These days, eating options are as plentiful as fashion boutiques and galleries in the Historic Third Ward. From the fun and casual Milwaukee Ale House to the upscale Riverwalk Bistro, this neighborhood's eateries are sure to please most palates.

Bella Caffé
189 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 273-5620
bellacaffe.com
Perched at the corner of Milwaukee and Chicago Streets, Bella is a great morning, noon or late night stop. Featured lunch items include many great Soup Market soups like Caribbean crab and corn chowder, Mardi Gras chili and Tyrolean vegetable soup with spaetzle to name a few. They've also got salads, quiche and more. They brew Alterra coffee, pour Rishi tea and serve wonderful desserts for your post theater, spa or shopping pleasure.

Brew City Tea
140 N. Jefferson St., (414) 273-8327
http://www.brewcitytea.com/
The Third Ward has always offered outlets for area coffee consumers, but in summer 2007, Brew City added tea to the options. Offering over 65 varieties of bulk tea, Brew City is a small cafe with a large list of choices. The tea house also offers daily sandwiches and convenient outdoor seating. Open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Broadway Bakery & Café
241 N. Broadway, (414) 431-2880
241broadway.com
Gourmet grab and go items from their locally renowned bakery, Boom Bros. coffee drinks, breakfast sandwiches, made-to-order omelets, a selection of salads, panini sandwiches, gelato and homemade daily servings of soup and chili are just some of the items to choose from. Located right below (shoo) and the Katie Gingrass Gallery, it also does great catering for your lunch or breakfast meetings.

Broadway Bistro
241 N. Broadway, (414) 431-2880
241broadway.com
Need something more elegant and eclectic? Then the other side of Broadway Bakery, Broadway Bistro, might be more your style with sit-down dining featuring lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Outside patio seating is available.

C. Adams
Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St.
Butter toffee brownies, orchard fresh streusel bars, toasted white chocolate coconut cream pie and amazing Wisconsin cookies with real maple syrup. These are just of few of the irresistible items featured at C. Adams Bakery inside the Milwaukee Public Market. Owner Lisa Crum's passion for creating decadent desserts sparked at the tender age of 14 when her grandmother gave her some candy molds as a gift. Things took off from there. Local chocoholics will certainly recall Sweet Perks, Crum's former bakery in Wauwatosa, and her award-winning brownies.

Café La Scala
631 E. Chicago St., (414) 223-2185
Café La Scala (formerly the Italian Community Center Ristorante) is a public restaurant inside the semi-private ICC that serves great food -- Italian and non-Italian -- in a casual, friendly atmosphere. There are pizzas and paninis at lunch, too.

Cafe Luna and Lounge
106 W. Seeboth, (414) 223-1558
http://www.cafelunalounge.com/
You've already eaten dinner? Cafe Luna is just the place for dessert. The modern interior of Cafe Luna sets the tone for a casual, trendy dessert/cocktail/coffee lounge. All three options are available to patrons throughout the evening and the balcony overlooking the Milwaukee river is the perfect place to sip your java or dive into one of several delectable desserts. Live jazz, folk or instrumental runs regularly Thursday- Sunday.

Coquette Café
316 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 291-2655
coquettecafe.com
The dark wood, mirrored back bar and glowing gold walls invite you in to experience top quality and unassuming fare that you might find in the home kitchens of French grandmothers. But, no need to travel that far. Just venture to the Landmark Building for Angie and Sanford D'Amato's authentic bistro fare. The flatbread pizzas are delightful and always get the pommes frites with aioli as your sandwich side.

Fanatics Sports Center
185 N. Jefferson Street, (414) 220-8336
www.fanaticsmilwaukee.com
The addition of Fanatics Sports Center to the Third Ward may very well be the creation of one of the most extensive sports bars in the city. With dozens of televisions, stadium style seating and an incredible bar game selection, Fanatics caters to anyone looking to watch the big game. Full kitchen service includes appetizers, burgers and sandwiches.

Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant
120 N. Water St., (414) 271-1740
www.supplerestaurantgroup.com/fratellos
Fratellos' Third Ward location brings this state-wide chain to the Milwaukee area. Located on the Milwaukee River, considerable seating is available in the indoor dining room as well as outdoors on a balcony overlooking the water. The menu offers over 100 choices with a commitment to fresh ingredients, organic coffee and green living. Item choices range from pizzas and pastas to sandwiches and stir fry, steak and seafood. In the summer, there is free live music Thursday-Sunday from 9:30 p.m.-midnight.

Harlequin Sweet & Savory Bakeshop
316 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 291-9866
harlequinbakery.com
From warm buttermilk donuts (in the morning), artisan breads, rolls and French pastries to baguette sandwiches and spinach salads (for lunch) and Sanford signature breadsticks, Sanford's Harlequin Bake Shop is a wonderful addition to the Ward. Everything is made from scratch.

Hilo Martini Lounge and Restaurant
185 N. Jefferson Street, (414) 755-8625
http://www.hilomartinilounge.com/
Located on the east side of the Quad Graphics building, Hilo opened in the winter of 2007 to offer a balanced combination of martinis and belgian beer, casual lunch and fine dining dinner. Lunch offers American style sandwiches, salads and pastas while dinner offers higher end options including steak and seafood. The setting of cozy corners and comfy booths is the perfect place for a post-dinner cocktail or tasty dessert.

Hinterland Erie Street Gastropub
222 E. Erie St., (414) 727-9300
http://www.hinterlandbeer.com/
Hinterland, a Green Bay original, opened their second location in Milwaukee's Third Ward in Fall 2007. The fine dining restaurant features fresh wild game and seafood as well as an affinity for locally grown, fresh produce. Menu changes are made daily and seasonally. Patrons have the option of either a fine dining room for full dinner service or the more casual lounge for a smaller, scaled back menu.

The Irish Pub
124 N. Water St., (414) 225-9400
http://www.theirishpub.us/
Aiming to replicate the warmth, comfort and wit of pubs in Ireland, the Irish Pub offers traditional food in a traditional setting. The menu combines Irish classics with American bar style cuisine; offering subtle changes to American classics such as Jameson Whiskey wings, Irish nachos and Corned Beef Sandwiches. Though not visible from the street, the Irish Pub has a large interior courtyard for outdoor seating.

Metke's (MJ's) on Milwaukee
332 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 277-1127
Nothing fancy here, just a Milwaukee tavern with a hearty menu of salads, soups and sandwiches. Add a touch of Irish blarney and a dash of sports on the tube and that's Metke's.

Milwaukee Ale House
233 N. Water St., (414) 226-2337
ale-house.com
Craft brews, live music, great bar food and one of the city's best patios make the Ale House a favorite stop. Louie's Demise, Pullchain Pail Ale, Sheepshead Stout ... ale's is what will cure ya at the Milwaukee Ale House. Swing night is Tuesday and late nights on Thursday rock with serious karaoke.

Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St.
milwaukeepublicmarket.org
We highlighted C. Adams above, but don't forget that while the market isn't meant to be a suburban food court, it's full of wonderful dining options. El Rey, Oskri Organics, Ceriello Fine Foods, St. Paul's Fish Company, Aladdin, Sushi-a-Go-Go, Piacentine's Artisan Bread, West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shoppe, Soup & Stock Market, Cedarburg Coffee and Sheridan's Wines and Generous Spirits. Shop, eat, drink and sample!