Fun place, great service, excellent food. Have been coming here for years and it's always wonderful. Brought friends tonight and they are new fans. read more

Very good prime rib. The chicken parmesan was very good also. Nice ambience and pretty good service. read more

See all

Had their Fish Fry tonight and it was REALLY good. Served with the best 'slaw I've had in a while along with two cuts of rye bread. The batter was nice and crisp with some of the best cuts of cod I've had, EVER. The fish was so clean. Their fries were also fantastic. The only gripe I'd have is that their tarter sauce was bland and mostly mayo. I wish they would spice it up and add a little something to it that would compliment the great fish they serve. All in all, I'd come back. Price is great and the service is fast and accurate. Thanks guys! read more

just the place I was looking for. recently moved here from Denver and found this place. reminded me of my place back home. great food and service. so glad I found them. read more

Last Friday we drove down Layton and saw a line "miles" long. I searched up this restaurant and was impressed by the selection and everything looked amazing. Fast forward to my wife's birthday and I did a to-go order because of the current restrictions. The associate was very nice over the phone, order was easy to place and ready very fast. We went through the drive-thru with ease and were on on way. Everything smelt amazing and we couldn't wait to try it all. Excellent!!! The BBQ ribs were spot on, the Chicken Parm. was really good and had a nice change of flavor with what might be a bit of a spicy marinara? Great portions. The tiramisu was amazing and the banana pudding/pie was amazing as well. We would highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to going back to hopefully eat there and enjoy the rest of what they have to offer. read more

Love this place the staff is so friendly and accommodating the music is incredible every night and the food is always incredible the packing house is where I always recommend out of town friends Tried the duck breast tonight for the first time "incredible" I'm a veal and steak guy but the duck was recommended and wasn't disappointed If you want a perfect evening no matter the occasion The Packing House won't disappoint read more

My friend swore this was another supper club-type spot that time forgot. She swore it was the best. She usually gets her way, so that's how I ended up here on a Monday night in a hoodie. Sigh. She was right, and not in the way that I expected... American psycho (think 80s "classy" lounge/restaurant type feel) meets Wisco-tastic supper club (mirrors, carpet, a nature quite antiquated on the whole) meets big screen TVs playing football. Drink it in, folks. This place makes steaks first and foremost. They make really good steaks. I should've ordered a different steak, though. I always forget that I don't actually care for tenderloin wrapped in bacon... the bacon is never done quite how I'd like, and it just always ends up being somewhat disappointing. Should've gone with the dry-aged T-bone. My bad. Service? Strange and antiquated, but nice and accommodating. Attentive, and more than willing to throw my steak back on the grill for a minute. (I ordered med rare, and I received and uber-rare cut of meat. Almost blue.) We got some free pie for the trouble, which was unnecessary, but a nice touch. The sides, desserts, etc., were nothing to write home about. (While the french onion soup was the jam, mashed potatoes and "gravy" lackluster, and the pie obviously frozen. But it was free, so you know, complaining about that makes me an a-hole. Free pie is a win, always.) Verdict? Spendy-ish, wine list and drinks not up to par, strange and antiquated vibe, sides and extras not worth the trouble, but great steaks (I had the chance to give my friend's steak a whirl, it was glorious.) This is a true south-side joint, and if you know MKE, you know what that means. I think we were the youngest folks there. If you're looking to be entertained by a strange ambiance and enjoy a stellar steak, this is your spot, Milwaukee. read more

Joe and I came here for a Valentine's meal at 7:00pm on Saturday, and had an A-OK experience, but neither of us see ourselves returning. We started at the bar and greatly enjoyed the live music and affordable cocktails. After enjoying one we made our way back to our table, which was placed RIGHT in front of the kitchen, so it was loud and Joe had to watch his elbows for all the servers darting in and out. (of note I saw many awkwardly placed tables, like a two-top against the wall directly between the mens and womens doors!?!?) Our server, "Penny's from Heaven" as she introduced herself, was loud and boisterous, but perhaps a little overworked as we felt very rushed every time she came over. There was a Prix Fixe menu for February, but every entree option was meat. (I later suggested to the manager that I thought they could benefit from a seafood or pasta option on there to benefit all tastes, and he scoffed and said, "You do know fish is meat right?" RUDE!) Obviously we opted for the regular menu instead. We started with a bottle of wine and it was reasonably priced. Not an extensive list, but good enough. For an appetizer we ordered the eggplant fries. They were expensive, but when they came out we saw why - they're a HUGE portion! After eating our fill there was still a heaping plate of them left; my recommendation would be to drop the price AND the portion size to something more desirable, or at least warn your tables of the monstrous amount. But I digress. A small relish tray was delivered before the meal with sweet cornichons, radishes, carrots, olives and celery. For entrees, Joe went with the chicken monterrey, and I went with the salmon. The salmon comes with a cherry sauce over it, which did not appeal to me at all. I asked instead to blacken the fish, and if it was a possibility to add the spinach crust to it. She said she'd check with the chef and let me know. Entrees also come with a side salad or soup before the meal. Joe got the soup (which was chicken noodle that night) and it was straight out of a bag, not terrible, but diner quality. My fish was cooked well, and the blue cheese "croquette" served with it was DIVINE. I am used to croquettes being slightly larger than tater tots, but this thing was potato pancake sized! It was perfectly crispy on the outside, and garlicky mashed potato on the inside - seriously so good. The asparagus was also cooked well. When she delivered it she mentioned she was able to blacken it AND put the crust on, but she upcharged me which "She knew I wouldn't mind"... well for $6 additional on the bill I sure as heck would have appreciated maybe an inquiry and not an assumption. Joe's chicken was described as two juicy chicken breasts, but in reality it appeared to have been one chicken breast filleted in half, and pounded thin. They were very small and the dish was not presented well at all. His rice and veggies were good though. All in all, some of it was good, but the snooty attitude of the manager (Who otherwise just stood lazily by the POS machines at the entrance, hello? Ever heard of time to lean there's time to clean? How about helping these crazy servers bus their tables or be sure that the dishes are up to par on the line?) and the unmentioned upcharging left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. read more

See all

The Packing House is located very near the airport. If you're at any of the nearby hotels, it's an easy shuttle ride to get to the restaurants. In fact, on the Monday night that I was there, there were several tables they were expecting from the local hotels. I had a group of 5 out-of-towners that found this place based on the Yelp reviews. Good enough reviews to give it a try. The service is okay. I would say it's more on the scale of a nice diner or supper club, but not the level of a high-end steak house. The server was attentive, but the food tended to take a while to get the next round. The bread was excellent, but required prompting from our hunger pains calling out of it rather than an automatic service. Appetizers were a great start. The shrimp cocktail and the stuffed mushrooms were excellent. Large shrimp with great firm texture. Cocktail sauce was not overpowering of horseradish either. My expectations were rising. Next was the Cesar salad. It was good, though I asked for extra anchovies, and had to ask again once I received the salad. Finally, the steak arrived. I had ordered the garlic filet medium rare. The searing in how they prepare steak tends to over cook the steak and left the core of the steak a medium. I thought it was an isolated incident, but three other steaks at the table were also overcooked. When ordering I also asked if the fries were steak fries, which was answered in the affirmative. I guess they were steak fries by association with steak rather than a thicker cut of potato. They were a bit larger than your typical fast food burger joint, but much smaller than what I would consider steak fries. In all, the meal was good until the over-done steak. As a place rated 4-star in Yelp, I would have expected a much better cooked steak - especially for the price points. I would give it 2.5 stars if it was possible, but I'll leave it at a 2. Worth it to give it a try though, especially if you are looking for something near your hotel. read more

I really wanted to say glowing things Great atmosphere great live music Delicious sides and good service Prime rib disappointing not tender Tasty but not tender read more

I tend to be harsh on the restaurants that feature the fine dining of old, because it tends to offer little by way of innovation, a wide-ranging menu that attempts to please everyone, and a lot of froufrou atmosphere with a high price tag. The Packing House is no different with regards to the menu, but it's so retro that it's interesting, like a time capsule into what people considered fine dining in the mid 70s. Veal Oscar? Chicken Cordon Bleu? A Delmonico cut of steak? Oysters Rockefeller? Shrimp De Jonghe? Diner's Club? I'll admit I had to look up some of these recipes, and was surprised to find they were established dishes. But of course, the traditional dish they are most known for is the fish fry, the thing for which they added a dang drive-through window to the restaurant, and as a result there are cars lined up the block every Friday. The fish fry is another one of those traditions that you don't realize is unique to the Midwest until after you leave it. Grown out of the large Catholic population from the Poles and Germans, the fish fry became the preferred way to make it through those meatless Friday nights of lent. I think the practice is more of a cultural event today than a religious one, but whatever the reasons, there is nary a restaurant in the city that doesn't offer a variation of it on their menus. And in an embracing of my Brew City roots, I thought it was time to visit the restaurant past which I must have driven hundreds of times while living there. I knew I was in for a blast from the past when upon entering I accidentally stumbled my way into the coat check room. Once thought to be long extinct, the coat checker was a manned position in the restaurant solely for the purpose of taking, giving, and guarding the valuable furs and trenchcoats of the woman and man, respectively. The Fish Fry gets its own special place on the menu and begins with a cup of clam chowder, which was rich and smooth, and obviously prepared in the traditional New England manner. The fish itself was haddock, I believe, covered in a flour crust that was almost too thin to taste, and would have been fairly plain if not for the lemon that comes along with the dish, which is as essential flavor component of the meal as the fish itself. The homemade tartar sauce was fresh, though nothing outside of the ordinary, and the meal came with some potato pancakes, which are like hashbrowns except better fried, packed, and included some herbage for flavor. You also get a slice of marble rye bread, because that's how fish fries are served. I also got to try the ribs on one of my fellow diners, which were expectedly baked and covered with a sauce, but they fell off the bone pretty readily, and while they wouldn't be my first choice, they were A-OK. I'm glad I knew what I was getting beforehand, because the amount of ribs, steaks, seafood, poultry, and veal on the menu was overwhelming. The thing that I liked about The Packing House, and probably what has kept them in business for so long, is the amount of in-house cooking they do, from their soups to their sauces to their salad dressings, it's all made here. They even have a steak au poivre that is actually made au poire - seared in a pepper crust, not just smothered with a pepper cream sauce like so many restaurants are wont to do. I would venture to suppose it's considered the second-most popular item on the menu next to the fish. The Packing House prides itself on familiarity and consistency, which is something that appeals to many people, and sure, there are some culinary relics like liver and onions and bacon-wrapped water chestnuts on the menu, but if they're made properly, who am I to complain? Just remember to tip your coat checker. read more

This restaurant has fallen off so dramatically over the last several years. 40 years ago it must have been stupendous, but they haven't kept that quality up. It's incredibly dated, and the menu is increasingly bland. I am not one to write negative reviews, but I feel I have to because this place still carries a fairly high rating. I also noticed the owner seems to lay into all yelpers who voice honest concerns about the establishment. All I can really say is that my last two experiences there have been met with staff bordering on rude and food that is uninspired. If I am looking for a trip down memory lane the 5 O'Clock or Jackson's are much more satisfying options. read more

This is just a Fish Fry review. I've only been inside to look around. It's kind of dark and you walk past the grand piano and wonder what it's like to settle down with an old fashioned and sip. No I don't. There is a Tiki Bar in town somewhere calling to me. We just get the Fish Fry at the drive through and it rates in the top 3 in town. Very fresh & consistent. The cars line up around the block, but when you get to the window to pay, the food comes pretty quick. Thick moist cod with a thin coating, sour slaw, and good fries all package to stay warm for 20 minutes or so. But the longer the delay, the more likely you got soggy fish. Just pop across the street into the "secret" airport parking lot and watch the planes. Or rush home and crack a beer. One of the top FF in the city. read more

This is my MUST stop when I am visiting family in Milwaukee. Hands down the BEST steak in the state. You have to get the GRAND STEER fillet but start with their crab & shrimp stuffed mushrooms. You will thank me later. The wait staff are career servers and know how to treat a customer. I enjoy the decor because it was updated, but it still has an old school Milwaukee vibe to it. Make sure you get there before your meal or hang after and enjoy drinks in their piano bar. Good times. read more

The Packing House - The MUST HAVE Grand Steer Fillet - 5 Stars!! - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My grandma's been dragging us here for close to 30 years! The joint hasn't changed a bit & still has the old fashioned supper club vibe from decades past. The steaks & prime rib are always top notch. Try the Friday fish fry too!! Packing House has a drive thru just to accommodate the extra business.The clam chowder is also very good. Great thick base. Hearty and savory. There's a full bar (with plenty of beers on tap) as well as a pretty extensive wine list, so you can definitely bring a date here for a nice dinner. The restaurant always appears to be clean & organized. The staff is always friendly & attentive. . Remember to tip the coat checker! read more

Way over priced we had a party of only 8 and a $500.00 bill hello this is not chicago. This place has not been updated in years still in the 70 with a five star rating??? Food was good at best. Server was great but I would be too making $35.00 per hour we were in and out in less than 2 hrs save your money !!! The owner did respond and asked what he could do but it just too late . But because he cares enough to respond I changed my rating to 2 star read more

Close to the airport, nice meal but nothing you will remember next year. You know what I mean? It was good, nice ambience and the food was on the classier side. That said, if I wasn't on a corporate expense account would I have been happy when the bill came? Uhhh not so much. It just wasn't anything truly special. A good reason to put on a nicer dress and go out for dinner but overall nothing particularly memorable or awe inspiring. read more

Ah, one of my favorite restaurants. Great fish fry, love the steaks, most reliably escargot in the area, Sunday brunch is great. I really love this place, not the most modern interior and I don't care about appearance, I care about quality cocktails and great food. read more

I have fond memories of going to The Packing House with my grandparents decades ago. Back then, I would just have a Shirley Temple and mozzarella sticks... While they have remodeled in many ways, I still recognized the place when I went in for dinner recently. I had a pretty delicious experience at The Packing House. It all started with a tasty sidecar, rimmed with sugar. My parents also enjoyed the house brandy old fashioned and the lemon drop. All strong. For an appetizer, we enjoyed the thick-cut deep-fried eggplant piled high and served with a somewhat spicy marinara sauce. I personally prefer a sweeter marinara, but this was pretty good nonetheless. Our server also brought us complimentary bread, which was just ok. I found it a bit doughy (by that I mean it seemed a bit undercooked) for my taste. I overheard a manager say that it was ordered in from an area bakery. Next was the salad, a good mix of greens and veggies. The Parmesan peppercorn dressing was really good. I ordered the Queen sized (6 oz.) filet, cooked perfectly to medium. I splurged on the $2 blackening seasoning and the $2 side of béarnaise sauce. While I don't think that a dash of blackening seasoning should really cost $2, it was really delicious. The béarnaise however, I would definitely pass on next time-- it tasted ok, but it was served kind of cool in temperature. The meat was tender and flavorful. My dad the steak au poivre. His was really great too! For dessert we split the banana cream pie (pretty standard), and the Godiva chocolate cheesecake (the chef's special). The cheesecake was really rich and chocolately, and while I doubt it was made in house, it was a great way to end the meal. Service was pretty good. We made it clear we weren't in a hurry. Our waitress seemed to have a lot of tables to cover, so I junk she was appreciative of that. Overall, a good experience. read more

Old fashion, stylish supper club. A great evening with the guys for drinks and steaks, or a semi-special dinner with the better half. Yes it's pricey, but it's well worth the money. Service staff is top-notch, and everyone makes you feel welcome. Do yourself a favor and call ahead for seating. Trust me. read more

Food was good service was great a small round plate should have been on oval plate for better and larger presentation for the filet steak price point. The filet was undercooked but the waitress caught it before I took a bite and it was served right . Great service makes up for it a real pro read more

We went for New Years. We wanted to entertain our college daughter and her boyfriend. That we did. They were by far the youngest in the joint. A decision was made, she would not have "old lady" hair when she's of age. This place reminds me of a mobster movie, perhaps its the mirrors or the carpet or the tables and loud chatter. Now on to the food... They grill a mean steak. We all went for the filet. Cooked just right. I don't have any concerns about the preparation of our meals. Service was okay. It was busy and we had to wait 30 minutes after our reservation, which is always annoying. Price = expensive Expect a good $120 for four, without alcoholic beverages. read more

After reading many articles regarding The Packing House's award winning Friday Fish Fry's, we decided it was a must to try one of Milwaukee's best supper club. The service and live jazz ensemble were great, but the food definitely didn't live up to the hype. We ordered a S&P streak medium rare and the steak must not have rested enough or wasn't cooked at the right temp. The untested steak had made the white sauce red and pink, which made it very unappetizing and seasoning was just ugh.. There seemed to be no seasoning on the famous fish fry, the cole slaw and apple sauce were warm, and the potato pancakes was nothing to rave over. The cole slaw was very watery and the texture was really off. Maybe they had it under the heat lamp too long and it cooked the slaw. Whatever the case, The Packing House is a great place to listen to classic jazz and have a classic side car, but definitely not a place to dine. Over priced, over hyper, and under expectations. read more

I tried their fish fry I saw their good ratings. I thought I'd give it a try just terrible the fish was Over cooked and dry the breading was just terrible the coleslaw was completely flavorless. I had the clam chowder it tasted as if it was from a can. I don't know how they got their good ratings, terrible read more

Simple, classic restaurant with that old fashioned supper club vibe. Great food and one of the best restaurants in town! Has been one my favorites for over 30 years. read more

Good Friday Fish FRY! Big portion which included soup, 3 pieces of fish, fries or potato pancakes and slaw. My daughter ordered the kids fish fry and it was just as big! GO EARLY or make a reservation. We went at 5:15pm and it was already filling up. Looks like live music was starting in the bar area as we were leaving. Nice place. Really looks classy. read more

Well, this was fun! I'm originally from Wisconsin, so I often feel overprotective and suspect about my supper club experiences. But this is all the right things about a very specific dining genre. We were flying out at 6p, and were in the strange limbo before true dinner. With that said, we were still able to order from the dinner menu at the cocktail bar. Me: perfectly seasoned broiled walleye with steamed fresh vegetables and rice. And strong pours of good wine. Husband: perfectly cooked steak and a stiff drink(s). Add to this? Attentive staff, supper club ambiance, and fabulous clientele. We are in! We fly into MKE often to visit family and we are making this a consistent stop. read more

Nice ambience, good food. I have been going here for years and while they had some issues a few years ago with food taste, they seem to be back up to par now. The filets are awesome! I've had other food there and it was good as well, but the fillets are perfectally cut, cooked, displayed, and eaten :-) Definately bring my team here every time we travel to Milwaukee together. read more

Amazing place! Quality Steakhouse food, salads, soups, GF, vegetarian options. Top that with live music in cozy bar, Wednesday-Sat! Great lighting, ambience. Surprisingly close to the airport. We will be back. read more

The Packing House is one of my favorite restaurants. This is where I go when I want steak or ribs. Every time that I have been here, their food has been excellent (outside of the one incident with almost, rock-hard mashed potatoes, LOL). Even though I do order my steak well-done, I find that every time, it is still tasty and served, just the way I like it. It's not burnt, or dried out, like some places make it. You'll also get your choice of potato, soup or salad, and fresh, hot bread, with your meal. I usually end up ordering their Baked French Onion Soup. IT IS SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!! Their service is usually pretty prompt, unless it's one of those busy nights, where all of the tables are full, and the waiters and waitresses, and even the bussers are hopping around, trying to keep everyone satisfied. Unfortunately, we do miss Mary, the wonderful waitress, that was our favorite, for many years! She surely did take great care of us, every time we came in. The other good thing about this restaurant, is that you can come as you are....You can wear jeans, or you can dress up. It really doesn't matter. No suit and tie required! read more

This is an old fashioned supper club. Very good steak in a Rat Pack atmosphere.

I have four words. Fish fry. Sunday brunch. That is all. Oh, and - if you want the "drive through" fish fry, you better get there EARLY, because cars literally are lined up down Layton and the side roads. You've been warned. read more

I went there on a Friday for lunch. Reason for going on a friday: ITS FREAKING FISH FRY DAY. I was told this place has the best Fish Fry. My coworkers were right. The dish cost around 13 dollars. It came with soup or salad. The fish fry also came with coleslaw and potato pancakes (looked like hash browns to me). The packing house is located right next to the airport. Very convenient if you are leaving WI and wanted to grab lunch. The one thing though..... I guess it was 11am .... but the place was filled with senior citizens. It was a bit akward. The atmosphere is tacky. The decorations are pretty old so I guess it was a perfect place for those senior citizens. (Dont get me wrong, I love my grandmama...) read more

We wanted to experience a Wisconsin supper club, saw recommendations for the Packing House. We arrived for an early dinner. The restaurant was attractive. Our server was mediocre, our meal the same. I did have the tomato basil soup with squash and zucchini that was the best part of my meal. Not worth the price, will not go back. read more

Our first visit was a book signing on Thursday night with supper club legend Ron Faiola. No one greeted us upon arrival, their was no signage or any help directing us to the private event room. Finally informed where to go and finished our drink at the bar and headed back (hard to get a drink to start, the bartender came with the building, I think). Nice little bar in the event space and a very nice server manning the bar. Ordered a drink and met with Ron, bought his latest book. Menu was prix fixe, awesome bacon wrapped water chestnut app, Salad to start was good, I had ribs and my wife had chicken cordon bleu. Ribs were tasty served with a baked potato, no veggies the crust on the chicken was tough, had to use the bread knife to tear through it. Odd scene during dinner between the guest of honor and the owner/mgr. Heated conversation over something but it seems Ron did not get fed. Not sure why they were at odds, but there were 20 people at the event who would not have been there on a Thursday night if Ron was not there (we drove 1hour & 30 minutes). Dessert was the killer, frozen apple pie with ice cream strewn on the table by an over worked waitress. We are Supper Club junkies that plan trips around restaurants, not sure this place gets another chance . read more

Milwaukee's Sunday brunches tend to be extravagant fares or extended breakfast tables. Some which are inbetween still do not approach the extravagant buffets. At $17.95, Packing House is less than the really good buffets. It provides omelettes, salads, a lot of lesser quality desserts and a lone stand of sirloin of beef. The potato pancakes tasted like they came frozen in a package and were warmed up (tasted of onion but had no fresh quality). The salad bar was not as ample as an old Ponderosa. And the dessert buffet had lots of puddings and jellos on top, plus some chiffon type cheesecakes, passable eclairs and various cookies. Mimosas, etc. were extra, as was coffee. Four small-plate entrees could be ordered from the kitchen separately(very small portions). Glad we checked it out, but it's not one of the top five Sunday buffet brunches in Milwaukee. read more

My husband and I had our first date at the Packing House more than 15 years ago and we haven't had a bad meal since! We've tried the brunch (no longer offered) and dinner (nice classic drink selection and solid, hearty meals). We recently went on a Friday for the fish fry. My husband raved about the fish and coleslaw. My cousin was in town and had the cordon bleu, which he said was the best he's ever had. There's live music on Wed. through Sat. nights and there was a rockin' jazz band during our last visit. Be forewarned: Even with a reservation, you'll probably still wait. But it's worth it!! read more

This place deserves its rating of best fish fry in Milwaukee! That was the rating in 2014, and last night would indicate that they are keeping their same standards. The perch and the cod are both good. It seems a matter of taste as to which is best. Not only is the food good, but the ambience is really special. It's got a family owned feel and on Friday nights they have live music! The long line of cars for the Friday fish fry drive-through speaks to its reputation. read more

My coworker and I were pleasantly surprised at this steakhouse. It really is amazing food. We both had steaks and mine was incredible and cooked perfectly. I will definitely go here again. read more

The Packing House is my favorite restaurant. The menu is solid and the chef never disappoints. The high quality food is always prepared to perfection. Even the creme brulee dessert is excellent. When I walk in I get the feel that the place has been around for a long time, indicating how good they are. Even though the place is fresh and clean, I feel like Sinatra could walk in the door at any moment, it has that old time charm about it. Whether we are there for a late night supper, a Friday fish fry, or a romantic dinner, the food is consistently well prepared. The Sunday brunch is incredible. Not only do you get to choose from a wide variety of prepared dishes, but there are items you can order from the kitchen as well. The bar service is very good. Joe, the bartender is friendly and provides great conversation. The hostess, Pauline is a lovely woman who always makes us feel like we're the most important people there. Whether it's the seafood special of the evening, the steak au poivre or Danny's chicken parmesan that you're after you won't be disappointed. For fine casual dining, this is the best. read more