Odd Duck
2352 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 763-5881
oddduckrestaurant.com
Small plates
$$$
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Can one ever tire of Odd Duck? I think not. In fact, if one is going to close out a yearly list with a restaurant, this quirky-but-wonderful spot is the one.
Creativity sets the pace for the staff at this Walker’s Point favorite, making it the perfect place for food lovers to graze on countless shareable dishes from classic seafood cioppino and lamb pierogi to Filipino pork belly lechon kawali.
It’s also a venue that allows its vegetable dishes to shine just as brightly as meatier options. So you'll find delights like chicken fried oyster mushrooms with Nashville hot sauce; wood-fired brussels sprouts served with pickled pears, shishitos and miso dressing; and a literal grazing board filled with wood-fired za’atar, muhammara (roasted red pepper dip), Arabic pickles, balela salad (herb-forward chickpea salad) and dukkah (a dry dip made with herbs, nuts, spices).
But, don't be bound by my recommendations. The beauty of the creative food space known as Odd Duck is that the staff never fails to dish out something new and unexpectedly delicious.
Recommended: Order with your gut or close your eyes and point; but do not forget the vegetables!
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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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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