Pretty low key for me, but it was nice knowing you could get some decent brisket sandwiches & wings on a late night tip. Sadly they have closed read more

I like this little place! We stopped in prior to a show at The Rave. It was surprisingly good! I got the smoked brisket and it was SO good! I really wasn't expecting such great BBQ from a little place in Milwaukee, but that was a truly pleasant surprise! My husband got the meatloaf and it was good too. Enjoyed the cheese curds and the onion rings as well. Next time we are in the area, good chance we stop in to this little place. Bartender was really friendly, crackin' jokes and having a good time behind the bar. read more

So I was staying at the Ambassador for work and this was in the area. I found Conway's on Yelp The chef was wrapping up for the evening but did me a solid and still served me as they were still open. I got the ribs and the wings as I couldn't decide. Honestly the ribs were perfect and the wings crispy yet moist. Cash only so come prepared! read more

Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill - Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Delicious and large servings - don't underestimate a good baked potato with brisket and all the toppings!

Conway's is the the "Cheers" bar of Milwaukee where it feels like home and everyone knows your name! Come enjoy the best Smoked BBQ in MKE and get yourself some brews and strong mixed drinks! Say hello to Devin, the bartender and ask him about Kelly Clarkson's 2021 Christmas album and he will smile! I have been coming here with my husband for years and we are always looking forward to the next time that we can come back. It is the only bar where absolute strangers will talk and laugh together and just enjoy life. A true MKE gem! **Also look up "BIG JOHNSON AND THE THRUSTERS" on Apple Music for some blues/rock jams that you don't want to miss, then hit up Conway's on the 3rd Wednesday of every month for their live jam night!** read more

Upon walking into Conway's we were a bit confused. The dining area was completely empty with dim lighting. (We went at 4 pm though which is a bit of an odd time for dinner.) There was no background music. No servers. Odd. However, the food was AMAZING. You order at the window. Cash only. The wings are not fried which is a nice switch up. They fall off the bone and you get 7 for $4.75. Ribs also fell off the bone. They're large and meaty and for $14.75 you get beans, jalepeno cornbread, and 6 ribs. The burger and fries were decent too. Mac and Cheese bites were DELICIOUS. Yum yum yum!!! The best dish we tried was the smoked meatloaf sandwhich. It was moist yet crispy & really flavorful. The bun was a basic white bread bun but it was fresh and soft. You've got to try this. We had potato salad as a side and the portion was very large. Come hungry and you'll leave happy. Oh! The chef is great too. :) Very kind and helpful. This is a gem of a bbq joint! read more

Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill - mac and cheese bites !! - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ambience, they used to do a Wednesday night open jam session where musicians could come in and play with other musicians. Great to watch, drinks were buy 1 get one. Owners were always on scene and were great at providing welcoming service. read more

Great food. If ur looking for an old school dive bar this is the place to go. Great bar tender. Service was on point. All cash for food and bar! Loved it read more

I love dark bars. Any bar you can walk into at 3pm and it seems like it's night out, I'm a fan. Better yet, there's a huge rounded bar in the center, with regulars, bartenders who've worked there for years, cheap drinks, and bar food-- that's as good as it gets. So yeah I'm dropping the 5 star for little dark divey gem. I saw some other reviews of this as more of a restaurant first, but it seemed to me like a bar first, with food options. First thing to note- cash only! Like many places we found in Milwaukee, no cards. The drinks, insanely reasonable drink prices especially if you catch the M-F happy hour (4-7) with $2.50 wells & domestic bottles. There's were other deals on different days, like a ladies night and weekend specials, but I didn't catch them since we were there on a Friday happy hour. The food, a kitchen in the back that's putting out some of the best Americans-greasy-spoon-bar food. We ordered the BBQ meatloaf sammie with potato salad and a grilled cheese with fries. The BBQ meatloaf was like a homemade mcrib but better - a thick slice of meatloaf, covered in bbq sauce. The grilled cheese was just your basic no-frills grilled cheese, but also amazing. No fancy cheese, just yellow American on buttery white bread perfection. The staff were also great. We rolled up with lots and lots of us for a pre-show meetup and the bartenders didn't miss a beat. They were all super nice and hustled to get everyone all their drinks. read more

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To comment on Ron Rs tip I think he missed what this place is because it's not a BBQ joint, it's a dive bar that has smoked foods on the menu. I make smoked food at home but I'm not making Bbq so with that being said I will start my review of the place. First off I had no expectations of the place but I didn't think it was an all out BBQ place so I didn't know what to expect. When I first walked in and looked around and my first thought was wow this is a cool dive bar and I will post pictures. It smells like a old school dive bar and I liked the unique character of the place. The place had a stage and I think the bar tender said Tuesday is open jam night. The blond woman painted the murals she said. I saw about 12 taps of micro brew which was unexpected. There is a pool table, pin ball machine, ATM, juke box, shitty big screen tv and other bar regulars. The wall below the food boards show what's on tap. I had the shock top Belgium white which was too mild for me. The River west all malt Amber lager was a better option for me with a fuller flavor. The cook and the woman bar tender are a couple and were very nice and chatted me up about the business so I can't complain about any service issues. Now on to my food and not thinking I was going to get full blown BBQ place I ordered the smoked ribs that come with beans and jalapeño corn bread. I liked the beans because there's was a sweet Smokey flavor in them and there is smoked meat mixed in while they were tight and not watery. I usually toss the corn bread but not today because I got hooked with every bite. It was on the edge of dry but not like the ones you can't choke down with out a drink that I throw away. The corn bread left me with no real jalapeño flavor but what I liked was the rich buttery flavor with maybe a tiny tiny heat finish. They don't call the ribs BBQ and I would not call the ribs BBQ. The ribs were spare ribs so they are meaty. What we have here is smoked ribs that are finished off on the grill so the sweet glaze will stick, see my pictures. The sweet charred glaze was mild enough as to complement the smoke flavor of the ribs which I liked and not BBQ in any way. To my surprise from a dive bar the ribs were very moist, tender and juicy which come clean off the bone and they leave the tips on. I have had lots of ribs in my life that were dry and hard so to find moist tender ribs from a dive bar is very cool. Overall with no misconceptions of this being a BBQ joint I enjoyed the beer and food so I will be back for the moist charred ribs again. This dive bar really impressed me and the food which will not be found anywhere else so I find it to be a hidden gem. read more

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Definitely dive bar. Decent tap selection; better than I would have expected for a dive bar. Food menu looked good. You walk up to a window to order and pay at the window. Chef brings the food to you at the bar. Hubby and I shared the John Poppers that were pretty dang good. I ordered the Meatloaf sandwich with fries. It was pretty good. Meatloaf was smoked and was nice and crispy; maybe a bit too smoky, especially by the end. Hubby ordered the fried chicken. He said it was good. Food and beverage is cash only, but they do have an ATM there. Biggest complaint was that it smelled of cigarette smoke in the place. You can definitely tell they used to smoke in there, a lot. It really smelled like they actually just finished smoking right before we got in there. I would maybe go again if in the area, but I would not go out of my way to go back. read more

Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill - Meatloaf sandwich with coconut porter. - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dark and dingy, and not in a sexy way. Cash only- expensive drinks. Have to order food in another room. Disinterested staff, place has a grime on the surface feel. Hamburger tasted like a heated up frozen patty, and the meatloaf sandwich crumbled and fell apart with every bite. Tommy No Likey. read more

Now, this was a surprisingly good meal. Everything was good, and fresh this is a place where I'm planning on coming back to try again The chicken was fresh and tender, ribs fell off the bone good with the beans coming out nice and hot, but the jalapeño cornbread was just a tad bland, and if that's the worst then I'm OK with that. read more

A hole in the wall to say the least. Walked in and were very confused, as there was no way we were in the right place after reading all the amazing reviews. The place was pretty empty on a Friday night around 9 which came as a big surprise. We ordered some beers and were surprised this was a cash only place, thankfully we had cash on us. There is no wait staff, just the bartender and the cook. You order the food at the window and pay at the window. We ordered two different entrees and split them because there were too many things that looked amazing to pick just one. This is some of the best BBQ I've ever had. read more

Ribs were really good also had smoked wings with spicy peanut sauce. Owners are really kind. Had a great time bring your appetite and share a big Johnson with your date read more

Conway's is the coolest spot. They have something for everyone. They have the best food, great music, and games. It doesn't get better than this. Definitely would recommend. read more

Great bbq, great owners. Felt right at home. Swanky old school look. Highly recommended

This place is a gem. If you happen to be near Marquette's campus after 3 pm, you must stop in. Don't be deterred by the fact that there are four locked doors that each seem like the front door: go all the way down to the one nearest to N 22nd St. You'll enter quite possibly the chillest bar in which I have ever stepped foot. Lit both by the green lights over the pool tables and natural light coming in from the windows (a winning combination), Conway's is a spacious bar with a stage and arcade games each in separate corners. To order food (something you must do), make your way into a second room near the pinball machines and give your order (and your cash: no credit cards accepted) directly to the cook at the counter. Almost all of the items are identified by musical puns: the "Spice Girls" breaded chicken breast strips ($5) and John Poppers cream cheese jalapenos ($4) in the appetizers section, for example, and sandwiches like the Annie Lenox veggie burger, the Pork Tornado, and the Bob Dylan smoked corned beef reuben (all $7 with fries). Oh, and the Korn Dog ($2.50) and the Snoop Dog ($2). I had the "Cowboy Mouth" smoked BBQ beef brisket sandwich and good Lord, it was the most delicious beef brisket sandwich I have ever eaten. The meat was so juicy and it was piled with caramelized onions. My three dining compatriots all enjoyed their meals as well, although they were disappointed that the bar was out of so many beers on tap when we were there. The folks working there were super friendly and my experience far exceeded my expectations. I can't recommend Conway's highly enough! read more

Been stopping in almost every Thursday for years. Food is always fantastic the best bartender in town.

Conway's was Absoluely one of the best BBQ experiences i have ever had in my life. . . On my first trip to the city of Milwaukee I went to The Rave for a concert, I was looking for someplace to get a meal before the show and found this little place tucked away in what looks to be a run of the mill dive bar a stones throw away from the Rave and Marquette University. Without yelping first we walked in and checked out the menu and since we were on a slightly limited time table both myself and my friend ordered the Brisket sandwich and fries with cornbread, I also ordered a side of beans. After sitting down I then decided to look at the yelp reviews of the place and discovered the small number it had were all stellar. Also while we were waiting we talked to the owner as he prepared our food and he told us about the place and the neighborhood around it. As a staff of one he was very nice and a great host. It didn't take long and our food was out in no time. The brisket sandwich was pretty generous sized with a good amount of fries with it. When I rolled a piece of brisket onto the fork it was fall off the fork tender and it was great, perfectly smoked with a nice, molasses based sauce that lets you taste the meat without overpowering it. It was deffenitly some of the best brisket I've ever tasted. The cornbread is decent flavored with jalapeno and has a nice flavor, I am more of a fan of a sweeter traditional flavor but this wasn't bad. Now I will say that the beans are 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt the best order of beans I have ever had in my life. A nice thick full flavor of smoke and BBQ with the special add on of ground up burnt ends added to the mix to give it that extra pop. Absolutely get the beans as a side, the flavor is amazing!!!!! Can't wait to get back to Milwaukee for some more amazing music at The Rave and I will absolutely be back at Conway's to try their ribs and fried chicken. read more

OMG!!!!!!!!! The ribs were phenomenal with the wings a close second!!! Don't let the neighborhood scare you, they run a tight ship here. The bar and restaurant although owned by the same person are separate and CASH ONLY which would be the only downfall. The owner Debbie is very personable and we got a history lesson on the bar and the neighborhood :). Will definitely be back again!! ****btw..... They have a $15 off $30 coupon on restaurant.com right now ;) read more

Owners are absolute beauties. Always get the food on time and get to interact with the owners while you are picking up your order. Fantastic ribs, highly recommend the Big Johnson...take that for what it's worth. 10/10. read more

Stopped in finally! Been on my restaurant bucket list for a while since seeing them featured on tv. As soon as you enter the door the smoky smell hits you. You just know there's something good cooking in there. It is your typical old corner bar and when you walk through to the other side you enter the restaurant. Walk up to the counter and order and they bring it to your table when it's ready. The guy cooking was super friendly and really knows his stuff. All of the meats were simply outstanding. Great smoky flavor, excellent sauces. The fries were super basic bagged frozen which was a bit disappointing. Jalapeño corn bread was served warm but no option for butter and a bit lacking in flavor. Baked beans did not look like they tasted. I love me some good beans and these were great. Cook chops up the rib ends and puts them in the beans. Definitely a lot to look at in this place. Don't be fooled that the ribs come as 3 or 5, we got 5 to share (were given 6) and took 2 home, they are BIG. read more

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Does not accept CC bit kindly the atm charges for its use. Food was a huge let down, order beer from a bottle.

Headed for a quick trip to Milwaukee and so glad that the positive reviews for Conway's Smokin Bar and Grill came up! The location was perfect for the show at the Rave and the food could not have been better!! We ordered the Big Johnson ribs, beans and cornbread. Every bite was absolutely delicious! The ribs were just the right tenderness and the seasoning and bbq sauce perfect. Whatever the special recipe is for those beans, be sure not to miss them! The service at the bar and the restaurant was friendly and we loved the place! Don't let the location and plain Jane looks dissuade you from heading on in! You will not be disappointed! Can hardly wait for our next visit to Milwaukee! We will definitely be back!! read more

The hidden gem of the Marquette area. I don't think words can describe how good the smoked ribs and wings are here. A little pricey/slow but more than worth it. Hands down best baked beans I've ever had as well. My only real complaint is that the bartender has been rude every time I've been there. But otherwise an amazing place! read more

Food is fantastic. Had the Big Johnson and the ribs were incredible. The owner behind the grill is a fantastic man. The only downside is the dude at the bar, who gives off a little bit of a Jeffrey Dahmer vibe. Nonetheless, Conways always his the spot. read more

Conway's has the overall best BBQ in the Milwaukee area. You can actually taste the smoked meat and not just the sauce like other places.

While waiting for laundry to finish at the nearby Tanning and Coin Laundry a buddy and I decided to try Conway's. After walking 5 blocks or so to this divey looking bar, we bellied up at the bar salivating for some ribs we saw on the menu. FYI you need to walk to the other portion of the bar to order food. We both ordered The Big Johnson - 6 fairly large ribs, side of beans, and cornbread. I've eaten a lot of ribs in my life and these were some of the best hickory smoked ribs I've ever had. Sipping it down with a pint of Spotted Cow doesn't hurt either. The ribs aren't too saucy at all, you can definitely taste the smokiness but also the wet rub of sauce lathered on before grilling. If you are in the Marquette University area and are feeling some bbq I highly recommend Conways. read more

The dive bar feature is absolutely correct . But once u walk past that and into the little dining room, Which I know must be pact out durring regular hours. U walk to a window pick up the menu and go over the selection of food u can choose from which isn't a large selection . But those smoked ribs! so damnnnn good they just fall off the bone! And the baked beans are make with the extra rib meat inside of them!! I suggest u rush there if u are ever in the area! Finger lickin good read more

Thursday's are great because you can get delicious spaghetti for $5! I love the wide variety of microbrews on tap. This place is spotless- like they won an award for cleanliness ( tmj4 blue ribbon award). The hot smoked wings legit turned me into a meat-eater. Way better than point east wings. Potato salad is great. P.s. Hate mom's meatloaf? Try conway smoked meatloaf sandwich; you'll still hate your mom's meatloaf. read more

Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We ended up here late last year in search of some barbecue as Yelp classified the place under barbecue and bars. We had passed by here once before and talked to a nice lady who was outside, and also talked to a lady inside this time, probably the same woman, who may be the owner. Both times she was very friendly. There were a few bikers drinking at the bar and we were the only table a little after 6:00 on a Saturday. I'm not sure how much BBQ they prepare or how many rib dinners they might go through in a typical Saturday night. A customer came in for carryout while we were there, and they did have some live music coming up later, so maybe the rib crowd shows up later. My sister-in-law ordered a beer at the bar and her husband asked for a different beer and the bartender apparently thought he wanted the same beer as her, so he poured two, and wasn't apologetic when my brother-in-law mentioned that it wasn't what he had ordered. At least on our visit, the bartender wasn't really the talkative sort. The ribs we had were OK but there was not a smoke ring and they tasted heavily smoked in a bit of an overwhelming way. The beans didn't look extraordinary but they were really very good. I think they may have had some ground beef in them or something. In any case, they were tasty, and it was a large portion. The value for the six bones of ribs, a large bowl of beans and a triangle slice of cornbread was good at $14.75. My sister-in-law had the smoked meatloaf sandwich, which wasn't huge, but it was reasonably priced at around $7 with a side, and the side of potato salad, which she enjoyed, was decent. I held off on writing this review because I was planning to come back again and see how a second visit was first, but having moved farther away, I'm not sure I'll make it back. All in all it was an OK experience, and as a standard bar that has taken the step above pouring some frozen food out of a bag (and has reasonable prices), I'm hovering between 2/12-3 stars, so I'll round up. read more

Helloooooo Milwaukee! Hands down the best of the best for ribs and wings. Can't wait to come back and try the ruebin sandwhich. Oh my gosh what a gem this place is! I was already won over by the food, drinks and hospitality but was fortunate enough to chat with Debbie and Gary - and what a beautiful background story they had to share :) driving back to Chicago with a happy belly and a big smile on my face. read more

Always very good! Big Johnson! I come to here every Wednesday, it is really amazing. The ribs is the best smoked ribs which I have tried. BBQ wings and another food are very good as well. BBQ and wonderful beer and amazing music, oh, good! read more

Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mouth...moist. Enough said. The meatloaf? Don't get me started...and I don't even like meatloaf. The people, the open jam, the hometown ambiance, shall I continue? Yep... The owners are the Johnsons. Classic Milwaukeeans with some down home Wisconsin flavor, Barbecue flavor that is. When a menu titles their food lil' Johnson, big Johnson and the pork tornado, my interests are peaked only to be met with genuine satisfaction. Even better, their veggie option is name Annie Lenox. Epic. This place doesn't need to pretend to be a barbecue joint, it is. Thank you Johnsons! read more

Outstanding dive bar with a neat atmosphere. I've been here for dinner with friends (the kitchen is usually open from Wed - Saturday serving various smoked meats with BBQ type sides. The midrange beers were $5 for a pint, and the food prices are very reasonable. read more

Great people, great food. Loved the brisket sandwich and the Big Johnson. Ribs were amazing. Recommend it highly.

Recently ventured back to Conway's. The ribs were awesome as always, but we tried the wings this time -- not very good. Oversmoked, wet and textureless. Still, the ribs are worth the trip. read more

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear I just indulged in food porn. Honestly. The smoked meatloaf sandwich is the best meatloaf I've ever had. Sorry mom. But what made me wishing I'd bought more, was the baked beans. Above and beyond any BBQ places beans I've ever had. Debbie and Gary are also the nicest people you'll ever meet. I'll be back, and back, and back........ read more

Food here is worth the travel. Kitchen opens at 4 fyi. My girlfriend and I got the big Johnson (6 large ribs, beans, cornbread) and a smoked Rubin sandwich (plus a beer was $25). The BBQ ribs were fall off the home tender, juicy and great flavor in the meat itself. Most places rely on the sauce for its flavor but this place is in its meat. The smoked Rubin was strangely the best. I think the chef really killed it. Staff is incredibly down to earth and nice. Location is kind of a dive with pool table and very spacious. Bonus if you're into batman. Street parking right out front. read more