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    Crave Cafe

    4.6 (242 reviews)
    InexpensiveNew American, Burgers
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Crave Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    CRAVE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    A very pink, supposedly medium well burger.
    Zen Z.

    Ordered a burger medium well. Order was correctly repeated back to me. I confirmed. It was 2:00pm on a quiet day, so no one was rushed. I was handed a to-go order that did not match what I had ordered, but did not find out until too far away to return. The burger was not medium well. It was not even medium. It was medium rare and also gristly. Just awful.

    Korean bbq burger
    Viv P.

    Just wanted to make a note that as of April 2026, this place is still legit. Great, solid burgers. It is still more of a pick-up place rather than a sit down place. There are tables and chairs, but it's tight and when it got busy with people coming to pick up their lunch, would feel weird sitting down to eat. As it was, we just waited to pick up our food, like everyone else. Didn't see a single person actually eating inside, though we saw a LOT of people coming to pick up lunch. Previous review stands (3/25/2022) This is another happy review. I'm happy to report that the burgers have improved significantly since my last review 4 years ago. Korean BBQThey toned down on the shredded cabbage and the sauce in the korean bbq burger. Everything balanced out much better than what I remember, and I could actually taste the kimchi inside this time. The meat was cooked to a nice medium, and travelled well in our to-go order. Soft Shell CrabThey put two whole deep fried soft shell crabs in one burger. Topped off with a lot of arugula, bacon and tomatoes. It was good, but not quite as balanced out as the Korean BBQ burger. I'm not quite sure what it is... Lacking some sauce?Overall, the place had some great burgers and I would definitely go back more often that I have recently. But there's a little bit missing still to give it a whopping 5 star review. Plus the buns were really bready... a little less dough would have been nice. And on the downside... the fries weren't awesome. They were ok. But felt more like baked fries than deep fried. In any case, I love improvements and having great joints in my neighborhood. Thank you Crave Cafe!

    The Shroom with fries
    Evanka A.

    Staying true to its name, it is truly the burger to be craveddd! I have been a 1000% sold on how true to the art of making a solid Milwaukee burger tastes like. And to be completely fair, I don't eat beef and so I went with the Shroom with fries and the other burger ordered was beef (which was raved about; was told it was juicy, flavorful, and gas). To speak to the burger I ordered, The Shroom was a masterpiece of aioli, arugula, and mushroom. It had quickly spiraled me into an arugula phase for several weeks after haha I'm a fiend for fries, and I will stand by the fact that these were a solid 10/10- crisp edges, cut for the soft potato inside and golden brown outside-hit the spot. I will definitely be back for more bites here! The seating inside is limited and there's some outdoor, but I would more likely bank on a grab n go style. They're relatively quick with getting orders together, but honestly if you had to wait a little longer than you wanted to, worth the wait. I will say the parking is kinda nice for the summers in the sense that you park your car as close to the lake as you can, walk to eat, and then leave to get your steps in and let your food coma bathe in the sun.

    menu
    Scott W.

    This was the second time here. It's a small place, described as a "take-out" business. They have a few tables inside and several others on a small patio (in the front parking lot). Came with a small group and arrived a little before noon. You order inside, either at a kiosk or at the counter. There were a couple of friendly folks taking the orders. We got three Crave Burgers and one Korean BBQ Burger. We each got a small fry. You get a ticket and then wait for your orders. It didn't take long for the burgers to be done. They were all hot, had excellent flavor, and were a good size. The Crave Burgers were especially good. The flavors from the Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and truffle aioli were well balanced. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted, and the burger was cooked to the right temperature. The fries were all fresh and hot, with good portions. Everyone in the group had nice things to say about their meals. For $10.75 ($9.75 for the Korean BBQ), it's a great value. Would definitely come back. P.S. - Crave was given 3rd place in the 2025 Best Burgers in Milwaukee by Milwaukee Magazine. It was well deserved!

    Exterior Crave Cafe
    Michelle E.

    My 80 year old mom says Crave Cafe has the best burgers in Milwaukee! She raves about this place all the time, which is why I am writing a review on her behalf. Her and her friends really enjoy ordering from here. I'm looking forward to trying it in the future!

    Cheeseburger
    Celeste M.

    Cheeseburger and Cajun Fries! Sooo good, cooked to order and pretty quick. I came on a Thursday evening and it was busy! Lots of people with to go orders. Decent sized burger for the price, will definitely be coming back to hit that burger craving. Also to try the Japanese katsu burger! Limited seating but good service!

    Soft Shell Crab BLT
    Richard S.

    - Good food, chill ambiance, great service - No reservation, cannot make one - Would come back, fun and tasty menu w/ great price! Was looking for a more affordable eat than where we have been recently going, and this place was delicious and made my wallet happy! It was a cute lil restaurant with a fun menu and friendly staff :~) I had gotten the Soft Shell Crab BLT and it was an interesting option that I was excited for because I love soft shell crab! The sandwich came with 2 crabs that were fun to see with their appendages sticking out at both ends, and lots of greens and some nice crispy bacon. We did take this to-go, but it still had some nice crisp and crunch when we did eat it a bit later. The crab and pieces were good together, but I think there could have been some more flavor in the aioli spread across the bun. I initially thought it was just mayo, but revisiting the menu, saw it was listed as a garlic aioli. A delicious sandwich that I would recommend, but a bit more flavor there to contrast the vegetables would have made it perfect! Pookie got the Japanese Katsu and hers was also a tasty bite. The crispy katsu was nice and crunchy, and the slaw on top added even more crunch and texture to the sandwich! The katsu sauce was tasty and added some tanginess to the sandwich, but I think a bit too much was added, as it was really spilling out of the sandwich, and it is already a flavorful condiment on its own. Still good! Overall a good meal and I would love to come back... the people next to us ordered burgers and they look tasty! While we did take it to-go, the food was still delicious and crunchy, so i can only imagine it fresh in front of me. This restaurant is quite small as it only had about ~4 tables w/ 2 seats each, but with how we enjoyed it after some errands, don't be afraid to take it to-go! Aside from the kind service, we ate looking forward to visiting again to try other menu options :~)

    Crave Burger and Fries
    Matthew Z.

    There is nothing I can add to these reviews that hasn't already been said. Outside of 1 burger in DC that no longer exists (RIP Ray's Hell Burger), the Crave Burger here might be the best burger I have ever had! You can legit smell the white truffle aioli just from walking in and the wafting scent actually translates to flavor in the burger...none of this fake over the top faux truffle. Every ingredient adds something to the burger which translates into a bite full of umami from the aioli, butteriness from the amazing brioche bun, and the high quality meat. The fries also hold their own and are super flavorful and crispy. Next time I should ask for a side of sauce to dip them in as opposed to the sad looking ketchup packets they had at the counter.

    Outside seating area
    Emily W.

    We were craving a burger for dinner. I feel like it's very hit or miss when you go and try to find somewhere with burgers. This place did not disappoint its a little hole in the wall and I love it. Not much seating but they had both indoor and outdoor seating. No fountain drinks but they had canned soda which works just as good. The burger was perfectly cooked and was just the right amount of juice. The edge of the bun was crispy and really added to the texture. The fries were also fantastic. We ordered our food and probably had it in 5 minutes, the service was extremely quick and friendly. We'll definitely be coming back.

    Crave burger with American cheese + ranch fries
    Kelsey R.

    They're not lying when they say this is the best burger in Milwaukee. I got the crave burger with American cheese instead of Swiss. The truffle aioli was the shining star. The restaurant doesn't serve much in the way of ambiance but with food this good it doesn't matter! There is only a few tables so probably hard to dine in during peek times, there is a nice outdoor patio when weather permits!

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    2 months ago

    These are, and I'm not even remotely kidding about this, the best burgers in the entire world.

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    10 months ago

    Very good food! Great service, very friendly! Very clean. I would recommend this restaurant.

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    AJ Bombers - Peanut bomber behind the bar

    AJ Bombers

    3.9(993 reviews)
    2.8 mi•Lower East Side
    •$$

    **July 2025: Wednesday Lunch Visit**…read more While I was researching iconic food in Wisconsin I came across an item called Butter Burger which sounded so decadent and delicious. My friend and I were only exploring Milwaukee for a day so we wanted to make sure that we picked a good spot to try this region favorite. AJ Bombers came up consistently ranked on top for really great burgers. We came on a weekday so parking was pretty easy, but it is metered street parking. The restaurant is located at the corner of a large building and since we arrived right at opening we were seated right away. We ordered the following -Cheese Curds $9 - These were delicious. Nice and crispy, almost had an airfried texture to it so it tasted healthier than others that I've tried -Bomb Butter Burger $14 - The meat was very juicy and overall a good burger -Milwaukee Burger $12.50 - This was a fantastic burger and I think I preferred this to the Bomb Butter Burger. The flavors were more balanced IMHO -Tater Tots and Fries: The burgers all came with a side and I enjoyed both! They were freshly fried and served hot. The tots made me feel really nostalgic since those were things I remember eating growing up. The unfortunate news is that this restaurant despite all the accolades will be closing later in 2025. It's served Milwaukee for 16 years and while I'm bummed that they'll be closing their doors later this year I'm glad that I got enjoy one of Milwaukee's best. If you get a chance to check them out their decor also has a lot of personality.

    Was home for the week and decided to come to AJ Bombers one last time before it closes at the end…read moreof the year. I haven't been in years, but it was sad to see that they don't give out peanut like they used to and they were not all over the floor. There was a singular waitress there but she was nice and checked in on us. I ordered the Milwaukee Burger. I loved the onions on it and added tomato to it. I thought the burger itself was ok. Not too much flavor, I wish it was a little more pink. It would've been better if the bun was more toasted as well. I ordered onion rings, fried pickles, and cheese curds. Cheese curds and onion rings were really good, but the frickles were huge and every time I would take a bite the pickle would come out of the batter and I would be stuck with the plain batter alone. Overall loved the ambiance and I was miss Aj Bombers and its history.

    Photos
    AJ Bombers - Peanut bomber hitting the target

    Peanut bomber hitting the target

    AJ Bombers - Bowl of peanuts

    Bowl of peanuts

    AJ Bombers - Bomb spot

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    Bomb spot

    Izzy Hops

    Izzy Hops

    4.2(121 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Murray Hill, East Side
    •$$

    We went on a Friday evening and it was fairly empty. We sat down at a table, but it is order at the…read morebar (or at least was when we were there). We had cheese curds and the Parmesan chicken sandwich. Both were okay, pretty greasy bar food but that was expected. Service was nice.

    ** I changed my review from two stars to four stars because it really is a fabulous bar with the…read morebest food and ambience, it would've been a five star experience had the bartender been attentive to me at all I got a recommendation from a local to come to this place because they had a really great beer selection and cheese curds, both of which I was desperately looking for while in Milwaukee. The bar is very cool, it has a garage door style opening so you can sit inside while still being able to see everything outside. The lighting is awesome, the best thing was they had outlets to plug your phone in at almost every place there was to sit. Awesome, I wish every restaurant did this. Now things kind of take a turn. First, the beer menu did not match the one on line on their website, which, no big deal, but I was looking for specific beer that they didn't have. I made do, no biggie. I then ordered cheese curds and a Smashburger, both of which were phenomenal. The beer was fine, but just OK, I definitely would've preferred the one I had picked out before I got there. Anyway, the big problem was that there was only three people in the bar me and a couple. The bartender hovered around this couple the entire time I was there. I had to ask for a beer, I had asked for my second beer, I had to ask for a Diet Coke, I had to ask for a refill for my Diet Coke. She paid literally no attention to me. It was disconcerting because I'm also paying customer that tips. This girl did not seem to care one bit. She was really bad at noticing I was there at all. Anyway. The food is good, the beer is OK, the ambience is awesome, maybe get a new bartender I don't know. I did tip really well, but trust me when I say she did not deserve it.

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    Izzy Hops
    Izzy Hops
    Izzy Hops

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    Craft - smash burger

    Craft

    4.2(20 reviews)
    3.0 mi•Bronzeville, Westown

    I need to remember this place! Popped in for a breakfast meeting and forgot how delightful it is…read more The Trade hotel itself offers such a fabulous ambiance, and Craft is just an extension of that. Sat at a two-top, enjoyed a nice latte, and had a very friendly server. About halfway through our visit we decided to order something to eat. Breakfast menu is relatively small, but still a good variety of options. I was drawn to the avo toast dish because capers and dill!? Absolutely. It was all really yummy. Making a note to myself that I need to return for a date night or just even to sit out their nice bar.

    Yum Yum! We came…read morehere for breakfast early on a Saturday morning. It wasn't busy yet but seemed to get busy around 10 or so.. I was super happy with their açaí breakfast bowl! I get tired of ordering the same sort of parfait yogurt granola bowls that most places offer if you don't want eggs for breakfast. My boyfriend had the short rib skillet and boy was that delicious as well! The bartender made me a spiked coffee that was something featured on New Years Day but was no longer on the menu. I saw it in a past Yelp post and asked if he could make it. He happily replied Yes! But said he was missing the giant marshmallow which I was totally fine with. I am super happy with this delicious little breakfast spot. It's connected to a hotel and is also across from the Fiserv Forum so I'm sure this area gets a lot of business. Very trendy, lots of cute and hip people!!

    Photos
    Craft - Merchandise

    Merchandise

    Craft - Smash burger

    Smash burger

    Craft - Cool mug

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    Cool mug

    The Gasthaus - Cheese curds

    The Gasthaus

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Donner Woods, East Side
    •$

    Great spot to get lunch on the UWM campus! Every since the renovations, the quality of food and…read moreatmosphere has increased tremendously. I love the cheese curds here. They're usually greasy and oily, so keep that in mind. You do get free refills on fountain drinks which is great too!

    Your typical dimly-lit college sports bar and grill. There are TONS of project screens showing all…read moretypes of sporting events (I've even seen figure skating) and popular shows in the evening. And it's located in the basement of the UWM union. That's right... a full bar on campus! "Work hard, play harder" is often exhibited here by students and professors alike. The G-Haus, as I fondly refer to one of the highlights of my grad school days, isn't just an exclusive UWM club. It is open to the public and it's definitely a hidden gem if you have never been and happen to be at UWM or in the area. The drinks are cheap and well poured, and the food is inexpensive and pretty delicious. They have a rather extensive menu - appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and deep fried goodies. Portions are large and everything is cooked to order so it's always hot and fresh. The restaurant is actually divided into two halves; the front is brighter and has more seating than the back. This is normally where the undergrads and under-agers hang out. The back portion is the "bar" area, the lights are dimmed and there is a pool table. This is typically where you'll find the grad students contemplating their decisions in life and fretting over their astronomical work load. They rarely card for seating in the bar area unless it is a very busy evening. There is plentiful seating -booths, table, and at the bar. If you've never been, I suggest gathering some friends for a Sunday Funday. It's generally slow on Sunday and there aren't as many pesky students hanging out here as they do Monday thru Friday. Don't expect the fastest of service if you come in a big group, only a couple of the student workers are able to serve alcohol. Also for faster service, order your food at the food register that all the employees can work and drinks from the bartender. Bring cash for tips or hit up one of the no-fee atms on the 1st floor for cash. Plastic is accepted but they are unable to accept tips from credit cards. Parking in the Union structure is also free on Sundays!!! Hours/dates of operation coincide with the school year. The Gasthaus is closed over summer as well as during breaks. Definitely call or check the UWM website for up-to-date hours. Other schools have their spot that serve up grill-style food. What really makes the Gasthaus unique is the fact they have full bar; not many school have such an establishment on campus. It's so wonderfully Wisconsin!!!

    Photos
    The Gasthaus - Chicken tenders & fries

    Chicken tenders & fries

    The Gasthaus - Game area

    Game area

    The Gasthaus - Back bar set up with 3 projection screens

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    Back bar set up with 3 projection screens

    Crave Cafe - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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