In just the first four months of this year, we’ve had a wealth of restaurants open across town.
Here are ten that should be on your must-try list (in alphabetical order).
1. Big Straw Cafe
2088 Miller Park Way, (414) 316-9512
bigstrawcafe.square.site
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This little gem, hidden among the strip malls on Miller Parkway, offers big flavor in the way of boba tea, fresh poké bowls and delicious sweet and savory croffles (light, flakey waffles made with croissant dough) with toppings like ham and cheese, banana and Nutella and strawberries and cream. Don't miss the house made Thai tea layer cake!
2. Discourse Cafe
158 S. Barclay St.
Discourse.coffee
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Modeled like the all-day cafes in Europe, Discourse offers the best of all worlds with offerings that run the gamut from innovative coffee drinks, pour-overs and pastries to savory small plates, sandwiches and a menu of beautifully flavored low-proof craft cocktails. Comfortable seating, a music-themed industrial aesthetic and an integrated micro-sized vinyl record shop make Discourse a destination for anyone looking for something that departs from the norm.
3. EsterEv
2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 312-8606
esterev.com
Reservations recommended
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What was once a tiny restaurant-inside-a-restaurant at DanDan now has its very own home in the Bay View neighborhood. The newly reimagined restaurant offers a similarly intimate, high-quality dining experience to that for which EsterEv has become known. But guests can also expect a fresh personality-infused space and a more casual, neighborhood-driven dining format that makes the experience more accessible to a wider swath of diners. That includes four courses for $80 per person, plus a special walk-in bar menu that allows for quicker, more impromptu visits. Check out a preview of the menu here!
4. L’InContro
2315 N. Murray Ave., (414) 409-8040
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This casual new spot on Milwaukee's East Side features a deliciously unique menu of Italian fare infused with Asian ingredients. Dishes are fresh, locally sourced and seasonal and include items like cacio e pepe leveled up with the addition of sweet, umami-rich black garlic; plump sweet potato gnocchi tossed in sage brown butter with fiddlehead ferns and pistachios; and tender lamb shank braised in wine and tomatoes. Housemade pizzas sport toppings like Filipino longganisa sausage, Thai basil, rapini and spicy pepperoni with hot honey. Guests can enjoy it all on the restaurant's sidewalk parklet this summer.
5. The New Fashioned
1122 Vel R. Phillips Ave., (414) 939-8592
newfashionedmke.com
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Imagine a space that offered a reasonably comprehensive taste of the City of Milwaukee all under one roof. That's the New Fashioned, which features a solid menu of casual Cream City fare (think butter burgers, hot ham sandwiches, cheese curds, Usinger's bratwurst and frozen custard) as well as an expansive self-pour wall filled with not only craft beer, but four different types of Old Fashioneds, Odyssey Sangria, Pilcrow cold brew coffee and more. Now add activities like hyper-bowling, curling and dartball – along with a locally curated shop filled with Milwaukee-made treasures – and you have a place that offers something for everyone. Outdoor seating overlooking Fiserv Forum is also a spiff.
6. Nite Wolf Ramen
Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern
234 E. Vine St., (414) 763-3021
thenitewolf.com
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The popular ramen pop-up headed up by Chef Elijah Loebbaka is officially a regular offering on Friday and Saturday nights at Uncle Wolfie's. Guests will find a menu of delicious, expertly prepared ramen bowls along with a selection of playful cocktails. And if you've never tried chintan ramen – a style of ramen prized for the clarity of its broth – that's just one more reason to give it a try.
7. Room Service
2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 414-9789
roomservicebayview.com
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There's nothing in Milwaukee like Room Service, the opulent new Bay View eatery which honors the flavors of Thailand and Japan with a menu of both traditional and innovative fare. Start off with an inventive cocktail that incorporates ingredients like chilies and lemongrass. Savor handmade Thai dumplings made from a recipe that dates back to the 1800s. Revel in Tom Yum soup served tableside in a siphon that captures its aromatics and indulge in a sushi program that focuses on high-quality fish and nuanced flavor profiles. Or try Hung Lay curry, a dish from Northern Thailand that features a succulent beef short rib that has been braised for six hours in a deliciously fragrant curry. You'll find it all and more at Room Service, including a rooftop patio come summertime.
8. Sage
2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 897-0495
sagemke.com
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Art meets food at this charming new eatery located inside the historic White House. Airy, antique-and-art filled quarters give the restaurant a memorable aesthetic, while fresh innovative fare inspired by the seasons rounds out the experience. At the bar, you'll find cocktails named for colors found in nature. At the table you'll find dishes like airy, crisp tempura battered oyster mushrooms; earthy mushroom risotto and succulent pork belly porchetta with fennel, lemon and basil. Be sure to save room for dessert. And watch for the launch of their garden patio this summer!
9. Sinabro
316 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 485-6010
sinabromke.com
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For those who love the bold, spicy flavors of Korean fare, there are never enough places to enjoy it. But Milwaukee has welcomed one more with the opening of Sinabro, a restaurant that offers something new to the scene – a large selection of Korean noodle dishes. From spicy Korean ramyeon (ramen) to kimchi dumpling stew and soul-warming Seoul beef soup. Shareable starters – like sweet and spicy dukbokki and dumplings – along with an inventive cocktail menu makes Sinabro a fun spot to gather with friends (and try something new) for lunch or dinner.
10. Todd I Believe I Can Fry
2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 488-8565
toddibelieveicanfry.com
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Sometimes nothing but comfort food will do. And that's where Todd I Believe I Can Fry comes in. This Asian hot spot serves up tasty fried street foods including fried chicken wings (with an amazing assortment of housemade sauces), karaage (Japanese fried chicken), fried fish, gyoza dumplings and tempura vegetables. There's also canned green tea, sake and a curated selection of Asian beers to accompany. While Todd is chiefly a carry-out spot, as the weather warms guests will have the pleasure of dining on its lovely modern patio.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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