Reservations highly recommended. This is an extremely popular venue for eating. It has a bar area always packed at 5pm, and then other areas for date night to groups. There's a lot of variety on the menu so most should be able to find something they like. The atmosphere is trendy and the staff is always nice. Everything I've had there has been good. I haven't found a dish that has completely wowed me, but for the atmosphere and choices I still enjoy it. read more

Draft Gastropub - Charcuterie appetizer, enough for a group of 4! - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Aged Beef! Not just that the beef was amazing, but the chef prepared it perfectly. Not only were the entrée exceptional. Side items were delicious. Morgan took care of me. I was actually in a bit of a rush.The true sign of a good server. She knew how to read the table. With a huge smile perfect timing. Ambience is very nice, but nothing over the top. Thankfully, they focus on amazing food. read more

Draft Gastropub - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I think Draft continues to be one of the most reliable, enjoyable dining experiences in the Appleton area. Yes, parking isn't fun, but you don't come for the parking. Good drinks, nice atmosphere, knowledgeable servers and really good food keep bringing my friends and I back! read more

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Work function dictated I needed to go or I would not have. There was only one thing on the menu I would eat. A side salad. I will not go back unless I am required to. Service was good. read more

This is an Appleton gem. I try to sneak in a Draft visit whenever I'm in town because the food is A+ and the service is just as solid. Tried the bam bam shrimp for the first time and it is SO GOOD. It could stand alone as a small entree given the well roundedness of the dish. The server really knew the menu well when I narrowed my choice down to salmon, she steered me in the right direction. read more

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The last time that I was there with friends, I had the Brisket Sandwich. It was out of this world DELICIOUS. Lawrence read more

Popped in for dinner with my wife on a Wednesday night. Stepped up to the host stand and were told it'd be a 30 minute or so wait. We went around the corner to the bar and lucked out with a couple of empty seats, so we decided to just eat there. When we got there a bit after 6, they were busy, but not swamped. About 30 minutes later, the 3 bartenders were working hard to keep up. Nonetheless, we got great service at the bar. For dinner I got the Bourbon Chicken Rice Bowl - it comes with chopsticks, so I pretty effectively used them to devour the delicious and fresh flavors. My wife got the Shrimp Bowl - also delicious and very vibrant flavors. The folks we sat next to on either side of us got various appetizers, pizzas, and dishes, and they were all very happy with their choices. I got a couple of martinis, and they were very well made. Nice slection of wines and beer, and we did top off our dinner with the recommended layer cake. It was decadent and worth the calories. Many, many years ago I lived a few blocks from here; kind of sorry they weren't around when I was in the neighborhood, but at least I get to enjoy it now! read more

It's important to know that they wait for your entire party to arrive before seating you. So we ended up standing in the small lobby area kind of in the way for a little while. Once we sat down, our server was super attentive and helpful and provided phenomenal service. We had the potstickers to start, and they were very tasty. For my meal I ordered one of the dinner specials, a ribeye with Brie cheese and caramelized onions - it was a really good steak but I think it could have been perfected. The Brie cheese was cold and wasn't melted over the top like you'd expect, and I ordered my steak Medium, and half of it was medium but the other half was definitely Rare, close to Blue. We had the rumchata crème brûlée and it was delicious and enough to share. Overall Draft was a good experience and a good meal. read more

Draft Gastropub - Ribeye with Brie special - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

First visit today was so good, we agreed to return again sometime soon! We both had the Wagyu burgers with truffle fries and garlic dipping sauce. The tequila old fashion was very good as was the lemon Meringue martini. Service was great and the food was amazing! Enjoy! read more

Service was great! I had the Whisky BBQ Burger without bacon and truffle fries; delicious! I also had the Hibiscus Cosmo with a Hibiscus dipped in syrup. I went at noon on a Saturday, not a busy time. Very nice ambiance. Clean bathroom! read more

Draft Gastropub - Hibiscus Cosmo - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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First time dining there. My order was the Black and Blue Pub Salad. It was huge! For the most part I enjoyed the huge plate of greens, the dressing but the beef tenderloin was a pile of mess. When I read blackened tenderloin, I envisioned lovely medium to rare blackened with a crust of seasoning medallion slices of beef. There was no slice, just a pile of mess with a sauce. Weird. And the seating host, well, I have seen happier faces on a Halloween pumpkin. I'll give it one more try and will update this review accordingly. read more

Food is delicious every time! The cocktails are thoughtfully created and the service is great. read more

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The drinks at Draft definitely deserve their own review. The Draft old fashioned is made with house butters and syrup, a Luxardo cherry, an ice sphere, and a branded orange twist. A+presentation and proportions. The Lavender Haze is certainly a sight to behold and worth the price of admission to have that moment of anticipation prior to releasing the confined smoke. The place has a great industrial vibe, overall. The food was good; get the truffle fries instead of the sweet potato fries. read more

Draft Gastropub - Draft Old Fashioned - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

We had reservations and were seated right on time. The ambiance was the best part. The menu options were just so heavy overall, between apps, entrees and dessert. Forget about getting any veggie forward apps, soups, or a small salad or dinner roll with your entree. After your dining experience is over you'll be sad that you didn't get anything to break up the rich/heavy monotony. I ordered the Chardonnay-Lobster Scallops and I have to say the scallops were to die for as long as you scraped them to the side of the plate so you could enjoy them without the competing risotto and lobster creme. In all fairness they did have steamed carrots and asparagus on the side, but those weren't pan-seared, charred, seasoned, etc., so they were very bland. My husband had the lobster pizza and was really happy with his meal. For drinks, he totally loved his NA Strawberry-Mint Lemonade. My Wisconsin Old Fashioned (brandy, sweet) was pretty much soda with cherries on top; I didn't taste the bitters or brandy. The service was the most lackluster. I get there can be "off" nights, but Miranda D. acted like her tables were an inconvenience and that smiling or being pleasant was taboo. Hubs who works in customer service was horrified by her. Not sure if we'd come back. Maybe we will if we see future menus have more palate-forward varieties. read more

Draft Gastropub - Lobster pizza. - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Appleton is so lucky to have such great food! Drafts is wonderful- I had the Creole pasta. Like jambalaya but with noodles. Huge portion, great sauce - just yummy. All six of us loved our food and Service was fantastic. Don't miss the charcuterie board, which was creative with something for everyone. Even though the restaurant can seat quite a few, it's sectioned out so that you feel cozy in your space. You will really enjoy it read more

They just don't miss I have been here a multitude of times and still leave impressed. First off all, I came on a Wednesday at 5pm it was the busiest I have ever seen this place. Yet she told me a hour wait sat at the bar so it went by fast with the good drinks flowing. After we were seated the food we order from came right away and our bartender plus waitress was to die for. She/He was so attentive and nice I love the Christmas decorations with the dim lights. The food came out hot and fresh plus just how we ordered. I like my salmon well done but not burnt lots of places have a hard time getting it right. 10/10 RUN DO NOT WALK read more

The Draft is a great place with great people. I had an issue with the fish tacos and the manager came over to the table. He made it right, and I was completely satisfied.I can't say enough good things about the restaurant. read more

I was in town touring the Pierce facility. One evening we dined at Draft Gastropub. The food was great, the server was amazing. Her name was Sassy Cassie, or Cassandra. She was professional, friendly, quick witted and sooo much fun. If you're in the Draft on Monday, Wednesday or Friday evening ask for her, you won't be disappointed. Thanks Sassy Cass, you were great!! read more

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I love this place! It is a beautiful restaurant with a great bar area. The vibe is cool and comfortable. And I have always have great service. They have a unique selection of craft drinks that are yummy. The shrimp bowl is amazing! A great combination of ingredients, textures, and flavors with huge shrimp. The Mac n cheese is creamy and cheesy with lobster! The tuna poke bowl is vibrant and tasty. But I would get the shrimp bowl again and again!! I have ordered others dishes and everything is always tasty. Try the Friday night fish fry. When I am in town, I go here. So good!! read more

Draft Gastropub - Tuna poke bowl. Really good! - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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We were there for lunch, the service was excellent. This was my first time eating here and I am definitely planning on brining my family back for another meal. The burger was cooked perfectly medium with crispy onion straws. I had the sweet potato fries for a side, the fries had a lovely sugary seasoning that wasn't overpoweringly sweet. I would definitely recommend. read more

Draft Gastropub - Lunch Whiskey BBQ Burger with garlic aioli - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Food and service were incredible! We were too busy eating our delicious food to take pictures. Started with fried goat cheese curds and candied bacon. Then ordered butter steak and blue cheese filet with some sides and ended the night with the crème brûlée! The steak was incredible tender and the side mashed potatoes were seasoned perfectly. The crème brûlée had a mango margarita taste which was light and delicious. Service from the time you get here is so attentive and friendly! Highly recommend it! read more

Fine dining, great food and superb atmosphere. We even had tableside service. The only complaint I have us my tummy wasn't large enough so I have to come back to try more! read more

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*NOTE they close at 9, not 10pm. This is Appleton. The food options look great, but I'm going to have to come back another time to try them. read more

I've now be to the Draft twice, once for lunch and one for "date night". Food has been incredible each time. Most recently on date night, we had the Pad Thai and the Salmon. Both were incredible. The salmon raw perfectly prepared and tasted great. One of the best salmon dishes I've ever eaten. The pad Thai was very good. Good flavor, nice sized portion. We'll definitely return to The Draft! read more

I REALLY wanted to like this restaurant. I visited with my cousin & family, a local, who has eaten here many times, so maybe it was just an off night? Two members of our party of 5 were disabled, and so we weren't the easiest party to seat and accommodate, but the waiter was dismissive and seemed like he wanted us to rush out of there even though we ordered before dinner cocktails. He kept coming back, asking us to order, before we'd even started our drinks. I asked the waiter if he had recommendations and he all but rolled his eyes and said he recommended the specials, and told me the woman at the next table had ordered one of them, gesturing that maybe I should look at her meal. Staring at another diner's food seemed rude, but as he described the dish again, fish (salmon?) with sausage (WTF?) and a "Tuscan cream sauce," it probably wouldn't have killed him to mention a couple of the ingredients in the sauce. I still don't know where the sausage fits in (I went to culinary school). I ordered the coconut encrusted salmon, and the crust was over-browned and the fish was overcooked. It came on a bed of wasabi risotto, which was also overcooked and mushy. I split my salmon with my friend who ordered the Thai chicken waffle sliders and the chicken was very over-cooked, and the slaw served on the waffle sliders just made the whole thing mushy. Kind of disgusting, honestly. I figured with the unexpected mix of ingredients in many of the dishes that they must be good because who would dare to do that if the combination wasn't cohesive? Well, I found out.....sadly. The cocktails were excellent. This is not a cheap place, and I expected more from the service and much more from the food. We probably looked like we weren't going to tip (wrong). Ug. If I wasn't with a group of people, I would have sent my dinner back. read more

For what it is, I find it overpriced. There are amazing restaurants in the Fox Cities, and if I'm going to pay that much I expect a lot more. Either the quality of the food needs to be spectacular or the portions need to gigantic. But, both counts were lacking. I'd go back and give them another try, but only if someone else was footing the bill. read more

My customer recommended the place knowing we would love it. We had 3 people in our party and everyone raved about it for days. Great Drinks food was Amazing and they desert the forces us to eat was to die for. This place is on my list when I am in town. Thank you for amazing service as well, we did not want for anything. read more

This is the third time I have eaten here, and there are some definite pros and cons... A pro...the tuna tartare, which is excellently prepared and beautifully served. A con...the service is inconsistent. One time, the server was attentive and helpful. Today, our server did not tell us the specials, did not check back in after dropping off the food, left appetizer plates on the table after serving the entree, and had to be asked for more water. The server at the table next to us checked back there 4 or 5 times, and listening to her was how we heard about the specials. A pro....we were there at a less busy time (4:00), were seated quickly, and our food came out quickly. A con...the scallops were sandy and rubbery-disappointing. A pro...the risotto was cooked to perfection and seasoned delicately. A pro or a con, depending on your thoughts on this....the salads are ENORMOUS. Seriously, enough greens to feed 4 people. The ingredients are tasty (one of us had the Mediterranean salad, another had the champagne salad) but for the amount of greens, not nearly plentiful enough. You are left with a lot of leftover greens - kind of wasteful. I would prefer a smaller salad option with a bigger quantity of ingredients. The champagne vinaigrette was lovely. A con....dry proteins-both the grilled chicken and grouper were cooked too long. A pro....tasty lobster bisque. Fair warning....the bowl size is huge. Like the salads, far more than one person can eat. We watched a family of three share a bowl....and still have enough left to take home a good cup and a half. Another con....it's kind of a standard strip mall decor; not very much to look at or to add to the atmosphere. All that said, I would return here for the tuna tartare alone. Given the dearth of decent Appleton restaurants, I would give it a try if you're looking for a slightly elevated bar menu. But ask questions before ordering! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in town. Service is 5 star, foods is delicious and the signature cocktails are a great complement to any meal. read more

I love this place food is delicious and everything looks so pretty. Could've used a bit more salt this visit, but easily remedied by asking for some s&p. We also had crème brûlée, and potstickers. Service was great, good for a business lunch/dinner or date nite Service was spot on from hostess, server, manager, busser. Great place! read more

Draft Gastropub - Salmon salad - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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This place is great for date night or family night! Love their selections and food tastes great as always. Been there twice and I'm never disappointed. read more

A trendy little spot with a very diverse menu ranging from "gastro" tacos to fanciful steaks and much in between. The quarters are done rather elegantly inside, and leave a nice first impression. On this lunch visit, I tried the Bourbon Pub Burger based on the waitress recommendation. It was a large and very appealing dish from a visual perspective. The burger itself was also quite good, although not quite a "top tier" burger in my experience. It was a little uneven in flavor (some of the ingredients don't stay put with the size), with a tad too much arugula. All in all, it was a very tasty burger though, and still worth a 4-star review. read more

Draft Gastropub - Bourbon Pub Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Absolutely fantastic. Everything we had was delicious. Had the whiskey bbq burger, the French dip sandwich, pretzel. We travel all around the country and this place is top shelf. read more

Always great food and service! I would recommend this place to anyone. Great menu and a good selection of beverages to choose from.

We came here to grab a couple of craft cocktails before adventuring on to grocery shopping. Service: Such a personable server, I think her name was Kelly. We sat out on the patio and she was super attentive. Drinks: YUM. Really great quality and a unique selection. Excited to try more off of their menu. Food: We ended up caving for a giant pretzel since we didn't want to grocery shop hungry. Splitting this between two people is a meal in itself. The dipping sauces were ON POINT as was the pretzel. It is going to be hard to order something else off the menu next time. Excited to come back and give this place another shot, it looks like they may have worked out their opening kinks that we witnessed on our last visit. We love the patio area, such a great spot to just kick back and relax. Note: They also tinted the windows so the sunshine is under control inside now. read more

Draft Gastropub - Bird of Paradise craft cocktail - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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The portions are literally obnoxious! I met a friend for lunch and just wanted a salad (I think I got the Mahi salad). For the love of gawd....I think it was served on a plate the size of a 55 gallon trash can lid!!! Gastropub is right - I'm still blowing lettuce floaties 3 weeks later read more

This place is AWESOME. Holy socks the chicken sandwich is amazing. Almost impossible to take a bite out of. That's what we call good problems. It's massive. Decent pricing for the quality and amount of food! read more

Draft Gastropub - Chicken sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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We had a gift card to Draft so we decided to go one night for dinner. We got the pretzel as an appetizer which was sadly burnt on the bottom side. For entrees we ordered the wagyu salad and pesto pasta. Both meals were enormous. Maybe I'm particular but I could go without the frilly flower garnishing. My salad was very little meat but loads and loads of lettuce. The pasta was so saucy, it was just a lot. However, the service was speedy and we were seated promptly without a reservation. Overall, it's quality over quantity when it comes to food for me. read more

This is the kind of place that does two things. First it made me stop and think "I could move to Appleton". Secondly, I know that a month or a year from now I am going to wake up in the middle of the night and crave this place. Usually, an overextended menu is a bad warning sign. If you can't do 2 or 3 things well then do 20 things poorly. And this menu is overextended. No doubt about it. I had reviewed it online before going and still struggled with picking something long after I arrived. However, you could throw a dart at the menu and anything it landed on would be delicious. My 11 year old ordered the pesto chicken pasta and it was amazing. The 8 year got the shrimp Mediterranean salad and it was enormous and delicious. I got the Texas brisket burger and had to stop myself from licking the plate. The appetizer of potstickers were perfect. But I saved the best for last. If you only go here once because you get hit by a bus on your way out (only legit reason for going here only once) you have to order my wife's choice. Thai chicken and waffles. Everyone sampled and everyone agreed. It is the very definition of perfect food. Spicy. Sweet. Perfect. As for cocktails they were amazing but the booze is almost an after thought. Go here and eat. Service was solid and decor excellent. read more

Draft Gastropub - Beautiful open atmosphere. - Gastropubs Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Everything I had was amazing. The service was pretty good. Everything was timely. It was a bit dark so it was hard to see our plates. But it was overall one of the best food experiences I've ever had. I can't wait to come back. read more

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