Let's Meat at the Milwaukee Public Market-Foltz Family Market Take II-01/14/2026

 It was "Mystery Night" at our Public Museum and we decided to meet our son and his family at the Milwaukee Public Market for dinner before the event. The Public Market is a good choice because they offer quite the gambit of food choices. Unlike a restaurant that offers different food choices, these places have the ability to be more focused on their selection.I knew right away that I would go to Foltz for a cheeseburger. I'd been there before and found out how great they were at putting together a decent burger. They feature a meat counter so, that might be part of it.

I went with the "Classic Burger". And why not? Choice of cheddar, pepper jack or provolone and served with arugula and tomato (add frites for $1.50) Since the food was fresh made while I wait, I perused the deli case. Again, amazing selection and all very nicely presented. The burger arrives in a cardboard box. Opening the box adds to the excitement.The pretzel bun stands tall on top the burger. Layers of cheese, tomato and arugula extend outside the reach of the bun. I wish I could cut it open and see the layers stacked. It's a bit more rare than I asked for but I'm not taking it back. I bite in, good stuff. All the layers in one bite without a mess of junk shooting out the back.

Rate it: 4 of 5 (4+). It's a real, hand formed patty. I can't guess the weight but I'd guess at least 1/3 or more of fresh beef, seasoned nicely. The price, pretty great at $12 including Frites. 

Foltz 

 

Copping Some Kopp's-01/14/2026

Is there a day that isn't good for a Kopp's cheeseburger? Even better, a nasty, Wintry, snow covered road kind of day. Kopp's reminds me of Summer days when I was a little boy on the North side of Milwaukee. When the budget allowed, our family could indulge in some custard from Kopp's at Appleton Avenue and Locust. That location close 30 years ago. Today, it's the Greenfield location at South 76th and Layton Avenue, now made famous because Hugh Jackman stopped by to serve custard as part of his visit to Milwaukee promoting "Song Sung Blue". My reason to stop there was unrelated. Nor was there a crowd waiting in line to see me. I was actually on my way back from picking up my younger sister and her husband from Mitchell Airport. It was nearly noon and all of us were thinking it might be nice to stop for a bite somewhere. Like that, Kopp's was across the intersection from us. It was a "sign". We pulled into the snow covered parking lot unsure if we were parked between the lines. 

I ordered my "usual", cheeseburger, plain with onion rings. I love a plain cheeseburger, especially a Kopp's cheeseburger. You get all that buttery flavor of the bun that gets toasted on the griddle. No onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard. I have to say that it took a bit longer than usual. Not like they were very busy at the time. No matter, it arrived in it's white paper wrapping along with a similar paper bag full of onion rings. First bite and every bite after, one of my favorites. Being honest, I know that these are frozen patties ordered in the mass amount. They just taste good.

Rate it: 4of5. Consistent flavor over the years. Still a value at $7.00. Nostalgic to a kid from Milwaukee.

 

Movie and a burger-Movie Tavern Brookfield Square 01/06/2026

 I really only planned to go to see "Song Sung Blue" on the big screen but found myself kicking back and enjoying a tasty burger as well.

The Movie Tavern at Brookfield Square is pretty amazing. The theater is loungers that do everything your lounger at home might do. They also have a tray that comes in handy for snacks to rest on. We took advantage of the $6 Tuesday shows. Seats can be reserved. Your ticket includes a small popcorn. We did everything online. Selected our seats and ordered dinner. Yes, dinner! They offer quite a selection of items. Wraps, Tacos, Pizza, a $3 hot dog, not bad. Oh, burgers too! They have a few to choose from. All sound delicious but, we decided to get the straight forward "Tavern Burger". Double smash burger, American cheese, lettuce, grilled onion, dill pickles, Tavern Sauce. ($16)

We had it delivered to us in the theater just before the movie started. I didn't get a picture because I would have had to use a flash.

The burger arrived all wrapped up. I didn't know what to expect. It was substantial. Not what I expected. The burger was nicely seasoned. All the add-ons, fresh. They were kind enough to cut it in two for us to share. First bite, all the flavors came together wonderfully. I only wish I could have seen it better. 

Rate it: 4of5 (maybe 4+) Not a bad price considering the situation. Served at your seat at the exact time requested. Delicious. Maybe I liked it more because it was a surprise or because I couldn't really see what it looked like? No matter, worth it.

 

Shiver Me Timbers? Timber Club-10/23/2025

The Timber Club is a relatively new restaurant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The building is new too, built to look like it has been there since the start. The Timber Club is part of the Stagecoach Inn Bed & Breakfast. As you walk through the outdoor space towards the building you feel like you have been transported back to simpler, slower time in history. Once inside, I had to stop and look around at all the work and craftsmanship that was put into the construction. The place was packed. The staff, very welcoming. The owner Bill Conley roams the floor chatting with visitors.

The menu reads similar to a Supper Club, it includes tems like Beef Stroganoff, Pork Schnitzel and Steak Diane. How about burgers? They offer 4 variations. I'm a simple guy, cheeseburger works for me. Two all beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and a toasted soft roll. Sounds darn good to me. Well, it was. I might call them on how well done the meat was but it wouldn't be worth it because the patties were still moist and delicious. Just enough seasoning and a wonderful roll to tie it all together. Nothing conflicted with the other. Harmonious.

Rate it: 4of5 I might go as far as 4+ because the value. Between the atmosphere, staff and food, this place is a worth while stop for food and live music. It's a nice addition to the foodscape in Cedarburg.

 Timber Club

 

Made It To Wayne's Drive-In!!! 10/02/2025

 The Summer season goes so fast here in Wisconsin. One of my favorite places to go for a burger is Wayne's in Cedarburg, WI. Throughout the Summer they host a Classic Car Night every Thursday. The last official cruise night was last Thursday, September 25th. I missed the cruise season. Wayne's will close for the season in early November. I didn't want to miss a chance to have one of their burgers so I decided that I would take my "classic" 1997 Toyota Celica GT convertible out tonight. To my surprise, there were several true classics parked in their lot. ('57 Ford Fairlane, '63 Ford Galaxie, '72 Javelin) It was after 7PM, Wayne's closes for the night at 8PM. The place was hoping. Almost all the seats inside were full. People sat outside at the tables below the neon glow of the WAYNE'S sign (see picture). 

I ordered a single cheeseburger, cheddar cheese, onion (raw), tomato, lettuce and a pickle. My side was their Crinkle Fries. It was all tasty. The burger didn't have as much flavor as I remember from other visits. I just enjoy the scene. The staff is always helpful and friendly. Prices are still within reason.

Rate It: Not this time. I was just getting my Wayne's fix.

 

Living the High Life in IOWA? el Bait Shop 09/13/2025

It was time to hit the road again. We were on a three day journey to Colorado. The first stop was Des Moines IA. Someone suggested that we try el Bait Shop for a delicious burger. Personally, I think it's a bit over the top, in the most loving way.  The menu, whoa! The burger is only part of the whole menu. They have Pot Roast, Liver and Onions and more. It's vast. 

Nestled in the downtown of Des Moines, IA is a friendly pub that would most likely be a destination for any beer lover. From the outside el Bait has a vibe of a crusty old warehouse converted to a grab some food and a beverage. There's an open bar off the parking lot. A patio and of course the main building. When you first enter the first thing you will notice is all the tappers. I can't even count how many taps they have for beers both local and national. Next, almost every surface has something stuck on it. Stickers from all kinds of breweries, ads from the decades for beer, toys etc. A huge mural that looks like an Ed Roth (Rat Fink) plus a wall with "Where the Wild Things Are"! The staff is on constant move checking in and following up. We had Kayla. She helped us navigate the beer list to create the perfect flight. 

How about the burger? I chose the Highlife Burger-Double. My wife had the single. The burger came out relatively quick. I pinched off a chunk. Not Bad. Plenty of flavor. I cut it in half. No pink? It was still juicy. They were frozen patties brought back to life. First bite, all the flavors. Cheese, onion, pickle, tomato,. The bun was nostalgic, similar to a George Webb burger. Not a wow but tasty. Comfortable. I probably could have done the single. The fries and tots were tasty.

Rate It: 3.5 of 5. Service, price, atmosphere and the choices of food and beers were amazing. The food was very good. Staff, worked hard.

el Bait Shop 

 

Being Crafty Again. Crafty Cow-Tosa 09/07/2025

Let's say you are celebrating your birthday like my sister-in-law. What better place to go than the Crafty Cow, Tosa. It was her suggestion, but you know I really enjoy a good burger. So, twist my arm! I'm not sure how many times I've had a burger at one of the Crafty Cow restaurants, 5? maybe more.

I went with the Classic Cow. 1/3 lb Crafty Beef Patty, American, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Special Sauce. I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of "special sauce" in the description but that's how it's built. The Cow always does a decent burger. This wasn't one of their best but it was still a good one.

Rate It: 4 of 5 Crafty Cow is a consistent burger. The price is starting to out pace the sandwich. Service is always good. 

 

 

Season Tradition & Favorite: Nite Owl Drive In 09/27/2025

 In Wisconsin we have quite a few "seasonal" things. Outdoor (Drive-In) theaters, Outdoor Farmer's Markets, Dining El Fresco, Beer Gardens and Burger Stands. The Nite Owl falls into the last. I'm never sure when Nite Owl might open or close for the season. I'm sure it's similar each season. I guess I like to be surprised. The season passes faster than I like. I've got a couple of other burger stops that are similar. Wayne's in Cedarburg has a similar season. Nite Owl is just a bit more quirky. Not only do they have a short season, their hours are challenging. On top of short hours, you can never know if they "sold out" for the day. They grind all the meat fresh daily. When they run out, they shut down. Some days that can be just a couple of hours.

This post is mostly about the "joy" of Nite Owl. I think they make a great burger especially for $8. There is a certain value to standing in the parking lot waiting for your order. The crowd is usually pretty friendly. Yes, they too are waiting for their order which on certain days can take a while. It's "cash only" so don't try your fancy charge card, paypal, apple pay or whatever you like to use at other places.

This time I got a cheeseburger with onions and a pickle. No ketchup or mustard. Simple. It's a hefty patty placed on a decent roll. I'm not going to say it was packed with flavor but it was a good mix between the cheese, onion, meat and bun. Cooked nearly perfect for my tastes. The fries were a bit soggy.

Rate It: 4 out of 5 Still a great burger. Always cool to get the old school vibe. You pay when you get your order. Is that because they might run out before they get to yours? I'll be back next year. Hopefully more than once.

 

Harboring A Fugitive Burger? Bartolotta Take Out at Harbor House 08/13/2025

 

It was another beautiful night in Milwaukee. We headed to the "Live At The Lake" concert down at Discovery World. The plan was to meet up with my son and his family to check out the show and grab some food from the food trucks. The venue's website said there would be food trucks. When we arrived we noticed a lack of previously mentioned food trucks. There were none and none were expected to turn up at any time. We had to figure out what to do for dinner. GrubHub or some other delivery service? We sort of joked about take out from the Harbor House Restaurant that was across the street from the venue. Food at Bartolotta's is not really "casual" nor are the prices, generally speaking. We decided to check it out. Yes, they do have take out. We ordered the Harbor House Burger to share. It's topped with Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Sciortino’s Bun and includes French Fries. All that for $15? I guess so. 

The burger was so good that we didn't even need any condiments. Lettuce and a big fresh tomato did the job. Perfect seasoning and cook to perfection. This was a great burger and a wonderful surprise. The fries were enough to feed three of us. Very satisfying. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

I have to admit that Bartolotta's has been one of my favorite burgers over the years. They used to have a place in downtown Milwaukee called the Rumpus Room. Best burgers. The Rumpus Room has been closed since Covid. The staff was super helpful and the price was pretty amazing too!

Harbor House Restaurant 

 

And the Oscar Goes to... Oscar's on Pierce 08/22/2025

 It was a Friday night. I had an art show opening at the ArtBar on Milwaukee's East side. My buddy and fellow artist Rob needed to hitch a ride. Keeping with tradition, we headed out for a burger before the opening. We've done this for Gallery Night on other occasions. Most often, Wicked Hop. Not this time. We headed to Oscar's on Pierce street. Not Oscar's Winner's Circle on Burnham Street. Rob had never been there so I was excited to share the other location. Tucked away off the main streets, you would never know its there but it seems like everybody does know. The place was hopping with Brewer fans waiting to jump on the shuttle to the ballpark.

Rob got the "Big Foot" I went for  "Big Gringo". The Gringo is topped with Wisconsin white cheddar & American cheese, thick hickory smoked bacon. I asked for "medium" and that's how it came. Just a little pink, almost perfect. From the moment it arrived I was ready for something great. The bun, fresh and buttered just a bit. I cut it in half for easier consumption (and photos). The layers of toppings were in balance. Juicy without being messy. My first bite had all the flavors mixing. Excellent. Priced at $9.75 I'm sort of surprised the fries are included. I'm not a fan of having to pay an extra chunk of change for fries. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

That's right. Great burger. Excellent price. Oscar's never fails to create a great burger experience. They might be my favorite in the city.

Oscar's on Pierce

 

 

Leff's Again?? Yep, Burgers With Brothers! 03/24/2025

 It's that time again, Burgers With Brothers! It was the younger sibling's choice this time. He had recently dined at Leff,s and recalled they have a dang good burger. He wanted to put it to the test. Bring the brothers. Not that either of us is such an expert or critical thinker when it comes to burgers. We do enjoy them. I've been to Leff's plenty times. I don't always blog about the burger I had. You know I have a hard time not ordering a burger especially when they are a decent value.

Let's get down to it. Right? It was $8 Build Your Own Burger night. They offer quite a few toppings as part of the $8 deal. (see the pic of the list) I opted to have a double bacon cheeseburger because a guy near us had one and it looked awesome. So, that's the $8 BYOB with an additional patty for $4. I'm still ahead of the game financially. Their patties are 6oz each. I kept it simple, nothing but bacon and cheese. I'd add some spicy brown mustard and a drip of ketchup later after I taste the pure version. Yum! Tons of flavor without anything else on it. That's what I'm talkin' about. The condiments only enhanced it.

Rate It: 4.5 of 5 Flavor was there. Price was right. Overall a great burger.

Leff's

 

Pheonix, AZ-The Collins: A Fine Burger

 We were back in Arizona for some sunshine and warm temps. It was also our friend Beth's birthday. We decided to go out for dinner, someplace nice. I'm not sure why I always end up getting a burger when I'm at a place like The Collins in Pheonix, AZ. Their menu had quite a few wonderful offerings. No matter, I chose the Bistro Burger. (havarti . vine tomatoes . red onion . dressed arugula . dijon . mayo . noble brioche) It seemed to have more "basic" ingredients than the King's Burger. Cooked nearly perfect for my liking. I took a pinch of the patty alone to get the facts. What does it taste like without all the condiments etc. Pretty decent. A lot of smoke. The noble brioche? I wasn't sure what that is. A little research and I found that they are using a local bakery, Noble Bread based in Pheonix. Nice touch. 

By the way, Alice Cooper was in the booth right next to us.

Rate It: 4 of 5. I thought is was decent. Everything seemed fresh. I just wasn't feeling amazed. Maybe I was set up for something other world based on how good it looked?

The Collins

The Diplomat on Brady Street (Burgers w/Brothers!) 11.20.2024

 It was the third installation of the Burgers w/Brothers 2024. The eldest made the choice to go a bit more upscale for his burger. Not that we've been hanging out at dives or dumps. We've enjoyed quite the range of locations and varieties of burgers. His choice, The Diplomat. Located just East of Van Buren on Brady street. Cool vibe as soon as you walk in. There is a front space/bar area that's pretty chill. Around the corner is the dining room area. Well done. Warm, almost cozy space with plenty of art and little vignettes with interesting items. Our server was Roxanne. The menu is very simple, not many items. The idea is shared plates. I'm just not a fan of the term "small plates". Shared I can handle. Anyway, there is only one burger to choose from so that's what we all had. "The Diplomac". Prime beef burger, tomato, lettuce, American cheese, "1000 Island Dressing", pickle and red onion. (their description) $17 without a side.

How about that burger? Dang, it was good! I don't know if it was because I was surprised by how tidy it looked or the choice of roll/bun. No matter, it all worked together perfectly. The "1000 Island Dressing" is nothing like the Kraft foods version. All the condiments were freshly created on site. It made a difference for sure. The sandwich held together bite after bite. Nothing sliding out the back or slopping on to my plate or lap. I took a snitch off the side, just meat. Not crazy seasoned. Could have had a bit more flavor but maybe the rest of it makes up for that. We shared a plate of the Diplomat Fries. These aren't your average fries. Blanched and then fried 3 times. Light and crisp.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

Overall great taste. Fresh ingredients made for a great mix of flavors. If I'm paying $17 a burger it should be like this.

https://www.thediplomatmke.com/

Annual Trip to the Nite Owl 08/09/2024

 It might be a new tradition, at least one trip to the Nite Owl with my son's family. The Nite Owl has a limited window to get there and grab some food. The season seems short. Their hours, even shorter. The amount of food sold per hour determines how long they will be open on any given day. The meat is ground fresh on site and when it's gone, they close. They are closed on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday through Saturday, 11AM-3PM. I've heard of them closing by 1:30PM because they "sold out". The whole thing is just a total experience. Expect a long wait, it's not fast food. Arrive early, they might run out of meat. Bring cash.

How about the burger? I went with the plain cheese burger. No nothing on it. Actually, raw onions. On this day the wait wasn't too bad. Just enough time to catch up with my son and grandson. It's Theo's third time with grandpa. I'm pretty sure he and his dad stop there at least one time without me. We quick drove back to their house to enjoy our food on the sunny deck. My burger was just right. Juicy, decent size and loved having it plain. Very good. I will say that I was getting more of the "meatloaf" taste. Quickly, the meatloaf taste is when the burger has the same flavor as meatloaf. I'm not saying that's bad. I'm also not sure how they make their burgers. Do they add stuff to the beef? It was tasty no matter.

Rate it: 4+ out of 5

Prices are increasing each season but, that's business. ($3.90 in 2012) Overall, they still serve a decent if not great burger for a decent price. It's fresh food. The staff is always friendly. It's interesting that they still have you pay when the order is ready. Is that in case they run out of meat, they don't have to refund the money?

Al's Diner-Green Bay WI 07/12/2024

 We were in Green Bay Wisconsin for a opening night reception for the Art of the Automobile at the Art Garage, 1429 on Main Street, Green Bay. I have a couple of pieces in the show. We planned to grab dinner on our way back to Milwaukee. Since it was "my" night, my wife decided to look up burgers near the venue. The usual stuff showed up, Culver's, Burger King, McDonald's etc. On the same list was Al's Diner. Once I heard the description, I had to go there. First opened in 1934, Al's has been serving up some classic grub for nearly 90 years! A small white building snuggled between a couple of older three story buildings. Interesting. The main dining room is classic malt shop vibe. Booths and a counter with little stools covered in a shiny red vinyl. 

We ordered the Deluxe burger as a half pounder. That's two 1/4 lb patties. Add some fries and a strawberry shake, good to go. It didn't take long before the food arrived. It looked like a decent burger. Our waitress was nice enough to have the cook cut the burger for us to share. They also split the fries. Nice.

How about the burger. It was good. I'm not saying like, shout from the rooftop but, tasty. I feel like it was me but the burger had a bit of a "sausage" flavor to it. Maybe something on the grill top. No matter, all was fine. The burger was a bit messy as a 1/2 pounder. I think one patty at 1/2 pound with the same toppings would be the way I might do it next time. The fries were excellent as was the shake. Gotta love the mix of flavors. Sweet and savory.

Rate it: 4 out of 5. Great scene and service. Fries and shake, top notch. The burger was darn good. Price was fairly good. I'm getting used to paying $14 for a regular burger. 

Al's Hamburger

Swinging For The Fence! Swinging Door Milwaukee 07/05/2024

It was my birthday. What better way to celebrate but to chow down a burger. Where to go? I've got some favorites I might default to but why not try something different? My wife suggested we check the interweb for ideas. She mentions that the Swinging Door has one of the top rated burgers. I've heard this before. It seems that every week a new list of best burgers in Milwaukee is released. Well, the Swinging Door seems to be a repeat offender on these lists. It was definitely off my radar. My recall of the Swinging Door takes me back to when I was in my late teens and working nights in downtown Milwaukee. Just two blocks from my job, it was a place you could take your "lunch" break at. (aka, liquid lunch) If I did eat there, it was probably appetizers.

The Swinging Door hasn't changed much since those days. (see photo) It's a small venue tucked away in the lower level of The Grain Exchange building. From the outside, you would think much of it. Even once you are inside it might still not impress you that this it's a great place for dinner. Definitely a great bar to hang out at.

Enough about all the nostalgic stuff... let's talk burgers! The bar was set pretty high with all the online chatter about how good it was. I'm going to say, it wasn't wrong. I ordered the 1/2 lb with bacon, cheddar, raw onions and no condiment of any kind. The burger includes fries or chips. I went with fries. The burger was cooked nearly perfect. The overall flavor gave me a bit of a meatloaf vibe but worked. Juicy, seasoned nicely and fresh raw onion made it delicious. The fries were so flavorful, I found it hard to use ketchup. The bacon add on was $2.50, a bit pricey since the plain burger starts at $12.50. Don't get me wrong, it's all good.

Rate it: 4 out of 5. It's more like a 4.25 but not quite a 4.5. The whole package including the throwback scene really made it a great experience. I'd suggest a person might go there for a burger. 

Return to 5th Ward Camino 04/19/2024

 I've been to Camino a few times now. Both locations keep on satisfying my burger needs. This time I was back in Milwaukee's 5th Ward for Gallery Night. I was showing several pieces of my art at the Eagleknit Building on South 2nd Street. It was going to be a long night if didn't have some kind of nourishment. A quick search for nearby food turned up Camino. It was literally across the street from the venue.

Camino on South 2nd street is quite a bit smaller than it's West Allis location. Limited seating makes it cozy. The grill is embedded in the bar space. A couple of guys are cooking food directly behind the bartender as she moves back and forth along the bar. If the weather cooperates, you can sit outside in the cool outdoor area snugged in along the one side and behind the building.

I had the Burger. Pretty straight forward. Ordered it medium. Perfect. I cut it in half. The first side I ate without the pickle. Great flavor. The onions really added to the overall taste. The second half I added the pickle. Next level stuff. Where's all this flavor coming from? I got to see the process. The bun rests along side the burgers as they cook. What can I say about the fries. Super skinny and crunchy. Flavor so good I skipped the ketchup!

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

Yummy. Priced right. The fries really made it all come together. Love the vibe inside this place.

 

The Scene at the Public Greens, Broad Ripple IN 03/15/2024

 Broad Ripple is a wonderful little space along the Broad river in Indiana. Funky businesses, a great bike/run/walk path runs through the middle and walking distance from the Vogue theater where we would see the Dandy Warhols play later in the evening. 

From our room we could see all the roof tops of the businesses along the pathway. The one restaurant had a plume of smoke rising from the kitchen. Our host explained that we were looking at the Public Greens restaurant. Without knowing about my burger thing, he mentioned that they do a very good burger. This just made it difficult on any other potential place to dine. There are plenty. We actually stopped at a BBQ joint on our way out. Centerpoint brewery occupies the back room. We stopped for a flight of beer. Good stuff. 

Public Greens is one of those places where it seems like you do all the work. You fill out what you want to order. They give you a number and you find a place to sit. The person at the podium talked me into having one of their Old Fashions. I trusted her. I probably should have trusted my gut and skipped the drink. No matter, it was fine, just not made how I expected. The burger looked like it was a winner. Grilled Wagyu beef burger, house American, lettuce, onion, pickle, smoked onion aioli. 

The burger had decent seasoning and was cooked relatively close to medium. The toppings were fresh and the aioli was on point. I would guess the bun was a Brioche roll.

Rate it"4+ of 5. Not enough to get the .5 more. Overall, a decent burger but not one of those "you have to try it sometime!" kind of burgers. The brisket sandwich and wrap sounded pretty good. My wife had the Crispy Chicken. Not bad.

Public Greens, Broad Ripple IN

Drifted In to the Driftless Glen Distillery-Baraboo WI 03/09/2024

 It's that time of year to head up to the Wisconsin Dells for the Oldsmobile Club of Wisconsin's annual "Holiday Banquet/Auction". Food, fun and friends! On our way up, we met up with another couple for lunch at the Driftless Glen Distillery in Baraboo Wisconsin. Quite the beautiful setting. Right on the river. Nice outdoor deck and a well designed building. Being a distillery you know they know how to mix a great drink but what about the food? They've got a decent variety of choices. I of course went straight for the burger selection.

The Driftless Burger. I did it pretty much the basic version. No extra stuff. My side was Roasted Red Potatoes. While I waited for the food, I enjoyed a Bourbon Manhattan. Delicious. The food arrived fairly quick. First impression, I'm in for something good! A pinch off the side to see how the burger stands on its own. Decent seasoning. Slice it, just a bit of pink in the middle. Could have had more but the flavor was right. Juicy, fresh veggies and just enough condiments. The roasted potatoes were a great choice to go with this burger.

I'll try not to share sticker shock because this is a re-occurring event for me. The service was great. The food as great. At least it was a decent burger.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5 The extra .5 is just to make sure it ranks above "good".

Public Market: Foltz Family Market

 I was downtown for a program at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) and decided to grab some food at the Milwaukee Public Market. I saw something about a place that was supposed to have a decent burger. The online information said that they were only doing online and phone orders. Thankfully, they were very present and taking orders at the Foltz Family Market. Mostly a butcher shop but also a restaurant and bar! (I'll mention that later)

I wasn't sure what to expect. They seem to be good at pizza too. Not always a partnership with a good burger. I ordered the "Classic Burger" with cheddar. No fries. I paid for the burger and slid over to the bar to wait. Before the burger arrived, I had ordered a Jack n Coke. My favorite combo. The cocktail was fairly inexpensive for a "call" mixer. How about the burger, right? Well, I looked at it and thought, pretzel bun. Did I miss that in the description. I'm not a big fan of the pretzel bun. That's how they serve it, that's how I'm eating it. First bite. Wow! Flavor(s) just bursting out. The surprise flavor, arugula. Combined with the tomato and creamy cheddar cheese, it works well. The pretzel roll actually made it happen. Stiff yet soft inside with a heavier texture. Yum.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

This is ranking in one of my favorite burgers of 2023 if not all time. The flavors were on point. The fresh from the butcher beef, juicy and flavorful. Priced right.

https://foltzfamilymarket.com/about/