Jo-Cat&#x27;s Pub

I had a good experience overall. The food was enjoyable, the service was friendly, and I liked the…read morerelaxed atmosphere. Everything was pretty comfortable during my visit, and I'd be happy to come back again and try something different next time.

We expected a great dining (lunch) experience at the Swingin' Door, and they followed thru on the…read moreexpectation! The bartop was jam-packed, as was the indoor seating, so we opted for an outdoor table. We were politely greeted by our server Kate, who was friendly and professional. Her wine service skills were impeccable while uncorking a bottle of Rose'. I had the Friday Fish Fry Perch and the GF had seared Ahi Blackened Tuna app. The Perch was great, and the Ahi was good also although we expected it to be more on the rare side. We enjoyed our outdoor dining event as the Midwest Summer weather was perfect!

1.2 mi•Downtown, Westown, Bronzeville

Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it

Ahi Tuna Steak

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Historic Mackie Building, once the site of the Grain Exchange. Swingin Door is bottom right

Milwaukee Brat House

4.1(869 reviews)

If you're in Milwaukee and looking for a great place to grab a brat, Milwaukee Brat House is…read moredefinitely worth a visit. It was a busy location, which is always a good sign, but the service kept things moving. The giant pretzel was excellent--crispy on the outside with just the right amount of salt and perfectly soft on the inside. The variety of dipping sauces made it even better. The cheese curds were also delicious and are a must-try if you're visiting Wisconsin. The bratwurst was very good and full of flavor. Overall, everything we ordered was enjoyable, and I'd definitely recommend stopping by Milwaukee Brat House if you're in the area.

The service was fast & good. The feel of the place is old school pub and can't say enough about…read morehow great the food is! Definitely will be a repeat customer.

2.4 mi•Menomonee River Valley

Bar and dining areas

Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel

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Cutest darn chaser with the Bloody Mary. Ask for a bit of spice, delish!

Sobelman's Pub & Grill

4.0(992 reviews)

Sobelmans is one of those places I genuinely love going to, especially when I can grab a seat…read moreoutside. The staff were fabulous and made the experience even better. The outdoor area is especially nice, with all the gorgeous plants that the manager/owner personally hand-waters. It's a small detail, but it really adds to the atmosphere. The place can get very busy before a Brewers game, which is completely understandable. They do have parking, although street parking is pretty plentiful too. Inside is a little tight, but groups of up to six should be able to find a spot without too much trouble. Anything larger than that might get a little dicey. I tried the chicken sandwich, and while the chicken itself was a little thin, the flavor had me wanting to come back for another one. Sometimes that's all you need to know. And do yourself a favor and order a Bloody Mary. I sucked mine down way too fast, which probably tells you everything you need to know. A Bloody Mary at Sobelmans is part of the full experience. Great staff, great atmosphere, good food, and a solid spot to hit before a Brewers game. I'll definitely be back.

Top-notch eatery. I ordered a burger and, honestly, as a seasoned burger enthusiast, I could barely…read morefinish it. It was absolutely massive, loaded with cheese, ridiculously rich, and every bite was delicious. The cheesy bacon cracks were downright obscene in the best possible way. Pure indulgence. Great food, great drinks, fair prices, and portions that don't mess around. You definitely won't leave here hungry.

Old bar vibes in a good way

Pickel fries

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Representing Wisconsin all the way

Oscar's Pub & Grill

4.4(933 reviews)

2.8 mi•Mitchell Park

The hamburgers are huge, delicious, cooked to perfection and come in many varieties. The Service…read moreis friendly, the prices can't be beat. This is an out-of-the-way, typical Milwaukee bar with several tables and can get noisy inside. The deck is great in nice weather, but it's not open this summer.

Never a disappointment . Have tried so many menu items, all great…read more Relaxed atmosphere Will have to go for the new smash burger soon

1.2 mi•Westown, Bronzeville

View from dining area into bar area

Side of fresh cut garlic parm fries.

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Oak Barrel Public House

3.9(369 reviews)

Staff were super friendly, food was amazing! The brussels sprouts are amazing! Best I've ever had!read more

Came here on a Friday night around 6pm for dinner, there were three of us, one child. The street…read morewas busy, full of older adults, drinking so we thought it would be hard to get a table, but it was very easy. They have a catcher machine in here, I got one, didn't win. They start you with free bacon grease popcorn, it was tasty, you can for sure taste the bacon! The staff were efficient, quick, nice. I got a German beer, and a soda water, my partner did as well. My kiddo got a lemonade. For appetizers we got the pretzel sticks, and the curds with marinara and ranch. So good! Both were well seasoned and delicious. For meals, I got the chicken Caesar salad wrap, with fries. It was good, creamy, and I had crispy chicken replace the grilled. The fries were good. My partner got the Cajun Mac and cheese with chicken and the waitress suggested a side of fries, he said it was very good. My child got the pepperoni pizza, they have a 12inch pizza and it was enjoyed! Definitely recommend for dinner when you're about to go to a show or if you're in the area!

0.7 mi•East Side, Murray Hill, Lower East Side

Interior Bar Area

Cheese pizza

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Regular Bacon Fat Popcorn

Von Trier

4.3(241 reviews)

Free popcorn! Ask the server for the popcorn to serve you in a big bowl. It's a nice welcome snack…read more/ appetizer. This place has a lot of character and charm. They have indoor and outdoor seating for the season. Great for mini hangouts with friends. I tried their soup of the day , broccoli cheese, and salad that was pretty good. They got my dressing wrong, supposed to be ranch but it was bleu cheese. It seems the place was busy and only had one server so it took sometime to receive the entrees, so plan ahead if you're expecting to eat hungry.

Von Trier is an institution -- not the bad kind, like a "mental institution", or an "Ale Asylum" (I…read morelove that name!); the very good kind, as in a cultural and community treasure. I'm old enough to remember the place when it was Rieder's. Already a warm and special place, with a jukebox filled with classical music, it had a groovy mid century modern decor and was a hangout for MSO musicians after concerts. It acquired its lavish, present-day German decor when it was sold to Karl Lotharius. I don't recall how much longer, after that, the jukebox survived, but the astounding decor remains. Alas, there's a reason for my one star (which, I hope and assume, the present owners will notice) . . . and it has to do with a certain scourge -- the maddening omnipresence of which is second only to that of A.I. I refer to TV screens. There have been several ownership changes since Lotharius departed this mortal coil, and I honestly don't know at what point in time it was decided to tarnish the decor with the addition of several TVs. (I was so enraged by the sight of them, when I first entered the front door after a long time away, that I didn't bother to look at the back room; consequently, I have no idea whether the scourge has ruined that room as well.) Clearly, in jumping on the "give the people what they want" bandwagon, the owners (current and/or recent) believe that there's no such thing as too many sports bars (or at least, bars that can be compelled to serve that function at least some of the time). Gosh, I would think that people who are so into SPORTS, when coming upon a bar lacking screens, would have sufficient fitness, energy and motivation to walk a block or two extra, if necessary, to find and enter one of the many other establishments equipped to satisfy their jones for that pathetic fix. But then again, I guess it's that fundamental laziness that makes them mere spectators. There's only one thing worse than a proprietor so lacking in imagination, individuality, courage and self-respect that, when choosing a design for their establishment, they cave to the TV trend. It's a proprietor who ruins an EXISTING treasure by plunking multiple TV screens into the middle of it all. Like turds in a punch bowl. It's great to "get away from it all" for a while, isn't it, for a nice meal, drinks and conversation? The thing is, if I want a TV screen, I can see one at home. (But I don't want to. Not always, anyway. To judge from what TV, movies and commercials show us, every home now has the same standard, ugly, huge plastic rectangle (the TV screen) dominating its designated room(s), out in the open. As for me, I require mine to live inside a closed cabinet. It only comes out when I say that it can.) And, rather than seeing constant reminders that our world has all but become the kind of dystopia in which there's no escaping that intrusive electronic barrage, I could instead just stay at home and watch any of the many sci-fi movies on that theme (a theme that used to be merely a warning. Now, such films more resemble documentaries.) Shame.

Schnitzel sando

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County Clare Irish Pub

4.3(371 reviews)

0.5 mi•Lower East Side

Like very much, the bunch is awesome, along with Irish coffee. Also, Friday fish fry is good.read more

Cute bed and breakfast. On the weekends they have free omelets for guests and a great selection of…read moreother continental breakfast items.

1.5 mi•Menomonee River Valley

Dining room

Pub Salad

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Fresh pint of Guinness

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward

4.2(242 reviews)

My absolute favorite restaurant and third ward is where I have my membership through because this…read morelocation serves out the best food out of the 4 locations. They even go above and beyond and have done our picky requests. Also the main reason I have my membership through third ward is because of the staff, especially Michael! Shout out! Absolutely love talking with him and he really makes us feel at home. One last thing is this is my favorite location because of the aura of this place. I can't get enough of third ward Explorium!

Cucumber martini - YUM Cheese curds - YUM…read moreSo many GF/GR options! Service here is always quick - the build your own calzones do take forever though! Great place and they even do trivia on Wednesday nights! Vibes are always there.

Caesar salad with blackened chicken

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Carver's PB stout + black forest cake stout

Red Lion Pub

4.0(185 reviews)

0.3 mi•Lower East Side

My grandson and I went to the Red Lion prior to a Brewers game. Had cheese curds which were the…read morebest I have ever had. Then we shared a sheperd's pie and that was so good. I had a gin and tonic with that meal and again it was delicious, and it wasn't top shelf. I also liked the atmosphere of the pub. Our bartender was so polite and attentive to our needs.

I visited off-hours on a late Sunday afternoon, which was perfect for exploring the space. I live…read morenear the sister pub, Three Lions, so this had been on my list to "places to visit in MKE" for a long time. However, the continuous construction (I feel like it's been since 2012??!!) is always extremely discouraging and parking is like the survival of the fittest. The pub itself has a similar vibe to Three Lions. I ADORE the Union Jack painted on the ceiling and red English phone booth. It is reminiscent of a stereotypical "English" pub (and yes, I have been to many - mostly outside of London - in the past 3 years). There was only one employee working at my time of visit, and maybe 10-15 other patrons. I ordered the Ruben rolls, which were great but left in the fryer 2 mins too long. Sadly, they did not have any of the ciders or beers I longed for.... which is understandable these days due to tariffs. I definitely plan on going back to see what the vibe is like during World Cup matches.

Inside

Reuben

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Front of pub

Eagle Park Brewing

4.6(237 reviews)

0.3 mi•Lower East Side

We stopped here with 2 adults and an 11 year old child and we all had a great time. My partner and…read moreI loved our beers - i had a sour for my first and a smoothie beer for my second. Both were fab. No clue what my boyfriend had but he seemed happy. The child had 2 local root beers and he loved them. We planned to stop in for one quick drink bc we were waiting for the trolley and it wasn't scheduled to come yet. Then they said they were going to start quizzo. We aren't really quizzo people but I went up and asked if we could just do maybe the first of the 6 rounds. The cost was $1 per person - and she told me the child is free. (Jokes on her bc 11 year olds know a lot more random trivia than I do). We had so much fun that we stayed the whole time. Side note: it seemed like a lot of groups were cheating around us. But we were legit playing w no devices... hence we lost haha. Also while we played trivia they had The Breakfast Club on silently in the background - so fun!!! If I lived in the area I would come here all the time. It's a great bar selling a great product.

A chill brewery with a large selection of beers and they serve food too. They got a nice outdoor…read morepatio and plenty of parking in their lot on a Sunday evening.

Currywurst

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Outdoor patio space

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18 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Lizzi B.

9 years ago

No-Cat's is more like it. Having visited from Arkansas for the first time in many years, I was saddened to walk into volatility. A friend and I sat on two open stools at the bar only to be approached by a drunk, vomit breathed, belligerent patron, who insisted we stole his seating. After being assured by numerous bar personnel that he was out of line, he leaned across the bar from me and started glaring at me- at which point, I snapped a photo. Who wouldn't? I was accosted by a security team member named Dan who demanded my phone- not- and then demanded that I delete the photo. Nope. Illegal request, not to mention that this taverns employees regularly post pix of inebriated patrons for fun. This place has sunk to depths that make it unfun and unsafe for the lone female patron- get a grip, Jo-Cat's read more

Jon D.

7 years ago

I wouldn't go into this bar at all! It doesn't have any real value of entertainment for me, and from what I've seen the owners don't care all too much about the business, and it's customers! The other reviews I've read about this place seem to support my feelings towards this establishment, it just really sucks, and perhaps maybe it should go out of business! I have my bachelors and masters degree in Civil Engineering, and working on getting my PHD, I have no need to hang out in such a dump of a bar, and really, bars and night clubs elsewhere in Milwaukee and Madison, Wi are way better for having a good time!! read more

Erika B.

Elite 11

162

18 years ago

Imagine, if you will, that UW-Whitewater had one of their college bars flown to Milwaukee and had dropped it smack in the middle of Brady Street. Actually, you don't have to imagine, 'cause that's what Jo Cat's is. Filled to the brim with underaged-looking, -obnoxious- screeching "ladies" and Water Street jocks, this is where one would want to go if getting black-out drunk and dancing to Darude's "Sandstorm" is appealing. To top it off, it has the smallest and most inconveniently located women's restroom ever. read more

Angela W.

13 years ago

Oh?...so you think you've just entered the twilight zone....middle aged trash-assed people dancing badly borderline harassing you and drunken, inappropriate stares and touching...yesss...YESSS....I've been into Jo-cats a few times. I may have lost count of the number of times I've had to tell someone to fuck off, get off me, leave me alone, or say 'you're creepy as fuck' to. I may have punched someone. But do not worry child. There's always Crisp. read more

Jack V.

18 years ago

It really does have some potential. Unfortunately they hire high school dropouts that project their failures onto the guests. It's as obvious to the customer as much as they are oblivious to it. Typical, but sad. I'll go back as soon as they cycle through the Class of '04 at the door. read more

Patricia F.

3 years ago

I am new to YELP and came on to give this place a great review. I left my purse there, and a lovely girl found me on Facebook to let me know. I picked it up here. Most establishments wouldn't do the work. They went out of their way. read more

Jordan S.

1 year ago

absolutely terrible, the owner and bouncers are digesting and don't care about women or the safety of anyone in their establishment. be safe and do not trust anything from this place, drinks included. read more

Joe B.

10 years ago

I thought I'd give this place another try, but after last nights episode of a local business owner and a flamboyant douche from Boston grinding on the dance floor, I will never go to this place again. read more

Dani M.

8 years ago

This bouncer pushed me down the steps and acted like a total ass.. I will continue to post until he leaves the door. The worst human I've met.!! I will post ever day until he leaves. read more

Dani M.

108

8 years ago

i was pushed down the stairs. this place has creepy ass men at the door that push woman.I will comment every single day and have police be involved.. read more

Patrick S.

5 years ago

Electric bar, electric drinks, electric prices. Joe cats is THE SPOTTTTTTT. I would highly recommend for any bar goer.

Sammy Y.

165

4 years ago

Molly is the best ever she helped me so much so sweet and gave us exactly what we asked for with no questions asked!!

A R.

16 years ago

classic dive bar. Way to crowded to do anything but spill drinks and rub elbows. Cataldo family please update !

Al C.

3 years ago

Great place, one of my favorites staples in milwaukee! I really enjoy all that brady street has to offer!

Tom F.

10 years ago

This place is the corner stone of Brady Street! Love this place...

Jon C.

12 years ago

A dive bar with not much to offer. I don't see the appeal.

Michael T.

16 years ago

The bar you go to at the end of your night. Always packed.

Michael R.

6 years ago

Jo cats is siiiick!!! Goooooo! Gooooo!!!

Jo-Cat's Pub - pubs - Updated September 2026

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So Bouncer Cookie recognized me next time and he said I was the rude one... Speaking a different…read morelanguage is not rude nor is trying to get information. What's rude is someone walking away from you when they're faced with a language barrier. What's rude is telling someone to move away when I started speaking English to try to get my question answered.

Pourman's is hands down my favorite bar in Milwaukee. Their music is always the best mix of pop,…read morereggae, hip hop, and rnb, their hookahs are the best in the city at great prices ($25) and the cocktails are fabulous. Not a big beer or wine bar. The bartenders have always always been very prompt, kind, and delightful to me. Try their popsicle drink!! They also have one of the quaintest patios in the back with real ivy growing, giant jenga, darts, and full size pool table.

Duke's On Water

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Terrible Ownership, atmosphere, experience...see below. An…read moreAbsolute Joke - Duke's Is a Waste of Space and Time. THIS BAR IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE. If you're considering going to Duke's, don't bother. This place has completely hit rock bottom, and it's clear no one, especially the owner, gives a damn. The owner is unbelievably rude and has flat-out made it known in a conversation "I don't care whether you come here or not." The former owner could never. Why? Because the new owner's got other locations that funnel money into his pockets. So, your business means absolutely nothing to him. The atmosphere is nothing short of depressing. Whatever decorations once gave the place some semblance of life have been stripped away, leaving the bar looking like a rundown and that's given up on trying. No vibe, no energy, no crowd--seriously, there's hardly anyone there anymore, and who could blame them? It's painfully obvious that Duke's is circling the drain. The owner's apathy is contagious, and it shows in every detail. Even the bartenders hint that this place just isn't it anymore...ouch. The place is soulless, and it's a miracle the doors are still open at this point. There's zero excitement, no reason to ever set foot inside, and if you do, you'll regret wasting your time and money. Save yourself the disappointment and go anywhere else there are plenty of better options around the corner, or across the street.

Very bad service , first time being here and the lady with the long red nails was so rude. She only…read moretalked to her regulars, didn't pay any attention to my group Of our friends. Then we asked her to turn the music up and she refused too. We will never be back here , maybe get better bartenders.

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Scooters is always a blast! I generally go there with larger groups of friends because it's perfect…read morefor day drinking and playing drinking games on the big tables. It wasn't too crowded yesterday afternoon so we had plenty of space for our group to move around and hang out wherever. The bartenders and bouncers are all super nice and friendly. We didn't head over to the Duke's side at all, but always nice to know that's an option! We'll definitely keep Scooters as one of our favorite spots!

First night out in downtown Milwaukee and this was the first bar my friend and I went to. It was…read morePACKED, but no line thankfully, unlike all the other bars, but it was also a Saturday night. There was no cover either which was nice and it was a lot of fun. Drinks, fire. Music, fire. People, cool. They have beer pong tables, a shooting hoops arcade game, and darts, which was cool.

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Quirky old pub with American news artifacts including autographs, old typewriters, and the plates…read morefrom the last issue of the Milwaukee Sentinel that was printed on plates. Great for Aaron Sorkin nerds - ambiance on point. Our bartender was Daniel who is great at improvising cocktails for you if you give him a little direction. Great experience.

Great atmosphere. Delicious cocktails served by Daniel the bartender. The best margarita I have…read moreever had! We will be back!

Jimmy B's Trail's End

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Came back aftter 6 months, bar running fine until shift change when kim came in…read more immediately 60% of bar left and after 10 minutes decided to join them based on her comments and actions

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now and the first time that I tried to stop over…read moreit was all stools taken so I left to return another day. Today was that day and dam still packed but one stool at the bar was open so I'm finally in for a beer and burger lunch. With very little pictures of the place they needed a Steve stop by just to get some photo exposure and one picture of food on yelp is not good. The place is your type Wi dive bar where everyone is welcoming and friendly. The taps were all domestic I'm sorry to say and that's as good as it gets even in bottles. The place is small with a small bar on one side and a room next to it that looked like a small dining area. The menu is small and I will post pictures but Tuesday when I was there they had a $2.25 cheeseburger special which is very reasonable. I opted for a bottle of point beer because the taps didn't interest me. I ordered the cheeseburger with ketchup, mustard and raw onions not expecting much for the price and I was surprised to see that it's not on a bun but a hoagie style bread. WOW it's charbroiled on a buttery toasted bread with nice grill marks. The cheeseburger was very simple and tasty with a good grill flavor on fresh bread and a pickle spear on the side. WOW this place is very reasonable because even with a 50% tip my beer and cheeseburger was under $8 and the cheeseburger was good.

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Nice stop on a Sunday morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Julia is wonderful. Lady is the cutest!read more

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