Gyro MKE, a new concept specializing in fresh fast-casual Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare, is slated to open as early as March at 700 W. Wisconsin Ave.
The restaurant will serve a variety of items including gyros, shawarma, falafel, kebabs and beef, and a variety of Mediterranean salads (priced $6-10). There will also be build-your-own options allowing guests to choose a base of pita, rice or salad. From there, they can add customized proteins and toppings.
All dishes will be made fresh in-house, including the venue’s shawarma, which features seasoned chicken or steak that’s layered onto a spit and grilled via rotisserie.
The forthcoming restaurant is owned by Omar Amin, who also operates BB's (Build-a-Breakfast/Build-a-Burger), which opened in 2014 at 633 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Amin says the location for Gyro MKE was serendipitous.
"My attraction to Wisconsin Ave stems from an old experience when my father used to bring me to the Grand Avenue Mall during its heyday," notes Amin. "I was just a child but the memory of this street being the go-to destination and the hustle and bustle is imprinted in my mind.
"So when I decided to finally follow my dreams four years ago and open a restaurant I decided to open here on Wisconsin Ave to try and bring some life back to the street. I believe it was destiny for me to be here. So when the space in Library Hill became available I felt that destiny is calling again and decided to try my new concept, Gyro MKE."
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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