Erv's Mug: Located in Oak Creek, WI just south of Milwaukee, Erv's Mug opened just over 45 years ago in 1979 by Erv & Barb and is still family operated today. There is a small portion for outdoor seating, but it's the interior that makes this place unique. A panoply of saloon memorabilia covers the walls and ceiling in its entirety. It is an impressive site to behold. It was neat spotting some of the items that are also in my personal collection, and I could write all day about the décor, but this is a food review. My family and I dined there on 8/5 for my brother's birthday. I'll begin by saying our waitress Cindy did an excellent job as she was friendly and attentive. For my entrée, I went with the Monterey Steak Bites, which is listed as an appetizer on the menu. I'm not the largest guy, so the 6oz of grilled black angus steak was plenty for me. The bites are sauteed with white wine, mushrooms, garlic butter, and topped with a layer of melty Monterey Jack Cheese. Everything about this dish was perfect. My steak was tender and juicy, the mushrooms were abundant, large, and fresh, the garlic flavoring was noticeable but not overpowering, and the plethora of cheese was more than enough to satisfy this cheesehead. If there was any negative to it, it would be that it was so rich, I had a bit of a stomachache after, but that's why I don't eat this way all the time. Almost forgot to mention, it comes with a tiny cocktail fork that was ideal for spearing the steak and mushrooms. Phenomenal job, Doughboy approved Doughboy_Food_Reviews *The plethora of drinks on the menu was also impressive read more

See all

I've been to Erv's a few times and it's clearly a community favorite because it's always packed! So much fun stuff to look at though around the inside of the restaurant to keep you from getting bored or if your server takes a minute longer than you'd like, although service is always fast and friendly when I've been here. The food itself is okay. Although the menu itself is pretty big, I have a hard time finding flavorful healthier options when I go in. I've had the salads and bowls but was still underwhelmed in the flavor department, especially if I'm skipping on the dressing. Others I know think the food is good so give it a whirl, everyone has different tastes! read more

Service was great. However the three piece baked fish fry was disappointing. My floatentd and I all ordered the baked cod fish Friday special. First time my dad took home two cod pieces. He asked if me if it was over cooked. I said my cod was fishy. Perhaps they changed their fish supplier. I had one bite of coleslaw and it tasted spoiled and not fresh. The baked beans side were overly sweet but ok. Last visit was one year ago had same baked cod and it was great. Not sure what happened. Overhead waitress telling another table of a power outage the prior evening and they brought in a semi trailer cooler to keep everything cold still in parking lot. But I assume they should had tossed out the fish and coleslaw. It just closed for the day. I won't be back. Sorry but I want going to complain as it is not the waitress fault. Clearly management. read more

See all

Great spot. Amazing service. Good food. No complaints. The team here just knows how to do it and they do it well. No one stops moving. Stopped in for some French Onion Soup--which is deep and rich in flavor. Very comforting. We also had a French Dip and a Patty Melt. Both were cooked perfectly, tender, moist, and everything they should be . read more

Ervs Mug - French Dip - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

See all

We drove down from the city for a festive lunch and while I'm glad we did...we likely won't be returning. First, something we loved: the Christmas decorations. These were next level and our little one's eyes got so big and bright when we walked in. Then things went downhill - we got there right at 11am when they opened and we were seated at a table in the back by a hallway that had a draft. I asked if we could sit in the big room with more for my daughter to look at while we dined in. The waitress in that space rudely said "no" stating the room was still being cleaned and tables set up - major bummer. Our actual waitress was very sweet and attentive. We ordered a Mediterranean rice bowl (without meat so it was vegetarian-friendly), a Philly with onion strings and a slice of their seasonal peppermint cheesecake. The food was mediocre. The bowl was lacking and a small portion. If someone doesn't add a protein it would be nice if you at least added some more rice or cut the price down. Just my two cents. And there was a piece of metal in the onion rings which the waitress thought was from the scrubber they used to clean the equipment in back. They comped the Philly meal with the onion rings which I felt was the least they could do. I get it - things happen - and we didn't make a big deal about it but that's a deal breaker for us. Especially if our toddler is eating out with us because then I'm on edge waiting for the metal to make a repeat appearance and that's not enjoyable for anyone. read more

See all

So this was supposed to be a week that we eat in but then Erv's Mug posted a picture of a Cobb Salad that is available this week only. So ouch, twist my arm, I did not cook tonight. It was a great salad and the hubs had a great cheesy burger with beans as a side. Upgrade to a pretzel bun for free. I put the pen by the plate for comparison, the plate was huge. I have a salad for lunch tomorrow. My only disappointment was 2 slices of mushroom on that huge salad. Everything else was balanced. Shannon was our server and she was absolutely spot on. We always go early as they get packed so we were there shortly after 4. read more

Ervs Mug - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

See all

Hands down the best French onion soup (make sure to get it in a crock). Our favorite "go tos" are the Chicken Philly and the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. Make sure to also try the sweet potato fries. And if you like beer, they have many options. read more

Erv's Mug has a classic supper club vibe that I would love out-of-towners to experience. I usually go here around Christmas. Every square inch of the restaurant - walls, ceiling, etc. is decorated and even though I am not a big Christmas person, it just makes for a fun holiday vibe. I decided to come here in the summer for a fish fry. Everything was excellent and met expectations. The waitress was really attentive and on her game. The French Onion Soup with the cheese and breadstick upgrade was awesome. It hit the spot! The selection of Old Fashioned's was mind-blowing. And the fish fry .... spot on! I like battered better than breaded and it was a really tasty beer battered cod. I got potato pancakes and they were good, but could have used more flavor. The rye bread was a half slice, thick and fresh and soft. Wholly satisfied with my experience. read more

See all

We wanted to eat somewhere with Christmas decorations so we stopped here. It was busy but we were seated within five minutes. The decorations were amazing and throughout the whole place. The service was decent but a little slow. Our waitress was nice though. I ordered the double MC Erv burger. It was okay but nothing amazing. The haystack onion rings were really good though! read more

Ervs Mug - Double MC Erv - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

I was in the area for work and stopped in for lunch. I ordered the Ruben and got the potato salad as my side. The Ruben was good but not great. It is accurately described as coming on dark rye bread but marble rye would have made the sandwich a little better. The sauerkraut was kind of bland, I would have enjoyed a little bit more of a tangy kick which would have contrasted with the dark rye a bit better. I prefer pastrami on a Ruben but this came with corned beef, which is fine except that it was almost like a corned beef paste vs distinct slices. The potato salad was up there with the best potato salad I've had. Really loved the hint of sweetness. The texture and size of the potatoes was just how I like it! Service was okay. They aren't in any sort of big hurry, even as the lunch rush was starting to build. They aren't fake nice, take that however you will. PSA they have probably over 100 clown dolls hanging from the ceiling. So if you don't like clowns you might want to skip this place for dine-in. read more

Cool hangout for new friends and old. Other patrons here were nice while we waited for a table at the bar. Food is great and fantastic beer selection. read more

Ervs Mug - Crocked French Onion Soup - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

See all

I always have an excellent experience at Erv's Mug! The restaurant is warm and welcoming, and has a classic Milwaukee vibe to it. I absolutely love the Friday fish fry, but always get the French onion soup when I'm there! With so many options of places to eat in Milwaukee, I love that I have this one so close to home. read more

Having that craving for Prime Rib again. This place has a lot of great reviews plus we were meeting a friend who lives in Caledonia so this was the perfect meet up point. We got there early, around 4:30, and it was pretty empty but really started to fill up soon after. We started with cocktails. I had the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned and it was yummy. We all had the Prime Rib special. A 16 oz cut served with choice of potato and soup or salad. The soup was Chicken Tortilla, but we went for the Baked French Onion for $3.99 extra. Dinners were served with a warm loaf of bread. I passed on dessert but my two friends opted to get some to go, a Carrot Cake and a Chocolate Decadence Cake. Pay attention to your bill. I don't know why they added the 20% gratuity on our bills when we were only a party of 3, maybe because we asked for separate checks. And they did charge a 3% credit card fee read more

See all

If I could give this place a 0 I would. I waited a day to write this review because i was too upset last night. A group of 4 of us went to Ervs mug last night at 6 pm. It was not busy at all. There was like 6 tables in the place. We ordered our food and an hour later it had not come yet. The waitress came over and said oh I'm sorry your ticket never printed in the kitchen.... So you're telling me you didn't notice the cook wasn't making our food until an hour later ? Cmon. An hour and a half later we got our food. My chicken Cesar salad wrap was good but not worth an hour and a half later. My husband said his ribs were okay. My friend said her French dip was good. The real kicker came when our bill arrived. Did they offer to comp someone's meal or our drinks... NOPE !!!!! I asked for the manager and the female manager then came over and said "it's not the waitress' fault for what happened. I can call the owners but they probably aren't going to do anything for you." I said yes I want you to call them. She then came back and said our bill would be half off due to the issue. So I had to ask your establishment for some kind of comp for the horrible service ? That should have been offered without me complaining to the manager. I WILL NEVER BE BACK. read more

Great good, fun atmosphere. Fish fry is excellent. Best if dining in, but still solid for takeaway.

This is my favorite place for a fish fry. And they have lots of other nice options too. Staff is always friendly and drinks are nice. Our favorite server is Linda. She is super friendly, helpful and on the ball. I could never do what she does... I'd be wrecked. LOL You won't be disappointed at Ervs. read more

So I went to Ervs Mug with decent expectations but I ended up not having a very good experience. The service was spotty at best, and the server had an attitude with my party. Got the ribs and they were actually foul. No flavor, overcooked and they had a piece of canned pineapple that was grilled placed right on top. After eating my stomach was in disarray for the rest of the day. I would probably stay away unless you have a very strong stomach. read more

Ervs Mug - Fries - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

See all

First time there on Saturday. The bartender, Riley, was very nice and on top of it! French onion soup was good. The bread was good too. Ordered prime rib. The quality of meat was great but the flavor was lacking. I was disappointed that the side of sautéed mushrooms was canned mushrooms, but I went with it. I would definitely go back because overall it was a good experience. read more

I love Christmas pop ups, and I loved all of the decorations in the bar & restaurant! The French onion soup was not salty, the broth was very mellow, and had a large crouton under the cheese. The soup (cheese) could have been baked a little longer for my liking. The garbage sandwich was tenderloin and prime trimmings with provolone cheese & banana peppers. I felt the meat was a little dryer than I expected, and I should have asked for some Au Jus. The fries were served nice and crispy. The waitress was awesome. She was VERY patient with my dad, I appreciated how quickly she adjusted to help him out more than what was necessary. Overall the food was okay, but the service and the atmosphere really made me want to return. I want to go back and give something else a try. read more

See all

I was only ever here once I was dating someone who was a server and I took my family there to try to See her while she was on the job. It was a relationship that didn't last but I remember the food being OK I believe I had a burger. I will have to return Sunday just to check out the food but it was a decent time that I remember I was probably in 15 1617 at the time I'm not exactly sure the age I was. read more

Food was amazing and portions were bountiful. Will return for sure. The Korbel old fashioneds were also amazing. read more

I saw that this place had a Saturday prime rib special so I called to ask if it's available for lunch and I was told yes so I stopped by for an adult beverage and lunch. The place is weird because it's cluttered with beer and alcohol signs from floor to ceiling including the ceiling. They have a small bar area with hi tables as you walk in and the dining room in back. I was asked if I wanted to eat at the bar and I thought if I'm dropping like $75 on lunch I want a table. Julie was my server and dropped off the drink and food menus so I asked her to suggest a cocktail and she suggested the butter pecan classic old fashioned which I ordered and it was good. The 16 oz prime rib comes with soup or salad and one side including premium sides. I ordered the prime rib with French onion soup and I did the up charge to make it baked French onion soup and hay stack onion straws which they have served for 39 years the menu says. My French onion soup looked good that came with a fresh bread stick. Unfortunately the baked French onion soup was average but still good and the broth lacked that depth of flavor that the really good ones have. The haystack onion straws were very thin with a light crispy batter and very tasty. The 16 oz prime rib looked amazing and rare with a side of au jus dipping sauce and a side horseradish sauce. The au jus was delicious and seasoned perfectly and I thought that it would be a tastier broth for the French onion soup. The prime rib was delicious because it was moist and practically melt in your mouth with the perfect amount of delicious fat, not super fatty. Overall Julie was great and my adult cocktail and prime rib lunch was delicious. I was close to the kitchen and I didn't see anyone else order one strangely because it's very good, maybe $40 scares people off or it's too much for lunch. If the prime rib is consistently this quality I would definitely recommend getting the prime rib here. read more

See all

tl;dr - will be a constant visitor of this place for the great service and food. Erv's Mug - it seems like it's been around forever, yet doesn't give that "old and outdated" feel. They got a lot of crazy sh*t on the walls, I will say that. This place is a staple in the community and always has amazing daily specials. The food is quality, hearty portions and served quickly by an outstanding staff. We go here for lunch quite often during Fridays at my job. The fish fry is always a big winner for usually 80% of our entire table. The rest of us (myself included) always find something on the menu we love. The GARBAGE SANDWICH is a hidden gem of this menu - make sure to ask about it! I have never been disappointed with a plate here and I generally try something different each time I go for lunch - focusing on salads and sandwiches. A personal favorite I have had more than once is the Philly Cheesesteak modified with chicken instead. They do some amazing and fun events that really get the community involved, the patio is lovely when the weather is nice and the place generally always seems to be hoppin' for lunch. If you get a seat in the back near the kitchen, there's sort of like a side window you can kind of see through - what is happening back there is a mixture of a well-oiled machine and intricate dance of staff members (kitchen and servers combined) working their butts of to provide truly great customer service and getting you a tasty meal (and fast) even during the rush. I would be remiss if I did not stop and give a special shoutout to one of the best staff members there, Peggy. We are always stationed in her section and she always treats us like long-standing family members. She remembers all of our drinks, the same guy that gets chicken tenders every single time we go, and our team members who have special asks. She is a big reason we keep coming back. The president of our company (who tragically passed away recently) had a long-standing relationship with both Erv's Mug and Peggy herself for over a decade. It has been difficult to return to Erv's, due to his recent passing and the connection between both him and his love of this restaurant, but our team will be back in time. read more

Ervs Mug - Sticky Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

The place was really popping on a Friday. From the road you can see often how busy it is on a Friday. The interior is much bigger than it looks from Ryan Rd. Great beer selection but I think the Fish Fry fell flat. I saw the table next to me get there's & I knew I had to get it. Then when mine came out I got 3 extremely small pieces while all the previous people were getting massive portions. Not a smart business move if you're not cutting the fish fry pieces evenly. It was not filling at all but my girlfriend's sticky chicken salad she got a hefty portion of chicken. The dressing though was way too sweet. read more

See all

Great food & selection, attentive service and fun atmosphere every time! We have never had a bad event. This our go to place!

Always liked Erv's Mug. We've been going here for years but haven't stopped in anytime recently. We had the fish fry and tried the clam chowder and crock of french onion. Both were good but I preferred the french onion. Great for cold days. We both got the baked cod and we had generous portions. The fries were good too! We always like the beer selection here and that didn't disappoint. The only downside was the timing of service. We appreciated the time to chat but our server just didn't stop by much towards the end of our lunch. We had to flag her to ask for containers and the check. The wait was worth it ultimately though. read more

See all

Food was good, came quickly, funny atmosphere. I had the black bean burger that was good, the fries were okay, cake was delish! read more

Ervs Mug - Black bean burger - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

The burgers are so good and they have my favorite onion strings, friendly staff and love the ambiance! Great French Onion soup!

Limited menu choices if you want to eat healthy. I ordered the chicken blt which was in a tortilla wrap. Not impressed. They charged us extra for fries as a side!? And for extra ranch dressing! Also for using a credit card. Which I think is always tacky. For 3 adults and 2 kids it was well over $100. All I can say is the portions were generous. read more

We have been at Ervs many times. As we understand that it was already 8 o'clock and they closed at 9pm. We ordered dinner, it comes with a soup but they only had French onion left and unfortunately I'm not a fan so ok. I asked for a different side but of course that's an up charge. Then the server comes back and she said they are out of bake fish,well ok. The Fish was greasy and just a handful of fries. My husband fish dinner also greasy but at least his potato pancakes were fine. The server seem with a bit of an attitude and to top it off towards the end, some of the servers gather in one of the tables to start complaining about cleaning and picking up and having to take care of XYNZ before the closing of the night(at least the eating area) well that's the last thing I need to see or hear when I go to a restaurant. Tonight was a big disappointment. read more

Worst bartender ever, not a smile, very short and rude. He was only dealing with his regulars and didn't care about his new customers . he was snippy and blew his nose behind the bar. read more

Service was most warm and welcoming. Lots of fun things to do such as trivia night. It was a blast!! Food was excellent too. read more

Friday fish fry! A Wisconsin staple, and Ervs Mug does a very good job of it. I ordered the half fried and half baked. Both were good, but I would recommend the fried. The meal comes with the soup, choice of potato (I got the pancakes), coleslaw, and a half piece of marble rye bread. The beer selection is quite extensive as well! I need a good brew to pair with the fish and they didn't disappoint. The service is friendly and efficient. I did feel a bit rushed because the place is quite hectic. It's not a place for a relaxing ambience. It's more of a place for eating/serving efficiency. If you want a good fish fry and a slam, bam, thank you ma'am type of dining, then Ervs will be a 5 star deal for you! read more

Ervs Mug - Store Front - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Erv's used to be great and the food is decent still. However, the service is an absolute joke. Yes it was busy as it always is on a Friday. Two fish fries to go, but only one cole slaw and one tartar sauce. The steak sandwich loaded with onions when we explicitly told them to skip it, and they read it back to me too. Two bowls of french onion soup, but no cheese at all. We specifically called out wanting the soup only if it comes with cheese. The time before that they gave my order to someone else and left me to stand around twiddling my thumbs waiting for the other guy to come back. The true measure of a business is not perfection, but do they make it right for the customer when they screw up. We called to complain and the first person we talked to said "what do you expect me to do" - in other words, telling me to "pound sand". Got the manager on the phone and he said he would give a credit of 4.49, one of the two soups. I chase back there, thankfully its only a few miles. I ask for the manager and tell him the least he could do is give me 10$ (on an 83$ to-go order for three meals) to make it worth my time. At least he bumped it to a crisp 5$ bill and not load me up with pocket change. A whopping 6% credit, wow so generous. Still less than the tip I gave them, despite pretty much regular screw ups of some sort every time. Anyhow the "manager" tells me we ORDERED IT WRONG, we should have ordered the "crock" if we wanted cheese on the french onion soup. Says he programmed the menu himself. Maybe he programmed some menu they only use in house that the customer never sees, because news flash, your web site says it COMES WITH CHEESE and the choices are either bowl or crock. The online ordering website (i called it in, but whatever I double checked just now) has no mention of crock at all. NOTHING NOWHERE says you need to order a "crock" to get the cheese that is plainly listed as included on the main website. I have lived in Oak Creek my entire life (over 50 years) and been here more times than I can count, never again. Do yourself a favor, pick somewhere else. read more

We stopped by for a quick bite and this is a pretty great spot in oak creek. It is an easy atmosphere and very welcoming. The service was quick and friendly. Our server made sure to check on us multiple times while we are there. They have a great selection of drinks and the food is cooked very well. I got the steak sandwich with baked beans and i had no complains at all. We also got the curds and they were delicious; between the crispy outside, the spice mix, and the fresh cheese - nothing was left to be desired. We will definitely be back here read more

What a hidden gem in Oak Creek! I've always avoided this place in the past as I thought it was just a bar, but man is this place something special. Plenty of space for a nice sit down dinner - almost has a supper club vibe. Great beers, friendly staff and delicious food. The Crocked French Onion soup is a must! read more

See all

Great food and a great beer selection. Would definitely recommend if you are in that area.

My friend Rick and I decided to try Ervs. We both ordered the garbage sandwich with a side of baked beans. Both items were absolutely delicious. You can see by my photo that they are generous with the meat. We saw several types of sandwiches being served. They all looked great. Will be going back to try some other things. The server was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was great. Give them a try. read more

Ervs Mug - Garbage sandwich with a side of baked beans - American Near Me - Oak Creek, Wisconsin

So...I'm back! I reviewed Ervs a few years ago. Friday night fish fry as I recall. (3/5). So this time, I showed up on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. The ambiance had not changed. It is pleasant, very local vibe. The crowd inside was very mixed. Some were older, some young. I believe it was trivia night (PS you give way too much time to answer questions). As a group we ordered a couple of wraps, a "philly" steak sandwich and a burger. Food was good. Nothing really "special" about it. Menu could definitely use some updating. The price was OK. The staff was very good. Owner is very nice. The young lady at the bar, "Hannah" was good and seemed to be known by the regulars. I feel like this rating is a 3 for food and 4 for the staff. Perhaps a couple of menu changes, more signature items would push it the food to a 4 rating. Overall it is a good local spot, good food, but nothing that really knocks your socks off. read more

Food was ok, not great. We heard great things but we didn't get it. Maybe it was an off night.