Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee-area restaurants open Christmas 2024 for dine-in or takeout
Here’s a glance at Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants selected by Rachel Bernhard
For the first time in five years, the Journal Sentinel presents Milwaukee’s Top 25 Restaurants, this year from new dining critic Rachel Bernhard.
If dining out for Christmas or finding takeout to bring home is on your wish list, some area restaurants and resorts are ready to help. Here are a few locations offering Christmas Eve or Christmas Day specials for dining in or taking home. Advance reservations and orders are required at most restaurants.
ARIA
Saint Kate’s signature restaurant is open for dining from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. A special prix fixe Christmas menu is priced at $79 per person, or guests may select from items on the regular menu. For reservations, call (414) 270-4422 or visit OpenTable.com. Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave
Bar Louie
The Brookfield Square restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight Dec. 24 and 4 p.m. to midnight Dec. 25, offering a four-course dinner for two priced at $75. Guests may pick one bar bite to share, a choice of soup or salad for each person, a choice of entree per person, and one dessert to share. Choose from select options such as the Citrus Grilled Salmon or Parmesan Crusted Chicken, and finish the meal with the restaurant’s signature cinnamon doughnut holes. Bar Louie also will offer burger specials, so guests may order a craft burger with fries or tots for only $8. Reservations are not required, but you may call to reserve a table: (262) 505-6319. 95 N. Moorland Road, Brookfield
Benny’s Cafe
Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Christmas dinner specials include prime rib ($31) with baked potato, roast duck ($24) with dressing and mashed potatoes, baked ham ($18) with mashed potatoes, ribeye ($29) with baked potato, Atlantic salmon ($20) with broccoli and rice, and coconut shrimp ($18) served with french fries. All dine-in dinners include soup or salad, a glass of wine or beer, and dessert. Walk-in customers are welcome; no reservation required. Call for takeout orders at the drive-thru window. (414) 431-0004. 5354 S. 27th St.
Emerald City Catering
Pre-order the whole meal or a la carte items from the menu for Christmas. A la carte items available to order include roast beef in gravy, beef tips, baked ham, roast chicken, uncooked Polish sausage, cooked stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, macaroni and cheese, corn and rolls. See menu online at emeraldcitycatering.com/hollidays, or call (414) 672-3434. 3555 S. 13th St.
Lowlands Group
Christmas Eve brunch will be served from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24 at all grand cafes, which includes all Cafe Hollander locations, Cafe Benelux and Centraal Grand Cafe & Tappery. Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club, 7700 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa, will serve brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All restaurants will close at 3 p.m. and remain closed on Christmas Day. Reservations are not required. lowlandsgroup.com
Maharaja
The east side Indian restaurant is open Dec. 24 and 25 for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner service from 5 to 9 p.m. A special Christmas buffet is available during lunch hours for $35 per person. Reservations and takeout orders can be placed online at maharajarestaurants.com or by calling the restaurant during business hours: (414) 276-2250. 1550 N. Farwell Ave.
Mason Street Grill
The downtown restaurant offers both its regular menu and a special prix fixe Christmas menu from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and 1 to 8 p.m. Dec. 25. The holiday prix fixe menu is priced at $81 per guest and features prime rib with herb whipped potatoes, pancetta Brussels sprouts, and a choice of dessert. Private dining rooms are available for family gatherings. Call for reservations, (414) 298-3131, or visit OpenTable.com. 425 E. Mason St.
The Melting Pot
A special holiday fondue is offered for Christmas Eve from noon to 8 p.m. Pricing is $65 for adults and $30 for children under 12. The set menu features one cheese fondue, a salad, entree and a chocolate fondue. The entree choices are either the Holiday Feast of teriyaki-marinated steak, vanilla rum chicken and apple rosemary pork; or the Holiday Fusion of teriyaki-marinated steak, vanilla rum chicken, salmon and shrimp. A lobster tail ($19) or center-cut filet ($28) may be added to any entree. All entrees include seasonal vegetables and signature dipping sauces. Call for reservations: (262) 782-6358. 19850 W. Blue Mound Road, Brookfield
Mo’s Irish Pub Wauwatosa
Pre-order a to-go meal or dine-in on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A special dine-in dinner of turkey or ham, with all the traditional sides, is priced at $21.99 for adults and $11.99 for children 12 and under. Call for reservations. The pre-order To Go Family Style meal ($159.99) serves 10 to 12 people and is available for pickup. Place your order by Dec. 22 by calling (414) 774- 9782, or email events@mosirishpub.com. 10842 W. Blue Mound Road, Wauwatosa.
Odyssey
The Menomonee Falls restaurant is serving breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reservations and takeout are available; call (262) 255-3036. N82 W15380 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls
Old Town Serbian Gourmet Restaurant
The restaurant will open for dining at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Christmas specials and regular menu items are available. Reservations required. Call (414) 672-0206 or visit oldtownserbian.com. 522 W. Lincoln Ave.
The Packing House
Call to reserve a table and order from the full, sit-down Holiday Dinner menu. Dining hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 24 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 25. No takeout or to-go orders will be available. Call (414) 483-5054 or visit packinghousemke.com. 900 E. Layton Ave.
The Pfister Hotel
A Christmas Celebration Brunch is offered in the grand ballroom from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 25. The buffet includes an assortment of fresh seafood, Wisconsin cheeses, carved meats, omelets made to order, individually customized pastas, holiday salads and starters, an array of entrees, and desserts. Brunch includes a mimosa or bloody mary. $95 for adults, $35 for children 3 to 10 years old (tax and service charge will be added to all reservations). Reservations are required with full pre-payment via credit card. thepfisterhotel.com, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Steak House 100
The West Allis chophouse will offer its full menu on Christmas Eve from 4 to 8 p.m. House specialties include ribs, pork chops, rotisserie chicken and a seafood, chicken or beef tenderloin shish kabob. For reservations, call (414) 727-2222. 7246 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis
Tre Rivali
A standard breakfast menu is available from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 24, and a Christmas Day buffet is offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 25. Buffet pricing is $85 for adults and $35 for children under 12 years of age and includes complimentary coffee, teas and sodas. The buffet features an artisanal cheese and salami board, waffle bar, assorted toasts and spreads, chive and creme fraiche scrambled eggs, fresh fruit platter, fregola and white bean soup with kale and sausage, Caesar salad, prime rib of beef, Tuscan roast pork, Brussels sprouts and whipped potatoes. Reservations can be made online through OpenTable or directly to the restaurant by phone: (414) 291-3971. 200 N. Broadway
Ward’s House of Prime
The restaurant is open for dining from 4 to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve, or pre-order a prime rib dinner to-go, or just the meat for the holidays. The Dinners To Go menu is available in servings for one ($65), two ($125), four ($250), five to eight ($400), and a whole dinner serving nine to 12 ($625). Dinners include au jus and creamy horseradish, house salad, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and corn. Just the Meat prime rib is available in portions of a quarter ($200), half ($300), or whole ($525). Pick up orders from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 24 and noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 25. Order online at wardshouseofprime.com or call for reservations: (414) 223-0135. 540 E. Mason St.
Apple Holler
The Racine County farm offers a full Holiday Take-Home Dinner, a Holiday Dinner Add-Ons menu, and homemade pies for pickup. Pre-order an individual dinner or a group-size dinner serving four to six people. The Apple Cider Bourbon Glazed Ham Dinner ($38.95 individual, $189.95 group), the Turkey Breast Dinner ($39.95 individual, $199.95 group), and the Prime Rib Dinner ($49.95 individual, $249.95 group), all feature mashed potatoes, bacon mac and cheese, apple-bread stuffing, honey-glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole, cranberry-orange relish, dinner rolls and apple butter, apple pie, and Apple Holler apple cider. The Holiday Dinner Add-Ons menu includes additional meat and sides, doughnuts, cornbread, apple pie bread and cider. Homemade pies are priced at $8.35 each and include a variety of fruit, berry, cream and seasonal specialty pies. Pick up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 21 through Dec. 24. Order online at appleholler.com or call (262) 884-7100. 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
The Abbey Resort
The resort on the shore of Geneva Lake will offer a Christmas Eve dinner buffet and Christmas Day brunch and dinner buffets in the 240° West Restaurant. The Christmas Eve buffet is served from 4 to 9 p.m. for $75 per person. Christmas Day brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $50 per person. Christmas Day dinner buffet is served from 4 to 9 p.m. for $75 per person. Children (ages 5 to 12) are $25. Call (800) 709-1323 for reservations. View the menus online at theabbeyresort.com 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
Grand Geneva Resort
The resort offers multiple dining options on Dec. 24. A Christmas Eve brunch buffet will be served in the Geneva ChopHouse from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in Ristorante Brissago from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with complimentary champagne and mimosas. Pricing is $85 for adults, $40 for children ages 6 to 12 and $15 for children ages 2 to 5. Children age 2 and under are complimentary with each paid adult. The holiday specialties include crispy chicken, roasted cod, short ribs and cheese ravioli. Food stations offer a variety of traditional breakfast items, omelets and eggs Benedict, prime rib, ham, lamb, seafood and shrimp, plus a variety of salads, vegetables, sides and sweets. The Grand Cafe will serve a prime rib and seafood buffet from noon to 9 p.m. Pricing is $59 for adults, $25 for children ages 6 to 12 and $15 for children 2 to 5 years of age. Reservations are required with a credit card. Call (262) 249-4788. grandgeneva.com; 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva.
Lake Lawn Resort
The Walworth County resort is offering a prix fixe menu Christmas Eve and a champagne brunch on Christmas Day at 1878 on the Lake. The Christmas Eve dinner is a prix fixe menu ($85 per person) served from 4 to 9 p.m. Entrees include a choice of prime rib, salmon, a Cornish game hen, wild mushroom risotto, or a surf and turf option of a center-cut filet and lobster tail. The first course offers a choice of butternut squash bisque, Caesar salad or apple and pecan salad. The featured desserts are an eggnog cheesecake or a sticky toffee and figgy bread pudding. A Christmas Day buffet is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 25. Pricing is $68 for adults, $25 for children ages 8 to 12 years and $14 for children 4 to 7 years. The food stations feature a carvery with prime rib and ham; chicken or salmon entrees; traditional breakfast items of bacon, sausage, pancakes, omelets and waffles; salads, seafood and seasonal fruits and vegetables. A sweets station includes a chocolate rum yule log, Christmas figgy pudding, English trifle martinis, Christmas cookies and fudge brownies cherries jubilee. An additional food station for children features chicken tenders, penne pasta and meatballs, mini corn dogs, waffle fries and baked macaroni and cheese. Make reservations online lakelawnresort.com/events or call (262) 725-9155. 2400 Geneva St., Delavan
Milwaukee, WI
Giannis’ quiet trade market could keep him in Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Bucks’ impending trading of Giannis Antetokounmpo to a new team has been the buzziest NBA story since the New York Knicks won the title. But what if it never happens?
The stars are aligning for the Bucks to pitch a narrative to Giannis that for the second straight transaction cycle they’ve dangled him to the rest of the Association and gotten a tepid response.
A few teams, like the Miami Heat, have been clearly interested. Many others, like the Boston Celtics, seem much more cautious and coy about their pursuit of the Greek Freak. Juggernauts like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are less than a Giannis away from winning the championship, and neither team even seems willing to bid.
Even Miami’s dogged pursuit may not include exhausting every possible means to add Giannis. After all, he’s into his 30s now, with a lot of basketball miles between NBA and international competition, and his representatives want a seat at the table, plus the injury history is getting extensive…
The important distinction, as @Anthony_Chiang and I, and @EthanJSkolnick have noted, is while only Bam is off limits, the Heat cannot in good conscience offer every single good young player and every single available first and every pick swap. Most, sure. But offer everything…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) June 18, 2026
And then there’s the Bucks, an organization so committed to winning with Giannis they waived and stretched Damian Lillard last summer because they thought adding Myles Turner would lead to the next great Milwaukee frontcourt following Brook Lopez’s decline. There’s a pitch to be made right now from Jon Horst and the Bucks’ leadership that there’s no other NBA team out there who wants to win with Giannis as badly as they do.
Outside from the human element of feeling wanted, there are more tangible elements in play. Giannis can’t sign his next massive extension until October 1 with Milwaukee, or six months following a trade if he is dealt. If his next team is hesitant to give up players or picks to trade for Giannis, is there really any guarantee that a max extension is on the table in 2027?
The collective bargaining agreement’s extension rules offer somewhat of a double-edged sword in this case. It hurts the Bucks’ ability to keep Giannis that he can’t formally extend until the draft and free agency are over, but also the prospect of being able to sign before suiting up in 2026-27 is more appealing to Giannis than having to wait until January or February. Especially given the series of injuries that have plagued him.
All of this sentiment and security still isn’t enough in itself for Milwaukee. The Bucks would require a plan to improve quickly to get Antetokounmpo bought in again to avoid ending up back here, but in an even more desperate spot, come February. Upgrading from Doc Rivers to Taylor Jenkins is a great start, but executing trades and smart free agent signings will be crucial.
Is it serendipitous timing that the Bucks biggest position of need is wing players and the New Orleans Pelicans reportedly want to get into the range of the 2026 NBA Draft where Milwaukee is slated to pick, with rival teams eyeing young wings Trey Murphy and Herb Jones? Notably, those same Pelicans infamously overpaid to “get their guy” last Draft.
This is more than likely some combination of pipe dream and fairy tale, given most of the reporting around Giannis continues to conclude he’ll be departing Milwaukee in the coming weeks. But even that is strangely optimistic for the Bucks, as they’ve reportedly quietly walked back ownership’s stated timeline of having a decision made by the draft.
All of that said, it still feels more likely that Giannis is traded than not. But this saga has had its share of twists and turns so far and throughout all the noise Giannis has re-signed with the Bucks. Who’s to say that couldn’t happen one more time?
Follow
Milwaukee, WI
Stolen Oak Creek couple’s car found by viewer dumped near Milwaukee apartment complex
MILWAUKEE — An Oak Creek couple’s stolen car has been found after a viewer who saw a report on the theft spotted it near a south side Milwaukee apartment complex.
Melinna Posey said the ordeal began when her car was stolen and she turned to social media for help. A person who responded claimed to have the vehicle and demanded money for its return. The person messaging even taunted her, discarding some of the items inside the car.
Personal items were inside the vehicle, including the family’s car seat, stroller, cameras and photos.
“It’s been very stressful, especially for him. It’s his vehicle, it’s in his name,” Posey said.
Watch: Stolen Oak Creek couple’s car found by viewer dumped near Milwaukee apartment complex
Stolen Oak Creek couple’s car found by viewer dumped near Milwaukee apartment complex
I spoke to Posey on Tuesday. Since then, she and Tyler Dusenberry had been searching for the car. On Thursday, the couple received a message from someone who saw the story on TMJ4. That person found the car at a south side Milwaukee apartment complex and shared pictures of the red Dodge Durango SRT between trees and a building, covered in tarps.
“I didn’t believe the text message at first today, and then he sent pictures of the car, and I was like, thank the lord, I was like thank you so much,” Posey said.
“It’s a roller coaster that’s what it’s been,” Dusenberry said.
Brendyn Jones/TMJ4
Oak Creek Police picked up the car and are processing it for evidence. The family has not yet been able to see the inside of the vehicle or what, if anything, was left behind.
The family said they are grateful to everyone who helped them this week, but said the entire experience will be tough to get over.
“It’s just unfortunate that this all happened, and we had a lot of memories and trips within that vehicle so it’s just a little life-changing to be honest,” Dusenberry said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
Milwaukee, WI
$95,000 worth of Milwaukee tools stolen in Plover
PLOVER, Wis. (WBAY) – Police in the western part of the state are spreading the word after someone stole over $95,000 worth of Milwaukee-brand tools. Police are concerned that they’ll be sold online or sold outside the state.
Milwaukee-brand tools were stolen from a trailer at a solar farm in Plover.
Police say there were 130 items, including more than 40 half-inch impact guns, multiple wire cutters, grease guns, 80 batteries, and a couple of small generators.
Investigators are warning that buyers who purchase stolen items can have them seized and could lose their money or even face criminal charges if they knew the property was stolen.
Copyright 2026 WBAY. All rights reserved.
-
New York49 minutes agoVideo: The Democracy of The Dive Bar
-
Los Angeles, Ca54 minutes agoSweltering heat wave to grip Southern California next week
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoTop 10 ‘Hour Detroit’ Covers, As Voted By Readers
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoInjured SFPD officer released from hospital after line-of-duty shooting
-
Dallas, TX1 hour ago25,000 free Dallas teen passes available June 29 for museums, zoo and more
-
Miami, FL2 hours ago3 wildfires burn over 20,000 acres in Miami-Dade ahead of long-awaited rain
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoBoston is opening outdoor drinking areas during the World Cup. Here’s how it works.
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoClaimed by Christ, Free in Him: Archbishop Golka Celebrates First Juneteenth Mass in Denver