Key West restaurant but make it in ~ Wisconsin ~ if you love seafood with a good atmosphere, don't walk, RUN to Barnacle Buds. It is such a cute place with such good food! read more

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Food was great, oysters were fresh. The atmosphere and view is really cool. Service was not so great, our server was rather short with us. The worst part was that the oysters we ordered, which were intended as an appetizer, came out when we were nearly finished with our meals. read more

What a love/hate relationship we have :) we definitely frequent this place for the atmosphere on beautiful summer nights in Milwaukee. As far as the food goes... it seems that everything is fried and you leave feeling like you swam in a vat of oil. My stomach cringes every time I leave this place. My husband usually gets the grouper Ruben and always enjoys it. I change my order every once in a while between the coconut shrimp and the blackened grouper po boy - which is a good alternative to the fried food. We normally start with the crab cakes as an appetizer - which have changed within the last few years... used to be better. Next visit we want to try the burgers... the table next to us ordered them and they looked delicious!! read more

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

What a joke... Crab cakes are like 6 smashed hush puppies from long John silvers with a table spoon of shrimp sauce for seafood flavor... Should be $3.99 with fries.. place is a hidden dump... bathrooms suck too. read more

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We came to Barnacle Bud's last year for the first time and when we visited the area again this year, it was on our "must go back" list! Such an awesome vibe at this place and the food is fantastic! Tuesday's is the night for their special on oysters ($2 each) and were SO good! Definitely give this place a try, you'll want to go back again! read more

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

Very quirky, and great spot! Reminds me of Spooky Island from the Scooby Doo movie! It's a little out of sight, and we questioned if we were going the right way, but eventually found it. The service was good, and the workers seemed down to earth. The manager served us and was a great host. I got the shrimp and chicken jambalaya, and my girlfriend got the coconut shrimp. Both dishes were good, but I really enjoyed the spiciness of the jambalaya. We were also accompanied by a duck that came out of the water (we thought we were special but it was only after our crumbs...). A really cool experience though. This will be a go-to spot of mine. read more

Barnacle Bud's - Our crumb thief - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I absolutely love the ambiance of this place. You can drive there or boat there and tie up on the dock (space is usually limited). They have a few different bars and tons of outdoor seating to help give it a tropical vibe. They're menu is a decent size with mostly burgers and seafood sandwiches although they do have a few other seafood options such as oysters and mussels as well. We went on a Sunday afternoon and didn't have too wait long for a table. We ordered a couple sandwich items, mussels, and oysters. While the seafood was good, it wasn't anything to rave about in my opinion. Very simple and seemed to be prepared as any other casual dining restaurant. I would definitely recommend going there for the drinks and the atmosphere though as they have tons of backyard games to offer and lots of fruity (or not) drinks to choose from! Overall: 4 stars Food: 3 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Drinks: 4 stars read more

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JoAnne G 1 Pending review Great locale, meh food. A fun place with a nice view, nice ambience, friendly service and very mediocre food, most of which appeared to be pre-packaged. My husband ordered a burger with fries and cole slaw. He got what appeared to be your standard bar burger. lt looked like the sort of patty available frozen from restaurant supply stores. He felt it was "acceptable, but nothing special" and "tasty enough." The fries, which l also had, appeared to be the sort of crinkle cut fries that you can get in any frozen food section of any grocery store. You can't really ruin them. They were acceptable but nothing special. My husband thought the slaw, which seemed like it the sort of thing restaurant supply stores sell in big tubs, tasted spoile. l also had it. l'm not sure it was spoiled, but it tasted "different" than usual. l ordered a lobster roll with fries and cole slaw, plus a lemonade. The lemonade tasted like Countrytime or Crystal Light. lt included a lemon wedge which l squeezed into the drink to try to cover the chemical taste. l still didn't like it. My lobster roll was not what l expected. Usually a lobster roll is either made of small chunks of lobster prepared with lots of melted butter or with a dressing that includes mayo, diced celery and seasoning. lt is served on a buttered, toasted bun made just for lobster rolls. lt generally doesn't include tomato. l got an untoasted bun with sliced tomato filled with shreds of what looked and tasted like the sort of "seafood" restaurant supply stores sell in big tubs. l'm not saying that it definitely wasn't lobster, but l wasn't sure it was either. lt was edible but not enjoyable. People around us seemed to be enjoying their mixed drinks. All this plus a canned soda cost $43.00, so not a great value. Any of the usual burger add-on will cost you extra. l would give Barnacle Bud's a generous C-, mostly based on fun rather than food. l wouldn't go out of my way to return and would just get a drink if friends wanted to go for the ambience. l generally don't write reviews, but l was very disapointed. Great locale, meh food. read more

Having a grouper Reuben and drinking a cold beer at Barnacle Bud's on a warm evening after a bike ride is EXACTLY HOW I make it through the Milwaukee winter. We moved to MKE the winter of 2015 and learned of Buds that spring. It was no surprise that we celebrated the purchase of our home on their back deck and ha e brought every out of town visitor to their docks. Favorites include that I've been able to be in or outside and have enjoyed the space with my mom to a group of 15 loud friends drinking to celebrate numerous birthdays. We have also had a friend paint from their space on her cross country art vacation. Food I standby include their grouper rueben... I never put cheese on my fish sandwich until I tried theirs. Its crunchy, tangy and everything I want on rye bread. I also endorse their lobster roll. Not Maine lobster roll level, but a delicious option if you shy from the fish fry. read more

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

Barnacle Bud's is a true Milwaukee hidden gem - emphasis on hidden. This is one of those places that is actually easier to access by water! Barnacle Bud's is nestled along one of the busier parts of the Kinnickinnic River. It's more of the industrial/Jones Island part of town, so the view isn't spectacular, but there is a very nice view of the Allen-Bradley clock tower. There's lots of dock space, and in nice weather, it's a great spot to stop when you're boating down the river. For the non-boaters among us (myself included), accessing Barnacle Bud's by land is a bit trickier. It's hidden behind a huge boating warehouse and signage is limited. If you feel like you are heading down a dead-end service road, you're headed the right way! Honestly though, all of this just adds to the quirky appeal. The place itself is pure nautical kitsch. The servers are great, and the drinks are usually strong. The menu is your standard bar food fare with a seafood twist - think fish fry, grouper Ruebens, coconut shrimp, etc. I really enjoy their crab cake appetizer a lot. The food is always good, but my only complaint is that it is VERY greasy. There's not much to eat on the menu that isn't heavy. Although this place is definitely fun in the summer, it is open year round and can be a nice place for a quiet, riverside drink in the winter as well. Definitely a place you should check out at least once! read more

Barnacle Buds used to be the best seafood place! The food has really gone downhill and it seems very frozen/soggy. The menu could use a freshening up. The views and bar are great! read more

This was my first time to Barnacle Bud's and it was a little hard to find. There isn't great signage but I knew it was there so I parked and ventured forth. As I approached, there was a sign to go around to the back deck. They've got a tent set up with space heaters and it was really nice! I had the crab cakes and they were so delicious. I'm so glad they are open during COVID and that I was able to visit. I can't wait to come back to this place during summer! read more

THE BUGS! I guess it was partially my fault for not thinking through the fact that mosquitoes have been bad recently but being here made it seem like I was in the middle of the woods. They have no outside fans to help and weren't using any sort of tiki torches or anything. From comments that waiters said, this is very common at/after dusk here all summer, but recently (Sept 2018) it's been bad all day. Like unbearable bad. There has to be something that can be done to at least help control them?? For food I got the coconut shrimp which was very good, I just didn't taste much of it because I was spending my attention swatting bugs every 4 seconds. read more

Charred replacement....really disappointed in this trip to Barnacle Buds. Brought my sister, from out of town, after raving about this place. She ordered the catfish sandwich, It came with 2 large filets on a bun w/side of fries. Merely a few bites in noticed that the middle section was raw. The server took her order back to the kitchen thinking they could just remake a new order. However, returned with what is pictured, only half of one of the filets and it was charred! We complained again, server said she would ask if they could take it off the bill. How can a restaurant not only return an order completely inedible but also cheat the customer out of the quantity of the order originally served?! read more

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

Not my first time here, but I gotta say something has changed in the kitchen and it's definitely noticeable for the better. Stopped in for lunch and there was plenty of outdoor seating. Service was fast and the servers had great attitudes. The Buffalo shrimp appetizer came with fresh large shrimp tossed in Buffalo sauce, even the celery was fresh cold and crunchy. Wife had the grouper Reuben which she couldn't stop talking about how fresh it tasted. I had the fried grouper sandwich and they didn't skimp on the fish, the bread was soft, and tarter came on the side. You get to choose your toppings on the grouper sandwich so you can customize it to your liking. A perfect place if you're looking for a waterfront atmosphere with great food and drinks. read more

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You almost forget you are in Milwaukee when sitting on the patio, which overlooks the Kinnickinnic River, at Barnacle Bud's. It seriously feels like a place you would find in Florida. We got lucky and actually found this place (it is a challenge if you aren't on a boat cruising up the river), and there were many open tables on a Saturday afternoon. It was an overcast day but it was still very nice to be sitting outside, watching the boats go by, and enjoying a delicious cocktail and yummy food. Our waiter was great and answered all our questions regarding the drink and food options. Definitely ask what the specialty cocktails are because they are superb! I had the Pirate Punch, which was a spin on the classic rum punch, and my fiancée had some sort of fruity concoction with pear vodka, and we also split a dark &stormy (a A+ worthy drink!). All the beverages are served in mason jars, which is always fun. For food, I had the shrimp po boy and my fiancée had the grouper po boy. I never had a po boy before and wasn't sure what to expect but I LOVED it!!!! The shrimp were large, perfectly grilled, and the sandwich was all around outstanding. The "spicy" mayo, which is served on the side, had incredible flavor and wasn't very spicy - I much prefer flavor spice to hot spice. You also get a side of jalapenos (I'll pass, thanks) and a side of your choice. I had fries because French fries are one of my guilty pleasures. The grouper po boy was equally as awesome. The fish was grilled and a very large piece, much larger than the bun. And it was **so good**, I know what I am ordering the next time I come here! They also offer a grouper fish fry - I need to try that as well. I highly recommend Barnacle Bud's if you are looking for summertime fun. The people that were pulling up their boats and getting lunch looked like they were having a blast. Great patio, excellent service, incredible food and drinks. I will for sure be coming back! read more

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Although I Hate to use a cliche, This IS..basically "a hidden G--" on the other side of Skipper bud's boat storage. Just look for the second building where all the other cars are parked in the lot. I will refrain from corny pirate talk, hidden booty, nauti talk about knots and treasures. The back bar deck is covered with only one choice of tequila, Jose curve. Now they have plenty of rum, whiskey and vodka. To chase the chills away. Bar staff was attentive I had a jar of spotted cow to start $4.00, then a bottle of lite $ 3.00. The temp out side was 60 with winds from the north 10-20 mph. I thought I'd enjoy some of the last few warmer days outside. Bartenders were friendly. Customers were nice as well. Good mix of students and old/retired. It was nice to walk along the water. It really looks like a slice of Florida, without the palm trees, dolphins, heat, pelicans and cranes. If anyone is interested there is a nice 39 foot Silverton available for $129K. They have a good reputation for Fish Friday and Oysters. I hope to return before winter. Aye aye. read more

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Barnacle Buds is just a cute little place to get your pirate fix on. Chill by the water, don't feel weird if you aren't dressed up, chat with the bartenders, enjoy good bar food and drinks. You can sit inside but their outdoor patio has plenty of tables or you can sit at the outdoor bar. They have a build your own bloody bar, not sure what days of the week. Very casual and good vibe place on the river. Beware, it is hidden away in the middle of warehouse land. It's right next store to Skipper Buds so we also watched them unload boats into the water which was cool. read more

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I have been going here for 9 years, and the views never disappoint which is why I'm giving Bud's 4 stars. Over the years the ambience has changed quite a bit. They have become more food focused than a fun spot for drinks. On one visit last year, they played the most obnoxious slow pop torture music. This current visit had a tropical music vibe which was much more fun and enjoyable. I've had the grouper reuben a handful of times. Basically, it's all I've ever eaten here. My most recent visit over the busy memorial weekend did not disappoint. Their rye bread is awesome and fish was not too greasy and cooked perfectly. I was honestly kind of shocked as a few years ago the cook forgot to remove the paper from the cheese, so that was a fun chewy bite. My dining companions also enjoyed their sandwiches and hummus. Our server on this visit was awesome. The was attentive and allowed us to sit at a back bar table that the host did not say was available. Beware of table tyrants here. I miss the days of the find your own seat laidback vibe. You can still walk up to the bar seats, but the service is sometime slow depending on how busy it is. Also beware of highly intoxicated sunburned folks here. It's great for people watching but might not be the most inviting for some guests. If you're looking for an island vibe and a bucket of Coronas, this is a great spot. Just be prepared to possibly not get the greatest service and/or a table especially if you're not eating. read more

Barnacle Bud's - Malibu and pineapple - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We were seated dockside on a warm, sunny day. The food was wonderful. We had a great time. Definitely check it out. It's a hidden treasure.

Great vibe and great grub. A little "Key West" gem right here in Milwaukee! If you like an easing going laid back place, this is for you! Accessible by car or boat. read more

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Barnacle Buds is one if those places you leave and say "why don't we go here more often?" Since it's tucked away behind some warehouses it can be an easy place to forget and that would be a shame. BB's was fully packed last night with a mix of boaters, hipsters, bikers and a lot of older people who really like Jimmy Buffet. We didn't come for food, so I can't comment on that but there were a lot of people chowing down. Atmosphere is going to depend entirely on when you come. If it's crappy or cold out, you'll be in the tiny shanty like building and that's not a bad thing. If it's nice, you'll probably be on the killer wrap around patio enjoying some sun and drinks. If you don't have the money or time for a trip to Florida, you can spend about $3 on gas to come here, have a Red Stripe and feel like you're out on Key West. A Milwaukee treasure! EDIT: I've had the chance to eat here and....yeah....just don't do it. Not good. At all. But for drinks, it's the greatest. (Seriously, how can a Milwaukee place make a brat that is inedible? Barnacle Bud's apparently has that skill set) read more

Grouper...yes get the grouper fish fry. I know it's not warm outside but you can pretend and eat a great fish fry indoors. The fish fry is breaded and not battered so it comes out very light and not greasy. The fries are standard krinkle cut...nothing spectacular. I wished they had proper potato pancakes but fries will have to do. When all of the other businesses are packed you might be able to sneak into the small dining room for a great fry! read more

I used to live in Tampa, Florida and I haven't been able to have good grouper in about a year and a half and let me tell you this was easily equal to greater than any grouper I had in Florida. Melt in your mouth. Not fishy at all. All around great food, awesome service and perfect view. Milwaukee peeps. Go! Go! Go! read more

Barnacle Bud's - Bottom: Grilled Grouper with Pepperjack cheese and coleslaw and tarter sauce. Top: Salad w/ grilled shrimp. - Seafood Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great ambiance and location but the food was average. We had a party of five and nobody finished their meals or the appetizers, which was rare for this group of people. It was a really cool looking restaurant though. read more

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

If you can sit outside I highly suggest it... but food, service, and drinks are nothing special.

I hit this place up the first week it opened years ago. I love bars and restaurants located in obscure, industrial locations. The look on people's faces, as you wind through back alleys, in between warehouses and factories, is precious. "Where the hell are you taking me?" If the establishment is on water, the experience is even better. Barnacle Bud's is located in an old industrial neighborhood near the newly hip enclave of Bayview. In my "glory years," Bayview wasn't too hip, which added to the allure of Barnacle Bud's. Smack dab on the KK River,(Kinnekinnick?) this is where the venerable SKIPPER BUD'S was located, a popular boat selling establishment, and diners are still surrounded by dozens of dry docked boats. A boardwalk, along this industrial waterway, leads you to the bar/restaurant. Location, location, location, is what Barnacle Bud's is all about. Sandwiches are good, not great. Drinks have alcohol in them. Service depend on who you get and what mood they're in. Our pregnant server was not having a good day. Personally, I don't blame her. However, neither her mood nor the downpour dampened our good time. Surrounded by good friends, I drank, ate, and laughed. An afternoon at Barnacle Bud's reminded me why I love Milwaukee and Wisconsin. This just doesn't happen in Utah. Someone would need to climb, hike, bike or do something active. Hanging out with good friends, just drinking and being stupid is not readily acceptable in the Beehive state. You don't know what you're missing. read more

My go to place for seafood. Atmosphere, service, and value Florida vibe here in the mid west. read more

My boyfriend and I visited Barnacle Bud's on one of the last warm days of the year and had a great experience. We felt very comfortable with the COVID precautions put in place. The outdoor seating was well spaced out and masks were required for staff and guests. Barnacle Bud's is everything you want from a casual place on the water - mason jar cocktails, fried fish in a basket, and cocktail sauce in an oyster shell. Like the sign posted in restaurant says, this must be the place. read more

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

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SERIOUS CHARACTER We came to this locally famous seafood joint by boat and the five of us had an enjoyable meal. I had the Brat, which was average with a very small portion of sauerkraut, which was also so-so. My wife, however, had the Lobster Roll which proved to be surprisingly good. This place exudes nautical ambiance and that's what it's all about here. A fun place and the food is pretty good. Location - 5 STARS Service - 5 STARS Food - 3 STARS Ambiance/Decor - 5 STARS Value - 4 STARS read more

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This place is a hidden gem (literally)!!! We were confused at first trying to find the location because we went to the back alley and behind the fence but once we found it, the views were beautiful! It was our first time coming here and the service was so great!! We sat outside to enjoy the nice weather and great views! The waitress was so pleasant and very informative on their specials and made sure we were taken care of with our food and drinks! She asked if it was our first time which I appreciated and then proceeded to suggest her favorite drinks and what was on special! The oysters were so yummy and the drinks were on point! We ordered the catfish, on special Grouper tacos, and crab dip. The crab dip was a little bland but it was still good. The Grouper tacos were really delicious especially with their spicy sauce they put on it. If you're looking for a good vibe place with great viewa for summer (they're only opened certain times of the year) then this is definitely the spot!! Will keep coming back!!! read more

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Barnacle Buds is all about the atmosphere you feel like you are in a tropical part of the world far from the MKE. Had the peel and eat shrimp. Perfect sized portion and the sauce had a little snap to it, it wasn't over powering, just right. Cool attentive staff, that was quick with refills. Great place on a Summer day. It is a little cramped if you you want to be indoors. If you need a little escape and don't have a plane ticket stop and check it out. Use your GPS if you are not from the bubble. read more

Cool atmosphere outside by the bay. Had the grouper Reuben which was excellent. Great place to grab a bite, watch the boats and listen to some chill music. read more

The location and ambiance are the only good things about this place. The food is super expensive for what you get and it's not very good. I got the crab cake appetizer for 16 dollars, and you only get one crab cake with a heaping pile of nasty coleslaw! The lobster roll was disgusting, and I don't think they even used real lobster. If they did, it was minimal, and they mixed it with imitation seafood meat. read more

First, I loved the experience. It would be easier to get to by water, but it wasn't difficult to find by land. Navigating through a chain link fence made me feel I was going to some secret destination nestled away along the river. The setting was perfect and the place lively. It was a perfect evening, weatherwise, and it was filled with people, but not too crowded. We opted to sit on the bar side because of immediate seating there and the Florida Keys party-type atmosphere made for a great experience. We talked with strangers, drank and ate. I think the environment made the food taste better. I had grouper and it was great. The fries were a bit pedestrian, but that's being picky. My brother had the Salmon BLT and said it was tasty, but very light on the bacon. I think the prices were reasonable and parking wasn't an issue. Although it's a fun place, it's not a place to take kids. Too close to the water and it's not targeted towards kids. Great experience along the river that brought the Keys to Milwaukee. Can't help but smile and have a good time. read more

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

This was our third time here and it is always an adventure locating this place. I love the funky vibe of this restaurant. A bit of Key West in MKE. A great location on a hot summer day like today. It was very busy at 1:30 on a Thursday afternoon. We grabbed one of the last available tables. I was expecting average food but was blown away by the excellent grilled grouper sandwich. The roll was super fresh and nicely grilled. Others raved about their meals. The huge salmon BLT and the lobster roll were very tasty. The food quality was a pleasant surprise at this fun location. read more

It's a little sketchy to begin with due to its location down a dark alley between some abandoned buildings. Also don't let the menu deter you (my drink literally said it contained rum "and stuff"). The food was excellent (I had a lobster roll) and the staff was funny and attentive. Highly recommend checking out out. read more

Come here for the atmosphere! It's such a fun outdoor space and a great place to enjoy warmer weather. The place is eclectic (especially the menu which is often overwhelming to look at...) and super fun. There's really nothing else like it in Milwaukee! The food is fine, and I actually think the grouper sandwiches are decent (everything else is pretty average, and nothing is bad). If the atmosphere were not what it is--no, I probably wouldn't go just to eat their food. But, it's a great place to hang out with a group of friends so I'd still recommend going! One note for families--they don't have high chairs so not a place for little ones unless you're okay with your kiddo sitting/eating on your lap. read more

I took a friend who was in town to Barnacle Bud's for lunch o a Beautiful afternoon....it was AWESOME!!! The food was Delicious, the atmosphere was Wonderful & the service was Excellent! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Tried on a Friday party of 5. Nice location on the river if the weather is nice. The folks with fish fries enjoyed them. I had the crab patty sandwich. Kind of mushy, not much crab. Fries and service was good read more