It’s as important as ever to support the amazing collection of local restaurants that we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. To guide you on your journey, I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2024. View the full list OR download an abbreviated printable PDF file for your fridge or wallet.
Ca’Lucchenzo*
6030 W. North Ave., (414) 312-8968
calucchenzo.com
Italian
$$$
Reservations highly recommended
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*If you're referencing my 52 restaurants list, you might note that this restaurant is out of order. That's due to an adjustment to accommodate Ca'Lucchenzo's summer break, which took place Aug. 3-7.
You’ve truly never experienced housemade pasta until you’ve tried it at Ca’ Lucchenzo, where I swear they put a little extra “something” into every dish.
The ever-changing menu pays homage to the regional dishes of Italy with offerings including antipasti, housemade pastas and seasonally appropriate entrees, including excellently prepared seafood.
Their food hits the spot during the dregs of winter when rich pasta dishes and hearty meats are called for. But it’s also among my favorite places for a leisurely patio meal in the late summer when tomatoes and peapods intermingle on plates along with fresh fish dishes, light, bright pastas and plenty of Aperol spritzes to go around.
Recent summer Crudo di Pesce (tombo tuna, peaches, toasted pistachio, sweet basil, lime, Calabrian hot pepper); Farfalle all'Uovo con Mais Dolce (housemade pasta with creamed local sweet corn, cherry tomato, leeks, basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano); and Pesce Spada con Pesto Trapanese (Hawaiian swordfish, Sicilian tomato and almond pesto and summer vegetable fricassee).
The flavors are fresh, service is beyond attentive and each dish is made with an attention to detail that truly sets Ca’Lucchenzo apart.
Recommended: Foccaccia; fonduta arancino; filled pastas; fish dishes
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. 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 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.
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