Morel
430 S. 2nd St., (414) 897-0747
morelmke.com
New American
$$-$$$
Reservations highly recommended
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Spring is among the best times to visit Morel. That's especially true if you’re a fan of its namesake mushroom, which they proudly serve in numerous dishes during the mushroom’s short, unpredictable season.
But well-crafted plates of fungi aren’t the only reason to visit this Walker’s Point staple, which consistently delivers on seasonal plates and beautifully crafted meals made with housemade ricotta cheese, pasta, sausages and some of the fluffiest biscuits around.
Highlights on the current menu include Rushing Waters rainbow trout, served whole (but completely deboned), seasoned with herb butter and grilled. It's served with pea tendrils, pickled red onions, capers, fingerling potatoes, sorrel and lemon preserves.
As the weather changes, I'm also a sucker for their comforting rabbit ragu, which is served atop house pappardelle with wood ear mushrooms, chili de arbol and Sarvecchio cheese.
Recommended: lamb carpaccio (it's among their signatures for a reason); seasonal pasta/gnocchi; short ribs; save room for their goat cheese cheesecake
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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