Lupi and Iris is a mediterranean restaurant in Downtown, Milwaukee.
Lupi and Iris on North Van Buren Street is Adam Siegel's Mediterranean room with views of the lakefront, wood-fired pizzas and Provencal seafood plates.
Signature dishes: Wood-fired pizza, Charcoal-grilled fish
Must order: Charcoal-grilled whole fish for two and the wood-fired focaccia to start.
Tip: Patio seats face the Calatrava; book sunset on OpenTable two weeks out summer.
Address: 777 N Van Buren St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Onesto on North Broadway in the Third Ward runs an Italian menu of hand-rolled pastas, wood-fired pizzas and natural-wine pours, opened by the Cibo team.
Signature: Hand-rolled pasta, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Whichever pasta is being rolled in the open kitchen and the Margherita off the wood oven.
Tip: Sister room Cibo nearby; both share the same pasta program and chef.
Kawa on North Farwell Avenue on the East Side serves tonkotsu and miso ramen alongside a sushi counter; UW Milwaukee students fill the room weeknights.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Spicy tuna
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu and the spicy tuna roll.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 18:30 weekends or expect a 45-minute wait.
Hue on South Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View runs a Vietnamese menu of pho, banh xeo and bun cha for two decades, the Bui family's first Milwaukee opening.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo
Order: A bowl of beef pho with extra brisket and a banh xeo to share.
Tip: Cash and card both; weekday lunch is the best window before students arrive.
Crafty Cow on West National Avenue in Walker's Point makes smash burgers with Wisconsin cheese, fried cheese curds and craft beer; opened by the Lowlands.
Signature: Smash burger, Cheese curds
Order: The double-stack smash burger with American cheese and a side of fried curds.
Tip: Lunch is quieter; the Walker's Point patio fills after Brewers home games.
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: Pasta Bolognese, Eggplant parmesan
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.
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.
