By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Oct 18, 2018 at 10:01 AM

Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

If you’re a Milwaukee County resident, the fateful day is bound to come when you are asked to report for jury duty. And when that day comes, it pays to think ahead in terms of how you’ll keep yourself comfortable and well fed during your time at the Courthouse.

Inevitably, much of your time spent at the Courthouse will be spent waiting to see if you’re called for service, so be sure to bring a magazine or book to read. You can even bring your laptop, if you’d like to get a bit of work done.

Beyond that, you’ll want to have a plan for lunch. You can certainly bring your own food; after all, there are microwaves available for reheating leftovers. But if you’d prefer, there are also myriad options in the area where you can grab a bite during your designated lunch break. And trust me when I say you can eat quite well, even while on jury duty.

If you’re lucky enough to be a juror on a Thursday during the warmer months, your options multiply thanks to Food Truck Thursdays, a weekly gathering of mobile food operators right on the Courthouse square.

However, you’ll need to be a bit more creative if you happen to be serving during the remaining four weekdays. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of great spots that are just a short walk (10 minutes or less) away.

Five-minute walk

Glass + Griddle
1130 N. 9th St., (414) 988-1551
glassgriddle.com
Beginning later this fall, this brand new beautifully appointed beer hall and restaurant will add weekday lunch to the menu. Expect seasonal snacks, salads and vegetable plates, sandwiches and entrees in a bright, welcoming environment. Patio seating also available.

Milwaukee Public Museum Cafe
800 W. Wells St.,
mpm.edu
Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Grab a quick bite from the museum cafe or simply enjoy the sites. Your juror badge will permit you a free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum during the lunch break.

Restaurants at Eleven25
1125 N. 9th St., (414) 376-7300
facebook.com/RestaurantsAtEleven25
Open weekdays for lunch
Looking for variety? This cozy food hall offers up options from a number of vendors. Options are varied and include varied options from specialty sandwiches to Chinese and Filipino fare.

10-minute walk (or less)

Build-A-Breakfast Build-A-Burger (six-minute walk)
633 W. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 270-1070
bbmilwaukee.com
Opens daily at 7 a.m.
Enjoy customizable breakfasts and burgers at this casual Downtown spot.

Cuisine at MATC (10-minute walk)
1015 N 6th St, Rm M102, (414) 297-6697
matc.edu/cuisine
Offers lunch Tuesday through Thursday during academic year
Seatings at 11:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m.; call for reservations

Doc’s Commerce Smokehouse (eight-minute walk)
754 Vel R. Phillips Ave., (414) 935-2029
docsbbq.net/milwaukee
Open daily at 11 a.m.
Enjoy traditional Southern-style barbeque at this down-home spot specializing in smoked meats and sides.

Gyro MKE (six-minute walk)
700 W. Wisconsin Ave #A, (414) 273-4976
Opens daily at 10 a.m.
Enjoy traditional gyros, falafel or housemade salads at this fast casual spot.

Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub (10-minute walk)
1203 N. 10th St., (414) 276-7271
jacksonsmke.com
Open for lunch on weekdays at 11 a.m.
Enjoy a wide variety of casual American fare from sandwiches to flatbreads at this beautiful eatery on the former Pabst Brewing campus.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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.