Great food! Best in Milwaukee! Table service is fantastic! Cozy feel and great cocktails! 10/10 read more

The Original is tucked away just a block or so North of North Ave. It had ample street parking when we got there at about 5:30 during the week. Our party of 5 was one of three parties in the restaurant and we were heartily greeted by the staff. The cocktail and wine menu is great. We all ordered a couple cocktails/wine and were not disappointed with our choices. They bring out very cute little jars of delicious house pickled veggies, which is a nice touch and alternative to bread. Love it. We ordered brussel sprouts as an appetizer and they were excellent. I can't imagine going there and not ordering them every time. I had the scallops, which were served with andouille sausage and veggies over creamy grits. The scallops were large and cooked perfectly. The sausage was a nice addition of a little spice and saltiness. The grits were a bit to creamy for my taste. I like to have a little texture to them and these did not. My friends enjoyed their dishes too, but I will say I tried the lemon parsnip puree that comes with the short ribs and I think it has too much lemon for that dish. Obviously that's a personal preference, but me and my friend who ordered it agreed that the short ribs would taste better on top of the risotto that the fish of the day was on. The service was quite good, but our entrees did take a while to come out (30+ minutes) considering the restaurant was not at all busy when we were there. So, give yourself a cushion of time if you have plans afterwards. Overall, I'll definitely keep this in the dining rotation and on the recommendation list. read more

I had the charcuterie board, Pana cotta, and the cats pajamas. Everything was so well prepared that you can tell the chef cares a lot about the items and the presentation. The drink was lovely and the bartender / owner was wonderful to talk to as I enjoyed my meal. Would happily come back! read more

The Original - Charcuterie board - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This is my second review. When we came to brunch, I loved it so much, we were told "just wait until you try us for dinner." We went there for dinner last night and had a phenomenal meal. The crispy brussels sprouts were the perfect starter and they were absolutely delicious. There was nothing I would change about them. I eat a lot of brussels sprouts and these were the best. Followed that with the apple and tomato salad which was divine and then finished with a meal of the mushroom pasta, which was glorious. The cocktails were perfect. You could get an actual, original, genuine, old-fashioned. And we loved the pumpkin cake for dessert. The owners are fantastic, the chef is intestate, the location is great, the service is wonderful. Do not miss this gem of a restaurant! read more

Just had a birthday celebration here with a large group. They were so accommodating and flexible from the beginning. The food was amazing as usual, the drinks were unique and delicious. They really went above and beyond to make it a special night for us. We've come here many times in the past and we'll definitely be back soon. read more

Sunday brunch for 4, everyone loved their dish and the gin bloody mary is great. They politely accommodated our request for cheese and onions on the hash browns. Nice comfortable room with big windows tucked in the neighborhood. Very good service. Only critism is use of milk instead of half and half for coffee and not having jam for the toast although to be fair I didn't ask. Solid place with reasonable prices, I would come back for either a drink from the extensive cocktail menu or to try dinner. read more

We ended up coming her one night after work for dinner and it was pretty good. Didn't realize the name had changed and a new spot was in the neighborhood goes to show you how i'm a creature of habit :). So we decided to try oh we were so happy with them and the selection was really good. The portions are on the small size for us, but the space is cute and has a nice open space feel to it and the waitstaff was very helpful in helping us make the selection for what we wanted to try read more

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since, this place is highly rated and had positive review we tried it. unfortunately i was slightly disappointed with my own experience. i had the french toast and fried chicken. my toast was burnt and no flavor on my chicken. only thing my party n i agreed on was their donut. our server was very nice which was a plus. i will give this place another try in the future. read more

The Original - fried chicken and toast - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I loved eating there before the pandemic so I was excited to get there to go order last night! My wife had the Milwaukee Melt with fries and was a member of the clean plate club. I had the chicken. I got the spicy version and loved the crunch and flavor of the skin while the chicken was juicy. I got the coleslaw and mac and cheese. I love coleslaw. This is homemade not scooped out of a container. I do not care for mac and cheese. So I was shocked that I ordered another helping to go... I could go on about the drinks as well.... We enjoyed everything! We are thinking about a private dine. read more

This place was definitely phenomenal! The presentation of the food was to die for. I definitely recommend this place to the community.

The good: Dessert was creative and clearly the chef is the star. The OK: Portion sizes were on the small side but clearly homemade. The bad: Hospitality I had written a scathing review based on our unfortunate experience but I just edited it back - hoping they refocus on basics on hospitality. Alternatives exist: Cloud Red and Buttermint on the north edge of this market. read more

Hidden Gem in Milwaukee! Inside takes you back in time to and the food is AMAZING! French Toast with caramel and !! Warm and comforting on a cold city morning . Don't walk - run! read more

Arrived on time with a group of 4 for a Friday evening 7:30 reservation and were greeted immediately and advised there would be a slight delay in seating. You could tell immediately that the place was hopping. Tall ceilings made it a bit loud for conversation, but the food, drink and service more than made up for any inconvenience. The craft cocktail menu was diverse and several selections tried were well planned and delicious. The menu is not extensive but each of the dishes we tried were fantastic. The octopus was tender and perfectly dressed with greens and aioli. The short rib was finished almost as fast as it arrived. The swordfish catch of the day was perfect with the accompanying grits and my favorite was the Smoked Duck Breast with a duck confit biscuit. All entrees were well created and excellent. The desserts were top notch as well, especially the duck fat pumpkin spiced cake (both sweet AND savory). Fantastic. The owner was on the floor and engaged with the staff and patrons. Our waiter/server, Craig, was helpful, funny and patient as he allowed us our time. BIG thumbs up for The Original. Highly recommended. read more

Food was amazing. I had the duck, my husband had the Cornish hen. You have to try the Reuben croquettes. Drinks were tasty. Service was very friendly. Had a nice atmosphere. The old fashioned bar was a neat feature. Make a reservation on Friday or Saturday, lots of walk-ins got turned away cause it is a small place. Will definitely eat here again. read more

I went here last night for my birthday with two friends. As a drink I got a mai thai and my friend got a knickerbocker. My drink was super heavy on the alcohol to the point of not being flavorful, and my friend's drink tasted watered down and too weak. I ordered a wedge salad, but it's not actually a wedge-it's a few long pieces of romain laid out on a plate. One friend ordered the duck and she ended up not liking it. She ate maybe half of it and when the waitress came to take our plates away, she fold her she didn't like the texture of the duck. Our waitress brushed it off and didn't offer to take some money off of the bill. Lastly, this might be silly but the waitress knew it was my birthday and didn't wish me a happy birthday or bring a free drink or dessert. The meal was way too expensive and the drinks just weren't good. read more

Great food, incredibly skilled chef apparently. Had an appetizer, entree, and dessert. All exceptional. The bun cha app is great, salad spectacular, steak was perfect, dessert amazing. Friendly staff and attentive service. Highly recommend! Well done! read more

Absolutely delicious food! Drinks are great too. Have not had a great western dinner for a while. As an Asian, it is hard to impress me with traditional American food, we have dined in most of the top restaurants in town, and this restaurant is definitely one of the top in terms of food! The the prices we paid is well worth it. Will be back with husband to try more items. read more

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Amazing food, drinks and atmosphere. We stumbled upon The Original by accident. Originally intended to enjoy my 40th birthday dinner in the Third Ward, we completely forgot about Summer Fest, and ended up giving up trying to reach our original destination. Feeling defeated and heading north back home, we took a chance and decided to see if anyone on the East Side or Riverwest would have a table at 8pm on a Saturday. Thanks Google for directing us here. We lucked out and got seated right away. Cocktails, wine, watermelon salad, duck breast, NY strip...all fantastic. We enjoyed two desserts - salted caramel chocolate tart and panna cotta - along with the best Irish coffee I've ever had. Craig, one of the owners, was our server, and now a new friend. Thanks for turning a crappy night into a great one! We will be back! read more

I don't often post reviews to yelp, but I felt compelled to do so. My wife and I visited The Original for our first wedding-anniversary dinner. To start, we ordered a charcuterie board, the quality of which was phenomenal (salmon, two cheeses, pate, jam, honey, and spicy, grainy mustard). We also ordered the New York Sour as our first round of cocktails; it was quite difficult not ordering it again, but I can't wait to try more of their offerings. For the main course, I ordered a perfectly cooked hanger steak and my wife ordered the duck breast--the latter was probably the best I've had in the US. For dessert, we ordered a blueberry panna cotta. Everything was incredible, the server was friendly, and everything came out at the right time. I cannot wait to visit again. This is now my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee...by a fairly staggering margin. read more

The Original is a hidden gem in Milwaukee's eastside neighborhood. The restaurant is intimate with perhaps 40 without crowding tables on top of each other. The art deco style bar to one side of the restaurant provides additional seating as well as a nice focal point to the bar. When we arrived we were happy to have our coats hung for us before being taken to our table. The wait staff was excellent, friendly and attentive without being over bearing or hovering. Small touches like folding the napkin of a guest who used the restroom were very appreciated! The menu is varied and fresh without being an attempt at setting a record for the most ingredients included with brussel sprouts. Our party of four also appreciated the suggested wine, beer and cocktail pairings for each entree. At our table we enjoyed the wild rice soup, which was rich and tasty. My mussels were superb, with the spicy andouille being a nice counter to the red potatoes and mussels themselves. The salmon was well seasoned and delicious but just a bit overcooked for Maggie's taste (she likes hers towards a medium rare finish). Brett's short ribs were amazingly tender and Cheryl's pork chop was moist and perfect. Desserts were all house made and went well with the after dinner port we had. I highly recommend The Original and will back myself! read more

I was as sad as anyone that Red Dot vacated this space but The Original is proof that sometimes newer is better. When I called for a reservation, all tables were booked but Eric saved two spots at the bar even though we were running late. There is a "come hang" vibe to his place. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm- a nice combo of couples out on dates and neighborhood regulars stopping by for one. They blend well. Had the mussels for starters, followed by scallops and duck respectively. All were perfect. Don't forget the cocktails. Top-notch. They pride themselves on a very legit drink menu and it shows. Can't wait to come back. Eric, the owner, is an excellent host who is clearly proud of what they're doing there. And it shows. read more

The Original was amazing! My family (4 adults + 2 kids) ate there recently - we were in town from Chicago. The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff was incredible. They didn't have a kids menu but accommodated with food for the Littles. I had the Elk, my wife had the scallops, my mom had the filet and my dad had the pork chop - ALL dishes where 10 out of 10. Also, the cocktails are top notch. It's one of those places where no matter what you drink or eat lots of love will go into the prep and presentation. Last thing, the owner came and sat with us after our meal and explained the concept, passion, and history of the restaurant - super cool and something that most restaurants owners don't do. I would go back to this place in a second and will always remember it for future trips to Milwaukee. FYI - go early if you have kids... read more

Came with a group of 8 and the service was great! The 3 appetizers we ordered were Brussels sprouts , octopus and the cheese platter and they were delicious and reasonably shareable portions. We got our dinners and it was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their dinners. The duck was melt in our mouth delicious, the elk pasta had a fatty taste but was still delicious, the steak was also perfect and lastly the salmon had a good paring with the rice. read more

The Original - Brussel sprouts.. it was so good I was only able to get this picture - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Really great food. The place looks line an old house from the outside. Not sure what we thought about that at first, but it is very nice inside and we were impressed with everything we had! read more

The Original - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Service was great. The portions are small. The French toast was really really good. The restaurant was clean not one pesky fly inside on a warm day. I didn't visit the bathroom. read more

I've been wanting to try The Original for a long time. The food was delicious and full of flavor. However, I thought the portions were small relative to the very steep price. For that reason alone, we probably won't be back. I recognize covid is really driving prices to skyrocket but this felt extreme. I'm glad we tried it though. The back patio was very nice. read more

First time visit. The meal was clearly made by someone who loves food and isn't afraid of flavor. Cocktails, dinner and dessert. A perfect night and a place I'll return to. read more

I've had this on my yelp bucket list for a bit so finally decided to venture over to try it out for dinner. It was amazing. The owners (2 brothers) take pride in the food they serve and service they provide. They were very chatty and shared their story on how The Original got started and their passion around the craft cocktails to the food. This is a must try if you're a foodie and enjoy craft cocktails. We had the scallops with risotto and NY strip with brussel sprouts/potatoes. Also, a duck dish for the appetizer. All were fantastic. We also had several cocktails off the menu and not one disappointed. Desserts were amazing as well. We will definitely be back. read more

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Food was unique and delicious! Starting with the appetizer to the dessert! The service was great! Our server made sure to change our utensils if they dirty and checked in with us at reasonable points throughout the night. I would recommend this place! The grits were also super tasty and creamy! Delicious food!! read more

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Ate here a few weeks ago. Service was great even tho they were slammed but honestly. Not a single thing we ate or drank was worth the price. Overpriced and incredibly underwhelming. read more

Brunch was delicious!! Loved my asparagus skillet and breakfast cocktail! Highly recommend. Great service & atmosphere. I'll be back! read more

The Original - Breakfast burger! Sooooo delicious! 1/4 lb beef Patty cover with ham, thick bacon, egg, cheddar and hollandaise sauce! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I feel ripped off. Let me be clear: cocktails at The Original - 5 stars. Food - 2 stars for the value. I'm a huge Yelp fan and make a restaurant list based on that. As a result, when my boyfriend asked where I wanted to go for Valentine's Day, I shouted, "The Original!" as it's been on my list since I moved here in August. Let's start with the great - the cocktail list. There are tons of unique combinations (butternut squash!) where I could stay there for hours just sampling. I tried the Eastside Turkey (awesome), Love for Sale (great), Mystery and Melancholy (great), and one other with egg white that I loved. However, I was much more underwhelmed by the food. We got the brussels sprouts to begin. Good, but drowning in the sriracha sauce. Fine. I'd order the short ribs and my boyfriend got the strip medium rare. It came out medium, which is not surprising nor the end of the world considering it's a busy night in the kitchen. However, this $42 steak was SO DRY. It was underflavored, overcooked, and just not worth $42 whatsoever. I got the beet short rib dish and it was good. I don't know if it's $30 good, but it was fine. We were in an awesome mood going in and left wishing we had gotten cocktails at The Original and then ordered a heart shaped pizza for home. For the value, the food is not worth it. Cut in half price-wise, it'd be a three star place. Go here for drinks and apps only! read more

Everything about this meal was sublime. Craig, one of the owners, was especially attentive and provided recommendations on both cocktails and entrees that were excellent. Please, please do what you can to keep this gem open until the next time we can visit Milwaukee! Happy read more

Nice addition to the area. Food is well executed and reasonably priced for the quality. I have tried most of the app list at this point and have liked everything but particularly like the mussels. Drink list is pretty expansive. Joint has a funky vibe to it. Service is great. This is a place to check out. read more

My partner & I went there last week to celebrate our anniversary & they made it a great night to remember! Very attentive service and everything we had was delicious! We started with the charcuterie plate which was came with a Cajun cured salmo, pork terrine and chicken liver mouse. Everything tasted awesome, but the chicken liver mouse was the real star. I'm also a huge fan of the pickled red onions and cukes that came with it. My husband got the stuffed quail and really enjoyed it. I'm not a huge fan of quail so I'll take his word for it. It came on top of a puréed sunchoke which I did try & it great. I had the seared scallops which were perfectly seated and served over nice buttery polenta and some savory and sweet root veggies. Then we had this out of this world cheese bread for dessert, complimentary for our anniversary. Thanks for the awesome night! Highly recommend. read more

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Wow!!!!! 1. Best eggs Benedict I have ever had. 2. Amazing service by Kevin 3. If you come for brunch the fruity pebble martini is a MUST. The menu is extremely eclectic and my understanding is the menu rotates on a frequent basis. The sausage is made in house and was also very good. The cocktail drinks come with crafted ice which varies by glass. This place is a must try!!! read more

The Original - Cereal spirits!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

UPDATE 11/30/2017: I had the Cornish hen literally just now and I'll be hard-pressed to order anything else here. It was perfect--great balance of grains, veg, and the perfectly-prepared Cornish hen half. A bit sweet, but it fit the dish. Also tried the brokedown Cadillac cocktail and it was also unique and really tasty. We had a pretty good experience here for our first visit. It was a weeknight and we were a party of four. It wasn't very busy. The layout is the same as Red Dot, but they re did the ceiling, walls, upholstery, etc. same classic bar, though! It looks nice in there. We started with the laughing bird shrimp starter and the chicken liver mousse. The shrimp was good and we loved the pickles in there. The mousse was one of the best I've had! Dinner prices seemed pretty fair for what we received. I had the Lake Superior perch (fish of the day), and the other dishes ordered were the flat iron and the pork cheek. Flat iron was tasty and the pork cheek was good, but my least favorite of the three. We also felt everything was just slightly under seasoned--needed a dash more of salt. It was a nice experience! Good place to go for a chill cocktail and dinner. read more

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I walked into this bar after reading about it on OnMilwaukee, looking for my new neighborhood restaurant and bar - think I found it! The drinks were well-made at a reasonable price. The bartender was incredibly friendly. Cannot wait to come back and try the food - I can only imagine my experience will be just as excellent as it was tonight. Ask about the pickle-backs! read more

We had the opportunity to visit The Original a few weeks ago - and it was AMAZING! The space itself is small, cozy, and the perfect setting for a double date with friends we don't see quite often enough! Service was great - our server was friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and very helpful in navigating a menu where each dish sounds better than the next! One of the really cool things about the menu is that each dish offers a cocktail, beer, or wine pairing, expertly matched with the flavors of the dish (we definitely enjoyed this feature!). We settled on starting with the Nashville Hot Tofu & Cauliflower and the Laughing Bird Shrimp. The tofu/cauliflower dish won the appetizer stand-off (hands down). It was the right amount of spicy/sweet. The shrimp was fried perfectly - as were the fried pickles! For entrees, we ordered the pork cheek and flat iron steak. The pork cheek was cooked perfectly - and the spaetzel and red onion jam were awesome. But - the flat iron steak - it has this smoked tomato butter that could not be topped! It was so good - our table agreed that we could have just eaten a loaf of bread and that butter. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the dish was delicious - but - that butter!!! We definitely enjoyed our visit and can't wait for an "excuse" to visit The Original again soon! read more

My wife and I had brunch, dinner and cocktails here on 3 separate occasions and all 3 we were amazed by the food, service, drinks and desert. The staff is very friendly, the food is delicious, fresh and presented in an elegant fashion. The cocktails are of the up-most quality and the service is impeccable. The Original is the gold standard for the type of restaurant and bar that the Eastside needs moving forward! read more