Favored. Prized. Much admired.
Visiting restaurants is tough work for our dining critic, Ann Christenson. You were given the choice task of telling her where she gets off – er, telling the world which local restaurants are tops in your book. The results of our online survey are in. It is our pleasure to present the top two winners in categories as varied as ramen and fish fry.
Top 5 Restaurants
1. Lake Park Bistro 3133 E. Newberry Blvd., 414-962-6300
2. Odd Duck 2352 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-763-5881
3. La Merenda 125 E. National Ave., 414-389-0125
4. Harbor House 550 N. Harbor Dr., 414-395-4900
5. Sanford Restaurant 1547 N. Jackson St., 414-276-9608
New Restaurant
1. Goodkind 2457 S. Wentworth Ave., 414-763-4706
2. Story Hill BKC 5100 W. Bluemound Rd., 414-539-4424
Cheap Spot
1. Kopp’s Frozen Custard 7631 W. Layton Ave., 414-282-4312; 18880 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, 262-789-9490; 5373 N. Port Washington Rd., 414-961-3288
2. Sobelman’s 1900 W. St. Paul Ave., 414-931-1919; 1601 W. Wells St., 414-933-1601; 10352 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon
View
1. Harbor House
2. Lake Park Bistro
Service
1. Lake Park Bistro
2. Sanford Restaurant
Most Romantic
1. Lake Park Bistro
2. Balzac Wine Bar 1716 N. Arlington Pl., 414-755-0099
Ambiance
1. Lake Park Bistro
2. Harbor House
Family-Friendly
1. Kopp’s Frozen Custard
2. Pizza Man 2597 N. Downer Ave., 414-272-1745; 11500 N. Burleigh Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-249-2000
Wine List
1. Pastiche Bistro and Wine Bar 3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-482-1446
2. Lake Park Bistro
Beer Selection
1. Cafe Hollander 2608 N. Downer Ave., 414-963-6366; 7677 W. State St., 414-475-6771
2. Stubby’s Gastrogrub & Beer Bar 2060 N. Humboldt Blvd., 414-763-6324
Cocktails
1. Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge 1579 S. Ninth St., 414-383-2620
2. Hi Hat Lounge 1701 N. Arlington Pl., 414-225-9330
Local Brewery
1. Lakefront Brewery 1872 N. Commerce St., 414-372-8800
2. Milwaukee Brewing Co. 613 S. Second St., 414-226-2337
Small Plates/Tapas
1. La Merenda
2. Odd Duck
Outdoor Dining
1. Café Benelux 346 N. Broadway, 414-501-2500
2. Wolf Peach 1818 N. Hubbard St., 414-374-8480
Farm-to-Table
1. Braise 1101 S. Second St., 414-212-8843
2. Story Hill BKC
Vegetarian
1. Beans & Barley 1901 E. North Ave., 414-278-7878
2. Café Manna 3815 N. Brookfield Rd., Brookfield, 262-790-2340
Seafood
1. Harbor House
2. St. Paul Fish Company Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., 414-220-8383
Steak
1. 5 O’Clock Steakhouse 2416 W. State St., 414-342-3553
2. Carnevor 724 N. Milwaukee St., 414-223-2200
Fish Fry
1. Lakefront Brewery Beer Hall 1872 N. Commerce St., 414-372-8800, ext. 808
2. Kegel’s Inn 5901 W. National Ave., 414-257-9999
Dessert
1. Le Rêve Patisserie & Café 7610 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-778-3333
2. Honeypie 2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-489-7437
Bakery
1. Rocket Baby Bakery 6822 W. North Ave., 414-502-7323; 2434 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-897-0483
2. Peter Sciortino’s Bakery 1101 E. Brady St., 414-272-4623
Doughnuts
1. Holey Moley Coffee + Doughnuts 316 N. Milwaukee St., 414-308-1616
2. Cranky Al’s 6901 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-258-5282
Weekday Breakfast
1. Blue’s Egg 317 N. 76th St., 414-299-3180
2. Café at the Plaza Plaza Hotel, 1007 N. Cass St., 414-272-0515
Weekend Brunch
1. Trocadero 1758 N. Water St., 414-272-0205
2. Goodkind
Sandwich Shop/Deli
1. Glorioso’s Italian Market 1011 E. Brady St., 414-272-0540
2. LuLu Café & Bar 2261 & 2265 S. Howell Ave., 414-294-5858
Coffee Shop
1. Colectivo Coffee multiple locations
2. Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. 224 W. Bruce St., 414-276-8081; 2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-489-0765
Hot Dog
1. Dogg Haus five area locations
2. Dr. Dawg 6969 N. Port Washington Rd., 414-540-0400; 7700 W. Layton Ave., 414-810-1900
Ramen
1. Tochi 2107 E. Capitol Dr., 414-963-9510
2. Red Light Ramen by Ardent 1751 N. Farwell Ave., 414-897-7022
Buffalo Wings
1. Points East Pub 1501 N. Jackson St., 414-277-0122
2. Elsa’s on the Park 833 N. Jefferson St., 414-765-0615
Happy Hour
1. Balzac Wine Bar
2. Milwaukee Ale House 233 N. Water St., 414-276-2337; 1208 13th Ave., Grafton, 262-375-2337
Frozen Custard
1. Kopp’s
2. Bubba’s Frozen Custard 1276 W. Capitol Dr., Pewaukee, 262-695-8189
Pizza
1. Pizza Man
2. Zaffiro’s Pizza 1724 N. Farwell Ave., 414-289-8776
Burger
1. Sobelman’s
2. Kopp’s Frozen Custard
Barbecue
1. Smoke Shack 332 N. Milwaukee St., 414-431-1119
2. Saz’s State House 5539 W. State St., 414-453-2410
Food Truck
1. The Gouda Girls goudagirls.com
2. Oscar’s on a Roll 414-813-1177
Soup
1. The Soup Market five locations
2. Soup Bros. 209 W. Florida St.
Ethnic
Cajun/New Orleans Style
1. Maxie’s 6732 W. Fairview Ave., 414-292-3969
2. Fishbone’s 1704 Milwaukee St., Delafield, 262-646-4696
Chinese
1. Emperor of China 1010 E. Brady St., 414-271-8889
2. Fortune Restaurant 2945 S. 108th St., 414-328-9890; 5512 S. 108th St., Hales Corners, 414-529-9988
Cuban
1. Cubanitas 728 N. Milwaukee St., 414-225-1760
2. Antigua Latin Restaurant 5823 W. Burnham St., 414-321-5775
Ethiopian
1. Alem Ethiopian Village 307 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-224-5324
2. Ethiopian Cottage Restaurant 1824 N. Farwell Ave., 414-224-5226
French
1. Le Rêve Patisserie & Café
2. Lake Park Bistro
German
1. Mader’s 1041 N. Old World Third St., 414-271-3377
2. Karl Ratzsch’s 320 E. Mason St., 414-276-2720
Greek
1. Oakland Gyros 2867 N. Oakland Ave., 414-963-1393; 530 W. Layton Ave., 414-744-2555
2. Mykonos Gyro & Cafe 1014 N. Van Buren St., 414-224-6400
Indian/Pakistani
1. Maharaja 1550 N. Farwell Ave., 414-276-2250
2. Taste of India 17800 W. Bluemound Ave., Brookfield, 262-796-8200
Irish
1. County Clare Irish Pub 1234 N. Astor St., 414-272-5273
2. Mo’s Irish Pub 142 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-272-0721; 10842 W. Bluemound Rd., Wauwatosa, 414-774-9782
Japanese
1. Izumi’s 2150 N. Prospect Ave., 414-271-5278
2. Umami Moto 718 N. Milwaukee St., 414-727-9333
Sushi Bar
1. Screaming Tuna Sushi & Asian Bistro 106 W. Seeboth St., 414-763-1637
2. Izumi’s
Italian
1. Ristorante Bartolotta 7616 W. State St., Wauwatosa, 414-771-7910
2. Zarletti 741 N. Milwaukee St., 414-225-0000
Korean
1. Stone Bowl Grill 1958 N. Farwell Ave., 414-220-9111
2. Seoul Korean Restaurant 2178 N. Prospect Ave., 414-289-8208
Mexican
1. Café Corazón 3129 N. Bremen St., 414-810-3941
2. Cempazuchi 1205 E. Brady St., 414-291-5233
Middle Eastern
1. Casablanca 728 E. Brady St., 414-271-6000
2. Shawarma House 2921 N. Oakland Ave., 414-967-1000
Polish
1. Polonez 4016 S. Packard Ave., 414-482-0080
2. A&J Polish Deli 1215 W. Lincoln Ave., 414-643-7733
Puerto Rican
1. Café El Sol 1028 S. Ninth St., 414-384-3100
2. La Caribeña 1704 S. Pearl St., 414-239-8788
Serbian
1. Three Brothers 2414 S. St. Clair St., 414-481-7530
2. Old Town Serbian Gourmet House 522 W. Lincoln Ave., 414-672-0206
Soul Food
1. Ashley’s Bar-B-Que 1501 W. Center St., 414-372-7666; 124 W. National Ave., 414-276-7666
2. Pat’s Rib Place 151 E. Sunset Dr., Waukesha, 262-544-4099
Thai
1. Thai-namite 932 E. Brady St., 414-837-6280
2. The King & I 830 N. Old World Third St., 414-276-4181
Vietnamese
1. Hue Vietnamese Restaurant 2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-294-0483; 6519 W. North Ave., 414-585-0577
2. Pho Viet 5475 S. 27th St., 414-282-8852
