MA Fischer’s
2214 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
MA Fischer’s Menu
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Address :
2214 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53202 - Phone (414) 271-7424
- Website https://mafischersrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Late Night
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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C R.
MA Fishers, My boyfriend and I have eaten at MANY diners searching for the best chicken, cheese and broccoli omelettes. You have by far given us the best chicken, cheese, and broccoli omelette. We ate at MA Fishers in July and have since dined at least 15 other diners, but still talk about our MA Fishers omelettes (we each ordered TWO that night because it was so good). We were, however, annoyed that we had to pay in advance of being served, since we were of the "late night" crowd. Regardless, this is by far our favorite omelette spot! Too bad we live in Chicago...
(4)Paul B.
Starting coming here regularly a few months ago once or twice a week with co workers for lunch. Always prompt service, hot foods, smiles from everyone and our usual table. Keep it up Ma!
(5)David M.
Late night after bar diner food. They make you pre-pay after 10:00 pm. Food is mediocre at the very best. The late night crowd is loud, rude, and generally drunk. Our most recent of our few visits there was definitely our last.
(2)Layla B.
Woo! Ma fischers came through for me on an early morning. Stopped in solo for breakfast before facilitating a move. It was pretty empty around 7 and I felt fine sitting alone - which I usually don't, cause ya know, social pressure. I ordered the Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. I also had some delicious decaf coffee! The waffle came out in like, 4 minutes! It was wonderful and totally hit the spot. Thank you, Ma!
(4)Jennifer R.
My husband and I, along with another couple, stopped in here recently for a late night dinner. Ma Fischer's is your typical 24 hour diner. They serve simple, comfort food at reasonable prices. The portion sizes are pretty nice, and the food is decent. When we arrived, we were able to be seated immediately. My husband asked if we could be seated away from the noisier college kids that were there, and they were able to accommodate our request. Our server was very nice and did a great job. For my meal, I had the chorizo burrito. It was very good. It comes topped with salsa and is served with beans and rice on the side, with a choice of toast or a tortilla. It had a little kick to it, but I have no regrets about ordering it :-) I would absolutely love to come back here again and check out the rest of their menu.
(4)S T.
Wow did this place blow chunks. This is the first time that I didn't leave any tip at all and I didn't take the left overs with me home. First off I couldn't take them because my server never came back to offer me a box or my check. I asked my server if the ham was off the bone and she looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language so I said is it real ham or fake ham and she says it's real, see my pictures. So I order the ham and two eggs which comes with toast and hash browns. When the food comes I notice that the ham is the fake processed roll, shit I would have ordered something else because I specifically asked about the ham. I ate it anyway. When I was done I pushed my plate away, the international signal that I'm done and I waited and waited, waited, waited, waited, waited and no box or check. After ten minutes I'm pissed so I leave the food plus NO TIP and go to the register to pay the check so I could leave. She didn't even take my money and handed my check to another server to collect. As you can see from my pictures the room was mostly empty. Bottom line is I would never go here again because the food is nothing special and the service was piss poor like I have never seen.
(1)Rohan D.
If you come here for a late night diner experience, you'll be less likely to be disappointed than if you're coming here for a restaurant meal. This is the sort of place where you can get a fatty greasy traditional American breakfast at any hour of the day, and that's your best bet. No matter who you are, they want payment in advance at night, some of us are more used to this sort of insult than others, at least there aren't any hidden upcharges. At times the waitstaff is overwhelmed, especially if a fraternity-sorority type large group is in being high maintenance and stupid-drunk. I've been in cleaner places, but the food is better than Denny's which might be the closest comparison. The late night post-bar crowd can be considered entertainment in itself, but in this sense, there's still a better time to be had at the Golden Apple or Golden Nugget in Chicago (I fondly remember one of my last meals with my mother after a low paying gig she attended for me, she made friends with the 4 6-foot tall drag queens at the table next to us, proudly telling them about her son's trumpet solos). This place is a perfect location if you're coming out of the last show at the Oriental, or if you just closed down Allium.
(3)Chee Z.
I felt badly for our waitress. She clearly knows she works in a crappy diner. 1. I ordered scrambled eggs that came with bacon. Since I'm vegetarian, I asked to sub the bacon with veggies. What kind? Broccoli, if they have it. Usually I'd get mushrooms but from the get-go I could tell those would have come in institution-sized cans. But I was not prepared for... 2. ...the single, albeit large, spear of broccoli that came with my eggs. It was huge, albeit cold aka not freshly steamed, albeit limp and watery aka thawed from the freezer, albeit gray aka not fresh and so green, green. (That's my Outkast nod) 3. I ate the eggs and didn't dare touch the gray mass on the plate. 4. When our waitress came to clear our plates and ask if we wanted dessert - we did because we were hungry and 2 scrambled eggs just doesn't cut it for me - she mentioned that she could tell we enjoyed our food by how clean our plates were. Brrr??? My plate was half full with the thing they called broccoli and my husband's plate looked just like mine. What a strange thing to say. 5. We ordered dessert. OK, it was just french toast. The syrup was an Aunt Jemima's knockoff. Yuck. The butter never melted, defying the laws of physics. 6. When we paid on our way out, the owner ran our tab. He could not have looked more disinterested. He never looked me in the eye as I handed him my card. Really, he didn't look toward our bodies at all. He wasn't distracted by anything in particular, he just vacantly scanned to the right of our heads where no one was seated. Boo!
(1)Jenna O.
I was not impressed by my visit to Ma Fischers... I may give it another go since I hear they make great breakfast and what I ordered was a sandwich. Anyways like I said I ordered a sandwhich that sounded like one of the healthier options on their menu, well it had the potential to be healthy but what came out was anything but... I literally had grease dripping down my wrists trying to eat my food. It was super gross and left me feeling greasy and dirty.
(2)Doug R.
I'm not a big breakfast guy so I don't get that when I come here. Good food overall. I like these types of sit down restaurants. Prices aren't bad and neither is the service. Nothing overly special but idk how much longer I'll be coming here since I'll be living 20 minutes away instead of two. Not sure it's worth the drive...
(3)Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: 24-hour bartime diner. Three of us stopped at Ma Fischer's after closing-time on North Ave. It was more full than any place should be at 3AM. You pay when you order, before your food comes, I assume because they've had runners. Our young server was very friendly and accommodating to our (and everyone else's) intoxication. I got a bowl of Chili with Cornbread (~$4). I can't be certain (what with my state of mind at the time), but I recall this chili and cornbread was absolutely delicious. Good amounts of meat, beans, and heat. My friends also raved about their skillets. It doesn't have much competition near North, but you can't beat Ma Fischer's diner for what it is.
(3)David Z.
For breakfasts and lunches, this place is hard to beat. Great service, generous portions, reasonable prices, good flavors. As a "Greek family restaurant" type, of which there are very many in the greater Milwaukee area, this is one of the few in the downtown/East Side district and your'e lucky to find a seat if it's the heart of the breakfast hour or high noon. Just about everyone knows about Ma Fischer's and has eaten there at least once. 24 hour service!
(4)Daniel S.
Solid diner in milwaukee, lotsa choices for breakfast and dinner and lunch, I know their skillets are their specialty, and looking back j should have gotten that because they looked real good, I ended up getting the chorizo omelette, it was good, eggs maybe we're a bit more brown than I like tho, also the parking lot is real cramped, I'd say just do street parking, but overall Id still return
(4)Rachel L.
I like this diner because everyone can get whet they want. Really good breakfast... perfect for when you're hungover ;) I've never tried anything off of their lunch/dinner menu but I have been here many times for breakfast and I'm always satisfied. I feel like lots of breakfast spots around Milwaukee have such limited menus so I like the fact that there is a lot to choose from. It's also nice to support a family business (the history behind this one is pretty cool).
(4)Kim C.
Good for drunk people who need food but since their tips are built in with their prepaid service the customer service sucks. I've been here after bar hours and during regular hours and every time I've had mediocre food with horrible service. Don't recommend coming here. There's so many other better restaurants on the East side.
(1)Adam C.
I've been here twice, both times its the sort of place I've settled on with an out-of-town visitor who is kind of a pain-in-the-ass about going out to eat. That's not to say it's bad, but it's just never my first choice. The first time I had the Ma Fischer's omelette (I think that's what it's called) very early in the morning. It had just about every ingredient in the kitchen and tasted like it. Gyro meat and corned beef were the two biggest draws. It was decent enough and filled me up for cheap. I was in again more recently at about 9pm after suggesting a few other places. My best friend, visiting from out of town, made the waitress' life harder than it needed to be by asking a bunch of questions in the most confusing way possible, but she handed it with class. She actually ended up being really cool through the whole experience despite a couple of bumps along the way. We ended up ordering a ton of food--a lot of appetizers--but our bill still wasn't that outrageous. None of the food was anything to write home about, but it also wasn't bad. The way I'd explain it to someone is "it's a couple of steps above a Denny's" I had the gyro platter. I couldn't recommend it, honestly. The strips of meat were very thin and bland, the onion was also very thin and held a lot of water (it was as if they had peeled apart the onion with something like a carrot peeler, actually, and then rinsed it off). The tomato was, in contrast, cut very thick. The sauce, although a bit bland was the best part of the meal. I didn't expect something on par with Oakland or the Parthenon in Madison, but I was a bit underwhelmed. Fortunately, the next time I find myself here (and I'm sure it'll happen eventually), they have a huge menu to pick from. My friends had varied luck with their meals, but everybody seemed happy enough for what it was. While I'm being a bit critical, I think the phrase "it is what it is" applies here. Ma Fischer's ain't the best food in town, but they're not trying to be. Like Rachel F. said in her review it fills a void that the East Side will always need; it's probably great drunk food, but it's unlikely to be a sober person's first choice. A 3/5 is appropriate, I think.
(3)Bartleby F.
Huge menu. Great prices. 24 hours. Amazing location for Eastsiders. I've eaten here only about 4 times in the 5 years I've lived in Milwaukee. That's a crying shame. It's an institution. Cool old school interior. Excellent service. They have chicken and waffles. Biscuits and gravy (something I've sorely missed since leaving Louisiana). Grits! They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner--24 hours a day! After midnight they do want payment up front. That's a totally reasonable request of a place that I'm guessing has seen many a dine and dash.
(4)Milwtown D.
This review is for Breakfast only and this is my joint for breakfast on early Sunday mornings. Strongly recommended. Sante Fe Chicken Belly Busting Skillet is my fav
(5)Radha K.
Oh, Ma Fischer's...how I miss thee! The food is undeniable. The breakfast is great. They have great gyro meat. Chocolate chip pancakes are stacked with chocolate chips (see what I did there?) and the quesadilla is huge. Ma Fischer's has, hands down, the best water in town. The staff is so friendly and the service is great. I love this place and am confused as to why it doesn't have 5 stars. Where else can you get a breakfast combo platter, cheese curds, chicken wings, and ice cold water at 10 am for $4.75 (maybe a little more)?!
(5)Jason B.
Not going to expect much out of a place like Ma Fischer's....and I got exactly what I expected. Decent food, decent service, decent prices....but as 2 stars suggests, I've definitely experienced better. I'd even take a George Webb experience over MF any day of the week. Don't spend the extra money for american fries/hash browns, they were cold and gross. Sausage was a bit tough, french toast was decent, but there are so many better options in the area.
(2)Brittney L.
Great menu choices for a low price! I am a fan of having 24 hour venues. The late night grab is sometimes one of the better choices. I have only been here a few times, but from the times I have come, the staff has been great and the food I received was more than enough to take home. The service was fast and the food was great. I am thinking about heading there tonight!
(4)Andres A.
Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!! Love it!!
(5)Nick S.
First time here and definitely my last. Poor service, unfriendly staff. They make you pre pay during certain hours, but they automatically include a gratuity... Which is unfortunate when your server is terrible. We couldn't wait to leave, as all the servers were sitting in booths talking and playing on their phones. Very disappointing.
(1)Aubrey G.
I've never had a bad meal here. Never. I'm actually puzzled by some of the comments and ratings. Deli style sandwiches are excellent here and very fairly priced. All of them come with a bowl (yes, a bowl) of soup, and there's usually two choices of soup to chose from, per day. The soup is so good, this is one of my top destinations when I want a bowl of soup. (BTW, for a buck more, you can get fries with your sandwich/soup). I've never had bad service here, either. I've been coming here for lunch off and on for years and can't say that I was even once unhappy. As a matter of fact, they have some of the most efficient, outstanding bus service teams at any like restaurant. I'm a big coffee drinker. Their busboys are constantly prowling the restaurant with a decanter of coffee or decaf. The only negative about the restaurant, for me, is that parking can be challenging. They actually have a lot next to the restaurant, but it holds only about ten vehicles, you might have to do some 360's to find a parking spot on the street, but its worth the inconvenience if you're not lucky enough to find a space on the lot..
(4)Tom V.
Great place to go for breakfast. On a road trip we (8 people) all met here for a "the morning after breakfast". The owner was great, and worked hard to find us a large table. The food was good, with a nice selection. One of our group had a wrap, that looked great. I had eggs and the pancakes. They were better than average. I would say get here early, by the time we left the line was out the door. If I'm hungover in Milwaukee, I'll hit this place again.
(3)Scot H.
Not much to say here except check your credit card statement. I was charged more than my receipt showed. Apparently a 23% tip wasn't good enough.
(2)Andrea K.
Not great quality food and so-so service. The waitress didn't even offer me tartar sauce for my fish fry, yet she brought it for a table next to us... Parking is a nightmare, especially in a crammed parking lot full of people who can't park to begin with. I wouldn't come here again.
(2)Michael G.
Terrible service with an attitude! Never will go back.
(1)Tiffany H.
Just saying... I don't understand how this place has so many good reviews. I've given this place about 6 times to prove me wrong and nothing. Don't get the Caesar salad, the cheese is nasty and old . We saw our food on the window for about fifteen minutes . Don't go after ten, there's a server tip you must pay and I'm a server myself, I tip fairly well. But when it's already added in the bill, the servers don't want to work. So we got horrible service. They're all sitting around talking about boys and can't take two minutes to check up on a table . Ridiculous .
(1)Anne M.
I just left Ma Fischer's. A customer complained about the food, and the owner told him that he hates, "your people". The customer became furious and threatened to get his conceal and carry from his car. The owner then threatened him with his own. Fortunately, an employee stepped between the two men and the customer left. I cannot believe that the owner would risk the safety of his customers and employees by arguing the man. He did not apologize to any of the customers. I do not recommend.
(1)Adina K.
I have heard of Ma Fisher's and it lived up to the hype. It was brunch on Sunday when my friends and I decided to go and it was super busy but we got seated right away even though the place was pretty packed. We got asked if we wanted coffee right away and we got waters right away as well. Our waitress was so nice. We all ordered and o got a chorizo omelet and it was delicious! The proportions were also perfect. We all ate basically everything off our plate. We got asked frequently if we wanted more coffee or water. I was very pleased with the overall experience and Ma Fischer's lives up to the hype.
(5)Kitsi S.
The food is good diner food but the menu available via Yelp us not accurate pricing and they do not honor the cheaper price posted.
(3)Chris F.
Had breakfast with the family here this morning. Very busy place, yet was quickly seated. I preferred a booth, but was seated at a table because there was not one available. Before we were greeted by the server a booth became available and we were moved. It took awhile for the server to finally come to the table and take our drink orders. Granted they were busy, but the delay was a little longer than average. At the same time, I appreciate that I wasn't rushed while deciding on what to order. Lots to choose from no matter what time of the day-- this place is open 24 hours. I ordered the Farmers omelet packed with mushrooms, onions, ham, and tomatoes with an added layer of cheese. Pretty good omelet overall. Hashbrowns weren't bad either. Service? I wasn't too impressed. My server wasn't exactly personable, but focused on turning tables. Overall, Ma's serves its purpose to be a place to dine regardless of the time. I'll be back!
(3)Missy R.
I ate here before going to the Oriental Theater. Good solid breakfast at a good price.
(4)Valerie D.
It's a diner. Expect that and you'll be fine. The service was great, the food good and quick.
(4)Diana M.
Good pretty cheap breakfast but rest of the food is not good or just subpar. It is a good place to go for a quick meal
(3)Daniella B.
We came by here at the end of a night out and I can't think of a single good thing to say about this restaurant. There was security at the door which I can understand to an extent but made you feel a little out of place. They decided to seat us in the middle of an isle so drunk sluts were trying to squeeze around us to go to the bathroom. After we ordered, we were told we have to pre-pay before they would bring us our food. We were okay with that since drunk kids probably don't always pay their tab. We decided to split the tab between cash and a card and they brought back a credit card receipt that was $10 too high! Somehow, they miscounted our cash? They did refund us our $10 back but when they finally brought out the food, they forgot parts of our order. Not only that but the food was bland and poorly prepared. We were obviously not drunk enough to enjoy this restaurant since they're used to providing poor service, bland food, and ripping off their drunk customers.
(1)Aja G.
This is a great diner. Yes, the name says restaurant, but a few quick questions will tell you it is a diner: Do the waitress/waiters have better things to do than help you? Does the breakfast come with butter on top of it and on the side? Do they ask drunks to pay in advance Does everything somehow have cheese with the option of adding more cheese? Does the food taste delicious...as far as you can remember Is the established someone's name who may have never existed? Does the place stay open obscene/non-eating appropriate hours? If you answered yes to all those questions you are in a diner--specifically Ma Fischer's. Come looking for something greasy and hot and stay for the people watching and because butter and canola oil have paralyzed you.
(3)Rachel F.
I'm gonna be honest. I haven't been here in years. That changes nothing, though. MA Fischer's is what it is, no more, no less. It fills a void that the east side so desperately and always will need: greasy spoon, open late, diner fare that, though it's not terribly good food, works just fine to soak up the copious amounts of alcohol that North Avenue revelers have undoubtedly assaulted their systems with. Go safe, friends. Go for what seems safe. You can't go wrong with a Denver omelette or some form of turkey club or whatever. The diner counter reminds me of the one in the Big Lebowski. You remember the one. The one at which Walter stays and enjoys his coffee? He's staying. He's enjoying his coffee. He's enjoying this "family-style" restaurant.
(2)Kelly M.
FYI! If you come in after 10 pm or before 6 am they add a 15% gratuity without telling you. There is a sign at the entrance indicating that you must prepay and that there will be a gratuity added, but they do not mention it when they take your order. I really liked this place until I found out that they have been sneaking in a gratuity this whole time. Just go to Denny's or Ian's Pizza and don't waste your time at Ma Fischers. I'm super upset because I love breakfast food and this place is really close to home, but I do not appreciate the deception. I don't mind paying a 15% gratuity, but it bothers me that they slyly add to any party size. I wish they disclosed it up front.
(2)Jay S.
Ma Fischer's is a diner-style no frills family restaurant. The food is generally good, passable, not great, filling, decent food. The service is generally. good, passable, not great, not terribly quick, decent service. The tip is added to the bill and you have to pay in advance late nights. This is to avoid people walking away without paying, I am sure, but in my experience at this restaurant. It also allows to waitstaff to take their time and do as little as possible.
(3)Lisa B.
Apparently I cannot give a place 0 stars, so I suppose one star will have to suffice. I've given Ma Fischers a few chances. I seem to always get conveniently ill after eating there, which is why I stopped. Once I had a hair in my food, and they didn't really offer much more than an "I'm sorry." There are so many great places on the east side, why waste your money here? Also, the owner?? likes to stand at the register and just leer upon everyone in the dining room...he always looks pissed off. One thing I can say, is that the bus boys are friendly and efficient. If you MUST eat here, i.e. your drunk-ass friends at 4am have nowhere else to eat because Ian's is closes, just get a pie. I think the desserts are safe.
(1)Julia M.
Oh, Ma Fischer's haters. You just don't get it. This is a fantastic and necessary place on the East Side. It's a classic Greek family diner with a giant menu, cheap prices and generous portions. I repeat, generous portions. Sometimes you want a freakin' bowl of soup that comes with your burger, not some dinky upcharged cup. Seriously, I've never had anything that wasn't just fine at this place. Eggs, breakfast stuff, soup, sandwiches are all perfectly acceptable. And Ma Fischer's is open 24 hours. You're not getting a Denver omelette at midnight from the Chic Organic Cafe, are you? Are you? I rest my case.
(5)Joseph S.
I HEAR A LOTTA TALK, BY A LOTTA HONKIES, SITTIN' ON A LOTTA MONEY TELLIN' ME THEY'RE HIGH SOCIETY. WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS THE HIGH SOCIETY MAN!!! THIS IS THE HIGH SOCIETY!!! F/Buck the trend. Yeah, you probably came here drunk and were being a bitch or your usual douchenozzle self and that's why your experience was sub-par. Ma's is just fine. Just fine. Made it part of my whirlwind tour of all things North & Farwell not too long ago. Big portions, low prices, totally a-ok diner fare. Diverse menu! Really, Really diverse! I even enjoyed the other half of my eggplant parmesan panini the next day. The Greek fries... man. Pretty good. Maybe a little heavy on the dressing. Good idea, at least. Shut up and don't expect so much from a place that turns over more tables than a Merle Haggard show at a bar in Buttfuck, Nowhere.
(3)Damon R.
Great place on the east side. Late night and breakfast meals! Typical diner food that actually tastes like something other than cardboard.
(4)Annalise V.
We were greeted by a super sweet waiter who took our drink order right away. As soon as he left another waitress came up to us asking us what we would like to drink. We informed her that we just told the other waiter what we ordered and she informed us right away that "that was impossible because he doesn't speak English". After explaining to her that he obviously did because he took our order she informed us that SHE would be the one taking our order and not him. Our food was normal diner food. Nothing to rave about. I will not be back.
(1)Brennan S.
I love Ma Fischers. I see plenty of negative reviews but I expect that is from the bar crowd which comes in late in large numbers. I've been in here after bar time and it is a zoo, but I do not blame the staff or the restaurant for that. There are few places to go in the area late at night. I like to come in during the week for a late breakfast or lunch. I enjoy sitting at the counter and reading as I eat my meal. The staff has always been great. The food is tasty. Everything looks very clean. And it's such a convenient location. I do other errands before or after I stop in for a bite. Try it outside of the bar time rush and I am sure you'll like it.
(5)Sadie T.
Ah, me, betwixt 2 and 3. MA Fischer's is the American Greek food experience. Old old furniture. I have never noticed a cleanliness issue. The servers have always been pleasant and attentive enough. My concern with MA Fischer's is the freshness of the food. Everything is available all the time (from breakfast to shishkabobs to steaks to stir fry), so I can't imagine all the food can possibly be fresh. When a menu is over 5 pages long, I start to wonder how a place could possibly fresh make (or even fresh store) all those options. I've been several times for late night dessert. I enjoy this experience. I also went once for breakfast for dinner and had a greasy omelet. As we all know, MA Fischer's is pretty much the ideal drunk late night experience. Everything you and your friends could possibly want.
(3)Courtney H.
The best food. I crave it sometimes (I no longer live in Milwaukee). Their eggs benedict is so super yummy! The hollandaise is amazing. The gyro meat is also a favorite.
(5)Doris F.
I hate to say this because I have been there so many times in the past but the food is pretty basic. The coffee is not that grand. It is typical diner food with nothing too special. It does fill the belly but if you are looking for something interesting it is not the place. If you are looking to eat somewhere where it is not going to have ice cubes in it or you are hungover after hanging out in the club this is the spot.
(2)Robert S.
I have been frequenting Ma Fischer's for some time now, but unfortunately after today I don't think I'll be going back. Years of experience as a server at established restaurants had taught me the difference between decent service and terrible service....and unfortunately that exactly what I got today. The attitude of the server was dull and unenthusiastic. We had to ask multiple times for refills because she forgot our requests while she and the other servers were all standing in a group talking and not working. Granted, the restaurant was slow...but slow times are when customers should get better service, not worse. Anyway, all of this would have been excusable if the food made up for it.....it did not. I had an eggplant panini which was bland and terribly seasoned (and I get eggplant frequently...I know how good it CAN taste). I had to put ketchup on my panini just to make it tolerable. In the end, I ended up scraping off the eggplant and just eating cheese and bread (ewww!). After stacking up all of our dishes and waiting entirely too long for the server to bring our check, we brought it to the manager. When we gave him the check, he looked at the tip I left, double checked the price of the bill, and rolled his eyes at me. Sooo incredibly disrespectful considering this sever deserved NO tip, the ONLY reason she got one was because after years of work as a server I feel too guilty leaving nothing at all. Very disappointing. Sorry Ma's...you just lost a regular!
(1)Tristan K.
The restaurant gets three stars, however, if I could review our regular server, Yvonne, she would get five. The menu has a little bit of everything, and portion size is good for the price, most of the menu is under $10 and comes with soup. Fries are a dollar extra, but I would much rather have soup than fries. Clientele can be a little rowdy during third shift, which is why they have prepay after 10, and add a 15% tip. Now, please remember when you go to Ma Fischer's during prepay, that your server is dealing with several tables full of drunk and rowdy college kids, and that 15% is probably less than she deserves. Add to it... always. If you tip well at Ma's, your server will remember you and take great care of you in the future. I love Yvonne. She's one of my favorite servers in Milwaukee, I remember her from years ago when she worked somewhere else, and she's been at Ma's now for years. No one knows the menu better than my girl, Yvonne. She'll let you know what's best.
(3)Natalee X.
I have been here a couple of times. The first time I got a breakfast entree of pancakes and eggs which was about par for a family style restaurant. The second time I went to Ma Fishers, my friend and I split a plate of nachos. It was soggy and pretty disgusting. We both felt sick the next day. The service is also fairly horrendous. Both times I waited a long time for my food and the server did not bother to check on the table.
(3)Erin B.
When you come in on a Saturday night and overhear this conversation between employees: Employee A: Hey! Remember that guy last week who ate a steak and then called the paramedics?! Employee B: Yeah.... Employee A: Well he's back! You just maaaaaaybe want to rethink what the hell you're doing there in the first place. Such is the case with Ma Fischers. You don't really know what brought you in (it may have something to do with whiskey) but you immediately question it once you're there. The food is at its absolute best, incredibly boring, and the service is pretty much the worst you'll get this side of Taycheedah (which, incidentally, is where Ma Fishers must do all of its HR recruiting). The people who work there seem nice enough, but you do get the distinct impression that if you happen to say the wrong thing (like "Can I get more ketchup?" for example) you will probably get shanked with a filed-down toothbrush in the bathroom. That having been said, the people watching is pretty spectacular. Every crazy, drunk or social degenerate comes here on a regular basis. (You're probably asking yourself why I was eating here, if that's the case. To which I will reply a polite "no comment!") Play your cards right and you might just get through a meal without having to call the paramedics.
(3)Dani K.
24 hours. All night. Big advantage here. I'll admit...I've only been here drunk, but then I eat and sober up, so I am, therefore, capable of reviewing. Does that explain the kind of place this is? Right. That said, the waitress, despite having to deal with people like me all night every night in her waitressing career, was polite, patient, genuine, and helpful. She gave suggestions each time (breakfast is your best option) and made nice talk. She could have been mocking me in her brain but I never would've known. The food was good for the price. (Again, waitress said the best deal was breakfast and I replied, I quote, "You had me at 'cheaper.'") Ate a breakfast croissant and Ma's #2 (toast, eggs, sausage) and was pleased. Sure, I was drunk, but my major-foodie friend also liked it. Sober and drunk approved. The cliental at night is perfect for people watching, you do have to pay before getting your food after 10pm and they are allowed to add tip to your bill if they so choose. I haven't had the tip added ever but paying after ordering is obviously because enough drunk dumbos either didn't have enough to pay after eating or dine-and-dashed.
(4)Ana T.
The restaurant needs to be remodeled. Some of the seating booths are falling apart. My booth seat was sliding towards the floor. I was distracted and could not enjoy my meal. In the past, I have ordered the fish, soup, tacos, fries etc. The food is mediocre. I would only stop by MA Fischer's before a night of heavy drinking.
(1)Elsa M.
You don't go to Ma Fischer's because the food is good. It's basically just a glorified Denny's. You go there because it is an Eastside staple - the place you go to after prom when you are in high school, after a good night out at the bar when you are in college, and for a quick bite after church when you are an adult. It caters to everyone at every point in their lives. I have no idea WHY exactly it's so popular, but part of me thinks it's the people watching. I've been there when there's been a cop in a booth about 20 feet a way from a hooker eating an omelet and a family of four across the way. It's all love and fam at Ma's! Everyone's welcome to the table!
(3)Joanna T.
Really 3.5 Woke up early this morning in a futile attempt to have breakfast at Blue's Egg. Wrong - there was already a huge wait. So, drove on over to the East Side for some Comet goodness. Wrong - they don't open until 9. What was a hungry, slightly hungover person to do? That's right, head over to Ma Fischers. It's no longer trendy, there's not going to be any dishes with chorizo, pork belly or whatever is fashionable this week, just plain staples from a neighborhood standard. After a very respectable corned beef hash (not too salty, not out of a can, real corned beef) I was ready to get on with my day by going home and taking a nap. Ironic that Ma Fischer's helped a sister out on Mothers Day. Thanks Ma! P.S. - Senator Herb Kohl was also getting' his eat on!
(3)Sarah P.
I take Ma Fischer's for what it is, an old school American diner that beats I-Hop or Denny's any day. I like the ambiance at MA's. I can tell there are a lot of regulars, people who meet here every week, that the staff know by name, and who order "the usual" and don't need a menu. I like the decor, the busy atmosphere on a Sunday at 9am, and the staff kept my coffee mug full, which is all I was looking for. I've been to MA's twice and each time I left satisfied. The first time I ordered the waffles with strawberries on top, the second time I ordered the veggie omelet. When in need of a late night restaurant, or a spot to hang out and talk, MA's works for me. Take it for what it is, why would you go here expecting more?
(3)Emily K.
Ma Fischer's is a typical greek restaurant. It's got a huge selection of mediocre food. It's open 24 hours, which is awesome and there is always something that will satisfy. Gourmet? No. Worth a visit? Sure!
(3)Maria O.
Will always come back here. We have been coming to this place for over 20 years, and it never disappoints. It is NOT Lake Park Bistro. It is NOT La Coquette. It is a good, clean, all-American diner, that will surprise you with good Greek, Italian and Mexican dishes, along with the usual burgers, chicken soup and hot dogs. Selection is enormous - even picky eaters can find something they like. Breakfast menu of over 50 items, served every day, 24 hours a day - where would you find that? Staff consists mainly of college girls - super-friendly, efficient, and attentive. One of the owners is always there, to make sure things are running smoothly. Your coffee cup will never be empty for more than 5 minutes, nor your water glass. If you show up at 2am - you will still be served any food on the slightly-shorter, but still long menu. And yes, you can get a decent hot breakfast at 3 am, brought by a friendly waitress.
(4)Jean-Paul M.
Food is OK. This place gives leftovers to Eastside homeless (which is awesome) but that means homeless will hover nearby you if dining al fresca. I don't recommend eating outdoors.
(3)James B.
Wow, Yelp-ians really hate Ma's, huh? I've been eating here since I moved to Milwaukee to go to school. The girl and I still go once or twice a month and I've never had anything like the bad experiences talked about here. The service is always phenomenal. I love most of the waitresses there. And I've never thought the owner is creepy or leery at all. And I'm always with the girl when I'm there. Granted, the food is only okay. We end up going there all the time because the girl is a Veggie and they have a ton of options for her. Not that she ever gets anything except but the veggie burger, but she has options. I have complaints against quite a few of the food items. I love their breakfast, but hate that you need to pay almost four dollars to add pancakes to anything. That's way too much. I like their (Very Gringo) tacos, but hate that they put lettuce in their burritos. It's a pet peeve of mine. If the food is only decent, it's probably one of the best places to people watch in the city. It's awesome to get a window booth and watch the happenings on Farwell as people walk, stumble, or careen their way to and from the many bars surrounding Ma's. All-in-all, I understand why people don't like it but I don't think it's too bad. I'd certainly rather go here than George Webb's or some other crappy chain diner. It's a solid A-OK from me.
(3)Leah B.
Cheap, fast, fascinating... great menu. Get anything you want at the speed of light! They have the best bussers even though they're extremely busy all the time. Open 24-7: If you're drunk, hung over, depressed... Whatever! They've always got your back. Dress in sweats, get all dolled up, bring an ex... You'll never feel out of place here, guaranteed! Don't believe me? Read their "About Us" synopsis at the front of the menu. They'll reassure ya! When in doubt, go with Ma's. I'll probably see you there.
(5)Ray H.
My wife and I look forward to our regular Friday morning breakfast at Ma's. We arrive between 8 and 10 and found that their friendly staff knows where we prefer to sit and coffee is poured before we have had a chance to open the menu. There is a huge selection on the menu and we have found that if we don't see what we want, they will find a way to make it anyway. The food has always been fresh, plentiful and reasonably priced. The restaurant and rest rooms have always been clean and well lit. I don't expect any more than that.
(5)Owen M.
When I got to my room at Cambridge Commons at 3 am, I was in no mood to deal with anything. So when I unlocked my door to find my roommate in bed with a girl, her purse on my dresser and used condoms on his, I needed to get out. Thankfully Ma Fischer's is open 24 hours and is only a few blocks away. This was exactly the kind of comfort food I needed. The wait staff was friendly and attentive, and the food, while not the absolute best, hit the perfect combination of greasy and warm, right when I needed it. I will definitely be back.
(4)Nazgul W.
I can't go below three stars because I spent so much time here on late nights during my high school years, sitting around drinking sugary coffee and hanging out with friends at all hours. We didn't always order much food but it was an oasis where we could just hang and be stupid at 1am or whenever. So Ma's has a special place in my heart. That said, it seems to have declined in quality over the years. Sure, it was never fine dining, but on return visits in the last five years it just seems rather sloppy and careless. The food isn't as good as I'd remembered. A lot of times it seems they just do the bare minimum or use mediocre ingredients and call it a day. At least a couple times I've ordered something I thought was great there, only to find it come out very uninspired and sometimes inedible. What gives? This used to be the place that was like a diner version of Riverbrook: less schmaltzy but still generous and fairly consistent. Sure, the servers and employees were never all that friendly, but at least the food was OK. Now I wonder if George Webb might be better overall, which is a scary thought!! Still, I will give this place props for staying open late and filling a crucial need on the East Side.
(3)Melanie B.
ICK! There is something wrong with this place. It is nasty. I ordered a Garden Skillet and it was half diced onion. Not kidding. It was a grease-bomb and wanted to get sick just looking at it. We went here at 3 am the other night and wanted to get some food in the bellies. I honestly think this place made my hangover worse! A little side note, as far as the "scene" at 3AM, there was a fight going on directly outside in our view of what looked like Harlem Globetrotter Cheerleaders....you guys, it was so weird. The "Security" inside of Ma Fishers was just like standing there not doing anything to break up the fight between two chicks. Totally weird.
(1)Carol K.
A Milwaukee East Side Institution since 1947, Ma Fischers is that place you discover one night (morning?) at 3am while trying to get some food in your alcohol laden stomach- only to return another time in the light of day to partake of their tasty breakfast. I had breakfast here last week after a 14 year hiatus (I moved to Chicago) and I kept looking around thinking my "beer goggles" from many moons ago must have put a different spin on the place as nothing looked familiar but the menu. Everything was in the same place but nothing had that run down look I so remembered. The solution was given to me by the manager- they had a major fire about 6 years ago and totally gutted and rebuilt the interior. Ahh . . .that explains it . . .so glad to know I am not nuts! The endless cups of strong coffee are still there. As are all the specials (try the Ma Fischer special #1- those pancakes are amazing!) and the friendly, quick service no matter what hour you descend on this 24 hour place. A couple of new things I noticed- I was told that they have a liquor license now (good thing this wasn't the case when I used to frequent at 3 am!) and they have some tables out front on Farwell for a little al fresco dining. Milwaukee has not yet gone smoke free so make sure you ask for no smoking if you want it as the smoking section up front is enough to send non smokers running for cover. Glad to see the more things change- the more they stay the same. Ma Fischers will always have a fond place in my heart (and stomach)for all the countless nights I ended up there when I was in my 20's. Today- it is a special treat to go back and re-live those "glory days" but in the light of day!
(4)Bob C.
This is an above-average "family restaurant." It has food of various sorts but nothing you mightn't find on the menu of similar restaurants all over Wisconsin. As long as one's expectations are reasonable, the food is quite good comfort food. It's just down the block from the Oriental, and is not a bad place to stop in before or after a movie there if you don't feel like a noisy bar. The best meals I have had there have been breakfasts, including a couple in the middle of the night, when Ma Fischer's is all that's around anyway. They have a small parking lot for their patrons, which can come in handy in that area when thing are going strong.
(3)Zouyan L.
Exactly what you expect from a good greasy spoon near a college campus. The emphasis on good. Service was friendly and fast. The food was cheap and the portions enormous. The Ma Fischer's Skillet lasted me 3 meals. Exactly what my friends and I were looking for late at night.
(4)Kevin B.
Our son who lives nearby brought us here for lunch. He spent quite a few college days here. Good Greek-American diner with the menu that goes on forever. We had the fish fry (cod) sandwich, a club sandwich and a buffalo chicken sandwich. With fries. With BOWLS (not cups) of clam chowders. One ice tea. For $25???? Everything was tasty, our waitress was efficient and friendly. Food came fast and hot. What should I complain about? Oh, I had to park and walk more than a block. But then again, after the 40 days of the feast of Saint Glutton (the 40 days between Thanksgiving and New Years), I needed to walk ever farther! I'll be back.
(4)Joya W.
I've been here twice.The food is trash. I could make better food even if I was blindfolded. And the service is well below par. The servers are rude. They don't come back to check on you and to see if you need anything and their focus is to turn over their tables and not to satisfy their guests. I would never go again
(1)Samantha G.
Ma Fishers: Where you go when your hungry/thirsty/bored anytime after 3am on the eastside, but only because the George Webbs on farwell closed. Food is good. There is always left overs and the menu has a large selection. Coffee is good. Keep in mind this isn't a fancy resturant. Service is good if you go at the right time (when its not busy), otherwise people forget about you.
(3)Andrew J.
Kind of Pricey but love their breakfast!
(4)Mr M.
Great service. Breakfast all day.
(5)Matthew M.
I have to admit that the Yelp vitriol spit at Ma Fischer like so much diner coffee surprises me. This is a 24-hour diner in the East Side neighborhood of Milwaukee, close to a college campus. This place isn't The Palm. There isn't a coat check or a valet, and the after-hours crowd doesn't wear monocles. They wear beer goggles. I have eaten here during the weekend morning rush, in the weekday afternoon lull, at peak after-bars pandemonium, and in the graveyard shift quietude. Each time I have received a meal meeting or exceeding my expectations for a 24-hour diner, my personal favorite restaurant category. The place was always clean. The service was always friendly, especially in that none of the waitresses I've ever received resented my presence, even if I'd knocked back a few High Lifes beforehand. And my coffee cup was always full. True, the coffee inside that cup is nothing special, but again, I'm not expecting Juan Valdez and his donkey to be making deliveries fresh from the Columbian highlands. I'm in a Milwaukee diner. The menu is absolutely massive, with nearly every possible diner option available. Opening it is like opening a white pages of every diner menu in existence. Tons of pretension-free vegetarian options as well, and their tuna salad is surprisingly tasty. While some people may complain about their late-night pre-pay mandate, I have been ditched to pay plenty of tabs by friends who've taken DJ Unk's advice and walked it out. So I'm happy to sort out the bill before the food arrives. That's the unspoken agreement you make with an establishment that promises to serve you Eggs Benedict at 2am on a Saturday. Yes, the parking situation is regrettable, and the rye bread is definitely sub-par. But while no dish is transcendent, if you're hanging out with someone who needs something specific right now and nothing else will do, this place will deliver it, day and night. But if you're hanging out with the Monopoly guy or a picky mother-in-law, you can go ahead and skip it. But that's not what diners are for.
(3)Chris S.
I went here and honestly had a great experience with some friends grabbing a greek omelette. That being said the entire weekend had not been up to stuff. Compared to other places open for a sunday brunch I think Ma Fischers is one of the better options in the area. Some of my favorite places to shore up haven't always been the places I feel compelled to rate a 5-star. In fact what I probably liked the most about MA Fischers was not that I was sitting in the classiest dining hall but that the place was pretty approachable.
(3)Matt S.
There are nine bajillion crummy 24-hour diners in this great nation. What is awesome about them is they're all supposed to serve really good, really bad for you food. You know what I'm talking about because even their salads are served in troughs. Why Ma Fischer did you have to be just crummy? Breakfasts lacked flavor, their version of rye bread is... well... not rye bread. Diner coffee is awesome because it isn't artisan brewed--it's a toxic sludge best served with Hazelnut cream and 3 Splendas. Ma's coffee is a weak tea. Perhaps the best thing about dive-y diners is they cure hangovers. I'm not sure how they do it... maybe its crack cocaine in the eggs? Well Ma Fischer--I still had a rager when I left your warm embrace. Boo to you!
(1)Andrew R.
We were visiting in Milwaukee from Canada and our friends brought us here. I was surprised at how good the burger is, and a little stunned when I found out soup comes with everything (the chicken noodle was great). Its pretty relaxing and I guess it gets pretty packed by drunk hungrys at 2 am :) my kind of joint
(4)Jim W.
Food is decent if not spectacular but it is enormously overpriced. It is particularly irritating that they serve burgers, sandwiches, etc with soup and charge extra for fries when they know that most people want the fries and is reflective of how the management views it's customers. There are better places in the area serving similar food that deserve your patronage more.
(2)Tom B.
It's your basic casual diner, kinda like Denny's except the cooks probably aren't parolees :) What can you say about Ma Fischers? It ain't good ... it ain't bad. You don't GO to Ma's, you end up there. But if it's late, and Whole Foods and all the other places nearby are closed, and you're hungry, you'll love it. Reasons to go: OK food at fair prices, nice staff, support local business.
(2)Chad C.
Been here a couple of times, and I'm surprised it's always as full as it is. The food is not good, and the prices are not cheap. I know it's 24 hours, but that's just not good enough when that's the ONLY positive thing to say about a place. I'd rather buy food at a convenience store and make it at home than eat here.
(1)W Guy F.
First time there, late evening after a play and really enjoyed this restaurant. It is your typical Greek American fare with a menu that astonished me (humongous and varied) but what came out was good. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed, the staff attentive and the food was great. Judging as diner/family restaurant fare, it's definitely above average.
(4)M L.
Picture this - you've just endured one of the worst poetry slams in the world. Everybody's trying to be the next Bukowski or Allen Ginsberg. They write poems about their sexual organs and pontificate the joys of being a souse. What the heck are you going to do? Drown your rage in Ma Fischer's garbage, that's what! True, it's not great food. It's not even good. It's passable, but the menu is so huge and there are plenty of options for the vegetarian. French toast at midnight's a real treat, lemme tell ya, even if it's not great. Many the times have my friends and I gone here to bitch about bad poetry (and bad literature in general, but that's a story for Amazon to hear). So, if you find yourself bombarded by crap poetry, come on down to Ma Fischer's! It's good eating! Though you could always drown your sorrows at Von Triers...but try Ma Fischer's. Bring a friend! Eat French toast at midnight! And try the hash browns. They're decent.
(4)Karen S.
Reminded me of the Greek-style diners around Chicago that I loved so much growing up. You know..those diners with the spinning cake/pie display thing by the door, and sassy waitresses. MA Fischers provided us with great breakfasts for our post-NYE hungover selves...on 1/2 no less! We were seated promptly and given coffee right away. It's diner food, so of course don't expect 5-star cuisine, but there's a lot of variety on the menu, including kielbasa as one of the meat options, alongside bacon and sausage (welcome to Milwaukee!).
(3)Dorise G.
nothing but fond memories for ma fischers, tho i speak to this especially before it caught on fire and they remodeled. absolutely loved their breakfast - always got the pineapple pancakes. was their food amazing? nah, it was a little better than standard dining food. but why did we love it? because it was cheap, and one of the few places high schoolers could go hang out at late-night. have only been back once or twice since - i still really enjoy it here, but that might be cuz it's sprinkled with delicious nostalgia...
(4)Michael R.
I came to Milwaukee to attend an event. At the end of the event i asked someone if there was a place to eat nearby. She suggested Ma Fishcer's. I was hungry and noticed on the menu the Philly Steak sandwich. In my mind i was thinking of the last Philly steak i had at Philly's Best in Evanston, IL which is great. I looked the waitress in the eyes and and asked her how the Philly steak sandwich is and she said very good. I along with one of my friend's ordered that sandwich and others at our table ordered a variety of snacks. I found it quite unusual to have to pay up front and we did pay our total of $73. When the food arrived, my friend looked at his Philly steak sandwich and pushed it to the side and didn't eat it. The sandwch was small compared to PHitlly's Best and instead of slices of beef had chunks of dried out overcooked beef covered with a few oniion slices, green pepper, and cheese. I was hungry and had a few bites. The sandwich actually made me nauceas. In all my days of eating out, this place takes the cake for the worst food ever. I will NEVER go back there on my next trip to Milwaukee.
(1)Jon A.
The only time this place appeals to me is if I'm desperate to sit down and shove some food down my gullet to soak up the alcohol. I understand why they make you pre-pay, since it is a huge hang out for the after-bar crowd. Heck, I even understand why the service is stone cold at best. You need that kind of attitude to deal with the idiot drunks that come in there on a nightly basis. However, the food here is mediocre, at best. It's your typical family style restaurant that has a menu ranging from breakfast food to gyros and nachos. All of which are pretty tasteless, even when drunk. Their prices are quite high for what you get and the quality of the food, but they can charge what they want (and I can't say I blame them) because drunk people will pay it. This is, of course, a personal preference. There are many people who love this place. There are just too many other late night places in the North Ave area that have significantly better food. If you are from out of town, don't eat here unless you're extremely drunk and would eat anything. Otherwise, you will just leave disappointed.
(2)rusty r.
Dear Ma, You disrespected me, you old hag. I know you have big fans, but they are out of their mind. The BLT was ok, the soup was decent. But requiring us to PRE-PAY? You have to be sh^ttin me. What kind of prostitute are you? Ma, you disrespected me. The only place you pre-pay is at McDonalds, ok? You are a sit down establishment... you don't pre-pay. Did you forget that I AM the customer? Your job is to serve me and I pay you for that. What if the food took 2 hours and was total shite. Then I am out 12 bucks. Did I mention it is overpriced? This is borderline theft, and should be illegal. You illicit mother. So, I won't take your utter disrespect any more. Ma, you're gonna have to treat people better. I won't be returning if I ever visit Milwaukee again. If I could give you 0 stars, I would. You Dirty Mother.
(1)Matthew N.
I've had a couple of experiences with Ma Fischer's in the past year. It's conveniently located near a friend's apartment, so it was a de facto standard for a time. Was is the operative word here. I've had the breakfast at 3am. I've had the reuben at 2pm. And every time I walk away I'm left feeling disappointed. I've never had to pre-pay for anything (as some other reviewers apparently have) and discovering this policy just denigrates the establishment even more. My most recent, and most likely last, experience was for pie. That's right, just a couple of slices of pie to go. For some reason, they actually put their desserts on display at the front door. Perhaps it's only for those who haven't been exposed to the sheer blandness and tic-inducing disappointment. How can you make blueberry cheesecake unappealing? Matron Fischer certainly did...
(1)Neal L.
Absolute crap-hole. Crappy food that's over priced. The management staff are super rude.
(1)Craig N.
I went there last Sunday with my parents. Outside of the smoking section grossing us out, Ma Fischer's delivered. I had the Meatlover's scrambler and it was fantastic. Moreover, my fiance had the Spinach and Feta Egg White Omelet and she loved it. I would recommend this place for anyone who wants a pretty reasonable deal on brunch. However, this place needs to get with the times and get rid of the smoking section, "I ordered a Zima, not emphysema." The waitstaff was decent, but not anything that would knock my socks off.
(4)Ashley T.
Ma Fischer's serves as the perfect hungover brunch spot. I have only eaten brunch here on days when I am hungover. We went to Ma Fischer's this last Sunday after giving up at a popular brunch spot because of waiting for an unreasonable amount of time. We walked into Ma Fischer's and were seated immediately. We were served water and coffee immediately upon sitting down (much needed for our hungover state) and had our food 15 minutes after sitting down. While the food is nothing fancy, it was exactly what we needed. Ma Fischer's hit the spot!
(3)Belinda J.
True, Ma's is a family staple, but I for one believe it is because of it's location much more than the food. I have eaten there and had a roach crawl across the table. Just today I purchased two slices of pie to go (we're talking 2 inch wide slices of apple pie) the cost? $10, no I'm not kidding. But with all the negatives, it is still a place everyone hangs out at late evenings or early mornings.
(2)Jules M.
I honestly had not been back to Ma Fischer's since I saw the move "I was a Teenage Zombie" in 1987....and maybe in another 20+ years I will have forgotten to avoid Ma Fischers. The folks who work there are quite nice and did a respectful job dealing with the homeless man asking us for food once we sat down at our booth, but really, with all the options around North for food, skip Ma Fischers. The food just isn't worth it.
(1)Kip G.
This was the first 24-hour restaurant I found after moving to Milwaukee. It's also located near the Oriental Theatre, so it's convenient to grab a late-night bite after seeing a show.The service impressed me, but the food was average at best. I will definitely keep this in mind when everything else I enjoy has closed its doors, otherwise I'll pass.
(3)Dave S.
This your typical 24 hour Greek-owned American "family style" diner. Back when I was 20 I would have given this place a full five stars, for it was the place to sit for hours on end nursing cups of coffee and plates of french fries. Back then everything there seemed good. These days, however, I wonder what I ever saw in this place. The food is pretty bland, and, after hours, grossly overpriced. Ma! Fischers is an East Side institution, so I have not the heart to give it less then three stars. But if you're in the neighborhood and it's not late at night, I would recommend Beans & Barley instead.
(3)Caitlin M.
We go to Ma Fischer's every Sunday morning before I have to go to work. It is great diner-quality food. You're not going to get a hoity-toity brunch menu, so if that's what you want, this is not the place for you. This is hardcore eggs, corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, and American fries. I almost always get the Ma Fischer's skillet with hot sauce for the eggs. It is the same every week and every week I love it. I have tried one item off of their other menus (besides breakfast) and it was just ok. Definitely go for breakfast food at any time of the day. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
(4)Roz K.
Typical diner but decent. They're open 24 hours and their service is pretty fast. They have pretty decent/good soup and the prices are fairly reasonable (big food portions for the money). Their Reuben sandwiches are okay and their fries are good. Nothing to write home about, but still pleasant. Quality of different dishes are kind of hit or miss though.
(3)Patrick M.
Meh. Throughout my college years, my roommate raved about Ma Fischers. "Best late night bar food in the city", he would always say after coming home from a Ma F. visit @ 3am. I never ventured down there until a year ago when I went out to dinner with him there. Let's just say I wasn't the slightest bit impressed. I knew Ma's was a diner, so my expectations were pretty low to begin with, but seriously the food sucked and the service wasn't that great either. They do make a great hot chocolate though.
(2)Jerome B.
We usually go 2-3 times per month. No longer. They screwed up a simple order of eggs, so my wife sent it back. It came back again, unsatisfactory. So, she decided not to have a meal and simply wait for me to finish my meal. However, the restaurant manager insisted that we pay for the order, even though we did not eat it. The manager insisted he was right, we were wrong and how dare us question their egg making ability. He was extremely condecending. There was even mention of calling the police (!?). So, I made a very simple suggestion: He can either remove the $7.00 meal from the bill and we can continue as customers OR I will pay for the uneaten meal and make this our last visit. He then politely told us that he would remove it from our bill, but does NOT want our future patronage. So, that is that! Frankly, neither us is heart broken, as the food is not that great anyway.
(1)Claire D.
Oh, Ma's... you're one of the few places a night owl can get a bite to eat in this town! Seriously. Ma's has saved me from hunger at 3:00am when all I wanted was an actual chicken or shrimp meal - or pancakes... or a potato appetizer. Perhaps that's not the best thing in the world, but for that purpose, Ma's does just fine. The food itself is okay. You're not going to get a stellar meal here. The food is filling because that's all it needs to be. Honestly, I have yet to go to a Greek restaurant where this is not the case. They know what they're doing by having people pay in advance for late night visits. During the daytime, it's a cold, harsh reality of the quality of food (but again, for me, this is the case with all Greek restaurants I've been to). The place can get RIDICULOUSLY busy shortly after 2 am. Oh Ma's.. the only place that could tolerate my drunk ass at that hour - and that's only because I paid.
(3)Nan K.
I used to go to diners all the time as a student, and I really wanted to like Ma Fischers since it's a local institution. But after eating here, I got sick to my stomach with a suspected case of food poisoning. I'd advise friends not to trust the kitchen of this place.
(1)Heather T.
It was really great before it burned down and reopened. Now the quality of the food has gone downhill and the prices have shot up.
(3)Meghan O.
As a vegetarian, this doesn't have very many options to choose from. I have eaten here more times as a late-at-night-post-bar visit than anything else, but trust me, the Greek fries are friggin' awesome. I'd go there just for those.
(3)ryan h.
the food was pretty good, its sorta like a family owned version of dennys minus the old lady waitresses. the food was not amazing but it wasnt bad either. i was hungry and the portion sizes served a purpose... i like the fact that its open late, that way i know there is always somewhere i can go stuff my face... i say check it out.
(3)Tracy R.
been here two times each time was an disaster.
(2)Jorge S.
Basic diner and traditional diner food, but that's what so great about this place. for the longest time after moving to milwaukee I could not find a diner that I enjoyed. this place is right near North ave. My one complaint is that during "after hours" they require you to pre-pay. I don't mind too much, but it does bug me.
(4)Tonya C.
I've been taken here a few times at those odd hours when nobody else seems to be open, and have always come away sated. True, it's nothing fancy, but you can customize your order any way you want, and, as Noel noted, you really should go at least once in a Milwaukee stay to get a sense of how things used to be. The best part is the bowl of soup that really could be a meal on its own that comes with most dishes.
(4)Vanessa G.
Get a burger or breakfast, don't get a special, or meatloaf or anything like that. The veggies, salad, etc, are all really gross. Iceberg lettuce or green beans plopped out of a can. The portions are huge though. I thought the service was rude, and I didn't appreciate having to prepay at night, with a tip included. That made me feel like a criminal, which was only compounded by the stern manager staring down any customer who walked in the place. Didn't feel welcome to stay and nurse a cup of coffee. There was a guy refilling coffee regularly, but it started to get strange because he would come around every five minutes. My boyfriend and I wanted to leave just to give the guy a break. It was overkill, especially considering how rude and slow our waitress was. I've been to this place twice now, and it has been exactly the same both times. I want to love it, because it is a Milwaukee institution, but I just can't get over the attitude of the staff. I'd rather go to Webb's. The staff there might ignore you, but at least you won't feel them glaring at you the second you walk in the door. (True! When we walked in a line of waitresses behind the counter fell silent and just stared at us, nary a smile to be found!)
(2)Michael T.
In the world of diners it's really good. It's not a perfect diner like you might find in New York, but the food is good, the service is fast and there is something on the menu to please everyone. I like the broasted chicken but it's really salty and takes a long time to cook.
(4)Eric X.
This place is an East Side institution, although its current incarnation is nothing like what it was when I was a boy. Your typical 24 hour diner with a huge menu of american/greek foods. Sadly, the food is just average. I really only come here if it's a convenience (i.e. I'm catching a late movie at the Oriental next store, or it's way too late to head anywhere else). If it's still open, truck on over to Bean's & Barley instead.
(3)