Solly's Grille is a burgers restaurant in North Avenue, Milwaukee.
Solly's Grille on North Port Washington Road in Glendale, founded by Kenneth Salmon in 1936, popularised the butter burger with a pat on a griddled patty.
Signature dishes: Butter burger, Chocolate malt
Must order: The original butter burger with stewed onions and a chocolate malt to go.
Tip: Counter only; arrive before 12:30 weekdays to skip the lunch queue.
Address: 4629 N Port Washington Rd, Glendale, WI 53212, Milwaukee
The Vanguard on South Kinnickinnic in Bay View serves 20 house-made sausages including vegan brats, plus 30 taps of craft beer since 2014, counter-only room.
Signature: Vegan sausage, Buffalo chicken brat
Order: Buffalo chicken brat with house slaw and a Wisconsin sour off the taps.
Tip: Weekday late-night kitchen runs to 23:30; weekend brunch is a sleeper.
Swingin' Door Exchange on East Michigan Street downtown is an Irish pub in the 1873 Mackie Building with reubens, shepherd's pie and cocktails since 1985.
Signature: Reuben sandwich, Shepherd's pie
Order: Reuben sandwich with corned beef and Swiss and a pint of Guinness.
Tip: Cash-friendly; downtown lunch line peaks 12:00 to 13:30 weekdays.
Transfer Pizzeria on West Mitchell Street in Walker's Point runs wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas in a converted transit garage with Italian wines on tap.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Calamari
Order: Pizza Bianca with truffle oil and a glass of Chianti.
Tip: Lunch walk-ins easy; weekend dinner books on OpenTable two weeks out.
Cafe Hollander on State Street in Wauwatosa Village is a Lowlands Group Belgian cafe with frites, croque madame and a long Belgian beer list since 2009 open.
Signature: Belgian frites, Croque madame
Order: Croque madame with Belgian frites and Andalouse sauce.
Tip: Brunch is bottomless mimosas on weekends; the patio fills mid-afternoon in warm weather.
Cafe Centraal on South Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View is the Lowlands Group Belgian cafe with mussels and frites, croque monsieur and a deep Trappist list.
Signature: Mussels and frites, Croque monsieur
Order: Moules-frites with white wine broth and a pour of Westvleteren if it's on the list.
Tip: Sister Hollander rooms run the same menu; this is the original Lowlands location.
Blue Jacket on East National Avenue in Walker's Point is a nautical-themed gastropub with a strong burger, Friday fish fry and a long cocktail program here.
Signature: Burger, Fish fry
Order: The Blue Jacket burger with smoked cheddar and a Friday cod fish fry.
Tip: Patio fills in summer; book on Resy for weekend evenings.
