Businesses everywhere are forced to operate differently – if at all – during the pandemic to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Business improvement districts (BIDs) across the state and country are doing their best to help keep small businesses in their community alive. The East Side and Downer Avenue BIDs have created web pages on how to support your favorite local businesses.

Local restaurants operate on tight margins on an everyday basis, let alone during an ever-evolving global pandemic like coronavirus (COVID-19). It's part of the reason why an increasing number of restaurants – even those who've never offered carry-out and delivery before – have begun offering take-out, delivery and curbside meal options.

A location of the chain Shred415, a gym and personal training spot in the Lower East Side, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 16 Yelp reviews.

We convened eight accomplished Milwaukee chefs for a no-holds-barred convo about the pleasures and difficulties of the industry they love. And, because we couldn’t resist the opportunity to get some insider recommendations, each shared where they go and what they order when they want a casual bite to eat.

Looking for some quick, delicious, and easy-to-digest Milwaukee restaurant news? Well, look no further. Wednesday morning at a city Licenses Committee meeting, three notable restaurants were given the green light.

Here are the 2020 restaurants we know of so far (bear in mind that projected opening dates can be delayed).

The cidery will be located on North Farwell Avenue in a building the business partners previously used for their film production business. The Purman’s chose to open the cidery in Milwaukee because of their hometown roots to the city and the direction they feel the East Side is heading.

The city will need to live without their Snack Boys fix for a few days. However, the plan thereafter is to tote Burt Reynolds and pink neon signs across town and host a grand opening in the new East Side digs at 2028 E. North Ave. on Thursday, March 19.