17 new american places in Milwaukee we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Milwaukee | New American across every city.
Contemporary fine dining in Milwaukee starts with Sanford on North Jackson Street, which has anchored the scene since 1989 and runs a tasting menu under chef Justin Aprahamian. Around it, Birch cooks from a wood-fired hearth on the Lower East Side, Morel works Wisconsin farms in Walker's Point, and Goodkind keeps a no-reservations small-plates room in Bay View. Hotel dining rooms like Bacchus and Mason Street Grill carry the higher-priced end downtown.
Sanford ★ 4.9
east-side · 1547 N Jackson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Sanford on North Jackson Street has anchored Milwaukee fine dining since 1989, with a tasting menu chef Justin Aprahamian has run since 2012.
Birch ★ 4.7
east-side · 459 E Pleasant St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Birch on East Pleasant Street on the Lower East Side cooks New American plates from a wood-fired hearth, with Wisconsin produce and Lake Michigan fish.
Morel ★ 4.5
walkers-point · 430 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Morel on South 2nd Street in Walker's Point runs a small-plates menu off Wisconsin farms with hand-cut pasta and Lake Michigan fish on the line.
Goodkind ★ 4.5
bay-view · 2457 S Wentworth Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Goodkind on South Wentworth Avenue in Bay View is a small-plates kitchen with cocktails and whole-hog charcuterie since 2014, no reservations taken.
Smyth ★ 4.3
walkers-point · 207 E Buffalo St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Smyth on East Buffalo Street in the Third Ward serves a New American menu with hand-cut pastas and seasonal Wisconsin produce in a brick-walled corner room.
Blue Jacket ★ 4.3
bay-view · 135 E National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Blue Jacket on East National Avenue in Walker's Point is a nautical-themed gastropub with a strong burger, Friday fish fry and a long cocktail program here.
Kil@Wat ★ 4.2
downtown · 139 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Kil@Wat inside the Saint Kate Arts Hotel on East Kilbourn Avenue runs an all-day American gastropub menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, burgers and craft.
Bacchus ★ 4.6
925 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Bacchus on East Wells Street is the Bartolotta Group's downtown room with a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence wine list and a modern American menu.
Rumpus Room ★ 4.3
1030 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Rumpus Room on North Water Street downtown, a Bartolotta Group gastropub, runs a contemporary American menu with bar food and a long whiskey list.
Mason Street Grill ★ 4.3
425 E Mason St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Mason Street Grill inside the Pfister Hotel on East Mason Street runs a contemporary American steakhouse menu with USDA Prime cuts and Wisconsin trout.
ARC Milwaukee ★ 4.3
139 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
ARC at Saint Kate Arts Hotel on East Kilbourn downtown runs a contemporary American menu with cocktails by James Edwards and a gallery-style dining room.
Real Chili ★ 4.4
419 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Real Chili on East Wells Street runs late Thursday through Saturday until 02:30 with three-way chili, beans and onions over spaghetti, plus grated cheese.
Wolski's Tavern ★ 4.5
1836 N Pulaski St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Wolski's Tavern on North Pulaski Street has been a Lower East Side corner tavern since 1908, with the city's most famous I Closed Wolski's bumper sticker.
Comet Cafe Late ★ 4.2
1947 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Comet Cafe on North Farwell Avenue runs a late-night kitchen Thursday through Saturday until 02:30, with vegan mac and cheese, meatloaf and a long beer list.
This Is It Late ★ 4.4
418 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
This Is It on East Wells Street downtown has been an LGBTQ neighborhood bar since 1968, the oldest gay bar in Wisconsin, with brandy Old Fashioneds.
Real Chili ★ 4.4
419 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Real Chili on East Wells Street has served Milwaukee three-way chili since 1931, with beans and onions over spaghetti, cinnamon-spiced meat sauce and grated.
Leon's Frozen Custard ★ 4.6
3131 S 27th St, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Leon's Frozen Custard on South 27th Street has served Milwaukee frozen custard since Leon Schneider opened in 1942, with chocolate, vanilla and butter pecan.