Peter Sciortino's Bakery
Sciortino's is a long-standing highlight of the Brady St. neighborhood. I like to walk by just for the smell of the place...inside they have a great variety of Italian breads, cookies and other treasures like cannoli and tiramisu. I only wish there were more places like this in Milwaukee! more
Brady Street
This street extends east-west between Van Buren and Prospect, forming the northern tip of the East Side. The Italian roots of this area area still show today with an Italian deli/grocery (Glorioso's), a bakery (Sciortino's), and great restaurants/coffeeshops lining both sides of the street.
In the summer there is hardly a better place to be in Milwaukee. Harley enthusiasts parade up and down the street on their sparkling bikes, while the poets and literary crowd sip espresso on the staircase outside of Rochambo or on little tables at Anodyne.
The crowd is often described as "bohemian" but on a typical day you see folks from all places, all social classes, walking up and down the sidewalks and enjoying the atmosphere. more
Roots
Roots is a new addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene, offering a unique cuisine which comes from local farms and producers...a "farm to table" concept which brings the best of Wisconsin agriculture to a classy, modern, high-end restaurant.
The building itself is also impressive...it's located on Brewers Hill and has a fantastic view of the Milwaukee skyline.
Be sure to call for reservations...evenings are always busy and they are often closed for private parties. more
McBob's Pub & Grill
McBob's is a great Milwaukee find. An informal bar setting that has excellent service and great food. Monday's and Wednesday's you can build your own personal pizza. Friday's as well as Wednesday's features excellent perch and cod fish fry with potatoe pancakes. (Fish Fry's are extreemly popular in Wisconsin). However, McBob's signature item has to be their taco's. That's right, an Irish Bar that serves excellent taco's. They're large, tastey and only served on Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's. McBob's has a lot to offer, they're even open for breakfast on the weekends. more
Northern Chocolate Company
A small chocolate shop in the up-and-coming Brewers Hill neighborhood with an eccentric owner! You can find some of the BEST chocoloate in Milwaukee - (the peanut butter meltaways are my favorites) but you have to get in the door first!
Ring the doorbell to be admitted to the store. Once inside, you will be sure to have a conversation with the owner. Getting into political debates with him or wearing fur are two easy ways to get kicked out! more
Café Lulu
They took a run-down George Webb's burger joint and turned it into something fantastic. In the up-and-coming Bay View area on Milwaukee's south side, this cafe/bar has become a favorite hangout.
It has a kind of 1950s kitch feel to it...lots of great dinner salads and hot sandwiches are on the menu. The crowd is a definite mix of motorcycle enthusiasts, artists, musicians, and everyday-joe people getting together to enjoy some decent food! more
Pumuckel's Wurst Haus
Sprechen sie deutsch? Pumuckel's Wurst Haus located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a small meat butcher just west of the main city. A favorite of mine for years, Pumuckel's has always treated it's customers with kind respect and a thick German tongue. Many times I've been the only non-German speaking person in the shop, only to be kindly greeted with a Hello by the lady behind the counter. All meats made and prepared on site are wonderful. In a hurry, catch a quick sandwich to go for lunch. In a city with great German heritage, Pumuckel's authenticity is unmatched. more
La Fuente
La Fuente is one of several great Mexican restaurants located in the Walker's Point neighborhood on the near south side of town. The quality of the food here is good, and an evening out on their huge outdoor patio in the summer with a couple of margaritas can't be beat.
Aside from the typical fare, I especially recommend the shrimp soup with lime juice.
Don't worry about reservations, but expect a crowd after 6 PM on weekends. They have a designated parking lot for their customers...watch for the signs when you turn onto 5th Street. more
Benji's Deli and Restaurant
The home of Milwaukee's best corned beef sandwich, Benji's is one of my personal favorites. They have a great selection of meats--sausages, corned beef, deli meat--and make a mean hoppel-poppel for breakfast.
Outside of the incredible list of deli sandwiches (try the Reuben!!), the menu features matzo ball soup, borscht, and lox. They do catering and party platters also.
It's a cozy place that is frequented by locals...the waitstaff know all the regulars by name. To top everything off, you can stop next door at Baskin Robin's for dessert. more
Moceans
An elegant seafood restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee, Moceans was a first-class treat. I visited on a Saturday night and very much enjoyed the classy atmosphere, excellent live jazz, and some of the most professional service in the city.
The food was top-notch. My hashbrown encrusted grouper with crème fraîche and caviar was fantastic...paired with a crisp Pouilly-Fuissé. The winelist is extensive, though a bit overpriced when compared to similar restaurants in the area.
Make your reservations in advance...it fills up quickly on weekends. more
Rochambo
A great laid-back coffee shop in the heart of Milwaukee's Brady Street "bohemian" strip. They sell a wide variety of coffee drinks and teas, beers, and cigarettes. The posters on the wall are worth a visit to check out...and in the summertime it can be entertaining just to hang out by the stairs out front and watch people go by. Brady Street seems to attract some pretty interesting characters.
The coffee shop was renovated in 2004 and is a great place to hang out, read, and relax. There are poetry readings on Sunday nights. more
Sol Fire
Sol Fire, as the name implies, is a Latin-American themed lounge/restaurant on Milwaukee's East Side. Outside of the outstanding mojitos and Caipiranhas from the bar, the food is a great diversion from the daily grind.
Favorites from the restaurant include Moqueca (a Brazilian seafood stew) and the carmelized plantains appetizer. My favorite dessert here is a dense chocolate cake which has a tiny bit of pepper baked in. It really gives an interesting finish between the sweetness of the chocolate and the bite of the hot peppers.
If you go in the summertime, be sure to get a table on the terrace...there is nothing better than sitting outside on a hot summer night drinking a couple mojitos with some friends. more
Jacques French Café
One of the few *REAL* French places in town, Jacques' Café is an excellent place to get some authentic French favorites at a good price. Jacques is from Montpelier, and enjoys talking to the regulars.
They have a bakery and deli counter available if you want to take home some bread or cheese, a coffee bar (with an outstanding espresso blend custom roasted for Jacques by Anodyne Coffee) and the traditional French favorites like crèpes, bouillabaisse, salade niçoise, and the ubiquitous croque monsieur.
It's a fun place to go at night too...there is live music (last time we were there we heard an assortment of acoustic Francis Cabrel hits). The 3rd weekend of November is the Beaujolais Nouveau celebration which is also a good time...even if you don't like Beaujolais. more
Bacchus
Bacchus is a stylish restaurant located in the Cudahy Tower, overlooking Lake Michigan...a part of the Milwaukee skyline since 1929. The restaurant opened in 2004 to great fanfare, the latest addition to the Bartolotta family's series of outstanding Milwaukee dining spots. It's class, class, class.
My personal favorites are the free-range Amish chicken with summer vegetables and herb jus ($18.50) and the Filet of Beef with butter whipped potatoes and cabernet wine sauce ($30.00). For dessert, don't miss the incredible “Caribe” Chocolate Tart made with Valrhona chocolate (a French favorite rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic).
If you're looking for a classy night out, or just a couple of martinis, this is the place. more
Hooligans Super Bar
The best bar food (burgers, sandwiches, etc.) and a great place to hang out and watch a game. TVs on both levels and very friendly staff make this one of my favorite drinking establishments on North Ave. In the summer a patio is open on the sidewalk outside which is great for a couple of drinks or dinner. more
Watermark
A fantastic addition right off of Brady Street, this is hands-down the best seafood restaurant in Milwaukee. Fresh fish is flown in daily and the staff here really know the details about what goes on in the kitchen. Our waiter (Steve) stood up spectacularly to our intense grilling about the origin of the fish and how it was prepared.
The menu shows both the types of fish available that day, along with different preparations. The presentation is excellent, and the portions are human-sized. Try the red grouper if it's in season - you won't be disappointed! more
Elliot's Bistro
One of my favorites, just north of North Avenue. Chef Pierre Briere, originally from Normandy, prepares some excellent French specialties that change regions with the seasons.
I especially like going there for brunch on the weekends, but the cuisine is fantastic any time of the day. On Wednesday nights Pierre does a "table d'hôte" (Host's Table)...for a fixed price he and his staff will prepare a complete 3-course dinner for you and your friends. It's a great way to learn more about the food, how it is prepared, and a chance to try some delicious specialties from every region in France.
Pierre also does cooking classes, check his website for the latest schedule. more
The Social
The Social is a small south-side bar/restaurant with a laid-back feel. The menu is small but very well done, with a variety of choices ranging from Duck Confit to Wisconsin Macaroni and Cheese made with goat cheese and rosemary.
The food is fantastic and the chefs use local products (including cheeses from the region) in all of the dishes. more
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