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Boffo Bites
What’s best at five of our readers’ favorite spots
NEW RESTAURANT
Room Service
With its glam decor, this Thai-sushi spot that burst on the scene in spring 2024 challenges the stereotype of Asian dining as casual and unrefined. A few of its best dishes are also its prettiest: vivid-blue Royal Flower dumplings, and somtam kai tod – fried chicken, sticky rice and papaya salad served in a three-tier rattan stand. 2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
FINE DINING
Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro
The Bartolotta brothers’ second restaurant (opened in 1995) may go down as their masterpiece. The warm French country interior has aged well, and the menu’s best dishes have been there forever: country pork pâté, steamed mussels, steak frites, sole meunière. 3133 E. Newberry Blvd.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
DATE NIGHT
Harbor House
An elegant seafood house overlooking Lake Michigan is the ultimate special dining experience – not just for the surroundings but for the kind of meal you wouldn’t attempt at home: surf and turf, lobster rolls, whole Mediterranean branzino. 550 N. Harbor Dr.
PATIO
Barnacle Bud’s
Tucked into a marina/industrial corridor in Bay View, Bud’s channels Jimmy Buffet vibes. Visitors to the fish shack/picnic table-chic setting arrive not just by car, but by kayak or boat on the stretch of the Kinnickinnic River it overlooks. A wonderful spot to watch the sunset. 1955 S. Hilbert St.
BREAKFAST
Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern
Breakfast seems easy, and yet it’s often bungled. Not at this Brewer’s Hill heavyweight, which leans decadent with everything you want to eat, including the fried chicken biscuit, johnny cakes, Wolfundito plate (ancho eggs, chorizo, sweet potatoes, beer cheese and guac) and brunch burger. 234 E. Vine St.
Quid Pro Quo
Ann and our readers agree to disagree in these four categories.
Best Mexican Food
READERS’ CHOICE
Café Corazón
The concept that started in 2009 with a small restaurant inside a quirky Riverwest building has since built a following for its well-balanced margaritas, saucy wet burritos and a festive atmosphere. Bay View, Riverwest, Brown Deer
ANN’S PICK → GUADALAJARA & LA DAMA
If I want gorditas, enchiladas or pozole, I go to Guadalajara (901 S. 10th St.). If I want something more unconventional, like seared huitlacoche tacos or salmon encrustado, it’s La Dama (839 S. Second St.).
Pizza
READERS’ CHOICE
Flour Girl & Flame
When the calendar flips to winter, this slinger of wood-fired pies reverts from roving pizza trailer back to cozy Stallis brick-and-mortar. It’s known for clever creations like Pep in Yer Step (topped with cup-and-char pepperoni). 8121 W. National Ave., West Allis
ANN’S PICK → SAN GIORGIO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA, WY’EAST, HUP’S AND ZAFFIRO’S
How can I pick one when I have so many favorites: San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana (838 N. Martin Luther King Dr.), Wy’east (5601 W. Vliet St.), Hup’s (5400 W. Hampton Ave.) and Zaffiro’s (1724 N. Farwell Ave.), to name four.
Indian
READERS’ CHOICE
Cafe India
Don’t expect a cafe in the cappuccino-serving sense of the word. The Walker’s Point locale is focused on fast to-go service, while Bay View caters to a sit-down, liquor-drinking crowd. Both are worshipped for butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. 601 S. First St.; 2201 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
ANN’S PICK → ANTIQUE INDIAN RESTAURANT
Of late, it’s 3-year-old Antique Indian Restaurant (3933 S. 76th St.), with a couple menu standouts being chole bhature (spicy chickpeas with puffy deep-fried bread), goat curry and shahi paneer – a rich North Indian curry that features fresh, house-made cheese.
Vegetarian
READERS’ CHOICE
Beans & Barley
An East Side institution, Beans puts its reliable cap on for burritos, tofu stir fries, lasagna and veggie chili. And when it does its blueberry pie on a whole wheat crust, there is nothing quite like it. 1901 E. North Ave.
ANN’S PICK → BEERLINE CAFE
Mostly a breakfast/lunch spot, Beerline Cafe (2076 N. Commerce St.) gets my nod. Props to the veggie burger, vegan tacos (with chickpea chorizo) and the “buddha” rice/quinoa/smoky tofu bowl.
