Finally stopped into Cloud Red and am so happy I did. It's a little unique in the sense that it's higher end food but still ordered at the bar. We got there on the earlier side, around 5:15 on a Tuesday, and it was already filling up. By the time we left there were already no tables available. The food is very well priced for the amount you get. We tried the brussels sprouts, Thai chicken salad, and the steak sandwich. All were great! Highly recommend! read more

Cloud Red - Brussels Sprouts & Thai Chicken Salad - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

This place is pretty hoppin'! Find your seats first, since it will get full! Seat yourself, then order at the bar. Menus are hanging on the wall... so you'll see some people standing gin the middle of the room looking at the wall. It's a bad setup, considering how crowded it gets in here. A QR code on the table with an online menu might be a better option? Or come in to yelp and check out their menu! I've added pictures below. Bartenders were superb and the food was quite amazing. Crispy Brussel Sprouts: If you hate Brussel sprouts, skip it, but if you want to give it a chance, I'd say this is the place to do it. 1/2 LB Burger is actually cheaper than the Brussel sprouts. They complement each other quite well. It can get quite loud inside, so not your romantic spot (go down the street to Buttermint for that), but if you're looking for a fun, loud, delicious spot, this is it. UPDATE 3/2024 The steak salad is absolutely gorgeous to look at and delicious to the tastebuds. Dressing is probably not keto friendly, but I love it so much!! Maybe try to ask for the dressing on the side next time.. UPDATE - 6/2025 - no longer on the menu SAD. Steak Sandwich is flavorful according to Hany. read more

Came back for a visit recently, and it was worth the gamble of trying to find a seat! This place is packed basically always, and for good reason: solid cocktails, and delicious food. My girlfriends and I came at 5:30p on a Saturday and were darn lucky to get a table. Note: they do not offer table service here, so once you snag a seat, you'll need to head to the bar to order food/drink. Service is so fast though! I had a gin gimlet and it was just what I had hoped. One of my friends ordered the 'pink pony club' cocktail, and the bartender made the third a custom lemon-inspired mocktail which she really enjoyed. Don't think you can find a bad item on the food menu - I've loved everything I've had here. We went with the brussels (11/10) and the pork nachos this time around. Holy cow... plenty of food, plenty of flavor! These nachos are stacked high with three cheeses, cilantro crema, jicama salsa, olives, callions, cilantro, and pulled pork. Oh and the chips are so clearly homemade, in the BEST way. Get yourself in for your next date night or gals night out! read more

See all

I don't like the hipster seating-ordering system. It's not ironic, it's disconcerting. I'm too old to have to go to a window to fight for attention to put in a food order or jockey for a seat at a table. Since it's Shorewood there are always over-privileged entitled poorly behaved upper middle class colonizer children running around unsupervised. It's too loud. And yet, I'll be back, they make a great falafel sandwich. I guess the thing to do is to come when it's not busy. read more

It had been so long since I'd been back here. I think the last time was during the eating-outside days of the pandemic. But I was lured back by a tasty-looking special on Instagram. A lot of things haven't changed. You order at the bar and sit where you want. It gets very crowded and you might have to chill out awhile. The drinks are priced maybe a little above average but the food is reasonably priced and portions are large. Delicious food btw. I went for the (un)stuffed cabbage soup special. It was inspired by a stuffed cabbage roll and had cabbage and ground beef and rice and all kinds of other goodies topped with a dollop of sour cream. It had great depth of flavor and I was told it's been very popular. I also had a grande shrimp taco (not pictured, sorry) that was also delicious. One thing that has changed is the wider selection of nonalcoholic beverages on the menu, which I like to see. I had a draft kombucha but there were multiple other items to choose from. While I don't drink alcohol anymore I do like to watch people muddle things, and they were making up some fun-looking cocktails as well. I'm glad I came back and will come again. read more

See all

The food and drinks in this hip Shorewood spot are delicious! Beware though, it can get crowded. After you order you get a number and a food runner brings your food. Seating is communal and it can get loud, but if you're looking for action and delicious eats and sips, this is your spot. read more

Despite this being one of our favorite dinner options, I realize now I've never actually reviewed them (outside of the brunch pop-up, which I still think should be a permanent on their menu). We went on the Saturday evening of St. Patrick's Day and it was jam packed! Fortunately it wasn't too long of a wait for a table. The back patio was open, but it seems they are no longer allowed to have heating elements back there, so on a chilly day, you will definitely feel it. They do have some blankets you can borrow if you choose to mingle in the patio. I got their gin and jam drink called Rude Barb and my husband got their Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was on the sweeter side, which he loved. My gin and rhubarb jam cocktail was out of this world! It was definitely a spring cocktail, which made me forget about the very much not spring weather outside. Between the two of us, we shared the buffalo cauliflower, the Brussels sprouts, and the produce root fries. The buffalo cauliflower is top tier. The buffalo sauce is incredible and the blue cheese dip it comes with gives it a really nice tang. The Brussels sprouts will make any vegetable hater double think their choices. It's piled high and seems endless, which is great because it will leave you coming back for more. The root fries were a new for us and it might be a new favorite. Each fry was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We chose to get it with a side of cilantro crema and it worked beautifully. I would highly recommend this dish! There are also different board and card games available for you to borrow while you drink and/or dine. It's always a good time here! read more

See all

we went around dinner and it was pretty busy! you can choose your own seating after u order at the bar which i think is nice and they bring u food pretty quickly! it was really nicely decorated and i enjoyed all the different kinds of seating. the salsa was absolutely delicious and i appreciated the chips being fresh but definitely way over salted! the taco wasnt my favorite but my partner who ordered it loved it! the steak sandwich was really yummy, big fan of the greens on top! bitter but good. overall good experience and service read more

See all

Best spot in Shorewood. Every dish hits and the drinks are the best in Milwaukee! If you're looking for a unique experience, this is the place. read more

Sometimes when you write reviews, it's hard to come up with original insights. That is surely going to be the case here, so here's a brief summary - food = great, ambiance and service = meh. I read a newspaper review that piqued my interest in Cloud Red, so my mom and I decided to try it recently. Being Shorewood, parking is irritatingly difficult to find. Several trips around the block will eventually pay off. Once you get into Cloud Red, a feeling of chaos envelopes you. It's hard to figure out what to do, how to order, what to do first, but given the crowds we settled on finding a place to sit ASAP. Once that was done (and we felt lucky to find it) we worked on figuring out the menu. There was one scrawled on the wall, but not super convenient. I got menus from the bar, but was told to be sure to hurry and return them since they were short. That's a little annoying - paper is no longer scarce, so maybe print a few more copies. They know how busy they are. Also we were told specials were posted on the bar wall, but we never did find them. We ordered at the bar, I collected our drinks and we waited for our food. The drinks were good, but the bartenders are not real quick. We watched a server wander, seemingly lost, with the same dishes, inside and out, looking for the right table numbers. Not too efficient. Also, it's so very loud. Extremely loud with the babble of multiple generations of diners and drinkers. We got our food and it all clicked into place. The Korean potatoes may have the closest thing to perfect balance in any dish I've had recently. They had sweet, savory, crisp and comfort. Huge fan. My seitan tacos were excellent, layered and fresh, blanketed in micro greens. My mom said her chicken taco paled in comparison, but it was okay. I will return for the food - it shone. The drink we had was excellent. But that ordering and "service" experience is not cool. read more

See all

We've visited Cloud Red only a couple of times in the last few years. It serves flavorful and healthful dishes (with lots of raw vegetables in almost everything) at reasonable prices, and its cocktails are great also. Our 1st visit was in 2019, and we said to ourselves then that we would come back soon. But there have been so many restaurants to try in Milwaukee, and we finally paid the restaurant a 2nd visit recently. It hopefully won't take another 4 years before we come back again. read more

Cloud Red - Shrimp Taco - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

See all

This place is always packed when we've tried to go, and while it was a nice spot it didn't quite live up to the hype. Tables are first come first serve so good luck getting one during busy times. You might be able to score a table on their cool patio out back though, and it is mostly heated so even in winter you can dine "al fresco" with the help of blankets they have in baskets to keep you warm. The food is solid, not spectacular. We ordered a lot on the menu - starters included Mideast Peace hummus, the famous brussel sprouts and nachos. The nachos were solid but the brussel sprouts fell flat, they seemed undercooked and lacked flavor. For entrees we ordered the steak sandwich and the chicken po' boy sandwich. The po'boy was good with the steak sandwich slightly tastier with the chimichurri sauce. They have a lot of beers on tap but they are not on the menu since they rotate them frequently. All orders are placed at the bar, and I did like that if you sit on the patio, they have silverware, napkins, water, and boxes there that you can use take since they don't have a traditional waitstaff. It's a bit of a chaotic scene in there, with some confusion amongst patrons about where to order, where to sit and what to do, even though they do spell it out as soon as you walk in the door, but you can't blame anyone for being oblivious and ignoring that as you walk in. read more

See all

Had the best first experience here tonight! Everything from the food & drinks to the atmosphere was spectacular. I got a featured mocktail from the menu and I couldn't believe how amazing the presentation was! So beautiful and felt like I was still enjoying a cocktail with my friends! Kayleigh, the bartender, was amazing and steered us in the perfect direction for food. The spinach dip was so flavorful, including extra garlic (just the way I like it)! I will definitely be back again! read more

Cloud Red - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

We have been hearing from friends for years that we need to check this place out, and we did enjoy it, but I can't say it entiry lived up to the hype. I wish we had known before we went that it is first-come first-serve. We came as a party of 5 on a Thursday night and all the inside tables were full and there were several groups of people hovering around hoping for a table to open up (yes, this is on us for not doing our research before we went. My heads-up for others who don't come prepared.) It's a laid-back vibe and the mostly-enclosed patio in the back is a really great spot to chill with friends for a drink and some apps.They have tables with built-in fire pits and lots of heaters, and blankets! The tap beer selection was solid, but you had to go to the bar to look at the taps since there wasn't an updated menu. You have to order all your food and drinks at the bar if you sit on the back patio and they bring it to you. There's a good setup back there with self-service water, silverware, napkins, and to-go containers. As for the food: everyone raves about the Brussels sprouts and they are worth trying, but our order was a little undercooked and hard; disappointing. Would have to give them a second chance, because it was busy and we were a large group. I definitely recommend the nachos-gotta be in top 3 best I've had to date! Perfect ratio of chips to toppings and they don't skimp on the meat. We also enjoyed the hummus and pita platter we got. The staff was super accommodating and kind as well, in spite of being understaffed and very busy. read more

See all

I have been wanting to try Cloud Red for a while now and finally had the opportunity. The food was very good - the nachos and hummus were my favorite. There are a lot of items on the menu that looked tasty and that I wanted to try. My one complaint about Cloud Red is that it is first come first serve, with no hostess helping. So if you go be prepared to wait and stale out a table. read more

See all

Service 10/10 Ambiance 8/10 Food 12/10 Bellied up to the bar. We were helped by prompt and lovely bartenders. One of whom was wearing an Orville Peck jersey which was instant points in my book. We popped in for a snack and a cocktail. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and the Panko chicken po'boy. THIS WAS A MEAL. FOR TWO. The spiked cider with brandy became my new holiday OBSESSION. Obsession. Everything was so warm and cozy inside that we almost forgot about the blizzard outside. Will definitely return! read more

Cloud Red - Poboy and Brussels - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

See all

After being told for years this is *the spot* to be in Shorewood, I finally was able to check out Cloud Red. I arrived just after 5pm, and all of the seating outside was taken. There were several tables open inside and spots at the bar, and we opted for a table. As a heads up, you order right at the bar and they give you a number for waitstaff to deliver food... it took us a second to figure that out. I started off with a Shiner Bock and order of the Buffalo Cauliflower. It was SO GOOD - honestly, I preferred this dish to actual chicken buffalo wings that I have had recently. It was a hefty appetizer for 2 to split and was plenty of food... until we had another beer and decided to try the nachos! They graciously substituted the pulled pork with chicken breast and all of the waitstaff agreed this was a brilliant idea.... again, SO GOOD and great portion to split. We would have had plenty of food if it had been a group of 3, we ended up taking some delicious leftover home. Waitstaff were fun and it was, overall, a great after work de-stress ambiance. I recommend going with friends/family and ordering at least 2 items just to experience how good this food is! I cannot wait to return and try more menu items - I hear the brussel sprouts are to die for :D read more

12/10 - The food was absolutely amazing, including all of the gluten free substitutes! The spinach artichoke dip was delicious with the gluten free flatbread, and the steak sandwich was chef's kiss. read more

If this was just based off food I'd lean toward a 5 star more because the nachos & hummus dip were great! The thing holding me back is they don't do reservations or a wait list, it's first come first serve seating and because they're in a fairly residential area it gets packed fast. Had to go twice because the first attempt people were arguing and pushing for seats and it just wasn't worth it, the second time we went we went at an odd time and still couldn't get a seat inside but the outdoor area is nice. Just something to be aware of because there's also not a good standing area while waiting so if it's full you're just kinda out of luck read more

See all

Cool restaurant/bar located on Oakland in the main strip of Shorewood. It can get pretty packed on weekend nights (as are most places) so just be aware. They have a nice craft beer list, and full bar menu. You order both food and drinks at the bar. Drinks you get right there, and food they'll bring out to your table. It wasn't super clear when I got there, but it worked, and we got our food and drinks pretty fast. I got the nachos, it's billed as an app but can easily be a dinner option, I shared some and still couldn't even finish it. They have indoor seating and a patio out back. There may be some heaters, but I'd still dress warm if you sit out there this time of year. They had several good food options, I also tried my friend's fried cauliflower, which I generally don't like but these were pretty good. My friends live near here so I wouldn't mind coming back next time I'm in town. read more

Cloud Red - Nachos - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

One of my favorite restaurants in the Milwaukee area! It's a smaller restaurant that is first come first serve for seating but is always packed especially during dinner times! The food is really good and the cocktails are tasty! Great place! read more

Good food and atmosphere. The food is different from most places and fun to try diff things read more

Cloud Red - Shrimp taco - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Love this little restaurant. Has a left-of-center political vibe with food inspired by cultures from all over the world. I can't help it, I always get the same thing -- the "Vietnamese poor boy" which is essentially the best Bahn Mi you've ever had. I get it with tofu, my husband gets it with fried chicken. So good I crave it after I haven't had it in awhile. The other food we have tried is also good. Our daughter loves the steak sandwich. The only negative was the chips and salsa -- but just because there was too, too, too much salt! Other than that, delicious. read more

Food is amazing and a reasonable price. Portion was huge. Cocktails were also amazing about $15 or so each... beer ranged about $5-$10. Would recommend...again food and cocktails were delicious! read more

Brought some family here that were visiting from out of town and we LOVED IT. Such a cute place, the ambiance is lively and the staff are so friendly and personable. The food was so so good. We loved everything that we tried! The shrimp grande tacos were AMAZING. Tried the St. Paddy's day cocktail and my fiancé tried a beer tasting flight - which were both great! Overall wonderful experience and will be coming again. read more

See all

I really enjoyed my experience at Cloud Red. It is a bit quirky in a way where it's order at the bar, but I like the ambiance and service of what they do. The food is spectacular. Super fresh. The concept works, and especially for the neighborhood. I can't wait to get back, bring more people in to show off a great gem and try more of the delicious food and cocktail menu. I also think you have an upper hand in diversity here -- burger and beer for those, while tofu and tequila for others. Everyone wins and you support local. read more

Cloud Red - Spring roll with tofu + peanut sauce & sweet chili sauce - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Service- nothing remarkable (good or bad) as this is a somewhat self-service place. Food came out quick, though Ambiance-young, fun, and awesome indoor-outdoor place. Really fun spot to meet friends, especially if you can sit outdoor when it's warm outside. Interesting spot in the middle of shorewood downtown given how quiet the surrounding place Food: WOW! So so, I would recommend all of them. Very generous portion and shareable. Best to come in a large group so you can share the food -steak sandwhich: my favorite food of the night -Brussel sprout: excellent combination of umami -Buffalo cauliflower and Korean potatoes. All different flavor profiles but incredibly taste. I recommend all of them read more

See all

What an awesome spot in downtown Shorewood! During warmer months the back patio is an awesome venue for drinks and great conversation with friends. Inside, you've got a classic par/pub feel with a broad selection of craft beers. Their cocktail list is also unique and fun. You've gotta try the Mother's Milk! It is an order at the bar and deliver to your table set up. The bartenders and servers are great. Very cool and fun vibe. The menu has plenty of options, including the ability to go vegetarian or vegan on most items. I'd recommend the GIANT spring role with tofu. I didn't realize rice paper even came that big. My next favorites are the Buffalo cauliflower and the Korean potatoes. Enjoy a casual evening here with friends or a late afternoon with family. read more

Cloud Red - Wow!! I think our eyes were bigger than our stomachs! - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Wow! Awesome space!! Came here with my wife for dinner. Did a little research so we were prepared for some of the uniqueness. The restaurant/bar is a seat yourself and order yourself space. You wait for a table to open, then you order from the bar. They give you a table number stand and the food is brought to you. There are a decent amount of tables, but not a ton. There is outdoor seating with heating. We ordered drinks and just hung out for a while. Eventually we ordered a spinach/Choke dip, and it was so yummy. Lots of dip and bread. Stuffed. Still, more drinks and we eventually split a beef sandwich. The sandwich was juicy and had a great taste. We wanted to try so many other meals, so we will be back. The vibe of this place was awesome, and the 30-60 year old crowd seems to be the target. But younger were there as well. Kind of reminded me of a Brooklyn bar/restaurant that had a happening crowd. This is my new place Go. Here. Now!!! read more

Have never been disappointed with any of their menu items. Excellent value. Most of their menu doesn't change except a few daily specials, but that's not a bad thing because they do it all well! Excellent cocktail list and rotating beer selection. read more

Cloud Red is kind of a hot mess, but I suppose that's the appeal? There's no one to explain how the ordering or seating works when you walk in and they're always packed so you have to pounce for a table. You order at the bar and take a number, food is wide variety of internationally inspired cuisine. I had the bhel and it was huge. The drinks are also solid - I think they could benefit from a hostess seating parties though. It gets really crowded and it would help with the flow and service. Overall, it's a great spot with great food but not for large parties. read more

My friends and I were blown away by how delicious the food was here. The chicken po-boy sandwich was kind of a take on a banh mi - totally delicious and the portions were huge. We also loved the spinach artichoke dip that comes with really tasty pita bread. I'm not a beer person so I tried the margarita and it is probably one of the best I've ever had?! For dessert I could not resist their homemade, served warm, chocolate chip cookie. Going on a weeknight it wasn't as busy as it sounds like it gets on weekends. I was able to find a table and the bartenders were great about taking our orders and getting us all squared away. We will definitely be back. read more

Cloud Red - Cheese curds!! Fantastic! - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

Love this place!! Cocktails are so unique and fun, excited to try them all. Menu is very unique and I've never had a bad dish. Their patio in the summer is great, always a good time read more

Cloud Red - Tom kha cocktail - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

See all

This is officially one of my new favorite restaurants First off, it's a very different setting than usual. You order food & drinks at the bar and carry a number back to your table for them to bring when ready. They have a bunch of games to chose from for all ages. And they don't have a handout menu! Their food is on a white board type of thing which I'm assuming means that they can change up their menu anytime! I'm typically not a big fan of Brussel sprouts but i decided to give them a try since i saw a lot of comments a kid them, & they truly are very very good. The staff is super nice & amazing. The food and drinks are AMAZING. Will definitely be coming back, many many times. read more

Cloud Red - Menu - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

I have only ever done takeout here, but the interior is nice and staff are friendly! I usually call to order since they don't always have the website available to place orders on. The food here is so great - interesting mix of cuisines and flavors that totally works. I usually only order from here when I'm w a few people so we get lots of stuff to share. Normally we default to share the buffalo cauliflower and Brussel sprouts to start, but the nachos are also fantastic. My favorite entree is the chicken po'boy, which has toppings similar to a bahn mi. They do a great job accommodating vegetarians and folks that are gluten free. This is a real Shorewood gem! read more

This is one of the best places in Shorewood. The drinks are unique and well made by the friendly staff. I personally like the unconventional ordering system for food. It's a smaller space so at times it's tough to find a table, but that speaks to how good the food and drink is. Would highly recommend to anyone that hasn't gone! read more

Walking into Cloud Red transports you out of Shorewood and into something that feels close to what I imagine a New York borough would feel like. It is a bustling restaurant that only has bar service for both food and drink. You receive a number, find a seat and have the food delivered to you. Throughout the restaurant are carts where you pick up your own napkins, hot sauce, and to-go containers. There is also an area with games on the back wall. We had a toddler with us, and although the patrons were very kind during her visit , it definitely did not seem like a toddler friendly restaurant. I have also heard from co-workers that the menu isn't necessarily kid friendly for her elementary aged children. If I were to go back, I would definitely have a better experience without having little tag alongs with me. The food was tasty, but from the hype I had heard, I was expecting something more? I will need to go back again and try more items on the menu next time. Overall this is a fun bar/restaurant in Shorewood. read more

Cloud Red - Chicken Po'boy - Bars Near Me - Shorewood, Wisconsin

See all

Cloud Red is doing Covid-carryout right. Order up to a week in advance! But since we were on foot we rolled up to the open bay and put in our order in person. - Brussel Sprouts were out of this world good! - Nachos with pulled pork, very high marks! - Steak sandwich with chimichurri was excellent! There is ample curbside seating, but we took our food to go, in nice eco-friendly packaging. The beer list is extensive, and service and speed were on point for a busy place. Cheers! read more

We love this spot. It's close to our home. It has a trendy vibe. The bar (including mocktails, which is a HUGE plus for us) is top notch. But, what really makes this place great is the food. The soups are amazing (so creative, so tasty, and so warm during a Milwaukee Fall/Winter/Spring), the buffalo cauliflower is life-changing, the roasted brussels sprouts are SO delicious, the Vietnamese po'boy is fresh & SO tasty, and all of the other dishes we've tried (they have occasional flatbreads we recommend highly) are all tasty, fresh, and fulfilling. *Amazing people-watching here too, if you're into that kind of thing (we are into that kind of thing ;-)). read more

Absolutely terrific food with a really goofy service model. We stopped with another couple and thank goodness they'd been there before because things are confusing! It appears to be every man for himself in terms of grabbing a table. I didn't see any kind of waitlist system in place. Same thing with ordering - you're going to be placing all orders at the bar and hoping to get someone's attention on a busy night. No menus or drinks lists either - there's a small menu on the back wall but that's it. And a tap list behind the bar. I ended up with rose because I saw it in the cooler but there was no way for me to know otherwise. I want to stress that CR was super busy and despite that we were able to place orders with not terrible waits. That said, it's super chaotic and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have a register at the end of the bar taking orders Vanguard-style. Ok - despite the craziness, the food was SPECTACULAR! The Mister had a fried chicken bahn mi he really liked, my friend had a steak salad that was full of fresh flavors (Thai style with mint, cilantro and peanuts) and I had the falafel pita. Can we talk about this pita? It's a giant slab of fresh pita, thickly layered with hummus, baba ganoush, beet tabboleh, fresh falafels and a drizzle of tzatziki. Totally fresh, full of flavor and texture and absolutely delicious - it was so big I could only finish half. We also ordered spring rolls which appeared to have a whole gardens worth of fresh veggies in them and were as thick as a "super burrito" - this could easily be a full meal. Same with cheese curds - super fresh, a giant amount and just great quality. Everyone was hustling last night but managed to be friendly. I think I'd like to go back on a quieter night but whatever - the food was so good I'll go back anytime really. Also FYI - watch yo'kids people. It's a BAR and letting children run unattended generally ends up in a bad time for all. read more