The Best Restaurants in Milwaukee

Milwaukee locals like to hang out at its bars and pubs to watch the Milwaukee Brewers in action. While socializing with fellow Brewers fans, diners can share a cheese and crackers plate, potato balls, cheese curds, or brats, a few favorite bar foods in this city. It also has a wide selection of old-fashioned steakhouses or supper clubs such as the Five O'Clock Steakhouse. Several of its upscale restaurants have elegant dining rooms along with outdoor seating. Some, like Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, provide views of beautiful Lake Michigan.

The OpenTable Team

15 Restaurants

Updated January 18, 2022

Restaurants:	Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, Sorella, Mo's A Place for Steaks - Milwaukee…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	French, Italian, Steak…
Neighborhoods:	Milwaukee…

Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro

$$$$

French

Milwaukee

4.7

5264 reviews

The menu at Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro is French-inspired. Like many European restaurants, it has a prix fixe menu which includes appetizers, a middle course, the main course, and a dessert. A few of its dishes include pan-seared scallops, truffle-ricotta stuffed ravioli, duck leg, and chocolate flourless cake. Its menu, however, changes often to take advantage of local produce and fresh ingredients. Its chic decor gives it an upscale look and feel. Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro is a good place to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary. From many places in the restaurant, diners can take in views of Lake Michigan and the open fields. Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro has won several awards including the James Beard Award for Best Midwest Chef and an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectators Magazine. It is a restaurant of notable chef, Paul Bartolotta, who opened it in 1993.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sorella

$$$$

Italian

Milwaukee

4.7

747 reviews

Enjoy Italian fare at Sorella's in Milwaukee. It serves a wide selection of pasta dishes such as cavatelli and oricchetti with sausage, and brick oven dishes including eggplant pizza. Its drink menu includes draft beer, wine and cocktails such as mocktails and lemoncello. This restaurant is a collaboration between Chef Kyle Toner and restaurateurs on the East Coast. Its decor is a combination of old warm charm and modern sophistication. Some of its interior features include brick walls, leather benches, floral wallpaper, contemporary wall art, and furniture made with repurposed wood. A cozy outdoor seating area is available with oversized couches, wrought iron tables and a fireplace for warmth when it is a little chilly outdoors. This restaurant was featured in Milwaukee Magazine. Paul Damora and his partner opened Sorella in 2020.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Mo's A Place for Steaks - Milwaukee

$$$$

Steak

Milwaukee

4.8

2071 reviews

Mo's is an award-winning steakhouse close to downtown Milwaukee. Its menu includes the best cuts of steak and seafood entrees such as filet mignon, tuna steak and Mo's baby back ribs. Add your choice of sides like mashed potatoes, crispy onion strings or brussel sprouts to any meal. Fresh bread and a salad are also included with each entree. Mo's has a romantic decor with a hip, East Coast vibe. Burgundy walls, black leather chairs and old photographs mounted on the walls pay homage to steakhouses from yesteryears. A mirrored, backlit bar further provides a great way for Mo's to display its wide selection of wines and spirits. This restaurant is owned by Johnny Vassallo who opened its doors in 1999.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cafe at The Pfister

$$$$

American

Milwaukee

4.4

245 reviews

This downtown Milwaukee cafe is open for both breakfast and lunch. It also has a special coffee counter from where diners can grab a quick espresso and a morning pastry on the way to the office. It serves something for every appetite including avocado toast, hot cereal, blueberry pancakes, and a frittata made with egg whites for breakfast. At lunch, diners can choose a soup and sandwich combo, a chopped salad, or a beef hot dog (one of its specialties). Family-friendly, along with their standard menu, kids can order from a special menu. Some dishes on the kids' menu include pancakes (served all day), waffles, burgers, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Cafe at the Pfister is inside of the famous Pfister Hotel. It is owned by the Marcus Group and has been serving the Milwaukee community since 2015.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Five O'Clock Steakhouse

$$$$

Steakhouse

Milwaukee

4.8

3553 reviews

Family-owned and operated, Five O'Clock Steakhouse serves traditional dishes such as filet mignon, prime rib and New York strip steaks. Each entree is served with sauce, mushrooms, and sides like creamed spinach, a baked potato, asparagus, or crab macaroni and cheese. It offers an old-school, supper club vibe with brick walls, a wood and leather bar, red decorative accents, and a brick fireplace. Special events including musical performances are often featured at Five O'Clock Steakhouse. This restaurant was nationally recognized by Rachael Ray as one of the top steakhouses in the US. Five O'Clock Steakhouse was started in 1946 by Wilmer "Bill" Coerper.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

La Merenda

$$$$

Tapas / Small Plates

Milwaukee

4.9

2383 reviews

Order small plates for sharing at La Merenda. Its menu features dishes from all around the world. Some dishes that diners can order include goat cheese curds, empanadas, grilled octopus salad, and beef short rib gnocchi. The decor at La Merenda's has an international flair. It has golden-colored walls, long wooden tables with solid wood chairs, fabric wallpaper, and Moroccan-style pendant lights. On sunny days, many diners opt to sit outdoors in front of the stone fireplace. This restaurant is owned by Peter Sandroni who opened it in 2017.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Carnevor

$$$$

Steak

Milwaukee

4.9

2742 reviews

Carnevor is a modern steakhouse close to the Yankee Hill neighborhood in Milwaukee. This fine dining establishment is a good place to celebrate a holiday, birthday or another special occasion. Its menu features prime beef and fresh seafood served with side dishes like truffled frites, roasted asparagus or butternut squash risotto. Diners can start their meal at Carnevor with an appetizer such as steak tartare, bourbon-glazed bacon or roasted bone marrow. A full-service bar offers a wide selection of wines and cocktails. Its sleek decor with a decorative wood ceiling, black tables and chairs, wood stick room dividers, and floor-to-ceiling windows, add to the elegant dining experience here. It received Milwaukee Magazine's Readers Choice Award.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Zarletti - Downtown

$$$$

Italian

Milwaukee

4.8

2491 reviews

Zarletti is owned by Brian Zarletti who opened this restaurant in 2014. It offers a diverse menu that includes a variety of pasta dishes including a four-cheese ravioli, pasta bolognese, and minestrone soup. Italian desserts like tiramisu and cannolis are also a favorite of diners when eating at Zarlettis. Its cozy dining room offers intimate spaces that seat two to four diners. Concrete floors, orange chairs and blue accent walls add to its stylish decor.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Third Coast Provisions

$$$$

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

4.3

1155 reviews

Located in East Town, Third Coast Provisions is a seafood restaurant on Milwaukee Street. Its chef, Andrew Miller, has a fresh oyster bar and serves stylish dishes like its lobster pot pie, gulf shrimp rolls and fried oyster sliders. The decor at this restaurant is bright and airy. Its sophistication is enhanced with white and gold decorative wallpaper, velvet green benches, marble-top tables, glass ball chandeliers, a distressed wooden bar, and natural wood accents. Third Coast Provisions first opened in 2016.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant

$$$$

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

4.6

2127 reviews

Dine while taking in the picturesque views of Lake Michigan at Bacchus. Bacchus specializes in creative and upscale dishes such as its oyster salad, seared foie gras, roasted duck breast, and pancetta-wrapped pork loin. Finish a meal with a sweet treat like its caramelized apple crisp dessert. It also has an extensive wine list including sparkling and dessert wines. Its decor is glamorous and includes lots of leather, wood and metal accents. White columns, a grand foyer and dramatic lighting give this restaurant its romantic appeal. This fine-dining restaurant is another venture of the Bartolotta brothers. It first opened in 2004.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Smoke Shack

$$$$

Barbecue

Milwaukee

4.6

322 reviews

Indulge in Southern-style barbecue at the Smoke Shack located in downtown Milwaukee. This casual restaurant has a rustic, but fun decor that is reminiscent of old taverns. There is also outdoor seating at the side of the restaurant. Specializing in slow-cooked meats, some dishes on its menu include briskets, pulled chicken, sausage links, and pulled pork. Side dishes like corn on the cob, fried green tomatoes, slaw, baked beans, and cornbread are also served here. When dining at the Smoke Shack, diners can add a bourbon cocktail such as its prohibition sweet tea to their meal. The Smoke Shack received the Top Barbecue restaurant award from the local publication, Sheperd Express. It is owned by Joe and Angie Sorge who started this business in 2010.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

MOXIE Food + Drink

$$$$

Contemporary American

Whitefish Bay

4.8

1052 reviews

Moxie Food and Drink serves both Italian and American cuisine, especially comfort foods. Its brunch menu includes crepes, pork belly benedict and steak frittata. For lunch and dinner, diners can enjoy pasta dishes like short rib bolognese and Italian sausage pasta. Sandwiches like short rib sliders and grilled chicken breast with bacon are also on its menu. It also has a full-service bar with a wide selection of beers, wines and cocktails. MOXIE has a stylish indoor and outdoor dining space. Its bistro-style atmosphere includes industrial ceilings, hardwood floors, pendant lights, and dark wood tables and chairs. This restaurant opened in 2016 under the direction of business partners Anne Marie Arroyo and Tamela Greene.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

SafeHouse

$$$$

American

Milwaukee

3.9

364 reviews

SafeHouse has been around since 1966 and is the vision of David Baldwin. This restaurant has a spy theme which makes it a fun place to eat with family and friends. Some of its decor features include maps, secret doors, photos, and lockers. Its menu items are also named for spy movies such as its Mission Impossible drink, License to Kill macaroni and cheese, and the Inside Agent burger. This family-friendly restaurant also has a menu for kids that includes a grilled cheese spywich, undercover macaroni and cheese and mini golden bullets (or corn dogs).

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Don's TV & Repair

$$$$

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

4.7

842 reviews

Enjoy takeout or dine-in at Don's TV and Repair on Milwaukee. Located in the Harbor View neighborhood under the guise of a TV and repair shop, this speakeasy is a hidden gem. Its menu includes casual and fun foods like burgers, shakes, nachos, chicken tenders, onion rings, fries, and confetti pancakes for brunch. Diners can also stop by here for a good old-fashioned Happy Hour on weekdays. Happy Hour features specials on appetizers as well as its themed cocktails such as its bathtub mimosa (which is served in a miniature bathtub) and Gremlin Christmas cocktail. It is decorated like a tv repair shop with televisions, VCRs and other equipment lying around. The dining room has the look of an old-fashioned ice cream shop with a large counter and bench seating.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Saz's State House Restaurant

$$$$

American

Milwaukee

4.5

238 reviews

Enjoy barbecue cuisine in Milwaukee at Saz's State House Restaurant. Some of its menu items include Southern-style shrimp, chicken wings, baby back ribs, and burgers. This restaurant also offers a Friday night fish fry which features beer-battered cod, coleslaw, fries, and bread. Its stylish decor includes a long bar, a backlit bar cabinet, high pub tables, and brick square floors. Outdoor dining is also available. This restaurant is owned and managed by the Saz's Hospitality Group.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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