With all of the competition these days it's hard enough to pull off a successful restaurant in Milwaukee, yet some local eateries manage to not only master the food-end, but a thriving bar scene as well.
Here's a list of establishments in Milwaukee that have both sides of the food and drink thing really going on.
Hi Hat Lounge
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
Not only is this a fabulous place to have a drink after work, ten minutes before last call or any time in between, but the food here is awesome. Hearty yet gourmet, the presentation is always impeccable and the prices are still what you'd pay at a restaurant without half as much panache.
Cempazuchi
1205 E. Brady St.
A great place to eat a full dinner or to sit in the airy bar and drink margaritas while nibbing one of their fantastico appetizers. Also the perfect locale to celebrate a special occasion with lots of friends because the bar is spacious and the décor is colorful and fun.
Silver Spring House
6655 N. Green Bay Ave.
This landmark has been around since the mid-1800s and still maintains a booming business today. The eclectic menu is hit or miss, but you'll never go wrong ordering a burger or chicken sandwich. And the bar is a favorite watering hole for many suburban Milwaukeeans, especially around the holidays when the kids are home from college.
Nessun Dorma
2778 N. Weil St.
This relatively new Riverwest corner tap now serves excellent food, including sandwiches, pastas and more. Even if you're on a liquid diet, Nessun Dorma is a great place to drink wine or beer and reminice about all of the interesting joints that formerly occupied the space from Gordon Park Pub to the Stork Club.
The County Clare
1234 N. Astor St.
Somehow, this cozy eatery has managed to appeal to a mature dinner and brunch crowd as well as younger folks looking for a good time. Hiring popular bands like Frogwater and 5 Card Studs has definitely helped grow the bar scene. Stop in for a corn beef dinner or a couple of pints of Guinness at the Irish-themed County Clare.
The Chancery
2575 N. Downer Ave.
2100 E. Mooreland Rd
11046 N. Port Washington Rd.
7615 W. State St.
4624 S. 27th St.
Even though The Chancery is a chain, each of the bars inside the restaurants have a unique scene of its own. A popular place to hang during happy hour or to catch a sporting event on television, The Chancery is at one with the delicate balance between beer and burgers.
Surely there are plenty more places where restaurants and bars successfully coexist under one roof, so use the talkback feature to add to the list!
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
