Milwaukee Essentials

By Kristine Hansen, FrontDoor.com | Published: 1/16/2009

Vendors at the Milwaukee Public Market sell locally produced goods, including Wisconsin cheese, homemade chocolates and spice blends. Kristine Hansen

Food and Drink Essentials: The Best Places To ...

BUY GROCERIES

Outpost Natural Foods (three locations), (414)431-3377

Most natural-foods stores are tiny, cramped spaces, but Outpost mimics a traditional grocery store with its selection and how it's organized (think wide aisles and full-size carts). There are three locations in Milwaukee. Pick up free-range eggs, vegetables sourced from local farms, organic meats and even organic ice cream.

BUY LOCAL

Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., (414) 336-1111

Modeled after Seattle's Pike Place Market, vendors at this four-year-old market celebrate locally produced foods, including more than 200 varieties of Wisconsin cheese (even cheese curds!), homemade chocolates and just about any spice blend you could desire from Spice House, a foodie's staple for years. Hint: Start with the rosewater lemonade from Aladdin, a restaurant that shuttered its downtown spot but reopened with a stand here. Cooking classes are offered upstairs by Milwaukee's favorite chefs and foodies.

NOSH A BAGEL

Benji's, 4156 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, (414) 332-7777

The city's most-recognized Jewish deli for 35 years is a no-frills, East Coast-diner kind of place where the wait staff is friendly and serves not only homemade bagels (and bagels and lox) but also matzo-ball soup and latkes.

SPLURGE ON DINNER

Bacchus, 925 E. Wells, (414) 765-1166

On the ground floor of Cudahy Towers is where James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest winner and executive chef Adam Siegel labors over gourmet prix-fixe meals, and other menu items, inspired by French bistros and adapted with artisan cheeses and other Wisconsin-grown products. Try to get seated in the all-glass conservatory. Siegel is also head chef at Lake Park Bistro just up the street, so definitely save some of your money for a second meal orchestrated by him.

SCORE A LATE NIGHT BITE

Ouzo, 776 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 272-6896

When it's late and the bars are closed but your stomach is still growling, pizza and burritos are old hat. Ouzo, a Greek restaurant downtown just doors away from many clubs and bars, offers a fresh alternative. Open until 3:30 am on the weekends, the menu includes spanakopita, dolmas and gyros.

SIP A LATTE

Sven's European Cafe, 2699 S. Kinnickinic Ave., (414) 517-8383

German native Steve Goretzky rehabbed a corner gas station in Bay View and turned it into a European-style cafe, with fresh flowers on the tables and art hung on the walls. On Sundays, cups of Kona coffee join the menu and there are always vegan pastries from East Side Ovens and raspberry-chocolate cheesecake from Simma's, another local baker.

TAKE ALONG FIDO

Alterra at the Lake, 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, (414) 223-4561

Inside the city's former flushing facility is a loft-type coffeehouse from local roaster Alterra Coffee Roasters. During summer, the place bustles with Rollerbladers, dogwalkers and bicyclists sprawled on the lawn with iced tea or cold espresso drinks. Interior decor is reminiscent of a North Woods lodge, an appropriate accompaniment to a rustic cup of coffee or tea.

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