Milwaukee Restaurant Review


Tim and I have lived in Milwaukee for three years now and one of our favorite things to do is try new places to eat. I am always asking for recommendations from coworkers and classmates and after three years we have been able to try quite a few of them out. I still always feel like there are so many places to try but I told a few friends here in MKE that I would put some restaurant recommendations of the places we have liked so far. I am going to list our favorite menu items and a few reasons why we like the restaurant. THESE ARE NOT IN ORDER.

#1. Le Reve Patisserie & Café—this quaint French restaurant in Wauwatosa Village is full of delicious choices. The soups, salads, sandwiches, and French fries are fantastic.
Top pick’s: French Onion Soup, Pumpkin Soup, and Filet de Boeuf-- Beef Tenderloin with Cambozola Cheese, Caramelized Onion, and a Black Pepper Aioli on a Baguette
http://lerevecafe.com/

#2. Cempazuchi—this Mexican restaurant in downtown Milwaukee is located in a fun environment and has the best fish tacos in Milwaukee. I think other items on the menu are mediocre but the Tacos de Tio Isreael are the best we have found in the Midwest and we are always looking.
Top pick: Tacos de Tio Isreael—Three tacos of perch, rolled in organic blue corn meal with lime slaw, chipotole mayo, rice and beans.
http://www.cempazuchi.com/main_page.html

#3. Comet Café—Always atmosphere and fantastic food.
Top picks: BELT, Fish Fry, Meatloaf, and hot chocolate served with dinner
http://www.thecometcafe.com/

#4. Café LuLu
Top pick: Mediterranean Steak Pita
http://www.lulubayview.com/menu.html

#5. Juniper 61
Top picks: Falafel, Turkish Lamb Pita
http://juniper61.com/

#6. Maxies Southern Comfort –good food but I think it is overpriced. We want to go back and try some more items so there may be better items than this.
Top picks: Maxie’s Deluxe Crabcake Platter, Fish Fry
http://www.maxies.com/milwaukee/index.html

#7. Abu’s Jerusalem of Gold
Top picks: Shawirma platter and Lamb Kabob
http://abusmilwaukee.com/

#8. Il Mito
Top picks: Bruschetta Stagionale, Pumpkin Ravioli
http://www.ilmito.com/

#9. Eddie Martini’s—Hands down the best food in Milwaukee. The steak melts in your mouth and I have never had anything that compares.
Top pick: Crab Cakes, Lobster Bisque, Filet Mignon, Rib Eye Steak, Bacon Potato Hash
http://www.eddiemartinis.com/

#10. Five O’clock Steakhouse—This is Tim’s favorite steak in Milwaukee. The atmosphere is bizarre in a good way. Very Polish supper club.
Top picks: Filet Oscar and Rib Eye
http://www.fiveoclocksteakhouse.com/wi/index.html

#12 Sobelman’s Pub and Grill—Best burgers and onion rings in Milwaukee.
Top picks: onion rings, California burger, Sobleman’s burger
http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/menu.html

#13 AJ Bomber’s—Great burgers with really fun and interesting toppings.
Top picks: Stuffed Shroom, Single patty with bacon and a fried egg
http://www.ajbombers.com/

#14 Speed Queen Bar’B’Q—Very scary atmosphere but has a great ghetto Milwaukee vibe. You have to slide your money under bullet proof glass. Safest to go for lunch. Fantastic BBQ with some of the best homemade sauce I have ever had.
Top pick: pulled pork and Speed Queen sauce
1130 West Walnut Street Milwaukee—they don’t have a website obviously

#16 Broadway Bakery and Café for Brunch—Wonderful place for brunch in the historic 3rd ward. GREAT brunch food.
Top pick: Two eggs and ham, French toast
http://www.241broadway.com/

#17 La Merenda—Great international tapas. I liked this more than Tim. You order multiple small plates and it is great because then you get to try lots of different things. I think Tim left thinking he was hungry because he never ate an entrée but by the end you eat more than enough.
Top picks: La Merenda Salad, Korean Lamb Shank, Empanadas, daily specials are usually great including squash ravioli and Korean bbq.
http://www.lamerenda125.com/

#18 The Knick—The appetizers are great here. Tim and I usually only get appetizers. We will order 3-4 and share them all. The entrees we have had were OK.
Top picks: Tater Tots (the best by far), Chicken Quesadilla, Greens Pizza
http://www.theknickrestaurant.com/

#19 Café Hollander—Great place to eat outside in the Tosa Village. The menu is hit and miss but I want to go back for a third time and try some recommended items.
Top picks: Gorgonzola Pear Salad, Blackberry Turkey (recommended item)
http://www.cafehollander.com/tosavillage/

#20 Blu Bar and Lounge—I have only gone here for drinks so I guess I can recommend the Sprite with grenadine and a lime but really the reason to come here is the atmosphere. It is at the top of the Pfister hotel and in the evening you can see the city lights and the lake. It is a bar and lounge with swanky couches and music.
http://www.blumilwaukee.com/menu.asp

#21 Balistreri Pizza—Great thin crust pizza that we both love. This is Tim’s favorite pizza in Milwaukee.
http://www.balistreris.com/

#22 Mason Street Grille—Great food but overpriced.
Top picks: Filet Mignon and Rib Eye (Big surprise, right? Obviously those are our favorites)
http://www.masonstreetgrill.com/

#23 Kopps—Best custard in Wisconsin. Burgers and onion rings are pretty good too.
Top picks: Red Raspberry, Grasshopper Fudge, Strawberry, Chocolate
http://www.kopps.com/

#24 Public Market—down in the historic third ward and has tons of food options. Great salads, bakery items, desserts. I wish I could try everything they have. I am sure some things are better than others but it has some really great options.

#25 Soup Brothers—hands down the BEST soup I have ever had. It is a tiny one room location and is cash only. They make all of their soup selections from scratch every day. The Bermuda Cheese and Onion soup is fantastic. You get fresh baked bread with each bowl of soup and the bread is SOOO good. I love this place.

Places I would also recommend but not the best food I have had but still worth trying: Cubanitas, Alterra at the Lake, Hi-Hat Lounge & Garage (great fries), Hotel Metro Bar and Café, Louise's Italian Café,

Places we have tried that are mediocre and I wouldn’t recommend for the food (some I would recommend for the atmosphere and the food is decent): Ale House, Water Buffalo, Rock Bottom, Brocach Irish Pub, Hinterland, the Palms (can be really good or mediocre depending on the time of day you go), Stir Fry, Charro, Gilles, Oscars, Pedro’s in Brookfield, Beans and Barley, Buca di Beppo, Twisted Fork…that’s all I can think of.

So I hope all you Milwaukee friends out there can try some new places and see what you think.  For everyone else, maybe you will actually visit us now so you can try some good food.