La Merenda is an international restaurant in Walkers Point, Milwaukee.
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 dishes: Empanadas, Patatas bravas
Must 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.
Address: 125 E National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
El Tsunami on South 6th Street in Walker's Point cooks Sinaloa-style seafood with aguachile, tostadas de marlin and ceviches for the community since 2012.
Signature: Aguachile, Tostada de marlin
Order: Shrimp aguachile with cucumber and a tostada de marlin.
Tip: Cash-friendly; weekend afternoons fill the small dining room.
Movida on South 2nd Street in Walker's Point is a Spanish tapas room from the Bartolotta group with paella, Iberico ham and a long sherry list since 2018.
Signature: Paella, Iberico ham
Order: Paella for two and a plate of Iberico ham with a glass of fino.
Tip: Sherry happy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 weekdays at the bar; reservations on OpenTable.
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.
River Lane Inn on West River Lane in Brown Deer is a North Shore seafood room with Lake Michigan perch and cedar-plank salmon, running since 1981 here.
Signature: Lake perch, Cedar plank salmon
Order: Lake perch fry on Friday and the cedar-plank salmon with lemon-butter.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable for Friday and Saturday; bar takes walk-ins from 16:30.
Kompali on East Wisconsin Avenue downtown serves a Mexico City taqueria menu of birria, al pastor and esquites alongside mezcal cocktails since 2022.
Signature: Birria tacos, Esquites
Order: Birria tacos with consomme on the side and a small esquite to share.
Tip: Walk-in lunch is best; reservations on Resy for dinner Friday and Saturday.
El Tsunami on South 6th Street in Walker's Point cooks Sinaloa-style seafood with aguachile, tostadas de marlin and ceviches for the community since 2012.
Signature: Aguachile, Tostada de marlin
Order: Shrimp aguachile with cucumber and a tostada de marlin.
Tip: Cash-friendly; weekend afternoons fill the small dining room.
Story Hill BKC on West Bluemound Road runs a bottle shop and wine bar with small plates near American Family Field, with steak frites on the menu.
Signature: Steak frites, Wood-fired flatbread
Order: Steak frites with bordelaise and a glass from the bottle shop, opened in the room.
Tip: Same-day reservations on OpenTable; the bottle shop pours any retail bottle for a $15 corkage.
Movida on South 2nd Street in Walker's Point is a Spanish tapas room from the Bartolotta group with paella, Iberico ham and a long sherry list since 2018.
Signature: Paella, Iberico ham
Order: Paella for two and a plate of Iberico ham with a glass of fino.
Tip: Sherry happy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 weekdays at the bar; reservations on OpenTable.
