By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Nov 23, 2020 at 12:01 PM

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!

Strange Town
2101 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 885-0404
strangetownmke.com

Vegan or not, it’s worth your while to spend some time with the menu at Strange Town where an eclectic collection of vinyl sets the stage for an evening of nibbling. Offerings change frequently, but you can count on seasonal, fresh takes on globally inspired fare, plus a great list of natural wines and low ABV cocktails. Good to note: Strange Town offers half-off bottles of wine every Wednesday. Walk-ins accepted for limited dine-in. Carry-out is also available with hours Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.

Five dishes to try:

  1. Hummus: with crisp roasted mushrooms, house pickled veggies and attari pita or buckwheat socca ($14)
  2. Sea vegetable salad: ocean ribbons, kelp noodles, spirulina ginger crema, herbs & watercress, house sea palm furikake ($14)
  3. Mega kale Caesar salad ($12)
  4. Bombay potatoes: yukon gold potatoes, tomato chutney, cilantro ($12)
  5. Thursday night housemade vegan pasta specials! Offerings have included cacio e pepe and pasta with roasted artichoke hearts, fermented tomato sauce and fennel fronds (pictured above, $12-$15)
Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.