Downtown Dining Week

Downtown Dining Week is in its sixth year as an annual Milwaukee event, featuring special menus at more than 40 area restaurants. Beth Nicols, executive director of Milwaukee Downtown BID #21, says DDW is an invite-only event, and only the best of the best restaurants are asked to participate. “We strive for excellence in terms of service, in terms of product and in terms of environment,” Nicols says. “We only invite restaurants that we think meet those criteria.” These seven outstanding restaurants have participated in DDW for six years straight! Here’s why Milwaukee Downtown keeps asking them back. Café at…

Last year, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 added a $30 dinner option to the DDW menus. This addition of a slightly more pricy meal choice has encouraged more of Milwaukee’s high-end eateries to join the DDW party, and 13 of the 42 participating restaurants this summer are taking advantage of this price point.   Photo courtesy ChopHouse. And while this is great news for these businesses, it’s also great news for hungry patrons looking to experience some upscale dining at a scaled-down price. I decided to try out the $30 dinner at the Milwaukee ChopHouse, and I was not disappointed. Their…

I love DDW because it gives diners the opportunity to enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank while also giving the stand-out restaurants in Milwaukee a chance to promote their menus. But what makes it even better is that it prompts Milwaukeeans to support locally grown and harvested ingredients by dining out at the establishments supplied by Wisconsin farms. Grab a meal at one of these four places to keep your belly and our state’s farmers happy. Hinterland, 222 E. Erie St. This gastropub and lounge is new to DDW this year, so you may recognize its name from…

I made my way downtown for the dinner hour of DDW’s opening day, expecting the usual hustle and bustle that is Milwaukee in the summer. I thought I might find some diners willing to chat with me about their DDW experiences, but to my disappointment, the night was surprisingly slow. Through the windows of each restaurant I could see diners enjoying a drink, a meal and some company, but I also saw many open tables, and there were no long lines of patrons waiting to be seated like there have been in the past. Sure, maybe it was a little…

DDW kicked off last night with a celebratory launch party at Ryan Braun’s Graffito in the Historic Third Ward. It gave us a taste of what to expect this week, and the forecast is looking good. Chefs, servers and bartenders are more than ready for this special week of Milwaukee dining, and so are our appetites. But keep in mind it’s already Thursday and the weekend is coming up fast. We don’t want Friday and Saturday to sneak up on you unprepared, so we thought we’d save you some time and pick out a few DDW restaurants ideal for a…

  Libiamo Restaurant. Yesterday we told you about some awesome entrées we can’t wait to taste. In perusing the many DDW menus, we also came across some fabulous dishes we didn’t necessarily expect to find, and we bet you didn’t know were offered. Read on for a look at these enticing, unique appetizers, entrées and desserts we don’t want anyone to miss this week. Bacon Wrapped Dates at Kil@wat, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. This unique appetizer has something almost all Milwaukeeans love: bacon. The plate includes bacon-wrapped Medijool dates served with a roasted sweet pepper coulis (a thick, yummy sauce).…

  Charro. With more than 40 restaurants participating in this year’s DDW, there’s more than enough food to choose from. Deciding on a place to eat can be overwhelming during this event, especially if you don’t know where to start. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve selected five entrées that we can’t wait to get our mouths, err, hands on next week. Vatapá at Charro, 729 N. Milwaukee St. If you’re looking to expand your culinary horizons, try this classic Brazilian shrimp dish. At Charro, which specializes in Central and South American cuisine, the vatapá consists of shrimp,…

Downtown Dining Week is in its sixth year, so for some Milwaukeeans, the event’s novelty may have worn off. But here at Milwaukee Magazine we don’t want you to make the mistake of thinking you’re “so over DDW” just because it isn’t all shinny and new. With experience comes improvements, and Milwaukee Downtown, Bid #21 has worked hard to make this year just as enticing as those past, including extending invitations to nine new restaurants. So although you may think you have experienced all DDW has to offer, think again. Here’s a quick preview of this year’s new participants. Blackthorn…

  Downtown Dining Week is entering its sixth annual summer as a tasty tradition in Milwaukee next week, and whether you’ve been around the DDW block before or are a DDW virgin, this blog is here to serve as your guide. For all the seasoned DDW veterans planning your week around these mouth-watering dining deals, check back tomorrow for a sneak peek of this year’s six new participating restaurants. For all the newcomers, we don’t want the experienced crowd to scare you away. Read these four tips and tricks, and you’ll be set to dine like a pro. Price check…