Milwaukee Magazine StaffFollow these paths to uncover a sleeper-status establishment well worth the journey to find.
Illustrations by Brock Kaplan
Sherman Perk
This community-minded cafe (4924 W. Roosevelt Dr.), a former fi lling station, is warm and welcoming and a knockout example of Streamline Moderne architecture.
Amaranth Bakery and Cafe
They had us at rugelach. And at kouign-amann (a flaky, incredibly rich French pastry). This charming little bakery and cafe (3329 W. Lisbon Ave.) has remained under the radar since it opened in 2006.
Pacific Produce
A visit to this Asian market (5455 S. 27th St.) is never just a visit. It’s an adventure filled with duck heads, shelves of kimchi, squid jerky, jackfruit, Korean rice cakes and prepared foods, too.
Valley Inn
This tavern (4000 W. Clybourn St.) in the quaint residential area of Piggsville (west end of the Menomonee River Valley) is beloved by its neighbors, who’d probably like to keep the bomber sandwiches, pizzas and nightly specials all to themselves.
4th Base
Sports memorabilia is festooned everywhere at this glorified bar (5117 W. National Ave.), where the menu offers vague “suggestions” (think seabass and bacon-wrapped scallops), but no prices. The final tally is a mystery until the bill arrives.
Conway’s Smokin’ Bar and Grill
How this BBQ joint (2127 W. Wells St.) with smoky, charred chicken wings, beef brisket and meatloaf keeps a profile so low, we don’t know, but we’re singing its praises in baritone.