Are you looking for the best restaurants in Milwaukee Wisconsin? You have come to the right place.
Whatever you love when it comes to food Milwaukee Wisconsin has you covered. It’s a city with a restaurant for every taste. Milwaukee is a culturally diverse city with immigrants from German, English, Irish, Italian, and Polish all settling here. This can be evidenced in the many different restaurants in the city.
You will find gourmet restaurants, pub restaurants, steak restaurants, and some that are a little bit different.
Most people associate Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with beer and cheese, and while that’s certainly true, the city has a lot more to offer.
Surprisingly it’s also a city that cares for vegans and vegetarians really well. While you might think this area is known for its meat you might be surprised what it offers the non-meat lover.
So sit back and let me walk you through the best Milwaukee restaurants.
There are also plenty of amazing things to do in Milwaukee when you’re not exploring the city’s food scene!
Best Restaurants in Milwaukee at a Glance
Not sure where to eat in Milwaukee? Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner, delicious vegan food, or somewhere casual, here are some of the best Milwaukee restaurants for every occasion!
| Restaurant | Best For |
|---|---|
| Strange Town | Creative vegan dining |
| Vanguard | Sausages and comfort food |
| The Diplomat | Date nights and sharing plates |
| Twisted Plants | Vegan burgers and comfort food |
| Odd Duck | Creative small plates |
| Lupi & Iris | Fine dining and special occasions |
| Lake Park Bistro | Romantic dining with lake views |
| Five O’Clock Steakhouse | Traditional Wisconsin supper clubs |
| Blue’s Egg | Breakfast and brunch |
| Lakefront Brewery | Craft beer and pub food |
15 Best Restaurants in Milwaukee WI You Must Try
Strange Town
On the Lower East Side, this Milwaukee restaurant is hip and trendy and vegan with everything all-natural including wine.
This is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee that is all about health and wellbeing, and that is into ethical business and sustainability. It’s a bold vintage chic style place and they play vinyl records.
The seasonal menu features creative plant-based small plates, with dishes inspired by flavours from around the world. There is also an excellent selection of natural wines and other drinks.
This is a great vegan Milwaukee restaurant and I encourage you to visit it.
Vanguard
Vanguard is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee that made it their mission to make meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans all happy.
They serve comfort food with a modern twist and a dash of creativity. And did I say it specializes in sausages?
You can get pretty much any kind of sausage here. For the meat lovers how about duck-and-bacon sausage with hollandaise aioli, a Nashville hot chicken sausage.
For the vegans, four options are available including red curry and chorizo. Oh, and the sausages come with baked potato balls, kimchi-loaded fries, or in a dog.
This place is also a pretty hip drinking joint that specializes in bourbons and craft beers.
This place really is a dream and there will be something on this menu to please everyone.
Holy Land Grocery & Bakery
This is a grocery and deli with an onsite restaurant. They specialize in Middle Eastern Food and this is one of the best places to eat in Milwaukee.
The menu isn’t huge but it features some of the most delicious Milwaukee food both carnivores and vegetarians and vegans can enjoy.
For meat lovers, there are dishes such as shawarma, shish kebabs, and mixed grills. Vegetarians can enjoy options including falafel, hummus, and freshly made salads.
There is an attached sweet shop that serves various baklava-like pastries.
with so much to offer this is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee you may want to check out!
The Diplomat For Creative Dining In Milwaukee
The Diplomat For Creative Dining In Milwaukee
If you’re looking for somewhere a little different to eat in Milwaukee, then The Diplomat is a great choice.
Located on Brady Street, this restaurant serves creative American food in a relaxed, stylish setting.
The menu focuses on sharing plates, making it a great place to visit if you love trying lots of different dishes.
Expect comfort food with a creative twist, including the restaurant’s popular Knife & Fork Chicken, inventive small plates, and delicious desserts.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the cocktails are pretty impressive too.
This is one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee for a date night or an evening with friends!
Twisted Plants For Vegan Comfort Food In Milwaukee
If you think vegan food is all salads and vegetables, Twisted Plants might just change your mind!
This Milwaukee restaurant specialises in plant-based comfort food, and the menu is full of familiar favourites with a vegan twist.
Think juicy burgers, crispy chicken-style sandwiches, loaded fries, and delicious milkshakes, all completely plant-based.
The menu items have fun names inspired by popular films, which adds a little extra personality to the place.
Located on Brady Street, this is a casual restaurant where you can enjoy a satisfying meal without any meat or dairy.
Twisted Plants is one of the best places to eat in Milwaukee if you’re looking for delicious vegan comfort food!
Odd Duck
Located in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighbourhood, this restaurant is an eclectic mix. It serves creative small plates in stylish surroundings with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
The menu is constantly changing with what’s fresh and always includes lots of options for vegetarians. The influences for the dishes come from all four corners of the world.
The current menu includes such things as seafood stew, koji marinated yakitori steak, raw and roasted brussels sprouts with apple, and black pepper tempura oyster mushrooms.
They also have an extensive cheese and charcuterie menu. Each plate here is a mini piece of art and you can just tell that lots of love have gone into each dish.
This is one of the great places to eat in Milwaukee.
Lupi & Iris For Fine Dining In Milwaukee
If you’re looking for a special dining experience in Milwaukee, then Lupi & Iris is somewhere you should consider.
This elegant restaurant brings the flavours of the French and Italian Riviera to the heart of Milwaukee.
Created by award-winning chef Adam Siegel, the restaurant combines beautifully prepared food with stylish surroundings and excellent service.
The menu features dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, including handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and carefully prepared meats.
You can even choose to sit at the chef’s counter and watch the kitchen team at work.
It’s certainly not the cheapest place to eat in Milwaukee, but for a romantic dinner or special occasion, Lupi & Iris is a wonderful choice!
Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro
This Milwaukee restaurant is a classic french-inspired bistro in the East Side’s Lake Park. As well as serving great Milwaukee food, there is a swanky bar and an incredible view over Lake Michigan.
This is one of the best Milwaukee restaurants for a romantic dinner date. The cuisine is award-winning and the menu is what it calls haute bistro so think bistro but classy.
The menu features classic French dishes such as steak frites, duck confit, French onion soup, and a selection of seasonal seafood. You get the idea.
If you love French food then this is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee to go to.
Five O’Clock Steakhouse
Washington Post named this Milwaukee restaurant as one of the best places to eat in Milwaukee so you know it is going to be good. This place is all about traditional done well and not following the trends.
It is family-owned and has been independently operated and has been since 1946. It’s a place proud of its heritage and promises one of the best supper club experiences.
The real experience here starts with one of the expertly poured Martinis.
You have your order taken then go to the table which waits for you with bread and a relish tray with olives, pickles, and hot peppers.
Eat the relishes and the salad that arrives on a rolling cart before your expertly cooked steak or seafood arrives.
The menu is a delight of traditional MIlwaukee food such as baked French onion soup, shrimp cocktail, and of course steaks cooked in various ways and some seafood.
If you are looking for an experience to remember then this is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee you should visit.
Sanford Is One Of The Best Places To Eat In Milwaukee
If you love gourmet food then this might be one of the restaurants in Milwaukee for you. It is tucked into a neighborhood in the East City and headed by Chef Justin Aprahamian.
And it is frequently cited as one of the best Milwaukee restaurants with many awards to its name.
Their philosophy is to start with the finest possible ingredients from as close to home as possible. They then treat those ingredients with the utmost respect, bringing out their natural flavors.
This place knows its food and it shows. The food here is often described as modern ethnic. It’s an unusual creative menu and ever-changing.
The menu changes regularly and features creative dishes using carefully selected ingredients. Expect beautifully presented options featuring seasonal vegetables, seafood, duck, and expertly prepared meats.
If you have allergies or any special dietary requirements let them know ahead. It’s not the sort of restaurants that can just take things out or rustle something up. Everything is thought about and planned here.
This is honestly some of the best food in Milwaukee. Sanford cares about its customers and their experience from start to finish.
Blue Egg Is Best For Brunch In Milwaukee
If you are a brunch sort of person then this is the restaurant in Milwaukee for you. This is a place that specializes in all things breakfast and brunch and it does it so well.
This is good food and their stuffed hash browns are a dream.
It’s all the breakfast items you would expect but with a little something extra. If breakfast was homely yet upgraded this is where it would hang out.
Vegans and vegetarians are also well-catered to here.
The menu includes delicious options such as stuffed hash browns, creative omelettes, eggs Benedict, pancakes, and French toast. There are also plenty of tempting sweet treats from the bakery.
They also have pancakes and french toast and typical breakfast items but again with something different.
If you are a fan of breakfast fare whatever time of day this is the place for you.
With so much to offer, this is one of the best eateries for brunch in Milwaukee!
Lakefront Brewery For Great Beer And Pub Food
You can’t talk about restaurants in Milwaukee without mentioning its famous brewing heritage!
Lakefront Brewery is a great place to experience traditional Wisconsin food alongside locally brewed craft beer.
Located beside the Milwaukee River, this popular brewery has a lively beer hall serving some seriously good comfort food.
The menu includes Wisconsin favourites such as beer-battered cheese curds, sausages, pretzels, and the traditional Friday fish fry.
Of course, there are plenty of craft beers to choose from too, including seasonal varieties and some interesting speciality brews.
You can even take a brewery tour to learn more about how the beer is made.
If you’re looking for a fun, casual place to eat in Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery is definitely worth visiting!
If you love craft beer, there are plenty of other fantastic breweries in Milwaukee to explore too!
San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana For Authentic Italian Pizza
If you love pizza, then San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana is one of the restaurants in Milwaukee you need to visit!
This downtown Milwaukee restaurant specialises in authentic Neapolitan pizza made using traditional Italian techniques.
The pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven at incredibly high temperatures, giving them a beautifully soft crust with just the right amount of char.
The menu features classic Italian ingredients, with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and carefully selected toppings.
It’s a lively, modern restaurant with a real passion for making pizza the traditional way.
And if you love Italian food, this is definitely one of the best places to eat in Milwaukee!
Braise
There is something a little different about Braise. Perhaps it’s the private greenhouse dining on the roof or the roving food trucks or the food classes it offers. Could even be the farm dinners it offers.
This place loves food so much that it screams it from the rooftops and that is not over-exaggerating. This restaurant is an overachiever and then some.
The food, as you would expect, is delicious, unusual, and oh-so creative. The seasonal menu changes regularly, featuring locally sourced ingredients and inventive dishes that make the most of what’s available.
A trip here is a treat to your tastebuds, a delight to the eyes, and soothing to the soul. Oh and the pork buns are a staple here with good reason, they are incredible.
This eatery offers some of the best food in Milwaukee.
Tricklebee Café For Food With A Purpose
Sometimes a restaurant is about much more than just the food, and Tricklebee Café is a wonderful example of that.
This Milwaukee café has a simple but rather lovely idea. Everyone deserves a good meal, regardless of how much money they have.
Operating on a pay-what-you-can basis, the café serves healthy, plant-based meals in a welcoming community setting.
The menu changes regularly depending on the ingredients available, with creative vegan dishes made using seasonal and locally sourced produce.
But what makes this place really special is its commitment to bringing people together.
People can contribute what they can afford, and the café also welcomes volunteers who want to help.
Tricklebee Café is one of the most interesting places to eat in Milwaukee, where great food and a sense of community go hand in hand!
As you can see, when it comes to restaurants in Milwaukee, there are so many wonderful places to choose from!
Whether you’re looking for fine dining, casual comfort food, or something a little different, Milwaukee has something for everyone.
Whichever of these places to eat in Milwaukee you choose, I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.
These are some of the best restaurants in Milwaukee, and I can’t wait to hear about your experience.
And if you’re planning to explore more of the region, there are plenty of wonderful Midwest weekend getaways to add to your travel plans!
Have you visited any of these Milwaukee restaurants? Let me know your favourites in the comments!
If you’re planning your visit around a particular time of year, it’s also worth checking out some of the fantastic events in Wisconsin to make the most of your trip!
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