Great food and Payton was an awesome server! No complaints! Fun little slot area too that sets the vibe.

Came here on a Friday night around 6pm for dinner, there were three of us, one child. The street was 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! read more

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The Bacon Fat Popcorn alone should have you making a reservation here. The menu has a few things that sounded great prior to visiting. But none more than the bacon fat popcorn. I couldn't wait to try it, and it exceeded my expectations. I finished nearly a whole serving by myself. Add a little salt at the table and it takes it over the top. Our server was very friendly, especially with the men at the table... We got our orders in and had our food within about 50 minutes of sitting down. I was grateful for a GF pizza option and was able to modify the Caprizza in a satisfactory way (No Mozz, add bourbon braised cider thick cut bacon). However the crust was rather soggy. The Brussel sprouts were greasy, but the fries that accompanied the burgers were exceptional. The rest of our party really enjoyed their food. Overall, Oak Barrel was elevated bar food with some unique twists across the menu. read more

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This has been on my list for a while, and I'm so glad I finally made the visit! All of the food was great, and our server, Izzy, was so sweet. I LOVE that you get popcorn to start off your meal. We sat on the patio since the weather was gorgeous. The table was a bit snug for me, but it wasn't unbearably uncomfortable. I had the cheese pizza. The crust is paper thin, which is exactly how I like it! The cheese curds had a really good texture, and I loved the sweetness of the marinara that came with them. read more

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I swung by oak barrel for a quick lunch. I walked in and easily got a table. The staff was friendly and quickly escorted me to my table. I some cheese curds and spotted cow (how could I miss these Wisconsin staples). The server was fast but he forgot to replace the marinara sauce with ranch for my cheese curds. The food was decent, however I did hope that the cheese curds would be less greasy. The prices were reasonable and the place was fairly clean with a typical pub type ambiance. A decent place to swing by! read more

Oak Barrel Public House - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The hostess was nice and the manager was able to help her get us seated. There were three of us and we sat at the bar. There were four bartenders and we ordered our drinks quickly and then ordered food. The food took almost 45 minutes to get to us. We ordered a burger (black and blue burger) and the chicken Mac and cheese. The food was lukewarm/cool when it got to us. I was not pleased as with the long wait I expected it to at least be hot. When the bartenders asked how it was I let them know but also didn't want to send it back as I was hungry. The food was tasty, despite it not being hot. I did appreciate the bartenders checking in and asking if there anything they could do. It's why I'm giving them 3/5 stars. I appreciated their response, and willingness to help out. It is quite loud inside. Just a heads up. read more

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Love how Oak Barrel had a festive interior and was so cozy. This is a great place to get apps, pizza and drinks! The butter beer was a swirl of flavor and very tasty. Absolutely loved the coquito (Puerto Rican eggnog)! It was the perfect mix and not too alcohol heavy but not too sweet. My bacon bowl I got had great pulled pork and flavor with mix of cole slaw, but the wild rice did not mix well with the pork and was very hard. My friends really liked the pizza and I think next time I would do that. Great spot to watch the games and hang with friends! read more

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I had a reservation for five at Oak Barrel on a Friday afternoon. We chose it because it was just a short nine-minute walk from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the atmosphere looked interesting and fun. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with no onions and added avocado. It arrived with onions, no avocado, and completely dry--there wasn't a condiment on it. I asked the waitress for a side of mayo after the meal came. *It wasn't noted on the menu that it didn't come with a condiment already on it. The coleslaw I chose as a side was good. Two people in our group ordered the fish fry and said the fish itself was tasty, but both received coleslaw that was rancid and tasted awful. Another friend had a burger and fries, but the fries arrived cold and had to be sent back to be remade. Between the incorrect order, missing ingredients, cold fries, and spoiled coleslaw, it was a disappointing visit. read more

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I came here for a quick bite before the Linkin Park concert after reading reviews that mentioned the friendly staff. We checked in and were seated within 15 minutes, and our waitress greeted us warmly. She even brought over some bacon popcorn to start, which was a nice touch. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with coleslaw, while my boyfriend chose a burger. Unfortunately, my sandwich was disappointing--the chicken was overcooked and dry, the bread crumbly, and oddly, there was no mayo. Once I asked, the waitress quickly brought some on the side, which helped a bit. I still ate most of it since we had a long trip in and limited time before the show. When Alisha (I think that's how you spell it) asked how our meal was, I was honest but not complaining--just mentioned the chicken was overcooked. To my surprise, she brought over the manager, David, who apologized sincerely, removed the sandwich from the bill, and even offered to bring me something else. That level of customer care was completely unexpected and very much appreciated. While the food wasn't perfect, the staff more than made up for it with their friendliness and professionalism. Because of that, I'd absolutely give this place another try--just not the chicken sandwich next time, lol. The reviews about the great staff are definitely true, and I'll be back. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - I like the concept. But the popcorn was cold, I guess I was expecting warm. Maybe it's just me. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This is a great spot to bring a group of people all want different things. The vibe is relaxed and is a nicer bar area with a lot of seating. The menu is very extensive from wings, pizza, flat breads, bowls, wraps and burgers. The Oak Burger was great with the pork belly bacon leading the way and the aoli and onions giving it a sweet finish. The pork belly bowl was ok, but we were thrown off by the crunchiness of rice. The server was nice and polite and would check in on us every now and then throughout the evening. Solid spot to watch some sports as well! read more

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My group of friends and I came in on a Thursday night and were immediately seated. We opted to share the cheese curds, pretzel bites, and a margarita pizza - all of which were delicious. Service was fine - straightforward and quick. And the ambiance was fine as well - not too loud or too crowded. If you are looking for a quick, reliable bite to eat, this is definitely a good option! read more

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Atmosphere: We walked in here (group of 3) on a Sunday evening around 4:00 and we were seated immediately. Very few tables and it was a nice quiet vibe. They had the packer game on the tvs and there was several people at the bar just watching the game. The table was clean but the bathrooms were a bit sketchy on the clean level. Service: We had a really friendly hostess and waitress. It was our waitress' second day on the job but she was really helpful and did her best. Food: The bacon popcorn was way better than anticipated, not too salty, right amount of bacon flavor, not too greasy, I wish I had a bowl of that to watch with tv at night. The cheese curds had a very thin batter and the cheese was the star of the show. The marinara sauce that came with them was served warm (THANK YOU) and it was nice and light and paired with the curds perfectly. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food and the proportions were great. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich. The bacon potato salad that was served along with it was phenomenal (I think it might be better than mine and that makes me sad). The chicken was juicy, the batter was super crispy, the bun was toasted perfectly, and the pickles had a nice vinegar level to balance the spice of the chicken. Whoever the chef is here knows what they are doing! I wish I lived closer so I could try more items on the menu, this will definitely be a spot I hit up when I'm in Milwaukee! read more

Had a couple snacks before the Bucks game, place is very cool and has a ton of food options. We weren't super hungry, but the popcorn was very tasty and the curds were good. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - Cheese Curds - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Our night at Oak Barrel was wonderful. Our food was delicious. The music was spot on. More than anything though, the service was so wonderful. The manager was so kind and so attentive. The servers were checking in on us and made sure me and my daughter had a great night. Great staff! read more

The food and service were not great. The food item and beer we wanted to order were out. Once we did land on something the pizza and burgers came out cold. The only good thing was the bacon grease popcorn. read more

Ambiance is classic Americana. Service is not the best. "I'm new at this" is not really an acceptable answer when you charge $15 for fried brussel sprouts. But mistakes will be made...my drink order was for a tumbler of bloody mary mix and a draw of Modelo. I recieved a can of Modelo and a bloody mary. Not impressed. Even after I ordered again, I didn't recieve the proper order without having the server go back again. Maybe she needs a notepad. I ordered wings, no sauce. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - The menu and the pork grease popcorn - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The food was amazing! We went there prior to the Bucks game and the staff were able to get us in and out in time for the game. Super great service and delicious food. read more

Came after warriors bucks game got the hot honey sausage pizza that was amazing! Good vibes after the game appreciate yall

Group of five with reservations for 4:15 p.m. on a Saturday. The servers were great, and were kind enough to let us know when one was leaving and another lady was taking over. Cons: We were seated at a high-top table near the back, which was butted up against a post, and there just wasn't enough room for apps, food and drinks. It was also really loud, so much much so that it was hard to hear the people in our group talking. The menu we were given said to scan an image for the full menu which we did, but when we tried to order off that menu (which is their regular lunch/dinner menu on their website), we were told we could only order off the limited paper menu. Out of the two apps we ordered, the cheese curds were the star, they had amazing flavor; the Grandma's Dip was nothing special. For entrees, we got chicken tenders, the Nashville chicken bowl, the CTM chop salad and the caprizza pizza. I can't speak to the rest of the meals but my CTM chop salad was good. I felt sad looking at the pizza, as it barely had any cheese on it and my friend was scraping an overabundance of sauce off of it. read more

Food: The food caters to the SAD ( Standard American Diet). There are NO healthy or tasty plant based options. I made the mistake of ordering an impossible burger bowl, as I was hungry, and it was terrible. It was basically just a cut up burger probably grilled along with meat on the grill, on a bed of lettuce served with a mayonnaise based buffalo dressing. The impossible burger was VERY salty. My salad was covered in grease. I would have enjoyed a simple avacodo on whole wheat toast or even a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich better! On a positive note, the service was very good. Our waitress was warm, courteous. Also, our food was promptly served.( We eat early 5:30 on a Friday) Oak Barrel staff if you're reading this please consider healthy plant based options! Thank you. read more

Popcorn was out of this world! Had some apps and beer. Terrific spot after the game! Great service! read more

Oak Barrel has great character. Wood accents under exposed steel girders and a dynamic floor plan make this a fun place to be. Our server Megan added to that vibe with her friendly recommendations and enthusiastic service. It was hard to choose between all the compelling options on the menu, but we ended up getting burgers - my partner got the Signature Burger and I got the Bacon Jam Smash Burger(?), and both were scrumptious. The jam in mine added a delightful tang that kicked up my rating by an entire star by itself. In my experience, you can't go wrong when choosing a dining option on this street, but Oak Barrel would certainly earn my recommendation. read more

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Went for redemption and was satisfied with the way management handled it. I will return and see how it goes .

My wife and I came here before a concert based on their extensive menu and us not really know what we wanted. As you can guess for a Saturday evening, it was pretty busy. While we did have a reservation, I don't think we needed it but it's always safe to do it if you know you are going in. We got the bacon fat popcorn as a complimentary starter and ordered the brussels sprouts as an appetizer. We go both got the smash burgers and very much enjoyed them. I had mac n cheese with mine and DAMN! I really liked that and will order that as my main course next time. The fries were good as well. Our server Maggie looked to have been running the entire dining room and did very good by us. The kitchen staff really knocked it out of the park with their speed. We didn't order our main dish right away as the appetizer came out quickly and I knew if we ordered right away we would have a table full of plates so we waited until we were almost done with the appetizer before ordering our burgers. Overall, it's a nice place and I would come back again if I am in the area. If there was one disappointment, they don't really have (from what I could see) a good whiskey list even though they say they are a craft beer and whiskey house. They are... 100%... a Jameson Irish Whiskey house. So if that is your gig, you came to the right place. read more

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My parents and I visited Milwaukee for the first time in 8 years since I graduated from Marquette. We were recommended Oak Barrel from a friend and were not disappointed. Our server Maggie was extremely helpful and fun! She was super knowledgeable about the city and recommended some fun activities for us to do after! Would definitely visit again. read more

Delicious popcorn, good buffalo chicken pizza but TERRIBLE blackened chicken mango sandwich. Stopped in for dinner tonight with a friend and I asked for a sandwich recommendation. My server recommended this one. It was absolutely not worth my money or calories. The chicken was dry, barely seasoned, the mango salsa was dry, tasteless and disappointing. The sand had two tomato slices on it and one of them had the core on it, the "avocado" was a swipe of avocado spread. All of this on a hard (stale?) bun. Talk about disappointing. The french fries that came on the side were delicious. But for $17.99 ... not worth it. read more

Food was ok. Typical bar menu. Popcorn with bacon butter was a bonus. The signature old fashion cocktail was not very strong. The Brussels sprouts appetizer was huge and also very good. The oak barrel signature burger was just ok. It had a big fat chunk of fatty bacon on top. I added the dynamo sauce to liven it up a bit. The coleslaw was very bland and tasteless. The dry rub bone in wings were pretty good but nothing spectacular. Kind of pricy over all for a bar dining experience with decent service. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - Oak Barrel Signature Burger - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Thoroughly enjoyed our meal! Top notch staff who accommodated us without a reservation on a busy night, the food was outstanding and the environment was perfect. read more

Food was good, beer was cold. I gave this a 4 star because their signature Manhattan was very much on the weak side. You should be able to taste the bourbon in a manhattan read more

Solid bar & grill, would definitely go back. Made a reservation for 6 people 24 hours in advance. Didn't realize there was a Bucks game that night, so in hindsight I feel lucky to have gotten a rezy. The place was full, and we got seated right away. Our server, Avery, was fantastic; she checked in on us regularly and made good recommendations when we asked. We got curds, cheese fries, the Wisco burger (ask for the bacon to be crispy), and mac-n-cheese with chicken tenders. Everyone liked their food. The atmosphere was good, not as loud as I was expecting given a Bucks game (most people cleared out about 30-60 min before the game). If you go, ask for Avery! read more

Food was fantastic. The place was a bit busy but the staff seemed to be handling it well. Love the look of the place.

Love this place!! We go all the time. It kinda depends which waiter you have obviously but most of them are kind! Great food :)

Before a Bucks game I was looking for someplace nearby to have dinner. I checked my Yelp bookmarks and a few items at Oak Barrel Public House looked good, so I went with them. I ordered whiskey battered cheese curds, Cajun dry rub wings, and smash burger with American cheese and lettuce, and upcharged the side for the burger to the bier cheese mac and cheese. The curds were good, but a little greasy and I didn't taste the whiskey at all. You do get a lot, though. The wings had plenty of Cajun flavor, but the flats had a noticeable amount of excess fat compared to wings I've had elsewhere and the rub at no heat to it. Eight wings for $15 is steep. When I ordered the smash burger I asked for American cheese. I didn't know they don't have American cheese until after my burger arrived with cheddar on it and the waitress never bothered to say anything when I ordered, otherwise I would have gotten muenster. It also didn't help that the burger wasn't seasoned at all. The mac and cheese was fine and certainly both hot and cheesy. I didn't love the flavor of the bier cheese, but I can't fault those that do. I was ready to give Oak Barrel a 3 out of 5 based on me being a little disappointed by the food but impressed with how quickly it came out and the service overall. Then I saw that I was charged a fee for paying with a credit card. How asinine. If you don't want people to pay with a card, make your business cash only. If you want to accept cards, raise your prices and fold the fee into them. No other restaurant I can think of does this and it's BS that you're cheap enough to charge customers an additional fee. That lost you a point in my rating and a customer that won't repeat. read more

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I was in the Milwaukee area when I visited to go to a Green Bay Packers game. This was pre-pandemic, btw. I wanted to go to a place that had a good representation of fried cheese curds and beer (when in Rome, right?) This place popped up. I came in with no reservations and was able to sit at the bar no problem because I think it was an off hour. I ordered the whiskey batter fried cheese curds and a brandy barrel aged imperial pumpkin ale. Ordering from the bartender was easy enough and felt efficient and quick. I'm a big fan of beer especially barrel aged beer and this pumpkin ale was pretty good. The whiskey batter cheese curds were delicious. A very nice crisp on the outside and a gooey center. I was by myself and I probably wouldn't recommend eating these as a meal in and of itself or without a person or group to share with for that matter. I could barely make it through half of the order and felt bad cause I hate wasting food. But... it definitely hit the spot since I was particularly looking for fried cheese curds! If I'm in the area, I definitely would go back here to try other things on the menu. Also, by the looks of it, this is prob not the place of you are looking to eat healthy. If you are looking for comfort bar food, this would be considered a paradise. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - Whiskey Battered Cheese Curds - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Bacon. Fat. Popcorn. Honestly, why isn't all popcorn popped with bacon fat? So good! I had a fried chicken sandwich with a spicy mango salsa. The chicken was so light and crispy. I loved it, but the mango salsa made it a bit mushy before I could eat it all. The texture was a little off-putting for me. Our server was nice and it is a cool space, but it was quite loud with an obnoxious group there. read more

Oak Barrel Public House - The best popcorn! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This is the kind of place where everything on the menu sounds good, the food looks good, but it's actually just mediocre. This is no indication of the bacon fat popcorn though-that stuff is incredible! My friend and I split cheese curds. If you prefer your cheese curds on the cheesier side, these are for you. I pretty much choked on cheese while eating these instead of enjoying them. The ranch and marinara sauce for dipping were nothing special. I ordered a burger with a side salad. The dressing and mayo were missing when I received my food, so I had to request that. The salad was good, and the burger was.. subpar. My friend ordered the mac and cheese with chicken. When she got it, I thought "man, I should have ordered that." But I took a bite and it was, fine, like everything else. I'll be back for the popcorn, but that's probably it. read more

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Nice atmosphere the food is pretty good, but the bacon popcorn is amazing. You can't stop eating it.

Went to dinner here with the family. Staff helped to reserve an outdoor spot in advance, which was greatly appreciated. Food was average. Ordered the Eagle Park Ekto Kooler- had one sip and couldn't finish it because of how sweet it was. Fine spot for a quick and casual bite downtown. read more

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My friend and I had a great time at Oak Barrel this past weekend. Our server, Carianne, made us feel at home and had great suggestions for drinks and burgers. The Jameson wall was fascinating, and the fast service left both of us wanting to come back soon. Carianne, you're AMAZING and DESERVE a raise! Chicago met Milwaukee's sweetheart! read more

Oak Barrel Public House - Oak Barrel Signature Burger - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Oak barrel is one of the most underrated spots on Old World Third St! I mean- you can't go wrong with most of the spots on this busy street but this is by far my favorite! Some friends and I chowed down on some burgers, Mac and cheese and a ceaser wrap and none of them disappointed! The burger was smashed and oozing Wisconsin cheddar! The fries and ranch together were the perfect combination! The buffalo Mac had the perfect kick and the green onions gave it that extra tang I never expected! The ceaser wrap was yummy too but could have used a little more dressing (I'm a sauce connoisseur)! The upstairs part of the restaurant was a nice get away from the busy bar downstairs! The service was quick and easy and we even got great menu recommendations from our server! Did not disappoint! read more

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