Centro Cafe Riverwest is a restaurant in Milwaukee.
Centro Cafe on East Center Street in Riverwest is a small Italian room run by Peter Sandroni since 2009, with hand-rolled pastas at neighborhood prices.
Why locals love it: A Riverwest hand-rolled-pasta room locals book before the Bay View sibling because the dining room is so small.
Tip: Walk-in only at the original; arrive before 18:00 weeknights to get one of the eight tables.
Address: 808 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
El Tsunami on South 6th Street in Walker's Point cooks Sinaloa-style seafood with aguachile, tostadas de marlin and ceviches for the Mexican community since.
Why locals love it: A Walker's Point Sinaloa-style seafood spot for the Mexican community that English-speaking tourists rarely find.
Tip: Order the shrimp aguachile with cucumber and a tostada de marlin, cash-friendly room.
Blackbird Bar on South Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View is a small punk-leaning neighborhood tavern with whiskey, draft beer and a corner-bar atmosphere.
Why locals love it: A small punk-leaning Bay View corner bar with no kitchen most visitors walk past on Kinnickinnic Avenue.
Tip: Beer-and-shot is the play; arrive late and the back patio fills with the Bay View regulars.
Anytime Arepa on East North Avenue on the East Side serves Venezuelan arepas with shredded beef, chicken and beans, run by Venezuelan family since 2022.
Why locals love it: A Venezuelan family-run arepa room on the East Side that locals fill weekday lunch but most visitors miss.
Tip: Pabellon arepa with shredded beef, black beans, plantains and white cheese is the order.
Fondy Farmers Market on West Fond du Lac Avenue, the largest farmers market in Wisconsin since 1917, runs 70+ vendors including a deep Hmong grower.
Why locals love it: The largest farmers market in Wisconsin since 1917 with a deep Hmong grower contingent visitors rarely find.
Tip: Get there by 08:00 Saturday for the Hmong produce row including lemongrass and bitter melon.
At Random on South Delaware Avenue in Bay View has poured tiki and dessert cocktails in a red-velvet lounge since 1964; recently revived after a brief.
Why locals love it: A red-velvet 1964 Bay View lounge with tiki and dessert cocktails revived after a brief closure recently.
Tip: Order a Tiki Love Bowl or a Pink Squirrel; cash-friendly bar with no menus on most tables.
Sherman Phoenix on West Fond du Lac Avenue houses 30+ Black-owned food and retail businesses in the former BMO Harris Bank building, opened in 2018.
Why locals love it: 30+ Black-owned food businesses in a former bank building in Sherman Park most downtown visitors don't reach.
Tip: Try Funky Fresh Spring Rolls or Buffalo Boss wings; food court runs Monday through Saturday.
