On The Clock Bar & Grill, Milwaukee

Befitting a restaurant with its name, On The Clock Bar & Grill keeps one eye on the past. Here, the past is visible everywhere: Built in 1903, the restaurant retains the leaded glass, carved gum-wood paneling, and tile arches that once made it such a glorious addition to Milwaukee's South Side. Wherever you look, you're likely to see some relic from the past, be it the exquisitely carved wood bar or the pair of medieval knights checking IDs at the entrance.

But On The Clock isn't content to bask in the glories of yesteryear. New owners Robert Krause & Linda Kilcollins have brought their bar into the present with some modern comforts. Chief among these is the menu, which now includes half-pound burgers, pizzas, and a weekly fish fry. A gluten-free menu also recently joined the mix. And though the bartenders can still make a mean martini, Milwaukee's craft-beer explosion is proudly represented on the drink menu.