Milwaukee’s newest – and possibly smallest – restaurant will open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8 in the former Bud E’s Filling Station at 2504 E. Oklahoma Ave.
SmallPie, which has been in the works since February, is the newest venture from Valeri Lucks, proprietor and chief executive pie maker for Honeypie Cafe, Palomino and PieGram, will offer easy, fast breakfast, lunch and dinner options, along with a great patio for lingering with a cup of coffee or alcoholic beverage.
A peek at the space during its soft opening this weekend revealed a bright, surprisingly spacious restaurant, complete with indoor seating for about 12 guests.
A large garage door offers a bright southern exposure, along with the option of an open-air feel for the dining room.
Meanwhile, a spacious patio surrounded by attractive landscaping and doppled with potted plants, offers a great place for folks to take in the all-too-short Milwaukee summer.
SmallPies and more
In keeping with its name, pie will be a feature for the new counter service spot which will offer a rotating selection of seasonal handpies in both sweet and savory varieties like peach, Wisconsin cheeseburger and Cubano ($5-6).
Sweet Smallpies (mini sized) will also be available for $7-8 each.
Other offerings include seasonal salads ($3-6) and a selection of sweet and savory baked goods like giant triple threat chocolate cookies ($4), savory focaccia bread ($4) and house-made New York style bagels, served with house spreads like three-year cheddar beer cheese, herbed cream cheese, fruit jam and orange honey butter ($3 each, plus $1 for spread). There will also be yogurt and housemade granola bowls ($8), monkey bread ($6) and a variety of other freshly baked items.
Those can be enjoyed with steaming hot cups of Anodyne "Pie Blend" coffee or refreshing Anodyne cold brew or Pilcrow sweet and creamy nitro cold brew. There’s also tea, juices and a variety of sodas available, along with beer, canned wine and cocktails. (Think classics like bloody marys, old fashioneds and patio-appropriate sips like the "Light and Stormy" with Twisted Path light rum, lime and Wisco Pop ginger ale.)
Meanwhile, ice cream will be sold by the scoop ($2.50), in ice cream floats ($6) and alongside warm pie or brownies ($7).
Starting Wednesday, SmallPie will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 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.
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