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It’s as important as ever to support the amazing local restaurants we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants to guide you on your journey. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2025.
Strange Town
2101 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 885-0404
strangetownmke.com
Vegan
$$$
[Read more]
This cozy East Side gem is a haven for vegetable-based fare. But you needn’t be a vegan to enjoy the bold, globally inspired flavors that come out of the kitchen and the creative (often low ABV) cocktails and natural wines served up at the bar.
The seasonal menu changes often. In fact it’s filled with fresh finds from both the market and local farms. Last weekend, the restaurant served the last bites of its winter menu, meaning that this weekend will be filled with new spring finds.
That means imaginative dishes featuring snap peas, morels and other foraged mushrooms, chive blossoms, asparagus and stinging nettles. They're sure to be fresh, light and perfectly paired with a glass of bubbly and the eclectic vinyl soundtrack that’s inevitably playing in the background.
Pro Tip: If you love rosé, you should also mark your calendar for Strange Town's annual Rosé Fest, which will take place this year on Sunday, May 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's an amazing day featuring a block party filled with great food, amazing local vendors and plenty of delicious rosé to drink!
Recommended: Seasonal soups, hummus, pasta dishes
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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