Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 6 Women-Owned Restaurants to Eat At

Mar 28

90 miles north of the third-largest city in the U.S. is Milwaukee. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I was ignorant of the thriving, delicious, and inventive food scene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On my recent trip to Milwaukee, I explored 6 women-owned restaurants that you need to try when planning your trip.

While Visit Milwaukee hosted my meals, as always opinions are my own.

Toast – Breakfast/Lunch

Location: 231 S 2nd Street

Toast is a vibrant and fun spot for a brunch with friends, family, and everyone in-between. Its space is colorful, and servers are clad in creative tie-dye and personalized uniforms. The restaurant has a certain 1960s feel to it, and you’ll enjoy Elton John classics as the background noise to your bottomless mimosas. The menu is extensive and offers traditional favorites to original treats like the vanilla-icing drenched waffle above. Arrive hungry – because the portion sizes are huge and delicious!

ORENDA Cafe – Breakfast/Lunch

Location: 3514 W National Ave

If you’re looking for a more traditional brunch, check-out Latina-Owned ORENDA Cafe near the southside of Milwaukee. Owner Leticia Munoz moved from Mexico with her family to Milwaukee when she was 10-years-old. Her breakfast joint presents a fusion of American classics with Mexican inspiration. The cafe’s name, ORENDA, stems from an Iroquois belief that “you can harness powerful spiritual energy from animate and inanimate to create change.” Again, the portions are huge – so put on those stretchy pants!

Screen Shot 2021-03-15 at 3.49.43 PM.png — *Photo credit: Swingin’ Door Exchange*

Swingin' Door Exchange – Lunch/Dinner

Location: 219 E Michigan St

Swingin’ Door Exchange offers the classic Wisconsin experience you crave: burgers and beer. Its “Old-Timey” decor is part of the charm. It’s located in the Mackie Building, which is one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable and historical landmarks, built-in 1879. In a relaxed environment, it’s great to grab a bite and watch the game. Nothing fancy here – just a classic, dependable good time in a good bar.

Cubanitas – Lunch/Dinner

Location: 728 N Milwaukee St

I absolutely adore this Cuban gem in the heart of downtown. I recently returned from a trip to Little Havana before visiting this spot and, well, Cubanitas can compete with Miami’s Cuban food scene. Marc and Marta Bianchini are the owners of Cubanitas, the first Cuban restaurant in all of Wisconsin. It’s brightly colored and filled with what appears to be old family photos in Cuba. The upbeat Cuban playlist and traditional Cuban eats can transplant you to warmer weather – even just for a meal. I enjoyed the Pollo Asado bowl and the chicken was perfectly tender. My assistant enjoyed the traditional Carne con Pappas. I was full from a weekend of eating that I didn’t expect to eat much by the time I got to dinner here. But it was so good I couldn’t stop eating it!

Bavette La Boucherie – Lunch/Dinner

Location: 330 E Menomonee S

I knew I was in for something special when I learned Karen Bell’s Bavette La Boucherie was a James Beard finalist (that’s the Academy Awards of food for all us food peasants). Bell, a Milwaukee native, has lived and worked in the food capitals of the world – Paris, Madrid, Caracas, San Francisco, and Chicago. She began Bavette La Boucherie as a butcher shop, and it has evolved into a full-service restaurant specializing in sustainably raised meats, Wisconsin cheese, locally sourced charcuterie, and more. I enjoyed a cheese board and veggie drenched salad for lunch.

Your meal at Bavette La Boucherie is an experience. You feel as if you’re eating art. Every ingredient serves a purpose.

Buckley’s Restaurant & Bar – Dinner/Weekend Brunch

Location: 801 N Cass St

Last, but certainly not least, is the family-owned and operated Buckley’s. Located in the backyard of my boutique hotel Dubbel Dutch, Buckley’s restaurant is both a nice night out and welcoming to all diners. The menu is creative. I enjoyed a vegan sweet potatoes entree, and my assistant tried a hot Nashville chicken sandwich. The flavors were unique combinations but still with a sense of familiarity. If you’re someone who wants to try new things but is hesitant, Buckleys is a good fit for you. My favorite part? The carrot cake. You’re served a huge slice, and it has to be the moistest, most flavorful, and tasty carrot cake I’ve eaten yet.