Milwaukee
Milwaukee
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Milwaukee
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Post #1 - January 18th, 2007, 10:12 pmCan someone recommend a place to eat in downtown Milwaukee?
My wife is a ovalactose(sp?) vegetarian (milk products and eggs are ok). I'll eat anything.
I would be nice to get something unique to Milwaukee, but I'll settle for a nice place that has stuff for my wife (but it's my birthday!).
Thanks
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Post #2 - January 19th, 2007, 8:03 amUnfortunately, Milwaukee is not known for it's culinary scene.
It doesn't get more authentic than Mader's - an old school German restaurant which serves plenty of suasages from Usinger's - located across the street.
I realize, of course, this would not fit with your wife's vegetarian diet.
Which is OK since I thought Mader's is horribly overated and overpriced.
Sorry, I got nuthin'
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Post #3 - January 19th, 2007, 9:12 amHow loose will you define downtown?
I'm a big fan of Coquette, a Frenchy bistro, just south of the actual downtown in the Soho of Milwaukee, the Old Third Ward. I believe there will be vegetarian friendly dishes as well.Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.
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Post #4 - January 19th, 2007, 11:41 amThank goodness she likes cheese - she should be okay in Milwaukee. Oh, and beer, too. She'll be fine.
When we were in Milwaukee a couple years ago I forget where we ate - it was good but not memorable. My wife, who you know Curry71, might remember the name.
However, one joint that I wish we had checked out was Safe House - a spy-themed restaurant. Yes, that's right - a restaurant with a spy theme. See a review of the place here:
http://www.milwaukee.com/attractions/
I'm sure they have some cheese. And beer. She'll be fine.
Safe House
779 N. Front Street
Milwaukee
P.S. - bring back some New Glarus, please
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Post #5 - January 19th, 2007, 2:41 pmMilwaukee is one of my favorite places to eat in the Midwest -- the food won't wow as much as here in Chicago, but I love the fact that lurking on every street corner may be a humble, unexpected gem. I tend to do more neighborhood than downtown eating, but I do hear good things about the Social, which is right outside of downtown on the outskirts of the Third Ward:
http://www.the-social.com/menu.html#dinner
Other Milwaukee favorites:
Fine dining: Sanford, 1547 N. Jackson
Inventive Mexican: Cempazuchi, 1205 E. Brady St.
Eclectic drinks/dining & a year-round patio: Trocadero, 1758 N. Water St.
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Post #6 - January 19th, 2007, 3:22 pmWhen we were in Milwaukee, we really liked Sauce (which got very mixed reviews from several people). Our food was great and their menu is posted on their website. One place to definitely STAY AWAY FROM - Coast. Not worth the price of admission.
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Post #7 - January 19th, 2007, 5:54 pmThree Brothers is one of the true Milwaukee gems and considered to be one of it's most beloved ethnic restaurants. Branko, his wife, son, and daughter make you feel as if you were eating dinner at home with family. It's my favorite Milwaukee restaurant. I recommend the over stuffed spinach and cheese burek with a Serbian salad. The restaurant is 5 minutes south of downtown and worth the drive. Non smoking. No credit cards. Reservations required.
Three Brothers Restaurant
2414 S. St Clair St
Milwaukee
(414) 481-7530
Born & raised in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin-southwest shores of Lake Michigan
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Post #8 - January 19th, 2007, 6:58 pmI suggest that you try this website "http://www.onwisconsin.com/dining/". I am sure that you will find exactly what you are looking for. Also, because of your dietary concerns, I would suggest that you look into Dancing Ganesha, which is several blocks north of downtown, on Van Buren. Have fun and enjoy Downtown Milwaukee
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Post #9 - January 19th, 2007, 7:20 pmChgoMike wrote:
However, one joint that I wish we had checked out was Safe House - a spy-themed restaurant. Yes, that's right - a restaurant with a spy theme. See a review of the place here:
http://www.milwaukee.com/attractions/
I'm sure they have some cheese. And beer. She'll be fine.
Safe House
779 N. Front Street
Milwaukee
Totally overated in my opinion.
The concept is much cooler than the execution.
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Post #10 - January 22nd, 2007, 11:44 amSuch a timely topic. BF and I are headed up to Mil-ee-wal-kay (algonquin for the good earth, or so sayeth Alice Cooper) this weekend and are looking for eats.
I've heard similarly about Safe House and the food being so-so. I was wondering for those of you who have been, would it be okay just to have a drink at the bar?
Also, what is the trick for getting in? I don't want to make a fool of myself with the entire bar watching on closed circuit TV.
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Post #11 - January 22nd, 2007, 1:50 pmGG, experience a true Milwaukee Saturday night with an extremely thin crust pizza at Zafirro's and a night of drinking and live music at Art Altenburg's Concertina Bar. This is pure grassroots Milwaukee at it's finest. Unfortunately, At Random, an atomic mid 60's, dimly lit, smokey bar, serving the fabulous alcoholic and non-alcoholic ice cream drinks(10 page menu) is closed for vacation.
Zafirro's Pizza
1724 N. Farwell
Milwaukee
(414) 289-8776
Art Altenburg's Concertina Bar
1920 S. 37th Street
Milwaukee
(414) 384-2580 call to be sure they're open
http://www.artsconcertinabar.com
At Random
2501 S. Delaware
Milwaukee
(414) 481-8030
http://www.planet99.com/milwaukee/bars/14116.html
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Post #12 - January 22nd, 2007, 3:08 pmLet me second Coquette. My wife and I have been a number of times and always enjoyed both the food and the scene. There are veggie items on the menu.
Afterwards, go to Leon's for a custard--like, totally ovo-lactic. : )
GeoSooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick!
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Post #13 - January 22nd, 2007, 3:37 pmCSD, that sounds right up our alley. We're going to be coming off the Miller tour (not that we plan on overindulging at that point, but we will be casual). Concertina Bar sounds perfect for the pentultimate MIL experience. Thanks for the suggestions
Oh and according to my pals who have been to Safe House over the years quite a bit, they say the trick to getting in is the word "CONTROL" and also, you can pull a lever on a cash register
and a door will swing open.
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Post #14 - January 22nd, 2007, 4:55 pmI'm not familiar enough with the area to suggest an alternative, but we stopped at Safe House a while back and wished we hadn't. It's well past its prime which, I understand, was sometime in the eighties.
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Post #15 - January 22nd, 2007, 8:00 pmPaul SL wrote:I'm not familiar enough with the area to suggest an alternative, but we stopped at Safe House a while back and wished we hadn't. It's well past its prime which, I understand, was sometime in the eighties.
Agreed.
We weren't even asked to recite the secret password or do anything goofy to gain entrance. In fact, I think the "secret door" was propped open when we arrived. There are much cooler places in Chicago.
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Post #16 - January 22nd, 2007, 8:15 pmI've only ever been to Safe House for drinks. They're happy to let you wander around and check out the espionage memorabilia. I never seriously considered eating there.
Consider Soup Brothers for homemade soups and breads.
Soup Brothers
209 W. Florida St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 270-1040
On the East Side, Koppas Fulbeli Deli has never disappointed me or anyone I know. Fantastic sandwiches and a fun store to walk around while your food is made. Additionally, I'm particularly fond of the homemade Hot! Hot! Hungarian sausage.
1940 N. Farwell Ave.
MILWAUKEE, WI 53202
414-273-1273
The Sprecher brewery tour isn't bad at all.
BrendanR
MSOE grad
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Post #17 - January 23rd, 2007, 4:08 pmI've been meaning to come back and say something about the Safe House.
I've been there with my kidz. On that level, it can be fun. Is it cool in the way, say the Berghoff is cool, well no, but it's fun in its own way nonetheless. Think of it as an outtake from Austin Powers. I find it worth a visit if in downtown Milwaukee, especially if you like a bit of camp.
I've tried the Buffalo chicken strips, surprisingly not bad.Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.
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Post #18 - January 23rd, 2007, 4:55 pmI'll put in a good word for Coquette, too, which we thoroughly enjoyed, though, gosh, 4 years ago now. That part of my long ago review on Milwaukee is bolded below.
I would highly recommend skipping the Safe House entirely. Perhaps on my list of most-disappointing attractions ever. Just dumb, in my opinion. I think we each got a beer (you couldn't even get very good drinks, if I recall correctly), walked around, looked at the stuff, put our half empty beers down and left. And we NEVER leave half empty beers, but we really wanted to get out of that place. Looking back, it's hard to imagine how we could have thought as poorly of it as we did. I dunno, but I would not recommend it.
In January 2003 I wrote wrote:Thanks, all, for the suggestions which led to a memorable trip, memorable food, and a host of places to try on our next visit to the Cream City.
We arrived in Milwaukee at around 10 on Saturday morning, and both very hungry, stopped at a place called Trocadero for breakfast. I have not seen this place mentioned on the board, and now having visited, am a tad surprised. Trocadero is impressive in its reach, and I am greatly curious to know how it fares in its other ambitions since we did not make it back after breakfast. For breakfast, we ate a Jambon Gruyere crepe and oatmeal bruleeIrish steel-cut oatmeal topped with brown sugar and blueberry sauce-both very satisfying. I also got some Mexican hot chocolate made with Ibarra chocolate that hit the spot on such a cold morning. As much as the solid, café-style breakfast fare, however, I was intrigued by the rooms other offerings: in one corner a French-styled deli counter offering 40-some cheeses and a handful of pates, in the opposite corner, a full bar with an interesting selection of imported and domestic brews, as well as a large chalkboard wine list. All of these seemed to be well-priced, and, given the charm of the room, Im sorry we didnt have time to sample the place again later in the evening. An excellent alternative to a greasy spoon breakfast, and possibly much more, though I cant attest to the quality of anything else, and conveniently located to our downtown hotel.
After spending some quality time at the excellent art museum (and stunning Calatrava addition), we headed for the long-awaited custard at Kopps. We (mis-)ordered a burger my double hamburger with grilled onions included just that and nothing elseno ketchup, mustard, pickle. The beef was hot and of good quality, but the total experience didnt win me over, though Im eager to give it another shot. We ordered (Joe H.s advice notwithstanding), two custards to split between the two of us, a vanilla and the flavor of the day turtle sundae. The vanilla was as rich and buttery as promised, but (as I shield myself from the coming invective) the texture was not as I would prefer. It was too creamy, smooth, where as I like to feel a little resistance, the slightest amount, both to my spoon and my tooth. Understand that this disappointment only comes after hearing that this is the best ice cream/custard that I WILL EVER HAVE TASTED. All in all, I still thought it was quite delicious. And the turtle sundae was a revelation. The pecans had a light, crisply perfect texture that I have never tasted in a nut frozen in cream. Absolutely wonderful. We proceeded from Kopps directly to Sollys, hoping to compare burgers, but since wed just finished one lunch and the diner counter at Sollys was full, we passed. It looked quite promising, though.
Come early evening, we ventured to our hotel restaurant/bar at the Hotel Metro for cocktails and ordered an appetizer of asparagus and goat cheese wrapped in phyllo. This appetizer, along with the muffin and scone we ate the next morning, left us glad we did not eat at the café, which aside from mediocre food seemed a bit overpriced.
Especially in comparison to our wonderful bistro dinner at Coquette Café. Food was excellent and service could not have been improved upon. We arrived an hour early for our dinner reservation and were promptly seated. We noticed our table wobbled a bit and were contemplating a remedy to the situation, but before we had time to act, a waitress rushed to our aid and kindly volunteered to get us a new table, which she did within minutes. Rarely have I had a problem so deftly diagnosed and dealt with at a restaurant. And then the food. I got an Italian prix fixe menu (they vary a single regional prix fixe menu) that included orange-glazed fennel with prosciutto and parmigian-reggiano as an appetizer, lamb shank with mashed potatoes and tomato sauce as an entrée, and for dessert a ricotta-berry concoction sandwiched between two wafer-thin almond cookies of some sortall for a very reasonable $29. The lamb shank had wonderful flavor, and the tomato sauce in which it was served was delicious, as were the potatoes. The lamb was a bit fatty for my taste, but that is but a minor complaint, and the manager, who cared enough to ask us how our food was, confessed that it was a new entrée that perhaps they could improve upon. My wifes hangar steak with pommes frites was wonderful as well. All in all, I cannot recommend this place too highly.
We tried to stop at Zaffiros for pizza on Sunday, but it didnt open until four, so we hit the road, wife too weary (and cold) to head back out to Kopps, fixed on stopping to eat on the way home. I still had planned on pizza in Racine or Kenosha, but circumstances conspired to lead us to Mars Cheese Castle and then the Brat Stop. Mars Cheese Castle is not at all what I would expect a cheese castle to be. The cheese offerings seemed from a fairly brief survey. It is rather what one might expect from a specialty food shop stranded off the highway in southern Wisconsin. That said I happily emerged with some Usingers Beef with Garlic Summer Sausage, a creamy 4-year old cheddar, and a six-pack of New Glarus beer.
The Brat Stop was somewhat of a disappointment. While the roll it was served on was warm and soft in the middle and perfectly toasted on the outside, the brat itself was lukewarm, thin, and fairly bland.
Trocadero
1758 N. Water St.
414-272-0205
Kopp's Frozen Custard
5373 N Port Washington Rd
414-961-2006
Solly's
4629 N Port Washington Rd
414-332-8808
Coquette Café
316 N. Milwaukee St.
414-291-2655
Hotel Metro
411 E. Mason
414-272-1937
Zaffiro's Pizza & Bar
1724 N Farwell Ave
414-289-8776
Mars Cheese Castle
2800 120th Ave.
Kenosha, WI 53144
1-800-655-6147
(Easily seen from I-94, around exit 340)
Brat Stop
1/2 block west of I-94 (exit 344) on Route 50
Kenosha, WisconsinLast edited by Aaron Deacon on January 23rd, 2007, 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #19 - January 23rd, 2007, 5:26 pmThink of it as an outtake from Austin Powers.
Right, or a taste of what Old Town was like when it was first becoming popular in the 60s, and the James Bond/Get Smart thing was at its height, and Rich Melman was a 20-year-old thinking "what if we drew cartoons all over the menu and called it something like T.J. McCracklebottom's?" That kind of stuff has long since been effaced from Chicago (except for Grunt's, which is sort of the Colonial Williamsburg of the Lettuce empire), but I admire that it, like so many other things, survives in Milwaukee, and it is well worth one beer to go back in time that way. And then eat somewhere else.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
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Post #20 - January 23rd, 2007, 6:12 pm+4 on the coquette rec. was there a few months ago, sat at the bar, had a great time. my meal was more french inflected and everything was just solid, yet relatively affordable.
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Post #21 - January 24th, 2007, 8:30 pmmilwaukee's dining scene is very underrated.
i heartily second recommendations for coquette and cempazuchi. both should fit the bill for your wife's ovo-lacto-ism.
but if you want a milwaukee experience, go somewhere a little out of the way, like the bayview neighborhood. try palamino - a pub on the corner of superior and wentworth, right off the hoan bridge. lots of deep-fried and grilled veggie stuff. tofulo wings! tater tots! blue pig burger! point beer on tap! really, the food is actually great. and the atmosphere is a very cool rockabilly-hipster-proletarian-yuppie-punk-motorcycle . . . everybody feels right at home. quite smoky, though.
or, combine the two: coquette cafe or cempazuchi for dinner, then palamino for late night beer and deep fried cheese curds.
hmmm . . . it's only a few blocks from my house . . .
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Post #22 - April 8th, 2007, 1:00 pmFor a recent trip to Milwaukee to see the Bacon exhibit at MAM, I culled some of the suggestions from this thread.
Our first stop was Reynold's Pasty Shop, mentioned in Rene G's awesome write-up. You've gotta love a place that clearly lives by the philosophy of "do one thing, and do it damn well." Although pastys are by nature bland, and these were terrifically authentic, we enjoyed them thoroughly. I might recommend the liberal application of your favorite hot sauce.
Second stop was the Milwaukee Public Market. One can't help but wonder why Chicago has yet to pick up on the phenomenon of a year-round, indoor market with multiple, independent vendors. I read recently in the Chicago Journal that the Metra Market space on Canal will go to a French company with plans to do a pseudo market-place with multiple vendors, but the piece I read didn't seem too convincing about it being a true public market.
We stopped for cocktails at the renovated Metro Hotel, and apparently stumbled onto Milwaukee's hottest happy hour. And by hot, I mean lots of people...not necessarily a scene, although there was a noticeable presence of transvestites. It seems everyone comes for the free buffet of cold cuts, cheeses, olives and pickles. It was an impressive presentation, if an unimpressive spread.
We also checked out Buckley's, a new bar/restaurant in town. The space is gorgeous and intimate, and the bar is a knock-out. The decor might lead you to believe the menu is something swanky, but it was pretty basic and inexpensive: crab cakes, salads, steak, a selection of panini. Mike Buckley, a Boston native who opened the place, was quick with the story of how a Brooklyn bar ended up in Milwaukee. It's worth asking. And the bartender pours heavy.
Dinner at the African Hut was the highlight. We started with an appetizer of Akara--a black-eyed pea fritter that takes at least seven hours to make, according to the owner. The black-eyed peas are soaked and hand "skinned", then mashed, seasoned, spiced and loved into these delicious, light, crispy snacks. (Pardon the crappy photo...cell phone camera was all we had).
Akara
We also ordered the Ugandan Samosa--filled with ground turkey and some tangy blend of African spices.
I ordered the Ghana Beef Froyi--a rich, savory stew (not unlike an Ethiopia wat, but much stewier and juicy) of beef cubes and vegetables slow-cooked in palm butter. Delicious.
The owner, Yinka Adedokun, is a delightful storyteller and warm host. He teaches classes about African cookery and textiles to schoolkids and anyone else who's interested. This could be a nice LTH field trip, if anyone is up for it.
****
Reynold's Pasty Shop
3525 W Burleigh St
Milwaukee WI
414-444-4490
Tue-Sat 6:30am-7:30pm
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water Street
Monday* through Friday: 10:00AM – 7:00PM (The market has been closed Mondays, but will begin opening on Monday as of April 16)
Saturdays & Sundays: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Hotel Metro
www.hotelmetro.com
411 E Mason St
(414) 272-1937
African Hut
www.africanpresentations.com
1107 N. Old World 3rd Street
(414) 765-1110
Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Closed Sunday
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Post #23 - April 8th, 2007, 2:56 pmcrrush wrote:For a recent trip to Milwaukee to see the Bacon exhibit at MAM...
You can't start a post on a food board like that! The moment I read it I started thinking about making a road trip to Milwaukee. An art museum devoting an entire exhibit to bacon?
Then I remembered... Francis Bacon
That said, thanks for the information about more places in Milwaukee. I haven't been up there much but you're right that it's pretty manageable for the occasional field trip.Joe G.
"Whatever may be wrong with the world, at least it has some good things to eat." -- Cowboy Jack Clement
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Post #24 - April 9th, 2007, 2:15 pmIf you don't think Milwaukee has a culinary scene, you simply have not been there recently. The amount of wonderful, chef owned and operated restaurants has blossomed in recent years. And yes, some of the big boys have landed there also. We ate at Capitol Grill last week. Milwaukee is my home town, and I appreciate that the people are frugal. Usually this translates into bargain dining prices compared to Chicago. Not so at Capitol Grill. I just did not believe that any Milwaukee folks would for over $38 for a small filet mignon with NO sides. A great town with lots to offer, and the best hotel will set you back the price of a Howard Johnson in downtown Chicago! Also check out the Milwaukee Public Market, a year round indoor market, with high end vendors augmented by outside farmers markets and arts and craft shows in the summer.
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Post #25 - April 9th, 2007, 3:33 pmCinnamon Girl wrote:[A]nd the best hotel will set you back the price of a Howard Johnson in downtown Chicago!
I speak from experience when I say, "Yeah, right." <eye roll>
http://www.thepfisterhotel.com
E.M.
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Post #26 - April 9th, 2007, 3:40 pmErik M. wrote:Cinnamon Girl wrote:[A]nd the best hotel will set you back the price of a Howard Johnson in downtown Chicago!
I speak from experience when I say, "Yeah, right." <eye roll>
http://www.thepfisterhotel.com
E.M.
Maybe...I've stayed in the Pfister and nice lobby did nothing to improve the tiny room...anyways, we consistently find a room, via Priceline, in the $40-$50 range. Only once was it not either the Hyatt or the Hilton (beware at the Hilton, thousands of young kidz at the water park).Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.
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Post #27 - April 9th, 2007, 4:33 pmI was also in Milwaukee this past weekend for baseball, although the weather made it feel like bears-packers, so we did alot of things indoors like drinking and eating. Ive been to summerfest year in and out and went to school in Madison, so ive explored alot of Milwaukee but I gotta say thanks to whoever mentioned Zaffiro's on this board. I am all about the thin crust, thinner the better and not only was this pizza as thin as you can make it but the ingredients were top notch, making it the best pizza ive ever had, yep I said it. We had a cheese and sausage and a "pep" special loaded with 'roni, onions, peppers, mushrooms and some other things I cant remember, but honestly ill be back within the month even if its just for the day. Also made it to Kopp's, why cant we get burgers like that here? good times though, we drank spotted cow (available at the stadium) and fat squirrel nut brown all weekend and I ate about five different sausages some twice during my time at Miller Park, they slang a mean brat. Milwaukee is a great roadfood city.
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Post #28 - April 9th, 2007, 9:20 pmDa Beef, I'm happy to hear you experienced my favorite thin crust pizza at Zaffiro's. If you're ever looking for a great greasy cheeseburger or a Vienna Beef Polish, drop me an e-mail.
CSD
Born & Raised in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin
Living on the southwest shores of Lake Michigan
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Post #29 - April 10th, 2007, 8:56 amwas there twice last week. what culinary scene? i ended up eating @ Jean Pierre (Shorewood?) for lunch with some folks. that was a waste of $70. i felt like i was eating fries at Disneyland.
and the cheap hotels.. it goes like this CGirl: if no one wants to go there, the rooms have to be severely discounted, yah?Cinnamon Girl wrote:If you don't think Milwaukee has a culinary scene, you simply have not been there recently... (snip) and the best hotel will set you back the price of a Howard Johnson in downtown Chicago!
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Post #30 - April 10th, 2007, 11:55 pmTonyC wrote:was there twice last week. what culinary scene? i ended up eating @ Jean Pierre (Shorewood?) for lunch with some folks. that was a waste of $70. i felt like i was eating fries at Disneyland.
and the cheap hotels.. it goes like this CGirl: if no one wants to go there, the rooms have to be severely discounted, yah?Cinnamon Girl wrote:If you don't think Milwaukee has a culinary scene, you simply have not been there recently... (snip) and the best hotel will set you back the price of a Howard Johnson in downtown Chicago!
That's too bad. There are quite a few good places to eat in Milwaukee, if you're willing to do a little research. It would be just as easy for someone to randomly come into Chicago for two days, eat at the wrong places, and simply discount the food- which of course, would be ridiculous. The Sanford Room and some of the Bartolotta restaurants immediately come to mind, as do some of the other restaurants on this thread.
