Since opening in 2019, Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel has become one of the buzziest destinations Downtown. In the heart of the Milwaukee Theater District, the hotel’s lobby bar is a happening spot every night of the week, and its second-floor fine dining restaurant has become a foodie hot spot. For the past year, Executive Chef Heskeith Flavien has been leading a revamp of the hotel’s menus, launching delicious new dishes, preserving old favorites and keeping Saint Kate a cornerstone of the Downtown dining scene.
This revamp has brought new dishes to the menu, while classics like the Big Boy Burger have remained. Could you share some of the changes?
One major change is adding sushi. When we were talking about this, everyone agreed, “If we’re going to do sushi, we’re going to do it the best possible way.” So, we brought in Tou Vang, a sushi chef with over 20 years of experience, and collaborated with him to create this menu. His experience with sushi flavor profiles and ingredients really complemented my knowledge of seafood. The sushi menu we have now uses the highest-quality ingredients and is delicious. Our big goal with this menu was to create something approachable yet elevated, with only the best ingredients.
What’s your favorite dish at Saint Kate?
I’m from the Caribbean, so I’m always going to choose seafood. We have a Mediterranean sea bass served in a rich broth with onions, capers, saffron, tomatoes and garlic. It’s simple and rustic, but at the same time unique and full-flavored.
Saint Kate has multiple dining and drink options, and they always seem to be buzzing. What do you think makes the spot so popular?
It’s such a unique property in such a great location. Right in the Theater District, it’s perfect for dinner before a show, there’s always something to see in the art galleries, and our restaurants are also each unique in themselves. I also think it’s our hospitality philosophy that keeps everyone coming back. We take care of our people – our staff, our customers, our guests.
