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Photo Credit: Gabby Usinger
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2018 has been a pretty amazing year in the Milwaukee dining scene! Whether it's pokē you crave or chicken wings and pizza are more your thing, the city and surrounding area has a wide range of new options available.
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Snack Boys
A Toronto-style snack bar opened on Jan. 19 in the space that formerly housed All Purpose Bar & Kitchen. Snack Boys is an irreverent, fun-loving restaurant serving up a menu of snacks at all hours of the day. It’s headed up by a powerhouse group of Milwaukee restaurant and bar owners: Mitch Ciohon of Gypsy Taco, John Revord of Boone & Crockett and Shay Linkus formerly of The Vanguard. The centerpiece of the remodeled space is a mural of a naked Burt Reynolds reclining on a bearskin rug, showing customers immediately that this is a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The menu will consist of around a dozen small snacks that will allow diners to order a couple or many to make a full meal. Options might include noodle soufflé, fried brussels sprouts, and items like fresh oysters from a small raw bar. A full bar will include draft cocktails, stir drinks, a wine menu with a focus on rosé and a frozen alcoholic slushie complete with sparkles. Full review. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Shake N' Bake American Soul Kitchen
3432 W Silver Spring Dr., City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53209A new Southern food spot has opened Jan. 6 in the Thurston Woods neighborhood. Shake N’ Bake is a takeout-only restaurant located inside Hibo Foods on Silver Spring Drive. Owners Danicha Brown and Vishalla Davis learned to cook from family members and had hoped to open their own restaurant for years. The daily menu features Soul food and American favorites. Appetizers include mozzarella sticks ($4.99), cheese fries ($4.99) and whole chicken wings ($2.99 for 3 pieces to $38.99 for 50 pieces). Catfish ($10.99) and porkchop dinners ($8.99), burgers ($2.99-$3.49), and breakfast items like chicken and waffles ($4.99) are available. On Sunday, a Soul food buffet is offered with a rotating menu of items like smothered pork chops, collard greens and yams for $10.99, including one meat, two sides and cornbread. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Sze Chuan
A new Chinese restaurant opened in West Allis in January. Chefs and owners of Sze Chuan, Sun Yin and Luo Shungui, are both from Chengdu in the Sichuan province of China. The full-service restaurant joins a strip mall that also houses a Chinese grocer and bakery, making it a destination for Chinese in the city. The menu is large and spans from Chinese-American favorites like crab rangoon ($5.95 for 6 pieces) to more traditional dishes like map tofu with ground pork ($10.95). Dry pot and stone pot dishes, which encompass stews and stir fries, include duck wing dry pot ($13.95) and squid dry pot ($15.95). Cumin pork knuckle ($13.95) and fish in chili bean sauce ($23.95) can be found on the Sichuan special section of the menu. Hot pots with spicy or herb broth are available a la carte ($8-$10 for the broth) or as an all-you-can-eat option ($23.95). A full menu of meats such as homemade beef meatballs, seafood and vegetables can be ordered to cook in the boiling broth at the table. The flavor of the broth changes throughout the meal as diners add more items. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Kompali Taqueria
1205 E Brady St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202The owners of C-viche, Paco Villar and Karlos Soriano, have opened Kompali Taqueria in late January, a Tex-Mex restaurant, in the former Cempazuchi space on Brady Street. The space has been remodeled and modernized, with bright indigo walls and a mural depicting the tequila-making process on the wall behind the bar. The menu’s focus is mainly tacos, with a section of traditional Mexican tacos served on homemade corn tortillas called Paco’s tacos, and Karlos’ tacos, which include international flavors. Al pastor ($3) is cooked on a vertical spit with pineapple, while the lomo saltado taco ($3) is filled with Peruvian stir-fried beef. Tortas, appetizers and desserts like fried ice cream ($6) are also available. Our full review. (Lacey Muszynski)
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5
Rock Country MKE
A bar, restaurant and live music venue has opened in early February in the northwest corner of Milwaukee. Rock Country is located in the former Jokerz Comedy Club and shares an address with Silk, but it is located in a separate building. Owner Brian Ward of Ward’s House of Prime and Point Burger Bar books local Southern rock and country bands. The menu reflects the music, with various barbecue, chicken wing and fried chicken options. Kansas City-style pulled pork is available as a platter ($15) or sandwich ($10). That pulled pork also appears on nachos ($11.50) with the usual toppings. Nashville hot chicken comes in either a four-piece dinner ($16) with fries and slaw, or as chicken and waffles ($17.50). Frozen cocktails and a long list of whiskey and Scotch will keep concertgoers hydrated.
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Batches
401 E Erie St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202The pastry chef of DanDan, Jaceleen Latin-Kasper, opened a bakery just across the street from the restaurant on Feb. 13. Batches, a classic American bakery and café, serves cakes, pies, ice cream, sweet and savory pastries, breakfast and lunch items, and Anodyne coffee and espresso. The focus is on vintage American recipes with whimsical twists, plus a number of special diet recipes. The banana chocolate loaf ($2.50) with peanut butter icing is gluten free, and vegan as well as dairy cheesecake is available. Pizza babkas ($3.50) with pepperoni and tator tot casserole ($3.50) with sausage round out savory options. Homemade candy bars like their version of the O, Henry! with peanut, caramel and milk chocolate are also available. (Lacey Muszynski)
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7
Oak Barrel Public House
1033 N Old World 3rd St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203A pub and restaurant opened in the former Giovanni’s on Old World Third Street on Feb. 9. Oak Barrel Public House is the third restaurant on that stretch of Third Street for owner Bobby Wiltgen, who also runs Who’s on Third and Cantina. The space has been remodeled with exposed brick and bourbon oak barrels as a design element. The menu includes starters, burgers and sandwiches, tacos and pizza. Burgers are quarter-pound smashed patties, including the Signature Burger ($12.95) with cheddar, Swiss, bourbon bacon, caramelized onions and garlic aioli. Tacos, which can also be ordered as bowls, are inventive, like the Nashville Hot Chicken ($8.95) and vegetarian jackfruit carnitas ($8.95). (Another nod to vegetarians is the Impossible Burger ($15.95), a brand name patty that has been all the rage lately.) Pizzas are made with a crispy cracker crust. True to its name, the whiskey list is long, as is the craft beer and cocktail menu.
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Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli
A sandwich shop specializing in all things peanut butter and jelly opened in West Allis in late February. Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli grinds all their peanut and nut butters daily and sources their dozens of jams and jellies locally. Sandwiches range from simple to gourmet, and diners can choose to have their sandwiches toasted or grilled on 10 types of bread, including a gluten-free option. The Strawberry Lovers ($5.25) incorporates crunch honey-roasted peanut butter with strawberry jam and sliced strawberries for a classic combo. Grilled cheese and jelly ($4.25) includes your choice of jam or jelly grilled with sharp cheddar or American cheese. Two daily soups, coffee, tea and milkshakes are also available. (Lacey Muszynski)
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9
SportClub
A new sports bar opened Downtown on Feb. 28, in the former Blackthorn Pub location that has been long vacant. SportClub is owned by Mike Eitel, also the owner of Nomad World Pub, which already acts as a de facto sports bar for soccer fans. The fully renovated space boasts a long bar, stadium seating area, a concession stand window, shuffleboard and plenty of TVs in a vintage sports theme. The menu is brief and inspired by international street foods. Filipino style pork egg rolls ($5.95) are served with Thai chili dipping sauce, and a large sharable mezze platter ($21.95) is made up of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern salads, dips and snacks. A breakfast menu is served for those early morning soccer matches, along with 30 tap beers. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Oscar's Winner's Circle
3800 W. Burnham St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215The owners of Oscar’s Pub & Grill opened a sister restaurant on Mar. 19. Oscar’s Winner’s Circle takes its name from the building’s previous bar, the Winner’s Circle. The building has been completely remodeled in a modern vintage style with large windows, long bar and side patio. Though burgers are still the focus, the menu is different from the Pub location, with more Mexican and international influences. The Gordo Burger ($7.75) tops the half-pound burger patty with chicharron in salsa verde, bacon, cheese and avocado, while the MKE Burger ($7.75) is topped with bacon, fried cheese curds, fried pickles, smoked cheddar and a fried egg. Sandwiches, salads, appetizers are also available, with brunch to be added soon. Forty taps behind the bar are filled with mostly local brews. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Toast
A breakfast, brunch and lunch spot opened in the former Zak’s Café space on Mar. 5. Toast is a whimsical, playful space with bright orange accent walls and colorful plates and coffee mugs. The menu includes starters, griddled items, tacos, breakfast sandwiches and benedicts. The maple bacon cinnamon roll pull apart bread ($4.95) smothered with a maple bacon glaze is an early favorite. Benedicts come in three styles: classic, poblano steak, and crab ($9.95-$14.95). Pancake sliders ($13.95) use pancakes as the bread in sandwiches filled with eggs, bacon, beer cheese, hashbrowns and strawberry jam. A donut special is available daily, with flavors like Butterfinger and strawberry mango. (Lacey Muszynski)
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12
2Mesa Mexican Eatery
The chef and owner of Il Mito Trattoria e Enoteca in Wauwatosa and Zesti in Hartland opened a Mexican restaurant in the Martin Drive neighborhood near the Miller Brewery and Harley-Davidson headquarters on Mar. 29. 2Mesa has a modern Mexican menu that spans breakfast to dinner. Jalisco-style steak salad ($10.95), available at lunch, includes grilled steak, chorizo potatoes, pinto beans and panela cheese on mixed greens. Tacos are served with rice, beans and mixed greens and include braised lamb ($11.95) with mint pico de gallo. Mexican-style chicken schnitzel ($15.95) combines German and Mexican heritage with a creamy lime and serrano sauce, rice, beans and wilted spinach. (Lacey Muszynski)
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13
Fish Cheeks
6818 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213A sushi-and-seafood restaurant finally opened in Wauwatosa in early April after being proposed almost five years ago. Fish Cheeks’ owners John and Lori Steiner previously ran a sushi restaurant in Oconomowoc until 2007 and ran into a number of hurdles with this project. Sushi rolls are the focus of the menu, ranging from simple vegetarian rolls to specialty rolls like the lobster roll ($18). Appetizers like pork gyoza ($7) and seafood entrées like black cod with miso ($22) join beef tenderloin, chicken, shrimp and scallop hibachi dinners ($18-$26, prepared in the kitchen) on the dinner menu.
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14
Cocina 1022
1022 S 1st St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204A Mexican restaurant opened in the former Chez Jacques building in Walker’s Point in early April. Cocina 1022 is owned by the current operators of Jalisco on North Avenue—Kevin Lopez and his mother, Judith Figueroa. The menu includes Mexican staples, like various tortas ($7-$8) at lunch, tacos ($2.50-$3) with fillings like pork al pastor, shrimp with garlic and tequila, and lengua. At dinner, the molcajete ($15-$27) with various meats and vegetables is a centerpiece, along with a richly colored chicken mole ($13). Side choices go beyond rice and refried beans, including frijoles charros, papas con chorizo and esquite, a creamy corn street food. Full review. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Belli's Bistro + Spirits
A restaurant serving Southern-inspired dishes opened in the former Pastiche space in Bay View in late March. Belli’s relies partially on family recipes of the owner, Charmice Dodson, who previously ran a catering business. The menu includes appetizers like whole chicken wings ($10) in one of five flavors and loaded fries ($9-$14) with cheese, bacon and sour cream. Shrimp and grits ($14) are topped with poblano cream sauce, and blackened or fried catfish ($14) is served with sides like macaroni and cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus. Weekly steak and seafood specials are also offered. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Pizza Di Famiglia
A New York-style pizza spot moved into a former Jimmy Johns in Bay View in early April. Pizza Di Famiglia is owned by Besart Bajrami who is originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. The shop serves pizza by the slice as well as whole pies, salads and calzones for takeout or dining in. Pizzas come in 14- and 18-inch sizes. Grandma’s ($16.49-$20.49) is based on a family recipe and includes multiple cheeses, basil, garlic and tomato sauce. Chicken bacon ranch ($15.99-$19.99) and macaroni and cheese ($12.49-$15.99) are less traditional options. Stromboli ($9.49) are 15 inches long and include one topping—or add more for a few more bucks. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Point Burger Bar (New Berlin)
A family burger restaurant and bar opened in New Berlin on Apr. 11 in the former Quaker State & Lube building. This is the fourth area location for Point Burger Bar, which originally opened in 2015 on the Northwest side of Milwaukee. The menu is centered on an extensive build-your-own burger selection, including lamb ($12.95+) and bison ($14.95+) in addition to the traditional beef patty. Sandwiches, wraps, appetizers and salads complete the menu.
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Photo Credit: Gabby Usinger
Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria
249 N Water St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202A global street food restaurant and tequilaria opened on Apr. 25 in the former Water Buffalo in the Third Ward. Blue Bat Kitchen is run by Hospitality Democracy, the same restaurant group that ran Water Buffalo. The space has been refreshed with new flooring, furniture and décor with warm wood, exposed brick and agave plant motifs. The menu consists of appetizers, bowls, salads and tacos. Flavors are eclectic, with options like sweet corn hush puppies ($6.50), a Moroccan cauliflower bowl ($12) with golden raisins and harissa, and tacos with fillings from smoked brisket ($3.75) with Alabama white barbecue sauce to Baja ($3.75) with fried fish and cilantro slaw. The tequila and mezcal menu includes more than 150 varieties, including flights ($18-$21) and a variety of cocktails. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Maru Sushi
Kanpai opened a second location in early May in the former Izumi’s building on the East Side. The space has been fully remodeled with a modern aesthetic and plans are in the works to build a patio, though that will likely not be open until late this year. The menu at Kanpai 2 is the same as the original location with a focus on maki and sashimi with appetizers and entrées from the kitchen. (Lacey Muszynski)
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Char'd
222 E Erie St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202A new restaurant moved into the former Hinterland space in the Third Ward in the middle of May. Char’d is an upscale modern Korean restaurant run by executive chef Yosub Yoon, who has worked all over the globe, including in Seoul. For lunch, the sleek restaurant operates as a casual café with an abbreviated menu along with coffee, tea and smoothies. At night, a full menu and bar is offered with a focus on the grill and ssam portion of the menu. Meats, like beef bulgogi ($25), are served on sizzling lava stones along with vegetables and dipping sauces, plus a basket of leafy greens for assembling wraps. There are also small plates and other entrées, including Korean fried chicken wings ($12), short ribs and bone marrow ($35) with potatoes, pickles and sweet potato purée, and steamed pork dumplings ($6). (Lacey Muszynski)
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