Jeffrey Merlot

Recent Articles

Dining: Victor’s Is Great for Prime Rib?
Dining

Victor’s Is Great for Prime Rib?

“Victims,” it turns out, is a fine place to dine.

Dining: Meraki, the Wildest Menu in Town?
Dining

Meraki, the Wildest Menu in Town?

The Walker’s Point restaurant is worth visiting just to read the menu. The food is pretty good, too.

Dining: Rumpus Room Is a Consistent Surprise
Dining

Rumpus Room Is a Consistent Surprise

Its theatrical setting and eclectic menu might leave you wondering, but the food is great.

Dining: Devon Delivers Great Seafood
Dining

Devon Delivers Great Seafood

It was $54 for king crab legs, and worth every penny.

Dining: Movida Brings Spanish Flair to Milwaukee
Dining

Movida Brings Spanish Flair to Milwaukee

The Walker’s Point restaurant offers authentic Spanish cuisine, including the famed Iberian ham.

Dining: Stone Bowl Offers Cozy Korean Culture
Dining

Stone Bowl Offers Cozy Korean Culture

The Farwell Ave. restaurant has good food and warm ambiance with some Western touches.

Dining: Alem Offers Exotic Ethiopian Fare
Dining

Alem Offers Exotic Ethiopian Fare

Downtown Ethiopian restaurant offers extensive menu of spicy offerings.

Dining: Pastiche Is a Little French Gem
Dining

Pastiche Is a Little French Gem

The tiny restaurant on KK has succulent food and wonderful wine selections.

Dining: Prodigal Gastropub Offers French Classics
Dining

Prodigal Gastropub Offers French Classics

The Walker's Point bistro offers an ever-changing menu and a warm atmosphere.

Dining: Fortune Restaurant’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine
Dining

Fortune Restaurant’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine

Ask for the “other” menu. It’s the most authentic Chinese place in town.

Dining: Mulligans is Worth the Drive
Dining

Mulligans is Worth the Drive

Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill, on far south side, has some authentic Irish food.

Dining: Bravo, Blue Jacket!
Dining

Bravo, Blue Jacket!

A new star of the dining scene offers equally inventive food and cocktails

Dining: Gouda’s Charming Deli, Good Food
Dining

Gouda’s Charming Deli, Good Food

Great Italian atmosphere and good prices for lunch. Mangia!

Dining: Phan’s Garden Is a Vietnamese Favorite
Dining

Phan’s Garden Is a Vietnamese Favorite

Small, exotic and inexpensive, Phan’s has good food and friendly service.

Dining: Le Rêve, a Classic French Bistro
Dining

Le Rêve, a Classic French Bistro

It was wonderfully romantic for Valentine’s Day, but a fine choice any time of year.

Dining: Brr! Dishcrawl Was Freezing But Delicious
Dining

Brr! Dishcrawl Was Freezing But Delicious

Milwaukee's second annual event toured four Third Ward restaurants in near-zero weather.

Dining: Jake’s Deli is Deliciously Old School
Dining

Jake’s Deli is Deliciously Old School

Great corned beef and pastrami in a no-frills setting. But after 3 p.m. you’d better take a number.

Dining: Riverwest Filling Station Needs Improvement
Dining

Riverwest Filling Station Needs Improvement

Great decor and good service but the food is uneven.

Dining with Mr. M: Pizza Man is back!
Dining with Mr. M

Pizza Man is back!

After giving Pizza Man some time to settle in, Mr. M drops by to discover it's just like the good old days, and brings an Italian recipe of his own along for the ride.

Mission to Mars II: Back to the Cheese Castle
Mission to Mars II

Back to the Cheese Castle

Kenosha's roadside attraction gets culinary attention from TCD's Mr. & Mrs. M.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Rio West Cantina
Mr. and Mrs. M

Rio West Cantina

The Rio West Cantina has an inviting atmosphere, friendly service and reasonable prices, but overall, it's your typical U.S. version of Mexican food.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Milwaukee’s “Little Italy”
Mr. and Mrs. M

Milwaukee’s “Little Italy”

Mr. and Mrs. M discover more about Milwaukee's under-the-radar "Little Italy" in and around East Brady Street.

Mr. and Mrs. M: The Art of Cooking for Two
Mr. and Mrs. M

The Art of Cooking for Two

The number of two-person households are on the rise, and preparing a home-cooked meal for two can seem daunting. Mr. and Mrs. M are here to help.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Afternoon Tea at George Watts & Son
Mr. and Mrs. M

Afternoon Tea at George Watts & Son

A charming bit of merry Ol' England in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Watts Tea Shop is a secret worth sharing.

Himal Chuli: A Madison Landmark
Himal Chuli

A Madison Landmark

Mr. and Mrs. M visit the landmark Himalayan dining oasis Himal Chuli, located on State Street in Madison. Plus: Mr. M's recipe for classic dal soup.

Butch’s Old Casino Steakhouse: A Steak Odyssey (and oddity!)
Butch’s Old Casino Steakhouse

A Steak Odyssey (and oddity!)

Mr. and Mrs. M. take a trip to enjoy the "old-school charm and style" of Butch's Old Casino Steakhouse on the corner of Michigan and James Lovell Street.

Il Ritrovo: Southeast Wisconsin’s own piece of Naples
Il Ritrovo

Southeast Wisconsin’s own piece of Naples

Mr. and Mrs. M visit Il Ritrovo, one of only three restaurants in Wisconsin that meets the requirements of the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association in Naples.

Mr. and Mrs. M: TCD’s first class Christmas soirée
Mr. and Mrs. M

TCD’s first class Christmas soirée

TCD celebrates the holiday in style with help from the Milwaukee's InterContinental hotel catering.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Avant-garde Allium
Mr. and Mrs. M

Avant-garde Allium

Mr. and Mrs. M find friendly service, artful presentation and delicious appetizers at Allium, but for the main course, there are better choices in town.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: An ode to stinky cheese
Mr. & Mrs. M.

An ode to stinky cheese

TCD's elusive diners pay homage to their favorite fromage varieties, with wine pairing suggestions from special guest Skip Forrest.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Milwaukee’s best Bloody Mary
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Milwaukee’s best Bloody Mary

We don't usually proclaim "best of" categories, but for the Blood Marys at the unassuming Eatery on Farwell, we're happy to make an exception.

Mr. & Mrs. M: Chili, Rockabilly style
Mr. & Mrs. M

Chili, Rockabilly style

In preparation for WMSE's annual contest, Mr.& Mrs. M. sample a few of the competitor's recipes. From Texas red to "buffalo," there's something for every palate.

Mr. & Mrs. M. get BOMBED!

Mr. & Mrs. M. get BOMBED!

TCD's elusive dining critics put AJ Bombers now-famous Milwaukee Burger to the test--and offer a burger recipe of their own.

Mr.& Mrs. M.: Holidays at County Clare
Mr.& Mrs. M.

Holidays at County Clare

This East Side gem offers authentic Irish comfort food, world-class hospitality and the freshest pints of Guinness you'll find on this side of the pond.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Hold on to those holiday leftovers
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Hold on to those holiday leftovers

Don’t throw that out! Holiday leftovers can be transformed into spicy gumbo, potato pancakes and homemade croutons. Mr. & Mrs. M. offer their favorite recipes.

The chili cook-off: an American tradition
The chili cook-off

an American tradition

Just as Harley-Davidson is about as American as you can get, chili is probably the most American dish there is. This weekend, get a double dose of both.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Soups On!
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Soups On!

TCD's illusive dining critics find a unique atmosphere and comforting seasonal soups at this tucked-away Third Ward cafe.

Mr. And Mrs. M.: Beans & Barley
Mr. And Mrs. M.

Beans & Barley

Don't let the sinkhole deter you -- this venerable North Avenue hotspot offers a fresh yet affordable menu and a grocery store to boot.

Mr. & Mrs. M: Salud!
Mr. & Mrs. M

Salud!

In a heatwave like this, sometimes nothing hits the spot better than a nice tart or fruity cocktail. Mr. M offers his favorite recipes.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Ananda Mela
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Ananda Mela

A trip to the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin's "happiness fair" brings the spicy, complex flavors of Indian food and culture to our own backyard.

Mr. and Mrs. M: HoneyPie Café
Mr. and Mrs. M

HoneyPie Café

The menu echoes the kitschy hodgepodge that surrounds the diners inside, making for a very nice and unexpected diversion.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Polonez Restaurant
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Polonez Restaurant

This Polish eatery offers up a slice of Eastern European fare and culture.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Benji’s Deli
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Benji’s Deli

Anyone and everyone can appreciate this Milwaukee-area jewel -- this place is all about the food.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Comfort food
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Comfort food

Southern transplants to Milwaukee: You need Maxie’s Southern Comfort!

Mr. & Mrs. M.: a little bit of Paris in Old Milwakee
Mr. & Mrs. M.

a little bit of Paris in Old Milwakee

Chez Jacques offers old-world charm at a nice price, and is definitely worth the wait

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Glorioso’s — a Milwaukee gem
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Glorioso’s — a Milwaukee gem

Mr. & Mrs. M. give us an update on the Italian grocer's prospective move to a new location.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Mona’s Turkish Shawerma House
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Mona’s Turkish Shawerma House

Mr. & Mrs. M. prepare for a trip overseas with a visit to this East Side gem.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Crisp Pizzabar and Lounge
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Crisp Pizzabar and Lounge

Crispy truffle dough, lamb sausage and Jack Daniel's braised ribs--Brady Street's newest restaurant is more than meets the eye.

Mr. & Mrs. M.: Fajitas Grill
Mr. & Mrs. M.

Fajitas Grill

Fajitas Grill – a polished Latin dining experience and welcome addition to Milwaukee's East Side.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Metro Market – 5 years later
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Metro Market – 5 years later

Looking for delicacies like spätzle and chicory at the Metro Market? You might have to go elsewhere. Mr. M. takes a closer look.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Carini’s LaConca d’Oro – What other Italian restaurants try to be
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Carini’s LaConca d’Oro – What other Italian restaurants try to be

Delicious Italian favorites and a warm, cozy atmosphere keep guests coming back for more.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: The Roots of sustainable agriculture
Mr. and Mrs. M.

The Roots of sustainable agriculture

Emphasizing sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, owner/chef John Raymond offers a variety of creative, culinary fusion selections.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Milwaukee ChopHouse — Darned good
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Milwaukee ChopHouse — Darned good

Posh steakhouse rivals competitors with attentive service and quality menu offerings.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Top 10 Dining Peeves
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Top 10 Dining Peeves

Learn what drives these finicky critics crazy when dining out.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Abu’s – New and Improved!
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Abu’s – New and Improved!

New facelift breathes new life and quality service into East Side landmark that specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Taste temptations at the Kohler Wine & Food Experience
Mr. and Mrs. M

Taste temptations at the Kohler Wine & Food Experience

Annual tasting event offered celeb sightings along with a few food and drink surprises.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Mission to Mars — A visit to the Cheese Castle
Mr. and Mrs. M

Mission to Mars — A visit to the Cheese Castle

It’s a place for a novel lunch, particularly as an alternative to the ubiquitous fast-food franchises that line the freeway.

Mr. and Mrs. M: A nod to Seoul Korean Restaurant
Mr. and Mrs. M

A nod to Seoul Korean Restaurant

Cozy spaces, traditional favorites and fast services are just a few of the reasons to visit the city's sole Korean eatery.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Memories of Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro
Mr. and Mrs. M

Memories of Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro

Good name, better food, but Mr. and Mrs. M have reservations about the long waits (with a reservation) and paper tablecloth covers.

Mr. and Mrs. M: Dinner, Diner, Let’s Grab Lunch
Mr. and Mrs. M

Dinner, Diner, Let’s Grab Lunch

Regulars and newcomers get a fair share of chaos and home-cooked faves at this downtown eatery.

Mr. & Mrs. M: Auf-dinner-sehen at Karl Ratzsch’s
Mr. & Mrs. M

Auf-dinner-sehen at Karl Ratzsch’s

Stalwartly guarding the Old World German cuisine experience, Karl Ratzch's is a must-visit for the uninitiated.

Mr. and Mrs. M.: Lunch, the Philly Way
Mr. and Mrs. M.

Lunch, the Philly Way

Milwaukee's most authentic Philly Cheese Steaks, and a recipe for the Parisian version.

New Column: Mr. and Mrs. M.
New Column

Mr. and Mrs. M.

Savvy diners Mr. and Mrs. M. step out on the town and report their findings from the field. This week: Milwaukee favorites. What would you miss eating if you had to leave the city for good?