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    Real Chili Restaurant

    3.6 (79 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    REAL CHILI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Pots of chili simmering.
    Anthony B.

    Oh yea this is good! Wanted something warm and simple to eat and found this place for a frito pie! Chili is fantastic meaty and has great spice and flavor. Heck they even give you a bowl of oyster crackers, Dang! This place is definitely going on my favorites list. Great service, good food, and great conversation.

    The chili, artfully arranged with a few Jackson Pollock-style flourishes.
    Mark D.

    Ignore the haters. This is solid Wisconsin-style chili. If you don't know what that means, come in with a loving heart, an open mind, and an acceptance of noodles and crackers. (Don't expect Cincinnati-style chili, either. While there are visual similarities, the flavor profile is very different.) Recommend starting with a medium-spiced bowl without the toppings. Don't get hung up on spice level: from what I can gather the spice is just a reflection of how much chili sauce / oil you're getting. The flavor is the same regardless. Disclaimer: Came sober mid-day. Was not confronted by any airborne crackers. Also, did not sample non-chili items at a restaurant named "Real Chili."

    Chili was great. Been going to this location since 1978. We live in Texas now so we visit when we come back for Packer games. I'll say that things have changed. The portion size has definitely decreased over the last few years while price has increased near 20% and it appears the recipe has changed as well. In the pic below, the top pic was from 2024 and the bottom is from 2021. The color of the chili is now near black. Just observations.

    the outside of the restaurant
    Steven T.

    This was a long time bookmark and since we found our original lunch choice closed and realized that we were parked in front of the place we stopped for lunch. We looked at the menu and thought that the chili cheese nachos with onions sounded really good. The great sounding nachos looked pretty crappy with a 7/11 or a gas station look which surprised us. The chili looked a little light and the nachos had so many chips with nothing on them, at least layer it a couple times so you don't have so many chips with no toppings. The chips were like horrible gas station quality and super salty but they were fresh and crisp. The chili was like a weird meat paste with no beans and slight greasy which I don't mind. Overall this was not a very good nacho and we should have picked a chili dish from the menu.

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    2 years ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Chili was good. Ambiance (50s diner) was cool. Service was quick. Only down side it's a bit pricey, but I'd go again.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    5 years ago

    I will defend this place with my life, the best food and anyone who says different can catch a different kind of marquette special

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    3 years ago

    Real Chili is so real. The service was hella amazing. I love the ambiance! The next day real chili shits are worth it.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    A bit too salty for my taste. My daughter seems to like it though. Service was fast and the staff was friendl.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    It's great chili and I'd like it on my deathbed. If I eat it before though, I'll be on my deathbed

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Consistently closes early. Will open for certain guests and not others. Terrible service and workers don't want to stay open

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    7 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Review Highlights - Real Chili Restaurant

    Often when I was in college at Marquette, I would be the only loser in there during lunch time and it was worth it.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Swingin' Door Exchange - Carrots and Grilled Beets!! Delicious

    Swingin' Door Exchange

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown, East Town
    $$

    Went in late after a ballgame close to the kitchen closing. Nice full place with a locals feel…read morethat was very hospitable to travelers. Had a great Rubin and blackened carrots, excellent quality and quantity for the price. The type of spot you hope to find late while trying to avoid the chain hotel bar/restaurant

    I was heading to the Downer Theater after work for a movie on Friday night and of course wanted a…read morefish fry beforehand. I surprisingly don't have many options in my "MKE - Fish Fry" collection that are near downtown, but Swinging Door Exchange was one of them. I was pressed for time, so I placed a to go order rather than dining in. I got the combo fish fry (two pieces of cod, two pieces of perch, and three fried shrimp) with potato pancakes. I was also very easily talked into the half rack rib appetizer. The ribs were good, even though I prefer sauce that's more sweet and smokey. Their sauce was on the tangy side with a tease of spice that really only became noticeable when the majority of the half rack was gone. If I were in the mood for ribs as my main meal, I'd consider getting theirs as an entree. The two potato pancakes weren't homemade; instead, they were premade hash brown patties that some other restaurants also serve with their fish frys. These were perfectly acceptable in lieu of homemade pancakes. The cod tasted great, but the breading didn't hold up very well. Either the fish itself was too wet or the two block walk back to my car allowed for condensation to wreck it or possibly both. The perch was not yellow lake perch but probably something like pike perch. Even though both kinds of fish and the shrimp were all good sized portions, $29 feels like a lot. I wouldn't say no to it, though, if I were dining in next time and avoid the extra cost of their takeout fee. Shout-out to the bartenders working that night. The bar area was absolutely packed, but both of the ones I talked to about placing my order were friendly and helpful even with being super busy.

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    Swingin' Door Exchange - Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it

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

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    Ahi Tuna Steak

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

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    Oak Barrel Public House - Whiskey Battered Cheese Curds

    Oak Barrel Public House

    3.9(367 reviews)
    1.0 miWestown, Bronzeville
    $$

    Our night at Oak Barrel was wonderful. Our food was delicious. The music was spot on. More than…read moreanything 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!

    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!

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    Oak Barrel Public House - Bar

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    Oak Barrel Public House - Regular Bacon Fat Popcorn

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    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee - Sunday Brunch

    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee

    4.2(137 reviews)
    0.7 miWestown, Bronzeville
    $$

    Stopped for a drink before a game and was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful inside. It was a…read more10-minute walk to Baird Center and the center of downtown. But parking is paid parking on the street, with spots hard to find. Once the parking situation is resolved, things are great. The vibes inside was awesome - very open, with lots of seating. There seems to be tons of seating options, and outdoor seating as well for when the days are warmer. And for a brewery, the most important thing? The beer, of course! And it was good. We've had their beer before and have always like them. It was great getting some more on draft. Agro pop IPA Yummy!! Panther pale ale OK, but not my fave. I wouldn't get it again. Cheese curds $14 These were delicious, but it did get salty after munching through the plate. We were limiting ourselves to just one drink, and needed more drinks or another food item to mediate our tastebuds. I'd order again with a proper meal or with more booze. Service was super nice, though not quite polished, which I don't mind at all. Points for a nice smilze!

    Solid food, great vibes. If you are ever in the area looking for some bar food and cool atmosphere,…read morecheck out Pilot Project! My chicken pesto melt was super flavorful and felt light since the chicken was grilled and the focaccia bun was nice and soft. Fries were average bar fries. David's chicken sandwich was huge! He didn't like the pickles that were on it, or the garlic aioli but chicken and bun were good. I wasn't a fan of my sour (Punch Kissed Parasol) but David enjoyed his beer (Falk Bock). Service was great!

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    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee - Rooftop Cocktails Happy Hour

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    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee - Stouts!

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    Real Chili Restaurant - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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