Tosa Restaurant Week Highlights Hidden Gems

This Spring, the city of Wauwatosa is welcoming visitors to get a little taste of the hidden gems they have to offer with Tosa Restaurant Week.

One participant, Ono Kine Grindz, takes their open invitation one step further with their Hawaiian market and hospitality.

“The two owners Uncle Dave and Uncle Guy, they’re really nice guys,” said Ono Kine Grindz server Joshua Pantuso.

Pantuso explains that everyone in Hawaii is known as an uncle or auntie. A title that Uncle Guy and Uncle Dave lived up to when they opened their Hawaiian restaurant in Tosa.

“When we were little, we would come here with my allowance and two brothers,” said Pantuso. “We would get little snacks and little drinks. And they would spoil us and give us cakes and stuff like that.”

With frequent visits to the restaurant and open arms from the owners, Pantuso became a waiter at Ono Kine Grindz and has been there for four years.

“I hope that people get the same Ohana feeling that I get,” said Pantuso. “Everyone’s family here.”

Ono Kine Grindz’s Tosa Restaurant Week deal is a discount on their King dinner platter. The meal consists of sample size versions of everything on the menu.

“I don’t know the number, but we’ve definitely sold at least probably a hundred [King dinner platters] within the last week,” said Pantuso. “It’s been bringing a lot of people and a lot of tips for the waiters.”

Pantuso exclaims his love for the regulars that have become family, but hope the community comes out to try the unique food being offered at Ono Kine Grindz.

“What makes Hawaiian food so good, is it’s really just like a melting pot of different cultures and food,” said Pantuso. “They only had so many things to use because they were living on islands.”

Modern Hawaiian food is a fusion of Chinese, Portuguese and Taiwanese food all coming together.

“They figured out all the things that go well together,” said Pantuso. “I think that’s what makes Hawaiian food so yummy. It’s just a good mix of all those cultures.”

Lidia Perez was one of the many customers that visited the shop for Tosa Restaurant Week.

“I grew up in Tosa,” said Perez. “I had classmates who worked here, but I haven’t been here in years.”

Perez ordered the King dinner platter with her friend and was served three full plates of food that could feed at least two more people.

“I’m inviting my boyfriend over to help me finish the food,” said Perez laughing. “We really could have used a third person.”

The lunch crowd had started to pick up, especially in the kitchen. Every table was filled and had ordered the King dinner plate.

“It’s great seeing people come out for Tosa,” said Perez.

In March, Tosa Restaurant Week is returning to highlight the local food and drinks the city has to offer.

From March 13-22 there will be 19 different meal and drink deals across the Wauwatosa area. The deals will range from buy one, get one discount, to a set discounted price on specific menu items.

“It brings everybody together,” said Jared Packard, the owner of Lucky Joe’s in Tosa. “A lot of people don’t know about our place. It brings them in, and they can find something new and hopefully they become regulars.”

According to Packard, Lucky Joe’s has participated in Tosa Restaurant Week for four years and is celebrating their 10  year anniversary as an establishment this coming July.

“It’s just a fun thing for the whole village,” said Packard. “It brings everybody out and we can all showcase our stuff.”  

Just in time for St. Patty’s Day, Lucky Joe’s Restaurant Week food menu includes Reuben empanadas and Rueben rolls. They will also be offering a special on their Lucky Bomb drink which is Guiness beer complete with Tully and Ole Smokey mint chocolate chip moonshine.

“It’s kind of like a big family,” said Packard. “We take pride in our customers and food, and food brings people together.”

Tosa Restaurant Week is off to a busy start, bringing business to these local gems.

From drawing in a new crowd to bringing back familiar faces, Tosa restaurants are eager to showcase what they have to offer.

More information about Tosa Restaurant Week and participating restaurants can be found here.