American BBQ$$riverwest
Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce Street, Russ Klisch's 1987 brewery, runs the city's defining Friday fish fry with a polka band and free brewery tours.
Signature: Friday fish fry, Cheese curds
Order: All-you-can-eat perch fish fry with the polka band on Friday night.
Tip: Friday fry fills by 17:30; reservations recommended on the brewery site for groups of 6 or more.
American diner$$east-side
Comet Cafe on North Farwell Avenue runs a 24-hour-style diner with meatloaf, vegan mac and cheese and a long beer list for UW Milwaukee weekend nights here.
Signature: Meatloaf, Vegan mac and cheese
Order: Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and the vegan mac and cheese for the table.
Tip: Kitchen runs late on weekends; the bar takes pre-show walk-ins from the Pabst Theater.
Vegetarian$$east-side
Beans and Barley on East North Avenue is a grocery, deli and all-day cafe with a long vegetarian menu of burritos, stir-fries and grain bowls since 1973 here.
Signature: Burritos, Vegan stir-fry
Order: Veggie burrito with brown rice and the daily black-bean soup.
Tip: The deli counter does excellent take-out sandwiches; grocery is open later than the kitchen.
Pizzeria$downtown
Ian's Pizza on Juneau Avenue downtown serves the city's late-night slices with mac and cheese, steak and fries and a rotating roster of weird toppings.
Signature: Mac and cheese pizza, Steak and fries slice
Order: Mac and cheese slice and a steak and fries slice; both go great at 01:00.
Tip: Walk-in counter only; queues run past midnight Friday and Saturday after concerts.
Pizzeria$$wauwatosa
Pizzeria Piccola on West State Street in Wauwatosa, a Bartolotta Group room, runs Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas with Caputo flour and San Marzano tomatoes.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Wood-fired calzone
Order: A Margherita off the wood oven and a side Caesar salad.
Tip: Lunch walk-ins easy; dinner reservations on OpenTable for the dining room.
American diner$downtown
Real Chili on East Wells Street has served Milwaukee three-way chili since 1931, with beans and onions over spaghetti, cinnamon-spiced meat sauce and cheese.
Signature: Three-way chili, Cheese chili dog
Order: Three-way with mild meat, beans, onions, cheese and a side of crackers.
Tip: Open late after Pabst Theater shows; the Marquette location runs college hours.