BY ANN CHRISTENSON, ARCHER PARQUETTE, CAROLE NICKSIN, CHRIS DROSNER, LINDSEY ANDERSON RIOS, ALLISON GARCIA & BRIAN ROSENWEIG

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This story is part of our BEST OF MILWAUKEE feature. Get your copy of the issue, HERE. 

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Editor Picks

BEST CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE SHOP

West Allis Cheese & Sausage  

Want to build a rad cheese and charcuterie plate? Try some of the state’s best foodstuffs? Make it happen at this Milwaukee Public Market outpost, where you can also get scrumptious fried cheese curds and made-to-order sandwiches. (400 N. Water St.)

MKE THING WE LOVE

Milwaukee Asian Restaurant Week

This year, we welcomed the first Milwaukee Asian Restaurant Week (May 16-22), a celebration of the cuisine and culture of our local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. It came at an important time, as not only have Asian-owned businesses, like so many others, struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic. They’ve also been the target of racist attacks. Created by advocacy group ElevAsian, the dining initiative encouraged locals to patronize our area’s diverse Asian culinary scene. The crucial takeaway, more important than one week of dining, is fostering something much deeper – inclusion, support and solidarity. – AC

BEST STREET MARKET PURVEYOR OF CULINARY CULTURE

Immy Kaggwa

At the Shorewood Farmers Market on Sundays, Immy’s African Cuisine draws a crowd. People sit on the grass, eating rice, stewed vegetables, smoky meats and savory, filled pastries called sambusas. Owner Immy Kaggwa stands under a tent, heat and smoke emanating from the large pan she tends to. The aroma permeates the market, prompting a collective refrain of, “What is that amazing smell?” A native of Uganda, Kaggwa debuted her mobile African food operation at area festivals more than a decade ago. In 2020 – the year that called for extraordinary resourcefulness – Kaggwa expanded her business to include farmers markets where families feast on smoked jerk chicken with rice, spicy egusi (a soup thickened with ground melon seeds), goat curry, lentil stew and sides like fufu, a mash made of boiled cassava. A soft, appetite-whetting hum of spice sifts through these dishes. What Kaggwa loves about sharing her culinary culture is the positive reaction she gets from kids. “That’s what gives me the motivation to keep going,” she says. – AC

BEST CREAMERY CONFECTION

Scratch Ice Cream

Salted caramel waffle cone and mint chip brownie are two of the extraordinarily creamy, rich flavors from this local maker, which has a shop inside Crossroads Collective food hall and at Zócalo Food Park. Pints are also available at area stores like Beans & Barley. (scratchicecream.com)

BEST CUSTOM CAKE

Signature Sweets 

You might think a good bakery cake is hard to come by. Not so. This Shorewood shop – which “Food Network” show baking contestant Kimberly Hall opened in late 2020 – bakes custom-made cakes that are not only eye-catching replicas of people and objects. (A recent example is a giant cake modeled after a Chick-fil-A biscuit, in honor of our own Giannis Antetokounmpo.) They’re absolutely scrumptious. (3801 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood)

BEST SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP

Village Cheese Shop

This bright, orderly shop is a wonderland for one of our state’s biggest edible commodities. Owner Sabina Magyar is passionate about spreading the good word of spreadable, sliceable and stretchable cheese. Step up to the counter – a treasure trove of hand-picked and often award-winning artisan dairy products from Wisconsin, the greater Midwest and Europe – and take in the wheels of milky goodness. Each order is hand-cut and wrapped in cheese paper (not plastic wrap!) to best preserve it. Every Saturday, the shop offers fresh-stretched mozzarella until they sell out, and the mongers working here make delectable sandwiches and cheese boards to order. Cheese education is also super important, and Magyar offers it both in her well-trained staff and the classes she periodically offers on topics such as women cheesemakers. (1430 Underwood Ave., Wauwatosa) – AC

BEST THINGS BREWING

Beers With Purpose

Brewers had plenty to think about within their own walls the past 12 months, but that didn’t stop them from helping those in need. Seeing how much their restaurant customers were struggling through the winter, 3 Sheeps Brewing launched a series of collaboration beers called Project SOS, with four-packs sold primarily at restaurants. And Milwaukee-based Malteurop sales manager Nicole Henzel teamed up with Eagle Park Brewing to create Things We Don’t Say IPA, a collaboration brewed to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Nearly 200 breweries ended up taking part, spreading the message “It’s OK not to be OK” worldwide. – CD

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Readers’ Choice

BEST CLASSIC RESTAURANT

5 O’Clock Steakhouse

Few can resist the bone-in rib eye, baked potatoes and relish tray in an environment that has changed little in the last 40 years. (2416 W. State St.)

BEST BREAKFAST

Blue’s Egg

This is a place where they like to zhuzh up the a.m. hours with stuffed hash browns and pancakes topped with lemon crème anglaise. Hungry yet? (317 N. 76th St.)

BEST ASIAN

Emperor of China 

A Brady Street institution of 35 years where folks get their blissful fill of Chinese-American dishes like General Tso’s chicken. (1010 E. Brady St.)

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Beans & Barley 

A failsafe for black bean-sweet potato burritos, tofu stir fries and sandwiches like the tempeh Reuben. (1901 E. North Ave.)

BEST PATIO DINING

BelAir Cantina

There’s something about eating a carne asada burrito on one of this local Mexican chain’s breezy patios, like Humboldt’s urban space along the Milwaukee River. They capture summer. (Five area locations, belaircantina.com)

BEST TAKEOUT 

DanDan

This American-Chinese resto upped its game by really getting carryout down. It’s all about packaging so foods stay hot, dipping sauces are neatly contained, and so on. (360 E. Erie St.)

BEST GROCERY STORE

Sendik’s 

The local grocery store chain just does everything right – produce, gourmet cheeses, meats and fish, deli items, baked goods and more. (17 locales, sendiks.com)

BEST BUTCHER SHOP/MEAT DEPARTMENT

Ray’s Butcher Shoppe

The full-service meat market does in-house butchering and smoking. And the list of offerings is long and impressive. (4640 W. Loomis Rd., Greenfield)

BEST FARMERS MARKET

West Allis

Dating to 1919, the market is a high-quality, well-oiled machine where many of the vendors have been selling their wares for eons. (6501 W. National Ave.)

BEST FROZEN PIZZA

Palermo’s 

This local maker, whose origins date to the ’60s, gets the nod for its consistent dough, sauce, cheese and meat. (palermospizza.com)

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Tatay’s  

The former Meat on the Street recently adopted a new name to better reflect its culture (tatay is the Filipino word for father), telling the story of the Alfaro family and its Filipino-native patriarch passing on culinary traditions like pork adobo to his entrepreneur children. (tataystruck.com)

BEST BAKERY

Cranky Al’s 

The Tosa doughnut factory makes the deep-fried pastries in several varieties – raised, filled and cake. And within those categories are crullers, long johns and creations glazed, frosted and/or jimmied. Owner/baker Joey Carioti says he eats doughnuts every day, never tiring of them. Wouldn’t you? (6901 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa)

BEST CHOCOLATIER

Indulgence Chocolatiers

Julie Waterman started the business in 2007 and has grown it to include three locations, plus a presence in select local shops, restaurants and wine bars. Besides her chocolate bars in flavors like coconut curry and Mayan spice, the shop makes exquisite truffles. Waterman also proves how well chocolate goes with wine, beer and spirits in her popular pairing classes. (indulgencechocolatiers.com)

BEST BAR PATIO

Barnacle Bud’s 

This scenic bar along the Kinnickinnic River brings the nautical atmosphere in spades. Known for crab cakes, it has a full lineup of seafood and summery cocktails to enjoy, too. (1955 S. Hilbert St.)

BEST LIQUOR STORE

Discount Liquor 

It has a killer wine selection, spirits from around the world, and hosts frequent samplings in its stores. (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.; 919 N. Barstow Ave., Waukesha)

BEST MOCKTAILS

At Random

 Milwaukee, a city famous (or infamous) for its boozing, has grown an impressive mocktail scene in recent years. At Random has been a leader in that movement, crafting colorful and tasty drinks that rival their alcoholic counterparts. (2501 S. Delaware Ave.)

BEST DISTILLERY

Great Lakes Distillery 

In the 17 years since opening, it’s grown our craft spirit scene with popular offerings like the straight bourbon Kinnickinnic Whiskey. (greatlakesdistillery.com)

BEST LOCAL IPA

Lakefront IPA

This IPA has the bitter bite of three different hops (Cascade, Chinook and Citra), but balances it out with a malty flavor and smooth finish.

BEST BREWERY TAPROOM

Lakefront Brewery

Consistently delivering quality with classic beers (Riverwest Stein) and tasty seasonals. Not to mention their picturesque riverfront taproom, which offers tours. (1872 N. Commerce St.)

BEST COFFEE HOUSE

Colectivo Coffee 

Our city’s largest roaster with 12 area locations. The wide variety of flavors encourage experimentation, and the cool vibe of the cafes are a big plus. (colectivocoffee.com)