Milwaukee/North/Damen

I am going to be making a trip to very near the corner of Milwaukee\North\Damen.

I have been to Violet Hour, Lillie's Q and Big Star. Looking for something new – and I have noticed a lot of interesting looking places around there. I just want to park and walk to the store I am going to, and the restaurant.

Can anyone recommend something? Any cuisine, as long as it is good.

Thanks!

I know the opinions on it have been mixed but I've really enjoyed both the drinks and the food at Trenchermen--it's in the old Spring space on North just west of Damen/Milwaukee.

Club Lucky

I am not a huge fan of the Trencherman, but the bar is a nice place to sit. A bit of a longer walk down Damen is the Bristol, which is very good. Las Palmas on North is good. Bento Box on Armitage is also good.

I highly recommend Birchwood Kitchen (2211 W North Ave.) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While they get the most press for their breakfast/brunch (their breakfast polenta is unreal), BK is one of the city's hidden dinner gems. They have a back patio open during the summer, and it is BYOB. The dinner menu is small but they serve burgers that should be mentioned in the same sentence as Bad Apple and Kuma's. They also have daily specials and a great pastry. On the whole, one of the most consistent eateries in town. Enjoy.

Going south on Milwaukee, Taxim is also great food in a really fun room (middle eastern-style sunken pits, etc.)

Second Birchwood Kitchen and Taxim. May want to check out Red Hen Bakery for strictly professional reasons...

I like the suggestions already made and can add a few more to the mix since I like just a few blocks from the intersection.

Hot Chocolate (a few blocks North on Damen) - Nice menu of sandwiches, desserts, etc. A nice feel since they renovated and opened it up.

Cumin (a few blocks south on Milwaukee) - Slightly upscale Indian/Nepalese

Antique Taco (a few blocks south on Milwaukee) - a different take than Big Star on Mexican

The Southern (a few blocks east on North) - Way better than average comfort food and drinks

Piece (a few blocks east on North) - Good pizza, good craft beer

Ripasso (Terragusto) is a few doors north of that intersection on Damen. We've been three times since they opened, and every experience was welcoming and delicious. Recs are the Sformato and the Neri.

I'm going to make a plug for Cumin, which is a couple blocks south on Milwaukee (I think it's 1414 N Milwaukee). They have some really top-notch Indian/Himalayan food for a reasonable price. I tend to prefer homey restaurants, which this is not, but I like this one because the food itself isn't pretentious. This was the first time I had goat, which is a Nepalese staple, and it was insanely delicious.

We live in the neighborhood and we endorse Cafe Absinthe, Club Lucky, Ripasso, Cumin and Storefront Company. Must-avoids include The Trencherman, Feast and Grass Fed, all mediocre (or worse).