Gluten Free Options

I love my mother dearly, but I’m being completely honest when I say, sometimes it’s difficult to have dinner with her due to her gluten-free dietary restrictions.  What I’m finding though, is that more and more Milwaukee restaurants are adding more gluten-free options (especially pasta, even pizza and bbq sauce) to their menus, which just makes my mom happy and my life a lot easier!  So, whether you have a dietary restriction yourself, a loved one does, or you just don’t like gluten because you think its bad for you, here are some fantastic hot-spots to hit up!

• Restorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa
• Centro Cafe in Riverwest
• Transfer Pizzeria in Bayview
• Il Mito in Wauwatosa
• Beans and Barley on the Eastside
• Eddie Martini’s in Wauwatosa
• Water Buffalo in the Third Ward
• Cafe Manna in Brookfield
• Stack’d Bar in the Third Ward
• Cafe Tarragon in Bayview
• Saz’s in Milwaukee
• Roots in Brewer’s Hill

Mussles in Milwaukee

Quick note to readers:  milwaukeeisnotthatbad.com is back after a short sabbatical due to matrimonial bliss and unplanned Influenza.

Here we go…last night I had an incredible dinner at Roots.  The San Francisco Cioppino has been a staple on their menu for quite sometime now; I just can’t go there without ordering it.  The Cioppino is served in your own personal cast iron skillet, which is piping hot from the stove.  The mussels, shrimp, fish, and scallops that are flown into the restaurant are as fresh as can be, and the saffron, arborio, fennel~tomato broth is just extraordinary!  It’s no wonder that Roots has been recognized as one of America’s top 20 green restaurants in Organic Style Magazine.  The mussels in the dish last night were just exquisite, which got me thinking, wow I’ve had mussels at several hot spots in the city that are top-notch, (which is just one of the many reasons Milwaukee is not that bad, friends).  If you love steamed mussles; the mussles themselves, the sauce, and the bread just for dipping, here are some great spots to try out!

The Rumpus Room:  they come beer steamed with Italian Sausage, Fennel, Shallot, and a Grilled Baguette for $11 (just had them last week for lunch, wow!)

St. Paul Fish:  they are lovely every day of the week, but on Monday’s you can’t go wrong for $5.95.

Bosley on Brady:  they (Prince Edward Mussles) are steamed and served in a broth of lemon, white wine, butter, garlic, diced tomatoes, basil & chili flakes for $11 (only $6 during happy hour).

The Harbor House:  they come with your choice of a white wine butter or marinara for $12.95.

Chez Jacques:  they are called Moules Marinieres on the menu and are served a white wine, garlic and shallot cream sauce (delicious at two price points depending on how hungry you are $7.50/$15).

With hesitation in possibly diluting the taste for a long list, this is it for now.

 

 

 

Best Milwaukee Takeout

Monday nights, Friday nights, really any day of the week when you have nothing left in the tank to prepare a meal, here are several recommendations for a great alternative!  And a little more tasty than Jimmy John’s to boot…

Another fun top-10:

• Burritos from Beans and Barley
• Pizza from Palermo Villa
• A Sandwich (a good choice, the Buttafucco and the cheesy twice baked potatoes) from Comet Cafe
• A Meatball Sub from Glorioso’s
• Crab Rangoon from Emperor of China
• Ribs from Speed Queen
• Cheesesteaks from Chubby’s Cheese Steaks
• Souvlakia from Ouzo Cafe
• Lentil Soup from Casablanca
• A Salad from The Knick

Also, give the Meal Mobile a peek…

 

 

Libiamo

Owned by the same fabulous people who put Nessun Dorma on the map, Libiamo is another fine place to enjoy a great glass of wine,  in a relaxed atmosphere.  Housed within the historic Schlitz Brewery Building, the wine list offers a large selection of whites, reds, roses, and sparkling wines from Italy, California, Washington, and Oregon.  And amongst a delightful, contemporary Italian menu, Libiamo suggests that their Italian fare is largely based on the Sangiovese grape.  That was certainly a great choice because if you are anything like me, you may find yourself at a loss as to what to choose from such a superior selection of goodness.  From small plates, to salads, pastas, entrees, and pizza, Libiamo will not let you down as to what you are in the mood for.  Solid favorites of mine include the Caprese Bruschetta from the appetizer/small plate menu, Grandma’s Sicilian Meatloaf from the entrée menu, and the Chili-Artichoke Chicken from the pasta menu.  Libiamo is casual, dark, and has amazing home-made Italian dishes.  What more can you ask for, really.

Roots

Sitting peacefully atop Brewer’s Hill, this spot has quite the majestic view of the city.  Although Roots Restaurant and Cellar has made some of my lists already, including a great place to have a weekend bloody and to enjoy a happy hour at, today’s pilgrimage is all about its brunch offerings.  With both indoor and outdoor seating, this only farmer-chef owned restaurant offers superior fare with exceptional service.  Known for their farm-to-table approach, brunch is always packed beginning at 10am every Sunday.  With an interesting menu including many different combinations of sweet and savory, Roots does it all from a casual bagel and lox (although theirs is tequilla cured) to crab cakes and eggs.  Each meal is delicately prepared with a multitude of layers and tasteful details.  With fresh, seasonal options, Roots is sure to please the pickiest of crowds.  They can even serve your mimosas tableside!

Friday Happy Hour

In order to have a successful happy hour only a few ingredients are required…a good group, a decent scene, and inexpensive prices.  Here are a few fantastic places worthy of starting your weekend.

Bosley on Brady.  This tapas inspired happy hour begins at 4pm and wraps up at 6pm.  All spirits and small plate menu items are half off  during this “happy” two-hour span! A few items not to miss:  the pistachio scallops, the crab and artichoke dip, and the sautéed calamari.  Bosley’s “Florida Keys” influenced restaurant, has developed a laid back atmosphere, mixed with upscale food & wine choices.

Hotel Metro.  This hip, downtown lounge boasts $6 martinis on Friday evenings from 4-6:30 pm.  Their food menu is catered toward small and group plates, which are priced to sell and fun to share.  Housed in the bottom of an ecofriendly, luxury hotel the metro lounge offers a sexy ambiance for business, travelers, and locals alike.

Roots Restaurant and Cellar.  This Brewers Hill beauty holds its happy hour in the “cellar” of Milwaukee’s only farmer-chef owned restaurant.  For the typical 4-6 pm time slot, patrons will enjoy $5 wine pours and $3 beer alongside a variety of unique, small plate offerings.  The Roasted Cauliflower and Honey Glazed Parsnip Ribs are to die for!

Go get your happy on!

Picture yourself as a Japanese Ham Sandwich…

If you want to try out an invigorating experience to burn off all those late night snacks and glasses of wine…look no further than Bikram Yoga Milwaukee.  Bron Gacki, owner and operator of the studio on Commerce Street has made Bikram a brand in our city.  Yesterday I attended a 9:30am class and the room was packed to the gills, with at least 60 other scantily clad yogis.  Led by voice instruction only, our large group managed to pretzel into 26 asanas (Hatha Yoga Postures), in addition to 2 Pranayama breathing exercises in 90 minutes.  Did I mention it’s 105 degrees in the room?

Developed by Bikram Choudhury, this hot-box yoga stimulates and restores health to every muscle, joint, and organ in the body.  Practicing both extension & compression within each pose, essentially cuts off the blood supply causing the heart to pump more blood, then delivering fresh, oxygenated blood to the part of the body that was being compressed.  This healing process can burn calories within a range of 500-1250, depending in your individual body and intensity of practice.

Bikram Yoga requires a towel, a mat, and a bottle of water.  The rest is up to you…it’s all in your mind!

Namaste!