This month, as we recognize and celebrate Black History Month, let’s support the restaurants and foodways that make an indelible impact on our culture and community. This list offers barbecue, soul food, Jamaican cuisine, African cuisine and more.
Alem Ethiopian Village
307 E. WISCONSIN AVE.
Ethiopian stews (chicken, beef, lamb, vegetables, split peas, lentils) served with injera, a large crepe-like pancake. Tues-Sat 4-8 p.m.
Ashley’s Bar-B-Que
1501 W. CENTER ST.
Pickup or delivery. Dinners, sandwiches, family meals and value meals. Options range from beef rib dinner to shoulder sandwich to 10-piece catfish dinner to 10-piece wing dinner. Tues-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun noon-7 p.m.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Belli’s Bistro & Spirits
2643 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE.
Entrees such as porterhouse steak, surf and turf pasta, and lemon garlic salmon. Family options. Chef’s special Cajun crab boil. Dinner and brunch offered. Wed 7 p.m.-midnight, Fri 4-midnight, Sat-Sun brunch 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and dinner 7 p.m.-midnight.
Blue Star Café
1619 N. FARWELL AVE.
East African restaurant known for specialties from the owners’ homeland. They are sambusas (similar to samosas), chicken Sugaar, bone-in goat and Somali-style steak. Tues-Sun 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Coaches
1125 N. NINTH ST.
Featuring soul food classics such as fried chicken, smothered pork chops and mac and cheese. L Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-2 p.m. D 5-9 p.m. Sat 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Sun noon-6 p.m.
Confectionately Yours Café
LEGACY BUILDING, 1920 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Coffee drinks, pastries and sandwiches such a Philly melt and turkey burger. Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Daddy’s Soul Food & Grille
754 N .27TH ST., #3552
Offers a daily soul food buffet. Catfish and fried or baked chicken (with smoked turkey greens and baked mac and cheese) is served daily. There are also daily specials – Tues (BBQ ribs), Wed (meatloaf), Thurs (smothered pork chops), Fri (salmon croquettes and lasagna), Sat (BBQ ribs). Tues-Sat 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun noon-6 p.m.
Lush Popcorn Factory & Social Lounge
920 E. LOCUST ST.
Gourmet popcorn (Wisconsin cheddar, maple bourbon pecan, Riverwest Mix), hand-crafted lemonade and a full bar. Tues-Thurs 4-7 p.m.; Fri-Sat 4-9 p.m.
Mobay Café
1022 S. FIRST ST.
Traditional Jamaican cuisine, including vegetarian/vegan items. Dishes include brownstew chicken, curry chicken, café jerk chicken, curried goat stew, whole red snapper and island shrimp. Braised oxtails are available on Thursdays. Offers a Jamaican-style Sunday brunch. Wed-Thurs 4-8:45 p.m.; Fri-Sat 4-9:45 p.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
The Diplomat
815 E. BRADY ST.
Sharable-plate menu inspired by seasonal ingredients and the background and interests of chef/owner Dane Baldwin. Highlights include lamb cheeks, trout, grits, knife and fork chicken, and the Diplomac burger. Mon-Sat 4-9 p.m.
Immy’s African Cuisine
2847 N. OAKLAND AVE.
African menu features spicy chicken egusi, smoked jerk chicken and goat curry. There’s always a vegan dish available, too, such as lentil stew, peanut stew and chickpeas in coconut curry. Tues-Sat noon-9 p.m., Sun noon-6 p.m.
Nino’s Southern Sides
4475 N. OAKLAND AVE.
Specializes in comfort food: fried or smothered chicken, wings or pork chops; fried catfish; meatloaf; turkey leg; seafood sampler.
Sam’s Place Jazz Café
3338 N. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DR.
Serves breakfast and lunch with choices ranging from salmon croquettes, shrimp and grits, and omelets to panini and wraps. Daily specials are offered, too: Wed (three fried wings with fries), Thurs (bourbon chicken with red beans and rice), Fri (catfish or perch dinner, shrimp and grits). Wed-Sat 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Speed Queen Bar-B-Q
1130 W. WALNUT ST.
Co-founded by Betty Gillespie in 1956 and known for ribs, pork shoulder and rib tips. Also serves turkey, pulled chicken, daily catfish and perch fry, and specials like loaded fries and loaded mac and cheese. Mon-Tues 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wed-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-midnight.
Mi Casa Su Café & Lounge
1835 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DR.
Mi Casa’s lunch menu has burgers, sandwiches, toasted wraps/burritos, Cajun pasta bowls, alfredo pasta bowls. Daily specials. Hours vary.
1700 Pull Up
1848 W. FOND DU LAC AVE.
Comfort food establishment that runs daily specials. Hours vary.
Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant
2001 W. ATKINSON AVE.
Serving breakfast and lunch. Thurs-Sat 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ethiopian Cottage Restaurant
1824 N. FARWELL AVE.
Ethiopian cuisine is traditionally enjoyed communally. All entrees – beef, chicken, lamb, seafood, vegetarian – are served with injera (large, thin pancake). L Tues-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. D Tues-Thurs 5-9 p.m., Fri 5-10 p.m. Sat 12:30-10 p.m. Sun 1-9 p.m.
Toya’s Homestyle Kitchen
3326 W. CAPITOL DR.
Family-style comfort food, including fried catfish, fried lobster tails, colossal shrimp, perch, salmon bites and seafood extravaganza. Also, chicken and fish combos, pork chops, po’ boys, sandwiches and burgers. Open Tues-Thurs 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Smokin’ Jack’s BBQ
6807 W. BROWN DEER RD., AND 3RD STREET MARKET HALL, 275 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
BBQ sandwiches, combos (smoked brisket, shoulder and chicken thighs), sides (mac and cheese, smoked beans) and sauces. Brown Deer: Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Downtown: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m-7 p.m.
Heaven’s Table BBQ
5507 W. NORTH AVE.
Specialties are slow-smoked, Texas-style brisket; hickory-smoked St. Louis-style ribs; and smoked chicken. Mon-Sat 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Twisted Plants
THREE LOCATIONS: 6202 W. LINCOLN AVE.; 1233 E. BRADY ST.; 4905 S. PACKARD AVE., CUDAHY
Plant-based burgers and sandwiches, “mozz” sticks, cauliflower bites, Chicago-Style “Dawg,” vegan ice cream and shakes, cake and cookies. Hours vary; see website.
