Exploring the Explorium Distilled 02/20/2026

 A Friday night in the Deer District, on our way to Fiserv for "Flat Out Friday", in need of some tasty food. There are plenty of choices in the Deer District. For the most part, pricey and more pricey. That's how it goes when you are in one of the most popular areas of downtown Milwaukee. The menus offer a lot of the similar fare. You know what I'm looking for, a great burger! The Explorium Distilled listed a couple of decent offerings that we thought might be worth a try.

We split a Classic Burger, doubled! Two one third pound beef patties served on a toasted brioche bun with your choice of cheddar cheese. Lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion. The double made more sense for some reason. Less bun for starters. Also, cut in half, it's just over a 1/4 pound. It comes with fries! No chance to suggest how well done you might like it. Upon it's arrival, it looked amazing. Stacked high with a tooth pick in the middle. I will admit that it was not easy to cut in half to share. Partially because of the height and part because I started to think I might want the whole thing. I managed to slice it fairly clean. At this point, I didn't see any pink. Hmm, well, let's give it a go. First bite, I took in as much of all the burger, bun and fixings I could. Nice mix, a bit light on seasoning. So, I pinched off just the burger for a direct hit. Yep, a bit light. Still, overall flavor was good. It was also very moist. The fries were seasoned perfectly. The outsides, crispy. The inside, like a mashed potato. Nice.

Rate It: 4+ out of 5. It was a decent burger. Just needed seasoning. Extra points for the double and fries. I would suggest them for food. Service was great. Clean.

     

Let's Meat at the Milwaukee Public Market-Foltz Family Market Take II-01/14/2026

 It was "Mystery Night" at our Public Museum and we decided to meet our son and his family at the Milwaukee Public Market for dinner before the event. The Public Market is a good choice because they offer quite the gambit of food choices. Unlike a restaurant that offers different food choices, these places have the ability to be more focused on their selection.I knew right away that I would go to Foltz for a cheeseburger. I'd been there before and found out how great they were at putting together a decent burger. They feature a meat counter so, that might be part of it.

I went with the "Classic Burger". And why not? Choice of cheddar, pepper jack or provolone and served with arugula and tomato (add frites for $1.50) Since the food was fresh made while I wait, I perused the deli case. Again, amazing selection and all very nicely presented. The burger arrives in a cardboard box. Opening the box adds to the excitement.The pretzel bun stands tall on top the burger. Layers of cheese, tomato and arugula extend outside the reach of the bun. I wish I could cut it open and see the layers stacked. It's a bit more rare than I asked for but I'm not taking it back. I bite in, good stuff. All the layers in one bite without a mess of junk shooting out the back.

Rate it: 4 of 5 (4+). It's a real, hand formed patty. I can't guess the weight but I'd guess at least 1/3 or more of fresh beef, seasoned nicely. The price, pretty great at $12 including Frites. 

Foltz 

 

Movie and a burger-Movie Tavern Brookfield Square 01/06/2026

 I really only planned to go to see "Song Sung Blue" on the big screen but found myself kicking back and enjoying a tasty burger as well.

The Movie Tavern at Brookfield Square is pretty amazing. The theater is loungers that do everything your lounger at home might do. They also have a tray that comes in handy for snacks to rest on. We took advantage of the $6 Tuesday shows. Seats can be reserved. Your ticket includes a small popcorn. We did everything online. Selected our seats and ordered dinner. Yes, dinner! They offer quite a selection of items. Wraps, Tacos, Pizza, a $3 hot dog, not bad. Oh, burgers too! They have a few to choose from. All sound delicious but, we decided to get the straight forward "Tavern Burger". Double smash burger, American cheese, lettuce, grilled onion, dill pickles, Tavern Sauce. ($16)

We had it delivered to us in the theater just before the movie started. I didn't get a picture because I would have had to use a flash.

The burger arrived all wrapped up. I didn't know what to expect. It was substantial. Not what I expected. The burger was nicely seasoned. All the add-ons, fresh. They were kind enough to cut it in two for us to share. First bite, all the flavors came together wonderfully. I only wish I could have seen it better. 

Rate it: 4of5 (maybe 4+) Not a bad price considering the situation. Served at your seat at the exact time requested. Delicious. Maybe I liked it more because it was a surprise or because I couldn't really see what it looked like? No matter, worth it.

 

Shiver Me Timbers? Timber Club-10/23/2025

The Timber Club is a relatively new restaurant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The building is new too, built to look like it has been there since the start. The Timber Club is part of the Stagecoach Inn Bed & Breakfast. As you walk through the outdoor space towards the building you feel like you have been transported back to simpler, slower time in history. Once inside, I had to stop and look around at all the work and craftsmanship that was put into the construction. The place was packed. The staff, very welcoming. The owner Bill Conley roams the floor chatting with visitors.

The menu reads similar to a Supper Club, it includes tems like Beef Stroganoff, Pork Schnitzel and Steak Diane. How about burgers? They offer 4 variations. I'm a simple guy, cheeseburger works for me. Two all beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and a toasted soft roll. Sounds darn good to me. Well, it was. I might call them on how well done the meat was but it wouldn't be worth it because the patties were still moist and delicious. Just enough seasoning and a wonderful roll to tie it all together. Nothing conflicted with the other. Harmonious.

Rate it: 4of5 I might go as far as 4+ because the value. Between the atmosphere, staff and food, this place is a worth while stop for food and live music. It's a nice addition to the foodscape in Cedarburg.

 Timber Club

 

Traverse Lodge-Breckenridge,CO 09/18/2025

 It wasn't my intention to have a burger while visiting Breckenridge Colorado but, here I go. After traveling for six days it was time for somebody else to cook and clean up. We had looked up places ahead of traveling and the Traverse Lodge looked like a wonderful location. They also had a special called Beer & Burger Wednesday. Well, it was a Thursday evening so no deal. The lodge dates back to the 1970s but has been updated and upgraded since. As you approach it the entrance gives you the vibe of a cozy ski lodge somewhere in the mountains. Which, I guess it is. The bar/restaurant space opens up to a view of the mountains through large windows. It must really be something during a snowfall.

There is only one burger on the menu, the Traverse Burger. It's an 8oz. Chuck Brisket blend, Churchill Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickled Onion, Pork Belly, Smoked Gouda. Fries were included. Just looking at the description makes my mouth water again. The 8oz is fully in tack when the burger arrives. Juicy, flavorful. Nothing is over the top. All the different layers mix well together. Just a bit pink, perfect. 

Rate It: 4+ of 5 This burger really came close to a 4.5. I can't recall why I couldn't except the price. It did include fries for what that's worth. Everything was delicious. 

The Lodge at Breckenridge  

 

Feeling A Little Bleu @ Cunningham's Journal-Kearny NE 09/14/2025

It was the second day on the road to Colorado and our last overnight would be spent in Kearny Nebraska. The drive from Iowa to Nebraska was mostly good except the wicked storm that almost brought traffic on the interstate to a halt. Our hotel was one of several in a cluster just off the freeway. There were all the usual offerings, Godfather's Pizza, Red Lobster etc, only a short walk away. We did a quick search of the area for something more local. Cunningham's Journal showed up. They had two locations, one was just behind our hotel, less than a block away. The menu looked good. They had quite the list of burger offerings. The restaurant also has a really nice deck/patio space that overlooks a "lake". Another storm was approaching so, no patio. 

Let's talk burger. I ordered the Ole Bleu Burger. 1/2 pound ground chuck patty, bleu cheese, crispy bacon. My request was to be cooked medium. It came as described, a bit of pink in the center. I did my traditional pinch of the patty without all the stuff on it. I couldn't help getting a bit of Bleu Cheese with. Very nicely seasoned, juicy. The bacon was a thicker cut than usual. The bun, sweet and it had a "split" in the center almost suggesting I cut it there. When I bit in to it, all the flavors came together. 

Rate It: 4+ of 5  Priced at $16, it's not crazy money for a decent burger at a nicer restaurant. The burger as a whole was really nicely done. I might go to the 4.5 level on a different day.

Cunningham's Journal @ The Lake 

 

Made It To Wayne's Drive-In!!! 10/02/2025

 The Summer season goes so fast here in Wisconsin. One of my favorite places to go for a burger is Wayne's in Cedarburg, WI. Throughout the Summer they host a Classic Car Night every Thursday. The last official cruise night was last Thursday, September 25th. I missed the cruise season. Wayne's will close for the season in early November. I didn't want to miss a chance to have one of their burgers so I decided that I would take my "classic" 1997 Toyota Celica GT convertible out tonight. To my surprise, there were several true classics parked in their lot. ('57 Ford Fairlane, '63 Ford Galaxie, '72 Javelin) It was after 7PM, Wayne's closes for the night at 8PM. The place was hoping. Almost all the seats inside were full. People sat outside at the tables below the neon glow of the WAYNE'S sign (see picture). 

I ordered a single cheeseburger, cheddar cheese, onion (raw), tomato, lettuce and a pickle. My side was their Crinkle Fries. It was all tasty. The burger didn't have as much flavor as I remember from other visits. I just enjoy the scene. The staff is always helpful and friendly. Prices are still within reason.

Rate It: Not this time. I was just getting my Wayne's fix.

 

Living the High Life in IOWA? el Bait Shop 09/13/2025

It was time to hit the road again. We were on a three day journey to Colorado. The first stop was Des Moines IA. Someone suggested that we try el Bait Shop for a delicious burger. Personally, I think it's a bit over the top, in the most loving way.  The menu, whoa! The burger is only part of the whole menu. They have Pot Roast, Liver and Onions and more. It's vast. 

Nestled in the downtown of Des Moines, IA is a friendly pub that would most likely be a destination for any beer lover. From the outside el Bait has a vibe of a crusty old warehouse converted to a grab some food and a beverage. There's an open bar off the parking lot. A patio and of course the main building. When you first enter the first thing you will notice is all the tappers. I can't even count how many taps they have for beers both local and national. Next, almost every surface has something stuck on it. Stickers from all kinds of breweries, ads from the decades for beer, toys etc. A huge mural that looks like an Ed Roth (Rat Fink) plus a wall with "Where the Wild Things Are"! The staff is on constant move checking in and following up. We had Kayla. She helped us navigate the beer list to create the perfect flight. 

How about the burger? I chose the Highlife Burger-Double. My wife had the single. The burger came out relatively quick. I pinched off a chunk. Not Bad. Plenty of flavor. I cut it in half. No pink? It was still juicy. They were frozen patties brought back to life. First bite, all the flavors. Cheese, onion, pickle, tomato,. The bun was nostalgic, similar to a George Webb burger. Not a wow but tasty. Comfortable. I probably could have done the single. The fries and tots were tasty.

Rate It: 3.5 of 5. Service, price, atmosphere and the choices of food and beers were amazing. The food was very good. Staff, worked hard.

el Bait Shop 

 

Being Crafty Again. Crafty Cow-Tosa 09/07/2025

Let's say you are celebrating your birthday like my sister-in-law. What better place to go than the Crafty Cow, Tosa. It was her suggestion, but you know I really enjoy a good burger. So, twist my arm! I'm not sure how many times I've had a burger at one of the Crafty Cow restaurants, 5? maybe more.

I went with the Classic Cow. 1/3 lb Crafty Beef Patty, American, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Special Sauce. I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of "special sauce" in the description but that's how it's built. The Cow always does a decent burger. This wasn't one of their best but it was still a good one.

Rate It: 4 of 5 Crafty Cow is a consistent burger. The price is starting to out pace the sandwich. Service is always good. 

 

 

Nostalgia Is Still On the Menu ... How About Some Dog N Suds? 08/29/2025

We were headed to the Volo Car Museum in Volo Illinois. In the back seat, our grandson. He's 6+ years old and he's pretty crazy about cars. (understatement) The museum has 5+ buildings loaded with cars and other things with motors. I'd been there before, a long time ago. That time, we stopped for a burger at the Dog N Suds in Richmond, IL. It is a total throwback. I wanted to share D n' S with my grandson, so the stop was included in our journey. We arrived shortly after they had opened. The menu is pretty much the same as it has been for sometime. Chicago Style Dogs, Italian, Burgers, Pizza Burgers, Fries, Onion Rings etc. Don't forget all the ways to enjoy ice cream, Shakes, Blenders, Sundaes. Yum!

My grandson was feeling "burgered out" so he got Chicken Strips, Tots and sauce. I got a Char Burger 2, Char Burger with double patty, Ketchup, Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickle, American Cheese (extra). My wife got a hot dog and a small tot order. The kids meal came out in a cardboard 1955 Chevy. I thought my grandson was going to flip! He did, sort of. "These people know me!" he said.

I knew when we were ordering that the food is not gourmet. It slips in somewhere around fast food fun. My burger was just like it should be. A simple piece (2pcs) of meat. I'm not going to get involved with fancy descriptions of the texture etc. It was wonderful to be at the Dog N Suds eating a better than mediocre double cheeseburger while my grandson got to experience a different time in fast food dining.

Rate It: 3of5 on a good day. It's not about an awesome burger. Although, that would make it that much better. It was a sunny day, on a trip to a fun place with our family. Worth every penny!

Dog N Suds Richmond, IL 

  

 

 

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

 

 

HopCat Kalamazoo 07/07/2025

 We were in Kalamazoo Michigan for the Wallflowers concert at the Bells Brewery back in July. Like usual, I'm looking for local burger action. Our journey landed up in the historical Stuart Area neighborhood. Beautiful homes from the turn of the century. Downtown was a short walk from our place. On our quest to find a decent meal from a local eatery we stumbled into the HopCat. They showed up on an internet search. It was suggested that they have great beer and great burgers.

The place was pretty packed considering how large the building is. The inside is decorated with cool painting (prints) of famous musicians. The vibe is rustic meets hipster. We grabbed a window seat. My wife ordered a Big Lake MI Amber and BBQ Chicken Cobb salad. Me, a  Starry with a BYO Double Smash Burger. I'm writing this on a bit of a delay but the burger was definitely worth blogging about. Service was decent considering how busy they were. The food was very good. (salad, beer etc) I've attache d a picture of the burger. You can be the judge based on the image. It's dang good looking.

Rate It:

I won't rate it but I will say I enjoyed it and thought the price ($12.75) was pretty reasonable for what I got. I'd say it's worth a try.

 

HopCat Kalamazoo
 

Tucson, AZ-Where's My Lindy's on 4th? 02.25.2025

 Tucson Arizona has been a favorite place to go back to. Over the years we've found a couple of things that we have to do. We stop by the "Hut" bar to get a picture of the Easter Island statue out front, Goodwill on 4th Avenue, check out the "Hippy Gypsy" and grab a burger at Lindy's. Well, Lindy's has moved down the street (avenue) into a larger space. They now have more indoor seating and a nice outdoor dining space. It's sort of all grown up now. The old place was pretty simple, a hole in the wall. I can appreciate the upgrades.

I'm at Lindy's for the burger. I fell in love with their burger a long time ago. I can even recall how long ago it was. I'd like to say it was in the mid 0's. Again, a funky shop that offered crazy burgers at a decent price. Not only did they have fries but tater tots too! Did the move change things? The only difference was the location and the idea of sitting and waiting for your waiter to visit. That took a bit. We were alone on the patio for some time before our server stopped by. I ordered the Shroomin' Cow. Sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and a pickle. It came out fairly quick. A bit of a surprise but not a bad surprise anyway. I'm not going to say it was loaded with flavor but it wasn't flat. The combination of flavors worked well together.

Rate It: 4 of 5 I'm going low on this one. Again, a tasty burger but I was expecting just a bit more flavor from the patty. The price is up, just like most places.

 

Leff's Again?? Yep, Burgers With Brothers! 03/24/2025

 It's that time again, Burgers With Brothers! It was the younger sibling's choice this time. He had recently dined at Leff,s and recalled they have a dang good burger. He wanted to put it to the test. Bring the brothers. Not that either of us is such an expert or critical thinker when it comes to burgers. We do enjoy them. I've been to Leff's plenty times. I don't always blog about the burger I had. You know I have a hard time not ordering a burger especially when they are a decent value.

Let's get down to it. Right? It was $8 Build Your Own Burger night. They offer quite a few toppings as part of the $8 deal. (see the pic of the list) I opted to have a double bacon cheeseburger because a guy near us had one and it looked awesome. So, that's the $8 BYOB with an additional patty for $4. I'm still ahead of the game financially. Their patties are 6oz each. I kept it simple, nothing but bacon and cheese. I'd add some spicy brown mustard and a drip of ketchup later after I taste the pure version. Yum! Tons of flavor without anything else on it. That's what I'm talkin' about. The condiments only enhanced it.

Rate It: 4.5 of 5 Flavor was there. Price was right. Overall a great burger.

Leff's

 

It's Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward. Must be time for some Wicked Hop! 01.17.2025

 It was the 3rd Friday in January. That means it's Gallery Night in the 3rd Ward, Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sometimes it's a very cold night. Not this time. Temps were in the 20's. (balmy for WI) I was hanging out with my friend Rob. We chose the Wicked Hop because, in the past, they've done right with the burger and beverages.

Burgers it is! "Build Your Own" Cheeseburger. Cheddar for me and Blue Cheese w/bacon for Rob. It was a quick turnaround on the order. Before we knew it, the burgers were delivered. Both of us were quite pleased with the amount of "pink". Too often, it doesn't go that way. All the toppings are on the side so you can choose what to add and where they go. I did everything but the pickle. Only a small amount of ketchup. I forgot to ask for some stone ground mustard. No matter, I pushed forward. It was pretty decent. Maybe not as good as the last 8 times. Something was different. Maybe it was an off night for my taste buds? I didn't hate it, that's for sure. Juicy, seasoned enough. The toppings were all fresh. The fries, delicious.

Rate It: 4 of 5 $18 for a very good burger has become the normal. I'm not a fan. It's the same burger or maybe less for more. That doesn't change the overall flavor. It was still great. Just not wow great.

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?

Al's Diner-Green Bay WI 07/12/2024

 We were in Green Bay Wisconsin for a opening night reception for the Art of the Automobile at the Art Garage, 1429 on Main Street, Green Bay. I have a couple of pieces in the show. We planned to grab dinner on our way back to Milwaukee. Since it was "my" night, my wife decided to look up burgers near the venue. The usual stuff showed up, Culver's, Burger King, McDonald's etc. On the same list was Al's Diner. Once I heard the description, I had to go there. First opened in 1934, Al's has been serving up some classic grub for nearly 90 years! A small white building snuggled between a couple of older three story buildings. Interesting. The main dining room is classic malt shop vibe. Booths and a counter with little stools covered in a shiny red vinyl. 

We ordered the Deluxe burger as a half pounder. That's two 1/4 lb patties. Add some fries and a strawberry shake, good to go. It didn't take long before the food arrived. It looked like a decent burger. Our waitress was nice enough to have the cook cut the burger for us to share. They also split the fries. Nice.

How about the burger. It was good. I'm not saying like, shout from the rooftop but, tasty. I feel like it was me but the burger had a bit of a "sausage" flavor to it. Maybe something on the grill top. No matter, all was fine. The burger was a bit messy as a 1/2 pounder. I think one patty at 1/2 pound with the same toppings would be the way I might do it next time. The fries were excellent as was the shake. Gotta love the mix of flavors. Sweet and savory.

Rate it: 4 out of 5. Great scene and service. Fries and shake, top notch. The burger was darn good. Price was fairly good. I'm getting used to paying $14 for a regular burger. 

Al's Hamburger

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.