Veg-friendly Dining in Milwaukee

By Jenni Moody
@moodyjenni



​Welcome to the Brew City from your friendly local vegan! 

Whenever I go to a conference in another city, I’m always excited to scope out the veg-friendly restaurants in town. But with making travel plans and deciding on which panels to attend, the task of finding places to eat and buy veg supplies usually falls by the wayside. At the end of the day, I find myself scrolling through Google reviews right outside the conference center while my stomach growls. 

To help you find the right spot for dinner and a drink, for grabbing supplies to take back to your hotel, or for something sweet, here are some resources and recommendations for plant-focused food in Milwaukee!


​Getting Started: Vegan Milwaukee

Image description: An orange circle with a logo of a carrot as part of the “v” that spells out VGN MKE. Orange text on a white background reads Vegan Milwaukee.

We’re lucky to have Vegan Milwaukee, an amazing website full of restaurant descriptions and community resources. 

If location is your primary concern with finding veg-friendly food, then check out this map of restaurants by location. 

If you’d like to go to 100% plant-based or to all-vegetarian restaurants, check out this guide that has great photos and links to each restaurant’s website. 

And if you’re staying at a place where you can cook your own food and you’d like to buy some groceries, here’s a helpful list of grocery stores with veg-friendly items. Outpost is our local whole foods-focused store with several locations. 


Short on Time
If you need to eat near the conference center, check out the restaurant guide made by our hospitality committee and search the features for “vegan friendly”. 

If you’re looking to go a bit further afield, below are some of my favorite places to eat in Milwaukee. 


Food. But also, Drinks!
For when you’re looking for dinner and want to wind down from the conference with a drink.
 

• Balzac, just off of Brady Street, is a classy, quiet place to get some amazing wine and some veg-friendly food. They have a vegan cheese board and delicious Brussels sprouts, and there’s a lot to offer your omni-eating friends as well. 

 

• For 100% plant-based meals that are beautifully presented and delicious, go to Celesta. This space is pretty small, so it’s good to explore on your own or call ahead and make a reservation for a group. Their cocktails are lovely, as is the Roasted Za'atar Cauliflower. 

 

• Just down the street from Celesta is Strange Town, a funky, 100% plant-based restaurant with eclectic music played on a turntable, and a sizable record collection. The food is served small plates style for sharing, and they have a well-chosen selection of natural wines. 

 

• For a casual atmosphere, try Comet Café. If you’re in town early, Wednesdays are BOGO whiskey nights. If you’d like a burger, ask for their hazelnut patty, an old favorite that’s no longer on the menu. Their mac ‘n cheese comes in a generous portion, and the vegan gravy on the mashed potatoes is the best I’ve had. 

Take It To Go
For when you’re looking to grab some food to take back to your hotel or AirBnB for a night in. 

• Beans and Barley has a great quick serve case of both hot and cold options. Vegan and vegetarian options are easy to spot thanks to a color-coded system. You can also order from their menu while you browse their store for wine, frozen items, baked goods from East Side Ovens, and a ton of cute gifts.

 

• The Riverwest Co-op Cafe also has a good quick serve case that includes sandwiches and pastas, and you can browse the co-op while you wait if you order off their menu. 

 

• For pizza, grab a slice from Ian’s Pizza, or order in and they’ll deliver. Their creative vegan options include Vegan Sausage Penne Alfredo and Vegan Chorizo Taco. 

Something Sweet
For that point in the conference when all you want is some vegan dessert. 

• If you’re in the mood for a treat, try the crepes at Beerline Café. It’s an airy, open place - great for lunch or to do some work. 

 

• Keep an eye out at local grocery stores for items from East Side Ovens Bakery, or visit their shop in South Milwaukee. They make vegan pies, brownies, and other delights. 

 

• There’s always a few vegan cupcakes and pies on the menu at Comet Café. Their Oreo and red velvet cupcakes are not to be missed. 

 

• Blooming Lotus Gourmet Bakery has GF and nut free options, and is a quiet, friendly place to grab a treat and a cup of coffee. 

 

• For some great vegan ice cream while you browse for souvenirs, try On the Bus at Milwaukee’s Public Market. 

I hope you’ll share your own vegan recommendations by commenting here on the blog or on Twitter @writingmke with hashtag #4c20 and #writingmke! 



Jenni Moody is a Distinguished Dissertator in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Creative Writing PhD program, where she serves as Coordinator of the College Writing and Research composition program and as a mentor to new Graduate Teaching Assistants. She writes fiction that considers kinship with non-human animals, materiality, and image-text intersections. She studied creative writing at the MFA program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and at the Clarion West Writers Workshop.