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    Beans & Barley Cafe

    4.2 (576 reviews)
    ModerateDelis, Cafes

    Order Beans & Barley Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Beans & Barley Cafe Photos

    BEANS & BARLEY CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Beans & Barley Cafe

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    Theo C.

    a milwaukee staple! i've been coming here for as long as i can remember (i think literally since i was a toddler) and it never disappoints! so many options for any occasion - you can sit down and eat, get takeout, order ready-made food from their hot bar, or shop at the market. the staff is always so friendly and the food is delicious! the market is so adorable, plenty of stocking-stuffer items for the holiday season. i always make sure to stop by here anytime i'm in milwaukee!

    Chicken burrito packaging.
    Howard L.

    This is a quality cafe and their products are healthy and include vegan offerings. The place was recommended by my son for sandwich-like items. I called in and picked up 3 items for an early light dinner. These were a chicken burrito ($12.50), a beans and chicken burrito ($11.25), and a tuna melt ($11.95). The tuna melt was a tuna melt, but those burritos were tip-top fresh and delicious. They also came with a small serving of tortilla chips. I called the order in and it was ready in 15 minutes and the place wasn't very busy at 5pm on a Sunday. They have a grocery section, deli, a coffee bar, and an airy dining room. They also have a smallish but convenient parking lot. Good, versatile cafe for you if you're in the area!

    Grilled Vegetable Salad
    Nicole L.

    I love Beans & Barley. It's a great casual spot to eat, hang, shop, work - whatever! I can usually find parking in their lot, and I love to shop around their store before or after eating. Their food service isn't the quickest, but the food is worth the wait. (Just don't come in a rush!)

    Grilled cheese with turkey, onion, tomato, and avocado
    Isabella K.

    Beans & Barley is a comfortable spot on the East Side with some really tasty bites. My dining companion and I got the artichoke and parmesan dip for a starter and it was spectacular. In fact, once we ran out of bread to dip with I proceeded to eat the rest with a spoon. For an entrée I chose the grilled cheese but doctored it up with turkey, onion, tomato, and avocado. Did it add $4 more dollars to the sandwich's price? Yes. But was it worth it? Absolutely. The dining area itself isn't super large, but the high ceilings make it feel airy. The soft instrumental music and gentle lighting really make Beans & Barley an excellent place to chat. Service was relaxed, but I didn't mind the slower pace at all. It wasn't egregiously slow where you start to think "where the heck is my food," but rather "I'm not feeling rushed at all, this is quite pleasant!" I'd definitely recommend checking out Beans & Barley. I know I'll be returning.

    Ann S.

    Haven't been here in YEARS. It's better than remembered. Good and good for you food, friendly and fast service. And they have great grab & go section.

    Roasted Sweet Potato and Bean Burrito
    Evanka A.

    Beans & Barley has the perfect ambiance of granola core and farm to table. You can sit inside or outside, and it's sort of a world building experience; the moment you're inside, you pick an array of baked goods, household knick knacks from the attached store, or the moment you're outside, you're surrounded by arching trees, night time lights, and the bustle of Milwaukee's traffic in the background. I went for their Roasted Sweet Potato Veggie Burrito, and what impressed me most was the portion. This place did not miss with giving a hefty serving of food for a reasonable price, along with a side of tortilla chips and salsa. My only critique: more seasonings in the beans of the burrito would've made for a more flavorful experience, but maybe the baseline and what makes Beans & Barley what it is, are their more raw, to-the-bean and to-the-barley flavors. Personally, I just would've preferred a bit more kick or salt or pepper in the burrito for a tongue tickle haha The service was extremely welcoming and patient; we were new to Beans & Barley, so we were talked through their menu. For extra recommendations; consider their house special spaghetti, tofu sandwich, or this burrito. The location of Beans & Barley makes it perfect for an evening out during a summer or fall night, and then a walk around the area or to pop a squat across from the Crossroad Collective at their outdoor patio space where you can catch a nice sunset. Overall, lovely experience! Parking is accessible, but it's the city so give yourself time to park + walk. Will definitely be coming back here to try more things off the menu and have my fix of some of the best, healthy vegetarian + vegan selections in Milwaukee.

    Sweet Potato Burrito with sauces
    Sheila C.

    Picked up a to go sweet potato burrito today before going to the library. It was good! I think they might have changed the recipe from a couple years ago, I might be mistaken, it just wasn't as great as usual. And it was over $12 which is a little too expensive but that's just how it is these days. The salsa and lime crema were delicious. I also love their cute little grocery store.

    Mushroom sandwich
    Dana C.

    Lovey spot in a busy area on North St. Fun store inside with lots of cool gift ideas, games, cups, socks, kitchen gadgets, book and so much more! Good food with many choices. Waitstaff was friendly & tentative.

    Patrick R.

    Convenient store and restaurant in one--call it a trendy CrackerBarrel. I order the Middle Eastern Chicken, and although the meal was alright, it had nothing Middle Eastern to it. They were out of the Egyptian lentil soup, which I was really looking forward to. The seating was kind of annoying. Seated in front of the door, so every time the door opened a warm wind blew at us. Kinda weird spot to put a table. It is pretty packed during lunch, so people must like it. My first experience was worth a 3 star.

    Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    Marissa P.

    I went to Beans & Barley with a large group of my work colleagues. Our server was attentive to every order. Also, she was able to divide the check by person. Her attention to detail and ability to handle our large group was unmatched. Note: we called in advance to notify them of our large party of around 10 people. As for the food, it was fresh and delicious per usual. I love their pretzel buns here because they are always fluffy and delicious. I can't wait to go back!

    Ashley S.

    Really great little lunch spot!! We ordered lunch to go from here and I opted for the tuna melt and a chai tea. The tuna melt was fantastic! I was surprised at the dill and capers that make it stand apart from other tuna melts! The chai was perfectly spicy and as a nice tough the even included a butter cookie is a go bag taped to ge to go cup! Adorable!! I highly recommend!

    Roast Turkey Reuben
    Molly W.

    haven't been here in years and decided to stop in with my boyfriend after receiving a $15 giftcard. I forgot how cute the shop here is, and I feel like now I'll stop in sometime in the future even just to shop. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the service felt super slow. I'm sure they are having staffing issues just like the rest of the industry, but it did put a damper on the experience for us. We thought we would have enough time to eat and ended up having to leave the restaurant before we got our main entrees. So to be fair, we were on a time schedule. Our waiter was super nice, just clearly had a lot to cover. He was helpful in wrapping up our mains to go, and eventually we got boxes for the apps we had started. The food was DELICIOUS. I loved the garlicy taste of the artichoke dip, and the esquites was perfectly refreshing yet creamy. My boyfriend got the Turkey Reuben (which I'd call a Rachel) and my tuna melt was exactly what I wanted.

    Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy
    Olivia B.

    Wonderful cafe right in the heart of Milwaukee. Location is close to campus as well. Parking is free and available. The restaurant was clean and the service was super quick. The vegetarian biscuits and gravy were delightful as well as their green smoothie. Within the cafes building there is also a really cool shop full of food and trinkets that I had a blast exploring. I really enjoyed my time at this cafe and will definitely be returning!

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    Wonderfully healthy and delicious food; interesting and gracious staff. We have been regulars for years. Nothing else like it in Milwaukee.

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    Ask the Community - Beans & Barley Cafe

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    Benji's Deli & Restaurant

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    I ordered food from Benji's at lunchtime recently because I wanted to get some corned beef for my…read moreBF on St. Patrick's Day. I tried a tuna melt, having been underwhelmed by a breakfast experience on a prior visit and since I don't eat meat. the sandwich was good and I enjoyed the challah bread until about halfway through when I hit a fishy bite and was put off. The accompanying fries were very good. BF really enjoyed his Reuben, which was filling and meaty - thus the 4 stars. I'm waiting for a winner from Benji's, but as a vegetarian, I might be waiting a long time.

    So sad. This is not the benji's I've loved and eaten at for 30+ years. It was a snowy Dec 30th…read moreand I stopped in to pick up some chicken soup for a sick friend. There were several servers hanging around and it wasn't clear where I could order. Sat at the counter and was ignored for 5 min. The server came over and told me to go to the deli area. It was a challenge to understand the clerk. A quart and pint of soup with a bagel and lox was $40. While I waited i read recent reviews and was alarmed. What happened to the best Jewish deli in our area? The lox tasted very fishy, like smoked fish. Unlike any lox I'd ever eaten. I asked for capers and regretted it; there were so many and with only the tiniest shmear of cream cheese, it was inedible. Too salty to be edible. The bagel was ok, but couldn't eat much of it. The chicken soup with mishmosh also disappointed. The lid was swimming in grease. I discarded it carefully. There was 1 matzo ball (ok), tons of noodles (meh) rice (ugh - underdone and inedible) and a kreplach ( I had to spit it out - filling was rancid and sour). The broth was tasteless and unseasoned. What happened to Benji's? So sad.

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    Bunzel's Meat Market

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    It was our first time here. What a wonderful experience. I told the man working in the meat…read moredepartment it was our first time here and what would he recommend. He welcomed us and thanked us repeatedly for choosing them as he's aware consumers have many places to choose from. He spent a lot of time with us talking about the different varieties and cuts of meat. Gave tips on how to prepare items we bought. Told us all about their "specials". Never felt rushed even though the store was busy. In the bakery area he recommended to get the cinnamon roll and oh my it was the best one I ever had. We also got cookies and cheesecake and both were fantastic as well. The meats we got were of great quality. We will definitely go back.

    Bunzels is one of my favorite lunch spots on Fridays. I almost always get the fried cod sandwich…read more It's a great deal, two meaty pieces of cod and all the toppings you'd like for just over $5 on a fresh hoagie... I usually get cheddar, lettuce tomato, tartar, and creamy coleslaw on mine. As you can see from the picture it's usually enough for two meals. Yes, when you walk in around lunch time that deli counter will be swamped, but I encourage you to grab a number and know that these employees are efficient so you won't be waiting that long. Aside from the great lunch specials, they also have great customer service, everyone that works there is really friendly. I love bunzel's!

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    Bavette La Boucherie

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    I was excited to be in Milwaukee today, given the many restaurants that have earned recognition…read morefrom the James Beard Awards. Most of those spots only open for dinner, so I was thrilled to find that Bavette La Boucherie now serves lunch. My friend, a local, told me the restaurant originally began as a butcher shop. While that's no longer the case, the space still pays tribute to its roots -- shelves lined with kitchen knick-knacks, butcher-block counters, and a display of local provisions that hint at its past. Chef-owner Karen Bell leads the way here, and you can feel her touch throughout -- from the creative menu to the casual-elegant vibe. The décor blends exposed brick and warm wood with soft light and a friendly hum from the open kitchen. Our server, Matthew R., had only been with Bavette a couple of weeks, but his background in restaurant management showed. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and offered great suggestions. Before our sandwiches arrived, we shared a cup of pork and tomatillo pozole topped with cabbage slaw and a dollop of sour cream. It was piping hot, bright, and deeply flavorful -- the kind of starter that makes you stop talking for a minute just to enjoy the next spoonful. Having read rave reviews of the Korean steak au jus, I nearly ordered it, but Matthew suggested the roast-beef with cheddar since I'm not a big lunch eater. Excellent call. The sandwich was divine -- tender, flavorful beef layered with melted cheddar on a crisp, perfectly toasted roll. The beef-fat fries had great depth of flavor, though I'd love them even more if they were twice-cooked for that extra crunch. Being more of a gin or vodka drinker, I couldn't resist the Gin Old Fashioned on the cocktail list. It was delicious -- smooth, aromatic, and balanced enough that I happily ordered a second. Great food, warm service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Bavette La Boucherie is a gem I can't wait to revisit.

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    Fresh-cut roast beef w/pickled veggies and brown mustard
    Everything here is SO delicious!
    Everything here is SO delicious!
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    Scardina Specialties

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    We were in the mood for a good thin crust pizza when it dawned on us that this place has been…read morerecommended for their take and bake pizza! They have their menu online, limited toppings, but we called ahead to place the order. He said it would be ready in 10 minutes. The pizza size isn't online but I measured and it's 14". First impression of the pizza when they handed it to me was that it needed more cheese. I still think that's true after baking it. I was tempted to add more of my own but wanted to eat it as it came. Tons of toppings though! The sausage was really good too. Never being there but knowing they have cannoli (no dessert case seen), I asked what flavors and got a strange look like there must be only one flavor lol. Okay, I'll take whatever that one is! The man went into the back to fill it for me and I will say it was delicious and was I guess just a plain cream with maybe some vanilla. They aren't open very late so get there early if you want dinner. Like before 5pm. Several others came in to get sandwiches while we were there and said they are great. The space is not very big, it's mostly counter and register but they do have a few tables if you want to sit. You can tell by who was working that they are a family run business and I'm happy to support them in the future! I will ask for extra cheese!

    Amazing! We were looking for a new spot for paninis and found this little spot on Google. A little…read morepricey for the size but you're supporting a local ma and pa shop!

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    Wioletta's Polish Market

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    Now that their restaurant (Wioletta's) is closed, this is the only place to get some of their…read morepastry, sausages, and imported Polish items. Not to be missed. Bought an eclair, a pastry, a Patschke, a sausage, sauerkraut, pierogis,hot mustard, etc. What's not to like?

    I really wanted to like this place but the wheels fell off at the deli. It's a nice little store…read moreand I wanted to sample a few things. They have heat and serve items that are homemade. The deli looked amazing with meats that I have never seen before. I started with what looked like meat sticks because I'm a sucker for meat sticks. Next was homemade cheese and potato pierogis. On to the meat counter and I would sample 4-5 of 1/8 of a pound deli meats. While my first meat choice was being sliced an older blond woman would intervene with a nasty attitude and said no 1/8 of a pound because the minimum on deli meats is 3/4 of a pound and there is signs stating that I didn't notice ? Well I don't need 5 pounds of deli meat for sampling. Then I get what are we supposed with the meat we already sliced and I said I will buy it and was only .520 of a pound which was not their minimum quantity that they stated, I would have spent about $10 more in the deli if they didn't have a ridiculously unusual policy. I have been ordering deli meat most of my life and this is the first time I had to order a minimum quantity, am I in the twilight zone ??. The fact that older blond was so rigid about a minimum quantity and not willing to sell me deli meats that I requested is absolutely a giant fail at customer service. O W deli had no problem doing that for me a couple weeks ago and what a contrast between the two polish Deli store.

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    Beans & Barley Cafe - delis - Updated July 2026

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