For the sixth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com, presented by Concordia University. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as the winners of our "Best of Dining 2012."
Your votes are in, Milwaukee, and you have selected the winners of OnMilwaukee's Best Dining 2012. We're announcing the results of this readers' poll, including our editors' pick, in a series of articles that run all October long during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.
Another Dining Month at OnMilwaukee.com has come to an end and we hope you enjoyed it.
Of course, Dining Month wouldn't be a success without your participation. After all, it's you, Milwaukee, who casts your ballots to pick the winners of our annual "Best of Milwaukee Dining" poll. And this year, thousands of votes were recorded.
Here's a recap of the 2012 winners, along with the choices of the OnMilwaukee.com editorial staff.
And remember, this is your poll; did we miss a category this year or do you have a suggestion for 2013? Let us know by posting a Talkback below and we'll put it on the big board for next year.
Milwaukee's Best Restaurant: Maxie's Southern Comfort
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: La Merenda
With so many exceptional dining options in the city it's undeniably tough to narrow down the very best, but the majority of voters picked Maxie's Southern Comfort, 6732 W. Fairview Ave., as this year's top restaurant, beating out last year's winner, Sanford. Maxie's menu is loaded with southern favorites, from gumbo to blackened catfish creole to pulled pork sandwiches. There's also a nice selection of vegetarian options including a vegetarian jambalaya and a portobello po'boy sandwich.
The OnMilwaukee.com editors are big fans of Maxie's, too, but decided to go with La Merenda, 125 E. National Ave., as their pick this year.
Best Restaurant, Northern Suburbs: The Cheesecake Factory
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Three Lions
The Cheesecake Factory in Glendale, 5799 N. Bayshore Drive, is known for its massive menu of more than 200 menu items and its generous portions. Hence the name, it's also quite famous for its cheesecake offerings. The OnMilwaukee.com editors picked Three Lions, 4515 N. Oakland Ave., for its consistently good British fare such as fish and chips, bangers and mash and shepherd's pie.
Best Restaurant, Southern Suburbs: Organ Piper Music Palace
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Organ Piper Music Palace
Organ Piper Music Palace – often referred to as "Organ Piper Pizza" – swept the competition as Milwaukee's best restaurant in the southern suburbs, winning the 2-year-old title once more for 2012. Organ Piper is a unique, kitschy combination of pizza and live organ music. Every night of the week, with the exception of Mondays, a talented organ player sits down at the massive Wurlitzer and plays recognizable songs, both old and new. The best part is that it's not all gimmick: the pizza is actually very good, too. Plus, Organ Piper offers adult beverages along with a menu of non-pizza items.
Best Restaurant, Western Suburbs: Eddie Martini's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Le Reve
Over the years, Eddie Martini's, 8612 W. Watertown Plank Road, has garnered recognition in Gourmet magazine and is a DiRoNa (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) award recipients. Eddie Martini's cuisine is simplicity defined. Just about every item on the menu is simply and expertly prepared with flawless results. Service is prompt and professional, attentive without being invasive, and the timing here is flawless, making a dining experience at Eddie Martini's one to be treasured. Here at OnMilwaukee.com, we're also big fans of Tosa's quintessential French bistro, Le Reve.
And now, the rest of the 2012 winners:
Best New Restaurant: Odd Duck
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Odd Duck
Best Steak: Five O' Clock Steakhouse
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Five O' Clock Steakhouse
Best Bar Food: Cafe Hollander
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Palomino
Best Breakfast: Blue's Egg
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Blue's Egg
Best Brunch: Blue's Egg Best Burger: Sobelman's Best Cheap Eats: Conejito's Best View: Harbor House Best Patio: Horny Goat Brewing Company Best Appetizers/Small Plate Dining: La Merenda Best Chef: Adam Siegel (Bacchus/Lake Park Bistro) Best Seafood: Harbor House Best Coffee Shop/Cafe: Alterra Best Frozen Custard/Ice Cream/Frozen Treats: Kopp's Frozen Custard Best Comfort Food: Maxie's Southern Comfort Best Deli: Glorioso's Best Fish Fry: Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden Best Pizza: Zaffiro's Best Hidden Gem: Barnacle Bud's Best Desserts: Honeypie Best Frozen Yogurt: Yo Mama! Best Hot Dogs/Sausages: The Dogg Haus Best Late-Night Drunk Eats: Oakland Gyros Best Local Fast Food: Kopp's Best Lunch Buffet: Maharaja Best Romantic Restaurant: Lake Park Bistro Best Wine List: Balzac Best Barbecue: Smoke Shack Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant: Organ Piper Music Palace Best Milwaukee Food Product: Usinger's sausage Best Sandwiches: Cafe Lulu Best Street Food/Food Truck: Streetza Pizza Best Vegetarian Cuisine: Beans & Barley Best Festival or Event Food: Wisconsin State Fair Best Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings Best Chain Restaurant: P.F. Chang's China Bistro Best Chinese: Emperor of China Best French: Lake Park Bistro Best Greek: Oakland Gyros Best Indian: Maharaja Best Italian: Ristorante Bartolotta Best Japanese: Izumi's Best Mexican: Botanas Best Middle Eastern: Casablanca Best Asian Fusion, Vietnamese and Korean: Umami Moto Best Thai: The King & I
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Cafe Benelux
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Oscar's Pub & Grill
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Conejito's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Milwaukee Sail Loft
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Barnacle Bud's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: La Merenda
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Peggy Magister (Crazy Water)
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Harbor House
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Stone Creek
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Leon's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Comet
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Glorioso's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Kegel's Inn
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Calderone Club
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: El Rey's Taco Loco
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Le Reve
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Yo Mama!
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Miller Park
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Oakland Gyros
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Real Chili
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Mayura
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Crazy Water
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Dream Dance Steak
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Speed Queen
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Organ Piper Music Palace
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: El Rey chips
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Melthouse Bistro
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: The Fast Foodie
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Riverwest Co-op
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Festa Italiana
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Club Garibaldi
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: The Capital Grille
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Lucky Liu's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Chez Jacques
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Apollo
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Cafe India
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Ristorante Bartolotta
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Izumi's
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Riviera Maya
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Aladdin - Taste of the East / PitaWorks
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Seoul
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Thai-Namite
