CityTins, the iconic giftable tin of coaster-style restaurant vouchers, is teaming up with former Milwaukee restaurateurs Joe and Angie Sorge to curate a new Dallas edition for 2026.

If you live in Milwaukee, you're likely familiar with CityTins, the giftable collection of artful, coaster-shaped gift cards (packaged in an attractive tin) which can be redeemed at participating local restaurants for $10 off a $30 tab. The tin retails for $30 and is valid for a full calendar year.

Even more compelling, it’s a woman-owned company that was founded in 2009 by Tara Laatsch and Christin Cilento, partners whose goal has always been to offer local, independent restaurants a unique way to effectively market their businesses.

Over the course of 15 years, CityTins has not only become an iconic Milwaukee brand, but has expanded to include tins for restaurants in Madison, Lake Country, Fox Cities and Ozaukee County along with Illinois and Minnesota. 

This year, the locally owned company will be expanding its reach the furthest distance ever by partnering with former Hospitality Democracy owners and current owners of Sidework consulting, Joe and Angie Sorge to launch a Dallas, Texas CityTin for 2026.

For founders Tara Laatsch and Christin Cilento, it's the latest chapter in a Milwaukee-born brand that’s become synonymous with supporting independent restaurants.

Boosting local

In many ways, it’s a full circle moment for the Sorges, who were among the inaugural restaurants that signed up for the very first CityTin.

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“When we started CityTins in 2009, restaurants including Hollander and Centraal from Diablos Rojos [now Lowlands] and AJ Bombers, Swig and Water Buffalo from Hospitality Democracy [now part of Benson’s Restaurant Group] were the first to sign on and their participation made it easier to get others to agree to participate.” 

Angie says that the coasters were an opportunity to show off everything they did best.

“Being in the tin was like being in the ‘Who’s Who’ of restaurants,” says Angie. “Not only were we included in a really great group of restaurants, but it was effective in bringing people through the door. Whenever someone came to one of our restaurants, it was such a great opportunity. We got to treat them well, feed them well and, if all went well, we’d have a new customer. We had a great time with it, and it was so successful.”

The CityTins were so successful that the Sorges participated in the promotion year after year.

“It became a joke between us,” says Joe. “We had so many redeemed coasters that we’d collected over the course of the year. The exposure is so incredible. People love using them because they really support restaurants and using the $10 coaster feels like using a $10 gift card.” 

From MKE to Dallas

Laatsch says that it was back in January, when they were planning out the year for CityTins, that she thought of reaching out to the Sorges.

“I was online and Joe Sorge’s profile came across my feed,” she says. “I started thinking about him and what a great supporter he’d been. Ultimately, we decided we should reach out.” 

They proposed the idea of a CityTin for Dallas, Texas, a market where local restaurants comprise between 40-50% of the market (the remainder being corporate restaurants and chains).

“As we discussed it, our first reaction was ‘Wow this would be fun. We’d love to do that,’” says Joe. “The really remarkable thing about this interaction is that this wasn't the first time we'd considered this. Collaborating with Christin and Tara to create CityTins for other cities was an idea that we’d put on the list of ‘Things We Could Do’ that we created for ourselves in 2018 when we decided to leave the restaurant world and move to another market.”

As they discussed how to approach curating the Dallas tin, they decided that it should focus on approachability, composed of a mix of exceptional eateries that represent the local restaurant scene.

In the end, restaurants in the Dallas tin will range from hip downtown spots like Billy Can Can to hidden gems in up-and-coming neighborhoods, curated with the same indie spirit that fueled Milwaukee’s first edition.

“As we got into this, we found it to be really energizing,” says Joe. “We’re dealing directly with operators and we can talk to them on their levels and tell them how this worked for us when we were operating restaurants in Milwaukee.” 

They also made unexpected connections through chefs they’d worked with in Milwaukee who had also been notable influences on the scene in Dallas.

“When we approached the owner of Billy Can Can [a steakhouse and saloon in Dallas], we found that we had a mutual connection to Chef Kenneth Hardiman, who had worked in the Dallas area before moving up to Milwaukee and becoming executive chef for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was able to vouch for us to a variety of restaurants here and assure people that we were trustworthy and good to work with.”

Cilento nods, noting that at its core, CityTins is about creating relationships. But it’s not always easy to find partners in other markets that are as easy to work with as the Sorges.

“When you work with Joe & Angie, it’s a great experience,” she says. “Like us, they believe in helping local restaurants. They’re so generous and they’re just good human beings. It’s been so great working with them.” 

Joe says the feeling is mutual.

‘We’ve always loved working with Christin and Tara,” says Joe.  “We’ve always been able to be authentic and transparent with them. They always say that you should choose your business partners like you choose your own spouse. This is another great example of how that works.”

The Dallas CityTin

The Sorges are currently wrapping up the curation for the Dallas tin, which will go to print soon. Dallas eateries interested in being part of the debut CityTin are encouraged to reach out through CityTins Dallas.

The Dallas CityTin will debut in October of 2025 and the coasters will be valid through Dec. 31, 2026. Tins will be available for purchase online as well as in restaurants and independently owned shops in Dallas and the surrounding area.