4th Base
5117 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53214
4th Base Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5117 W National Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53214 - Phone (414) 647-8509
- Website https://www.the4thbase.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jesse D.
When I am looking for a place to have lunch, and not your typical lunch - I mean the kind that will fill you up from ear to ear, and then have some to take home - 4th Base is the place. Food portions, taste and quality are far superior to those in the area. The bartenders are always friendly and the place is a neat location to see the history of sports in Wisconsin. Always a staple when I go to the area - I'll definitely be back!
(5)Marty K.
Just had lunch. Undercooked sea bass with many bones. I remember this being much better. Seems to have gone down hill.
(2)Angela G.
$62 for a fish fry, stuffed mush., cup of soup, and a beer. Is ridiculous to me. I made the mistake of not asking how much the stuffed portabella was.....$30! I will never make that mistake again. Our waitress added our bill wrong and then added 10% tax.....a Riverwest Stein and a soda water $8....that's cray cray. I was excited about the concept and it being a hidden gem and then we received the bill. It was not a $62 meal.
(2)Juston E.
Well, you stop by a dive bar you figure you will get dive bar prices. Think again. The service was nothing special, not the worse but not the best as well. We started off ordering bloody Mary's for my wife and I. The server didn't ask how we wanted our blood's, (as a bartender or a server you should always ask. Some people don't like spicy) strike one. Our drinks came out about 5 minutes later, not bad but there were only 5 other customers. Next, when asked if we wanted food, we were told they do but they don't have menus? Strike two. What bar or restaurant doesn't have a menu, I figured out when we left why. We were told all of this food they have, we were impressed. The server then brought us back by the kitchen were the food was, so you can see all the food. It looked alright, nothing eye dropping. I was still confused, even on the food they had displayed to pick from, not one price was listed. We ordered our food. I server then disappeared for 15 minutes and would come back to serve our food. I ordered to scallops with bacon wrapped and a plain burger. My wife ordered a seafood stuffed portabella mushroom, all of the food options were rather small. First, the bacon wrapped scallop were over cooked with the bacon being overcooked. The scallops were rather bland, so they give you a bowl of butter to dip it in. My burger wasn't cooked to order, I wanted medium rare, I go med well to well done. The bun was rather hard and burger overall was subpar and no seasoning, strike three. My wife's dish was just horrible. The seafood they used was disgusting, she could barely eat it all and I had a bit with disgust. It tasted like the seafood was old and not cooked properly. I am not sure what else to say, not good. Finally, our bill came and this is were the anger sit in, but I didn't say anything inside out of respect for my wife. 2 Bloody Mary's with vegetable fixings - $24.00 2 Overcooked Bacon wrapped Scallops - $16.00 1 Hamburger not cooked to order with hard bun - $10.00 1 Rotten seafood portabella mushroom - $24.00 Total with tax $79.00. We just came in for a late lunch. I have been drinking and eating food at bars for a long time now. Never in my life have I paid such outrageous prices for subpar food. I could eat at 4 star restaurants in Milwaukee, we have. Pasta Tree, Hotel Metro, Lousie's, and etc.. and spent the same or less. However, the difference is we knew that we would be paying more because they are nicer establishments, with valuable reputations. So it makes sense that they don't have a menu or won't even tell you their prices of their food. They know no one would buy that crap food and it would all go bad. People don't go to dive sports bars to spend almost a $100 with tip for lunch date. It just doesn't happen. I can go to J & B's on bluemound and get better food and drinks made for $30 for two people, maybe $40 if I am really drinking. Everything from the bloody's, burger, scallop, portabella was a bad experience. DO NOT STOP HERE. SAVE YOUR MONEY. As for the response - I work in the industry and always leave a tip no matter what. Also it is not my responsibility to explain a confusing menu. Why don't you post your PRICES? Your food is far from best quality. Don't oversell yourself.
(1)Alyona K.
Walking in the door, I was surprised that any place that consisted of only a couple of tables, smallest bathrooms I've ever seen, and a huge bar full of shady looking people, could ever be described as having the "best seafood in Milwaukee". But, arguably, and for the most part, it was. Yes, there was no menu, and, once seated, we were invited to check out the goodies in the case. In it we found the biggest (not exaggerating, I would shit my pants if I saw these in real life) crab legs, lobster tails, oysters both Rockefeller and on the half shell, shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon, sea bass, portabello mushrooms topped with crab and blue cheese, various cuts of beef and a variety of fresh veggies. The waiter joined us there to describe the selection as well as different ways the food can be prepared. Our party consisted of 5 adults and a toddler. We had a half dozen of oysters on the half shell, 4 mushrooms, a steak topped with crab and hollandaise sauce, about 10 bacon wrapped shrimp, couple of scallops, about 10 sautéed shrimp the size of my hand and sea bass. The meal started off with amazing sourdough bread and we all had different sides like rice pilaf, broccoli and asparagus. The staff was very sweet and attentive, however, the chef did not come out to ask about our meal (which is something I expected after reading reviews here on Yelp). The bacon wrapped shrimp was overcooked and dry, veggies were cooked perfectly, the butter was clarified and the sea bass was the best I have ever had. The crab topped mushroom was delicious, but I thought the blue cheese was too strong and overpowered the mild taste of the crab. The steak tasted a little old, for it being the most expensive item on our ticket. At the end we all left stuffed, but had no leftovers to take home, even though our check was a whopping 301 dollars! To round this up, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was weird, waiters were great, but the prices were outrageous. But hey, if you are feeling adventurous and have a couple of hundred of bucks to blow, go for it!
(4)Kathleen S.
Awesome restaurant concept - it takes guts and talent! At this out of the way, sports themed restaurant you get no menu. Just peruse the items in their cold case, decide what you're in the mood for, and ask the chef to cook you up something special. Out comes some terrific food all customized to your own personal taste. Fantastic!!
(4)Michelle A.
We went here after hearing great things- we didn't even stay to eat , no menu and no prices listed , ah I think not -nice way to be able to gouge your patrons.
(1)L. S.
Pricey but fantastic. We stumbled in after the game crowd left and were treated like royalty. Great Food made the way you want it or just ask the chef to make something tasty. Also got the cheesecake and Wow!!!!
(4)Steve S.
Been years since I've been there and it's as good as I remember Great bar Good drinks Fun raucous crowd Excellent food Not cheap but you get what you pay for Great fun servers with twins Mike and Steve
(4)Rick R.
So, I've read several reviews mostly stating the food was good but complaining about receiving a check with an unexpectedly high amount at the end of the meal. That latter kept me away. An opportunity came up to join a Meetup group for dinner at 4th Base for a tasting menu at a fixed price that was within my budget, so I jumped at the chance, and it ended up being a great decision. It was some of the very best tasting food I've had in Milwaukee. From what I'm told, some changes were made within the past year or so, so maybe I got to experience the changes. Our group of 12 shared several dishes: - salad with fresh veggies, - arguably the best freshly baked bread Ive ever had, - a delicious Penne Pasta Alfredo with Chicken that had a good amount of garlic on it (which I liked), - a large Porterhouse steak that was perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, and incredibly tender, - crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp (HUGE shrimp, perfectly cooked, excellent dish), - steak and mushroom bruschetta flatbread (great flavors, but a little soggy and messy to eat; a nice concept but not very well-executed), - BBQ pork ribs (not the best I've had in MKE but really good, meaty, moist, and tender) - Snickers Cheesecake for dessert (creamy and delicious). Our server struggled a bit keeping up with our group and her other tables, but she was very sweet and patient, considering one or two members of our group were unnecessarily getting a bit of attitude. I saw an old cash register and a paper and pen system. Maybe a modern POS system would add efficiencies. I noticed a small chalkboard with some menu items listed without prices, a whiteboard above the kicthen with game day specials that did have prices (all under $20), and a sidewalk display board outside with additional game day specials listed without prices. The concept of no menus or pricing still bothered me, so I spent some time after dinner talking to the manager and one of the chefs (there were two), both were very receptive to take my questions. They were friendly, cordial, and explained why they do what they do without getting defensive or giving me any attitiude. There are chefs in town who will get a little defensive when questioned about why they do what they do. The chef told me that if I have a concern about the bill, I can ask for what my meal would cost before I place the order. The trick is that the menu is very customizable. That's why there is no menu. You can have any thing you want and any combination of ingredients that you want, as long as they have it. You can walk up to the display case of steaks and seafood and veggies and pick and choose. Then ask them "how much would it cost for this:?" Just don't be the person with your own menu of 20 items and asked for each combination to be priced out. They have other customers to serve. I would ditch that person if I was dining with them. While the bar looks like a complete divey sports bar, the food is great and their goal is to put out high-end steak and seafood dishes. Other options are available, but steaks and seafood are their specialty. Granted I only had one visit, but I was able to sample a lot of different dishes, including one steak and one seafood dish. I'm going to trust that my experience was not a fluke, and I'll visit again. Based on that one experience, I will definitely go back. Maybe I'll get a pizza or wings or a burger while catching a Brewers, Packers, or Bucks game. Maybe I'll just stop in for dinner. Diners can sit at the bar, at a table in the bar area, or at a table in the back dining room that seats about 20 guests. Not everything is high-priced. My advice is to get informed before you order, so you can make the right decision and enjoy a great meal without repercussions. Maybe future visits will resut in a bump to 5 stars. I think that is possible based solely on the dishes I was able to sample.
(4)Brian E.
First of all, the staff, waitress, chef, bar tender were all super friendly and nice. We ask to see a menu.....well they do not have a menu. The waitress took us back to the meat case and you picked what you want out of what was available......kinda cool and kinda weird all at the same time.....So for our order....6 oysters on the half shell, 3 thick scallops, 3 bacon wrapped scallops, a diet soda, a water and 2 craft (local) beers.....scallops were cooked very nice and were very tasty! Oyster were average.....no big deal....now the killer....the bill of 90 bucks....scallops were 8 bucks a piece, which is average, I think, but the local beers were 10 bucks a pint! I guess, the food was good, service was excellent but something about not seeing a menu blew it for us......tons of history in this place, staff was excellent.....just weird with no menu.....I would go back though just to drink and look at the hot wait staff!
(3)Valerie G.
From the moment we walked in the door, we were greeted like old friends by the bartender CJ. Not only was there a good selection of beer, but CJ was making unique cocktails that were fun to try out! When you come for dinner here, it is not just bar food. It's an experience. This is the best part of dining out, in my opinion. You meet the chef (Marco) who walks you through some dinner options for the night. There is a refrigerated glass display case where you can literally pick out your meat and veggies. There is no actual menu, but isn't this much better than a menu with pictures?!. And you can basically create your own dish. The chef personally brought the food out to us and later returned to tell a joke and show us what he'd been making for dessert. I couldn't wait! If you are looking for a fun experience and want an amazing dinner (one of the best steaks I've ever had!) without having to dress up and go to a stuffy restaurant, this place is #1. Overall, the staff and the food here made our night- we've been here a few times and will definitely be returning!
(5)Mike S.
"Menu? Who needs a menu?!? Just order whatever you want!" Those were the words spoken by my friend who showed me The 4th Base, and boy was ordering fun!!! I felt like a little kid in a Toys R Us, being told to create whatever you I wanted. I never knew I wanted a blackened cod Benedict with feta & spinach hash browns, but after eating that sandwich, I knew that it was the sandwich I always wanted! The friend who took me, warned me that the prices would be a little high, but that it would be worth it. I'll admit, my meal was $19, but I would say, it was totaly worth it! If you're thinking about checking out the 4th Base, just do it! My only suggestion on what to order is order whatever you want!!!
(5)World T.
This place always makes my day better!!! Great drinks! Great company! Wow! CJ was really accommodating, Andy was really patient, Jamie was super entertaining! Omg! I love this place!!!! Even the 12 and 14 year old loved this place!!!!
(5)Melanie V.
menu is very customizable, and so are your drinks! its like having your own person chef? what more can you ask for!? Amazing!
(5)Robyn A.
Horrible experience. I don't think I've ever left a restaurant where I, and everyone I was with, was so angry/disgusted. The "unique" way they do their food/ordering system is basically a scam. You look in a display case of food and order what you want. When we were doing this, my fiancee questioned the "waiter" about the prices. "It all depends on what you order," was his response. She pressed further and asked about a steak and potatoes- "$24," he said. So, we're all thinking that'll provide kind of a baseline, assuming steak is one of the most expensive options. Big mistake. We were horrified after we ate and were told what we owed- 1. A crab leg and side of brussel sprouts. The crab leg was apparently 1/2 lb. even though half of that was a giant knuckle which I/most don't eat. $36.00- $30 for the crab leg and $6 for the sprouts. 2. Chicken breast and a baked potato- $18. 3. Quinoa and mixed veggies- $18. 4. Bloodies- $12/each. Yes, the food was good. But that was the only redeeming part of the experience and is grossly overshadowed by how ripped off we felt. I've seen the managers responses to similar reviews... basically saying it's the customer's fault for not understanding their "unique" system. Standard victim blaming. Bad enough when people don't even know better than to ask considering they're in a dive bar and assume a decent priced or even average priced meal, but then there was us who actually questioned the pricing, etc. and weren't given a straight answer. A suggestion for the bar- if you want to do this concept of ordering, then you should have prices for each item listed so people can piece together a meal based on what they want to spend rather then arbitrarily making up prices after they have eaten. Kinda sad when you try to venture into a small, local business only to be screwed over. I'll stick to getting my 1.5lbs of King Crab legs from Wicked Hop for a CLEARLY ADVERTISED $20.00.
(1)Heidi H.
Eat here now. Yes it's expensive. Yes it's a dive bar. The two mixed together are so much fun! We had food that was comparable to any fine dining restaurant I have ever been too! Plan ahead though there is no menu so come prepared with a cool dish in your head and they will prepare it. I recommend the bacon wrapped blue cheese stuffed tenderloin. Yup you heard me bacon-blue cheese-steak. Ahhhmazing. Can't wait to go again with friends! They also serve your typical bar food so if your not in the mood to eat divine food come for a burger and enjoy the atmosphere. I promise you won't hate it!
(5)Larry S.
Outstanding fresh and creative food in a dive bar environment. Cajun shrimp are awesome. You go to the meat case, select what you enjoy and discuss serving options with the chef. Large portions, great service and good drinks. Thin wine selection.
(4)Michael D.
Such a great place with a very versatile menu, if it wasn't for actually being in a sports bar, you'd think you were out fine dining. Absolutely loved the steak sandwich I had. Wonderful servers, and fun atmosphere to watch your favorite sporting events at!
(5)Cathi W.
So, we ended up at 4th Base this morning. We were looking for a breakfast place near our out-of-town family's hotel. We happened to stop in at 4th Base to see if they served food that early (9:30am), and CJ greeted us with gusto! Yes, they had food. Yes, they had bloody marys. And did they, ever. The bloodys were piled high with haystack onion rings, and were just the right amount of tangy/spicy. They don't have food menus, but they make just about anything. I ordered a mushroom and onion omelet with a side of hashbrowns and crispy bacon. I wish I would have known about the HUGE portions beforehand, because that omelet was no fewer than 5 eggs stuffed with at least a half pound of veggies. The hashbrowns were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside - exactly what you want them to be. It was all delicious, and I was sad that I couldn't eat more of the meal. The staff was amazing - CJ was a total sweetheart, stopping by our table periodically to make sure we were happy and he wasn't even our server. Our server, Kristin (I think) was super friendly and accommodating. Another server put money in the jukebox and had our table pick the music. All in all, not only will I recommend this place, I will absolutely go back!! Excellent service, yummy food. Go hungry - you won't be disappointed!
(4)Serena M.
Not even worth 1 star. Disappointed...Terrible food! Terrible prices! No menu, no prices. $120 bill for 2 people. Ridiculous for bar food in West Allis. We had fish & veggies, 1 mushroom appetizer & soup & a couple beers. Not impressed! Will NEVER come back & will NOT recommend to anyone!
(1)Kate H.
Best salad I have ever had at a restaurant, followed by mouth-watering flan & decadent cheesecake... love the freedom provided by no formal menu. Your dish is crafted entirely to your liking... cannot beat the experience!
(5)Leighann M.
We came from Chicago to meet up for a business dinner.....ambience of a corner bar with the food of a gourmet restaurant. Definitely check it out!!!!
(5)Jessica W.
Fantastic place. It isn't your typical Resturant which makes a dinner here really fun. There is no menu (they tell you this right away) so you go up to this case of fresh food; seafood, steaks, veggies, etc. you pick out what you want and tell the chef how to prepare it. The quality of the food is so good, can't think of another Resturant that compares. I have tried several things in the two times I have been there and have not been disappointed once. Service is great as well, great job explaining how it works and making you feel at home. Definitely going back another time real soon. Give this place a try, you will be pleasantly surprised!
(5)Rob B.
Food was spectacular we should have asked the cost as they are not posted. Sticker shock. Could have had the same experience at a high end steak place. Expect high quality and a higher than expected price. Drinks food great but you will pay beyond what you expect. Check Eddie Martinis you will pay about the same and receive the high class services. I see a great product at 4th base but not a great value.
(4)Brian T.
Great place! Very cool environment, delicious food, and friendly staff. Couldn't ask for more. Will definitely be back!
(5)Pamela M.
This isn't going to be pretty... and they deserve every cut I am going to give them. I will NEVER have dinner here again. I'll even start with the good: the one star goes to the server, the BEST thing I ate there last night was the bread. And that was FREE. I have never in my life experienced severe buyer's remorse from a restaurant. Once I dropped $300 at Jackson Grill and looking back, it was worth every penny. Dropping $200 at Fourth Base makes me sick to my stomach for what was delivered to my table. First of all, if a chef can't season food, he sucks. On Top Chef, Tom Colicchio takes pride in kicking people off the show for that. This food was GROSSLY under seasoned. There was NO style, NO finesse, NO eating with your eyes first (which is #1 in my book). Where this loser of a chef lacked in seasoning he disgustinly overdoes the oil and butter. Everything was swimming in it. It's really a testament that someone can't cook if you have to cover food in butter. It's like a comedian that has to swear every other word because they aren't really that funny, so they rely on vulgarity to pull them through. As a matter of fact, that's the best way to describe my dinner experience: VULGAR. After they boasted how fresh the seafood was, my scallops and the crab in the mushroom were fishy... they did not taste clean & fresh. Chilean Sea Bass is one of the most delicious fish I've ever had -- at OTHER restaurants. Not Here. It was bland, undercooked, served with boring white rice, not enough sauce - which wasn't even that great. And the scallops -- OMG don't get me started, just look at the picture. How can you charge all of this money and not know how to pan sear effing scallops?!?! UGH!!! Again, the Best thing we ate: the free bread. Second best thing: the feta cheese app. Everything else is not worth it. Apps: feta cheese ($17) and crab suffed portabella mushroom cap ($30!?!?!?!) Dinners: Scallops ($5 ea.) Brussel sprouts (I can't remember $$, but they were A LOT), Chilean Sea Bass ($30), Shrimp ($4 ea??) Pasta & veggies to go with shrimp ($10!?) cheesecake ($7) Food Bill was ~ $130 Drinks less than $40 tax & tip $203 I hate this place and whoever thought they could charge a premium and deliver total crap. For the yelpers who gave 5 stars, I am upset at you guys. This is not providing any value to people because it's simply not true. I guess your experiences could have been 180 degrees different than mine, but c'mon... 5 starts is nothing short of blasphemy.
(1)Shelby J.
I've been here twice now and I absolutely love it. Its a quant hidden gem with bar food that is not your regular menu but more awesome! The second time going we went family style and had an amazing array to share! Bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp, grilled veggies, steak, ribs and so much more all while we watched the packer game. I highly recommend checking it out! You may expect to pay a little bit more but it's well worth it!
(5)Shelley S.
Want a tasty eclectic bar food and a reasonable price? Ask CJ to make for order anything from steak topped flat bread pizza to bacon wrapped crab stuffed jumbo shrimp. Just to die for! -S
(3)Bobblehead B.
Been going there for 3 decades. Really enjoy the place and the folks that are regulars are a trip. Excellent location near Miller Park for pre and post game activity. Food is pricey, but good. Whenever I am in Milwaukee, I stop in.
(4)Andrew M.
This may be my favorite place in Milwaukee after just 1 trip. 4th Base was recommended to me by a coworker who said it is his favorite place to go in Milwaukee. We had a group of 25 people that were going to come in for drinks and dinner so we called ahead. The bartender who answered the phone was super excited. I guess this place isn't very busy when the Brewers aren't in town. We get in a little after 6 oclock on a Saturday. There is a table of 4 and the rest of the place is dead. To say this place is a dive is an understatement. It is a whole in the wall filled with sports memorabilia, great craft beers, and the most delicious food ever. Everyone jumps right in like we have all been there before, but we have no idea what we are doing. "Can I have a menu?" I heard someone ask... it was met with a moment of silence then the bartender said we have a cooler over there. It is your menu, and there is a chalkboard with some specials on it. I walked to the cooler, and the light was like the end of pulp fiction when they open the briefcase, but this time you get to actually see whats in the case. I didn't know where to start I was totally overwhelmed. Bacon wrapped scallops, filet, salmon, tuna, biggest jumbo shrimp I have ever seen (oh they have them wrapped in bacon too), even bigger crab legs, and an array of fresh vegetables. I had to have a beer just to get my head straight. Luckily for me this allowed some other people to begin ordering. I tried turkey meatballs (terrific with just the right amount of seasoning and spice), blackened salmon (a little peppery for my taste but still delicious), italian sausage (pretty good), onion straws (delicious), brussel sprouts (unbelievably fresh), filet (always great), and scallops (my favorite). I finally ordered... can I get 3 no wait 4 bacon wrapped scallops with a side of rice, a bowl of steak chili, and a ribeye sandwich for my buddy. $75... While a little expensive, the food was definitely worth it. I could barely finish the scallops and only had 2 or 3 bites of the rice. Same with the chili. My buddy finished the ribeye sandwich before I even had the chance to see it, so I guess it was good. We had a great time, and I think the bartenders/servers did too. Next time I am in Milwaukee I know where I will be having dinner.
(5)Rick H.
Friendly staff. We are from out of town and very helpful with info of area. Did not get to eat here but menu looks outstanding!
(4)Scott L.
The perch reuben is both the best and most brilliant sandwich I have ever had. The perch was perfectly cooked and the raisin cinnamon bread just made it over the top. Bravo to the under utilized chef!
(5)Mike B.
When you first enter, you'd expect that it was just another corner sports bar in Milwaukee. Not so fast! Very good beer selection. Bloody Mary rivals some of the best in Milwaukee. The staff are tremendously friendly and helpful. And the food? The is fantastic! The menu is mostly a la carte with a selection of daily specials. Portions are more than enough for one person. It's like having a gourmet chef in a dive bar. 4th Base is one of Milwaukee's hidden gems!
(4)Jacob P.
Excellent fresh food and good selection of tap beers. Also lots of memorabilia on the walls!
(5)Brian H.
Have you ever been to fourth base? It was an awkward question, especially coming from a co-worker. However after some clarification, I decided to check this place out. By first impression, Fourth Base looks the same as just about any other small bar in the Milwaukee area... but then if you wander back behind the bar, a secret treasure trove of meats and veggies sits in a glass case, waiting for you to make your selection. What's good? Well, there is no menu... you literally point at things and tell the chef how you want it made. For instance: "Give me three of those baseball-sized scallops... and wrap them in bacon." A little while later, you get three hot and buttery bacon-wrapped scallops. The same theory applies to anything from fillet to lobster to salmon to broccoli. You want a portabella mushroom? Stuffed with veggies? No, stuffed with cheese? Whatever you want. You literally create your own menu items as you go. They'll do it entrée style, or you can get it appetizer style to share with a group (I think this is best). It's a somewhat bizarre experience, but I found it to be fun. While waiting for the rest of our food, we were brought some AMAZING bread (I hate to say it, but the best thing we had that night?), and were tended to attentively by Coleen, the bartender. All of the staff was friendly, and my guests and I had a great time. They were from out of town, so we asked if we could buy pint glasses. We were told we could, so they decided to get two. For no stated reason, they said they'd give us a third for free. Sweet! The only damper on the experience was getting the bill... we had tried a handful of dishes, had a number of drinks, and bought souvenirs. After tip, we got out at almost exactly $300. Ouch. Most people would murder the review for that... Instant 1-star. That is extremely expensive for this "class" of establishment. You could easily pop into Eddie Martini's and spend less... but you probably wouldn't have the same experience. Fourth Base isn't a high-end establishment, but it does provide a unique experience that (at least from what I've seen so far of this city) is unmatched in style. It's weird, it's informal, and it's FUN. And, the quality of the food was excellent. For the experience it provided, I can't give this any less than a 4-star review. I might not visit often, if ever again, but I in no way regret the experience. It was well worth it.
(4)Kristina F.
I have to say I have been to the bar many of times. The staff there are awesome. I love to see CJ the owner, Jamie, and Patrick who are bartenders. Marco and Brian are awesome cooks any questions you have they have no problems explaining it to you. It is a different kind of bar there might be no menus but that's how you make it your own. The food is amazing I have had so many different types of meals and I have never been let down not once. I love the atmosphere there it's like cheers. To me it's very homey and being from buffalo I love the fact that my teams helmet is right in there. Some people say oh its a dive bar I don't think so it is what you make it and things aren't always what they seem. 4th base has great food and great people and every time I go I am never disappointed and I always have a blast. Thanks you guys for everything...... I always am happy their because even if I'm having a bad day 4th base turns it around.
(5)Mark L.
Amazing perch reuben!!!! Best sandwich ever - seriously. It's true what the naysayers s a y about no menu and pricey, but the food is worth it.
(5)Hank -.
We ate here today for the first time. It was early evening on a Monday and the place was completely dead. First off, I like the idea that you can order pretty much whatever you want because the kitchen if flexible but I think they failed terribly in delivering on everything we ordered. There are no prices for anything. You have no idea what it will cost and they pretty much size you up depending on how your dressed (this became apparent as the waiter was asking what we did for a living). We opted to do what they described as a "Tasting Menu" type of dinner (we thought it would be sort of like Tapas fashion as it was described as small plates of different chef choices). The waiter mentioned that we could try 6 or 7 things and get a real feel for the food, the menu and what the chef had up his sleeve. Well, we only had 3 things and had to exchange one of them because it was brought out raw and cold. Although it was promptly replaced by another dish of our choice, I am really glad we didn't have the mentioed 6-7 small plates. For 3 shared plates and 3 mix drinks (total) our bill was $100. Had we had 6-7, we would have had a $300 bill. The food was not impressive at all. I have the benefit of travelling for work very frequently so I do get spoiled with trying new great restaurants around the world but $100 for food served in a grubby baseball bar is insane. The Cajun shrimp were terrible and overcooked, the Seafood pasta was good but the Salmon was overcooked. The Bacon Wrapped Scallops were good and I would have them again, less the lumpy alfredo sauce and pasta they were served with. Most everything that we saw come out of the kitchen was heavy on Pasta which is a Cop-Out at the prices they are charging. I would recommend going to a more formal place if you want good seafood and better service and aren't into getting Sticker Shock at the end. I don't mind spending money and often times spend in upwards of 100 per person with (with wine) for a nice dinner but $115 with tip for something that was never described to you is a complete and total rip off. Major fail on their part. FYI (as I have heard the prices always change) Scallops wrapped in bacon $12 Small bowl of Pasta with lumpy Alfredo - $7 Small bowl of Pasta with overcooked Salmon - $22 4 Shrimp in a described Cajun sauce $18 Had there not been tomatoes in the red sauce on the salmon the only vegetable we would have had were the limes and cherries in our drink.... Don't waste your time or money. Support a restaurant that has their act together. I know numerous restaurants in town that are willing to whip up something if it's not on the menu. This place is not special for that..... Lastly, I ordered an Old Fashioned and it was $10. Even downtown you don't pay $10. Funny thing was, the bartender didn't know how they were made and had to be coached. I am not bitter, just very disappointed...
(1)Brett B.
This place is amazing because of the people and the atmosphere. My dad, brother and I came in from California to see a Brewers game and kind of stumbled into this place pre-game (and later followed it up with a post game brew). Adam, the bartender, is by far the most laid back yet attentive bartender I've ever met. Talk about a guy that makes you feel welcome! This place has that feel good character that you are looking for in a local watering hole. Good drinks Good drink prices Good dive atmosphere. Now if only it wasn't 2,000 miles away, I'd be heading over for a cocktail about now.
(5)Christina W.
First: there is no menu. They serve a variety of food which was bad in my case. I ordered 2 pancakes (3$ each!) toast and bacon. They ran out of bread so they brought me garlic bread. My friend ordered pancakes sausage, hash browns and they brought her Italian sausage! Overall, I felt the Italian theme was a little too much for my brunch. The bloody Mary's were great! They come fully loaded with onion rings and all, but for a cool $12 each! My "breakfast" bill came to 67$ for 2 people!!!!! Unless I need a Bloody Mary, ill avoid this place and go down the street to ihop. Be cautious of the prices, they almost got away with charging me $14 for hash browns. Won't be going back. Waitress was very nice.
(1)Jake P.
I love this joint, one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and my favorite place to go to after a Brewers game. After a tough Brewers loss, it was nice to know that we would be headed here. I love the good sports bar and that's what the 4th base is. It's crowded which is good and the waitresses and people are very friendly. I love that they offer new specials everyday, which I love when I want to try something new. I ordered the special chicken stir fry with cottage fries, the best fries. The food takes a while as the kitchen is small but there are plenty of things to do in the meantime and the food is worth the wait.i got excited when the food came out and our waitress was nice. The fries were great as always, the crispy and crunchy fries covered with Parmesan cheese really hit the spot. A great side to go along with the stir fry. The stir fry had delicious, tender chicken and fresh veggies in a delicious soy sauce. One of the best stir frys I've had, better than some served at Japanese restaurants. This place really hits the spot and a great spot to hit up after a Brewers game. Just make sure that you have enough money in your wallet!
(4)Rob W.
The food here was great and CJ is an awesome owner. We had a group of 9 and no one left hungry. We had bacon wrapped crab stuffed shrimp and many other things that were to die for! I will definitely go there again.
(5)Stephen M.
The food is excellent. Period. Some of the best food in memory. Don't approach the Fourth Base like normal business. Expect to spend some hard-earned money here. If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Really. They don't specify prices, and the bill isn't itemized. That's the way it rolls, so expect and accept the situation or don't go. And it's expensive. There is no menu. Order what you want from a list of available ingredients. Order what you want and how you want it. The chef will make it all, just for you, exactly how you like it. And it's expensive. The scallops were the size of friggin hockey pucks, the bacon was just right, and the shrimp were huge. It was remarkable. And expensive.
(5)Dominic S.
$31 for Veal Ravioli & beer, my mistake with no menu & prices listed should have asked. Avoid at all cost!
(1)L M.
I was there for the first time this past weekend. The atmosphere is very casual but the food and drinks are exceptional. I had one of the best Bloody Marys ever, followed by a 16 ounce beer chaser of my choice. The food situation is different- no menu. You go to the deli counter and pick what you want to eat. There is steak, lobster, scallops, pork and fresh vegetables. Your food is custom ordered and it was fantastic. To top it all off, they play great music. This will be my go to restaurant in Milwaukee.
(5)Francis D.
First off, place has problems and is currently on boycott status. Ask the chef what's good... he said the calamari was awesome, and the squid came out as big as truck tires! Now, like Hank said, there are no prices shown - how am I not to feel robbed after paying a non-itemized bill? It's owned by an old crumudgeon misogynist that screws over his waitstaff, cooks and bartenders by firing everybody every 3 months! If you go there, cut them some slack... and who needs regulars when you're next to Miller Park? Not Fourth Base! Ripping off strangers is too good a business. Go here if some salesman is buying, or if you want to see someplace that has not changed in +/- 25 years.
(2)Sara B.
Wow! Incredible food! Staff was fabulous! Best kept secret in the city! No real menu- chalkboard menu that changes daily.
(5)Crista K.
Terrible tasteless tuna and lousy lobster! And...outrageously overpriced! If you've ever eaten real seafood, you will hate the food. They don't have menus and prices listed for a reason! It's too bad that they have a three star rating, because they don't even deserve one star. Sorry fourth base...you struck out and unfortunately for us at our expense. The staff and atmosphere was nice enough..This is place is good enough for drinks only.
(1)Stephanie L.
Love, love, love, love, love. Can you tell I am singing? I found the one place that I would place next to Christie's on the "Near and Dear to my Heart" restaurant list. I do not know many bars that have a display case showing their fresh produce and meats. I was blown away. You know exactly what you are getting here. There are so many wonderful menu options that I wished we were not going to the Brewers' game. I wanted to stay at 4th Base to eat. I had to dabble with the food. It was calling to me. We went with some cocktails--I, the ever fantastically brewed Lakefront IPA--and the homemade mozzarella sticks in chunky marinara. This is not your frozen variety in a pool of Ragu either. The stix had a thin batter that made for a good, crunchy exterior, and there was a rich [heavenly] dose of dense mozzarella inside. The marinara is made in-house, and tastes like the tomatoes came out of the garden, were seasoned and chopped, and tossed into the spiced sauce. D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!!! Why do they not serve this version of mozzarella sticks at Summerfest and/or State Fair? Even if 4th base never makes it to the masses at the aforementioned food meccas, I will make this bar my home base any day. I will find a stool, happily whiling away the hours, sampling food and beer during many more visits to come.
(5)Jason L.
Certainly a novelty that you can go to a bar and order essentially whatever you are hungry for... What isn't novel is the fact that there is no pricing or a menu to order off of...so imagine your surprise when you get the lunch check for a steak sandwich and discover that its $30...YIKES. Yes, it was good, but for that price I could have been enjoying a lunch at Eddie Martinis and not having to deal with a dingy smoky bar.
(2)Adam R.
A Milwaukee tradition, been going here since I was a kid. Best food in a casual setting I've ever seen! No menu but you can order whatever you want, how you want it! Don't believe the no prices comments, they have a price for everything, just ask. Simply one of the best places in Milwaukee. I recommend the 25 ounce ribeye cajun blackened, unbelievable!
(5)Jennie B.
Food good, $10 each for a bloody Mary & Mimosa on 51st & National....don't think so. No menu/no prices....pretty bizarre.
(2)Stephen R.
Dudes, I love this place and first went there 12 years ago. Its still a great place, the steamed vegetables, and the lobster and crab legs are fantastic. Watch out though, this place is NOT CHEAP. I love this place and there is no set menu, but they always have great grub. Bring your money though.
(4)Jodi L.
This place is not great on the eyes but it's pure heaven in your mouth. They don't have menus so don't ask. Everything is so fresh and tasty. It is pricey for a dive bar but the portions are huge and did I mention YUMMY?
(5)Erica L.
Visiting from Los Angeles, CA we didn't know where to eat or what places were good. So we yelped and came across 4th Base after a Brewers game. Right off the bat, Sammy, the bar tender and Marco, the chef were GREAT! This place was very welcoming, the steaks were delicious and tender, the gelato was scrumptious, the beer selections was awesome, and the interior was fun to look at. This is a place that I would love to come back and visit again! BOTTOM LINE: do not pass up this place!
(5)Tonya P.
We weren't looking for the Sunday morning after church omelet place that everyone goes to. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed with our visit, food or service. My Bloody Mary was probably the best I have ever had. Our breakfast portions were enough to feed an army and the service was awesome. CJ the owner stopped by several times to make sure we were ok and had everything we needed and the bartender made sure our glasses were always full. I wish this bar was in my town, it's the only one I would ever go to! Thanks again CJ and crew. We will be back next time we are in town.
(5)