Wauwatosa/West Allis - Milwaukee, WI Area Guide

In the early 19th century, the Menomonee valley helped connect the lush farmlands of southeastern Wisconsin with the bustling port of Milwaukee. Charles Hart was the first permanent white settler of modern-day Wauwatosa, where he developed a mill along the Menomonee River. The settlement originally called Hart’s Mill developed quickly, and was formally organized as the town of Wauwatosa or “Wau-wau-too-sa” around 1840. In 1992, the Wauwatosa Common Council made national news when they decided to remove a Christian cross from the City’s seal, which had been in use since 1957. The removal of the cross was motivated by a lawsuit, and the council modified the seal to instead include the phrase “In God We Trust.” During the summer months residents can enjoy weekly outdoor concerts at the Rotary Performance Pavilion as part of the annual live music series “Tosa Tonight.”

Most of the restaurants can be found in one of three main areas, namely the European Village, West North Avenue or the Mayfield Mall. The Village and North Avenue provide hundreds of options of unique eateries, from modest diners to upscale sit-down restaurants. Less adventurous diners find all of their favorite established chains at the Mayfield Mall. Some of Milwaukee’s finest Italian food can be found right on W. North Avenue at the celebrated IL Mito Trattoria e Enoteca. Head chef Michael Feker combines a passion for fresh, pure ingredients with a mastery of culinary technique to cultivate a menu that proves both tasteful and sophisticated. While IL Mito’s intimate dining room provides a perfect setting for a romantic evening, the restaurant also serves affordable lunch options, full catering services and regularly hosts special events, such as cooking demonstrations, and wine and beer tastings. In addition to a full menu of gourmet pizza, house specialties include the rabbit gnocchi and the slow-braised Muscovy duck. All diners who check in on Yelp receive a free glass of wine. Wauwatosa’s European Village houses countless great bars and restaurants, including the Firefly Urban Bar & Grill, formerly Bjonda’s. Firefly serves up new-American cuisine in a trendy but inviting atmosphere. The menu includes a variety of appetizers, sandwiches and entrees prepared on the house wood-burning grill and smoker. While preserving a few of Bjonda’s best dishes, including the microburgers and crunch salad, Firefly added an impressive food and drink menu. The dinner plates serve up everything meat-and-fish lovers could desire, from the house tenderloin to the soy glazed yellowfin tuna. Of course, as with any self respecting Wisconsin eatery, Firefly also serves an all-you-can-eat Friday night fish fry with both baked and fried cod options. West North Avenue supplies another Wauwatosa favorite, the modest and reliable John’s Sandwich Shop. Some of the best breakfast-and-brunch fare in town can be found at John’s, as well as an exceptional Friday fish fry, which features a flakey beer batter made with the regional favorite lager “New Glarus’ Spotted Cow.” The homey atmosphere and reliable comfort food at John’s have been satisfying customers for many years, and they don’t seem to be slowing down. Be warned though, they do not accept credit cards, and the nearest ATM sits at the gas station across the street. Wauwatosa also has a growing bar scene with a wide variety of options, ranging from classic neighborhood taverns abundant on the east side to larger modern sports bars in the west, and even larger corporately owned chains in the Mayfield Mall area. If you are looking for a clean bar with a unique cabin motif visit Camp Bar Tosa. For more varied nightlife and live-music options, you may want to head downtown, but the “Tosa” scene has plenty of choices when you just want to grab a quick cocktail or enjoy the game with friends.

Abundant public parking, bike lanes, and easy access to the highways and city bus system make transportation of all sorts in Wauwatosa a breeze. While hailing a cab may prove difficult, all the major Milwaukee cab companies serve the city, as well as alternative car services such as Uber and Lyft. Residents who don’t drive can use the MCTS bus system to get around Wauwatosa or hop on an express bus to head downtown.

“Tosa” has a number of parks available to the general public, one of the finest being Hawthorn Glen. Hawthorn Glen’s 23-acre nature center opens to the public on evenings and weekends, and serves as a prime field-trip destination during the week, welcoming over 12,000 school children each year. Many seasonal programs occur on weekends, and the self-guided nature trail serves as a popular destination for cross-country skiing throughout the winter. Madison Park provides another county green-space option that provides some fun, outdoor recreational opportunities. Home to a baseball diamond, a number of basketball and tennis courts, and a public nine-hole golf course, Madison Park welcomes athletes of all ages and abilities.

The cost of living in Wauwatosa runs slightly higher than the average cost of living for the city of Milwaukee. The median rent averages to $804 per month in Wauwatosa versus $750 in the greater-Milwaukee area. Area gas prices typically stay just below the national average, and a daily bus pass costs $2.25, although frequent travelers likely want to take advantage of weekly or monthly pass options.

Wauwatosa provides shoppers everything from established big-box stores to unique, specialty boutiques. The majority of national brands and retailers can be found at the expansive Mayfair Mall, where the charming European Village neighborhood hosts a variety of one-of-a-kind shops. Residents have no issues finding groceries to their liking, whether they prefer large discount stores or small cooperatives and farmer's markets. Refined Boutique, a non-profit clothing outlet for women, stocks a wide variety of designer brands, and all proceeds go to benefit the St. Charles Youth Employment Services. This program provides at-risk children and adolescents with real-world job experience and training. The boutique aims to help every woman find clothes they feel confident in for any occasion. Wauwatosa really has the whole gamut when it comes to options for grocery shopping. Shoppers find national chains for all budgets, from ALDI to Trader Joes. Additionally a wide variety of independent options can be found, ranging from classic delis and butchers, such as Metcalfe's Market or Bunzel's Meat Market, to specialty health-food stores, such as Milk N Honey and the Outpost Natural Foods Co-op. During the summer, the freshest produce can always be found at the Tosa Farmers Market in the parking lot of Hart’s Mill, located by the Oak Leaf bike trail.