An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/59807
Key RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH SAZ'S STATE HOUSE The place to be in any season FOR SPORTS FANS and BBQ lovers in Milwaukee, the place to be in any season is Saz's State House. In 1976, Steve Sazama – better known as Saz – started a Milwaukee tradition by opening Saz's State House in an unlikely location next to railroad tracks in the Miller Valley. Thirty-six years later trains still pass the enlarged restaurant, but Saz continues to preside at 5539 W. State Street, where fans gather this month to start another Milwaukee Brewer season. Saz believes in "focusing on what you do best" and con- tinues to preside daily over his restaurant. But his orga- nization has expanded into serving its specialty products at festivals, catering tailgate parties and other events and selling popu- lar menu items and sauces in leading grocery stores. Today, Saz's State House offers a wide variety of menu choices for lunch or dinner, including out- standing chicken, fish and steak entrees. A gluten- free menu and a great variety of kid-friendly plates meet customer needs. 58 But the emphasis remains on ribs. Combinations include Steak 'N Ribs, Chicken 'N Ribs, Jumbo Shrimp 'N Ribs and a Texas BBQ combo with smoked andouille sausage, beef brisket and one- third rack of baby back ribs. When the restaurant announced new menu items earlier this year, the highlight predictably was a 36th anniversary Signature Braised Pork Sandwich described this way: "Made from a slowly cooked braised boneless pork butt (alias premium shoulder meat) sourced from top of the line genetics, which yields the highest quality fla- vor and texture. Antibiotic and hormone free, this ten- der, tasty pork is then blend- ed with Saz's award-winning Original Barbecue Sauce for an exceptionally savory flavor." The team that made this new barbecue item is comprised of Melotte Distributing and Bonewerks CulinArtP (operating out of Green Bay), Contract Comestibles (East Troy) and, of course, Saz's. The four Wisconsin companies collaborated to bring Saz's Signature Braised Pork to market.