Tired of cafeteria food already? Don’t worry; Milwaukee has many great off-campus dining options that can relieve the boredom of eating at the cafeteria.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make your freshman year is to not get off campus and explore the city. If you’re in the mood for some off-campus dining or shopping, here are some great restaurants that are just a short walk or bus ride away.

The East Side offers many different dining options, but one of the most notable restaurants is the Twisted Fork, located at 2238 N. Farwell Ave. The menu has everything from steak to burgers to pasta — all at affordable prices. The atmosphere is casual, but can be romantic, so it is perfect for a date or a night out with friends. It is also conveniently located next to the Oriental Theatre, an independent theatre that usually plays two to three movies at a time as well as monthly showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. So if you are in the mood for dinner and a movie, then the Twisted Fork is the perfect place. To get there by bus, take the 30 to Prospect and North avenues and walk a block west to Farwell Avenue.

The Third Ward is so close to campus that it would be a mistake never to experience it. Although the streets are lined with many awesome restaurants and shops, my favorite place is the Milwaukee Public Market located at, 400 N. Water St. With over a dozen different vendors ranging from cheese to Indian to fish, you will be sure to find something you like. To get there, take any bus that goes downtown (10, 14, 23, 30) and get off at Water Street. From there, walk three blocks to St. Paul Avenue.

One of the most interesting restaurants downtown is the Safe House, 779 N. Front St. This spy-themed restaurant is affordably priced for all of the character that it has. Although the food is nothing special — mostly hamburgers, sandwiches and salads — the atmosphere alone is worth it. To get in, you have to know the password — if you don’t, you have to prove you are not capable of treason. Inside, the walls are decked with spy gear, and there is even a back entrance when you leave. To get there, take any downtown bus, get off at Water Street and go north to Front Street. Good luck finding it, it is located in a dark alley and the name is not on the door.

These are just three recommendations, although there are many other great dining options in every corner of the city. Have fun exploring the city and discovering all Milwaukee has to offer; it’s an exciting city that has something for everyone.

Popularity: 12% [?]

I have noted, often cynically, that there are few restaurants that people go to these days that really impress.

Have you noticed this? You go to a restaurant and then leave satisfied but underwhelmed. It is because of this that makes going to someplace that turns out to be fantastic so surprising and delightful. Such a place can be found in Milwaukee’s Third Ward with the Japanese restaurant Nanakusa.

Nanakusa, which according to the restaurant’s website means “seven herbs” in Japanese, is a great place. In fact, it is easily one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee.

Now, if you passionately dislike Japanese food it might not be for you. But if you like good food in general and Japanese food in particular, this place will not disappoint.

Just as you would expect, Nanakusa has a sushi bar with a wide variety of sushi to choose from. All of the traditional dishes found in most Japanese restaurants like Chicken Katsu and Udon and Soba noodle dishes are there as well.

Japanese culinary techniques place a large emphasis on freshness and it is clear that Nanakusa respects that completely in their dishes.

Nanakusa offers something for just about anyone. If you are vegetarian, are looking for seafood or just want something with chicken or beef in it, you can find it.

Japanese food is often thought of as being exotic, and it is. However, there are options for those who do not particularly like the thought of eating raw fish.

Nanakusa also offers a selection of Kobe beef dishes, which is more expensive but much better than regular beef. They also offer a wide selection of sake and other beverages such as plum wine.

The Gyu Maki and the soba noodle dishes come highly recommended, as does the sushi.

Nanakusa offers a wide variety of specialty dishes and seasonal items as well. Many of the dishes tend to be on the smaller side. It is perhaps best to go there with a group of friends where you can share various dishes.

Also, the dishes tend to be presented as soon as they are made, which can make the order in which they arrive seem somewhat strange compared to other restaurants where everyone is served at the same time.

Nanakusa has won numerous awards and according to their website is one of only three Japanese restaurants in the world to win the “Award of Excellence” in 2004 from Wine Spectator.

Perhaps the only negative aspect to the restaurant is the price. The prices for some dishes are high, but this is to be expected in such a fancy place.

Nanakusa’s hours are from Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. They are closed on Monday.

Nanakusa is located in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee at 408 E. Chicago Street.

Popularity: 19% [?]

For those of you who are nostalgic for your vacation down in the Caribbean there is a restaurant downtown that might help you relive your trip. Located on Water Street and near Wisconsin Avenue, Edgar’s Calypso serves up quality Caribbean cooking in a delightful atmosphere that makes you feel miles away from Milwaukee. Continue Reading

Popularity: 20% [?]

These days people think that our nation runs on oil, and that without it things would grind to a halt. That is only partially true, because the other fuel that powers the United States is coffee. If the shipment of coffee were stopped things really would grind to a halt.

Fortunately Milwaukee has places like Alterra Coffee, which elevate caffeine consumption to a level beyond what that coffee pot at work that has not been washed in 10 months can. Continue Reading

Popularity: 10% [?]

Buffet restaurants fit into their own category. My own personal experience with them is that they usually serve cheap food mass-produced for people who wish to gorge themselves on carbohydrates. As everyone knows, the quality of food varies at buffets, but the fact that there are so many low quality ones gives them a bad image.

So with that said, I am happy to report that The Buffet at the Potawatomi Bingo & Casino is certainly of a much higher quality. There are a number of buffets that have only fried food. Not so with the Casino’s buffet.

Another clear difference that makes it stand apart from the competition is the fact that the food was unusually fresh. Essentially everything that I tried was fantastic, or at the least better than the usual buffet offerings.

And for dinner, there are a number of specialties offered including nights with “international dishes” such as Mexican and Asian cuisine on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, seafood buffets on Wednesday and Friday fish fries. Sunday brunch includes complementary champagne and Sunday dinner features Southern food.

In the end there are only two legitimate complaints about The Buffet at the Potawatomi Bingo & Casino. The first is that the restaurant’s name is terribly uncreative. Calling a buffet “The Buffet” when other restaurants in the casino have names like “The Fire Pit” and “Dream Dance” makes one think they suddenly had a lack of creativity when it came time to name the place.

The second complaint is the price. $10.99 for lunch is a little pricey when compared with other buffets around Milwaukee. And not only is lunch expensive, but Sunday brunch and most dinners run at $15.99 while on Wednesday and Saturday nights, the dinner price is $22.99. But although it is a lot of money to be spending on a meal, one should also consider the fact that the food there is of a higher quality than the usual buffet. College students, or at least those that do not gamble, may not be aware of this place. For a change of pace it certainly is worth a try.

Lunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served from 3:30-9:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday it is open until 10:00 p.m. Sunday brunch is served from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Potawatomi is located on 1721 West Canal Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53233.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Of course, pizzas, burgers and subs are staples for a college student’s nutritional regime (or lack thereof). But the unsung hero of college dining would definitely be the buffalo chicken wing. Everyone’s favorite utensil-free food with built-in humility is always a good experience to be shared, despite the mess factor. Whether it’s one of the several wing choices around campus, or one of the great options further out, buffalo chicken wings are definitely worth the trip by bus or car.

Therefore, some members of the Warrior staff went “hunting” for the best buffalo chicken wings within a 15-mile radius of Marquette University. We’ve attempted to unscientifically provide college students with the best bang for their proverbial buck. Each location is accessible by bus, with the last being available by L.I.M.O., and each establishment was evaluated on the size, cost/value, variety and taste of their chicken wings, in addition to the atmosphere and “fun factor” at each locale. Finally, any novelties or interesting items on each menu were noted and the group picked our “clubhouse favorite” flavor of chicken wing after each tasting. While the Warriors involved might now claim extensive knowledge of chicken wings, it should be noted that none of our digestives systems were hearty enough to handle extremely spicy or hot wings so we invite our readers to further our research into this area at their leisure.

Hooters
No buffalo wing lover could exclude Hooters from the list of must-have wings. With 435 locations in 46 states and 20 countries, Hooters has been putting their spin on wings since 1983. While they aren’t often considered a “family establishment,” there were families enjoying the many food options the night we went hunting.

The closest Hooters to Marquette is at 7700 W. Layton Ave. in Greenfield, which isn’t too far for the Hooters experience. The atmosphere is as described on their menus: “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.” With seven sauces ranging from Mild to 911 Hot, the diversity of wings isn’t as extensive as the other places. Interestingly, the wings are breaded and then fried. However, the general consensus was that while the wings were a little greasy, they were pretty flavorful. As long as you don’t order the “mild,” which according to our waitress Marie, doesn’t have much flavor, the wings were quite the meal. Hooters was the only establishment to feature full chicken wings – unseparated drummets and wings – and as an unconventional twist, you could order 20 wings and a bottle of champagne as a meal.

After sampling the Medium, Hot, Cajun and Samurai (teriyaki) varieties, the group voted that the clubhouse favorite was the Cajun because of its interesting combination of tangy flavors. The menu also featured various seafood and sandwiches, but the most interesting thing would have to be the fried pickles appetizer. In all, Hooters scored high in the atmosphere and fun factors. But remember, the best thing about Hooters, according to our waitress Marie and manager Bob Hall, is “the girls.”

Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings, or B-Dubbs, is a fun bar-and-grill concept that caters to families or groups of friends looking to have a good time. With a bar and a full menu ranging from munchies to hearty dinner options, this is a great place to watch your favorite game or match wits with other patrons playing on the Buzztime® Trivia system offered each night. The closest B-Dubbs to campus is at 1123 N. Water St.

We were impressed by the variety of 14 sauces, ranging from sweet to screaming hot. With so many sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings is sure to cover the tastes of everyone in the party. The wings are a good size and very saucy, and not too small for the value. After sampling the Medium, Honey BBQ, Spicy Garlic, and Asian Zing (with the last two being recommended by our waitress Kristin), the clubhouse favorite was by far the Asian Zing with its interesting combination of chili peppers, soy sauce and ginger mixed with a little sweetness.

The menu offered a great variety of munchie foods, including mini corn dogs, nachos, wraps and ribs. The most interesting thing, however, was that if you really enjoyed one of their sauces, you could purchase a bottle to take home with your leftovers. B-Dubbs rates high in flavor, variety of wings and fun, but only if you like places that are really loud and a little smoky.

WOW
The New Orleans-inspired World of Wings (WOW) Café and Wingery at 2116 N. Farwell Ave. (one block south of the Oriental Theatre) was ultimately our favorite place on our hunt for buffalo wings outside the immediate area. With its wide open space, a pool table, dart boards, HDTVs and a full bar, it looks like a high-ceilinged restaurant that the owner molded into a fun local hangout for the neighborhood crowd.

With 17 varieties of wings, WOW provided the greatest variety for the value, ranging from the standard buffalo flavors to exotic ones. The best feature of these wings is their size, as WOW doesn’t skimp on their portions. And the wings are fresh, not frozen. While their original buffalo wing is pretty standard (not too spicy but a little bit of tease), WOW’s originality is featured in their Kansas City Honey BBQ, which is a good “two parts honey, one part BBQ,” and the Texas Mesquite BBQ, which tastes good enough to make you like Texas, but not enough to make you a Cowboys fan. The Thai Peanut, which was recommended by our waitress Emily, was another favorite with its mellow taste of barbecue and peanuts blended together and topped with crushed peanuts. Despite its many competitors, it was the unique, tangy flavor of the Jamaican Jerk that was voted the clubhouse favorite.

The size, flavor and value of the wings alone could have made WOW the clear Warrior favorite, but their most interesting menu item won us over. WOW lets you order a whopping 1,000 pieces of chicken wings (over ten times more than their competitors) for the low price of $399! This is definitely the place to try for any buffalo wing connoisseur.

Conway’s
If you are looking for something a little closer to home, try Conway’s at 2127 W. Wells St. Known for its live bands, Jazz night and cozy space, the chicken wings here were unlike any other, as they were expertly smoked using applewood chips by the chef, Gary. Although Conway’s only offers two varieties of wings—barbeque or spicy—both stand up well to the smoky flavor and are just as large as the portions at WOW. They also offer a special on Monday nights where you can get wings for just 35 cents! While the other college hangouts are pretty crowded most nights, Conway’s offers a laid-back atmosphere to enjoy the many musical offerings and food-and-drink specials. Plus, where else can you enjoy your wings in the company of Jake and Elwood Blues? Conway’s rates high in the flavor and atmosphere, and they are easily accessible by L.I.M.O., which is clearly an added bonus.

All in all, the Warriors had a successful buffalo wing hunt and are looking forward to their next journey into the wild world of college food (but only after a very long nap.

Popularity: 10% [?]

With so many restaurants in the area, it is rare to find one that is so impressive that it immediately stands out in the crowd of options. Casablanca on Brady Street, however, has done just that.

Casablanca is a Middle Eastern restaurant. In many respects, the food is similar to Indian food. Obviously people have their own taste preferences, but if you enjoy ethnic food, Casablanca is arguably a must.

Casablanca has an extensive yet reasonable lunch buffet which is served seven days a week. This vegetarian buffet provides an authentic cultural experience with amazing food. Buffet restaurants often conjure up images of cheap, unhealthy food, but at Casablanca, the food is high quality and anything but generic. In an age where some “Chinese” buffets serve pizza and corn on the cob next to the egg rolls, this is a welcomed change of pace.

When dinnertime comes around, Casablanca becomes a more traditional restaurant. Casablanca serves a wide variety of dishes for dinner, including plates with meats such as lamb, beef or chicken. Sandwiches are also available, as are appetizers, salads and other similar options one might expect.

The “Shawarma,” or Middle Eastern gyro, is very popular as well as the “Original Shish Kebab.” In addition to the great food, Casablanca has a bar with specialty martinis, among other drinks. Some of the bar patrons’ favorite drinks include the Casablanca Martini, the Pama Martini and the Champagne Dream.

As a unique twist, Casablanca has hookahs for added enjoyment. Belly dancing can be found on every Friday night and the restaurant hosts many events, including the upcoming 2007 New Year’s Eve party.

Casablanca is a family-owned restaurant. Although once shut down, the restaurant reopened under the direction of the sons of the original owner. According to the restaurant’s Web site, they hope to someday expand the restaurant into a chain.

Although Milwaukee has a fairly large number of ethnic restaurants, Casablanca deserves a visit. The relaxed environment, fantastic food and reasonable prices make Casablanca one of Milwaukee’s best restaurants.

Casablanca is located on 728 E. Brady St, Milwaukee WI, 53202. You can find them on the Internet at www.casablancaonbrady.com.

The vegetarian lunch buffet is available every Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Sunday brunch buffet lasts between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well. The restaurant is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 12 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Here’s The Warrior’s “Top Java Joints” list of local coffee shops to patronize during the upcoming cold-weather Wisconsin weeks.

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Popularity: 10% [?]