Beginning today, La Fuente’s Milwaukee location at 625 S. 5th St., will be closed for regular business. Instead owner Jose Zarate will be using the building, which he purchased in 1983, as a special event space.
Two anonymous sources told OnMilwaukee the changes were coming. But an official announcement made late yesterday on the restaurant's Facebook page confirmed the news:
"La Fuente at 625 S. 5th will only be open for banquet hall rentals and large party events starting Nov. 26th. We can provide buffet options or just a great space for any occasion with plenty of parking."
La Fuente has been serving Mexican fare and some of the city's best margaritas since the mid '90s. In 2015, Zarate made numerous upgrades to the space, giving the restaurant a refreshed look and feel.
The news about the Walker's Point location follows on the heels of Zarate’s decision to close the restaurant’s Waukesha location, which was at 2423 Kossow Rd.
A phone call this afternoon confirmed that the La Fuente restaurant in Wauwatosa, 9155 W. Bluemound Rd., will remain open. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Guests interested in reserving the 5th Street location for parties can call (414) 771-9900 for additional information.
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.
