By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Feb 02, 2012 at 8:13 PM

I used to travel a lot and it was never on my own dime. I've been in almost every major city in this country, some outside the United States, and a whole lot of backwater places, as well.

Since it wasn't me paying for hotels or meals, I have managed to try restaurants all over the place. Many of them are forgettable. Some of them are one of a kind places that I remember with great fondness.

And then there are those that have multiple locations in multiple states. And it has gotten me to wondering why we in Milwaukee don't have some of these wonderful places. They are so good that I'm sure they would be real successful.

I know the restaurant business is a tough business and that Milwaukee has an extensive variety of places to eat. But some of my favorites would be a great addition. There are three restaurants I'd love to see here.

One is Ruth's Chris, the steakhouse you can find all over. Middleton (just outside Madison) has one, even though that boggles my mind. The restaurant chain is famous for the outstanding food and service that would make it a big hit here.

The second one is Legal Seafood, which is headquartered in Boston and which has locations in a number of states. If there is one food category that I think is under-represented in Milwaukee it's top flight seafood. Legal Seafood has a variety of menu items and the best crab cakes I've ever had anywhere. They try to add local fish to their menu in their locations and I'd love to see a great smelt dinner for example, in Milwaukee.

And finally, I'd love to see and In and Out Burger place in Milwaukee. Talk about simple. A small menu of fresh burgers and fries and shakes. I don't know what it is about these places, which started in California, but they now have almost 150 locations and eating there is an experience that you will long remember.

I'm sure there are lots of places I could add to this list, and I'd love to hear other suggestions.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.