Riley’s Bar + Burger is officially swinging open its doors at 100 E. Montana St. in Bay View beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3 (that’s today), just in time to capture a few hours of summery weather.
The new concept, which was announced in February, will be open with a limited menu for the next couple of weeks while the owners await the installation of the kitchen hood. In the interim, they’ve set up an outdoor kitchen to accommodate preparation for key menu items.
Guests are welcome to hang out on their spacious (dog friendly) patio or inside the new bar, where there will be plenty of options from draft beer to creative cocktails. We hear there are also pull-tab machines and dart boards if you’re feeling adventurous.
Drinks will be available inside at the bar or at a nifty walk-up window on the patio, and orders can be placed at kiosks or using the QR codes available at the tables.
On the temporary food menu, there will be wagyu smash burgers including their signature, “The Riley,” which comes complete with American cheese, onions, bread & butter pickles, jalapeños and Riley Sauce.
T’s Mushroom & Swiss will also be available, as will plain old smash burgers (and black bean burgers for those who would prefer). French fries are on hold for the time being, but potato chips will be available. And yes, you can get a burger or a frozen treat for your pup.
A full menu is expected to be available within the next 10 days or so. You can follow Riley’s Bar + Burger on Instagram or Riley’s Sandwich Shop & Social House on Facebook to keep up with the finer details.
Hours on Tuesday will be 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (kitchen will close at 10 p.m.). Beginning on Wednesday, hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (kitchen open until 10 p.m.) seven days a week.
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.
