Louise’s
801 N Jefferson St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Louise’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
801 N Jefferson St
Milwaukee, WI, 53202 - Phone (414) 273-4224
- Website https://www.louiseswisconsin.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Gail M.
I ordered an Arnold Palmer. It tasted like watered down Ice-Tea...when I mentioned subtly to the bartender that maybe her lemonade gun was empty she replied "it's already pre-made, but thank you"...what about asking if my drink is okay or I'd like something else...nope... However, my pasta was tasty and the environment was clean though a bit loud. I did find it a bit odd that they didn't have Cannoli...I only had one desert option (something chocolate). Hmmm :( slightly disappointing
(3)Sarah P.
Louise's has some of the best cheese bread with olive oil dipping sauce, ever! Hubby and I celebrated Valentines Day on Sunday and decided to check out Louise's Italian restaurant for dinner. I loved the atmosphere, we had a table for two right next to the huge glass window front, there was dim mood lighting, the place was not packed or noisy, and our waitress was sweet and to the point. We ordered the fried squid for an app, and had the garlic pasta with jumbo shrimp - and caesar salad with jumbo shrimp. The cheddar cheese crusted bread was so good with the salad. This restaurant makes really simple food with simple ingredients. It was a perfect romantic spot for our Valentine's Day celebration. I am a fan, and will be headed back to Louise's to try their pizza.
(4)Shannon H.
Loved this place! We sat on the sidewalk during Bastille Days, enjoyed tasty libations and some beautiful salads. Everything was fresh and delicious, and service was prompt and pleasant. Good time had by all!
(4)Lynzi D.
The food was great. I just wish it didn't give me food poisoning.
(2)Nikki C.
Crawled over here from happy hour at Taylor's.. Didn't know what to expect, but walking in, I got a good feeling. I immediately liked the ambiance. Waitress was wonderful-nice and attentive but far from annoying. The reason I'm dying to go back: minestrone soup. I never never never order minestrone from a restaurant-it's generally gross to me, but it was just that feeling I got. It was amazing-flavorful broth, fresh veggies, and good balance and variety of carbs. It's so hard to find good soup and yet here it is. Oh and bread is amazing. Seriously, the soup and focaccia (dipped in oil and balsamic) is like heaven. We also had the pesto, goat cheese and sundried tomato pizza. It was good! Best pizza nod goes to Frankie's in Chicago - but this was right up that alley. I'd definitely try another pizza-different toppings. All in all - seems like a solid choice if you're in the area.
(4)Ann C.
I love this place. My fiance and I stumbled upon this place on night while looking for Italian food. We decided to order bruschetta, and that was a fabulous decision. It had so much flavor, the best I've ever had. You are also given amazing bread while waiting for you food. We've been here a few times, and the fresh pasta is wonderful. However, we have learned (the hard way) that their non fresh pasta selections are much more hit or miss. The pizza is good too. If you want a good drink, and don't want to spend a lot of money, get a carafe of sangria, it is really good, and and a pretty great price too. (The normal drink menu is a bit expensive for us) We've also done brunch here, and the bananas foster french toast is such a sweet way to start the day! I am a little bit annoyed that the music gets loud at night. (I swear, I'm not an old lady either)
(4)Elizabeth D.
I've eaten here a few times solely because of proximity and there isn't anything noteworthy about the menu, but the pizza has been a solid default option. The pizza also used to be an ok option for delivery, especially considering that downtown pizza delivery options are pretty limited. Nothing great, but decent, reliable, and better than some of the other options. Tonight, however, we ordered it after getting home from the airport, hoping for an easy dinner after a really long day. It was disastrous. The pizza tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours and it was totally inedible. The focaccia that is included was hard, stale, and looked like it had been stomped on. I won't be ordering from here again and wouldn't recommend it to others.
(2)Nina N.
Gray place to sit outside and have lunch, our server was very friendly. We ordered the lunch salmon panini, and it lacked taste and the salad that came with it almost had no dressing and it also lacked flavor. It was not a dish that I would recommend
(3)Philie Y.
I used to love this place. A year later, its going down hill. Cioppino was watery, 1 small slice of fish fillet (Cioppino is a fish stew dish) and 3 overcooked shrimps. Waitress Rebecca did not offer me bread with olive/black vinegar like other tables. Worse, telling her yhe shrimp was overcooked does not relay back to chef. How can they improve? Finally, she charged my credit card with no pen to sign. Waited few more minutes to get a pen. Horrible service and downhill food taste. I am not going back.
(1)Nancy R.
I love to have lunch on the sidewalk at Louise's when the weather is warm. I enjoy their salads.
(4)Becky S.
I would say Louise's is somewhere in between a 3 and 4 in my book. I've been here in the past and enjoyed some delicious ravioli outside on a summer night. Tonight was more of just an okay experience though. They weren't very busy for a Saturday night, which was surprising to me. I ordered a glass of wine and the Chicken Marsala. My dinner was good, but I've had much better Chicken Marsala, both homemade and at other restaurants. It really wasn't anything special. I felt like the cost of my meal wasn't worth the quality of what I got. The service was good though and I had a nice dinner with a friend. Not sure I'd be in a rush to come back to Louise's, but I'll probably go back to the ravioli if I do.
(3)Funglin W.
uhm..HELLO! This is the BEST Italian restaurant I've ever been to... in the world! Italian and Chinese food are my favorite and Louise's blew my mind! The meal starts with the focaccia bread and not only was the bread delicious, the dressing they make to dip it in is superb. There was a bit of.. maybe vinaigrette and red peppers and some other spices? whatever it is... soooo good! For the entree, I tried the penne alla bolognese and the pappardelle with italian sausage, plum tomatoes, and fresh garlic. Both are soooo good. The portions, they're not too big but they're not small. They'll fill you up perfectly. But the pastas are to die for! The pastas taste sooo good, and if I had to recommend one of the two, I'd say, the pappardelle is a MUST TRY. apparently it's also a local favorite!
(5)Mars L.
I went here in the summer and was seated quickly and the food came quickly. The servers were friendly. However, the doors were open so there were flies around. Flies all over the bathroom. Baby flies IN the MENU!! I ordered an appetizer and instead got the dinner version- which is more expensive. The food was just okay, noodles a little undercooked and drenched in tomato sauce. Due to the flies, mistake, and below average dish, I would NOT come here again.
(1)Chad K.
Cost to much when the waiter did come to the table he was very informed about prices and product! I have a food allergy and when I ordered and asked question he didn't have basic information! When he did show up with bread and god know what in the oil he not so gentlely placed in front of me. I had to ask what it was and I informed him of my good allergy at which point he then served my my main course and when I complained that my mouth iched,I asked my waiter again does this have what I'm allergic too and him telling me no, a manager showed up to tell indeed it does! I was charged my full bill even though I only took one bit and then asked about ingredient which I was miss informed about. Although my waiter was happy to fix anything the problem was that there shouldn't have be anything to fix he was informed maybe not at first but in time to fix the main course! I work for Barolotta's I know how this should have gone and I'm most disappointed on the manager It was clear had not eaten my meal she should have offered to comp it! Instead I paid full price for my meal I gave to a homeless person. P.s. This was my birthday treat to myself, so even more pissed!!!
(1)TJ S.
How the mighty have fallen. Dessert on a summer eve after a fabulous meal at Casablanca before heading onto the town. "We'll see your dessert menu please...and a decaf coffee" "Sorry , no coffee just a latte..only caffeinated." "Water then.." "No dessert menu - raspberry tort, chocolate tiramisu, tiramisu" "1 raspberry, 1 chocolate" wait 5 mins "sorry we are out of raspberry" "ok 2 chocolates and some water please" wait 5 mins "sorry we are out of chocolate" "1 tiramisu and some waters please" 5 minutes later we enjoyed a soggy defrosted tiramusu from Sam's club (item #821148 for those of you playing at home). I understand that food runs short at the end of the evening - but I never understood why places never cut you some consideration or tell you what is left when the game is underway. It just makes for a bad yelp review as opposed to the alternative. eh lousise's at least you have your location and Jazz in the Park....keep banking on that as you fade into the sunset.
(2)Cindy D.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time for a night out on Thursday. The place has a nice atmosphere, but that's about it. We were seated at a cocktail table at the main window. We didn't get water, nor did we get focaccia bread- only noticed because everyone else seated or who arrived after us received a basket of it. Our table was super wobbly so we asked to switch tables, the waitress was apologetic and moved us right away. We ordered bruchetta and a caprese salad for appetizers, both were okay- the caprese salad was overdressed. Someone other than our waitress delivered our apps, and we sat without plates until our waitress came by. For entrees we ordered a Seafood Ravioli and Chicken Marsala. My Seafood Ravioli wasn't great, the pasta was undercooked and hard, and the filling was overcooked and dry. The dill cream sauce it was in was good, but overpowering for a seafood dish. My boyfriends Chicken Marsala was disappointing as I had talked up the dish in it's traditional sense before we arrived. The chicken was cooked well, but had absolutely no flavor at all- same with the marsala sauce. What little there were of garlic mashed potatoes were watery and bland as well. The rest of the plate was COVERED in an excessive amount of zucchini, which was again bland. Overall it was a $90 meal with wine, and a disappointing start to the weekend.
(1)Max M.
Not a great weekend brunch option. We went there for brunch on a Saturday in January and were not impressed. There were very few patrons and the food was pretty average. I would strongly recommend only going for dinner or maybe during the summer. Nothing wrong with the service. Our waiter was very nice and attentive.
(2)David S.
This a nice brunch / lunch spot in downtown Milwaukee. They have several different kinds of salads for those that like to eat lighter lunches. Personally, I love the Caesar salad with blacked chicken added in top. Free bread and herb seasoned olive oil / balsamic dip for every table. Their sandwiches are very good as well and decently filling. Overall, I feel like this place gives a higher quality product then you really expect for lunch. During summer the outdoor sidewalk seating is nice as well.
(4)Alissa A.
I had their pepperoni pizza @ Jazz in the Park with my mom for $19...she requested extra sauce and when I peeled back the cheese, after I too noticed it being dry - there was no sauce on the pizza! Then, I went up to the counter to ask for sauce and they told me I had to walk to the restaurant in order to get some. Ok...so I waited there and he asked how much I wanted. I said as much to cover the pizza, since the whole thing was very dry and no sauce was out on, the pizza tasted like cheese bread sticks. My mom & I were disappointed and would not come back.
(2)Bridgid M.
Good basic chicken caesar salad. Great people watching on the street front dining.
(3)Lisa J.
I would not go back. The food was edible but that's all I can say. The food was pretty meh. Waste of money. The sauce on the pasta was water totally bland. The coipanni was the worst I have ever had. Bottom line they should invest in chefs that can put out good food. This place is going to tank. Gordon Ramsey would be in a tiff if he walked in this place. Don't spend one dime in this joint you will regret it!
(2)Heather W.
I've eaten here twice for dinner. To start, Pasta/italian food is usually my last choice - I just am never really in the mood or completely satisfied with it. I do really like Louise's though. I think my favorite thing is the bread and oil. It's not your average pre-dinner bread basket - its like an actual appetizer - for free. The bread is like a ciabatta and has some cheese crusted on it. The oil has balsamic mixed in I believe and its just awesome. The first time I went I got the chicken fettuccine Alfredo and it was really good! This was probably the most satisfying italian dinner I've ever had. I also had a good strawberry basil drink of some kind. Second time I went I think I got the same thing, but my boyfriend and I also split a pizza just to try it and it was also very good. I recall the waiter trying to help me find the drink I had the first time I was there (which was no longer on the menu) and then he tried to make something similar. While it didn't turn out as expected his efforts were very nice and I appreciated the attentive service. though I have only been here twice, I have enjoyed every aspect of my meal and experience each time.
(4)Rita M.
Order from here quite often. I never want the bread or the utensils, etc. Tell them to hold.... hate wasting. They have delivered late and still never complained. Once I ask for just a few slices of Italian bread with our spaghetti & meatballs dinner. They charged an exra $1.95 for 5 little bitty slices of Italian Bread. Not good. Maybe it was just the person answering the phone who likes to rob the customer? Will never use them again, there are better places in MKE to order from.
(2)Scott M.
Good variety, fresh pasta, great tiramisu. Can be bland, service hit or miss, and the espresso machine broke and nobody has fixed it yet... Umm why??
(3)Amber L.
Went here 2 years ago but thought it was a decent place for Italian. It was pretty empty as I recall and entrees did not take very long. Would return.
(4)Brittany D.
I ordered a calzone and it was SO good. Very cheesy and the crust was nice and crispy. But the best part about this place was the service. The server made sure out drinks were filled yet didn't bother us too much. This might be the best Italian place I've ever eaten at.
(5)Brad K.
I went here for Brunch on Saturday right when it opened. Didn't even know this Italian restaurant had American-style brunch until I walked by. The outdoor dining area is nice, wooden chairs and tables, and not too crowded. The brunch menu has some good items, but somewhat limited to Frittatas, Omelettes, French toast, etc. The prices were normal for Brunch in MKE, I had a Ham & Cheese Omelette (8.25) and a Screwdriver double (7.75). The food took surprisingly long to come out considering there was only one other person dining at that time besides myself. Despite the slow service, the server was polite. When the food came out I was a bit overwhelmed by the size (but a good overwhelmed). On a huge white circular plate, the omelette filled up half of it. The ham was cube chunks which would be my second choice to sliced ham. There was an obnoxious amount of cheese inside the omelette, which made it hard to finish. The four cheese blend tasted fabulous however. Accompanied with the omelette were potatoes that had melted Parmesan or some sort of cheese on them - delicious. Also on the plate was an array of fruit sliced in picturesque form. When my meal was half finished the server decided to drop off some warm Italian breads and oil, the kind you'd get before an Italian dinner. It was somewhat unnecessary and I was already full but the bread and oil was quite tasty. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back to Louise's for brunch, but maybe would rather spend $18 somewhere with more of a variety on their Brunch menu. But for what they had, the food was good and plentiful.
(4)Hans N.
Great lunch...had the breaded chicken pasta special and my son ordered chicken Alfredo off the menu. Both items were excellent and Even the bread olive oil/vinaigrette was memorable! Our waiter Anthony was extremely gracious and helpful...very much recommend!
(5)Amy B.
Service sucks! I will never come back here. Management should be out here watching the servers
(1)Joshua B.
Great food, we had the Filet Mignon, Seafood Ravioli, and Jumbo Garlic Shrimp Pasta. Everything here was fantastic. We were here for Bastille Days so this place was hopping! Service was pretty good, given the amount of tables filled. They had these "Battle of the Bastille" Martinis that were awesome. They also had Oberon, which I might add was pretty good. This was my first time eating in downtown Milwaukee and I have to say I was pretty impressed by the food here.
(5)Steve D.
We ate here two times while in town and everything was spot-on. Food was great and service was friendly and quick.
(4)Rohan D.
We've been avoiding this place because of the name (a scary former boss for the Chief of Staff, memories of a bad 70's sit-com for me) but a couple of my trusted YELPer friends added to the limited choices for Sunday dinner after a show downtown Milwaukee led us in the door and back again on another occasion. Both times we've bumped into friends, neighborhood people seem to like this place. First off, unlike Sarah, instead of recommending the bread basket, I'm going to warn you about it, it's an appetite killer. Freshly baked focaccia, Italian, and garlic -cheese bread and a plate of olive oil for dipping, I couldn't help myself, I was full before the entree arrived. The dining room is pleasant and comfortable, but we prefer sitting by the windows in the bar, the bartenders are excellent. They have a couple of unique whiskey choices, which they serve in brandy snifters (wrong!) when you order neat. I hate that this has become one of my criteria, but the pours are generous with no hidden up-charges (I should be able to take this for granted but sadly, this can't be the case any more in Milwaukee). We've had a good waitress and an excellent waiter, service is quite good. We've liked the braised short ribs, ravioli, spaghetti and fish specials. Gelato desserts were good, and they make a pretty good cappuccino.
(4)Mike P.
CATEGORY: Big portions and lots of free bread ORDERED: Crab Dip $10.95, Coffee $2, Eggs any Style $7.95, Frittata Margherita $7.95 TASTED: Our server neglected to tell us that each table receives a complimentary big ass basket of bread. If you're one of the people that will eat anything put in front of you that's free (writer guilty) know that a big ass basket of their flavored focaccia bread with olive oil, vinegar and spices is headed your way. I ordered a "coffee", which to Louise's coffee is a generic term applied to a hot beverage that's black. No menu description, the waitress had no idea who the roaster was, in a city with local roasters to use foodservice generic coffee is lazy. The Crab Dip arrived first and it was okay, served with garlic rubbed crostini (fancy names for more bread!) it had no crab visible to the naked eye. My frittata was gigantic, must have been six eggs. It was tasty - served with fresh fruit (strawberries, tired looking pineapple chunks and orange slices) and potatoes Louise (breakfast style potatoes covered with melted cheese). My wife enjoyed her eggs any style, they arrived over medium like requested. Our waitress did forget to bring her milk with the meal. SUMMARY: Decent food, disoriented service (we had to flag someone down to get our bill, they come over and they're more concerned about getting these plates "out of the way" you can take care of the plates after I leave, how about taking care of the bill so I don't sit here for an hour?) Cool space/decor - copper is used throughout not sure if purposeful nod to Milwaukee's beer heritage or not but it looks cool. WHO IS LOUISE?: The restaurant is named Louise's but besides the name and her supposed likeness rendered in an art deco style there's nothing else. No explanation on the menu like some places have. Strange, they really fail at telling a story. Is it historical, why the art deco style, is it the owner, the Greek godess of big ass bread baskets?
(3)Natalie B.
best bread and chop salads! one of my favorite 'go-to" restaurants.. plus they deliver!
(5)Heli M.
My dad took my mom and I here for Mother's Day brunch. It's right downtown and has been a Milwaukee staple for some time. Considering its chic setting, it is relatively affordably priced. I enjoyed a seafood pasta dish and was impressed both by its colorful presentation and taste. The drinks were quite good too and they had a quite extensive list. I recommend this place for cocktail hour after work given the area and the ambiance. Service is on point and the host makes it a point to acknowledge you. Their busiest times are weekday during the lunch rush and happy hours, so if you're expecting a more laid back atmosphere and less of a wait, I recommend dropping by on the weekend for lunch.
(4)Bruce K.
Sidewalk park. Meatball sub. Soup meh. Popped in on a sunny day and opted to sit outside with an umbrella providing some shade but still plenty of bright light and a lovely view of Cathedral Park. Good lunch specials, I chose the meatball sub with a small cup of soup. 50/50, the sandwich was excellent with two very large and zesty meatballs, plenty of marinara and melted mozzarella on a toasted sub roll. The soup, I found to be overly salty and with little redeeming quality. Oh well. My drink was refilled often and so I have no complaints. I'd go back.
(4)Joanna T.
For me, Louise's is about a 2.5 - between "meh" and "ok". That seems to be a trend for this entire restaurant group which includes Water St Brewery, Solo, Trinity and Rudy's. None are particularly "good" but they certainly aren't bad either. I guess they excel at being mediocre? Anyway, I've eaten here any number of times - most recently before Firkin Fest. Their focaccia and oil to start is probably the highlight of the meal. The bread is warm, fresh and tasty and the oil is a notch up from the usual oil/vinegar combo. My sandwich was just ok - honestly, I could have gotten the same thing at Subway. I do like that you get lots of choices for your side salad. Our service was pretty good too. In conclusion - not bad, not great = good enough if you're in the area.
(3)Aswinikumar A.
A very good Italian restaurant and they have specials that are worth trying. Vegetarians have a well spread menu to choose from during lunch.
(4)Pete P.
I've been to the Louise's in Brookfield a dozen times, but never made it to the Milwaukee location until now. As always, the food was great and reasonably priced. We were also celebrating a birthday, and the staff was accommodating enough to have balloons we dropped off earlier in the day all set and wish my daughter a happy birthday upon arrival. Overall, a great dining experience! (Also, I must mention Andy, who was the most attentive and pleasant server we've had in years. Not to suggest other servers were not good, just that Andy went above and beyond, and is the kind of server that makes you want to recommend a restaurant to others.)
(5)Nikita V.
When I'm craving carbs and want something quick and efficient, I order delivery from Louise's. The pizza is great and if you regularly order from a pizza chain, I recommend making the switch. The dough is pillowy, cheese is fresh and plenty and there's a variety of toppings to choose from. Louise's delivers fast too, and you can also request compliementary focaccia bread and oil. For lunch, try the watermelon feta salad with grilled chicken - it's light but also filling and never fails to satisfy. If you want traditional Italian for a better deal, pop over to Glorioso's grocery, and take the time to whip up a meal at home. Grab a take-and-bake Trio's pizza, a couple of basil Asiago Italian sausage, marinated mozzerella, gelato, Italian cookies, a container of homemade sauce and ravioli, and you're all set to feed a small army.
(3)Eric M.
The service was awful. It took us 10 minutes to be acknowledged after walking through the door. It was not busy tonight. We waited another 20 minutes before my wife had to go and find someone to let them know we had not yet been helped, again not busy. They did not appear to be understaffed, but even if they were under staffed, that's fine, but at least let us know that you know we are here! The bread was doughy and undercooked, and the three cheese ravioli lacked taste. I used to like this place. Very disappointed.
(1)Jessica O.
I had such a lovely experience during my first couple of trips to Louise's that I was super excited to bring my ravioli-loving father for a return visit. This time, the ravioli was terrible. The filling in the seafood ravioli was chewy and overcooked, and the sauce was completely bland. When the server asked how everything was, I mentioned that the ravioli didn't taste the way that I remembered. She told me that they hadn't changed anything. I mentioned that the last time I'd had it was at the Brookfield location, so maybe it was my fault, and she went, "Nope, we make everything here and bring it out there." Not wanting to get into an argument with her, I just said, "Okay." And away she went. But overall, the food was flavorless and poorly cooked, the server was argumentative, and we left disappointed.
(2)Kathy G.
I went for lunch with my co-workers and we were seated quickly and the servers were very attentive. Then lunch menu is very limited, but you are also given the dinner menu (the lunch menu is tucked into the dinner menu). So if you want something other than soup, salad or a sandwich, you have to pay the dinner prices. There are no smaller lunch pasta entrees. Seems weird for a place that specializes in Italian food. The bread and vinegar and oil dipping sauce are fantastic. Considering that the restaurant serves carbs almost exclusively, I had to stop myself from eating more than one piece. I ordered the pappardelle with Italian sausage, tomatoes and garlic in creamy tomato sauce. The sausage was nice and spicy and the dish was pretty good. The tomatoes were fresh and bright red. Overall everyone was satisfied with their dishes.
(3)Colin D.
The service was good and the captures Bloody Mary was good. However, the brunch food was not good. The eggs were flat and overall I wouldn't go back for brunch.
(2)Kevin P.
One star is for the average food and the fact that we left full. We had the BBQ chicken chopped salad and the gnocchi. Both of us were content with the food. The focaccia bread was good. Our server was polite and I'm sure is good at what he does, but had too many tables. The place was way understaffed. The phone was ringing countless times with no answer and most of the 2 tops near the window waited between 4-6 minutes to get drinks. Refills were tough to come by and it was clear the place didn't have enough servers. The bartender would periodically disappear and there was no manager in site. Quite a disaster. Almost everyone we noticed in the front at the two top tables was looking around for some sort of help and it just wasn't available. Next time will be Elsa's for sure, which we should'be done anyways. Very disappointing.
(1)Alyssa A.
Had a so-so experience at Louise's yesterday. I've eaten there many times over the years and have always been happy with the service/food. Yesterday was the first time I've ever gotten take out from there, and maybe that is what changed the experience. We ordered a large sausage, mushroom and onion pizza for pick up. Was told it would be 30-35 minutes. I arrived to pick it up 35 minutes later and the host went back to check on my order. He was gone at least 5 minutes and then I was told it would be a couple of minutes. I guess something was wrong with the first pizza they made and so it had to be remade. All in all I was waiting about 15 minutes. They threw in a free tiramisu because of the wait, which was nice. While I appreciate that they took the time to remake the pizza and get it right, but the end result was a pizza that seemed a little undercooked (maybe because they felt rushed since I was there) and was REALLY light on the sauce. The sausage was excellent though. I actually liked the crust once we threw it in the oven for 10 minutes and let it crisp up a bit, but the lack of sauce was really a bummer. If you get pizza here, which I maybe would again, make sure to ask for extra sauce!! And make sure they include their delicious bread and dipping oil too.
(3)David P.
I've been here three times in the past few months for work lunches and have been happy each time. The food and service have been great, and the prices are pretty reasonable. If you eat enough of the appetizer cheesy bread you might be able to skip dinner, too! The favorite thing I've had there was a blacked salmon sandwich, just outstanding. Nothing but good remarks from my guests, too.
(4)Jim K.
We visited on Sunday during Bastille Days and the restaurant was not busy inside, maybe 6 tables in dinning area. Our waitress was way off her game today, we ordered drinks, waited for water and bread, got our drinks want to say maybe ten minutes, ordered appetizer, asked for water again, ordered main and asked for water again. Soup was delivered with the main, I was expecting it before the main course, the quality of our food was excellent, very tasty and filling, three stars only due to service, had to ask too many times for basic service, other wait staff seemed to be right on, providing what appeared to be great service, again our person may just have had an off day.
(3)Doug F.
The brunch is priced right, but food quality is poor. Potatoes slathered in butter and eggs not done correct to order. Now we know why the tables were open!
(2)Shyla B.
I had my Bachlorette Dinner here before we went out. We had a reservation booked 3 months in advance for 18 ladies and THE NIGHT before we were called and had to switch it to 830 pm so we get there at 830 and still had to wait an additional half hour. The dinner was ok not something to be amazing about. But what upset us the MOST was that the waitress dropped TWO glasses of red wine on one of my guests back! It was in her hair and all over her brand new white shirt!! She did apologize but my guests meal wasnt comped at all!! Her meal should of been free as her brand new 75 dollar shirt was just ruined!!! All she got was a small piece of cake! Seriously!!?? I will never go here again as i couldn't believe this!
(2)Ryan K.
The waiter had bad body odor, but was nice. The food was good. I was charged on my card my bill and someone elses $60 bill. Its been 3 months and they havent resolved it. Every time i talk to a "manager" they say they are looking in to it and will get back to me. I havent heard back from anyone still. I will never eat here again
(2)Anthony R.
I went here for a very tasty early Saturday afternoon brunch - I got the Mediterranean frittatta and a friend got the banana foster french toast - we ended up splitting both dishes so I got to try both. The frittata was good, but the banana foster french toast was excellent. The fritatta wasn't too complicated - probably three stars in isolation - and the artichokes, olives, and everything on top looked and seemed like they had probably come out of a can. Not to say it was bad, just not super interesting or special. Also of note: the Louise's home fries seem like normal home fries, just covered in butter at the end. Yes, that does make them better. The french toast on the other hand, was really delicious. The combination of loads of butter and maple syrup with hints of rum makes for a very tasty, very sweet, very rich breakfast. I'm even slightly allergic to bananas but I ate it anyway since it looked so good, and don't regret doing so a bit. More good: free pre-meal focaccia bread to snack on, friendly service (with prompt coffee refills), and both dishes came with a good-sized helping of fresh fruit.
(4)Emily A.
I've been here a few times but this review is based off my most recent visit this weekend. I really want to give Louise's a better review but our service was terrible, impacting the overall experience. Service: 1 star. Waiter was clueless about the menu and was inattentive Food: 3 stars. Always good. We had the sausage pizzetta this time, which was good. The baby green salad is also good. Also the pizza from Jazz in the Park is GREAT. Atmosphere: 2 stars. We ate inside and overall it's just kind of outdated and weird inside.
(2)Grant N.
Food was ok, I would only go back for the brickoven pizza. However, the pizza had way too much cheese and was very greasy.
(2)Christopher S.
This is my first and hopefully last 1star review I write... I really try to be supportive and point out the good things in small businesses. This place came recommended by a friend who lives in Milwaukee... We were visiting from Chicago. Four of us had dinner here.. All four of us ordered different entrees and no one liked their food much at all. Notably, the calamari app was extremely chewy and over fried. The shrimp pasta had little to no wine sauce but plenty of overcooked noodles. The chicken tomato pesto came out looking like spaghetti and meat sauce... There was actually no pesto in the dish at all... but rather a heavy tomato sauce... Not "chopped" tomato. The ambience was dated, tired and bland... No background music, uncomfortable and lumpy/broken booth seating. To be honest it was also way overpriced. The only good thing i can say is the location. Too many other great dining options all around this place to waste your time here.
(2)Gregory M.
I don't know why I have gone to this restaurant so many times? Everything about this place screams banality. Perhaps, it is simply the free focaccia bread. Although, I always feel like a glutton when I have to not so subtly ask for more. That being said, this is a great place to go if you are a weight lifter in training (which I am not) and looking to "carb load." If you are going to order spaghetti, than stay home, ya doofus, and eat it out of a Chef Boyardee can like a monkey. The Barbecue Chicken Chop is excellent. Unless you like 12 pounds of salad, order the small (off the menu) portion. My other favorite meal here is the Penne All' Arrabbiata. I always seem to order a whiskey (rail) and coke here, which is really good. I am not sure if this has to do with the restaurant's cola or whiskey being particularly good, or if I just have a penchant for a whiskey and coke when enjoying bland Italian food.
(3)Kelly M.
First of all the bread they serve you while you wait for dinner is hella delicious. Service is great. Food is like heaven in your mouth. I only have great things to say about Louise's!!
(4)Victor S.
I have one rule about this place whenever I come here to eat. NEVER, EVER arrive before 5pm because it just ruins the overall sexiness of everything at night. Completely different attitude, completely different environment. If you're not a fan of eating in the dark with a small candle lighting up your table, then pass out on reading this review. Regardless of your dining time preferences, I always see large families, couples, and groups of friends having a wonderful time. Genuinely Italian, but not too artificial. Considering my diet consists of mostly vegetarian dishes, this is one place where I like to "splurge." Would recommend and not recommend: -Chicken Ravioli Alla Romana with Shitake mushrooms (Could this not feed my addiction for mushrooms anymore? A little spicy, but I can handle it). -Cioppino (Not a fan, too salty for me and preparation was kind of sloppy). -Chicken Marsala (Marsala is Marsala. Nothing to it, nothing out of the ordinary or exceptional. But still damn good). This is one of the places where I enjoy the bread (bruschetta) more so than the pasta dishes, extreme emphasis on pasta dishes because this seems to be Louise's specialty. But for some reason, I keep coming back. Maybe it's just that sexy environment...worth every penny.
(3)Jonathan H.
Another trip, this time for business...another standard meal. I had the chicken/provolone panini for lunch and was unimpressed. I wish I had ordered the pizza or a pasta dish but I wasn't buying and was trying to be thrifty. I was expecting a more robust sandwich. The lentil soup was sub-par. The bread and oil was great as usual and we had outstanding service so I can't complain too much since our business partner picked up the tab.
(3)Jake N.
There is nothing special about this place. The food was only so-so. I had the Chicken Parm which was honestly pretty bland. The bread and dipping sauce put it to shame. The rest of party's food seemed to be much better than mine and if I get finagled into going again I'll most likely try their pizza. I've heard it's ok. There are much better places for Italian food in Milwaukee.
(2)Laura G.
Nice classy atmosphere near the park with friendly staff and strong drinks. Good for groups. Swanky yet comfortable large bar area.
(4)Andy E.
Good food, prices are fine. I've been satisfied every time I've eaten there, so it's a winner in my book. Nothing particularly standout about it, though.
(3)Katie C.
Food is average, service is lackluster. The waitress overcharged for the meal, then we had to argue with her to get her to correct the bill. When I looked at my account statement the next day, I had been charged TWICE. When I called to speak to a manager about correcting the charge, he told me he was too busy to look into it, but would "try" to get back to me soon. Will never return.
(1)Ben P.
Louise's is like the average-looking girl who has only incredible-looking friends: surrounded by over 50 of the Midwest's best restaurants, she has to work hard to compete, and she ends up surpassing them all because she doesn't end up getting addicted to cocaine and stealing her step-father's Jaguar. She charges very reasonable prices, is roomy and nicely-decorated, and features the best calzone I've had in recent memory. Get the one with salami and spicey sauce. Ask for two baskets of bread (it's covered with cheese and herbs!) and stuff it all into your pockets. Run away feeling like you just found a letter from your sort-of friend that you've had a crush on for 30 years in which she reveals to her BFF that she thinks you're a hunk.
(5)Brian G.
I'll go easy on the wait staff, but the service wasn't top notch. The food was outstanding; my girlfriend and I got the calzone and the stromboli. Take your pick, they were both excellent. Local brews on tap, good atmosphere but the kitchen was rather loud. Great view though; can't beat it for Jazz in the park.
(4)Rachel B.
My husband and I went here with two other couples this past weekend while in town for a wedding. It was easy to get reservations - we got a great table (round - the only way to go for that size group) - the ambiance is great, especially considering the prices are so low. For that kind of atmosphere I would have expected to pay about 5 dollars more a plate. I had the special - halibut with grilled veggies, and it was delicious. Huz had the lasagna and ate it up - huge portion! Our waiter was very helpful and very attentive - had sampled everything on the menu, so he had great suggestions. The only negative was that our coffee came out cold and had to be sent back. Otherwise, a great experience and 6 people ate for less than $200!
(4)Mike M.
we hit up Louise's on a sunday afternoon and it was pretty much empty. my parents had been here several times before and witnessed ken griffey jr. dining here on their last visit. we ended up sitting in the front bar area. i really enjoyed the bread that the waitress brought with the drinks. we polished off the basket very quickly and she was nice enough to bring us more. had spaghetti and meatballs as im not a fan of the style of pizza the rest of the people i was dining with were having. the pasta did its job. nothing really stuck out to make this more than just a place to grab a meal.
(3)Amara H.
I am rather reluctant to try Italian restaurants after traveling to Italy. I came here with a friend during Milwaukee Downtown Dining week. I opted for Louise's purely because they had the most dishes to select from that fulfilled my dietary restrictions [I only eat vegetarian + seafood]. To start, the waiter brought out seasoned bread with this olive oil + balsamic vinaigrette glaze. The bread was soft and perfectly seasoned with herbs. The glaze was out of this world. It was nothing shy of phenomenal. For appetizers, we ordered fried ravioli and bruschetta. The fried ravioli was decent but nothing out of the ordinary. The bruschetta, though, was extraordinary. It consisted of goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a basil + balsamic glaze. The irony is I am not even a fan of goat cheese but it was my favorite ingredient of the dish. The cheese was fresh and very soft. I am still drooling about this appetizer. For the main course, we had the pepper crusted salmon + risotto as well as the asparagus mushroom ravioli. A brilliant addition to the risotto were the vegetables. It helped add texture to the dish, as otherwise risotto's texture can become monotonous. The salmon was a little bland, even though it was pepper crusted. I will admit, though, the quality of the fish was excellent and very fresh. The ravioli was average but the pesto cream sauce was wonderful. For dessert, we had a homemade chocolate crème brulee and homemade tiramisu. As I had never had a chocolate crème brulee, I enjoyed the flavor twist. Overall, I had a magnificent time at Louise's. I was impressed in the quality of the food, particularly given it was downtown dining week. I would have expected the quality of the food to diminish with the decrease in price. This was definitely not the case. The presentation of the dishes were an unexpected plus, as was the decor. To anyone seeking Italian food, I would avoid the chain restaurants and come here instead. The prices are just as comparable. To end, I am wondering if I can somehow take a bottle of the balsamic vinaigrette home.
(5)Sean B.
Just not my pick. Having just been to Italy b4 this visit accentuated how I'd rather have unAmericanized Italian food. Nothing wrong with what they do at all. Gloriously tasty, just damn heavy. I'll steer anyone who wants Olive Garden or Joey B's here instead if I can. To start, who wouldn't want a deep fried motz ravioli? An al dente step above the motz stick app that everyone else has. I would rather choose it's oily herby cheesy goodness any day over it's non-pasta-brothers; yet the why have such a gluttonous treat at any other time than the State Fair. Even Gordon Ramsy couldn't bitch about how the risotto was done underneath the parm crusted salmon. I would eat it all day, yet again just too heavy for me. Nothing at all wrong with the salmon, didn't need the parm to cover the taste. Other entree we had was another generously cream covered ravioli. I normally avoid ravioli as it's near impossible to cook the edges and filling properly at the same time. Louie's is thin enough to about pull that trick off, but the dairy treatment... I get it, great flavor, again just not my pick. I liked that their tiramisu was an actual desert instead of place to put left over espresso. It just wasn't screaming home-made as the rest of the offerings were. The choco creme brulee was another budding entry into the State Fair, deep fried milk chocolate Jello Pudding Pop. Service on the Friday evening of Downtown Dining Week had issues. Entree arrived on top of app with no room at the bar table to hold it all, and then later a 15 min gap right when drink number two was needed. It wasn't that busy, and set menu should have helped the timing. So downtown living, normal Wisconsin dairy loving, bit budget conscious Italian eater will enjoy Louise's, I'm just not going to join them very often.
(3)Katie K.
Friendly service ( a bit spotty, uneven but this is downtown dining week, so unfair) Nice location. Well for those of us who live a block away. There is street parking but I can only imagine how busy that gets at night. Warm yet contemporary interior. I like watching the grill fire up. Pretty loud in here so I can't tell you what the music is. Really odd complaint I have: the feel of the table, I don't like the rubbery center (window tall table), it's sticky, sorta gross. It's clean, I just think it's the material. To start: Free bread: I like the little square one best, sorta a herby cheese... The Other is like soggy pizza. Downtown dining week. I thought this would be the perfect time to stop by, we live super close. For me downtown dining week is about getting out there, trying places you haven't been before. Louise's has a great menu for this event. I recommend trying them during this special week if you are seeking new places, on a budget, just looking to hang with friends. Too loud for a date IMHO. Appetizer: Fried ravioli. Or shall I say tastes like a fried pirogi/ mozzarella stick. Really good, really unhealthy. Through caution to the wind and try them. Main: The salmon with risotto. It's really unfortunate what was done to the salmon. The salmon itself was cooked perfectly. Really exceptional then they put cheese on top. Why? Why? The risotto is heavy, really heavy. It's good but heavy. Beware all cardiac patients. Did I like this. Absolutely. Should I eat this often. Probably not. Also: The asparagus ravioli. It is good. Nicely cooked but again heavy on the sauce. I liked this but preferred the other entree off the downtown dining menu. Dessert. The tirrisui is a little weak. I didn't like or dislike it. Needs more of an espresso kick but that's why the husband actually thought it was okay. Everyone's different:) The creme Brûlée was different. Like chocolate mouse with Carmel on top. Interesting take. I liked this better out of the two. Drinks... The salted Carmel vodka is all you need to remember:) yes please! So listen. I don't know how to rate this place. If you like Olive Garden and are looking to branch out this is your place. 4 stars. If you like onesto (that's me) I give this a 3. Why. Too heavy, too much. Not bad at all, I just like things a little lighter. That's a personal preference but don't let that deter you if you are a dairy loving person from the Midwest:)
(3)Gina K.
Standard American Italian food. Right off of Cathedral Square, so plenty of opportunity to hit up nearby events (like Jazz in the Park, Bastille Days, the weekend market, etc) - though service can be a bit slower and parking more difficult on such occasions. Their appetizer bread with oil is complimentary and amazing. They have the standard pasta dishes and pizza, of course, but the real gem is their calzones. One of the cheaper items on the menu, they never disappoint and you will always find yourself full (with leftovers to spare, depending on your appetite!). Of the several times I've eaten at this location, it has been consistently good. Nothing to write home about (if home is Italy), but an easy pick.
(4)Rosa G.
Great food, great ambiance, friendly service. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is because I found the service to be quite slow despite the number of waitstaff on a not-very-busy night.
(4)Marie M.
On the whole, the food was good but not spectacular. The service was friendly but unbelievably slow, particularly since there were probably less than ten other tables there at the time.
(3)Unyime E.
Somewhat of an abbreviated review, but the pertinent points are all I'll include. The food here is pretty good. The pizzas are tasty, but the Italian options didn't really wow me like Zarletti or Bartollota's over in 'Tosa. A nice place to go for lunch; however, a large salad with grilled chicken included will usually run at about $20 including tip. For what I've had during my visits, the quality/price ratio is lower than other places. My recommendation is if you're eating around the area, go to Elsa's or Buckley's. If you must have Italian, walk a few blocks south to Zarletti.
(3)Sadie T.
We went for dinner. Server was quiet, but no complaints about her. Bread was yummy. I had the asparagus ravioli. Overall, really nice flavors. However - the should really name the dish "ravioli stuffed with the stalky parts of the asparagus normally given to cows because humans can't chew through such tough vegetation" the pesto sauce was too rich for my stomach to handle.
(3)Kathleen H.
I used to live on Cathedral Square Park (fun spot for Bastille Day!), so I could make it to Louise's in two minutes. Though I frequented Flannery's more due to its lower prices and more casual scene, Louise's was a favorite of mine as well. Having since moved to San Francisco, I still recommend Louise's to anyone visiting Milwaukee in search of good, Italian food at lower-than-Bartolotta prices. Make sure to eat plenty of the delicious bread that comes out before your meal!
(4)Tony J.
Actually a 3.5 star review. I went here on a whim with my gf, we were in the area during the summer. The drink selection was good and the cocktails were tasty, try the bellinis. The bread and dip was very good. I ordered chicken piccatta, it was awesome and filling. The flavor was very pleasing and succulent The outdoor seating was great with a neat view of the park in the summer. We stayed a while to relax and unwind, a very nice spot for that. The waitress was very good and knowledgeable and friendly. Only complaint was that we did have to deal with a few flies buzzing around the outdoor patio. That detracted from an otherwise excellent day.
(3)Cristina T.
When my brother made his decision to attend college in Milwaukee I was excited. Not only had I been coming up to Mil-Town since I was little, I am obsessed with meat and cheese. A few years ago I started looking for new restaurants that offered original cuisine other than burgers and cheese(which I still love). I have discovered a few new hidden gems but hadn't heard about Louse's until I was in Milwaukee last weekend.I immediately loved the outdoor seating as well as the interior decor. It was trendy,lively and seemed like a place "to be seen". Because of the atmosphere and decor I figured that prices would be pretty high here. However, when I looked at the menu I saw how reasonable all of the homemade pasta dishes were. We started with some wine and appetizers. I loved the calamari since it was lightly breaded-I could actually taste the flavor of the calamari which is usually not the case. The caprese was good to. Did I mention the focaccia bread they put on the table? Obsessed. I also loved the salad with goat cheese, balsamic and nuts. For my entree I chose the veggie lasagna. The pasta was fresh and the veggies were seasonal ones from the area. In mine I had some carrots and spinach with the lightest, tastiest ricotta. The combination of ingredients made for a light yet satisfying dish. Accompanied with a garlic tomato "salad", I was satisfied. I will be back to Louise's to try some more of their homemade pasta next time I am in Milwaukee!
(5)Judy S.
Excellent food and service. We previously had a small problem. Spoke to the owner and he went above and beyond to resolve the issue. Agree with others about the focaccia and oil. Loved it. We had Pappardelle with Italian Sausage and the Penne Rigate with Asparagus. Delicious!
(5)Neveen M.
Very good food and friendly staff. They will let you change your dish up to your liking and substitute items. A main reason I keep coming back! The servers have always been good, and personable.
(4)Steve S.
Louise's does tend to seem like it's stuck in the late 90's. BBQ Chicken Pizza, goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes tend to be touted a lot on the menu. While the offerings are nothing ground breaking and they never will compete with Zarletti's for best Italian in the city, Louise's is a good basic Italian place and well priced. You can be assured to get a decent meal at a good price. Nothing less. Nothing more. The "California" pizzas are quite good. I find them "fresher" tasting than California Pizza Kitchen. Pasta is also good. Our entire party enjoyed their dinners this past weekend. The only downside is service. While other restaurants hire experienced wait staff, Louise's appears to hire "newbies". We have had several incidents where the staff seemed to forget about us. One time, at brunch, our server was so hung over, he was useless. This past weekend, our waiter did not come back often enough and missed out on us ordering another bottle of wine. The staff is okay but they're not on the same level as Elsa's next door. Louise's is a great neighborhood Italian place. Good food & good prices.
(3)jean h.
Italian??? Sadly this place was not very good. There were four of us for dinner. They gave us a basket of bread. 4 pieces of very bland stuff and 4 pieces with baked in cheese - that kind was good. Next we ordered bruschetta - three pieces of grilled bread with a bit of oil and sliced tomato. No cheese! How can bruschetta have no cheese? It would have been nice for the server to let us know we would be one piece short also. Two of us ordered the 3 cheese Ravioli with spinach. We were both disappointed. The ravioli came in an orange colored sauce that was not very good. The ravioli itself was paper thin - you could stack all 8 pieces up and it would have been 3 inches high. The 3rd cheese seemed to be the clump of Parmesan on top of the sauce - and the spinach - oh please - this is the best part - a leaf of spinach was put on top of each ravioli! The two others at the table were happy with their calzones.
(2)Richard S.
I stopped in here the other day for a drink. Kira made me an outstanding Mojito. Since I was still stuffed from Food Truck Friday, I didn't order any food. The staff was very pleasant and friendly and the Men's room was huge and easy to navigate in a wheelchair. Based on this experience, I will definitely be back to try the food.
(4)M M.
I went to Louise's last night for a bachelorette party and had a mixed experience. We were seated in the back room next to another bachelorette party that was so loud, you couldn't hear yourself think. By no means are we quite girls but the noise level was too much. I know this isn't the restaurant's fault, but I would caution fellow Yelpers about parties in the back room. We did have 2-3 waitresses waiting on us but they seemed unaware of all of the menu items, and were spotty in their service. Not to mention, I was a bit annoyed when I ordered one thing (spaghetti) and another thing came out (spaghetti + meatballs). It wasn't the end of the world but clearly the waitress heard a different thing then what I said. The food was ok, I didn't like that the spaghetti sauce was drenched with cheese. I like to put cheese on top only if I want to and again this wasn't described in the menu. Overall, it wasn't the best but I'd be interested to try something else and see if I just ordered wrong.
(3)Jon A.
While coming back home Sunday afternoon, we drove through downtown and decided to eat lunch down there. For some reason, our first two choices were closed so we ended up at Louise's. We walked in and the place spoke to me. It said, "Good afternoon, Jon. Boy oh boy, are you going to be underwhelmed today!" And that's when we should have walked out. We were seated in the main dining room which was about 1/3 full. I remembered why I don't usually eat out on Sundays between 10am and 3pm; Brunch. I realize I'm one of the few people in the world who doesn't care for brunch, but I have a hard time paying for a meal that consists of the week's leftovers that the kitchen is trying to get rid of. I don't care how many eggs or crepes you use, it's still mostly old food. Thankfully, brunch also means boozing it up early, so I can manage. The brunch menu and the lunch menu were handed to us when we were seated and we waited about 15 minutes for the server to arrive. He was nice and took our drink and food orders right away. I decided to try the breakfast martini and my wife ordered a bloody mary. For food, I decided to try the meatball sandwich with a side salad. My wife ordered the portabella sandwich. After the server left, we sat there for about 5 more minutes wondering where the heck our drinks were. A couple minutes later, the server came back with water and said the drinks were still on their way. By this time I was thinking, "I don't want water. I want my dayum drank!" *pouts* So we sat there with our sad little waters and stared at each other with pity. Finally, some bread came out. 2 minutes later, our drinks finally showed up. Yay! Our booze has finally arrived! But before we could even have a couple sips, our food was brought over. Well, shoot. The whole point of having some drinks is to work up an appetite. I should have had two drinks to offset the mediocrity of the food. My meatball sandwich was dry due to a lack of sauce. The meatballs were practically screaming, 'Help, I'm naked! Someone stole my sauce!" My wife's portabella sandwich showed up as not a sandwich, but as portabella benedict. I mean, the mushroom part was there, but it wasn't what she ordered. The cooks in the kitchen were probably like, "Oh crap, these mushrooms are old. Eh, they're here for brunch. I'll just throw some eggs on them and they won't notice." Owing to the fact that I did not want to eat while my wife waited to flag down a server and have her sandwich made, she just ate it. The salad that came with my sammich would have been good had they not felt the need to throw a half cup of shredded parmesan on top. I get the feeling that Louise's is the place that you go to when you're visiting the city and you don't know any better. Its location is its saving grace, because the food is mediocre and the service is terrible.
(2)Mark W.
I will never go here again. This use to be my wife's favorite spot that her and her grandmother would visit from time to time. We visited in the past with no problems but on the last time we went, we were seated by the hostess. There were maybe 6 tables full at the time. It was an earlier dinner so there were not many people there. We sat there waiting for someone to take our drink orders for a half an hour. Usually I wouldn't wait this long but I figured I would wait and see how long it would take for someone to come over. Servers looked at us, passed us by, and kept on with their business which happened to be talking to other servers by the bar. We got up and as we walked past the hostess she said, "have a good night." Really?
(1)Katie H.
The only thing stopping me from giving this place 4 or 5 stars was the service. I went this past Friday for lunch with co-workers. We were seated immediately in an awesome booth. Atmosphere is great. Bread came quickly, although after the first basket, we never saw more. Oil was amazing. No need to order an app, just graze on this goodness! We all ordered salads or soup and salad. Portions were right for the price. I ordered the BBQ chop and I love dressings. This didn't seem to hardly have any on it. So I asked for a ranch. The waiter replied "We don't have ranch, this is an Italian restaurant.' Wow. Well, you have BBQ...so I thought you might have ranch. I'm going to go back and give the pizza a try this week because that looked great. Hopefully I can bring a review with 5 stars next!
(3)Lauren D.
A solid three. I love the fact that they give you a ton of delicious foccacia bread and oil, but on this visit, the bread had a slightly less-than-fresh texture. My dining partner and I ordered the goat cheese croquette appetizer and were initially brought out the small size that was a promotion for Down Town Dining week. The server realized we had ordered the regular portion and took it away, much to our relief because it was two tiny croquettes. Sadly, the regular size is a measly three for for $8. The pasta was delicious, fresh, and plentiful for the price, and our waiter was friendly and attentive.
(3)Mike B.
We were in town for the weekend and a friend, actually, this guy that one of my friends was trying to sleep with, recommended this spot. Anyway, our Milwaukee "concierge" told us the focaccia bread was out-of-this world. I would agree that the focaccia was good, in that compared to the rest of the food, the focaccia was the only thing that actually tasted like food. I ordered the chicken picadda - when it arrived, I thought she made a mistake because the opaque semi-gelatinous thing on my plate looked more like fish. It didn't taste like fish, but it also didn't taste like chicken. My friends experiences were pretty much the same. So... Food, not great. Ambiance, also not amazing. The place has a very distinct feel of a Denny's that was repurposed by someone that used scraps from a recently demolished 1980's Atlantic City casino. But, I'm giving an enthusiastic 2 stars because our server was awesome! Super nice and very attentive. My recommendation, if in Milwaukee and looking for Italian food, go to a 7/11 and buy a can of Spagettios...
(2)Ben B.
If you are looking for decent Italian food at a good price, Louise's is the place for you. This is a stable of the downtown lunch crowd. You are greeted at your table with warm focaccia bread with a olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping sauce. The menu is a large and offers a good selection of basic Italian dishes. It also has a great lunch menu that you can split a sandwich with a salad. For salads, you can't beat their goat cheese, sun-dried tomato and pine nut salad, their best sandwich has to be chicken parmesan and for pasta try their spicy pappardelle with italian sausage. They also have a great pizza selection - with their best being the barbecued chicken. The one downside of Louise's is dependent on where you sit. With an open kitchen, coupled with a high ceiling it will be difficult to have a conversation if you are seated near the kitchen. This is also an excellent place to order take-out or delivery (you get an order of their focaccia bread and dipping sauce all for yourself!).
(3)T L.
I'd give it zero stars if that were an option. I've been visiting Louise's for 13 years and each time it goes further down hill. Tonite will be our last visit. The food simply tastes blah. My chicken tonight was burnt on the bottom and the smell of burnt food was constantly rolling out from the kitchen. Good bye Louise's.
(1)Greg W.
My rating is mostly based on their brunch menu. The only time I go eat at Louise's is on Saturday or Sunday before 3pm. I absolutely love their french toast. It comes with fruit and is just the perfect meal on a Saturday or Sunday. I recommend the traditional french toast or the banana foster. It's a quiet atmosphere, the people are usually pretty friendly. I think they have an awesome bar. I love the bar set up and how the tables are along the window for a nice view of the park. I think they could switch up their general seating a bit, but all in all it's a nice place to bring people for brunch. All the people I brought it was their first time and they loved it. Enjoy!!
(4)Eric G.
This is a great Italian place and is very romantic! You get excellent bread with oil and balsamic! Try the seafood ravioli, or a pizza !
(4)Matthew H.
I like this place as. It has some good Italian food. The bar is a fun place to have a few drinks and it is also very open with the windows; which I enjoy. Many athletes go here too if you are looking to catch them while they are in Milwaukee.
(4)Paul S.
The meal started with focaccia bread. It was excellent - no it was super duper excellent!!! We all LOVED THE BREAD! Carissa, our very nice server, recommended the Lasagna - so I ordered it and it was very good! The others in my group had Chicken Parmesan, Penne Arrabiata, Ravioli and Stromboli. Everyone enjoyed their meals except for the Stromboli which is crispy (burnt) and rather dry - even with the sauce on the side. But perhaps some folks like it that way! Louise's is one of the few restaurants open on Sunday in the downtown area; however, I think it would be a fine choice any day of the week!
(4)Dan G.
Decent food and service. I can't tell if I eat here when I'm in Cathedral Square because I like it or because it's the best option in the immediate area. The complimentary bread with olive oil/balsamic is a nice touch.
(3)Philia R.
What an awesome restaurant! All the food looked and tasted great! The meal started with warm focaccia bread. We asked the waitress for recommendations and this was the first time I've ever had a waitress be totally honest and say what was good and what wasn't. We followed her recommendations and got the Goat Salad with Blackened chicken and the California Trio pizza and were VERY pleased. The food tasted so good. Also, they had a $5 Sangria special which added to the nice evening. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Chrissy E.
Favorite restaurant in the city! Everything I've ever ordered here is amazing. If you're into thin crust, their pizza is great. The pasta is very fresh. My favorite thing here is the goat cheese, pine nut, & sun-dried tomato salad-- you wouldn't think a salad would "wow" you enough to order it solo as your dinner, but it's really delicious!
(5)