We've officially made it through another winter, Milwaukee.
Not only is it spring, but the Nite Owl Drive-In, 830 E. Layton Ave., has reopened its doors for the 2024 season.
And – for those who know – there's always a special sort of joy to be had in biting into that first luscious burger of the season.
It's the 76th season for the iconic spot, which serves up a menu of classic offerings including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fish dinners and all the fixins. There are also fries, onion rings, shakes, malts and sundaes ... pretty much everything you need to celebrate the spring awakening.
And if you want to learn more about this iconic Milwaukee drive-up – including why they limit the number of burgers they serve each day – listen to our conversation with owner Chris Roepke on the FoodCrush podcast!
So grab a few bucks and hightail it down to the South Side. There's a fantastic cheeseburger, fries and a big, fat slab of nostalgia waiting for you.
Nite Owl is open seasonally (spring through fall) Tuesday through Saturday from 11 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.
