I came here from what I heard about the fries. I'll give them a lot of credit for serving handcut fries, a unicorn food item in Milwaukee's arid processed food desert. But they did not live up to the hype. My fries were spongy with oil, which suggest that they are blanching and/or cooking them at too low of temperature in the frier. Or they are leaving the fryer baskets over the fryer after the fries are done. This can lead to oily fries too. The worst offense, IMO, is the cheap parmesan cheese they put in the fries. First, the menu makes no mention that the fries come with cheese on them. Surprise. Second, it's not real Parmesan, and I would even argue not even real cheese. It's probably not even real Kraft Parmesan, but some cheap generic 5# bag of cellulose-coated junk them from Sysco. P.S. The best handcut fries in MKE are found on Farwell Ave. read more

You can't go wrong in this place! Food is absolutely !! It's clean, even bathrooms!! You need to stop if you can. Don't know how 1 person can eat tge O Burger. So big and delicious! read more

Yum! Yum! Yum! I have been craving a burger for awhile now. I don't eat them very often, but when I want one I want it to be amazing. I'm happy to say this burger was delicious! So happy to have finally checked this place out. Super fun atmosphere. They have lots of tables and a nice long bar! I like that their menu is small. They offer some great appetizers, some specialty burgers, build your own burger and a few sandwiches. Plenty of drink options and the staff was super friendly. I will definitely go back the next time I'm craving a really great burger. We decided to start with the appetizer combo of fries, fried green beans, fried cheese curds, fried pickles and a chick strip. Came with sides of BBQ and ranch. Very tasty app hit the spot for some crunchy deliciousness! We both ordered build your own burger options. I decided to get my burger with smoked Gouda, lettuce and tomato, fried onions, and a fried egg. I like my burgers medium rare which they cooked perfectly. My friend ordered Swiss cheese lettuce and onion on his burger. The burgers all come with some really great Parmesan french fries that were perfectly hot and crispy! I would highly recommend checking this place out if you're looking for a really great burger! read more

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Met a bunch of friends here. Staff was great. The food was even better. I had the Oscar burger and it was everything. I anticipated it to be. The only downside was the patio was not open due to staffing. I would highly recommend dining here. Great atmosphere as well. read more

Great burgers. The Big O is spicy and delicious... the chorizo adds such smoky flavor. The Kaldor is add a nice heat. The guac on the side is spicy hot from the jalepeno...tasty! Nachos with pulled pork was tasty as well. Although, the cheese melted on top was almost too much that it created a blanket that was hard to break through to eat chips below. The app of onion Rings are huge and fried nice and crisp. Parking is easy... they have the lot east of them with an additional east lot as well. read more

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We came in to order some burgers and it was smashingly good! The bartender was super friendly and attentive which was great too! We would come back whenever we are in the mood for smash burgers. read more

Best burgers in MKE! -Service can be spotty at times (hit or miss) -I recommend the "Big-O" -Parking has never been an issue. Always spots available plus there's street parking -Portions are large and I get full every time Mystery beer is a fun game to play when ordering beer Would like if this place offered grubhub, Uber eats, or other delivery companies to partner in delivering food. Big-O: 10/10 (Perfect) Gringo: 9/10 Fries: 9/10 read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - Big-O - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best burger I've had in Milwaukee. Good prices, cool little spot, definitely worth checking out.

A place I would love to return to. This place was packed on a Saturday afternoon and I definitely see why. The prices are cheap, the food's delicious and the atmosphere is very chill. We ordered the cheese curds ($5) a few beers and the Big O burger which had 8oz patty, chorizo, chipotle jack, smoked gouda, bacon, jalepenos and a side of guac. Does it sound messy? It absolutely was but somehow the bun was able to stand up to the toppings without disintegrating. Attentive bartenders and a place I would highly recommend for some cheap, great burgers. Also, the music was cool, playing mostly 70's and 80's pop. read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - The Big O- messy but delicious! $7.25 - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Yet another place I've visited several times and never reviewed. Oscar's is currently my go-to for burgers. I've had the Big O, the Aloha, The Bigfoot and recently the Hongo, which I added bacon too. All were great, but I will admit I wasn't impressed with my Hongo yesterday. The meat seemed to lack seasoning and my patty was over cooked. I ordered medium. A lot of places seem to struggle with cooking a burger to medium. I don't get it. That's what you do. You cook burgers. The other burgers I've had were cooked perfectly and they had a ton of flavor. I also love the fires, bot the house fries with garlic and parmesan and the chipotle and cinnamon sweet potato fries. I LOVE them both! Thursday nights feature 45 cent wings, which are also solid, but note that you must purchase a beverage, any beverage, to get the wings at that special price. The back deck is great for summer dining, but Oscar's is a great place to go year round. It's family friendly and the food and service are both solid. read more

I have now had every burger on the menu (minus the veggie burger, but that doesn't count anyway, IMHO) and can say that Oscar's maintains it's 5 star status. At least in my eyes, it does. I'm not a big burger eater....I much prefer chicken; but every once in a while you get a craving and, well, Oscar's satisfies that itch. Sure, they have their off days. Everyone does. Overall, though? Solid as solid gets. My ranking: 1. The Big O 2. The Big Foot 3. The Big Gringo Tied for fourth: The Big Aloha and The Big Hongo (both, unfortunately, seemed equally bland to me) The best thing I've eaten off their menu is the Cuban Frankie, and Oscar's Fries are nothing to turn your nose up at, either. If you haven't been yet, I really don't know what you're waiting for...... read more

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There's a whole lot to like about Oscar's. We've been here for a Yelp event and then for dinner tonight and I thoroughly enjoyed it both times. I know Oscars is well known for half-pound beef burgers, but I had a bite of the veggie burger at the Yelp party and I've been craving it ever since. So I had that, hubs had the Big O and there might have been some cheese nuggets and 25 cent wings in there too. Truthfully, I didn't miss meat for a second as my black bean patty was moist, a little spicy and full of flavor. Other things to like? Well, it's a really nice bar, super clean and the prices are very reasonable. It's a very diverse crowd too, something that can be rare in Milwaukee. Oscar himself is a really nice guy and makes sure his patrons are welcomed and happy, There's not a lot else in the area but Oscar's is worth a trip! read more

Update: UPGRADE! The burger at Oscar's was the best thing we ate on our first visit to Milwaukee, so we went back on our second trip. This time, the food was even better. The Big Gringo (8 oz. Premium Black Angus Burger, Wisconsin White Cheddar & American Cheese, Thick Hickory Smoked Bacon) just melted in my mouth. I feel like they've upgraded the fries from my last visit. They were lightly dusted with delicious parmesan. We also sampled the nachos, which weren't mind-blowing, but they did have real cheese, which is more than you can say for a lot of nachos. Oscar's also has a good (cheap!) beer list. This place is a must-visit Milwaukee institution. And it's close to the Potawatomi Casino, so after you have a few burgers and beers, you have an easy way to throw your money away. read more

WTF WTF WTF WTF This review is for today's visit only. I phoned in a order at quarter to 11 am and I was told it would be ready at noon so I arrived at noon,see my pictures of the time on my phone when I placed the order. I arrive at noon and I'm told it will be just a couple minutes. I had a Bloody Mary while I waited and waited and waited and waited. I watched the guys next to me start an onion ring appetizer then get there burgers and finish the burgers to my disbelief while I sat there. At 12:30 I finally snapped on the bar tender and said am I going to see my food any time soon because it's been an hour and forty five minutes for burgers WTF. The burger Is definitely different from years past because I remember them being juicy in the past and today's was not juicy at all. Fresh beef cooked rare is juicy so I think they are using frozen patties now because frozen patties are never juicy. Any fresh ground beef I use is always a burger first and any that hits the freezer is never destined for a burger again and ends up as taco meat or something. I can't believe the fresh burger I had at beer bellies not long ago was fresh and juicy with it running down my hands like oscars used to be. I looked at my previous pictures of Oscars burgers and I could see the rare juiciness discoloring the bun that I didn't get today. Did Oscars get too big and away from how good they were when they were relatively new back in the day. I called and asked for the manager and a guy named John said he was the manager and I said my lunch order took 1:45 minutes just so you know. He new right away who I was because he took the order. I was amazes at his comments like well what do you want me to do and my favorite was I have no control over what the kitchen does and we were busy so why is he the manager then. He said next time I should ask for him, does he really think there will be a next time. I don't know what happened here today and I know this was my longest wait for food ever. I will probably never return again but Oscars doesn't care at all. How could burgers possible take that long. read more

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Great food & drinks, tacos on tuesdays are $1 and are very good. Bartenders are on top of it. Patio is really nice when open.

Oscar's is another great place for burgers I had a cheeseburger it was done perfectly great selection of beers as well...Will I go back absolutely.... read more

Had an amazing dinner with my father here especially when staff is attentive to our needs!! Don't forget burgers are essential in Wisconsin with cheese;)'Thank You read more

I saved Oscars for my 100th review of 2014. Oscars serves up the best burger in Milwaukee, HANDS DOWN! These burgers are made with tender, loving care and it shows. It's like a flavor explosion of deliciousness. Don't count calories on a visit to Oscar's - something this good can't be low cal haha. Joe R and I have visited twice. Joe always opts for the Big O. I have tried the Big Kahuna (no ham for me!) and Big Gringo. All of them are so super stinkin wonderful, I can't tell you what is best. It's really up to your personal preference. The Big O does have a lot of stuff on it - I'm not a fan of fried onions or jalapenos but when it comes to the Big O, it doesn't matter. It's so good. So so so good. And let' not forget about the fries.....Beautiful, delicious, tasty cuts of potatoes!! On both of our visits, the waitstaff has been super fast and friendly. Both times we have been here it has been busy, and we have come on random days/times. We seem to get the last table but there is a lot of coming and going so I wouldn't think you would have to wait long for a table. There is a patio for outside seating during the brief Wisconsin summer. Drinks are cheap. Food prices are super reasonable. This is are really a diamond in the ruff. And just thinking about an Oscar's burger makes me want one! They offer lunchtime delivery - how awesome is that?!? If you haven't been to Oscar's get there in 2015!!! read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - The Big Aloha (left) and the Big "O" (right). Both amazing!! - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You walk in and if you're there to sit down and eat with friends, there's a lot of confusion as what to do. Front area has a few tall pub tables and the bar. Me? I just went with my instincts and walked right to the back. And well hello, there's the dinning room. There's a main dinning room, which leads to a back room, where we were seated. I thought it was cool and a nice atmosphere. I guess they'll also be opening up a patio for an outdoor eating area. Not sure when that's going to start. A guy that was busing the tables came up to me and asked me how many ppl and our names quickly went on a list. We were seated no more than five minutes later. I teetered between giving this place a solid four and a three. Ultimately I decided on the four, because I not only enjoyed myself, but my food as well. Also, the prices are awesome for how delicious my burger was. However there were things not quite so good. The area is tight. Not a lot of room between tables, which I think just makes it harder on the waiters. Our waitress wasn't attentive at all. But I'll blame that on the fact that she was extremely busy and the only one serving our back room. It was absolutely packed at 6:30 on a Friday. They had runners for the food. She didn't come back often or in a timely manner, even when it began to slow, which happened around 7:30-8. So yeah. On to the food. As an avid fan of yelp, I naturally read reviews and looked up what I was going to eat before I got there. I got the Big Gringo. What I love about the burger?! The mere simplicity of it. I knew I didn't want the Big O that everyone raves about. If you can make the most simple burger taste good? That's the key. It was white cheddar and American cheese and bacon. That's it. I had to ask for mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion, which they happily obliged. Asked for mine to be medium and it came out perfectly. It was a great burger and the fries were decent. My burger wasn't overly greasy and I quite enjoyed their buns! Soft but sturdy. My gf and friend got the Big O. The friend devoured his but my gf wasn't impressed. She's a chef though. She thought the flavors were one note and overly greasy. Our other friend got the fish fry. She said it was meh. So all in all we had a great time. I loved my meal and my gf didn't. I will say that I'll definitely be back to try some other dishes in the future, but my gf won't. Service was slow. Pretty good selection of beer. Off steet parking but we didn't have trouble getting a spot. I missed the street to get to it, but it's easy to find. And of course great prices. read more

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3 of my friends and I went there to unwind from a crazy weekend we had and the food was amazingly good I love our waiter cause he was just so funny and he was cracking jokes with us and everything just kept us laughing and smiling. Definitely would recommend it to everyone! We came there several months ago so this isn't all that recent. read more

Great burger and beer joint. Exceptional burgers and a great taplist. Friendly service as well. Don't let the area scare you away- this place is good! read more

From out of town for a climbing competition. Two families one from Illinois and the other from South Dakota. Trusted Yelp with recommendations! Was not disappointed!!!! Outstanding, juicy, huge burgers great wings, fries and onion rings. Place was busy, servers gave great service. Wish we had this back home! If you're hungry and need a burger and great beers this is your place!! read more

It just hit the spot. Nice relaxed atmosphere. The music was just loud enough that we (a party of 6) could hear each other talk. The food is really good. I expected some fried junk type bar food. The menu was versatile enough but not confusing. The burger Big O just hit the spot. The bear assortment helped and the bartenders were really nice. read more

Always a great place to grab a burger and fries. I always recommend the Big O! There Tuesday, special with Al Pastor or Asada, Tacos are pretty amazing for$1! I've been a patron for years and will continue to be a loyal customer! Everyone including the owner, are all super cool! read more

Such an unassuming place. We've heard such good things about their burgers, so decided to come out on a late Sunday afternoon for the perfect patio weather! It wasn't too busy when we came out, but by the time we left it was packed. Service was uncomfortably slow... which seems to be not the same as others' experience. But definitely for us. Our server was nice, but she had SO many tables.. people who were seated probably a good 15-20 minutes apart were all getting served at inconsistent times. We ordered an appetizer, but ours came out way after our burgers! So the busser was confused and sent it back to the kitchen since he couldn't tell where it was supposed to go cos all the tables had entrees already... The burgers though. Wow! Definitely as amazing as the hype. The bun was definitely the best burger bun I've ever had in my life. I usually like a good toast/crisp to it, but this was just... A little sweet, pillowy soft, and great ability to absorb the burger juiciness! Mine was The Big O. My SO did a build-your-own. His only complaint was that there were still parts of the fried egg that were a little under. The fries are decent. (Wish the portion of guacamole was a little more for $1!) The burgers are really the solid winner here. They also have a wide variety of drinks to be enjoyed! Overall, I really wanted to enjoy it so much more because the burgers are that good! Perfect to pair with a cold beer on a summer afternoon. But the service really cut into the overall experience. We ended up paying cash just so we could leave sooner. Would still recommend for the burgers to try at least once! read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - Awesome burger 4.5/5. Some of egg was a little too raw for SO's liking. - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Burger experience: -3/5, taco experience: 5/5. Usually a good place, but lately had a pretty horrible experience. I would only come back here for taco Tuesday's. Today I went with my family for burgers. The burgers were over cooked. Why do you ask how I want my burger cooked if you are going to cook it well done anyways? When the burgers came, all the toppings were messed up. My mom was missing the tomatoes on hers. She also asked for extra onions, and found only 1 piece of onion on her burger. I ordered onion on mine, and my bf ordered guacamole on his. My onion was on my bf's sandwich and avocado (not even his correct order of guacamole) was on my sandwich. The fries were cold. The amount & quality of lettuce put on the sandwiches were laughable; the tiniest piece of dead looking, limp lettuce. The egg on top of the sandwich was way over cooked and the yolk was not runny or soft in the slightest. Basically every single thing was wrong and poorly made. And this took its time to come out as well. We were waiting for more than 30 minutes. We fixed our own sandwiches by swapping our toppings our selves and asked a waiter for extra onions since they were so skimpy, tomato which they missed on the sandwich, and a new order of fries (although all of them were bad so honestly they should've replaced them all). Fast forward to the check at the end which charges us 3 times for onions (as in 3 toppings worth)... they're only 25 cents each, it's not about the money. It's about the idea that they can mess every single thing up and still feel the need to charge us 50 cents extra for something that they really did not need to do that for. Pretty awful experience. Won't be coming back for burgers, they were not even good. The tacos are good and cheap (& difficult to mess up!) That's the only thing I'll be back for. read more

A Milwaukee classic! Great beers and burgers, friendly staff, a nice outdoor patio for the summer. You can't go wrong!

We love Oscars! Have been repeatedly visiting here since we moved to here in June. Their burgers are not only delicious, juicy, and customizable, but also affordable! read more

How could I have not known this place has been here for a couple of years?? Well, finally I made a visit to the burger mecca of Milwaukee. To hell with Sobelman's, Solly's, and AJ Bombers! Oscar's has all of you beat hands down! The reasons why I could eat at Oscar's every day (barring I don't die from a heart attack or a beef coma): 1) Fresh ground beef that is cooked to order. I like a burger that is thick and not the silly little patties served by AJ Bombers. I know there are people who like thin burgers then please don't go to Oscars. Insert tune...I like big burgers and I cannot lie... 2) Fluffy buttery bun that is locally made. Normally I view as just a way to hold the meat but this is delicious. 3) Fries that are hand cut and covered with Parmesan cheesy goodness. The fries are almost as good as the burger. You will be coveting these fries...trust me. 4) Burger choices that will make your head spin and make your arteries clog by just reading the menu. I heard great things about the Big O but steered away because it looked like a challenge to eat even half of it. You can't deny multiple cheeses, bacon and chorizo all on one tasty burger. 5) Decent pricing for great quality food. Where else can you get a burger and fries for under $7? Instead of hitting Potowatomi casino (very close) and wasting your money get something of value at Oscar's. 6) Cool, laid back atmosphere....think of a clean corner bar with awesome food. We will definitely be back. My only concern is whether I ever veer away from the burgers and try something else on the menu. read more

Found this place on Yelp, we went for lunch on our way from Munising, MI to Chicago, and I'm glad we went. We had the Big Hongo; The big Aloha; and the Big Gringo, all were great. And they had $2 Bud or Bud light, 16oz on Wednesday's. Oscar's deserves its stellar reviews. Great food, good ambiance, great for everyone - the bar vibe at the front, a quieter, good for families room in the back, and a big outdoor seating area as well. If you are in the Milwaukee area, don't miss it! read more

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Best burger in Milwaukee! Great wings and sweet potato fries,too! Nice craft beer selection.

This place was excellent. Questionable looking area but its Milwaukee... no worries. Private lot right next to building. Comfortable bar seating area - quite a few high top tables. I ordered the Big O with fries and rings. The burger was one of the best I have ever had. It was 5 stars all the way. The fries were perfect. I found the rings to be average. The homemade guacamole was very good! Highly recommend this place. read more

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We decided to go back since it was so good the first few times. This time I remembered to take pictures! My husband tried the Hawaiian burger and I had the black bean burger. Both were excellent. I am not vegetarian but wanted to try the vegetarian burger, so keep that in mind, but the flavoring of the burger was outstanding!!! We also ordered the "mystery" beers, we were told (by our excellent server) they just do mystery beers when they want to get rid of a specific keg, so it's not a cheap crappy beer. And instead of just giving us a beer we didn't know if we'd like, he actually brought us some samples. It ended up being a delicious IPA for only $3! Highly recommend! Their patio is also super cute! read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - Vegetarian burger (added cheese) with regular fries - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I live very close to both Oscar's and Sobelman's. There was no way I wasn't going to scarf both in quick succession to compare and post subsequent reviews. After all, there is a soft rivalry between these two establishments. A good deal of people in Milwaukee consider one better than the other. I consider Sobelman's the better choice, however, this review will focus on Oscar's exclusively. First, service. Service at Oscar's was great. I was greeted promptly by staff and asked what I would like to order. Draft Spotted Cow first. Eventually decided on Oscar's signature burger, the Big O, double patty, medium rare. Next, the burger. The burger was prepared quickly and looked great. However, that was about as far as it goes regarding the quality of the burger. The chorizo completely overwhelmed the flavor of the burger. In reality, it was the flavor of the burger. I probably should have known better considering that, being from Texas, I knew chorizo has a pungent flavor. Chorizo is great balanced nicely with some eggs and salsa for breakfast tacos, but it didn't work on the burger. Further, the patties were well done, really blackened, and not the medium rare I ordered. I will say, though, that the burger tasted very fresh and the fries were excellent. No complaints there. Oscar's has become one the, of if not THE, go-to spot for burgers in Milwaukee. I guess I can see why. The price point is great, and so is the service, but I just don't get how this place is held in such high regard. The quality of the burger was just not present in my opinion. Gotta say, I don't get the hype regarding Oscar's. read more

Local place with quality burgers. So many options for toppings and types of burgers. It has a hole in the wall feel to it, but it's really delicious! read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Stopped in to Oscar's since my wife and I were craving a burger and boy did it deliver! Absolutely amazing burgers and phenomenal fries. My wife ordered the The Big Gringo and I ordered The Big O. Both were incredibly juicy burgers and cooked to perfection. Unfortunately(for you) there is no picture to share because it looked so good we dug in immediately. read more

Maybe Oscar's was just over-hyped.... Maybe my expectations were too high. These patties are frozen, and it''s hard to make a good burger when your starting from a flavorless patty. The bun is great (though it fell apart), and the toppings tasty. The price is great. But I'd pay more to pair this all with a proper patty. read more

Out of the way, but sooo worth it! 2nd time here and the food was just as amazing as the first. Burgers are juicy and loaded! For 3 adults plus an appetizer for under $50! No alcohol on this visit, but they usually have drink specials that are tasty! read more

Had an excellent cheeseburger "The Big O"! Hamburger, chorizo, jalapeños, smoked bacon, chipotle cheese, and their great seasoned fries! It was listed recently online as Wisconsin's Best burger. Friendly service too! read more

Oscar's Pub & Grill - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"This better be a good burger because it might cost me my life." -My husband driving through the surrounding area. Pros: fast, friendly service, big ol burgers for the price, fantastic fries, good cheese. Cons: the Aloha burger was disappointing. Found the pineapple to be a bit bland and the juice made the bottom bun soggy. I was jealously eyeing the onion rings and wings at other tables, so we will definitely be back!! Hopefully when it is warm enough to sit out in the cute lit patio. Might conceal carry next time though... read more

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