Comet Cafe

Squish in and say "Mmmm"

If you claim to be a foodie in Milwaukee but haven't been to Comet Café, then you need to get with it. Comet has been around for over a decade and is known for a comfortable and casual neighborhood vibe, from-scratch food, and craft beer. My go-to sandwich, the Cheesy Tomato (turned Buttafucco with the addition of hot peppers) is also a favorite of my friend Rachel's mom, who's been loving Comet — and recommending this killer sandwich — since it opened in 2000.

So when our out-of-town foodie friends came to visit, we knew Comet was on the menu. We were expecting a long wait, as the restaurant has been known to boast lines out the door, but we lucked out — no wait and our pick of tables. The place is small though, and our party of eight seemed to make the staff squirm just a bit. We assured them that the cozy U-shaped booth was not only sufficient, but preferred. We'll jump at any chance to squish in.

So in we squished, cocktails and beer all around. Mine was a Crispin blackberry pear cider. To start, we ordered the Compact Turkey Dinner — pretty much Thanksgiving rolled in a ball of deliciousness. In each beer-battered-and-fried sphere of wonder, you'll find turkey, sage stuffing, and cheesy mashed potatoes. These are served on a bed of gravy with a veggie on the side. As we dove into Thanksgiving in May, our exuberant chatter was replaced by silence, then yummy sounds. We agreed that the only things missing were cranberry sauce and Mom.

For the main course, it was sandwiches for all: two cheesy tomatoes, a pulled pork, a BELT (BLT + fried egg), a rueben, and a walnut apple burger (Comet is all about the vegan and vegetarian options). And did I mention the beer cheese fries? Plates were licked clean and foodie friends let out a chorus of "Mmmm." If only we'd saved room for pie!