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    Downtown Kitchen

    2.9 (36 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafeteria, American
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Downtown Kitchen Photos

    DOWNTOWN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Shrimp Poboy. A special they once had which was phenomenal!!
    John S.

    Downtown Kitchen is a place I go to often when I'm not really feeling the food they make at work. Being upstairs in the US Bank building is quite convenient because it's literally just a few quick steps for me to grab some to drink or a bite to eat. This place has a variety of things from sushi, burgers, chicken sandwiches, donuts, cheesecurds, pizza, breakfast items and many more. They also have a special everyday which you can see on their website. I've tried a couple things and I'd say the ones that have been hits for me are for breakfast the chorizo burrito or the fried chicken sandwich. For lunch I've done the Sushi, custom burgers. cheesecurds, chicken tenders and custom chicken sandwiches which have all been good. Just a tip they don't place the cheesecurds out to grab and go so if you want some you'll just have to tell one of the chefs to fry some up for you. I check the specialties often and one of the items I absolutely loved was the shrimp poboy. On warm french bread, they put decent sized breaded fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato and a wonderful aioli. Wouldn't say it was the best poboy I had but was definitely one of the better ones and if it's ever on their specials again I won't care what my work is offer for lunch, I might just have to get that shrimp poboy and save it for dinner later. If none of these items work for you they also have a pretty big salad bar and when it comes to drinks (all non-alcoholic) they have a variety of special energy drinks, sodas, flavored waters and etc. To make things better since it's a Bartolotta restaurant you can sign up for their reward program at the register if you haven't already and acquire points each time you go to eventually earn a $25 gift card/voucher which is enabled into your rewards account and can be used at any Bartolotta restaurant. I've already taken advantage of thia great perk once since I go here often. After you sign up at the register, make sure you go to the Bartolotta Rewards website and activate your free membership, after you do this you pretty much won't need you rewards card, you can just give them your phone number each time you purchase things. Only reason it's not 5 stars is because for the price you pay on some of the items, the quantity is not much or the quality can sometime not be so great depending on the chef. Overall though, I've had many good experiences and would recommend people giving Downtown Kitchen a try!

    Diaz M.

    Lunch is Decent, but this review is 4 stars based on the great bfast that they have here. Get there in the morning from 7am-10am. DUDE GET THE BREAKFAST!! The pancakes are ridiculously great. Best batter I had in a while. I dont know what they put in that batter, but they bett not give a way that recipe, otherwise Im gonna have to barrow that bad boy! LOL. Not even some of the best B-fast spots in Milwaukee can complete with this joint! The quality of their bacon is really good, waffles and french toast, fresh omelets and hash-browns are all insanely great! not good, BUT GREAT! Again I will end my review on this note....DUDE GET THE BREAKFAST!!!!!!

    Nancy R.

    Downtown Kitchen is a Bartolotta restaurant on the second floor of the US Bank building. If you haven't stopped in since Bartolotta took over this cafeteria space, you are in for a big surprise at how different it looks from the old Lake View Market. Improvements include private booths, modern decor, a bar, several tv's, North Point custard and burgers, and a very good soup and salad bar. They are constantly making changes based on customer feedback. In general, it is more expensive than Lake View as I expected, but the soup and salad bar is still a good deal (sold by weight). They still have daily specials that change, however there is not as much variety as Lake View had. All in all, I like the improvements. As always, it is convenient, fast, and the view of the Lake is great!

    Asian Salad
    Christine F.

    I thought it was just ok. When I heard they had sushi I was expecting a sushi bar not the Hissou that you can buy at Pick N' Save. I opted for a Asian Salad at one of the other stalls. It was around $7.50. They had a selection of sandwiches and quesadillas made to order as well as pizza. Holey Moley donuts was there also but their space is kinda dark in the front and I completely forgot when we left. We were in the area but wouldn't make a special trip. I ran into fellow Elite Yelper Rick and he said they have better days than this one with more selections. The food was fresh and good but again I thought it would be better.

    Eggs over medium and spinach
    Sam R.

    I've compiled the same salad every day for lunch for the past two weeks. Still not bored of it. While it gets pricey ($9-$11 each day) I'm full afterwards and feel as though I ate a healthy lunch! Great atmosphere and very efficient getting in and out of the kitchen. It's a nice place to go considering there aren't a ton of other options in walking distance for a work lunch. I visit here for breakfast too, and it took awhile to get the hang of ordering my breakfast a certain way to keep the price down. But I got it! Overall, a great place. It's been my go-to for almost all breakfasts and lunches while on the road with work. There's an option for any type of eater.

    Mario!
    Brian M.

    My review is only for this space as a Special Events venue. We were fortunate to attend the first Bartollotta's-hosted event here: Dinner with Mario Batali. I was surprised by how well choreographed the event was, especially since it was the first of its kind held here. There were a few things that could have been better: The check-in process could have been more effecient, and the bars were naturally crowded and slow. There was a cocktail hour where hors d'vours were paraded through the room. It seemed that every time they came near me, they last one on the plate was being snatched up. Once we figured out where they were coming from, we lingered in that area. No problem after that. The celebrity chef of the evening, Mario Batali, was very accessible to the 425 people in attendance. We were able to have our pictures taken with him and exchange pleasantries. Once we were seated and the actual diner service began, things ran like clockwork. It was much like being at a very nice wedding dinner. Tables were served all at once with an army of servers. Wine was poured regularly, and generously. Of course, the food was amazing, but I wouldn't expect anything else considering the nature of this event. I felt Bartolotta's did a great job with the renovation. Yes, this is a cafeteria by day, but at night it makes a pretty good event venue, especially for something that is food-industry centered. Logistically, the parking situation is not great. We parked in the US Bank parking structure on the south side of the building. I'm glad there were posted directions to the venue, because I never would have found my way otherwise. Bathrooms are a bit of a walk from the main room, and the placement of the cocktail bars choked the flow of the room. That being said, I look forward to the next event we attend here.

    $7 meatball sub... pass

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    8 years ago

    Excellent lunch and in and out quick while visiting museums. Something to eat for kids and adults and walking distance from museums.

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    Downtown Kitchen - cafeteria - Updated August 2026

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