What’s better than a summery day on the patio? A summer day on the patio with slushie cocktails, tacos, warm housemade chips, salsa and guacamole.
And, after a soft opening last weekend, that’s exactly what’s coming to the patio at Merriment Social, 240 E. Pittsburgh Ave., beginning this weekend.
Welcome to the Chip's patio pop-up, where Baja beach shack meets Wisconsin patio party in a summertime extravaganza filled with cool, refreshing cocktails and mouthwatering, easy-to-eat patio fare.
Step up to the bar for Boozy Slushies like The Slush Fund (rum, raspberry, lime); Vacation Mode (rum, pineapple, coconut); or the Milwaukee Vice (half Slush Fund and half Vacation Mode), $11 each.
There’s also beer, wine, seltzer or cocktails like Liquid Courage (tequila, cointreau, lime, agave, $12); Lawn Chair Champion (gin, strawberry mint shrub, lemon, $10); or Bubble Boy (vodka or gin and lime bubbly, $9.
Then find yourself a sun-dappled seat on the Chip's patio and peruse the menu. You can order via QR code and everything you’d like will be brought out to your table.
That includes warm, crispy housemade chips and fresh guacamole ($7).
You can also order up those same warm, crunchy chips with a trio of salsas ($5). The trio of salsas, which can also be purchased separately for $1, include salsa verde with a hint of kick, a chili de arbol and tomato salsa with a bit more kick and an avocado tomatillo crema.
There is also a choice of battered walleye tacos or battered cauliflower tacos. Both come on housemade sourdough tortillas with chipotle cabbage slaw, avocado pico and lime crema for $5 each.
Of course, if you’re ordering a few tacos, you might as well get the Taco Bender (a box of four tacos for $19).
Regardless of what you decide otherwise, do not skip the delicious slabs of fresh watermelon sprinkled with tajin and served with a lime wedge ($3).
Remember, summertime in Milwaukee is amazing, but short. So soak it all in while you can.
July 5-6 mark the grand opening for Chip's with hours on Saturday, July 5 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Following this weekend, Chip's will be open Thursday through Sunday with hours on Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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.