Dining - March 2, 2009
Rich history, food make Range Line Inn a winner
The Range Line Inn, 2635 W. Mequon Rd., is one of the oldest structures in Mequon. The entry foyer is decorated with newspaper articles and write-ups about the historic building, its record as a restaurant and several glowing reviews from local publications. The comfortable atmosphere and tasty, casual food make it easy to see why the Inn is so popular with repeat customers.
Tagged with: range line inn, mequon, patrick strong

Dining - Feb. 23, 2009
Motor rides strong on down-home favorites
If Milwaukeeans have one constant (and highly generalized) passion, besides our hometown beers, bratwurst and sports, it has to be Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Sleek, sexy and fast, the top of the line bikes roar with delight every time the Milwaukee sun shines down on us, with orange and black blazing. So, putting a restaurant within the Harley-Davidson Museum called Motor, 401 W. Canal St., was not only fitting, it was ingenious.
Tagged with: Motor, Harley-Davidson Museum, Usinger's, Nueske's, Carr Valley

Dining - Feb. 16, 2009
Iron Horse venue Branded by ambience, potential
Although there were some issues with pacing, the restaurant inside the breathtaking Iron Horse Hotel may soon become a destination dining spot for visitors and local residents. Chef Thomas Schultz's menu is heavy with steaks, burgers and other items that could be "branded." His love of duck confit shines through (in his trademark DLT) and the house chips with white truffle and parmesan are worth a trip to the bar.
Tagged with: branded, iron hors hotel, chef thomas schultz, holiday house, laissez faire

Dining - Feb. 2, 2009
Watts Tea Shop serves tasty food in tranquil setting
With it's second-floor location above the family's historic crystal shop at 760 N. Jefferson St., Watts Tea Shop serves simple dishes in a serene and classy setting that provides a respite from Downtown's daily hustle and bustle. An array of delicious sandwiches, homemade soups and salads will leave diners feeling full, but not stuffed.
Tagged with: watts tea shop, 761 North Jefferson St., george watts

Dining - Jan. 29, 2009
Make health a dining priority
I was listening to another local media outlet yesterday discussing McDonald's recent release of 2008 earnings at an 80 percent increase and how this enables many Americans to make themselves become both poorer and fatter.
Tagged with: mcdonald's, healthy dining, economy, betty crocker

Dining - Jan. 26, 2009
Minor menu miscues hamper dining at Ginger
While the problems don't seem insurmountable, several substitutions and a Sunday omission overshadowed some promising tapas-style appetizers and cozy ambiance at Ginger, the restaurant that replaced popular Barossa at 235 S. 2nd St. in Walker's Point.
Tagged with: ginger, fifth ward, barossa, julie laloggia

Dining - Jan. 23, 2009
Some fearless dining predictions for 2009
Since it seems all we're reading about these days are more and more restaurants closing their doors, this seems like a good time to go out on a limb and make a few predictions for the Milwaukee dining scene in 2009.
Tagged with: dining predictions, 2009

Dining - Jan. 12, 2009
Rustic and refined, The Farmstead is worth visiting
Simple, straightforward food and unique dining atmosphere are a popular and welcome combination in Cedarburg, where diners flock to the Farmstead, where delicious food, a moderately priced but well appointed wine list, generous portion sizes and prompt, attentive service are the tools that have made the restaurant a community favorite.
Tagged with: the farmstead, cedarburg, steak

Dining - Jan. 8, 2009
Dinner and a movie, Bartolotta style
With a play on the old classic dinner and a movie, the restaurant group giant is offering a series of flicks and foods at the Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. View an oldie but goodie movie on the big screen and then dine a three-course meal fashioned after the movie's theme.
Tagged with: bartolotta catering, discovery world, pier wisconsin

Dining - Jan. 6, 2009
The joy of the potato
I don't eat a lot of carbohydrates (mostly because gluten makes me bloated and comatose) but I have to say I'm a potato junkie. At least once every two weeks or so, I feel the need to have a potato. Fried potatoes, baked potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, rosemary roasted potatoes, and yes, mashed potatoes. I even will do scalloped or au gratin on occasion.
Tagged with: potatoes, cooking, leftovers

Dining - Jan. 5, 2009
Busy Beans & Barley is always worth the wait
Though business is steady for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the atmosphere at Beans & Barley, 1901 E. North Ave., always quiet and calming. Even the people waiting for tables seem at peace (unlike the frenetic crowds you find in some restaurant waiting lines). Once seated, you'll find a pleasing variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwiches, soups and dishes made with fresh ingredients that will leave you pleasantly stuffed.
Tagged with: beans and barley, vegetarian, walnut burger, tempeh, burrito

Dining - Dec. 22, 2008
No-frills Shiraz serves up fresh, delicious dishes
Located just north of the intersection of Oakland and Locust Street, Shiraz's small storefront facade is a little hard to find unless you're looking for it. Once inside, you'll wonder how you never found this place before. Aside from wine glasses, flatware and entrée plates for dining in, everything at Shiraz is served casually on disposable plates. The atmosphere is low-key, but the food is outstanding.
Tagged with: shiraz persian grill, 2921 n. oakland ave.

Dining - Dec. 15, 2008
Comfort food, value are a winning combo at Pitch's
Barbecue ribs and pasta may not dovetail with your ideal image of a holiday meal, but regardless of what you order at Pitch's Lounge and Restaurant, 1801 N. Humboldt Ave., wintertime food never felt so comfortable and good. Like its sister restaurant, Miss Katie's Diner, guests find solid, affordable and filling meals with reliable presentation, flavor and service.
Tagged with: pitch's lounge and restaurant, ribs, miss katie's diner, blue gill

Dining - Dec. 8, 2008
Scouting report: J. Roberts serves 6-course value
Updates to the exterior and a basic interior face-lift have given J. Roberts Porterhouse a slightly more modern feel than its predecessor on Layton Avenue, but the new owners have retained a similar menu and supper club-type atmosphere. The largest change is in the premise of the dining experience, which has evolved into a multi-course dining concept with emphasis on value.
Tagged with: j. roberts porterhouse, layton avenue porterhouse

Dining - Dec. 1, 2008
Leftover turkey pot pie
We tried a new Thanksgiving leftover concoction this year that came out really tasty, so I thought I'd share.
Tagged with: thanksgiving, leftovers, turkey pot pie

Dining - Dec. 1, 2008
Satisfaction ebbs and flows at Nanakusa
Nanakusa Japanese Restaurant, 408 E. Chicago St., can now be classified as one of Milwaukee's veteran sushi restaurants, with more than five years of service under its belt, and it is one of Milwaukee's three premier sushi mainstays. I've visited Nanakusa nearly a dozen times over the years, with varying degrees of success.
Tagged with: Nanakusa, Third Ward, Japanese, sushi, sake

Dining - Nov. 25, 2008
Bird on a grill
A few of you asked about grilling your bird on Thursday, and I'm certainly happy to offer some pointers, although we really don't do anything fancy at all, so you might be disappointed in what I have to say.
Tagged with: thanksgiving, grilling turkey

Marketplace - Nov. 19, 2008
A Bay View holiday
Besides food and writing, one of my other huge passions is Bay View, and with the holidays upon us, I thought it was a great time to share just a few ideas to get you started shopping locally-owned businesses for the holidays:
Tagged with: bay view, holiday shopping, gifts, palomino, dee's wine stop, groppi, bella's fat cat, rush-mor records

Dining - Nov. 17, 2008
Gobble, gobble
Over the years I've come to realize that most people who don't appreciate a Thanksgiving turkey haven't ever had one properly roasted (or grilled as the case may be).
Tagged with: thanksgiving, turkey, roasted bird, holidays

Dining - Nov. 17, 2008
Veteran Third Ward Caffe offers quiet, tasty refuge
With so many restaurants opening their doors in the last decade, it's sometimes easy to forget the classics that have been around for 20 or 30 years. One such restaurant is Third Ward Caffé, 225 E. St. Paul Ave., with a cool 26 years of service under its belt. Third Ward Caffe is one of those restaurants perfect for a quiet getaway from the bustle of upcoming holidays.
Tagged with: Third Ward Caffe, northern Italian, commission row