Fortunately for local businesses, all the talk of a recession doesn’t seem to be hampering area restaurants. More and more chains continue to discover Milwaukee, the latest of which is Fratellos. The first Fratellos opened in Oshkosh, with subsequent locations in Green Bay and Appleton.

With the 105th anniversary of Harley-Davidson barreling down on Milwaukee this summer, plus the opening of the motor company’s museum, thirsty minds turn to thoughts of the best beverage for the season.

Whether you trace its roots to the opulent courts of the Sun King or the corseted interiors of Victorian England, there’s no doubt tea-drinking ought to be rated among mankind’s most pleasant pursuits. The tearoom that sits above George Watts & Son’s china and crystal shop, with its unhurried atmosphere...

For many decades the neighborhood around East North Avenue has been a destination for film lovers, thanks to the Oriental Theatre. With its proximity to UW- Milwaukee, the area became one of the city’s party lands, a zone of happy hours and half-price pitchers, of bars and youthful clubs...

The Mekong is one of the great rivers of Asia, originating in China and flowing through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before finally reaching the sea. Bahn Phongsavat and her daughter Sichanh recently opened a cafe of the same name, with a menu that features the cuisines of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

The outdoor tables at the Hi Hat Lounge (1701 N. Arlington Place) are some of the East Side’s most coveted spots for casual dining. The lounge’s neighboring facility, The Garage, has now added a weekday lunch menu that will allow more time to sit in the sun or eat indoors.

The strongest coffee in town is one reason for stopping at Chez Jacques (1022 S. First Another is the wonderful croissants, flaky and made fresh each morning in a city where misshapen lumps of dough are routinely passed off as croissants. Jacques boasts series of rooms,...

It was sometime after World War II when the supper club became middle-class America’s choice for a night on the town. Supper clubs were neither four-star restaurants nor diners, but offered good food familiar to American tastes in a relaxed setting.

Two years ago Brew City relocated from its Water Street location to a spot one block to the west. The new site offered three bars, outdoor dining and a fine collection of Milwaukee brewery memorabilia. Recently, however, owner R.C. Schmidt gave Brew City a new name and a very different look. Now it is called Trinity Three Irish Pubs. The three pubs are named Duffy’s, Gallagher’s and Foy’s, and each has its own character.

Construction workers have been busy building a new outdoor dining patio at Fiesta Garibaldi (5108 W. Bluemound Road). At the rear of the main dining room, they’ve also installed what is called a fajita bar, a Mexican version of the Mongolian barbecue. You assemble raw meats and vegetables in a bowl, choose from a wide variety of sauces and then present your pickings to a chef who will cook it on the spot.