*Update: I recently visited Charro again with some friends from church. They have a new menu, organized by country, which is a nice touch. Some of the menu items stayed the same, but some are new. They actually have a large "small plate" menu, so a couple of us shared some of those as our meal. It turned out to be a great choice, as we got to try lots of different things, and they were delicious. Chad's favorite was the Papa Relleno (a stuffed, deep fried potato ball). I loved the beef empanadas. Brad had the Asada Negro (Venezuela - braised brisket). Overall, it was a good experience! We had good service and got seated quickly!
Original Post:
Being a teacher, most of our get-togethers are pot-luck or pay your own way. But Brad's newest boss is awesome, and he took the team out to Charro for an end-of-project/Christmas gathering. We were happy to have yet another downtown dining experience (FYI: There is also a Charro in Brookfield).
Brad and I had actually been to Charro a few months ago with some friends. Last time I remembered loving the atmosphere but not my food. While everyone else loved theirs, I was a little disappointed in my choice. It was good, but just not what I was wanting. This time I loved Charro! We started with drinks and appetizers, then the main entree, and even ended with some dessert.
Atmosphere: We had a private room downstairs, which had a bar and TV. The upstairs has a modern feel to it. Dimly lit. I liked the atmosphere. The only strange thing is the bathrooms have clouded glass doors, so you almost feel as though people can see you (they can't)...
Drinks: Well, I was disappointed that I couldn't get a strawberry daiquiri, and considering they have a large bar, I was surprised. So I had a rum/coke and a wine, while most people had margaritas. They have a large margarita menu and that seems to be their specialty. Brad said his margarita was large and very good.
Menu/Food: Charro is a "fusion" of Mexican and Latin food. The menu has lots to choose from, in many different price ranges. You can find something for everyone. We started with some appetizers. We had chips and salsa, which was good. We also had plantain chips and guacamole, which were very good. The guac was less spicy than I'd like, but the chips were a fun twist on tortilla chips. We also had the empanadas, which were really good. I loved the veggie ones but the chicken ones were a hit too. For the main course I had the honey rum pork, and it was DELICIOUS! It was sweet, but so flavorful and tender. It was served over rice and soft plantains, which was a sweet treat. The portion was HUGE. Most people at the table found their portions were huge (burrito and enchilada plates were quite large), but a few were much smaller (like the mole de pepita, which I had the first time I was there). Brad had the banana leaf snapper. He thought it was good, but not great. The first time he had the seafood paella, and he liked that dish better. For dessert we had some small dessert samples, including cheesecake, and they were all delicious. So....most people liked their food. I was the only one in love with mine, though. We can't say much about price, as Brad's work footed the bill for this one. I'd say the average entree is $15-20 (without drink/apps).
Service: Our waitress was serving for her first time, and we had a separate party room downstairs, so it was a little unique. One waitress for 18 people seemed like not quite enough, but drinks were refilled pretty quickly. She was eager to please. She did have to ask us to repeat our orders a bit, but I think that's because it was her first time and we were a large group. She was able to make some recommendations, which I always appreciate. Service was fine.
Other: Parking around Charro is sparse (street/structures with fees) so plan on walking or having your date drop you at the door. Brad was hoping to try the ceviche but forgot to order one...that would be on his list for you to try!
OVERALL: It was a fun time. I'd recommend trying this restaurant if you want some upscale mexican/latin food and want to try something new downtown (or in Brookfield)!
Brad - 2.5 stars out of 4
Jess - 3 out of 4
12.28.2010
12.18.2010
Marchese's Olive Pit: Milwaukee, WI (Fifth Ward)
Brad and I had a restaurants.com coupon for Marchese's Olive Pit, so we decided to try it out. We had been there once before quite a while ago, and Brad is always wanting to go back. So we did, and we were super happy we went. We have another coupon and we will definitely be using it. Let us know if you want to join us - a pizza can definitely serve more than 2!
Atmosphere: Marchese's Olive Pit is small. That's the first thing you notice. There are probably less than 10 tables in the whole joint. But there's a large bar where you can sit and get drinks, eat, or wait for a table. There's also a couch/group seating area in the back. The lighting is good, and it's always packed so it's a good hustle & bustle atmosphere, which I prefer to quiet places.
Drinks: Not a ton of beer on tap, but enough drinks to choose from. They had a longer wine list, but we didn't go with wine that night.
Menu/Food: Here is the money maker - the food is fabulous! We started off with their fresh bread topped with olive tapenade. The bread slices were huge and well-seasoned. It was delicious and only $4. They have a variety of toppings that all sounded good. We got four pieces of bread - it was too much! They also have some salads and soup on the apps menu, but not a lot else. They don't need a lot though, the bread is great! They have a large pizza selection, plus you can build your own. We went for a large over a regular size for $5 more, and ended up with leftovers for a few days! I'd say a large could easily be enough for 5 people, maybe 6 if you're just averagely hungry (which you will be after the bread - it's filling), and it was only $21 for the large. The crust is thin and very crispy. Toppings are fresh and well seasoned. Something about the sauce or cheese was just to-die-for. We had The Casper, and I'd recommend it, although everything sounded good. Regular sized pizzas were about $15, larges were about $22, depending what you got.
Service: Service here was great. We had to wait at the bar for "30 minutes," which ended up being only ten. While we waited we were greeted right away by the bar tender and got some drinks. He joked with us a few times and was super friendly. Our waiter at our table swore he remembered us from the one time we had eaten at The Transfer years ago...Brad thought he remembered him too. I don't know if I believe it. But he was awesome. Super friendly, made us feel comfortable and at home. Refilled drinks quickly, etc.
Other: Marchese's Olive Pit is in close proximity to Rustico, and having visited them both recently, I'd say The Olive is the place to go. It was a much longer wait (way less seating), but the pizza was phenomenal, and we had PLENTY to take home. They don't do reservations or call ahead, so go on a less popular night to eat out, or plan to wait awhile at the bar. Trust me: It's worth it.
OVERALL:
Jessie - 3 Stars
Brad - 3 Stars
Atmosphere: Marchese's Olive Pit is small. That's the first thing you notice. There are probably less than 10 tables in the whole joint. But there's a large bar where you can sit and get drinks, eat, or wait for a table. There's also a couch/group seating area in the back. The lighting is good, and it's always packed so it's a good hustle & bustle atmosphere, which I prefer to quiet places.
Drinks: Not a ton of beer on tap, but enough drinks to choose from. They had a longer wine list, but we didn't go with wine that night.
Menu/Food: Here is the money maker - the food is fabulous! We started off with their fresh bread topped with olive tapenade. The bread slices were huge and well-seasoned. It was delicious and only $4. They have a variety of toppings that all sounded good. We got four pieces of bread - it was too much! They also have some salads and soup on the apps menu, but not a lot else. They don't need a lot though, the bread is great! They have a large pizza selection, plus you can build your own. We went for a large over a regular size for $5 more, and ended up with leftovers for a few days! I'd say a large could easily be enough for 5 people, maybe 6 if you're just averagely hungry (which you will be after the bread - it's filling), and it was only $21 for the large. The crust is thin and very crispy. Toppings are fresh and well seasoned. Something about the sauce or cheese was just to-die-for. We had The Casper, and I'd recommend it, although everything sounded good. Regular sized pizzas were about $15, larges were about $22, depending what you got.
Service: Service here was great. We had to wait at the bar for "30 minutes," which ended up being only ten. While we waited we were greeted right away by the bar tender and got some drinks. He joked with us a few times and was super friendly. Our waiter at our table swore he remembered us from the one time we had eaten at The Transfer years ago...Brad thought he remembered him too. I don't know if I believe it. But he was awesome. Super friendly, made us feel comfortable and at home. Refilled drinks quickly, etc.
Other: Marchese's Olive Pit is in close proximity to Rustico, and having visited them both recently, I'd say The Olive is the place to go. It was a much longer wait (way less seating), but the pizza was phenomenal, and we had PLENTY to take home. They don't do reservations or call ahead, so go on a less popular night to eat out, or plan to wait awhile at the bar. Trust me: It's worth it.
OVERALL:
Jessie - 3 Stars
Brad - 3 Stars
12.11.2010
Rustico: Milwaukee, WI (Third Ward)
Well, our dining at Rustico Friday night with our friend Brian was quite an adventure. Once we were there, everything was fine. But let me tell you - it was not an easy time getting there. We originally planned on using a restaurants.com coupon to dine at Bayou, very near my old apartment downtown. We got there to find....it was now a new restaurant. So I suggest Twisted Fork, this great little place on Farwell on Milwaukee's east side. Guess what? Closed! So then we decide to go to Oakland Trattoria, and it is also something new "Solo." Seriously?!?! We've been out in the 'burbs far too long. All our favorite restaurants closed when we moved away. Coincidence? I think not.
Finally, we settle on heading to the third ward to get pizza at a fabulous place, Riverfront Pizzeria. We get up to the door to see a sign: "Closed for a private party." UGH! At this point we had driven all over downtown Milwaukee, it was a little after seven and I was starving. We decide to try either Rustico or Milwaukee Ale House. Since they're next door to each other, we figure our chances of one of them being still there and open must be better. We find both still there and decide on Rustico.
Atmosphere: It's a quiet little place that wasn't as busy as it should be. Maybe not well known? It was dark-ish inside with a muted candle on every table. There's a bar up front, so you could just have drinks there. It's long and narrow, so tables are set up in kind of a row formation, which is nice, because you don't feel like anyone is right on top of you (no tables on either side). A very relaxed and casual feel. Good for a casual date or dinner with friends.
Drinks: Not a lot of beer on tap, but Brad liked his. Brian and I both got wines. Brian got the house red and I had an orvieto classico. I think we were both happy with our orders. Pretty good sized drink menu, and with the bar there, I'm sure you could get whatever drink you wanted.
Menu/Food: It is primarily a pizza place, but they have some pastas and salads. We started with an appetizer of bruschetta ($6) and shared a sausage pizza. The pizza was called the toscana, with cheeses, sausage, and mushrooms. It had a thin, crispy crust. I enjoyed it; the crust was my favorite part. Brad wished the pizza was a little spicier (he should have ordered the special of the day - a spicy crust, cheese and meat pizza). The pizza was $18, so it was reasonable for three people to eat.
Service: Service was good. Our waitress was friendly. She was able to tell us about the specials. She refilled our waters and cleared our plates at appropriate times. We were never kept waiting for anything. Our appetizer came out fast, and our pizza came out shortly after we finished the meal.
Other: Street parking downtown can be tricky, so wear walking shoes in case you can't get a close spot. If Rustico has a long wait, I would recommend trying their neighbor, Milwaukee Ale House, as well. There are lots of little nice bars around too, for after dinner drinks. I didn't see many tables that could accommodate a large group of people, so maybe call and check if you're planning on something like that. I think they may have a party area/room. If you're looking for pizza downtown, I would recommend trying The Olive Pit first!
OVERALL:
Jessie - 2.5/4 Stars
Brad - 2/4 Stars
Finally, we settle on heading to the third ward to get pizza at a fabulous place, Riverfront Pizzeria. We get up to the door to see a sign: "Closed for a private party." UGH! At this point we had driven all over downtown Milwaukee, it was a little after seven and I was starving. We decide to try either Rustico or Milwaukee Ale House. Since they're next door to each other, we figure our chances of one of them being still there and open must be better. We find both still there and decide on Rustico.
Atmosphere: It's a quiet little place that wasn't as busy as it should be. Maybe not well known? It was dark-ish inside with a muted candle on every table. There's a bar up front, so you could just have drinks there. It's long and narrow, so tables are set up in kind of a row formation, which is nice, because you don't feel like anyone is right on top of you (no tables on either side). A very relaxed and casual feel. Good for a casual date or dinner with friends.
Drinks: Not a lot of beer on tap, but Brad liked his. Brian and I both got wines. Brian got the house red and I had an orvieto classico. I think we were both happy with our orders. Pretty good sized drink menu, and with the bar there, I'm sure you could get whatever drink you wanted.
Menu/Food: It is primarily a pizza place, but they have some pastas and salads. We started with an appetizer of bruschetta ($6) and shared a sausage pizza. The pizza was called the toscana, with cheeses, sausage, and mushrooms. It had a thin, crispy crust. I enjoyed it; the crust was my favorite part. Brad wished the pizza was a little spicier (he should have ordered the special of the day - a spicy crust, cheese and meat pizza). The pizza was $18, so it was reasonable for three people to eat.
Service: Service was good. Our waitress was friendly. She was able to tell us about the specials. She refilled our waters and cleared our plates at appropriate times. We were never kept waiting for anything. Our appetizer came out fast, and our pizza came out shortly after we finished the meal.
Other: Street parking downtown can be tricky, so wear walking shoes in case you can't get a close spot. If Rustico has a long wait, I would recommend trying their neighbor, Milwaukee Ale House, as well. There are lots of little nice bars around too, for after dinner drinks. I didn't see many tables that could accommodate a large group of people, so maybe call and check if you're planning on something like that. I think they may have a party area/room. If you're looking for pizza downtown, I would recommend trying The Olive Pit first!
OVERALL:
Jessie - 2.5/4 Stars
Brad - 2/4 Stars
12.06.2010
Stack'd Burger Bar: Milwaukee, WI (5th Ward)
Brad found this restaurant online and we knew we had to try it. It uses local products and ingredients, has a ton of beers, and it's main food item is burgers (It's a burger bar)! Yum! It was also an excuse for us to get downtown. We absolutely love dining downtown - so much to choose from! We went with our friend Chad, who is this amazing guy - funny, kind, charming, tall... (Is that what you wanted me to say Chad? Hope I didn't forget anything!). Here are our thoughts:
Atmosphere: A lot of people, right music level, but we got put in the back 'lounge' area, which felt like we were missing out on the action. I like to be surrounded by hustle and bustle. But we could still hear the music, just quieter.
Drinks: Plenty of beer to chose from at reasonable prices. Wine was $20 a bottle though we didn't get any. Soda was $2 with unlimited refills, so it seemed like better prices than other places.
Menu/Food: Brad loved the Hangover burger which has a fried egg on it. I liked the taste of the pulled pork sandwich, but it was VERY spicy. The pretzel buns were great! We also shared an order of the onion rings. They were stacked quite tall and were very tasty, served with a delicious aioli sauce. They have a Build-Your-Own-Burger area on the menu. You can choose from a variety of meats, buns (including a pretzel bun and texas toast), toppings, and sides. We all had the crispy, seasoned french fries on the side, but there were plenty of other good options. The price was around $8-11 for a burger with side. Portions were large. Brad had so many fries left after eating it seemed like he hadn't touched them! The food was the highlight of this restaurant (in my opinion!).
Service: Pretty good except that our waitress didn't seem to get Chad's sense of humor, but we agreed we couldn't deduct points for that...she just didn't have any dating potential for him. She refilled drinks and checked on us an appropriate amount of times. She was able to make meal recommendations (she warned me that my sandwich was really spicy). She was friendly enough. On the way out, every server we passed said good bye, or have a good night. Friendly!
Other: Would definitely recommend for a casual dinner with friends or a casual date. Seemed like pretty good daily specials though none on Saturday. They have a few sandwiches/burgers of the month (this month's was a burger with mac and cheese on it!).
OVERALL:
Jess - 3 out of 4 stars
Brad - 2.5 out of 4 stars
Chad - 2.5 out of 4 stars
Atmosphere: A lot of people, right music level, but we got put in the back 'lounge' area, which felt like we were missing out on the action. I like to be surrounded by hustle and bustle. But we could still hear the music, just quieter.
Drinks: Plenty of beer to chose from at reasonable prices. Wine was $20 a bottle though we didn't get any. Soda was $2 with unlimited refills, so it seemed like better prices than other places.
Menu/Food: Brad loved the Hangover burger which has a fried egg on it. I liked the taste of the pulled pork sandwich, but it was VERY spicy. The pretzel buns were great! We also shared an order of the onion rings. They were stacked quite tall and were very tasty, served with a delicious aioli sauce. They have a Build-Your-Own-Burger area on the menu. You can choose from a variety of meats, buns (including a pretzel bun and texas toast), toppings, and sides. We all had the crispy, seasoned french fries on the side, but there were plenty of other good options. The price was around $8-11 for a burger with side. Portions were large. Brad had so many fries left after eating it seemed like he hadn't touched them! The food was the highlight of this restaurant (in my opinion!).
Service: Pretty good except that our waitress didn't seem to get Chad's sense of humor, but we agreed we couldn't deduct points for that...she just didn't have any dating potential for him. She refilled drinks and checked on us an appropriate amount of times. She was able to make meal recommendations (she warned me that my sandwich was really spicy). She was friendly enough. On the way out, every server we passed said good bye, or have a good night. Friendly!
Other: Would definitely recommend for a casual dinner with friends or a casual date. Seemed like pretty good daily specials though none on Saturday. They have a few sandwiches/burgers of the month (this month's was a burger with mac and cheese on it!).
OVERALL:
Jess - 3 out of 4 stars
Brad - 2.5 out of 4 stars
Chad - 2.5 out of 4 stars
11.29.2010
The Horse & Plow: Kohler, WI
Okay, so I know it's not a Milwaukee area restaurant, but Brad and I made a little side trip over Thanksgiving weekend. We went for lunch at The Horse & Plow in Kohler (it's near Sheboygan). It's a little pub (good for lunch) at the American Club, which I've never stayed at, but hear it's wonderful! If you're making the trip up north a bit, I would recommend stopping by.
Atmosphere: It's a pub, so it's casual in atmosphere. They have a decent-sized seating area, some booths, tables, and a bar. There are a few big screen TVs set to sports as well. Decor includes some old fashioned touches, as well as many old Sheboygan county black-and-white photos. It's connected to the American Club, so it's kind of fun to walk around a bit before or after eating.
Drinks: It has a bar, so it really has everything. Brad was impressed by their two page beer menu, including 12 on-tap brews. They have over 120 bottles of beer. I think everyone could find something to enjoy.
Menu/Food: The menu has some good Wisconsin appetizers (including beer cheese soup!) and a few salads, but is heavily focused on sandwiches. I think they had three separate dinner entree choices. Brad LOVED his burger, which was a half-pound burger smothered with butter, feta, guacamole, lettuce...and of course, served on a Sheboygan hard roll. I also loved my meal, which was a hot ham and 4-cheese toasted sandwich. It was served with a delicious dijon mustard and the bread was crusted with more cheese! It was seriously amazing. Both of us had sweet potato fries on the side, and they were delicious! Neither of us had a hard time finding something to eat. The menu had many good lunch options plus they had a special of the day that was not listed on the menu. Portions were pretty big, but that meant I had dinner leftover! No complaining there. Prices ranged from $8-14 for sandwiches/burgers. The food was definitely to-die-for, and we both agreed with could eat our meal weekly or daily and be perfectly happy!!!
Service: Well, it's a pub, so service was nothing special, but was fine. My water glass was refilled just before it was empty, and our waitress checked back after we had time to try the food to see how we liked it. The bill came after we were done eating and Brad was just finishing his beer. I did feel our waitress seemed to have a few too many tables, but we weren't left waiting for a long time. Our waitress was able to make recommendations (I was deciding between two sandwiches) and I ended up loving what she had suggested. Food came out relatively quickly, but they were not very busy.
Other: The American Club has a few other restaurants besides The Horse and Plow, but we have not tried them. Let us know if you have and would recommend one!
OVERALL: We both loved our food A LOT, but probably wouldn't recommend driving there just for dinner. It's a nice lunch spot if you're on your way to Green Bay or elsewhere north of Milwaukee, or of course, if you're lucky enough to stay at the American Club for a night. :) Brad and I both give the restaurant 3 out of 4 stars.
Atmosphere: It's a pub, so it's casual in atmosphere. They have a decent-sized seating area, some booths, tables, and a bar. There are a few big screen TVs set to sports as well. Decor includes some old fashioned touches, as well as many old Sheboygan county black-and-white photos. It's connected to the American Club, so it's kind of fun to walk around a bit before or after eating.
Drinks: It has a bar, so it really has everything. Brad was impressed by their two page beer menu, including 12 on-tap brews. They have over 120 bottles of beer. I think everyone could find something to enjoy.
Menu/Food: The menu has some good Wisconsin appetizers (including beer cheese soup!) and a few salads, but is heavily focused on sandwiches. I think they had three separate dinner entree choices. Brad LOVED his burger, which was a half-pound burger smothered with butter, feta, guacamole, lettuce...and of course, served on a Sheboygan hard roll. I also loved my meal, which was a hot ham and 4-cheese toasted sandwich. It was served with a delicious dijon mustard and the bread was crusted with more cheese! It was seriously amazing. Both of us had sweet potato fries on the side, and they were delicious! Neither of us had a hard time finding something to eat. The menu had many good lunch options plus they had a special of the day that was not listed on the menu. Portions were pretty big, but that meant I had dinner leftover! No complaining there. Prices ranged from $8-14 for sandwiches/burgers. The food was definitely to-die-for, and we both agreed with could eat our meal weekly or daily and be perfectly happy!!!
Service: Well, it's a pub, so service was nothing special, but was fine. My water glass was refilled just before it was empty, and our waitress checked back after we had time to try the food to see how we liked it. The bill came after we were done eating and Brad was just finishing his beer. I did feel our waitress seemed to have a few too many tables, but we weren't left waiting for a long time. Our waitress was able to make recommendations (I was deciding between two sandwiches) and I ended up loving what she had suggested. Food came out relatively quickly, but they were not very busy.
Other: The American Club has a few other restaurants besides The Horse and Plow, but we have not tried them. Let us know if you have and would recommend one!
OVERALL: We both loved our food A LOT, but probably wouldn't recommend driving there just for dinner. It's a nice lunch spot if you're on your way to Green Bay or elsewhere north of Milwaukee, or of course, if you're lucky enough to stay at the American Club for a night. :) Brad and I both give the restaurant 3 out of 4 stars.
11.21.2010
Parkside 23: Brookfield, WI
Last night we dined at Parkside 23 in Brookfield. I was really excited about this trendy place being close to home! Usually we have to drive downtown to have a nice dinner out. This place just opened this week, so I was excited to be among the first to try it. Their fare is focused on local and seasonal dishes. Their website is currently under construction, but you can read a little about the place on jsonline here. Here's the rundown:
Atmosphere: The restaurant had my favorite level of lighting....dim, but not too dim. There was one large room of main seating, then some tables in the bar area, and one more private room of tables. While I was hoping for the bustling seating in the main room, we were seating in the more private room. It ended up being okay, as we were able to talk without shouting at each other. The restaurant was packed, but you didn't feel like you were too close to the people around you. Decor in the restaurant was interesting yet not distracting. I liked the colors (browns, reds, greens) and overall feel.
Drinks: The restaurant had an impressive 18 craft beers on tap. Some things were staples, but some we hadn't heard of before. A nice feature!
Menu: PS23 has a smaller-medium sized menu, which is usually a sign that they focus on what they're good at (you pretty much know all the choices will be delish). The options were tasty-sounding, and they had something for everyone. They break their menu down by price, which the waitress informed us is to help diners choose the right portion. They had everything from salads (with a variety of toppings), to flatbread pizzas, to ribs and duck. They also had a cheeseburger on there in case you're not an adventurous diner. So even though at first I was surprised by the smaller sized menu, I found I was not lacking in choices, and actually had a hard time choosing between four things (rotisserie chicken, fried chicken breast, italian sausage pasta, and four cheese macaroni and cheese). Prices ranged from $5-25. I'd say an average meal was $11-12.
Food: We started off with a shared flatbread caprese pizza. It was really good, although Brad said he would have liked more basil. Both boys had the seared ahi tuna for dinner and thought it was good. It was served over a fresh lettuce salad and a side of vegetables. Brad thought it was a bit on the small side, but he thought the relatively cheap price fit the size. One of our friends had the cobb salad, which included bacon and delicious rotisserie chicken. It was a large size for a salad, so I don't think she was disappointed. I ended up going with the fried chicken breast. It came with a side of spinach salad, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. It was really good, if not slightly greasy (well, it was fried chicken after all).
Service: The service was generally good. No complaints. Our waitress checked on us, but not too soon, after getting our food. Drinks were hand delivered by a man we assumed was the manager or owner. The waitress was able to make recommendations on food options.
Other: The average age of the diners was probably 60. I think that's what you get when you dine in the suburbs. We definitely weren't the only young people in there, but I got the feeling that we were surrounded by rich, old, Brookfieldians. Also, PS23 doesn't take reservations, but I would highly recommend calling ahead. We called at 6:15pm and were quoted a 45 minute wait...however, we probably waited another 15 minutes once we arrived.
OVERALL: An enjoyable experience, especially for the suburbs. Good food, good atmosphere, good menu. I'd recommend trying it! I gave it 3 out of 4 stars, Brad said 2.5 out of 4.
Atmosphere: The restaurant had my favorite level of lighting....dim, but not too dim. There was one large room of main seating, then some tables in the bar area, and one more private room of tables. While I was hoping for the bustling seating in the main room, we were seating in the more private room. It ended up being okay, as we were able to talk without shouting at each other. The restaurant was packed, but you didn't feel like you were too close to the people around you. Decor in the restaurant was interesting yet not distracting. I liked the colors (browns, reds, greens) and overall feel.
Drinks: The restaurant had an impressive 18 craft beers on tap. Some things were staples, but some we hadn't heard of before. A nice feature!
Menu: PS23 has a smaller-medium sized menu, which is usually a sign that they focus on what they're good at (you pretty much know all the choices will be delish). The options were tasty-sounding, and they had something for everyone. They break their menu down by price, which the waitress informed us is to help diners choose the right portion. They had everything from salads (with a variety of toppings), to flatbread pizzas, to ribs and duck. They also had a cheeseburger on there in case you're not an adventurous diner. So even though at first I was surprised by the smaller sized menu, I found I was not lacking in choices, and actually had a hard time choosing between four things (rotisserie chicken, fried chicken breast, italian sausage pasta, and four cheese macaroni and cheese). Prices ranged from $5-25. I'd say an average meal was $11-12.
Food: We started off with a shared flatbread caprese pizza. It was really good, although Brad said he would have liked more basil. Both boys had the seared ahi tuna for dinner and thought it was good. It was served over a fresh lettuce salad and a side of vegetables. Brad thought it was a bit on the small side, but he thought the relatively cheap price fit the size. One of our friends had the cobb salad, which included bacon and delicious rotisserie chicken. It was a large size for a salad, so I don't think she was disappointed. I ended up going with the fried chicken breast. It came with a side of spinach salad, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. It was really good, if not slightly greasy (well, it was fried chicken after all).
Service: The service was generally good. No complaints. Our waitress checked on us, but not too soon, after getting our food. Drinks were hand delivered by a man we assumed was the manager or owner. The waitress was able to make recommendations on food options.
Other: The average age of the diners was probably 60. I think that's what you get when you dine in the suburbs. We definitely weren't the only young people in there, but I got the feeling that we were surrounded by rich, old, Brookfieldians. Also, PS23 doesn't take reservations, but I would highly recommend calling ahead. We called at 6:15pm and were quoted a 45 minute wait...however, we probably waited another 15 minutes once we arrived.
OVERALL: An enjoyable experience, especially for the suburbs. Good food, good atmosphere, good menu. I'd recommend trying it! I gave it 3 out of 4 stars, Brad said 2.5 out of 4.
11.19.2010
Milwaukee Diners, Rejoice!
Hi friends!
Brad and I are avid fans of trying new restaurants. Though we'll hit the occasional chain in a bind, we normally like to veer in the direction of local establishments. However, we've found that when people ask us for suggestions of where to go, we have to really think about where we've all been. I don't know why I didn't start this blog ages ago to help us log our adventures!
I'm hoping this will be a record for us of where we love to eat, and hopefully it will help our friends and family too! Feel free to pass the blog site on to your friends, and please COMMENT or email me if you have any suggestions of places we should try!
So why trust our site? Well....I can't tell you how many times we've searched tripadvisor, google, etc....and just haven't known who to trust. We've been disappointed by a tripadvisor recommendation more than once. Here, our friends can get a recommendation from people they know and trust, and hopefully we can share positive dining experiences!
Stay tuned for our first new review of the blog. Tomorrow we are hitting up the new Parkside 23 right here in Brookfield.
Brad and I are avid fans of trying new restaurants. Though we'll hit the occasional chain in a bind, we normally like to veer in the direction of local establishments. However, we've found that when people ask us for suggestions of where to go, we have to really think about where we've all been. I don't know why I didn't start this blog ages ago to help us log our adventures!
I'm hoping this will be a record for us of where we love to eat, and hopefully it will help our friends and family too! Feel free to pass the blog site on to your friends, and please COMMENT or email me if you have any suggestions of places we should try!
So why trust our site? Well....I can't tell you how many times we've searched tripadvisor, google, etc....and just haven't known who to trust. We've been disappointed by a tripadvisor recommendation more than once. Here, our friends can get a recommendation from people they know and trust, and hopefully we can share positive dining experiences!
Stay tuned for our first new review of the blog. Tomorrow we are hitting up the new Parkside 23 right here in Brookfield.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)