I’m thinking it’s a sign that the burgers and the fries smell so delicious, you just can’t miss. It’s perfectly aligned. Milwaukee’s dining scene is cooking right now. Around every corner, in every neighborhood, there’s a local restaurant dishing out some seriously good food.

 

There’s fine dining, sure, but also tons of great eats in approachable settings, serving food that satisfies the thousands of hungry diners that stream through the city every day. To prove it, we rounded up some of the tastiest morsels around.

 

They will see us eating those such great bites, “Come on down,” we’ll say. And everything smells perfect from far away, “Come on down,” have a taste.

A steaming bowl of French onion soup topped with a thick layer of melted, golden cheese that’s bubbled over the edge of the crock, resting on a white plate with a lace doily beneath it.

 

Le Rêve Patisserie & Café

French Onion Soup

Hold on, we gotta focus. We’re shifting into soup mode. When the gales of November come rolling in, it’s open season on soups, stews and chilis, and there’s nowhere better to push the limits of soupy goodness than Le Rêve. Well-loved for its fresh flavor and classic recipe, the best part of this dish is the melted cheese topper that bubbles over the cup’s edge in a gooey, golden-brown halo, turning this appetizer into a meal all its own.

 

Two fluffy steamed bao buns filled with tender slices of meat, shredded carrots, fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of savory sauce, served in a bamboo steamer basket on a wooden table.


Momo Mee

Taiwanese Gua Bao - Pork Belly

Tender, melt-in-your-mouth, a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, this one is a bold, flavorful dish that fits in the palm of your hand. A Taiwanese street food staple, Momo Mee layers two soft, steamed and folded bao buns with that sweet, tender braised pork belly and tops it with cilantro and shaved carrot slices, serving a mouthwatering appetizer that’ll have you coming back.

A hearty plate of crispy fries topped with melted cheese curds, savory gravy, and a perfectly fried egg sprinkled with seasoning.


Camino

Breakfast Poutine

It’s a Canadian staple done with a little south-of-the-border panache and garnished with Midwestern flourish. Texture is the name of the game in this culinary mashup. It starts with two eggs mixed up with baby red potatoes, drizzled with savory chorizo gravy that’s got just the right amount of heat, and topped with chewy Clock Shadow Creamery cheese curds (we’re in Wisconsin, after all). It’s a chef’s kiss. As with all things, timing is everything, as this poutine is only on Camino’s brunch menu, slinging the mashup meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

A beautifully plated dish featuring a charred, glazed piece of meat resting atop a fluffy biscuit, surrounded by a rich brown sauce and garnished with delicate edible flower petals.


Amilinda

Piri Piri Chicken

We’ve been to France, made a trip north of the border to our Canadian neighbors and trekked out to Taiwan to seek out the dream slice of pork belly. For this dining expedition, we’re heading out to Africa and Portugal for a fusion dish known as spicy piri piri chicken. You’ll find it behind the yellow exterior of James Beard-recognized restaurant Amilinda, where Spanish and Portuguese flavors blend downtown. The chicken is paired with sweet-tart roasted cherry tomatoes, creamy Southern-style grits and sharp, tangy Hook’s blue cheese, adding a touch of Wisconsin to offset some of the spice, making it the perfect fall comfort meal.

A tray with three golden-brown empanadas, each stamped with different initials, served alongside a bowl of seasoned rice topped with crispy bits and a small jar of green sauce.


La Masa

Grilled Chicken Pesto Empanada

We complete our trip around the world in four bites on Brady Street. Welcome to La Masa. The Argentinian-inspired empanada bar specializes in the scratch-made, oven-baked pastry, with a culinarily adventurous spirit that creates a wide variety of menu items bursting with flavor. The Argentinian staple mixes it up with the flavors of Caribbean jerk chicken, beef barbacoa and Wisconsin curds, but this time, the grilled chicken pesto empanada is calling your name. Unpretentious, the handheld dish is exactly what it says it is: grilled chicken, house pesto sauce and grape tomatoes, all under the cozy ambiance of the wooden tables, low lights and warm colors throughout the dining room.

A thick slice of Detroit-style pizza topped with chunky red sauce and melted cheese, served on parchment paper beside a black Dead Bird Brewing Co. mug.


Dead Bird Brewing Co.

The Shmo

Okay, we’ve done the international intrigue thing. How about something from right here in the Great Lakes region? We humbly submit for your taste buds’ approval, the Shmo. It’s a Detroit-style slice of deep-dish za made the vegan way. As with all great pies, it starts with the crust, a house-made focaccia that is then topped with sunflower seed mozzarella cheese so delicious that you would think it’s the real thing. It’s dotted with spicy Italian sausage, onions, mushrooms and then slathered with a flavorful line of red sauce. It’s real good food, and it’s all vegan, but you’d never know it by the taste. This hidden gem is only available on Wednesdays, so plan accordingly.

A cozy brunch spread featuring crispy potatoes, eggs Benedict, powdered sugar–dusted fritters with dipping sauce, and a sandwich with fries, all paired with iced tea and water on a sunlit table.

 

Black Sheep

Pancake Battered Cheese Curds

Good for brunch, lunch or dinner, Black Sheep does cheese curds differently. Unlike their counterparts slinging panko-crusted or beer-battered curds, this Walker’s Point restaurant serves the local delicacy coated in pancake batter, creating a sweet, savory app to prep for some serious eats (and maybe a Bloody Mary or two). Black Sheep uses white cheddar Clock Shadow Creamery curds before rolling them in a layer of pancake batter and then giving them a good fry. Once plated, they’re dusted with a light coat of powdered sugar and served with syrup. Is it an app or is it a dessert? We’ll let you decide.

A hearty breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, diced potatoes, and chunks of corned beef, served with a side of thick-cut toast and a cup of coffee.

 

Benji’s Deli & Restaurant

Hoppel Poppel

Milwaukee’s got fine dining, but it’s also a city where diner dining shines. Walking into this North Shore staple feels familiar and comfortable. It’s home. The matzo ball soup wafts through the air, and corned beef is piled high on rye. Opened over 60 years ago, if the “Seinfeld” mainstay Monk’s had a cousin in Milwaukee, this would be the place. As a deli, it of course serves some serious sandwiches, but there’s a specialty tucked in the pages of the plastic menu cover that makes this place a must for brunch. It’s delicious, and quite possibly one of the best hangover cures on the planet. The Hoppel Poppel is a scramble with crispy, fried and golden brown potatoes all mixed with hunks of fried salami and served with a side of toast. If the whole thing is a bit much for you to take down in one sitting, you can get a half order and still walk away full.

A gourmet burger stacked with melted cheese, crispy onion rings, and creamy peppercorn sauce, served on a marble countertop with a glass of beer and bottles of wine in the background.


Third Coast Provisions

Happy Hour Burger

One look inside Third Coast Provisions and you’d rightfully assume that you’ll find a menu of high-minded dining concepts and upscale dining with dishes like oysters, filet mignon and ora king salmon, but you’d never guess that it’s also home to one of the best happy hour burger specials in the city. Just $6 will land you a burger au poivre. Caramelized, crispy onions and slices of fresh American cheese are layered onto a pair of beef patties so good that you’ll crave the juicy flavors for days. The burger is splashed with au poivre sauce and put on a bun with garlic-herb aioli, building a burger that is as big as its reputation. You can only get one per person, while supplies last, but do yourself a favor and tack on a High Life for just $3 extra.

A large slice of pizza topped with chunks of sausage, melted mozzarella, tomato sauce, and fresh basil, served on a metal pizza pan.

 

Classic Slice Pizza

Shippee Ahoy

Big slices, creative pies, Classic Slice is, well, a classic can’t-miss in Bay View. From the outside, this pizza joint is a small, unassuming hideaway, but inside, you’ll find pizza perfection. The instantly recognizable interior of a pizzeria, with its arcade games and worn wooden tables, gives way to an even more recognizable sensation: the wafting smell of melted cheese, pepperoni, sausage and pizza ingredients floating through the air. Yeah, you could play it safe with a slice of the classics, but where’s the fun in that? The Shippee Ahoy (origin unknown) is loaded with sausage, fresh mozzarella, basil and finished with a flourish, pesto topping. It’s a radical culinary concept, and one of their radical meat pizzas. Grab a slice or go all in and order a pie. Once you try it, we're pretty sure you’re going to want more.

A bustling indoor seafood market filled with people browsing and dining, featuring large hanging fish decorations, bright neon “Fresh Seafood” signs, and displays of fresh catches on ice.

 

St. Paul's Fish Co.

Lobster Roll

Milwaukee is perched along the Fresh Coast, a land that’s distinctly lobster-free. So, what makes the lobster roll a must-try at the long-time Milwaukee Public Market staple? The market vendor flies fresh seafood in daily, bringing in fresh salmon, tuna, monkfish, shrimp, lobster and yes, crab. Tucked away in the south corner of one of Milwaukee’s most visited attractions, inside the main seating area, you can explore an aquatic array of everything from Jamaican jerk swordfish to the tantalizingly titled shark bites (a marinated and grilled Swordfish skewer served with beurre blanc), but get the Maine lobster roll. It’s a best-seller, and the must-try on their menu.

A simple glass of chocolate milkshake or protein smoothie set against a light beige background, with a smooth, creamy texture and a soft shadow on the surface.

 

And for Dessert: Colectivo

Mocha Shake

You’ve made it through all of our great bites, so you’ve earned yourself a little sweet treat. In Milwaukee, there’s no such thing as too cold for ice cream, and besides, the mocha shake is too good to pass up any time of year. The local coffee roasting giant makes a mean milkshake, blending their signature house-made cold brew with creamy vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and, for that little extra kick, ground espresso beans. You can pick up this for your morning walk, your afternoon pick-me-up, your evening dessert with a little extra kick or an anytime sugary delight while you see the sights. It’s available at all of Colectivo’s cafés year-round, and it's a delicious sip to round out our list.

 

Find your next great bite in Milwaukee. Top chefs, fine dining, bar food, Wisconsin eats and sweet treats await. Just good food in the Good Land. Plan your culinary escape today!