By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Sep 03, 2025 at 3:03 PM

After weeks of flood cleanup and renovations, there’s finally good news for fans of Café Hollander, 7677 W. State St., in Wauwatosa.

The beloved State Street spot will reopen its bar and patio just in time for TosaFest (Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6), offering bier, cocktails and a special Frank & Larry’s takeover menu that blends Hollander patio vibes with Buckatabon-inspired eats.

And the good news doesn’t stop there. Beginning the following weekend, Hollander will softly reopen its bar and patio on a limited schedule—Fridays from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—serving a curated menu of drinks while kitchen renovations continue.

Guests can expect Lowlands Brewing Collaborative biers, seasonal Oktoberfest pours, brunch favorites like bloodies and mimosas, plus a lineup of cocktails, bottles and cans. While sipping, visitors may also notice fresh updates inside, including newly refinished wood floors and the possibility of a new mural.

A full reopening of the restaurant remains on track for the end of September (official date TBD).

So if you’ve missed Hollander’s laid-back patio vibes, consider this your invitation to return, bier in hand.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

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.