Must-see restaurants in The Great Lakes

  • Himal Chuli

    Wisconsin

    Cheerful and cozy Himal Chuli serves up homemade Nepali fare, including momos (dumplings), quati (winter bean soup) and lots of vegetarian dishes. Beer…

  • Kawa Ramen & Sushi

    Milwaukee

    A meal in Milwaukee doesn't always have to revolve around beer and brats. Kawa serves excellent ramen noodle dishes and a wide array of fresh sushi and…

  • Fresh Take Kitchen

    Indiana

    Judging by the crowds, the whole of Southern Indiana heads here to escape all things fried. There's a lovely array of internationally flavored grain bowls…

  • Stone Barn

    Wisconsin

    Browse the antique store or amble through the herb garden while waiting for your wafer-thin-crusted pizza to emerge from the wood-fired oven. All tables…

  • Maggie's

    Wisconsin

    Kitschy, flamingo-themed Maggie's is the place to sample local lake trout and whitefish; there are pizzas and burgers too. Note it doesn't accept…

  • Mysore Woodlands

    Chicago

    This is a South Indian all-veg favorite, where friendly servers deliver well-spiced curries, dosas and iddlies (steamed rice-lentil patties) in the…

  • Baumgartner's

    Wisconsin

    Bite into a fresh limburger-and-raw-onion sandwich at this old Swiss tavern on the town square. Good local beers accompany the food. Be sure to ask about…

  • Golden Jersey Inn

    Ohio

    This is the more formal of the two restaurants at Young's dairy farm, serving dishes like buttermilk chicken and gravy-kissed meatloaf in a high-ceiling,…

  • Schmidt's

    Ohio

    In German Village, shovel in Old Country staples like sausage and schnitzel, but save room for the whopping half-pound cream puffs. Oompah bands play…

  • Cass Cafe

    Detroit

    The Cass is a bohemian art gallery fused with a bar and restaurant that serves soups, sandwiches and veggie beauties, like the lentil-walnut burger…

  • Frita Batidos

    Michigan

    Frita's modern take on Cuban street food is all the rage, offering burgers with tropical, citrusy toppings, roasted pork sandwiches, mojitos and booze…

  • North Peak Brewing Company

    Gold Coast

    Munch pizzas, mussels and pretzel-crusted walleye with the housemade suds. Five-beer flights are available for $7. Not a brew drinker? North Peak also…

  • Lake Superior Brewing Company

    Upper Peninsula

    Whitefish sandwiches and pizzas go down the hatch with housemade brewiskis and root beer at this woodsy pub in Grand Marais. FYI: it's also called the…

  • Fritz and Frites

    Illinois

    This romantic little bistro serves a compact menu of both German and French classics. Dig in to escargot (snails) in garlic-herb butter or maybe a tender…

  • Lucrezia Café

    Indiana

    This is a homey favorite for Italian-American staples – fettuccine alfredo, veal marsala, linguine with scallops – in a cutesy clapboard home in…

  • Phil's Bar & Grille

    Gold Coast

    This humming pub turns out terrific broasted (combining broiling and roasting) chicken, fish tacos, lamb lollipops and gumbo in a cozy, wood-floored room.

  • Redamak's

    Gold Coast

    It's a rightfully lauded, long-standing spot to get a wax paper–wrapped cheeseburger, spicy curly fries and cold beer in New Buffalo. Cash only.

  • Leon's

    Milwaukee

    This 1950s-era, neon-lit drive-in specializes in frozen custard, a local concoction that's like ice cream but smoother and richer. Cash only.

  • Golden Harvest

    Michigan

    Golden Harvest is a loud, punk-rock-meets-hippie diner serving the sausage-and-French-toast Bubba Sandwich and hearty omelets; cash only.

  • Presti's Bakery

    Cleveland

    Try big, sunny Presti's for its popular sandwiches and divine pastries. It's a neighborhood favorite where older Italians meet and gab.

  • Uptowner Cafe on Grand

    Minnesota

    Likable greasy spoon, serving enormous helpings of hash browns at breakfast and a classic list of lunchtime sandwiches.

  • Horn's Bar

    Michigan

    Horn's saloon serves American burgers and south-of-the-border fare, and there's live entertainment nightly.

  • Folgarelli's

    Gold Coast

    After a day of fun in the sun, refresh with sandwiches at gastronome favorite Folgarelli's.

  • Jean Kay's Pasties & Subs

    Upper Peninsula

    Sample the local meat-and-veggie pie specialty or grab a mega sandwich at Jean Kay's.

  • Smoke Daddy

    Chicago

    The Wrigleyville location of long-running local favorite Smoke Daddy treats Cubs baseball fans to slow-cooked porcine delights and an easy-breezy vibe…

  • Dutch & Doc's

    Chicago

    Upmarket American dishes such as glazed short ribs, steaks and fried chicken are a hit at Dutch & Doc's, one of a new crop of restaurants gussying up…

  • West Town Bakery & Tap

    Chicago

    The Wrigleyville location of Chicago's West Town Bakery bucks the familiar bakeshop formula, offering quirky treats like French toast 'cakeballs' as well…

  • Mikey's Late Night Slice

    Ohio

    When hunger strikes in the wee hours, Mikey’s knows what you need: a slice of ‘spicy-ass pepperoni’ (with chili sauce) or maybe the Cheezus (American…

  • Chez Olga

    Michigan

    Olga provides a taste of the islands in her bright, color-splashed eatery. Curried goat with rice, jerk chicken and creole tofu (sautéed with bell peppers…

  • Stella's Lounge

    Michigan

    Stella’s still basks in the glow of its burger being crowned ‘best in America’ by GQ magazine in 2012. The patty earned it: a half pound of juicy goodness…

  • Big Bill's Sandwich Shop

    Illinois

    While one would be forgiven for assuming Big Bill to be a legendary old-timer who used to shoot vodka with Ulysses S Grant, the owner here is actually a…

  • Simple Cafe

    Wisconsin

    Lake Geneva weekenders turn out in droves for brunch at this colorfully appointed daytime-only cafe, where locally sourced ingredients tie together…

  • Sweet Mandy B's

    Chicago

    Have a pillow ready for the inevitable sugar crash after you gorge yourself on the down-home, old-fashioned desserts made at this Lincoln Park bakery-cafe…

  • Foodlife

    Chicago

    It bills itself as an 'urban food hall,’ which translates to a midrange food court with more than a dozen different globally themed kitchens featuring…

  • Twisted Spoke

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Don’t let the motorcycle theme, burly burgers and steel finishing intimidate you: behind the macho facade at this popular brunch spot are artful dishes…

  • New Glarus Hotel Restaurant

    Wisconsin

    Cheesy in every sense of the word, this New Glarus restaurant (not a hotel in spite of the name) plays up the Swiss connection with appetizers and mains…

  • Chicago Curry House

    Chicago

    Though it's standard Indian food in a standard Indian-restaurant ambience, this is a nice option for the South Loop that offers a rare bonus: Nepalese…

  • Kopi Cafe

    Chicago

    Kopi gives off a crunchy Asian trekker-lodge vibe, from the low tables and seating pillows by the front window to the bohemian clientele and flyer-filled…

  • Hmongtown Marketplace

    Minnesota

    The nation's largest enclave of Hmong immigrants lives in the Twin Cities, and this market delivers their favorite Vietnamese, Lao and Thai dishes at its…

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