For the ninth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee, presented by the restaurants of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, dining guides, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as voting for your "Best of Dining 2015."
West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe Cafe
6832 Becher St.
414-543-4230
wacheese-gifts.com
It might sound unexpected to stop off at a cheese shop for breakfast, brunch or lunch, but in the case of the West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe, it’s one of the best ideas you could have. The bright, welcoming cafe was added onto the cheese shop nearly two years ago, and it serves up a delicious array of breakfast and brunch dishes, as well as a lunch menu that includes plenty of sandwiches and hot soups.
Brunch hours: Breakfast and brunch options served daily. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Atmosphere: Bright, modern cafe with lots of natural light and counter service.
Brunch Drinks:
Mimosa – This classic brunch drink is made with pulp-less orange juice and sparkling wine, making for a crisp, fresh morning drink ($4.50)
Bloody Mary – Their Bloody Mary is tomato forward with plenty of sweetness and spice; it comes accompanied by a Rhinelander chaser ($6.99). Garnishes include: a mini grilled cheese, bacon, celery, a meat stick, mozzarella whips, a pickle and an olive.
Food highlights: Brunch dishes are generous with portions that (in many cases) warrant a doggie bag. We sampled the breakfast skillet deluxe ($8.99) which came with big chunks of fresh potato, cubed breakfast sausage, bacon, onions, mushrooms and red and yellow peppers. It was topped with two eggs (we ordered ours over-easy) and a generous helping of melted colby-jack cheese.
The biscuits and gravy ($9.99) came in a huge portion with a choice of eggs atop two fluffy buttery biscuits, which were split and generously covered in a flavorful sausage gravy.
Other options include a breakfast sandwich, a three-cheese omelet, eggs and toast, French toast, oatmeal and the Hangover Burrito featuring three scrambled eggs, potatoes, salsa, cheddar, sausage or bacon. Not feeling the breakfast vibe? You also have your choice of a variety of sandwiches including grilled roast beef, grilled summer sausage, a meatball hoagie, a classic Reuben or BLT. Or, build your own sandwich for just $6.99.
Service: Our waitress was very accommodating, from answering questions about the menu to offering plenty of refills on our coffee.
Price: A spend of $18 per person gave us one cocktail each and plenty of delicious brunch fare.
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.
