Year after year, Maxie's, 6732 W. Fairview Ave., has been one of Milwaukee's favorite places to celebrate both Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. In recent years, they’ve even expanded the celebration by hosting a full weekend of New Orleans-inspired dining. This year will be no exception.
Guests are invited to revel in the spirit of carnival season by indulging in a special Mardi Gras menu which will be available Friday through Satuday, Feb. 27 through March 1 as well as Monday March 3 (Lundi Gras) and March 4 (Fat Tuesday). Reservations are highly recommended and can be made online.
Highlights of this year's menu include crawfish etouffee; blackened catfish; Jambalaya "Me-Oh-My-Ah"; shrimp and scallop fricassee; classic beignets and signature Mardi Gras cocktails (Hurricanes, Sazeracs and more).
There will also be shareable muffuletta or blackened chicken party sandwiches (served with fries).
“It’s a thrill every year to embrace the spirit of Mardi Gras and capture the vibrant flavors and good vibes of New Orleans,” notes Dan Sidner, Maxie’s co-owner. “At Maxie’s every night is a party, but the Mardi Gras menu and celebration really turns the fun up and makes the restaurant feel like an extension of Bourbon Street.”
Get the party started
Visit Maxie's on Feb. 27 or Feb. 28 and you can enjoy the special Mardi Gras menu from 4 to 9 p.m. On March 1st, you can do the same while enjoying plenty of mood music thanks to roaming NOLA-inspired musicians, who will perform throughout the restaurant.
On Lundi Gras (March 3), all those delicious eats will be available from 4 to 9 p.m. and accompanied by the stylin’s of the Extra Crispy Brass Band, which will perform in Maxie's outdoor heated party tent (equipped with a bar) from 5 to 9 p.m. Note: No reservations are needed for the party tent.
Meanwhile, on Fat Tuesday (March 4), the party starts in earnest. Maxie’s will open early – at 3 p.m. – serving the full Mardi Gras menu. And, once again, members of the Extra Crispy Brass Band will be performing outside in the heated party tent from 5 to 9 p.m. Again, no reservations are needed for the party tent, which also includes an outdoor bar.
Reservations for dining during the Mardi Gras celebration are strongly recommended and can be made online or by phone at (414) 292-3969. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Celebrate at home
For those who wish to party at home for Mardi Gras, Maxie’s online catering store will also feature a special Mardi Gras Party Box, featuring shrimp and crawfish etouffee casserole; pimento mac & cheese; warm tasso ham and spinach dip; and garlic French bread (feeds four to five for $90). Hurricane cocktail kits and king cakes will also be available for purchase.
Orders for party boxes can be placed online (deadline is Thursday, Feb. 27).
Details to note
Guests should be aware that items from Maxie's regular menu may not be available during their special Mardi Gras celebration.
Maxie’s Happy Hour, featuring “Buck Off!” drinks and $1 freshly shucked oysters will be available on Thursday, Feb. 27, Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. However, happy hour will not be offered on March 3 (Lundi Gras) or March 4 (Mardi Gras).
Maxie’s will also be foregoing its usual fish fry on Friday, Feb. 28; but they will bring it back on Wednesday, March 5 for Ash Wednesday and every Friday from there on out.
Feel free to follow along with the party at Maxie's on Instagram @maxiessouthern or Facebook /maxiesmke or tag them with your favorite Mardi Gras shots.
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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