Quite a pricy dinner that went started high and went down hill with each round of food we received... Which is unfortunate because we left with lingering memories of the mediocre end instead of the great start. The main complaint was time. The pacing was OK at the start, and courses took 30min in between by the end. It was not busy on a cold Thursday so we walked in. There were maybe 9 other ppl there. 30% capacity. There was someone at expo standing for long periods. Unclear why the food took ages. When the last courses came they were not properly cooked. Steak was visibly overcooked, not rested, and gray when it hit our table. How did it pass the expo person who was just standing around? The course before, pasta, was cold and underseasoned, and also the only thing coming out of the kitchen in 30min. Working backwards... The appetizer small plates were delicious. Good flavors, bright, balanced. Hot food came hot cold food stayed cold, came at a reasonable time. If the meal ended there that would have been great. Chicken liver mousse was a great balance of liver flavor and spices, was probably my favorite bite The best thing we ate was by far the bread and broth. Course 1. A little $$$ but so farm and comforting and extremely umami. Service was fine, a little awkward and lacked warmth especially when there were missteps in the food. Good hospitality could make it up but it didn't. Overall it wasn't thr worst meal we had at this price point, it certainly had a strong start. read more

10/10 no notes Not stuffy, not formal - expect elevated food and service with amazing flavors. Their garam masala chicken liver mousse is one of the best things I've ever eaten - EVER. read more

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Service 5/5. Fantastic, so knowledgeable. Show up early to find parking around this place. You might have to park on a side street and walk less than minutes. Neighborhood is poppin with a lot of restaurants. Food: Loved the chicken liver mousse! And the goat cheese cheesecake? They have a rotating menu so what I speak to might not appear. The chicken liver mousse was so full of flavor and the puri added a crunch. The dessert was not too sweet, had a bit of sugar crumbles that added texture. Not overpowering with the goat cheese flavor but you hint at it. Well balanced! The chicken was meh. A little overcooked. The gnocchi was definitely the Star. A bit tangy for my liking because of the collard greens, but the gnocchi was pillowy and so easy to chew through. The carrot appetizer was fine. Nothing special. Gave me impossible meat vibes if that's what you want although sometimes I'm looking for the vegetable to shine the way it works instead of making it taste like meat. Nothing bad to say about it, was just surprised. read more

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We came to celebrate Valentine's Day a little bit later in the month. It was totally worth the wait! The restaurant itself is small with only a few tables, but you know you are getting excellent food and service. The vibes are upscale, but somehow does not feel snooty. They have alcohol removed, wine, which was perfect! The broth and bread was savory and incredible. We got a couple plates from each section of the menu. Everything was absolutely incredible! For our final dishes, we got the steak and fish which were both amazing and cooked to perfection. The olive oil cake was sublime. We will absolutely be back! Also - because we told them we were celebrating Valentine's Day a little bit later they brought flowers at the end, which was so sweet. The chocolate chip cookies I believe are complementary at the end of the meal and are perfect. read more

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First time here. I had wanted to come before, but then they had the massive flood and remodel. Our server said it was actually a blessing because the new version is a real upgrade. The restaurant is not that big. When we arrived, on what had been the coldest night of the winter, we were seated right next to the front window. I was a little concerned, and the server apologized for the chill, so I kept my quilted vest on. It was about half full when we arrived, and the noise level was good. The design is upscale yet casual. The staff are knowledgeable and professional, without any unnecessary pretentiousness. We got started with a couple of craft cocktails. I usually get an Old Fashioned, but I went with the Fall of the Empires Manhattan, which was strong, tasty, and lasted the entire meal. My wife wanted the Haute Toddy, but this version includes chili, and after a quick discussion about the heat level, they made her a regular Hot Toddy, which was also excellent. Our server did a great job getting us settled in. The menu is set up with three courses, each offering four or five interesting selections. The descriptions are brief, and the server did a great job filling in the details. We were not familiar with some of the items, and they helped us understand what we were ordering. We decided to share one item from each course, knowing we would probably need to take something home, which we did. We chose the Celeriac Salad, Hamachi Crudo, Orecchiette, Casarecce, Bass, and Wagyu. I could go into long detail about each of these and how amazing they were, because they truly were. Every dish had a thoughtful combination of flavors and textures. The portions were surprisingly generous, and by the end of the first course we realized we would have a hard time finishing everything. It was tough to pick favorites, but for me the Orecchiette stood out. It is made with chicken gizzards, which reminded me of my mother's cooking. As kids we used to fight over the gizzard. A very underrated organ, and it was so, so good. The entire evening was excellent, with one small issue. We had a 6:00 reservation and a performance at the Rep at 8:00. I thought ninety minutes would be plenty. We were on good pace until the third course. It took longer to arrive (and the restaurant was busier by then), and we had to rush. We ended up paying before the third course arrived, and the end of the meal felt hurried. We did not get a chance to consider dessert, though they brought us a couple of delicious chocolate cookies. Not sure if they do that for everyone. Would definitely come back. Next time we will plan for more time. read more

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A very cozy and welcoming spot, perfect for date night, small friend or family gatherings, or even dining solo. The menu is on the smaller side, but every dish feels intentional and well thought out. We visited with our picky 2.5-year-old, and everyone left happy and well-fed. Broth & Bread The presentation feels homey yet refined. The monkey bread arrived warm--cheesy, slightly crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside. Excellent. The broth reminded me of my mom's chicken and shiitake mushroom soup (we're Chinese), though it leaned a bit salty. Slightly less soy sauce or salt would make it better. Gnudi If you've never had gnudi, my husband described them in a way that made me laugh but was surprisingly accurate: they taste like green-scallion-flavored hot sponge cake. The scallion flavor in the broth is strong, and the dumplings soak up that intensity. Would not recommend if you don't like scallions. Winter Squash A comforting vegetarian wild-rice dish. The hazelnuts add great texture. Simple, healthy, and satisfying. Bass We loved this, and our toddler ate most of it. The crispy sourdough on top is a such a clever touch, and the creamy tartar-style sauce pairs perfectly with the sea bass. Dessert We tried both the pancake and the hot chocolate, and both were delicious. The hot chocolate is especially memorable: layered textures and flavors from top to bottom, and every scoop feels different. read more

EsterEv - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Stopped by for a celebration dinner with my wife earlier this week and loved just about everything. It was a wonderful experience. We started with the bread and broth, which was excellent and Chef Dan even greeted us and told us a story about how the broth is his mother's chicken soup recipe. It was such a nice surprise. Then we had the rigatoni which was incredible. I would go back just for those first two items. Our mains were the risotto and the rabbit which were both also really good. For dessert we ordered the milk and cookies which my wife enjoyed, not knowing that they also give you a chocolate chip cookie when the check comes. That cookie was perfect, one of the best I've ever eaten. The service was tremendous, the bartender was so nice and everything about our meal was exactly what you hope for with a celebratory meal. read more

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Trying EsterEv for the first time! The restaurant has a cozy non-assuming interior decoration, tucked in Bayview. Street parking is plenty if you are willing to walk a few blocks. We didn't order the soup and bread but it came to our table by mistake and we had it complementary. The monkey bread turned out to be my favorite! The chicken soup is a little too salty for my taste but it has a good flavor with a tangy aftertaste. Our appetizers were the carrots and scallops. The carrots were not what I had expected, it was more of a crudite style, raw walnuts and raw carrots grounded with some spice. Not my favorite to be honest. The scallops are excellent, 3 pieces with a vinaigrette foam and kombu oil. The main dishes are bass and chicken. The chicken is a much bigger and heartier plate than the bass. If you are hungry the bass is probably not enough to fill you up. We were quite full towards the end so we didn't order desserts. But two chocolate chip cookies were given complementary. Overall, pretty good. Much better than Dandan in my opinion. Will be back probably! read more

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Truly a complete dining experience that excelled in ambiance, service and food. Loooved the cozy ambiance right as we walked in, our server did a great job describing each course and what some of his favorites are. apparently they used to serve 3 course meals but now run things a la carte. on friday night they had a special drink & dessert amaretto menu so ofc we had to try them all!! Both drinks were very strong but still went down so smoothly - caviar tater tot: probably our second fav dish!!!! this was like one giant hash brown with caviar on top. delicious - mussels: i always get mussels any time it's on the menu, and the broth was unique & had a big flavor kick to it. wish they gave a few more mussels though!!! - casarecce: can't say i was entirely impressed with this, made me wish we ordered the pelmeni instead but it was the pasta special of the night so we went for it. Still a good truffle pasta though - bass: Just ok to be honest. I liked that it was so light but I expected the skin to be crispier and for there to be more flavor throughout the whole dish - wagyu: third fav dish of the night! wagyu had a lot of flavor and the sauce genuinely reminded me of the steak we've had at birch before. enjoyed the mix of crispy and soft brussel sprouts! the waygu's edges were very crispy - amaretto dessert: dessert our fav dish of the night!! so light, the thin cracker was crispy, perfect way to end dinner - cookie: complimentary cookie at the end of the night. delicious! read more

EsterEv - mussels - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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A new experience for me but wonderful!! Everything was warm & welcoming& of course the food was outstanding!! The four of us tried different dishes & all were outstanding & very shareable. Great place for a special evening. read more

I'm here for a date night, and loved everything we had. The service was incredible, and we were able to be seated at the bar as walk-ins on what I believe was a weekend night. Everything we ate was delicious, complex, and have layers of flavor and unexpected twists. I look forward to going back. read more

Though some of the flavor combinations were very good & it's a great place to share dishes my experience was tarnished by the following: - The sound volume was distressingly loud. It's my overwhelming memory of the meal, the room was too loud! - The menu itself was tricked up by ingredient words one needed to ask the meaning of. - The service came off as brusque. read more

This is my first time doing a fine dining experience in MKE. I think it's always hard to justify spending "so much" for "so little" with these experiences, but it's safe to say that this place is worth it and definitely gave more than we bargained for! We booked a two-person reservation about a month in advance and I would advise you to check at least a week before your planned day to ensure you get to experience this place. The menu outlines a 4-course meal with optional wine pairing. I went in early July and chose: Steak tartare: 3/5, I enjoyed how light this was but it came a bit salty. Taglionlini 5/5, soo creamy and yummy! I wish I had more of this Duck 5/5, really enjoyed all the textures with the duck and the vinaigrette really helped cut all the fat from the meat Rhubarb 3/5, this reminded me of a yogurt with a tart jam at the bottom, flipped and served to you. Nothing special but enjoyed it as a meal "ender" We came in with the idea that we would only get 4 courses but were surprised with a bread and soup pre and two amuse bouches at the very end. I had a great experience and would recommend this to anyone wanting to try an elevated food scene! read more

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EsterEv did not knock my socks off. It was good, but 50% of the dishes were mediocre. My opinions are always biased, as we have a place in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, a Mecca of creative cooking. Every block has a tiny restaurant with an innovative kitchen, producing food that will make you go sockless. You dine well in the 11th for about 50 Euros per person. With cocktails and two glasses of wine, our bill at EsterEv was over $300. That's a lot of moolah for unmemorable food. We did get to meet the incomparable Dan, who came around to visit with each group, a magnanimous gesture for a celebrity chef. That was worth a few bucks. His love of Wisconsin and appreciation for down to earth Milwaukee is all over EsterEv. On returning, I would sit at the bar, have one or two bites, several drinks, and leave happy. No more degustation menus at EsterEv for me. My favorite taste of the evening was the soup, a savory Asian inspired broth, that was nothing like matzoh ball soup, but had the same medicinal effect. The chicken liver toast deserves its well advertised popularity, but both the cappelletti and sunflower were odd, with a disquieting taste. I guess I applaud the creativity. The lamb was good, but nothing I haven't tasted in the past, while the walleye hit the strange button again, and we both didn't understand the dish. Desserts were fine, but again, nothing memorable. Service at the bar by Casey was professional, and reminded us of the service the Casey provides at Goodkind. We live in Bayview and cherish having a restaurant like EsterEv in the hood. It's a gourmet spot without airs. I just wish the food tasted better. read more

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I do not have enough good things to say about esterev! I would give this place 1000 stars if I could. Food, drinks, ambiance and service all AMAZING. Chicken and steak were both cooked to perfection. Don't sleep on the bone broth, it is so flavorful and warms the soul. The tequila mezcal milk punch that is on their menu right now may be one of the best and most balanced drinks I've had. Will definitely be returning to this true gem of a restaurant. Milwaukee is Lucky to have you esterev!! read more

EsterEv is quite possibly the greatest restaurant in Milwaukee. Definitely deserves a Michelin Star. The atmosphere is very hip, classy, yet inviting. The music choice is upbeat and trendy but adds to a calming pace. The waitstaff has excellent service. They explained each dish. For starters we had mussels with smoked carrots which were excellent. Celeriac for a starter which was a unique take, almost like a vegetable pasta but very refreshing at the same time. The wine selection, like the food, is limited, curated, and all excellent. We had a french Rose which had a beautiful floral note and a full buttery body uncommon for rose. Hamachi crudo was an interesting take on sushi, with a crunchy rice cracker. For my main meal I had the best sea bass I have ever had in my life. Perfectly highlighted, with textures and herby, salty flavors. We had all of the dessert options, which were stellar, but the hot chocolate truly took the stage. Mousse texture with an ice cream base with kalamata olives and sea salt. Every bite was amazing. read more

One of our first fine dining experiences and wow was it amazing!! Our server was so nice and helpful answering all of our questions when ordering. All of the food was delicious, especially the wagyu steak and the complimentary bread, butter and broth to start us out! Would highly recommend the chocolate dessert and the rhubarb one as well. Not sure how often the menu changes, but those two were absolutely delicious! The environment was nice, but not so upscale that you'd feel out of place in casual clothes which was nice. read more

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A truly unique tasting experience. Each plate has exquisite flavor from start to finish. The wines paired with each plate were excellent, with some unusual combinations that worked very well. My favorite dish was the truffle pasta "pillows", closely followed by the olive oil ice cream desert course. The service was impeccable, delicious food, beautiful tasting room. If you've never had a tasting menu experience, start here! read more

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This was our first time here, and I liked that the decor matched the part of town they are in - simple, chic, and casual. All of the servers were very knowledgeable, and our main server was a bundle of joy - you could tell he really loves what he does. I came with a group of three people, and we decided to order three different things from each course and share bites and I highly recommend this method! I liked being able to try more things, and there were some dishes that were absolute flavor bombs that were fun to experience, but you probably wouldn't want more than one or two bites. (We did all start with our own Caviar Tater Tots though - the server described it as the best McDonald's hash brown you'll ever have. $22 is steep for one, but worth it!) We were obsessed with the bread and broth starter that had seaweed oil and a few other notes that just blended so perfectly together...can we have the recipe please?! They also have a extra dessert bite after the final course which was a nice surprise and finish to a lovely meal. I would definitely come back here! read more

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An amazing experience! Everything was complex yet purposeful. Our server was informative and helpful. The vibe is unpretentious which made for a more comfortable opportunity to explore new tastes. There was nothing on the menu that was intimidating or not worth a try. read more

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Our meal at EsterEv was possibly the best dining experience I have ever had in Milwaukee. We were seated and provided with an already marked-up menu identifying which items were gluten free and nut free. We enjoyed the Employee Cocktail of the Month (Julepe) with our bread and broth course and then were off to the races! We decided to partake in the beverage pairings and both "enhancements" which were great additions to the traditional tasting menu. All the food was delicious - not a single morsel was remaining after any dish. Menu highlights included Enhancement #1 (Caviar Tater Tot), Sunflower Risotto, Duck, and last but certainly not least, the Chocolate Caraibe dessert. The service was excellent, the courses were timed perfectly, and we could not have enjoyed ourselves more. If you are looking for an over the top Milwaukee dining experience, this is the place to be! read more

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The best high end meal we've had in Milwaukee since we've moved back. Seriously good. On par with Chicago's food scene. Reimagined staples ( tater tots and chocolate pudding ) and some unique and delish plates ( mushroom pasta and kale wrapped walleye) were really wonderful. And the wine parings were perfection. Fabulous service and homey ambiance- I love the plants everywhere. And the custom plates really add a touch of extra care to the dining experience. read more

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My parents took me here for my birthday and it was an incredible experience. Every bite of the tasting menu was fantastic and the service was superb. Truly a great dining experience, would highly recommend! read more

Chef Dan and his team are absolutely top notch! My partner and I didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and had a truly warm and welcoming experience interlaced with some fun and lively conversation with the bartenders throughout our meal. As is fairly typical for my partner and me, we opted for the tasting menu and all the add-ons we were offered. Since we don't live anywhere near MKE, we would probably do this again every single time we dine at EsterEv, but if we lived in MKE, we would probably show up more frequently, always sit at the bar, and go in for some onesie-twosies instead of the entire menu. At the start of our meal, Chef Dan came out and chatted with us briefly and told us about the amuse bouche which was a beautiful taste of broth and some delicious bread and butter and from then on it was perfectly timed, perfectly executed, and, perhaps most importantly, perfectly delicious! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I have been to several Michelin starred restaurants and plenty that should be starred, yet I have never once loved every single bite from a tasting menu experience until now. This restaurant was the first time I can honestly say that I loved absolutely everything we tasted. Take a gander at the pics and let them do the rest of the talking for me. read more

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Very good. Would go back another time. Good ambiance, good service, good food. Try the bread and broth.

Absolutely delightful evening with phenomenal service! We did the wine pairing along with our service and we were happy we did. We sat at the bar and had such enjoyable conversations with both bartenders, really inviting space to enjoy a lovely dinner service. Highly recommend! read more

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Very tasty! We haven't had a meal like this in quite some time, let alone in Milwaukee. Only a few things that could have been better. The welcome plate with bread and soup was homey and warm, the soup was full of umami and the butter for the bread was funky / cheesy and delish. Chef Dan came to each table to explain and serve the welcome dish, which was thoughtful. Next we got the caviar tator tot, which was good, but would I pay $22 a person for it again? Probably not. For the main meal I got: asparagus, sunflower, bavette, and sunchoke. I apparently have a knack for selecting all the super savory dishes, so while they were all very tasty, by taste buds needed a break! Hubs was willing to trade my bavette for his lamb to help. Which, speaking of, the lamb was so good! Herb-y, not gamey at all, a nice fresh pop in the middle of my savory meal. Service was good, attentive but not in your face at all. Really casual / laid back vibes in the restaurant overall. Will definitely return at some point to see what else they come up with. I would honestly love if they did away with the "do it yourself" menu and change to a straight prix fixe menu to help mitigate the "oops I got all super savory stuff" issue. read more

We tried EsterEv at it's new location for the first time last evening. It was a Saturday night and the restaurant was full with a happy and animated crowd. Service was excellent and very knowledgeable with respect to the menu and the wine list. The menu consists of a 4 course offering with options for each course. The wine list is imaginative with offerings at a variety of price points. The food from presentation to flavors was, in a word terrific! Our party of three are admittedly foodies and frequent travelers and were unanimous in our love of the whole EsterEv experience! By the end of the evening we were talking about all our friends and fellow foodies we would be asking to join us for a night of great dining. We will be back soon! read more

This place is an absolute must. A very unique and comfortable dinning experience in Milwaukee/Bay View. Chef Dan has created the most amazing food and service. read more

Amazing, fantastic and outstanding! Everything from the fantastic, warm and welcoming staff to the outstanding food. The food is probably some of the best we have had. From the beautiful display to the taste. Thank you for the great memory and making our 32 year wedding anniversary so enjoyable. read more

Came here with a few close friends per their recommendation. This restaurant is inside the Dan Dan restaurant. A small intimate space with beautiful wallpaper and pictures. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and kind. The tasting menu was very reasonably priced for an 8 course meal. The wine pairing was also just $45! A great deal! The courses were all very delicious and the wine pairings were fun and complimentary. My favorite course was the green garlic and koshihikari rice and the cod with turmeric coconut curry. But to be honest, all the courses were very good. The portion sizes were perfect and we were able to enjoy all the courses. There were two dessert courses and the rhubarb puff pastry was something to remember. I could eat that everyday! Overall, I had a wonderful experience and would recommend others to go for special occasions or for a just a special night out! read more

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EsterEv is really a fantastic dining experience! I loved that each course was introduced by the chef, who gave us some of the background behind it. For example, probably my favorite course on the menu was the steak tartare. This was described as a nod to the infamous "cannibal sandwich". It was definitely an upscale version of that Wisconsin classic - with puffed beef tendon taking the place of the bread. One of the most unusual aspects of the dish was the strawberry incorporated into the tartare... I was very skeptical about that addition, but it was terrific! Definitely the highlight of the meal for me. I've attached pics of the menu (it constantly changes, I understand - so don't expect all of these dishes if you go) and the individual dishes. Some of the ones that really stood out (mostly for good reasons) were: - The snack course's chicken liver and strawberry jam sandwich cookies - yes, you read that right. As tasty as it was unique! - The aforementioned steak tartare of course! - The dumpling in broth made with the whey left over from making the previous course's cottage cheese. - The Murray cod - an extremely pretty dish that tasted as good as it looked. - The Wagyu. This was the only slight hiccup in the meal for us. Just because the XO sauce that came with the dish was so potent that it really overpowered the beef. - The pavlova. This was a bit of a head-scratcher for the first couple of bites. What threw us off were the pickled gooseberries - so tart and savory. My wife and I both had trouble deciding if we liked it or not, but I finally came down on the side of liking it quite a lot by the time I finished the dish. Amy... not quite so much, but it did grow on her. As I said at the beginning of my review, this is what I'd consider a dining experience more than just a dinner. If you love being surprised and (almost always) delighted by a string of beautiful and delicious dishes, there's no better choice in town than EsterEv! read more

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Thank you Dan and team for bringing this truly unique experience to MKE. You've achieved the art of elevated comfort to cuisine never before accomplished. Each course brought our enjoyment to another level. Every bite was new yet familiar. So special and authentic. read more

Celebrating my birthday at EsterEv was the BEST decision and an amazing experience. The restaurant itself is stunning and beautifully designed. Really cool vibe overall - instrumental hip hop beats playing and the dining room was intimate but felt really comfortable at the same time. We don't get to do much fine dining because my husband and I are vegan but they were able to accommodate a fully vegan menu for us (we called ahead to give them a head's up). The food was seriously incredible - they made up one dish just for us and altered the others. Two of the dishes in particular were unlike anything I've ever had and everything was absolutely delicious. The service was outstanding, and I left feeling so taken care of. I was perfectly satiated and the food was amazing but on top of that, I left having had some really fun interactions with some really cool people making some ridiculously rad food. read more

EsterEv is a brilliant tasting room within DanDan. This was probably the best experience I've ever had doing a tasting menu. Both of the Dans would come out with every course, and one of them would explain what we were eating and what he was trying to accomplish with the flavor combination. It was so fun to hear his backstories, and it added a lot to the meal. I had the drink pairing with my meal, which was fun but can probably be skipped. All but one were white wines. One cool thing about the meal is all the plates are made by one of the servers - and they're really unique and pretty! The courses change all the time, but the meal we had this weekend was amazing! It starts with snacks, and one standout was the most creative deviled egg, where the egg white was merengue. Another amazing snack was this chicken liver with raspberry crunchy mousse bite. It was one of the best things I've ever eaten. As for all of the mains, standouts for me were the beef tartare, this pierogi filled with amazing cheese, and the American wagyu steak. There was also a salad course and a fish course, which were good as well. There were practically three desserts - this incredible squash made to taste like caramel apple, a chocolate with passion fruit dish, and a few little cookies and chocolates. To top off the whole thing, they give you banana bread to take home! The night takes about 3 1/2 hours, and is so enjoyable the whole way through. The service is impeccable, the chef commentary is enlightening, and the food is some of the best I've ever had. If I could give EsterEv more than 5 stars, I would! read more

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AMAZING. Every single thing tasted perfect. 9 courses tasting menu. Dan came out and chatted with us. Smaller intimate venue. read more

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We enjoyed the superb food, but it was a sad end to the meal when the server handed us the bill and announced to us (as we heard him do with other diners seated near us) that the 20% added service charge was not a gratuity, and if we wanted to include a gratuity (tip), we'd need to add it in addition to the 20% already added to our bill! So this is just a PSA to warn other diners about this. Apparently the 20% "service " charge is not actually for service, but is just a supplemental fee to go towards benefits for all staff. Why not just raise the prices, then? When we dine out, this is not what we expect, and in fact, this is the first time we've ever encountered it. We expect better transparency. The reservation page on the restaurant website mentions the 20%, but does not clarify that it in no way covers the gratuity for the servers. It's a sketchy and unwelcome practice, in our view. And it left a bitter taste in what was otherwise a wonderful evening. read more

Everyone thinks of Dan Dan and forgets that EsterEv is a hidden gem in the restaurant within a restaurant concept. My group of friends did an "EsterEv" takeover with 18 of us eating on a Tuesday night. Chef Dan Jacobs and his team did an incredible job with dealing with the multiple food allergies and restrictions with my group. The 10 course menu changes monthly and is a very reasonable $80 per person. I did the wine pairing as well that added $40 and it was well worth every penny. Words can't describe the incredible experience that the team gave us. You can do this with a smaller group; however, you will sit with other people so it would be fun to experience this with other "foodies". We all debated our favorite items and the decisions were difficult. My favorite dessert was the deconstructed mimosa that had a champagne sorbet with grapefruit and a the yogurt mousse. It was so delicate and was perfect after eating such a decadent meal. The pork collar was another winner with the incredible mole verde sauce. Chef Jacobs explained that this was his foray into Mexican food and it didn't disappoint me at all. He can cook that way every time! The ribeye and the steak tartare were right up there with the pork collar. The only uneven experience was the trout because it was "fishy" for some. However, this was a minor issue and nobody really complained because some really enjoyed this entree. The service was impeccable with the team serving everyone at the same time. Chef Jacobs came out for most of the courses and explained the concept behind them. I love a chef who interacts with the guests. After the experience I definitely put EsterEv in the top 3 restaurants in Milwaukee. Go before everyone discovers how incredible it is! read more

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Wonderful dining experience last night - my party was arguing over which dish was best in the lineup because each was so special, thoughful, and frankly delicious. Thank you Dan and Syd and team for a wonderful meal, it made braving the summerfest traffic worth it 10 times over. Our favorite dishes and tastes included: -dry aged duck breast: we will all be dreaming about that crispy skin for some time -ricotta dumpling: we each would like a gallon container of this dish to take home -strawberries, peas, and crab: the creativity!! Thank you again for the meal - and thank you for being so kind and giving my dad an extra chocolate mignardise, that was awesome. read more

So, we went there wanting be blown away. The service was great and the dishes were beautiful, however, half of our dishes were WAY overly salted. The steak tartare and clam sauce was overly salted to the point that it completely overtook the dishes. Maybe it was an "off night" for the back of the house and I feel like we should've said something but we never like to be rude. I wouldn't discourage people from trying it out, but for a $300+ for 2 people meal, everything needs to be A+ read more