For the month of October, my husband was at Naval Station Great Lakes for training. During the last two weeks he was there, Olga (my cat) and I drove out to visit him.
While there we visited:
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Madame ZuZu’s Teashop
- The Chicago Diner- Lakeview
- Blu Fish Sushi & Bistro
- Milwaukee Public Museum
- Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria- Andersonville
- The Vanguard
- Bay View Books & Music
- Lakefront Brewery
- Bean & Barley
- Handlebar Chicago
- The Parched Pug
- The Brat Stop
- Milwaukee County Zoo
- Spirit Elephant
- Mars Cheese Castle
- 4th & State (Columbus on the way back to Annapolis)
Easy to say that we saw and ate a lot!
Not a single restaurant listed above was a disappointment but there are a few that really stood out:
The Vanguard
Located on S Kinnickinnic Ave in Milwaukee, they are open late and offer house-made sausages, cheese curds, loaded fries, pretzels, kimchi poutine, lobster rolls, and more!
The brat on the left was bahn mi inspired and the tofu bites were both crispy and coated in their buffalo sauce.
While the whole restaurant is not vegan they definitely have a ton of options to choose from and pair with a delicious cocktail. Check it out here.
The Chicago Diner- Lakeview
An all vegan dinner centered on American-style eats with sandwiches, burgers, and ‘chicken’ wings.
We had the Cuban and Portobello Truffle Melt sandwiches with a side of mac and sweet potato fries.
Definitely trying out their Spinach Artichoke Dip next time!
Small and cozy spot that offers both vegetarian and vegan delights. Bar and baked good available too! Check it out here.
Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria- Andersonville
A hopping oasis on a cold night in Chicago where we tucked in for Mushroom Chimichurri Tacos, Nachos Locos, and Chips & Salsa Verde paired with a Margarita and Strawberry Dragon Fruit Horchata.
Desserts available as well!
They have two other locations in River North and Pilsen as well. Check it out here.
*Be sure to make a reservation for their Friday nights and get there early for their brewery tour*
Check it out here.
Lakefront Brewery
A brewery that hold a fish fry every Friday night with live Polka music, Lakefront is a must when visiting Milwaukee.
One of few vegan options- but a great one- available for the fish fry is their fried ‘fish’ with a side of sauerkraut, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
I only wish that they had more cider (any) options but we can led that slide as the atmosphere is quite jovial to say the least!
Spirit Elephant
Located in Winnetka, IL – just a train ride away from our hotel- this eatery was not only full of immaculate flavor that provided a contemporary corner that you could waste an afternoon away in.
We had the Maryland Crab Cakes appetizer, then the Mushroom Bourguignon and Crispy Onion Mushroom Burger.
Culinary ingenious leaks out from their well-cultivated menu with a plethora of options that make your mouth water, the only issue you will find yourself in here will be what to pick.
Plant-based and very attuned to catering to those with various food allergies and dietary restrictions, Spirit Elephant is another must if visiting the Great Lakes area.
Check them out here; they also offer catering options.
Beans & Barley
Over in Milwaukee’s East Side, you can find this quaint diner inside of a locally-supplied specialty store with a coffee bar and deli.
Catering to vegans and non-vegans, we filled up on pancakes, vegan sausage, and tofu scramble.
It was no surprise that this diner was poppin’ on this dreary Saturday morning!
Whether you come for the food or check out their deli and shop, there no doubt that you can find something special here.
Handlebar Chicago
Our last honorable mention is the Handlebar Chicago restaurant located on W North Ave. Not all vegan but plenty of options for the plant-based. Their French Toast with fruit and side Hash paired well with their Chai garnished with a spring of rosemary- something I had never had before but went together wildly well!
A note about this spot is that it is quite small and they do not take reservations so be sure to time it right in order to experience their wide-range of menu items.
They also offer holiday catering.
Check it out here.
On our drive back to Annapolis from Great Lakes, we stayed at our Ohio go-to Drury Inn & Suites in Grove City. Just 15 minutes up the road in Columbus is a lovely all-vegan spot called 4th & State.
We had stopped in on our first drive through and made sure that we went this time around as well.
I had the Breakfast Sammie with a side of hashbrowns and the husband got the ‘you’re my boy blue’ burger with a side of crispy fries.
They have a nut-free bakery and are able to make several options gluten-free.
Check it out here.
One of the best parts about having a husband who travels often is all of the chances we get to discover new vegan restaurants, bakeries, bars, and more.
The next best part is getting to share those find with others.
Thank you for reading,
K.
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