The Third Ward has Broadway, Bay View has KK. And West Allis, well, it’s got Becher Street. Tucked away from the commotion of city life and dotted all around with modest homes, this walkable commercial corridor has grown into a culinary hub. With 22-year-old West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe at its nucleus, the four-block stretch of West Becher Street between 68th and 71st streets now features a themed cocktail bar, a farm-to-table restaurant, a fancy-ish corner butcher, a gourmet crispie treat shop, neighborhood bakery and more recently, a nostalgia-laced smashburger joint and locally made ice cream counter. Here’s a snapshot look at these stewards of the street.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Becher Meats
2079 S. 69TH ST. | 414-543-4230
This place doesn’t hold back – right at the door you are engulfed in the aroma of smoked meats, which I see in the form of ribs, sausages and bacon. Their meat case is also packed with assorted prime and choice steaks, burger patties, wings, stuffed pork chops and so on. Some of this stuff – burgers and sausages – is available frozen, too. Another part of the business is heat-and-eat prepared meals, with options coming and going such as braised beef cheek tacos with rice and beans. One side of the freezer section is a repository for homemade pizzas, pot pies and pasties. Need a few vegetables or some dried pasta to complete your meal? They’ve even got a little of that, too
West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
6832 W. BECHER ST. | 414-543-4230
The shop sells just about anything you’d put on a cheese/charcuterie board, with many big Wisconsin cheese makers in the case, including Sartori, Roth, Carr Valley and Hook’s. If you’re into condiments, mustards, syrups and the like, they’ve got shelves upon shelves of them. And the restaurant side is equally present here, with both breakfast and lunch available for dine-in or carryout. You can wash down your biscuits and gravy with a bloody mary that is in itself a meal. But I’ve come to think of this place as a sandwich shop. They make build-your-owns and signature sandos that are pretty hard to beat in West Allis. I’ve been leaning into their daily specials (love Monday’s turkey, apple and brie panino but also can’t pass up a good meatball sub with marinara and provolone).
Wild Roots
6807 W. BECHER ST. | 414-231-9081
One thing you’ll notice about Becher Street is its profound meatiness, and nowhere is that more apparent than Wild Roots, which opened in 2019 and is owned by the former Buckley’s restaurant chef Thi Cao. His daily, changing “nasty bits” dish is a vehicle for showcasing usually discarded animal parts like sweetbreads (the thymus gland of a calf). He builds big, often Asian-leaning flavors, and there is no stopping the intensity, whether it’s the caramelized bulgogi meatballs with spicy kimchi or a richly seasoned hanger steak with french fries.
The Bake Sale
6923 W. BECHER ST. | 414-543-4230
When it opened in 2020, this shop focused on selling products made by MKE bakeries – like a community bake sale. Now the emphasis is on in-house baking (though you’ll still find Breadsmith and Simma’s represented, and gluten-free treats from Pewaukee-based Molly’s). One of the house specialties is pie – full size and minis, in flavors from French silk to strawberry rhubarb. For a while they were getting their hard rolls – for the Sunday hot ham and rolls special – from Lakeside Bakery in Bay View. When Lakeside shut down early this year, The Bake Sale acquired both the hard roll recipe and the baker who made them. They’re some of the best hard rolls – crusty and chewy – you’re going to find around here and are alone worth a trip.
Best of Becher
No. 1 Smashburger
This is the basic single patty burger flattened (or smashed) on a grill so it has a crusty exterior and a crispy, craggy border. We’re talking maximum crust here. The minimal toppings on the No. 1 – just American cheese and PBR onions – lets the patty take center stage ($9). Don’t get super full, though – the adjacent ice cream shop’s handmade, small-batch creations are worth every calorie. Archie’s Flat Top and Scratch Ice Cream, 6922 W. Becher St.
Peanut Butter Cup Crispie Treat
One of treat maker Carrie Cieslak’s gourmet rice cereal creations, this sticky cube of marshmallow nostalgia also captures the essence of a Reese’s cup. $4. Carrie’s Crispies, 7133 W. Becher St.
Negroni
An exceptionally smooth, herbaceous rendition of the classic boozy cocktail that typically combines equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and bitter Campari. But in this negroni, the softer aperitif Cappelletti replaces Campari, making it so beautifully balanced. $9. Station No. 6, 6800 W. Becher St.
