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52 Restaurants is sponsored by Educators Credit Union. April marks 21 years of Financial Literacy Month in the U.S.! Check out their exciting new initiative that will grow your financial empowerment.
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.
The Diplomat
815 E. Brady St., (414) 800-5816
thediplomatmke.com
New American
$$-$$$
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A meal from The Diplomat is always a pleasure. That's due to a combination of factors including Chef Dane Baldwin's James Beard Award-winning work and his wife Anna's skill at creating spaces that are comfortable and welcoming for guests. But, at its heart, The Diplomat is a neighborhood spot serving up well-executed dishes and attentive service without all the pomp and circumstance. Perfect for a week night… or a date night.
Among his many skills, Baldwin is masterful at pulling nostalgic flavors from newfangled dishes. For instance, the salt cod hashbrowns are likely to evoke thoughts of a classic fish fry. Last year, there were hush puppies on the menu that made from eggplant. And there’s never a day when the Fork & Knife Chicken doesn’t conjure memories of the best home-cooked meal you likely never had.
The menu is seasonal, so expect changes around each turn. An exception is The Diplomac, the restaurant’s signature burger. And yes, you might mistake it for the similarly named fast food burger if it weren’t so much more delicious (that’s thanks to its housemade ingredients, which extend from the bun to the condiments).
Recommended: Roasted chicken, lentil dishes (they’re stellar!), The Diplomac, dessert
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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