Representing 2021, W is for West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe. Now at W, the last of 7 from my…read moreChicago & Wisconsin trip. See my 5-star of American Family First Field, 4-star of Cargo Coffee East (in Madison), & 5-star of Indeed Brewing Company. Yet another 5-star experience in Milwaukee. On Saturday, September 4, 2021, my friend was interested in the science museum, but I was interested in seeing more variety of things in downtown Milwaukee. So, I dropped him off and did my own stuff that afternoon. One thing was stopping at the Milwaukee Public Market, which my friend from Arizona highly recommended. My friend really missed out on this one! Like the night before, I had cheese curds again here at West Allis! When in Rome, right?! Cheese curds were outstanding, which was the side to my also outstanding Muenster grilled cheese sandwich on buttery toasted sourdough. Of the 3 cheese curds I had in Milwaukee, all 3 of which were excellent, West Allis was the very best of 3 excellent choices. Cheese curds in Maryland (where I live) don't compare; see my 4-star review of Brew Belly in Olney, MD visited 2.5 months after Milwaukee trip written on 10/6/25; other aspects of that place were stronger, cheese curds were more of a 3-star (I was spoiled in Milwaukee), but still even those cheese curds were far superior to the worst date of 2021 at Brew Belly. The line at West Allis was long at lunchtime on that Saturday of Labor Day weekend, but the staff was efficient & cordial getting people through the line in reasonable time as well as getting the food quickly. I think I ate in an upstairs area of the market where there was some seating. If I was ever in Milwaukee again, I'd come back here, Brewers game if it timed well: Go Brew Crew!

It's a really great place and great location. Everything is pretty cramped but it works out. They…read morehave a slight different menu than the brick store in West Allis so I try to check the menu before coming to this location. The service is still great and the staff are nice. I picked something up and asked questions about it and the staff answered it. There's a lot of cheeses to choose from so come prepared to spend some time debating on which one to take home and how much. Everyone makes a stop here to try out their signature Bloody Mary's. They all come with straight chasers and come pretty stuffed so don't come on a full stomach. Their Milwaukeean Bloody Mary is a full meal is self. Try it out.

Seems like a quintessential Wisconsin place to be, a cheese bar paired with your favorite wine or…read morecocktail. This place is pretty neat! It'll turn you into a cheese connoisseur if you're not already one. I fell in love with Gouda cheese as soon as I took a bite. We tried a classic cheese flight board and red wine only flight to pair with the different types of cheese. They made it into a gluten free spread so we had four types of cheese in lieu of the seasoned dried meat and gluten free crackers. The place is inviting, has nice decorations, great for going on a date or a casual catch up with your bestie. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. They knew so much about wine and cheese, I would want a whole Documentary on cheese. You can also purchase cheese and other goodies to go! Come on Thursdays, they have a discount on cheese boards!

Date of visit: March 28, 2026…read more This was our second stop on a birthday date night and was a lovely little find! While the menu is limited and not cheap, staff were very friendly and walked us through everything before we selected a couple of things to try. Pretty much all of the cheeses and accoutrements were fantastic! One of the cheese on our plate was the espresso version of Bellavitano, which happens to be one of my favorites, so that was a nice little bonus for me. In addition to the board, we also went with the ricotta bites, which featured one sweet and one savory option, both of which we also really liked. The shop is cozy and if this was somewhere that I lived walking distance from, I could totally see myself coming here fairly regularly and having a little cheese and ambiance. During our time there we saw both couples on dates and old friends gathering for a drink and a nosh, all of which I found just wonderful. Really the only thing keeping this from a five star review was that the side items, such as the crackers were not plentiful enough for the cheese. I know that ratio can be hard to nail but it was not quite on the mark here, unfortunately. However, that would not be enough to prevent me from returning!

I recently attended a Charcuterie workshop held by Charcuter-Me through the Mequon Rec. department…read more Amanda walked us though placement of items, recommendations of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, and how to style the boards. Such a fun workshop and it was neat to see how everyone's boards turned out!

I had such a wonderful date night thanks to Charcuter-Me! I have worked at wine bars and cheese…read moreshops and gained an appreciation for both - nothing made me feel more proud than watching a table post pictures of a cheese board I'd created for them. Well these boards make mine look like preschool drawings. I ordered the Date Night board, which says it feeds two or snacks four. It was just two of us so picked up a couple bottles of wine to accompany it, and attempted to take credit for doing the whole thing myself. After obviously being called out, I couldn't wait to dig in! The board contained four different kinds of (all awesome) cheeses, four different kinds of wildly different meats, cheese-stuffed olives, dried and fresh fruit, chocolates, nuts, honeys, and jams. It was such a great mix of unique ingredients that I haven't tried - while still hitting those familiar notes that I like. After initially worrying we'd devour it and not have enough, I was pleased when we couldn't even quite finish the board! The only thing that I wish were included that wasn't would be a little ramekin of mustard. Prices were fair, pickup was smooth, and quality was through-the roof. With other boards like dessert, charcuterie cones, and endless possibilities, I will definitely be ordering from here again!

Friendly service, great music (Michael Jackson, Prince, and New Edition while I dined), and…read moredelicious food. Generous portions and lots of cheeeeese!

Staying at a hotel close by, I made my way to the Milwaukee Public Market and found Foltz Family…read moreMarket. Foltz's offers a wide variety of foods, but what drew my attention was the wood fired pizza! From wide selection of choices, I landed on the Philly. I am normally not a fan of white Alfredo sauced pizzas, but I am glad I went with this choice. The toppings were fresh and delicious, with a little crisp left in the onions and green peppers which made this pizza standout. Crust was the perfect balance of crisp and chew, the only criticism I had was the bottom Could've used 30 seconds longer - other than that fantastic pizza! Well executed pizza, if you are in the neighborhood - check it out!

We were at Third Space Brewery and they were parked there for dinner. We tried the Mac n Cheese and…read moreCarne Asada (I didn't try the meat one) and both were very tasty! Because they cut them in half it makes it easier to share. One sauce was a ketchup base and the other I can't recall, both were very good. Looking forward to seeing them around!

Lumpia City is a new food truck to the MKE market. We happened to catch them at the Pabst Brewery…read moreopening - one of their first few events. If you're a dope like me and don't know what lumpia is - well - it's a delicious Filipino creation that reminded me of a spring roll. They're crisp rolled sticks filled with yummy fillings - some pretty creative ones from this truck for sure. The menu is changing obviously but they make meat, veggie and dessert lumpia. An order of 6 (cut in half so 12pcs) was $10. I got a mix - 1/2 were seasoned beef which was honestly pretty boring and the El Carne version which adds veggies and some heat. That one was delicious! Sadly, I missed out on siracha pork. The lumpia were served hot, crispy and with a nicely flavored aioli for dipping. Despite the crowds, the staff was on point. Everyone was nice, my food came up quickly and it was quite tasty. Definitely worth a stop if you see them around town, or stop at Sugar Maple on Wednesdays where they'll be hanging this summer.

Ready to Indulge your tastebuds? Then look no further than these chocolate connoisseurs! Indulgence…read moreChocolatiers consistently whips up delicious batches of decadence with each colorful bite. Looking for a tasty treat for yourself? Pair it with a glass of wine and cheese with a fancy little tasting or enjoy a unique chocolate all on its own. There are consistent tried and true flavors such as gray sea salt and fig balsamic, as well as unique and seasonal creations such as brown butter pear sage truffle or peppermint bark. You can order just one or an entire box full! Julie, the owner, is chock full of knowledge, history and insight about everything from chocolate and wine to bourbon and whiskey. Take a class with her, virtually or in-person, and you won't regret it!

Looking for a new chocolate shop after my go-to chocolatier in North Shore retired. I tried 10…read moredifferent flavors in their assortment package ranging from Yuzu Lemon, Dark Chocolate, Bourbon and peanut butter, etc. I didn't really enjoy it as it tasted like Reese's or Canterbury farms. The dark chocolate was more milky than it should be. If you're a chocolate snob, then this spot is not for you.

This place will take care of you. Put your name on the list and you will be fed even after closing…read moretime.. when seated service was quick.Drinks first and hot food shortly afterwards...... perfect timing. The crab cake sandwich and fried shrimp dinner was delicious. This place has a big menu it's so much more to try, and they have specials for every day of the week.. you can also buy fresh seafood to cook yourself. I can't wait to come back .....try this place if you haven't it's definitely worth it!!! I watched my server take multiple tables orders with out writing anything down...that's definitely special....... And she got everything done right and quickly. Great service!!!

I had a meal here many years ago while in town and enjoyed it. Recently I had the opportunity to…read morereturn. St. Paul Fish Market is located inside the very busy and popular Milwaukee Public Market indoor shopping complex downtown. It reminds me of the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. The only parking option that I am aware of is metered street parking. The building has 2 levels but the 1st floor is where most of the business are. It appeared to me that St. Paul's is the most popular business there. It is a seafood restaurant and fresh fish market. They have a small sit down area for table service dining or you can order your food to go at the counter. After being seated and reviewing the menu I decided to order the same meal I had over 11 years ago. I went with a bowl of clam chowder for $8 to start and then added a fried grouper sandwich ($16) with french fries for another $2.50. The chowder was perfect. Flavorful, delicious and I wanted more (5). The sandwich also was delicious and satisfying made with quality fish, lettuce, tomato, and bread. However while it tasted very good halfway through eating it the bread bun started to disintegrate and then quickly turned to mush before I could finish. Then I needed a fork to finish it. It got messy and I don't like that in a sandwich. It's only for that reason I give an overall 4 score instead of a 5. The french fries were very good tasting too but I had ordered too much food and only had room for a few of them.The table service was very warm and friendly. I believe St. Paul's is a very good choice for a casual seafood meal but please buy more sturdy buns!

First time here since they reopened after being closed last October due to the fire. Fire…read moreupstairs, and smoke damage downstairs in the store. The place looks amazing, just like it used to. Stopped in to get a few things. An eclectic collection of grocery, chocolate, and baking items. Perfect as a gift for a special friend. Got a few things for me, cookies that pair well with a hot latte. So glad that they have reopened. The place has retained all of it's previous charm. The staff are all super helpful in find items (now where are those Green Cerignola olives?). Always a fun time to shop in an authentic italian store.

Gloriosos was so great. So much to look at. I grabbed a tiramasu latte (they have a coffee bar),…read morewhich was terrific, and went shopping. Had a vege aranchini. It was huge and well worth $6. Very delicious. Got a cherry tomato focaccia bread, and I cannot stop eating it. Also bought pasta, sauce, cheese, snack mix, pistachio croissant, all kinds of things. The employees were all so helpful and pleasant. They have a little area where you can sit and eat prepared food, if you wish. I will definitely be back for more treasures. Join their rewards program for lots of savings!

I read someone else's review saying that the meat market next to the cheese store has cheaper meats…read more(meat sticks, salamis, summer sausages). They were open an hour earlier than the cheese mart so we headed here first and got our meats! The set up looks like a big empty space and all the meats are inside small slide top fridges or are behind a glass display. I guess it's more sanitary that way? Anyway the prices were great and I got a ton of different types of meats to take back home. I got some sliced meats that I made sandwiches with when I got back to my hotel. A perfect lunch! The hickory smoked meat sticks were a great travel snack.

Still love the meat here but no longer the bustling butcher shop of decades past. We used to always…read moreget samples of the different kinds of meats- liver sausage, Braunschweiger, salami etc. but we could still get our summer sausage and the place smells wonderful!

I was excited to be in Milwaukee today, given the many restaurants that have earned recognition…read morefrom the James Beard Awards. Most of those spots only open for dinner, so I was thrilled to find that Bavette La Boucherie now serves lunch. My friend, a local, told me the restaurant originally began as a butcher shop. While that's no longer the case, the space still pays tribute to its roots -- shelves lined with kitchen knick-knacks, butcher-block counters, and a display of local provisions that hint at its past. Chef-owner Karen Bell leads the way here, and you can feel her touch throughout -- from the creative menu to the casual-elegant vibe. The décor blends exposed brick and warm wood with soft light and a friendly hum from the open kitchen. Our server, Matthew R., had only been with Bavette a couple of weeks, but his background in restaurant management showed. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and offered great suggestions. Before our sandwiches arrived, we shared a cup of pork and tomatillo pozole topped with cabbage slaw and a dollop of sour cream. It was piping hot, bright, and deeply flavorful -- the kind of starter that makes you stop talking for a minute just to enjoy the next spoonful. Having read rave reviews of the Korean steak au jus, I nearly ordered it, but Matthew suggested the roast-beef with cheddar since I'm not a big lunch eater. Excellent call. The sandwich was divine -- tender, flavorful beef layered with melted cheddar on a crisp, perfectly toasted roll. The beef-fat fries had great depth of flavor, though I'd love them even more if they were twice-cooked for that extra crunch. Being more of a gin or vodka drinker, I couldn't resist the Gin Old Fashioned on the cocktail list. It was delicious -- smooth, aromatic, and balanced enough that I happily ordered a second. Great food, warm service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Bavette La Boucherie is a gem I can't wait to revisit.

Was in town for the weekend and TikTok said the only things I should do in Milwaukee were Discourse…read moreCoffee and Bavette. LISTEN... The only crime here is that this place isn't a chain and it's miles away from me. Our waitress was amazing, the vibes were perfect, everything felt intentional in the best way. The heirloom tomato salad was so fresh and delightful. A full 5 out of 5. And those beef tallow fries were unreal. I am still thinking about them and genuinely wish I could figure out how to recreate them at home. TikTok actually delivered on this one. Very happy we ended up going.