Horrible service! Horrible! We sat at the bar. Business was steady but it certainly wasn't busy in there. It took the bartender a good 5 minutes to get to us which doesn't sound like long but we could see he wasn't busy. Then he rubbed his eye while he was talking to us about drinks. My husband ordered a $2 Miller game day special and I just had an ice water. The bartender proceeded to pick up my straw by the end I would drink off of with his contaminated eye-scratching hand. Needless to say, I didn't drink the water. When we were ready to leave, 10 minutes later, the bartender did not drop off a bill. We just put our $3 on the bar. He came by and took $2 of the $3 and left the other $1 bill on the bartop and walked away. No thank you, no good-bye, nothing! So we took our $1 bill and gave it to the host who actually did a nice job greeting us and sat us promptly. We obviously won't be returning.
(1)
Mike D.
Longest bar in Wisconsin I believe. This is a cool place. Usually a good time. Sometimes after basketball games it can get extremely packed and hard to get a drink. The food is decent and the staff is good. Overall a good bar, just sometimes you can catch it at a bad time
(4)
Jenna H.
Great place to stop before going to the Bradley Center or doing stuff in the area. They have a HUGE old fashioned long bar. They have great bar food for decent prices.
(4)
Kristen Z.
We were looking everywhere for a good breakfast place close to the Intercontinental Hotel on a rainy Saturday morning a few weeks ago. We stumbled in here as it was the first place we found that was open and offered both shelter from the downpour and breakfast. We were a little leery at first, as it was just shy of 11 am and completely empty. The place looks like an old, converted brothel, which makes it an odd breakfast environment. That being said, within 20 minutes the huge bar area (seriously, the longest bar I have ever seen) was packed with Marquette fans catching the game. The breakfast menu (only served until 2pm) only had three offerings (pancakes, eggs and something else that I can't remember), but the entire regular menu was available as well. I had scrambled eggs with bacon, toast and hash browns which hit the spot. My husband had the Wisconsin grilled cheese and was happy with his choice as well. Not mind-blowing, but satiating. Definitely an unusual environment, but pretty cool and somewhere I would eat breakfast again. On a side note, I really wish we would've came back later that night and checked out the upstairs bar - it looked interesting.
(3)
Jake N.
I don't get what is so great about this place other than the really cool long bar, and it's location. The food was nothing really special. I've had the chicken sandwich and the burger there. Both were ok. My biggest complaint about this place is the lack of service from the gianormous bar. I know it's busy, but I shouldn't have to wait 10 minutes for a refill. I'd have given this place 3 stars, but the wait to get drinks is obnoxious.
(2)
A T.
Buck Bradley's is in a beautiful historic building. The food is typical bar fare but pretty decent. The bar is gorgeous and the place is spaceous, so even when it's crowded before a show or game, it's doesn't have a cramped feeling.
(4)
Shelley W.
Who does the owner thinks he is? The bar is ok, might be nice to see it once but not worth another trip back. We had an outing for a coworker and a crowd of 8+. When setting up reservations for the event sevice was great! They were thrilled to have us there and more than happy to work with us. Arriving there was totally a different story. Our server was BAD! she didn't have a personality, was not friendly, or helpful and when we did have questions she'd give us this dumb look and walk away mid-sentence! Completely rude. The wait for drinks wasn't horrible but then again the bar only had about 30 people in it. Someone ordered a drink with sierra mist in it and also a plain sierra mist. Clearly this sierra mist was at the bottom of the tap and it had a terrible taste to it. Not only did our waitress try to tell us that was the "difference between sprite and sierra mist" she never ONCE apologized or offered us another drink. After ordering food and a few more drinks the bill arrived and that's when the evening went down hill quick. Someone had purchased a round of drinks and was charged 18% gratuity on the DRINKS!!! I can understand a party of 8 and added gratuity for food but NOT DRINKS! there is no way this server deserved a $15+ tip on 8 drinks. When this was brought to the attention of the "owner" not only did this man "defend his employee. . . .she provided you good service", he never once asked us what the problem was and why we were disputing the charge. Sorry to say if 8 people are all saying they received bad service you should really check with your employee. Don't know how this guy has been an owner for as long as he has as he's a JERK and certainly doesn't know how to talk to women much less customers. I for one will NEVER set food in this place again and I hope none of my friends will either. Buck Bradleys, I hope you crash and burn. . .it's called karma and yours is coming.
(1)
Annemarie D.
I usually go here before I attend Bradley Center events. The building is great if you are a history buff like me. They just don't make places like this any more. I think the only thing keeping this place in business is the building and its location. I recently stopped in before a Marquette game. The place was understandably packed. The hostess greeted us by asking if we had reservations. When told no she pointed to the stairs and said,"Go up there". We trudged up the stairs and were greeted much better by that hostess. My friend and I decided to share potato skins, mozzarella sticks and the BBQ chicken sandwich. Our server was great and I feel bad for not remembering her name. The sticks were good. The skins were pretty dry and I definitely would not recommend them. The sandwich was good. The bun was better than average. Overall the food was overpriced and the hostess left a bad taste in my mouth. If I want to get treated like crap and eat mediocre food, I can go to Denny's and pay way less.
(2)
Arlene A.
My Honey and I always manage to come and visit Buck's when we're in Milwaukee. Love how the bartenders are dressed old school, with the long aprons and such, (they also pour a damn good Guinness) In addition, the bar itself is beautiful, with a super high ceiling. The crowd was pretty varied, and thankfully the place was not too crowded. Too empty sucks, but to be honest I think too crowded is far worse.
(3)
Jennifer V.
Worst service ever. Our waitress and the hostess seemed more concerned about turning over tables than servicing the tables they already had seated. Our table, as well as 3 others in our section, had to practically tackle the waitress down to get another drink. They even brought us our bill at one point right after dinner without us even asking for it. I believe this place only makes it because of it's proximity to the Bradley center. It would never make it in another city or in a part of town that is more desirable.
(1)
michael p.
I've been here pre-sports event and the place was jammed. But tonight, a Thursday was just post business outing. Stopped in with my wife and another couple for some food...cuz the high-priced legal firm that put on the event had shitty hors d'ouevres. Good selection of bar food. The 1/2 lb. chicken sandwich I had was sure small....the bun was a 1/2 lb and came with nothin' but a shaggy lookin piece of lettuce and sliced onion. Fries were over-salted. Chicken was dry. Waitress was friendly and efficient...but the place was basically dead at 8:30. $50 with tip for 4 people included 1 beer and 3 sodas.
(3)
Mark K.
Over-priced pub food, but the blackened chicken caeser salad is outstanding
(3)
Michael H.
I tried this restaurant for the first time yesterday and loved it. My waitress was perfect - friendly and attentive, yet knew when to join in the conversation and when to keep to herself. The food was also very good. I tried both the club sandwich and the fish fry. The combination of the good food and good service guarantees that I will stop back.
(4)
Mike K.
Its a good place to stop for a drink and food before going into the Bradley Center, which is right across the street. They have a back entrance so you can literally park in the lot, go across the street to watch the Bucks, or WWE or whatever, then return and go have a beverage and meal for relatively cheap. Its not the best food, then again, you're in Milwaukee, what exactly did you expect? This place has a very cool vibe, friendly greeter, hardworking friendly bartenders and a super duper long bar. They also have chairs and tables and tv screens placed perfectly for casual sporting events. Its not a sports bar, its more like a sophisticated Cheers, complete with servers in Bowties and vintage familiar music from back in the day (my day, not your day...if you like Simple Minds or Thompson Twins this is your place!). Very casual, plus the music isnt too loud so its made for catching up and telling stories. The kind of place you'd find your boss smoking his cigar and drinking extremely expensive Cognac...only its Milwaukee so he probably got it for cheap.
(4)
Livvy O.
Ran into this place after coming from a Bulls vs. Bucks game across the street. You can't miss the place - it's very appealing and lit up from across the stadium. We had walked to another place and they were all 40 plus minute waits. So we came here, it sure looked crowded but they seated us right away! We had a waitress and another lady checking in on us - both very nice and helpful. One drunk guy even came off the street talking smack and she got him away from us. Overall, the Bucks fans weren't terrible, but there was mostly Bulls fan there anyways! On to my review, I saw the jumbo shrimp was their specialty so I got that. It was really good - big shrimp and nice and crispy. It came with fries and coleslaw. Everyone else's food looked really good too. Pretty impressed with this little bar we ran into. Wasn't really sure what Milwaukee had to offer, but this was a good impression of my first dining experience in Milwaukee.
(5)
Brad K.
This is a cool architectural bar and place to visit. If it weren't for the 'cruella deville' lady hostess at the front who greeted us with a sneer I would give this place 3 stars. The bartender was very friendly and was very informative on old Milwaukee history.
(2)
Maria C.
Very interesting bar. The bartender was extremely friendly and the atmosphere was pretty calm considering the nearby bars. The front door men brought in a bunch of bridesmaids/soon to be bride who were enjoying a night out on the town and the staff was really amazing with them. The music changed to cater to them and made them feel special which put a smile on a lot of our faces. they informed us that this was the longest bar in the Midwest which was pretty accurate. The drinks were moderate (everything is measured) but at least they were served in small glasses, thanks! I will definitely be back again if I am ever in the area.
(4)
Amy H.
The food was mediocre. We were starving though so anything would have done at that point. My boyfriend got The Texan, and I got their Tortilla soup and Golden Sauce Wings. I tried the Texan and I didn't think it was anything spectacular. The Tortilla soup was a little too thick for my taste. The Golden Sauce Wings were good. I think the sauce is unique and it had a tang to it. Tang makes everything better in my opinion. In regards to service, the server was attentive, timely, and very polite. I really appreciated that. Her service made our experience better, but it didn't compensate enough for the food.
(2)
Lorraine N.
If you like em' big--stroll on into Buck's. One of the longest bars I have laid eyeballs on. For awhile me and my drinking partner had it all to ourselves. The seasoned gentleman bartender was very friendly and personable and made excellent cocktails with no instructions from this drink bitch at all. I love that. He even delivered us some popcorn. I enjoyed the cozy old school saloon atmosphere of this place.
(5)
Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: pricey bar. Walking into Buck Bradley's on 3rd, it's a comfortable and nice bar space. But I cannot forgive them for $5.50 non-special beers, especially with the kind of "hurry-up" service I experienced and the other options literally next door. Maybe the food is worth stopping in, but the bar isn't.
(2)
Erin L.
Everything was average. Nothing was exciting or unique really. The only reason we went is because our other 3 options close by had a 40min wait and this place had none. We had a wonderful waitress though who was very kind and attentive. I REALLY value good service so at least two stars are for her.
(2)
JaxyGruber ..
Came here for breakfast on a Sunday morning. From the outside it looks small but when I walked inside I was like Wow! That's the longest bar I ever saw! Very awesome and I loved the decor! Our waitress was very pleasant and attentive! Good came in a timely manor abd it was very tasty, no complaints! Will definitely come back again to sit outside for breakfast at the patio tables and enjoy old world 3rd st.
(4)
Sue S.
We were sucked into Buck Bradley's when we noticed the sign outside boasting the longest bar East of the Mississippi. We were intrigued. The bar tender was nice and let us wander in and oggle at the bar. But (having just come from lunch at Maders -- see other review), we were not hungry just then. We returned, though, later in the day, for dinner. And I have to say that it was distinctively average, despite the impressively large and long bar. First, the staff seemed really unprepared for a party of six. They cleared a table, sat us and then offered what I would call "clunky" service for the rest of the night. Our waitress committed several of mypersonal restaurant waitstaff cardinal sins, including: -Not bringing the entire table's order out at once. -Not knowing what we'd ordered (she didn't know who got which dishes, and she didn't know who got which burger even though several in our party had ordered different ones... caused a bit of chaos.) -Not telling us there was a charge for soda refills (um, really???) -Bringing the check before we indicated that we were done. We had not been asked about more drinks (which we would have ordered) or dessert (which we might have). -Asking us if we were finished with the check and then taking the completed and signed credit card receipt away before the table got up to leave. To me, this is the ultimate faux pas -- are you really that greedy and impatient that you can't wait to see what kind of tip you got? It wasn't a good one, I can tell you that. Food-wise, it's a bar. The food is average. My potato skins were decent but slightly overcooked. The chicken wings were passable. The burgers were ok. There are so many good options in Milwaukee, I'd say don't waste your time here. If you must, come over for drinks at the big long bar. But don't bother with a full meal. You will be disappointed in the food and the service.
(2)
Stephanie R.
We ended up here for lunch after finding out our nearby choice was closed. Even though I had once been in Buck's about nine years ago, I had been walking by for recent months thinking it was just another sports bar, so I was surprised at the character that's been maintained in the building and the classical music playing in the dining room. I had some sort of smothered beef sandwich that was on special, and it was incredible, topped with cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms. The cheese soup was a little thin and not overly impressive that day. As for service, our waitress seemed a little absent-minded, mixed up our drinks and offered me a refill at a half full glass and didn't offer one to my friend who was empty, but overall everything was enjoyable.
(4)
Rufus J.
Went there for lunch today which turned out to be quite a mistake. Spent most of my meal listening to the bar tender complain about how sick he was and the other servers actually complain that they were busy. There were families there because of an event at the BC. One server actually said she liked it better when old people came there more. Paid $17 including a $3 tip for an app, fries and soda. This is very overpriced for the quality of food and the obvious crabby staff. Please choose any other place to eat other than this. I'll find a food cart before I'll go back.
(1)
Jessica A.
Solid 3-star place -- great location, although the experience left much to be desired. Service was friendly however had a few mishaps. (Brought the wrong beer out, had to ask a couple times for waters....). The menu is definitely bar grub: some appetizers, small selection of salads, mediocre sounding sandwiches, burgers, etc. Ordered the mozzarella sticks, and a "Rachel" -- which other restaurants name for a Reuben sub Turkey instead of corned beef. First of all.. the cheese sticks suck! They are wrapped in a gross won ton, they literally should be called cheese dicks - -cause that's what they look like. They were cold, the cheese wasn't melty inside - - and the sauce wasn't even marinara! It was a watery tomato sauce with thick chunks of tomato. Gross! The fries with the sandwich were typical of a fast food restaurant. Overall, I was hungry.... it was 10pm, so not alot of choices - - but the outside looked cute and it looked busy inside. (But it was busy in the bar -- not in the restaurant.) I most likely won't go here again... too bad it's so close to the hotel I frequent.
(3)
Tom B.
Visiting from Chicago, the girl at the front desk at our hotel suggested here or the brat house. We went to Buck Bradley's because it was less crowded, best decision we made all weekend. The food was fantastic, we got the Reuben and the Frisco burger, with the sausage combo appetizer. Absolutely amazing!!! Burger, Reuben, and drinks were amazing. We were hoping for a bit more with the sausage combo but still very good! The owner was hosting that night an was great. The bar was beautiful and the bar tender was nice, not the best, very slow refilling our drinks but was ok because we were truly enjoying the ambiance of the bar. I highly recommend it to anyone, esp out of towners. Great job!!
(5)
Michael O.
3.5 stars as a restaurant 4 stars as a bar This is a classy place. We stopped in here for a bite to eat before a show recently. We walked in, and we were greeted warmly by the hostess. Sadly, there were very few patrons for such a big place. All the bar stools were lined up perfectly, and the bartender was wearing a bow tie. We ordered nachos, which were good, and some drinks. There was some sort of happy hour going on, so the prices were reasonable on drinks and apps. We also had a veggie sandwich, lasagna soup, and fries. The fries here are very good. We had a nice time!
(3)
Farrah F.
I'm not from here. I'm just staying at the Aloft and decided to stop at the first place that caught my eye. So, this wasn't the first place to catch my eye. There are a lot of hokey German joints in this area, but this place had the sign for the blackened sword fish and I was like..."sounds good.". It wasn't packed (despite the Brewers game) so they gave me a great seat in a comfy booth facing the bar and surround by TVs with the game on. The decor is sports bar meets saloon saloon. The service was prompt and friendly. My waitress recommended the Sprecher Amber on tap which I really liked. I ordered the special which came with yummy bread and some mediocre white bean soup. The blackened swordfish was over done. The pasta was fine and the sauce was pretty greasy. I mean, don't get me wrong. It wasn't gross. It was alright. I sure the standard bar fare is better. I think this is probably more of a drinking establishment. If it were busier, I bet it could be bitchin' but it's not. I don't know why. I'm just an interloper making an observation.
(3)
Eric W.
I went here before a Bucks vs. Bulls game - it was recommended to me by a local buddy. I didn't see what he saw in the place. The service was very average, at best. Being that it was a game-day and the bar is located less than 2 minutes away from Bradley Center, you'd think they'd be prepared to handle the less than full capacity crowd, and they couldn't. Our waitress (though in fairness she might have been new) had difficulty handling our table once we had 6 people there. She wasn't too helpful when it came time to refresh our drinks, though she might have had to handle too many tables. Also, the hostess in front was rude to our party when we first got there...we were inquiring if there were any reserved tables to avoid, and she seemed annoyed at the question, and told us to "sit anywhere" very briskly. Fine...but once we tried to sit anywhere, there was at least one reserved table. Finally, we were told about a special. We all ordered it, a 5 piece fried shrimp basket. $14. It maybe could have fed a child. It didn't feed us. Now, being from Chicago I'm used to price gouges, but this was pretty extreme for a small basket on "special." The drink prices were reasonable, and they had a decent selection. That was one of the pros.
(2)
Katie S.
Buck Bradley's is an institution - but does that give them the freedom to not provide good service and great food? They are apparently under that impression. We stopped in for dinner on a Saturday and sat at the bar. It wasn't terribly busy but it was difficult to grab some attention from the bartenders. He was cordial, but not helpful and scolded us for asking what was evidently a stupid question about the fries. You've had everything on the menu somewhere else before, and it was probably better there. It wasn't terrible by any stretch, but it wasn't particularly noteworthy. Although an institution, the entire operation could stand for an update or two: the service level, the decor, the menu (the actual menu you hold), the food, etc. I want to love it there, but there's nothing to love.
(2)
Teresa L.
This was the fifth and last stop on our epic Milwaukee pub crawl, so my memory may be a bit spotty. This was the bar where I switched from beer to gin and I remember a pleasantly dark room, a very long wooden bar, some fancy old-fashioned chandelier type lights, and a friendly bartender in a white shirt and a bow tie. Bow ties are cool. Also, fresh, hot, free popcorn magically appeared in front of me when I sat down. I love it when that happens. Apparently there is some sort of sports bar vibe happening somewhere else in the building, upstairs maybe, but the downstairs has more of an early 20th century saloon feel to it. The bar is really, really long, of some dark polished wood, the walls are brick, there are old photos and paintings hanging about, and the bar is backed by a long mirror. The stools are tall and surprisingly comfortable and the general ambiance is dark and intimate, as opposed to loud and crowded. Anyways. Three of the four of us were still on our feet and drinking and we all had a round of drinks to toast our staying power. I think there was something wrong with my glass though, it leaked or something, because for some reason every time the bartender filled it up, it was empty again almost immediately. Those were some seriously smooth gin and tonics. A couple of us laid down some Jack Daniels shots (not me, no, I have principles), and the bow-tied bartender concocted some off-the-cuff vodka beverage for one of our more adventurous companions. All in all, we all had a very good time here. My advice is come early, stay late, enjoy the free popcorn, and take a cab home.
(4)
Donald D.
Really want to give this place more then one star but man it's just plan bad. The bar and atmosphere could be really cool. Bartender at our hotel recommended to go to the Brat House to ride the shuttle to the game. Arrived at the brat house which was really busy and noticed that the next door place which is buck bradleys had a sign saying complimentary shuttle and it was empty. Since it was empty we thought it would be best to go in here to get a spot at the bar. Every worker in this place is miserable. The rudest hostess I have ever been greeted by at a restaurant/bar followed by old timer bartenders that are way past there prime days of slinging drinks. Long story short of the "complimentary shuttle" is that use the brat house. We rode the brat houses back after the game and then again on Sunday. They operate numerous buses and theres no wait. Didn't see buck bradleys bus after the game but saw 2 brat house buses. We did not eat but would never come back to even try because of the rude service.
(1)
Kelsey S.
I dined here with a group of 6 fellow first-timers on a Friday night around 7. We were surprised that we were seated right away, given that the streets were lined with cars (we weren't sure if that was an indicator of anything...) but chalked it up to the Bucks game having just started at the BC. Both the host and our server were prompt and attentive in providing service, so no complaints there. Within our group, we ordered brat baskets, the fish fry, the veggie sandwich, and the chili/salad combo. Everyone was pretty satisfied with our meals, with those who ordered the brat basket and fish fry sighing happily when asked how their food was. My only complaint? No free refills on fountain soda. Seriously? I know it doesn't cost the bar that much. Is it really necessary to charge $2 for each half-ice-filled 16 oz. glass I drink? At the very least, mention it. I don't think it was even on the menu. Other than that, nice ambience - we enjoyed the decor and the jazzy music playing overhead. I'd go back.
(3)
Mike M.
I went here for drinks, so I can only comment about the bar. It was long cat long, and the drinks were kinda of pricey. Not a bad atmosphere, though. I'd probably stop here before events.
(3)
Eric B.
This place got our business because of overflow at the brat house. Our original intent was to eat there, but NCAA was in town and the place was packed. Our family was hungry from a long day so we decided not to go far and give BB a try. We were seated immediately, our waitress came and got our drinks quickly she appeared to be busy, but not overwhelmed we got our menus, decided, and waited, and waited, like 45 min. We were very close to walking out, then finally our waitress"Nicole" came to take our order. My wife asked me in front of her if I still wanted to eat here? Indicating that we were annoyed. We placed our order, and our waitress rudely snatched the menus off the table and stormed off. My wife got up to use the restroom and while she was gone our server came back to the table and apologized. At that point our food came quickly. Sandwiches were big and tasted good. Next time I hope to try the brat house.
(2)
Nancy R.
I had a prime seat to observe the management and teamwork at Buck Bradley's and I was extremely impressed! When I arrived, no one was at the host station, so the bartender leaned over the bar and greeted me with a warm hello and asked if I wanted to sit at the bar or a table. I chose to sit at a table along the wall in the bar area and was greeted by me efficient waitress, Karen in about 30 seconds. She dropped a menu, took me drink order and told me she would be back shortly. She said there was a large party of out-of-town conventioners in the main dining room who were keeping her hopping. Several minutes later she returned with my beer. I asked her what was good and she suggested the rueben sandwich. This turned out to be a wonderful tip as the corned beef was piled high on good rye bread with caroway seeds. As I waited for me meal, I began to observe the choreography of Wally the manager and the teamwork of the entire wait staff. The waitresses were constantly communicating to one another if help was needed or to offer their assistance or to note that they had delivered the order to someone else's table. Wally kept an eagle eye out for the customers while also assisting with food and drink delivery since everyone was quite busy. He would emerge from the kitchen and scan the scene, seating customers, politely ask a waitress if she could check in on table x, or stop to ask a customer how their dinner was. None of this communication was done above a low speaking voice. They were not yelling to one another, just constantly keeping one another informed as they passed by each other. When Wally visited my table to inquire as to my dinner, I complimented him on their organization and efficiency. He beamed his thanks and offered to buy my a beer! Of course I accepted and about 2 minutes later, Karen brought it to me. I didn't even see them talk to one another! Despite the fact that this is a huge restaurant and it was pretty busy, no one seemed to be in a hurry. They all took time to exchange pleasantries with the customers and Wally even notices folks who have been here awhile so he can spend a few extra minutes talking to them and make sure everything is ok. Wow! This is definitely going to be one of my all time favorite places to take out-of-town guests visiting Milwaukee. It is a classic spot, the food is good, and the service is unsurpassed!
(5)
Cindy S.
Here on a Sunday- early afternoon. Good Bloody Mary's! Food was typical bar food, but good. Staff( sat at the bar) was friendly enough, just a little slow on refills (very few people there at the time of our visit). Love the history of the bar.
(3)
Kip K.
Delicious wings, good food at a good price. Nice atmosphere and a fun rec room upstairs.
(4)
Melissa D.
If you're new to the area, great place for a tourist/visitor such as myself. "This is the longest bar this side of the mississippi!" Exclaimed my tour guide (client's friend from there). Located in old town, this is a great place to stop after your german inspired food at one of the many restaurants in this area. The bartender powerwalking one end to the other was super friendly and had great conversations with us. The bartender chose a devilish shot (some green locally made liquor) when I made a bet with my client that the Celitcs will win over the Cavs (INdeed they did!). The bar is impressive. It is wicked long and ageless! Something to check out if your visiting. It was pretty dead though but didn't mind at all (Tuesday evening around 9pm)
(4)
Dani K.
Nutshell: The atmosphere was fun (maybe because of the Bucks game??), the food was delicious, the waitress was attentive and funny, and the price was right. Elaboration: (yes, that's a word) Came here before the Bucks game with my dad and a friend. It's right across the street from the Bradley Center, cross a parking lot and you're there, so location was brilliant. We were seated right away by a smiling hostess and the waitress was quick with the drinks and taking orders. Thing #1: When we came in and by the time we ordered, it wasn't busy. Due to the game, things picked up quick. However, it still took a little too long, IMO, to make our three sandwich entrees, especially since we ordered well before the rush. I had a barbecue chicken sandwich and hooooollllyyyy. Thing #2: I have a low tolerance for spicy foods, I'll admit, but I really wasn't expecting this sandwich to be SOO hot. The sauce was all over the place, too; sauce overload, to be precise. Not my thing. The fries were heaven and perfectly cooked with the seasoning just right. My dad had a quarter-pounder burger and only ate half, it was THAT huge. My friend had the reuben and scarfed that thing down fast. We stuck around after eating to talk and such for a good half hour, if not longer, and the waitress made no attempt of rushing us with the check or to make us leave, which was VERY pleasant. Highly recommend this place to anyone, local or visitor. Definitely want to come back!
(4)
Prashant C.
Amazing service and people! decent beer selection too, but not what I expected of the Brewing capital! If I took into account service and beer selection, this place would get another star, but it gets 3 stars for its food. We ordered some wings, a hot dog, and a grilled cheese. Nothing was horrible, but it wasn't great. I got the wings and ordered them extra crispy. While the crispiness was almost up to par, the sauce needed some work. It tasted like a watered down version of Franks. Anyway, great place to go to catch a game, drink some beer, or just pre party before a Bucks game.
(3)
Mike B.
Went here for dinner. Service was A+...our server know all of the details regarding the menu/specials, she was able to make recommendations as well. the food was good, pretty basic and nothing really special, but good. The manager was very visible and was helping his team of servers out (which i love to see). give this place a try!
(4)
Erin D.
Showtunes, brats and beer! Glad I could say I've been to the longest bar in Wisconsin. Lemme check that off my list...! We had sometime to kill so my cousin suggested we go here. I'm glad we did. Nice decor, I love the ambiance, everyone was super friendly, joking around with you. Made you feel real welcome. Loved the range of showtunes that was playing. We ordered the nachos, which by far are the best nachos I've had in MKE. Then I had a brat. Which was ok. I think I was missing the Miller Park experience to go along with it but if I go back it wouldn't be something I'd order again. Overall, great bar if you were drinking your way around MKE -- a definite must visit if you're in town.
(5)
Trisha B.
Downtown Milwaukee. Beautiful, bright and crisp autumn Sunday morning. Downtown looks nearly deserted. We are looking for somewhere to have a nice breakfast or brunch. We asked the hotel front desk. We asked a passerby. We stumbled upon Buck Bradley's, a place no one had mentioned. Flowers and outdoor seating in front, large, spacious, vintage decor inside. Like! We were nearly the only ones there. We got fast (of course!) friendly service, very nice ambiance, and good, satisfying food and drink for an affordable price - they even serve a local and iconic wurst here which I find a likeable thing. This isn't fancy food, mind you, but the restaurant is super clean and comfortable and the food is good. The looooong, antique bar is gorgeous, and the ceiling is the old flooring - magnificent. Tall, original brick walls provide a warmth unmatched by anything else. We were not in any way disappointed by our experience here but, that said, we ate here the day after eating at Blue's Egg and, well, that's a hard act to follow. I think that with a little bit more interesting and varied menu this place could rock the charts.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Great saloon in downtown Milwaukee. Very friendly service, nice atmosphere, great beer selection and surprisingly good food. We enjoyed the open face roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes...yummy!
(4)
Michael W.
Great food. Better bloody Mary's. Service is great. Hostess is so classy.
(5)
Jessica O.
Ambiance: Almost none - oh wait, there is the longest bar east of the Mississippi. But who the hell cares unless they are sliding frosty beer mugs all the way from one end to the other like in the old days. In case you are wondering, the don't so yeah, in that case it's just a longer than normal bar. Whoop-de-doo. Then there is the weird almost empty save for two random beanie babies cabinet in the main dining room. I would say overall feel is ghost town from the old west only not as intriguing. Beverages: Full Bar but they serve Pepsi, those of us who feel making a mixed drink with Pepsi Cola and not Coca Cola is a sin will be sorely disappointed. Food: Mediocre at best. I've eaten here several times and each time the food is just blah. I had the Chicken Cesar Salad recently and it was $13. If I am paying $13 for a Cesar Salad it better make my toes curl. This salad was so average, I wouldn't be able to pick it out of a line up with any other chain restaurant. There was not a whiff of fresh parmesan cheese on it and I couldn't even get some fresh cracked pepper on it. I've also had their burger in the past and found it to be dry and lackluster. Staff: In addition to having the longest bar this side of the Mississippi they also have the slowest staff. It takes forever for them to take your drink order, bring your drinks, take your food order, eventually bring out your food and then EVENTUALLY bring your check. The whole production is a test of patience for the patron. You may think you can just nip in and out really quick but you would be mistaken. Parking: There's none Bathrooms:They are of average cleanliness although they are about as aesthetically pleasing as a gas-station bathroom with some of the most jarring lighting I've seen.
(1)
James F.
Stopped here for dinner (to meet up between Madison and Chicago) because our first place choice was closed, and this place was just around the corner. While it first looks like just a bar, they also have a dining area on the side. Since it was my first time in Milwaukee, we got the Milwaukee sampler, which as Christina B. says, is like a giant Lunchables platter. Usinger's sausage, cheese and crackers. still, we were starving, so it helped cut the hunger while we waited for our friend from Madison to arrive. I got a Monterey Cajun chicken sandwich, which came on an awesomely huge roll and pepper jack cheese, with a side of cole slaw instead of fries. good stuff and it filled me up. My fellow diners had a variety of sandwich and burger dishes and salads, with fries. One of my friends had the daily soup - a cream of carrot, which she thought was good. Good eats, friendly service, old school saloon decor. A good place to eat with friends or have a drink! And totally unbeknownst to me at the time: they are part of my Rapid Rewards Dining program.. i ate and drank my way to another partial flight credit!
(4)
Richard S.
I'll add my voice to the "who cares how long the bar is?", club. I stopped here a few days ago after work. I ordered a Long Island Ice Tea, Mozzarella Sicks and a Meatball Sandwich. Everything was just OK. Not bad...not great. Server was friendly and efficient. They are wheelchair accessible.
(3)
Mario E.
the wings are awesome and service is fantastic!
(5)
Denise S.
Baked Fish dinner on Friday was one of the best I ever had! Lots of fish, more than most places! And if you are going to the Bradley Center, you go out the back door and across the street!
(5)
T L.
The longest bar that side of the Mississippi! It was huge! However, really average food, menu stated fries with my BLT and it came out with dip chips? When I asked the waitress said she'd be happy to, no not get the fries, but put in for a side order of fries. Uh no thanks - place is huge and it probably lights up pretty good for events at the arena nearby, but hardly a soul in there on a Spring Break Friday afternoon. Other dishes we ordered were average including the cod, service was okay except for the fries and the place is really unique with the wooden interior and long bar. Don't know if I'd go back though, especially after looking at the reviews of other nearby establishments.
(3)
Karri G.
I don't get it. Who cares about the length of the bar if the bartender is not friendly and knowledgeable? This may be fine for a beer, but I would not recommend eating here. The food was terrible and severely overpriced for the quality. And the parking...good friggin' luck finding a parking spot! To their credit, when asked whether we were happy with our meals, we said no, and were offered a free dessert. However, MORE of poor quality food was not going to cause us to have a change of heart.
(2)
Mike J.
Tuna melt was very good. This is a must visit place in downtown Milwaukee as it has the longest bar I've ever seen.
(4)
andrew m.
Cool place. Has an old time feel to it. Great burgers and cheap drinks.
(4)
Lyndsay N.
My team and I came here for a working dinner because Buck Buradley's historic longest bar east of the Mississippi river status. Because the bar is so large it tends to disperse the noise. We were here for 4 hours, and that's not really because we were working that long, but because it took so long for the service. Apparently the staff had misjudged dinner that night because they only had one waitress for about 30 people including 2 large groups. I try not to fault her because it wasn't her fault, but she had a weird demeanor about it. Not really anything towards us, except that we shouldn't expect anything to be quickly delivered... or even remembered sometimes. I ordered the grilled cheese with bacon and the soup of the day a mushroom barley. The grilled cheese was awesome. The soup not awesome... I didn't even eat it. I would go back and sit at the bar with some friends and order the pizza (a coworked did and it looked delicious).
(3)
Gary D.
I give this place 4 stars only because of the service, which was great. Otherwise it's an average sports bar and I would've given it 3 stars. We initially were seated upstairs because it was Saturday night of the final four and WI was in it, so the place was crowded. Our first waitress was very good, but in the middle of the service she left to go downstairs and I'm thinking this won't be good, but how wrong I was. We got a great server, wish I could remember her name. She even found us a table downstairs which is where we wanted to be as there was more action down there. I had the chicken nachos and the quantity is incredible, needed an Army to finish them, but quality was just so-so. She had a chicken sandwich, again so-so. Beer list is ok, they have several local brews along with the mainstream stuff. The bar in the main area is incredible, built many years ago when craftsman really did some substantial pieces.
(4)
Bruce M.
Mari was great...door guy was fantastic...food was so so good...love love love the bar.
(5)
Hans N.
4.5 I had the fish n chips and my son had the carnivore pizza. While the fish was pretty good, I'll say the pizza was some of the best I've ever had. The sausage is from Usinger's across the street and it was on a thin crust prepared in house...EXCELLENT. If you go...get the freakin pizza! I'm sure their brats are good too, since they're also from Usinger's, but I had brats last night for dinner...
(4)
Valeri B.
This old dude told me not to lean on the rail and was a huge jerk about it. It's okay though. He probably can't see his situation over his giant stomach.
(1)
Jason B.
I've been here a dozen or so times after an Admirals game and I definitely prefer Buck Bradley's over some of the other bars in the area. Definitely a more laid back vibe, plenty of room for a big crowd, attentive bartenders and non overpriced drinks. What more could you ask for. Plus it's the longest bar east of the Mississippi. Stop in and see Jimbo, he'll treat you right.
(4)
Andrew J.
Thought this was just a bar, instead got seated in the restaurant section. Either way our Waitress Jennifer was nothing short of fantastic. We felt bad we weren't going to eat dinner that just got a Turtle Sundae for desert. Girlfriend got a Sprecher Root Beer, fantastic by the way, while I got a Irish Coffee. Bar is huge, might go back sometime this weekend
(5)
Dawn O.
Didn't stop for dinner, but for drinks and pool. Great upstairs area for a crowd and drinks were good.
(3)
Barbara S.
I have mixed feelings about this place!!! It is like a hit or miss...never consistent!! I went there multiple times, including twice this month! The food is great, (my favorite is the grilled cheese with bacon!! Yummmy!!!), but the service is meh!!! Went there on St Paddy's day pub crawl and our bartender was awesome!! He never left us with empty drinks...A++!!! But then we went back before a Bucks game the other day for dinner and our server was just awful!! She must have had all the tables in our section probably!! She never refilled drinks, brought us silverware, or brought us our bill, (even though I told her we were going to the game right after dinner). I had to keep calling the hostess to help us!!! The table next to us waited 20 minutes for their bill and she never came!!! For the prices, the service should be extraordinary, not mediocre!!!
(3)
Brian H.
The atmosphere was really nice, turn of the century style. The service was good to average. We were in a large group & the food came out all at once and more importantly was warm. I had the Ruben which was very tasty! Corn beef was real brisket and not process meat. I'd probably give them more of a 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.
(3)
Kim D.
Great service, good prices, and delicious food! After a recommendation to try this place out and it's close proximity to our hotel, we decided to try out Buck Bradley's for our first meal in Milwaukee. I was pretty hungry after flying all night, but even I couldn't finish my lunch entree since the portions are pretty big. My co-worker and I decided to both get their reuben sandiwches, as they were highlighted on the menu as the house special. Our waitress also recommended it, and we were definitely glad we went with that. The slices of rye bread were able to hold up the giant mound of their juicy homemade oven-roasted corned beef brisket and sauerkraut topping. The melted swiss cheese topped it off, and all the components of the sandwich melded together perfectly, with the addition of the horseradish thousand island dressing. I didn't care too much for the fries, but overall this was probably one of the best reubens I've ever eaten.
(4)
Marianne C.
Food was good, atmosphere good. Our server Ava was the bomb. Very personable staff. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Lauren G.
We ate here for the open doors Milwaukee and I was really disappointed. I would've rather spent money to elsewhere. A brat, club sandwich and beer was $25. The club sandwich was something I made at home. The turkey was thinly sliced and hardly on the sandwich at all. Too much lettuce. The brat was okay but too much bread. The building and decor was cool but the food is definitely worth skipping.
(2)
Sam D.
Meh. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was great but the beer selection was not very good.
(3)
Jon G.
Excellent! Great bartenders, ambiance and terrific burgers.
(5)
Shelly S.
Went here with my family for dinner before going to a Bucks game. This place knows how to serve large crowds quickly without compromising great food! Our server, Jennifer, was the best! Checked in on us several times, and had a great upbeat attitude. We will be back!
(5)
Matt G.
One our favorite places to eat in downtown MKE! We have always had a great time. The food is wonderful, the service is friendly, and their Bloody Mary is excellent.
(5)
Philip G.
Mediocre at best and rude with a side of pretension at worst. Don't waste your time. Weather it's Buck's game, Admiral's or any other event save yourself grief and go anywhere else. Rudest hostess I've ever dealt with.
(1)
Sara K.
Went for dinner and a WI Badger game was on. TV's way to loud. When at the table we had to yell at one another to hear each other. I get we love the Badgers, but it was just too loud. Staff should have.recognized that amd tuned it down a bit. Will never go again during a game. Food was good. Had the grilled cheese.
(2)
Anne M.
Yelpy new year! My first review of 2012... My sister and I dined at Buck Bradley's for an impromptu New Year's Eve dinner. I'll admit, this was not our first choice, but after looking at a few other options on this stretch of old world street that turned out to be a bust (closed for private parties, piano bars, $$$ menus) we headed back to the Buck. Pros: cool, old, wooden bar with huge mirrors behind it. cool, old gentlemen bartenders wearing bow ties. christmas decor - keep it festive! nice relaxed, cozy vibe. very nice, attentive waitstaff. good, fresh French bread + butter. Cons: decent food, but tough fish - two different fish dishes, same chewy toughness. * I ordered the swordfish entree, which honestly had the texture of overcooked chicken. I realize swordfish is a meaty fish, but this was really pushing the limits. The rest of the meal was good (baked potato, veggies, nice tomato butter sauce on the fish) but I was disappointed with the fillet. ** The other entree was fish & chips. I've stopped ordering this entree altogether because I've had some bad fish & chips, and this wasn't that impressive either. Paid soda refills. Seriously? Why does ANY restaurant do this? The only exception I can deal with is when you receive a can of pop. You want another can, you have to pay. If it's fountain pop, don't make people pay another $2-3 for a top off - it just seems cheap. This proved to be a fine NYE dinner - even better with our yummy turtle sundae - but I'm not sure I'd rush back.
(3)
Jen Y.
Damn, I should have gotten nachos since I'm at a bar. I went with grilled vegetable sandwhich... I don't think that should be called a sandwhich. Frozen vegetables with processed cheese on top? The rest of my meat eating party enjoyed their sandwiches. I was quite jealous; mine was inedible.
(1)
Tony K.
eek. Grilled vegetable sandwich. Sounds: yummy. Cost: $10 Tastes: disgusting. Imagine an oddly cut large piece of an italian sub topped with cooked frozen mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green beans and peas), grilled onions, and melted cheese. Yep - not good. Just not good at all. I really like the feel of the bar - old timey saloon(ish) like the rest of the reviews say... but it just really fails on the food. Miserably. If I wanted frozen vegetables on some bread with cheese I would've asked my 5 year old nephew to make me dinner.
(2)
Gail J.
When in Rome, buy gladiator gear. When in Wisconsin, eat cheese. Thus, has begun my game of Russian Roulette with my own cholesterol and heart health. That said, the grilled cheese here is krytonite to my Superman. I just couldn't stop eating it. I also had a shot of Jameson. Note: It was *practically* forced down my throat. I usually leave the liver alone when battering the heart. Lively place. Friendly servers.
(3)
Eric A.
I have been to Buck Bradley's about a dozen times. Mostly around 5pm before I will attend a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game. It is directly across from the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The chicken Tenders basket is fantastic. The plate of nachos are also a favorite of mine. This bar is incredibly long, but does fill up fast before Bucks/Admirals games, so getting there early is a must on game days. I really enjoy the laid back atmosphere and the quick attentive bartenders. My one and only qualm is the price of the drinks. It is around $8 for a standard Bloody Mary and some of the beers are seemingly priced too high as well. Would definitely recommend.
(4)
Pete K.
Went to this place last night before a Bucks game. It's great! The burgers were huge and very tasty. Great selection of Beers. Our server, Jennifer, did a great job. If you're looking for a cool, laid-back place for a burger and a beer...this is it!
(4)
robert a.
OH Buck. How I want to love you, I really do. Your local, small, old school, close, all the things I want. I just can't love you, I just like you. I want to be more than friends, but I cannot. It's not me, it's you. Your chili is really good, your entree is not, so that makes you average. Your bar is beautiful, you selection is not, so that makes you average. Your bar staff are great, your amount of them is not, so that makes you average. Imagine you have to go to a training seminar, imagine you have to attend a lunch at this seminar. Imagine there is an annoying coworker (you know the guy, salmon colored polo, khakis, new balance gym shoes, likes Huey Lewis, may have eaten glue as a child), a smelly woman from Perth that is licking the bottom of her shoe, and your good friend. Imagine you have to choose a table mate from the three, the obvious choice is the friend, but then that friend is called back into a meeting. The smelly woman is now getting worse by putting mashed potatoes in her hair, and telling people she has sex with wooden statues of king edward the III for money. You take the pill, and sit with salmon polo boy. Yes your talking to someone, but not about anything you want to talk about, but at least your not with the wooden potato whore of Perth, all the while you wish you were having a pleasing lunch with your friend. That is what I feel like when I go to Buck Bradley's Did I mention the price? Not so good. I had a cup of chili, a club sandwich, a root beer - with tip = $30.00.
(3)
Lisa B.
The hotel we stayed at recommended this place to us for lunch. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted so I went with the cobb salad and it is what it is. A cobb salad with unimpressive salad dressing. I tried the Ranch and Tomato vinegrette and both were just OK. Not great but not bad either. The grilled chicken on the salad was good. I asked what their specialty drink was and the waitress suggested a Rum Runner. So, I had two! They were great!!
(3)
Brian P.
Food was pretty mediocre and extremely overpriced for what you received. I had the BLT which featured a few pieces of wilted bacon and way too much lettuce. The person I ate with had a ceaser salad with wilted lettuce and tomatoes that had brown spots all over them. Extremely disappointing to say the least. However, what really blew my mind was that they actually have the audacity to charge you for refills of soda. That's quite possibly the dumbest and most annoying thing I've encountered at a restaurant in recent memory. Don't waste your time or money at BB's. Go next door to the Brat House for a far superior dining and drinking experience!
(2)
Andrew A.
Went to Buck Bradley's for a quick dinner on a Friday nite...boy was that a mistake. Sure the place looks nice and the service is friendly but the food is not top notch by any means. I order the potato skins as an appetizer...received still cold in the middle that was hidden by melted cheese on top. I can never understand how you can screw up bar food. The manager got us the new order and took it off of our bill but only after I brought it to his attention. When they came out the second time at least it was cooked. Of course I ordered the fish fry - cod with fries, slaw, and bread. Portions were fine but the fish was over cooked, fries, soggy, bread stale...only saving grace was the slaw. I should have just burned my $13.95 over the candle on the table instead of eating it. Now I have always said that Polenz had the worst fish fry I have had in the MIlwaukee area. Buck's ranks right above that. Go here for drinks but you might as well go to Pick N Save and pick up a Banquet microwave meal if you wanted something comparable.
(1)
Sarah Z.
I love that this place keeps its vintage character while serving up great food and modern day drinks. It's a perfect place to hit before a BMO Harris Bradley Center event and the bar is ridiculously long so there is plenty of seating. I love the brass all over and the tile floors - Milwaukee in it's hay-day!
(4)
Lauren W.
Waitress was very attentive. Atmosphere was pretty cool. Long bar and bartender in a bow tie was awesome. Food was pretty good. Brat by Usinger was delicious!
(4)
G B.
Never been here but thought I'd give it a try. Stopped for lunch but never made it past the rude hostess. I wondered why The Brat Haus and the Hofbrau House next door were packed but Bradley's wasn't. Now I know. The troll at the door keeps most people away. Never again. The Brat Haus next door however is excellent.
(1)
Jim K.
I've swung by here a few times, and each time I had wonderful drinks, and amazing service. The decor is pleasant, if not old world. Unfortunately, I did not try to food (outside of the fruit in my Old Fashioned) so I can not review that. They do have a solid happy hour (inexpensive martinis), and some of the best bartenders around.
(4)
Amber C.
Great drinks and excellent service at the bar. Also, we ordered a pizza to snack on and it was very good. There's a free shuttle to and from the Brewer's home games at Miller Park, so it's the perfect place to start and end your game day fun. It allowed us to relax and have fun as a group rather than having a designated driver, we stayed downtown and took the shuttle.
(5)
N V.
One star and I am not alone- check out "non-sponsored reviews". Wish I could get past the incredibly rude "Hostess". The food is mediocre and over-priced and cannot make up for the rudeness of the hostess. She seriously behaves as if she is doing you a favor by acknowledging your existence. Thankfully her rudeness paid off as we found Tutto next door and it was outstanding on all counts. Looking forward to NEVER going back to Buck Bradley's unless the hostess goes to "manners" school. Then the ambience might drag me in for a second chance.
(1)
Jim D.
This place kills it when there are shows or games at the Bradley Center (since it is so close.) It is great for meeting up with people before or after events. The bar is nice and big and there are a lot of TV's and the decor is really nice big classic saloon/beer hall. Beer selection is big and good and the drinks are well made. After that, the wheels fall off. The food is just 100% forgettable. On par or below that of Applebees and the ilk. If you are just looking for some fried appetizers, nachos, a burger and some beers with buddies, this is your place. I was not in a fraternaty, but I can imagine some frat brothers using their kitchen passes to get back together for a night out on the town after a round of golf. I can almost overhear them now... "Do you remember how hard we used to party?" "No one partied like us."
(3)
Emily M.
Went to Buck Bradley's before an Admirals Game. Really enjoyed the daily soup and BLT sandwich! Great atmosphere and service. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Charity C.
I had the buck Bradley club, it was great! Our waitress was very attentive. My companion had a tasty and satisfying brat with sauerkraut and onion. Fun atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)
Brad P.
Been here a few times. Their claim to fame is that it's the longest bar in the USA. I'd would go back for happy hour, but won't plan on eating dinner there again. Just not that great of food. Staff is fantastic both at the bar and in the restaurant.
(3)
Andy D.
Best reuben ever! Service was good.
(5)
Sadie T.
Bar experience only. Cute inside, turn of the century English feel. I liked the ambiance. I am not sure exactly what they are going for, but it worked for me. The bar was not packed with people. They had a sign featuring margaritas. I ordered a strawberry. It was good, but pricey at $9. I would go back.
(3)
Graham T.
We went here this past Friday for lunch. The fried shrimp and cod special was excellent! The clam chowder was homemade and very delicious. Great beer selection and friendly service, too. We will be back!
(4)
Jason K.
While there isn't really anything super special that sticks out about this place, it is one of my favorite Old World Third Street spots, right behind Milwaukee Brat House and Uber Tap Room and Cheese Bar. I like the quieter atmosphere, and it is a pretty classy looking joint. They have a sports bar upstairs with a few pool tables and dart boars as well. The prices are reasonable and there is plenty of seating. Not a huge beer selection, but they have a few good ones.
(4)
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Address :1019 N Old World 3rd St
Milwaukee, WI, 53203
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Chelsey S.
Horrible service! Horrible! We sat at the bar. Business was steady but it certainly wasn't busy in there. It took the bartender a good 5 minutes to get to us which doesn't sound like long but we could see he wasn't busy. Then he rubbed his eye while he was talking to us about drinks. My husband ordered a $2 Miller game day special and I just had an ice water. The bartender proceeded to pick up my straw by the end I would drink off of with his contaminated eye-scratching hand. Needless to say, I didn't drink the water. When we were ready to leave, 10 minutes later, the bartender did not drop off a bill. We just put our $3 on the bar. He came by and took $2 of the $3 and left the other $1 bill on the bartop and walked away. No thank you, no good-bye, nothing! So we took our $1 bill and gave it to the host who actually did a nice job greeting us and sat us promptly. We obviously won't be returning.
(1)Mike D.
Longest bar in Wisconsin I believe. This is a cool place. Usually a good time. Sometimes after basketball games it can get extremely packed and hard to get a drink. The food is decent and the staff is good. Overall a good bar, just sometimes you can catch it at a bad time
(4)Jenna H.
Great place to stop before going to the Bradley Center or doing stuff in the area. They have a HUGE old fashioned long bar. They have great bar food for decent prices.
(4)Kristen Z.
We were looking everywhere for a good breakfast place close to the Intercontinental Hotel on a rainy Saturday morning a few weeks ago. We stumbled in here as it was the first place we found that was open and offered both shelter from the downpour and breakfast. We were a little leery at first, as it was just shy of 11 am and completely empty. The place looks like an old, converted brothel, which makes it an odd breakfast environment. That being said, within 20 minutes the huge bar area (seriously, the longest bar I have ever seen) was packed with Marquette fans catching the game. The breakfast menu (only served until 2pm) only had three offerings (pancakes, eggs and something else that I can't remember), but the entire regular menu was available as well. I had scrambled eggs with bacon, toast and hash browns which hit the spot. My husband had the Wisconsin grilled cheese and was happy with his choice as well. Not mind-blowing, but satiating. Definitely an unusual environment, but pretty cool and somewhere I would eat breakfast again. On a side note, I really wish we would've came back later that night and checked out the upstairs bar - it looked interesting.
(3)Jake N.
I don't get what is so great about this place other than the really cool long bar, and it's location. The food was nothing really special. I've had the chicken sandwich and the burger there. Both were ok. My biggest complaint about this place is the lack of service from the gianormous bar. I know it's busy, but I shouldn't have to wait 10 minutes for a refill. I'd have given this place 3 stars, but the wait to get drinks is obnoxious.
(2)A T.
Buck Bradley's is in a beautiful historic building. The food is typical bar fare but pretty decent. The bar is gorgeous and the place is spaceous, so even when it's crowded before a show or game, it's doesn't have a cramped feeling.
(4)Shelley W.
Who does the owner thinks he is? The bar is ok, might be nice to see it once but not worth another trip back. We had an outing for a coworker and a crowd of 8+. When setting up reservations for the event sevice was great! They were thrilled to have us there and more than happy to work with us. Arriving there was totally a different story. Our server was BAD! she didn't have a personality, was not friendly, or helpful and when we did have questions she'd give us this dumb look and walk away mid-sentence! Completely rude. The wait for drinks wasn't horrible but then again the bar only had about 30 people in it. Someone ordered a drink with sierra mist in it and also a plain sierra mist. Clearly this sierra mist was at the bottom of the tap and it had a terrible taste to it. Not only did our waitress try to tell us that was the "difference between sprite and sierra mist" she never ONCE apologized or offered us another drink. After ordering food and a few more drinks the bill arrived and that's when the evening went down hill quick. Someone had purchased a round of drinks and was charged 18% gratuity on the DRINKS!!! I can understand a party of 8 and added gratuity for food but NOT DRINKS! there is no way this server deserved a $15+ tip on 8 drinks. When this was brought to the attention of the "owner" not only did this man "defend his employee. . . .she provided you good service", he never once asked us what the problem was and why we were disputing the charge. Sorry to say if 8 people are all saying they received bad service you should really check with your employee. Don't know how this guy has been an owner for as long as he has as he's a JERK and certainly doesn't know how to talk to women much less customers. I for one will NEVER set food in this place again and I hope none of my friends will either. Buck Bradleys, I hope you crash and burn. . .it's called karma and yours is coming.
(1)Annemarie D.
I usually go here before I attend Bradley Center events. The building is great if you are a history buff like me. They just don't make places like this any more. I think the only thing keeping this place in business is the building and its location. I recently stopped in before a Marquette game. The place was understandably packed. The hostess greeted us by asking if we had reservations. When told no she pointed to the stairs and said,"Go up there". We trudged up the stairs and were greeted much better by that hostess. My friend and I decided to share potato skins, mozzarella sticks and the BBQ chicken sandwich. Our server was great and I feel bad for not remembering her name. The sticks were good. The skins were pretty dry and I definitely would not recommend them. The sandwich was good. The bun was better than average. Overall the food was overpriced and the hostess left a bad taste in my mouth. If I want to get treated like crap and eat mediocre food, I can go to Denny's and pay way less.
(2)Arlene A.
My Honey and I always manage to come and visit Buck's when we're in Milwaukee. Love how the bartenders are dressed old school, with the long aprons and such, (they also pour a damn good Guinness) In addition, the bar itself is beautiful, with a super high ceiling. The crowd was pretty varied, and thankfully the place was not too crowded. Too empty sucks, but to be honest I think too crowded is far worse.
(3)Jennifer V.
Worst service ever. Our waitress and the hostess seemed more concerned about turning over tables than servicing the tables they already had seated. Our table, as well as 3 others in our section, had to practically tackle the waitress down to get another drink. They even brought us our bill at one point right after dinner without us even asking for it. I believe this place only makes it because of it's proximity to the Bradley center. It would never make it in another city or in a part of town that is more desirable.
(1)michael p.
I've been here pre-sports event and the place was jammed. But tonight, a Thursday was just post business outing. Stopped in with my wife and another couple for some food...cuz the high-priced legal firm that put on the event had shitty hors d'ouevres. Good selection of bar food. The 1/2 lb. chicken sandwich I had was sure small....the bun was a 1/2 lb and came with nothin' but a shaggy lookin piece of lettuce and sliced onion. Fries were over-salted. Chicken was dry. Waitress was friendly and efficient...but the place was basically dead at 8:30. $50 with tip for 4 people included 1 beer and 3 sodas.
(3)Mark K.
Over-priced pub food, but the blackened chicken caeser salad is outstanding
(3)Michael H.
I tried this restaurant for the first time yesterday and loved it. My waitress was perfect - friendly and attentive, yet knew when to join in the conversation and when to keep to herself. The food was also very good. I tried both the club sandwich and the fish fry. The combination of the good food and good service guarantees that I will stop back.
(4)Mike K.
Its a good place to stop for a drink and food before going into the Bradley Center, which is right across the street. They have a back entrance so you can literally park in the lot, go across the street to watch the Bucks, or WWE or whatever, then return and go have a beverage and meal for relatively cheap. Its not the best food, then again, you're in Milwaukee, what exactly did you expect? This place has a very cool vibe, friendly greeter, hardworking friendly bartenders and a super duper long bar. They also have chairs and tables and tv screens placed perfectly for casual sporting events. Its not a sports bar, its more like a sophisticated Cheers, complete with servers in Bowties and vintage familiar music from back in the day (my day, not your day...if you like Simple Minds or Thompson Twins this is your place!). Very casual, plus the music isnt too loud so its made for catching up and telling stories. The kind of place you'd find your boss smoking his cigar and drinking extremely expensive Cognac...only its Milwaukee so he probably got it for cheap.
(4)Livvy O.
Ran into this place after coming from a Bulls vs. Bucks game across the street. You can't miss the place - it's very appealing and lit up from across the stadium. We had walked to another place and they were all 40 plus minute waits. So we came here, it sure looked crowded but they seated us right away! We had a waitress and another lady checking in on us - both very nice and helpful. One drunk guy even came off the street talking smack and she got him away from us. Overall, the Bucks fans weren't terrible, but there was mostly Bulls fan there anyways! On to my review, I saw the jumbo shrimp was their specialty so I got that. It was really good - big shrimp and nice and crispy. It came with fries and coleslaw. Everyone else's food looked really good too. Pretty impressed with this little bar we ran into. Wasn't really sure what Milwaukee had to offer, but this was a good impression of my first dining experience in Milwaukee.
(5)Brad K.
This is a cool architectural bar and place to visit. If it weren't for the 'cruella deville' lady hostess at the front who greeted us with a sneer I would give this place 3 stars. The bartender was very friendly and was very informative on old Milwaukee history.
(2)Maria C.
Very interesting bar. The bartender was extremely friendly and the atmosphere was pretty calm considering the nearby bars. The front door men brought in a bunch of bridesmaids/soon to be bride who were enjoying a night out on the town and the staff was really amazing with them. The music changed to cater to them and made them feel special which put a smile on a lot of our faces. they informed us that this was the longest bar in the Midwest which was pretty accurate. The drinks were moderate (everything is measured) but at least they were served in small glasses, thanks! I will definitely be back again if I am ever in the area.
(4)Amy H.
The food was mediocre. We were starving though so anything would have done at that point. My boyfriend got The Texan, and I got their Tortilla soup and Golden Sauce Wings. I tried the Texan and I didn't think it was anything spectacular. The Tortilla soup was a little too thick for my taste. The Golden Sauce Wings were good. I think the sauce is unique and it had a tang to it. Tang makes everything better in my opinion. In regards to service, the server was attentive, timely, and very polite. I really appreciated that. Her service made our experience better, but it didn't compensate enough for the food.
(2)Lorraine N.
If you like em' big--stroll on into Buck's. One of the longest bars I have laid eyeballs on. For awhile me and my drinking partner had it all to ourselves. The seasoned gentleman bartender was very friendly and personable and made excellent cocktails with no instructions from this drink bitch at all. I love that. He even delivered us some popcorn. I enjoyed the cozy old school saloon atmosphere of this place.
(5)Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: pricey bar. Walking into Buck Bradley's on 3rd, it's a comfortable and nice bar space. But I cannot forgive them for $5.50 non-special beers, especially with the kind of "hurry-up" service I experienced and the other options literally next door. Maybe the food is worth stopping in, but the bar isn't.
(2)Erin L.
Everything was average. Nothing was exciting or unique really. The only reason we went is because our other 3 options close by had a 40min wait and this place had none. We had a wonderful waitress though who was very kind and attentive. I REALLY value good service so at least two stars are for her.
(2)JaxyGruber ..
Came here for breakfast on a Sunday morning. From the outside it looks small but when I walked inside I was like Wow! That's the longest bar I ever saw! Very awesome and I loved the decor! Our waitress was very pleasant and attentive! Good came in a timely manor abd it was very tasty, no complaints! Will definitely come back again to sit outside for breakfast at the patio tables and enjoy old world 3rd st.
(4)Sue S.
We were sucked into Buck Bradley's when we noticed the sign outside boasting the longest bar East of the Mississippi. We were intrigued. The bar tender was nice and let us wander in and oggle at the bar. But (having just come from lunch at Maders -- see other review), we were not hungry just then. We returned, though, later in the day, for dinner. And I have to say that it was distinctively average, despite the impressively large and long bar. First, the staff seemed really unprepared for a party of six. They cleared a table, sat us and then offered what I would call "clunky" service for the rest of the night. Our waitress committed several of mypersonal restaurant waitstaff cardinal sins, including: -Not bringing the entire table's order out at once. -Not knowing what we'd ordered (she didn't know who got which dishes, and she didn't know who got which burger even though several in our party had ordered different ones... caused a bit of chaos.) -Not telling us there was a charge for soda refills (um, really???) -Bringing the check before we indicated that we were done. We had not been asked about more drinks (which we would have ordered) or dessert (which we might have). -Asking us if we were finished with the check and then taking the completed and signed credit card receipt away before the table got up to leave. To me, this is the ultimate faux pas -- are you really that greedy and impatient that you can't wait to see what kind of tip you got? It wasn't a good one, I can tell you that. Food-wise, it's a bar. The food is average. My potato skins were decent but slightly overcooked. The chicken wings were passable. The burgers were ok. There are so many good options in Milwaukee, I'd say don't waste your time here. If you must, come over for drinks at the big long bar. But don't bother with a full meal. You will be disappointed in the food and the service.
(2)Stephanie R.
We ended up here for lunch after finding out our nearby choice was closed. Even though I had once been in Buck's about nine years ago, I had been walking by for recent months thinking it was just another sports bar, so I was surprised at the character that's been maintained in the building and the classical music playing in the dining room. I had some sort of smothered beef sandwich that was on special, and it was incredible, topped with cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms. The cheese soup was a little thin and not overly impressive that day. As for service, our waitress seemed a little absent-minded, mixed up our drinks and offered me a refill at a half full glass and didn't offer one to my friend who was empty, but overall everything was enjoyable.
(4)Rufus J.
Went there for lunch today which turned out to be quite a mistake. Spent most of my meal listening to the bar tender complain about how sick he was and the other servers actually complain that they were busy. There were families there because of an event at the BC. One server actually said she liked it better when old people came there more. Paid $17 including a $3 tip for an app, fries and soda. This is very overpriced for the quality of food and the obvious crabby staff. Please choose any other place to eat other than this. I'll find a food cart before I'll go back.
(1)Jessica A.
Solid 3-star place -- great location, although the experience left much to be desired. Service was friendly however had a few mishaps. (Brought the wrong beer out, had to ask a couple times for waters....). The menu is definitely bar grub: some appetizers, small selection of salads, mediocre sounding sandwiches, burgers, etc. Ordered the mozzarella sticks, and a "Rachel" -- which other restaurants name for a Reuben sub Turkey instead of corned beef. First of all.. the cheese sticks suck! They are wrapped in a gross won ton, they literally should be called cheese dicks - -cause that's what they look like. They were cold, the cheese wasn't melty inside - - and the sauce wasn't even marinara! It was a watery tomato sauce with thick chunks of tomato. Gross! The fries with the sandwich were typical of a fast food restaurant. Overall, I was hungry.... it was 10pm, so not alot of choices - - but the outside looked cute and it looked busy inside. (But it was busy in the bar -- not in the restaurant.) I most likely won't go here again... too bad it's so close to the hotel I frequent.
(3)Tom B.
Visiting from Chicago, the girl at the front desk at our hotel suggested here or the brat house. We went to Buck Bradley's because it was less crowded, best decision we made all weekend. The food was fantastic, we got the Reuben and the Frisco burger, with the sausage combo appetizer. Absolutely amazing!!! Burger, Reuben, and drinks were amazing. We were hoping for a bit more with the sausage combo but still very good! The owner was hosting that night an was great. The bar was beautiful and the bar tender was nice, not the best, very slow refilling our drinks but was ok because we were truly enjoying the ambiance of the bar. I highly recommend it to anyone, esp out of towners. Great job!!
(5)Michael O.
3.5 stars as a restaurant 4 stars as a bar This is a classy place. We stopped in here for a bite to eat before a show recently. We walked in, and we were greeted warmly by the hostess. Sadly, there were very few patrons for such a big place. All the bar stools were lined up perfectly, and the bartender was wearing a bow tie. We ordered nachos, which were good, and some drinks. There was some sort of happy hour going on, so the prices were reasonable on drinks and apps. We also had a veggie sandwich, lasagna soup, and fries. The fries here are very good. We had a nice time!
(3)Farrah F.
I'm not from here. I'm just staying at the Aloft and decided to stop at the first place that caught my eye. So, this wasn't the first place to catch my eye. There are a lot of hokey German joints in this area, but this place had the sign for the blackened sword fish and I was like..."sounds good.". It wasn't packed (despite the Brewers game) so they gave me a great seat in a comfy booth facing the bar and surround by TVs with the game on. The decor is sports bar meets saloon saloon. The service was prompt and friendly. My waitress recommended the Sprecher Amber on tap which I really liked. I ordered the special which came with yummy bread and some mediocre white bean soup. The blackened swordfish was over done. The pasta was fine and the sauce was pretty greasy. I mean, don't get me wrong. It wasn't gross. It was alright. I sure the standard bar fare is better. I think this is probably more of a drinking establishment. If it were busier, I bet it could be bitchin' but it's not. I don't know why. I'm just an interloper making an observation.
(3)Eric W.
I went here before a Bucks vs. Bulls game - it was recommended to me by a local buddy. I didn't see what he saw in the place. The service was very average, at best. Being that it was a game-day and the bar is located less than 2 minutes away from Bradley Center, you'd think they'd be prepared to handle the less than full capacity crowd, and they couldn't. Our waitress (though in fairness she might have been new) had difficulty handling our table once we had 6 people there. She wasn't too helpful when it came time to refresh our drinks, though she might have had to handle too many tables. Also, the hostess in front was rude to our party when we first got there...we were inquiring if there were any reserved tables to avoid, and she seemed annoyed at the question, and told us to "sit anywhere" very briskly. Fine...but once we tried to sit anywhere, there was at least one reserved table. Finally, we were told about a special. We all ordered it, a 5 piece fried shrimp basket. $14. It maybe could have fed a child. It didn't feed us. Now, being from Chicago I'm used to price gouges, but this was pretty extreme for a small basket on "special." The drink prices were reasonable, and they had a decent selection. That was one of the pros.
(2)Katie S.
Buck Bradley's is an institution - but does that give them the freedom to not provide good service and great food? They are apparently under that impression. We stopped in for dinner on a Saturday and sat at the bar. It wasn't terribly busy but it was difficult to grab some attention from the bartenders. He was cordial, but not helpful and scolded us for asking what was evidently a stupid question about the fries. You've had everything on the menu somewhere else before, and it was probably better there. It wasn't terrible by any stretch, but it wasn't particularly noteworthy. Although an institution, the entire operation could stand for an update or two: the service level, the decor, the menu (the actual menu you hold), the food, etc. I want to love it there, but there's nothing to love.
(2)Teresa L.
This was the fifth and last stop on our epic Milwaukee pub crawl, so my memory may be a bit spotty. This was the bar where I switched from beer to gin and I remember a pleasantly dark room, a very long wooden bar, some fancy old-fashioned chandelier type lights, and a friendly bartender in a white shirt and a bow tie. Bow ties are cool. Also, fresh, hot, free popcorn magically appeared in front of me when I sat down. I love it when that happens. Apparently there is some sort of sports bar vibe happening somewhere else in the building, upstairs maybe, but the downstairs has more of an early 20th century saloon feel to it. The bar is really, really long, of some dark polished wood, the walls are brick, there are old photos and paintings hanging about, and the bar is backed by a long mirror. The stools are tall and surprisingly comfortable and the general ambiance is dark and intimate, as opposed to loud and crowded. Anyways. Three of the four of us were still on our feet and drinking and we all had a round of drinks to toast our staying power. I think there was something wrong with my glass though, it leaked or something, because for some reason every time the bartender filled it up, it was empty again almost immediately. Those were some seriously smooth gin and tonics. A couple of us laid down some Jack Daniels shots (not me, no, I have principles), and the bow-tied bartender concocted some off-the-cuff vodka beverage for one of our more adventurous companions. All in all, we all had a very good time here. My advice is come early, stay late, enjoy the free popcorn, and take a cab home.
(4)Donald D.
Really want to give this place more then one star but man it's just plan bad. The bar and atmosphere could be really cool. Bartender at our hotel recommended to go to the Brat House to ride the shuttle to the game. Arrived at the brat house which was really busy and noticed that the next door place which is buck bradleys had a sign saying complimentary shuttle and it was empty. Since it was empty we thought it would be best to go in here to get a spot at the bar. Every worker in this place is miserable. The rudest hostess I have ever been greeted by at a restaurant/bar followed by old timer bartenders that are way past there prime days of slinging drinks. Long story short of the "complimentary shuttle" is that use the brat house. We rode the brat houses back after the game and then again on Sunday. They operate numerous buses and theres no wait. Didn't see buck bradleys bus after the game but saw 2 brat house buses. We did not eat but would never come back to even try because of the rude service.
(1)Kelsey S.
I dined here with a group of 6 fellow first-timers on a Friday night around 7. We were surprised that we were seated right away, given that the streets were lined with cars (we weren't sure if that was an indicator of anything...) but chalked it up to the Bucks game having just started at the BC. Both the host and our server were prompt and attentive in providing service, so no complaints there. Within our group, we ordered brat baskets, the fish fry, the veggie sandwich, and the chili/salad combo. Everyone was pretty satisfied with our meals, with those who ordered the brat basket and fish fry sighing happily when asked how their food was. My only complaint? No free refills on fountain soda. Seriously? I know it doesn't cost the bar that much. Is it really necessary to charge $2 for each half-ice-filled 16 oz. glass I drink? At the very least, mention it. I don't think it was even on the menu. Other than that, nice ambience - we enjoyed the decor and the jazzy music playing overhead. I'd go back.
(3)Mike M.
I went here for drinks, so I can only comment about the bar. It was long cat long, and the drinks were kinda of pricey. Not a bad atmosphere, though. I'd probably stop here before events.
(3)Eric B.
This place got our business because of overflow at the brat house. Our original intent was to eat there, but NCAA was in town and the place was packed. Our family was hungry from a long day so we decided not to go far and give BB a try. We were seated immediately, our waitress came and got our drinks quickly she appeared to be busy, but not overwhelmed we got our menus, decided, and waited, and waited, like 45 min. We were very close to walking out, then finally our waitress"Nicole" came to take our order. My wife asked me in front of her if I still wanted to eat here? Indicating that we were annoyed. We placed our order, and our waitress rudely snatched the menus off the table and stormed off. My wife got up to use the restroom and while she was gone our server came back to the table and apologized. At that point our food came quickly. Sandwiches were big and tasted good. Next time I hope to try the brat house.
(2)Nancy R.
I had a prime seat to observe the management and teamwork at Buck Bradley's and I was extremely impressed! When I arrived, no one was at the host station, so the bartender leaned over the bar and greeted me with a warm hello and asked if I wanted to sit at the bar or a table. I chose to sit at a table along the wall in the bar area and was greeted by me efficient waitress, Karen in about 30 seconds. She dropped a menu, took me drink order and told me she would be back shortly. She said there was a large party of out-of-town conventioners in the main dining room who were keeping her hopping. Several minutes later she returned with my beer. I asked her what was good and she suggested the rueben sandwich. This turned out to be a wonderful tip as the corned beef was piled high on good rye bread with caroway seeds. As I waited for me meal, I began to observe the choreography of Wally the manager and the teamwork of the entire wait staff. The waitresses were constantly communicating to one another if help was needed or to offer their assistance or to note that they had delivered the order to someone else's table. Wally kept an eagle eye out for the customers while also assisting with food and drink delivery since everyone was quite busy. He would emerge from the kitchen and scan the scene, seating customers, politely ask a waitress if she could check in on table x, or stop to ask a customer how their dinner was. None of this communication was done above a low speaking voice. They were not yelling to one another, just constantly keeping one another informed as they passed by each other. When Wally visited my table to inquire as to my dinner, I complimented him on their organization and efficiency. He beamed his thanks and offered to buy my a beer! Of course I accepted and about 2 minutes later, Karen brought it to me. I didn't even see them talk to one another! Despite the fact that this is a huge restaurant and it was pretty busy, no one seemed to be in a hurry. They all took time to exchange pleasantries with the customers and Wally even notices folks who have been here awhile so he can spend a few extra minutes talking to them and make sure everything is ok. Wow! This is definitely going to be one of my all time favorite places to take out-of-town guests visiting Milwaukee. It is a classic spot, the food is good, and the service is unsurpassed!
(5)Cindy S.
Here on a Sunday- early afternoon. Good Bloody Mary's! Food was typical bar food, but good. Staff( sat at the bar) was friendly enough, just a little slow on refills (very few people there at the time of our visit). Love the history of the bar.
(3)Kip K.
Delicious wings, good food at a good price. Nice atmosphere and a fun rec room upstairs.
(4)Melissa D.
If you're new to the area, great place for a tourist/visitor such as myself. "This is the longest bar this side of the mississippi!" Exclaimed my tour guide (client's friend from there). Located in old town, this is a great place to stop after your german inspired food at one of the many restaurants in this area. The bartender powerwalking one end to the other was super friendly and had great conversations with us. The bartender chose a devilish shot (some green locally made liquor) when I made a bet with my client that the Celitcs will win over the Cavs (INdeed they did!). The bar is impressive. It is wicked long and ageless! Something to check out if your visiting. It was pretty dead though but didn't mind at all (Tuesday evening around 9pm)
(4)Dani K.
Nutshell: The atmosphere was fun (maybe because of the Bucks game??), the food was delicious, the waitress was attentive and funny, and the price was right. Elaboration: (yes, that's a word) Came here before the Bucks game with my dad and a friend. It's right across the street from the Bradley Center, cross a parking lot and you're there, so location was brilliant. We were seated right away by a smiling hostess and the waitress was quick with the drinks and taking orders. Thing #1: When we came in and by the time we ordered, it wasn't busy. Due to the game, things picked up quick. However, it still took a little too long, IMO, to make our three sandwich entrees, especially since we ordered well before the rush. I had a barbecue chicken sandwich and hooooollllyyyy. Thing #2: I have a low tolerance for spicy foods, I'll admit, but I really wasn't expecting this sandwich to be SOO hot. The sauce was all over the place, too; sauce overload, to be precise. Not my thing. The fries were heaven and perfectly cooked with the seasoning just right. My dad had a quarter-pounder burger and only ate half, it was THAT huge. My friend had the reuben and scarfed that thing down fast. We stuck around after eating to talk and such for a good half hour, if not longer, and the waitress made no attempt of rushing us with the check or to make us leave, which was VERY pleasant. Highly recommend this place to anyone, local or visitor. Definitely want to come back!
(4)Prashant C.
Amazing service and people! decent beer selection too, but not what I expected of the Brewing capital! If I took into account service and beer selection, this place would get another star, but it gets 3 stars for its food. We ordered some wings, a hot dog, and a grilled cheese. Nothing was horrible, but it wasn't great. I got the wings and ordered them extra crispy. While the crispiness was almost up to par, the sauce needed some work. It tasted like a watered down version of Franks. Anyway, great place to go to catch a game, drink some beer, or just pre party before a Bucks game.
(3)Mike B.
Went here for dinner. Service was A+...our server know all of the details regarding the menu/specials, she was able to make recommendations as well. the food was good, pretty basic and nothing really special, but good. The manager was very visible and was helping his team of servers out (which i love to see). give this place a try!
(4)Erin D.
Showtunes, brats and beer! Glad I could say I've been to the longest bar in Wisconsin. Lemme check that off my list...! We had sometime to kill so my cousin suggested we go here. I'm glad we did. Nice decor, I love the ambiance, everyone was super friendly, joking around with you. Made you feel real welcome. Loved the range of showtunes that was playing. We ordered the nachos, which by far are the best nachos I've had in MKE. Then I had a brat. Which was ok. I think I was missing the Miller Park experience to go along with it but if I go back it wouldn't be something I'd order again. Overall, great bar if you were drinking your way around MKE -- a definite must visit if you're in town.
(5)Trisha B.
Downtown Milwaukee. Beautiful, bright and crisp autumn Sunday morning. Downtown looks nearly deserted. We are looking for somewhere to have a nice breakfast or brunch. We asked the hotel front desk. We asked a passerby. We stumbled upon Buck Bradley's, a place no one had mentioned. Flowers and outdoor seating in front, large, spacious, vintage decor inside. Like! We were nearly the only ones there. We got fast (of course!) friendly service, very nice ambiance, and good, satisfying food and drink for an affordable price - they even serve a local and iconic wurst here which I find a likeable thing. This isn't fancy food, mind you, but the restaurant is super clean and comfortable and the food is good. The looooong, antique bar is gorgeous, and the ceiling is the old flooring - magnificent. Tall, original brick walls provide a warmth unmatched by anything else. We were not in any way disappointed by our experience here but, that said, we ate here the day after eating at Blue's Egg and, well, that's a hard act to follow. I think that with a little bit more interesting and varied menu this place could rock the charts.
(4)Jennifer S.
Great saloon in downtown Milwaukee. Very friendly service, nice atmosphere, great beer selection and surprisingly good food. We enjoyed the open face roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes...yummy!
(4)Michael W.
Great food. Better bloody Mary's. Service is great. Hostess is so classy.
(5)Jessica O.
Ambiance: Almost none - oh wait, there is the longest bar east of the Mississippi. But who the hell cares unless they are sliding frosty beer mugs all the way from one end to the other like in the old days. In case you are wondering, the don't so yeah, in that case it's just a longer than normal bar. Whoop-de-doo. Then there is the weird almost empty save for two random beanie babies cabinet in the main dining room. I would say overall feel is ghost town from the old west only not as intriguing. Beverages: Full Bar but they serve Pepsi, those of us who feel making a mixed drink with Pepsi Cola and not Coca Cola is a sin will be sorely disappointed. Food: Mediocre at best. I've eaten here several times and each time the food is just blah. I had the Chicken Cesar Salad recently and it was $13. If I am paying $13 for a Cesar Salad it better make my toes curl. This salad was so average, I wouldn't be able to pick it out of a line up with any other chain restaurant. There was not a whiff of fresh parmesan cheese on it and I couldn't even get some fresh cracked pepper on it. I've also had their burger in the past and found it to be dry and lackluster. Staff: In addition to having the longest bar this side of the Mississippi they also have the slowest staff. It takes forever for them to take your drink order, bring your drinks, take your food order, eventually bring out your food and then EVENTUALLY bring your check. The whole production is a test of patience for the patron. You may think you can just nip in and out really quick but you would be mistaken. Parking: There's none Bathrooms:They are of average cleanliness although they are about as aesthetically pleasing as a gas-station bathroom with some of the most jarring lighting I've seen.
(1)James F.
Stopped here for dinner (to meet up between Madison and Chicago) because our first place choice was closed, and this place was just around the corner. While it first looks like just a bar, they also have a dining area on the side. Since it was my first time in Milwaukee, we got the Milwaukee sampler, which as Christina B. says, is like a giant Lunchables platter. Usinger's sausage, cheese and crackers. still, we were starving, so it helped cut the hunger while we waited for our friend from Madison to arrive. I got a Monterey Cajun chicken sandwich, which came on an awesomely huge roll and pepper jack cheese, with a side of cole slaw instead of fries. good stuff and it filled me up. My fellow diners had a variety of sandwich and burger dishes and salads, with fries. One of my friends had the daily soup - a cream of carrot, which she thought was good. Good eats, friendly service, old school saloon decor. A good place to eat with friends or have a drink! And totally unbeknownst to me at the time: they are part of my Rapid Rewards Dining program.. i ate and drank my way to another partial flight credit!
(4)Richard S.
I'll add my voice to the "who cares how long the bar is?", club. I stopped here a few days ago after work. I ordered a Long Island Ice Tea, Mozzarella Sicks and a Meatball Sandwich. Everything was just OK. Not bad...not great. Server was friendly and efficient. They are wheelchair accessible.
(3)Mario E.
the wings are awesome and service is fantastic!
(5)Denise S.
Baked Fish dinner on Friday was one of the best I ever had! Lots of fish, more than most places! And if you are going to the Bradley Center, you go out the back door and across the street!
(5)T L.
The longest bar that side of the Mississippi! It was huge! However, really average food, menu stated fries with my BLT and it came out with dip chips? When I asked the waitress said she'd be happy to, no not get the fries, but put in for a side order of fries. Uh no thanks - place is huge and it probably lights up pretty good for events at the arena nearby, but hardly a soul in there on a Spring Break Friday afternoon. Other dishes we ordered were average including the cod, service was okay except for the fries and the place is really unique with the wooden interior and long bar. Don't know if I'd go back though, especially after looking at the reviews of other nearby establishments.
(3)Karri G.
I don't get it. Who cares about the length of the bar if the bartender is not friendly and knowledgeable? This may be fine for a beer, but I would not recommend eating here. The food was terrible and severely overpriced for the quality. And the parking...good friggin' luck finding a parking spot! To their credit, when asked whether we were happy with our meals, we said no, and were offered a free dessert. However, MORE of poor quality food was not going to cause us to have a change of heart.
(2)Mike J.
Tuna melt was very good. This is a must visit place in downtown Milwaukee as it has the longest bar I've ever seen.
(4)andrew m.
Cool place. Has an old time feel to it. Great burgers and cheap drinks.
(4)Lyndsay N.
My team and I came here for a working dinner because Buck Buradley's historic longest bar east of the Mississippi river status. Because the bar is so large it tends to disperse the noise. We were here for 4 hours, and that's not really because we were working that long, but because it took so long for the service. Apparently the staff had misjudged dinner that night because they only had one waitress for about 30 people including 2 large groups. I try not to fault her because it wasn't her fault, but she had a weird demeanor about it. Not really anything towards us, except that we shouldn't expect anything to be quickly delivered... or even remembered sometimes. I ordered the grilled cheese with bacon and the soup of the day a mushroom barley. The grilled cheese was awesome. The soup not awesome... I didn't even eat it. I would go back and sit at the bar with some friends and order the pizza (a coworked did and it looked delicious).
(3)Gary D.
I give this place 4 stars only because of the service, which was great. Otherwise it's an average sports bar and I would've given it 3 stars. We initially were seated upstairs because it was Saturday night of the final four and WI was in it, so the place was crowded. Our first waitress was very good, but in the middle of the service she left to go downstairs and I'm thinking this won't be good, but how wrong I was. We got a great server, wish I could remember her name. She even found us a table downstairs which is where we wanted to be as there was more action down there. I had the chicken nachos and the quantity is incredible, needed an Army to finish them, but quality was just so-so. She had a chicken sandwich, again so-so. Beer list is ok, they have several local brews along with the mainstream stuff. The bar in the main area is incredible, built many years ago when craftsman really did some substantial pieces.
(4)Bruce M.
Mari was great...door guy was fantastic...food was so so good...love love love the bar.
(5)Hans N.
4.5 I had the fish n chips and my son had the carnivore pizza. While the fish was pretty good, I'll say the pizza was some of the best I've ever had. The sausage is from Usinger's across the street and it was on a thin crust prepared in house...EXCELLENT. If you go...get the freakin pizza! I'm sure their brats are good too, since they're also from Usinger's, but I had brats last night for dinner...
(4)Valeri B.
This old dude told me not to lean on the rail and was a huge jerk about it. It's okay though. He probably can't see his situation over his giant stomach.
(1)Jason B.
I've been here a dozen or so times after an Admirals game and I definitely prefer Buck Bradley's over some of the other bars in the area. Definitely a more laid back vibe, plenty of room for a big crowd, attentive bartenders and non overpriced drinks. What more could you ask for. Plus it's the longest bar east of the Mississippi. Stop in and see Jimbo, he'll treat you right.
(4)Andrew J.
Thought this was just a bar, instead got seated in the restaurant section. Either way our Waitress Jennifer was nothing short of fantastic. We felt bad we weren't going to eat dinner that just got a Turtle Sundae for desert. Girlfriend got a Sprecher Root Beer, fantastic by the way, while I got a Irish Coffee. Bar is huge, might go back sometime this weekend
(5)Dawn O.
Didn't stop for dinner, but for drinks and pool. Great upstairs area for a crowd and drinks were good.
(3)Barbara S.
I have mixed feelings about this place!!! It is like a hit or miss...never consistent!! I went there multiple times, including twice this month! The food is great, (my favorite is the grilled cheese with bacon!! Yummmy!!!), but the service is meh!!! Went there on St Paddy's day pub crawl and our bartender was awesome!! He never left us with empty drinks...A++!!! But then we went back before a Bucks game the other day for dinner and our server was just awful!! She must have had all the tables in our section probably!! She never refilled drinks, brought us silverware, or brought us our bill, (even though I told her we were going to the game right after dinner). I had to keep calling the hostess to help us!!! The table next to us waited 20 minutes for their bill and she never came!!! For the prices, the service should be extraordinary, not mediocre!!!
(3)Brian H.
The atmosphere was really nice, turn of the century style. The service was good to average. We were in a large group & the food came out all at once and more importantly was warm. I had the Ruben which was very tasty! Corn beef was real brisket and not process meat. I'd probably give them more of a 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.
(3)Kim D.
Great service, good prices, and delicious food! After a recommendation to try this place out and it's close proximity to our hotel, we decided to try out Buck Bradley's for our first meal in Milwaukee. I was pretty hungry after flying all night, but even I couldn't finish my lunch entree since the portions are pretty big. My co-worker and I decided to both get their reuben sandiwches, as they were highlighted on the menu as the house special. Our waitress also recommended it, and we were definitely glad we went with that. The slices of rye bread were able to hold up the giant mound of their juicy homemade oven-roasted corned beef brisket and sauerkraut topping. The melted swiss cheese topped it off, and all the components of the sandwich melded together perfectly, with the addition of the horseradish thousand island dressing. I didn't care too much for the fries, but overall this was probably one of the best reubens I've ever eaten.
(4)Marianne C.
Food was good, atmosphere good. Our server Ava was the bomb. Very personable staff. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Lauren G.
We ate here for the open doors Milwaukee and I was really disappointed. I would've rather spent money to elsewhere. A brat, club sandwich and beer was $25. The club sandwich was something I made at home. The turkey was thinly sliced and hardly on the sandwich at all. Too much lettuce. The brat was okay but too much bread. The building and decor was cool but the food is definitely worth skipping.
(2)Sam D.
Meh. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was great but the beer selection was not very good.
(3)Jon G.
Excellent! Great bartenders, ambiance and terrific burgers.
(5)Shelly S.
Went here with my family for dinner before going to a Bucks game. This place knows how to serve large crowds quickly without compromising great food! Our server, Jennifer, was the best! Checked in on us several times, and had a great upbeat attitude. We will be back!
(5)Matt G.
One our favorite places to eat in downtown MKE! We have always had a great time. The food is wonderful, the service is friendly, and their Bloody Mary is excellent.
(5)Philip G.
Mediocre at best and rude with a side of pretension at worst. Don't waste your time. Weather it's Buck's game, Admiral's or any other event save yourself grief and go anywhere else. Rudest hostess I've ever dealt with.
(1)Sara K.
Went for dinner and a WI Badger game was on. TV's way to loud. When at the table we had to yell at one another to hear each other. I get we love the Badgers, but it was just too loud. Staff should have.recognized that amd tuned it down a bit. Will never go again during a game. Food was good. Had the grilled cheese.
(2)Anne M.
Yelpy new year! My first review of 2012... My sister and I dined at Buck Bradley's for an impromptu New Year's Eve dinner. I'll admit, this was not our first choice, but after looking at a few other options on this stretch of old world street that turned out to be a bust (closed for private parties, piano bars, $$$ menus) we headed back to the Buck. Pros: cool, old, wooden bar with huge mirrors behind it. cool, old gentlemen bartenders wearing bow ties. christmas decor - keep it festive! nice relaxed, cozy vibe. very nice, attentive waitstaff. good, fresh French bread + butter. Cons: decent food, but tough fish - two different fish dishes, same chewy toughness. * I ordered the swordfish entree, which honestly had the texture of overcooked chicken. I realize swordfish is a meaty fish, but this was really pushing the limits. The rest of the meal was good (baked potato, veggies, nice tomato butter sauce on the fish) but I was disappointed with the fillet. ** The other entree was fish & chips. I've stopped ordering this entree altogether because I've had some bad fish & chips, and this wasn't that impressive either. Paid soda refills. Seriously? Why does ANY restaurant do this? The only exception I can deal with is when you receive a can of pop. You want another can, you have to pay. If it's fountain pop, don't make people pay another $2-3 for a top off - it just seems cheap. This proved to be a fine NYE dinner - even better with our yummy turtle sundae - but I'm not sure I'd rush back.
(3)Jen Y.
Damn, I should have gotten nachos since I'm at a bar. I went with grilled vegetable sandwhich... I don't think that should be called a sandwhich. Frozen vegetables with processed cheese on top? The rest of my meat eating party enjoyed their sandwiches. I was quite jealous; mine was inedible.
(1)Tony K.
eek. Grilled vegetable sandwich. Sounds: yummy. Cost: $10 Tastes: disgusting. Imagine an oddly cut large piece of an italian sub topped with cooked frozen mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green beans and peas), grilled onions, and melted cheese. Yep - not good. Just not good at all. I really like the feel of the bar - old timey saloon(ish) like the rest of the reviews say... but it just really fails on the food. Miserably. If I wanted frozen vegetables on some bread with cheese I would've asked my 5 year old nephew to make me dinner.
(2)Gail J.
When in Rome, buy gladiator gear. When in Wisconsin, eat cheese. Thus, has begun my game of Russian Roulette with my own cholesterol and heart health. That said, the grilled cheese here is krytonite to my Superman. I just couldn't stop eating it. I also had a shot of Jameson. Note: It was *practically* forced down my throat. I usually leave the liver alone when battering the heart. Lively place. Friendly servers.
(3)Eric A.
I have been to Buck Bradley's about a dozen times. Mostly around 5pm before I will attend a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game. It is directly across from the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The chicken Tenders basket is fantastic. The plate of nachos are also a favorite of mine. This bar is incredibly long, but does fill up fast before Bucks/Admirals games, so getting there early is a must on game days. I really enjoy the laid back atmosphere and the quick attentive bartenders. My one and only qualm is the price of the drinks. It is around $8 for a standard Bloody Mary and some of the beers are seemingly priced too high as well. Would definitely recommend.
(4)Pete K.
Went to this place last night before a Bucks game. It's great! The burgers were huge and very tasty. Great selection of Beers. Our server, Jennifer, did a great job. If you're looking for a cool, laid-back place for a burger and a beer...this is it!
(4)robert a.
OH Buck. How I want to love you, I really do. Your local, small, old school, close, all the things I want. I just can't love you, I just like you. I want to be more than friends, but I cannot. It's not me, it's you. Your chili is really good, your entree is not, so that makes you average. Your bar is beautiful, you selection is not, so that makes you average. Your bar staff are great, your amount of them is not, so that makes you average. Imagine you have to go to a training seminar, imagine you have to attend a lunch at this seminar. Imagine there is an annoying coworker (you know the guy, salmon colored polo, khakis, new balance gym shoes, likes Huey Lewis, may have eaten glue as a child), a smelly woman from Perth that is licking the bottom of her shoe, and your good friend. Imagine you have to choose a table mate from the three, the obvious choice is the friend, but then that friend is called back into a meeting. The smelly woman is now getting worse by putting mashed potatoes in her hair, and telling people she has sex with wooden statues of king edward the III for money. You take the pill, and sit with salmon polo boy. Yes your talking to someone, but not about anything you want to talk about, but at least your not with the wooden potato whore of Perth, all the while you wish you were having a pleasing lunch with your friend. That is what I feel like when I go to Buck Bradley's Did I mention the price? Not so good. I had a cup of chili, a club sandwich, a root beer - with tip = $30.00.
(3)Lisa B.
The hotel we stayed at recommended this place to us for lunch. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted so I went with the cobb salad and it is what it is. A cobb salad with unimpressive salad dressing. I tried the Ranch and Tomato vinegrette and both were just OK. Not great but not bad either. The grilled chicken on the salad was good. I asked what their specialty drink was and the waitress suggested a Rum Runner. So, I had two! They were great!!
(3)Brian P.
Food was pretty mediocre and extremely overpriced for what you received. I had the BLT which featured a few pieces of wilted bacon and way too much lettuce. The person I ate with had a ceaser salad with wilted lettuce and tomatoes that had brown spots all over them. Extremely disappointing to say the least. However, what really blew my mind was that they actually have the audacity to charge you for refills of soda. That's quite possibly the dumbest and most annoying thing I've encountered at a restaurant in recent memory. Don't waste your time or money at BB's. Go next door to the Brat House for a far superior dining and drinking experience!
(2)Andrew A.
Went to Buck Bradley's for a quick dinner on a Friday nite...boy was that a mistake. Sure the place looks nice and the service is friendly but the food is not top notch by any means. I order the potato skins as an appetizer...received still cold in the middle that was hidden by melted cheese on top. I can never understand how you can screw up bar food. The manager got us the new order and took it off of our bill but only after I brought it to his attention. When they came out the second time at least it was cooked. Of course I ordered the fish fry - cod with fries, slaw, and bread. Portions were fine but the fish was over cooked, fries, soggy, bread stale...only saving grace was the slaw. I should have just burned my $13.95 over the candle on the table instead of eating it. Now I have always said that Polenz had the worst fish fry I have had in the MIlwaukee area. Buck's ranks right above that. Go here for drinks but you might as well go to Pick N Save and pick up a Banquet microwave meal if you wanted something comparable.
(1)Sarah Z.
I love that this place keeps its vintage character while serving up great food and modern day drinks. It's a perfect place to hit before a BMO Harris Bradley Center event and the bar is ridiculously long so there is plenty of seating. I love the brass all over and the tile floors - Milwaukee in it's hay-day!
(4)Lauren W.
Waitress was very attentive. Atmosphere was pretty cool. Long bar and bartender in a bow tie was awesome. Food was pretty good. Brat by Usinger was delicious!
(4)G B.
Never been here but thought I'd give it a try. Stopped for lunch but never made it past the rude hostess. I wondered why The Brat Haus and the Hofbrau House next door were packed but Bradley's wasn't. Now I know. The troll at the door keeps most people away. Never again. The Brat Haus next door however is excellent.
(1)Jim K.
I've swung by here a few times, and each time I had wonderful drinks, and amazing service. The decor is pleasant, if not old world. Unfortunately, I did not try to food (outside of the fruit in my Old Fashioned) so I can not review that. They do have a solid happy hour (inexpensive martinis), and some of the best bartenders around.
(4)Amber C.
Great drinks and excellent service at the bar. Also, we ordered a pizza to snack on and it was very good. There's a free shuttle to and from the Brewer's home games at Miller Park, so it's the perfect place to start and end your game day fun. It allowed us to relax and have fun as a group rather than having a designated driver, we stayed downtown and took the shuttle.
(5)N V.
One star and I am not alone- check out "non-sponsored reviews". Wish I could get past the incredibly rude "Hostess". The food is mediocre and over-priced and cannot make up for the rudeness of the hostess. She seriously behaves as if she is doing you a favor by acknowledging your existence. Thankfully her rudeness paid off as we found Tutto next door and it was outstanding on all counts. Looking forward to NEVER going back to Buck Bradley's unless the hostess goes to "manners" school. Then the ambience might drag me in for a second chance.
(1)Jim D.
This place kills it when there are shows or games at the Bradley Center (since it is so close.) It is great for meeting up with people before or after events. The bar is nice and big and there are a lot of TV's and the decor is really nice big classic saloon/beer hall. Beer selection is big and good and the drinks are well made. After that, the wheels fall off. The food is just 100% forgettable. On par or below that of Applebees and the ilk. If you are just looking for some fried appetizers, nachos, a burger and some beers with buddies, this is your place. I was not in a fraternaty, but I can imagine some frat brothers using their kitchen passes to get back together for a night out on the town after a round of golf. I can almost overhear them now... "Do you remember how hard we used to party?" "No one partied like us."
(3)Emily M.
Went to Buck Bradley's before an Admirals Game. Really enjoyed the daily soup and BLT sandwich! Great atmosphere and service. Definitely recommend.
(4)Charity C.
I had the buck Bradley club, it was great! Our waitress was very attentive. My companion had a tasty and satisfying brat with sauerkraut and onion. Fun atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)Brad P.
Been here a few times. Their claim to fame is that it's the longest bar in the USA. I'd would go back for happy hour, but won't plan on eating dinner there again. Just not that great of food. Staff is fantastic both at the bar and in the restaurant.
(3)Andy D.
Best reuben ever! Service was good.
(5)Sadie T.
Bar experience only. Cute inside, turn of the century English feel. I liked the ambiance. I am not sure exactly what they are going for, but it worked for me. The bar was not packed with people. They had a sign featuring margaritas. I ordered a strawberry. It was good, but pricey at $9. I would go back.
(3)Graham T.
We went here this past Friday for lunch. The fried shrimp and cod special was excellent! The clam chowder was homemade and very delicious. Great beer selection and friendly service, too. We will be back!
(4)Jason K.
While there isn't really anything super special that sticks out about this place, it is one of my favorite Old World Third Street spots, right behind Milwaukee Brat House and Uber Tap Room and Cheese Bar. I like the quieter atmosphere, and it is a pretty classy looking joint. They have a sports bar upstairs with a few pool tables and dart boars as well. The prices are reasonable and there is plenty of seating. Not a huge beer selection, but they have a few good ones.
(4)