Anniversary dinner- Small, intimate- but yet, relaxing and…read morecomfortable. Have a few large tables for groups (5-8 people)... Attentive staff. Cocktails were delish and different. Refreshing for a summer evening. We loved all our dishes and as served were explained what was being placed.... It was wonderful. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Esterev is a cute little restaurant in the Bayview area right next to other similar trendy…read morerestaurants. The decor reminded me of a modern farmhouse design. We had a reservation so we were able to be seated right away but the restaurant was not very busy for the most part for a Tuesday night. The space is small but the tables weren't on top of each other. The menu has multiple parts to it similar to Italian style where there's a first, second and main course. The Virginia oysters were large and had a more briney taste than sweet taste. The sauce that came with was good and cut the briney essence. I really liked my steak and it was cooked perfectly medium rare. My husband got the chicken stuffed with sausage which was okay. All of the ingredients tasted fresh and the food was well made. Staff was very helpful and friendly. I would definitely go again to try another dish. The bill was pricey with two entrees, two drinks, a dozen raw oysters, appetizer and dessert which ran $218 without tip.

I had my birthday dinner at Moxie and the service was great and so was the food! The five of us…read moreshared the cheeseboard, which was delicious and went fast! For dinner I had a glass of Pinot Noir and the mahi-mahi special with homemade pineapple salsa and couscous, it was fantastic and I love the flavors! Everyone at the table loved their meal and for dinner we all shared the cheesecake and tiramisu. It was a delicious birthday dinner!

Had a lovely time back in Moxie! It's been few years for us, but the food, drinks, and service…read moreremains really great. My husband and I came in on a whim, and given that it was a Friday night we got very lucky being able to snag two seats at the bar. I love bar seating honestly, especially where bartenders are friendly, as they were. These guys knew what they were doing too, because they wiped up our craft cocktails in a flash. Moxie is kind of known for their martinis, and have a whole section on their menu for them, so naturally that's what I gravitated towards. I can't recall the name of the one I chose, but essentially it was Hendrick Gin, cucumber, and mint. So refreshing. My husband had a bourbon cocktail of sorts and really enjoyed it too. We weren't in the mood for full-dinner so instead shared the short rib medallions from the apps list. Those were tasty! Perfectly cooked braised short rib on top polenta medallions with bourbon-marinated peaches and cambozola cheese... what's not to love? We also had the caesar salad with chicken, which was crispy and hit the spot. Plan to spend a decent amount of $$ dining here, but you get what you pay for. All in all, a nice night!

First time dining at Birch…read more We went for a dual celebration, our wedding anniversary and my husband's birthday. We sat at the chef's counter, which let us watch the chefs prepare each dish over the open wood-fired hearth throughout the evening. The menu is seasonal and limited to a handful of appetizers, pastas and entrees. The focus is Midwest ingredients with a farm-to-table approach. We each ordered an appetizer and an entree, and we split a pasta and a dessert. Both of us tried items we would not have chosen at another restaurant, and everything was well prepared. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions easily. My husband received a birthday card signed by several members of the team, which was a thoughtful touch. With an assortment of beverages and tip, the bill came to right around $300. This meal was memorable, and Birch is one we will keep in mind for future special occasions.

Absolutely delicious and a great place for a nice dinner in MKE! We sat at the bar area with a full…read moreview of the kitchen, so we got to watch them prepare our food which was so fun! Everyone was very nice and gave great recommendations for what we should order. For appetizers, we ordered the garlic focaccia with ricotta that was absolutely delicious (I could have ate the ricotta with a spoon) and the shrimp skewers which were cooked perfectly and looked beautiful. For entrées, I tried the pork chop and it was actually to die for. It was so tender and flavorful, I would definitely order it again. My friend had the ricotta cavatelli which was also super yummy! I definitely want to go back and try their famous burger at some point and they have a tasting menu that looks like a really fun time. 10/10 will be going back for the vibes and the food!

Yelp asked "What went well?" Idk probably everything…read more Since the moment we arrived, everything was smooth sailing from attentive servers to the food arriving. Everything we had was phenomenal, especially the desserts (we had 2). For two who didn't want to overeat (and overspend), we ordered soba noodle salad, single filet trout, short rib lentil pie, banana bread, and peanut butter pie. You're definitely paying a premium dining here, but the attention to detail and flavors was well worth it. I will be back to try their burgers!!!

Aside from the hair in my drink, I generally enjoyed the food here! I went in during a weekday and…read morewas pleased by the ample, comfortable bar seating. The food was inventive! The tartare was memorable and yummy, though the bread could've been crispier. The burger was phenomenal, truly outstandingly delicious. But the star of the show was the peanut butter pie, I would come back just for the pie! Unfortunately, I found a hair in the bottom of my drink, just as I was enjoying the muddled fruit from my old fashioned. I remain confused by the fact the hair didn't appear to belong to myself or the bartender - how did it get there in the first place? And what if I hadn't taken the time to enjoy the fruit at the bottom of my cup? Though the bartender and another staff person agreed to remove the price of the drink from my tab, perhaps management may benefit from a conversation not only about maintaining high standards and love for the food served, but also in moments where errors (like hair in food) occur, how to go above and beyond rather than doing what I consider to be bare minimum.

Had the pleasure to dine here for a birthday dinner. This place was incredible. Food was…read moreoutstanding, service outstanding, presentation, outstanding. Hadn't been there in several years, but returned and glad we did. Did the chef's surprise 7 course dinner worth every penny. Small and intimate, did not feel crowded by next table. Only complaint would be the palate cleanser was counted as a complete Course. Would have liked an actual course. Great job!

I hate Sanford, but in the best way. We called the day valentines reservations opened...a few hours…read moreafter opening, the only available reservations were at 10pm. Ok! Late dinner for us! Sanford is a tradition for us. We love getting dressed up and enjoying a coursed dining experience. We did some bubbly drinks and then perused the menu. Course 1 is an appetizer. As a pear and Roquefort tart junkie, I never try anything new and it's so unfortunate. I do wish they had the option of adding à la carte items, as there are so many app options I would have loved to try. But the tart just has my heart. My husband got the cheddar Boreg and it was amazing! Course 2 is soup. Normally you get to choose your second course between soup or salad, but Valentine's Day it's usually set. I do with they've provide another option in case the soup isn't really to your liking. The curry soup was delicious, but as someone whole doesn't really love shellfish, I would've appreciated a different option. Course 3: I got the duck and poblano stew, my husband got the pomegranate swordfish, both were great! Duck was tender and not too gamey. Stew was fantastic. I do wish they would have at least one vegetarian option though. Course 4: dessert! I had the macadamia tart and my husband had the chilled mango and passionfruit soup. Both were great! I am obsessed with their breadsticks and would like to take them home by the handful though. Seriously, can I buy them all?! lol

I had tickets at the Oriental Theater and wanted to try a fish fry in the area. I started digging…read moreand came across Tess. It's a little off the beaten path, tucked away on Bartlett. I browsed their menu online on a Sunday and spent all week looking for the upscale fish fry. The entree is two tempura battered barramundi filets, several lemon wedges, and Asian slaw, and sweet potato fries. I was blown away by the taste. Everything was perfection, including my clam chowder. Since I was alone, I took a spot at the bar. They had a nice tray to accommodate the rail on the bar and make my area even. Everything was timed perfectly. The atmosphere is upscale yet cozy. The dining room only holds a few tables but there are three tables in the bar as well as a patio when the weather is nice. Overall, I had a nice time. This is a nice spot for date night or if you want a quiet spot to have a drink alone.

The room was great for our party and Jada our server was fabulous!…read more Unfortunately, 6 of the group ordered ravioli and it wasn't what they hoped for. The steak, short rib and fried rice risotto were delicious. The cheese biscuits a big hit as well.

Not sure of the lower ratings for this place. We frequently went to the Knick while here. It has a…read morequiet atmosphere which makes it easy for conversations with family and friends. They have a lovely bar and tables near it. There's an outside patio and inside dining area. We tried almost every area except the patio. It was either too hot or too cold when we got there. They offer a variety of items on their happy hour menu for food and drinks. Unfortunately none of their HH food items are gf They have a lunch and dinner menu too. I was able to get gf items on it.

Had a great brunch here with an old friend. Food was delicious, my French toast was amazing,…read moreenjoyed my eggs too and the vibe in general. Sat out on the patio since it was a beautiful summer day. Service was great and very friendly. They weren't too busy that morning so we hung out for a couple hours eating and having drinks, a very nice time.

Always 5 stars! Service, food, atmosphere - 5 stars through and through. Kayla is an amazing…read moreserver! Always love the ever changing menu with local sourced food. If you can always name every ingredient in the menu, then I love the food!

I loved the rustic feel, and that there was a bar area and a separate dining area. The staff felt…read moregenuine in their welcome and took us quickly to our seats. The service was excellent. We saw our waiter, a waitress-in-training, the hostess, and food runners multiple times throughout our meal, without it feeling too much. We selected the wonton and the pork buns as appetizers. The wonton is similar to a crab rangoon. It was prettily presented. We had a hard time identifying any hint of bacon, and the tomato-pepper jam needed a warning for the unwary, spice-challenged, which two of our party were. The tang of the kimchi aioli was a unique and pleasant addition. The pork buns may have been the best and most surprising dish of the entire meal. It was bright and flavorful on the tongue, with a nice mellowing bacon/pork flavor that added a nice depth to the dish. We chose the braised beef, duck leg confit, and the summer veggie skewers as our mains. The confit was OK. The flavors were muddied by an overabundance of allspice or clove. It needed a hit of something acidic to brighten the dish. The braised beef was certainly better than the confit, but it too was spiced in a heavy-handed manner. While the apple and sweet potato puree certainly opened the dish a bit, the kale, plated under the braised beef made the dish difficult to eat since it was difficult to cut. The summer veggie skewer dish was probably my favorite dish of the mains. The black bean cakes were nicely spiced, and the mellowness of the beans was well-balanced by the cleanness of the summer veg, just barely charred. My only issue with the dish is the sprinkling of the ajwain sunflower crunch. Certainly, fresh thyme would have been less pungent and less distracting, especially in terms of mouthfeel. It made the dish feel disjointed and lacking cohesion. Overall, I appreciated the effort, but it missed the mark for me.