ARIA
Saint Kate Arts Hotel
139 E. Kilbourn Ave., (414) 270-4422
saintkatearts.com
Modern Midwestern fare
$$-$$$
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There’s something exceedingly lovely about dinner at ARIA, the restaurant located on the second floor of Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel. It’s an inherently quiet space filled with whimsical art, culinary-themed books and comfortable seating.
But there’s something equally as compelling about its menu, which features familiar-yet-elevated dishes, all of which seem to strike those beautiful notes of nostalgia, some powerful enough to invoke sighs after each bite (try their chicken and dumplings for one).
That means comfort food taken up a notch in dishes like “Broast-ish” chicken – honestly, some of the best fried chicken I’ve eaten all year – thanks to its light, ultra crisp exterior and tender, juicy, flavorful meat. It’s served with equally compelling crispy potatoes and blistered green beans.
I’m also having a hard time getting the Long Bone Short Rib Pastrami out of my head. The beef is brined for 9 days, rubbed with pastrami spices, smoked with applewood and then steamed, resulting in the most tender, delicious beef you’ve ever had. And if you love pastrami, it’s like sheer heaven on a plate (I took part of mine home to enjoy with eggs the following day).
Added bonus: ARIA is also among a small selection of Downtown restaurants which are open for dinner on Sundays and Mondays, making it easier to plan a visit.
Recommended: Caramelized brussels sprouts, broast-ish chicken, long bone short rib pastrami, root beer pots de creme with root beer bacon caramel
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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