Amilinda is a charming little hole-in-the-wall in downtown Milwaukee serving up Spanish and Portuguese inspired cuisine. I've been here on a few occasions and have always been pleased with the experience. After making it past the host area, you'll enter to find that the space is long and narrow with an open kitchen and bar on one side and intimate table seating on the other. The ambiance is cozy and charming. It makes for a great date night spot. When we've been in, the service has been lovely. Quick recommendations: +If you're love a good whiskey cocktail, their Vote for Pedro is the way to go (bourbon, sherry, bitters) +We thoroughly enjoyed the cheese board. Cheese, nuts, fruit, and snacks. What's not to love? Other details: +On Tuesdays they have 1/2 price wine bottles. +Their happy hour runs from 4-6pm Tuesdays-Fridays Get to it! read more

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We first tried this restaurant during the pandemic lockdown period and ordered takeout foods. Every dish was super flavorful, so we wanted to go there again after it become open to dining in, and we finally managed to visit it in early 2023. The flavors of the dishes were all pleasing to the mouth but tend to be more subtle than the takeout dishes we ordered in 2020. This is not typical of Portuguese and Spanish food. So, you may be disappointed if you are looking for the kind of Iberian dishes with rich and strong flavors. The chef also changes menus frequently, although there seem to be dishes that regularly appear in the rotating menu with some variations. For instance, we ordered Pork Alentejana and Trout with sun-dried tomatoes and saffron, and other customers also seem to have had them from time to time. Both are very good, but neither had a strong flavor. For an appetizer, we ordered sauteed vegetables with Portuguese ham, which is tasty but had no pronounced flavor. It seems that two attributes of the restaurant contribute to its winning of awards and also sometimes disappoint customers: an innovative and changing menu with varied flavor profiles, and dishes with more subtle flavors that are not typical of Portuguese and Spanish food. read more

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We ate here a couple of weeks ago - not long after the news of the chef's James Beard award nomination. I hope that our experience was really an outlier, but we found the meal incredibly disappointing. There were definitely some standout dishes. The crab croquette appetizers were very good. The garlic custard appetizer was just outstanding - very unique and delicious - worthy of five stars on any review. Likewise, the desserts were strong. We had both the lemon custard and the chocolate cake and were happy with both. Service was good. Drinks were okay - maybe not so inventive as some other places, but good. So what was missing between appetizers and dessert? You guessed it... the entrees! I had the Rabbit Two Ways. This consisted of a braised rabbit thigh and fried leg. The thigh was good - very tender and tasty. The dish would have been much better if the leg was just left off of it, though. It was dry and the tiny amount of meat that could be picked off of the bone was not worth the effort. Very difficult to eat. Amy's entree was even more of a disappointment. She had the Bistro Filet. I am not sure it was even the right cut of beef - it was much tougher than the typical filet - even though it was cooked a nice medium rare. The real problem with the steak, though, was that it was topped with a garlic chimichurri (or some similar sauce) that was completely overpowering. We both like garlic, but this was approaching inedible, it was so strong. Like I said, disappointing. Maybe we were just unlucky, so take this review with a grain of salt. But if you're at Amilinda, I'd recommend steering clear of the rabbit and steak. But definitely get the garlic custard! read more

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Ambiance is really cute, service was 5/5. Some food was bland, a bit dissapointed given how hyped up the place was. Foie GrAs toasts was 5/5! Perfect taste and texture Braised beef tongue was bland 2/5, can get more punch to the taste duck confit was 3.5/5 read more

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Our waiter was awesome the food was ok there wasn't much on the menu but I had there steak and it was very chewy and not the best my wife had the veggie dish and it was better then my steak read more

Amilinda - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Service was poor .. food was expensive and almost warm. Halibut was sweet and too much sauce Steak fair and for the price the NY strip small and served in a bowl! read more

We love this place for dinner. Menu changes and food is always simple and fresh. Top notch service. Within blocks of the Pfister and Marriott. Save room for a cocktail and dessert. read more

3.5 Stars - we had some issues with the check and gratuity that we were able to sort out days later. Pro Tip: Amilinda does offer valet parking, not good for groups over 6 Street parking can be difficult but Amilinda does offer valet parking which we weren't aware of but good to know for next time. Roasted Indian Eggplant ($9): The cumin seed crackers are delicious! Just the right amount of crunch and salt. I wish this eggplant was stuffed with more chevre but they were wonderfully cooked, soft enough to be broken with your fork. Pork Empanadas ($10): Nothing particularly special but generously loaded with pork, can't go wrong with a chimichurri dipping sauce Seared Octopus ($12): I wish we had more octopus and less potatoes, I would skip this dish as it didn't really have a wow factor Rabbit in Adobo ($24): The rabbit was moist and tender Pork 4 Ways ($28): I really enjoyed this dish. Each piece of pork had so much flavor. I especially favored the sausage and crispy pork ears! The black eye peas was a great pairing as it was light and refreshing after having a plate full of meat Sir Earl Gray Gin Tonic ($11): If you love the taste of earl gray, skip this gin tonic. This was a gin tonic with an earl gray tea bag and hardly infused Carrot Cake ($14): A definite dessert drink. It is rich, creamy, and flavorful I overall enjoyed my meal at Amilinda but would pass on a few dishes next time. The menu is always changing which is enticing. I'll have to give it another shot sometime! read more

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I was visiting friends in Milwaukee and attending Summerfest. Visited Amilinda on June 22. Wonderful experience. The cocktail (Jerez) was fabulous. Halibut cooked to perfection. Trout appetizer was terrific. I hate most all eggs and the egg salad this was served on was delightful. I loved the quaint ambiance. Staff was attentive and wonderful. Looking for Portuguese/Spanish comfort food? This is the place. read more

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Wow! We had an amazing Saturday night dinner at Amilinda!!!! This small Spanish infused restaurant gets all 5-stars! With a limited menu, amazing wines & cocktails we enjoyed the whole experience! I ordered Beef Espetada! Wow!!! Served with baby arugula, cucumbers, carrots & milho frito!!! Amazing. The beef was cooked to perfection (medium rare) very juicy and flavorful! Good sized portion of beef. The milho frito was the side dish. At dinner I could not decide how to describe the milho frito. So I had to do my research! Milho frito (fried corn in English) is a typical Madeira side dish made of corn, kale or collard greens (finely sliced), water, garlic and olive oil mixed together and then fried. It was amazing and complimented the beef so well! The milho frito literally melts in your mouth! My husband ordered the braised beef tongue. Wow again!!!! My dish was definitely the winner for the night but the braised beef tongue was a close 2nd! The braised beef tongue was plated with roasted potato, tomato stew, squash and carrots. Very good portion of stew compared to beef tongue. My husband liked the dish but felt the beef tongue was a little over cooked and was soft in texture. Overall a great dish. Now for drinks and dessert! I ordered the Spanish Nights cocktail: the Spanish orange liqueur & pomegranate was perfect. Let's just say I could definitely taste the liqueur! My husband with with a dry red wine! For dessert we had the baked carrot cake cobbler with vanilla cheese cake ice cream!!! Sooooo Good!!! Amazing restaurant, great food and drinks with amazingly nice staff and service! Friendly/ intimate atmosphere. Also the menu changes often!!!! Dessert are made fresh daily and change as well. read more

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Homey Dining Honestly, you can't ask for a better dining experience then Amilinda. The service here is always superior and the food itself is uncomparable. When you step in it feels like a place you want to hang out for the evening with the open kitchen and cute decor. I've tried numerous dishes over the years and have zero complaints. Offerings from the bar are plentiful - great craft drinks with a nice selection of wine. Prices are reasonable and less than what you'd see in larger cities. read more

We were there for the first time on Valentine's Day for dinner--very busy. The drinks were great. The food was greater. We will visit this restaurant again! read more

This was our first time at this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The food was cooked to absolute perfection and we ate everything we ordered! The staff was so pleasant and helpful from the moment we walked in and the chef came over to greet us and made sure our meal was amazing. We will ABSOLUTELY be back in the future!!! read more

So, during "safer at home" I've ordered from Amilinda a couple times. The first time, I ordered: La Tabla | House-made preserves, marcona almonds, house-ground mustard, pickled veg, crostini, and crackers, Sobrasada, and jamón Pork Shoulder | Bafassa Sauce, Mustard Greens, Red Radish, Garlic Toum, and Chickpea Calentita Pancake And the 2018 Ramón Bilbao Albariño La tabla was a wonderful spread of a bunch of different options, and you can mix and match what you like! The pork shoulder was wonderful and was accompanied by a great chickpea pancake. The wine pairing was my choice and it just went really well with everything else. The second time, I ordered Ensalada Rica, Beef Espetada, Lemon Curd Tart, with the Lacrimus Rioja. The wine went really well with the beef, but it became amazing when I drank it with the dessert. If you're looking for a way to treat yourself during a stressful social distancing time, go to Amilinda. The owners are great and the food is just as enjoyable. I can't wait until this is all over and I can dine-in! read more

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Amazing from the minute i walked into the restaurant. Love the small, intimate feel of the restaurant. Decor is a beautiful nood to Portugal. I came in alone and was seated at the bar. Staff friendly and delightful. Cocktails are so delicious. Ordered the grilled Endive and the Rabbit.. food was absolutely delightful and complex flavors. Chef Gregory did it right.. down to every detail, including the hand-made pottery salad bowls and greeting the guests. I am very excited to come back and try more of the menu. The food is so well done.. thank you for a wonderful meal. read more

Amilinda - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We had high expectations due to the fact that our host let us know the chef had recently won a prestigious award. The food overall had very mild flavor profiles. The soup was served cold, which we were unsure of but did not ask due to the award goggles placed onto us upon arrival. Another appetizer we ordered was the grilled endive, it was not thoroughly cooked and tough to cut through. Also needed more sauce/salt/overall flavor to enjoy from first to last bite. The flank steak and beef cheeks were served warm-cold. We were extremely confused but as it was our first time we did not know exactly what to expect. Overall the flavor of all dishes was pretty basic. We left with a $170 check and went home disappointed. To Gregory, the business owner: you could apologize or explain why dishes were cold. The other review was not mine but the person I went with. It's a shame you are unable to take criticism. Good luck. read more

Major disappointment. The menu was uninspired, the flavors were uninteresting, and the food was underseasoned and poorly prepared. Fried quail, sardines and pork belly appetizer - all needed salt, at a minimum. The grits were the redeeming factor. Not a good start, but I retained hope. The service was energetic and friendly. The wine was tasty. After a long wait, the entrees arrived. The bacalau stew was decent, but packed with too many potatoes and not enough fish. The braised beef tongue was fine. Nothing to get excited about. But the lamb dishes were a disaster. Dry, tough, bland meat served with undercooked garbanzo beans. Not wanting to complain about everything (we ARE polite Midwesterners, after all), we chose to mention the nearly raw garbanzos to the server who then sent over the chef. Talk about rude and condescending! Instead of simply apologizing, he explained how they were boiled and roasted, implying we were simply backwater hicks who didn't understand what roasted chickpeas taste like! He then rolled his eyes and walked away. All in all, one of my worst dining experiences during my 1.5 years in Milwaukee. I lived in San Francisco for 25 years before moving here, so, yes, I do know what properly cooked garbanzo beans taste like. I also know good food. And it's not to be found at Amilinda. read more

We were in last night! The food was amazing! I love that the menu changes based on ingredients and what's available. Also, really good wine selection! read more

Amilinda - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This place was beyond amazing. The service was fabulous and the food was out of this world with great ambiance. Would definitely highly recommend this location. Situated in the heart of the city downtown. read more

oh goodness this place has wonderful food! Last night we had: TROUT Cipollini Onions - Fennel - Chamomile Hearts of Palm - Leeks and PORK ALENTEJANA Parsnip Puree - Kale Manila Clams Blaine the server was great and seeing Gregory in the kitchen was comforting and inspiring. read more

What a great experience we had for our first trip to Amilinda. Solid service and excellent food are the hallmarks of choosing a spot to eat dinner that was superb. Amilinda has been on our radar for a while now so on date day my wife stepped up and made a reservation for us to check out the joint. Upon entering we noticed what I would describe as "old world" charm to the place. It was open, colorful and inviting. Seating was breeze which I would attribute to the ability to make reservations. I like that, a lot! We started off ordering a couple appetizers. Smoked duck breast was the first. It was Ok. Nothing bad just wasn't expecting a cold appetizer. Duck was tender but would've loved it served hot. Second appetizer was an asparagus pate. This was really good. The asparagus whip tasted so good on the crunchy baguette. This is another example of veggies done right! Entrees we had were truly magnificent, especially my wife's veggie plate. Amilinda does the whole, whatever is fresh at the market thing and they do it well. The veggie dish she ordered was so tasty, so substantial and so filling. It was just a delight all around and next time I go back I am willing and ready to start exploring the veggie options more in depth. This visit I had the lamb T-bones. Oh man, again really good dish. The T-Bones were tender and the entire plate had a ton of flavor. Just 2 pleasurable dishes to the palate all around. We also had a couple great handcrafted cocktails and just enjoyed a great dinner in a cool atmosphere. We will be back because Amilinda is worth trying more meals soon! read more

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This is such a hidden gem! I went with a group of friends for a birthday dinner and we had the best time. The drinks and food were great and our server Ian was fabulous. We were also really pleased when the owner and chef, Greg, came out to greet us at the end of the meal! The space is small and cozy and the menu was fantastic - all of the meals were so good. Quality ingredients, relatively simple/traditional Spanish flavors. There are more than a few nods to traditional Spanish cuisine and drinks with fun twists like the Adonis (sherry, vermouth, and an orange twist). Ian was so personable and checked in on us quite often - I never felt like we had to wait for anything! His recommendations were excellent (although with this menu, nothing is bad!) and I think our group collectively decided he's someone we would want to get brunch with. The dessert was also amazing - we had a chamomile creme brulee and a chocolate mousse with Spanish olive oil. Both were absolutely flawless. This place is absolutely worth the visit if you like Spanish cuisine - I'm already looking forward to our return! read more

What a great meal and experience. We heard about " a great tapas " restaurant so we decided to try it out. Chef Greg offers a creative menu that changes often . The rack of lamb was incredible. The milho frito was a perfect complement with wonderful flavor and texture. Our evening started with a warm welcome from Courtney and progressed with Blaine taking us on a cocktail journey while we dined at the bar. We look forward to bringing some friends back soon to enjoy a meal at Amilinda. read more

Super limited menu - not at all what is on Yelp or other sites. They said the chef was out with COVID which I get, but they probably should communicate that in advance. What we had was just ok. Menu items don't match what you see on Yelp so check their website. UPDATED based on owner response. Tapas was in a review on TripAdvisor. Menu items are right here on your Yelp page. Lots of lamb which we were looking forward to. Waiter is the one who told us the limited menu was due to chef being out with COVID. Food we did have was ok. Not great. Fairly tasteless for cuisine that is usually so robust. read more

I am utterly satified with my choice of restaurant tonight, this place has delivered on all aspect of a great culinary experience ( flavor, service, freshness, ...) all my five (5) senses were attended to in ways I do not ever recall being consciously aware of. It has been a demonstration that God still loves us. read more

Amilinda - Recommended wine at half price with a starter of Smoked Duck Breast - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Sorry, very unpopular opinion here but I didn't really like the food here. I came in with high expectations and I was really excited to try the food here especially with all the great reviews, but everything fell really short for me including the experience and also the food itself. Overall, I found everything overpriced especially with the portions, and I thought the food was under seasoned and rather bland. The atmosphere itself was also kind of uncomfortable for me. I didn't feel very welcomed. Food wise we had the zucchini salad - for like 8 thin strips of zucchini I found $10 to be way overpriced and it wasn't that tasty. Entree- we shared the monkfish ($24) and the Jerez Steak ($24). Again, I felt the portions were very small especially for the price. The Jerez Steak was okay but both dishes I found to be rather bland and not very complex in flavor. Had I known about the pricing in relation to the portion and also just the taste overall, I would not have come here. I know most people have had a good experience here based on the reviews, but I can't say the same for myself. read more

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I'd go back, simply because the establishment was run by very welcoming and friendly individuals. Not sure what I ordered but I remember it was a good time. read more

What a soulful beautiful meal! From the polite hostess, the perfectly lit ambiance, to the decedent meal! Lucky enough to sit at the chef's bar, we enjoyed perfectly crafted cocktails and personal recommendations from Greg the chef and owner. This bustling restaurant is a gem! The menu offers a petite curated menu of dishes that are both elevated in construction, and unpretentious and soulful. Delicious and beautiful dishes. Friendly dedicated staff seem passionate about their craft. The bar tender is legit, from pre chilling your glasses, to constitute ting a lovely cocktail, his recommendations won't miss. I'd recommend & return. Perfect dining spot steps from our hotel wonderful service and food. read more

Disappointing doesn't cut it. I was really looking forward to trying Amilinda. This place hosts a James Beard-nominated chef, has guest chefs come in for specific cuisines and just seemed interesting. The staff were curteous, friendly and had us seated quickly. The menu was small (10 items, no specials) and high-priced for this area. We (a party of 4) ordered 3 appetizers: grits with cornish game hen, pork belly salad and a bacalao (salt cod) plate. Portions were good but all 3 dishes were underseasoned and bland. I had a braised beef tongue on cannellini beans that were seasoned but otherwise uninteresting. My friends had a lamb shank with garbanzos. The meat was bland and quite tough even though it was allegedly cooked for 6 hours. I saw them struggle to bite the meat off the bone, which they said was unpleasant. The garbanzos were hard (think jawbreaker candy) and completely inedible. When our waiter asked how the meal was, we mentioned only the garbanzos since they were disgusting. Shortly after, the chef came over to our table. He did NOT apologize for our bad experience in any way. I said that the garbanzos "were inedible and almost uncooked". He was visibly pissed off and told us that they were boiled and roasted. He then rolled his eyes and walked away from the table. We were all incredulous at his shitty attitude. He may have been a recognized chef in the past but it seems that he's obviously lost his sense of decency and doesn't seem to taste what he plates. Save your money and do not bother dining here. read more

The only disappointing thing about this place was that I didn't have enough room for dessert. It's a small window-front and a large blue curtain behind the host stand makes it seem like there isn't much there. However, once you step behind the curtain, you transport yourself to a cute little restaurant with a tall ceiling and unique artwork. Staff was 10/10! I made a reservation for a party of 2 at 8 PM on Thursday. It wasn't too busy at that odd hour. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable, allowing us to sample wines and describing flavors of the cocktails with great detail. Their wine menu is extensive, with many different grape varieties from Spain and Portugal. I chose the Tarragones cocktail. The waitress warned that it had the slightest hint of anise (thanks for the tip!). I agree, but I would describe it as an "essence" of anise. I'm not a black licorice fan, but I enjoyed the drink. It wasn't too spirit-forward , but the smoky flavor of the mezcal was evident, a great balance. My friend ordered the East India Trading Co. gin and tonic. It was probably the best one I've had! The peppercorn and lemongrass was a good balance. Beef Espetada. It was a savory, and delectable flank steak. Mmm I'm going to be dreaming about it with the madeira reduction. The accompanying salad was a refreshing touch. I had never had a Milho Frito before, but oh my goodness it was divine! It was a creamy substance inside a crispy outer shell of plain goodness. My friend ordered the Rabbit in Salmorejo and it was tender with a sauce that was not overpowering. Even though we stayed well past closing, the staff never rushed us and even asked us if we were interested in dessert. Sadly, my stomach said no. I'm so glad I took my visiting friend here! I can't wait to be back! read more

Amilinda - Bread plate provided immediately upon seating - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great food and the service was even better. Had an excellent experience at Amilinda and can't wait to come back. Excellent staff! read more

Amilinda - Cod dish and rabbit. Great flavors. - Portuguese Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a great restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. We had one night and using yelp found this place. From the cocktails to the entrees and dessert - everything was beautiful presented and delicious. The homemade tonic water made with spring violets was perfect for the vodka tonic - So good that I ordered a glass of the tonic. The cauliflower was amazing. The halibut perfectly cooked. The dessert was a chocolate mousse on homemade whipped cream drizzled with olive oil. It was so delicious and gluten free. The service was attentive and able to answer questions about the menu and what was gluten free. It's a beautifully appointed restaurant with beautiful art and a nice vibe. I definitely recommend a visit here. read more

I went back last week with a friend for another outstanding dinner! We ordered three small plates and an entrée and split everything. We decided on the Spanish Lomo Montadito and Chicken Empanadas, but one of the servers highly recommended the Black Trumpet Mushroom Salad, so we trusted her and added that to the list. The Spanish Lomo Montadito ($10) was made with manchego cheese, rolls of Spanish Lomo (ham), a butternut squash puree and a red bell pepper marmalade served over crisp bread (think large crostini). All of the ingredients worked well together. The Chicken Empanadas ($10) were perfectly cooked, but the garlic and saffron aioli is what really took the empanadas to another level and added the wow factor I was looking for. The Black Trumpet Mushroom Salad ($10) may have been our favorite small plate that night. It was a great recommendation by Alyssa. the mushrooms are mixed with crisp turnip greens and served over a poached garlic puree for a combination of great textures and flavors! We struggled between the Boneless Braised Beef Short Ribs ($24) and the Wild Stripe Bass ($24), but eventually went with the short ribs served over a parsnip puree with the texture of mashed potatoes. The beef was braised in beer and I could taste it. It was also VERY tender. The dish was rich and bold and made us really happy that we chose it to end out meal. We were too full for dessert, so maybe next time there. The menu continues to change often, almost every couple of days based on what ingredients are available locally and fresh. If you walk by and see something you like posted on the menu in the window, you probably shouldn't wait to get it another day. I'm craving the lamb empanadas that I missed out on. read more

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Really fabulous find. Having spent the last 8 years dining in Philly -- which has one of best food scenes in the US I'm convinced-- this felt very reminiscent. Ambiance is small, intimate with open kitchen/bar. The vibe is warm and inviting with great music. The menu is small which allows them to have truly mastered the dishes. All the entree meats were cooked perfectly. The appetizers were unique and delicious. Portions were on par with what we have had for elevated dining in Milwaukee -- truly a bang for your buck. My only critique was the red grits on the chicken thigh were a tad too thin and under salted but still a delicious entree! We each had a cocktail -- the sangria was not too sweet and excellently complex. I had the Old Waiter and it was a perfectly balanced cocktail. We took the pistachio chocolate ganache to go after our waiter stated it was a 'don't miss dessert' and I couldn't have agreed more. Really a fantastic meal and atmosphere. We will 100% be bringing friends here and dining again in the future. Thrilled to have found this!! read more

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Had an amazing meal and our bartender/server Blaine was amazing and super attentive! Would absolutely recommend and we will be back!

We enjoyed our first dinner at Amilinda, thinking why haven't we found this place before when we've been in MKE? The steak was amazingly savory and well seared on the outside. The pork shoulder was flavorful and so generous that it will be enjoyed over several lunches. The dessert was amazing- homemade pistachio butter with chocolate ganache in terrine. We enjoyed chatting with the chef-owner who made several recommendations of other places for us to try as out of towners. read more

Ambiance & service were very good. Food was exceptionally good! The smoked trout starter with arugula was fantastic and the seabass was exceptionally delicious. read more

Menu is always changing and the food is so delicious. Service is also great and friendly, and it just feels like a happy place.

Amazing place. The food is fabulous! The service spot on. Decor was charming. Can't wait to go back!

What a cute little cozy restaurant. Met a girl pal of mine here for an evening of catching up and we loved every part of it. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the drinks; the bar tender was very knowledgeable. They had super delicious entrees - chicken and the scallops. Loved how flavorful their food was. They have good seating by the wall, so you can opt for that if not seating at the bar. The bar seemed spacious enough and wasn't crowded at all, so you can chose to sit there if the tables are occupied. The ambiance and the food was lovely and made our evening of non-stop catching up even more wonderful! It's located on Wisconsin Ave, and those who are from the area know that it's one of the busiest street in Milwaukee, so parking can be a bit challenging.. but don't worry if you look around there will be spot even if it's a block away. At the very end we got our check and with the Check cake two mini desserts. That was such a sweet touch to our meal.. often times you may not have the appetite to finish an entire dessert (especially if you don't have a sweet tooth), but this was just perfect because you end your meal with a nice sweet tone! read more