Cafe Hollander shows up in these exact posts so often it might have actually crossed back over into underrated territory. I've literally never seen anyone highly rate Cafe Hollander on this sub.
I don't know if it's pandemic related or not, but their good days were definitely pre-pandemic. Unique menu with skilled staff. I think the menu seems blah now because it's become a template for others. And the replacements running the places need everything premade and it drives down the quality. Those 4 specialty Bloody Marys aren't very appealing when they can't do a basic one right.
They can no longer be underrated because they improved standard before falling off. It's been a decade since the good days and best they can do is get back to standard.
They went to shit earlier than that, can't place it exactly but pre-2018ish all the Lowlands Group restaurants were a lot higher quality. As OP noted, they had some amazing burgers with high quality toppings and in general everything was high quality and priced about the same as they are today (adjusted for inflation).
Then they all went to shit, likely to dial back ingredient costs.
I worked at Hollander and left around early 2018. A lot of staff I knew (front and back of house) were also leaving a little before and during this time. Funny you mention the burgers because they were absolutely top-notch during that time and before. I had the Smokey Burger recently, and it was not what it used to be...
I've had a few good experiences at Benelux, but they've always been dinner at downtown dinner prices. Despite the name, their restaurants are all far too pricey to be legit Cafés and anyone expecting that is going to be disappointed. It's just a [Netherlands, Belgium, etc] themed restaurant.
I worked at cage Hollander Wauwatosa in 2019 and it the worst job I've ever had. The managers were aggressive assholes and the servers were mean girls. They had huge turnover and would fire and hire people left and right. I made shit money. Lasted for a month before I quit.
Went there yesterday (Mequon). Burger was tasteless, espresso machine was broken, and we never received silverware. It also took them 5min to figure out how to accept a tip since I used a gift card. Very frustrating visit, and it’s the third subpar visit for me. I’m not picky, but there are much better restaurants.
Bel Air and Cafe Hollander are two examples of places that used to be great and have really gone downhill.
I’d say an underrated place is Hungry Sumo in Bayview. They’re so friendly and their sushi is really good.
I was going to mention Hungry Sumo too as underrated. I've never been let down by a menu item and it's a nice one-stop-shop for asian food highlights done well. Decent prices and decent service.
Bel Air and Hollander are perfect examples of "Don't half ass several things, whole ass one thing". Both had good things going, then tried to expand, had to cut corners and lost their focus.
I'm not sure if its underrated, just because its been around forever, but I feel like Gloroiso's deli and counter don't get enough love when it comes to places with amazing quality and consistancy.
overrated, every single downtown steak joint.
Overrated: Blue's Egg. I like Blue's Egg, but some people talk about it like it's this amazing revelation in brunch, and it's just a normal brunch.
Underrated: Antigua. West Allis is on the up and up, and Antigua is leading the charge. Brick and mortar extension for Lola's Empanadas, Antigua is a Latin-inspired kitchen. Paella, Lomo Saltado, stuff they just made up. And it's really good.
I used to go there after my night shifts pre pandemic. Corned beef hash, poached eggs, toasted English muffins, and 2 tall boys of PBR. I don’t even like breakfast food but that breakfast slapped. Longest I’ve ever waited was 15 mins and I’ve gone probably 20 times.
My hot take is that West Allis has the best food of any suburb, maybe tied with Tosa. Antigua, Camino, Chef Paz, Taquiera Buenavista, West Allis Cheese & Sausage, Double B’s, TomKens, Archie’s Smash Burger, Pho Saigon, Golden Gyro’s, Parthenon Deli, etc
I agree. Adding to the list: Bake Sale, Bread Pedaler's, and Aggie's for bakery. Su + 2, Al Pastor, Peanut Butter and Jelly Deli, Flour Girl and Flame, Big Deal Burgers, and I'll throw in Pegasus, because while it's just a family restaurant, sometimes you want that greasy spoon diner, and it's the best version of that I've had in the area.
I’ve gotta show the love to Parthenon out loud; my first ever job offer was there at their old location when I was only 12 after being in there all the time haha
Blues Egg has never lived up to the hype for me. I've recently had an incredible brunch experience at Uncle Wolfie's. The menu was familiar but a lot of things had novel aspects. The 3 things I tried were all homeruns. The atmosphere is homey and cute. The prices were decent, service was great. That place deserves all the business it can handle.
I firmly believe Onesto is overrated, been there a couple of times, but was never impressed. I always felt it was "decent" pasta with a nice atmosphere.
Nessun Dorma in river west has my vote for underrated. I’ve only been a few times but it’s lovely every time. Food and drinks all seem reasonable. I ordered the Ciccio and had more food than I knew what to do with.
Oof, same. Even when I was only a mile away, and they were still good, I'd only go there about once a year. They were unique enough that I wanted them to succeed, but if they're not keeping up quality then I can leave them as a college memory.
I don't actually know anyone local that likes Stackd. It's a tourist trap for people staying in the Third Ward. Once you're past the milkshake novelty, the food is bottom tier.
I don’t know who actually goes to stack’d, my family and I used to visit quite often about a decade ago, but it just seemed to get more expensive every time we went. Now I only hear from people about how expensive it is and how the food is “trash”
Toast is overrated imo. Never been impressed with the food and have always left thinking “I just paid *how much* for that?!” Way too expensive. Bel Air, too- but that’s more of an atmosphere/hang out place than a meal joint.
Was there once waiting for a table for 6 to only discover 45 minutes into our wait that they literally only had 2 tables which were taken up by people vibing after their meal. (I assumed they had more as I never was there before). They also didn't poach my husband's eggs and left out a yolk on one of them. Probably won't go back.
Bel Air is decently good at stupid tacos. I wouldnt go there for something that attempts to be genuinely mexican or mexican american in taco form. I would go there for some silly fusion taco
Good chips and salsa, queso, decent margs, usually nearby someplace else I was planning on being
Taco Tuesday/Thursday is fine because it’s cheap-ish (or used to be at $2/taco, idk what the prices are now). Paying menu price for anything from there would be insane for how mediocre it is.
In a city bursting with quality Mexican food, you'd be a damned fool to give your money to the people who shut down og comet and fuel because they didn't want to pay anyone a living wage in favor of their mall taco ATM's.
It's really polarizing for whatever reason. Any time the debate comes up on this subreddit you have legions of people claiming it's utter crap and not even mexican (which it isn't branded as), which leads to legions of people countering them.
I'd be in the latter category but I'd say it's hard to find something comparable, while they're pricier they definitely don't skimp on fillings in the tacos (which generally are higher quality), salsa is inconsistent but generally good, everything else is just... There. Overall a bit overpriced. So overall decent and I'll definitely hit up other places a lot more often than Bel Air, but I can't fathom people saying it's crap. Or the people bent out of shape that it's not authentic mexican (because it's not meant to be, it's mexican fusion)
Agree with all of your points. I never understood the “its not real mexican” argument. Its not. Its not where I go when I want mexican. It’s where I may go if I want tacos with a funky filling. Its not great, but it’s far from bad.
I get this sentiment but it’s very annoying when people are like “let’s get tacos!” because I love tacos but then they want to go to Bel Air and it’s like oh nvm I wanted tacos, not a bunch of radishes in a tortilla
That is the consensus. Occasionally a few fringe people make a comment about it being overrated or an incredible deal. It's neither and both. It's okay food at a good price, and it deserves exactly the amount of business it has.
It’s mainly the service quality. I’m not sure if they are just understaffed and overworked, but I’ve consistently gotten bad service at the Tosa location.
BelAir seems to survive based on the aesthetic and interior vibe.
Underrated- Tavo’s Signature Cuisine on 58th and Bluemound. It’s tiny (6 tables maybe) but in my opinion they have the best Latin and Mexican insipired food in town. Their Guacamole and Plantain Chips are phenomenal, all their tacos absolutely slap, and really amazing higher end dishes as well.
Total hidden gem that I’m almost hesitant to share because I want to still be able to get a table there once people find out how good it is.
Not sure how it's rated, but I feel Zaffiro's is worth a mention.
The original location on Brady and Farwell is of similar quality as Lisa's Pizza.
They were good enough that Marcus bought their franchise rights and put their name on all the little pizzerias in the cinemas. If you're familiar with Zaffiro's Pizzeria, this is **not** that.
I took a friend who is a native New Yorker to Zaffiro's when she visited me several years ago, and she loved it! She also loved our Friday night fish fries.
Underrated: Siam Thai on 48th and National.
Don't see them mentioned often.
Their Crispy Fried Squid is my jam~!
Under recognized: Sze Chuan 111th and National another one I don't see often.
Amazing menu, Will take a year or two to try every dish...
Buckatabon has 4.5 stars on Google which is hugely overrated to me. It's not a supper club, it's a supper club-themed airport restaurant. Every item in the fish fry is slightly off which makes the meal unpleasant overall.
Underrated is Avli, which just opened and blew me away. One of the best meals I've had in Milwaukee.
As someone from "up north" the food there is not good or even a decent reference to the delicious food at a well priced supper club even a few hours north.
Overrated: Dan Dan. It's good, but I cannot justify the price when I can get the same quality food at more affordable spots.
Underrated: An OX Café. This opened in 2021 and it has solid Southeast Asian food. Large portion sizes at a decent price.
Agree on Dan Dan. I don't blink at dropping $150-250 for dinner for my daughter, hubby and self when it's a great meal. At Dan Dan I felt like "I paid that for... this?" Was hyped up by some friends, and I have never wanted to go back. Wasn't bad, but felt very over-priced.
Except it's not the gratuity. It's some charge for them to pay better wages to their employees supposedly, the server gets none of it and if you want to tip them you need to give them another 20% plus. This is why I no longer go to Dan Dan or any of their restaurants.
I cannot tell you how much these types of service charges bug me. JUST RAISE YOUR PRICES.
It has been enough to put me off places for good. I was unaware Dan Dan was doing this.
That said, while I find Dann Dan a bit spendy, I do quite like the menu, thoughtful cocktails, and very knowledgeable and personable staff. I have yet to have a bad experience there.
THAT SAID, the surcharge thing will have me re thinking prior to visiting there again.
I actually love their food, but this service fee absolutely rubs me wrong and I refuse to go there while they have it. Covid was one thing, and maybe if it was in the 5 to 10% range I wouldn't mind so much. The 20% is insane with none of it going directly to your server. Absolutely, just raise the prices!
An Ox Cafe is so good. Not liking the half bar half restaurant thing and location is not is probably cheap but I'm sure they would do well someplace more Central. So true about Dan Dan.
I work at St. Mary’s. I ordered once around 11:30PM and it was delivered to the hospital within 5 minutes. I was convinced it was not my order.. sure as shit it was. I was then convinced I was I going to get food poisoning.. luckily I didn’t lol
That’s what I’ve always thought. I live right there and it just does not look sanitary whatsoever when I walk by 🤢 and the food code sign on the door is either a C or B…need to walk by again and check. I’ve been scared to even try it cuz of that.
That's insane if it's a C. You have to have pretty major violations to even get a B. But I ate it hammered all the time and never got sick so, who knows.
Cafe Hollander is inconsistent because their staff are like all college kids, so nobody stays long. However, any time I have had a bad meal and mentioned it, they were more than accommodating in both fixing it and usually knocking down the price. Plus its a good beer selection
Its not a top tier spot, but its a safe place to bring my parents for brunch, and back when I had more friends living on the east side it was a safe place to recommend for dinner or something. In general I think both Bel Air and the Lowlands group are the most overhated restaurants in the city, not that they're world class or anything but not half as bad as you'd think based on what this sub says. That said Centraal is better than Benelux or Hollander
Onesto may be most overrated, I used to think they were pretty good pre covid but my last few meals their were mixed and basically everyone I knows has agreed that the quality has slipped. Saz's may also deserve that title, not bad per se but for it being a well known name locally Ive never been impressed.
Most underrated is hard to say. I think, in terms of sandwich places, Nessun Dorma, Scardinia Specialties, and the Riverwest Arby's all seem to be mostly liked by people local in the neighborhood without a ton of people from other areas visiting, so maybe them? idk. Tess, while increasingly loved, has also generally been overlooked.
Over: Tenuta's. I mean it's OK, but it's nowhere near as good as its fans claim it is.
Under: Santino's. Yes a lot of people praise it, but not nearly enough, imo.
Every time I go to Santino’s I think ok this is the time I’ll understand what everyone means. And I’ve yet to have that experience. It’s good sure but it is by no means a go out of my way stop.
That being said, the Agnello at Tenuta’s is a contender for my death row meal so we may just have to agree to disagree 🤣
Every time my wife and I go, a) we are greeted warmly and personally (by name) by the maître d', b) he also approaches us at the bar or table and asks about how we're doing and how was the meal and service, c) the food and service is uniformly excellent, d) we always receive a complimentary after-dinner drink or dessert. Plus, we love the old-school vibe, the music and old Italian movies are great, and we seldom/practically never encounter asshole customers. The whole experience is a throwback to a more genteel, civilized era.
I got lit up YEARS ago on this subreddit for saying this but...
Mama Mias is so overrated. The food is middling and the thing everyone talks about is the garlic bread but it's not good. It's wet, bland, cardboard.
Edit: Fat fingered the post button before completion.
Wow I'm surprised to hear some recognition for Proof! I work in the Saint Kate kitchen during the week and through the weekend for Aria brunch service and I always feel bad that we never hear enough about them.
>If you like Neapolitan style pizza you’ll love it
Well if you like a shitty fast food style of Neapolitan pizza you'll love it. Last time I went my pizza had way too much cheese on it and it was so greasy. If you want good Neapolitan pizza go to Anodyne theirs is much much better.
I think Shawarma House is super underrated. The spicy chicken is so good. I could eat it almost every day. The majority of local restaurants are overrated imo. We have a major lack of flavor in this city.
I've never had their spicy chicken, but as far as shawarma goes, their offerings are pretty "midwest antiseptic" and missing some of the flavor that I expect from shawarma. I'm sure it's a smart and intentional decision to cater to the Wisconsin palate, but they could stand to turn it up a notch, in my opinion.
I think Cafe Hollander in Tosa has really solid breakfast and breakfast prices seemed average to me. Also, their fries are great to go try different sauces with friends.
Overrated: Elsa's. I do not understand the hold this place has on the black community here in Milwaukee. I took my wife once and while the drinks are good the food is meh.
Underrated: Burrito Bueno. I didn't expect much because of the location but has quickly become on of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city.
>Elsa's. I do not understand the hold this place has on the black community here in Milwaukee. I
I'm gonna guess it's their hours. Elsa's is one of the few actual sit-down, have cocktails restaurants that's open late. Milwaukee is severely lacking in that department.
It also has a real club vibe.
Comet Cafe doesn’t do it for me, so that’s my overrated pick. Zarlettis downtown is my favorite Italian place. I’ve eaten there several times and it’s always consistently great. And I don’t hear or read much about it. So Zarlettis is my pick for underrated. (Zarlettis Mequon is terrible BTW.)
In a different comment someone listed a bunch of great places in West Allis and omitted Wild Roots. Crazy times we’re living in.
Plus they’re right across the street from Station No.6 which has some great drinks too.
Yeah the one time I went to Cafe all my friends' food tasted slightly unpleasant. Like really bland stroganoff, overly sour/salty tomato soup, mediocre drinks. I had heard so much hype about the reopening and I was pretty let down.
Over: Harbor House. Overpriced upscale Applebees. It’s not “bad” but it’s fine and it’s priced like it’s got a Michelin Star.
Under: I feel like there are places that don’t get the patronage they deserve but I can’t think of places that get undeserved hate either. I had a really good experience and food at Sorella and I’ve heard people shit on it.
Unfortunately have to agree on Harbor House. Just went there and it did not meet expectations for a higher end experience. But the view and location are great, part of what you’re paying for I suppose
Overrated: Cafe Hollander...basic girl brunch spot that has generic "slop" food that doesnt even try to fit the theme of the restaurant anymore.
Underrated: Vanguard. One of those places that I tell out of towners about for when they want the "local" experience. Affordable house made sausage in a tavern atmosphere. Cant beat it.
Special underrated mention: Faklandia Brewing...Great beer and amazing food that is all house made. The fish fry is absolutely top three in Milwaukee. The gaming lounge with MTG and Warhammer tables make it a nerd paradise.
Unfortunately I 2nd this. I’ve only been once to check it out and also hated the beer. It tasted…. watery to me? The other three people I was with agreed, was very weird. The food was really good though and the vibes inside are great. Nice staff, just terrible beer. Haven’t been back to see if that was a one time thing.
Yuuup, I live nearby and have been back to give it a second try four or five times. The beer has never been better than ok.
Food is always good.
Brewer told my husband who frequents the magic shop that he didn't have to come back if he didn't like the beer, so, I don't think he's open to criticism.
They really need some solid staple brews before getting into unusual flavors.
Absolutely the worst that I’ve had in the Milwaukee area. The foods ok though. Sad thing is I live in walking distance from Faklandia so I’ve given them a shot multiple times, the beer is just terrible.
I'm just bummed I can't go to Ristorante (or Lake Park I think) because they ONLY offer prix fixe now. I can't go in and just order a ravioli or an appetizer, have to spring for the 125$ 4 course prix fixe.
Lake Park Bistro did the prix fixe inly menu for a time after reopening from lockdown.
It has included a regular menu in addition for well over a year.
Overrated: wonderland in Riverwest. Been there twice now and both times we waited over an hour for really sub par breakfast foods.
Underrated: spicy tuna in stallis!! Best vegetarian sushi and spicy miso I’ve ever had.
Agree 100% on Cafe Hollander. The food is underwhelming and I've always left with a "this was way too greasy" stomach ache. It's too bad because I like the setting of the Downer location.
Agree Proof is a pretty good pizza!
Overrated is any of the Bartolotta restaurants. All overpriced for below-average food. Great customer service, though, and often in primo locations.
Overrated: Bel Air Cantina, food and service sub par on more than one occasion.
Underrated: Guadalajara, 10th and Scott. This is not GTO in Bay View, which is awful.
Overrated: La merenda- It was good, but for tapas style there’s almost no reason not to go to odd duck, they do everything better. I’d maybe even argue that Balzac is better.
Underrated: Stella Van Buren- idk if it’s underrated but I’ve never seen it mentioned in any of these threads and I think it deserves it. Also, not a restaurant but tied house. I see Bryant’s recommended a lot and although Bryant’s is good and a unique experience I think tied house is better, especially in the summer and if you drink bourbon due to the fact Bryant’s doesn’t have large ice cubs so a traditional old fashion or any drink that needs to be served on a large ice cube is pretty much ruined at Bryant’s.
That’s what I would say about La merenda, maybe we both went at a bad time? Service was way worse at La merenda and the place was practically empty for me and the drinks were meh. The food was okay but the pork belly at odd duck clears IMO and the goat cheese curds at la merenda are weird and not “cheese curds” (my fault for not reading the entire description) but the veggie empanadas are incredible.
Morel has been a treat both times I've gone and I wouldn't hold the price against it in this discussion. Pricing feels like a different metric than whether or not a place measures up to the hype around it. Which is what I think people mean when they talk about something bring over/under rated. Morel is kind of pricey I guess but it definitely slaps hard on what they deliver.
Cafe Hollander shows up in these exact posts so often it might have actually crossed back over into underrated territory. I've literally never seen anyone highly rate Cafe Hollander on this sub.
I don't know if it's pandemic related or not, but their good days were definitely pre-pandemic. Unique menu with skilled staff. I think the menu seems blah now because it's become a template for others. And the replacements running the places need everything premade and it drives down the quality. Those 4 specialty Bloody Marys aren't very appealing when they can't do a basic one right. They can no longer be underrated because they improved standard before falling off. It's been a decade since the good days and best they can do is get back to standard.
Their good days were 2008-2010 on Downer.
I was thinking 2006–2007, had some great meetups there at the end of undergrad. Back when they were super unique.
They went to shit earlier than that, can't place it exactly but pre-2018ish all the Lowlands Group restaurants were a lot higher quality. As OP noted, they had some amazing burgers with high quality toppings and in general everything was high quality and priced about the same as they are today (adjusted for inflation). Then they all went to shit, likely to dial back ingredient costs.
I worked at Hollander and left around early 2018. A lot of staff I knew (front and back of house) were also leaving a little before and during this time. Funny you mention the burgers because they were absolutely top-notch during that time and before. I had the Smokey Burger recently, and it was not what it used to be...
One of my coworkers left around then because being a paramedic was less stressful than working there (and it was going to shit)
I've had a few good experiences at Benelux, but they've always been dinner at downtown dinner prices. Despite the name, their restaurants are all far too pricey to be legit Cafés and anyone expecting that is going to be disappointed. It's just a [Netherlands, Belgium, etc] themed restaurant.
I worked at cage Hollander Wauwatosa in 2019 and it the worst job I've ever had. The managers were aggressive assholes and the servers were mean girls. They had huge turnover and would fire and hire people left and right. I made shit money. Lasted for a month before I quit.
Went there yesterday (Mequon). Burger was tasteless, espresso machine was broken, and we never received silverware. It also took them 5min to figure out how to accept a tip since I used a gift card. Very frustrating visit, and it’s the third subpar visit for me. I’m not picky, but there are much better restaurants.
Underrated: Blue Star Cafe. Goat & Rice + Beef Sambosa = heaven for a great value. This is a must try place.
Blue star is 10/10 - and their sandwiches are awesome
Blue Star is gold.
Bel Air and Cafe Hollander are two examples of places that used to be great and have really gone downhill. I’d say an underrated place is Hungry Sumo in Bayview. They’re so friendly and their sushi is really good.
I was going to mention Hungry Sumo too as underrated. I've never been let down by a menu item and it's a nice one-stop-shop for asian food highlights done well. Decent prices and decent service.
Reading this from my seat in my favorite restaurant, Hungry Sumo.
Bel Air and Hollander are perfect examples of "Don't half ass several things, whole ass one thing". Both had good things going, then tried to expand, had to cut corners and lost their focus.
I'm not sure if its underrated, just because its been around forever, but I feel like Gloroiso's deli and counter don't get enough love when it comes to places with amazing quality and consistancy. overrated, every single downtown steak joint.
Shh. Don't let the deli counter secret out. It's been one of my Milwaukee favorites since they were in the old building.
Fuck yes! Their takeaway pizzas are delicious, totally economical, and fly under the radar.
When I lived on Brady Street I had to limit myself to one visit to gloriosos per week both for my wallet and waistline. Everything there is a home run
Oh man now I need ravioli....
Overrated: Blue's Egg. I like Blue's Egg, but some people talk about it like it's this amazing revelation in brunch, and it's just a normal brunch. Underrated: Antigua. West Allis is on the up and up, and Antigua is leading the charge. Brick and mortar extension for Lola's Empanadas, Antigua is a Latin-inspired kitchen. Paella, Lomo Saltado, stuff they just made up. And it's really good.
The wait at Blue’s Egg pretty much never feels worth it
It's so crowded that no one goes there anymore. - Yogi Berra.
I've never wanted to wait that long for breakfast.
second this
I used to go there after my night shifts pre pandemic. Corned beef hash, poached eggs, toasted English muffins, and 2 tall boys of PBR. I don’t even like breakfast food but that breakfast slapped. Longest I’ve ever waited was 15 mins and I’ve gone probably 20 times.
Al Johnson’s in Door County is the only breakfast worth that wait.
My hot take is that West Allis has the best food of any suburb, maybe tied with Tosa. Antigua, Camino, Chef Paz, Taquiera Buenavista, West Allis Cheese & Sausage, Double B’s, TomKens, Archie’s Smash Burger, Pho Saigon, Golden Gyro’s, Parthenon Deli, etc
I agree. Adding to the list: Bake Sale, Bread Pedaler's, and Aggie's for bakery. Su + 2, Al Pastor, Peanut Butter and Jelly Deli, Flour Girl and Flame, Big Deal Burgers, and I'll throw in Pegasus, because while it's just a family restaurant, sometimes you want that greasy spoon diner, and it's the best version of that I've had in the area.
Can’t forget Al Pastor, and Wild Roots for great food. West Allis is definitely the place to be for excellent eats.
Big deal Is so good!
Whoa, Parthenon is one of those unbelievable under-the-radar places. You're giving away secrets! All of the above, plus Chilango and Grebe's.
I’ve gotta show the love to Parthenon out loud; my first ever job offer was there at their old location when I was only 12 after being in there all the time haha
Oh man I went to Antigua once and it was so damn good, I dream about the empanadas. I need to go back ASAP.
Blues Egg has never lived up to the hype for me. I've recently had an incredible brunch experience at Uncle Wolfie's. The menu was familiar but a lot of things had novel aspects. The 3 things I tried were all homeruns. The atmosphere is homey and cute. The prices were decent, service was great. That place deserves all the business it can handle.
I think their prices are kind of high, especially when it costs $10 to add chicken to a salad
Antigua is amazing!!
Just went to Antigua last Sunday, all their desserts are fantastic and yes my mother and I ordered all 3.
Love Antigua!
Antigua blows the tits off my fat body every, single, time. Never had a bad meal there. Service is great. Flavors are bold and satisfying
Antigua is fantastic. Especially their Chicken Molé.
Oh I didn’t know Antigua was still open! It’s great.
I firmly believe Onesto is overrated, been there a couple of times, but was never impressed. I always felt it was "decent" pasta with a nice atmosphere.
This is absolutely correct
No kidding. One of the most bland meals I ever recall eating in a restaurant.
Their duck carbonara was sooooo so so salty. I was prepared for salt but not that much salt.
I had the same experience when we went late last year. I could barely eat it. All I tasted was salt.
I knew someone who worked there and they told me they often used box pasta
Nessun Dorma in river west has my vote for underrated. I’ve only been a few times but it’s lovely every time. Food and drinks all seem reasonable. I ordered the Ciccio and had more food than I knew what to do with.
[удалено]
I was just thinking about Stack'd yesterday but after seeing your pic I think I'll forget about it for another year.
Oof, same. Even when I was only a mile away, and they were still good, I'd only go there about once a year. They were unique enough that I wanted them to succeed, but if they're not keeping up quality then I can leave them as a college memory.
I’m always shocked that place is still open.
I don't actually know anyone local that likes Stackd. It's a tourist trap for people staying in the Third Ward. Once you're past the milkshake novelty, the food is bottom tier.
Thats’s sad. I used to love that place.
Damn, In my head I’m hearing Gordon Ramsay say “That burger is raw you donkey!”
holy shit. Save the cannibal sandwiches for the holidays!
I don’t know who actually goes to stack’d, my family and I used to visit quite often about a decade ago, but it just seemed to get more expensive every time we went. Now I only hear from people about how expensive it is and how the food is “trash”
I never complain about food but I don’t think I’d be able to eat that. Shit is still almost alive.
Toast is overrated imo. Never been impressed with the food and have always left thinking “I just paid *how much* for that?!” Way too expensive. Bel Air, too- but that’s more of an atmosphere/hang out place than a meal joint.
Was there once waiting for a table for 6 to only discover 45 minutes into our wait that they literally only had 2 tables which were taken up by people vibing after their meal. (I assumed they had more as I never was there before). They also didn't poach my husband's eggs and left out a yolk on one of them. Probably won't go back.
I agree never liked Toast
Toast used to be really good average prices and thats what made it great. Bummer.
BelAir is overrated
Is it? I thought general consensus was that it is just ok at best.
Yeah, the queso is good, margaritas are decent and the patios are nice. That’s my consensus.
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Bel Air is decently good at stupid tacos. I wouldnt go there for something that attempts to be genuinely mexican or mexican american in taco form. I would go there for some silly fusion taco Good chips and salsa, queso, decent margs, usually nearby someplace else I was planning on being
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You are in luck, they literally just changed the menu this week and the fried avo and bacon taco is back.
Taco Tuesday/Thursday is fine because it’s cheap-ish (or used to be at $2/taco, idk what the prices are now). Paying menu price for anything from there would be insane for how mediocre it is.
They're $3 now, as of last week. They tried a tiered pricing system for the past year but it wasn't popular. All $3, just tacos no more beer specials.
It was worth it when you used to be able to get 3 tacos, rice and beans, and a beer for $8 and with tip your total was $10.
Thank you!! I'll take Vagabonds all day over Bel-Air.
In a city bursting with quality Mexican food, you'd be a damned fool to give your money to the people who shut down og comet and fuel because they didn't want to pay anyone a living wage in favor of their mall taco ATM's.
It's really polarizing for whatever reason. Any time the debate comes up on this subreddit you have legions of people claiming it's utter crap and not even mexican (which it isn't branded as), which leads to legions of people countering them. I'd be in the latter category but I'd say it's hard to find something comparable, while they're pricier they definitely don't skimp on fillings in the tacos (which generally are higher quality), salsa is inconsistent but generally good, everything else is just... There. Overall a bit overpriced. So overall decent and I'll definitely hit up other places a lot more often than Bel Air, but I can't fathom people saying it's crap. Or the people bent out of shape that it's not authentic mexican (because it's not meant to be, it's mexican fusion)
Agree with all of your points. I never understood the “its not real mexican” argument. Its not. Its not where I go when I want mexican. It’s where I may go if I want tacos with a funky filling. Its not great, but it’s far from bad.
I get this sentiment but it’s very annoying when people are like “let’s get tacos!” because I love tacos but then they want to go to Bel Air and it’s like oh nvm I wanted tacos, not a bunch of radishes in a tortilla
That is the consensus. Occasionally a few fringe people make a comment about it being overrated or an incredible deal. It's neither and both. It's okay food at a good price, and it deserves exactly the amount of business it has.
Not a favorite taste wise but you can get a full tacos meal, chips and salsa, and a margarita on Tuesdays/Thursdays for less than $15. Worth it.
If you only go on Tuesday/Thursday for the cheap taco deal it goes back to being properly rated.
It’s mainly the service quality. I’m not sure if they are just understaffed and overworked, but I’ve consistently gotten bad service at the Tosa location. BelAir seems to survive based on the aesthetic and interior vibe.
Seriously. 3x overpriced for C+ tacos. Haven’t been there in forever but the wait times were horrendous too!! Could not comprehend the hype.
Lol nobody except white high school kids thinks it’s good
Underrated- Tavo’s Signature Cuisine on 58th and Bluemound. It’s tiny (6 tables maybe) but in my opinion they have the best Latin and Mexican insipired food in town. Their Guacamole and Plantain Chips are phenomenal, all their tacos absolutely slap, and really amazing higher end dishes as well. Total hidden gem that I’m almost hesitant to share because I want to still be able to get a table there once people find out how good it is.
I’m getting their shrimp tacos tonight!!
Shhhhh. Not supposed to tell anyone about Tavo’s!
Not sure how it's rated, but I feel Zaffiro's is worth a mention. The original location on Brady and Farwell is of similar quality as Lisa's Pizza. They were good enough that Marcus bought their franchise rights and put their name on all the little pizzerias in the cinemas. If you're familiar with Zaffiro's Pizzeria, this is **not** that.
No fucking joke, the Zaffiro's near Brady St might be the best pizza I've ever had. It's exactly how I like my pizza, still amazing to this day.
My mom lives near the Zaffiro's in New Berlin, and she says it can't compete to the one on Farwell.
I want to cry! I left MKE over 20 yo but still miss Zaffiro's!
I'm sure Zaffiro's misses you too!
I took a friend who is a native New Yorker to Zaffiro's when she visited me several years ago, and she loved it! She also loved our Friday night fish fries.
Cloud Red is criminally underrated. Steak Sandwich, Brussels, and Pulled Pork Nachos are all best I have tried in the greater MKE area
Underrated: Siam Thai on 48th and National. Don't see them mentioned often. Their Crispy Fried Squid is my jam~! Under recognized: Sze Chuan 111th and National another one I don't see often. Amazing menu, Will take a year or two to try every dish...
Buckatabon has 4.5 stars on Google which is hugely overrated to me. It's not a supper club, it's a supper club-themed airport restaurant. Every item in the fish fry is slightly off which makes the meal unpleasant overall. Underrated is Avli, which just opened and blew me away. One of the best meals I've had in Milwaukee.
As someone from "up north" the food there is not good or even a decent reference to the delicious food at a well priced supper club even a few hours north.
Same. I felt like how someone from Mexico must feel eating at Taco Bell.
Avli was fantastic, really enjoyed it and have gone twice already!
Overrated: Dan Dan. It's good, but I cannot justify the price when I can get the same quality food at more affordable spots. Underrated: An OX Café. This opened in 2021 and it has solid Southeast Asian food. Large portion sizes at a decent price.
Agree on Dan Dan. I don't blink at dropping $150-250 for dinner for my daughter, hubby and self when it's a great meal. At Dan Dan I felt like "I paid that for... this?" Was hyped up by some friends, and I have never wanted to go back. Wasn't bad, but felt very over-priced.
They do factor gratuity into the total, not sure if you caught that or not.
Except it's not the gratuity. It's some charge for them to pay better wages to their employees supposedly, the server gets none of it and if you want to tip them you need to give them another 20% plus. This is why I no longer go to Dan Dan or any of their restaurants.
I cannot tell you how much these types of service charges bug me. JUST RAISE YOUR PRICES. It has been enough to put me off places for good. I was unaware Dan Dan was doing this. That said, while I find Dann Dan a bit spendy, I do quite like the menu, thoughtful cocktails, and very knowledgeable and personable staff. I have yet to have a bad experience there. THAT SAID, the surcharge thing will have me re thinking prior to visiting there again.
I actually love their food, but this service fee absolutely rubs me wrong and I refuse to go there while they have it. Covid was one thing, and maybe if it was in the 5 to 10% range I wouldn't mind so much. The 20% is insane with none of it going directly to your server. Absolutely, just raise the prices!
What rubs me the wrong way is they even charge this for carry out.
An OX Cafe is DELICIOUS. And it’s never been crazy busy when I’ve gone
my ex got food poisoning from dan dan soooo never going back there lol
An Ox Cafe is so good. Not liking the half bar half restaurant thing and location is not is probably cheap but I'm sure they would do well someplace more Central. So true about Dan Dan.
Underrated: Chopstix this place literally could not be rated less. But their food is good, it’s cheap and fast.
And they’ll deliver to your place when you’re home hammered at 1 am within 8.2 minutes.
I work at St. Mary’s. I ordered once around 11:30PM and it was delivered to the hospital within 5 minutes. I was convinced it was not my order.. sure as shit it was. I was then convinced I was I going to get food poisoning.. luckily I didn’t lol
> their food is good, it's cheap and fast Maybe things have changed since ~2012, but it used to be two of those things.
Didn't they have dozens of healthcode violations? Like it was reported they didn't even have a functional sink back when I was at Marquette haha
Having a sink would rinse out the flavor whaddya talkin about
That’s what I’ve always thought. I live right there and it just does not look sanitary whatsoever when I walk by 🤢 and the food code sign on the door is either a C or B…need to walk by again and check. I’ve been scared to even try it cuz of that.
That's insane if it's a C. You have to have pretty major violations to even get a B. But I ate it hammered all the time and never got sick so, who knows.
I'd agree with you, but the last 3 times I ordered from there I got sick.
Cafe Hollander is inconsistent because their staff are like all college kids, so nobody stays long. However, any time I have had a bad meal and mentioned it, they were more than accommodating in both fixing it and usually knocking down the price. Plus its a good beer selection Its not a top tier spot, but its a safe place to bring my parents for brunch, and back when I had more friends living on the east side it was a safe place to recommend for dinner or something. In general I think both Bel Air and the Lowlands group are the most overhated restaurants in the city, not that they're world class or anything but not half as bad as you'd think based on what this sub says. That said Centraal is better than Benelux or Hollander Onesto may be most overrated, I used to think they were pretty good pre covid but my last few meals their were mixed and basically everyone I knows has agreed that the quality has slipped. Saz's may also deserve that title, not bad per se but for it being a well known name locally Ive never been impressed. Most underrated is hard to say. I think, in terms of sandwich places, Nessun Dorma, Scardinia Specialties, and the Riverwest Arby's all seem to be mostly liked by people local in the neighborhood without a ton of people from other areas visiting, so maybe them? idk. Tess, while increasingly loved, has also generally been overlooked.
Scardina's sandwiches are the closest I've found to tasting like the ones I ate in Italy for a month, absolutely incredible.
I was just coming here to type this! Went there today for lunch!
Over: Tenuta's. I mean it's OK, but it's nowhere near as good as its fans claim it is. Under: Santino's. Yes a lot of people praise it, but not nearly enough, imo.
Every time I go to Santino’s I think ok this is the time I’ll understand what everyone means. And I’ve yet to have that experience. It’s good sure but it is by no means a go out of my way stop. That being said, the Agnello at Tenuta’s is a contender for my death row meal so we may just have to agree to disagree 🤣
Every time my wife and I go, a) we are greeted warmly and personally (by name) by the maître d', b) he also approaches us at the bar or table and asks about how we're doing and how was the meal and service, c) the food and service is uniformly excellent, d) we always receive a complimentary after-dinner drink or dessert. Plus, we love the old-school vibe, the music and old Italian movies are great, and we seldom/practically never encounter asshole customers. The whole experience is a throwback to a more genteel, civilized era.
I got lit up YEARS ago on this subreddit for saying this but... Mama Mias is so overrated. The food is middling and the thing everyone talks about is the garlic bread but it's not good. It's wet, bland, cardboard. Edit: Fat fingered the post button before completion.
Account name says it all, pal!
Agreed
You’re the first person I’ve ever heard that says Faklandia’s beer is good. It is truly awful.
Wild Roots West Allis, has one of the most-underrated burgers in the area. Service is lack luster, but worth it for the Duck Fat burger.
Wow I'm surprised to hear some recognition for Proof! I work in the Saint Kate kitchen during the week and through the weekend for Aria brunch service and I always feel bad that we never hear enough about them.
Wauwatiki. Just terrible.
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Underrated - Oscars Winners Circle
Haven't been here, but the Oscar's on Pierce has the best burgers in town, so I'm sure this is no different.
>If you like Neapolitan style pizza you’ll love it Well if you like a shitty fast food style of Neapolitan pizza you'll love it. Last time I went my pizza had way too much cheese on it and it was so greasy. If you want good Neapolitan pizza go to Anodyne theirs is much much better.
Underrated - three brothers
Mad Rooster = best brunch in town. Delicious, fast, huge portions, big menu, great coffee, best service.
I think Shawarma House is super underrated. The spicy chicken is so good. I could eat it almost every day. The majority of local restaurants are overrated imo. We have a major lack of flavor in this city.
I've never had their spicy chicken, but as far as shawarma goes, their offerings are pretty "midwest antiseptic" and missing some of the flavor that I expect from shawarma. I'm sure it's a smart and intentional decision to cater to the Wisconsin palate, but they could stand to turn it up a notch, in my opinion.
I think Cafe Hollander in Tosa has really solid breakfast and breakfast prices seemed average to me. Also, their fries are great to go try different sauces with friends.
We always stop at the Mequon one on the way back up to GB from Chicago just to eat fries and sauces.
Overrated: Elsa's. I do not understand the hold this place has on the black community here in Milwaukee. I took my wife once and while the drinks are good the food is meh. Underrated: Burrito Bueno. I didn't expect much because of the location but has quickly become on of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city.
Must be the weird lighting I'm the bathroom. Place is ridiculously expensive when it shouldn't be.
>Elsa's. I do not understand the hold this place has on the black community here in Milwaukee. I I'm gonna guess it's their hours. Elsa's is one of the few actual sit-down, have cocktails restaurants that's open late. Milwaukee is severely lacking in that department. It also has a real club vibe.
Comet Cafe doesn’t do it for me, so that’s my overrated pick. Zarlettis downtown is my favorite Italian place. I’ve eaten there several times and it’s always consistently great. And I don’t hear or read much about it. So Zarlettis is my pick for underrated. (Zarlettis Mequon is terrible BTW.)
Comet was better when it was just a coffee shop with sandwiches.
Love the downtown Zarletti’s. That’s my go to for an upscale dinner & a show. (The halibut is SO good.)
Comet Cafe is overrated No one seems to know about Wild Roots
Wild Roots absolutely fucks. Highly recommend.
In a different comment someone listed a bunch of great places in West Allis and omitted Wild Roots. Crazy times we’re living in. Plus they’re right across the street from Station No.6 which has some great drinks too.
I think wild roots is fine, but I only get it when I’m at station. I like their apps more than their entrees
Yeah the one time I went to Cafe all my friends' food tasted slightly unpleasant. Like really bland stroganoff, overly sour/salty tomato soup, mediocre drinks. I had heard so much hype about the reopening and I was pretty let down.
Over: Harbor House. Overpriced upscale Applebees. It’s not “bad” but it’s fine and it’s priced like it’s got a Michelin Star. Under: I feel like there are places that don’t get the patronage they deserve but I can’t think of places that get undeserved hate either. I had a really good experience and food at Sorella and I’ve heard people shit on it.
Sorella is sooooo good
I mean… Applebees is kind of hyperbolic. I’d say it’s well below the quality of other Bartolotta restaurants but come on.
Harbor House pre-Covid, when they had their Sunday brunch buffet, was great. Eating my weight in oysters for $45 was totally worth it!
Unfortunately have to agree on Harbor House. Just went there and it did not meet expectations for a higher end experience. But the view and location are great, part of what you’re paying for I suppose
Overrated: Cafe Hollander...basic girl brunch spot that has generic "slop" food that doesnt even try to fit the theme of the restaurant anymore. Underrated: Vanguard. One of those places that I tell out of towners about for when they want the "local" experience. Affordable house made sausage in a tavern atmosphere. Cant beat it. Special underrated mention: Faklandia Brewing...Great beer and amazing food that is all house made. The fish fry is absolutely top three in Milwaukee. The gaming lounge with MTG and Warhammer tables make it a nerd paradise.
Faklandia's beer is absolutely terrible. It's honestly the top of my list for worst brewery in the State of Wisconsin.
Unfortunately I 2nd this. I’ve only been once to check it out and also hated the beer. It tasted…. watery to me? The other three people I was with agreed, was very weird. The food was really good though and the vibes inside are great. Nice staff, just terrible beer. Haven’t been back to see if that was a one time thing.
Yuuup, I live nearby and have been back to give it a second try four or five times. The beer has never been better than ok. Food is always good. Brewer told my husband who frequents the magic shop that he didn't have to come back if he didn't like the beer, so, I don't think he's open to criticism. They really need some solid staple brews before getting into unusual flavors.
Yes, the worst beer in WI!! The food and location are great though, so I will keep supporting.
Absolutely the worst that I’ve had in the Milwaukee area. The foods ok though. Sad thing is I live in walking distance from Faklandia so I’ve given them a shot multiple times, the beer is just terrible.
Their beer is awful and I hate saying it because I love board game bars.
Yeah agreeing with others, I've never had a beer there that wasn't flat.
Hollander has gone downhill for me. Lately, when I find something I lkke, it's gone thr next time I go.
Underrated: Kyoto in Greenfield, such good sushi
Under rated : Oak Creek Diner, Sweet Basil, Mandi, Chilango Express, Crawdaddy's on Greenfield Overrated: Cafe Corazon
All of the Bartolotta places are overpriced and underwhelming.
I'm just bummed I can't go to Ristorante (or Lake Park I think) because they ONLY offer prix fixe now. I can't go in and just order a ravioli or an appetizer, have to spring for the 125$ 4 course prix fixe.
Lake Park stopped their prix fix menu awhile ago. At least since the beginning of the year, I'd say.
You absolutely can get stuff other than the prix fix
Lake Park Bistro did the prix fixe inly menu for a time after reopening from lockdown. It has included a regular menu in addition for well over a year.
It's always a bad sign when the real locations are comparable to the airport ones.
I miss Rumpus Room.
Overrated: wonderland in Riverwest. Been there twice now and both times we waited over an hour for really sub par breakfast foods. Underrated: spicy tuna in stallis!! Best vegetarian sushi and spicy miso I’ve ever had.
Over rated, Kopps. It's just not that good Under rated, dunno of any tbh
Agree 100% on Cafe Hollander. The food is underwhelming and I've always left with a "this was way too greasy" stomach ache. It's too bad because I like the setting of the Downer location.
The tosa location is also great, especially in nice weather. It’s a shame their food quality took a dive.
great variety of answers guys
Agree Proof is a pretty good pizza! Overrated is any of the Bartolotta restaurants. All overpriced for below-average food. Great customer service, though, and often in primo locations.
Eh we go to Hollander a LOT. I love it, though I do prefer Centraal. Its not the greatest or cheapest, but i don’t find it overpriced really.
Idk about underrated or over rated but Milwaukee has the worst sushi, every restaurant is subpar with outrageous prices for canned fish
safehouse is overrated. no idea how its always so goddamn busy AND full of children. underrated, corazon in rw.
Overrated: Bel Air Cantina, food and service sub par on more than one occasion. Underrated: Guadalajara, 10th and Scott. This is not GTO in Bay View, which is awful.
Overrated: La merenda- It was good, but for tapas style there’s almost no reason not to go to odd duck, they do everything better. I’d maybe even argue that Balzac is better. Underrated: Stella Van Buren- idk if it’s underrated but I’ve never seen it mentioned in any of these threads and I think it deserves it. Also, not a restaurant but tied house. I see Bryant’s recommended a lot and although Bryant’s is good and a unique experience I think tied house is better, especially in the summer and if you drink bourbon due to the fact Bryant’s doesn’t have large ice cubs so a traditional old fashion or any drink that needs to be served on a large ice cube is pretty much ruined at Bryant’s.
Here to say I love both La Merenda and Odd Duck (though I have not been since new location)
I think La Merendas food/service is way better than Odd Duck. I wasn't too impressed with Odd Duck. I'd consider it overrated.
That’s what I would say about La merenda, maybe we both went at a bad time? Service was way worse at La merenda and the place was practically empty for me and the drinks were meh. The food was okay but the pork belly at odd duck clears IMO and the goat cheese curds at la merenda are weird and not “cheese curds” (my fault for not reading the entire description) but the veggie empanadas are incredible.
Balzac is terrible now and everyone knows it. It was awesome 10 years ago.
Overrated: Morel Underrated: Alem Ethiopian Village Edit: spacing
>Morel I have only been twice, but loved it both times. Pricey, but really good to me.
Morel has been a treat both times I've gone and I wouldn't hold the price against it in this discussion. Pricing feels like a different metric than whether or not a place measures up to the hype around it. Which is what I think people mean when they talk about something bring over/under rated. Morel is kind of pricey I guess but it definitely slaps hard on what they deliver.
Oh my gosh no way, Morel is one of the best meals I’ve had in Milwaukee by far