MOTOR Bar & Restaurant: Located at the Harley Davidson Museum, the MOTOR is offering a Torched Paloma and Truffle Parmesan Brussel sprouts. Get the menu here.
• On Tap: Taste & Toast in the original Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery at On Tap. Enjoy Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls and Spinach Artichoke Dip! Wash it all down with a PBR 16 oz beer! Preview the menu here.
• SportClub: Peach Old Fashioned and Pulled Pork Sliders!? Couldn’t ask for much else! View all the offerings here.

Best Places for Date Night:
Looking to impress that special someone? These venues set the perfect scene for a memorable evening. With thoughtfully crafted appetizers to taste, and expertly mixed drinks to toast, these locations are ideal for a romantic night out. Whether you’re going for an intimate setting, or a trendy, upscale experience, these spots will help you create the perfect date night moment. 

• The Edison: This speakeasy-inspired bar is serving up some tasty Baked French Onion Soup along with a Spiced Pear Spritz! View the full menu here.
• The Knick: This contemporary dining experience is just what you need for your next date night! Taste their mouthwatering Edamame Hummus or their Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls, alongside a Ginger Cosmo or Honey Bourbon Punch. Browse all offerings here.
• Lobby Lounge at Pfister Hotel: With live piano evenings, this is the perfect spot for date night! Toast with a Brown Sugar Old Fashioned or a Hibiscus Ranch Water! Nibbles include House Made Italian Meatballs, Beef Tenderloin Crostini and a Spicy Tuna Poke. See the menu here.
• Onesto: Modern. Fresh. Italian. Onesto’s Taste & Toast menu offers a Cranberry Aperol Spritz and Burrata with hot honey! Preview the menu here.

Night On the Town: 
If you’re ready to turn up the energy, these are the places to be. Whether you want to sip on craft cocktails, enjoy creative small plates, or dance the night away, these venues bring the fun. With vibrant atmospheres, great music, and an exciting crowd, these spots are perfect for keeping the night going long after Taste & Toast wraps up!

• Lucky Clover Irish Pub: Continue the Irish celebration at Luck Clover with a Classic Guinness  Draft or a Lucky Car Bomb! Browse the full menu here.
• McGillycuddy’s: Get in the Irish spirit just in time for St. Paddy’s Day with their Irish Whiskey Ginger, Irish Mule, or Irish Old Fashioned! See the menu here.
• Red Rock Saloon: Winterberry Mule or a Spiced Old Fashioned is just what you need to have a great night out on the town! Full menu details are available here.

Flavors You Can’t Miss: 
These restaurants bring bold flavors, unique menus, and unforgettable bites that set them apart from the rest. Whether it's expertly crafted dishes, or a signature style that keeps people coming back, these spots offer something truly special! If you’re looking to shake up your Taste & Toast experience with standout flavors, make sure these are on your list! 

• Cubanitas: Mix it up with a Plantain Platter with Guacamole or Mini Guava BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches! See the menu here.
• Experts Only: An Après Ski Bar is the perfect fun spot during our wintery cold months! Warm up with their Smokin’ Cucumber Inferno or their Signature Ketel One Espresso Martini! Preview the menu here.
• Smoke Shack: This Place is smokin’ in more ways than one! During Taste & Toast come savor some Fried Green tomatoes and Grit Fritters with roasted red pepper jam! Browse the menu here.

Extra Perks for Partaking
In addition to specially priced happy hour items, diners will be treated to discounted parking at select Interstate Parking lots. Visit www.TasteToastMKE.com to view participating lots and promo code info.  

And last, but not least, diners who complete a short online survey following their Taste & Toast experience will be eligible to win $300 in dining gift certificates. Surveys must be completed by Monday, March 3. Two survey respondents will be drawn.