Centro Cafe is an italian restaurant in Riverwest, 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.
Signature dishes: Pasta Bolognese, Eggplant parmesan
Must order: Pasta Bolognese with hand-rolled tagliatelle and a side of eggplant parm.
Tip: Cash only at the original; Centro Cafe in Bay View takes cards. Walk-in policy at both.
Address: 808 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Honeypie on South Kinnickinnic in Bay View runs a Midwestern comfort menu around buttermilk fried chicken, biscuits and a daily pie since 2009.
Signature: Buttermilk fried chicken, Pie of the week
Order: Buttermilk fried chicken with a buttermilk biscuit and a slice of whatever pie is up.
Tip: Brunch is the busiest window; book on Resy or arrive by 09:00 weekends.
Casablanca on East Brady Street has run Lebanese cooking since 1997, with mezze, shawarma and the city's deepest hummus list on Brady Street.
Signature: Lebanese mezze, Shawarma
Order: The mezze platter with hummus, baba ghanouj and falafel and a lamb shawarma plate.
Tip: Hookah lounge upstairs runs late weekends; the main floor closes at 22:00.
Lazy Susan on South Howell Avenue in Bay View runs a small-plates menu of wood-roasted vegetables, steamed buns and a cocktail program with an Asian pantry.
Signature: Wood-roasted vegetables, Steamed buns
Order: Wood-roasted carrots and the steamed pork buns with kimchi.
Tip: Weeknight dinners take walk-ins easily; weekend bookings open on Resy two weeks ahead.
Smyth on East Buffalo Street in the Third Ward serves a New American menu with hand-cut pastas and seasonal Wisconsin produce in a brick-walled corner room.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Hand-cut pasta
Order: The pasta course and whatever vegetable plate the kitchen is featuring.
Tip: Bar seats hold space for walk-ins; the dining room books on Resy a week out.
La Merenda on East National Avenue in Walker's Point serves global tapas across Spanish, Argentine, Greek and Moroccan plates from chef Peter Sandroni.
Signature: Empanadas, Patatas bravas
Order: Beef empanadas with chimichurri and patatas bravas with a glass of Spanish red.
Tip: Sister room Centro on Bremen Street shares Sandroni's pasta program.
Thief Wine inside the Milwaukee Public Market on Water Street runs a wine bar with cheese plates, charcuterie and retail bottles in the Third Ward.
Signature: Charcuterie, Cheese plate
Order: Cheese plate from the Public Market cheesemonger next door and a glass of natural orange.
Tip: Sister bar Thief Wine Shorewood; both shops do tastings most Friday evenings.
