4. Restaurants

Café At the Plaza

1007 N Cass St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
  • (414) 272-0515
  • Store is closed

Café At the Plaza Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

  • Chadrick J.

    This place is spectacular. The service can be a little spotty but the food more than makes up for it. If you want to get outside plan on a wait unless you get there before 9 am. They do open at 7 which is early than most breakfast joints in MKE. Favorites: Lemon Poppy-seed pancakes w/ Blueberry compote! Also the breakfast poutine made w/herb cafe potatoes instead of waffle fries! OMG so Good! All in all really good spot to go chillax and dine!

    (5)

  • Liza Q.

    I think this place is hit or miss with brunch service. When it's crowded, the food is a bit rushed and service is slow. When it's not a rush, the service and food is awesome! Problem is, most people come on weekends for brunch and it is just a madhouse. So far I've had the corned beef hash (just ok), the biscuits and gravy (amazing!!), and the salmon eggs Benedict (amazing!!). I've also tried from friends' plates the omelet (very good!) and the scramble (eh, would give this a miss). The star, however, is the chive hashbrowns. How they are so perfectly cooked I do not know, crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth goodness on the inside.

    (4)

  • Amara H.

    It took me nearly two years of living in MKE to find this tucked away spot. What attracted me to this spot was the décor, as it transports you back in time. I tend to frequent brunch spots in the MKE area with a close friend of mine. Because we tend to share a similar taste in food, we came to a similar conclusion on this spot, reflected below. We ordered the veggie benedict and the cinnamon roll french toast. While we both enjoyed the flavors of both dishes, there were a few drawbacks. With regards to the veggie benedict, it was misleading to have labeled it a "benedict" as it was not served on an English muffin. Rather, it was served on a bed of seasoned potatoes. While I commend the café for trying to constantly innovate their menu, this was a misleading deviation from standard benedicts one would assume would be served for brunch. Instead, the dish ought to have been titled a "scrambler." In addition, the egg itself was very poorly prepared and very flimsy. Common sense would dictate that a kitchen should not serve burnt food EVER. Unfortunately, the bottom of the french toast was burnt. The cream cheese and the glaze were able to mask the burnt flavor, but they were unable to fix the toast's texture. That said - both dishes did have excellent flavors. The ingredients of the veggie benedict complemented each other very well; notable ingredients driving the exceptional flavor were the herbs and the tomato jam. I do have to say, I do appreciate the café NOT using a cinnamon roll [itself] as the basis for the french toast. Many brunch spots that I have visited use a standard cinnamon roll as the base of their dish. At this café, the french toast infused all the key flavors of a true cinnamon roll without actually relying on a roll. The magic was in the honey cream cheese and the cinnamon-cardamom browned butter glaze. An added bonus to this brunch experience was the outdoor seating. It evoked a very East Coast vibe [without the cost]. The dishes were very appropriately priced.

    (3)

  • Brian P.

    I was introduced to Cafe at the Plaza by a friend of mine about a year ago. I've been back at least a dozen times since. When they closed for renovations I was devastated. When I dine here, all is right in the world. That's how much I love this place. Cafe at the Plaza is a hidden gem in my book. Tucked into the lobby of an early 1900's hotel, the decor gets me every time. I'm a sucker for the classical art-deco inspired environment that this place has, as well as the adorable patio. It's classy without being pretentious or overwhelming. The food is solid as well. Chorizo scramble (I forget the exact name) is a favorite of mine. The corned beef hash is great, as well as the smoked salmon bagel. They've added a few new menu options since the renovation, all of which I cannot wait to try. The price point is what you make of it. Most entrees are between $10-$12 so you can easily walk out of here spending well under $20. But, their drinks are great (try the bloody and the mimosa) and they have delicious sides. For this reason I always find myself spending $25 or above. What else can I say? This place is wonderful. It's wonderful because it doesn't try to be anything it's not (I know, double negative, I'm sorry.) Cafe at the Plaza is a place with a solid breakfast, good drinks, a wonderful decor and attentive, speedy service.

    (5)

  • Joanna T.

    Cafe at the Plaza is an under the radar contender for some of the best brunch in the city. It doesn't have the hipster cachet of Comet, the skyline views of Roots or the ages-long waits of Blues Egg. So what do they have? To start - a gorgeous vintage atmosphere. The Plaza hotel was built in the mid-20's and the original Cafe was a tearoom for the ladies. There's lots of original Art Deco charm - think decorative plaster and great tile floors. There's also a 50's diner space with counter seating and a lush patio. Sadly, it was drizzling when we visited so we stayed inside. Second - friendly staff. We were taken care of promptly and checked on by several staffers. The hostess was especially nice. Third - a great menu. There's the classics but plenty of creative things if you feel like trying something new. Breakfast schnitzel, anyone? Most importantly, the food was very good. The Mister couldn't pass up a breakfast schnitzel and was rewarded with a crispy cutlet served over homemade spaetzle with bacon and onions. He said his eggs could have used some seasoning but really liked everything else. I went with biscuits and gravy which was above average. My over medium eggs were perfect and you could tell that the gravy was homemade - it was chock full of sausage chunks. My nitpicks would be that I would have liked to see the gravy a bit thicker (too runny IMO) and the biscuits were a bit cold as if they'd come from the fridge. The hashbrowns here weren't my favorite - very crunchy on the outside (almost burnt) but I know others like them that way. I thought the prices (most dishes in the $9-12 range) were very fair for the quality. Parking is going to be hit or miss just because of where they're located - I didn't see a dedicated lot. Overall, I was impressed. Cafe at the Plaza is way more low key than some of the other brunch "hot spots" but they're turning out creative, tasty dishes. I hear evening small plates are in the works - definitely planning to check that out!

    (4)

  • Corey D.

    Thank you Rachel F... For making it so I can't get hash browns anywhere else in Wisconsin. WHAT THE HELL IS IN THOSE THINGS? I think the stars just simply aligned to make for pretty much the best breakfast experience I've had in a long time, and here's the thing, I had eggs, hash browns, a toasted muffin and avocado. It wasn't revolutionary or out of the box! It was series of a la cart items I cobbled together! And they were damn good. I love this little place and can't wait to return and order an item they actually have on the menu, but until then, I'll be dreaming about you CATP.

    (5)

  • Katie K.

    Hmmmm I must say both times I have been here service is poor. So slow on the coffee refill. Cold cold muffins. I didn't even know they had a drink menu since nobody offered!? So today, Why, why, why would you even serve me black pancakes? See my picture posted. And then you don't even ask how everything is?????? Like charcoal my friend, like charcoal. I ate the one good looking pancake and the server really should have guessed that something was wrong with the rest since I left it. All that happened is I hungry. On the plus side. My father eats vegan and they give you a really nice portion of oatmeal cooked in water with fruit, nuts. And the good looking pancake was terrific.

    (1)

  • Carrie G.

    I've heard so much about this Cafe, mostly great food, some notes of inconsistent service, that curiosity won out and I had to see for myself! I absolutely love the 1920's Art Deco vibe here. The Plaza is rather iconic in Milwaukee history (they are a perennial favorite for Doors Open). And the beautiful decor is very well preserved and creates an inviting environment. The layout is interesting and the diner counter and few tables in the room at the top of the stairs appears to be the original restaurant. The larger dining room beyond that may have been a former lounge area that was retro fitted to a second dining area to accommodate more diners. Given the choice the dining counter is likely the better indoor choice. But the real jewel is the outdoor courtyard. It's far superior to any of the photos that I saw and I absolutely cannot wait for next spring and the opportunity to dine al fresco. Back to my recent visit. My friend started with a mimosa ($6) and I naturally tried the bloody ($8.50). The mimosa was great and the bloody was too. The garnish was simple (see photo below) and the house made mix had good flavor. The rim of the glass was celery salted, which is always a bonus for me. And the mix boasted worcestershire, horseradish and a bit of bacon. There are many classic breakfast/brunch entrees to choose from and the Smoked Salmon Benedict ($10) caught my eye. The salmon was well smoked, but not overly so and there was an ample portion. The eggs were thankfully poached perfectly (far too many kitchens struggle with this basic concept) and the english muffin was well toasted and held up to the toppings. The breakfast potatoes side was tasty, but a little sparse. Service was a disappointment. They appeared to be both under-staffed and under-trained. We had to ask for water glasses to be filled three times. The waiter mixed up my friends order and he had to have the food re-made. And the waiter also never returned to ask how the food was. I will certainly be back to dine in the courtyard, and if I return before that I would absolutely choose counter seats in the hopes of better service.

    (4)

  • Shannon C.

    We have been to café on the plaza many, many times, and I cannot believe that I have yet to write a review! So allow me to remedy that situation anon. My absolute favorite part about Café on the plaza, aside from their stellar and unpretentious yet delicious food, is their open kitchen and the more diner aspect of half of the eatery. You can choose to feel like you're in a diner or a classyish restaurant - like a Choose Your Own Adventure story, but for brunch. Everything we order is good. They have great benedicts, which is always a major draw for me. And their service is excellent -- the people who work there are just really nice!

    (5)

  • Tushig U.

    Waited for 45 min to get a table (hostess told us 15 min). Then, we had to wait at least another 40 minutes for our food to come out, and quiet frankly it was underwhelming. Toast was either burnt or not toasted at all. Bacon was overcooked, and not to mention the french toast had no taste. Only reason im giving it 2 stars is because of their hash-browns. Will not come back again.

    (2)

  • Chelsie L.

    OM NOM NOM. Cafe at the Plaza kills it with their brunch game. I wonder why more people don't talk about this spot, but thats ok, maybe we can keep it our little secret. I love the area it is tucked into, easily accessible downtown without the busy downtown feeling and the building has so much charm. The cafe is cozy, service was friendly. I love that when you sit at the counter, the kitchen is right in front of you, nothing between you and all of the delicious food and coffee coming to you. Old school diner feel and I loved it. I have a feeling that I will be coming back to this spot at any chance I get.. which could get dangerous. Nothing but newfound love for the Cafe at the Plaza.

    (5)

  • Bobb S.

    How did we not know about this place? Tucked away in the Plaza Hotel, it's a vintage cafe serving solid breakfast and brunch fare. The cafe has a curved bar to sit at as well as a separate dining room. They also have an outdoor patio in the summer months. I went with the pork schnitzel with homemade spaetzle and egg while my better half went with her favorite standby-eggs benedict. Both dishes were served with a side and we opted for hashbrowns. Both were excellent and served in a speedy fashion. With brunch comes the obligatory cocktails. Bloody Mary's are served with a High Life pony and were tasty (albeit maybe heavy on the horesradish). The greyhound is served with your choice of vodka or gin-my recommendation is to go for the gin as it pairs better with the grapefruit mixer. Obvious we were in the minority in not knowing about this place as it was pretty well packed when we arrived. So, do me a favor, and keep this between us, ok? We will definitely be back and don't want to wait too long for a table!

    (5)

  • Ben K.

    I love this place! Whenever friends are visiting over a weekend this cafe is often their request for brunch. I especially recommend it during the summer months. They have an absolutely beautiful outdoor courtyard area. The cafe itself is very unique. You can either sit at the breakfast bar counter and watch food being cooked, or dine in their dining room. The food here does take a bit of time to be prepared but I've never had anything I didn't like. Most recently I had the plaza pleaser with a side of chive hash browns and it was delicious. I once dined here with a friend who ordered a Bloody Mary and felt it was a bit weak. The staff was super friendly about it and promptly made her a new (and stronger) drink. Give it a try, you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Park F.

    We've been here many times, but this was the first time since renovations. I had a Poutine which put me into a coma. I typically don't eat this kind of thing, but couldn't resist the description. I don't remember it exactly, but there was a bed of waffle fries on the bottom, melted cheese curds and a thin potato pancake in the middle and a crazy savory sauce with poached eggs on top. Should be illegal. We always sit at the diner counter where the service is fantastic and the awesome coffee keeps coming.

    (5)

  • Ellie B.

    Cafe at the Plaza is a great little place for breakfast or brunch! I like that they're open early. We came around 10:00 and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. Parking was easy to find right out front and on Saturdays you don't have to feed the meter (2 hour limit). There is counter seating and patio seating. I tried a Bellini and the vegetarian eggs Benedict. They were both great and reasonably priced. The portion size of the dish was perfect. It says it came with a vegetarian substitution for prosciutto but mine didn't have that, but it's my own darn fault for not saying anything. I was too busy enjoying the patio and the company of friends. I had a bite of my friends' truffle eggs and they were really good. I'd come back here again for sure!

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    I hate to say it, but brunch here with a friend was a disappointment. At 11am on a Monday, the place was deserted, so service was good -- I arrived first and was immediately seated (by the radiator, even, which was appreciated on a very cold day!) and offered coffee. Food also came out very quickly. That's about where the happy train stopped, however. The coffee was not very good. The Kwik Trip coffee that I had on drive in from Oshkosh was far superior to this stuff. When the waitress said that they were out of chives, so the hash browns would be plain, I opted for the $0.50 upcharge for the fruit cup, which was exactly like every other sad, lame fruit cup I've ever had the misfortune to eat. My scrambled eggs were quite overcooked and covered in brown stuff from sticking to the bottom of the pan -- not at all how I like my eggs, and it's not like they could plead being busy! And finally, the biscuits were sad, flat, and lame by any standard, even Northern ones (and I am a Southern biscuit snob, so I should probably just quit ordering them, huh?). What got weird was when the server brought the check. It was in the typical little folio, and I put some cash in there. When she picked it up, I said I just needed change (sorry, not tipping $9 on a $31 check), and she brought the change back...not in the folio. Just cash and coin in her hands, no copy of the receipt for me to look at to decide the tip amount...it was kind of strange. I got the impression that she had expected that I didn't need change and was annoyed that I wanted it... Overall, it was thoroughly underwhelming. Maybe I've been spoiled by the boyfriend's fabulous coffee and eggs, but I would not return here, nor would I recommend it. The search for a decent breakfast continues...

    (2)

  • Caren T.

    Loved absolutely everything about this place. The Art Nouveau lobby, the hidden courtyard, the 40s counter, the Eggs Benedict. We had great service with a short wait--even though it was a Summerfest weekend. My only tip would be get there before 9:30, if you don't want to wait. I know you hipsters never have brunch that early, but we empty-nesters can sneak in there before you.

    (5)

  • Rachel F.

    Went again after a few years' absence this weekend, and boy howdy, this place is still phenomenal. So phenomenal, in fact, that I'm adding that last, coveted star to their review. You heard it here (*not-so) first, Milwaukee! Café at the Plaza = five star brunch! *Many other fantastic MKE Yelpers whose opinions I trust have also given C at the P highest honors, including Christina L, Jim F, and Nancy R. The breakfast sandwich - with eggs, basil aioli, goat cheese, spinach, and tomato - is hearty and filling. I found myself super jealous of my dining companion's omelet, however, despite having no regrets about my own brunch pick. Roasted red pepper goat cheese chorizo omelet say WHAAAAT? The bloody was spicy (wasabi bloody = genius, especially w/ the chili-salt rim), and the other brunch drinks were equally as enticing. If one of the problems you're having at any given meal at any given restaurant at any given time is making a choice, then said restaurant is doing it right. Old school, yes. A little weird, nestled in the Plaza Hotel/apartments, yes. One of the best brunch spots in MKE? Yes. Diner counter 4 lyfe.

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    Cafe at the Plaza has the: Best. Pancakes. Ever! I am hardly a pancake aficionado, but I've been wanting to try the lemon poppy seed pancakes since fellow yelper Christina L. Raved about them four months ago. I put them on my list of things to try and made it happen today. I also dined in the lunch room, set with a charming 1940s Formica lunch counter with original counter swivel chairs that reminded me of vintage soda fountains. The addition of fresh flowers in antique cut glass jelly jars was a welcoming touch. As I sat down I was treated to a complimentary serving of freshly baked corn bread with homemade maple butter. Oh yum. The cornbread was slightly warm. I had heard the menu was changing and this, together with the addition of a featured special menu, was a testament to that. I ordered the above mentioned pancakes and took in my surroundings while waiting. I had full view of the immaculate grill and serving center from my chair. My mouth watered as I watched a staffer make peach Bellinis. The pop of a champagne cork added to the moment. My server gave me my pancakes and I dove in. You know a pancake is good when it's delicious on its own. The blueberry syrup made it over the top. Oh. My! My rating is four stars only because it took a while to get the check, not that I minded. Also, I ordered a short stack and got a full stack, which I figured out halfway through eating. The server adjusted my bill, and I added the difference to his tip. I have been to the Plaza before and enjoyed the food. But now, I'm a bona fide fan!

    (4)

  • Felix H.

    I've been going to this iconic cafe for over 20 years, and seems like it just keeps getting better and better. The new renovation is complete and along with it comes a slightly newer brunch menu as well. Lemon poppyseed cakes, pork and spaetzle, and their biscuits and gravy are all fantastic additions to the already solid brunch menu. They have a great classic diner counter as well which gives it that cool retro cafe vibe.

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    Rude host. Wouldn't take our name at noon on a Sunday because "the kitchen was swamped" meanwhile the dining room was maybe 1/3 full. Get it together.

    (1)

  • Jessica O.

    Awesome brunch spot. Tucked away between two tall buildlings, completely shielded from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is like a secret garden of crazy brunch combinations. As I perused the menu, I kept coming back to the black truffle eggs with sherry vinegar. I couldn't imagine what this flavor combination was going to taste like, and when I asked the waitress, she said "people either love it or hate it." but I like vinegar...and I like truffles...and I like eggs...sooooooooo...I went for it. It was delicious. Such a unique flavor profile, that surprisingly, completely worked. I got it with the fresh fruit, which balanced well against the tangy vinegar. One word of caution, however, you will taste this dish every time you burp for like...the next ten hours. So be a lady and don't burp. Or make sure you really like the flavor of this dish :)

    (4)

  • Tiffany N.

    There is much that I like more than a well done breakfast at a diner-ish spot and Cafe at the Plaza gave me exactly that. But, don't be fooled friends. This place does not have diner quality food. No sir. They have a seasonal, organic menu. They work with a local co-op to source their ingredients. The coffee is Alterra. The food is fantastic. The service is friendly. And the seating? Well you can sit on the lovely garden patio or at the old fashioned counter (looking into the open kitchen.) No matter what you go with I imagine you'll enjoy it. I had a breakfast sandwich that came on melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. A standard staple of breakfast, but one that you can easily judge a place by. After all, if you can make a breakfast sandwich decadently delicious, well that's saying a lot about what's happening in your kitchen. I would love to have this breakfast spot in my town of Denver, but at least I've had the opportunity to try it. And who knows, maybe Rachel F will take me back there again one day in the future!

    (4)

  • Merete M.

    A lovely morning stop at this off-the-beaten-trail breakfast spot was just what I needed. The menu isn't huge - only one page long - and it has standard breakfast items available with a few impressively creative items to balance it all out. Sitting at the cafe bar (?)I ordered the breakfast sandwich with Basil aioli, goat cheese, avocado, bacon, eggs, tomato, and lettuce with hash browns and a side of one lemon poppy seed pancake (because I needs my sweet and my savory, and I couldn't help myself) with a glass of orange juice. The orange juice, first of all, is delicious. It comes in an itty bitty glass, but it tastes like they squeeze it right before they hand it to you. My pancake came with a ramekin of syrup that was chock-full of blueberries. So good. The sandwich was a little awkward to eat because it was loaded with so many delicious things, but it was worth the effort! My chive hash browns were extra crispy without me even having to ask - they only needed a touch of salt and pepper. I was so full, you guys. My server was wonderful! She was helpful in my decision-making, and patient when I needed extra time ogling the menu. The decor is quite classic, and if you happen to look down, you'll notice some interesting tiling.

    (5)

  • Pete M.

    Came here for their new evening dining. Very tasty small plates in a relaxed outdoor setting. Would have gave them 5 stars but they shut down at 9 and have a limited drink menu. They should expand the drinks and stay open later. Cool unique spot with good food and great service. One of Milwaukee's best kept secrets.

    (4)

  • Allysha H.

    After I read in M Magazine that Cafe At the Plaza has Lemon-Poppyseed pancakes, I knew I had to go. The experience was nothing short of enjoyable and maybe even fantastic with the gorgeous Milwaukee weather and their quaint, but roomy patio dining space. First and foremost, the service was outstanding. Even though they were short staffed, the servers never let it show and continued to be charming, funny, and carried on conversations with the patrons. I have to say it was some of the best restaurant atmospheres I have experienced because of this. It is always better when the servers are fun. Of course, they were also timely and helpful. The breakfast menu was wonderful; plenty of options and very manageable in price. Before we ordered, we were served two pieces of strawberry bread with a Bailey's Irish cream infused cream cheese. If I had no pride, I would have just taken a spoon to the cream cheese, it was so delightful. The pancakes were everything I imagined. It tasted like a lemon poppyseed muffin had been flatted into a pancake and served with blueberry syrup. They were incredibly filling too. My mom ordered the Mexican Breakfast Burrito with BBQ pulled chicken and chive hashbrowns as a side. I regret not tasting it, but my mom raved that it was delicious; crisp, full of flavor, and yes, get the chicken over the sausage. Overall, fantastic experience and I cannot wait to be back.

    (4)

  • Jean L.

    I went here after my Lyft driver who was planning on dropping us off at a brunch place we had googled, rerouted us saying that this was a local classic. The Plaza is far from a new hotel, but I see its charm. I was there on a busy SUnday morning and waited about 15 minutes while staffmembers zoomed by for other tables. I finally asked a waiter if we had anyone assigned to our table...when they realized that we didnt and apologized profusely. Not a great start. We were never offered waters, which was kind of rotten considering it was like 80 degrees and we were sitting outside. Food was superb but even trying to get our check took so long that we just handed the waiter our credit card without even having the check in hand.

    (3)

  • Vivian L.

    I have been here three times so far: twice as a guest at the hotel and once as a normal patron. Portion sizes are generous and the food is good, but service is hit or miss. When I was staying at the Plaza, service was slow and inattentive. This time as a walk-in, service was reasonably quick and polite. Weird. Overall, it's a decent place to go for a quick breakfast.

    (4)

  • Bruce K.

    Who knew about this place and didn't tell me. Because there's just no way that I would have stumbled into something like this on my own. Classic and by which I mean that the countertops and stools probably date back to the 60's. Coffee urns. Formica tabletops. But that's where it ends because the menu is modern with a nod to those classics. I had the most amazing smoked trout sandwich with a side of sour cole slaw. Wow. Just wow. I like this place. You will too!

    (4)

  • Kathy B.

    Closed for remodel until 5/5/15. No signage outside bldg so we parked and walked over.

    (1)

  • Hethe H.

    5 stars for being great at what it is, a delightful little brunch place. This is my favorite place to go in this neighborhood. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect, and the food has been excellent every time. The bloodies are good without being pretentious. They usually have a special, and it's been great every time I've tried it. Otherwise, the smoked salmon Benedict is my go-to dish here. The staff is always very nice. It does tend to fill up on weekends, but it's easy enough to get a spot at the counter if you don't want to wait for a table. I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a table. They also have an adorable courtyard/patio.

    (5)

  • Emily T.

    Amazing brunch! Cute decor & you feel like you stepped back in time. Try the Lemon Poppy seed pancakes, they do not disappoint. Smoked salmon benedict is great too & the bloody Mary's are fantastic!

    (5)

  • Nicole H.

    Oh happy deliciousness, another great brunch spot. Loved my breakfast club. It was a mess and a half, so if you're looking to keep your little mandibles clean, this might not be the place for you. Great food, great atmosphere, great mimosa alternative with door county cherry juice - not so great waitress. I'm not a goat cheese person and when I asked for different cheese on my sandwich, the waitress said made it seem like a big deal and like maybe it couldnt happen, since they were so busy. Which - I mean, I get that you're busy, but this isn't news - you're a top brunch spot and being busy needs to stop being an excuse - and second, there's crazy substitutions and then there's asking for a different slice of cheese, you know? Just something about the way she handled it kind of made me bristle - there's either a blanket "no changes" policy clearly stated or you don't make the customer feel like a burden. Sat at the counter and our waitress got a little swamped at times, so that I had to ask for more napkins and water, but overall, I loved my food and I'd go back and recommend it to others.

    (4)

  • Christina L.

    Cafe at the Plaza is everything I want a brunch place to be, but sadly most fail at in at least one category. It's 1. casual (sitting at the counter is my ideal spot), 2. high quality with daily specials (if you want sweet, the lemon-poppy seed pancakes w/blueberry maple syrup are crazy good and for savory, you can do no wrong with the omelet that has chorizo & goat cheese) and last but just as important 3. it's affordable. I hate going to brunch & feeling like I just way overspent for a fancy breakfast (*cough* a super trendy place on 76th near 'tosa *cough*). I can go to Cafe at the Plaza, get better food, just as good of a bloody mary & spend less. If you go for lunch, get the smoked trout club and then thank me later!

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    Usually great food and consistently awful service. Dont be in a hurry. But unless your hashbrowns are exceptionally greasy (rare, but its happened a couple times), you'll scarf them down like a rabid dog because they are just that good. I really wish they could correct the confusing and inconsistent service end of the restaurant. It sometimes feels like there is zero organization and everyone just helps out everyone with everything. Not efficient. Ive never seen so many people leave a restaurant because of slow service. It happens almost every time im there; thankfully im pretty patient.

    (4)

  • Zach C.

    My wife and I tend to run on the breakfast snob side due to us working at a breakfast restaurant, but this was by far one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had. Perhaps our expectations were too high due to the four star rating, but our experiences have been pretty much spot on. So the short of it is we'd never consider returning. Building is nice, inside had interesting use of space considering the restaurant may be the former lobby of the hotel/apartments/whatever it is. Service felt panicked and it felt like communication wasn't happening between the two individuals taking care of us. Both tried to take our drink orders, which was fine except that the drinks didn't make it onto the bill. Also, wife requested a minor modification that never made its way into the plate, but at least we weren't charged for it. Requests for refills were handled in stages and after multiple requests. Needed more coffee, cream, coke, and we never received butter or syrup for our pancake. First came syrup, butter and coffee, but no cream or coke. Cream came after a second request for that and a refill on the now empty drink, but instead of coke I received a water. It wasn't until they stopped by a few minutes later that the empty coke was refilled. Not once did they stop after making a drop to see if everything was good. Food was not anything to brag about. Coffee was horribly bitter. My wife doesn't ever put sugar in her coffee, abd she had to use the sugar in the raw packets. I had the pork schnitzel and my wife preferred the Mexican scrambler. My dish was okay but greasy, and the potatoes were absolutely over cooked, not just crunchy. However, my wife's was embarrassing. The queso fresco was cubed and rubbery, barely crumbled. Chicken was all dark meat and rubbery. The tortillas that came with the mall were disgustingly greasy. When asked what we thought of the meals, my wife declared it was okay, and the server responded with "Just okay?" but didn't care to ask more. My wife barely touched the food, and when plates were pulled the server didn't ask the obvious "was there anything wrong with your meal?" based on basically everything still remaining on her plate. Poor food and unobservant service don't equal four stars. There are plenty of other places to spend your money.

    (1)

  • Susan F.

    I have been remiss in not writing this sooner. Cafe at the Plaza is simply the most charming, delicious and welcoming cafe to be found in any city, anywhere. While the food is exceptional - fresh and creative - it's the service here that's makes this place an utter pleasure. I am not normally one to sit at the counter or bar in any restaurant, but to decline to do so here would mean less interaction with the amazing group of folks the Cafe is so fortunate to employ. From Aaron and Taylor, to the lovely gal with the 40's hair styles and the always smiling cooks whose names I shamefully don't know, to the seasonal Josh, these are genuine people who excel at their jobs and always take time for that little extra that can brighten your day. I watch them interact with the many regular customers, and it gives me hope for civility in this incredibly uncivil world. I can't forget to at least acknowledge the gorgeous Deco atmosphere and the perfectly chosen music. I'd eat all my meals here, every day, if I could.

    (5)

  • Mari L.

    Blink and you might miss this little gem. I have been waiting and waiting to go to the Plaza for brunch for few years. It took a friend visiting from Chicago to finally go check it out. The back garden patio is perfect!! It's what I imagine Paris to be like in the springtime. Vibrant greenery and little cafe tables. The beautiful outdoor seating is clearly in high demand since we couldn't get a seat outside for quite some time. Instead we opted to sit at the counter facing the open kitchen. I love sitting at the bar or at the counter, it gives you a chance to chat with the staff and really get comfortable. The menu was extensive and has something for everyone. I went with the classic egg breakfast with an English muffin. I was disappointed that they only had grape jelly, I prefer strawberry, but our server told us that they are trying to use up their stock because they will now be going with a local jam maker from the area. Love!! I'm all about supporting local business. Two minutes later, another waiter placed the very last pack of strawberry jelly in front of me. He overheard me say I liked strawberry better and wanted me to have the last one. Talk about winning a girl over!! The next time you are hemming and hawing over where to go for breakfast or brunch, just go here. You will be faced with lower east side parking but trust me, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Leslie G.

    Sunday morning breakfast in the garden. The bees were annoying along with the wait for service. However, an intimate setting with a good conversationalist made the breakfast enjoyable. The food was average. I built my own omelet and my man ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. My hash browns had a lot of grease and not a lot of flavor. I should have gone with the lemon poppy seed pancakes. His thin pancakes were tasty along with the fresh fruit. I asked if the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the server said, "I guess you can say that since it says it on the jug it comes in." That got a laugh from us. It was still good. I noticed many other customers with Bloody Mary's with Miller High Life chasers. If I stay at the Plaza again, I'll leave extra time for the slow service, and I'll enjoy a High Life while I wait.

    (3)

  • Kay C.

    For breakfast in Milwaukee, I don't think you can find a better place. I have been going to this restaurant since 1990 and have never had a bad experience. And, believe it or not, I prefer to go by myself and just sit at the counter. The atmosphere is like going back in time in this old Art Deco Residence Hotel. It's not fancy, but it has great style. And it's also in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Milwaukee. You'll see a diverse group of patrons, many who have also been coming here for years. On my recent visit, I had the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict with the Cafe potatoes. Sooo good. In the warmer weather, the outdoor patio will be open and it is a great little getaway in the city. If I had any advice for Cafe At the Plaza, it would be - don't change a thing.

    (5)

  • Andrea B.

    Had high hopes for this place considering I had heard amazing reviews and love Milwaukee restaurants, but Cafe at the Plaza didn't deliver. Our brunch dishes - the Mexican scrambles - came after 45 minutes of waiting. The eggs were luke warm and flavorless and my boyfriends hash browns were burnt to a crisp. The saving grace was how accommodating our waitress was. She gave us 20% off our bill since we didn't eat much and comped the mimosa for my boyfriend since it was New Years brunch. Some of the eggs Benedict dishes looked great, but our entrees missed the mark. Wait times were pretty bad to boot.

    (2)

  • Michelle P.

    Great breakfast spot. We went on Memorial Day, and there was a bit of a holiday weekend crowd, so we were told there would be a 20 minute wait (it turned out to be more like 10). But you can wait in the comfy hotel lobby so no big deal. We ate on the outdoor patio, which was perfect on a beautiful weather day. I had an omelet that was perfectly flavored and textured, my husband got a vegetarian version of the breakfast club, and both were great choices. I would have liked to try the pancakes, since so many reviewers raved about the lemon poppyseed ones, and they also had apple ginger pancakes on their specials menu. But guess that'll have to wait until next time.

    (5)

  • Funglin W.

    If you come here, make sure you order/try one of the following: smoked salmon bagel, pancakes, or corned beef hash! The side of potatoes is awesome too! This is one of my favorite breakfast place in Milwaukee. Rarely do i think about going to a hotel to eat their breakfast but Cafe at the Plaza does it for me! If you do get a seat (there's always a long wait), ask to sit at the round table so you can watch the chefs cook.

    (4)

  • Suzanne O.

    Went here for breakfast and the food was just alright. I had the daily special which was a frittata with artichoke and red pepper. When I think of a frittata I think of something light, but this was heavy and dense. I had a side of hashbrowns, and while they were nice and crispy on top, they were pretty greasy underneath. My brother had an egg sandwich on a biscuit and he really enjoyed his meal. He said the biscuit was really good. Milwaukee has many other good breakfast spots, so I probably won't be returning here.

    (3)

  • Clyde F.

    I am absolutely flabbergasted that this place has so many four and five star ratings. The only thing I can possibly imagine explaining my time here was that fans of both Michigan and Wisconsin were in town for the NCAA tournament, but I decided that a hotel in a top-25 city should be able to handle a few basketball games. Where to start? We ordered the hash browns that everyone raved about, and they finally did arrive right about the time we should have been getting dessert. At one point, a member of the kitchen staff actually came out with a bowl of fruit because the hash browns were being delayed so much. That was positive, because when the browns finally did arrive they were a tiny portion and floating in grease. The Cafe Potatoes are less commented on but actually better, though I'm not saying much there. My wife was not happy with the eggs benedict, and my pancakes were round and made of batter, but nothing to write home about. Still, the thing that really needs to be mentioned is the service. During our time there, we were intermittently attended to by the hostess, a bus boy, a cook, and two waiters. I was tempted to walk around handing a portion of the tip to each staff member according to their level of assistance, because the server actually responsible for us deserved nothing. I almost went to the computer and printed my own check, but finally got the attention of someone who was filling up water and begged her to find our waiter. I was near the rear of the dining area with my back to the door, and I assumed the counter area must be packed, but when we left it was mostly empty. I have no idea how so many employees could be so inefficient. I'm tempted to give this place a second star so that I don't ruin my credibility sitting next to all of these great reviews, but I can't. One star is what it was. Neither can I pretend it was an anomaly due to college basketball, because nothing I saw gave me reason to believe a second opportunity would be merited or fruitful. The decor was neat if you like art deco diners.

    (1)

  • Beth P.

    The brunch is great! I got the salmon eggs benedict. It was $9.50 served with a side. The salmon was a good size for the price. I would have liked the eggs poached, but I didn't request it upon ordering. The create your own omelettes looked yummy too with ingredients like red peppers and goat cheese. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. The staff was apologetic that we had to wait longer for our table for four than a few couples who were seated before us. Our service was excellent overall since they were very attentive.

    (5)

  • Nick W.

    Great breakfast selection, good music, friendly staff, cool cafe and patio. They even tell you on the menu which items are gluten free. They have home made jam/jelly--the blueberry peach was delicious. I would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    Descriptive phrase: classic brunch with an old-world Milwaukee charm. Operation: Mother's Day Brunch. Location: Cafe At The Plaza. Mission outcome: success. I was looking for a place in Milwaukee to take my extended family (11 of us) to a Mother's Day brunch that did not involve cramped quarters with frazzled employees or ridiculously overpriced buffets. Thanks to Yelp, I found Cafe At The Plaza. Our party was seated around 10 minutes early for our reservation, but we used that time to put together the two separate tables they had prepared into one giant table. The Cafe is on the first floor of an inconspicuous old hotel, The Plaza, and features a homey diner main room and overflow seating in an old lobby area. The hotel is very neat, with old charm and obvious history behind the building. My only complaint was that the staff mishandled our reservation earlier in the week, but it was resolved. Because of our large party the waiter took half the table's order, delivered that to the kitchen, then came back for the other half. The wait between the two sides being served was minimal, maybe a minute. Between the 11 of us we got just about everything on the menu. I opted for the Scrambled Smoked Trout ($9.75?) with chive hash browns and an English muffin. Dee-lish. There was nothing groundbreaking about my dish, it was just well-made. The eggs were scrambled well without being too runny (I hate runny eggs), the trout was present but not overpowering, and the goat cheese and spinach mixed well into the conglomerate. I ventured a try with the English muffin, but it went perfectly with the eggs (I spooned a bit onto each bite of the muffin). The hash browns, too, were well grilled leaving no pieces burnt nor soggy. Other winners around the table included the french toast, the Plaza Scrambler, the Smoked Salmon Benedict, and the House Made Corned Beef Hash. The portions don't look extremely large when they come out, but you'll leave full. We averaged $14 per person including tip, about half what it would've been other places. Cafe At The Plaza offers great diner food in a charming environment on the cheap. No doubt, it should be on more people's radars.

    (4)

  • Angelique F.

    Greasy food, bland salsa, burnt expensive pancake, hard potatoes, bitter coffee, had to ask 3 times to get a coke refill. Sad I wasted my money here. By the time we got syrup and butter for our $3.50 pancake, it was cold.

    (1)

  • Roxana B.

    I ordered the salmon bagel with potatoes and a side of fruit. The bagel was good, but couldn't taste the horseradish sauce that was on there. Potatoes were yummy but too much oil. Side of fruit was small and cost $3. My fiance ordered the corned beef hash, tasty but a little burned. We both ordered the jasmine tea, it was the loose leaf tea, delicious! Service was ok, food took a while to make. Overall, I would say it's ok but a little on the pricey side.

    (3)

  • Nikita V.

    Cafe at the Plaza boasts a simple, comforting and affordable brunch - a bargain if you can beat the Sunday church crowd, otherwise expect an hour long wait (and there isn't a bar to belly up to). It's got a simple, high-end diner feel with cooking just like your mom's. You'll pick from menu items including lemon poppyseed pancakes, tiramisu French toast, chive hash browns, turkey sausage, and various Benedict options.

    (4)

  • April Z.

    Exceptional breakfast with unimpressive service. My boyfriend and I have been here twice. Same story both times. We came back because the food is so good knowing that it would be a long wait for service. I love the location and hopefully they find new servers to complement the chef's vision.

    (4)

  • Trish S.

    Location is awesome. The courtyard is amazing to have a meal in on a nice day. The service was great and the food is amazing! I had the crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries for lunch and it was to die for! Very different but so delicious! Would definitely visit this place again.

    (5)

  • Malek K.

    The food quality vs price is excellent. Very tasty and not expensive! I strongly recommend the trout. It is a good place to go have breakfast/lunch solo. On another note if you have company the decor is less attractive if seated in the lunch area (empty) compared to the breakfast area.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    I love their Eggs Benedict. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service is ALWAYS slow. I have been at least 8 times and it is always a time commitment. I love their patio.

    (4)

  • Caroline P.

    Why do people like this restaurant? You sit in an undecorated hallway, we had 5 different waiters, but no one seemed to know what was going on and we were treated like we were inconveniencing them. The food was greasy and otherwise tasteless. I'm usually one to give a place a second chance, but we had such a bad experience that we won't be back.

    (1)

  • Katie K.

    I loved this place. We sat in the small area where food was prepared. It was really cool to be there, it seemed less formal than the dining area, but this area had a lot of local flavor. And it was neat to watch the cooks prepare the food. I had the breakfast burrito, boy oh boy, it was delicious. It was cooked to perfection and so good! So good! I also had some of the lemon poppy seed pancakes. They were light and fluffy, thin, and tasted like a lemon poppy seed muffin in pancake form. I highly recommend these, even just a short stake to get a taste of heaven. Yum. They also had great fresh loose leaf tea, I loved it! The orange juice tasted fresh, the side of fruit was fresh. Everything seemed pretty fresh! I recommend checking out this local gem. My only regret is that I live in Chicago and I won't be able to come more often.

    (5)

  • Evan K.

    Awesome place to go for weekend brunch or breakfast. The frittata was delicious. The corned beef hash is also amazing. Worth a try for a lower east side breakfast.

    (4)

  • Scott M.

    My good friend, The Legendary Jazz Organist Dr. Lonnie Smith loves his eggs for lunch. So when I met him in Milwaukee for lunch, he already had sussed out a place that he gave high marks to. The Plaza is a high-end Art Deco Hotel/Residence of wonderfully understated elegance, and their tiny Cafe is just down the hall from the lobby. It, too, displayed a fine elegance, without being toffee-nosed. There was a large counter, and a few tables. We sat in the corner. The menu portended a fine feed, with some unorthodox entries along the usual breakfast dishes. There was a Smoked Trout thing that caught my eye for a second, but then I spied the Truffled Baked Eggs with Gruyere cheese. I HATED eggs all throughout my youth. I ate my first Sunny Side Egg well into my twenties, and I have NEVER ordered or et Baked eggs EVER. I could see the cooks behind the counter, and they appeared to be serious, the dishes that I saw coming to other tables inspired confidence. "Truffled Baked Eggs" actually sounded very appetizing for once. Doc ordered bacon and scrambled. The Plates came and they looked like something from a magazine. My Truffled Baked Eggs came in a ramekin, and smelled divine. Totally appetizing. The accompanying Hash Browns were perfectly brown on top and tender underneath. Top quality multi-grain toast was nicely buttered. Doc's plate looked perfect as well. I dove into the eggs, and they were utterly delicious. The perfume of the Truffle was just enough to make the dish unique in only the way Truffles can. Did I menchen this triumph had a price tag of $8.95? I was astounded. The coffee was fab as well. Service was exemplary, and not snooty. If I was blindfolded and didn't know what city I was in, I would have guessed the Plaza Cafe was in a genteel New York neighborhood. Milwaukee? Wow! This may just be the best Breakfast I've ever had. I'd like to know how their Lunch and Dinner fare. To top it off, A fan of Dr. Lonnies came by and picked up our check. Bonus! If I had anything to carp over, it was the street-meter parking which had a 2 hour limit and 25¢ for each 10 minutes. Outrageous! Next time I find myself in Milwaukee, I'm going to stay at the Plaza, and eat at their Cafe. In fact I might just pack up the Wife and go to Milwaukee for the express purpose to stay at the Plaza and eat at their Cafe.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    The Cafe is pretty and 1920's authentic on the inside and a very European like outdoor courtyard seating area. My coffee was wonderful-brewed just right and the server was kind about my request to get my last refill in a cup to go. I ordered the veggie eggs benedict with hashbrowns. I appreciate wanting to make eggs benedict, one of my favorite meals into something less completely fattening, but this version didn't quite do it for me. The roasted vegetables were kinda a soggy pile. The egg was done well. The sauce had a pleasing kick to it and I think was on to something good but I wish there was more of it. Maybe holding back to, again, try to make it all more healthy. The hash browns were a bigger disappointment. On the bottom side they were super soggy, sitting in a puddle of butter, and the top was overly crispy - there was no pleasing middle ground in there. So the truffle oil that I paid a 1$ extra was totally lost on me - didn't detect in there at all. I'd be willing to give the place another try because I was so charmed by the decor, the wonderful service and by the allure of other items on the menu.

    (3)

  • Mike C.

    We stopped by after surveying the area on yelp for breakfast spots. Couldn't be happier with the service. Quality food. I was pleasantly surprised by the breakfast burrito, as I carry a hefty appetite. Great serving size, really tasty contents. The side of potatoes was good too. My girlfriend ordered the biscuits and gravy and was happy with everything as well. There was a moment where we asked for a refill on the tea press pot, and didn't receive it back for a few minutes, but that was quickly rectified with a heads up to the waiter. Good people and food. Whenever I'm back in town, I won't hesitate to visit.

    (4)

  • Nancy R.

    Definitely old school. Circular counter with 60's green countertop a few small tables outside the counter, but this is a spot designed for sitting at the counter. I had the corned beef hash with eggs over medium. The hash was excellent! The eggs were overdone despite my explaining to the waitress that I wanted the yellows runny, but I will know better next time to order them over easy. That is always a guessing game with eggs to order them correctly. The hash and eggs came with a side of spicy sauerkraut that was delicious. I also ordered a side of fresh fruit. Yum! Grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe and all were fresh and juicy. This now ranks as my best breakfast spot in not just Milwaukee, but the world! (At least the world I have visited).

    (5)

  • Thao T.

    A classy place for breakfast, especially if you stay at the adjoining hotel. The ivy covered courtyard is a perfect setting for a relaxing sunday morning breakfast. I love the old world feel of the entire restaurant, from the lobby to the cooking counter with chefs in their white outfits and hats, I felt like I walked to some distant time. To be honest, I didn't like the truffle eggs I got the first time I was there. It smells wonderful but that's about it, the egg has no season or flavor at all. We came back the second day mostly so we can sit outside and enjoyed the nice weather. We got the veggie eggs benedict to share and it was DELICIOUS! Perfect combination of egg with artichoke, roasted pepper and spinach on top with a side of hollandaise sauce. We ordered a side of banana bread and it was equally delicious. Come for the food and the atmosphere. The service is top notch.

    (4)

  • Steve S.

    Sunday brunch; early afternoon...25 min. wait for table. Sherried Black Truffle Eggs: $8.95; Breakfast Club (triple decker of scrambled eggs, prociutto, basil aioli, bacon, avocado, goat cheese, lettuce, & tomato),$9.25; Bloody Mary, $9.25; Cherry Mosa, $6, looked great on the chalk board and was okay, but should have had the Bloody Mary. Helpful, friendly waiter.

    (4)

  • Marie R.

    Delicious breakfast! Flew in from LA and went to the Cafe plaza straight for breakfast. The mexican scramble was so delicious. The lemon poppy pancakes with blueberry syrup was also delicious. Definitley coming here next time I come to Milwaukee

    (4)

  • Stephanie T.

    Went back for a friends birthday brunch recently. Ordered an omelette with tomato and artichoke hearts. It was the worst omelette I've, maybe, ever had. It was like they opened a can of artichoke hearts, cut them in half and then just threw them at my omelette. Awful, awful. Also, my fiance ordered a fruit smoothie and it was warm... and not blended. The server did end up taking this off the bill, though, which was good. I had such a great first experience that I will go back and try again but I was severely disappointed by my latest visit.

    (4)

  • Ann C.

    Brunch is amazing. There isn't too long of a wait. Get the frittata, they switch theme up a couple times a day. The staff are really nice, plus you can even watch your food being made. I do wish soda was not served from a can, I like my free refills.

    (5)

  • Jim W.

    An awesome breakfast destination! Love the atmosphere of the historic hotel. Friendly, attentive staff!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    After reading a good review in Milwaukee Magazine, I made it a mission to get here for brunch. Such a disappointment. The outdoor courtyard dining area is cute, but not cute enough to have made my experience better. I went with my boyfriend and we had three different waiters approach us to ask us for our drink & food order. They seemed to be highly disorganized. I ordered coffee and it came in a mug that I realized was dirty once I saw lipstick marks on it. Like previous reviewers mentioned, it took forever to get our food, and then it took forever for the waitress to bring any utensils/silverware. We also had to move inside because the swarming bees were so annoying. I'm a pretty forgiving person and probably could have forgotten all of these missteps if the food would have been good, but it just wasn't. It was lacking some kind of depth and just felt like it was missing something. We will not be back.

    (2)

  • Jim F.

    How have I not reviewed the Plaza yet? Yelp shame. We have loved this place for years, even before the food got all local and tasty. If we want to take out of town guest to a unique Milwaukee atmosphere downtown, this is the place. And with the wonderful new dishes developed by the new chef, the experience is all the better. We love breakfast at the counter, and everything is great. We've never had anything we did not like, but I can recommend the pancakes and french toast. I also love the homemade scones. Great place for kids (but there can be a wait at peak weekend times).

    (5)

  • Aimee K.

    When I told Rachel F my friend and I were going to brunch at Cafe at the Plaza, she laughed and told me it's good but it's also "the land that time forgot." My friend is spending three months in the Plaza Hotel for work, so after throwing on a dress, brushing my hair, and wandering two minutes from her door to the cafe, we were there and ready to check out the food. I about died when I saw the breakfast bar! "The land that time forgot" is perfect when describing it... I'm pretty sure that thing hasn't been changed for well over 30-40 years. It was so cool, and the next time I go back, I at least want to sit there and have coffee. What a wide range of characters that bar had sitting at it! There was your standard super-old couple, at least in their early 80's, a lady with her face in a newspaper, and three men sporting mullets pounding coffee like it's nobody's biz. If you're at Cafe at the Plaza, stop by and check out the bar, and even consider eating there. We ended up sitting out back in the courtyard because it was such a nice day, and the atmosphere was just lovely, especially with all the ivy growing up the back of the building. I ordered the Plaza Scrambler (three eggs scrambled, choice of cafe potatoes or hash browns, ham, mushrooms, onions, peppers, cheddar cheese and toast,) and wowza, this breakfast creation was good and beyond filling. It was like every breakfast item I love cooked together and topped with cheese! Pair that with a good cup of coffee and I was a happy camper. Great service, relaxing atmosphere, and you can't beat that old school bar!

    (4)

  • Darren O.

    Lots of potential here. I can see why a lot of people have left good reviews but my experience was poor. Wife and I made a long walk specifically to eat here. Great classic diner style counter inside and a very nice outdoor patio. Wife ordered breakfast burrito and a piece of French toast. She liked both, I ordered the classic egg breakfast. Eggs, hash browns and sausage. Waitress brought out my plate with no hash browns (if you've seen any of my other reviews you know I'm a big hash brown fan). I figured maybe they were coming out on a different plate so I waited. Waitress never came back. After about 10 min I waived someone else down. Our waitress then came back a minute or two later and said "oh sorry, there is just a backup in the kitchen. Your hash browns are on the way". I would really just appreciate the truth that someone just forgot or dropped the ball. A few more minutes passed and she brought out the greasiest most under-cooked pile of hash browns I've ever seen and said "here you go. Don't worry I won't charge you or them". Golly, thanks! The rest of my food got cold and now I have h browns that are inedible (and I've powered through some pretty poorly cooked food before). When the bill came I couldn't tell if she made an adjustment or not. They staple a small register receipt with line items $ amounts but no description to the hand scribbled order pad from the waitress. I didn't see any 'minus' signs anywhere. I realize its probably a little unfair to dwell on one mistake since the rest of the food was good, but I think it's important for restaurants to realize there are ways to minimize the damage of a mistake (don't lie and just give a genuine apology - and look at the food you are serving. Some things are so obviously bad you shouldn't need the customer to tell you that you shouldn't have it brought it to the table).

    (2)

  • Matthew D.

    One of my favorite breakfast spots in the Milwaukee area. Menu choices are all excellent, and the quality of ingredients can be noticed in every bite. Seating arrangements can be a bit odd, but the atmosphere is classic. Can't go 5 stars because the greeter was old, not that friendly, and not that good at her job. Maybe I am missing something there?

    (4)

  • Justin W.

    Definitely a great secret breakfast/brunch spot in Milwaukee. Very friendly and helpful staff. Bottomless Alterra coffee. The veggie eggs Benedict was great and came with tasty hash browns. Also tried a bite of the ginger cream cheese stuffed french toast with strawberry rhubarb topping, and it was delicious. The building is historic and cozy. And the diner section is straight out of a small town mom and pop cafe that makes you feel like you always belong. A can't miss for breakfast in Milwaukee. The only knock against it was that it was a little chilly sitting next to the window. But that is to be expected in an old building during Wisconsin winter.

    (4)

  • Miguel W.

    The truffled eggs with gruyere cheese is simply one of the best breakfast dishes that I've ever come across. I often daydream about it and then start mentally salivating. It's a very rich dish that you can/should only have every couple months, so it's very easy to build up a strong hankering for it. The counter service is always terrific but the hostess that works on weekends definitely needs a better system of checking people in and keeping track of them. My wife and I had to walk out once after the place appeared to be up for grabs.....

    (4)

  • Doug S.

    I visited my friend and stayed on his couch while in Milwaukee. He's the Executive Chef at Roots in Milwaukee, so I trust his judgment when it comes to food. He took me to the Plaza for breakfast and told me I'd love it: he was right! We sat at the counter and ordered and received attentive service. The coffee was surprisingly good and the breakfast was enormous and hangover-curing.

    (4)

  • Maj J.

    I love this place! I always have the smoked salmon benedict and coffee. I want to go here every weekend. It's so nice and the staff is nice and it's cute and the food is fabulous. Enough said. Go there!

    (5)

  • Colden H.

    What a lovely space. Art deco prints and graceful arches. Yeah, we're eating in a hallway, but who cares? I ate corned beef hash, which was a little heavy on the hash and light on the corned beef. It tasted good, but . . . where's the beef? Nice side of fresh fruit, perfect eggs over easy. I appreciated my private teapot of Rishi jasmine green tea. Our waiter was kind of funny and very nice. He acted like we were buddies who came over to his house, which was unusual, but, once we got used to it, refreshing. He didn't have any of the canned waiter pleasantries/attitude.

    (3)

  • Colin G.

    Good quality breakfast at a reasonable price. Service is good not great. Bloody marys are no where near as good as other places in milwaukee. Overall 4/5

    (4)

  • Dana M.

    This place is a secret place. Usually only passed on by word of mouth through those who came before them. This is a restaurant in The Plaza hotel. I'm surprised that it doesn't have 100 reviews, but it's under new management (I think), so maybe they had to delete the old ones... I know for sure that there is a new head chef/cook, because the menu has changed slightly. It's more expensive now (still reasonable), and they serve the food on chique plates, bowls, etc. The glassware is also fancy schmancy now. I get the same thing every time I come, " The Veggie Eggs Benedict with a side of the Cafe Potatoes". This breakfast is so fattening that I save half and eat the rest for dinner. It's the hollandaise sauce. ... Anyway, I started coming here several years go. I've only come for breakfast/brunch. The decor/ambiance is freaking awesome! It's definitely a retro time warp. Even the people sitting around the bar area seem fictional. There's a waitress too (wish I could remember her name), who is probably one of the sweetest lady servers I've had in my entire life. She calls everyone "dear" or "darling". :) I would have given this place 5 stars because I liked the old menu better. The new veggie eggs benedict comes with artichoke hearts, spinach and tomatoes. The old one was mushrooms, broccoli, onions, tomatoes. The artichoke hearts were rotten the first time I came back since the new cook took over and I just pushed them to the side. Now I always substitute. Also, I think they gave you more potatoes before, even though they're more expensive now and look more artsy fartsy on the rectangular white plate. I liked them just fine before. Nobody really wants this place to go upscale... everyone was happy the way it was. The plates aren't going to fool anyone, so the $7 breakfast, now $9, is like, sure, whatever. The only noticeable improvement with the new management and/or cook are the Bloody Mary's. This IS the place you want to come to if you are hungover. And nobody is going to judge you because they're all hungover too. The food will curb the hangover from the night before, and the Bloody Mary's will get you partying again. They used to be $3 ... now they are like $7, but awesome. Writing this has got me excited for NYE, maybe I'll be here on the 1st of 2012

    (4)

  • Roz K.

    Cafe at the Plaza is a very nice nice breakfast and lunch restaurant - The place has the feel of a more classy-diner and the servers are friendly. I particularly like sitting at the bar area where I can relax, drink my coffee, and do some people watching. The food is plentiful and unique - I certainly wouldn't have thought of trying a smoked trout BLT or egg scramble for breakfast if it wasn't for them. The soups I tried from them are very flavorful and tasty too - I particularly like their gazpacho heated up. Although the black sherry truffle was recommended from both servers and certain reviews I read, I didn't find anything unique or tasty about it. Personally, I only like going there on the weekdays though. The weekends are usually packed with crowds and the service becomes way too slow to even justify the stay - For example, one weekend, my ex and I had to wait much more than half an hour before our food even arrived and we had already come before the breakfast rush. Also, their menu becomes only limited to breakfast items. Overall, a nice and cozy little place to eat some unique and delicious food and to relax during the weekday mornings and early afternoon.

    (4)

  • C T.

    I love this restaurant. The food is delicious and the setting is so pretty and just awesome.

    (5)

  • jonathan s.

    cool place in a random small hotel. was told by a bartender this was a big locals spot for breakfast despite the weird location. the diner setting does indeed feel a little weird inside a hotel but the corned beef hash was great. big portions, real good food.

    (4)

  • Local P.

    I would say the plaza is good for the ambiance. Youu don't find many old fashioned breakfast counters anymore. The food is alright. Some items are better than others. My poached eggs were undercooked but the wait for food even when this place isn't very busy is a bit long. I expect more flavor out of something like salmon benedict and chive hashbrowns but it just isnt there. I find the service to be slow and lazy.. just go and enjoy the atmosphere and order something simple and you'll enjoy the plaza.

    (3)

  • Justin F.

    If I were to begin writing the great american novel, I would begin at the Plaza's diner. I always get a sense of comfort and nostalgia when I walk through their doors. Corned beef hash is served with a side bowl of kimchi....so random yet so right. Half the restaurant is in an old hallway that has an echo and reminds me of bathing at Friedrichsbad.

    (4)

  • J D.

    Classic 1920s diner inside the Plaza Hotel where guests and residents mingle. Breakfast is straight forward and portions are generous. I would highly recommend the smoked salmon Benedict! Coffee was excellent for diner standards and suggest taking a seat at the counter and watching the staff-patron interactions.

    (5)

  • Kaitlin B.

    Have I mentioned how much I love breakfast? Well I do.. Cafe at the Plaza takes care of that. I have been lucky enough to eat here for a few seasons and have thus taken advantage of all that the place has to offer.. The patio is amazing! It is the perfect brunch eating spot because you will never have direct sun on you! Inside I would recommend eating at the counter, as that completes the whole experience for you. I have had most of the omelettes.. delish.. I also like the Plaza Scrambler.. with this they usually mix in the hashbrowns, so as for them on the side if you are like me and hate food touching. You may not always get sat immediately upon entry (esp if waiting for the patio) and this is not a place to go if you have to get someone, say, to the airport in a half hour, but as all good things, making this food takes time. If you sit inside you can really see the whole process.. no microwaving things here.. its all done right in front of you.. so dont let that taint the GREATNESS that is the CAFE and the PLAZA! I would probably consider moving there just so I could get breakfast on a regular basis there!

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Cafe at the plaza is a great place to grab a quality breakfast. The chef does a great job of adding a culinary touch to traditional breakfast foods. The eggs Benedict w prosciutto is excellent, so I typically get that, but I have never been disappointed with anything on the menu. The service is usually pretty good, the only exception being on peak weekend times where they can be a bit slow but nothing too detrimental. I have been there at least 10 times and will definitely continue to go back.

    (5)

  • trevor s.

    amazing. food was excellent. lemon poppyseed pancakes w/ bluberry maple syrup. also had the ginger stuffed french toast w/ strawberry rhubarb compote. but that's just the food. ambience was great. old diner mixed w/ creative food. free jazz in the BG. great neighborhood. no wait. one of the better kept brunch secrets in town.

    (5)

  • Ally B.

    I go to the Plaza Cafe when I absolutely HAVE to have Alterra coffee with a full service breakfast. The ambiance is great, the staff knows me and they've stepped up the menu. I usually go for the same ol' things, but they switch it up and I've enjoyed trying buckwheat pancakes and some other trendy vittles. And did I mention the ALTERRA COFFEE???

    (4)

  • James S.

    Highly recommended breakfast spot when in Milwaukee. Today I enjoyed the smoked salmon bagel sandwich w. pickled onion tomatoes and scrambles egg. What a feast! Excellent coffee too and fabulous service.

    (4)

  • Rick R.

    I recently had breakfast at Cafe at the Plaza before a Brewers playoff game. That last bit is important to note because I almost ordered the Sherried Black Truffle Eggs, which looked very unique but just didn't seem right for game day. So I went with the next best thing...Housemade Corned Beef Hash topped with two eggs over medium (my choice for eggs always) and served with crispy hash browns and sauer kraut. At just under $9, this breakfast was HEARTY. It tasted great and was a perfect foundation to start the day before my trip to Miller Park. I will return. I do have to try the Sherried Black Truffle Eggs, afterall, maybe before a matinee at the Marcus Center or The Rep.

    (4)

  • Mickey M.

    Delicious Food, Prompt and educated friendly service, eclectic atmosphere = Cafe at the Plaza! I took my wife and friend for Easter brunch and we were blown away by the incredible tastings. We were greeted by the Chef and her staff in a genuine manner and knew we were in for a great treat. The hardest thing about the Cafe at the Plaza is what not to order. The menu is very diverse offering hearty breakfast and lunch fare with meat and vegetarian friendly options. I settled into the truffle infused soft boiled eggs as did my wife, and our friend had the breakfast sandwich (the name is simple yet the sandwich is more). In addition to your entree you are offered a side of 7 types of breads, and fruit or potatoe's. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was just perfect, relaxed yet refined. We are headed back soon. Enjoy the experience of the Cafe at the Plaza!

    (5)

  • Sid V.

    The service was only fair and the hostess and other staff were poorly coordinated, resulting in needlessly long waits. Too bad, because the food was five stars for the sherried eggs with truffle oil and the 1920s ambiance is classic Milwaukee. The omelets are quite good as well. If the hostess would get it together this place could be five stars easy.

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    I went here for breakfast this morning -- showed up at 10:45, and was seated in about 20 minutes to eat outside. The seating is in a small courtyard, surrounded by ivy covered walls. It's actually pretty nice. That's where the positives end. We waited for 20 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. We waited another 10 minutes before our waiter stopped by, realizing that they didn't bring our drinks. They took our order for our food, and left. Our drinks came out followed by our food. I ordered the lemon poppy seed pancakes with the blueberry syrup and a side of turkey bacon. The flavor of the pancakes were good, but one of the two was incredibly overcooked, to the point of being crispy. The turkey sausage was cooked well. After all that waiting, with disappointing food, we had to wait another 15 minutes before our waiter thought to bring us our check. (it was explained by them later they were caught up for 20 minutes) I honestly do not understand what the hype is. The ONLY reason this place gets 2 stars is due to the outdoor seating.

    (2)

  • Chuck M.

    Great breakfast and service. Old time diner style counter seating with more tables and another room I didn't see. Sitting in the hotel kitchen is the atmosphere. George web style dining. But interesting breakfast items at reasonable prices. I plan to return any weekend morning. I imagine lunch would be good as well.

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    Went here for breakfast today and we were very pleased with the experience. The atmosphere was nice, our server was very attentive and even his fellow servers would stop by to check on us (very rare at most places.) The food was great with perfect portion sizes, and the price was right too. Definitely would recommend this place!

    (5)

  • jeanmarie c.

    great food, excellent service, and a great dining counter! the food is creative--hus had a burrito and i got a 1/2 order of eggs benedict and one **red velvet pancake**. so delicous! i noticed they also have pumpkin pancakes and tiramisu french toast. yum! both varieties of their potatoes were also fantastic, although i'm a bigger fan of the potatoes--they had a bit of kick to them compared to the hashbrowns. the only thing that could be improved is the coffee, which was better than at most places but not up to the same quality as the meal. the prices were also fair--about $6-10 for most entrees, I think our total bill came to around $20, which isn't amazing but you can do much worse at different brunch places! all in all, i would love to go back again!

    (4)

  • Martha W.

    Five stars if you sit at the fantastic, art deco counter and enjoy the beautiful space, good service, and warm, inviting atmosphere. I came with a group once & sat in the hallway where they have tables set up, and it was cold, dark, and a little lonely. The service suffers there, too. So GO to the Plaza Cafe, order the smoked trout scramble & whole grain toast (surprise! it's actually whole grain toast, not white bread with a tablespoon of molasses in it!), and drink some coffee. What a way to start a Sunday!

    (5)

  • John A.

    Great food, nice atmosphere, at times the service is a bit slow. Try the club or the truffle eggs, both excellent.

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    I went here this past Sunday morning with a friend of mine for breakfast and the experience was awesome as usual. Yelp is listing the restaurant as "Cafe at the Plaza Catering Service" but I think its just called "Cafe at the Plaza." The restaurant/diner is located inside the Plaza Hotel. While I've never stayed at the hotel, it looks very charming and hotel patrons would be foolish to pass up breakfast at this great restaurant. There are three separate dining areas. One of the two inside areas looks like a normal dining room with tables and chairs. The 2nd indoor dining area features a long wraparound counter-top with numerous stools. This area also features the open kitchen so if you sit at the counter you can watch them make your food. The third area is a charming outdoor courtyard that must be taken advantage of in the summer months. My guest and I did not wait at all for a table outside (we arrived about 9:30am) and the service was courteous and prompt. We both had bloodys and while the glass they come in is not normal they are made with Rehorst vodka and are pretty good. My friend had the sherried black truffle eggs and I had the scrambled smoked trout omelet. Both were super flavorful and I would order both items again in the future. There was no other option but to give this place 5 stars. It had everything a person could ask for: great food and great service at a great price.

    (5)

  • Helene J.

    Hate to spoil the love for the Plaza, but here goes.... I was here twice, a few years ago, for breakfast and remembered this being such a wonderful place, just like most everyone here describes. I don't get to Milwaukee too often anymore, but today, a Sunday, I went for breakfast with a friend, and after telling her in advance what a great place it was, I was really embarrassed. First of all, I know they have mostly "regulars" and I'm not, but we were immediately seated in a little table in the corner of the coffee shop area, not even offered a spot in the dining room, although numerous other people who came after us were seated there. I asked our server about the specials and she said "biscuits and gravy." Now, I know there were more specials listed on the board we passed as we walked in, but apparently she couldn't be bothered to spend any time telling us what the fritatta of the day was. We each had omelets. My friend was polite and said her meal was fine, but my omelet was practically cold, the potatoes were lukewarm, and the toast was cold. Obviously it had been sitting somewhere for awhile. It was all tasty, especially the potatoes, but not hot. We were never offered a second cup of coffee at any time, even when the server brought our check (just as we started to eat). I mean, I felt like not only were we not good enough for the dining room, but they couldn't wait to get our table back in the coffee shop. I am assuming the waitress had too many tables to serve and that's why the service was perfunctory, at best. I just want to believe my experience was a fluke. I was very disappointed because I have always considered the cafe here to be a hidden treasure. Now, I'm not sure I'll go back.

    (1)

  • Devin N.

    Cafe at the plaza is a nice place to have a delicious home made breakfast with fresh ingredients for a fair price. There is nothing to fancy about the menu but the food is good, the service is good, and you can't beat the 1920's hotel decor.

    (3)

  • Cheryl I.

    What a nice place for a good breakfast. My hubby and I stopped in on a Sunday morning around 10. Not knowing how big or should I say small it was we were told it would be about 10-15 min. wait. We sat in the lobby of the hotel to wait. It was a very busy place. Once we got called and walked in I saw it was a cute little place with a curved counter top seating area that faces the cooks and kitchen. It is cramped quarters for the servers, cooks and busboys but they somehow seem to work well together. The chef was very good at what he does and was doing a great job of getting food out on time. We both had the Two Eggs special . Comes with your choice of eggs and bacon or sausage or ham and hash browns and nice thick white toast. Very tasty and the coffee was good too. There was outside dining as well, but it was pretty warm so we chose to eat indoors. The other items we saw coming out looked great too!! Will come again for sure.

    (4)

  • Stacey B.

    I was in Milwaukee for three days - three opportunities to eat out for breakfast. Ate here twice! Loved the decor, the food, the counter, our waitress. The Plaza Pleaser was a great menu option for me as it took care of protein as well as the sweeter side of breakfast - pancakes or french toast and two eggs and sausage and bacon. The sausage links are tasty and the bacon cooked just how I like it (well). Sitting at the counter, I watched the staff interact with the regulars and prepare the food. (The couple next to us recommended we try The Knick for breakfast while we were in town. We did and I recommend it as well.) I like me a good cup of coffee so the mediocre coffee was the only downside.

    (4)

  • Sean Z.

    I went to The Plaza to see someone I haven't seen in like 4 years that I went to high school with. It was a place we both had not been to so we said "giddy up". Service, good. Food, ordered and delivered quickly. Although, I ordered the tilapia (it was the first Friday of Lent) which was supposed to come with three (3) pieces of fish. Mine came with two pieces and one that was 98% batter (that's not even an exaggeration). A bit of a disappointment. They had a decent selection for brunch/lunch alcoholic drinks (Bloody Marys [not a fan of tomato juice, my "date" got one though. She finished half of it--she was going to exercise afterward; gotta love those that booze it up and then decide to go for a run], Spiked Coffee [which I would have gotten had I not drank the night before], Mimosas, etc.) The actual diner area seemed crowded so we sat down the hall in a separate seating area a few feet from the diner. Other than the slight upset with my battered 2.02 pieces of tilapia, I'd say I enjoyed it. I'd defintely go back for one more try--maybe not the fish this time...

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    Cafe at the Plaza has the: Best. Pancakes. Ever! I am hardly a pancake aficionado, but I've been wanting to try the lemon poppy seed pancakes since fellow yelper Christina L. Raved about them four months ago. I put them on my list of things to try and made it happen today. I also dined in the lunch room, set with a charming 1940s Formica lunch counter with original counter swivel chairs that reminded me of vintage soda fountains. The addition of fresh flowers in antique cut glass jelly jars was a welcoming touch. As I sat down I was treated to a complimentary serving of freshly baked corn bread with homemade maple butter. Oh yum. The cornbread was slightly warm. I had heard the menu was changing and this, together with the addition of a featured special menu, was a testament to that. I ordered the above mentioned pancakes and took in my surroundings while waiting. I had full view of the immaculate grill and serving center from my chair. My mouth watered as I watched a staffer make peach Bellinis. The pop of a champagne cork added to the moment. My server gave me my pancakes and I dove in. You know a pancake is good when it's delicious on its own. The blueberry syrup made it over the top. Oh. My! My rating is four stars only because it took a while to get the check, not that I minded. Also, I ordered a short stack and got a full stack, which I figured out halfway through eating. The server adjusted my bill, and I added the difference to his tip. I have been to the Plaza before and enjoyed the food. But now, I'm a bona fide fan!

    (4)

  • Felix H.

    I've been going to this iconic cafe for over 20 years, and seems like it just keeps getting better and better. The new renovation is complete and along with it comes a slightly newer brunch menu as well. Lemon poppyseed cakes, pork and spaetzle, and their biscuits and gravy are all fantastic additions to the already solid brunch menu. They have a great classic diner counter as well which gives it that cool retro cafe vibe.

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    Rude host. Wouldn't take our name at noon on a Sunday because "the kitchen was swamped" meanwhile the dining room was maybe 1/3 full. Get it together.

    (1)

  • Caren T.

    Loved absolutely everything about this place. The Art Nouveau lobby, the hidden courtyard, the 40s counter, the Eggs Benedict. We had great service with a short wait--even though it was a Summerfest weekend. My only tip would be get there before 9:30, if you don't want to wait. I know you hipsters never have brunch that early, but we empty-nesters can sneak in there before you.

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    Awesome brunch spot. Tucked away between two tall buildlings, completely shielded from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is like a secret garden of crazy brunch combinations. As I perused the menu, I kept coming back to the black truffle eggs with sherry vinegar. I couldn't imagine what this flavor combination was going to taste like, and when I asked the waitress, she said "people either love it or hate it." but I like vinegar...and I like truffles...and I like eggs...sooooooooo...I went for it. It was delicious. Such a unique flavor profile, that surprisingly, completely worked. I got it with the fresh fruit, which balanced well against the tangy vinegar. One word of caution, however, you will taste this dish every time you burp for like...the next ten hours. So be a lady and don't burp. Or make sure you really like the flavor of this dish :)

    (4)

  • Tiffany N.

    There is much that I like more than a well done breakfast at a diner-ish spot and Cafe at the Plaza gave me exactly that. But, don't be fooled friends. This place does not have diner quality food. No sir. They have a seasonal, organic menu. They work with a local co-op to source their ingredients. The coffee is Alterra. The food is fantastic. The service is friendly. And the seating? Well you can sit on the lovely garden patio or at the old fashioned counter (looking into the open kitchen.) No matter what you go with I imagine you'll enjoy it. I had a breakfast sandwich that came on melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. A standard staple of breakfast, but one that you can easily judge a place by. After all, if you can make a breakfast sandwich decadently delicious, well that's saying a lot about what's happening in your kitchen. I would love to have this breakfast spot in my town of Denver, but at least I've had the opportunity to try it. And who knows, maybe Rachel F will take me back there again one day in the future!

    (4)

  • Merete M.

    A lovely morning stop at this off-the-beaten-trail breakfast spot was just what I needed. The menu isn't huge - only one page long - and it has standard breakfast items available with a few impressively creative items to balance it all out. Sitting at the cafe bar (?)I ordered the breakfast sandwich with Basil aioli, goat cheese, avocado, bacon, eggs, tomato, and lettuce with hash browns and a side of one lemon poppy seed pancake (because I needs my sweet and my savory, and I couldn't help myself) with a glass of orange juice. The orange juice, first of all, is delicious. It comes in an itty bitty glass, but it tastes like they squeeze it right before they hand it to you. My pancake came with a ramekin of syrup that was chock-full of blueberries. So good. The sandwich was a little awkward to eat because it was loaded with so many delicious things, but it was worth the effort! My chive hash browns were extra crispy without me even having to ask - they only needed a touch of salt and pepper. I was so full, you guys. My server was wonderful! She was helpful in my decision-making, and patient when I needed extra time ogling the menu. The decor is quite classic, and if you happen to look down, you'll notice some interesting tiling.

    (5)

  • Pete M.

    Came here for their new evening dining. Very tasty small plates in a relaxed outdoor setting. Would have gave them 5 stars but they shut down at 9 and have a limited drink menu. They should expand the drinks and stay open later. Cool unique spot with good food and great service. One of Milwaukee's best kept secrets.

    (4)

  • Allysha H.

    After I read in M Magazine that Cafe At the Plaza has Lemon-Poppyseed pancakes, I knew I had to go. The experience was nothing short of enjoyable and maybe even fantastic with the gorgeous Milwaukee weather and their quaint, but roomy patio dining space. First and foremost, the service was outstanding. Even though they were short staffed, the servers never let it show and continued to be charming, funny, and carried on conversations with the patrons. I have to say it was some of the best restaurant atmospheres I have experienced because of this. It is always better when the servers are fun. Of course, they were also timely and helpful. The breakfast menu was wonderful; plenty of options and very manageable in price. Before we ordered, we were served two pieces of strawberry bread with a Bailey's Irish cream infused cream cheese. If I had no pride, I would have just taken a spoon to the cream cheese, it was so delightful. The pancakes were everything I imagined. It tasted like a lemon poppyseed muffin had been flatted into a pancake and served with blueberry syrup. They were incredibly filling too. My mom ordered the Mexican Breakfast Burrito with BBQ pulled chicken and chive hashbrowns as a side. I regret not tasting it, but my mom raved that it was delicious; crisp, full of flavor, and yes, get the chicken over the sausage. Overall, fantastic experience and I cannot wait to be back.

    (4)

  • Jean L.

    I went here after my Lyft driver who was planning on dropping us off at a brunch place we had googled, rerouted us saying that this was a local classic. The Plaza is far from a new hotel, but I see its charm. I was there on a busy SUnday morning and waited about 15 minutes while staffmembers zoomed by for other tables. I finally asked a waiter if we had anyone assigned to our table...when they realized that we didnt and apologized profusely. Not a great start. We were never offered waters, which was kind of rotten considering it was like 80 degrees and we were sitting outside. Food was superb but even trying to get our check took so long that we just handed the waiter our credit card without even having the check in hand.

    (3)

  • Vivian L.

    I have been here three times so far: twice as a guest at the hotel and once as a normal patron. Portion sizes are generous and the food is good, but service is hit or miss. When I was staying at the Plaza, service was slow and inattentive. This time as a walk-in, service was reasonably quick and polite. Weird. Overall, it's a decent place to go for a quick breakfast.

    (4)

  • Bruce K.

    Who knew about this place and didn't tell me. Because there's just no way that I would have stumbled into something like this on my own. Classic and by which I mean that the countertops and stools probably date back to the 60's. Coffee urns. Formica tabletops. But that's where it ends because the menu is modern with a nod to those classics. I had the most amazing smoked trout sandwich with a side of sour cole slaw. Wow. Just wow. I like this place. You will too!

    (4)

  • Kathy B.

    Closed for remodel until 5/5/15. No signage outside bldg so we parked and walked over.

    (1)

  • Christina L.

    Cafe at the Plaza is everything I want a brunch place to be, but sadly most fail at in at least one category. It's 1. casual (sitting at the counter is my ideal spot), 2. high quality with daily specials (if you want sweet, the lemon-poppy seed pancakes w/blueberry maple syrup are crazy good and for savory, you can do no wrong with the omelet that has chorizo & goat cheese) and last but just as important 3. it's affordable. I hate going to brunch & feeling like I just way overspent for a fancy breakfast (*cough* a super trendy place on 76th near 'tosa *cough*). I can go to Cafe at the Plaza, get better food, just as good of a bloody mary & spend less. If you go for lunch, get the smoked trout club and then thank me later!

    (5)

  • Zach C.

    My wife and I tend to run on the breakfast snob side due to us working at a breakfast restaurant, but this was by far one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had. Perhaps our expectations were too high due to the four star rating, but our experiences have been pretty much spot on. So the short of it is we'd never consider returning. Building is nice, inside had interesting use of space considering the restaurant may be the former lobby of the hotel/apartments/whatever it is. Service felt panicked and it felt like communication wasn't happening between the two individuals taking care of us. Both tried to take our drink orders, which was fine except that the drinks didn't make it onto the bill. Also, wife requested a minor modification that never made its way into the plate, but at least we weren't charged for it. Requests for refills were handled in stages and after multiple requests. Needed more coffee, cream, coke, and we never received butter or syrup for our pancake. First came syrup, butter and coffee, but no cream or coke. Cream came after a second request for that and a refill on the now empty drink, but instead of coke I received a water. It wasn't until they stopped by a few minutes later that the empty coke was refilled. Not once did they stop after making a drop to see if everything was good. Food was not anything to brag about. Coffee was horribly bitter. My wife doesn't ever put sugar in her coffee, abd she had to use the sugar in the raw packets. I had the pork schnitzel and my wife preferred the Mexican scrambler. My dish was okay but greasy, and the potatoes were absolutely over cooked, not just crunchy. However, my wife's was embarrassing. The queso fresco was cubed and rubbery, barely crumbled. Chicken was all dark meat and rubbery. The tortillas that came with the mall were disgustingly greasy. When asked what we thought of the meals, my wife declared it was okay, and the server responded with "Just okay?" but didn't care to ask more. My wife barely touched the food, and when plates were pulled the server didn't ask the obvious "was there anything wrong with your meal?" based on basically everything still remaining on her plate. Poor food and unobservant service don't equal four stars. There are plenty of other places to spend your money.

    (1)

  • Susan F.

    I have been remiss in not writing this sooner. Cafe at the Plaza is simply the most charming, delicious and welcoming cafe to be found in any city, anywhere. While the food is exceptional - fresh and creative - it's the service here that's makes this place an utter pleasure. I am not normally one to sit at the counter or bar in any restaurant, but to decline to do so here would mean less interaction with the amazing group of folks the Cafe is so fortunate to employ. From Aaron and Taylor, to the lovely gal with the 40's hair styles and the always smiling cooks whose names I shamefully don't know, to the seasonal Josh, these are genuine people who excel at their jobs and always take time for that little extra that can brighten your day. I watch them interact with the many regular customers, and it gives me hope for civility in this incredibly uncivil world. I can't forget to at least acknowledge the gorgeous Deco atmosphere and the perfectly chosen music. I'd eat all my meals here, every day, if I could.

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    Usually great food and consistently awful service. Dont be in a hurry. But unless your hashbrowns are exceptionally greasy (rare, but its happened a couple times), you'll scarf them down like a rabid dog because they are just that good. I really wish they could correct the confusing and inconsistent service end of the restaurant. It sometimes feels like there is zero organization and everyone just helps out everyone with everything. Not efficient. Ive never seen so many people leave a restaurant because of slow service. It happens almost every time im there; thankfully im pretty patient.

    (4)

  • Mari L.

    Blink and you might miss this little gem. I have been waiting and waiting to go to the Plaza for brunch for few years. It took a friend visiting from Chicago to finally go check it out. The back garden patio is perfect!! It's what I imagine Paris to be like in the springtime. Vibrant greenery and little cafe tables. The beautiful outdoor seating is clearly in high demand since we couldn't get a seat outside for quite some time. Instead we opted to sit at the counter facing the open kitchen. I love sitting at the bar or at the counter, it gives you a chance to chat with the staff and really get comfortable. The menu was extensive and has something for everyone. I went with the classic egg breakfast with an English muffin. I was disappointed that they only had grape jelly, I prefer strawberry, but our server told us that they are trying to use up their stock because they will now be going with a local jam maker from the area. Love!! I'm all about supporting local business. Two minutes later, another waiter placed the very last pack of strawberry jelly in front of me. He overheard me say I liked strawberry better and wanted me to have the last one. Talk about winning a girl over!! The next time you are hemming and hawing over where to go for breakfast or brunch, just go here. You will be faced with lower east side parking but trust me, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Leslie G.

    Sunday morning breakfast in the garden. The bees were annoying along with the wait for service. However, an intimate setting with a good conversationalist made the breakfast enjoyable. The food was average. I built my own omelet and my man ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. My hash browns had a lot of grease and not a lot of flavor. I should have gone with the lemon poppy seed pancakes. His thin pancakes were tasty along with the fresh fruit. I asked if the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the server said, "I guess you can say that since it says it on the jug it comes in." That got a laugh from us. It was still good. I noticed many other customers with Bloody Mary's with Miller High Life chasers. If I stay at the Plaza again, I'll leave extra time for the slow service, and I'll enjoy a High Life while I wait.

    (3)

  • Kay C.

    For breakfast in Milwaukee, I don't think you can find a better place. I have been going to this restaurant since 1990 and have never had a bad experience. And, believe it or not, I prefer to go by myself and just sit at the counter. The atmosphere is like going back in time in this old Art Deco Residence Hotel. It's not fancy, but it has great style. And it's also in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Milwaukee. You'll see a diverse group of patrons, many who have also been coming here for years. On my recent visit, I had the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict with the Cafe potatoes. Sooo good. In the warmer weather, the outdoor patio will be open and it is a great little getaway in the city. If I had any advice for Cafe At the Plaza, it would be - don't change a thing.

    (5)

  • Michelle P.

    Great breakfast spot. We went on Memorial Day, and there was a bit of a holiday weekend crowd, so we were told there would be a 20 minute wait (it turned out to be more like 10). But you can wait in the comfy hotel lobby so no big deal. We ate on the outdoor patio, which was perfect on a beautiful weather day. I had an omelet that was perfectly flavored and textured, my husband got a vegetarian version of the breakfast club, and both were great choices. I would have liked to try the pancakes, since so many reviewers raved about the lemon poppyseed ones, and they also had apple ginger pancakes on their specials menu. But guess that'll have to wait until next time.

    (5)

  • Andrea B.

    Had high hopes for this place considering I had heard amazing reviews and love Milwaukee restaurants, but Cafe at the Plaza didn't deliver. Our brunch dishes - the Mexican scrambles - came after 45 minutes of waiting. The eggs were luke warm and flavorless and my boyfriends hash browns were burnt to a crisp. The saving grace was how accommodating our waitress was. She gave us 20% off our bill since we didn't eat much and comped the mimosa for my boyfriend since it was New Years brunch. Some of the eggs Benedict dishes looked great, but our entrees missed the mark. Wait times were pretty bad to boot.

    (2)

  • Funglin W.

    If you come here, make sure you order/try one of the following: smoked salmon bagel, pancakes, or corned beef hash! The side of potatoes is awesome too! This is one of my favorite breakfast place in Milwaukee. Rarely do i think about going to a hotel to eat their breakfast but Cafe at the Plaza does it for me! If you do get a seat (there's always a long wait), ask to sit at the round table so you can watch the chefs cook.

    (4)

  • Suzanne O.

    Went here for breakfast and the food was just alright. I had the daily special which was a frittata with artichoke and red pepper. When I think of a frittata I think of something light, but this was heavy and dense. I had a side of hashbrowns, and while they were nice and crispy on top, they were pretty greasy underneath. My brother had an egg sandwich on a biscuit and he really enjoyed his meal. He said the biscuit was really good. Milwaukee has many other good breakfast spots, so I probably won't be returning here.

    (3)

  • Clyde F.

    I am absolutely flabbergasted that this place has so many four and five star ratings. The only thing I can possibly imagine explaining my time here was that fans of both Michigan and Wisconsin were in town for the NCAA tournament, but I decided that a hotel in a top-25 city should be able to handle a few basketball games. Where to start? We ordered the hash browns that everyone raved about, and they finally did arrive right about the time we should have been getting dessert. At one point, a member of the kitchen staff actually came out with a bowl of fruit because the hash browns were being delayed so much. That was positive, because when the browns finally did arrive they were a tiny portion and floating in grease. The Cafe Potatoes are less commented on but actually better, though I'm not saying much there. My wife was not happy with the eggs benedict, and my pancakes were round and made of batter, but nothing to write home about. Still, the thing that really needs to be mentioned is the service. During our time there, we were intermittently attended to by the hostess, a bus boy, a cook, and two waiters. I was tempted to walk around handing a portion of the tip to each staff member according to their level of assistance, because the server actually responsible for us deserved nothing. I almost went to the computer and printed my own check, but finally got the attention of someone who was filling up water and begged her to find our waiter. I was near the rear of the dining area with my back to the door, and I assumed the counter area must be packed, but when we left it was mostly empty. I have no idea how so many employees could be so inefficient. I'm tempted to give this place a second star so that I don't ruin my credibility sitting next to all of these great reviews, but I can't. One star is what it was. Neither can I pretend it was an anomaly due to college basketball, because nothing I saw gave me reason to believe a second opportunity would be merited or fruitful. The decor was neat if you like art deco diners.

    (1)

  • Beth P.

    The brunch is great! I got the salmon eggs benedict. It was $9.50 served with a side. The salmon was a good size for the price. I would have liked the eggs poached, but I didn't request it upon ordering. The create your own omelettes looked yummy too with ingredients like red peppers and goat cheese. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. The staff was apologetic that we had to wait longer for our table for four than a few couples who were seated before us. Our service was excellent overall since they were very attentive.

    (5)

  • Nick W.

    Great breakfast selection, good music, friendly staff, cool cafe and patio. They even tell you on the menu which items are gluten free. They have home made jam/jelly--the blueberry peach was delicious. I would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    Descriptive phrase: classic brunch with an old-world Milwaukee charm. Operation: Mother's Day Brunch. Location: Cafe At The Plaza. Mission outcome: success. I was looking for a place in Milwaukee to take my extended family (11 of us) to a Mother's Day brunch that did not involve cramped quarters with frazzled employees or ridiculously overpriced buffets. Thanks to Yelp, I found Cafe At The Plaza. Our party was seated around 10 minutes early for our reservation, but we used that time to put together the two separate tables they had prepared into one giant table. The Cafe is on the first floor of an inconspicuous old hotel, The Plaza, and features a homey diner main room and overflow seating in an old lobby area. The hotel is very neat, with old charm and obvious history behind the building. My only complaint was that the staff mishandled our reservation earlier in the week, but it was resolved. Because of our large party the waiter took half the table's order, delivered that to the kitchen, then came back for the other half. The wait between the two sides being served was minimal, maybe a minute. Between the 11 of us we got just about everything on the menu. I opted for the Scrambled Smoked Trout ($9.75?) with chive hash browns and an English muffin. Dee-lish. There was nothing groundbreaking about my dish, it was just well-made. The eggs were scrambled well without being too runny (I hate runny eggs), the trout was present but not overpowering, and the goat cheese and spinach mixed well into the conglomerate. I ventured a try with the English muffin, but it went perfectly with the eggs (I spooned a bit onto each bite of the muffin). The hash browns, too, were well grilled leaving no pieces burnt nor soggy. Other winners around the table included the french toast, the Plaza Scrambler, the Smoked Salmon Benedict, and the House Made Corned Beef Hash. The portions don't look extremely large when they come out, but you'll leave full. We averaged $14 per person including tip, about half what it would've been other places. Cafe At The Plaza offers great diner food in a charming environment on the cheap. No doubt, it should be on more people's radars.

    (4)

  • Angelique F.

    Greasy food, bland salsa, burnt expensive pancake, hard potatoes, bitter coffee, had to ask 3 times to get a coke refill. Sad I wasted my money here. By the time we got syrup and butter for our $3.50 pancake, it was cold.

    (1)

  • Roxana B.

    I ordered the salmon bagel with potatoes and a side of fruit. The bagel was good, but couldn't taste the horseradish sauce that was on there. Potatoes were yummy but too much oil. Side of fruit was small and cost $3. My fiance ordered the corned beef hash, tasty but a little burned. We both ordered the jasmine tea, it was the loose leaf tea, delicious! Service was ok, food took a while to make. Overall, I would say it's ok but a little on the pricey side.

    (3)

  • Nikita V.

    Cafe at the Plaza boasts a simple, comforting and affordable brunch - a bargain if you can beat the Sunday church crowd, otherwise expect an hour long wait (and there isn't a bar to belly up to). It's got a simple, high-end diner feel with cooking just like your mom's. You'll pick from menu items including lemon poppyseed pancakes, tiramisu French toast, chive hash browns, turkey sausage, and various Benedict options.

    (4)

  • April Z.

    Exceptional breakfast with unimpressive service. My boyfriend and I have been here twice. Same story both times. We came back because the food is so good knowing that it would be a long wait for service. I love the location and hopefully they find new servers to complement the chef's vision.

    (4)

  • Trish S.

    Location is awesome. The courtyard is amazing to have a meal in on a nice day. The service was great and the food is amazing! I had the crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries for lunch and it was to die for! Very different but so delicious! Would definitely visit this place again.

    (5)

  • Malek K.

    The food quality vs price is excellent. Very tasty and not expensive! I strongly recommend the trout. It is a good place to go have breakfast/lunch solo. On another note if you have company the decor is less attractive if seated in the lunch area (empty) compared to the breakfast area.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    I love their Eggs Benedict. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service is ALWAYS slow. I have been at least 8 times and it is always a time commitment. I love their patio.

    (4)

  • Caroline P.

    Why do people like this restaurant? You sit in an undecorated hallway, we had 5 different waiters, but no one seemed to know what was going on and we were treated like we were inconveniencing them. The food was greasy and otherwise tasteless. I'm usually one to give a place a second chance, but we had such a bad experience that we won't be back.

    (1)

  • Katie K.

    I loved this place. We sat in the small area where food was prepared. It was really cool to be there, it seemed less formal than the dining area, but this area had a lot of local flavor. And it was neat to watch the cooks prepare the food. I had the breakfast burrito, boy oh boy, it was delicious. It was cooked to perfection and so good! So good! I also had some of the lemon poppy seed pancakes. They were light and fluffy, thin, and tasted like a lemon poppy seed muffin in pancake form. I highly recommend these, even just a short stake to get a taste of heaven. Yum. They also had great fresh loose leaf tea, I loved it! The orange juice tasted fresh, the side of fruit was fresh. Everything seemed pretty fresh! I recommend checking out this local gem. My only regret is that I live in Chicago and I won't be able to come more often.

    (5)

  • Evan K.

    Awesome place to go for weekend brunch or breakfast. The frittata was delicious. The corned beef hash is also amazing. Worth a try for a lower east side breakfast.

    (4)

  • Scott M.

    My good friend, The Legendary Jazz Organist Dr. Lonnie Smith loves his eggs for lunch. So when I met him in Milwaukee for lunch, he already had sussed out a place that he gave high marks to. The Plaza is a high-end Art Deco Hotel/Residence of wonderfully understated elegance, and their tiny Cafe is just down the hall from the lobby. It, too, displayed a fine elegance, without being toffee-nosed. There was a large counter, and a few tables. We sat in the corner. The menu portended a fine feed, with some unorthodox entries along the usual breakfast dishes. There was a Smoked Trout thing that caught my eye for a second, but then I spied the Truffled Baked Eggs with Gruyere cheese. I HATED eggs all throughout my youth. I ate my first Sunny Side Egg well into my twenties, and I have NEVER ordered or et Baked eggs EVER. I could see the cooks behind the counter, and they appeared to be serious, the dishes that I saw coming to other tables inspired confidence. "Truffled Baked Eggs" actually sounded very appetizing for once. Doc ordered bacon and scrambled. The Plates came and they looked like something from a magazine. My Truffled Baked Eggs came in a ramekin, and smelled divine. Totally appetizing. The accompanying Hash Browns were perfectly brown on top and tender underneath. Top quality multi-grain toast was nicely buttered. Doc's plate looked perfect as well. I dove into the eggs, and they were utterly delicious. The perfume of the Truffle was just enough to make the dish unique in only the way Truffles can. Did I menchen this triumph had a price tag of $8.95? I was astounded. The coffee was fab as well. Service was exemplary, and not snooty. If I was blindfolded and didn't know what city I was in, I would have guessed the Plaza Cafe was in a genteel New York neighborhood. Milwaukee? Wow! This may just be the best Breakfast I've ever had. I'd like to know how their Lunch and Dinner fare. To top it off, A fan of Dr. Lonnies came by and picked up our check. Bonus! If I had anything to carp over, it was the street-meter parking which had a 2 hour limit and 25¢ for each 10 minutes. Outrageous! Next time I find myself in Milwaukee, I'm going to stay at the Plaza, and eat at their Cafe. In fact I might just pack up the Wife and go to Milwaukee for the express purpose to stay at the Plaza and eat at their Cafe.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    The Cafe is pretty and 1920's authentic on the inside and a very European like outdoor courtyard seating area. My coffee was wonderful-brewed just right and the server was kind about my request to get my last refill in a cup to go. I ordered the veggie eggs benedict with hashbrowns. I appreciate wanting to make eggs benedict, one of my favorite meals into something less completely fattening, but this version didn't quite do it for me. The roasted vegetables were kinda a soggy pile. The egg was done well. The sauce had a pleasing kick to it and I think was on to something good but I wish there was more of it. Maybe holding back to, again, try to make it all more healthy. The hash browns were a bigger disappointment. On the bottom side they were super soggy, sitting in a puddle of butter, and the top was overly crispy - there was no pleasing middle ground in there. So the truffle oil that I paid a 1$ extra was totally lost on me - didn't detect in there at all. I'd be willing to give the place another try because I was so charmed by the decor, the wonderful service and by the allure of other items on the menu.

    (3)

  • Mike C.

    We stopped by after surveying the area on yelp for breakfast spots. Couldn't be happier with the service. Quality food. I was pleasantly surprised by the breakfast burrito, as I carry a hefty appetite. Great serving size, really tasty contents. The side of potatoes was good too. My girlfriend ordered the biscuits and gravy and was happy with everything as well. There was a moment where we asked for a refill on the tea press pot, and didn't receive it back for a few minutes, but that was quickly rectified with a heads up to the waiter. Good people and food. Whenever I'm back in town, I won't hesitate to visit.

    (4)

  • Nancy R.

    Definitely old school. Circular counter with 60's green countertop a few small tables outside the counter, but this is a spot designed for sitting at the counter. I had the corned beef hash with eggs over medium. The hash was excellent! The eggs were overdone despite my explaining to the waitress that I wanted the yellows runny, but I will know better next time to order them over easy. That is always a guessing game with eggs to order them correctly. The hash and eggs came with a side of spicy sauerkraut that was delicious. I also ordered a side of fresh fruit. Yum! Grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe and all were fresh and juicy. This now ranks as my best breakfast spot in not just Milwaukee, but the world! (At least the world I have visited).

    (5)

  • Thao T.

    A classy place for breakfast, especially if you stay at the adjoining hotel. The ivy covered courtyard is a perfect setting for a relaxing sunday morning breakfast. I love the old world feel of the entire restaurant, from the lobby to the cooking counter with chefs in their white outfits and hats, I felt like I walked to some distant time. To be honest, I didn't like the truffle eggs I got the first time I was there. It smells wonderful but that's about it, the egg has no season or flavor at all. We came back the second day mostly so we can sit outside and enjoyed the nice weather. We got the veggie eggs benedict to share and it was DELICIOUS! Perfect combination of egg with artichoke, roasted pepper and spinach on top with a side of hollandaise sauce. We ordered a side of banana bread and it was equally delicious. Come for the food and the atmosphere. The service is top notch.

    (4)

  • Steve S.

    Sunday brunch; early afternoon...25 min. wait for table. Sherried Black Truffle Eggs: $8.95; Breakfast Club (triple decker of scrambled eggs, prociutto, basil aioli, bacon, avocado, goat cheese, lettuce, & tomato),$9.25; Bloody Mary, $9.25; Cherry Mosa, $6, looked great on the chalk board and was okay, but should have had the Bloody Mary. Helpful, friendly waiter.

    (4)

  • Marie R.

    Delicious breakfast! Flew in from LA and went to the Cafe plaza straight for breakfast. The mexican scramble was so delicious. The lemon poppy pancakes with blueberry syrup was also delicious. Definitley coming here next time I come to Milwaukee

    (4)

  • Stephanie T.

    Went back for a friends birthday brunch recently. Ordered an omelette with tomato and artichoke hearts. It was the worst omelette I've, maybe, ever had. It was like they opened a can of artichoke hearts, cut them in half and then just threw them at my omelette. Awful, awful. Also, my fiance ordered a fruit smoothie and it was warm... and not blended. The server did end up taking this off the bill, though, which was good. I had such a great first experience that I will go back and try again but I was severely disappointed by my latest visit.

    (4)

  • Ann C.

    Brunch is amazing. There isn't too long of a wait. Get the frittata, they switch theme up a couple times a day. The staff are really nice, plus you can even watch your food being made. I do wish soda was not served from a can, I like my free refills.

    (5)

  • Jim W.

    An awesome breakfast destination! Love the atmosphere of the historic hotel. Friendly, attentive staff!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    After reading a good review in Milwaukee Magazine, I made it a mission to get here for brunch. Such a disappointment. The outdoor courtyard dining area is cute, but not cute enough to have made my experience better. I went with my boyfriend and we had three different waiters approach us to ask us for our drink & food order. They seemed to be highly disorganized. I ordered coffee and it came in a mug that I realized was dirty once I saw lipstick marks on it. Like previous reviewers mentioned, it took forever to get our food, and then it took forever for the waitress to bring any utensils/silverware. We also had to move inside because the swarming bees were so annoying. I'm a pretty forgiving person and probably could have forgotten all of these missteps if the food would have been good, but it just wasn't. It was lacking some kind of depth and just felt like it was missing something. We will not be back.

    (2)

  • Jim F.

    How have I not reviewed the Plaza yet? Yelp shame. We have loved this place for years, even before the food got all local and tasty. If we want to take out of town guest to a unique Milwaukee atmosphere downtown, this is the place. And with the wonderful new dishes developed by the new chef, the experience is all the better. We love breakfast at the counter, and everything is great. We've never had anything we did not like, but I can recommend the pancakes and french toast. I also love the homemade scones. Great place for kids (but there can be a wait at peak weekend times).

    (5)

  • Aimee K.

    When I told Rachel F my friend and I were going to brunch at Cafe at the Plaza, she laughed and told me it's good but it's also "the land that time forgot." My friend is spending three months in the Plaza Hotel for work, so after throwing on a dress, brushing my hair, and wandering two minutes from her door to the cafe, we were there and ready to check out the food. I about died when I saw the breakfast bar! "The land that time forgot" is perfect when describing it... I'm pretty sure that thing hasn't been changed for well over 30-40 years. It was so cool, and the next time I go back, I at least want to sit there and have coffee. What a wide range of characters that bar had sitting at it! There was your standard super-old couple, at least in their early 80's, a lady with her face in a newspaper, and three men sporting mullets pounding coffee like it's nobody's biz. If you're at Cafe at the Plaza, stop by and check out the bar, and even consider eating there. We ended up sitting out back in the courtyard because it was such a nice day, and the atmosphere was just lovely, especially with all the ivy growing up the back of the building. I ordered the Plaza Scrambler (three eggs scrambled, choice of cafe potatoes or hash browns, ham, mushrooms, onions, peppers, cheddar cheese and toast,) and wowza, this breakfast creation was good and beyond filling. It was like every breakfast item I love cooked together and topped with cheese! Pair that with a good cup of coffee and I was a happy camper. Great service, relaxing atmosphere, and you can't beat that old school bar!

    (4)

  • Darren O.

    Lots of potential here. I can see why a lot of people have left good reviews but my experience was poor. Wife and I made a long walk specifically to eat here. Great classic diner style counter inside and a very nice outdoor patio. Wife ordered breakfast burrito and a piece of French toast. She liked both, I ordered the classic egg breakfast. Eggs, hash browns and sausage. Waitress brought out my plate with no hash browns (if you've seen any of my other reviews you know I'm a big hash brown fan). I figured maybe they were coming out on a different plate so I waited. Waitress never came back. After about 10 min I waived someone else down. Our waitress then came back a minute or two later and said "oh sorry, there is just a backup in the kitchen. Your hash browns are on the way". I would really just appreciate the truth that someone just forgot or dropped the ball. A few more minutes passed and she brought out the greasiest most under-cooked pile of hash browns I've ever seen and said "here you go. Don't worry I won't charge you or them". Golly, thanks! The rest of my food got cold and now I have h browns that are inedible (and I've powered through some pretty poorly cooked food before). When the bill came I couldn't tell if she made an adjustment or not. They staple a small register receipt with line items $ amounts but no description to the hand scribbled order pad from the waitress. I didn't see any 'minus' signs anywhere. I realize its probably a little unfair to dwell on one mistake since the rest of the food was good, but I think it's important for restaurants to realize there are ways to minimize the damage of a mistake (don't lie and just give a genuine apology - and look at the food you are serving. Some things are so obviously bad you shouldn't need the customer to tell you that you shouldn't have it brought it to the table).

    (2)

  • Matthew D.

    One of my favorite breakfast spots in the Milwaukee area. Menu choices are all excellent, and the quality of ingredients can be noticed in every bite. Seating arrangements can be a bit odd, but the atmosphere is classic. Can't go 5 stars because the greeter was old, not that friendly, and not that good at her job. Maybe I am missing something there?

    (4)

  • Justin W.

    Definitely a great secret breakfast/brunch spot in Milwaukee. Very friendly and helpful staff. Bottomless Alterra coffee. The veggie eggs Benedict was great and came with tasty hash browns. Also tried a bite of the ginger cream cheese stuffed french toast with strawberry rhubarb topping, and it was delicious. The building is historic and cozy. And the diner section is straight out of a small town mom and pop cafe that makes you feel like you always belong. A can't miss for breakfast in Milwaukee. The only knock against it was that it was a little chilly sitting next to the window. But that is to be expected in an old building during Wisconsin winter.

    (4)

  • Miguel W.

    The truffled eggs with gruyere cheese is simply one of the best breakfast dishes that I've ever come across. I often daydream about it and then start mentally salivating. It's a very rich dish that you can/should only have every couple months, so it's very easy to build up a strong hankering for it. The counter service is always terrific but the hostess that works on weekends definitely needs a better system of checking people in and keeping track of them. My wife and I had to walk out once after the place appeared to be up for grabs.....

    (4)

  • Doug S.

    I visited my friend and stayed on his couch while in Milwaukee. He's the Executive Chef at Roots in Milwaukee, so I trust his judgment when it comes to food. He took me to the Plaza for breakfast and told me I'd love it: he was right! We sat at the counter and ordered and received attentive service. The coffee was surprisingly good and the breakfast was enormous and hangover-curing.

    (4)

  • Maj J.

    I love this place! I always have the smoked salmon benedict and coffee. I want to go here every weekend. It's so nice and the staff is nice and it's cute and the food is fabulous. Enough said. Go there!

    (5)

  • Colden H.

    What a lovely space. Art deco prints and graceful arches. Yeah, we're eating in a hallway, but who cares? I ate corned beef hash, which was a little heavy on the hash and light on the corned beef. It tasted good, but . . . where's the beef? Nice side of fresh fruit, perfect eggs over easy. I appreciated my private teapot of Rishi jasmine green tea. Our waiter was kind of funny and very nice. He acted like we were buddies who came over to his house, which was unusual, but, once we got used to it, refreshing. He didn't have any of the canned waiter pleasantries/attitude.

    (3)

  • Colin G.

    Good quality breakfast at a reasonable price. Service is good not great. Bloody marys are no where near as good as other places in milwaukee. Overall 4/5

    (4)

  • Dana M.

    This place is a secret place. Usually only passed on by word of mouth through those who came before them. This is a restaurant in The Plaza hotel. I'm surprised that it doesn't have 100 reviews, but it's under new management (I think), so maybe they had to delete the old ones... I know for sure that there is a new head chef/cook, because the menu has changed slightly. It's more expensive now (still reasonable), and they serve the food on chique plates, bowls, etc. The glassware is also fancy schmancy now. I get the same thing every time I come, " The Veggie Eggs Benedict with a side of the Cafe Potatoes". This breakfast is so fattening that I save half and eat the rest for dinner. It's the hollandaise sauce. ... Anyway, I started coming here several years go. I've only come for breakfast/brunch. The decor/ambiance is freaking awesome! It's definitely a retro time warp. Even the people sitting around the bar area seem fictional. There's a waitress too (wish I could remember her name), who is probably one of the sweetest lady servers I've had in my entire life. She calls everyone "dear" or "darling". :) I would have given this place 5 stars because I liked the old menu better. The new veggie eggs benedict comes with artichoke hearts, spinach and tomatoes. The old one was mushrooms, broccoli, onions, tomatoes. The artichoke hearts were rotten the first time I came back since the new cook took over and I just pushed them to the side. Now I always substitute. Also, I think they gave you more potatoes before, even though they're more expensive now and look more artsy fartsy on the rectangular white plate. I liked them just fine before. Nobody really wants this place to go upscale... everyone was happy the way it was. The plates aren't going to fool anyone, so the $7 breakfast, now $9, is like, sure, whatever. The only noticeable improvement with the new management and/or cook are the Bloody Mary's. This IS the place you want to come to if you are hungover. And nobody is going to judge you because they're all hungover too. The food will curb the hangover from the night before, and the Bloody Mary's will get you partying again. They used to be $3 ... now they are like $7, but awesome. Writing this has got me excited for NYE, maybe I'll be here on the 1st of 2012

    (4)

  • Roz K.

    Cafe at the Plaza is a very nice nice breakfast and lunch restaurant - The place has the feel of a more classy-diner and the servers are friendly. I particularly like sitting at the bar area where I can relax, drink my coffee, and do some people watching. The food is plentiful and unique - I certainly wouldn't have thought of trying a smoked trout BLT or egg scramble for breakfast if it wasn't for them. The soups I tried from them are very flavorful and tasty too - I particularly like their gazpacho heated up. Although the black sherry truffle was recommended from both servers and certain reviews I read, I didn't find anything unique or tasty about it. Personally, I only like going there on the weekdays though. The weekends are usually packed with crowds and the service becomes way too slow to even justify the stay - For example, one weekend, my ex and I had to wait much more than half an hour before our food even arrived and we had already come before the breakfast rush. Also, their menu becomes only limited to breakfast items. Overall, a nice and cozy little place to eat some unique and delicious food and to relax during the weekday mornings and early afternoon.

    (4)

  • C T.

    I love this restaurant. The food is delicious and the setting is so pretty and just awesome.

    (5)

  • jonathan s.

    cool place in a random small hotel. was told by a bartender this was a big locals spot for breakfast despite the weird location. the diner setting does indeed feel a little weird inside a hotel but the corned beef hash was great. big portions, real good food.

    (4)

  • Local P.

    I would say the plaza is good for the ambiance. Youu don't find many old fashioned breakfast counters anymore. The food is alright. Some items are better than others. My poached eggs were undercooked but the wait for food even when this place isn't very busy is a bit long. I expect more flavor out of something like salmon benedict and chive hashbrowns but it just isnt there. I find the service to be slow and lazy.. just go and enjoy the atmosphere and order something simple and you'll enjoy the plaza.

    (3)

  • Justin F.

    If I were to begin writing the great american novel, I would begin at the Plaza's diner. I always get a sense of comfort and nostalgia when I walk through their doors. Corned beef hash is served with a side bowl of kimchi....so random yet so right. Half the restaurant is in an old hallway that has an echo and reminds me of bathing at Friedrichsbad.

    (4)

  • J D.

    Classic 1920s diner inside the Plaza Hotel where guests and residents mingle. Breakfast is straight forward and portions are generous. I would highly recommend the smoked salmon Benedict! Coffee was excellent for diner standards and suggest taking a seat at the counter and watching the staff-patron interactions.

    (5)

  • Kaitlin B.

    Have I mentioned how much I love breakfast? Well I do.. Cafe at the Plaza takes care of that. I have been lucky enough to eat here for a few seasons and have thus taken advantage of all that the place has to offer.. The patio is amazing! It is the perfect brunch eating spot because you will never have direct sun on you! Inside I would recommend eating at the counter, as that completes the whole experience for you. I have had most of the omelettes.. delish.. I also like the Plaza Scrambler.. with this they usually mix in the hashbrowns, so as for them on the side if you are like me and hate food touching. You may not always get sat immediately upon entry (esp if waiting for the patio) and this is not a place to go if you have to get someone, say, to the airport in a half hour, but as all good things, making this food takes time. If you sit inside you can really see the whole process.. no microwaving things here.. its all done right in front of you.. so dont let that taint the GREATNESS that is the CAFE and the PLAZA! I would probably consider moving there just so I could get breakfast on a regular basis there!

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Cafe at the plaza is a great place to grab a quality breakfast. The chef does a great job of adding a culinary touch to traditional breakfast foods. The eggs Benedict w prosciutto is excellent, so I typically get that, but I have never been disappointed with anything on the menu. The service is usually pretty good, the only exception being on peak weekend times where they can be a bit slow but nothing too detrimental. I have been there at least 10 times and will definitely continue to go back.

    (5)

  • trevor s.

    amazing. food was excellent. lemon poppyseed pancakes w/ bluberry maple syrup. also had the ginger stuffed french toast w/ strawberry rhubarb compote. but that's just the food. ambience was great. old diner mixed w/ creative food. free jazz in the BG. great neighborhood. no wait. one of the better kept brunch secrets in town.

    (5)

  • Ally B.

    I go to the Plaza Cafe when I absolutely HAVE to have Alterra coffee with a full service breakfast. The ambiance is great, the staff knows me and they've stepped up the menu. I usually go for the same ol' things, but they switch it up and I've enjoyed trying buckwheat pancakes and some other trendy vittles. And did I mention the ALTERRA COFFEE???

    (4)

  • James S.

    Highly recommended breakfast spot when in Milwaukee. Today I enjoyed the smoked salmon bagel sandwich w. pickled onion tomatoes and scrambles egg. What a feast! Excellent coffee too and fabulous service.

    (4)

  • Rick R.

    I recently had breakfast at Cafe at the Plaza before a Brewers playoff game. That last bit is important to note because I almost ordered the Sherried Black Truffle Eggs, which looked very unique but just didn't seem right for game day. So I went with the next best thing...Housemade Corned Beef Hash topped with two eggs over medium (my choice for eggs always) and served with crispy hash browns and sauer kraut. At just under $9, this breakfast was HEARTY. It tasted great and was a perfect foundation to start the day before my trip to Miller Park. I will return. I do have to try the Sherried Black Truffle Eggs, afterall, maybe before a matinee at the Marcus Center or The Rep.

    (4)

  • Mickey M.

    Delicious Food, Prompt and educated friendly service, eclectic atmosphere = Cafe at the Plaza! I took my wife and friend for Easter brunch and we were blown away by the incredible tastings. We were greeted by the Chef and her staff in a genuine manner and knew we were in for a great treat. The hardest thing about the Cafe at the Plaza is what not to order. The menu is very diverse offering hearty breakfast and lunch fare with meat and vegetarian friendly options. I settled into the truffle infused soft boiled eggs as did my wife, and our friend had the breakfast sandwich (the name is simple yet the sandwich is more). In addition to your entree you are offered a side of 7 types of breads, and fruit or potatoe's. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was just perfect, relaxed yet refined. We are headed back soon. Enjoy the experience of the Cafe at the Plaza!

    (5)

  • Sid V.

    The service was only fair and the hostess and other staff were poorly coordinated, resulting in needlessly long waits. Too bad, because the food was five stars for the sherried eggs with truffle oil and the 1920s ambiance is classic Milwaukee. The omelets are quite good as well. If the hostess would get it together this place could be five stars easy.

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    I went here for breakfast this morning -- showed up at 10:45, and was seated in about 20 minutes to eat outside. The seating is in a small courtyard, surrounded by ivy covered walls. It's actually pretty nice. That's where the positives end. We waited for 20 minutes before someone came to take our drink order. We waited another 10 minutes before our waiter stopped by, realizing that they didn't bring our drinks. They took our order for our food, and left. Our drinks came out followed by our food. I ordered the lemon poppy seed pancakes with the blueberry syrup and a side of turkey bacon. The flavor of the pancakes were good, but one of the two was incredibly overcooked, to the point of being crispy. The turkey sausage was cooked well. After all that waiting, with disappointing food, we had to wait another 15 minutes before our waiter thought to bring us our check. (it was explained by them later they were caught up for 20 minutes) I honestly do not understand what the hype is. The ONLY reason this place gets 2 stars is due to the outdoor seating.

    (2)

  • Chuck M.

    Great breakfast and service. Old time diner style counter seating with more tables and another room I didn't see. Sitting in the hotel kitchen is the atmosphere. George web style dining. But interesting breakfast items at reasonable prices. I plan to return any weekend morning. I imagine lunch would be good as well.

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    Went here for breakfast today and we were very pleased with the experience. The atmosphere was nice, our server was very attentive and even his fellow servers would stop by to check on us (very rare at most places.) The food was great with perfect portion sizes, and the price was right too. Definitely would recommend this place!

    (5)

  • jeanmarie c.

    great food, excellent service, and a great dining counter! the food is creative--hus had a burrito and i got a 1/2 order of eggs benedict and one **red velvet pancake**. so delicous! i noticed they also have pumpkin pancakes and tiramisu french toast. yum! both varieties of their potatoes were also fantastic, although i'm a bigger fan of the potatoes--they had a bit of kick to them compared to the hashbrowns. the only thing that could be improved is the coffee, which was better than at most places but not up to the same quality as the meal. the prices were also fair--about $6-10 for most entrees, I think our total bill came to around $20, which isn't amazing but you can do much worse at different brunch places! all in all, i would love to go back again!

    (4)

  • Martha W.

    Five stars if you sit at the fantastic, art deco counter and enjoy the beautiful space, good service, and warm, inviting atmosphere. I came with a group once & sat in the hallway where they have tables set up, and it was cold, dark, and a little lonely. The service suffers there, too. So GO to the Plaza Cafe, order the smoked trout scramble & whole grain toast (surprise! it's actually whole grain toast, not white bread with a tablespoon of molasses in it!), and drink some coffee. What a way to start a Sunday!

    (5)

  • John A.

    Great food, nice atmosphere, at times the service is a bit slow. Try the club or the truffle eggs, both excellent.

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    I went here this past Sunday morning with a friend of mine for breakfast and the experience was awesome as usual. Yelp is listing the restaurant as "Cafe at the Plaza Catering Service" but I think its just called "Cafe at the Plaza." The restaurant/diner is located inside the Plaza Hotel. While I've never stayed at the hotel, it looks very charming and hotel patrons would be foolish to pass up breakfast at this great restaurant. There are three separate dining areas. One of the two inside areas looks like a normal dining room with tables and chairs. The 2nd indoor dining area features a long wraparound counter-top with numerous stools. This area also features the open kitchen so if you sit at the counter you can watch them make your food. The third area is a charming outdoor courtyard that must be taken advantage of in the summer months. My guest and I did not wait at all for a table outside (we arrived about 9:30am) and the service was courteous and prompt. We both had bloodys and while the glass they come in is not normal they are made with Rehorst vodka and are pretty good. My friend had the sherried black truffle eggs and I had the scrambled smoked trout omelet. Both were super flavorful and I would order both items again in the future. There was no other option but to give this place 5 stars. It had everything a person could ask for: great food and great service at a great price.

    (5)

  • Helene J.

    Hate to spoil the love for the Plaza, but here goes.... I was here twice, a few years ago, for breakfast and remembered this being such a wonderful place, just like most everyone here describes. I don't get to Milwaukee too often anymore, but today, a Sunday, I went for breakfast with a friend, and after telling her in advance what a great place it was, I was really embarrassed. First of all, I know they have mostly "regulars" and I'm not, but we were immediately seated in a little table in the corner of the coffee shop area, not even offered a spot in the dining room, although numerous other people who came after us were seated there. I asked our server about the specials and she said "biscuits and gravy." Now, I know there were more specials listed on the board we passed as we walked in, but apparently she couldn't be bothered to spend any time telling us what the fritatta of the day was. We each had omelets. My friend was polite and said her meal was fine, but my omelet was practically cold, the potatoes were lukewarm, and the toast was cold. Obviously it had been sitting somewhere for awhile. It was all tasty, especially the potatoes, but not hot. We were never offered a second cup of coffee at any time, even when the server brought our check (just as we started to eat). I mean, I felt like not only were we not good enough for the dining room, but they couldn't wait to get our table back in the coffee shop. I am assuming the waitress had too many tables to serve and that's why the service was perfunctory, at best. I just want to believe my experience was a fluke. I was very disappointed because I have always considered the cafe here to be a hidden treasure. Now, I'm not sure I'll go back.

    (1)

  • Devin N.

    Cafe at the plaza is a nice place to have a delicious home made breakfast with fresh ingredients for a fair price. There is nothing to fancy about the menu but the food is good, the service is good, and you can't beat the 1920's hotel decor.

    (3)

  • Cheryl I.

    What a nice place for a good breakfast. My hubby and I stopped in on a Sunday morning around 10. Not knowing how big or should I say small it was we were told it would be about 10-15 min. wait. We sat in the lobby of the hotel to wait. It was a very busy place. Once we got called and walked in I saw it was a cute little place with a curved counter top seating area that faces the cooks and kitchen. It is cramped quarters for the servers, cooks and busboys but they somehow seem to work well together. The chef was very good at what he does and was doing a great job of getting food out on time. We both had the Two Eggs special . Comes with your choice of eggs and bacon or sausage or ham and hash browns and nice thick white toast. Very tasty and the coffee was good too. There was outside dining as well, but it was pretty warm so we chose to eat indoors. The other items we saw coming out looked great too!! Will come again for sure.

    (4)

  • Stacey B.

    I was in Milwaukee for three days - three opportunities to eat out for breakfast. Ate here twice! Loved the decor, the food, the counter, our waitress. The Plaza Pleaser was a great menu option for me as it took care of protein as well as the sweeter side of breakfast - pancakes or french toast and two eggs and sausage and bacon. The sausage links are tasty and the bacon cooked just how I like it (well). Sitting at the counter, I watched the staff interact with the regulars and prepare the food. (The couple next to us recommended we try The Knick for breakfast while we were in town. We did and I recommend it as well.) I like me a good cup of coffee so the mediocre coffee was the only downside.

    (4)

  • Sean Z.

    I went to The Plaza to see someone I haven't seen in like 4 years that I went to high school with. It was a place we both had not been to so we said "giddy up". Service, good. Food, ordered and delivered quickly. Although, I ordered the tilapia (it was the first Friday of Lent) which was supposed to come with three (3) pieces of fish. Mine came with two pieces and one that was 98% batter (that's not even an exaggeration). A bit of a disappointment. They had a decent selection for brunch/lunch alcoholic drinks (Bloody Marys [not a fan of tomato juice, my "date" got one though. She finished half of it--she was going to exercise afterward; gotta love those that booze it up and then decide to go for a run], Spiked Coffee [which I would have gotten had I not drank the night before], Mimosas, etc.) The actual diner area seemed crowded so we sat down the hall in a separate seating area a few feet from the diner. Other than the slight upset with my battered 2.02 pieces of tilapia, I'd say I enjoyed it. I'd defintely go back for one more try--maybe not the fish this time...

    (3)

  • Chadrick J.

    This place is spectacular. The service can be a little spotty but the food more than makes up for it. If you want to get outside plan on a wait unless you get there before 9 am. They do open at 7 which is early than most breakfast joints in MKE. Favorites: Lemon Poppy-seed pancakes w/ Blueberry compote! Also the breakfast poutine made w/herb cafe potatoes instead of waffle fries! OMG so Good! All in all really good spot to go chillax and dine!

    (5)

  • Amara H.

    It took me nearly two years of living in MKE to find this tucked away spot. What attracted me to this spot was the décor, as it transports you back in time. I tend to frequent brunch spots in the MKE area with a close friend of mine. Because we tend to share a similar taste in food, we came to a similar conclusion on this spot, reflected below. We ordered the veggie benedict and the cinnamon roll french toast. While we both enjoyed the flavors of both dishes, there were a few drawbacks. With regards to the veggie benedict, it was misleading to have labeled it a "benedict" as it was not served on an English muffin. Rather, it was served on a bed of seasoned potatoes. While I commend the café for trying to constantly innovate their menu, this was a misleading deviation from standard benedicts one would assume would be served for brunch. Instead, the dish ought to have been titled a "scrambler." In addition, the egg itself was very poorly prepared and very flimsy. Common sense would dictate that a kitchen should not serve burnt food EVER. Unfortunately, the bottom of the french toast was burnt. The cream cheese and the glaze were able to mask the burnt flavor, but they were unable to fix the toast's texture. That said - both dishes did have excellent flavors. The ingredients of the veggie benedict complemented each other very well; notable ingredients driving the exceptional flavor were the herbs and the tomato jam. I do have to say, I do appreciate the café NOT using a cinnamon roll [itself] as the basis for the french toast. Many brunch spots that I have visited use a standard cinnamon roll as the base of their dish. At this café, the french toast infused all the key flavors of a true cinnamon roll without actually relying on a roll. The magic was in the honey cream cheese and the cinnamon-cardamom browned butter glaze. An added bonus to this brunch experience was the outdoor seating. It evoked a very East Coast vibe [without the cost]. The dishes were very appropriately priced.

    (3)

  • Corey D.

    Thank you Rachel F... For making it so I can't get hash browns anywhere else in Wisconsin. WHAT THE HELL IS IN THOSE THINGS? I think the stars just simply aligned to make for pretty much the best breakfast experience I've had in a long time, and here's the thing, I had eggs, hash browns, a toasted muffin and avocado. It wasn't revolutionary or out of the box! It was series of a la cart items I cobbled together! And they were damn good. I love this little place and can't wait to return and order an item they actually have on the menu, but until then, I'll be dreaming about you CATP.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    I was introduced to Cafe at the Plaza by a friend of mine about a year ago. I've been back at least a dozen times since. When they closed for renovations I was devastated. When I dine here, all is right in the world. That's how much I love this place. Cafe at the Plaza is a hidden gem in my book. Tucked into the lobby of an early 1900's hotel, the decor gets me every time. I'm a sucker for the classical art-deco inspired environment that this place has, as well as the adorable patio. It's classy without being pretentious or overwhelming. The food is solid as well. Chorizo scramble (I forget the exact name) is a favorite of mine. The corned beef hash is great, as well as the smoked salmon bagel. They've added a few new menu options since the renovation, all of which I cannot wait to try. The price point is what you make of it. Most entrees are between $10-$12 so you can easily walk out of here spending well under $20. But, their drinks are great (try the bloody and the mimosa) and they have delicious sides. For this reason I always find myself spending $25 or above. What else can I say? This place is wonderful. It's wonderful because it doesn't try to be anything it's not (I know, double negative, I'm sorry.) Cafe at the Plaza is a place with a solid breakfast, good drinks, a wonderful decor and attentive, speedy service.

    (5)

  • Liza Q.

    I think this place is hit or miss with brunch service. When it's crowded, the food is a bit rushed and service is slow. When it's not a rush, the service and food is awesome! Problem is, most people come on weekends for brunch and it is just a madhouse. So far I've had the corned beef hash (just ok), the biscuits and gravy (amazing!!), and the salmon eggs Benedict (amazing!!). I've also tried from friends' plates the omelet (very good!) and the scramble (eh, would give this a miss). The star, however, is the chive hashbrowns. How they are so perfectly cooked I do not know, crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth goodness on the inside.

    (4)

  • Park F.

    We've been here many times, but this was the first time since renovations. I had a Poutine which put me into a coma. I typically don't eat this kind of thing, but couldn't resist the description. I don't remember it exactly, but there was a bed of waffle fries on the bottom, melted cheese curds and a thin potato pancake in the middle and a crazy savory sauce with poached eggs on top. Should be illegal. We always sit at the diner counter where the service is fantastic and the awesome coffee keeps coming.

    (5)

  • Ellie B.

    Cafe at the Plaza is a great little place for breakfast or brunch! I like that they're open early. We came around 10:00 and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. Parking was easy to find right out front and on Saturdays you don't have to feed the meter (2 hour limit). There is counter seating and patio seating. I tried a Bellini and the vegetarian eggs Benedict. They were both great and reasonably priced. The portion size of the dish was perfect. It says it came with a vegetarian substitution for prosciutto but mine didn't have that, but it's my own darn fault for not saying anything. I was too busy enjoying the patio and the company of friends. I had a bite of my friends' truffle eggs and they were really good. I'd come back here again for sure!

    (4)

  • Joanna T.

    Cafe at the Plaza is an under the radar contender for some of the best brunch in the city. It doesn't have the hipster cachet of Comet, the skyline views of Roots or the ages-long waits of Blues Egg. So what do they have? To start - a gorgeous vintage atmosphere. The Plaza hotel was built in the mid-20's and the original Cafe was a tearoom for the ladies. There's lots of original Art Deco charm - think decorative plaster and great tile floors. There's also a 50's diner space with counter seating and a lush patio. Sadly, it was drizzling when we visited so we stayed inside. Second - friendly staff. We were taken care of promptly and checked on by several staffers. The hostess was especially nice. Third - a great menu. There's the classics but plenty of creative things if you feel like trying something new. Breakfast schnitzel, anyone? Most importantly, the food was very good. The Mister couldn't pass up a breakfast schnitzel and was rewarded with a crispy cutlet served over homemade spaetzle with bacon and onions. He said his eggs could have used some seasoning but really liked everything else. I went with biscuits and gravy which was above average. My over medium eggs were perfect and you could tell that the gravy was homemade - it was chock full of sausage chunks. My nitpicks would be that I would have liked to see the gravy a bit thicker (too runny IMO) and the biscuits were a bit cold as if they'd come from the fridge. The hashbrowns here weren't my favorite - very crunchy on the outside (almost burnt) but I know others like them that way. I thought the prices (most dishes in the $9-12 range) were very fair for the quality. Parking is going to be hit or miss just because of where they're located - I didn't see a dedicated lot. Overall, I was impressed. Cafe at the Plaza is way more low key than some of the other brunch "hot spots" but they're turning out creative, tasty dishes. I hear evening small plates are in the works - definitely planning to check that out!

    (4)

  • Emily T.

    Amazing brunch! Cute decor & you feel like you stepped back in time. Try the Lemon Poppy seed pancakes, they do not disappoint. Smoked salmon benedict is great too & the bloody Mary's are fantastic!

    (5)

  • Nicole H.

    Oh happy deliciousness, another great brunch spot. Loved my breakfast club. It was a mess and a half, so if you're looking to keep your little mandibles clean, this might not be the place for you. Great food, great atmosphere, great mimosa alternative with door county cherry juice - not so great waitress. I'm not a goat cheese person and when I asked for different cheese on my sandwich, the waitress said made it seem like a big deal and like maybe it couldnt happen, since they were so busy. Which - I mean, I get that you're busy, but this isn't news - you're a top brunch spot and being busy needs to stop being an excuse - and second, there's crazy substitutions and then there's asking for a different slice of cheese, you know? Just something about the way she handled it kind of made me bristle - there's either a blanket "no changes" policy clearly stated or you don't make the customer feel like a burden. Sat at the counter and our waitress got a little swamped at times, so that I had to ask for more napkins and water, but overall, I loved my food and I'd go back and recommend it to others.

    (4)

  • Carrie G.

    I've heard so much about this Cafe, mostly great food, some notes of inconsistent service, that curiosity won out and I had to see for myself! I absolutely love the 1920's Art Deco vibe here. The Plaza is rather iconic in Milwaukee history (they are a perennial favorite for Doors Open). And the beautiful decor is very well preserved and creates an inviting environment. The layout is interesting and the diner counter and few tables in the room at the top of the stairs appears to be the original restaurant. The larger dining room beyond that may have been a former lounge area that was retro fitted to a second dining area to accommodate more diners. Given the choice the dining counter is likely the better indoor choice. But the real jewel is the outdoor courtyard. It's far superior to any of the photos that I saw and I absolutely cannot wait for next spring and the opportunity to dine al fresco. Back to my recent visit. My friend started with a mimosa ($6) and I naturally tried the bloody ($8.50). The mimosa was great and the bloody was too. The garnish was simple (see photo below) and the house made mix had good flavor. The rim of the glass was celery salted, which is always a bonus for me. And the mix boasted worcestershire, horseradish and a bit of bacon. There are many classic breakfast/brunch entrees to choose from and the Smoked Salmon Benedict ($10) caught my eye. The salmon was well smoked, but not overly so and there was an ample portion. The eggs were thankfully poached perfectly (far too many kitchens struggle with this basic concept) and the english muffin was well toasted and held up to the toppings. The breakfast potatoes side was tasty, but a little sparse. Service was a disappointment. They appeared to be both under-staffed and under-trained. We had to ask for water glasses to be filled three times. The waiter mixed up my friends order and he had to have the food re-made. And the waiter also never returned to ask how the food was. I will certainly be back to dine in the courtyard, and if I return before that I would absolutely choose counter seats in the hopes of better service.

    (4)

  • Shannon C.

    We have been to café on the plaza many, many times, and I cannot believe that I have yet to write a review! So allow me to remedy that situation anon. My absolute favorite part about Café on the plaza, aside from their stellar and unpretentious yet delicious food, is their open kitchen and the more diner aspect of half of the eatery. You can choose to feel like you're in a diner or a classyish restaurant - like a Choose Your Own Adventure story, but for brunch. Everything we order is good. They have great benedicts, which is always a major draw for me. And their service is excellent -- the people who work there are just really nice!

    (5)

  • Tushig U.

    Waited for 45 min to get a table (hostess told us 15 min). Then, we had to wait at least another 40 minutes for our food to come out, and quiet frankly it was underwhelming. Toast was either burnt or not toasted at all. Bacon was overcooked, and not to mention the french toast had no taste. Only reason im giving it 2 stars is because of their hash-browns. Will not come back again.

    (2)

  • Katie K.

    Hmmmm I must say both times I have been here service is poor. So slow on the coffee refill. Cold cold muffins. I didn't even know they had a drink menu since nobody offered!? So today, Why, why, why would you even serve me black pancakes? See my picture posted. And then you don't even ask how everything is?????? Like charcoal my friend, like charcoal. I ate the one good looking pancake and the server really should have guessed that something was wrong with the rest since I left it. All that happened is I hungry. On the plus side. My father eats vegan and they give you a really nice portion of oatmeal cooked in water with fruit, nuts. And the good looking pancake was terrific.

    (1)

  • Chelsie L.

    OM NOM NOM. Cafe at the Plaza kills it with their brunch game. I wonder why more people don't talk about this spot, but thats ok, maybe we can keep it our little secret. I love the area it is tucked into, easily accessible downtown without the busy downtown feeling and the building has so much charm. The cafe is cozy, service was friendly. I love that when you sit at the counter, the kitchen is right in front of you, nothing between you and all of the delicious food and coffee coming to you. Old school diner feel and I loved it. I have a feeling that I will be coming back to this spot at any chance I get.. which could get dangerous. Nothing but newfound love for the Cafe at the Plaza.

    (5)

  • Bobb S.

    How did we not know about this place? Tucked away in the Plaza Hotel, it's a vintage cafe serving solid breakfast and brunch fare. The cafe has a curved bar to sit at as well as a separate dining room. They also have an outdoor patio in the summer months. I went with the pork schnitzel with homemade spaetzle and egg while my better half went with her favorite standby-eggs benedict. Both dishes were served with a side and we opted for hashbrowns. Both were excellent and served in a speedy fashion. With brunch comes the obligatory cocktails. Bloody Mary's are served with a High Life pony and were tasty (albeit maybe heavy on the horesradish). The greyhound is served with your choice of vodka or gin-my recommendation is to go for the gin as it pairs better with the grapefruit mixer. Obvious we were in the minority in not knowing about this place as it was pretty well packed when we arrived. So, do me a favor, and keep this between us, ok? We will definitely be back and don't want to wait too long for a table!

    (5)

  • Ben K.

    I love this place! Whenever friends are visiting over a weekend this cafe is often their request for brunch. I especially recommend it during the summer months. They have an absolutely beautiful outdoor courtyard area. The cafe itself is very unique. You can either sit at the breakfast bar counter and watch food being cooked, or dine in their dining room. The food here does take a bit of time to be prepared but I've never had anything I didn't like. Most recently I had the plaza pleaser with a side of chive hash browns and it was delicious. I once dined here with a friend who ordered a Bloody Mary and felt it was a bit weak. The staff was super friendly about it and promptly made her a new (and stronger) drink. Give it a try, you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    I hate to say it, but brunch here with a friend was a disappointment. At 11am on a Monday, the place was deserted, so service was good -- I arrived first and was immediately seated (by the radiator, even, which was appreciated on a very cold day!) and offered coffee. Food also came out very quickly. That's about where the happy train stopped, however. The coffee was not very good. The Kwik Trip coffee that I had on drive in from Oshkosh was far superior to this stuff. When the waitress said that they were out of chives, so the hash browns would be plain, I opted for the $0.50 upcharge for the fruit cup, which was exactly like every other sad, lame fruit cup I've ever had the misfortune to eat. My scrambled eggs were quite overcooked and covered in brown stuff from sticking to the bottom of the pan -- not at all how I like my eggs, and it's not like they could plead being busy! And finally, the biscuits were sad, flat, and lame by any standard, even Northern ones (and I am a Southern biscuit snob, so I should probably just quit ordering them, huh?). What got weird was when the server brought the check. It was in the typical little folio, and I put some cash in there. When she picked it up, I said I just needed change (sorry, not tipping $9 on a $31 check), and she brought the change back...not in the folio. Just cash and coin in her hands, no copy of the receipt for me to look at to decide the tip amount...it was kind of strange. I got the impression that she had expected that I didn't need change and was annoyed that I wanted it... Overall, it was thoroughly underwhelming. Maybe I've been spoiled by the boyfriend's fabulous coffee and eggs, but I would not return here, nor would I recommend it. The search for a decent breakfast continues...

    (2)

  • Rachel F.

    Went again after a few years' absence this weekend, and boy howdy, this place is still phenomenal. So phenomenal, in fact, that I'm adding that last, coveted star to their review. You heard it here (*not-so) first, Milwaukee! Café at the Plaza = five star brunch! *Many other fantastic MKE Yelpers whose opinions I trust have also given C at the P highest honors, including Christina L, Jim F, and Nancy R. The breakfast sandwich - with eggs, basil aioli, goat cheese, spinach, and tomato - is hearty and filling. I found myself super jealous of my dining companion's omelet, however, despite having no regrets about my own brunch pick. Roasted red pepper goat cheese chorizo omelet say WHAAAAT? The bloody was spicy (wasabi bloody = genius, especially w/ the chili-salt rim), and the other brunch drinks were equally as enticing. If one of the problems you're having at any given meal at any given restaurant at any given time is making a choice, then said restaurant is doing it right. Old school, yes. A little weird, nestled in the Plaza Hotel/apartments, yes. One of the best brunch spots in MKE? Yes. Diner counter 4 lyfe.

    (5)

  • Hethe H.

    5 stars for being great at what it is, a delightful little brunch place. This is my favorite place to go in this neighborhood. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect, and the food has been excellent every time. The bloodies are good without being pretentious. They usually have a special, and it's been great every time I've tried it. Otherwise, the smoked salmon Benedict is my go-to dish here. The staff is always very nice. It does tend to fill up on weekends, but it's easy enough to get a spot at the counter if you don't want to wait for a table. I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a table. They also have an adorable courtyard/patio.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Café At the Plaza

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