Roots Restaurant and Cellar
Dining al fresco – from ‘A’ to ‘Z’
Here we are, right in the middle of al fresco dining season. Take advantage of Milwaukee’s many sidewalk-dining opportunities and experience a beautiful view, a charming ambiance, fascinating clientele and, of course, great food and service?
Consider the following al fresco choices, from “A” to “Z”:
“A” is for Alterra. Alterra is ubiquitous, but none compare to the location at 2999 N. Humboldt. An old steel pergola provides a shady respite in a spacious courtyard. Relax with or without your dog at your side and people watch while enjoying the fair trade coffee or tea and nibble on treats made from locally grown ingredients.
“B” is for Barnacle Bud’s, which has a patio that seems to float on the bank of the Kinnickinnic River in Bay View. The tin roof makes even rainy days a great time to sit and watch life drift by from 1955 S. Hilbert.
“C” is for Cafe La Scala, with the pizzas and panini you expect from the Italian name. Seating in the quaint courtyard is a must at 631 E. Chicago.
“D” is for Dogg Haus, because dining al fresco doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. It just has to be good, and the Chicago-style hot dogs are perfection. Four locations: 1433 E. Brady, 1633 W. Wells, 318 E. Wisconsin or 3116 N Downer.
Milwaukee dining al fresco, from 'a' to 'z'Comet comfort
Comet Café
1947 Farwell
414-273-7677
thecometcafe.com
I’ll admit it. I love diners and dives. People think that restaurant reviewers spend all their time in fancy places eating exotic food. But food doesn’t have to be exotic or fancy to be good, it just has to be properly prepared and well presented. After all, what is meatloaf but a rough textured pate? Pasta au gratin? Just mac and cheese with a college degree.
Comet’s made-from-scratch comfort food is truly soul food, all-inclusive soul food. Too many chefs and restaurants owners toss a veggie burger or a grilled Portobello on the menu and consider themselves vegetarian-friendly. But Comet, where at least one quarter of the menu features items that can be made vegan or vegetarian, proves that vegan and vegetarian food can just as soul-stirring and satisfying.
Read more...Roots’ sense of place … and peace
Roots
1818 N. Hubbard St.
414-374-8490
www.rootsmilwaukee.com
The late John Denver wrote perhaps one of the most place-descriptive songs ever in “Take Me Home Country Roads.” When I first heard it, I fell in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains, even though I’d never seen them. The song just evoked a sense of place and peace that appealed to me – and millions of others, judging by the record sales.
The reason I take you, dear reader, along for this stroll down memory lane is that a recent dinner at Roots, perched high on a hill overlooking the city, evoked that same feeling of place and peace. We sat along the windows flanking the patio, which provided a gorgeous view of the city, especially at sunset. The fading skyline was bathed in a golden glow.
Read more...With soup this good, it has to be homemade
Soups On!
221 N. Water St.
414-283-9244
www.soupsonat221.com
Soup commercials used to feature chefs fussing over a vat. Then advertisers realized that consumers related better to a maternal figure and they switched tactics.
But no matter how advertisers portray it, commercial soups are made in big factories. They create their product in massive quantities, using short cuts, lower quality ingredients and the preservatives necessary to store food for long periods of time.
For a taste of how soup tastes when it’s made in artisanal batches by a real mother, head over to Soup’s On! in the Third Ward. Every day Mary Krimmer makes fresh soup from scratch in her miniscule kitchen. The workspace may be small, but the flavors are big.
Read more...Izumi’s is short on flash, big on fresh
Izumi’s Restaurant
2150 N. Prospect Ave.
414-271-5278
izumis.com
If you like a lot of flash with your sushi, Izumi’s is not the spot for you. Its rather no-nonsense décor and quiet dining room are not for the trendy. But Izumi’s is one of the best eateries in Milwaukee for experiencing true Japanese cuisine,
Izumi’s isn’t cheap (be wary of any restaurant that sells inexpensive sushi, because sushi-grade fish is expensive). But it’s a good value. To get sushi and sashimi any fresher, you’d have to pull it out of the water yourself.
Service is authentically friendly and knowledgeable. Our young server was an ocean of knowledge about fish. She capably steered the veteran sushi and sashimi fans among us through the extensive menu and assisted the novices with excellent suggestions.
Read more...Opinion
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