Barnacle Buds
African Restaurant
Ethiopian Cottage
1824 N. Farwell Ave.
414-224-5226
Along with one of this year’s runners-up, Alem, Ethiopian Cottage is among the few places north of Chicago offering injera, a soft crepe-like sourdough bread serving as plate, utensil and the meal itself. Tasty East African stews are arrayed atop thin slabs of injera and scooped up with pieces of the bread, which is eaten along with the entrée. The consume-it-all custom of devouring the fork and plate along with the food has a strong appeal. (David Luhrssen)
Runners-up:
Club Timbuktu
Alem Ethiopian Village
Bar Food
Sobelman’s Pub and Grill
Multiple locations
Bar food can mean many things and Sobelman’s has added a few twists to the expected lineup. Cheese balls? You can order them plain, or with jalapeños, or go for the broccoli cheddar bites or the gouda mac’n cheese bites instead. Chicken wings? Sobelman’s has them, but how about those spring rolls or wonton-wrapped mozz sticks? Still hungry? The burgers are great and the bloody marys are a meal in their own right. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Bar Louie
Who’s on Third
Breakfast
The Original Pancake House
Multiple locations
Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When you’re about to dig into a towering stack of fluffy pancakes at the Original Pancake House, you may think breakfast is the most delicious meal of the day instead. The options start with simple, classic buttermilk pancakes with loads of butter and syrup. From there things get much more creative. Coconut, Hawaiian, bacon, Georgia pecan and perfectly prepared, thin Swedish pancakes are just some of the other varieties served up at the Original Pancake house. Not to be missed are the exquisite house specialty baked apple pancake and light, airy Dutch Baby. (Susan Harpt Grimes)
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Runners-up:
Comet Café
Café Benelux
Simple Café
Brew Pub
Fish Fry
Lakefront Brewery
1872 N. Commerce St.
414-372-8800
A traditional Milwaukee fish fry with all of the fixings, delicious beer and lively polka music—that’s what you’ll get in Lakefront Brewery’s Beer Hall on Friday nights. It's a winning combination chock full of gemütlichkeit. Lakefront’s daily menu is full of hometown pride, using local foods like perch from Growing Power; cheese curds from Clock Shadow Creamery; and sausages from Johnsonville, Usinger’s and Klement’s. Also, consider taking the $7 tour of Lakefront’s facility. It’s a lot of fun and moderately educational, plus you get four tokens to redeem for samples and a free pint glass. (S.H.G.)
Runners-up Brew Pub:
Water Street Brewing Company
St. Francis Brewery
Runners-up Fish Fry:
American Serb Hall
Three Lions Pub
Brunch
Blue’s Egg
317 N. 76th St.
414-299-3180
Every popular brunch spot has one or two must-try items that make it worth the trip, be it killer French toast or an especially fluffy omelet. But at Blue’s Egg, a Wauwatosa hotspot specializing in breakfast and brunch, nearly everything on the menu is a destination item, from the addictive monkey bread to the savory smoked salmon crepes, the specialty eggs benedicts (made with pulled ham, corned beef or beefsteak tomatoes) and the hulking platters of stuffed hashbrowns. It’s no wonder people line up every weekend to score a table. (Evan Rytlewski)
Runners-up:
Café Benelux
Trocadero Gastrobar
Buffet
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
1721 W. Canal St.
414-847-7882
The Potawatomi complex in the Menomonee River Valley is becoming a self-contained world with its own hotel, concert hall, theater venue, bars and a selection of good places to eat—in addition to the ambient hum of casino gambling. Potawatomi has also become one of Milwaukee’s favorite places for a buffet with its all-you-can-eat extravaganza covering all food groups and most continents. You call it: pizza or crab legs, tacos or fruit? It’s all there, and much, much more. (Morton Shlabotnik)
Runners-up:
Maharaja
Fushimi
Burgers
Frozen Custard Stand
Kopp’s Frozen Custard
Multiple locations
Kopp’s puts unique flair into fast food, from the unusual deconstructed architecture of their outlets to the changing array of frozen custard and, of course, those delicious burgers. Milwaukee has become a tough town to please when it comes to that most-American of comfort foods, the hamburger; there are many excellent venues to choose from, as seen in the competitive runners-up list. Unlike many burger contenders, Kopp’s is not a bar—it’s a family place and has beautiful courtyards for outdoor eating in warm weather. (M.S.)
Runners-up Burgers:
Sobelman’s Pub and Grill
Elsa’s on the Park
Hamburger Mary’s
Mozzaluna Pizzeria & Ristorante
Runners-up Frozen Custard:
Leon’s
Gillies
Burrito
Café Corazon
3129 N. Bremen St.
414-810-3941
Mexican is rarely thought of as health food, but of course there’s more to Mexican cuisine than just the cheese-slathered combo platters that are so popular around these parts. Riverwest’s Café Corazon specializes in lighter Mexican fare, emphasizing fresh ingredients and bold flavors. It’s the kind of place where you get seasoned black beans instead of the usual refried beans, and a side of salad with your burrito. Nearly everything can be made vegan with sautéed vegetables, tofu or spicy soy chorizo. Corazon is also a popular brunch spot on the weekends, offering an assortment of breakfast tacos and hefty breakfast burritos that’ll leave even the hungriest diners full until dinner. (E.R.)
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Runners-up:
BelAir Cantina
Jalisco
Caribbean Restaurant
Central/South American Restaurant
Cubanitas
728 N. Milwaukee St.
414-225-1760
Sure, you can get a fantastic Cuban sandwich at this Caribbean restaurant, but there’s so much more on the menu to enjoy in this cozy spot with Spanish colonial décor. Cuban guacamole and crisp plantain chips are ever popular, as are picadillo empanadas and ropa vieja with Creole sauce. Don’t skip washing it all down with a fruity mojito filled with fresh mint or a daiquiri, a favorite of Ernest Hemingway. (Lacey Muszynski)
Runners-up Caribbean Restaurant:
Irie Palace Authentic Jamaican Restaurant
Painted Parrot
Runners-up Central/South American Restaurant:
El Salvador
Antigua
Kasana
Cheap Eats
George Webb
Multiple locations
Milwaukee has seen many diners, hash houses and hamburger joints come and go since 1948, when the first George Webb opened in Downtown Milwaukee. Sixty-six years later, the nothing-fancy local chain had made some changes to the menu, adding fish and other more health-conscious items to its burger-and-breakfast menu. Webb is a Milwaukee institution. Who can forget their promise to give away meals if the Brewers won 12 straight league games—or the bizarre presence of two clocks (set one minute apart) in each venue. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Pizza Shuttle
Mozzaluna Pizzeria & Ristorante
Chicken Wings
Points East Pub
1501 N. Jackson St.
414-277-0122
There’s almost always a wait for wings at this small corner bar. The kitchen is small and the crowds are large, but that’s alright because the basket of wings you’ll receive will be worth it. This is one of the few places that grills their wings, leaving them with small bits of crunchy char and a smoky flavor that fried wings lack. The requisite celery will help you feel slightly less guilty about making an entire meal of spicy chicken wings. (Lisa Miller)
Runners-up:
Who’s on Third
Pizza Shuttle
Chinese Restaurant
New China Buffet
Multiple Locations
New China Buffet offers what most folks are seeking in a Chinese buffet: lots of food in a clean atmosphere with the usual egg foo young and fried rice plus a few surprises, including crawfish and rice water. Chinese music purrs softly in the background as servers keep the steam trays filled and remove the spent dishes from your table. Time for another trip to the line! (M.S.)
Runners-up:
Jing’s
Fortune
Coffee Shop
Colectivo Coffee
Multiple Locations
414-273-3747
With 12 cafés in the Greater Milwaukee area (and one in Madison), Colectivo is well loved for its wonderful variety of high-quality coffee and tea, Troubadour bakery, sandwiches and treats, as well as its small selection of craft beer. In addition to being a safe haven to hatch ideas, write novels, create art, share conversation, listen to music and get work done, Colectivo gives back to the community by partnering with and donating to local nonprofits. Three cheers for this multifaceted coffee shop. (Amanda Sullivan)
Runners-up:
Anodyne Coffeehouse
Brewed Café
Donuts
Honeydip Donuts
Multiple locations
Donuts have received a makeover in recent years, with trendy bakeries putting high-concept spins on this longtime blue-collar snack of choice. But as good as some of these new designer donuts are, it’s hard to beat a simple, old-fashioned donut. The no-frills local chain Honeydip Donuts sells great ones for next to nothing, making them fresh at all hours of the day (or night, in the case of Honeydip’s 24-hour location at 5306 S. 27th St.). They may not win you any foodie points, but they’re cheap, tasty and convenient. (E.R.)
Runners-up:
Cranky Al’s
Holey Moley
Farm-to-Table Restaurant (Locally Sourced)
Beans & Barley
1901 E. North Ave.
414-278-7878
Beans & Barley were well into the farm-to-table movement—long before anyone coined the term “farm to table.” For decades, B&B has been at the lead in serving nutritious, natural food, both on the menu of their strikingly contemporary restaurant and in the bakery, deli and grocery selections. Prices are affordable. The dining room is a great place to people watch and boasts a rotating selection of local art on the walls as well as locally sourced food on the table. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Odd Duck
Wolf Peach
French Restaurant
Restaurant with a View
Romantic Restaurant
Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro
3133 E. Newberry Blvd.
414-962-6300
Looking for exquisite French food with a view? There is only one place to go, Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro. Perched atop the bluff in beautiful Lake Park, the Bistro has been serving classically prepared French dishes in a relaxed setting for nearly 20 years. The food, service and wine have never faltered in all that time. Go for a simple glass of vino at the bar with an order of Moules Marinieres (steamed mussels.) Or, enjoy the view from the window-lined dining room and order a gourmet multi-course dinner. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. (S.H.G.)
Runners-up French Restaurant:
Le Rêve Patisserie & Café
Chez Jacques
Runners-up Restaurant with a View:
Barnacle Bud’s
Screaming Tuna
Café Benelux
Runners-up Romantic Restaurant
Bacchus
The Nobel
Frozen Yogurt Shop
Yo Mama!
Multiple locations
Yo Mama! now boasts three locations, and it’s easy to see why the 3-year-old company is such a success. Offering 10 frozen yogurt flavors daily, 35 toppings and a host of beverages and Simma’s Bakery pastries, Yo Mama! is a sweets lover’s dream. Watching your diet? Don’t worry, Yo Mama! has you covered—most yogurts served have zero fat and each day’s selection features a no-sugar option and dairy-free sorbet. There’s really no excuse—grab a cup and start creating! (Selena Milewski)
Runners-up :
MyYoMy!
Daddy Yo’s
Gelato Shop
La Coppa Gelato
Bayshore Town Center
5675 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale
414-763-8582
La Coppa Gelato, which opened in 2012 in Glendale and now has Madison locations as well, offers authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto made from scratch onsite daily with the freshest fruits and all-natural ingredients. The gelateria, run by Brookfield’s Art Sawall and Italian brothers Maurizio and Alfredo Lincetto (second-generation Gelato Grand Masters), offers more than 30 silky flavors and a grand assortment of signature gelato creations, including cakes. No wonder Milwaukee voted them best. (A.S.)
Runners-up:
Divino Gelato
Cold Spoons Gelato
German Restaurant
Mader’s
1041 N. Old World Third St.
414-271-3377
Dine under a splendid wrought-iron chandelier near a suit of medieval armor and drink German beer from a ceramic mug. This is the Mader’s experience. At the menu’s heart are the German specialties that made Mader’s famous, including sauerbraten, schnitzel and sausages made by a neighboring Milwaukee treasure, Usinger’s. Lunch offers great value and the quality is the same as at dinner. (Jeff Beutner)
Runners-up:
Karl Ratzsch’s
Café Bavaria
Gourmet Restaurant
Sanford
1547 N. Jackson St.
414-276-9608
For nearly 25 years, Sanford restaurant has been consistently known for outstanding, exquisitely prepared gourmet food. Sanford’s kitchen, captained by not one, but two award-winning chefs, has turned out some of the most beautiful dishes in Milwaukee. First Sandy D’Amato and now Justin Aprahamian have raised the bar of local culinary expectations. The intimate restaurant, top-notch service and elegant food will likely continue to impress patrons for many years to come. (S.H.G.)
Runners-up:
The Noble
c. 1880
Greek Restaurant
Oakland Gyros
Multiple Locations
One of Milwaukee’s favorite counter-service restaurants offers gyros and shish-kebob sandwiches, spinach pie, Greek salads and even plain old cheeseburgers. The lamb shank features a large piece of tender, flavorful meat in a brown sauce, served with warm pita, black olives, feta and choice of fries or salad. The original Oakland Gyros benefited from its location near the UW-Milwaukee campus and on the same block as a popular bar, Axel’s. The formula was so successful that Oakland Gyros has replicated itself on the South Side with name and menu intact. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Mykonos
Apollo Café
Cosmos Café
Ouzo Café
The PeachTree
Hot Dog
The Dogg Haus
Multiple locations
Did you go to Marquette? Then you know all about The Dogg Haus. What started as a late-night staple for the bar crowd on Brady has expanded to serve hordes of hungry students on campus and Downtown office workers. Vienna Beef dogs are topped Chicago style, with chili, slaw or any number of good things. For something that will really fill you up, try the Italian beef and sausage combo or the deep-fried Polish sausage. (L.M.)
Runners-up:
Sammy’s Taste of Chicago
Martino’s
Mike’s Red Hots
Hotel Restaurant
Pfister Hotel Restaurants
424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
414-273-8222
Little wonder the historic Pfister took the prize with the many options it offers, for guests as well as discerning locals. There’s the elegant martini bar, Blu, “the 23rd-floor gem in the sky;” contemporary chic of Mason Street Grill; the Old World elegance of The Rouge with its magnificent Sunday buffet; the snappy breakfasts and lunches at the Café at the Pfister; weekend high tea on the 23rd floor; and even a spectacular lounge in the lobby, where food from the Café can be enjoyed. (M.S.)
Runners-up:
Café at the Plaza
Envoy (Ambassador Hotel)
Indian-Pakistani Restaurant
Maharaja
1550 N. Farwell Ave.
414-276-2250
For many Milwaukeeans, Maharaja was an early introduction to Indian food and remains a mainstay for its lavish lunch buffet. In recent years the interior underwent a welcome facelift and the menu has been tweaked, but Milwaukee’s longest-running Indian restaurant continues to draw crowds on the strength of its food. As for that buffet: Not only will you not leave hungry, but most of us will be unable to find room to taste every item. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Taste of India
Bombay Sweets
Anmol
Italian Restaurant
Ristorante Bartolotta
Twenty-one years ago Ristorante Bartolotta opened in the old heart of Wauwatosa inside a late-19th-century Cream City brick former Pabst tavern. The Bartolotta restaurant group has grown extensively over the years and includes some of this area’s finest dining venues such as Bacchus, Lake Park Bistro and Mr. B’s Steakhouse. The most recent additions are the Joey Gerard’s supper clubs in Mequon and Greendale. But the original Ristorante remains the most charming with cozy and intimate seating—a destination for superbly prepared Italian cuisine. (J.B.)
Runners-up:
IL MITO
Calderone Club
Japanese Restaurant
Delivery Menu
Sushi
Kiku
200 W. Wisconsin Ave.
414-270-1988
Visit Kiku and you’ll see constant reminders that they’ve won these awards before. Year after year Shepherd readers make clear their affinity for this Wisconsin Avenue sushi hub, where the rolls are plump, the menu is vast and the deals are abundant. The kitchen is open late, too, making this a convenient destination for some sake and yellowtail rolls after catching a show Downtown. (E.R.)
Runners-up Japanese:
Izumi’s
Kanpai
Runners-up Delivery Menu:
NYPD
Mozzaluna Pizzeria & Ristorante
Runners-up Sushi:
Umami Moto
Kanpai
Jewish/Kosher-Style Restaurant
Jake’s Deli
Multiple locations
For decades Jake’s Deli sat at 1634 W. North Ave., untouched by time, but in recent years the business has expanded aggressively, introducing new locations in the Grand Avenue and Southridge malls and serving at farmers markets, summer festivals, Bucks games and other area events. That’s great news for local corned beef and pastrami enthusiasts, because Jake’s heaping sandwiches remain some of the very best in the state: heavily seasoned and a good deal juicier than you’ll find almost anywhere else. Just as tasty are the deli’s homemade matzo ball and corned beef and cabbage soups, the epitome of Jewish comfort food. (E.R.)
Runner-up:
Benji’s
Kitchen Open After 10 p.m.
Ma Fischer’s
2214 N. Farwell Ave.
414-271-7424
Regardless of how hungover you are, Ma’s gigantic menu can help you sate just about any craving. You can get the requisite eggs, waffles and pancakes, as well as big, cheesy omelets, but Ma’s also serves a full menu 24 hours a day—that means you can get Greek, Italian and even Mexican dinner specials at 9 in the morning. Whatever you order, it’s bound to fill you up since Ma’s super-sized portions dwarf your standard diner fare. Smart drinkers in the North Avenue area instinctively learn to head to Ma’s for breakfast just after bar time, since a full stomach can help them avoid a hangover in the first place. (M.S.)
Runners-up:
Kiku
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
Korean Restaurant
Sake Tumi
714 N. Milwaukee St.
414-224-7253
Sake Tumi’s centerpiece is a long sushi bar that dominates the dining area. The dining room remains one of the most attractive for local East Asian dining. Sake Tumi’s original menu was a pioneer in Asian fusion, offering a few Korean items along with Japanese cuisine. That tradition continues, as today’s menu expands its options for Korean food and adds some Chinese dishes as well. The bar offers sake and a nice selection of beers. The wine list is especially good for a Japanese/Korean restaurant, with about 40 choices from around the world. Despite considerable competition, Sake Tumi remains a top pick for its setting, its specialty maki sushis and its Korean barbecue. (J.B.)
Runner-up:
Stone Bowl Grill
Louisiana/Southern Restaurant
Maxie’s Southern Comfort
6732 W. Fairview Ave.
414-292-3969
Maxie’s has been serving up Cajun and Southern fare for seven years, taking up two floors of a duplex-like building in a residential neighborhood. Décor is Southern-style bling, with red walls and sparkling chandeliers at the bars. Seafood and barbecue are the way to go here, including fresh oysters on the half shell, shrimp and grits with tasso, and smoked ribs with mac ’n’ cheese. You better save room for dessert though, especially the homemade banana chocolate coconut cream pie. (L.M.)
Runners-up:
Palomino
Ashley’s Que
Mr. Perkins’ Family Restaurant
Mexican Restaurant
Taco
BelAir Cantina
Multiple locations
BelAir Cantina has become known for many things, including an enormous array of tequila and many unique spins on familiar Mexican dishes. You’ve never seen huevos rancheros served this way in Milwaukee! The field of locally owned Mexican restaurants is crowded, with many excellent venues to chose from. BelAir offers casual settings, friendly servers, good food at reasonable cost and outdoor seating when the weather is warm. (M.S.)
Runners-up Mexican Restaurant:
Café Corazon
Jalisco
Runners-up Taco:
Café Corazon
Taqueria Arandas
Middle Eastern Restaurant
Casablanca
728 E. Brady St.
414-271-6000
Even before it added a second floor with a veranda overlooking Brady Street, Casablanca was a bright spot in local dining, not only for its vegetarian buffet and its omnivorous Sunday brunch buffet, but also for its extensive menu of Near Eastern delicacies. The bar is a comfortable hideaway. Hookahs are available as well. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Shahrazad
Shawarma House
Outdoor Dining
Barnacle Bud’s
1955 S. Hilbert St.
414-481-9974
Long before restaurants opened along Downtown’s River Walk, Barnacle Bud’s was pouring drinks and serving food on the banks of the Kinnickinic River. It’s on Hilbert Street, which only runs for two blocks. The highlight is a large outdoor deck that overlooks the Kinnickinnic. The restaurant features a small bar where you can order bottles of beer served in buckets of ice. The menu offers casual fare, mainly sandwiches and a few seafood baskets. The Friday fish fry features catfish, smelt, cod and grouper. Indoors you will find a table with all of the fixings for a customized, do-it-yourself bloody mary. It should come as no surprise that the deck is busy in good weather. This is one of Milwaukee’s best summer spots. (J.B.)
Runners-up:
Café Benelux
Wolf Peach
Pizza (Local)
Zaffiro’s Pizza
1724 N. Farwell Ave.
414-289-8776
The taste is distinctive and good. The very thin crust has a delicate flavor. The tomato sauce is lightly sweet-spicy, toppings are generously applied and the cheese isn’t drippy. This pizza feels healthy. Zaffiro’s Cocktail Lounge and Dining Room is a two-room place with no pretentions. First, a bar, a juke box and a couple electronic games; second, a cozy dining room with red-and-white checked tablecloths, wood paneling and white plaster with Italy’s red and green colors applied to the ceiling, molding and trim. “Since 1954,” says the sign. The menu has many Italian dishes and lots of wines. Delivery, including lunch, is available daily. (John Schneider)
Runners-up:
Transfer Pizzeria Café
Classic Slice
Ribs
Smoke Shack
332 N. Milwaukee St.
414-431-1119
Ribs are a food most non-vegetarians have an opinion about. Falling off the bone or well-smoked, dry rub or wet, sweet sauce or spicy, baby back or spare ribs. Whatever your preference, the Smoke Shack ribs will make most folks very happy. They offer both Berkshire spare ribs and baby back ribs, smoked to perfection—not quite falling off the bone, but very tender. The meat is smoked with a dry rub, but they offer five house-made gluten-free sauces to allow everyone the ability to sauce they way want. (S.H.G.)
Runners-up:
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
Ashley’s Que
Sandwich
Suburpia
Multiple locations
Submarine sandwiches were a rumor in Milwaukee until the early ’70s. Suburpia was one of the pioneers at a time when their menu was a good cure for the munchies and their clever radio ads were sung by the then-unknown John Belushi. Suburpia still offers the Davey Jones (tuna), Reuben James (corned beef), Gold Coast (ham) and Miles Standish (turkey). Served on a sub-shaped bun loaded with cheese, mayo and chopped salad in a tangy dressing, the subs are so heavily loaded that the filling tends to slide out of the buns. (M.S.)
Runners-up:
Love Handle
Mozzaluna Pizzeria & Ristorante
Seafood Restaurant
Harbor House
550 N. Harbor Drive
414-395-4900
Dining on the shore of Lake Michigan in the Harbor House’s well-appointed, airy restaurant, it’s easy to forget you’re not on the East Coast. The only thing missing is a tang of salty sea air. Happily the seafood is just as fresh as what’s found along the Atlantic shore. The well-maintained raw bar, fresh Maine lobster and fat sea scallops will cure any longing you may feel for the ocean. And the rainbow trout and Great Lakes walleye make you feel right at home. (S.H.G.)
Runners-up:
St. Paul Fish Company
Twisted Fisherman
Barnacle Bud’s
Soul Food Restaurant
Ashley’s Que
124 W. National Ave.
414-276-7666
The original Ashley’s is an inner city venue offering only carryouts. Ashley’s Que sports a Walker’s Point location with many tables and a bar. The specialty is barbecue and Ashley’s has one of the best spicy and tangy sauces around. The pulled pork, rib tips and chicken are the best though a very good fried chicken is served too. Also consider the shrimp and grits. Sandwiches are also available but barbecue is king here. (J.B.)
Runners-up:
Coffee Makes You Black
Mr. Perkins’ Family Restaurant
Soup
Soup Brothers
209 W. Florida St.
414-270-1040
Occupying a small storefront in Walker’s Point, Soup Brothers is a small hole-in-the-wall shop with a serious reputation for consistently serving the best soup, sandwiches and homemade bread in the city. Each day between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Soup Bros. offers customers a selection of vegetarian and meat soups. Although the short menu changes nearly every day, crowd favorites like red pepper bisque can frequently be found scrawled on the dingy chalkboard. In anticipation of the chilling temperatures, the restaurant will begin its extended winter hours just in time for soup season. (Maddy Kennedy)
Runners-up:
The Soup House
The Soup Otzie’s
Steakhouse
Restaurant Service
Supper Club
Five O’Clock Steakhouse
2416 W. State St.
414-342-3553
Between its retro décor and quirky ordering system, the Five O’Clock Steakhouse offers a unique dining experience. Diners order at the bar while enjoying a pre-meal drink. When they arrive at their table, their salad will be waiting for them, along with fresh sourdough bread and a full relish tray. Though the menu offers seafood, lamb and pork, the steaks are the no-brainer here. They’re cooked on high heat so even the rarest orders develop a phenomenal char that seals in the juices, then topped with butter sautéed mushrooms. The décor may be outdated, but these steaks are timeless. (E.R.)
Runners-up Steakhouse:
Eddie Martini’s
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
Runners-up Restaurant Service:
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
Kiku
Runners-up Supper Club:
Joey Gerard’s
Jackson Grill
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
Street Food Vendor
Roll MKE
262-442-0062
Chad Rittgers, owner and chef of Roll MKE, says the idea to share his love of cooking via a food truck struck on New Year’s Eve 2012. After driving his newly acquired Florida truck 1,400-plus miles back to Wisconsin, renovating it and applying its black-and-red design, Roll MKE hit the streets in May 2013, and Milwaukeeans are now crazy about Rittgers’ signature gourmet sandwiches. For $8, you receive one of the truck’s handcrafted sandwiches, house-cut sea-salted fries and a drink. The menu changes on a regular basis, with offerings including pork belly sliders, brisket grilled cheese, spicy black bean burger, stuffed portabella and bruschetta chicken. Locate Roll MKE by following them on Facebook or Twitter, @RollMKE. (A.S.)
Runners-up:
Streetza Pizza
Fast Foodie
Tapas
La Merenda
125 E. National Ave.
414-389-0125
La Merenda is a gem among Milwaukee restaurants, a place where customers can spend an evening over drinks and conversation as the small plates keep coming. The menu evolves over time but the accent has always been international, while the sourcing is as local as possible. Vegetarians will find many options; carnivores, definitely try the Argentine beef. The place is cozy in winter and has added outdoor parking for summer. La Merenda abounds in small touches, including craft-made tonic water for cocktails. Dinner reservations are essential, as the place gets busy. (D.L.)
Runners-up:
Odd Duck
Balzac
Tea Room
The Watts Tea Shop
761 N. Jefferson St.
414-290-5720
Located in the historic East Town building that also houses George Watts & Sons china shop, the Watts Tea Room offers an impressively authentic English tea experience that everyone should try once. Afternoon tea comes with an assortment of canapés, fruit and pastries, or if you’re feeling particularly peckish, try the Door County cherry-stuffed French toast for breakfast (9 a.m.-11 a.m.) or the Watts’ classic chicken potpie for lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) Whatever you choose, Milwaukeeans have spoken that Watts doesn’t disappoint. (A.S.)
Runners-up:
Tochi
Thai Restaurant
The King & I
830 N. Old World Third St.
414-276-4181
Most of Milwaukee’s Thai restaurants are decidedly casual, but the King & I remains a favorite for diners who prefer a touch of formality with their pad Thai. The dining room is elegant and the service is sharp, and while the kitchen won’t skimp on the spice for those who request it, diners with less daring palates will find plenty to enjoy on this large menu of noodles, curries, soups, stir fries and seafood. Try the lunch buffet on weekdays for $8.95. (E.R.)
Runners-up:
Thai-Namite
EE-Sane
Vegetarian Friendly Restaurant
Riverwest Co-op & Café
733 E. Clarke St.
414-264-7933
The Café grew out of the grocery co-op 10 years ago, and has been at the forefront of refuting the old lie that healthy isn’t tasty when it comes to food. The menu is all vegan or vegetarian, made largely with organic and local ingredients—down to the bakery, soups and desserts. Sandwiches are excellent. The Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Brunch is served on weekends. (M.S.)
Runners-up:
Ethiopian Cottage
Kiku
Vietnamese Restaurant
Hue
2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
414-294-0483
This is a golden age for Vietnamese cuisine in Milwaukee. Over the last six or seven years, Vietnamese restaurants have sprung up all across the city, and most of them make good on their promise of delivering a mighty tasty bowl of pho. None of these newcomers, however, are as quite as inviting as Hue, a cozy Bay View lounge with a lightly Americanized take on Vietnamese cuisine. That means you won’t find any tripe on the menu, but you will find a great wine and beer selection and an assortment of thoughtful rice and noodle dishes, as well as vegetarian and chicken pho alternatives for soup lovers trying to steer clear of red meat. (E.R.)
Runner-up:
Phan’s Garden
Wine List
Pizza Man
2597 N. Downer Ave.
414-272-1745
The word “list” doesn’t begin to do justice to Pizza Man’s wine selection. The restaurant’s wine menu is literally a binder, running 12 pages and featuring hundreds of wines at all price points from all over the world. It’s a permanent work in progress, with new wines added each month. Pizza Man also offers eight wines on tap, as if its overstocked cellar wasn’t selection enough. (E.R.)
Runners-up:
The Ruby Tap
Five O’Clock Steakhouse
Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue
