I had some time to kill before an appointment and decided to stop into Coach's for the first time.. and I'm so glad I did. I was honestly blown away by the hospitality. As soon as I walked up to the window, I was warmly greeted and asked if it was my first time there. I was offered a sample (which alone is a win), and she even asked about allergies, food sensitivities, and whether I minded my food touching..which made me laugh because my sister is that person. That level of attention really stood out. I sampled the mac and cheese, greens, and yams, and while I was eating, she took the time to walk me through menu options and current specials without rushing me at all. Once I placed my order, the great service kept going, she asked if I wanted ice in my drink, checked how much sauce I wanted on my rib tips, offered condiments, hot sauce, and made sure I had everything I needed. I usually don't tip on takeout orders, but I absolutely did this time because the hospitality and customer service were that good. The food was delicious, but the experience is what really sold it for me. It's hard to find genuinely good customer service these days, and people are quick to leave complaints but slow to give praise. So this is my shout-out. I enjoyed the food, the hospitality, and the overall experience, and I can definitely see myself coming back. read more

This spot was recommended while I was in town. It's in a food court. Not sure about parking as I walked from my hotel. The owner was friendly and welcoming. I just got sides. I ordered Mac and cheese and greens and a samples the yams. All the food was good. I enjoyed what I ordered. I would return to try other menu items. Good customer service. Nice menu variety. read more

Coaches - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Coaches is a good option for soul food in the downtown Milwaukee area. It can be tricky to find the spot if you are not familiar with the area which is inside the Eleven25 building in their food court hall. It is not a traditional sit down style restaurant but you order at the countertop for to go orders or there are some spots to sit down at in the food court. Coaches serves a nice variety of delicious food options like fried chicken, fried fish, burgers, pizza puffs, fried pork chops, rib tips, etc. They also serve a few alcoholic beverages such as the African margarita! I really wanted to like this place 100% because I heard such great reviews but I had mixed opinions during our visit. My husband and I tried the fried chicken and fried catfish. We ordered sides of the candied yams, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes/gravy, collard greens with cornbread, and black eyed peas. The food was mostly delicious like the chicken and fried catfish but some of the sides could have been better. The service was extremely slow taking a really long time for our food not really being busy but we didn't mind waiting a long wait for our food. The fried chicken and catfish were perfectly golden deep fried, crispy, and nicely seasoned! The mac & cheese, mashed potatoes/gravy, and candied yams were all delicious! The candied yams were sweet with a few warm spices! The black eyed peas and collard greens were bland with the greens having way too many chopped stem pieces in there which is a personally a huge "no" for me. Also, we ordered cornbread with the collard greens that were old flat, stale tasting, pancake shaped cornbread wrapped still cold in saran wrap which I was not expecting because they could have at least warmed the cornbread up if they couldn't make fresh cornbread. I usually enjoy hot freshly made cornbread with collard greens. I want give Coaches another try but there are better soul food options in Milwaukee that I have tried. I didn't like some of the short cuts that were taken like serving stale refrigerated cornbread and collard greens with lots of stems. read more

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Expect awesome, home cooked sides and tasty meals. We were staying at The Brewhouse a block away and didn't want to go to downtown. I yelped desserts and this place came up. They are in a food court, so don't expect fine dining. Expect friendly staff, hot food with some great flavors. It is in walking distance to Fiserv too. read more

Coaches - The stand with its homemade signs and a repeat customer. - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ohhhhhmygawwwd! Staying at Flexhomes in Milwaukee and tried this spot because it's located in the foyer. In my whitest voice: HOLYCOW! This food is the gosh darn best!! I wanted a snack before the wedding dinner but ended up eating so much that I couldn't eat dinner. I couldn't stop eating it! SO flavorful and hot and fresh. The chicken with hot sauce and beans were amazing. I've never had sweet pi like that! The two people working were super friendly and helpful as well! They gave me samples and were great to talk to. I highly recommend eating here!! read more

Coaches - 5 piece wing with 3 sides - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Food never disappoints many options to choose from adult drinks are good too. Friendly customer service.

As a local chicken wing critic to the area. I have officially had the grand honor of applying my taste buds to the luscious tender flavorful and delicious whole chicken wings. The hot sauce provided was exquisite and delectably paired with the crunchiness of the wings coating itself. The service took 5 minutes and they even included an extra wing for me. How sweet. The place itself was in a convenient location with a comfortable atmosphere. I'd like to thank coach and recommend all that see this review to visit this restaurant at least once in their life! Thank you very much. read more

We stopped in for lunch and the food hall was not particularly busy - we had pre-ordered from meat on the street, but then as we walked around, the owners of this establishment offered us a sample of greens and mac and cheese. We weren't planning on ordering a second lunch, but those samples were so good that we couldn't help ourselves! We ordered a three-piece catfish with sides of collard greens and mac and cheese. The owners were also so nice - the fish was fried fresh and mouth scaldingly hot, just the way I like it! The batter was light, flavorful, and not too oily. On top of it, the fish tasted so fresh, was moist, and didn't feel heavy in the stomach at all. The collard greens are well seasoned, and the mac and cheese was cooked to perfection - not too runny and perfectly cheesy. I'm excited to go back and try more of their sides and entrees - the owner also gave us a biscuit, which wasn't the traditional Southern biscuit he might think of, but reminded me of Chinese style breadsticks that you dip into your rice porridge. Next time, I would be more than happy to reorder the catfish, but perhaps I will have to go outside of my conference zone and opt for the wings or perch, both of which also imagine will be just as tasty as our catfish. read more

Coaches - 3 piece catfish (minus two pieces) - LOVED the biscuit and the catfish! Hot, moist, and perfectly fried! - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I saw Coaches in the Eleven25 at the Pabst Food Hall a few times, while visiting other restaurants, but the new Ritual app, offering a $1 meal from Coaches, sparked an immediate visit. I ordered a 2-piece fried chicken dinner with mac-n-cheese and a "biscuit," which I'd say is more of a beignet. Everything was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. I vowed to return to try the catfish that I was eyeing on the menu. Monday night, I went back for the catfish dinner with fries and mac-n-cheese (because I liked it so much the first time), and the "biscuit." again, everything was perfect! The catfish was slightly crisp and white and flaky inside. The fries were perfectly cooked, and obviously cooked in clean oil, which helps make the fries great. Coaches adds to make my difficult food decision at this food hall because every place is great, and now I have another to choose from. It's a great addition to Milwaukee's first food hall, along with meat on the Street, Marco Pollo, and Bento Xpert! Coaches has a $2 burger special on Tuesdays, but you can get a burger and fries for $4.99 any day at Coaches, so I think the burger is next on my list to try there. read more

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I'm convinced that Coaches is a hidden gem in the Milwaukee soul food scene. Yes, I've been to a number of places, from Daddy's in town to Perkins up in Brown Deer, and they were good, but nothing has made me feel the way Coaches' candied yams have. Deliciousness beyond words abounds at this unassuming storefront in Eleven25, a food court located on the ground floor of a student housing building in The Brewery District. This food court is empty every time I've been here, which is a shame because there are so many great restaurants to enjoy. I had heard good things through the grapevine about Coaches' fried chicken, so when my friend and I stopped by here, there was no doubt that we needed to thoroughly research these claims. The owner was incredibly friendly, giving us lots of recommendations on what to order. He also gave us samples of the sides (greens, candied yams, and mac & cheese) and their signature African Margarita (yum!). We ended up ordering 2 each of the drumsticks and thighs, with candied yams and mac and cheese on the side. The food was so delicious... it kind of made me emotional. The fried chicken was perfectly crisp, piping hot, and almost impossibly juicy inside. The mac and cheese had cheese curds in it- oh Wisconsin, how do I love thee, let me count the ways- while it was a little on the soft side for my personal preference, the seasoning was just right. But the sleeper attraction of the day was the candied yams. Guys. I say with full seriousness that Coaches' candied yams might be one of the best things I've eaten in my entire life. I don't know what they put in them, and I already love candied yams to begin with, but Coaches' version was absolutely exquisite! Full of warm spices, sweet and hearty, dangerously addicting. The other food we ordered was amazing, but the yams were so fantastic that I would come back even if the world ended and all the food was gone and the only thing left to eat was yams. Have I said yams too many times now? Trust me, just try them. They will change your life. Coaches is absolutely a new favorite in Milwaukee for me, and I know I'll be a frequent customer now! They have a huge menu with other options that I'd love to try in the future. But no matter what I get, I know those candied yams will be part of the order. read more

SO good! Catfish was melt-in-my-mouth, delicious hot sauce, collard greens and the sweet potatoes were delicious!

On my first date with my husband, we went out to a fast casual spot and got french fries (we were teenagers). So, every year on the anniversary of our first date, we go somewhere to get some fries (and maybe a burger). We set out this year with the intention of going to a different spot, but when we drove up saw no masks or social distancing occuring in that business so we headed here instead. I'm so glad we did! Coaches is located in the Restaurants at Eleven25 food hall. Social distancing was in place and the owner (who took our order) was wearing a mask. When we told him we'd never been to his business before, he offered us some free samples of their side dishes--all delicious (my favorites were their sweet potato side and the mac and cheese). Given we were on the hunt for our traditional annual fries, I opted for a simple order of a burger and fries. The burger was ho-hum but the fries were good. And, I splurged on a side of mac & cheese, which is all cheesy goodness. They also have margaritas to go! I got their mango margarita, which was amazing. While I wouldn't recommend their burger/fry fare, having tasted their sides and my husband's chicken...they are serving up some serious deliciousness and I would wholeheartedly recommend any of their delicious sides (smoked turkey and greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, mac & cheese, fried corn, biscuits) as well as their chicken fingers! Get to it! read more

Excellent food and always consistent in quality. A great go-to for southern, always hot cuisine!

Excellent soul food choice in the Eleven25 food hall. Used to be a popular food truck, there's always a very good deal special but the real attraction are the traditional Southern African-American favorites. This is the only soul food choice downtown. Service is friendly, not exactly fast but the final prep is made to order. I think my favorite is the fried catfish, he's serving up his own hot sauce. Excellent greens, yams, and make sure you order an extra biscuit, you'll be glad you did. The only drawbacks here are the parking problem (so bicycle is the way to get here) and the place is sometimes chock full of annoying college students. read more

Coaches - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Went there for lunch. I'm from spfld il. And my sister from Fort Collins Co. I had the pizza and it so reminded me of vic's. It was so delicious. Our waitress was so nice and friendly. Great service, atmosphere. read more

Love this place! Got wings and catfish and was absolutely delicious. Made to order, so comes out hot! Friendly staff/owner!

If you're looking for good soul food on a budget, this is the place to go! Eric has been cooking for a very long time and he does it with care! Good check him out! It's the home of the delicious African Margaritas!!! Eric is super nice also and makes you feel at home. The place is inside of what looks like a cafeteria with various other restaurants. It's a nice place to have lunch, dinner, a date, or meeting. Very clean on the inside. read more

SERIOUSLY good catfish. Some of the best I've had. Crazy crispy. The corned beef was great too. Will eat here again for sure! I highly recommend checking them out. (Also they deliver to Bay View so it doesn't really get more convenient than that.) read more

Eric and his team are amazing! I love that they have a full bar too. The menu is so affordable and their food is absolutely out of this world. You can't go wrong no matter what you order. Don't miss out read more

Definitely one of my most favorite finds here in the east area! Their deals/specials definitely are a bang for your buck and very helpful as a current college student. The food does take a little bit of time to prepare but every minute of waiting is worth it especially if you got Eric at the front because the food is always hot n' fresh plus Eric is a sweet guy that will almost always offer everyone a free sample of Coaches sides. In terms of food, chicken is insanely comforting, crispy, and juicy (bonus points if you pair it with their hot bbq mayo sauce, highly recommend). Their sides also are also up to par with the chicken from the rich mac and cheese to the refreshing bites of collard greens. A forewarning that you should expect to take a nap after eating Coaches whether it's at 1125 or to go, this is legit soul food. Definitely coming back to try their catfish, Coaches is the perfect place in MKE to get a taste of homestyle comfort from the start of your order till you reach your couch to nap! read more

Met the nice owner of this place during early voting at MATC. Told me about their African Margaritas which I thought would be a proper reward for voting. Had the fried catfish and was so impressed. Crisp juicy and hot - served with fries and biscuit. And so inexpensive! The side of collard greens also crazy good. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with recommendations. A++ read more

I love everything about this place. I've never had anything that I didn't like . If my pockets could handle it I would have a plate everyday!! read more

Amazingggggg and great service. Definitely a hidden Gem! I ordered the catfish with yams, Mac n cheese and dressing. I had to force myself to stop eating! The gentleman behind the counter is awesome and so down to earth read more

I went for lunch today and ordered the fried catfish lunch special and my husband ordered the fried chicken special. First of all, it was so fresh out of the fryer that we had to wait a moment (very hard to do), so incredibly tasty and fresh. You can tell it was made with love from an expert. I would come here every if science could figure out a magic pill to let me take it in! Bravo to the chef! PS. I also ordered Mac and cheese And collard greens as sides. It was a revelation. read more

I love this place. The food is fresh and cooked just right. I would recommend anyone to visit this place when you are ready for delicious food and good customer service. read more

Walk into the 1125 N 9th St Food Court and find this treasure. I've been starting to come here before bucks games for 3 piece chicken dinner w/sides. Fried chicken is seasoned well and yams and greens are delicious. I'm going to give the hamburgers a try next time. Plus they offer a full bar with the great prices for that part of town. Parking is free after 6pm or else 2hr metered parking during the week. read more

Coaches - Chicken dinner with sides - Comfort Food Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We were in town, staying in the beer/brewery district the week after Christmas. Not much was open, but we happened upon Coaches inside an old brewery. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and I think it was one of the best pulled pork sandwiches I've ever had! Also had the collard greens and fries. All our food was excellent! Kudos to Charlie the cook! read more

I was in Milwaukee for a workshop and needed a quick bite in the evening. The location was convenient to my hotel also. I tried the chicken sandwich with mac n cheese and greens. I was very pleased at the customer service and suggestion from the gentlemen who helped me (maybe the owner?). The food was so delicious, everything was flavorful and fresh. If I visit Milwaukee again I will definitely be coming back. read more

I found this restaurant via the ritual app and I am so happy I did! I had the fried chicken tenders, biscuit, yams and Mac and cheese it was all delicious. I was so sad that I didn't order an extra biscuit because it was so good. I am still thinking about those yams..... yum yum!I also saw on Tuesdays they have $2 burgers so I will definitely come back to try one. My co-Worker had the catfish and said that was excellent too. Convenient downtown location and great service. I will be telling everyone about Coaches and I'll definitely be back read more

Great Customer Service, but the food was NOT good. We ordered Perch and Catfish, neither were worth the money. And the dressing was horrible! If you want Good Catfish, go to Bunzels on Burleigh on Fridays. read more

Man! This is definitely a hidden gem! Open in the Eleven 25 buildings food court. The Food is so good , affordable and the owner and staff are super friendly! The yams were so good I could eat them all day! Mac and cheese creamy and flavorful and the chicken tenders were seasoned and fried to perfection! Check them out! Open until 2 pm but some days they re-open from 5 to 11 read more

Owner is super awesome and has the best peach cobbler in the city!! (or any restaurant, for that matter)

food and service is great. you must try their margaritas and is one's f my favorite spots to eat. definitely worth your money!!!

Been here a couple of times now and we just love Coaches food. I always get the catfish with Mac and cheese, greens,and add a side of dressing. And can't forget the cobbler... read more

Food was amazing so far literally the best soul food I've tasted in Milwaukee!!! Food was seasoned very well you offered samples as soon as you walk up to the counter so that's great!!! I have not been to any place with soul food where I pretty much liked the taste of everything Customer service was great Eric the guy who helped us was very personable and just made you feel welcomed. Will be back for sure wish I had some right now. The only thing I was disappointed in was the 2 ounces of banana pudding for $4 literally not worth the money, but I have to be clear not due to taste it's probably the best I've ever had from a restaurant. Please try this place it's well worth it. The only reason it's not a 5 star is I was so upset about the very small scoop of banana pudding for $4 had nothing to do with taste or service wanted to make that clear. I only hope when I go back that the taste doesn't change consistently means everything read more