Harboring A Fugitive Burger? Bartolotta Take Out at Harbor House 08/13/2025

 

It was another beautiful night in Milwaukee. We headed to the "Live At The Lake" concert down at Discovery World. The plan was to meet up with my son and his family to check out the show and grab some food from the food trucks. The venue's website said there would be food trucks. When we arrived we noticed a lack of previously mentioned food trucks. There were none and none were expected to turn up at any time. We had to figure out what to do for dinner. GrubHub or some other delivery service? We sort of joked about take out from the Harbor House Restaurant that was across the street from the venue. Food at Bartolotta's is not really "casual" nor are the prices, generally speaking. We decided to check it out. Yes, they do have take out. We ordered the Harbor House Burger to share. It's topped with Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Sciortino’s Bun and includes French Fries. All that for $15? I guess so. 

The burger was so good that we didn't even need any condiments. Lettuce and a big fresh tomato did the job. Perfect seasoning and cook to perfection. This was a great burger and a wonderful surprise. The fries were enough to feed three of us. Very satisfying. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

I have to admit that Bartolotta's has been one of my favorite burgers over the years. They used to have a place in downtown Milwaukee called the Rumpus Room. Best burgers. The Rumpus Room has been closed since Covid. The staff was super helpful and the price was pretty amazing too!

Harbor House Restaurant 

 

And the Oscar Goes to... Oscar's on Pierce 08/22/2025

 It was a Friday night. I had an art show opening at the ArtBar on Milwaukee's East side. My buddy and fellow artist Rob needed to hitch a ride. Keeping with tradition, we headed out for a burger before the opening. We've done this for Gallery Night on other occasions. Most often, Wicked Hop. Not this time. We headed to Oscar's on Pierce street. Not Oscar's Winner's Circle on Burnham Street. Rob had never been there so I was excited to share the other location. Tucked away off the main streets, you would never know its there but it seems like everybody does know. The place was hopping with Brewer fans waiting to jump on the shuttle to the ballpark.

Rob got the "Big Foot" I went for  "Big Gringo". The Gringo is topped with Wisconsin white cheddar & American cheese, thick hickory smoked bacon. I asked for "medium" and that's how it came. Just a little pink, almost perfect. From the moment it arrived I was ready for something great. The bun, fresh and buttered just a bit. I cut it in half for easier consumption (and photos). The layers of toppings were in balance. Juicy without being messy. My first bite had all the flavors mixing. Excellent. Priced at $9.75 I'm sort of surprised the fries are included. I'm not a fan of having to pay an extra chunk of change for fries. 

Rate It: 4.5 of 5

That's right. Great burger. Excellent price. Oscar's never fails to create a great burger experience. They might be my favorite in the city.

Oscar's on Pierce

 

 

The Diplomat on Brady Street (Burgers w/Brothers!) 11.20.2024

 It was the third installation of the Burgers w/Brothers 2024. The eldest made the choice to go a bit more upscale for his burger. Not that we've been hanging out at dives or dumps. We've enjoyed quite the range of locations and varieties of burgers. His choice, The Diplomat. Located just East of Van Buren on Brady street. Cool vibe as soon as you walk in. There is a front space/bar area that's pretty chill. Around the corner is the dining room area. Well done. Warm, almost cozy space with plenty of art and little vignettes with interesting items. Our server was Roxanne. The menu is very simple, not many items. The idea is shared plates. I'm just not a fan of the term "small plates". Shared I can handle. Anyway, there is only one burger to choose from so that's what we all had. "The Diplomac". Prime beef burger, tomato, lettuce, American cheese, "1000 Island Dressing", pickle and red onion. (their description) $17 without a side.

How about that burger? Dang, it was good! I don't know if it was because I was surprised by how tidy it looked or the choice of roll/bun. No matter, it all worked together perfectly. The "1000 Island Dressing" is nothing like the Kraft foods version. All the condiments were freshly created on site. It made a difference for sure. The sandwich held together bite after bite. Nothing sliding out the back or slopping on to my plate or lap. I took a snitch off the side, just meat. Not crazy seasoned. Could have had a bit more flavor but maybe the rest of it makes up for that. We shared a plate of the Diplomat Fries. These aren't your average fries. Blanched and then fried 3 times. Light and crisp.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

Overall great taste. Fresh ingredients made for a great mix of flavors. If I'm paying $17 a burger it should be like this.

https://www.thediplomatmke.com/

Annual Trip to the Nite Owl 08/09/2024

 It might be a new tradition, at least one trip to the Nite Owl with my son's family. The Nite Owl has a limited window to get there and grab some food. The season seems short. Their hours, even shorter. The amount of food sold per hour determines how long they will be open on any given day. The meat is ground fresh on site and when it's gone, they close. They are closed on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday through Saturday, 11AM-3PM. I've heard of them closing by 1:30PM because they "sold out". The whole thing is just a total experience. Expect a long wait, it's not fast food. Arrive early, they might run out of meat. Bring cash.

How about the burger? I went with the plain cheese burger. No nothing on it. Actually, raw onions. On this day the wait wasn't too bad. Just enough time to catch up with my son and grandson. It's Theo's third time with grandpa. I'm pretty sure he and his dad stop there at least one time without me. We quick drove back to their house to enjoy our food on the sunny deck. My burger was just right. Juicy, decent size and loved having it plain. Very good. I will say that I was getting more of the "meatloaf" taste. Quickly, the meatloaf taste is when the burger has the same flavor as meatloaf. I'm not saying that's bad. I'm also not sure how they make their burgers. Do they add stuff to the beef? It was tasty no matter.

Rate it: 4+ out of 5

Prices are increasing each season but, that's business. ($3.90 in 2012) Overall, they still serve a decent if not great burger for a decent price. It's fresh food. The staff is always friendly. It's interesting that they still have you pay when the order is ready. Is that in case they run out of meat, they don't have to refund the money?

St Bibiana's-Burgers With Brothers 07/08/2024

 Three times a year my brothers and I get together for what we call "Burgers With Brothers". The brother that has the birthday is treated to a burger of his choosing. The process rotates through each brother's birthday. It was my turn again. Part of the BWB is to try something new. I check the burger listings for Milwaukee. I chose St Bibiana's because it had been ranked in the "8 Best Burgers" recently. Located on East Brady Street in one of Milwaukee's older neighborhoods it's definitely got the "cool" vibe. The inside feels like a local watering hole. Some nice touches are the church theme art etc. The menu has breakfast all day! Of course I'm not there for breakfast. This is a burger outing. I ordered the Bibiana Burger. Described on the menu: "Two 3-oz., handmade ground beef patties, American cheese, grilled onions, sliced pickles, and sweet, savory Saint Sauce on a sesame seed bun". So, not quite a half pound. I was a bit concerned about all the add-ons. The description made me think of Big Boy or McDonald's Big Mac. I'm not a fan of the "sauce" part but, it's their signature burger. Go with the flow! Ordered exactly like suggested, I found it to be okay. The patties got "lost" in the sauce and grilled onions. I did pinch off a chunk of the patty to see how it was on it's own. Fairly good, not great. I thought the price was a bit high for a couple of 3 ounce patties and an order of fries. 

Rate it: 3.5 out of 5. I'm being tough on this one. The price for the sandwich had me a bit off course. The burger itself was fine. Not anything to write home about, I guess it was blog worthy. I'd say, try it. It might be what you've been looking for. 

Swinging For The Fence! Swinging Door Milwaukee 07/05/2024

It was my birthday. What better way to celebrate but to chow down a burger. Where to go? I've got some favorites I might default to but why not try something different? My wife suggested we check the interweb for ideas. She mentions that the Swinging Door has one of the top rated burgers. I've heard this before. It seems that every week a new list of best burgers in Milwaukee is released. Well, the Swinging Door seems to be a repeat offender on these lists. It was definitely off my radar. My recall of the Swinging Door takes me back to when I was in my late teens and working nights in downtown Milwaukee. Just two blocks from my job, it was a place you could take your "lunch" break at. (aka, liquid lunch) If I did eat there, it was probably appetizers.

The Swinging Door hasn't changed much since those days. (see photo) It's a small venue tucked away in the lower level of The Grain Exchange building. From the outside, you would think much of it. Even once you are inside it might still not impress you that this it's a great place for dinner. Definitely a great bar to hang out at.

Enough about all the nostalgic stuff... let's talk burgers! The bar was set pretty high with all the online chatter about how good it was. I'm going to say, it wasn't wrong. I ordered the 1/2 lb with bacon, cheddar, raw onions and no condiment of any kind. The burger includes fries or chips. I went with fries. The burger was cooked nearly perfect. The overall flavor gave me a bit of a meatloaf vibe but worked. Juicy, seasoned nicely and fresh raw onion made it delicious. The fries were so flavorful, I found it hard to use ketchup. The bacon add on was $2.50, a bit pricey since the plain burger starts at $12.50. Don't get me wrong, it's all good.

Rate it: 4 out of 5. It's more like a 4.25 but not quite a 4.5. The whole package including the throwback scene really made it a great experience. I'd suggest a person might go there for a burger. 

Return to 5th Ward Camino 04/19/2024

 I've been to Camino a few times now. Both locations keep on satisfying my burger needs. This time I was back in Milwaukee's 5th Ward for Gallery Night. I was showing several pieces of my art at the Eagleknit Building on South 2nd Street. It was going to be a long night if didn't have some kind of nourishment. A quick search for nearby food turned up Camino. It was literally across the street from the venue.

Camino on South 2nd street is quite a bit smaller than it's West Allis location. Limited seating makes it cozy. The grill is embedded in the bar space. A couple of guys are cooking food directly behind the bartender as she moves back and forth along the bar. If the weather cooperates, you can sit outside in the cool outdoor area snugged in along the one side and behind the building.

I had the Burger. Pretty straight forward. Ordered it medium. Perfect. I cut it in half. The first side I ate without the pickle. Great flavor. The onions really added to the overall taste. The second half I added the pickle. Next level stuff. Where's all this flavor coming from? I got to see the process. The bun rests along side the burgers as they cook. What can I say about the fries. Super skinny and crunchy. Flavor so good I skipped the ketchup!

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

Yummy. Priced right. The fries really made it all come together. Love the vibe inside this place.

 

Public Market: Foltz Family Market

 I was downtown for a program at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) and decided to grab some food at the Milwaukee Public Market. I saw something about a place that was supposed to have a decent burger. The online information said that they were only doing online and phone orders. Thankfully, they were very present and taking orders at the Foltz Family Market. Mostly a butcher shop but also a restaurant and bar! (I'll mention that later)

I wasn't sure what to expect. They seem to be good at pizza too. Not always a partnership with a good burger. I ordered the "Classic Burger" with cheddar. No fries. I paid for the burger and slid over to the bar to wait. Before the burger arrived, I had ordered a Jack n Coke. My favorite combo. The cocktail was fairly inexpensive for a "call" mixer. How about the burger, right? Well, I looked at it and thought, pretzel bun. Did I miss that in the description. I'm not a big fan of the pretzel bun. That's how they serve it, that's how I'm eating it. First bite. Wow! Flavor(s) just bursting out. The surprise flavor, arugula. Combined with the tomato and creamy cheddar cheese, it works well. The pretzel roll actually made it happen. Stiff yet soft inside with a heavier texture. Yum.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5

This is ranking in one of my favorite burgers of 2023 if not all time. The flavors were on point. The fresh from the butcher beef, juicy and flavorful. Priced right.

https://foltzfamilymarket.com/about/

Holiday Dinner at the Mason Street Grill (Pfister Hotel MKE)

 Keeping with tradition, a group of us headed to the Mason Street Grill for dinner after a showing of "A Christmas Carol" at the beautiful Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee. I'm always temped to order something different off the menu but once I see their burger listed, I can't help myself. A restaurant known for top level meat and fish will very often have an excellent burger. Also, I know for a fact they do a burger justice. (Previous blog 12.11.2021) 

The Mason Street Grill is such a great setting for a special dinner outing. The staff is usually hustling around making sure everything is on point. It's the kind of place you feel like you should be dressed a bit more formal. Not tuxedos but make sure your shirt has a collar and if you do wear jeans, make sure they don't look like you schlepp around the house in them. 

I ordered the Mason Street Grill Burger, a 10 oz. Black Angus Chuck and Sirloin, Honey Glazed Onions, Muenster Cheese, House Relish. Still priced at $18 and served with fries. I ordered medium as I often do. No fear of the meat being a bit pink at this level. The food arrived. I cut the burger in half to check the insides. Pretty decent. I was psyched. A small pinch off the side to test the meat without all the stuff, okay. The overall flavor of the combined cheese, relish and onions was pretty good. I felt like the seasoning on the burger may have been too heavy. The meat didn't have the charbroiled flavor. Hmm. The roll was fresh and soft.

Rate it: 4 of 5

I don't think it's as good as it used to be. Still, it's one of the better burgers I've had. Returning to places can sometimes be a let down. Sort of like a sequel. Priced at $18 it should be a bit above the others.

 

Contracted Lunch-Bliffert Contractor Event at Potowatomi Casino 03.03.2023

 This isn't going to be any kind of super burger experience. It's more a documentation of a burger consumed. Again, the meal was part of a free event that Bliffert Lumber/Hardware does for contractors each year. It's a day long event that offers breakout sessions about decking, siding, roofing, insulation etc. Vendors hawk from behind tables to get you to look at their stuff. Lunchtime is a time to connect with others and discuss the day's activities and eat.

That being said, Potowatomi Casino has decent catering and a decent burger for the masses. I could have enjoyed some kind of brat but really, there's burgers! It was the classic case where you get the plain burger in a warmer. Making it a cheeseburger means putting a cold piece of cheese on top of a fairly warm burger. A side of  Mac N Cheese and a delicious brownie. Price wasn't a factor. Atmosphere wasn't bad considering we were in a massive conference center. Staff was pleasant and helpful when the ketchup ran out on one of the buffets.

Rate it: 3.5 of 5

I don't have a picture to share. I think the others at the table would have thought I was weird. ;) Here's the sponsor's logo anyway. Great lumber, knowledgeable staff.

09/29/22 - Nite Owl - Time Capsule and Burger Time

Every year as part of this whole burger thing I do, I have a couple of places I "have" to go to for a burger to keep my burger health on course. The Nite Owl is one of those places. Sometimes elusive because the seasonal situation or because of the hours they keep and my ability to be there during those times. Even if you get there during the prescribed time, you may not be able to order anything. I tried early in the season and thought I would miss the lunch hour group. I arrived at around 1pm. There had to be at least 15 or more people standing around. One guy told me they weren't taking any more orders. I didn't believe it. But as I got closer to the building I saw the hand written sign (chunk of cardboard) "No More Orders Today". Whoa! I survived to come back another day. My son Daryl and my grandson Theo met me there. We ordered our food and chatted while we waited. It had been two seasons since we were there. Covid kept it closed and us away. 

My son ordered a double cheeseburger to split with his wife and a hot dog for the kiddo. I got the single cheese burger and fries.

Rate It: 4 of 5 Really decent burgers, price is still in the ballpark. I'll be back next season!

*the other places I "have" to go to? Wayne's-Cedarburg, Hefner's-Cedarburg, Nite Owl-Milwaukee

Nite Owl

I Made it to Dairyland 07/07/22-"Burgers with Brothers"

(Update 10/22. This location has now been closed)

 I'm always keeping my eyes and ears open looking for my new favorite burger place. A couple years back, Dairyland Burgers opened a brick and mortar location on the South side of Milwaukee. The opened a second location in downtown Milwaukee. It was a food truck. By the time I was able to head over for a burger the pandemic was in full swing. Neither location had regular hours. They changed every week. Fast forward to this year, July. My turn to call the burger joint for "Burgers with Brothers". At this point, Dairyland has closed both locations. Dairyland is now "embedded" inside of local brewery and part of a Food Hall. I chose the brewery location for convenience of parking.

The experience was far from dreamy. There are a few tables near a doorway with the Dairyland logo above it. The tables have a QR to scan that then takes you through the ordering process. So, we ordered our food. Clicked the place order. We hoped it went through. A text came through assuring us that it would be nearly 30 minutes before it would be ready. For burgers?

I had the Bacon Cheeseburger. My brothers had "The Wiz" and "Big Man on Campus". 

The order was ready. We had to retrieve it from the counter outside the area where they make the food. So far, no real interaction with the staff. We guessed there were people in the back because the food appeared at the counter.

The food was fine. Frozen patties, grill top. Buns were fine, not exceptional. 

Rate it: 3.5 of 5

Lucky for them the burgers were at least decent. Pricing was okay. Not interacting with the staff was just weird. The location inside the brewery took away any personality that may have been present at the brick and mortar. I have to say, I'm a little bummed. Should have done it as take out.

Winner-Winner NO Chicken Dinner @ Oscar's Winner's Circle 03.31.2022

This was a bit unexpected. I needed to connect with a friend of mine Rob to return a piece of art he created as part of a show back in February. Rob suggested we get together, have something to eat and chat. That's always a good thing to keep us on our creative journey. Sort "check in" on each other. He suggested Oscar's Winner's Circle, a short walk from the print shop he works at. Oscar's has another place to the East a couple of miles. Every time I've been there, the burgers rocked. Will this be similar? Let's hope so.

After a long debate with Rob, I decided to have the Tailgate Burger. I'm not a big fan of all kinds of junk piled on my burger. Not only can it interfere with the overall taste, it can get messy. They place Pulled Pork, BBQ Sauce, Smoked Sharp Cheddar and Haystack Onions on top of what had to be a 1/2 lb patty. It was gorgeous. Stacked and pinned together with a toothpick. The roll had a bit of a glaze/shine to it. Cooked to perfection. Juicy, full of flavor. The patty snitch proved the burger was great on it's own. The added layers enhanced the experience. No conflict with flavors. It all worked together. Very mellow. Delicious.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5 (5s just don't happen)

Priced at $7.75 it's hard to imagine a better burger at twice the price. Oscar's did it again. When folks ask me "what's your favorite burger?" Oscar's will roll off my lips.

 The Tailgate Burger...

 

Mason Street Grill-Tasty Burger-Pricey Drinks (12/11/2021)

Ah, downtown Milwaukee during the holiday season. We attended the afternoon showing of "A Christmas Carol" at the Pabst theater. What better way to finish the day but to head over to the Pfister hotel's Mason Street Grill. Top notch venue for sure. A place for seafood, steak and burgers! I've been to the Grill before. It has been some time. Not much has changed other than updates per Covid.

Our server, Casey took good care of us, making sure we had a full understanding of the menu. I just wanted my burger. Selfish not shellfish, right? First order of business, cocktails. We had to go through a long list of Bourbon makers to find one that was in stock. I guess the supply chain issues are having affect on the restaurant business these days. I ended up with an Angel's Envy Manhattan. Tasty, yes. Also pricey! $25 per. Ouch!

This blog isn't about expensive drinks. It's about burgers so, I'll move on. I ordered the Mason Street Grill Burger. As described on the menu, 10 oz. Black Angus Chuck and Sirloin, Honey Glazed Onions, Muenster Cheese, House Relish. I ordered my typical "medium rare". Some pink in the middle, please.

The burger itself was delicious. Maybe a bit past medium but seasoned nicely. The Muenster cheese really added to the flavor. The roll was fine but didn't seem fresh made. I would guess in the old days the roll would have been cooked on site. Maybe I'm wrong. Over all, I was pretty happy with the assembled sandwich. Interesting that by the time I finished eating the patty seemed to have "dried up". Moist to start. Hmm, not sure what happened. No matter, the plate was cleaned off when I finished. 

Rate it: 4 out of 5. Mostly because I think it was a bit to well done. With such good meat and the venue, I was expecting it to be medium without fear of being under cooked. I also think that making sure the rolls are fresh is important. Maybe it was just me. $18 isn't crazy for the service and venue.

Dream a little Dream Burger-Art Bar Wonderland 11.11.2020

 The pandemic is on. Stay home orders have been announced. It's our job to support local businesses. Especially one that supports local artists (like me!). It's the holiday season and the Art Bar is hosting their annual "Mini Show". 150 artists, pieces smaller than 12"x12" and selling for less than $100! I have 12 pieces in the show.

Don Krause and his staff have maintained there mission to be both a bar and an art gallery. A short time back Don decided to convert the adjacent building into a cool diner vibe place. I must say, it was well done. It's not too hip or square. It almost feels like it's been there all along with some updates.

We've eaten there before but, tonight we headed down to check out the Mini Show and thought, let's get take out! Hmm, check the menu. Salads, soups and various sandwiches. Ah, burgers. 1/3 pound single or double the meat? Dream or shroom? Dream seems the most straight forward. I decide there's no need to add more toppings. Order of fries, yes.

Because it was ordered online, I'm not sure when they cooked it. We finished checking the show out and grabbed our bag full of delicious smelling food, jumped in the car and headed home. We couldn't resist grabbing some fries out of the bag. There's nothing like driving with the windows closed, fresh cooked take out smelling up the car. (Pizza has to be the toughest) By the time we got home the food had cooled. Should I have taken a bite of the burger right when we got it? Maybe. What's amazing is that I decided to microwave the burger back to temp. Wow! I don't know if I've ever done that. It worked. 

How about that burger? Obviously a pre-formed frozen patty, not a concern. It was seasoned well. The bun was a decent ratio to the patty, sort of low profile too. Not so tall. The toppings were great. The seasoned butter really came through as an excellent compliment to all the other stuff. And heck, any burger that can come back from being cooled off right back to tasty, that rocks.

4 of 5 (4+) because of what I said in the review. Great job Wonderland!

Kopp's (no robbers!)

Late June of this year, I found myself back at one of my favorite places of any kind. They just happen to have burgers!
Yes, I've been to Kopp's before. Kopp's goes way back for me. There was a Kopp's, the original, in my neighborhood at N 61st and W Appleton Avenue. It was Jumbo burgers and custard. They've got 3 or 4 locations plus a fancy place downtown, Elsa's named after the founder, Elsa Kopp.That's a whole different burger down there.
It was a date night and a chance to take our 1960 Oldsmobile out for a cruise. It's always cool to pull in at a burger stand with a classic convertible.
This night, I'll split a cheese burger with "the works".
The staff is hustling to get the orders ready for all the folks waiting. A separate line cranks out all things Custard. It's great to see that all the staff wear the customary Kopp's uniform, including the paper caps, aprons etc.
Our number gets called. As we step towards the counter, another of the crew brings over our custard order, fresh made for our order.
It's all I expect of the Kopp's Jumbo Cheese Burger. Some grease oozes, cheese squashes out a bit and the over the top quantity of condiments. And of course, the pickle set on top of the bun, getting warmed. (Dill) It's all good. Flavor is still great. The bun, no doubt the same or similar to what is has been for over 60 years.

Rate it: 4.5 of 5
I'm not going to claim it to be the best burger in the area but, Kopp's delivers a quality sandwich at a decent price.
Don't fix what ain't broke.

Staff at Kopp's. Black bow tie and all!

Ok at Joe's K Ranch

A couple of weeks back I was having an all Cudahy day with my great nephews. (both are great and well, great) We went bowling at Motion just off of Packard Avenue. Unlimited bowling for two hours, shoes for $8. Milwaukee area at it's best.
Generally, when I'm out with these guys, it's a burger run. Why be any different this time, right? Quite a few places offering a burger in the area were closed on Sunday. The one place, Joe's K Ranch on Whitnall Avenue suggested they have a tasty temptation. In business since 1958, surrounded by industrial buildings, auto scrap yards, upholstery shops and just down the road from Ladish Co., the location must have seen Cudahy/Milwaukee during the boom.
The interior has been modified to accommodate larger groups but, the original bar area shows a vignette of what it may have looked like before.
We all ordered burgers. One stripped of almost everything, another with cheese and not much else. Mine came with the works, raw onions.
They are big burgers. 1/3 pound and I think that's after cooking. I got the haystack onions. They were good but not amazing. The burger, cooked almost perfect. A little pink. Seasoning was just enough. The bun was griddle toasted making it a bit more tasty.
Over all, it's good stuff. Price was pretty much aligned with current market pricing.

4 of 5
I'm not going to say it was the best, certainly not the worst. The atmosphere was a little to family dining for me. The large party room wasn't separated making it less cozy. That didn't make it taste bad. It just sort of took away from the experience.

Milwaukee Burger Co.

A Monday night in Milwaukee. Burgers with Brothers. I'm liking this burger outing thing.
This time, we celebrate my day. Dasburgereater turns one year older.
I've been wanting to get to the MKE Burger Co since they opened a couple of years ago. So, when it came my time to choose the joint, I went for it.
I chose the Bacon Bleu. Applewood smoked bacon, Pabst onions, sour cream and bleu cheese on top of the burger.
I was ready for this.
It arrived in all of it's glory. Well, not too glorious. It look nice and neat.
I cut it in half. Sauce oozed. First bite. I thought there was bleu cheese involved. Well, maybe the second bite. Nope. I could taste the sour cream plenty. The bacon was a bit too crispy for my liking.
Right, whining again. I can't just agree and say all is well in burger town.
Still, a decent burger overall. Maybe on a different day, it would scream bleu cheese.
The scene was a bit too sport bar with booths. We didn't sit on the patio. That might have been a bit noisy. The highway is just above the restaurant. Another distraction may have been the Home Depot blocking the view to the West.
In a different location, this might be a place to return to, just to test the theory about the cheese.
All the food was tasty. They may have been a bit scarce on the seasoning.
Our appetizer, Portobello Fries, was a decent portion. Again, seasoning was scarce.

4 of 5
Price, taste, scene were all at least about average. Location was a drawback.

I Got the Point. Point Burger Bar MKE/Pewaukee

Hey, I'm not sure if I've ever done a "double" review/post. I guess there's always a first time.
Time passes so quickly when Summer arrives in my part of the world. (WI)
Some time back, my two brothers and I decided to we would do something called "Burgers with Brothers"
It guarantees that we will at least get together three times a year, once for each birthday, as brothers to eat and talk. One in March, July and November. Burgers had to be the choice of food. We all love trying out new places and versions of the burger.
Point Burger Bar in Milwaukee, located at highway 45 and Good Hope Road was our first outing as the group.
My first choice was The Point Burger. Prime Angus, Sarvecchio Montamore Cheese, Nueske’s Bacon, Truffle Mayo, Brioche Bun.
I didn't end up getting it because the chef won't allow a "specialty" burger to go out with the Truffle Mayo on the side. I would need to Build My Own. Really?
So, I went with the Classic. Prime Angus, American Cheese, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Pickle Chips, Kaiser Bun.
I'm a Medium Rare kinda guy. Just a little pink. No pink in this one. Still, it wasn't a dry piece of meat. Pretty decent overall.
I was still a bit put off by the chef's request.
08.13.2017
Fast forward to just last Sunday.
It's my great nephew's birthday. They choose Point Burger Bar, Pewaukee. Partially because there is an indoor go-cart track in the same building and a full blown game room!
I went with the Au Poivre. Prime Angus, Blue Cheese, Cracked Black Pepper, Green Peppercorn Mayo, Onion Bun
Again, a little to well done for my taste. The fries were greasier than I recall from the previous visit in Spring.
I'm not going to tell a person not to go to Point Burger Bar because I think they do a decent burger. I guess I'm not a fan of the BYO, Sports Bar, large venue.

I'm being nice because I think I'm letting my feelings skew things.
4 of 5
Average price for modern dining out, especially burgers. The food is good. Most all the people enjoyed what they ordered. Onion string appetizer was huge. Very accommodating for the party group.

Gallery Nite and Rumpus, a new tradition (01.20.2017)

I swear, each time I go to the Rumpus Room, the burger gets better.
Taste, texture and color are spot on.
Maybe the idea of a Friday night in downtown Milwaukee just before heading out for yet another Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward makes it that much better. No clue.
All I know, the venue, staff and food keep me coming back.
Only one suggestion, for the staff, don't put a large group next to a couple at a small table if there are other tables open.
4 of 5 or better.
Price is still within the range for this kind of dining.