Had a wonderful experience at Café Hollander on Downer! Our server, Jake, was super excellent. He was incredibly attentive, nice, and did a fantastic job serving our table. Would recommend read more

I had lunch at Hollander with my mom and a friend. We got there during peak lunch hours, but we were seated right away, just inside the front door. It's not the perfect table, since there's a constant stream of servers and customers coming in and out, but it was okay. The interior is well done, warm and gives a universal cottage/lodge vibe. Our server, Matthew S., was super friendly and patient as we took forever to choose our meals. I had the Grilled Cheese Tosti without the beef. Unlike most places, they actually reduce the price if you get the meat taken off. Cheers for that. My mom enjoyed her Brie Tomato Basil sandwich as well. It was fresh and summery. The friend who ordered the fish fry found the sheer amount of batter somewhat overdone. The frites were good, but the Bier Cheese Aioli I got with them was a star - big flavor in a little vessel. My Lion & Goat Manhattan was good, with an apricot liqueur that really stood out, but I really liked the Bergamot Spritz, which was light and refreshing, but not sweet. read more

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Sat upstairs which did not know there was! Upstairs had lots of windows and open to below. Service was slow, the server did not come back often. Coffee drinks took awhile to get. The pretzel breakfast sandwich was delicious! The fries and aioli dips are always good! Recommend having a reservation if going on weekend! read more

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Great spot to dine in for this past Mother's Day! Service was incredibly attentive and the free mimosa made my mom's day! Food is great as always, my mom got a feta omelette and I had the brew city Benedict. Great flavor/presentation/and portions. Vibe inside was laid back and relaxed with their beautiful patio seating open for the summer months. Thank you! read more

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I do have to say, I love this place. You walk into what feels like a European cafe with colorful tables and flowers with umbrellas outside. Cute covered area with lights too. All of this in a historical corner building. We ate inside since we don't like flies or wasps. Our fries came too quick. Thinking they may have sat for a little cuz they were cold. We still ate them up. I got the beet burger with fries. They are super thin and you get 2 on a bun. Smash style. My new favorite. Little crunch on outside and flavorful. I of course love fries with salt. They were a little salty for my family but they don't really know any better ;) Waiter was very friendly. Will come again when in town. read more

I like their fries and their myriad of sauces they offer. Today, the fries were a bit salty, I would suggest they hold off on the salt a bit. I got the Big Smokey Burger medium rare with raw onions. Now that was good. My wife got the turkey burger, as she was about to finish her second half of her turkey burger, she came to the realization that she didn't like the turkey burger. I guess she was holding out hope that the burger would get better, it didn't. Other than a few issues, this is a decent restaurant and we'll come back, we always do. Oh yea, Aranda our server was wonderful. read more

Food was decent and well presented. Prices were decent. Ordered a side salad for before my meal but it came with my meal instead so I took it home. My chicken dish had too much going on with all the different flavors. Service was attentive and kind. Interesting ambiance with bicycles hanging from the railing on the second floor opening where you can see down to the first. Restaurant was clean. read more

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We had a wonderful breakfast. We were in MKE fir an event at the Baurd Center. A colleague needed sonething frim CVS. I know there was a CVS across from Cafe Hollander on Downer so we took care of both in one stop. I had Two Eggs, Grilled Ham, and Potatoes. They were cooked to perfection. We enjoyed our meals! read more

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I was reluctant to go to this restaurant because most of its dishes have diary ingredients that I have an intolerance to but finally tried it because few places are open for brunch during the holidays. The place was packed, but our server was quite attentive and did not let us wait for an unreasonable amount of time. One of us ordered cappuccino, which I drank a little and found to be too sour for my taste. We ordered Salmon Smorrebrod and Asian Beef Bowl. The Salmon Smorrebrod was quite tasty; I unfortunately could not eat much because it contained cheese/cream. The Asian Beef Bowl had good flavors but was too salty for me. Another commendable attribute of the dishes is that they each have a reasonable amount of raw or cooked vegetables. I suppose that I can try other dishes in the future, just asking the chef not to add any cheese or cream, although that may adversely affect the flavors. Overall, my experience at the restaurant was better than expected. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Asian Beef Bowl - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Years ago, I was seeing a person up in Milwaukee and we often went to Cafe Hollander. It was good then (I remember a delicious brunch) and I'd say even better now! I'd love to come back in the summer to experience the Biergarten. It does not disappoint even during a Milwaukee winter day; the heated tents in the Biergarten looked delightful, but all of them were full, so we opted for a booth inside. The decor is quirky and welcoming - lots of bicycles about the place! Our server, Jake, was super excellent. He was able to answer questions about menu items and the extensive beverage menu. Also, super nice person! The menu is really interesting and full of options depending on how much you'd like to eat and dietary restrictions or preference. We didn't have the kids along this time, but I am pleased to see a decent number of options on the reasonably-priced kids menu that all come with fresh fruit & veggies. From the 6 types on offer, we started with Bloody Maries; I got the Lux Bloody, which includes herbes de Provence infused vodka and my fiancée got The Milwaukeean. Both are multi-layered and a real treat. To accompany our drinks, we ordered the cheese curds and they were excellent. For the main, I chose the falafel bowl with shrimp and it was DELICIOUS. I could not eat the whole thing and have a nice leftover for lunch. My fiancée had the Luxemburger and it was perfectly cooked and super tasty. We will be back! There's also a fantastic bookstore a block away to add to an afternoon out. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - The Milwaukeean and Lux Bloody Marys (with Pilsner chaser) accompanied by the cheese curds appetizer. - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

They took special care to set up a spot at the bar for our anniversary. This was the location of our first date, and 13 years later the managers at Hollander made sure we were sitting in the exact same seats we were in when we met. Plus they greeted us with sparkling rose and a cone of frites! The little things make this place special - they understand what hospitality means. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We reserved an igloo/globe to celebrate a friend's birthday, and our experience was wonderful! Renting it was simple (you just book it online) and then you get a text to confirm your booking on the day of - our time was incorrect but once I called, it was resolved. Our server was very friendly but we wish we could've been checked in on a bit more frequently. Water glasses sat empty for a while and we would've liked to order a few more drinks. I ordered the crispy chicken bowl, which was delicious and filling. The igloo/globe itself was warm and it was nice to dine out and have privacy while catching up with friends. Overall, I do recommend you book this for a unique dining experience! read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Crispy Chicken Bowl - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Frites cone came out within 5 minutes of ordering. We got the BELT-A and the quinoa bowl. Food was great! Service staff took a little bit to bring the check out at the end but all in all, it was good brunch! read more

Good stop for lunch on downer. The margarita was a little sweet from the syrup but refreshing. We ordered the crispy chicken bowl which was great and fresh. I got the club which was good but I would have done a spicy ranch other than the Thai chili sauce. Service was pretty slow because there were 2 large parties near us at the same time so the waitstaff was a bit overwhelmed. We'll try again another time when it's less busy but it's a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner read more

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Service is always extremely nice and attentive, especially given that it's nearly always busy. Relatively easy to find a table- everything on the menu is pretty solid and it's a great family lunch or dinner spot nearby. Ambiance is great as well. Good staple in the downer neighborhood. read more

I dined in a globe so this review reflects that experience. The globe was warm and beautiful as it was snowing that evening. Our server was very friendly and our food was brought out quickly. I ordered the Sconnie burger with sweet potato fries and it was delicious. They also have my favorite beer the Lowlander Oranje. Overall I had a great experience! read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Wisco Burger - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

- Good food, good ambiance, great service - Reservation was made and I would recommend making one - Yes we would love to come back A nice tasty dinner to end the day with pook! We sat upstairs and the floating bikes and hanging pictures were quite fun. The food was tasty and service was awesome... couldn't ask for anything else! We shared the Curry Chicken Satay, and it was a yummy start to our meal. I asked our server for any appetizer recs, and she didn't say the satay, but it was calling my name so I ignored her other recs and got the satay. The five skewers were nice and tender and not dry - which was surprising because I usually get served dry satay skewers when I order them elsewhere - and they were served with a spicy harissa sauce and a peanut sauce. The chicken was tasty on its own, but the sauces really added another layer of flavor. The peanut was my favorite, but it tasted mega good when adding both sauces on the chicken. Very tasty start to the meal!! I was not feeling too crazy hungry and never order mussels and frites, and I thought it would be nice and light, so I ordered the Classic Mussels with Frites Basket. The mussels were served in a big bowl with a white wine soup(?) and a toasted baguette that was cut up. The mussels were tasty on their own, but tasted really good when served on a baguette slice and dipped in the white wine soup. It was like I was making my own lil hors d'oeurves or fancy lunchables or whatever... but I do know it was fun and tasty! Pook got a nice 1/2 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup combo - I thought it would not be filling, but she was quite satiated! The sandwich had a nice crunch and a bit of a cheese pull, but nothing too crazy. The bread was also really nice because it was garlic-bread-ified, and I thought that made it very delicious and flavorful. The soup wasn't lacking behind either! It had a nice amount of acidity and nice and creamy. On their own delicious, but together, even more mega delicious!! I would love to meet whoever invented the powerful, and thank them, as well as show them the perfected version at Café Hollander. While the food was delicious, the service amazing as well! Our server was very silly and fun and provided great service to us. They had great energy and were very funny throughout the night. Going back to the food, they also had really good ratios, with there being nearly a 1:1 ratio between mussels:bread and grilled cheese:soup... almost mathematically perfect. Great experience and I can't wait to visit again! read more

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Recently stopped in for a bite after a doctors appointment, and it did not disappoint. I got the grilled cheese with jalelpenos and my husband got a beef toasti. We both loved our sandwiches and I ordered the tomato soup for dipping - it hit the spot. Tomato soup is always hit or miss in my opinion because sometimes it can be too acidic - not this one. The soup was the star of the show in my opinion. Fries and sauces are always solid here. The munester cheese curds were a pleasant surprise! read more

Good food but EXPENSIVE for the portion and quality. Love the vibe of the place like the bikes all over!

The brunette hostess was one of the kindest and most accommodating hostesses we've ever had. She helped us move tables three different times . Our server, Markell, was also incredibly sweet. We'll definitely be back! read more

Stopped by during the bike race and had a lot fun! Great selection of beers and cocktails at the tent. I really like the cherry lemonade drink they had read more

We went for a Father's Day brunch. I had a Brew City Benedict, which was fantastic. Combined with a Hibiscus Mimosa, great service and welcoming atmosphere, it made for a great experience. read more

Food, service everything went well! From the time we arrived we had great service! Our server was amazing! Will definitely be back!!!

Great server, great food, great atmosphere. Went here for lunch during the week. This is one of those places that whatever you get is gonna be good. We got the whipped feta dip as an appetizer and it was one of the most delectable flavors to ever come across my palate read more

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We're new to Café Hollander, and it's such a great spot with lots of outdoor seating! This time, we decided to eat inside. The restaurant has a fun, eclectic vibe. The staff were so friendly and knew the menu well, giving us great recommendations since it was our first time. We thought the prices were fair and that the food was worth it. I had the turkey club sandwich with sweet potato fries, and my husband had the grilled cheese and soup. We both loved our meals! Overall, we had a wonderful experience and can't wait to come back when we're in the area. read more

Café Hollander is one of our favorite spots to patio dine in the warm months, especially since we can bring our dog :) We love the outside space, and service has always been very good. The Spicy Badger Bloody Mary is by far my favorite cocktail, especially since it comes with a beer chaser! My husband opted for the Naked Burger, because beauty is in the simplicity. I however decided to try the whipped feta, and it was amazing! The feta was silky and rich, the veggies fresh and crisp, and the falafel crispy on the outside and packed with flavorful spices inside. This location is an awesome place to add to your summer dining rotation. read more

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Service was excellent for the large group (25) that we had! Summer was our server and she was on top of it our whole brunch time that we were there! The food was very good also and we enjoyed the "upstairs" space being a bit more cozy for the cousins reunion party! Couldn't think of one thing that could have gone better! read more

Café Hollander on Downer has really been stepping it up lately, thus making themselves a serious go to for the goods. The beer on tap has always been spot on but lately the dishes getting doled out in the kitchen whether brunch or dinner have been really on point. Top that off with a seriously killer in-house dessert chef, you can't go wrong. The pecan pie is to die for, served slightly warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream! Nothing quite like sitting on the patio on Downer Ave, and taking in the view. The Downer Hollander is really all that. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cafe Hollander never disappoints. The decor and atmosphere are always on point: stylish, warm, and inviting. It's a great space whether you're catching up with a friend or meeting someone for business. My go-to is the club salad, consistently fresh and satisfying. Service is usually pretty good, Evelyn has been my waitress the most recent times I've gone and she's always on point. This spot strikes the perfect balance between casual and classy. Highly recommend. read more

Review of takeout order. I want to preface that I am a frequent Hollander visitor and love love love their food. I am usually 100% satisfied with my dinning experience, the portions, the service and the atmosphere at both the Downer and Mequon location. My husband had lunch downtown today and brought me back an order since I could not join him. I asked him to place my usual order Falafel Bowl with Chicken - $21.90 without tax. What was brought back was so incredibly disappointing comparatively from what I am used to in restaurant. When I removed the top pita bread and falafel, there was next to no greens, feta, tomatoes or tabbouleh . Although it was delicious and flavorful, I had 4 spoonfuls of the base of my meal and it was gone. Unfortunately, the grilled chicken was also missed in packing. I will of course will be dinning in again, but I don't think I will order to go Hollander in the future. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Removed the pita bread, hand for size - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Recently had such a lovely experience with Café Hollander. I was at nearby Boswell Books doing a little bookshop wandering with a group of book loving people (there were 8 of us in all). We had planned to grab a bite after book shopping and noticed Cafe Hollander and their expansive patio seating. It as a warm and sunny day so we decided to see if we couldn't get a table (with such a large group, we weren't feeling confident). We arrived, the host was lovely, and they found us patio seating immediately. Amazing! I ordered their Benelux salad with salmon added. It was a delight. The salad was robust with bleu cheese crumbles, tomatoes, onions, spring greens, and candied walnuts. The salmon was cooked to perfection (perfectly crispy on the outside and tender and not the least bit dry inside). Our server kept up incredibly well with our larger group and not one single snafu arose. The patio is wonderful--fully in the sunshine with umbrellas to offer shade. Get to it! read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Benelux salad with salmon added - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Really great evening hanging out at the bar with food and drinks for our off Mother's Day celebration (5/25) Matt the bartender was so kind and attentative, and really appreciated his very chill vibe. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Matt the bartender taking our orders - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The food, service and ambiance is great! We went for my friends birthday and I was pleasantly surprised! I got the bacon avocado wrap with fries! I also tried some of the cheese curds which were good too! I definitely want to get the brownie dessert next time!!! read more

This place was great! They quoted us 20-25 minutes but our table was ready in less than 10, and we were sat up on the second floor at a two top. The space itself is really big and interesting - woody and lots of decor. Our server, Selwin (?), was very friendly and took care of us in the best way possible. We enjoyed everything we ordered from the mimosas to the typical Dutch powdered and chocolate covered fried balls (Olliebollen) to both of our entrees. I got the breakfast tacos which I actually found to be really good. I must say that the fries were WAY too salty though. I would have subbed them for something else if I knew it would be that salty. My friend got the beef & Brussels hash and said his was good as well. I'd definitely return here for a breakfast but just be prepared for a wait on the weekend mornings. They have a nice patio space so I'd imagine it's beautiful in the summertime. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Stopped in for a tea as I waited for my next appointment. The menu was full of deliciousness- I'll have food next time. Service was fast and friendly, and the energy of the place is welcoming to folks who want to have a drink and chat or read a book. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Cafe Hollander review I have had excellent culinary experiences on each and every single one of the occasions that I have dined at this extraordinary establishment. The idiosyncratic atmosphere of this fine eatery is extravagant and when dining outdoors it just really brings me back to the vibrant days when Downer Avenue was filled with the harmonious tunes of Frank Sinatra and gleeful nightlife. For appetizers, we started with the cheese curds, which were the perfect combination of taste, crunch, and goodness. For the main course, I delicately selected the "Sconnie burger" in which I relished the taste of as it was like no other burger I have tasted in my 97 years of life before. On the side I ordered the fries which the fellows in holland refer to as "frites". With my fries I ordered a cup of the signature beer cheese which has never failed to be delicious. I found myself to be rather appreciative of the fact that the adolescent meal that my great grandson had ordered, featured fruits and vegetables. Lastly, to celebrate my 97th birthday, we received a free, delicious, gooey brownie that was topped with fresh whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and cut strawberries that were no less than delicious. I would like to also say that the service at this fine eatery was exceptional as always. I would recommend this excellent dining experience to any of those who are looking to find an enjoyable and praiseworthy eatery in the city of Milwaukee. read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This restaurant is fantastic. The staff were extremely accommodating with seating and plating as we ordered a lot of dishes. We had our family with us, so there was a child present and they were so accommodating. They had crayons and plastic cups/straws and a kids menu. A plus in my book for keeping children entertained, making the experience enjoyable for not only our family but the surrounding tables. Also, they were so kind and friendly. They have indoor and outdoor seating so dependent on your preference you have a good amount of options to choose from. Also, they have take out as well. The food was delicious and while I am no Belgium food expert I was impressed. All are dishes were well presented and flavorful. The farm house tomato soup had a ton of flavor between the combo of roasted tomato and garlic. Salmon smorrbrod had nice Smokey salmon pieces well paired and topped with paprika arugula, toasted pepitas,eggs, and so much more. A very hearty part of our meal that day. Since we were in Wisconsin we also tried the cheese curds and pretzel bites. These were very filling, but we'll worth a try too. Great service and food make it a must try from my perspective. Definitely would return if work or personal travel brought me back to Milwaukee. read more

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Café Hollander has a fantastic outdoor space and some of the best fries around! Can't forget all the fun sauces too. It's a reliable neighborhood staple and the spot for a casual meal with friends. While it may not be my go-to for a foodie adventure, it's where I'll go for an old fashion and/or bloody and snacks. It's a safe choice but not my first. read more

Great experience at cafe Hollander. I've been to the other locations but was excited to try this one. We came in that weird time frame between the end of brunch most places and the early dinner service, and were pleasantly surprised to see it still fairly busy! We were seated quickly and our server joined us promptly. I enjoyed their (giant) Bloody Mary and a side salad as well as a couple bites of my sister's breakfast burger and fries! Nothing but compliments on all of the food, and I was pleasantly surprised at how large the side salad was! Our server was kind and laid back, patient while we had trouble deciding with all of the wonderful options on the menu! Their outdoor seating looked intriguing, but it was too cold to sit outside this time. I will be trying that another time though! I enjoyed the natural light inside the cafe, the rattan chairs and the overall ambiance of the cafe. A great spot! read more

Café Hollander - Downer - Belgian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Had a really enjoyable brunch at Hollander over the weekend! I first turned to the Yelp app in order to put our name on the waitlist - this place is often quite busy - but turned out the waitlist was closed. We took the risk and showed up anyway, and lucky for us we were seated upstairs quickly. I really like this area of the restaurant, as it's a bit more quiet and spacious. We had our son (in a car seat) with us, so the roomier the better! Prompt service from our laid back, friendly server. Her name slips my mind but she was attentive and didn't have us feeling at all rushed. It wasn't long before she brought us over a cappuccino and latte, both served with a little piece of dark chocolate, yum. I had a tough time deciding what to order, as there are plenty of good options from breakfast sammies and omelettes, to eggs benny and french toast. I've actually never really met an item I didn't enjoy. In the end I went for the quinoa veggie bowl, and it was a win. It included roasted peppers, kale, wild mushrooms, butternut squash, cilantro, and topped with an over easy egg + a roasted tomato sauce/medley. Both very flavorful and satiating! Oh my husband raved about the breakfast tacos (anything with eggs with chorizo will make him a happy guy). All-in-all, you can't go wrong with a Cafe Hollander outing in my opinion. I'm a big fan of their lunch/dinner menu and the bountiful selection of tasty beers on offer, so no doubt we'll return again. read more

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