Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Milwaukee

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Milwaukee? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bavette

4.9

4.9 (338)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

What started out as a butcher shop concept, has evolved and changed over the years to become a full-service restaurant, which was solidified with the restaurant's move to a larger space in 2022. At Bavette, the consumer will enjoy complete transparency of its food moving from farm to plate. Although the butcher shop has been phased out, the restaurant still works with the same farms, and uses the same high quality meats on its menu, which consists of a daily changing menu consisting of salads, sandwiches, small plates, pates, cheese, and charcuterie boards. The restaurant truly is a farm-to-table restaurant, sourcing not only the meat but most of its produce from nearby farms. In addition to the highly seasonal menu, there is a small store featuring chef-curated retail items, such as Wisconsin cheeses, local charcuterie, artisanal jams, pickles, salts, vinegar, and oil. Going along with the thoughtful menu is a select and unique offering of craft beers, wines, and cocktails.

Top review

Jason

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Try the lamb larb—outstanding. Bavette never fails to impress.

Transfer Pizzeria Cafe

4.9

4.9 (231)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

You are cordially invited to visit Transfer Pizzeria Café, located in the Harbor District on the corner of 1st and Mitchell Streets. Established in 2008, the namesake is Transfer Pharmacy, a classic cornerstone drugstore from a bygone era that for decades supplied a thriving community with goods and services as evidenced by the stained glass windows still in place. The pharmacy was appropriately named for the constant activity that took place just outside - the boarding, departures, and transfers of the countless daily commuters of the time. The tradition of a reliable cornerstone establishment continues today, as Transfer Pizzeria delivers a unique dose of delicious pizza, drink, atmosphere, and friendly service.

We keep an active wait-list and gladly accommodate walk-ins as part of both our lunch and dinner service.

Top review

Mike

Dined 3 days ago

Mckenzie was a great server

Santino's Little Italy

4.9

4.9 (145)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Santino's Little Italy, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood with rich history echoing years gone by in the City of Milwaukee. The building housing the restaurant is over 130 years old and has been beautifully remodeled by talented designers and carpenters. The vibe has an old school Brooklyn New York feeling and is the perfect place to make wonderful memories with friends and family.

The menu features delicious gourmet pizzas / house-made pastas / salads / appetizers / deserts along with delicious Italian wine / cocktails and are professionally served to you by our attentive staff. Our amazing Neapolitan Style Pizza is hand made with the finest and freshest ingredients and cooked in a 6,000-pound Italian woodfired oven. With humility and gratitude our pizza was ranked nationally as the 46th best pizza in North America and we are very proud to serve many happy diners here in Milwaukee.

Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. We look forward to serving you.

Top review

NicholVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was great. Service was great food was good. The only thing was we took a pizza home. Sausage onion and pepper. There was like a handful of sausage on the pizza. Maybe 2 pieces max on each slice. Some only had one piece of sausage on it. It was good. Just needed more meat on it.

Sorella

4.8

4.8 (1150)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Old school meets new school, East Coast meets Midwest, with a Southern-style Italian restaurant landing right in the middle of it all. Delivering distinctly Italian cuisine that’s easy to pronounce and even easier to share, guests will enjoy seasonally inspired dishes throughout the year. Sorella serves healthy foods with elegant flavors, which are often made with locally sourced products.

Top review

BarryVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent food and service. Lots of options all prepared well.

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Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee

4.6

4.6 (62)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Oconomowoc

About the restaurant

For the last 18 years, Joe Hennes and his wife Ellen have been building a family-oriented meeting place for friends to gather at Sloppy Joe's Saloon and Spoon in Hubertus. In December 2020, they purchased this property, and brought the philosophy of food, fun, and laughter from Washington County to Lake Country. They renamed the property Smoke on the Water to reflect the revamped menu which includes a large selection of home-smoked meat items. Open jams, live music, karaoke and fun events are already a regular part of the experience.

And after a decade of the lower level sitting vacant, they just launched "Below Deck," a brand new state of the art banquet facility and live music venue that accommodates about 250 people.

Whether arriving by land or sea, you'll enjoy Lake Country's best lake-vibe barbecue, cocktails, live music & friends.

Experience Smoke on the Water - where strangers become friends, and friends become family.

Top review

Julie

Dined 3 days ago

We had a party of 6 - service was prompt and attentive and the food was delicious!

Harry's Bar and Grill

4.5

4.5 (711)

$30 and under

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Welcome to Harry's Bar and Grill! Chic and contemporary with a modern American menu, Harry's Bar and Grill is located on Milwaukee’s East side, close to Lake Michigan.

WELCOME to Harry's Bar and Grill!

Chic and contemporary with a modern American menu, Harry's Bar and Grill is located on Milwaukee’s East side, close to Lake Michigan.

Harry's Bar and Grill is always keeping things fresh. Stop in soon to see our new look. Harry's Bar & Grill successfully combines neighborhood charm with big city sophistication. Friendly service and a menu diverse enough to satisfy any lunch or dinner craving. Appetizers, specialty burgers, salads, entrees and nightly specialty served up 7 days a week!

Top review

Simone

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

Harry’s is my favorite restaurant. Walking distance, great food, nice ambience.

Matty's Bar & Grille

4.5

4.5 (246)

$31 to $50

Grill

New Berlin

About the restaurant

Since opening the doors in 1997, owner Matt Anderson and team have transformed the once-typical suburban sports bar into a destination spot for sports fans and foodies alike. Guests can grab a Smokehouse Burger at the traditional front bar, enjoy a gourmet pizza or family dinner in the warm and inviting Four Seasons Room or relax on the outdoor Patio featuring a cozy fire pit and multiple dining areas.
From our all-inclusive Ultimate Packer Experience, luxury coach bus excursions to Lambeau Field and Camp Randall to Brewer tailgate parties, Matty’s will get you to your destination in style. Check out our Holiday brunches for Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to name just a few!
If you are having trouble making an online reservation, please call the restaurant, and let us assist you.

Top review

Laurie

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent Food and Service. It’s a great place. Reasonable prices too!

The Explorium Brewpub Greendale

4.3

4.3 (208)

$30 and under

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Hip brewpub with a spacious patio pouring craft beer plus wine & spirits alongside American fare.

Top review

Jennifer VIP

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Always a great time at the Explorium. Dinner with my best friend made it even better.

Kitchen & Kocktails - Brown Deer

3.8

3.8 (16)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Brown Deer

About the restaurant

Kitchen & Kocktails - The home of comfort food with a southern twist.

Top review

DeJohn

Dined 3 days ago

I had a great first time experience. I will be back!

Char'd

3.7

3.7 (736)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Korean

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Char’d offers ever-changing Korean-themed small plates perfect for 'shared plate dining' or snacking along with drinks. Full-meal-sized Korean traditional entrées are served with a bowl of rice. Our dishes showcase elevated presentations and modern techniques to re-interpret authentic Korean cuisine, while staying true to its roots. We pride ourselves in featuring locally source and seasonal products to create ‘New Korean’ dishes as an homage to traditional Korean culinary skills and recipes.

Top review

George

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

They had amazing food and drinks!! the servers were very timely considering how busy it was

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Bibimbap (Super Bowl)

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