18 splurge places in Milwaukee, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Milwaukee. All Milwaukee food.
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.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out and the dining room is small; book before the JBA semifinalist announcements each spring.
Sanford ★ 4.9
1547 N Jackson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Sanford on North Jackson is Milwaukee's fine-dining anchor since 1989; Justin Aprahamian, a James Beard Best Chef Midwest winner, leads the Surprise menu now.
EsterEv ★ 4.7
2165 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
EsterEv on South Kinnickinnic in Bay View, by chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, runs a four-course tasting menu since 2017 with optional beverage pairings.
The Immigrant Room ★ 4.7
N8501 Lakeshore Dr, Kohler, WI 53044
The Immigrant Restaurant at the American Club in Kohler runs six themed dining rooms with a tasting menu and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
Lupi and Iris ★ 4.6
downtown · 777 N Van Buren St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Lupi and Iris on North Van Buren Street is Adam Siegel's Mediterranean room with views of the lakefront, wood-fired pizzas and Provencal seafood plates.
Tip: Patio seats face the Calatrava; book sunset on OpenTable two weeks out summer.
Mr. B's, A Bartolotta Steakhouse ★ 4.6
17700 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield, WI 53045
Mr. B's, the Bartolotta Group steakhouse on West Capitol Drive in Brookfield, runs USDA Prime cuts over hardwood and a long Burgundy list since 1993.
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.
Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 ★ 4.6
7616 W State St, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 on State Street in Wauwatosa is the Bartolotta Group's flagship Italian room, with house pastas and Northern Italian classics.
Carnevor Steakhouse ★ 4.5
downtown · 718 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Carnevor on North Milwaukee Street is a modern downtown steakhouse serving dry-aged Allen Brothers cuts and Japanese Wagyu, with a cocktail bar at the front.
Tip: Bar runs late on weekends; reservations on OpenTable a week out for the dining room.
Harbor House ★ 4.5
550 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Harbor House on North Harbor Drive, a Bartolotta Group seafood room on the lakefront, runs a Cape Cod-style menu with raw bar and grilled fish since 2010.
Rare Steakhouse ★ 4.4
1106 N Old World 3rd St, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Rare Steakhouse on Old World Third Street is a modern downtown steakhouse with dry-aged USDA Prime, Japanese A5 Wagyu and a glass-fronted wine cellar.
Third Coast Provisions ★ 4.4
724 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Third Coast Provisions on North Milwaukee Street downtown is a Great Lakes-leaning seafood room with raw bar and walleye, smelt and whitefish from Lake.
Le Reve Patisserie and Cafe ★ 4.4
7610 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Le Reve on Harwood Avenue in Wauwatosa Village is a French bistro and patisserie with classic onion soup, steak frites and tarte Tatin since 2004.
Tre Rivali ★ 4.4
200 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tre Rivali inside the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel on North Broadway in the Third Ward runs a coastal Mediterranean menu with wood-fired pizzas and seafood.
Mr. B's Steakhouse Mequon ★ 4.4
10850 N Port Washington Rd, Mequon, WI 53092
Mr. B's Mequon on North Port Washington Road is the Bartolotta Group's North Shore steakhouse, with USDA Prime cuts, classic sides and a deep American wine.
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.