We returned with a large group and got a good waitress this time so I am upping the rating to five stars. This place is fastly becoming my favorite restaurant. Additionally I got to try a few more dishes. Veal Osso Bucco: Words fail me. I have never tasted anything so flavorful in my life. The meat was tender, the sauce flavorful, and rich and the risotto a perfect creamy balance. I can't rave enough about this dish. I want this for my las meal. I scraped every last bit off that plate and had to be restrained from licking it right there at the table. I am smitten. Sauteed Asparagus: Very flavorful, and the addition of mushrooms pulled this side dish together. Aside from above we also ordered the ravioli again and were so satisfied by them. We also ordered a special of fresh mozzerella and prociutto on a salad. It wasn't anything great and I wouldn't order it a second time if it came up as a special. Overall this place is fantastic. read more

Hint: always ask people who work in the field of International Education (study abroad/intl stud advisors) where to eat and you will never go wrong. These people are dead serious about their food. This is how I found out about La Marenda. I was in Milwaukee last spring for a workshop and asked casually about the good places to eat and this was one of the them. It looks like a bar or factory from the outside but inside is a sweet bar/waiting area and then good-sized, main room. Love the mismatched tables and chairs. The menu? I am lover of small plates (i hate committing to just one dish) and La Merenda has tapas from all over the world. Highlights: empanadas, the lamb shank, the sambal from indonesia, and the beet salad. Since then, I've been there two more times with different sets of people and I realize that it's a good place to impress people--it seems people have low expectations when the outside looks like an industrial building. It's great for groups..actually scratch that: it's great for adventurous groups so invite wisely! read more

Decent food. Small plates. Bad service. Our small group (6) asked for separate checks. The waitress was done with us after that. Four tapas, 2 drinks, $80. Meh. read more

This was our first time at la Merenda...and my first time eating in the small plate-or tapas- style. Let me be honest, I am not generally a "small plate" kinda guy. In fact, I generally support the notion that size really does matter when it comes to serving sizes. However, I was happily surprised. Not only was the food very good, but I left feeling full-and with some money still in my wallet. The restaurant was small, but very clean and well apportioned. The staff was helpful and knowledgeable of their products--willing to make recommendations without being pushy. Since my wife and I only shared four of their menu options on our first visit, we will be back soon to experience many more of their dishes! read more

My friend warned me that the neighborhood was a little shady, but that everyone else gave La Merenda rave reviews. Yes and yes. The area isn't terrible, but it's not where you're going to hang out at night. The restaurant itself is very cozy inside, especially when it fills up with people. The eclectic decor is sweet and homey, the staff is friendly and helpful. Our server suggested a lovely wine and guided us when we had questions about the menu. The Wisconsin cheese souffle was a nice start. The outside was a bit crusty, while the inside was perfectly fluffy and cheesy. It had a sweet sauce (raspberry, I believe?) that complimented it nicely. I am having difficulty recalling the names of our dishes, so I will manage with what I remember. The Sambal Goreng Udang is a delightful Indonesian curry dish. We had another shrimp dish, Thai this time, that was also quite good. Both were very different, but went well together for the meal. I cannot recall details about the pork dish, but everything we had was delicious. I will definitely be returning here. read more

Excellent across the board. Service was amazing and the food was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. Can't wait to return

I absolutely love this place! They always have a rotating menu. I have never been disappointed coming here. Again another great place for small plates. Sharing food, a glass or 2 of wine and great conversation with friends and or family is what it is all about. The dining area is a decent and comfortable size, the bar area is tight. I have always received great service here. Reservations are a must. read more

Easily my new favorite restaurant in the milwaukee area. I started this review ages ago, and am only just now getting around to finishing it. So my exact details will most likely be slightly off, but the overall message is the same. My date and I for that evening ordered a couple plates from each different cultural background. There was something from Singapore, a few India plates, and a little representation of South America if I'm not mistaken. The important thing is that EVERYTHING was amazing. Each dish was unique and perfectly cooked. The food was served at the appropriate temperature and in a timely fashion, the server was very attentive and kind, and the drinks were top notch. There is not a single bad thing to say about this place. I can't wait to go back so I can give you all a more detailed and visually stunning review of one of Milwaukee's most underrated restaurants. read more

The restaurant is small, quaint and I imagine very cramped on a busy weekend. So I am glad we went on a weekday for our group lunch. There were seven of us and this is a great place for bigger groups. The really cool thing is that even though the small plates are designed for 2 - 4 people, they will add more if you want everyone in your group to try something. With that in mind, some items we ordered 2 of and some we ordered 1 and asked for extra servings. The service was fantastic. Since the menu is so diverse and worldly, the server was both patient and knowledgeable about all the items available. Her suggestions were very helpful. So we ordered the Ropa Vieja off the specials board first. We added the Cheese and Meat Plate, and Empanadas to start. They are all so good and as we at those, we ordered the Ceviche, Patatas Bravas Y Chorizo, and Truffled Potato Skins next. The food just seemed to get better and better. Then we ordered Sambal Goreng Udang (the group's absolute favorite of all). Pork Gulasch (my personal favorite), Spinach and Quark Tart, and the Short Ribs. Good thing we had men in our group to eat all this food! It was amazing how everything was a hit and perfectly made. The flavors and variety was incredible. I look forward to going back again for another visit and would highly recommend going here in a group. read more

I've been coming to this restaurant since it opened. I'm actually surprised I didn't review this earlier. This is perhaps one of the best restaurants in the COUNTRY, much less Milwaukee. I travel for business, and I adventure quite a bit... This place gets it done right. Service - A+ Drinks - A+ Food - AAAA++++ To give you an idea on the quality, the owner personally goes to markets and selects only the freshest local products; meat and veggies!! The menu updates frequently, but the best sellers remain. My wife and I love everything! Here are our favorites we think you should try: Goat cheese curds. A friend of ours doesn't like cheese curds at all... he tried these and ordered a second plate :) Argentinian style beef Mushroom risotto (not on the menu but they will make it if you order it) Try this place out, it is absolutely worth the trip!! read more

Went for the first time and have to say its only ok. Our group of 4 were told it was a 45 minute wait but took 90 minutes. Ordered a Whiskey cocktail and the bartender had no idea how to make the drink despite her asking and me explaining. It's whiskey, orange bitters, and simple syrup with orange peel. Somehow they screwed it up. Apparently they didn't have simple syrup (hello-bar syrup people! It's Wisconsin) so instead tried to just stir in sugar. The menu was limited for those of us who have allergic reactions to food prepared spicy hot peppers. They should at least indicate which foods have hot peppers or any other allergens, and offer more selections w/o those spices. The room is very noisy due to nothing on the walls to absorb sound. To like eating in a gymnasium or school shower. I'll stick with odd duck thank you very much. read more

La Merenda was the first legit restaurant I tried in MKE before I officially became a resident here. One of my now co-workers recommended it, as the small plates offered a variety of options. I was sold right away after looking at the menu with the international flair to your traditional Spanish tapas! That first time I had the Argentinian Beef and Goat Cheese Curds. Those are both favorites of mine, along with the Truffled Potato Skins, Butter Chicken and Ravioli plates. I usually stick with the plates I've tried and enjoyed, but they also have good specials and we have had some success with those. I've had great service - friendly, attentive and dishes are timed to arrive at the table evenly to thoroughly enjoy each "course" without either a) having to wait too long for the next to arrive or b) having too many plates sit on the table to go cold before you have a chance to try it. It's best to make a reservation (they use Open Table!), as it does get busy especially on weekends. There are some seats at the bar, so that's also an option if you're solo or with someone who doesn't mind and can grab an empty seat or two. Oh, and beer is cheap here!! $3-$4 per bottle or on tap. You can't beat that! ...Or, maybe I'm still used to Chicago bar prices. read more

I love the idea of tapas. Have you ever been out to dinner and thought that someone else ordered better than you and how you would love to try their dish? Well, with tapas everyone gets to try everything. Its brilliant. This location is a little odd, with the exterior giving absolutely no clue to how cute and hip the interior is. When we were there the place was packed and full of energy. We all decided on different things to order, some of the dishes I remember were the Patatas Bravas y Chorizo which were fried potatoes tossed in a spicy tomato sauce, served with fresh aioli and topped with a sautéed chorizo. Then there was the Argentinian Style Beef . Awesome grilled beef tenderloin marinated in chimichurri sauce, served over mashed sweet plantains with crushed walnuts. The Prosciutto and Sweet Pea Arancini were deep fried risotto ball delights stuffed with prosciutto, sweet peas, and mozzarella served over marinara sauce. I seem to remember also a Pork Belly Confit, which was braised pork belly served with summer vegetable risotto. I know there were a few others too, but those were the ones that stood out to me the most. Everything we tried was better than the last dish. It makes me want to come back and try everything! This is a great find in Milwaukee, highly recommended! read more

La Merenda - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We celebrated my birthday the other day at La Merenda with another couple. We had so much good food and drinks! The couple we were with really enjoyed their sangria, but I kept it simple with a tequila seltzer. Their mixed drinks are strong and expertly made - the husb really enjoyed his cocktails. We ordered a variety of small plates, but the ones that really stand out (three weeks later, I must admit) are the La Merenda salad, the proscuitto salad (both the dressings were out-of-this-world fantastic), and the Argentinian style beef, the flavor of which was outstanding. None of the plates were disappointing, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to visit La Merenda again, not with a place like Balzac literally three blocks away. read more

If I could separate them, I'd give the food itself four stars, but the rest of the experience was so bad, that it really brings the whole thing down. But the food - the food was stellar. It started with a broken wine glass. And maybe it could be said my opinion of the meal was death by a thousand little glass slivers. None of this stuff on it's own would have been an issue - but all of it combined to leave me with a poor opinion of the meal and restaurant. So the wine glass breaks right after we sit down. No big deal - these things happen. It might even have been our table's fault. The waitress picked up the bigger pieces, but we could still see slivers all over the table and no one ever came back with a napkin or rag to clean up the rest of the mess. Eventually I took my own napkin and started wiping the table - and the amount of dirt and dust my napkin picked up in just a few swipes to pick up remaining glass shards was stomach-turning. Any food surface in a restaurant should get cleaned multiple times a day and by the looks of the dust build-up on my napkin, this table hadn't been cleaned in a long time. I folded up this napkin and set it on a plate at the end of the table. It stayed there the entirety of our meal and was never removed. It was not a good start ... They replaced the water closest to the broken glass, but we had to ask to have others replaced that may have been compromised by shards of glass and that should have been a given. Our table kind of split into two ordering groups and our side ordered five plates to share, but only four ever arrived and we had to point that out to the waitress at the end of the meal to make sure we didn't get charged - she didn't even notice. She was generally kind of flighty - she was rarely the one that delivered the plates or checked in on us. That scattered approach is likely what led to some of this breakdown in service. The busser came around and filled five of the six water glasses on our table, leaving one completely empty and moving on to the next table. I finally had to flag someone down and ask for water, as the cup was bone dry for awhile and no one noticed. There were six of us at a bigger table, so I'm not sure what everyone's experience was, but the two of us at my end spent the whole meal waving off fruit flies. I live in reality and understand that a fruit fly will happen and were it just a single fruit fly, I wouldn't mention it or hold it against them, but we dealt with probably four fruit flies at just our end of the table for the whole meal - couple that with the filthy napkin and I wasn't left with the best opinions of the cleanliness, you know? I'd been to La Merenda multiple times, but never made it to a table - the wait was always long and we chose not to stay. I had high hopes for the meal and the food itself did deliver. But with all the amazing restaurants in town and knowing I have to plan ahead to get a table here, only to end up with this experience, I'm not sure I'll just through the hoops necessary to come back. Which is really such a shame. read more

Each and every time I have eaten at La Merenda it has been deserving of 5 stars. Tonight was no different. Went in to celebrate a friends birthday. 8 small plates were added between us and tried all (see pictures). The shrimp with coconut mashed potatoes, were dreamy. It's always on their menu and I order it every time and each time it leaves me wishing for more, I could actually eat these on a gluttonous level. Also ordered the "special" empanada of the night. It was halibut with potato wrapped in a cornmeal pastry, it was one of the last items to arrive and admittedly I was full, but had to try.... BEST decision ever. These were so perfect. The fillings texture was perfect, so smooth an flavorful and the outside was a wonderful compliment to the filling. All of were at the edge of full but each finished that empanada. Also ordered the Argentina beef served over smashed plantains. The meat was something you are in silence in order to truly savor how perfect it was, perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and the sweetness of the plantains was brilliant. I give serious props to the server who was crazy busy, but took the time to explain and recommend items to us without making us feel like she had 5 other tables (which she did). All o her recommendations were spot on and you could tell by the smile, that she was happy that she had recommend items we loved. I will continue to bring friends to impress to La Merenda! read more

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AMAZING. We shared 7 dishes and they were all delicious, nobody had a single bad thing to say about anything. Seriously, SO GOOD.

This place was really nice. A few of the dishes were a miss - the ahi cebiche came out as some weird over-seasoned kind of salsa. I really enjoy a nice clean cebiche so this was a disappointment. Some were a surprising delight like the super-thin cut potato skins or the Argentinian-style beef. Service was also good (not great) considering a large group there at the time. Would come back and hope no large groups next time. read more

I consider myself quite a foodie, and have traveled all over the country and world in search of a great meal. Finally made it to La Merenda this evening, wasn't expecting much, for I am quite hard to impress, however I must say the meal we received presented food of such quality and originality that I am still happily in awe over the experience. One tip, make a reservation, even though we tried to dine at 6 pm (party of four) the place was completely packed, were able to be served right away at the bar, but a table seat might have added to the whole experience. read more

Full disclosure I am a self proclaimed food snob. I've travelled the world eating every type of cuisine and from street carts to high end restaurants, so my expectations are high. I was thrilled to see this restaurant on Eater and its reviews made me really excited to try it. But it was a big disappointment. We had the watermelon feta salad--hardly any feta and just a few melon pieces. It was solid. The veggie gnocchi was incredibly salty--on the verge of inedible. The veggie empanadas had great flavor but again too salty and the paired sauce was wrong flavor combination. The butter chicken was ok, but nothing to write home about. And the pork shoulder was absolutely disgusting. It was fatty, the polenta was swimming in their "sauce" that was pure fat and lacked flavor. Overall, the food was not good. I would not recommend it nor return. On the plus? Cute location, good service, great with covid precautions. read more

It has terrible management, it's way too kitschy, and I know firsthand that it is quite overpriced. This dive feels like a dungeon on the inside. A fantastic way to ruin a good meal. If you have respect for the "local food" "small plates" experience, skip it. read more

If your blood pressure is high, watch out because this place has the saltiest food. They do not honor low-salt requests.

If you're looking for a chill vibe but want a vast and refined selection, look no further! La Merenda manages to be the perfect in-between of a fancy dinner or just grabbing a bite. You could wear a full suit or sweatshirt and not look out of place. Seriously. The food is delicious. Presentation is straightforward, and portions are large considering these are "small plates". The server was kind and welcoming, and recommended 2-3 plates per person. In my experience 2 was more than enough. I had the vegetarian empanadas which were tasty, and the and Argentinian beef which was also amazing. The star of that dish was actually the mashed plantains and chimmichuri that came with it. I could have eaten a bowl of that. Bonus points for being a VERY celiac friendly spot, there were so many gluten free options! read more

For a restaurant that's been at this odd spot for the past five years, I certainly haven't noticed it until recently, and maybe that's too bad for me, because I like tapas. I like trying many different things, or to put it more pompously and maybe with a little too much innuendo, I like the constant stimulation of the palette with small bites. I mean, you sit down to eat a 14oz steak, and by bite #3, your tastebuds are checking out. You know what it tastes like - bites #4-37 are going to taste exactly the same way. I went with a friend who had no idea what tapas were, and when I explained it to him he described it as the opposite of family style restaurants like Buca di Beppo, which I thought was a unique way of putting it. Anyway, as restaurants around here are wont to do, the focus here is on seasonal and regional ingredients, and it certainly shone through as we two worked our way through such items as: Tostones Cantonese Spring Rolls Wild Mushroom Soft Tacos (now with extra corn musk!) Spinach Ravioli Duck Confit Beef Wellington Tres Leche Cake Bourbon Maple Pecan Creme Brulee I liked how the menu represented a wide variety of cultures, and while I certainly preferred some dishes (duck confit, mushroom tacos) over others (creme brulee, ravioli), it was all pretty well cooked. At the end of the night, with nine items and six beers between the two of us, the bill only totaled about $90. Really, I just like to try as much as I can, and with the relaxed atmosphere and cooking chops behind La Merenda, it's no wonder this tapas restaurant is a hit. read more

Also LOVE the location in Walker's Point. They also have a cute, welcoming bar and waiting area and a cozy but rather loud dining room. The sound level on a recent bustling Saturday night is the only reason I would not recommend La Merenda for a romantic dinner. I would, however, recommend it for any sort of upbeat dinner with friends or family, especially if your group has adventurous palates. They have a great wine list and a highly varied international tapas menu. I definitely love a restaurant where you can order: Thai jicama and papaya slaw, Argentine beef with mashed plaintains (to die for), empanadas filled with beef and yucca, spanish spicy potatoes and a panang chicken curry off one menu. Finish it off with a piece of tasty flan and my friend and I were a happy duo. The best part was, without drinks, our bill was $35. No one dish is more than $10, most are in the $6-$8 range. I'm updating my stars to five after an amazing meal here this weekend. There were 10 of us for a friend's birthday, and instead of ordering on our own they arranged a sort of chef's tasting. We got to try a big chunk of the menu, and almost every dish was wonderful. Service was very good as well and the restaurant and bar were packed - very good sign for fledgling Merenda. read more

We went to La Merenda last night after quite a long hiatus. When the restaurant opened in 2007, we were one of the first customers and wondered how a place off the beaten path in an old garage with no windows and concrete floor serving small plates could ever make it. But we loved it and made sure to tell everyone we knew to check it out. Many of my, as well as my husband's, coworkers started to go there for both business and personally. The food has always been good and it is fun to pick out three to four to five plates to share. The atmosphere is casual, cozy yet hip and funky. They have a great beer selection (with nice prices) - mostly local, and a nice wine list as well. The desserts are fantastic and are not small plates. Well, after telling so many people to check this place out, we found that we couldn't get in anymore without a reservation. Good for them! Bad for us because we are typically a "let's go there now" kind of diners. Last night we got lucky. We went out after 8pm and a table had opened up - of course, they were very busy, as usual. We started out with a couple of local beers. Lakefront brews a special ale for the restaurant, which is quite tasty. I had a couple of Capitol Ambers. I kind of wanted to stay in a bit of a theme so went with the Butter Chicken, Trout "Rundown" and Sin Yak Goreng (pork belly, not yak) as they all had an Asian/Indian, coconut curry similarity. We loved all of them, with the Trout as the standout. Three plates were enough for us last night, but I was tempted to try so many more. Instead, we finished dinner with a Tres Leches cake. Oh my...yum. I am sure we'll be back soon...and may consider making a reservation. If not, there might be room at the bar. ;) read more

This place doesn't look like it'd be as nice as it is from the outside, but the inside is very nice. It is a tapas-style restaurant, and 4 of us split 6 different orders. The food is very unique, and you can really enjoy tastes from around the world. We had butter chicken from India to Chilean pork to Chinese dumplings-- how many other places can you do that? It's difficult to pick my favorite, but I really enjoyed the beef empanadas, the butter chicken, and the Mediterranean goat. They also have valet, and the staff was very well informed, friendly, and on top of things. They were always ready to help, remove plates, and refill drinks without being in-your-face about it, which I feel like is difficult to do at a tapas restaurant. Must visit! read more

The food was good and I think the service was a step above. The area is unfortunately a bit sketchy. I still give them a five. Those potatoes brava are very spicy. With extra aioli (for the weak like me maybe) they are perfect. That's just some advice, not a complaint, but Holy Hannah those were some spicy potatoes! I probably overtipped the waitstaff (sat at bar) because the whole shebang was worth it. read more

Get reservations! It was busy on a Monday dinner. Basically ordered every thing and all of them tasted really good but i say avoid the butter chicken... I've grew up eating Indian food and that butter chicken was probably the worst I've had but everything else is good! I love tres leches and i can also make it make myself. They make it really good, i hope they made it unless they went down the block to a mexican bakery and placed it front of me?.... idk but is was da boooooomb. :) btw there is a valet parking... he's dressed in normal hippy clothes and no he won't steal your car, give him a nice tip because he's nice. read more

My suspicion after my last visit to La Merenda was spot on. The night of bad service was just an isolated incident. This was apparent during a recent visit I paid to the restaurant when service was superb. The highlight of the night was still the cuisine! My table of three ordered eight plates and a bread basket, so I'll brush on the ones that truly kicked ass (all were great by the way). The empanadas were made of a fried, somewhat chewy dough. They weren't greasy like some of those you find out there. The beef is braised in New Glarus beer and is of the melt-in-the-mouth quality. Top it off with a citrus aioli, and it's an unbelievable tasty value at $8 an order! The pork belly crepes were another dish that I really enjoyed. First off, you have to like mushrooms for this dish to be to your liking. You get two crepes, made with badder a little thicker than your ordinary crepes, stuffed with a pork belly confit and large chunks of mushrooms. A creme sauce accompanied the crepe. The dish doesn't look like a whole lot, but these will really fill you up! The trout was another dish that was packed with a lot of punch. You can never go wrong with fish from Rushing Waters in Palmyra. The fish was pan fried simply with salt and pepper. The accompanying potatoes and red peppers were topped with a coconut sauce with a little Caribbean style kick! The other fish dish we ordered, halibut on top of a creamy quiona mixture (special of the night), was also excellent. For dessert, we split a slice of the tres leches cake. The yellow cake was drenched with the "three milks" as the name implies. Whipped cream topped the cake with fresh strawberries. This thing was so damn good that my sister and mom ordered an extra slice! The cake wasn't overly sweet nor heavy.......just perfect. You may be mesmerized by the cocktail program and beer selections at Le Merenda, but the artesian sodas cannot be overlooked. I didn't get who the vendor was who prepared the non alcoholic drinks, but they were fantastic. I opted for a ginger beer and cola light. The ginger beer had just the right amount of kick/spice to it for me - may be too much for some. At $2 a piece, I was shocked by what a bargain they were! And now back to the service. Like I previously mentioned, service was superb during this visit. Being a Saturday night, the place was absolutely jammed packed. The water was flowing, and not once did my glass become empty. Timing of the dishes was spot on, and there were never any gaps between our plates. Everybody from the host to the food runners were so nice. This experience put La Merenda as one of my top restaurants in Milwaukee. Being relatively inexpensive, I plan on making many return trips in the future! read more

I'm not even sure what to say other than advise anyone reading this review to immediately make a reservation for a dinner with friends. I was here for a work event on a Tuesday night (Nov. 17) and the place was packed. There were 13 in our party. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. We ordered a mix of cocktails and wine. Unfortunately, I had to drive back to Madison in a rainstorm, so decided to drink club soda. We ordered the chef's menu, and it was absolutely outstanding. We started with an arugula salad that had a wonderful mix of fresh ingredients. Others in my party were not eating it, so I managed to steal most of the salad off of two separate plates. The empanada was great, but not particularly memorable. Ceviche was outstanding. We had another dish, which I believe was the fundido de hongos, which, simply put, was a cheese dip with their house made tortilla chips, but it's almost insulting to call it "just" a cheese dip because it is so wonderful. Since we had chef's table, I never saw a menu, but I just looked it up on line. Ingredients were: River Valley Ranch mushrooms, local onions, huitlacoche, Flyte Family Farm beans, Alsum Farm sweet corn, local roasted red peppers, Clock Shadow Creamery Menonita cheese, house-made tortilla chips (gf) The Argentinian beef was out of this world. I don't eat a lot of beef, and this was well worth it. We ordered a mix of desserts, all of which were great. Bottom line, this place is top notch. Wish we had something like this in Madison. read more

The Service food and ambience were outstanding. There was such a large selection and each part of the country was represented on the menu. It was just amazing to me how perfectly done each dish was. Switching from Mexican to Colombian to Italian and each dish seemed so authentic. The wine and beverage selection is also something to note. This place is definitely a Milwaukee favorite. read more

La Merenda - Some banana Nutella goodness. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great selection, not your average tapas restaurant. It was fun to try tapas-type dishes from around the world rather than traditional Spanish tapas. Great prices too! My favorites were the Hong Kong Beef special and the turtle creme brulee. read more

I have been to La Merenda a 1/2 dozen times over the past 18 months and never been disappointed. The variety and quality of food is top notch. It's not typical tapas in the Spanish sense. They offer samplings of just about every region of the world, which is a nice twist. The Korean short ribs are great, as is the Argentinian beef, the potatoes with chorizo, the empanadas, I think my favorite is the Sambal Goreng Udang. Since my wife doesn't eat seafood, this is an easy choice for me :). Great for dates! My six yr old daughter found some things to eat as well. read more

On a recent trip to Milwaukee I had the pleasure of dining here with a group of girlfriends. The restaurant was really cozy and cute inside. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. We ordered a ton and I mean a ton. We got the empanadas, goat cheese curds, truffled potato skins and mushroom soft tacos to start. The empanadas and truffled potato skins were delicious. The empanadas were seasoned just right and the outer part cooked perfectly not too fried but also not too undercooked. The mushroom tacos were the only thing I would say I wouldn't order again. They were not bad but compared to everything else they were just meh. Next we got Spaghetti Squash Carbonara, Butter Chicken and Lemongrass Beef. The Butter chicken was a hit. Totally understandable why it is such a popular item. The Spaghetti Squash Carbonara was also very delicious. While I was at first nervous that carbonara is only made well with regular pasta the chef proved me wrong. The meal was super delicious and affordable. I like when restaurants mix flavors and add a twist to seemingly ordinary recipes. I cannot wait to visit this place again when I am in Milwaukee. read more

This is the best place to take a date in Milwaukee. It's one of those rare places (like a good fishing spot) that I've put off Yelping about because I wish it was less busy and popular. The food is always fresh and changes like most people change underwear. Whatever is in season and fresh you will find on the menu. There are always suprises as well. Given the chance, I'd eat at La Merenda everyday. read more

I've gone to La Merenda before, but it's been almost two years since my first experience. Last night, we decided to dine there again in a group of four. Some tips: - call for reservation at least two days in advance; unless you don't mind eating at the bar, which also gets crowded often and frequently - know that it is a tapas place, and sharing is a must; make a note of specials...when we were there they had a delicious pork tenderloin served on a bed of creamy risotto...delicious. - get ready to challenge your taste buds...they serve flavors from Greece, France, Latin America, and many more... - interior decor is acceptable, but then again, it's hard to please an interior designer; eclectic in nature, could use better space plane and privacy options, warm and welcoming in general. read more

Hadn't been to this little gem in quite awhile and it was as awesome as I remembered! delicious !

The ambiance was great but the food was average. Seriously, a restaurant cannot make great food from so many different countries. They need to narrow their range of flavors and master those or else everything is just so so. read more

This place opens at 11:00...came early to secure a spot at the bar. I liked the food here however, I think all the hype left me feeling its just average. I had 4 dishes and only liked one. I will give it another try before making a final review. read more