Comet Cafe on Milwaukee's East Side is Back Open Since Closing in 2020
A Comet Cafe burger. (Picture by Liyah Sumner/Carvd N Stone)
Comet Cafe, an East Side Milwaukee restaurant located at 1947 N. Farwell Ave., closed it’s doors during summer 2020 with no date of return until Pie Inc. bought the establishment. Comet Cafe re-opened just a few days ago on June 9, 2022.
Before the opening, the restaurant had to be cleaned and certain equipment needed to be replaced. According to Valeri Lucks of Pie Inc, Comet’s last remodel was in 2008; PIE inc. is a restaurant group led by Lucks that operates Honeypie, and other businesses.
Even with the small changes, Comet’s comfort food hasn’t changed much like its homemade meatloaf with mashed potatoes. A few new menu items include vegan chili cheese fries and a fried chicken sandwich.
“The love that people have for it…it’s been such a fixture on the East Side,” said Lucks. “It’s wonderful to have people back in there.”
Lucks said the restaurant will go back to sourcing food locally.
Comet Cafe is located at 1947 N. Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee. (Picture by Liyah Sumner/Carvd N Stone)
2022 marks 27 years of Comet which started as a coffee shop that offered sandwiches in 1995. In 2005, Comet expanded into a full bar with a diner menu through a partnership with PIE Inc. Lucks and her brother Adam partnered with the cafe for 10 years where they helped bring the restaurant to what it is today.
Comet was previously owned by Mojofuco Restaurants. Lucks took over in late 2021 with her now business partner Derek Petersen, the executive chef for PIE Inc.
“We have a lot of love for it,” said Lucks. “We get up everyday because we just want to provide something special.”
Comet Cafe is temporally limiting its hours, along with offering a smaller menu because of staff shortages. Guest can expect the patio to open within a few weeks.
The kitchen is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m CST, Wednesday to Sunday, and the bar is open until 5 p.m. CST