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    aya

    4.3 (43 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM

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    Beet salad
    Shivani P.

    Had the pleasure of visiting Aya this last week. I was there for a work event so I will preface by stating it was not a traditional dinner type visit for a small group. Interior of the restaurant is beautiful! Loved the decor and color scheme. Very boujie and elevated! It does get quite loud as the evening goes on and it gets busy Food was tasty! Ingredients seemed high quality and the medley of flavors in the dishes were unique and really nice. Got the beet salad as an appetizer which was fresh and light. If you like beets I highly recommend! Table shared the seafood tower which was loaded with so many different sea apps including meaty and nice sized lobster tails. For dinner I had the chicken and it was tender and delicious. The rice is super flavorful and the sauce that goes with the dish was smooth and a perfect pairing. Several desserts were shared by the table and all of them were good. My favorite was the cheesecake! Service was a little slow but I'm not sure if that's because of the nature of the event (there was a presentation and not sure if the waiters didn't want to interrupt too often) The waitress was super sweet and receptive. Our water ran out several times and there definitely could have been more bottles on the table for sharing (there was only 1 voss bottle at a time for 6 people) and not refilled fast enough. Dishes are pretty pricey so it feels like more of a special occasion type place than one I'd be itching to go back to often as it can get expensive real Quick. Food was good but I'm not itching to go back to spend such a hefty amount for what we had.

    Lico J.

    Came back for a second visit and was truly impressed by the service team, who recognized me by my reservation name - honestly not common in Milwaukee at all. Love, love, love that hospitality spirit! As for the food, we got the lamb chops, halloumi, and oyster mushrooms as appetizers; the chicken and rice with roasted cauliflower for the entrée; and the kunafa plus mango baklava for dessert - and truly enjoyed every single dish. Highlights for us were the incredibly flavorful and beautifully cooked lamb chops and oyster mushrooms, the creamy kunafa dessert, the refreshing mango baklava, and especially the deliciously fragrant rice in the chicken entrée (our picky toddler ate half of the rice). If we had to pick on one thing that they could improve would be the chicken in the entree - a bit dryer than we like in in our experience. Overall, we will definitely be back!

    Halloumi Small Plate
    Ally S.

    Highlights 1) Beautiful Restaurant 2) Flavorful Food 3) Fun Drinks Aya has been at the TOP of my want to try list for so long! You absolutely need a reservation. We came on a Wednesday night with a 7pm reservation and it was completely packed. We were seated at the bar to wait for our table. The cocktail list is fun and the wine list (even wine by the glass!) is great. We were seated about 10 minutes after our reservation, Per our servers recommendation, we ordered a bunch of dishes and shared everything. We did a maze platter, lamb kebabs, chicken, halloumi, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. From start to finish service was great and food and drinks were flavorful! Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu!

    Michael W.

    Aya is the newest addition to an already incredible food scene in Milwaukee. They specialize in elevated Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine in a vibrant, elegant atmosphere. Since it opened it has already become a popular must stop for any foodie. It is the same owners of Saffron, and they draw on the influences that has made that restaurant a smash on the Milwaukee dining scene. This is another home run and one of the most unique dining experiences in the city. We tried many plates: the mezze sampler platter, Wagyu Shish Taouk, Lamb Shish Kebab, and Oyster Mushrooms. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the presentation was spectacular. Our standouts were the Wagu and Oyster mushrooms. You must try them! Them mezze sampler was also incredible. The cocktails we ordered were also fantastic. The atmosphere and presentation of everyone was beautiful and elegant. Besides the amazing food, the service was also top-notch, friendly and attentive. If you are lucky enough to snag a reservation, don't pass it up. Go now!

    Kushal D.

    We came into aya to celebrate a birthday and had a great time! The staff was so attentive and kind, the restaurant beautiful and the drinks were quite creative. The menu had something for everyone - we opted to share a bunch of mezzes including the sampler, halloumi, skewers, and Muhammara. The muhammara and the baba were our favorite dips, and the halloumi and falafel were delish! The skewers were the star - chicken was so flavorful and juicy. I didn't try the venison or lamb but was told they were good. I would say Aya can be quite pricey - we spent almost $400 between three of us, and another couple spent $300. While the food was delicious, the portions were small for the price. Likewise - they only provide one pita with a dip, and extra pita is $5 for a single pc. Having been to several similar restaurants in other cities like Chicago, phx, dc, nyc...pita refills are usually provided for free or at minimum each person is provided with an individual pita. This wasn't the case which made it difficult to finish the mezzes without ordering extra pita. We had a fantastic time and the food was high quality, and delicious. The service was great. We will come back, but with the price point it will likely be more of a special occasion spot.

    Pide
    Alexander D.

    We decided to stop in to celebrate a special occasion and I appreciated being seated promptly. There is not great parking the area so be advised and I do think maybe a valet would have been a nice touch for a fine dining experience. The service was tremendous as the staff was super attentive we did have an earlier reservation but nonetheless they were on top of everything. The ambience is a nice elegant touch for a fine dining experience. I think they really thought through the decor and presentation of everything. The food my favorites were the lamb hummus and my branzino. Their version branzino had great flavor. Their version of a pide was a nice touch different than the Turkish pide I've had in the past. My wife got the chicken dish which was a little overcooked and dry unfortunately. Overall, worth checking out and giving a try.

    Danielle P.

    Such a solid new restaurant spot for the Milwaukee food scene the restaurant was fully booked for last Friday night, but we tested our luck around 6:45 hoping to snag a seat at the bar and we did! A couple others opened up after us too, so I would definitely encourage this approach as it's full-service and, honestly, probably the best seat in the house! I will say, the area of the restaurant is kind of random and parking will probably be a hit or miss. The bar area is stunning. With a huge marble accent wall, white quartz countertop and mid-century modern touches mixed with contemporary glam. The wait staff all wear suits as well which lends itself a certain elegance. The rest of the restaurant is spacious, tall ceilings. Not much architectural excitement happening in the building, but it's clean and pretty to look at. The drink menu is creative and bougie, many of the drinks having special touches to them that entailed bartender tricks. I got thee gin drink which resembled a pisco sour (a bit sweeter but really tasty) and my husband did a smoked bourbon drink. The food was outstanding! We chose to do a mix of tapas and honestly, every dish was better than the last. We tried the wagyu carpaccio, yellowtail (honestly the biggest pieces of sushi I've ever been served, huge portion), fattoush smash (this was a delightful surprise of a dish!!), spicy Muhammara (one of the best I've had!) with delicious naan, and the wagyu skewer. Had to finish off this 10/10 meal with dessert and opted for the tiramisu Everything was amazing and we can't wait to go back!

    Scott W.

    I don't normally try a new restaurant until it has had some time to settle into a rhythm. The issues that we had might resolve themselves over time. We had 7:15 reservations on a Wednesday night. It was busy, about 3/4 full. Food: We started with a couple of their specialty cocktails. My wife got the Smoke Thyme Manhattan, and I got the Fig. This is not something that I usually say, but for me the best part of the meal was the Fig cocktail. It was expertly made, a bit like a latte, with nice foam and some stenciled artwork. For starters we got the Classic Hummus. It was nicely textured, not overly creamy, with good flavor and some roasted chickpeas on top. The pita was super puffy and still warm from the oven. For shareables we got the Beets, Grilled Octopus, and the Wagyu Shish Taouk. The beets are multi-colored and sit atop a bit of ricotta and champagne vinaigrette. The beets were nicely chilled and the flavors were good, but they were a bit overcooked and soft. The Wagyu was good, cooked to medium, and had decent flavor, but it was not as tender as you would expect. The grilled octopus was a disappointment. It was nicely charred, had good flavor, and the pea purée was tasty. Unfortunately, it was overcooked and the inside was actually a bit "mushy." Probably the worst piece of grilled octopus that I have had. We wanted to leave on a high note, so we ordered a couple of desserts: the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Mango Baklava. Both of these were made in a very unconventional manner. The sticky pudding cake was dry (as opposed to being soaked with the syrup) and sitting in a bowl of date compote and caramel syrup. The baklava had layers of dry phyllo pastry and could have benefited from more mango filling. They were both good, but not great. Service: Service got off to a slow start and was spotty throughout the 1.5-hour meal. When we were seated it took about 10 minutes for our server to arrive, so we sat there with empty water glasses as hurried servers passed our table. When our server arrived they were extremely pleasant and friendly. However, they were not very helpful with some of our menu questions ("Sorry, I haven't tried that," or "No, I haven't heard much about that.") We specifically told them that we weren't in a hurry and wanted to pace the meal. No problem, they said they would submit the tickets to make that happen. The hummus came out first, and then while we were still finishing that, the other three items arrived. It made for a very crowded table. I mentioned that to the food runner and got literally a blank stare. There were also other small things, like having to ask for more water. One more note on the staff. This is one of the few places where the staff wear uniforms. While I don't think that is necessarily a bad idea, they should probably ensure that the uniforms they assign fit properly. I think they could use a good tailor. Atmosphere: It's a beautiful place. The furnishings and design have a high-end feel. When we arrived I thought it was very noisy, and it was, but the table that we had was built for two and it was relatively easy to have a conversation. As I mentioned earlier, they are just getting started and I would expect things to improve. In the meantime, I will dine at some of the other excellent Mediterranean restaurants that Milwaukee has to offer.

    Mango Baklava and Biscoff cheesecake so good!

    This place was so beautiful, we came here to celebrate our anniversary and it was a great choice. The service was amazing everyone was so attentive, our waiter was friendly gave suggestions for food and drinks as this was our first time there. We didn't feel rushed we got to really enjoy dinner. The food was fantastic, I am sure we will be back here very soon! (Had Prawns but we ate them before I could take a pic)

    Dukka crusted prawns
    Anna R.

    So exciting to try a new place, walking in is like stepping into the Mediterranean, with classic finishes and olive trees. The big windows overlook the city in a nice way. The menu is large with familiar options and Mediterranean and indian fusion flavors. The cocktail and drink menu features many fun options. Out waitress provided some great recommendations and was able to help guide us to our choices. We got the Manakeesh Za'tar pita to start, followed by Batata Harra, and our entrees Kharouf Shank, and Dukka Crusted Prawns paired with a glass of Syrah and Petra Mocktail. Everything was delicious the pita was fresh and warm, the batata was delicious and had a hint of spice, and the lamb shank just fell off the bone. The combination of flavors was great with a nod to multiple cultures. I wish we had saved some room for dessert! Overall, beautiful restaurant and great menu with so many delicious sounding options, we are already taking about what we would like to try next time we stop in.

    Flan
    Allie G.

    Wow! This place is beautiful!!! My friend and I had such a great dinner at Aya the other night. We split the mezze sampler, which is the only thing we got besides the flan. It was more than enough food for both of us. It is on the pricier side, but I would say it's worth it given the portions and display. This is definitely an experience, so remember that when dining! The sampler was delicious!! All of the dips, potato's, veggies, falafel.. just amazing with flavor. I got the espresso martini, which was not my favorite but I could see how some may like it. I loved the Levant cocktail, beautiful and delicious. The flan was to die for!! Omg I could go back and eat so much more of that. Service was amazing. Highly recommend this spot!

    Aliya M.

    Came here to celebrate with a friend. It's a beautiful restaurant, very attentive staff, you can tell they've put a lot of thought and love into the space. We tried a few different dishes as well as entrees. The highlights were the lamb ragú hummus and the truffle fries both flavored very well! We all enjoyed the other dishes over the entrees. My chicken was dry and the shank needed a little more flavor. For the price we were hoping for a bit more. Overall, enjoyed the dinner, will definitely come back for drinks and small dishes!

    Biscoff cake
    Maggie V.

    We had a great experience at this restaurant. The ambiance makes for a special night out. The food was fantastic. I am vegan and there plenty of options for me. We absolutely loved our server Nathan. I recommend sitting in his section.

    Lamb

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    The wait staff was super attentive and friendly, and the food was delicious! Atmosphere is great as well!

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    Thank you so much, Brittany! Your review means so much to us.

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    Their new location is on S 13th Street, only a little ways from Layton. There are still lots of…read morepictures from their old location on Layton, but as of April 2025, they are inside Rayan Market & Restaurant, a Middle Eastern market (see pictures). It is a small family owned business, and mother cooks all the food. It's only been a month since they moved here from Layton, so they don't have a sign yet, but just go in to the Rayan super market, and navigate yourself to the back of the building. They do have a table off to the side inside the market if you're in a pinch and need to eat there, but I'd recommend taking the food to go. The family is friendly, and if you aren't too familiar with Mediterranean food, they will help you navigate their menu items. They have 2 types of rice. One is a smoked rice (first time I tried it, and it was good!), and the other one is cinnamon. I didn't care for the latter, but the smoked rice was delicious. I was only going to try a bite or two, but I ended up kicking myself off of keto and ate a whole bowl. Chicken special - with rice and salad Salad was a small portion of very fresh lettuce, tomato and cucumber in light oil dressing. Chicken was a bit dry for my taste. They did have the chicken in a warmer plate (like the buffet style) and it must have been sitting there a while. The flavors were good, but the dryness was disappointing. The menu says "half chicken", but we got 2 pieces of thigh+drum. In a way that's good, cuz any breast meat would have been so much more dry. Lamb special - with rice and salad We ordered the cinnamon rice for this dish and the smoked one for the chicken dish. Like I said, the smoked rice was better for my palate. The lamb was delicious. It was falling off the bones, but it wasn't dry. We got 3 large chunks of lamb with bone and one little piece boneless. In both plates, our server piled the rice so high! I hope they don't go out of business giving so much rice! But I'm not complaining. Overall, the meal was delicious and I would definitely go again. I'd love to try some of their appetizers and other meat items.

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    Nice place for a drink and to relax a bit. Very very nice staff, they were honestly the best part…read moreof our visit by far. There's a better selection of drinks when you go upstairs, or at least there was the day that we visited, which was during a street fest. The upstairs bartenders and the ones outside were all really friendly and we definitely felt like this was a place we could go back to and enjoy another few rounds.

    Casablanca Brady Street has been a staple for my girlfriends and I for years even before the patio…read morewas built. We've always loved the happy hour, hookah, and food. We've enjoyed "sip and paints" here, New Year's Eve, when they offered brunch with crepes, and frequented when they had their vegetarian lunch buffet. Unfortunately, things have changed. 1. Atmosphere The décor hasn't changed. Still sleek, dimly lit, and romantic. The bathroom water wasn't working, and staff seemed aware of it when we mentioned it. How is that sanitary or up to code? Several of the chairs brought to our table were also broken, with bent legs a clear safety issue. It's typically packed on a Saturday like a dance club but it was nearly empty on a Saturday night which may be a reflection of our experience. 2. Service Our waitress was kind and attentive despite handling a large group, but the busboy was unprofessional. He started clearing plates while people were still eating and even asked my husband to reach across the table to hand over other guests' dishes. It made us feel rushed, even though the place wasn't busy. 3. Food My chicken shawarma was greasy, hard, sour, and unseasoned, almost as if the meat had gone bad. The potato balls were cut open which I've never seen and underwhelming. My husband and son's wings were over fried and tough, the spinach artichoke dip was clumpy and poorly blended, and others said the lamb chops were "okay." Honestly, the best thing I ate that night was the pita bread. 4. Overall Experience This used to be our go to for birthdays, Brady Street drag show viewing, and happy hour, but it's gone downhill. Between the sanitation issues, broken furniture, food quality, and rushed service, it no longer feels like "our spot". SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.... This was hard to write because I have so many great memories here and I wanted the experience to be better. Sadly, I won't be returning.

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    Business Hours:
Delivery & Take-Out:
11 AM - 1 AM
Bar & Dine-In:
4 PM - 2 AM
    Business Hours: Delivery & Take-Out: 11 AM - 1 AM Bar & Dine-In: 4 PM - 2 AM
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Delivery & Take-Out:
11 AM - 1 AM
Bar & Dine-In:
4 PM - 2 AM

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    Business Hours: Delivery & Take-Out: 11 AM - 1 AM Bar & Dine-In: 4 PM - 2 AM
    Odd Duck

    Odd Duck

    4.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Fucking love this place…read more If there is a highly rated small plates place in a location we are visiting, you can count on us to find it. We walked literally thirty minutes to this place from our hotel. It was a lovely walk in early August. We had a 5:45pm reservation on a Thursday (we are old now) and we were seated immediately. Service was excellent. Ok so they have a fantastic cocktail menu. I appreciate any cocktail menu that is more complex than vodka and cranberry juice but this takes it to another level of creativity. I also like how they name them with numbers. It's so much easier to say "I'll have a 42" rather than "I will have a duperbeamerscicle". I started with an "88" with pisco, rose-poached strawberry, amontillado sherry, verjus, rose port, and pink peppercorn. Served in a highball glass and garnished with berries. Very refreshing. GF started with the "91" mezcal, passion fruit, poblano, pineapple, amaro, lime. Gorgeous and chic. Very strong, smoky flavor. When in Rome, so the cheese plate did not feel like an option. Four fantastic cheeses were served with very tasty candied nuts, some jam business, grapes, and some of the best bread I have had on a cheese plate. Thick, soft, and fluffy. Paired absolutely perfectly with cheese. Only complaint is that I wish there was more of it. I haven't had deviled eggs in a minute so I went wild and also had the chili crisp deviled eggs which were SPECTACULAR. I also got the Egyptian fried cauliflower which is served on a smear of harissa and lemon tahini. Very flavorful. Star of the show tbh was the tagliatelle with squash, tomato, these fried cheese crisps. The noodles were al dente and SO GOOD in such a wonderful sauce. GF also got the steak, she says "very good seasoning". I helped her out with the kimchi pancake. Wonderful. Such a great sauce. For our second round of dranks we both went with the "77" makrut lime vodka, tamarind, bird's eye chili, cilantro, lime, lemongrass. Very tamarind forward. Very unique. I can see why it's our server's favorite drink on the menu. The desserts looked really good (something with sticky rice I think it was a cocktail and a bread budding that looked fantastic) but we just weren't feeling it.

    We had such a fantastic dinner at Odd Duck-Thank you Yelp for being our guide and never letting us…read moredown. We grabbed seats at the bar, and the service was spectacular. Our bartender was incredibly friendly, charismatic, and genuinely passionate about the menu. He took the time to explain dishes, offered thoughtful recommendations, and made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Every dish we ordered was outstanding. The deviled eggs were easily our favorite and are an absolute must-order. We also loved the flatbread with fiddleheads, which featured a delicious curry-inspired flavor that reminded us of an Indian dish. My husband couldn't stop talking about the bread pudding and said it was one of the best desserts he's had. Everything we tried was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. If we lived in Milwaukee, Odd Duck would absolutely become one of our regular spots. We can't wait to come back the next time we're in town.

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    Bar service!
    Bar service!
    Charred Broccolini $17
    Charred Broccolini $17
    Chili crisp deviled eggs $6

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    Chili crisp deviled eggs $6

    aya - mideastern - Updated August 2026

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