It's an adventure trying to find this place, and an even bigger one trying to find parking! I loved sitting outside and getting a view of the city from a different perspective. I chose the chicken sandwich with Pepper Jack cheese and sriracha ranch sauce, and a margarita. Everything was delicious. Now that I know how to get here, I will be back, hopefully more often than not! 7/2021 read more

You need to search a bit for this establishment, but once you find it, you are in for a treat. Great atmosphere and drinks right on the water. read more

This little restaurant hidden back in a marina on the river is our best little restaurant find of the year. The decor is cute and makes you feel like your in a bar somewhere on the east coast or key west. The service was friendly and fast. The food was the biggest surprise of all. We ordered the lobster sandwich and it was heaped full of lobster meat, more than I have seen elsewhere even on cape cod. The second entree was crawdad tails, which is a full buttery bowl of crawdad tail deliciousness. Their drink menu will put a smile on your face , Bloody Mary ( vodka with red stuff). Love this place and can't wait to return. read more

See all

Barnacle Buds is a low-key and fun bar and restaurant that feels like you're on a beach coast rather than in the city of Milwaukee. They have great seafood and I especially enjoyed the oysters and grouper Reuben. Be prepared if ordering a side of potato salad that it's German potato salad, and therefore has bacon in it, which isn't specified on the menu. Arrive via boat and dock it, or drive through an unassuming industrial area to get there. At first it seems like you're in the wrong place, but don't worry, you'll find it behind the old factory buildings! This place gets busy on warm summer days (rightfully so), so be prepared to wait. The secret is to go when the weather isn't as great if you don't want to wait for a table. read more

Barnacle Bud's - Sunset view from the patio - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I would say that Barnacle Bud's is average at best. I went to the restaurant on a weeknight with a group of friends. We sat outside by the pier. Of course, because we are near water, there are a significant amount of bugs. Particularly spiders. Obviously not the fault of the restaurant seeing that it is right on the water, but just something to be aware of if you don't enjoy creepy critters. As far as the menu goes, it is focused on seafood. Tuesdays are special for two dollar oysters. The food was mostly average, nothing to write home about. The best thing that we tried were the wings. They had a good amount of meat on them, and their signature sauce was tasty. For our entrées, we had the burger and a build your own fried chicken sandwich. The burger was ordered medium, and came well done. The meat itself was dry and not very flavorful. The toppings on the burger were creative and delicious, however. It came with grilled onions, jalapeños, their wing sauce. The build your own fried chicken sandwich was good as well, but I had some issues with missing ingredients that I asked for on my sandwich. In the end, I got a fried chicken sandwich with American cheese and bacon. The chicken was crispy but juicy, and fried well. The bacon was crispy and not limp or fatty. The food was not bad, but it was not that great either. I would compare it almost to Wendy's. It's good for fast food, but for a well-known restaurant in a city like Milwaukee, I was not impressed. read more

A pub on the water. Food is average, service depends on who might be working, bathroom access is close to the water so walk with care. The highlight is the outdoor atmosphere and ample parking. We were fans of BBs many years ago when it first opened. Somehow it has lost its appeal to us (and we are locals, but not frequenters) and has become a hangout for a select few who frequent it regularly. When you are not part of the "few" group and trying to get service, you may have to be more assertive than usual. read more

My buddy and I met for a few Sunday Funday beers. It was steady but we got a table on "the beach" and were served right away. We just got beers and played pull tabs for a while--the waiter was funny and came around at the perfect pace knowing we were just drinking. In the end we did get some coconut shrimp and IT WAS SO GOOD. I liked the placement on the river, the decor was fun, and the hanging flower baskets were beautiful. read more

A milwaukee staple! Located in a rather isolated, industrial, think you're going the wrong way spot, once you step into Barnacle Buds you'll see what all the hype is about. You instantly get a feeling of being transported to Florida or an island. Hosts are attentive and offer plentiful seating both at the bar and at various picnic tables. Once seated, the fun begins-choosing what to eat and drink! On this beautiful Saturday, we opted for the Victorias Cooler (prickly pear lemonade), & the Dumpster Punch. For lunch, I opted for the grouper po' boy. This sandwich was HUGE! Served with your choice of fries or chips. The fish was served blackened (not sure if this is the only option as I wasn't asked), the roll was perfectly sturdy but soft. Lettuce, tomato, Mayo, and a side of fresh jalapeño made every bite fresh and flavorful. Fries were perfectly crisp, but the highlight was dipping them in dill pickle ranch! Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and kind. Be sure to visit before the summer ends! read more

See all

Fun place on the water. The menu is just right and gave enough food choices to satisfy your appetite. I had the grouper sandwich and it was made to perfection just the right amount of crunch and the fish was flaky like it should be. If you're looking for a nice place on the water in the southeast side of Milwaukee go for it! It's in an industrial area and a little hard to find. Note parking around there is tricky don't park in areas where signs are visible you will get towed. read more

This place is located on the river which is awesome when needing a place to stop after a boat ride. It has tons of seating outdoors (I didn't bother going indoors since it was such a nice day). I love coming here to grab some drinks with friends and family. It is one of my favorite places to head to in the summer. The food was pretty good as well! read more

Barnacle Bud's - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Went to Barnacle Bud's this past weekend. I ordered the shrimp tacos. They were okay, spicier than expected but still good. Overall the food was okay, not the best seafood I have ever had, but okay for the price. With that being said, it does seem like a fun environment to have a few drinks with some friends. The drinks seem reasonably priced and the outdoor dining area has a nice and chill atmosphere. read more

See all

The environment was fun and very laid back but the food was a bit underwhelming for the price. I didn't hate anything but I didn't love anything either but there's a good chance I go back. All in all, it wasn't great, wasn't bad. read more

See all

Maybe you're looking for a shady was to get to this gem of restaurant. As you drive up you think, will this be the way I go? Goooo get some delicious seafood! Busy lunch crowd on a Friday afternoon everyone seems to be ready for the weekend. The views are perfect and the food is delicious. Try their lobster roll with a variety of sides. I went for onion rings and they did not disappoint. To wash down the yummy lobster roll we pair our food with a house margarita! Great spot to chill and grab drinks with friends, take a date to an unexpected spot or just feel like you've been escaped away to new place. read more

Barnacle Bud's - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great ambiance and reminiscent of of a reastariant you'd find in a coastal town. The lobster roll was huge and excellent. They had some outdoor games which kept the kids in our group busy! Some of the food came out cold but they were very responsive in fixing it. If you have a boat - it's a must stop. Even without one - make your way down! read more

Barnacle Bud's - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Barnacle Bud's is a such a cool place! Hidden away through some back streets it sits right on the river, and on a nice summer evening it's a very fun environment to grab some grub. We ordered the peach mango salsa to start. Salsa was good but definitely not worth the price. I also got a mocktail called the river refresher. Pretty solid. The real winners were the lobster roll and cod fish fry. The lobster was PACKED full of deliciously seasoned lobster with a bit of a kick which I really loved. Honestly the portion was huge and we were hardly able to finish it. Would order again! The cod fish fry was honestly one of the better fish fries I've had in Milwaukee. Big pieces of flaky fish with just enough batter. Loved it. Served with fried and rye bread which were just okay. Overall this was a great place to eat and I would definitely come back here again. Go when the weather is nice out so you can sit along the water and enjoy a good meal on a picnic bench under an umbrella! read more

See all

Barnacle Buds is such a fun spot for the summer! It's actually deceptive big and there is a ton of space both indoors and outdoors. We were able to bring a group of 20 in and east grab a spot on the back patio with live music playing and bags and a second bar in the back. They had specialty drinks that are really beachy and tasty and are perfect for their location right on the water. You can get there by car or boat and parking wasn't too tricky, you just have to keep driving back to find it since it's not on a major street. I would definitely recommend it for smaller parties or larger groups and it's the perfect place to go on a summer night! read more

Definitely a wisconsinized seafood (seacoast) menu Fried , imitation lobster with not many seafood options read more

Great fish, excellent location and really fun, casual atmosphere!! We will be back. Attended s special event and thoroughly enjoyed it! read more

If Barnacle Buds was a person I would marry them. I love coming here for drinks after work or just to hang out with some friends. Plus the jokes on the menu never fail fail to make me laugh! Always get the Dumpster drink and some fried onion rings! read more

Barnacle Bud's - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Best. Bloody. Mary. In. Milwaukee. Buffalo shrimp was amazing. Great service. Great view. Don't let the directions scare you. It's hard to fine. Worth the effort. So happy we went. Will definitely be back. read more

Barnacle Bud's - Bloody Mary - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

This place is such a hidden gem. As you approach the restaurant, you will feel like an abandoned parking lot but as you get to the restaurant, the vistas open up and you will be sitting on lake Michigan eating your food. Definitely get for the oysters! read more

See all

Ambiance is quirky, perfect for the setting. Location wise, it's interesting to find! It's literally attached to the back corner of Skipper Buds but you have to find appropriate parking. Boat wall was full, easy access for all sizes. Service was quick and attentive! Food comes out quickly and the bar does what they can to keep up. Gorgeous weather means a full restaurant. Food wise...my husband had the shrimp bucket which he said was good, my kids shared the walleye and fries and I threw caution to the wind and grabbed the Cajun crawfish tails. I did not personally enjoy the flavor but I was glad I tried. read more

We hadn't been down in a few years. Grouper Reuben still very good and I would recommend the onion rings as well! Great atmosphere for a Sunday afternoon and the service was fantastic read more

Nothing angers me more than being served an imitation lobster roll when there is no indication on the menu that it is not actually lobster. More like a great meal for hungry cat. read more

This place is pretty cool to watch dry boats Good place For quick appetizers. We definitely would Come back here again read more

We were greeted with a warm welcome! Grabbed a drink at the bar while we waited for a table to open up. We didn't wait long, and were seating right by the water and got to watch the beautiful sunset. Our waitress was Olivia, and let me tell ya, she knows how to provide customer service! Such a warm smile and dimeanor, she was patient and helped us decide on a dish. Olivia is such a personable person and we were very glad to have had her. I will say the bartenders were a bit rude at times and standoffish. For an appetizer, we got the crab and artichoke dip and dressed it up a bit with old bay and chipotle cholula. Sadly they were out of the crawfish, so I ended up getting the Cajun mussels. My s/o got the grouper reuben; the only complaint he had was the fries were a bit small. We were so pleased with the atmosphere and service. I have a feeling this will be our place to go this summer! read more

See all

I have been wanting to come to this place for a few years because I've heard rave reviews from others. Tonight, I finally made it down here with a friend and we had a great time. I checked out the website before we arrived and noticed that the directions tell you to navigate over the RR crossing and through the warehouses. I'm glad I knew that, my friend thought I was taking her to the docks to make her into fish food because it's so sketchy here. Once you make your way through the uneven road, across the RR crossing, and through the warehouses, you see signs for Barnacle Buds parking. Phew! Then you start walking and eventually you find the restaurant. Double phew! The hostess was great and COVID ready. Everyone was wearing masks and they had hand sanitizers at the entrance of the outdoor seating. We had about a 15 minute wait for our table but really it was closer to 7. It wasn't much longer after I got our first round of drinks from the bar than we were called to our table. We were brought to the back side of the restaurant and had a beautiful view of the river and the sunset. Our waitress gave us newbies a great rundown of what to try and was great about splitting our bill for us. We split the crab cakes for an app and both got the coconut shrimp for our mains. The crab cakes were perfectly cooked and the sauce on them was perfect. Even had a little kick to it. Our waitress gave us a good warning that the sweet chili sauce for the coconut shrimp was more chili than sweet, and a little really went a long way. There were many items on the menu that were crossed off/sold out. We found out they do fish fry every day of the week. I did notice that, as others pointed out, there were several fried options on the menu. But not all of their items are fried. I can't wait to come back to eat here. Such a great place! read more

My family and me decided we wanted to try a new place and someone told us about this joint. So my wife, myself and kids ages 11 and 15 drove into Milwaukee to give this place a go. First, let me say that when you are following directions to this place you feel as though you are in a mob movie and you are about to be whacked. Place is well off the beaten path way down at the end of a roadway with not much around but commercial buildings. But once there we found it to be a cool place. We sat outside and tables are spaced nicely. There is an inside as well be we did not go in. Customers eat at picnic type tables and there is also an outside bar area. I had the burger while my wife had the grouper. Both were ex went. One of my kids had a burger and the other chicken fingers and they loved it as well. I particularly loved the fries and onion rings. Service was fantastic and the vibe was laid back. This right on the water place was a great choice for us for lunch. Go. read more

It was quite expensive. $170 for two of us. The moscato wine was great. The crinkle cut fries were great. The steak i wanted was the new york but they were out of it at 5pm. So i got the filet mignon but it was too rare. I didn't send it back cause then it would come back well done. The scallops were good. The room temperature was cold because there is the main door and a tent door. To get in you go through tent door then main door and everytime the door opened a cold blast of winter air came in. Small seating area so probably most could feel the blast. Reservations required. I will say that i love the summer version of the restaurant known as Barnacle Buds. I wasn't impressed enough with the winter version pop up known as Genes Supper Club to go back. But i will go to Barnacle Buds where they have some delightful sandwiches like Grouper Reuben, Lobster Roll, and Gene's Big Boy which is Gene's take on the famous Big Boy burger. Its on a street that is more like an alley or parking lot. Use your GPS. Google maps can find it. read more

All good - food, service, ambiance especially in summer when you can sit outside on patio.

Champagne prices. Beer Can quality. Supposedly for their first time, Barnacle Buds is testing out a "pop up" steak house style restaurant during the colder months. As someone who has worked 15 years in fine dining for Michelin star chef/owners like Rick Tramanto, Michael Kornik, and Ford Fry......No. Steak was sadly disappointing. So unfortunate. Although the service received was good, I say wait till summer to visit. read more

Soooooo the last time my husband and I went to BB's was the 4th of July to get food to go. It was great! It was so great, we decided to take our Godfather from out of town and our teenager there. We actually sat down this time. We had a crab cake appetizer and the peel and eat shrimp (both really delicious). We ordered the cod fish fry, the grooper fish fry, a lobster roll with baby potatoes, and 2 shrimp po boys. The food was great although this time my lobster roll had wayyyyy more imitation crab than the last time I came. Our waitress was a bit much, she was condescending and not very patient with our Godfather who is an elderly man. I want to continue to patronize this restaurant, because the food is delicious. Maybe we'll get a nicer waitress the next time ‍‍‍ read more

See all

Great service and staff was great with recommendations. Good chow and a fun place when the weather holds out. A challenge to find but worth it!! read more

Good stop! Took a little navigating to find because it's hidden in the back. Don't worry, if you feel like your driving into an alley, you're on the right path. We got seated right away on the deck outside and were greeted promptly. Service was excellent and the lady was very sweet. Ended up getting the salad with lobster and was extremely disappointed to find out it was imitation lobster. Asked for it with grilled chicken and the waitress exchanged it no questions asked. The shrimp poboy was overall, okay. Shrimp was cooked and seasoned excellent, but the bun was blah. Also, the fries weren't great either. Overall, we would come back because of the service and location of it being on the river. Definitely will have something different next time though. read more

See all

I had the grouper tacos. They were very bland and very simple. Nice atmosphere and service.

Having lived in San Diego for 34 years, my wife love harbor or seaside dinning. We loved the ambiance as it reminded us of so many of our favorite spots overlooking the Pacific. The food was decent and the service was good. We will definitely return on another sunny and breezy day! read more

Good seafood. Quirky environment. Great for those who go boating as you can dock your boat there. I go there once a year when I go boating.

I was pretty unimpressed with this place. It was about 90° and our server never even brought us water. And if you're going to have all outdoor seating, at least have some fans! The shrimp tacos were shrimp and red cabbage--that's it. Every oyster had shells in them and were brought out on a tray without ice. The grouper Ruben was fine but nothing special. read more

Looking for a place the locals go, then this is the place for you. If you think you're lost, just keeping going and you will be there. Food was good, but a bit pricey for the portion sizes. Staff is friendly and attentive. read more

Good stuff!! sorry to hear you can't pull the boat up and have lunch because of skipper buds owning all the dock space lol ‍