Restaurant Recommendations

[StillWarriors]

Heading into town this weekend for the game and a reunion with MU friends. Looking for some restaurant recommendations. I'm thinking I'd like to hit the 3rd Ward maybe Sat night, but otherwise pretty flexible. Looking for moderately priced American/Italian menus with good atmosphere. Thanks

[21Jumpstreet]

Heading into town this weekend for the game and a reunion with MU friends. Looking for some restaurant recommendations. I'm thinking I'd like to hit the 3rd Ward maybe Sat night, but otherwise pretty flexible. Looking for moderately priced American/Italian menus with good atmosphere. Thanks

I really enjoy (among others):

Morel
Crazy Water
Story Hill BKC
Odd Duck

For Italian, I guess Ristorante or an old neighborhood red sauce joint.

[wadesworld]

Oscar's Pub for a delicious burger.
The Tandem for some incredible fried chicken (and an awesome breakfast burrito...kitchen opens at 11:00 and I believe brunch/lunch is cheaper than dinner).

[real chili 83]

Ahem.

[4everwarriors]

Onesto, Zarletti's, Bavette, hey?

[Goose]

Crazy Water is one of my favorites.

[StillWarriors]

Ahem.

Haha. Always at the top of the list late night!

[StillWarriors]

I appreciate the suggestions.

[Moonboots]

Moderately priced American/Italian in the Third Ward - Onesto is absolutely your jam. At a slightly higher cost per plate (but in my opinion, the best Italian food in the city) Zarletti near Cathedral Square is awesome.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Real Chili

[GB Warrior]

Moderately priced American/Italian in the Third Ward - Onesto is absolutely your jam. At a slightly higher cost per plate (but in my opinion, the best Italian food in the city) Zarletti near Cathedral Square is awesome.

I would also highlight Centro (Riverwest) and Tenutas (Bayview)

[Spotcheck Billy]

No love for Trattoria DiCarlo?

[Jon]

Angelo's, Wales on Wells, Grebe's, George Webb.

I also recall Ricky's had a "Businessman's Special"

[Spotcheck Billy]

AFAIK, Ricky's is no more.

[tower912]

Arby's

[Jon]

AFAIK, Ricky's is no more.

YGBSM.

The "Businessman's Special" was a sandwich, a beer, and a lap dance.

[mudeltaforcegurl]

Arby's

WEBB’S!

[dgies9156]

Moderately priced American/Italian in the Third Ward - Onesto is absolutely your jam. At a slightly higher cost per plate (but in my opinion, the best Italian food in the city) Zarletti near Cathedral Square is awesome.

Absolutely! Zarletti is really good. A bit pricey but good.

[BM1090]

I wasn't a big fan of Onesto. It was good, no complaints. Just wasn't blown away. Will have to try Zarletti.

[Jockey]

Arby's

Took a long time for someone to give the right answer.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

4ever is a big fan of dining at the Y.  Aina.

[Bocephys]

Tre Rivali at the Kimpton is good.  Buckleys recently renovated a large space as well.

[real chili 83]

We are planning on Mader's on Friday night.  Solid choice......or talk me out of it.

[mudeltaforcegurl]

We are planning on Mader's on Friday night.  Solid choice......or talk me out of it.

Mader’s is a solid choice for experiencing Milwaukee’s German heritage. When I fly friends in to visit I often take them there.

[Miss Katie’s]

Agree with the Zarletti suggestions.  And I would also suggest Stella Van Buren in the downtown Westin.  Cool space with very good Italian, steak, and seafood options. 

[dgies9156]

We are planning on Mader's on Friday night.  Solid choice......or talk me out of it.

Brother Real, my advice is go with where your heart takes you. Mader's is the last of several high quality German restaurants. John Ernst Cafe and Ratzchs both are history. The smaller German restaurants are gone. If you like German in an elegant but worn setting Mader's is the place.

Another place worth mentioning if you have a large group and looking for a casual but good place is Louise's. It's on Cathedral Square just across from Real Chili on the east side. I've taken my daughter and her friends there before Marquette games as well as some of my Nashville crowd. Traditional Italian done a traditional way but very good and reasonably priced.  NEVER MIND!!!!! It closed last August

Happy NMD and am sorry I'm missing it this year.

[4everwarriors]

C'mon man, Louise's is ded two, hey?

[dgies9156]

C'mon man, Louise's is ded two, hey?

Oops Brother 4Ever, my mistake. Obviously have not been there since last winter and am disappointed to see it close. As I said to Brother Real, I really enjoyed this place with a large group.

Brother Real, my apologies for being behind the times! Try Zarlettis.

[Jon]

Back in the day the best pie in Milwaukee was Palermo's.

The Falucca's are a big MU family, too.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Agree with the Zarletti suggestions.  And I would also suggest Stella Van Buren in the downtown Westin.  Cool space with very good Italian, steak, and seafood options.

Stella's has a nice brunch too.  I am surprised no one mentioned Char'd. We also hit the Tin Widow for some great craft cocktails this weekend.

The Swinging Door is one who deserves a mention, pre or post game. I think half the FF was at Milwaukee Brewing post-game. They did a great job with the new space including the Ice Bar.

[real chili 83]

As mentioned earlier, went to Mader's Friday night.  Food was good and service was great, BUT NOT WORTH THE PRICE.  I had two beers, and the War Dept had two cocktails, plus an appetizer.  With tip....$140. 

That is my last trip there.

[Dr. Blackheart]

As mentioned earlier, went to Mader's Friday night.  Food was good and service was great, BUT NOT WORTH THE PRICE.  I had two beers, and the War Dept had two cocktails, plus an appetizer.  With tip....$140. 

That is my last trip there.

The Knight's Bar is a better choice there.  Also, free parking for games.  $140 and only apps?  Wow

[real chili 83]

The Knight's Bar is a better choice there.  Also, free parking for games.  $140 and only apps?  Wow

Sorry... we both had an entree too. Wouldn’t be fair to Maders to omit. Still, darned pricey.

[MU82]

We are planning on Mader's on Friday night.  Solid choice......or talk me out of it.

Mader's was where my parents met my future wife's parents for the first time (the 6 of us went there).

That was 37 years ago, and my wife and I have been married for 35+ years, so I'm sure there must be a plaque on the wall there commemorating the event!

[Sir Lawrence]

Sorry... we both had an entree too. Wouldn’t be fair to Maders to omit. Still, darned pricey.

Did you have the litre sized steins?

[real chili 83]

Did you have the litre sized steins?

No. Two Abbey Quads.

[warriorchick]

Mader's was where my parents met my future wife's parents for the first time (the 6 of us went there).

That was 37 years ago, and my wife and I have been married for 35+ years, so I'm sure there must be a plaque on the wall there commemorating the event!

Mader's was where Glow and I held our rehearsal dinner.  It was certainly nowhere near $70/person, even rolled back to 1987 prices.

[StillAWarrior]

Mader's was where my parents met my future wife's parents for the first time (the 6 of us went there).

That was 37 years ago, and my wife and I have been married for 35+ years, so I'm sure there must be a plaque on the wall there commemorating the event!

We did the same thing at Karl Ratzsch’s 28 years ago. I never went to Mader’s. We loved Ratzsch’s. I remember the first time my wife (then girlfriend) and I went there. I think it was about $40-$45, and was by far the most expensive meal I’d ever had. Probably 1989 or so.

[Jon]

We did the same thing at Karl Ratzsch’s 28 years ago. I never went to Mader’s. We loved Ratzsch’s. I remember the first time my wife (then girlfriend) and I went there. I think it was about $40-$45, and was by far the most expensive meal I’d ever had. Probably 1989 or so.

Back in the day, Ratzsch's was world-class. My dad was a fighter pilot who made a point of landing at Mitchell AFB if he was flying cross country. There was no question where he wanted to eat. Like many here, he met his future daughter-in-law wife for the first time at Ratzsch's.

Damn shame it's gone.   

[Spotcheck Billy]

I guess Mader's is a good place for tourists to go, other than that....how often do you really go out for schnitzel?

[BrewCity83]

We Germans like our schnitzel!

[Goose]

Crash
Spot on regarding Ratzsch’s. Took my bride there on her birthday while we were dating. Plenty of family meals were shared there. Was very sad to see it close. Ratzsch’s and John Ernst set the standard for German good in MKE.

[tower912]

Ate at both 30 years ago.   Both excellent.      Brunch at Piece's of 8 was pretty good, too.   

[Chili]

Ate at both 30 years ago.   Both excellent.      Brunch at Piece's of 8 was pretty good, too.

WHAT???? Pieces of 8 was trash. McCormick had better food. It was low grade Alpo on good day. Last time there was a Mother's Day Brunch and half us didn't even the food when it arrived since it was disgusting.

The city did that great location a service when they didn't renew the lease for them and turned it over to the Bartolotta's.

 

[tower912]

WHAT???? Pieces of 8 was trash. McCormick had better food. It was low grade Alpo on good day. Last time there was a Mother's Day Brunch and half us didn't even the food when it arrived since it was disgusting.

The city did that great location a service when they didn't renew the lease for them and turned it over to the Bartolotta's.

I last ate there in the 80's.    It was good then. 

[Jon]

Mader's was where Glow and I held our rehearsal dinner.  It was certainly nowhere near $70/person, even rolled back to 1987 prices.

You guys were high rollers.

I had my rehearsal dinner at Turner's. After that the evening was a blur but I do remember Big Red at Rickey's.

When Fr Corbett Walsh asked me the next day what we lads had gotten up to after the Rehearsal Dinner I didn't mention Big Red. Or Rickey's.

[StillAWarrior]

I last ate there in the 80's.    It was good then.

I had brunch there once in the late 80's.  It was good.

[Goose]

Crash
Big Red, Rickey’s and Fr. Corbett Walsh in same post brings back some real memories. A very nice trifecta.

[MU82]

We did the same thing at Karl Ratzsch’s 28 years ago. I never went to Mader’s. We loved Ratzsch’s. I remember the first time my wife (then girlfriend) and I went there. I think it was about $40-$45, and was by far the most expensive meal I’d ever had. Probably 1989 or so.

Oh yeah ... Ratzsch's ... couldn't remember the name of that place.

Yes, I thought it was superior to Mader's the couple of times I ate there.