Date of service: July 9, 2024 We wanted to go somewhere nice for our anniversary as our friend was taking us out. She was looking for somewhere with a rooftop and I had heard that Central Standard had a good one but I found out after placing the reservation that the rooftop was just for drinks (odd, but okay) but we went ahead and stuck with the dining room for dinner. Central Standard went all out for the occasion! Unfortunately much of it was wasted on me as I don't drink and they gave us a free flute of sparkling chardonnay and a nice card signed by the staff. They also came around with a special limited edition whiskey (again, wasted on me). Food was a bit more uneven: The cheese curds were quite good, but the fries were pretty meh. The aioli was definitely the best part there. I had the shrimp and scallops and was quite underwhelmed for the price. But I would definitely come back and try again based on the wonderful experience! read more

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So my sister and I decided to stop at Central standard for lunch today. When you first walk in we notice how exceptionally clean it is!!! The ambience decor is so cute!! We then ordered our lunch. I had a fish sandwich with coleslaw and some really good seasoned french fries. My sister had a salad with Gorgonzola cheese. It was absolutely delicious. Oh, she also had vegan chili, which was a little bit on the spicy side, but so spicy good! We both ended up getting Brandy old-fashioned's. But my sister got the Brandy old-fashioned with toasted rosemary!! It was outstanding!! Our service, our bartender, who was also our waiter by the name of Max was extremely outgoing, greeted us with a humongous smile and treated us as if we were queens for the day! We will definitely return. Thanks for making our afternoon so special. read more

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Our experience here was perfect! My friends and I came for my birthday dinner and the service was incredible. Everyone's meals and drinks were delicious. The staff were so friendly, and even gave me a birthday card. They also gave us a free dessert for my birthday. I would definitely come here again! It was an all around phenomenal spot! read more

I love this plane. Kitchen was not ready for Downtown Dining Week. Service at the bar was excellent. Arrived at 12:30. Ordered Aoili fries, burger, and let lime pee. In a hour and a half I only received 2 courses. Was given the burger at 1:09. Left at 1:49 with no key lime pie. I love this place normally. Most folks Downtown only have an hour for lunch. I topped more than borehole. So $38 dollars was a burger, aoiki fries, and an amazing cocktail. read more

Saw the place as a top Yelp destination, and it was okay. Nothing special and very expensive. Food was good, service was meh. Cool place but the rating in comparison to other spots isn't accurate to our experience. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Biscuits and gravy - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The decor and ambience was very nice. Modern and rustic decor, nice open seating area, beautiful lighting, gorgeous bar... very nice set up. The breakfast food left a little to be desired, which is the reason for the 3 star rating. We started off with the fries and aioli which was very delicious. The fries had a nice crispness and were generously salted. The aioli was garlicky and had a nice flavor. Unfortunately, that was the peak of the meal for us. The tortilla chips in the chilaquiles were soggy... the flavor was okay, but just not the right texture. The bacon was also underdone - floppy and lacking a crispness to it. The brunch burger was decent, but it came with some unseasoned potatoes (that looked very tasty? But ended up being very bland). Overall, the brunch was unremarkable, unfortunately. read more

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The cheese curds were great, the service was super slow, they do accommodate food allergies, and the atmosphere was quite loud for a Saturday at 2pm. The morning mile was a delicious cocktail. read more

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I really really wanted to like this place. Everything seems perfectly in order with the trendy drinks/image/food that people want. Service and staff are great. Brunch bottomless drinks are cool. In my experience (primarily brunch-based), the food, however, is disappointingly meh. Waffles are a standout, but a lot of middling items, like dry monkey bread and overdone chicken. I keep scratching my head at how they are able to make a breakfast burrito with the ingredients they include as bland as they are able to. It's confounding. They also have a very uneven floor, and despite best efforts at rigging tables to be level, there are a few that are slanted enough to occasionally cause issue. read more

My favorite bar in MKE! The bomb pop is delicious, the cheese curds are light and delicious and the rooftop is the best spot to be in the summer time. I'll always recommend Central Standard to anyone looking for a good bar/ restaurant. read more

Fries and Wisconsin Old Fashioned are staples. Mojito with the local vodka is a great touch. Great atmosphere and a beautiful rooftop view. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Had a pre-game Bucks dinner here...sat at the bar...The bartenders were very knowledgeable about their many different in-house liquors as well as their loads of specialty cocktails. Had the pecan-encrusted walleye for dinner which came with a great sauce. The chocolate cheesecake was great...with a raspberry drip sauce that was fantastic. Went upstairs to check out the rooftop deck and drink my after-dinner drink. Definitely a cool spot that I am sure is packed when the weather is nice. read more

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I've been here 3 times now and each time has been awesome. The service is always spectacular - I don't know where they find their servers but they have all been very personable and helpful. The interior is always clean with a fun vibe. Lots of cool lighting and industrial feel decor. I have gotten different food each time that I have visited. Most recently I tried out their cheese curds and tuna poke. Cheese curds were awesome. I'm the cheese queen so trust me. Tuna poke was also fantastic. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Cheese curds - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My daughter is a hostess here and we surprised her by coming in. The place is beautiful! It has these beautiful plank floors and cream city brick. We sat towards the back and had some pretty potent drinks. Mine was a smoked Rosemary Old Fashion and the hubby had a whiskey sweet Old Fashion. We also sampled their gin. They distill off site. They do sell bottles and merch in a small area. Our pretzel was huge! We wanted an app to share. We ended up taking it home. There is a rooftop deck and a large communal table too. I'd like to come back again for dinner. read more

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Had a great experience here, sitting at the bar chatting with Sam. She recommended a few bourbons for a flight and then made an excellent seasonal gin-based cocktail. I watched her make drinks for about an hour and it was quite impressive. I certainly learned a few tricks of the trade! Don't sleep on the Brussels salad...it's a winner. Cool place for cocktails and food. Chill vibe and nice folks. Will visit again if I'm ever back in the area. read more

This was a cool distillery, but maybe not the best place to grab food if you're looking for a nice restaurant aesthetic. Unfortunately the rooftop is only for drinks, so we dined inside in the freezing ac first before going up to the rooftop. Our service and food were great though. We shared the crab cake, which was delicious. However a little deceiving that the menu says plural and it's only one. I also got the standard salad with salmon, and this was kind of a small portion but otherwise tasty and fresh. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Standard salad with salmon - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This place has awesome vibes and great for a day/night of drinking and grub. However, the experience could have been polished a bit. My group and I had no problem sliding in before the rush. We went straight to the roof top. On the way up, I glanced over at a table and the food looked pretty awesome but we didn't come for it. At the rooftop, the bartender station, the register wasn't working, so he was redirecting people downstairs. We decided to wait it out and eventually the credit card machine was up and running. Then we discovered free vouchers for a signature cocktail were given out when you first walk in. The bartender was frustrated at first so he gave off a bad attitude, but eventually he started to come around. He was swamped with patrons which caused him to make poor decisions like scooping ice with his hand from the machine into the cup. Eventually he found the scoop and started using it, and of course that's when I ordered my drink. Other than that, it wasn't a bad experience. If I ever came back to town, I would stop in again. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Rooftop Patio - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this restaurant and rooftop. The view upstairs is gorgeous on a summer day. One of the times I came, I ordered one of their featured cocktails, which I enjoyed but didn't stand out to me. I also came here for dinner with some friends one night and ordered the pappardelle pasta; it tasted pretty good but for the price, I felt it was a bit expensive. Additionally, we had a table of 8-9 people and when we ordered appetizers, we weren't brought any small plates, which made it challenging to share the dishes we ordered. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for its rooftop if you're looking for a cute place to grab a drink this summer! read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I ate here for downtown dining week and the food was good. It's a distillery so they a lot of ales, etc you can try. The service is fast and friendly. They also have a rooftop overlooking i94 and downtown area, which is great for watching the fireworks in the summer. read more

Quinoa salad was so good, I can't stop thinking about it. Visited during lunch on a Friday. Service was fast, waiter was attentive.

We popped into Central Standard during a snowstorm. It was our anniversary and we thought we'd give it a try. What a great time we had. We hung out there for 2 and a half hours, chatting with some awesome bartenders. Their mixed drinks were excellent - particularly the smoked rosemary old fashioned and the patio pounder. I also found the Cabin Strength Red Cabin to be amazing. Already knew I was a fan of regular Red Cabin. But the cabin strength was ridiculously smooth for a high alcohol whisky. We got the fries with aioli and the chilaquiles - delicious on both counts. Honestly, it was a wonderful time on a special day for us. I need to get back there soon - particularly since I saw other people get the chicken and waffles, and they looked incredible! read more

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The 'newer' location on Clybourn is huge! Love the decor, decent ambiance at the bar, and delicious drinks! Acoustics can be a bit wonky when large groups or crowds get a little wound up but I dig the environment around a normally chill happy hour. I like their menu offerings for both libations and bites and it seems there's something to satisfy everyone's palette or particular taste preferences. FYI - this newer space can definitely accommodate larger groups. read more

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While visiting Milwaukee we wanted to try a fun spot for brunch and landed on Central Standard Crafthouse. To start, the inside is very spacious with a cool vibe. Our server was attentive and kind. Unfortunately, the food to me was a bit lackluster. Nothing terribly bad about it, but pretty bland. Each dish was really lacking in seasoning and we left a bit disappointed by our meals. Overall, this seems to be more of a trendy spot for pictures and/or events. To be fair, we didn't try out any of their cocktails. However, if you're looking for quality food, maybe steer clear. read more

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The bartender was really nice the drinks sounded really great but that seemed really watered down and had no flavor

Stopped in for a late brunch on a Sunday and we were seated right away! This was my first time visiting, since I attended their soft opening with a friend a couple years ago. They've since updated their menu and I was excited to see it had expanded to be a bit more crowd-friendly. All of our food was amazing, we ordered the churro french toast, pancakes, herbed potatoes and eggs. For drinks, we tried the Purple Rain and Dragonfly. Both were refreshing and just because I was curious, I asked them to add a bit of their hibiscus syrup to the Dragonfly, which made it even better! The only downside (out of their control), is legally they're unable to serve wine or champagne, so you won't have the true "brunch with mimosas" experience, however, it is still worth a visit! Beautifully decorated, keeping the integrity of the old building, while still having a modern feel. Perfect space for events or to catch up with friends/family over food and drinks! read more

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Everything was delicious, and Corbin was wonderful! Salmon was an amazing recommendation. read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Salmon - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A nice, kid friendly spot! We manage several allergies, and this place is celiac or wheat allergy friendly. They have great GF cheese curds, buns for burgers, and salads. It's got a nice vibe with tvs, a long table for communal drinks and typical seats. read more

Food - 5 star Service - 4 star Ambiance - 5 star Check in on Yelp! They had an offer when I dined! I came in solo and sat at the bar. Service was slower than it probably should have been considering there were only 3 people at the bar which was surprising since the bartenders said they were slow... concerning comment for service if they were busy! The bartender was friendly. Food was great, cocktails were good (I preferred the mule over the fizz don't kill my vibe). I would definitely return! They have a rooftop bar - cocktails only - and the bartender asked for every guest to bring their empties back down to the bar. This did clutter the bar a little next to me a bit - I feel like there could be a better process. I would recommend tho and will return if I'm in town again! read more

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A friend and I had dinner here while in town for Summerfest. I'm so glad that we did! We made a reservation and were quickly seated. The decor is modern and the restaurant feels airy and bright. We each ordered a drink - I had the espresso martini while my friend ordered the bombardier. Our server was super friendly. We ordered an appetizer that had a trio of hummus, whipped feta, and tzatziki, as well as a tuna poke. Both were delicious but the trio is seriously a must order. The hummus was SO good. We had the quinoa bowl and the brussel salad for dinner. The chicken in my quinoa bowl was perfectly cooked and my friend mentioned that her salad dressing was amazing. We will be back next time we are in Milwaukee! read more

You must get the fries as your appetitizer. You can never go wrong with fries topped with garlic aioli...these were also seasoned with parmesan & chives - delish! Amazing piece of salmon! It was huge and perfectly cooked. It sat atop celery root mousse which I've never had before and drizzled with a bacon & citrus vinaigrette. The Chicken Picatta was lightly breaded in a lemon white wine butter with basil and garlic capellini. I will order this next time for myself - so good! My only dislike is they didn't sell any wine. I know, I know, it's a distillery but still... read more

We were visiting Milwaukee and stopped by this place for dinner on Memorial Day. Service was friendly and fast. Drinks were delicious: ordered an old-fashioned. The food was amazing! Cheese curds tasted so fresh, airy, and rich at the same time which was definitely a gem! And the best we've tried on our WI trip! We ordered the rissoto and walleye for entrees, and were blown away by the taste and quality of the ingredients. Highly highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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We stopped in after an afternoon at the children's museum, it was a nice walk in perfect weather. The interior is spacious and modern-warehousey with a merch section at the front. Service was great. I loved the grilled corn and jalapeño soup as well as the olive appetizer. We are huge olive fans and it's hard to find good olive appetizers. This one is solid. The children's burger was a big hit and I had a bite of it-- it was exceptionally delicious. Great spot, I'll be returning! read more

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The food was delicious and the cocktails taste amazing. We ordered three different sandwiches: meatloaf sooo good and different Milwaukee cheesesteak perfectly cooked and full of flavor Beer can chicken tender and tasty Espresso Martini - the best Bourbon Old Fashioned - a nice mix of flavors read more

We came here on a whim because I had mixed up another reservation, but I had been here before and had like the setting. It had that classic 3rd Ward warehouse vibe with exposed brick, the interior is warm and nice to look at. However, unknowingly a Marquette game was wrapping up so it was pretty busy & loud - my dad and I had a hard time conversing without yelling so that was the main downside of this experience. Our server was very friendly, accommodating and attentive despite the full house! We shared the crab cakes and stuffed dates (both delicious) for appetizers and a burger & fries for dinner. The burger was OK, I wouldn't say it was anything special but it did the trick. The seasonal drinks were tasty and presented festively. We enjoyed it overall and will go back! read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Cranberry spritz - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Went before a concert, place was lively and busy. Cute ambiance, wait staff was nice and food was quick and delish. just a little loud in my opinion, wouldn't recommend for something intimate but rather a social situation read more

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Cheese curds are delish. Drinks are wonderful. Bartenders are kind. And the rooftop bar is very cool just limited seating. + limited drinks upstairs. Over all super cool!!! read more

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Great roof top views of the city. Moscow mule was good. Had non alcoholic drinks too. Bar service was quick, even with a large group. Easy parking read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great drinks, hospitality, & ambiance! Went with friends and enjoyed appetizers and drinks for hours. The rooftop space is great and would be so fun in summer. We were at an event in the Founders Room-such a fun space. We will definitely be back! read more

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Nice brunch experience at central standard! We didn't get to experience the rooftop, but the main area is modern looking and airy, and I felt staff went out of their way to make sure we had a nice time. I had the pancakes which were just fine and tried and had a mint-honey-gin cocktail which was very refreshing. They also have a large selection of mocktails and my second drink was a similarly flavored Mocktail. They have merch and central standard liquor in waiting Area up front and even had some stuff like maple syrup. Solid choice in downtown! read more

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Central Standard makes some of my favorite cocktails in Milwaukee. I like that they have a distillery where they make everything in-house. The food is pretty good, too. I really enjoyed my Philly cheesesteak and the Churro French Toast during brunch. The staff is always nice and welcoming. It's a great spot for a date night or pregaming before a night out on the town. I can't forget about the rooftop during the summer months. It's a nice vibe. read more

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Food 5 Drinks 4.5 Overall experience 4.5 Food is amazing we shared a steak plate with the potatoes, big portion glad we shared and a side of cheese curds! Looking for good food and good drinks this is the place! Decor is awesome although we didn't see the whole space but they have a rooftop and basement level. Curds are amazing and the ranch is divine! Steak was also perfection along with the potatoes! Drinks rated 4.5 just because my husband ordered an old fashion and they brought it with small ice cubes (big no no for this drink). My spring drink was amazing! Got the one with Lavender and Mint from their spring menu and was very refreshing! Overall a 4.5 just because its also a bit pricey and you pay for parking downtown if you don't mind that than you'll absolutely love it! Also don't make the mistake i made by not checking in and getting a free drink! read more

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen - Steak - Distilleries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin