Hi, this is Dominic the food reviewer. Today I went to a restaurant called THE VANGUARD. It is located in Bay View on 2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave Milwaukee, WI 53207. It is a sausage and bourbon bar. It has been opened since 2014. They specialize in house made sausages. Including vegan options. They also specialize in house made cocktails, micro and craft brew and an extensive bourbon and whiskey list. I thought the decor was nice and updated with wooden floors. They had pictures of wrestlers on the walls. Inside the restaurant, they play music and old tv shows at the bar. It was very clean inside. The server Vanessa was very nice to us and made us feel welcome. I had the bratwurst Tijuana style w/ sour cream, chipotle relish, jalapeño's and cheddar cheese sauce. My Dad had the Milwaukee style brat w/ cheese curds, cheddar cheese, and cheese whiz. For an appetizer, I had the fried baked potato balls topped w/ sour cream, cheese whiz, bacon, and chives. We all loved our food so much. I especially loved my baked potato balls. Their hours are Sunday - Wednesday from 11 AM - Midnight and Thursday - Saturday 11AM - 2AM. I would recommend this place because their food is very delicious and tasty. This is Dominic the food reviewer. I hoped you enjoyed my review everybody. Stay tuned for more updates on my review very soon. read more

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Stopped in on Tuesday evening. Had the Italian beef sandwich the Tuesday Night Special. It was amazing. The beef was tender the Giardiniera was fresh, cheese melted perfectly and the bread they sourced was perfect. Great experience and the Staff was very attentive. A cool atmosphere. read more

The Vanguard - dinning tables. - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We really enjoyed our dinner at The Vanguard. The brats were delish, as were the mashed potato balls and Brussels sprouts. Service was pleasant and efficient, and the bartender was skilled. What more could anyone want?! read more

The Vanguard - Thai dog, potato balls, and Brussels sprouts - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Believe the hype. The menu has so many delicious flavor choices. I accidentally ordered brat that was served on a bed of fries. What a pleasant mistake. The serving sizes are generous. Service was good. Place is a little small but not a big deal if it's not busy. If you're craving fun brats, do yourself a favor and check out The Vanguard. read more

The Vanguard - Curry chameleon on the right and Salazar on the upper left. - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Probably my favorite place to go when I'm Bay View and one of my favorite restaurants in all of Miilwaukee. The potato balls are absolutely to die for and I have tried prob 5+ specialty sausage that all impressed. More basic, I get the Hungarian Chicago style and it's always a good choice. Chili cheese fries are also amazing and they have great cocktail specials. Thank you Vanguard! read more

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Ordered the regular Poutine and a Bratwurst. That was the worst attempt at a poutine that I've tried: the curds were cold, the gravy was too wrapped-up in the onion element so it didn't wet the fries proper, and the fries were crispy which exascerbated the issue. It just wasn't enjoyable at all, but a lot of folks seem to really likes the poutines here so maybe that's just me. The BRATWURST on the otherhand was godlike. Definitely the best bite-for-bite "standard" sausage I've had in recent memory; that got wolfed down QUICK. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the toppings on offer; the base sausage is that good. Customer service is excellent here. 5/5 read more

Ordered to-go and got the Hungarian, the Bratwurst, and two pretzels. There's a decent chance we ordered wrong - new to the area - but our sausages were plain with no toppings, so that was kind of a bummer. That being said, the sausages themselves were very good. The pretzels were pretty tasty but the shine of that dish was the cream cheese dip with green onions - very delicious. I would like to go again and get the toppings for the respective sausages as pictured. For now, ultimately, the sausages were quality so I think it's worth eating here and it's very affordable. Plus the individual who answered the phone, had very good customer service - propers to the individual answering phones the evening of 7/1/2020. read more

The Vanguard - Soft Pretzel, Bratwurst, Hungarian - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a cool place! The atmosphere is fun. The bar is fully loaded! If you sit at the bar you can get full service. If you choose to sit at one of the tables or outside it's self serve. You have to go to the bar to order your drinks and then go to the grill to order your food. A little different than a full service restaurant but still very enjoyable. Great menu options. They offer a variety of different sausages and a custom menu. They have some great starters and appetizers and some amazing fries and poutine choices. Of course we had to try the mashed potato balls because how could we not! They were phenomenal! A must have! DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING THEM!!!! Milan Cevapi and Bunkhouse were our sausages of choice this evening. They were both absolutely fantastic. We also got a side for fries and a small kimchi fry. The fries are on point! Fantastic all on their own and outstanding when you start adding delicious extras on the top. I can't wait to go back I kind of want to eat my way through the menu. If you're into trying different sausages then this is definitely the place for you. read more

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I've only been to Milwaukee once and I was only there for one night. This is the place I found on Yelp and where I went for dinner....and it was fantastic. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and overall vibe and the food was top notch. Cocktails were great and so was the service. Great little dive spot with refined eats. It's small inside so you may need to wait for a bit, and you might share a table with strangers but I kind of like that. read more

Had some older friends drop me off for a tattoo across the street they went in for a beer or two. I later met up with them only to find out how poorly they were treated by the bartender. Why? Because they were older and didn't fit your profile of clientele? Money was on the bar and constantly ignored. Was it bust? Nope she was just an unfriendly mean person. My friend is a huge wrestling fan which is what they pride themselves on and was still treated badly. Never again. Don't bother with this place. read more

Great vibe here. Very relaxed and great variety of sausages and drinks. Staff was very friendly and made solid suggestions.

tl;dr Funky, fresh, flavorful sausage like you've never tasted before. Oh, and don't you dare forget to order the Baked Potato Balls. Ventured in early Wednesday evening, and had a choice of seats. We opted for a spot at the bar. Looking up, early 70's episodes of Soul Train were playing. We knew then and there that this wasn't going to be your typical meal. I opted for the Duck BLT (duck + bacon + sun-dried tomato), and my father-in-law went for the Enzo Amore (italian sausage). We also placed an order of baked potato balls and a small fry. We noticed the draft cocktails, but opted for draft beer instead once we noticed some treasures on the menu, such as Kasteel Rouge. After a short wait, we dug into our food. The food in one word was flavorful. The Duck BLT had the perfect ratio of sausage, toppings, and bread. No specific element overpowered. Freakin' amazing. I knew the italian sausage had to be great as my father-in-law was too busy relishing every bite to talk. French fries were house cut, salted perfectly, but just a tad soft. The star of the menu is surprisingly not a sausage, it is the Baked Potato Balls. Think of your loaded potato, all mashed up, rolled into a ball, coated in bread crumbs and baked to perfection. Sounds good? Well, then pour on sour cream, house-made cheez whiz, bacon and chives. Now you've reached nirvana. I'll be back, as much as I possibly can. "And as always in parting, we wish you love, peace, and... SOOOOOOOOOUUUUULLL!!!" read more

The Vanguard - The MUST-ORDER Baked Potato Balls (sour cream, house-made cheez whiz, bacon and chives). - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I feel like this is a place that could only exist, "as is" anyway, in Milwaukee. A literal sausage bar with a wrestling theme and everything from football and WWE to "Pink Lady and Jeff" playing on the television, it's also an establishment with a decent-sized vegan/vegetarian menu where the sex ratio is generally close to 50/50. I don't live in Bay View or I would come here more often. The sausages are the big draw. There's an array of pork and pork-mix sausages, an all-beef hot dog, at this writing a turkey/beet Berliner, and 3 vegan sausages. They're available in multiple "styles" ranging from the classic to the pretty exotic. There are also burgers, poutines, and sides like dry-fried green beans and esquites-style "corn in a cup" alongside fries and cheese curds. Everything I've had has been good, and other people's plates haven't failed to look and smell delicious. The sausages are crisped from the grill and longer than the bun. The single item I've been most impressed with was the corn in a cup, with peppers, paprika, cotija, and crema. It's just $1 more than a small fry order, so you might as well try something different. The drink situation is all good as well, with a well-curated selection of tap beers and even some "draft cocktails" that I haven't ventured into. But the bartenders are back there making drinks the old fashioned way too. read more

The Vanguard - Eclectic selection on the teevee. - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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My boyfriend and I decided to stop here before going to a concert because of their extensive vegan options. We were. It disappointed. We ordered the vegan curry wurst, the vegan loaded fries, and the vegan chili cheese dog. The curry wurst easily stole the show! The flavors were insane! Their sausages seemed like they were made in house and I mean that in the best way possible! I've been vegan for awhile and have not have vegan links that tasty before! I would definitely come back here to try more of their menu items because they have a pretty expansive menu. Their drink selection is also pretty nice! They had some cool merch on the wall so we decided to buy some merch as well. The guy taking the food orders seemed like he was having a bit of an off day, but everyone else was super friendly and their food is what really earned them 5 stars! read more

The Vanguard - Vegan Red Curry, vegan Loaded Fries, Vegan Chili Cheese Dog - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

So we're watching our 25th hour of the Cooking Channel the other Day and The Vanguard was on. We looked at each other and said "Why haven't we been here yet?" It's in a part of Bay View we usually race by. Today was the day! I gathered my family of four. And no parking! You kinda have to drive around like you are lost and a little drunk and then you find a parking space on some side street you have no idea where you are. Luckily my oldest knew where we were. That's the parallel fun of K.K. Ave. The front was relatively empty but I heard patrons hiding out in the secret back room. We grabbed a long table at the front and grabbed some kiddy menus. They didn't come with crayons though. The menu is kinda like deciding what child you like best. I've never been here but I was looking at the menu trying to comprehend all the wonderfulness. I finally decided on the Duck BLT. My hubby recently had eye surgery and couldn't read the menu. I read the whole thing and he decides on a brat Milwaukee Style at the beginning of the menu. Kid 1 had an Italian the same way. We didn't have our sh#t together and were hungry and ordered all these unnecessary sides. I say unnecessary because the Milwaukee style comes topped with cheese curds. They couldn't even eat their cheese curd sides. I ordered the poutine fries with the garlic and feta. By the time I ate my sausage, I was so full, I couldn't even eat my poutine. It's 4 hours later and I am still full. I was a bit apprehensive about the price. It's about $8.00 for a sausage. It's because it's handcrafted with no fillers. Pure product. No Johnsonville cartilage. I suggest waiting to order sides until after you eat your sausage. We were like kids in a candy store. Our bill was $65.00 for the four of us. We probably could have gotten away with $35.00. It was the sides that did us in. Next time we'll probably try lunch. We were sitting at a table by a red light and the music was way too loud. My daughter would like to work here but I think a beard is a requirement. There were no girl workers visible. Also no happy hour drink specials but I did get my standard beer chaser with the Bloody Mary. You have to order at the bar for alcoholic beverages which I thought was weird. Why couldn't I pay for everything at once? A waitstaff might be something to think about. I was kinda like a deer in the headlights. read more

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First time I visited, it was late night with a friend and I opted not to dine. I've heard so much so I decided to visit again during the day. This time, we started out on the patio with drinks. I chose the sangria which was tasty. Downside, when on the patio, you still have to go inside to bar to order. We decided to grab seats at the bar to order food...bartender wasn't very welcoming. Anyway, I had the vegan Italian sausage with Philly fixings (cheese wiz, sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms) and a side of green beans. Overall, the food was okay. I think possibly because I'd heard so many amazing things, so I was expecting to be blown away. The sausage was alright, somewhat hard and the green beans were too spicy for me. Since they're open late, I would return after a night out. read more

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lots of sausage spots can get away with mediocrity - few go above and beyond to ensure the quality of their meat + provide unique, complimentary flavors. Vanguard does just that ! If I could have eaten 5 of their sausages I would have. This is a quintessential beer + sausage/bar food spot (even the pretzel was one of the best ive had, like what??). staff was super nice and the fact that the grill is right behind the bar is a plus imo. also - they leave sauces on the table so you can dictate how much mustard etc. you get, which is simply respectful. Great beer selection w/ lots of local choices as well. definition of "hit the spot". read more

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Vanguard has absolutely incredible vegetarian and vegan sausages. We have gone twice to order takeout since covid started and have been beyond impressed by both the precautions they're taking and the quality of the food. And great service by some really wonderful people! A few fave dishes: the sartorelli, schnitzelwurst, Thai breaker, and south buffalo poutine with tofu. Can't recommend Vanguard enough! read more

The vanguard is a fantastic place for all kinds of uniquely flavored sausages with cool toppings. And the sausages are delicious. It's such a fun experience to taste all the different creations and get out of the box with food! Take a peek at their menu to see what sorts of creations I'm talking about. My favorite would have to be the Schnitzelwurst but I've also tried the Duck BLT and the Thai Breaker - all delicious. For all the vegetarians/vegans out there: they have vegan sausages!!! They also do specials on tuesdays (Tofu Tuesday) so there are plenty of options for the non-meat eaters. The establishment is very proud to be a Milwaukee restaurant and embraces the city. Their Instagram account is occasionally witty and makes me drool while scrolling through my feed. All around, a great Milwaukee establishment - I definitely recommend it!! read more

Quick pit stop for a solid sausage. Or, you can stay awhile and enjoy a drink and eats. We walked over after a visit to Humboldt Park [the location is prime]. We did not have masks with us (we are vaccinated and had our vaccine cards). Masks were required so thankfully they had a box standing at the ready at the entrance. We were warmly greeted and asked if we had been to Vanguard before. Since it was our first time, the host kindly explained how things would work. (Thank you!) We were able to seat ourselves and headed to the counter closest to the window to place our order and pay, once ready. The menu is stacked. There were three solid vegetarian/vegan sausage options. Lots of different combinations with fun ingredients and equally fun names. You could probably order any type of toppings your heart desired too. The food was ready very fast and brought out to our table. Everything was nice and hot. The vegan brat was awesome but... the hot kraut was the true superstar. The seasoned fries were very good but short little nubby pieces. We both found ourselves looking for forks to be able to fully enjoy those papas fritas. Prices were reasonable for Bay View. We were in and out in maybe 20 mins. We were on a mission! Will be back to try another sausage combo sometime soon! read more

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What in the actual F. The server was way too cool to share info specifically on what comes with x menus items, beer, etc. not sure if he's high, but definitely sets the tone for a blah time. Ordered a few items. Several beers. I don't get it. The schnitzel was cold and the bun was dry AF regardless of the sour cream and slaw on it. Wow. The chicken poutine. Had a speck of dressing and literally three small "nugs" which he described as tiny shreds similarity to crushed bacon or similar. Just a bizarre experience. Met some other folks who worked for Vanguard or swing through and all had less than favorable reviews. I was dead set on proving them wrong. I hate missing the mark. For the price, lack of temperature, obnoxious bartender etc I will not be back. Wth vanguard.... read more

my review is based solely on an incident that happened after using my credit card in this restaurant, I gave the waitress my card and she had it for a little bit everything was good the food was good the service was not great but we had a big party spent a few hundred bucks on food and drinks thought everything was good until the next day when I got a fraud alert on my account that someone tried to buy 1257 worth of walmart merchandise along with a few other fraudulent charges. I was lucky that my bank froze the card, I only used that card at the vanguard restaurant and when I tried to use it the next day it was declined because my bank froze the card from the fraudulent charges that were attempted to be made. we called the manager who was less than helpful and he said I will investigate on my end, but never once asked for my information or the receipt for my meal. if you go here use cash because its pretty suspicious that my card wasn't used except for this trip and within a day I have fraud charges happening, can't prove it but the timing is super suspicious it's incredibly frustrating and disappointing because we loved this restaurant but after this and spending 254 dollars at this establishment and the lame response from the manager I will never revisit this place again very dis appointed in this restaurant and shame on you manager for your lackluster hospitality when we tried to let you know about what we experienced you clearly need some empaths training read more

We really enjoyed our first trip to The Vanguard! We only had the Greek style sausage but, for even me who is not a huge fan of le saucisson, it makes me want to come back and try so many more! Delicious, meaty, with all the right accouterments! not to mention a chill, interesting atmosphere and good beer n wine selection. If only we were cocktail people!! (And lived in MKE!) :) read more

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I enjoy The Vanguard. They have fun sausages! And fun sides! It's kinda hipstery, but it's alright. Their technique is different: food, drinks, ordering system (food is ordered at counter - you can pay there or add to your drink tab). I dig the different. The Hector is flipping so delicious!!! And really strong. And again, unique. It's my happy place drink. Oh and I just realized you can order half carafes of these tapped beverages for $22. The menu changes pretty often. And they have brunch, although I haven't tried. This is going to sound crazy, but try the fried tofu with burnt ginger sauce. Seriously, it's the best tofu, ever. I know that's not saying a whole lot 'cause it's tofu after all - but damn it, it's good!! Have fun experimenting with sausages here! :) read more

The Vanguard - Thee DVR (lamb sausage) with the potato balls and on the right the BEST tofu, ever! Try it you'll see! - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Came here on the weekend and mid week after lunch, people were still filtering in for lunch with an open kitchen with simple menu. Staff was knowledgeable on the types of beers available. Cocktails on draft are available just check the big menu 10-12 choices on the list. This place gets pretty busy on the weekends so they have a patio out back to sprawl out If it looks busy up front. That's because take out orders and cash register is by the doorway. Food 5 Amb 4 Service 5 Locat 4 Value 4 61/2015 read more

The Vanguard - Sticks Oberon staten triple karmeleit three floyds LFB metropolitan St Ambrose kwak. Karben Blanche Surly Seattle cider. - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I guess I'm following a trend here but I swear to you I had five stars in my head for this place BEFORE I looked on line and noticed that all my fellow yelpers had also bestowed the coveted five stars to Vanguard. First impressions: I like that its slightly informal (because I tend to be a kind of informal girl) and yet the quality ingredients are interesting and you can tell there's time and thought that went into the preparation. You order food at the counter and take a number. Bevys you order at the bar (where seating is also available.) There's no real "table service" but are plates were cleared away for us and based on the size of the place, that's really all you need. Everyone was friendly. The prices for brunch items went from $6 to about $10. They're not huge but you can order sides if you're looking for a bigger meal. We came for brunch but the regular menu is heavy on the sausages -- both meaty and vegetarian, many with unique names and ingredients (love to come back and try the Jamaican currywurst (fries and no bun). There's also poutine. I love the fact that they have vegan dogs here too. Hot dogs are one of those mystery meats (unlike say steak) that I feel you can easily substitute for the healthier soy and no one would even notice. For brunch they had a corn dog concoction covered in funnel cake batter. I went with the grilled avocado with tofu scramble. Nice and light and well prepared. They offered a handful of original cocktails I'd love to go back and guzzle in the P.M. Nice soundtrack playing...cartoons on the t.v. (it was 10:30 am). Secretly (ok, not so secretly since I just wrote it online) I wish I lived down the street from here. I'd walk over here all the time! read more

The Vanguard - Grilled avocado - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I've only been to the Vanguard twice, but I can guarantee you that I will be back many more times! Dubbed a "sausage fest" by many Milwaukeeans, the Vanguard is just that, but in the cleanest, most delicious, chow hound kind of way! Consisting mainly of sausages, their menu is truly eclectic and varied enough to have a little something for everyone, barring the pickiest of eaters. On my first visit, I enjoyed a Piri Piri pork sausage which was topped with pickled cactus and had buffalo sauce and blue cheese hiding underneath. This thing was so huge, I had to eat it with a knife and fork. In a word: AMAZING! The blue cheese tempered the buffalo sauce perfectly. The flavors went together so well and it is a dish I would definitely recommend. On my second visit, hubs and I split a Thee DVR and potato balls. The sausage was elk sausage topped with cottage cheese and herbs. Again, knife and fork....there's just no other way to eat it! The potato balls were like hand mashed potatoes (complete with chunks) rolled into balls, breaded, fried and topped with cheese and herbs. Delicious. Buy one or both. There is a Greek sausage and a Thai sausage that both have my name on them when I return..... The drinks! OMG, the drinks. You will get your money's worth in the booze department. The house cocktails (there are like 8 of them) are all pre-made and on tap. They definitely have a kick and no one person should probably have more than two! If you can, sit at the bar. At the bar, you can order your food and drinks at the same time. If you sit at the tables, you have to go up and order your food. You will be given a number and sent back to your table. While waiting on your food, you will then have to belly up to the bar and purchase your drinks as a separate transaction. Busing at the tables is pretty much on you. Not that it's a big deal, but you should know that so you don't get labeled as "that guy". The first time I went, I met a bunch of friends to watch a Packer's game. The place was full, so I would recommend it as a place to catch a game, if you're so inclined. Also, free touchdown shots. Only one that day, but free booze is free booze! 135/2015 read more

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Ok straight to the point. This place is in the strip of downtown bay view. It is as hip and unique as a place would need to be to hold street cred here. I ate a Jamaican lamb currywurst sausage with scotch bonnet jam, and a flight of single malt whiskey, while watching 80s music videos and Wonder Woman reruns. And it was everything I hoped it would be. They even have freaking cheese whiz available as a dipping sauce! I haven't eaten cheese whiz food product in 20 years!! Seriously. The flavors are excellent. The beer and sausage parings are amazing. The whiskey is good. And I am out of things to say. You must try this place. read more

The Vanguard - Beer, spirits, and artisan sausages!! - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After several visits, it's probably time to update (and upgrade) the Vanguard. I'm still not a huge fan of the "get up for everything" style of ordering but I can see where it makes sense for them. Why the upgrade? *They replaced the crappy chairs with better ones *Really creative & delicious sausages. They took my beloved Piri Piri off the menu (sobs in corner) but replaced it with the 85% similar Polish Flame (Just the picked cactus is gone). Pretty much everything on the menu looks, and is, tasty. *Really good poutine - the Mister had the duck version last night and the flavors were incredible *Potato balls. I loved them on my first visit and still think they are great *Tap cocktails are legit - there's 8 to pick from and for $8, they pack a punch. Plus $2 shots of a different, quality whiskey or bourbon every day. *Weird and wonderful stuff on the TV's. Sometimes it's old-school wresting and sometimes it's Love Connection with Chuck Woolery complete with vintage 80' commercials. *Generally pleasant and helpful service What needs work? *The buns they use are pretty crappy - they pretty much disintegrate about halfway through. Up your bun game, Vanguard! I really have been loving Vanguard - really reasonable prices, good drinks, fun sausages. What more do you want? read more

Love this place - it digs into my faux-hipster soul. The artwork, signage and weird 70s/80s/90s advertisements constantly on a loop on the television draws me in every time. I'm impressed by the effort put into the menu to make an everyday favorite of hots dogs/brats (beloved by most of the southeastern Wisconsinites) and turning things up a notch. I recently got the Thai Breaker - it has a perfect level of sweet meat (never thought I would say that) and spice, along with the peanut sauce and crunch that makes it a return favorite. Wasn't overly thrilled by the fries, but I usually get the Baked Potato Balls anyways because they're something different compared to most restaurants. Also, have to mention I've very impressed with the vegetarian/vegan options. You wouldn't think you're safe to come here vegans, but you are! Had an Old Fashion there, one of their classics and a summer sangria that was appreciated by my mom. Went out in the back for the first time and really loved the outdoor seating, cute and somewhat secluded - I would definitely consider hosting some type of party/friendly get together there during the summer. P.S. They also have cool t-shirts and I'm definitely gonna buy one. read more

The Vanguard - Thai Breaker and other deliciousness - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

On my most recent visits, I had the cheese curds, the Duck Poutine, the Thai Breaker (pork sausage with lemongrass, cilantro, and ginger, topped with peanut sauce, carrot, lettuce, crunchy bits - $9) and the Octopus Chorizo (sausage made with octopus, chicken, pork, paprika, garlic, and oregano, topped with queso fresco, salsa, and corn although no corn on it last night - $9). Cheese curds are great, fried to a perfect light golden color and served with a ranch dipping sauce. I'd love to see a different option for dipping sauce than ranch. The good news is the curds are good enough without a dipping sauce. The Thai Breaker was good. I would have liked to taste more of the peanut sauce and/or some other zesty flavor. On this visit, my friend cut off a part of her Duck BLT for me and I liked it more than my Thai Breaker. I added a small order of the Veal-Onion Poutine to share among our group of 3 and loved it! The fries were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The braised duck was tender and the veal-onion gravy was rich and delicious, although just a touch heavy of the salt, which I'd rather have than under-salted. I would get this again for sure! The Octopus Chorizo was great! With all that goes into the sausage I wouldn't know if there was really octopus in it, but it was packed with layers of flavor. It will be the standard that I'll compare other Vanguard sausages to. Last night was its last day on the menu for a while as a new menu rolls out today. I'm looking forward to checking out the new menu items sometime. Vanguard also has a patio series with different themes. I attended one with the return of the fine people from Love Handle. They offered foie gras hush puppies and a couple of sandwiches, including a regular and vegan porchetta and a pig heart sandwich that I loved, made with Thai jam and picked onions! I need to remember to keep Vanguard in mind when I want something unique and delicious to eat. read more

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Amazing staff, amazing food, and just a great vibe. Whether you like an elevated bar or a cozy dive bar, it will meet the needs of the whole group. Highly recommend the vegan brats, the poutine, and the space monkey cocktail. Also very welcoming to the queer community! My wife and I had a wonderful time. read more

Not a local, only went here once purely for the food so that's what this review will be about. My partner and I got the burnt ginger tofu which was FANTASTIC. But we also got the vegan mushroom poutine fries which were literally inedible. The mushroom topping bit was basically indistinguishable from dog food and the fries themselves were hard potato in the middle like they weren't even cooked. So I guess it depends what you get here. Atmosphere is great though. read more

This place was packed when I first arrived and still packed when I returned a few hours later. Clearly the locals have given it a firm stamp of approval. They offered a great beer selection. I tried a vegan bratwurst and found it to be flavorful and delicious. read more

Milwaukee's best grub is everything that would make a dietician cry, and the fat-laden menu at The Vanguard would make her weep and wail. There is no room for nutrients in a duck + bacon sausage, cheddarwurst, or red wine + short rib sausage; just a whole lot of tasty meats crammed into a casing. Having been introduced to currywurst--sausage drenched in ketchup combined with curry powder--I wanted to relive the food memory with The Vanguard's Jamaican Lamb Currywurst. I should have read the menu description more closely, because what came out on my plate was this beautiful plump sausage on a bed of fries...and yellow sauce on top? Had my beer made me go color blind? Nope, I was just staring at Jamaican curry. Was I a bit disappointed? Yes. Was I going to sulk over a dish that was different from my expectations? Absolutely not. I inhaled my consolation prize like a champion, and it was a bang-up brat. I mentioned my bed of fries, which were stellar, but another potato that deserves some praise is the fried baked potato balls, one of The Vanguard's appetizers. With its crispy outside and starchy, butter-soft inside, the world needs more of these pop-able golden fried Thanksgiving-worthy mashed potato balls. Surprisingly, these little guys trumped the main course, and if I were to do it all again, I would have ordered a basket for myself. For hipster locals and tourists alike, The Vanguard is a great place for those looking for the Milwaukee staples yet wanting more out of a sausage-dominating dinner. Just don't forget to not invite the leaf-loving dietetic experts! read more

The Vanguard - Close up of the currywurst. (much better in your mouth) - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Amazing. The kitchen is open until bar time which is almost unheard of in Milwaukee and everything is AMAZING. The poutine and mashed potato balls are literally to die for, so is the tofu at that rate. I've had three of the sausage options so far and have yet to find something I didn't like. Service is always friendly and food comes out pretty fast, especially for how busy it is, literally always. read more

The Vanguard - The brat "Milwaukee" style - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pros: good menu for food and beer, fast service, easy street parking outside. One negative. I Ordered the Cucumber poke side and was very disappointed. For a $7 side, I got mostly cucumbers and little to no poke. Also, the flavor was lacking. read more

The Vanguard - Cucumber poke for $7. I would avoid it. Flavor was non-existent. Very bland. - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Came back from XC skiing to this yummy meal in Milwaukee before heading back to chicago. SO good! Loved that every option could be made vegan with sausages, cheeses, and sauces. Service was really fast! A little pricey for the quantity but still very good. read more

The Vanguard - Vegan Chorizo - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Is everything delicious? Yes. Is the owner an amazing human? Yes. Is the viewing of ancient workout videos or wrestling matches paired with Black Sabbath up my alley? Yes. Please try here if you haven't. The sausages are divine. I miss it so much (especially the tofu, oh my word) I may order this weekend. read more

Great variety in sausages and sides. The soy chorizo is moist and tastes like the real thing. I had the Diablo and would definitely recommend it. The cheese curds are also some of the best in town. read more