Brunch in Milwaukee
February 6th, 2006I do not eat breakfast during the week. I just get myself a tasty Mocha at Caribou Coffee, so I look forward to brunch on the weekend. Here are my favorite spots...
Trocadero
Trocadero is my #1 favorite spot for brunch. It is the best in the Summer when you can eat out on the patio near the water fountain. It has a warm atmosphere with French styling which makes you feel like you are not in Milwaukee once you walk through the doors. Sometimes I just go in there on a weeknight to have some coffee and use their free WiFi. And on Wednesday night there is a half priced glasses of wine upstairs at the Red Light.
A while back I went to MO'NA's on a recommendation from April Jackson. This is a bar by night but on weekend mornings the dance floor is set up as a buffet lined up with pancakes, waffles, scrammled eggs, muffins, bacon, sausage and just about everything you could possibly want for brunch. I also really like the look of this place. I have not been there lately but I have driven by recently and it looks like they have been updating it. I will have to get back there soon. The food is amazing.
Just yesterday I went to The Knick, the restaurant on the ground level of the Knickerbocker Hotel near the lakefront. Their menu is much smaller than what is available at Trocadero or MO'NA's, but the food is great. I got the French Toast and the bread is so thick but soft and full of flavor. Last weekend Geoff had the stuff French Toast. He said it is like having dessert for breakfast. The place is in a great location and I really like the atmosphere. It is very modern and has a nice bar area. I will have to go back there for drinks on a week night.
For a more basic breakfast, you can also take it down a notch and go to the diner inside the Brady Street Pharmacy. The prices are good. It is like stepping back in time with the way the diner is layed out as a classic diner. I go here most frequently for a weekend breakfast to read a book and get some eggs and buttered bagel with orange juice. I often overhear a group who gets together speaking an entirely different language. I think once it was a Russian family and the last time I was there it was a group of Italians. I like having that ethnic feel in the diner.
I have also been to Roots, up near the Brewers Hill neighborhood. I did not like it much. I have the waffles and some potatoes on the side. The waffles were really thin and the potatoes were unpleasant. I would not suggest you go there for the food. But they do have a great view over the downtown area. I may go back there just for the view and perhaps a mini Heineken with some pancakes. They should be be able to screw that up.
I also have a few places on my list which I still have to try:
I love the Hi Hat and the Garage. It is on Brady Street which is a great place to walk around on a weekend morning. They have a brunch called the Gospel Brunch. This place is known for their music selection, often playing songs from Moby. So the music at the Gospel Brunch falls along the style of Moby's Play album I believe, which is appealing to me. The bar owners and their lead bartender "get it" and I am sure this could easily be my favorite once I try it out. The Hi Hat and Trocadero are owned by the same people so I expect it will be up to par with my current #1 spot.
Beyond brunch, I have other suggestions for things to do in Milwaukee.
