Cari Taylor-Carlson

Wisconsin

Founder and Writer at Urban Milwaukee

Food lover, adventurer, world traveler, writer, mosaic artist

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Articles

Dining: The Fitz Offers Elegant Brunches

1 week ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

Before you settle into the dining room known as The Fitz, inside the Ambassador Hotel, stroll around the lobby to view the Art Deco décor that dates to 1927 when the hotel was built. Look for the simple yet elegant chandeliers, the understated columns, the woodwork, and the lovely diamond pattern underfoot. The name, The Fitz, relates to F. Scott Fitzgerald who wrote about the roaring 20s in The Great Gatsby.
Dining: Ruta’s Offers Unique Twist on Indian Staples

3 weeks ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

This article is available only to Urban Milwaukee's paid members. Membership is available for $9 per month or $99 per year and includes access to this article, an ad-free website, a customizable member email, access to free tickets and events and more. Most importantly, it provides the support necessary to generate thoughtful, independent journalism. Join today. Are you already a member? Sign in. Existing members must be signed in to see the interactive map. Sign in.
Dining: Tre Rivali Offers Delicious Brunches

1 month ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

The next time you bring your credit cards and weekend appetite to the Third Ward, make your first stop Tre Rivali for their brunch. After two brunches at this restaurant located in the Journeyman Hotel at the intersection of Chicago and Broadway, friends and I can attest to the deliciousness of everything we ordered in this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
Dining: Cubanitas, a Success for 22 Years

1 month ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

This article is available only to Urban Milwaukee's paid members. Membership is available for $9 per month or $99 per year and includes access to this article, an ad-free website, a customizable member email, access to free tickets and events and more. Most importantly, it provides the support necessary to generate thoughtful, independent journalism. Join today. Are you already a member? Sign in. Existing members must be signed in to see the interactive map. Sign in.
Dining: Toya’s Offers Homestyle Southern Fare

2 months ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

Latoya James, owner and chef at Toya’s Homestyle Kitchen, promises “Comfort Food, Cooked with Love” on her website and that is exactly what she delivers five days a week in her new restaurant on West Capitol Drive. When a friend and I came for lunch, James told us she has been in the kitchen since she was 11 and that is where she learned the art of snapping beans and pulling greens from her grandma. That led me to ask, “So, where are the greens?
Dining: Nessun Dorma Is a Rivewest Classic

2 months ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

Nessun Dorma, named for a famous aria in Puccini’s opera Turandot, lived up to its name when a companion and I came for dinner on a Wednesday. We noticed a keyboard in the corner of the bar and to our surprise, at exactly 7:30, a young woman with blue hair dressed in jeans, a sweater, and boots, stepped up and began singing an aria. She had a beautiful voice that carried to the back where we were sitting.
Dining: Kinship Cafe Boasts Stunning Space, Tasty Meals

2 months ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

You will not find a more stunning space for breakfast or lunch than the Kinship Cafe that opened last November in the former Gimbels department store on MLK Jr. Drive. It is now the ThriveOn King center after an inspired renovation created a community hub, including this cafe, where everyone is welcome to visit, have a meal, and stay awhile. In the area around the café, you will see several places to sit, many tables, a large enclosed meeting room, and a stage ready for future events.
Dining: Himalayan Yak Offers Colorful, Delicious Cuisine

2 months ago | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

The lunch buffet at Himalayan Yak, a feast of entrees from Nepal and India, features more than 20 multi-colored dishes that will astonish you with their variety of flavors and choices. It is a beautiful display of a chef’s talent and artistry. The food at the new restaurant is so good I found myself going back twice in one week. On my first visit I came with two friends and we all ordered from the menu, which spans seven pages.
Dining: Movida Offers Lovely $25 Brunch

Mar 16, 2025 | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

You will not find a better price for brunch than the $25.00 Classic Pink Breakfast at Movida at Hotel Madrid. Consider what you get for that price: The Pink Breakfast includes a Starter, a Main, Dessert, Coffee, and a drink. If you order each of these items separately, the total would come to $46.00. They serve this weekend brunch in a second-floor dining room which we accessed from a side door on Bruce Street.
Dining: La Finca Serves More Than Coffee

Mar 11, 2025 | urbanmilwaukee.com | Cari Taylor-Carlson

La Finca Coffeehouse is located near the lakefront and less than a mile south of Bay View at 3558 E. Sivyer Ave. in St. Francis. It offers a plethora of coffee drinks to satisfy aficionados of the bean. In 2017, this Mexican-inspired café opened in the building many may remember as FIXX, (the place with the cozy couches) and began a tradition of coffee excellence as they source all their beans from the family plantation in Oaxaca.

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