It’s as important as ever to support the amazing local restaurants we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants to guide you on your journey. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2025. View the full list OR download an abbreviated printable PDF file for your fridge or wallet.
Ruta’s Fresh Indian Fare
207 W. Freshwater Way, (414) 509-6802
instagram.com/rutasmke
Modern Indian
$
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Whether you've vowed to eat better in the New Year or are simply looking for something fresh and flavorful, Ruta's Fresh Indian fare has your number.
This fast-casual eatery showcases the varied flavors of Indian cuisine – particularly that of Western climes like Goa – pairing them with Ayurvedic principles to create offerings that are vibrant, healthful, customizable and easy to access.
At Ruta's, guests are invited to choose from signature bowls or na’an melts or build their own customized dishes using varied bases (quinoa, salad or rice); proteins (including steak, pork, chicken, tofu, chickpeas); sauces and a wide variety of vegetable-based dishes from
Even better, the options were created to be utterly foolproof, so any combination of elements you choose will taste good together. You can also spice things up or tone things back as desired using Ruta's housemade sauces.
If you like things spicy (as I do), try your choice of protein with mirchi sauce, alongside turmeric carrots, coconut slaw, kale slaw and mustard beets. Be sure to include a side of slightly kicky kali sauce!
Recommended: Coconut tofu bowl, Goa pork na’an melt, coconut slaw
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.
