Milwaukee Faves: Friday Fish Fry

On Friday I tried the "Damn Good Fish Fry" at Maxie's Southern Comfort. I love their po'boys, mojitos, and shrimp 'n grits, but now I can add their fish fry to that list. Friday Fish Fry is pretty popular in Wisconsin and they all vary a little bit. Maxie's serves beer-battered cod with french fries and coleslaw. I'm a big fan of beer-battered cod...and potato pancakes. What kind of fish fry do you guys like??

Backyard Discovery: Trail of Crumbs Pop-Up Restaurant

You get a date and time and thats it. That's how Milwaukee's pop-up restaurant ....And you will know us by trail of crumbs (aka Trail of Crumbs) works. The location is a secret until the day of the dinner event, then emailed to you. You arrive at a pop-up restaurant either in someone's home or an empty building or a business. It's all about the surprise. The next pop-up restaurant, with a Vegan-friendly menu will take place on August 5th. I have been wanting to go this but seem to always be busy the day it takes place. Wouldn't this be fun?

Check out their Facebook page here and their website here.

photos: via trail of crumbs

Around: Downtown Dining Week

Once a year in Milwaukee, a long list of downtown restaurants celebrate downtown dining week with lunch and dinner prix fixe menus for $10, $20, or $30. It's a chance to sample some great downtown restaurants on the cheap. Monday night we went to Tulip. Today for lunch, we went to Molly Cool's right on the Milwaukee river and Old World 3rd Street. I hadn't been there in a really long time and after hearing about their raw bar plate, I had to give this place another try. I had the salmon caesar salad. The husband had the raw bar plate - tuna tartare, sushi rolls, and unpeeled shrimp. And we finished with a mini lemon layer cake. Not pictured is the crab bisque because that got eaten way too fast. It was pretty good. And so nice to hangout downtown in the middle of the day and have lunch. We don't get to do that very often.

Check out the full list of participating restaurants HERE
Downtown Dining Week goes until June 14th!

Out to Lunch: Smoke Shack

I seriously love southern food so I was really excited to check this place out. Smoke Shack in the third ward serves up BBQ done right. The place is small, you drink out of mason jars, and the country music is ON. If there were ever a place in Milwaukee that didn't feel like Milwaukee, this is it. My husband and I split the four meat combo (a sampler of their pulled pork, sliced brisket, house made sausage, and pulled chicken. Then, we split dessert -- a bacon bourbon brownie usually served with Purple Door vanilla ice cream, but I had them substitute with their whiskey ice cream. Three words: Oh Lordy Moses.

Check out their website here. Check out their menu here.

Out to Lunch: Cafe Calatrava

top photo: strange closets I love spending the day at the art museum and then getting a late lunch at Cafe Calatrava in the lower level of the Milwaukee Art Museum. It has really grown on me. Initially, it looks like a true cafeteria -- a little sterile, a little sparse. But the view from the curved Calatrava-designed windows totally makes up for it. The food has been consistently good, too. The falafel pita shown above was very good. I went to the art museum last week with my mother-in-law to see the Accidental Genius exhibit - has anyone seen it? Well if you go, check out the cafe, and if not, you can still eat at the cafe without buying admission. Check out their current menu (it changes seasonally) below:

Out to Lunch: Jing's Lunch Buffet

If you're looking for a good downtown lunch spot, Jing's Chinese restaurant in the Third Ward has an amazing lunch buffet. Jing's is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Milwaukee. It might be because their dishes, mostly from the Hunan province, are a little lighter and fresher than what I'm used to getting. Or it's because their crab rangoons are out of this world. I can easily be bought and sold with crab rangoons. Either way, Jing's is definitely worth checking out and their lunch buffet has a great sampling of their best dishes. I had (of course, crab rangoons) Ginger chicken with green onions, twice cooked pork, hot and sour soup, and a pork dumpling.
Jing's Lunch BuffetTuesday - Friday11:30-1pm $8 per person

{Dinner and a Movie} Drive + GTO

Guanjato Mexican Restaurant is a lunch counter dinner with melamine plates and a car-like nickname , "GTO", that serves cheap and tasty dishes right in the heart of Bay View. Although you've probably driven past and never noticed it.

Drive is a frustrating and haunting movie of many cars including a GTO, although mostly a '73 Chevy Malibu. And there's Ryan Gosling, too. Except he's a stunt car driver turned for-hire getaway driver turned murderer.

The immediate taste of both GTO and the movie Drive was that they were the exemplification of 'meh'. But, that blandness was just a facade - the sneaky disguise of a true hidden gem.

I would have never walked into GTO if I hadn't heard the rumors they were hustling the best tacos in town. I wasn't ready to be converted. The tiny restaurant ironically goes unnoticed on the bustling corner of Howell and Lincoln in Bay View, but word is catching on because the night I went there almost wasn't anywhere to sit. The chips and salsa were good, the waitstaff friendly, but I wasn't wowed. I guess I thought I needed to be immediately wowed. But then I realized-- I am still craving their huaraches a day later; I just drank good margaritas for $2.75; And there is a lunch counter - no where has a lunch counter anymore -- And it hit me: This is my new favorite mexican restaurant. This place is the real deal. And real deals don't need a wow factor.

As for Drive, I'll admit that I just wanted to look at Ryan Gosling for 2 hours and wasn't expecting greatness of any sort. The movie starts with an intense chase scene and I eased into my chair satisfied I was getting what I paid for. Then the movie went what looked like 'nowhere', like I got dropped off a mile from my house and now I had to walk home. I was upset - this wasn't what I signed up for. Ryan Gosling's character barely speaks, he's awkward and can't even ask a girl out (this is not Crazy, Stupid Love 2, btw). But then it happens, the movie already dark and gloomy turns dark and sinister with no apparent resolution ever. And it was so incredibly, dauntingly....epically....FRUSTRATING. I was screaming at the the television (I was at home, not a theater thank God). I was angry in the pit of my stomach. It was the most visceral reaction a movie has ever gotten out me. And that's when I realized, the movie was that good. Good enough to get me so emotionally invested that I would swear at the t.v. and lie awake at night with that plot just eating at me. This movie was not overtly amazing in any way, in fact, I began to wish I hadn't seen it because it raised up so many ugly emotions. The only parts I did enjoy were the M83 songs. And that's when it hit me: Enjoyable does not always equal good. But a movie that haunts you and keeps you up at night thinking, now that's a good movie.

Backyard Discovery: Melthouse Bistro

Grilled Cheese sandwiches are one my all time favorite things in life. So to now have a whole restaurant dedicated to the art of grilled cheese making is pretty monumental. The Melthouse Bistro opened a little over a month ago on the East Side and serves everything from plain grilled cheese to gourmet melts. And I love that they offer healthier sides like apples, soup and salads along in addition to more fun options like cheese curds, beer, wine, and desserts. On a cold blustery day this place really hits the spot.


Read more about it in the:
Shepherd Express article
A.V. Club Milwaukee article

New In Town: Hamburger Mary's

I was so excited to have Hamburger Mary's open in Milwaukee that we have already eaten there....twice. After weeks of scoping it out/stalking the doors looked to be open last Wednesday. And it was! It was their opening night. We ate so well that we went again on Friday after the Brewers game. We promised our waitress we weren't stalking her.

Those in Chicago may be familiar with the offbeat burger joint. Hamburger Mary's is a small national burger chain with a cross-dressing "Mary" as a mascot and cheeky names for their delicious burgers. Brothers, Ashley and Brandon Wright, own the Chicago location as well as part of the franchise and took over the empty Omega Burger on KK and Becher this spring. We met them when they were both at Chill on the Hill postering for their upcoming restaurant and again when Brandon came up to our table both nights. They have fully integrated into Milwaukee life, owning a place in Bay View as well as adding local beers and taps to the menu. It had a real local hangout vibe and a fabulously eclectic mix of the neighborhood- kids, couples, and cross-dressers, oh my!

I had the Mary Burger, a 1/2 pound angus burger with fixings and special sauce, a bloody Mary with their special pepper infused vodka and lemon pepper rim, and the Mary Tyler Smores over the course of two visits. Once the menu expands, look for other burgers like the Barbara-Q Bacon Chzburger, the Buffy (the Burger Slayer), the Queen Mary, and appetizers like Britney Fried Spears. Cannot wait. Did I mention the patio is modeled after the Golden Girls' lanai? And I'm quite intrigued by their hambingo (drag queen bingo) and mimosa brunch (deets forthcoming).



Hamburger Mary's on Facebook

Hamburger Mary's on Twitter

Milwaukee Faves: Downtown Dining Week

(too busy eating to take a picture of Tulip's food. this one is c/o The Shepherd)

I really love going to new restaurants. This doesn't make me unique, but it does make me very happy. So, when Downtown Dining Week rolls around, I get reeeeeal happy. Why? Because there are about two dozen new and interesting restaurants all offering $20-$30 three course dinners and $10 lunches. Eat that Applebee's. Friday night, I checked out Tulip with my friend and fellow blogger, Katie. She and two other gals write Haute Apple Pie, a fantastic blog here in Milwaukee. I ordered the Almond Pomegranate salad, the Sultan's Delight (beef medallions on baba ghanoush, and Kataifi dessert. The meal was good and I tried new things! Sometimes epicuriosity doesn't always lead to amazing and delicious food that's off the charts, but that's the fun. I tried it. I now feel safe to say that after trying it a few times, I don't really care for baba ghanoush (pureed eggplant).

Hopefully this week, I'll get out to a couple more restaurants on the Downtown Dining List. On my short list are: Sake Tumi (the hubs had the lunch and raved/bragged about it), Hinterland (I've only been there once! can you believe it), and Zaafaran.

Which restaurants looked good to you? Have you been to any this week? (tell me! tell me!)


If you're curious about some of the restaurants, check out other Milwaukee Restaurant/Food Blogs:

Eating Milwaukee
Eat MKE
FOODcrush
Hungry In Milwaukee
Milwaukee Food
Milwaukee Brunch Reviews

Backyard Discovery: National Cafe's Honeycomb Bars

I'm not exactly sure what's all in these, but there's lots of honey and nuts and possibly peanut butter, so they're obviously delicious. Kind of reminds me of that one cereal. They are conveniently located next to the cash register at the National Cafe on 10th and National, near south side.

Top 5: MKE Restaurants on Valentine's Day

1. Coquette

I love walking into the classic Euro-french atmosphere at Coquette. It makes you feel like you're in Paris and you know, just having a casual night out with your lover, no big deal. And they have a special Valentine's Day menu with plenty of aphrodisiacs like oysters and dark chocolate.

2. Sanford

It took me years to even know this place existed. If you didn't think Milwaukee had one of the best restaurants in the world, think again. This place, the food and the atmosphere, rival anything downtown Manhattan has to offer. It's a tiny place and the tables are close together (we had a lady at the next table drop in on our conversation), but trust that when the chef has won a whole wall of awards, including a James Beard award, you're going to have one of the best meals of your life.

3. Lake Park Bistro

Speaking of James Beard awards, chef Adam Siegel has one, too. Lake Park Bistro is the "go-to" romantic dining restaurant in Milwaukee. If Coquette is Paris, Lake Park Bistro is the french countryside. It doesn't disappoint.

4. Crazy Water

The kitchen at Crazy Water is a 5x5 crowded corner right in the front window. Red velvet drapes keep out the front door draft, the tables are dimly lit and the napkins are french dish towels. I really love this place. The food is a mix of local, american and french fusion. My favorite dish is the endive and apple with nueskes bacon, candied walnuts and creamy cheddar dressing. I keep trying to recreate it at home, but it's never the same.

5. Roots Restaurant and Cellar

Roots' dining room has one of my favorite views of the city. I also love their hearty, organic, slow food. If a farmer's market had a gourmet restaurant attached, this is what Roots is like. And they have a truffle seared tenderloin with chevre whipped potatoes, oh my. And they have Vegan and Gluten Free options, if you're into that, too.

Runner's Up: Mason Street Grill, La Merenda, Tenuta's, Centro Cafe

Milwaukee Faves: Pretzel Rolls

If you've never had a pretzel roll, think of the chewiest, fluffiest pretzel you have ever had and shape it into a bun. Around town they're cropping up on a lot of menus as an alternative to the regular hamburger bun or dinner roll. Miller Bakery in Milwaukee is the primary baker of these rolls, so that makes me wonder if pretzel rolls are only popular in Milwaukee, a kind of shout out to Milwaukee's german heritage.

On Monday, we ordered the pretzel roll appetizer at Karma, served with warm beer cheese and bacon sauce (pictured below).


Here's a list of places where I found them so far: If you have another place to add (MKE or elsewhere), comment below!

To buy:
Milwaukee Public Market
Sendik's grocery store
Wisconsin Cheese Mart
To order:
Stack'd
The Red Accordian
Port of Call
Saz's
Karma
Miller Park Concessions

Backyard Discovery: Chili Lili's

photo: Adam Ryan Morris
It's definitely chili season. Last week the cold weather brought on a late night trip to Real Chili and a dinner at the new Chili Lili's in the third ward. I like the noisy lunchroom counters of Real Chili every once in a while but it's nice to sit down and have a real meal, like at Chili Lili's. I had a split of the Texas Chili and Southwest Roasted Corn Chicken Chili. The hub had the Cincinnati chili--it had a mild cinnamon/nutmeg/clove flavor to it. Let me know if any of you have been there and what you liked. I'll probably be back for a round 2 in the coming months.


More links for Chili Lili's:
Website and menu
Shepherd Express article
OnMilwaukee article
FoodSlam blog
MilwaukeeMoms blog
Milwaukee magazine article

Backyard Discovery: Pastiche Bistro & Wine Bar

photos: Adam Morris

This little place opened up a couple months ago on the way south end of KK. We had walked the dog past the place many times, but last night we finally saw the inside. It's small but really cute. The menu has classic french cuisine; I had the trout with purple peruvian potatoes and french green beans. Dinner was excellent, the chef came around and said hello. Then we trotted a few steps over to the Palm Tavern to have some drinks. To read more about Pastiche, check out the write-up in the Bay View Compass . Pastiche is located on the corner of South Kinnickinnic and Rusk in Bay View.

Coming Soon: Hue Vietnamese Restaurant

Last night I went to a pre-opening tasting/test-run for Hue in Bayview. I had never tasted Pho, a Vietnamese noodle and broth bowl, until last night. Have you ever tried it? I really liked it, especially since I could add whatever flavors I liked (mint, hoisin, siracha, lime, bean sprouts, jalepenos). Hue should be open in mid-May-ish; it's looking really great inside. Mark and Carina did a really good job. Man, I'm so excited to have a good Vietnamese restaurant 3 blocks from my house!

In the kitchen: Riviera Maya's Tortilla Soup

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This soup is so good! Can I get an 'Amen'? I have had it many times since it's served with almost everything on the menu at Riviera Maya, and every time I eat it up with lightning speed. Their margaritas there are also incredibly good. In fact, Riviera Maya is one of the reasons we moved to Bay View. We told our realtor that we needed a house with good restaurants within walking distance.

I found the recipe in the Journal Sentinel's "You Asked For It" section. Now I can make it at home!

Out to Lunch: Jake's Deli

On 17th and North Ave. Open M-Sa 10:00am - 3:00pm

I love that this place hasn't changed in decades. I also loved the sign on the wall that read "Sorry, the only Bud we serve here is Bud Selig". And I looove their corned beef sandwiches.