October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!

Wauwatosa's dining scene has evolved dramatically over the recent years. Mayfair mall's expansion has brought with it the Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's and Maggiano's, the Village has welcomed Firefly Urban Bar & Grill and west North Avenue has Il Mito, Alterra Café, a City Market and more.

Here is an updated account of what this western suburb brings to the dining table. While this list doesn't cover every last eatery, it includes the newcomers as well as several perennial favorites.

Alioto's
3041 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 476-6900
This family-owned American / Italian restaurant has been in its Wauwatosa location for 50 years. The Friday night fish fry is popular, but the entrée selections give it the feel of a chophouse.

Alterra Cafe
9125 W. North Ave., (414) 259-9383
alterracoffeepro.com
If you're an Alterra fan, the menu here is familiar, with the usual assortment of coffee, tea and juices, alongside bakery items, salads and sandwiches and wraps.

Balistreri's Italian Restaurant
812 N. 68th St., (414) 475-1414
balistreris.com
Balistreri's is a local legend and its 'Tosa location is family-friendly with great, thin-crust pizza, cheese bread or spaghetti and meatballs.

Bigg's Road House
1900 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 256-9000
biggsroadhouse.com
Bigg's offers your typical road house fare: big black Angus burgers, steaks, fries and BBQ ribs that fall off the bone. Of course, the full bar helps you wash it all down with a nice selection of suds.

Chancery
7615 W. State St., (414) 453-2300
thechancery.com
This Milwaukee chain is known as a "family pub," dishing up mainly American style entrees that please the kiddies as well as their parents.

Cheesecake Factory
2350 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 257-2300
thecheesecakefactory.com
It's no secret that Milwaukeeans' like a "healthy" serving size and The Cheesecake Factory has some of the heartiest. Portions last diners at least two meals and the sheer size of the menu requires a spiral bound book giving diners option after option of salads, pastas, pizzas, steaks and seafood.

Chinese Pagoda
7200 W. North Ave., (414) 774-8400
The Chinese Pagoda and 'Tosa go way back. It's a small, quaint restaurant with reasonable prices and although some dishes cater to American tastes there is plenty for those who love Chinese and Chinese-American food.

City Market
8725 W. North Ave., (414) 453-0000
thecitymarketcafe.com
The café strikes a pleasant balance between warm and cozy and modern and fresh. Here you'll find your share of coffee drinks to accompany bakery items, build-your-own sandwiches, soups and salads.

Colonel Hart's
7342 W. State St., (414) 476-3070
In Wauwatosa, this bar and grill is known as the "home of the $4.95 lunch." Treat yourself to a wide selection bar food -- appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers and Friday fish fry -- while catching the game on one of 10 plasma screen TVs.

Eddie Martini's
8612 Watertown Plank Rd., (414) 771-6680
eddiemartinis.com
This is where fine dining meets old-school supper club. The breadth of experience and expertise at Eddie Martini's easily makes it perfect for everything from a business meeting to an intimate date night for two.

Edwardo's Natural Pizza Restaurant
10845 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 771-7770
edwardos.com
Although the Downtown location closed after 20 years, the West Side Edwardo's is still serving up that famous Chicago-style stuffed spinach and cheese pie.

Firefly Urban Bar & Grill
7754 Harwood Ave., (414) 431-1444
firefly-grill.com
Formerly Bjonda, Firefly's menu features appetizers, sandwiches and entrees from its wood-burning grill and smoker, as well as a few of Bjonda's best items, including microburgers, fondue and crunch salad.  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

Next >>

10 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...