Food & Drink
The suburbs are replete with great places to grab a bite, from a juicy burger (Love ya, Crafty Cow) all the way to a night of fine dining (Le Rêve’s dessert menu … my goodness). Brewery-hop, sip inventive cocktails, stock up at one of the fantastic farmers markets, and just pull up a stool at one of the many corner bars – these reader picks offer plenty of choices. It isn’t any wonder why this category gets the most votes every year.
Any-Occasion Bar
Breakfast & Brunch
Cocktails
Fine Dining
Italian/Pizza
★Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993
Old-School Restaurant/
Supper Club
★Joey Gerard’s – A Bartolotta Supper Club
Restaurant – South
Specialty Food Shop
★West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
This category was almost as close it could possibly get – Frannie’s eked out its win by just three votes! And Bunzel’s was right in the mix, too, only seven votes away from No. 1. It’s a testament to our area’s foodie finds.
Asian
Brewery Taproom
Lion’s Tail opened in late 2022 (around the time voting closed for our 2023 Best of the Burbs poll), and the exciting newcomer is already making an appearance on this year’s list among two suburban stalwarts.
Coffee Shop
Fish Fry
Mexican
Patio Dining
Restaurant – West
★Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse
Sports Bar
Bottle Shop
Burgers
★Milk Can Hamburgers & Frozen Custard
Farmers Market
Ice Cream/Custard
Inside the city limits, it’s a closer contest, but among suburban cold and creamy purveyors, Kopp’s continues to reign supreme. It received the most votes of any nominee in the entire Best of the Burbs survey.
New Restaurant
★Sully’s Sandwiches (now closed)
Restaurant – North
Small Town Bar
Recreation
As we emerge from hibernation, the fear of end-of-winter snowstorms fading, we are more than ready to take advantage of all the fun stuff that Milwaukee’s suburbs have to offer. So pack up the kids’ stuff and hit the park, pool or a community festival. Or go out for a hike, catch some drama at a small playhouse or stroll the shops of a great downtown. It’s all within reach.
Attraction
Day Outing
Hiking
★Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve
★Kettle Moraine State Forest – Lapham Peak Unit
★Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Park – South
Pool/Splash Pad
Beach
Downtown/Main Street
Cedarburg rocks this category every year, this time pulling more than double the votes of the runner-up. (We still love you, Tosa.)
Nature Center
★Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Park – West
Sports Center
Community Festival
★Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts
Family Event
★Cedarburg Strawberry Festival
Park – North
Playground
★Delafield Cushing Memorial Park
Theater Organization
Shopping & Services
There’s a real satisfaction in buying from a local business, both in knowing your money is staying in the community and in the personalized service and quality that comes with the best of our local businesses. The variety in this part of our reader survey is always interesting – and there are always plenty of write-ins beyond our staff nominations. Our burbs are so full of great businesses that it’s hard for even us to keep up!
Furniture/Home Goods Store
★BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses
Hardware Store
Is there anything better than a hardware store packed with everything you need and hundreds of other items you never knew you needed? That’s exactly what Elliott’s Ace locations in West Allis, Elm Grove, Pewaukee and Muskego deliver.
Pet Supply
Sports Store
