Located in a renovated woodworking shop, owner Peter Sandroni has built the kind of place where you find delicious ethnic food.

Milwaukee's best appetizers/small plate, 2010: La Merenda

Published Oct. 1, 2010 at 3:03 p.m.

The votes are in, and the winners have been selected for OnMilwaukee's Best Dining 2010. The results of this readers' poll, including an editors' pick, are available in this series of articles that run all October long during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.

It's not much of a secret that Milwaukeeans like their portions big, so appetizers and small plate dining choices require our city's diners to eat outside of their comfort zone. So when La Merenda simply trounces its competition by almost 20 percent over the runner up, Balzac, you know the food is good.

And La Merenda, 125 E. National Ave., isn't exactly easy to find, which makes its status as a repeat winner in this category even more impressive.

Located in a renovated woodworking shop, owner Peter Sandroni has built the kind of place where you find Italian osso buco, Indonesian sambal goreng udang, Spanish patatas bravas or Colombian empanadas.

You know, small plate stuff. Wonderful, delicious and ethnic food that lives up to La Merenda's name, which is Italian for "snack." Go figure.

OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Balzac

Runners-up:
2. Balzac
3. Maxie's Southern Comfort
4. Elsa's
5. Swig
6. Palomino
7. Water Buffalo
8. Dream Dance Steak
9. Cafe Centraal
10. Bosley on Brady
11. Trinity Three Irish Pubs
12. Hinterland
13. Nessun Dorma
14. Ginger
15. Heaven City

Talkback

Talkbacks

admiral | Oct. 3, 2010 at 8:50 p.m. (report)

Best place in the city. I try to go to lunch there every Monday(an off day for most restaurants.) I can fulfill all my gastronomical delights from around the globe at the comfort of my table. The menu changes frequently but still captivates my taste buds every time. I have recently started taking my 10 year old. Who like most kids is not very adventurous. She requested it the following night when discussing dining options. It's that good! Peter is a fabulous cook and even better restaurateur. He will go the extra mile and is always someone I enjoy talking to. Don't delay and go right away.

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Tantalizing tapas

The latest trend, and you can see it everywhere you go, is the tapas restaurant. Once La Merenda made such a name for itself, it seems like everyone wants to get on the bandwagon.

Local spring stock

It seems spring hasn`t fully committed yet, but we are starting to see some local spring green garlic. Pinehold Gardens, run by farmers David Kozlowski and Sandra Raduenzis, is already harvesting some. Treat yourself to a spring-inspired soup with a special recipe featuring this flavorful ingredient.

La Merenda is a gem

La Merenda in Walker`s Point resembles a big family dining room. Dave Begel ate some things he believes you can`t get any where else and says they were prepared with the kind of love and attention to detail that you might find in your own kitchen.

Dine and donate

La Merenda, Beans & Barley, Meritage and Hinterland will help Milwaukeeans provide safe drinking water to children around the world as part of the United Nations` World Water Week, March 19-25. They will offer patrons the opportunity to donate $1 for the tap water they normally enjoy for free, joining hundreds of restaurants across the country in support of the UNICEF Tap Project.