Milwhawkeye's Profile
MKE- Has anyone tried Smoke Shack yet?
I've been to the Shack a couple times. It's not cheap, but I like it a lot. The meats are good. The sides were tasty. But no BBQ beans, which seems bizarre for a BBQ joint. Has great atmosphere inside. Looking forward to summer when the deck opens, because the place is always packed.
Milwaukee Pizza,,,Help!
I was sad when Pizza Man burned, but am despondent now that Olive Pit has been shuttered.
I loved the OP bar and the nice gals who served me wine while I waited for my carry-out pie. Great atmosphere and terrific pizza. And good music.
So I have been on a quest to find a new go-to pizza. I know plenty of places, but had gotten into an OP habit, so I neglected others. Now I'm on an odyssey to reconnect with Milwaukee pizza.
I'd welcome any thoughts/recs (and am open to anywhere in Milw County), but I am posting this thread to relay my experience at a place I loved 15 years ago and just re-vsisted last night--Mama DeMarini's. If one word sums it up: creepy. When I pulled up, I thought they were out of business. Their formerly brightly-lit sign was dark. But then I noticed a beer light in the window, and what appeared to be a large mental patient or zombie shuffling slowly behind the bar. Cautious, but encouraged, I parked and went in.
I walked into a David Lynch movie. The tables were empty. Two older patrons drank in the rear near some sort of video game or gambling device. The bar was occupied by three pairs of drinkers. And a giant, sloth-like creature was lurching behind the bar. The TV was blaring "Wheel of Fortune" while the zombie played along.
I sat at the bar with the hope of ordering a pizza and getting the hell out fast. I immediately noticed a terrible, sewer-like smell emanating from the floor or wall behind me. The bartender eventually made his way to me and took a drink order. My Lakefront IPA (a favorite) reached me after several minutes, but the bartender darted away quickly without taking my order (his speedy movement in this instance, I would learn, was out of character). Unfortunately, the beer was undrinkable. A sign Mama doesn't clean her taps.
I really just wanted to order. The smell, the tainted beer, the TV, the type of clientele that would actually return for this; it was all too much. But somehow, even though there were 8 patrons in the building, the bartender was busy, slowly filling all their mixed drink orders before he finally made it back to take my order. He moved with the grace and alacrity of Montgomery Burns. I just wanted a beer I could drink. I just wanted my pizza so I could get out of what had the charm of a smelly family room in an Appalachia trailer park.
I seriously considered walking out without ordering. The bartender was giving me that chance. But I never seized it (sadly). Instead I ordered a sausage and pepperoni pizza to go. Then I moved to a table to get away from TV and the smell (by now I had identified it as the men's latrine near the east end of the bar).
I didn't drink the beer. I got my pizza in quick enough order. A server brought it to me. I told her to add the beer, then I paid and got up to leave. The bartender, once again demonstrating he was capable of quick movement now and then, wheeled and yelled that I had a bar tab to settle. I told him I paid the server and hit the door.
The pizza looked fine, except it was completely buried in sausage. I mean, I've never seen this much sausage on a pizza. I know that seems like an odd complaint, but it was overwhelming. There was no balance to the pizza. And the sausage was just ok. Not great. Overall, I give the pizza two stars on my 5-star scale. Except when I consider the hygiene of the place, then I give them one star.
The place was dubious in every way.
Anyway, my march continues.
MIlwaukee -- food carts and trucks
tigerbitetruck.com
tasty, cheap asian-inspired tacos. good egg rolls too.
Any ideas for Milwaukee?
Here are some additional ideas to supplement those above: Ginger, Honeypie, Metro Hotel, City Market, Plaza Cafe, Crisp, Smyth, Corazon, Knick, Rustico, Stone Fly, Mr. Perkins (not the Perkins chain), Alterra, Kil@wat, Palms, Birdie's Cafe, Brochach, Beans+Barley, Glen Cafe, Chuck's, Off the clock)
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Rustico
223 N Water St Ste 100, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Honeypie Cafe
2643 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
"Ethnic" Grocery Stores in Milwaukee
Check out Pacific Produce at 27th and Grange. By far the biggest asian grocery store in town, with several vietnamese and thai restauarants on site.
New to Milwaukee, looking for guidance
since we're talking about viet food, check out Pacific Market at Grange and 27th. Pho Viet is there, a tasty pho house. Pacific itself is a giant asian grocery (bigger by far than anything here). and inside is a great little banh mi takeout joint. it's worth the drive down there. fun experience. good chow.
New to Milwaukee, looking for guidance
Jake's is awesome. last time i was there i got hit by a car. left in an ambulance. the friendly workers came out with towels to help stem the flow of blood from my head. i need to get back.
anyway, i think they're the best corned beef in town. The atmosphere helps. Benjie's is a close second. Jake's was sold in the past year, and I don't know how it's holding up.
October Weekend in Milwaukee
here's my recommendation--don't stay by the airport. down there you get all the atmosphere of newark, oklahoma city, bakersfield, des moines. it costs more downtown, but you'll be happier. try the comfort inn on state st. they usually have the cheapest, decent rooms, and it's a great location.
then you can walk through neighborhoods to downtown and brady street and lakefront brewery, rather than staggering through some culvert like a migrant worker along a four-lane road near the airport trying to find soemthing to eat. (actually, sounds apropos for farm fest--kind of grapes of wrath.)
if you do stay at the airport, i second jalapeno loco. also, the nite owl has a great burger (when they're open). otherwise, not much there. there's an alterra in the main terminal at the airport--walk over there in the morning for coffee and a breakfast burrito. that way you can watch the planes take off rather than just listen to them.
Milwaukee
I second Zafirros.
How about Olive Pit? My favorite. It's not thin crust but they make great pies. Cool atmosphere too.
Coquette is not a pizza place but they have great thin crust pizzas.
Ian's make stasty pies, not thin crust.
Milwaukee dining?
here here. i concede that bombers is a great burger. never liked sobelman but now love the bomber.
New to Milwaukee, looking for guidance
My fav thai is Thai-namite. Don't let the cheesy name fool you. On the east side of milwaukee.
My fav viet is Hue in Bay View (southeast Milw). within walking distance of Burnheart's too (fun bar).
Fortune at 108th and National Ave does get raves from asians as best chinese. I haven't tried it yet. But i found it interesting that someone else made the same comment.
Ee-sane is great, but low atmosphere and spotty service. get there early for lunch or get carry out,. The service isn't horrible. It just takes forever to get your check when youre done.
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Bay View Bar
3008 Patterson Rd, Bay City, MI 48706
Burnhearts
2599 S Logan Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
got a new one i like a lot: Hue in Bay View. Better food than Pho 43, and real atmosphere too.
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Bay View Bar
3008 Patterson Rd, Bay City, MI 48706
True Brat rolls in Milwaukee/Madison WI
If I'm driving between Milw and Green Bay or Door County, I always stop at Miesfeld's in Sheboygan for meat and buns. They sell the City Market hard rolls (which oddly are very soft). They also have buns from another local bakery which are equally good. Right off the freeway at Highway 42. Really an amazing place. Awesome meat and sausage selection.
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
Got another spot to pump up...Pho 43. It replaced the Chee-zee Grill on 43d Street south of Miller Park (in the shadow of the Froedert Malt werks).
Anyway, it's a Vietnamese place. All of the following were tasty: pho, pork sandwich, spring roll and pork fried rice. Milwaukee seems to lack good fried rice (not you Ee-sane...yours is awesome). Worth a trip. Not high on atmosphere (it's a lame strip mall place), but that' not why you go.
Milwaukee small plate dining - any updates? new places?
I need to respond to Milwhawkeye's eaarlier post. Take red Accordian off the recommended list. I was disappointed in a meal there last week. The menu is more ambitious than the chef.
chubby's cheesesteaks in milwaukee
I agree with the K-man...Philly Way is better. But I do still enjoy Chubby's, expecially when I'm tanked.
Milwaukee small plate dining - any updates? new places?
Red Accordion on 3d. Ginger is good, as mentioned above. I like Merenda and balzac too.
Milwaukee German
Ratzch's for sure if you seek Teutonic grub. I also agree with the Crocus rec (polish). Or Three Bros in Bayview (serb).
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
Got a great find for ya'll...Corazon Cafe in Riverwest. Awesome brunch, great carnitas, tasty bloody mary. It's a tiny place but has a good feel and rockin' chow. Look for big outdoor area this spring. Right on Riverwest...we need more chow in that area. Joining Centro as recent outposts.
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
AJ Bomber's is ok. They make a decent burger. I too prefer it to Sobelman's. I don't get the mushroom burger, but I give them credit for trying something new. And I like how they borrowed the peanut theme from Five Guys. Nice to be able to snack before your meat shows up. And their peanut delivery system is fun for the kids. My 6-year old loves it.
I just had another great burger--Dotty Dumpling in Madison. Worth a visit while in Madison, although it still doesn't beat the mighty Caribou burger.
I had the burger at Carleton Grange last week. Too greasy, and I like greasy burgers. The bottom bun was soaked through with grease. I couldn't finish it. Friendly waitress though. Weird parking.
Speaking of greasy, I had a Philly Way cheesesteak yesterday. So F-ing good. I love that place.
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
Just got back from Sobelman's Tallgrass on Farwell. Just wanted to try them one more time to see if it was me or them. It was just OK. I think I'm done with them. Among cheap burger alternatives ($7 and under), it's not bad. Just not great. But I don't get the cult. I'll stop talking about Sobelman's now.
How about COA at Bayshore? I had some tasty margs there last week.
Anyone had the Stella's breakfast yet (on MLK)? I had lunch there this week, and am curious about breakfast there. they have cafeteria style southern food (fried chicken, mac+cheese, pepper steak). It was ok, but it's not close to Mr. Perkins for quality. Plus, I'm not a huge buffet guy. Although I love the Mayura Indian buffet (next to Sobelman's Tallgrass on Farwell). Actually, that intersection is full of great food--Mayura, Comet and Koppa's deli. You can't go wrong there (well almost).
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
Hey folks, I found another burger that surpasses Sobelman's--the burger at Coquette Cafe. $9.50 for bacon/gruyere/onion relish burger and fries. Why go to a cramped bar in the valley or a characterless strip mall storefront on Farwell when you can get better burgers in quality atmosphere. Also, what's the deal with Sobelman's lettuce--they're the only outfit I know that uses the husk of iceberg lettuce on a burger.
Also, just want to post a thumbs up for Honey Pie in Bay View. Great pork tenderloin, tasty pork fries, good BBQ. Oddly, the pie was just OK.
Go Hawks! 9-0.
Good Eats In Milwaukee?
I gotta say it--Sobelman's is the most over-rated burger I've ever had. It's good, but it's not that good. I can't understand why people flock to it.
The burgers are better at Northpoint. The burgers are better at Culvers or Five Guys. Triskele's has a better burger.
I'll grant MKE is not a great burger town. But the Bayview burger at Centraal is better, the pattymelt at Juniper is better. If you want a great burger, go to Caribou in Madison, George's in Iowa City, Hamburg Inn in Iowa City, or Sombrero in Burlington, IA. Just a few of my favorites within 5 hours.
Not trying to harsh on Sobel, but I don't get the cult following.
I guess it's personal taste. I like my burger cooked behind a bar while I'm gulping a cold one (George's, Caribou and Sombrero). But they are all great. Forget about fries; savor the beef.
And for pizza, did no one mention Olive Pit? This is the best joint in town.
ISO Rockford, IL lunch
I'll be in Rokford for a soccer tournament this weekend, and am in need of a lunch spot. Rockford seems to be full of chain restaurants. Any hounds have some tips for me?
It's me and a few open-minded gals. We like it all--dives, holes-in-the-wall, cheap, pricey, fancy, dumpy...just needs to be tasty and/or interesting. With that broad mandate, please let me know your thoughts.
ISO Quad Cities chow
help me out . . . i travel to the QC (Davenport, Rock Island, etc.) on business. I'm always looking for interesting chow. Not fancy; just interesting.
I like centro's pizza. good beef too.
i dig jim's rib haven.
azteca II is good mexican.
there's a sports bar in rock island with a football name (like "3d and 24" or something like that) that has good pork tenderloins.
there's also a good bar in east davenport near the river that has home cut fries and good pork tenderloins.
with that background on what i like, do you have any recommendations for me?
Iowa
hear me now, believe me later. a couple thoughts.
first, no knock on the house of lords, but if you're staying in iowa city, you should stay in iowa city (not coralville). and that means staying at the sheraton or the hotel vetro downtown. you should get good rates at xmas. the vetro is quite nice.
i make the milwaukee to KC run to see family frequently, and we always stay at the vetro.
downtown has lots of great restaurants. just walk around and find one you like.
for pizza, go to pagliai's.
for diner food, hamburg inn.
for decent chow in a family-friendly enough atmosphere, try the summit.
there are several good japanese places downtown. my kids eat at takanami.
brown bottle is nostalgic, red sauce italian.
there are lots of nice places now, devotay (noted above), but i assume that's not what you need. alpha is fun, but again may not be the best for twin 2-year olds.
lots of bars downtown. i assume you guys will need some booze after traveling and dining out with twins. i like the deadwood but bring a gasmask for the kids.
Milwaukee -- Report (way, way longer than necessary)
whachoo talking bout willis? philly way is still open and still serving great cheese steaks. fido, youve been giving great advice on this board over the years. i cant believe you haven't been down there.
jakes is awesome. just got sold. hope the new owner continues the quality.
as for speed queen, i'm a former farm kid from iowa who now lives in the milw burbs. and i can tell you there's nothing scary about this neighborhood. it doesn't look like the suburbs, but so what? get in for some shoulder. you'll like it. i've been there dozens of times. have been asked for change a few times, but never been hassled. just say no thx and move on for the mighty cue. keep it real!
