Elsa's: Milwaukee's Classy Burger Joint

Elegant bar area is a popular destination

It's always fun to debate which restaurant serves the best burger in town. Some places that come to mind are Solly's, AJ Bombers and Sobelman's. Another contender, quite unlike the others, is Elsa's—or, more formally, Elsa's on the Park...

Sven's Café Opens Downtown Location

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The original Sven's Café, located in Bay View, continues to draw crowds. The place roasts its own coffee; organic and fair trade coffees are a specialty. Sven's has opened a second location in Milwaukee's Downtown (624 N. Water St.), in the spot of...

Arin Bert: Milwaukee's Taste of Armenia

Enjoy great deals on falafel, kebabs

There is no table service, the flatware and plates are made of plastic, and the place closes at 6:30 p.m.—and yet Arin Bert Coffee & Grill holds a special place in Milwaukee. How so? It happens to be the first place to serve Armenian food here...

Rocket Baby Bakery Takes Flight

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The vivid purple exterior of Rocket Baby Bakery (6822 W. North Ave.) offers little clue of the interior. Inside it has the classic feel of an early-20th-century bakery, with tile floors, marble counters and a wooden ceiling. The front window displays the...

Odd Duck's Tasty, Locally Sourced Food

Word is spreading on Bay View restaurant

The trend of restaurants using locally sourced ingredients, such as Braise in Walker's Point, continues to grow. Add Bay View's recently opened Odd Duck to the list...

Irie Palace's True Jamaican Menu

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For a truly authentic Jamaican restaurant in the Milwaukee area, turn to Irie Palace (7506 W. Appleton Ave.), a casual space filled with music. Here you will find classic Jamaican...

Von Trier's New Menu Is a Natural

When Karl Lotharius remodeled an ordinary corner tavern and endowed it with Germanic charm in the late 1970s, Von Trier was born. The bar immediately had a unique sense of atmosphere, with its murals of German scenes, stained-glass windows...

Milwaukee Public Market's Aladdin Still Shines

New vendors continue to open in the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.)—by June, Nehring's Family Market will join the list. One business that has been in the market since Day 1, however, is Aladdin. The Middle Eastern deli became...

España Tapas House's True Spanish Food

Small-plate dining finds its roots

Many restaurants serve a version of tapas, the small-plate concept that originated in Spain, but most wander far away from tapas' roots in the Iberian Peninsula. Don Quijote was true to form, but it closed a few years ago...

Devon Seafood + Steak's Tasty Lunch Deals

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Devon Seafood + Steak (5715 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale) was among the first restaurants to open in the revamped Bayshore Town Center. Devon is part of a chain, but its luxuriant seating and tranquil setting will make you feel otherwise...

Transfer Pizzeria Brings New Flavors to Milwaukee

Vegan, gluten-free treats among the tasty offerings

Good pizza can easily be found in Milwaukee, a city that once had tight, thriving Italian neighborhoods in the Third Ward and Bay View. And while pizza ovens popped up all over town in the years following World War II, it took a more recent...

Deep-Fried Delights at Jimmy's Grotto

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Jimmy's Grotto (314 E. Main St., Waukesha) is a beloved Waukesha institution featuring an extensive menu of comfort foods and fried favorites that would make Food Network personality and perpetual grease-seeker Guy Fieri flip his visor. And while...

John Hawks Pub's British Comfort Food

River views, comfy bar add to the charm

John Hawks is a British-themed pub that has long been one of Downtown's most popular places for casual fare. Robert Bell founded Hawks in 1971 in a spot two blocks away from its current location. The move to today's spot on Wisconsin Avenue...

Fujiyama's Hard-to-Find Sushi

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Fujiyama (2916 S. 108th St., West Allis, and 17395D W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield) provides two different Japanese dining experiences. During the tableside grill experience (a la Benihana), the chef runs the show. These tables are typically busier...

Hinterland Gastropub as Good as Ever

Enjoy tasty, trendy food and house-made beer

Hinterland Erie Street Gastropub, an offshoot of the original Hinterland in Green Bay, became Milwaukee's first gastropub when it opened five years ago. Since then, it has done very well. The interior features an inviting bar and a dining room...

El Fogoncito's Authentic Mexican Menu

El Fogoncito's Authentic Mexican Menu

A 1960s office building just south of Mayfair Mall is a very unlikely spot for an authentic Mexican restaurant, but Taqueria El Fogoncito (10425 W. North Ave.) makes it work. Look for the small bright awning, the only color on a pale yellow brick...

Bay View Still in Love With LuLu

Popular café and bar covers all appetites

The action started to pick up at...

Stonefly's Tasty Fish Fry

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The Lenten fish fry season is still in its prime. One local option is fried smelt, which you can find at Stonefly Brewing Co. (735 E. Center St.) in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. The tiny filets have panko breading and include coleslaw, homemade...

Stubby's Pub Improves Its Grub

Craft beer list continues to draw customers

It's always nice to see restaurants improve over time, as is the case with Stubby's...

The National's Pleasant Café Vibe

The National (839 W. National Ave.) is a nice neighborhood café that serves breakfast and lunch. The menu, listed on chalkboards, is friendly to vegetarians. Breakfast options include a vegan burrito and omelets made from organic eggs. Be sure to try a side of...

El Local Proves a Worthy Successor

Red snapper among tasty dishes at new Mexican restaurant

It was a disappointment to hear about...

Salvatore's Pizzeria Delivers the Goods

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Salvatore's Pizzeria (2213 E. Capitol Drive), a simply furnished place with wooden floors, opened its doors in Shorewood last May. The restaurant is a venture by the owners of Sciortino's Bakery, a Brady Street classic. The pizza dough is prepared with...

Fortune Chinese Restaurant's Authentic Menu

Cantonese food at two Milwaukee locations

First-time visitors to Fortune Chinese Restaurant likely will be handed a menu...

Le Reve's French Fish Fry

Lent is here, and the Friday fish fry is showing up at a surprising place: Le Reve, the French café and patisserie in the old heart of Wauwatosa (7610 Harwood Ave.). Atlantic cod is served with fries, coleslaw, rye bread and house-made tartar sauce...

Buckley's Growing in Stature

Chef Thi Cao adds impressive touch

A “Chinese New Year” menu featuring Vietnamese food was spotted at a most unusual place this year—Buckley's, that charming bar and restaurant at the corner of Cass and Wells. The menu was courtesy of chef Thi Cao, who has been at...