Need a good rec. We'll be near MCW, this is their recommendation page, need a restaurant for lunch. Two known vegetarians, we'll have close to 20 people, so takes reservations would be good.
http://www.froedtert.com/VisitorInformation/LocalAreaServices/Restaurants/

Not sure if you had your visit to MCW yet but I'd recommend Blue's Egg. As close as many other suggestions but a much better option than most of them. http://www.bluesegg.com/

We are a largish group (24 I think) and apparently have a reservation at Cheesecake Factory. Sigh.

leek wrote:We are a largish group (24 I think) and apparently have a reservation at Cheesecake Factory. Sigh.

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!

I visited my sister over the holiday weekend and have a few new suggestions.

Tenuta's - Neighborhood Italian American. This place was just a great place to have a nice Italian dinner. My cooking school graduate friend raved about her Eggplant Parmesan. http://www.tenutasitalian.com/PAGES/home083106.html

Great Lakes Distillery - You can take a tour that includes tastings for $5. But, it's the bar that is the attraction. Amazing cocktails. I had a gin punch that I will dream about. http://www.greatlakesdistillery.com/

Milwaukee Brewing Company - You get to try A LOT of beer on this tour. You get a full beer at the start, and then throughout the tour they take breaks for everyone to "beer up". And, the beer is pretty great. http://mkebrewing.com/

Odd Duck - Locally sourced ingredients served as shareable plates. Amazing. The three of us shared 6 small plates, a cheese selection, an alcoholic beverage apiece, and one dessert for a grand total of $90. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the bill. http://www.oddduckrestaurant.com/

My friend hadn't been to Milwaukee in years and she was just amazed by the quality of the food we had.

Has anyone checked out Braise?

We're heading up to MKE for the Louis CK performance tomorrow.. unless somebody talks us out of it


http://www.braiselocalfood.com/Restaurant.html

Personally I have not been to braise, but people whom I trust really enjoyed their meals there.

Dr. Dawgs is opening up a second and much larger location. The new one is going to be in Greenfield in the old Hooters building.

A great place for poultry - Tower Chicken

4111 South 6th Street, Milwaukee
(414) 744-7151

I picked up three ducks (frozen, alas) for others and you get quite a bit more bird at a cheaper price that what is found at your standard store. They also sell a bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with cheese that is great for cooking, letting cool, and slicing for party trays. Very friendly owners.

exvaxman wrote:A great place for poultry - Tower Chicken

4111 South 6th Street, Milwaukee
(414) 744-7151

I picked up three ducks (frozen, alas) for others and you get quite a bit more bird at a cheaper price that what is found at your standard store. They also sell a bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with cheese that is great for cooking, letting cool, and slicing for party trays. Very friendly owners.

Their chicken brats are awesome. Better than some traditional brats. Also a great place to buy wings or your thanksagiving turkey.

Apparently Jakes is opening a branch at the Grand Ave. Mall dec. 1.

I wish that they had been able to follow through with their plans to open in Glendale by Dr. dawgs.
The b-tard that owns the Jimmy Johns threatened to sue even though there were no restrictions on any lease on who/what could get space. The current folks who own Jakes walked away rather than get involved in that mess. That space is still empty years later.

I think Jake's will do ok at the Mall. The only thing that thrives at Grand Avenue is the food court. A few years ago there was discussion of moving it to the first floor to give it some street presence but those never materialized. I think a lot of downtown workers were already making the trek to North Ave for their corned beef fix.

My wife and I are going to a show tomorrow night at the Riverside Theater (Old Crow Medicine Show). We are looking for a quick early evening dinner. Have never been to Solly's and we're curious, but are there any can't miss gems near the theater/downtown area?

Also, any gems for breakfast the next morning? I was thinking Frank's Diner in Kenosha, but we're open to any suggestions there as well.

Solly's is an over rated experience IMHO. The amount of butter on a butterburger is ridiculously thick and overwhelming. As I took my first bite, I could actually feel my heart slowing down, trying to come to terms with the layer of dairy fat, almost as thick as the burger patty itself, as it slid down my gullet.

If you're looking for a great burger, there's a whole thread about the Burgers of Wisconsin offering much better options. In Milwaukee you've got Sobelman's and A.J. Bombers for starters.

Have great trip!

Buddy

Thanks, Buddy. I'll look at those options. Solly's always seemed like something you had to try once, but I have had my hesitations because it just seemed kind of gross.

Yup, I tried it once. That was enough. I've heard stories about local folks who eat a couple of Solly's butterburgers at a time, two or three times a week! And live to tell the tale.

Besides Sobelman's and A.J.'s, if you really want a phenomenal burger and don't mind a bit of a drive, Fred's Bar, "Home of the World's Best Hamburger" (self proclaimed, but not without merit) in Burlington is a worthy stop. They're a fair distance southwest of Milwaukee, but it's a straight shot up Hwy. 36 into Milwaukee; about a half hour drive. My fave at Fred's is the Roasted Garlic Burger. I'm getting a little emotional just thinking about it.

Buddy

I agree with Solly's being over rated. I live close by and only go when someone from out of town wants to go in.

We're back and very stuffed. Went with Sobelman's and we're not disappointed. Great burgers, great bloodys, great beer, great atmosphere. We really dug the place and we're excited to hear from our server and the owner that they are looking to open an outpost in Chicago. Great prices, too.

Took in Old Crow Medicine Show at the Riverside and then had a late night brat at the Milwaukee Brat House (1013 North Old World 3rd Street), which despite it frat house like atmosphere, serves up a really solid brat, especially after a few Spotted Cows.

Breakfast was at the Comet Cafe (1947 North Farwell Avenue) and it was fantastic. Wife had the Comet Benedict (eggs, smoked ham on biscuits with sausage gravy) and I had the meatloaf with eggs topped with sausage gravy. Again, awesome bloodys with a bacon garnish and just a wonderful time.

Can't wait to get back to Milwaukee and try some of the other suggestions. And I've been to Fred's and that is a helluva a burger, too.

I forgot about the Bloody Marys; that gives you a double good reason to go to Sobelman's. Glad you enjoyed the meal. Even happier about a possible Sobelman's location down here. Any indication as to where they will be, or when they will be there?

I wish I'd paid closer attention to your initial post. I would have recommended Honey Pie for breakfast, over in the historic Bay View neighborhood. Sounds like you did okay on your own.

Buddy

Honey Pie
2643 South Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 489-7437

Recently had an excellent dinner at Pastiche Bistro. Lovely sweetbreads. Also enjoyed duckmbreast with chorizo and orange. Small place, reservations recommended.

3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-1446
pastichebistro.com

A reminder that your posts about specific Milwaukee restaurants will likely get more attention and commentary if you create a thread for the restaurant instead of posting about it here. Creating a new thread (or adding to an extant restaurant thread) will move that thread up to the top of the "Beyond Chicagoland" forum, where more people may notice it. Whereas this one, which is "stickied," doesn't move.

Does anyone know about a Chinese/Asian bulk supply store called "Wang Fat" in the Milwaukee area (south side)? Supposedly a membership club like Sam's that also supplies local resteraunts.

I was driving my Chinese neighbor to O'scare today so she could fly to HK to visit her father, and she was telling me about it. Google search turns up nothing, and my neighbor will be gone for a month.

exvaxman wrote:Does anyone know about a Chinese/Asian bulk supply store called "Wang Fat" in the Milwaukee area (south side)? Supposedly a membership club like Sam's that also supplies local resteraunts.

I was driving my Chinese neighbor to O'scare today so she could fly to HK to visit her father, and she was telling me about it. Google search turns up nothing, and my neighbor will be gone for a month.

I never heard of Wang Fat. However, here's a place you may want to check out: http://www.asianinternationalmarket.com

Thanks. I haven't heard of Asian International. I'll have to stop by on my way home from Cermak.

If that's not the place, try this one:

Asian-American Wholesale, Inc
2101 Forest Home
Milwaukee, WI
414-649-9030

exvaxman wrote:Does anyone know about a Chinese/Asian bulk supply store called "Wang Fat" in the Milwaukee area (south side)? ...

Once upon a time whenever you ordered takeout from or ate at one of Milwaukee's Chinese restaurants, all of the condiment packets, teabags, placemats, calendars etc. bore the name of the "Hong Fat" company of Milwaukee. Googling that name points you to a vacant lot on 25th and State and an article about one of the former owners who sold the business to a national distributor in 2001.

phaseolus wrote:

exvaxman wrote:Does anyone know about a Chinese/Asian bulk supply store called "Wang Fat" in the Milwaukee area (south side)? ...

Once upon a time whenever you ordered takeout from or ate at one of Milwaukee's Chinese restaurants, all of the condiment packets, teabags, placemats, calendars etc. bore the name of the "Hong Fat" company of Milwaukee. Googling that name points you to a vacant lot on 25th and State and an article about one of the former owners who sold the business to a national distributor in 2001.

Only place I ever was able to get real shark's fins, very pricey for a 1# bag. Alas it's long gone!-Dick

Thanks all, when my neighbor gets back i'll find out what she was referring to.

Hey Phaseolus, good to see a fellow farker here.
I could not find a place to accommodate a fark party last month, and was too busy to try for this month. Maybe in feb.

chicagostyledog wrote:here's a place you may want to check out: http://www.asianinternationalmarket.com

A very nice market, with several storefronts run together. A modest produce section, lots of packaged goods, frozen foods and more. They make excellent papaya salad; it's worth stopping in for that alone.

Asian International Market
3401 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 383-4188

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:I forgot about the Bloody Marys; that gives you a double good reason to go to Sobelman's. Glad you enjoyed the meal. Even happier about a possible Sobelman's location down here. Any indication as to where they will be, or when they will be there?

Sobelman's Chicago doesn't have a location, but it has a facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/SobelmansPopUp?ref=ts&fref=ts