Temple Goddess Cafe, the plant-based concept that introduced its internationally-inspired menu to Milwaukee through venues including Crossroads Collective, has found a new brick and mortar home at 1978 N. Farwell Ave.
That’s the former site of The Lafayette Place, as well as other popular plant-based restaurants like Celesta, Jou Nai Fouquet and Abu’s Jerusalem of the Gold.
What to expect
Owners Gregory Cilmi and Evanthia Savva have already begun the transformation of the space. The hope is for a grand opening on Sunday, June 1.
When Temple Goddess Cafe reopens, guests can look forward to a vibrant, delicious new dining experience with a core focus on comfort foods made with simple, organic and non-GMO’d ingredients. In addition to plant-based dishes, Cilmi and Savva are committed to a primarily gluten-free menu.
Dishes at the new restaurant will continue to be inspired by Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian/Asian and American fusion cuisines and the restaurant’s sourcing will still be focused on ingredients from local farms whenever possible.
"Crossroads was an incubator,” notes Gregory Cilmi, co-owner of Temple Goddess Café. “Like all birds in a nest, sometimes the little bird needs to be challenged to learn to stretch its wings and fly. It took a moment to let the initial shock wear off, but we are ready to accept that challenge and soar in our own dedicated space.”
Savva agreed. "To all the wonderful friends and patrons we have come to know over the past 15 months, and to those we have yet to meet, we look forward to bringing you some new and exciting menu options in a very chill, Zen-like atmosphere.”
Once open, Temple Goddess Cafe will serve breakfast lunch and dinner six days a week with hours Sunday through Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Closed on Wednesdays).
For more information on the opening, keep your eyes on OnMilwaukee. You can also check out the Temple Goddess website at templegoddess.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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.
