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In Dining Briefs
Late night dining guide
 
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Last updated June 2, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
Tags: late night, dining, guide, ma fischer's, omega, jalisco, pizza shuttle, jimmy john's, george webb, elsa's, mo's irish pub, the dogg haus, good life, water buffalo, pizza man, classic slice, ouzo cafe, the knick, cubanitas, rudy's mexican restaurant, la me


Note: The contents of this guide were checked for accuracy when this article was updated on June 2, 2008. We continually update the thousands of articles on OnMilwaukee.com, but it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. As always, we recommend you call first if you have specific questions for the businesses mentioned in the guide.

There are definitely days when you've fallen out of the 9 to 5 lifestyle and a 3 o'clock lunch is followed by a 10pm dinner. Whether you're out on the town and need a sobering meal or just finished second shift and haven't eaten since lunch, Milwaukee's late night options are sure to fill your belly.

Based on recommendations from bar crowd diners and hospitality industry veterans, this is list reflects Milwaukee's best in the late hour.

Apollo Cafe
1310 E. Brady Street
414-272-2233
www.apollocafe.com

Open Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-3am

Apollo Cafe, located in the heart of Brady Street, continues the neighborhood's Greek and Italian cultural cuisine. This counter-service restaurant offers classic souvlaki, hummus and feta, gyros and spanakopita. Entrees and sandwiches are available in a variety of meats including lamb, chicken and beef as well as tuna and vegetarian options.

Balzac Dining and Wine Bar
1716 N. Arlington
414-755-0099
www.balzacwinebar.com
Dining Service available Mon-Thurs 3pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 3pm-1am, bar service daily from 3pm- 2am
On the east side, Balzac is known for an ever-changing, indulgent and alluring wine list. However, laying in the shadow of an incredible vino experience is a tapas and appetizer menu that is just as inviting. With food pairings for almost every wine on the list, Balzac offers a significant menu of appetizers, tapas and thin crust pizzettes. Appetizers include baked cheeses, small salads and brochettes of meats, olives or veggies. A selection of cheese and wine flight combinations are also offered.

Bayou Cajun Restaurant and Lounge
2060 N. Humboldt Blvd.
414-431-1511
www.bayoumilwaukee.com
Open Mon 3-10pm, Tues-Friday 11am-10pm, Sat and Sun 10am-1opm, Late Night menu Fri-Sat until Midnight, bar service until 2am daily
Creole and cajun flavors from Louisiana dominate the menu of this bold restaurant and lounge. Located on the Milwaukee River, Bayou opened outdoor seating and riverwalk dining in summer 2008. Late Night offerings consist mainly of appetizers and a few sandwiches.

Cafe Hollander
2608 N. Downer Ave
414-963-6342
www.cafehollander.com
Full Menu Service daily from 8am-Midnight
A Diablos Rojos creation, Cafe Hollander brings touch of Dutch culture to Milwaukee's East Side. A taste of Holland includes mussels and frites, a variety of burgers, brats and mashers and of course a daily fish fry. Breakfast selections are offered all day but a more complete breakfast menu is offered daily from 8-10:30am and a larger brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 3pm.

Classic Slice
2797 S. Kinnickinnic Ave
414-727-0761
www.classicslice.com
Open Tuesday-Saturday until 12am
Classic slice boasts the biggest slices in the city and based on the customer response, it may very well be true. The local pizza cafe offers pizza by the slice or the pie but either way everything is heated to order. Pizza options range from classic meat or veggie to exotic mac n' cheese or octopus and creamed spinach.

Cubanitas
728 N. Milwaukee Street
414-225-1760
www.getcubanitas.com
Serving food Mon-Wed 11am-11pm, Thurs 11am-12pm and Fri-Sat 11am-1am, bar service until 2:30am on Fri and Sat
Named one of the top 30 restaurants in the city for the last four years, its no wonder customers return time and time again for a taste of cuban flavor plus minty mojitos. Cubanitas offers traditional cuban fare including pork, chicken and ham sandwich options as well as steak and seafood entrees. Tamales, ceviche and guacamole round out the appetizer list and are certainly followed by a array of torte and flan desserts.

The Dogg Haus
1433 E. Brady Street
414-727-1442
Mon-Wed until 11pm, Thurs-Sat until 3am
It's one of those nostalgic foods that sound perfect at bar time. Hot dogs. But The Dogg Haus doesn't simply offer up your standard dog with ketchup and mustard. Offering a long list of meats, toppings and sides, The Dogg Haus gives you options upon options for creating the dog of your choice.

Elsa's On the Park
833 N. Jefferson Street
414-765-0615
www.elsas.com
Serving food until 1am, bar open until 2am

Catering to a hip and trendy downtown crowd, Elsa's has mastered upscale versions of nachos, wings and burgers. Not only are the offerings tasty, but you can get them until 1am everynight of the week. With a bar that is open until 2am daily, this lounge style restaurant offers anything from appetizers and salads to sandwiches and dessert.

George Webb (numerous locations)
www.georgewebb.com

We'd be remiss if we left out the granddaddy of all 24 hour diners, the famous George Webb's. Let's be honest: Webb's isn't gonna win any awards for gourmet food. But it's fast, cheap and always open. Chances are you'll run into some old friends, or meet some of Milwaukee's most unusual regulars at Webb's. Try not to think too much about the cleanliness of this place; when you have a hankering for some grub and less than $5 left in your wallet, chances are there is a George Webb's near you.

Good Life
1935 N. Water Street and Humboldt
414-271-JERK
www.goodlifemilwaukee.com
Kitchen open daily 4pm-12am, bar open until 2am

If a late evening leaves you with dreams of warm travels and island pleasures, Good Life is waiting for you. The kitchen is now open until midnight every night of the week and cranks out soups, salads and sandwiches Carribean style. The fish options range from mahi mahi to tilapia to white fish and each is served with a kick of citrus jerk flavor. With a bar open until 2am and garage style windows open all summer long, Good Life is the perfect city stop for late night island dreaming.

Jalisco II
2207 E. North Ave.
414-291-0645
Open daily 7am-3am

Just two blocks away, Jalisco's offers up big burritos to the late night diner. No, this isn't breakfast, but just how picky can you be after last call? This Mexican food will fill you up, and there's nothing like a burrito the size of your head to soak up any of the lingering beer still in your system.

Jimmy John's
1532 W. Wells St.
(414) 344-1234
3129 N. Oakland Ave
(414) 967-9014
www.jimmyjohns.com
Open daily until 3am
Would you like "The Sorry Charlie" or "The Pepe"? "The Country Club" or "The Bootlegger"? Whatever cleverly named sub sandwich you choose will taste great after a long night bellied up to the bar. Jimmy John's has two locations open (or delivering) until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sandwiches come piled high with provolone cheese, mayo, sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and the meat of your choice, or try the "Vegetarian."

The Knick
1030 E. Juneau Ave
414-272-0011
www.theknickrestaurant.com
Open Mon-Fri 11am to 12am and Sat- Sun 9am-12am
In a trendy, casual environment, The Knick offers sandwiches, salads, entrees and desserts everyday until midnight. Opening early on Saturday and Sunday, the Knick now offers a full brunch until 3pm followed by dinner menu options.

La Merenda
125 E. National Ave
414-389-0125
www.lamerenda125.com
Open Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Mon-Thurs 5pm-10pm and Fri-Sat 5pm-midnight, bar service until close daily
Specializing in international and regional flavors, La Merenda offers tapas style dining with small portion dishes from Thailand, Colombia, Italy, Mexico and more. The full dinner menu is served until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays making this the perfect destination for unbelievable variety and authenticity in the late evening.

Ma Fischer's
214 N. Farwell Ave.
414-271-7424
Open 24 hours

Ma's is the ultimate East Side late night breakfast oasis. If you've been to Ma's during daylight hours, you'll notice a big difference at 3 a.m. Open 24 hours a day, the service is great anytime. Despite a boisterous after bar crowd, the staff is still courteous and the food is still top notch. Ma's is a bit more expensive than some of its neighbors, but the quality is well worth it. A hearty breakfast at this classic Greek diner is just what you'll need to sleep off a rough night out.

Michael's Family Restaurant
2220 W. Wisconsin Ave.
(414) 344-7333
Open 24 hours
This 24-hour restaurant is great for two reasons. First, you can order anything from pancakes to steak and it all tastes pretty good. The food is served fast and hot. Second, it is very cheap; perfect if you have a growling stomach and only two crumpled dollar bills in hand. Located near The Rave and the Marquette campus.

Mo's Irish Pub
142 W. Wisconsin Ave
414-272-0721
10842 W. Bluemound Road
414-774-9782
www.mosirishpub.com
Sun-Thurs until 11am and Fri-Sat until 12am

With downtown and west side locations, Mo's has you covered for late night cravings. Mo's full menu offers a combo of Irish favorites like shepherd's pie and reuben sandwiches as well as American classics like burgers, wraps and salads. Plus, wash your late night dinner down with the perfect pint of Guiness, Harp or Smithwicks.

Oakland Gyros
2867 N. Oakland Ave.
414-963-1393
Open daily from 11am-3am

With a good location and great hours, this Greek fast food joint will hit the spot after a night out on the town. You'll be surprised by their diverse menu, but their shish-kabobs and gyros come highly recommended. A little farther north than the other late night hot spots, Oakland Gyros is worth the trip.

Omega V Restaurant
3473 S. 27th St.
(414) 645-6595
Open 24 hours daily
Also known as Paul's Omega, this south-side restaurant is open 24 hours a day and serves breakfast anytime. There are waffles and pancakes smothered in fruit and whip cream and omelets with veggies and feta cheese served with the Omega's Greek toast. If breakfast isn't what you want, Omega also serves an array of lunch and dinner foods of all kinds, including burgers, gyros, chicken kabobs, ribs and more. The place is large so you should never have a problem getting a table and Paul's family and staff are very friendly.

Ouzo Cafe
776 N. Milwaukee Street
414-272-OUZO
www.ouzocafe.com
This Greek counter may only be open until 10pm Monday through Thursday but on Friday and Saturday they stay up extra late and remain open until 3:30am. Catering to the lively crowds of the Milwaukee Street bar scence, Ouzo offers up an incredible selection of kebabs, sandwiches, spanokopita, salads and desserts. Check it out at bartime and you'll see the party move from the clubs to the cafe.

Pizza Man
1800 E. North Avenue
414-272-1745
www.pizzaman.org
Serving Mon-Thurs until 12am and Fri-Sat until 1am

Some of Milwaukee's best pizza along with one of the largest wine selections in the city? Could you ask for more at midnight? We don't think so. Pizza Man offers full pizza, pasta and appetizer selections along with a full bar that remains open for an hour after dinner service has ended.

Pizza Shuttle
1827 N. Farwell Ave.
414-289-9500
www.pizzashuttle.com
Sun-Thurs 10am-3am and Fri-Sat 10am-4am

Its pizza may not rival its neighbor down the street, Zaffiro's, but the late night option can't be beat. Pizza Shuttle serves more than just pizza, and the crowd at this East Side hangout tends to be a little younger. When you're not in the mood for just breakfast, this is one of the few places in town that will serve up a piping hot pizza and great breadsticks into the wee hours of the night.

Rudy's Mexican Restaurant
1122 N. Edison Street
414-223-1122
www.rudysmexican.com
Menu served 11am-11pm daily
Located just off of the Water Street bar scene strip, Rudy's Mexican restaurant offers casual mexican dining along with a wide selection of margaritas. Its the perfect stop on your way to or from a night out on the town.

Tutto Restaurant and Bar
1033 Old World Third Street
414-291-5600
www.tuttomilwaukee.com
Dinner menu served Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm and Sunday 4pm-9pm
Appetizers until Midnight on Friday and Saturday
Bar service until 2am daily
Opened in 2008, Tutto Restaurant and Bar is the newest creation of the Giovanni family. Offering American cuisine with an Italian infusion, Tutto is an upscale sports bar with a dozen t.v's yet tasteful ambiance. The menu offers a range of classic bar foods, Italian traditions and American sandwiches and salads. Tutto also offers a sizable martini and wine selection.

Water Buffalo
249 N. Water Street
414-431-1133
www.waterbuffalomilwaukee.com
Serving late night menu until 1am
Located on the Milwaukee River, Water Buffalo is perfect after a long night out on the water or out on the town. A smaller version of their extensive dinner menu, Water Buffalo's late night menu offers quality bar burgers and sandwiches along with a soup of the daily or their classic chicken tortilla.

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