Our editorial staff really does try to eat a healthy diet. That said, there's a time and a place for pigging out.

We'd be dead if we ate like this all the time, but on special occasions, certain Milwaukee gluttonous, decadent dishes are just what the doctor ordered. That is, until the doctor loses his or her license to practice medicine for prescribing these wonderful but ridiculous meals.

We don't recommend you try all these meals in a week -- or even in a month. But do try them all, and wash them down with a Brainbuster from Bryant's or a Tiki Love Bowl from At Random. Here's our list; add your own ideas using the Talkback feature below.

Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
Izumi's pagodas filled with sushi
I saw these large wooden pagodas served to other tables at Izumi's, 2150 N. Prospect Ave., and I always wondered how many pieces of sushi / sashimi must be ordered to be boat-worthy. Turns out, the small pagoda holds nine rolls -- that's 54 pieces -- and the large pagoda accommodates orders larger than nine rolls and up to 100 pieces. On a recent dining excursion with friends, for the first time, we ordered enough sushi and sashimi to fill a small pagoda. The unique serving container added a festive element to the dinner and opened the floodgates for stupid boat jokes. Next time, I'll invite a few more raw fish eaters to tag along so we can order enough to fill one of the big guys.

Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
Café Hollander's "Build your own cobblestone"
I rarely opt for dessert when dining out, but someone at a neighboring table ordered the cobblestone and as the concoction passed by my table, I knew I had to order it. You start with what they call a "basic powdered sugar waffle," which I thought would be a hard waffle cone, but instead was a giant, fluffy powdered sugar waffle. From there you can add some or all of the following for between 50 cents and $1.25: 1 or 2 scoops of ice cream, sliced banana, red devil sauce, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, whipped cream, sliced strawberries and sliced pecans.

Drew Olson
Senior editor
Barbecue from Speed Queen or Saz's
Decadent dining means different things to different people at different times of life. In my single days, a decadent meal was anything not eaten over a sink or with a pitcher of beer on the table. As we become older, more responsible, more health-conscious and boring -- well, let's just say things change.

My favorite decadent meal has to include barbecue sauce. I love the half-and-half (half ribs and half shoulder) from Speed Queen, 1130 W. Walnut St. It's smoky and delicious. If I'm further west, I'll hit Saz's, 5539 W. State St., for a full rack of the fall-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth ribs and a giant baked potato.

In this context, decadent dining to me portends a splurge of gluttony. Two ideas spring to mind in this regard and I'd like to try them both.

As readers know, I'm a huge fan of burgers -- so much that my idea of a balanced meal is one in each hand. I've never tried the decadent, 4-pound burger at Kelly's Bleacher's, 5218 W. Bluemound, but if I trained long enough I could probably give it a go. The folks at Kelly's offer the burger for $19.95. It takes 45 minutes to prepare and if you can eat it -- by yourself -- in less than an hour, you get it for free.

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10 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by Aardvark on May 27, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (report)

Cheese lovers cheesesteak at the Philly Way. Yikes!

Posted by dionysusmilw on May 26, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. (report)

WE HAVE A DARK HORSE COMING IN! Honeypie is brand spanking new, and admittedly, I absolutely HATE the name. So much so, that it took convincing from one of their bartenders to get me to come into the place. Anyways...my nephew and I tried their food, and everything was beyond decadent. Especially, the "Pork Fries!" Picture this...seasoned skin-on fries, la-la-la-la LOADED with cheese, BBQ pork, onions, more cheese, and homemade sweet, tangy jalapeno's on top! The stuff should come with an gift certificate for an angioplasty at St. Lukes!

Posted by are-gee on May 26, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. (report)

Meglio's triple-baked pizza. Check it out.

Posted by LegallyBlonde on May 25, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (report)

dvm, that is just absurd. just wrong. i love webbs. who doesnt? but better than sollys? I understand that you don't like solly's burgers, but they are far superior than webbs.

Posted by admiral on May 24, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (report)

Thin Crust Pizza-Zaffiro's-EBF simply perfect Thicker-Palermo Villa-Sausage and Pepperoni love the crust and the meat Unusual-Pizza Man- Artichoke Ala Mode-sounds weird tastes great Crab Cake -TESS-my favorite Crab cake in the city Cheeseburger-Libby's...yes Libby's Toasted Sciortino's roll and good beef grilled. Simple and excellent. The spaghetti special on Wed. is AWESOME. Benji's corned beef sandwich-grab a sandwich and sit on the bluff at Hubbard Park. Eat the sandwich and enjoy the view. Both are fabulous. Eddie Martini's- Seafood Bisque- I like how they serve it. I love how it tastes. Hector's-Plate Lunch-Chunks of steak, potatoes, peppers, and sauce wrapped in tortillas. Great margaritas. Gille's-I like their custard best. I know people like their place, but I know what my mouth likes. My mouth like's Gille's. IMHO-Don't eat the food. Thanks.