At OnMilwaukee, we believe in lifting up all voices and using our platform to support others’ dreams.  And that's what we hope to do for Dominic the Food Reviewer. When I first met Dominic almost two years ago, I was impressed by his passion, his curiosity and his interest in improving his writing. Over time,  I’ve not only enjoyed getting to know him better, but he has taught me as much as I have him. My hope is that you’ll not only enjoy reading Dominic’s reviews, but also glean understanding and joy from seeing the world of food through his eyes. -- Lori Fredrich, Dining Editor

Recently, I got to try Taqwa’s Bakery & Restaurant which is located at 4651 S. 27th St. in Greenfield.

I got the honor of meeting the owner, Taqwa Obaid, who owns and operates this hidden gem. Obaid sat with us to discuss her life, family and her passion for cooking.

Taqwa was born in Jordan along with her husband. Taqwa explained that, while growing up as one of thirteen children, her mother was always cooking for the family or neighbors. She moved to Milwaukee from Virginia eight years ago and opened Taqwa’s Bakery & Restaurant in July of 2020. 

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Taqwa’s Bakery and Restaurant is covered in stunning traditional Middle Eastern decor. Gorgeous authentic Jordanian rugs, blankets and tents cover the walls. An impressive brick oven sits in the center of the restaurant behind the bar. There are also many interesting photos of Jordan and Jerusalem throughout the restaurant.

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Outside there is a quaint patio with a canopy for outdoor dining. They even have a fun area in the restaurant where you can dress up in Middle Eastern garb and take pictures. We had such a blast dressing up with Obaid. 

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I do not remember a time I was so well fed. The portions were incredible and Taqwa provided us with great discussions about the food and her culture. We got to try so many delicious types of middle eastern cuisine. For my starter I ordered one of each of Taqwa’s fatayer ($1.25 each). This included spinach, cheese, ground beef, potatoes, hot dogs and Zeit and Zaatar filled fatayer pies. Each pie was very flavorful and was a perfect start to an extraordinary meal. The bread was warm and flakey and freshly made from the oven. 

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Next we tried the sambousek, which is a deep fried pastry filled with either cheese or seasoned veggies ($6.99).

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I tried them with peas and carrots inside. The sambousek looks similar to an egg roll. It was very crunchy with a great savory taste.

Next I tried the falafel, hummus, and baba ghannouj ($3.99-$5.99).

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I really liked how light and fluffy the batter was on the falafel.

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We then shared the mixed grill, which included three different types of kabobs ($17.99). The meat melted in my mouth and was perfectly cooked.

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We then sampled Qallayih which is sautéed tomatoes stewed with garlic and jalapeño ($7.99). The jalapeños inside the stew had just the right amount of kick to it and the sweet sautéed tomatoes helped offset the heat. 

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With our meal came manakish, which is handmade traditional flatbread that is baked to order in the burning stone oven. The zeit and zaatar, which is a type of taboun bread, had a flavorful mix of thyme, sesame seeds and sumac ($6.99). The bread was perfect with the olive oil provided for dipping.

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Taqwa told me that the bread was special to her because her mother, who has since passed away, taught her the recipes and steps for cooking the bread. For Taqwa, being able to cook food that tastes exactly like her mother would make it, is very special for her, as she gets to keep her spirit alive through her cooking. 

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Throughout our meal Taqwa generously provided us with foods and experiences I have never had. Even though I was stuffed to the gills, I could not stop trying all of the incredibly cooked unique dishes. I tried the manakish with cheese ($7.99), fried mediterranean cheese ($7.99).

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I also tried baklava and maamoul, which are date stuffed middle eastern cookies ($2.49 each). These cookies are specially made only a few times a year during holidays. 

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For beverages, we tried a warm mint tea ($1.99) and a mint and lemon smoothie ($5.99). The mint and lemon smoothie was very refreshing after a fulfilling meal.

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All the food had fabulous flavors and was well cooked, but my favorite dishes were the qallayih stew, manakish zeit and zaatar and fatayer pie. I would also say the baklava with pistachios is an absolute must try.

This restaurant easily became one of my all time favorites. As my father described, “probably a top five meal I have ever had.”  Taqwa is serving up some amazing foods in this restaurant and I have a feeling this will not be hidden for much longer. I will definitely be eating here many more times.