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Looking for new spots to try? During Dining Month, Lori Fredrich is dishing out must-tries in 20 different dining categories, from brunch to BBQ and everything in between.
Staring down a list of new restaurants – and trying to determine which one to try next – is often a daunting prospect. But my hope is that this short list of promising spots makes your journey a bit easier.
Need more choices? Check out the full list of restaurants that have opened so far in 2024.
Don't forget to be kind, patient and tip well!
The Eleanor Room
5636 Broad St., Greendale, (414) 858-7738
eleanorroom.com
Serving: small plates, shareables
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Escape from the ho-hum at The Eleanor Room, an eatery that aims to whisk guests back to the 1930s and 40s with a convivial dining room and bar and a menu of sophisticated, yet accessible small plates, top-shelf tequilas and craft cocktails.
The plates themselves are creative but uncomplicated, with offerings that run the gamut from deviled eggs and stuffed mushroom caps to roasted bone marrow served with crostini and roasted Brussels sprouts topped with toasted pistachios, bacon, scallions and balsamic reduction. Meanwhile, entree-style plates feature summer risotto; sea scallops with market sweet corn succotash; and even an 8-ounce beef tenderloin served with fingerling potatoes, bearnaise sauce and grilled asparagus.
But that's not all. You can make The Eleanor Room a stop for lunch, brunch, happy hour or even for a night cap.
L’InContro
2315 N. Murray Ave., (414) 409-8040
lincontromke.com
Serving: Modern Italian
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This up and coming spot on Milwaukee's East Side is among my favorites that opened this year. Not just for its delicious takes on Italian fare, but the bold, beautiful way it shines a light on the seasons.
Dishes are fresh, locally sourced and seasonal and include items like cacio e pepe leveled up with the addition of sweet, umami-rich black garlic; plump sweet potato gnudi is tossed with mushrooms in sage, walnuts, brown butter and pecorino; and Sunday Sauce incorporates braised bits, italian sausage and meatballs over housemade papardalle.
Don't skip revelations like the prepared whole fish stuffed with shrimp, turnip, herbs and served with salsa verde. And if you order pizza, be sure to try the Filipino Longanisa with provolone, egg, cherry tomato, pickled jalapeno, red onion and Calabrian chili aioli.
Mediterranean Cuisine
753 N. Water St., (920) 306-3799
mediterraneancuisinemke.com
Serving: Turkish fare
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If you've not yet paid a visit to Mediterranean Cuisine, the unassuming Turkish oasis that opened its doors late this summer Downtown, you might want to add it to your list.
In fact, the best decision would be to make a date to visit with friends. After all, you'll want to order platters of tender meats (the adana kebabs are divine), citrusy stuffed grape leaves, silky slightly smoky baba ghanouj and Turkish tabbouleh, flavored with not only the usual suspects (bulgar and parsley), but tomato and chilies.
I haven't yet saved room for the pistachio or walnut baklava. But next time I'll be tempted to get some to take home with me.
Room Service
2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 414-9789
roomservicebayview.com
Serving: Thai fare, sushi
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There's nothing in Milwaukee like Room Service, the opulent new Bay View eatery which honors the flavors of Thailand and Japan with a menu of both traditional and innovative fare.
Start off with an inventive cocktail that incorporates ingredients like chilies and lemongrass. Savor handmade Thai dumplings made from a recipe that dates back to the 1800s. Revel in Tom Yum soup served tableside in a siphon that captures its aromatics and indulge in a sushi program that focuses on high-quality fish and nuanced flavor profiles. Or try Hung Lay curry, a dish from Northern Thailand that features a succulent beef short rib that has been braised for six hours in a deliciously fragrant curry.
Todd I Believe I Can Fry
2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 488-8565
toddibelieveicanfry.com
Serving: fried wings, karaage chicken, sides
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Sometimes nothing but comfort food will do. And that's where Todd I Believe I Can Fry comes in. This Asian hot spot serves up tasty fried street foods including fried chicken wings (with an amazing assortment of housemade sauces), karaage (Japanese fried chicken thighs) or tenders and a laundry list of sides from Tom Yum or Szechuan-spiced fries to vegetable yasai (Japanese pancakes). Don't forget the pickled Korean radishes (they're delicious) to enjoy alongside anything fried.
More recently, Todd has also added Japanese curry bowls featuring rice, curry and a choice of vegetables, braised pork, pork cutlet or fried shrimp. There's also canned green tea, sake and a curated selection of Asian beers to accompany.
It's the perfect carry-out for movie-night, impromptu picnics or simply that day you're craving a bit of comfort food.
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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