My annual article, 52 Restaurants for your Bucket List, was originally created to provide readers with an easy way to explore the wealth of restaurants in the Milwaukee scene over the course of one year (52 weeks). Today, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a fun and equally compelling guide for folks who’d like to bring variety to their weekly meals while providing vital support to some of our finest local restaurants.
Here's the featured restaurant of the day, plus five dishes to try!
Kegel’s Inn
5901 W. National Ave., West Allis, (414) 257-9999
kegelsinn.com
Sure, Kegel’s Inn is one of the oldest family owned restaurants in town. But if you’ve only been to this gem for a Friday night fish fry, it’s time to head back to try something new. That might include a classic German entree. But it could also include a variety of casual new additions including sausages and burgers.
Five dishes to try:
- Loaded Bavarian poutine: Fries loaded with scratch-made duck gravy, cheese curds, smoked bratwurst and topped with fresh chives ($14)
- The Schnit-zle: Strauss farms veal schnitzel piled proudly on a bun with lettuce, tomato and lemon schmear; served with coleslaw, pickle and kettle chips ($12)
- The National: Polish sausage topped with sweet and sour red cabbage, cheese curds and fresh chives; served with coleslaw, pickle and kettle chips ($9)
- Pork shank: Choice of one or two crispy shanks slow cooked with traditional German spices. Served with sauerkraut and the choice of one additional side ($27/$36)
- Roasted duck: choice of a quarter or half de-boned, roasted duck served crispy over scratch-made gravy and homemade stuffing with a choice of one side ($15/$25)
Indoor dining is available by reservation only. Not ready to dine in? Don’t miss the restaurant's beer garden; it's a great place to grab a brew or dine al fresco!
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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