It’s as important as ever to support the amazing local restaurants we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants to guide you on your journey. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2025. View the full list OR download an abbreviated printable PDF file for your fridge or wallet.
Honeypie Cafe
2569 S Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 489-7437
honeypiecafe.com
American, brunch
$$
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There’s always been something charming about Honeypie Cafe, a woman-owned restaurant which has served up plates of locally sourced Midwestern comfort for over 15 years. And that charm has only amplified since their 2021 move to new digs just down the street from their original location.
Step into this upscale diner for breakfast and you’ll find dishes like outstanding housemade biscuits, a can’t miss breakfast casserole and well-executed staples like French toast and breakfast hash (the pot roast hash is outstanding). Meanwhile, during lunch and dinner, you can indulge in their pork fries (the portion is easily shareable) plus comforting staples like their French Dip sandwich, a solid fish fry (on Fridays) and what very well might be the very best macaroni & cheese in the city.
Save room for a slice of their housemade pie, if you can; otherwise there's no shame in taking a piece for the road. Don’t miss their stellar brunch which includes some of the best bloody marys in the city.
Recommended: House biscuits, pork fries, macaroni and cheese
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.
