Off-hour, "quick" and good eating in/near Milwaukee? (Three challenges)

[dimsumfan]

Landing at airport mid-afternoon and needing a fairly quick bite on the way toward Ripon, but hoping for something fun, unique, interesting. (I'm omnivorous and adventurous and despise chain restaurants.) Any suggestions?

Back to Milwaukee with perhaps late-night (after 10:30pm) appetite. Anything gastropub-like or interesting still open at that hour?

And needing to be back at the airport by 12:30 the next day, I'll be searching for a substantial and delicious lunch at a place that opens early enough to get me to my flight.

Open to any and all ideas...thanks!

[bte576]

Started thinking about trying to help, but have questions to hopefully help us help you.

What day of the week is this happening on? (Many places serve food later on certain nights and your early lunch options may differ depending on the day.) Are you staying right downtown?
For your quick afternoon meal. Are you looking for more of an order at the counter place? Are you thinking that you want this to be somewhere pretty much in your direct route from the airport?

[dimsumfan]

This is happening on weekdays.

For the afternoon meal, needs to be fairly fast. No fine dining. Can be counter or quick service. Can't stray far off course for that.

For late night, I'll be passing back through the city, so I have flexibility. Was intrigued by the menu at Braise, but they close at 11pm, with just a limited bar menu after 10pm.

And the next day, while I'm staying close to the airport, I can drive back toward the city, as I have time.

[bte576]

For your quick afternoon meal…heading to Ripon you can go through downtown without losing too much time (depends on traffic of course) or take the bypass. You could fairly easily stop in at the Public Market to eat, but that may not be “quick” if you start browsing.
Otherwise, going around the south side, you could go non-gourmet with a MKE favorite and stop for a burger and custard at Kopps at 76th & Layton or do Vietnamese at Pho 27 (haven’t been, but have heard it is good).
Or stop at an Alterra cafe. They have great coffee and tasty lunch options.
Braise is supposed to be great, but obviously the limited menu and timing may not work out well. Look into Rumpus Room (actually a gastropub) or Branded at the Iron Horse Hotel for the late night meal as well.
For substantial early lunch, quite a few places do weekday lunch that are mentioned on the boards (so you should have many options), but one thought would be Honeypie in Bayview (south of downtown). It’s a cute place with comfort food and would be more convenient from the airport than going into downtown.

[bte576]

I also recall seeing that the newer place in Walker's Point--The Noble-- serves food late, but I haven't gotten there yet either.

[dimsumfan]

Thanks for all these ideas. Due to time restrictions, I went to Martino's late afternoon and then Kopp's late night. Might try to go to Honeypie for early lunch, though a bit concerned because the highway is a mess.

[bte576]

Hope you enjoyed what you had.

fyi-If you do decide to head to Bayview, you should be able to easily avoid 94.

Good luck with whatever you decide!