John Hawk’s Pub
100 E Wisconsin Ave,Ste 1, Milwaukee, WI, 53203
John Hawk’s Pub Menu
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Appetizers
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Soups
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Salads
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Comfort Food
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Desserts
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for John Hawk’s Pub
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Appetizers
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Soups
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Salads
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Comfort Food
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Desserts
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
100 E Wisconsin Ave,Ste 1
Milwaukee, WI, 53203 - Phone (414) 272-3199
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:30 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Amber L.
After arriving in Milwaukee and walking around for hours I finally decided this was the place for lunch. While I was drawn in by their soup specials I actually settled on a Turkey burger as I've been craving one for weeks. They do Turkey burgers right. Most places under season and over cook turkey burgers. Theirs was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Their steak fries had a nice crisp and good seasons. The wait staff was friendly and prompt. I'd definitely go back for a turkey burger
(4)Tim D.
I stopped in here before a wedding reception for a few quiet ones. The bartender was polite and the drinks were cheap. Nothing out of the ordinary, but what happened next was amazing. I left my card for the bride and groom at the bar by accident (with money it obviously). One of their waitstaff walked it over to the reception a few blocks away to return it. Not every day you see honesty and customer service like that, incredible. Well done and thank you.
(5)Brad K.
Got the fish and chips Service was with a smile. We were the only ones there on a Saturday at 12pm. The fish was cooked perfectly. A good Milwaukee fish fry. Still a good dependable place to go.
(4)Sandra Z.
I want this place to get their s*** together because I love eating on the river in the summer. After having the worst restaurant experience of my life here, I was happy to read that they are under new ownership. Clean slate. We came in for lunch to check things out. The first impression was a fairly strong smell of bleach. They had been open for over an hour, and they were mopping the floor with bleach, which is not the most appetizing start. Even though we were the ONLY 2 people in the place, we were largely ignored. Our server seemed to be "trying" to be friendly, but clearly had better things to do. He was also a little condescending when he scolded us for not presenting our Groupon at the very beginning (even though we explained that we called ahead to make sure they'd accept it). To top it off, he KEPT THE CHANGE without asking! The change equaled a greater than 30% tip! We had to find him and ask for it. Gah! Oh, and the food? Still just average. I certainly don't have any hopes of any of it getting any better.
(1)Vanessa F.
Been coming here regularly since the new ownership took over. Nothing but good times, great service and an excellent location.
(5)Linda B.
I only like to write positive reviews (and this is my first negative one) but this restaurant on the river in the tourist zone made me very sad, representing a traditional WI fish fry. We stopped in on a Friday night before a John Mellencamp concert recently. I have eaten here many times in my many years living in this city, so I was very sad to be served over-cooked fish in a really heavy batter (with very loud music.) My husband and I had to really make an effort to hear each other over the noise, but that isn't the main issue. The issue was the bad representation of what a good Milwaukee fish fry can be. His food was nothing to write about but I'm reviewing my food. The waiter was so busy he couldn't even give us eye contact. I've always loved John Hawkes, and I would like it to resume representing good Milw. food. I think they can afford to do better. There are so many good places to eat in our city that I don't really care for myself but please make it better for the tourists that don't know better.
(2)Stephen M.
Where to begin? As a disclaimer, I know much more than I should, so I'll stick to straight facts and let you decide. On Tuesday and Sunday nights, as well as most Saturday's, there's a capable chef in the kitchen after 6pm who is happy to "customize" your dish to make it palatable. I highly recommend this, should you stop in. Otherwise, food typically makes three stops: from Sysco truck to freezer, then the grill, flat or fryer, before reaching your plate. A menu that saw it's last addition being the advent of the potato skins back about 25 years ago... An owner that loudly chastises his serving staff in the middle of the dinner service... Staff that gets belligerently drunk at the bar and starts fights with paying guests... Absolutely nothing distinctively British about this place. Not even Mike Myers was this unconvincing... These are things which may make for a unique dining experience, but I found it to be uniquely distasteful and unnecessary to repeat. There are bright spots, to be sure: $5 mini pitchers of any tap; Monday (Monica) and Wednesday (Sandra) night bartenders are great, as is Kayla in the random weekends she works; a plethora of deep fried foods without pesky sticks. Go for cheap drinks after you were somewhere else, or cheap drinks before.
(1)Linda G.
Ugh! Went there on July 19 before a 7:00 p.m. show at the Riverside Theater. The service was beyond horrible. We ordered haystack onion rings as an appetizer, and I specifically asked the waitress to not bring any other food until we were done with the appetizer. Ten minutes later she came out with our soup. When I explained to her that an appetizer comes FIRST, she said she "always" brings out the soup first. We waited about another 20 minutes and then our entrees came out, still no haystack onion rings in sight. When I questioned her about this, she said they were out of onion rings and that the manager said we could each have a drink on the house. The 3 of us normally drink Diet Cokes, so I asked her to give us 5 minutes to think about what drinks to order. One of the gals at my table ordered a sandwich without guacamole, and yet it came with guacamole. She never came back to ask how our food was, or did we want refills on our Diet Cokes. She never came back till she slapped our bill on the table. When I asked her about the free drinks, she said "Oh, no one came to take your drink order?" Well, as SHE was our waitress, I'm not sure what phantom person was going to take our drink order other than our own waitress. Also, although she indicated there were no onion rings in the restaurant, imagine my amazement when I saw them being delivered to another table near us much later. We requested salt and pepper shakers as they do not normally keep them on the table. The waitress never brought them. There were 3 tables near us also having problems and complaining very loudly. One table of 6 people waited 45 minutes for their appetizer, which never came, and they stomped out. I asked a man who was delivering food to tables if I could speak with the manager (he actually was the manager) and he said he'd be right back. He never came back to talk to us. Ultimately, I overheard the manager telling our waitress to rip up the checks. She was crying by the time we left as so many people were angry. I will NOT eat here again. This is the 3rd time I've been there in the last year and the food is not good.
(1)Ryan R.
Terrible service. Clueless host (Scott) had many things better to do than than seat us. Told us to go to the bar, waited an hour, bartender only had enough energy to serve us one drink. No food. Offered no menus. Stay away.
(1)Robert M.
I had the Fish fry, it was decent, large cut fries, and homemade slaw which was the best part of the meal. Service was good and very friendly. If I was too return would try the sandwiches.
(3)Bruce K.
We walked past this place a couple of times before the weather was just right to sit outside and when the sun started shining and the temperature hit 70 degrees, we headed right here for dinner. Sitting outside in the sun, watching the people walking by on the Riverwalk (wa-hey!) and even a couple of boats going by. A nice little treat to see the Wisconsin Avenue bridge go up so that a tour boat could pop underneath. Cool! As for the meal, it was excellent. Not a whole lot of "healthy" choices, but there was certainly a nice looking Club Sandwich (hold the mayo and it's really only a few slices of bacon to clog my arteries) though someone else had a Reuben that looked awesome and deadly. Great choices for beer, bottled and draft. Service was okay. I like this place. For sitting on the river, I think its a better vibe than Rockbottom. So when it's another sunny evening around dinner time, I'll be back!
(4)Brad K.
I still don't know why this place gets bad reviews. There's nothing about John Hawks that's bad. Everytime I come here I have a great experience. Parking is a huge convenience when you park in the structure they validate your ticket for you. The ambiance / atmosphere is low lit and not loud which makes it a perfect setting for a one-on-one dinner. The food is great and the menu offers entrees you wouldn't normally see. The beer menu is solid. The service is always polite and swift. I'll come back to John Hawks, especially if they keep having Groupons, but either way I'd come here.
(5)Connie J.
I have always been a fan of John Hawks but a recent trip there this past week was not the best. Usually the service is speedy and food decent but we had neither this past weekend. My friend and I wanted to grab a bite before going to a play. It was during a Badger game and tons of people were there so we expected slower service. Several tables around us that were seated after us were served their food before we were. I had ordered the make your own combo with ribs and the steak. Neither were very good but it was a huge portion. My friend had the pasta with chicken and that was fairly good. I will return again because of the great location on the river and past good experiences but I hope they do better next time.
(3)Ann Marie S.
Chili has been revamped and it's fantastic. The chicken soup is amazing. The staff, as always, is incredible. Jason, Chris, Sonny (owner) are all incredibly welcoming, intelligent and informed. They're also fun to be around and make for a wonderful visit.
(5)Jimmy G.
Overall poor experience. Bland food that wasn't very warm. Outdated menu items. Average at best service. The restaurant was so cold we wore our jackets. I was just really disappointed. I bet this place was great in about 1990.
(2)Samantha H.
Great food! Even better beer! Beautiful view on the river! Friendly service! Overall, eating here was awesome! All-American bar food right in the heart of Milwaukee!
(4)Jason K.
I ate at john hawks for the first and last time. We ordered the "singnature" pulled chicken and the scotch egg both were f'n horrible the chicken was off and made me sick as a dog (I won't go into detail) also the service sucked!
(1)Colin A.
A fellow Yelper and I chose John Hawk's as a place to grab lunch and a few beers before heading to a recent college basketball game that shall remain nameless. We were the first ones in JHP on a Saturday morning, right at opening. We chose JHP because it's a bit removed of the craziness of the stretch of pubs/restaurants near the Bradley Center. As we entered, I wondered if the place was even open, as there were still cleaning staff doing some pretty major work by the side entrance. That alone didn't sour the experience -- it was the service. The folks working inside seemed peeved we had entered through the side door, and came across as annoyed -- "Excuse me, can we HELP you?" as we entered the establishment. My response: "Well we'd love some burgers and beers, could we please sit at the bar?" A dismissive hand-wave in the bar's general direction led (?) us to some comfy seats front and center at a nice HDTV. The bartender was then heavily engrossed with the hostess who "greeted" us. No worries, plenty of time to review the brews on tap. I'm also not the type of person who believes in telling wait staff right away "We're in a bit of a hurry." Please -- I know better. Good food and service takes time, and if I was in a hurry, then fast food would be the choice. But she turned and looked at us, rolled her eyes, and went right back to talking with the hostess. Here's the thing -- you can choose how you will respond to customers. If you don't care, if it's just a part-time job, or a way to make some extra cash, I get that you might not be excited to be at work on a Saturday morning. But we were the only people in the joint. And we CHOSE to visit JHP having never been, hearing the food was good, and wanting to see what it was about. Midway through the meal, I regretted ever going. OK, pause for one good thing: decent beer selection, fairly priced, too. I downed a Lakefront Fixed Gear (4 stars) while waiting for our appetizer (some sort of chicken taquito roll-up -- 1.5 stars - that wasn't on the menu). Unfortunately, the app just wasn't tasty. I've had better tasting frozen "taquitos." While my dining companion enjoyed his meal (the Hartman burger), my Patty Melt was so-so (3 stars). The rye bread was stellar, but it was soaked in butter/grease. The meat was cooked properly, but the cheese seemed rubbery. The "chips" were just that -- straight from a bag, and quite stale for a Saturday. I left 3/4 of those uneaten. I wish I could say the server/bartender (1.5 stars) made up for the service and lackluster food but she was just...rude...and again, seemed upset that folks were there so early. We asked for second drinks, but she didn't come back around for a bit; by that time we were ready to head out. Once she came back to settle up with the bill, I even asked if they were really open, thinking we had read something incorrectly and arrived before we were open. Nope, "11" was her response. I've seen quite recently there have been some major Groupon-pushing for JHP -- I assume that is to drum up publicity or to gain some other business they might not normally see. I don't think that would be enough for me to return. Just a poor experience from start to finish. There are so many other places in the 414 that actually WANT your business and that do a great job in EARNING the ability to separate you from hard-earned dough. John Hawk's could be worth another look with some better service -- but I won't be back to give it another go. Lots of luck to them, though. My hunger needs will be sated elsewhere.
(2)Jerry K.
John Hawkes has a GREAT location for summertime dining along the river. They could increase their rating by making their food a slightly higher quality. But it's a nice atmosphere for what they're going for (English pub). I would maybe try it out for lunch again before making it a supper time destination.
(3)Bill P.
I had another great evening at John Hawk's Pub in downtown Milwaukee on the patio along the River Walk. I bought Groupon coupons this past summer and came here 3 times in the evening for either steak or salmon. The food is good, although the 2 previous times the potatoes were cold or lukewarm; I had to ask for hot potatoes to be brought to my table. Tonight I told my server Mike from the very outset that the potatoes needed to be hot rather than just lukewarm, and he obliged very nicely. He is a very personable and attentive server who helped make it a very enjoyable experence for me in downtown Milwaukee on an autumnal-like summer evening .
(5)Brian H.
The atmosphere and decorations are great. The staff was extremely friendly, the beer was delicious, the food was decent but nothing to write home about. I'm sure that I will be a return customer at some point.
(4)El V.
Found a great Groupon for this pub and it was close to the Milwaukee Art Museum we were visiting. I wish I knew that they validated parking because finding a spot downtown was no fun. We arrived and seated ourselves since we mistakenly entered from the river side which is actually the back. Our server was very friendly and my wife and I chatted her up about things to do in Milwaukee. Very positive person who was new to the area. I ordered the Ward Prime Rib sandwiches (as seen on the Travel Channel) with potato salad. Man was this delicious! It came with au jois which I hardly used because the sandwich was juicy. The potato salad was awesome and complimented the meal very well. My wife's Pull Pork Sandwich on pretzel bread was even better. It came topped with delicious coleslaw and generous portions. She ordered the potato salad as well which was delicious. What a wonderful experience! We were thanked for our patronage and will definitely come back whenever in the area. The Groupon was the icing on the cake.
(5)Nancy R.
I have eaten lunch at John Hawks several times and always enjoyed it. There is riverside seating for lunch which is great. John Hawks sits on the river just north of Wisconsin Ave. Follow the stairs down to the riverwalk. It is difficult to see it if you aren't walking or don't know where it is. During construction on the Wisconsin Ave bridge you had to get to it through the Chase Bank building. I love their rueben sandwich. It comes with big chunks of homemade corned beef and is delicious!
(4)Joe M.
Stopped by for lunch today and had a good quick meal. Corn beef was hot and fresh. Good place for a quick bite.. visited in 2011
(3)Danielle I.
:) I have never ate here so i dont know any thing about the bar food but i have been here a few times now. Once with co workers after work for a nice afternoon drink, once on my own wasting time , and once with the guy before catching the boat tour. Each time has been good. Each time i have had a very nice and prompt bartender. I have no complains and its an excellent location someday i will try the food here. Until next time John Hawks.
(4)Sandy G.
Outside seating on the river, great sandwiches, and a funny happy waiter make for a great dining experience. Jason was awesome!
(5)Carmen W.
What a joke. Was in town with two coworkers and we decided to visit this place. There was no line, so we went in and waited to be seated. We waited for nearly 15 minutes before anyone ever even acknowledged we were there, even though the staff definitely saw us waiting. Our waiter was rude and flippant the entire time. When I got back to the hotel, I checked my account and realized that he overcharged my card even the though the receipt I received at the restaurant was for the correct amount. The food was mediocre. Will never be returning.
(1)Beth P.
Nothing really beats relaxing along the river on a summer day. The outdoor tables are a hot commodity, but offer a great view of the river. Their food was ok...pretty standard pub stuff. The service has been decent both times I have been here. I was surprised they had a nice mix of taps. They would probably get three stars if their beer selection wasn't as great.
(4)Liz Z.
How can a place in the heart of downtown, right on the river, adjacent to office buildings via skywalk, with free validated parking (AND shuffleboard AND skeeball) be empty at 5:30 on a weeknight? I can't be sure, but it seems like John Hawk's has mastered the formula. Stopped in with friends for dinner/drinks/shuffleboard after work, and apparently stepped into the Twilight Zone. The place was dead. Music from the bar could barely be heard in the adjacent and badly over-lit "game room"--it was so quiet, in fact, that I swear I could almost hear my burger moooing (ordered medium, served rare with a 1:1 ratio of peppercorns to beef). No happy hour specials outside of the bar. No separate checks. No sound on any of the game room TVs. I had to ask 4 times to get my parking validated, and (just nitpicking here, but...) my pickle spear was inexplicably left off of my plate. Our server was so awkward it wasn't even worth the interaction to bring it up. This place has all the makings of a great after-work spot, and perhaps at one time it was. It's clear now, though, that whoever is running the show has let it fall off completely. Bummer.
(2)Sarah W.
We had such a relaxing experience on a beautiful day sitting outside at John Hawk's Pub on their river walkway patio. A living social deal had inspired us to go, but we picked an absolutely perfect Saturday lunchtime to redeem our deal. Despite the sunlight and a great view on the river, there were only two other groups out to eat. Matt and I each ordered up two pints, which the waiter helped us to select. He was helpful and friendly, and I think he said he either used to work or also works for MKE brewing company, so he had the inside scoop on the beers offered. I ordered a cheesy BLT, and I was not disappointed. Cheddary bacon deliciousness on thick toasty bread.. Matt loved his order, as well, but I was so focused on my food that I forget what he actually got.. His review: TBA. ;-) Overall, we had a surprisingly lovely time in a charming patio location on the river. We will definitely be back, and if its near empty outside like last time, that's fine my me- We'll take the place to ourselves!
(4)Joe B.
Food was pretty darn good, service was not. Waiter had trouble keeping our orders straight, was very curt, and wan't very polite when explaining that they don't split checks (we had no idea). On the way out we saw they were advertising MKE beers for $3, but we were charged $5-$6.50. Might try it again someday, but I'm wary.
(3)Jen M.
A lot of my enthusiasm for this place has to do with location and decor. I love that its in the basement of a big building, with free parking in the garage next door (you have to have your wait staff give you a validated ticket) and alongside the Milwaukee River. Its wonderful to be seated alongside the windows on the river - great night time views of downtown MKE. And there is a red British phone box just outside. I'm going to come back in warm weather for a photo shoot of me with that! I also love the decor - stained glass windows, booths with high walls and a fireplace - very cozy. The last two times we went, the hostess greated us with fun friendly banter. The reuben rolls as an appetizer are simply to die for. And so is the English Curry, which also makes awesome leftovers. I only knocked off one star because my entire party of four found the fish fry pretty underwhelming. It was as if there was no seasoning in the batter whatsoever. Quite bland. The fish tasted pretty fresh though. I won't get that again, but will come back for sure for the curry, reuben rolls, coziness and the view. Oh, and then there's the beer selection, which was super fun.
(4)Scott M.
Stopped in here for a quick bite before seeing Steely Dan at the fabulous Riverside Theatre across the river. I had eaten previously, but my pal was famished. he had a Burger, and I had some Corned Beef Rolls. The burger looked really good, and my pal confirmed it was great. The Corned Beef appetizer rolls were really fine, too. Service was attentive. Looked around at what other folks were having, and it all looked great. I had only been in here before to use the Loo before the big drive back to Chicago after concerts at the Riv. Next time I'll plan for a full dinner before the Concert.... 3 stars!
(3)Joanna T.
The new owners have been in awhile and "remodeled" the interior and menu. The booths have been reupholstered with vinyl (a definite upgrade from the old grungy fabric) and they added dividers between booths to give a sense of privacy. Unfortunately, the dividers have a lot of molding and are finished in an espresso brown which shows dust easily. And they were dusty....very much so. Food? Well, the menus themselves have changed....as in they printed new ones. The options are pretty similar, and the food appears to be the same "out of a Sysco can" variety. My veggie burger was exactly the same as in visits past. Same waitstaff too (for better or worse). In conclusion, most of what the new owners have done so far is basically cosmetic. Same crap food, same staff and basically the same interior. It kind if felt like an episode of "Restaurant Impossible" where Robert Irvine threw up his hands halfway in and said "the hell with it".
(2)Emily J.
I have nothing but love for John Hawks. I have been there numerous times over the last few years and have never been disappointed. The food is always delicious and filling and have never found it too loud or crowded. I love sitting outside along the river when it's nice outside. I frequently find myself craving a Wards Prime Rib sandwich with the aus jus. Definitely a place that will keep my business.
(5)Sadie T.
I have been here a couple times, most recently used the groupon. The server was an older lady who looked like a real diner character, in a cute down-home kind of way. She was nice and attentive. I actually kind of respect John Hawks for not discriminating and only hiring young pretty girls like a lot of places I have been to. I had a grilled cheese and my coworker had a salad. Both were okay. The fries were great, really crispy. Prices are low. The $30 groupon was way too much money to spend. I think we hit $19. Our server told us our amount and suggested we take desserts to go. Appreciated her suggestion. In sum, John Hawks is a relatively cute pub that does have a cozy atmosphere and is really cheap. It is probably not a place to take a first date. But a cool place to catch the game (with or without friends)? Check. Cheap and decent fare? Check.
(3)Regina V.
There were some pretty scary reviews here, but I'm glad we went anyway. We sat out on the riverwalk on a beautiful summer night, and the waitstaff was very pleasant and the food was quite good. Had a Portabella Mushroom sandwich, which was tasty and worth the money, despite it being on toasted white bread. Couple of friends and I got a bottle of Chardonnay for 24 dollars. Great scenery and good prices, coupled with what was perfectly fine service. You can get your parking validated and park free in their garage.
(4)Angie O.
I recently visited John Hawks to use the $30 groupon. I had been here once before, years ago. I was pleased that it retained it's cozy atmosphere and seemed very clean. I went on a Friday night, and it was not busy at all. The quite atmosphere was a nice wind down to a hetci work week. We ordered the Curry Chips for an appitizer - they were delicious! Wish the container of the curried ketchup was 3 times the size though. For dinner I had the pulled chicken sandwhich. I definitley recommend this if you are a fan of bbq chicken. The sandwich was HUGE, I could only eat about half of it. For my side I chose rice pilaf, which was also a generous portion and probably the best rice pilaf I have ever had in a resturant (I'm pretty picky when it comes to that side!). My boyfriend ordered the Ward's Prime Rib sandwich - also delicious and a good choice. Again, the sandwhich was HUGE. He had potato salad as a side, and it was also incredible. Our waitress was very attentive and kind. I was disppointed they did not have mead or any other UK speciality non-beer drinks. They did offer a wide variety of import beers, but I felt the prices were pretty high. Espeically since I was there around 6.30/7pm and felt there should be some better happy hour specials. Overall, I was very happy with the delicious food, and the large portions as I am a big fan of left overs - especially when they are good left overs! I think my Pulled Chicken Sandwich may have been even better the next day after it marinated in the sauce over night :) I feel some of the Yelp reivews do not do this place justics; I had a fun yet relaxing dinner and the food was amazing! I would probably visit John Hawks more often if they offered unique beverages and also a larger menu with more traditional UK (or even European) foods.
(4)Frank D.
Such a shame. So much potential ruined by a poorly run staff. Seriously, do you really think you should treat your customers like they should be serving you? As other reviewers have noted, this place was empty on a Saturday night. No mystery as to why. Seriously, you change the channel on the TV at the bar and tell your customers who are having a meal and drinks to move to another table if they want to continue watching... while they are in the middle of their meal? When the place is empty otherwise? Like I wrote earlier, what a shame for a place with such history and potential. I had no issues with the food, so there's still hope for this place.
(1)Kari G.
The spouse and I had a Groupon to get rid of, so we decided to head down here after work. Since the bridge on Wisconsin Ave. is under construction, we decided to walk the river walk and take in the cold brisk night. We looped around and used the river walk entrance. We were immediately seated in the area where the fire place is located and given menus. We ordered our usual drink of Arnold Palmer's and selected the potato skins as the appetizer. The skins were delicious and came with plenty of sour cream. For our main dishes, I ordered the Fish and Chips and my husband ordered the Perch dinner. I was slightly disappointed because normally with the Fish and Chips dinner, the fish is fried to a golden brown color. My fish was dark, and over cooked. I did however appreciate the chips. The perch dinner looked and tasted the way I wanted my dinner. The perch was a nice golden brown and delicious. I was jealous of my husband's plate. The reason we decided to give 4 stars is the fact that service was outstanding, we never had to search for staff and the refills on our drinks were brought to us without asking. This more than compensated for the dark color of my fish. John Hawks is a cool place to go on the river year round to people watch, or go for a nice walk to walk off the meal! Let's hope the bridge is finished soon!
(4)Mike X.
I've had good luck on my visits to the Pub. My most recent visit was on a cold Saturday afternoon and we were pleasantly surprised with $5 Bloody Mary's (a good sold Bloody, no complaints) and $4 mimosas. Since it is winter, we ate at the Bar (good vibe sitting there). Once summer rolls around, I can't wait to sit outside on the river walk! I wanted to order the Curry chips (which are delicious with the Curried Ketchup) but tried to be healthy so since it was a cold day, I ordered the Chicken & Dumpling soup (very good) and then we had a couple of sandwiches (Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken). Both were huge (even by my standards)! Both Sandwiches had the Guinness BBQ sauce and Swiss cheese on them (the Pulled Pork also had Cole Slaw on it) Both were good but I think they were too big! I know it's crazy to say too much meat but when you try to eat and most of the meat comes squirting out, you get a mess! Also, you can't taste the toppings Don't get me wrong, the food was great but I want to enjoy all of the flavors. I've had other sandwiches there before (Ward's prime rib and Veggie Burgers) and really enjoyed them. Overall, I've been Enjoyed all of my visits and this is a nice place to eat when you are downtown! Hint: Since I had been here before and after shows at the Riverside, the Pub fills up before and right after so if you want a meal before or after a show, get here early to get a good seat!
(4)Gail S.
The last time I went to Hawk's, it was last year on Dec. 28. I said I seriously doubted that I'd go back. Because of today's rainy weather and the fact that it's been almost 9 months since I've been here, I thought I'd give it another try. The next time I even THINK I want to go back, I'm giving my husband permission to slap me upside the head! I went to the carry out window to order the buffalo chicken sandwich. It was nothing but a HUGE disappointment, and the worst part is that it cost me almost $10. A chicken sandwich is not a complex thing to make. I'm assuming that the kitchen staff is not going out to the Back 40 to slaughter and de-feather the chickens, so I ask: Why did I have to wait almost 20 minutes, especially when the kitchen staff wasn't that busy? The menu describes the buffalo chicken sandwich as having "blue cheese crumbles". Please note the word "crumbles". When I got back to my office (I work directly across the street from the 100 East Building so it's a 3 minute walk, tops), imagine my surprise/shock/disgust when I look at the sandwich and discover that the "crumbles" have now melted into a blue-green pool of grease that basically covered the entire chicken breast and the majority of the bottom half of the roll. The crumbles should have been served on the side; otherwise, change the description from "crumbles" to "melted". That's a BIG difference. The chicken breast itself was cooked properly; however, it was very small and certainly not worth a $10 charge. Also, due to the pool of blue-green "crumble" grease that was on the chicken, I could hardly taste the "buffalo" flavor. The potato salad that I chose as my side - I guess the prep cooks in the kitchen don't have that utensil that's known as a KNIFE because the potatoes were not sliced or quartered as they should have been. I had more potato salad (8 oz.) than I did chicken breast (4 oz.). I thought a "side" should be SMALLER than the entrée! Giving one star is far too generous. Hawks has gone downhill so quickly it amazes me. Oh - one more thing - the gal who works at the carryout window (she wears glasses, is rather chubby and has a tat on her right arm). Someone needs to tell her that personal calls are just that - personal! We all don't need to hear about her kids while she's on the phone and there are customers at the window wanting to order something. Anyway, I'm now done with this so called "restaurant". I would have been better off going to a vending machine and getting a bag of chips - far cheaper and at least I know what I'm getting!
(1)Erin M.
This place was pretty terrible, service-wise, but the food was alright. I didn't have high hopes based on some of the reviews here, and I'm sad to say those were upheld. We had a Groupon to use before it expired at the end of May, so we decided to stay a night in Milwaukee over Memorial Day weekend. We visited John Hawks at around 6pm on Saturday evening-- thanks to the other reviewers who pointed out the location on the Riverwalk, otherwise we'd have missed it! As we walked down to the entrance, we noticed half of the restaurant appeared to be hosting a private event. We stepped into the restaurant and were greeted with a "Please see hostess to be seated sign" and a makeshift wall to the right, where the private party was. We stepped rleft, along the bar, and looked for someone to help us. Despite an abundance of waitstaff, it took around 3-4 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us. The restaurant was not full, but there were a few tables with "reserved" signs on them. The first server who approached us asked if we were there for dinner, which we confirmed. She exasperatedly told us to hold on, and returned about 2 minutes later with another woman. The woman again asked if we would like dinner, and we again confirmed. She huffed away and returned quickly, stating "There are no tables, you can sit at the bar." We declined and said we were fine to wait, which we were, considering we had no other plans that evening. Our response seemed to annoy her-- she said "Well, it's going to be awhile, are you sure you don't want to just sit at the bar?" We, again, politely declined and said a wait was no big deal (especially considering there were 3 tables of 2 who were finishing their meals). She paused for a moment, then responded "I think you should sit at the bar, ok?" At this point, my husband and I both got a little annoyed-- we looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and, at the same time, said "I guess we'll come back later?" We left, won some money at Potawatomi, and returned around 9:30pm to an absolute ghost town. There were 2 people at the bar and a few lingerers at the private party. This time, we were seated pretty quickly. Our server handed us menus and asked us for our drink order-- she seemed rushed, but we were hungry, so we went along with it. She was friendly, and even changed one of the 358 TVs surrounding us to the Blackhawks game so we could enjoy during our meal. The Groupon allowed us 2 draft beers and 2 sandwiches. I had a Cider and my husband had an IPA. We shared the Reuben and Prime Rib sandwich. The food was alright-- temperature wise, it was perfect and steaming. The prime rib lacked flavor, though some heavy dips in the salty au jus helped. The reuben was the real star-- hand cut, juicy corned beed, melted cheese and the perfect amount of sauerkraut. Both sandwiches came with potato wedge-ish fries, which were alright. Throughout our meal, my husband and I noticed an ABUNDANCE of waitstaff. We counted at one point, just for fun, and I think we came up with 8 different servers. This seemed odd for 9:30pm at night when there were maybe 10 customers in the place... which was also odd-- why aren't there more people here on the Saturday night of a 3 day weekend? Maybe they, too, were told to sit at the bar and never returned. Speaking of the bar, we witnessed the bartender pour himself 2 shots while talking to guests. Hmmm. John Hawks needs to take a look at it's staffing and customer service. The food is good, and the location is GREAT. Fix up the folks and I think there will be a big upswing in the future!
(2)Sarah P.
My Yelp buddies don't like Hawk's, sad face :( My co-worker had a Groupon for 30 bux so you better believe we took a long lunch from work! :D I ordered the Reuben and it was friggin' fantastic! Both my friends had the patty melts and were raving about how good they were. I loved our seating and the atmosphere. It was still decorated with a holiday feel to it and we sat right by the fireplace with a great view of the river. I alllllllmost give Hawk's 3 stars, and it would have that if my Reuben wasn't so delicious. The reason being the waitstaff. Our waitress forgot to give us silverware (no big deal), didn't refill our drinks (annoying), forgot to bring my thousand island dressing for my Ruby until I was done with an entire half of my sandwich (Ok, now I'm super annoyed cuz that dressing is what makes it a REUBEN!), Tacked on 18% gratuity without telling us (that sparked a conversation), and then, upon splitting the bill three ways - charged my one friend the entire amount on her credit card, and charged myself and my other friend two halves of the same amount (MESSY). And yet, even with all that, that Reuben was friggin' GOOD!!!!
(4)Thomas D.
Very good friendly service, warm cozy atmosphere on a rainy night, convenient free parking and good food, although the fish and chips was served without malt vinegar. Extremely nice riverfront outdoor patio. Nice place to take out-of-town guests
(4)Cathy Lee B.
If a busy Friday night is an excuse for the nice, but achingly slow service and mediocre food we got here, it's still no excuse! Won't be back...
(2)Trish L.
I am a really easy girl to please. Give me a nice plate of food in a reasonable amount of time and I will tip you well and even provide pleasant banter! But this experience at John Hawks Pub was unbelievably bad (I mean, to the point where I said to my husband, "Did she REALLY just say that to me?") I won't go into what happened but let me say that the manager should be fired. She was so incredibly rude to me that the waiter helping us, the OTHER waitress and the hostess all said she was wrong to treat me that way and apologized to me for her! What kind of place had that type of person as their manager? Bottom line: go there but even if your waiter makes a mistake and even says he made a mistake, be prepared to be berated and take the blame and be made to feel like they don't want you there. This woman was downright frightening. I sincerely hope she loses her job...and I have NEVER felt that way about anyone in the service industry before. I am a chill lady!
(1)K- K.
A friend and I went here with his Groupon, hungry and ready for great beer. Our server was very sweet, friendly and attentive and we were served very quickly. The beer selection was fantastic and the cheese curds, though overpriced, were delicious. I ordered the bacon doublecheeseburger, he ordered the au-poive burger. After a normal waiting time, our dishes arrived. Mine was everything the menu said it would be and cooked medium well as I had requested - I loved it. But my friend bit into his supposedly-also-medium-well burger and not only was it uncooked, it wasn't even warm. The outside was brown but all of the inside was raw red, not even rare. He sent it back for a replacement. The replacement was exactly the same! Still undercooked and raw inside, this time warm to the touch. That one was sent back as well - our server checked on us after each delivery to our table and understood our frustration. Finally, the THIRD burger was actually cooked all the way. Upon lifting the bun, we could see where the cook had cut into the pattie to check that it was cooked through. At this point, my friend wasn't even hungry anymore. Very disappointing and disgusting.
(2)Ari S.
This place has a decent selection with only four taps. A little over priced at times. The food was great but recently went down hill. I heard it went under new management recently so that may be the reason for the changes. However they still have yummy appetizers and nice bartenders. There is ample parking because they validate your ticket, and there bathrooms are very clean. They also have great deals on small pitchers!
(3)Becky F.
My husband and I REALLY like this place. We're big Grouponers, and this is the only new restaurant we've tried for which we've bought a Groupon that we've decided to visit again, Groupon-less the second time around. John Hawk's just offers really delicious bar food, sandwiches and apps at an affordable price with a cozy atmosphere. Drinks are nicely priced. The riverwalk seating is nice in summer. The only real problem is the parking. However, last time I went I found out that they give you free parking validation for the ramp right next door that is connected to Gold's Gym. Just ask your server.
(4)Steve M.
Went there for lunch on a Sunday. I had heard the beer menu was good and that the food backed it up. Beer menu lived up to expectations as did the food. The service was a different story. We walked in from the river walk. Seemed awkward to walk through the tables with no host stand by an entrance. Went inside to find a host but couldn't . Settled for a waiter who told us to sit anywhere. We went out to sit next to the Milwaukee River (which looked disgusting) and watch the boats. A server came by and dropped off some waters. She disappeared. Next person came by to top our waters and promised to send the original lady back. Instead a couple minutes later another guy showed up. He asked if we had a chance to order drinks. We placed our drinks order with him. Things seemed ok. Then a third waiter came by to take our food order. This seemed extremely strange to us but we placed our order with him- 2 prime rib sandwiches. The waiter who took our drink order came back with the beers. He began to take our food order until we explained a different guy had come by. He apologized and said he would double check it. 10 minutes later one of our waiters comes back and tells us the food order wasn't entered. The guy somehow got 2 prime rib sandwiches incorrect. As we finished our drinks, the original girl came by and asked if we wanted another beer. She had no clue what we had but kept blurting out wrong orders. We placed a drink order with her and she disappeared never to be seen. What appeared to be our real waiter stopped back with two of the beers we originally ordered, though our second order was different. He apologized again and said he would take care of us. He did. Gave us a couple of free beers and dessert. Though the service seemed really screwy and off, the guy who tried to take care of us did a good job. Take that in with the food and I would go back. I would just stay inside this time.
(3)Holmes R.
Actually, I recently started going here again. I mainly stopped because parking is always such a problem downtown. However, on my first return visit, it was summer, not very busy and we were seated on the patio. We had the prime rib sandwich which was featured on the Travel Channel and it was delicious. Since, I've had the corned beef sandwich which is a tie as far as my favorites. Typically, the times I had gone, they were never busy, service was always quick and friendly. Then came last week Saturday night, when we wanted to use a Groupon I had purchased. Again, we ordered our typical prime rib sandwiches but the service was incredibly slow. In all fairness, they were the busiest I've ever seen them but I think restaurants should prepare for that especially if they're going to put a promo out. When we received our sandwiches, they were cold and hardly had any meat, but was very fatty. In fact, one half of my sandwich was a pure lump of fat, no actual meat--it was a HUGE lump of fat, but a lump of fat, nonetheless; very deceptive and I'm glad I noticed that before I ate it so without meat or the lump of fat, it pretty much left me eating a grilled cheese with onions. My companion's sandwich had no meat or even the fat on one half and he in turn, informed the waitress who took the plate to the kitchen only to return seconds later stating the cook said he put meat on it. I"m sure that sandwich probably got the 'special' treatment. Needless to say, I won't be returning any time soon unless it's a Monday night at 8pm. John Hawk's does have good food most times, but they tend to perform the best when they have 2 or 3 customers in there.
(2)Jeffery M.
Our friend Bill in Chicago called Wednesday to tell us he would be attending the American Stamp Show at the Wisconsin Center on Friday. That was good news since we hadn't seen him in more than a year. The bad news was that he didn't know what time he would be finished, so getting together for dinner we didn't know when to pick him up until he called. John Hawks had to be the place to give him a real Milwaukee "feeling." It was a beautiful day and hopefully we would be able to get a table on the Riverwalk Patio. Finally at about 6 p.m., we were on our way for what we hoped would be a very enjoyable reunion. Arriving at 6:15 p.m., sadly we discovered a 30 minute wait for outdoor seating. So instead we opted for a nice table by the door still with a view of the Milwaukee River. Rachel was our server and being Friday, the place was nearly full, especially with a large private party inhouse. She took her time describing the offerings and told us she would be coming by during the evening to see if we needed anything. Bill and my wife ordered the Fish & Chips, he the three piece Icelandic Cod ($12.99) and she the two piece ($9.99) complete with side. I being a meat lover selected the Ward's Prime Rib ($10.49) dip sandwich complete with a large helping of very tasty seasoned fries. Bill, a "fish lover" said it was among the best Cod he had tasted and was glad his stomach had over-ruled his thinking for a two piece order. My wife agreed on the quality, taste and size of her order. As for me, I enjoyed my meal to the last potato. Despite being very busy, Rachel cemented a beautiful dining experience by stopping by four times as if she were checking up on relatives. We were all impressed by the attention we received. Now when I call to make a reservation, I will also ask for Rachel if possible. There's nothing like being treated as VIP's!
(4)Eric M.
I think they had to add "on the river" because that is the best thing about this place... it is on the river. The only thing worse than this place would be living in a van down by the river, but I digress. I went there once with my step-dad who absolutely loves this place for what reason I don't know why, and we weren't served at all. We just left after about 20-30 minutes of sitting there. Major malfunction. Overall, the food is mediocre and the decor is not the best. This is a good place to grab a beer before a show at the Riverside, but that's about it. I know I'm gonna regret this, but John Hawks is where I park for downtown events like Riverside shows. You get a beer and you get your parking validated. This is actually a deal, and on the cheap.
(2)dan b.
We ate here before a show at the Riverside. Most tables were full and it was busy. My friends had burgers and they enjoyed them. I had the Sheaperds Pie. It was a nice sized portion with good flavor. Presentation was nice. Serice was fast considering how busy they were. Atmosphere was excellent. The building has a parking garage and you can get your parking receipt validated in the restaurant for free parking which makes it even better. Small game room with darts in the back. Large Tv showing soccer and rugby.
(4)Noah C.
Upon leaving John Hawk's, I turned to my wife and assessed our meal thusly: "That was the worst meal I've ever had." It's not that the food is inedible. It's just that, as an experience...wow. Bad, bad, bad. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich, since that seemed the most "can't fuck this up"-able, and my wife got the veggie sandwich. Our server was a strange, twitchy man who flinched every few seconds when we asked him about things. So yes. The food comes, and whatever it was that was plopped down in front of me, it sure as hell was not a buffalo chicken sandwich. Oh, sure, there was chicken on it. And it was between a bun. But the sauce...it was vaguely buffalo-ish, but was so fucking salty that I thought I was licking Snooki's underarm (not that I'd really know). I actually grimaced after tasting the sauce. But the worst thing about this salty, nasty sauce was that it literally covered every last square inch of the plate. My plate was a swampland of sodium laden excrement. The bottom of the bun was soaked in this, and when I tried to pick up the sandwich, the sauce squirted everywhere. What made this even worse was the fact that we were sitting outside, and the patio furniture that they use has holes everywhere, so a river of crap flowed to and fro - on the ground, on my pants, everywhere. My wife's veggie sandwich wasn't nearly as catastrophic, but the main reason she ordered it was because it had guacamole on it. But when the sandwich came - no guac. She went inside to ask our twitchy server, who told her that the cook had decided not to put the guac on because that would mean he'd have to make a fresh batch of it. Perplexed, my wife pointed out that the menu clearly stated that there should be guac on the sandwich. When Twitch McGee returned with the guac, he acted like it was the biggest deal of all time that the cook had decided to grace us with some guacamole (and effort, I guess). At any rate, this was horrible, and I can't recommend anyone, ever, eating here.
(1)Scott S.
Best bottled beer I have had in a long time
(4)Kathy G.
The view from this pub is awesome. But the layout of the inside is a little bizarre. I understand capitalizing on the view so there are lots of windows but there are so many pillars in this place you can't see the windows. The service is slow but the bar is good. The bartenders are great and the beer offerings are better than average. They have Boddington! The food is ok. I like the salads and sandwiches but the stuff that is deep fried is not so good. The ingredients are quality but the offerings pretty average.
(3)Cate K.
Terrible. Just terrible. Had great seats out by the river and everything went down from there. Got the cheese curds and there were probably 10 of them... Smallest amount and it took 30 minutes for them to get to our table. Then when our food took another 45 minutes our waitress brought the wrong things and was totally uncouth. She was swearing and not professional and then when she brought the wrong items she didn't apologize and still made us pay for it! The French onion soup was just awful, not hot and the cheese could be found on delivery pizza. Overall just not good.
(1)Lisa A.
Yea no, I too am a lil baffled by the extreme hatred towards this place! Granted, it does serve sort of standard pub bar fare in the middle of downtown. (But, hey, it is downtown Milwaukee, not Manhattan...anyhow..) I have a lot of memories of starting nights off here with a group of gal pals I hung around with n my 20s. Food was always ok, inside was interesting looking, and true, the staircase descent made u feel like u were going some place clandestine. I returned (with groupon) to check it and the river patio out yrs later. I have to say, overall food was just fine. Not 'foodie-ish' and not unfortunately really kidney pie / yorkshire pudding but good sandwiches, apps. We shared potato skins which were very good, cooked just fine. My friend had a steak sandwich with fries and sum poppy seed dressing, which he said was all very good. I had a jumbo shrimp salad which I guess I wouldnt order again. A lil small and shrimp had a.preservative taste. But overall just fine. It took a minute for us to get noticed (if u come on from the riverwalk instead of going thru building, there didn't seem to be a formal hostess booth to seat u. ) once we did , service was very good. So yea, not thee most creative menu but overall very good for your basics. Beautiful view of the river. (Side note: I wish I could give 1/2 stars. I feel like id like to give 3.5 stars but can't :(
(3)Bob Z.
We had reservations for six and got here about 5:45. The waiter took our drink order when we sat down and a few minutes later he came back with the drinks and took our food order. He brought my wife's appitzer out in about 10 minutes and finally brought mine out after another 15 minute wait. We told him when we sat down we were going to see Tony Bennett at eight and he said no problem. Well, needless to say it all went downhill in a hurry.We asked several times where our meal was and finally about 7:10 he said he forgot to put our order in. I said forget everything we have to go. As we finished our drinks and were walking out, he came out with our food and said they found the order. So we sat back down and my wife's food was ok, but my carrots and potatoes were cold and the steak was lukewarm. We told him and he said it would be awhile to re-heat it. I ate the steak, but left everything else. When we got the check he did take the drinks off. The last time we were there it was a long wait, but we figured we would give them another try. In my book it is two strikes your out so needless to say we will not return and tell everyone we know about our dinner at John Hawk's Pub.
(1)Nicole J.
Decided to give them another try. Under new management. Much better service and food then my previous visit. Had the pulled pork sandwich and seasoned fried. Very good.
(4)David W.
We stop by often before attending shows nearby. The place has changed hands recently and there is definitely a difference. Not all of it good. They have a fantastic beer selection now, but many are way over priced ($6 and up for a bottle). The food seems to have taken a turn downward with it not quite living up to the previous standards for flavor and freshness. The staff is a lot nicer though. We'll still go on occasion, but I am looking at other options when downtown.
(3)Colin U.
I am confused as to why this place has such bad reviews! I really enjoy this place actually. I don't know what it is about this place but it makes me feel like a Mob Boss going down stairs to do business. It has a very old style pub feel to it with a few modern amenities. The drinks are usually reasonably priced and they can have some great deals on beer but yes there is a limited amount of beer on tap as Ari S. stated with only 4. Bottled beer selection? Actually quite extensive they have a few more imported beers than normal places which is a nice plus. The thing I most like about this place is that it is generally pretty relaxing, quite, and kinda classy. The food is pretty good but can be a little... poorly made. The bartenders and staff are pretty good but there is always that one person ya know? The final thing I want to discuss about this place is that it is on the river! I love the fact that this place is right on the river. Where it is positioned makes it really nice to sit on the back patio area and sip on your beer or drink of choice. There are so many lights and it is just gorgeous. They even have a London style phone booth out back! Which is pretty nifty because I love all thinks British haha. Now all they need is a Mind The Gap sign! haha
(4)Classy W.
So yes, this place changed ownership, and the place got WORSE. All of the degenerate old and used servers work here and the bartenders are NO better. Want your server smelling like cigarette smoke? Check it out! Want your bartender smelling like pot? Go for it! Not to mention the stories I've heard about the owner; steals cooks from past business partners?! Keeps the same old crappy servers because they have nothing better to do after their shifts but to spend all the money they made that night buying his liquor and beer? WOW. Nothing about this place is acceptable and I would NEVER support a business owner like this; disgusting.
(1)Mike M.
Reuben sammich & apps all good. Server seemed over stretched but was friendly and pretty responsive. Good beer menu
(4)Michelle S.
John Hawk's Pub is near where we live, but the questionable reviews on here made us hesitant. However, we had a groupon and decided to try it (from the reviews, it seems like they get a lot of their business through groupons...). We really enjoyed it and will be back even without a groupon. It might be a matter of what you order. At first, I ordered the pot pie and the server said "Don't get that, it's not good. It's really dry". I love it when servers give me an honest opinion about what's good and not good on the menu! So, I asked for his suggestions and checked my yelp app and decided on the pulled chicken sandwich and rice pilaf (and my hubby copied me). It was really good! Usually when I order rice pilaf in restaurants, the rice is hard, but my rice was cooked perfectly! My leftovers were great for lunch, too. I also liked how we could get here by mostly using skywalks. :) I'm looking forward to eating on the riverwalk in the summertime.
(4)Terry O.
"Jane, Jane --- What a surprise, girl. I haven't seen you since you and Phil moved to New York... how ARE you?" "I'm great. And we are moving back to Milwaukee, Susan. So happy" "We need to have you and Phil over for dinner -- soon as you can fit it in." "That is SO kind of you, Susan, but I don't know. Phil and your husband had such an argument last time, and I KNOW it's not just us but also some of our friends who just are so frustrated with him. Maybe you and I should just go out to a LONNNGGG lunch; it might even turn into dinner before we go home." "Well, Jane, I have news. We divorced, and I remarried. Tom is a wonderful guy and everyone gets along great with him." "Susan, what a relief. Then of COURSE we want to meet him. Promise me he's not anything like Ray!" "Oh, Jane ... (laughs) you don't think I'd get bitten by the same dog twice, do you? ============ And the point is, when you read the reviews of John Hawks, keep in mind that it changed hands in late 2011. I wouldn't pay any serious attention to the ratings unless they are from at least 2 or 3 months into 2012. I was a business owner before I retired and it takes a little time to turn things around.
(5)M L.
What kind of fuckery is this? The veggie burger was...meh...and the drinks were okay, but the one time my friend and I decided to eat out on the deck, it was one of the nastiest experiences I could ever hope to NOT have. I ordered said veggie burger with a side of potato salad and, during the entire meal, a big-ass SPIDER was doing acrobatics from the umbrella, practically landing in my food. Of course, when I went to kill the thing, it skittered out of sight. We were left alone for about five minutes before the damned thing returned. My meal was ruined. I don't know if it's necessarily John Hawk's fault, but I've developed a distaste for the food ever since. Plus, it's overpriced for what it is.
(1)S M.
This place was a real disappointment. At first glance, John Hawk's looks excellent. After browsing the menu and seeing how reasonably the food was priced, I decided to grab a table situated right alongside the beautiful view on Water Street. The waiter was extremely polite, and the atmosphere is excellent outside on a summer day. It's unfortunate, because the quality of the food here is completely unacceptable. I started out with some very mediocre potato skins, which were slightly burnt and were clearly made with cheap processed cheese. I expect better cheese quality in a place like Wisconsin. The main course was no better. I received one of the worst bacon cheeseburgers I've ever had. The bacon was so dry that it cut my throat on the way down, and the meat had a kind of processed quality that McDonald's would be ashamed to serve. I looked at a cross-section of my burger about halfway through and was just disgusted. My girlfriend, meanwhile, got an overpriced salad that tasted like it had been sitting in a refrigerator for days. It reminded me of the stuff they used to serve in my high school cafeteria. Everyone else sitting around me was loudly complaining about the quality of the food as well, and the menu even made it clear that the restaurant was committed to "high-quality" food suppliers like Hormel. John Hawk's gets an extra star of mine for the location and atmosphere, which would probably make this a great place to get a beer. But the food is unbelievably bad. Don't even try it. It's the first place on Water Street off of Wisconsin Avenue, and puts itself in a position to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. I fell for it, and I hope anyone else heading to town doesn't make my same mistake.
(2)Lisa M.
The food is sooooo greasy!!! I mean its one thing to eat a fast food burger and tolerate the grease. But when your paying almost $10 for a freaking hamburger I don't want it swimming around in a pool of grease on my plate. I serioulsy have had more enjoyable meals from Burger King. The service is AWFUL!!!! Trying to get a refill on your soda or to get another beer is like trying to get thru rush hour traffic on the freeway. And I was sitting at the bar dammit!!!!!!!!! When the bartender was there, she was talking on the phone or texting and when she wasn't doing either of those she was no where to be found! We waited about 15min for her to reappear before finally getting up and asking someone else to find our bill. It's not like that place was busy either, it was freakin 1:30pm on a wednesday! The first time I went there not impressed, but I'm a sucker for second chances. So I had hopes which were crushed seeing that the second time around was worse than the first! Do yourself and your wallet a favor and try someplace else.
(1)Justin F.
On Gallery Night, I strolled from the Third Ward down the river walk. On my venture, I discovered John Hawk's. Went in for a few more cocktails and found some good people to talk to. Nothing but thumbs up from this guy. Then again, I was in thumbs up kind of mood.
(3)Steffi S.
I am sad about all the bad reviews. Had great clam chowder, the best fried eggplant EVER and a really good tuna steak sandwich. The service was friendly. The ginger ale was refreshing...can't remember the last time I drank one of those.
(4)E C.
The atmosphere, the waiter, and the food was all good! I don't know what all of this negativity is coming from?? This is my 2nd time coming here and everything was very good. My husband and I had the Rosemary Chicken sandwich which was very tasty. The waiter was most accommodating...who could ask for more? About the only thing that got me mad was the parking situation. I thought that my parking ticket (parking in that same building, but around the corner) would be validated, but found out that this could only be done starting at 5:00pm. We were there for lunch. I would definitely go back there again!
(4)Michael M.
I like the ambiance, but I haven't been impressed by the food in years. I gave them another try yesteday and it was no exception. I can't really recommend them.
(2)Steve G.
I ate here a couple times and both experiences have been mediocre. I tried the western chicken sandwich, chicken fingers, bacon cheeseburger and philly cheesesteak . The chicken fingers were very dry and the BBQ sauce tasted like it was burned somehow. The chicken sandwich was about average and the bacon cheeseburger was too. I enjoyed the philly cheesesteak the most of what I've tried. The restaurant is right on the water which is great when the weather is nice. For anyone that needs to drive here, you can get your parking validated in the adjoining parking structure. My waitress was friendly and the atmosphere was good.
(3)Bob C.
Great location along the Riverwalk and parking free on weekends and at night are the main attractions here. The food was good but not great the two times my wife and I ate there together. I'd say it was a perfectly acceptable choice if you are in the immediate vicinity. My wife hosted a group of women there and they were generally pleased.
(3)Rohan D.
The owners of this restaurant are deaf. It's the only explanation for the volume levels of the music here. When there isn't live music, the sound system is cranked up to the point that some of the speakers are blown and give off an annoying buzz. The speakers are placed in a manner that ensures that wherever you sit, you won't hear proper stereo, and what you will hear is distorted. Bring a pair of those drug store foam ear plugs and the volume will be just right. If there's live music, bring the kind of ear protection you would use for heavy power tools or airport runway work. The theme is incomprehensible. It's supposed to be an English pub, and it does sort of look like one, but if you've read Douglas Adams' Hithchikers Guide, remember when Arthur Dent tried to get the Nutrimatic drink dispenser to make a beverage for him it turned out to be: "almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea?" Well, this restaurant's food is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike English food. The lone English sounding dish is fish and chips, but they manage to make the fish and chips quite not British. I've been there enough to know, the entire menu is pretty poor, so why do I keep going back? 1) It's one of the few Milwaukee restaurants open late, as in past 10, I'm from Chicago and still astounded at how early this otherwise fine town shuts down for the night. 2) The location is perfect, right on the river, it's really lovely. With the proper hearing protection, it's so peaceful. 3) Nice selection of beer, (though not a good selection of British beer, to be consistent with their inexplicable non-British menu) and I've always gotten good service from both the bar, and the waitstaff. 4) It's pretty convenient, if you can't get parking on the street, they will validate for the garage next door, and it's downtown. What I'd really like to do, is to come here on a nice spring afternoon, order a beer, order a delivery pizza, put on some sound cancelling headphones, except I don't know a good pizza place that delivers downtown....and that is the most authentic London-like aspect of the place. You can't get delivery pizza in London either.
(2)Heather B.
This was the most disappointing restaurant experience I've had in Milwaukee. I ordered a simple ham & swiss sandwich and asked for dijon mustard. The sandwich was way less appetizing than something I would make in my own house!!!! Horrible presentation. Instead of dijon mustard I was given a honey mustard dressing without being told they didn't have what I asked for! Gross, that is NOT the same! Save yourself money and make food at home. Seriously.
(1)Claire D.
Even though this place can get incredibly loud, I do like it. The food is pretty good and the beer choices are decent. I am no "beer connoisseur" by any means, but I do have a picky beer palate and I know what she likes - er, what I like. The loudness factor includes the various music, noisy patrons and well, that's about it. The high booths make up for it though. It is possible to have an intimate conversation there. The river location is superb. I enjoy having the option of taking a nice stroll right afterward. It's just such a great location.
(4)peter k.
Food is boring, bland, greasy and forgettable. This place is interchangable with the greasy spoon in holiday inns across the country. The fact that this place calls itself "British" makes me HATE England.
(1)TJ G.
I had an expiring Groupon to use so we went despite the negative reviews. It is a beautiful restaurant. Very clean, nice Christmas decorations, beautiful view of the river. Ambiance was great - so much wood, a fire going, some nice TV's with the game on but not too many TV's to make it seem like a bar. Our server Lauren was fantastic. But as always, the food was just average. The cheese curds appetizer was great, but we all agreed the entrees were just OK - nothing special. I ended up picking all of the bacon off of my grilled cheese because it was just chewy globs of fat. But in the end, a good meal with great ambiance. A nice stop for a meal every few years maybe.
(3)Dave S.
Considering its prime location, this place is a huge dissapointment. I have eaten here twice and both times the food has not risen to the wonderful ambience of its Riverwalk surroundings. The drink is good, though, and they do have a wide variety of spirits and beers on tap. Too bad about the food, though. Seriously, not good.
(2)Jan G.
Went here this past Saturday (10/11/08) and what a disappointment. Yes they had two large parties, but no excuse. The service was aweful (hostess was also bartender, bus person and a Bit#$ to say it nicely). Our waitress didn't know which way to go and smelt like cigarettes. First we get seated and waited 5+ min to order drinks and waited 10+ min for them. Then we order, Prime rib special, Prime rib sandwich, reuban sandwich and a spinach salad. When the drinks finally came, my drink wasn't even what it said was in it and had to ask for more juice to cover the strong alcohol in it. When the food finally arrived, she handed me a prime rib dinner, but I ordered the sandwich. So I asked her, "This is the sandwich"? and she said yes, hmm looked the same as the dinner my husband had, oh well we'll see what the bill said. And our friend had the salad with the stems of the spinach still on and our other friend had the most aweful reuban ever. He heard they had really good ones, poor guy. So we finally get the bill and of course were charged for two prime rib dinners. By that time I just wanted out of here and didn't complain. WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE AGAIN!!!
(1)Sharon H.
The WORST place ever. The waitress Monica needs to go back to waitressing school. OH my lord...If I could have taken back the 20% mandatory tip for large groups I would. She was USELESS with the cap lock on. We went to this pub for my husband's birthday on the recommendation on my in-laws. Firstly, do not call yourself a pub and decorate with British memorabilia and then have nothing British on the menu....what the heck is that about. The waitress got orders incorrect. She kept giving my mother in law everyone else's food then she completely forgot her order. She was to lazy to walk around the table to hand out the food and kept slamming it down next to my husband(the birthday boy) for him to pass down. She was such an idiot that she did not think to make sure the kids were at the table before bringing him a birthday cake and candle....while he was in the middle of his meal. This place SUCKS. Avoid at all costs. The kicker was that it was a Tuesday and the place was empty so it was not like she was rushed. Monica...pick a new career. OH and the food was Meh!
(1)Aisha M.
It's a english pub in a town full of german heritage. Average food but sitting on the river is great. The bad thing that is first come first serve to the patio. Just when you see a table you realize there are no chairs. So you really have to look. They also have karaoke on Tuesday evenings.
(2)Anne H.
Food is average but location is really worth it on a warm sunny day. The river view is great. And everything tastes better outside.
(3)Sean Z.
So I did some day drinking here in the great Summer of 2010. Haven't actually eaten here...until tonight. Fish fry, 2011 style. Sadly it was a bit of a disappointment. We ordered some pre-drinks. Pretty weak. Whiskey Old Fashioned Sours should have at least *some* whiskey in them and shouldn't be overpowered by the bitters. Then came the appetizer. Pretty decent, actually. My buddies and I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla Wraps (they hold NOTHING in comparison to the epic Titan Toothpicks at Rock Bottom Brewery that is located near by, those are pretty awesome). The fish fry...dinner of choice, dinner of disapproval. I checked their menu online before I went. Two-piece fish fry for $7.95, a pretty good deal I must say. The in-restaurant menu had the two-piece for $9.95, time to update the website, I think... Then the check came. Two-piece fish fry for $10.95. If I didn't want to get out of the place so quickly (not because of the poor service, our waiter was good; mainly because of the poor advertising, drink quality [I wasn't joking about the drink not having any liquor], and a rather mediocre fish fry) I would have stuck around and complained about it. That, my Yelp friends, is why I give this a 4/10 rating. Should be a 3/10.
(2)Tonya C.
I went here with colleagues for a business lunch recently and discovered a hidden treat in the basement of the Wells Fargo/some hotel building. The pub is *right* on the Milwaukee river--according to my boss, in the summertime they open the doors, and you can eat al fresco on the patio. It leans in the direction of an English pub, though the proprietors are considerate enough to segregate the smokers from the non-smokers (in fact, my boss said she always makes an effort to get there early to make sure she doesn't have to sit in the smoking section). The service is pretty slow, while the food is relatively standard fare--though the french fries I had with my sandwich were fantastic. Their lunch sandwich plates come with both fries and a pickle and are reasonably priced between $6-$10. I was definitely full at the end of my meal, and will be happy to return... with a companion, since this is not the type of place where it would be comfortable to eat alone.
(4)Jason B.
I've seen the not so happy reviews of this place and I've been underwhelmed by a visit in the past..so why did I go again? Because there was a Groupon, and I knew it'd be a restaurant downtown that wouldn't be that busy on a Saturday night. Plain and simple. Did it meet my low expectations? Absolutely. Mission accomplished. We walked in to find the restaurant about 1/6 full and waited for a host or hostess to seat us. And waited. And waited. 9 minutes to be precise. Oh sure, a waiter came by and told us that someone would be with us momentarily......and then we waited. Okay then. While being seated, the lady seating us took a look at me, and the chair I was about to sit in and said.... "You'll never fit in that chair, let me get another one." Umm...thanks, I guess I'll just have the salad. I will say that our waitress was really friendly....but when did yoga/stretch pants become acceptable for waitstaff to wear at a restaurant? Especially by a girl who....probably couldn't fit in that chair either? Food was decent. Nothing great or amazing, but edible, filling, and good enough. When it came time to pay, I presented my Groupon and the waitress exclaimed that she expected me to have a Groupon (again, not sure if this was another backhanded insult or not...) she went on to tell me that she rarely sees anyone pay full price anymore. She said the owner was the same owner of Wards House of Prime and he doesn't really care much about JHP. She said there are entertainment coupons, living social deals, groupon deals and more....What a weird statement to make. The whole dinner was bizarre...and I won't be returning...even with a Groupon.
(2)Annalisa P.
Went again but never got waited on. After an hour I left. It does have good Prime Rib Sandwich and French Onion Soup, I will order it to go next time.
(2)VT C.
3.5 stars. I've been a few times - mostly via Groupon. The prime sandwich is delicious. The reuben is above average. Their fries are just ok. Finally, the French onion soup was worth it. I've never had bad service, and sitting by the water is nice in the summer. Would give it four stars but it's always empty when we are there. I prefer to eat/drink in a more lively atmosphere. Additionally, they should really consider rotating the tap selection.
(3)