1. Camino
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
One of the dirty little secrets of great cheese curds in Milwaukee is that most of our favorites are working with the same raw materials: Clock Shadow Creamery curds. My fave, Camino, also uses them, dressing these salty, stretchy nugs in a perfect light batter and serving them with a delicious Russian dressing.
2. West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
LIZ LINTONEN, EDITORIAL INTERN
My fav cheese curds are from the West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shoppe, specifically the location in the Public Market. Perfect balance, great sides and you can’t beat the vibes!
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Lakefront Brewery
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER
I was all set to dismiss fried cheese curds, and then I tasted Lakefront’s. Who can resist?
4. Lakefront Brewery (again!)
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I’ll build on Carole’s suggestion of Lakefront above (also a Clock Shadow place!) and note that their Curd Flavor of the Week (every Thursday) is a ton of fun, and some of the weird-sounding flavor combinations (i.e. s’mores) are actually legit good, not just “interesting.”
5. Culver’s
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I’ve heard mixed opinions from others on these, but I personally adore Culver’s cheese curds. They’re not too gooey (I don’t like gooey.), they’re the perfect size and they have the best outer crunch. I love ordering them as my side in the drive-through and then eating them in the car before I get home. Delicious and a fun ritual, the perfect combo.
6. Dairyland
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
My mainstay is Dairyland at 3rd Street Market Hall. They use fresh Clock Shadow curds battered in beer from Central Waters. Those suckers got the ~bite~, they got the ~sauce~, they got the ~squeak~ – they got it all.
