By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Oct 16, 2023 at 1:03 PM

’Tis Dining Month, the tastiest time of year! This means we’re dishing up fun and fascinating food content throughout October. Dig in, Milwaukee! OnMilwaukee Dining Month is served up by Educators Credit Union and Potawatomi Casino Hotel

In celebration of its first anniversary, The Bridgewater Modern Grill will be hosting a spooky season celebration, complete with food and drink specials, Halloween movies and access to their playfully petrifying riverfront patio.

During Riverfront Frights & Fun, which takes place Friday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Oct. 22, guests can take a season on The Bridgewater’s frightsome patio, which will be all dressed up in ghostly decor, and enjoy a variety of spooky cocktails from the Bloody Sour and Midnight Blackberry Smash to Harvest Cider spiked with Limousin Rye.

But that’s not all.

On both Friday and Saturday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m., The Bridgewater will host patio-side showings of family-friendly Halloween movies on a big screen. There will also be live music on Saturday and Sunday during Bridgewater’s weekend brunch service.

All weekend long, guests can also enjoy special prix-fixe, three course harvest menus featuring a choice of

  1. Caesar salad or potato leek soup
  2. Cabernet braised short rib with grilled mushroom and potato puree; or shrimp and yellow corn grits with tasso ham creole sauce
  3. Pumpkin cheesecake with toasted pumpkin seed crumb or flourless chocolate cake with toasted hazelnuts and whipped cream 

The menus will be available for $61 (short rib) or $56 (shrimp).

“We owe this first year of incredible success to our amazing customers, neighbors and staff,” said Rik Acken, general manager of The Bridgewater Modern Grill in an announcement about the celebration.

“It was a fantastic fall evening on our opening night last year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the community back to celebrate with us and enjoy the sounds, sights and tastes of fall and Halloween. There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a specialty cocktail, firepit and movie on the longest riverfront patio in the area.”

The Bridgewater Modern Grill is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.