Jacques’ Café is roomy with a sunny barroom and a series of intimate dining rooms. The restaurant opens at 10 a.m.—a good time to sample the crepes. The tables near the bar are the place for a glass of wine followed with escargot or perhaps a charcuterie plate with pâté and prosciutto. The onion soup...

The historic center of Wauwatosa is a far cry from Mayfair Road. Also called “The Village,” it houses a number of 19th-century buildings occupied by shops and restaurants, the latest of which is a cafe named Le Reve. Le Reve, which opened in June, is the dream of owners Therese Hittman and Andrew Schneider.

Lunch, dinner or cocktail hour, this Third Ward mainstay is bursting with crowds and French flair. The angular, centrally located bar provides a prime vantage point for people-watching over a cheese plate and Cotes du Rhone;