Curley’s Restaurant

745 Main Street

Belgium, Wisconsin 53004

262-285-3100

888-2CURLEYS

www.curleysrestaurant.com                

A review by By Dennis Getto, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Dining Critic

    Curley’s Restaurant in Belgium, Wisconsin, is a place that all Luxembourg Americans and enthusiasts about Luxembourg need to visit.  The restaurant opened in June 2006 in the renovated old “Belgium House” building dating back to the 1880s.  Owner Afla Irani has created an incredible dining experience in an environment of Luxembourg heritage and culture.

    Curley’s includes a sports bar, dining room and banquet room with bar.  The restaurant is filled with old photographs and memorabilia reflecting Luxembourg heritage, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the seven Luxembourg settlements of northern Ozaukee County:  Belgium, Dacada, Fredonia, Holy Cross, Lake Church, Port Washington, and Waubeka.  One area of the restaurant pays tribute to four generations of Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family. 

     The restaurant has a wide variety of moderately priced appetizers, entrees, and desserts on its menu.  It offers Sunday brunch, a full service bar, and a banquet/party room in a great family friendly atmosphere.  Check out the restaurants website at: www.curleysrestaurant.com. 

Curley's Restaurant Photo Album

Front Entrance	Curley's Restaurant Sports Bar
Banquet Hall	Dining Room
Display of historic Luxembourg American artifacts and memorabilia	Historic images and photographs of Luxembourg and Belgium, Wisconsin area

The History of the Building

      The building was built on this site in 1887 by J. B. Krier, the son of a Luxembourg immigrant, and was known as the Belgium House.  It served as a saloon for locals and boarding house for travelers passing through northern Ozaukee County.  In 1900, J. B. Krier sold the Belgium House to his brother-in-law Nick Hubing.  Hubing operated the saloon business along with a general store which is now the location of our current banquet hall.  For many years the general store was known as Hubing & Hames reflecting the partnership between Hubing and his brother-in-law, Conrad     Hames.

     Curley Peiffer subsequently operated the saloon property as Curley’s Tavern from the 1940s until he retired in 1969.  The boarding house rooms upstairs were converted to apartments.  Curley and his family lived in one apartment and Ray and Margaret Hubing (operators of the Hubing & Hames grocery store) lived in the other.

     Curley ultimately became one of the “unofficial” social directors and characters of Belgium in his day.  He was known for his hospitality and free-spirit.  He organized many bus trips to Milwaukee Braves and Packer games.  During the holidays, he turned the parking area into a full-fledged Christmas tree lot, complete with traditional light bulb strings and hand-painted signs beckoning patrons to get into the holiday spirit.

      Today, this restaurant carries his name forward and honors him and his family for bringing Luxembourger good will and cheer to the community for so many years.