Best (insert food category) in Milwaukee Area

[wadesworld]

Curious to know what everyone’s favorite restaurants around Milwaukee are for various different categories. Feel free to add your own categories. For me:

Burger:
1) Oscar’s Pub
2) Jake’s Burgers
3) Sobleman’s

Mexican:
1) La Fuente
2) Hector’s

Pizza:
1) Lalli’s
2) Scotty’s Pizzeria
3) Barbieri’s

Fried cheeses:
1) McGinn’s mozzarella marinara
2) Leff’s cheese curds

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Curious to know what everyone’s favorite restaurants around Milwaukee are for various different categories. Feel free to add your own categories. For me:

Burger:
1) Oscar’s Pub
2) Jake’s Burgers
3) Sobleman’s

Mexican
1) La Fuente
2) Hector’s

Pizza
1) Lalli’s
2) Scotty’s Pizzeria
3) Barbieri’s

Fried cheeses:
1) McGinn’s mozzarella marinara
2) Leff’s cheese curds

Cannoli at Peter Sciortino's Bakery

[brewcity77]

Burger

1) Blackjack Burger at Potowatomi Fire Pit
2) The Big Foot at Oscar's
3) Bacon Double Cheeseburger at Solly's Grille

Mexican

1) Taco Truck on 6th & Becher
2) GTO

Pizza

1) Ned's
2) Pizza di Famiglia

Fine Dining

1) Ardent
2) Sanford
3) Odd Duck
4) Braise

Brunch

1) Sabrosa
2) Campbell's Irish Pub (Full Irish is the best breakfast in Milwaukee)
3) Toast

Barbecue

1) Iron Grate
2) Doc's
3) Speed Queen

[mu_hilltopper]

Burger:
1) Arby's

Mexican:
1) Arby's

Pizza:
1) Arby's

Fried cheeses:
1) Arby's

[JWags85]

Fast casual burger and custard: Kopps

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Burger:
1) Arby's

Mexican:
1) Arby's

Pizza:
1) Arby's

Fried cheeses:
1) Arby's

First date
Funeral lunch
Business meeting
Affair rendezvous
Kick off to a guys weekend
End of a guys weekend
Bachelorette party
Best place to eat in Waukesha
Rehearsal dinner
1st birthday party
Retirement party
Election results party
Bar mitzvah
Place to take Heads of State, the Pope or Hacksaw Jim Duggan:
All Arby's.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Fried cheeses:
1) McGinn’s mozzarella marinara
2) Leff’s cheese curds

1) Lakefront Brewery cheese curds

It's possible I was slightly influenced by my 3rd beer, however.

[Herman Cain]

Pork Chop Related
Elsa's

[MU82]

Frozen custard: Leon's, by a mile.

We have a group of 13 going to the Providence game in 3 weeks; all of the women and most of the men have demanded that we stop at Leon's before driving back to Chicago.

Mouth already watering at the thought of a double-dip butter pecan cone!

[real chili 83]

Ahem.

Also a vote for Sonoran Salsa.   Good stuff, Maynard

[mu_hilltopper]

Ahem.

Also a vote for Sonoran Salsa.   Good stuff, Maynard

Explain the Sonoran/MU connection again? 

[Galway Eagle]

Wings:

Points East

Brats:

Brat Haus

Irish Pub:

County Claire

[wadesworld]

Wings:

Points East

Brats:

Brat Haus

Irish Pub:

County Claire

Don’t know how I forgot wings. I’d go:

1) Point’s East
2) Tomken’s
3) Stenny’s

[real chili 83]

Explain the Sonoran/MU connection again?

Dunks, baby.

[Jay Bee]

I went to Sabrosa for the first time last weekend; solid. Buddy lives a couple of blocks away.

Frozen custard: Leon's, by a mile.

We have a group of 13 going to the Providence game in 3 weeks; all of the women and most of the men have demanded that we stop at Leon's before driving back to Chicago.

Mouth already watering at the thought of a double-dip butter pecan cone!

Bruh, we know.

Very much looking forward to going to the Jan. 20 Providence game with a total of 13 family and friends from NC, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee.

But there is a 0.00% chance that I will pay $11 or $12 for a pint of mediocre (or worse) beer. I will be happy to wait a couple hours to quaff a malt beverage at an establishment outside the arena. It's not a matter of "afford," it's a matter of principle. Many arenas/teams actually are lowering the price of beer. $12 for a Leinie? Really? Hard pass!

I'll be at that game, along with a dozen family and friends, and we'll beat em with or without this guy.

[We R Final Four]

Ha—also, I think it’s been mentioned more than just those three times.

[MU82]

Have I mentioned our group going to the Providence game?

Can't wait!

[reinko]

Many of us would consider beer a food group.  Top 3 MKE breweries?  Must be able to visit, and either have a taproom and/or tour.

[DiaperDandy]

Don’t know how I forgot wings. I’d go:

1) Point’s East
2) Tomken’s
3) Stenny’s

Best wings:
1. 911 tavern
2. Gabriel’s Gate
3. Bar Bill Tavern

[GGGG]

Many of us would consider beer a food group.  Top 3 MKE breweries?  Must be able to visit, and either have a taproom and/or tour.

Lakefront and Mobcraft are my two favorites.

Good City, City Lights are a couple others I like.

[spartan3186]

Many of us would consider beer a food group.  Top 3 MKE breweries?  Must be able to visit, and either have a taproom and/or tour.

1) Third Space
2) Eagle Park
3) Lakefront (Best Tour)

Honorable Mentions: Black Husky, Good City, Vennture Brewing, 1840 Brewing

[DUNKS45]

Burger-Oscar's

Mexican -Tres Locos

Pizza - lallis thin crust and Grimaldis

Salsa- mine if course 

[MUfan12]

1) Third Space
2) Eagle Park
3) Lakefront (Best Tour)

Honorable Mentions: Black Husky, Good City, Vennture Brewing, 1840 Brewing

Agree with these. Vennture has a different vibe than the others, but they make solid beer. And Simon is a great dude, so you should visit.

[real chili 83]

Burger-Oscar's

Mexican -Tres Locos

Pizza - lallis thin crust and Grimaldis

Salsa- mine if course 

Does this salsa of yours have a web site?

[mu_hilltopper]

Does this salsa of yours have a web site?

FYI, the website listed on Sonoran's facebook page is not found/broken.

[rocket surgeon]

   Mexican-conehitos

   Custard-kopps, washed down with a double cheese “frisbee” burger

   Wings-hooters

   Chili-my Sunday afternoon special😬

   Prime rib-my Saturday night special😋

  MAC n cheese-east troy beer company!!
     My sister and bro-in-law just opened a beer pub in east troy, converted old bank building.  10 homemade beers on top with their signature root beer.  More to come.  Chef from Chicago, beer master from eagle Wisconsin the place is amazing(full disclosure above) 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
https://etbrew.com/     
     
   

[DUNKS45]

FYI, the website listed on Sonoran's facebook page is not found/broken.

I had it four years and didn't renew in 2017.

[mu_hilltopper]

... well then I just bought it.  Call me when you want it back.

[DUNKS45]

LOL, you've just moved into my top 5 scoopers. 

[mu_hilltopper]

Tell me the other 4, I will ban them and hello #1.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Tell me the other 4, I will ban them and hello #1.

82
Da Pontiff
Cheeks
Sand knit

[Spotcheck Billy]

Many of us would consider beer a food group.  Top 3 MKE breweries?  Must be able to visit, and either have a taproom and/or tour.

Lakefront
MKE
Raised Grain

Burgers - Capt. Mike's (Kenosha), Matty's Bar

Fish Fry - Steny's, Hideaway pub

Mexican fare - El Senorial, Samano's

Pizza - Marco's (27th St.), Pizzaria Scotty for their stuffed pizza

[Galway Eagle]

Best wings:
1. 911 tavern
2. Gabriel’s Gate
3. Bar Bill Tavern

Heresy to not include points east

[jficke13]

Heresy to not include points east

Maybe the absurd wait for wings at P.E. takes them down a notch. I swear they only cook one wing at a time there.

[cheebs09]

Maybe the absurd wait for wings at P.E. takes them down a notch. I swear they only cook one wing at a time there.

Have you been in the last few years after they expanded the kitchen? It feels like it goes much quicker. Although, I may just be programmed to accept the long wait time so don’t notice.

[mu03eng]

Burger's is definitely Oscar's followed by Jake's but a sleeper, in part because of the venue is Barnacle Bud's.

Brewery is definitely MKE for me both from a beer and tour standpoint....the new brewery they opened by Jackson's Blue Ribbon Pub is outstanding (Glass and Grittle). Underrated brewery is Biloba in Brookfield. Also really like City Lights as a venue and some really good beer.

I've been going to Lakefront since 2000 and is my all time favorite tour back in the day but is highly overrated in my opinion these days. Also think their new beers really aren't great....very fond of East Side Dark and Riverwest Stein but there isn't much beyond that that's good beer from them IMO.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I've been going to Lakefront since 2000 and is my all time favorite tour back in the day but is highly overrated in my opinion these days. Also think their new beers really aren't great....very fond of East Side Dark and Riverwest Stein but there isn't much beyond that that's good beer from them IMO.

Kinda agree about the Lakefront tours, I'm a bit tired of the L & S gag and the bunghole queen but I love the My Turn series more often than not and Fuel Café is up there with the 2 you mentioned. Very disappointed when they dropped the Big Easy, while it was a great doppel it was the dumbest name ever for a doppelbock - everyone knows a doppel name ends with "tor" and has nothing to do with NOLA.

Funny how much Sprecher seems to have dropped off locally, now Spotted Cow owns all of the former Special Amber tap handles.

[jficke13]

Have you been in the last few years after they expanded the kitchen? It feels like it goes much quicker. Although, I may just be programmed to accept the long wait time so don’t notice.

Probably not. Good to hear that they expanded the kitchen. The wait was mind-blowing back in the day.

[muwarrior69]

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Brooks Memorial Union

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Heresy to not include points east

You've never mentioned they were good before!

[Galway Eagle]

You've never mentioned they were good before!

I have an obsession. I have only ever had one other food that is truly perfect in flavour and spice and texture with a unique flavour that no other restaurant can replicate. I am just as obsessed with the other spot, if not more.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I have an obsession. I have only ever had one other food that is truly perfect in flavour and spice and texture with a unique flavour that no other restaurant can replicate. I am just as obsessed with the other spot, if not more.

Eatin' at the Y., aina?

[T-Bone]

Funny how much Sprecher seems to have dropped off locally, now Spotted Cow owns all of the former Special Amber tap handles.

For being a leader in Wisconsin as a microbrewery back in the 90s they seemed to have completely missed what was going on with the rest of the industry. 
I still love their root-beer though.

[cheebs09]

For being a leader in Wisconsin as a microbrewery back in the 90s they seemed to have completely missed what was going on with the rest of the industry. 
I still love their root-beer though.

I heard on the radio the Sprecher Pub in Bayshore is closing. Not owned by Sprecher but still probably not a good sign.

[MUfan12]

I heard on the radio the Sprecher Pub in Bayshore is closing. Not owned by Sprecher but still probably not a good sign.

Not a good sign for Bayshore.

Sprecher is fine with their model now. Soda makes up the vast majority of their sales.

[mu03eng]

I heard on the radio the Sprecher Pub in Bayshore is closing. Not owned by Sprecher but still probably not a good sign.

Bayshore is dying to be sure. Brookfield Square might be as well though the entertainment complex they are putting in there may save it (if you haven't done whirlyball yet you definitely should, so much fun).

[GGGG]

So is Mayfair the only mall left in the Milwaukee area that is in semi-decent shape?

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I heard on the radio the Sprecher Pub in Bayshore is closing. Not owned by Sprecher but still probably not a good sign.

The Madison area Sprechers closed too.  Franchise.   Think there is still one in the Dells.

[real chili 83]

Back in the late 80's we toured the fledgling Sprecher on a rainy Saturday morning. Tour took 20 minutes or so. Beer sampling lasted literally for four hours.  They were great hosts.  Beer was incredible.

Great memory with departed fellow '83 alum Greg Raffensperger.

[rocket surgeon]

The shopping zone referred to as 84 south is supposed to be the “in” thing now.  Good bye malls, hello big parking lots and store fronts.  I think, they think people would rather just pull up in front of the store of their choice, go in, maybe hit a few adjacent stores and get the flack out.  As opposed to going into a mall and, I don’t know, put a few steps on the ped?  Maybe the walkers took over or safety or...?  I know in Phoenix area the 84 south concept has been big but we’re talking nicer weather as opposed to 4-5 mos of doom n gloom

[GGGG]

Isn't the 84 South concept what was supposed to happen at Bayshore?  It will probably have a life cycle of 20 years like the rest of these things do.

[reinko]

Isn't the 84 South concept what was supposed to happen at Bayshore?  It will probably have a life cycle of 20 years like the rest of these things do.

Out here in in the Boston area, they too are popular, but the ones that seem to have a bit of staying are the ones anchored by a combination of housing (seems like most are rental props), a hotel, but I think the huge one is having a big employer on site.  One of the cities largest hospitals (MGH) opened up a campus at one of these outdoor malls, and it seems like having the shops/restaurants having access to these 1,000+ employees M-F, especially during the day is what makes the area viable.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Isn't the 84 South concept what was supposed to happen at Bayshore?  It will probably have a life cycle of 20 years like the rest of these things do.

It sounds like that IS the model for Bayshore going forward, heard talk of demolishing the enclosed mall completely and then they would probably add more housing there.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Not sure if it is still there but did anyone hit up the irish place Brocach? I always was a very big fan of their food. Had a great potato leek soup, but that category is a tad specific.

[MUfan12]

Not sure if it is still there but did anyone hit up the irish place Brocach? I always was a very big fan of their food. Had a great potato leek soup, but that category is a tad specific.

Long closed, but a British pub went in that space that has good bar food.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Not sure if it is still there but did anyone hit up the irish place Brocach? I always was a very big fan of their food. Had a great potato leek soup, but that category is a tad specific.

Careful, Brocach is Gaelic for Badger Den.

That said, I like the location on capital square in madtown.

[rocket surgeon]

Careful, Brocach is Gaelic for Badger Den.

That said, I like the location on capital square in madtown.

Speaking of da badgers, watched amir Coffey take em apart at the kole hole.  Man he woulda been a nice addition.  Maybe brendan can get game like him.  Meaning they are of similar sizes and body types...got that length ya can’t teach