Everybody knows West Allis goes all out in terms of food during every summer’s Wisconsin State Fair, but the Milwaukee suburb also offers an abundance of great dining and drinking options all year long. Much of that bounty is on full display during the inaugural “Taste Of Stallis” dining week, which kicked off November 1 and will bring meal deals and drink discounts to more than 25 West Allis-based bars, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, breweries through November 7.
Last week, in advance of the new dining week’s beginning, I decided to spend an entire day indulging in some of Taste Of Stallis’ delicious offerings by reviving a Patreon-exclusive feature called “Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner” in which—as the name might suggest—I ate all three meals at different businesses based in West Allis. Here’s what I ate and what I thought of everything!
Breakfast
Grebe’s Bakery
5132 W. Lincoln Ave.
Knowing I had a full day of consumption ahead of me, I decided to start my food-focused adventure with a comparatively light bite at an absolute West Allis legend. There’s a reason Grebe’s Bakery has been around since 1937 and remains a Milwaukee-area mainstay almost 90 years later. It’s great!
I bypassed the bakery’s vast selection of bismarks, honeymooners, iced, and cake selections in favor of a classic donut with an autumnal twist: a glazed apple fritter. It was soft and fresh, packed with apple and cinnamon goodness, and heightened with a generous (but not overpowering) drizzle of Grebe’s house glaze. Well worth the $1.47 cost, I’d say! I also added a 20-ounce white Gatorade, which, like the fritter, I enjoyed in my vehicle. And I might’ve also added a glazed cheese-filled bismark to my order to enjoy the following morning. Okay, I absolutely did add that and it, too, was an excellent pre-Brewers parade nosh on Friday morning.
Taste Of Stallis Special: “Buy one cruller mini pouch (original or chocolate) and get 1/2 off seasonal pumpkin flavor.”
Lunch
Archie’s Flat Top
6922 W. Becher St.
Just over three years ago, I called Archie’s Flat Top a West Allis dining standby in the making after eating there for the first time. Since then, the Becher Street restaurant that specializes in massive smash burgers, sausages, classic sides, and Scratch ice cream has cemented its status as a favorite among folks living in West Allis proper and beyond. As much as I like it, I’ll admit subsequent visits have been fairly scarce apart from trying its chicken sandwich on for size and confirming its Lenten season-exclusive fish sandwich does, in fact, rule.
I decided to remedy that with a not-so-light lunch that was a reprisal of the first meal I had ever ate at Archie’s. I rolled up my sleeves, rounded up a pile of napkins (of which I would need each and every one), and dove into the restaurant’s signature burger. The Archie is a massive double smash burger that’s topped with a literal pile of diced and sauteed PBR onions as well as American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a creamy house Archie sauce that’s all stacked between a potato bun that has no hope of containing it all. It’s also served with a handful of thick pickle medallions. We counted eight of ’em.
Once you come to terms with the fact you’re going be getting your hands dirty and wiping your face after each and every bite, The Archie is well worth the mess and the modest $12.50 price. Forgetting just how huge and decadent the burger was and that we still had one meal left to eat, we foolishly ordered a side of fries and an N/A Riverwest Stein, but still wound up eating and drinking everything on the table because it was all just that good.
Taste Of Stallis Special: “Brawny Melt, an homage to the old days of Marc’s Big Boy.”
Dinner
El Impostor
7413 W. Greenfield Ave.
After vigorously washing up post-Archie’s and browsing the selection at the new Cosmic Sounds record store on Becher St., I paid another newly opened West Allis business a visit to round out my day of dining. El Impostor, which officially opened to the public on October 14, describes its focus as “borrowing inspiration from all over the place, having some fun with flavors, and seeing what happens when you stop worrying about the rules.”
Intrigued by the taco and tequila joint’s theme and its luchador mascot with a long backstory, I dropped in during happy hour. El Impostor’s menu is outfitted with fun starters and some unexpected items like a Caesar salad and a chopped cheese sandwich, but tacos are no doubt the king of the ring here. There are currently 18 specialty taco options offered, each one more inventive, elaborate, and indulgent than the next.
I plan to work my way through the list over time, but at the tail end of a busy and belly-busting day of suburban dining, I only opted for two tacos this time around. My picks were “Thunderlips”—an amalgam of shaved ribeye, beer cheese queso, and grilled onions and poblano peppers atop two soft corn tortillas—that you see on the right and the Papa Frijole (left), which is a potato-forward and black bean puree-packed vegetarian option that also features roasted veggies, salsa, and a liberal dusting of queso fresco. If you’re seeking fun, uninque, and over the top (rope?) twists on Mexican fare, give El Impostor a shot…especially during Taste Of Stallis and/or during its happy hour to take advantage of some great food and drink discounts.
Taste Of Stallis Special: “BOGO Tacos (one per person per visit).”
Drinks
To be honest, we did this last Thursday as we were nursing our biggest hangover in recent memory (Go Brewers!), so we didn’t drink. However, we’re happy to give you this recommendation…
Station No. 6 is just plain awesome. Between in-house creations and tasty riffs on classics, this Becher St. haunt with a spacious inviting patio is quietly one of the Milwaukee area’s best cocktail bars. They also have a great selection of craft beers, affordable domestics, and they’re known to host events like barbecues, concerts, and meat raffles on occasion as well. Stop there!
Taste Of Stallis Special: “Rustic Road Cocktail.”
And of course we think you should also drop by Ope! Brewing Co., which brews outstanding beer…including a certain Honey Lager we’re quite fond of.
Taste Of Stallis Special: “$4 off to-go packs plus double rewards points all week.”