La Merenda was on my list of places to check out and I finally had the chance! I made reservations at 7pm and was quickly seated, or server Inga was very patient and made a few suggestions for us as well. We started with the pink Guava Paloma and the Schilling Local Legends for our drinks. The Pink Guava Paloma tasting amazing and was strong. You were really able to taste the tequila but it wasn't un-drinkable. The Guava was a great blend with the drink and my friend wished he had gotten the same drink because of how good it tasted. The menu was divided up into three different sections; Field, Sea, and Pasture. They also had specials, as well. We tried to get a few items from each section to try different dishes. In the Field section, we tried the Truffle Potato Skins (WI). The potatoes skins were PILED onto the plate. They were more soft than crunchy but tasted amazing. I wasn't really able to taste the truffle but it was still good. In the Sea section, we tried the Sambal Goreng Udang (Indonesia). An Indonesian dish with white shrimp, sambal chili paste, mash potatoes, and coconut milk. Honestly, this was my favorite dish. It was creamy and the mashed potatoes paired so well with the sauce and the shrimp. It had a hint of spice, which elevated the experience for me personally, as I love spicy food. In the Pasture section, we tried the Beef Empanadas (Columbia) and Vietnamese Pork Belly Crepes (Vietnam). The Beef Empanadas came with four pieces and some green sauce. The outside was crunchy and not over fried, the inside was perfectly filled and moist. Would highly recommend it as it was amazing. The Vietnamese Pork Belly Crepes were a little disappointing. I was expecting them to come out like the traditional Vietnamese crepes, crispy outside with the pork belly and other fillings on the inside. Instead it was like an actual crepe mix. It was soft and honestly okay. It wasn't our favorite. As for the specials they were offering, we tried the Pork Tenderloin. The Pork Tenderloin was pretty good, not super dry. It was served on top of potatoes and tasted amazing. La Merenda has a very cozy atmosphere. Low lights and overall just a chill and quaint spot. I will definitely come back for more of the Sambal Goreng Udang and to try out some of their other plates! read more

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La Merenda is a great tapas restaurant. We had an awesome experience and our waiter was great. They had the coolest fish earrings on. Let me tell you everything we got. We got the truffle Potato Skins it was more like chips but softer than chips with a truffle oil and parm. This didn't have a super truffle flavor in my opinion but still good. The ceviche which was my favorite had ahi tuna, coconut milk, red bell peppers, and diced pineapple I love the sweet aspect of this. We also got the empanadas and mushroom tostadas both were great. The Gnocchi d'Autunno we got was like a nice hug it was such a warm dish in the way you want a warm comfort meal on a cold day. The butter chicken and Argentina style beef we also tried I liked the butter chicken more just because I wish the beef had more chimichurri. I definitely will take friends in the future. There is a dish for everyone here. read more

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If you try one restaurant in Milwaukee let La Merenda be it! We were absolutely floored by everything we tried especially the beef empanadas and the rabbit guazzetto (not pictured - seriously too delicious and I forgot to take a picture). The variety of meats we tried throughout our meal including goat, rabbit, beef, pork belly and chicken were prepared with exceptional finesse and balance when combined with their respective starch. The service was quick and the staff were attentive when pouring wine, refilling water and clearing plates. The ambiance is very cozy and comfortable with whimsical hanging decor and wooden tables. A must visit tapas style restaurant when you're in downtown Milwaukee! read more

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Great vibes for a get together to chat over some small platters. If you're a vegetarian, there's a lot of variety here! read more

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Amazing food- we tried so many dishes. The 3 of us have been to many tapas restaurants so we're used to ordering and sharing many dishes. The rabbit was the best- the leftovers we took home even reheated well. We enjoyed everything. The duck special was delicious but difficult to share because of the way it was served-and on a bed of way too many lentils. But the taste was excellent. Many great cocktail and mocktail choices- I was interested in a mocktail's flavors and had them add vodka. Yum! The basque cheesecake base was delicious- the lemon crumb topping with honey added little. Not too loud - we could easily converse. We had a table full of partially eaten dishes and they kept bringing more- we finally flagged down the server to get some takeaway boxes so we had room to eat. The request was quickly accommodated but no one noticed we had no room to eat until we flagged the issue. read more

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Another tasty time at La Merenda. They didn't initially see our reservation but once we showed them we got seated immediately . They oddly put a menu on the end nearest restaurant traffic. They have several rotating beer taps including Lakefront National Ave Red Ale and a dessert oatmeal ale. The waitress seemed to know the menu very well and had all the specials known. The food came out very fast. Open til 10. The portions were good size for a tapas place. The ceviche was good, interesting. The coconut milk made it creamy, almost cheesy. The shrimp sambal was very tasty. It did have some heat to it. Somehow the mash potatoes are such an amazing combo. The potatoes bravas with spicy tomatoes space and some garlic aioli is the optimal way to eat potatoes. In the future, at home making my frozen potatos with ketchup I will pretend they taste like the Bravas. $65 with 2 drinks. read more

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One of my favorites in town. Pretty busy all the time. Make sure you have a reservation to secure your seats. Quite a few nice ones like: Argentina beef, mushrooms tacos, gnocchi, empanadas, butter chicken etc. actually everything was really tasty even salads. Great for sharing. Chocolate dessert was superb. Services were always very warm and prompt. Cozy place for sure. Parking could be a bit tricky. read more

La Merenda - Korean beef - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Wow! I always told people I wanted to check out this place but every year passed by missing my chance of going. After I made a reservation on a Tuesday, I was so excited to check it out. The waiter was very knowledgeable and I loved how many tapas options they had. We chose well with getting the delicious butter chicken, empanadas, tostada, and rabbit gnocchi. These dishes came out within 5 minutes and truly was incredible to try so many different food cuisines all at one table to share with others. The ambiance was just so nice with such a good mix of funk and bougie with the small intimate seating area but so much excitement. Can't wait to go back! read more

La Merenda - Butter chicken - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I was initially skeptical about this place since they serve multiple cuisines - Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese tapas - as restaurants trying to do "everything" usually don't do anything well. The empanadas completely changed my mind. While not traditional, they were incredible - the outside had this unique wafer-like crunch instead of the usual doughy texture. The filling was packed with flavor, and that green sauce they served with it took it to another level. Their ceviche was a pleasant surprise too. The addition of fruits gave it the perfect balance of tang, and the banana chips added a subtle nutty element. I know it's controversial, but I actually preferred this over traditional Peruvian versions. The steak and potatoes dish delivered - they used quality filet mignon that was cooked perfectly tender and juicy, paired with really creamy mashed potatoes. The only disappointment was the rabbit dish. It was pretty one-dimensional, with most of the flavor coming from the grated cheese on top. You couldn't really distinguish it from any other shredded meat. Service was great, especially the gentleman working outside on Friday who brought great energy and attentiveness. The backyard setting had awesome vibes. There are still many interesting dishes on the menu I'd like to try, so I'll definitely return. read more

Our favorite restaurant to go to for lunch and dinner. The menu has many meat/non meat options and dishes featured from many cuisines. We've tried almost half the menu and always get their specials when we go. Always happy with our food and drinks are also good. Highly recommend this restaurant. They also have a fantastic back patio. Great food and for very reasonable for Milwaukee prices. Also the best patatas bravas with chorizo- we get it every time! read more

Had the pistachio salad, beef empanadas, pork crepes, car bomb cupcake, and Bosque cheesecake, as well as a cocktail that seemed inspired by bruschetta. It was all amazing, there was plenty of food, and the service was on point. A great place to catch up with a good friend or relative as it's not too loud in the dining room. read more

Always a dinner favorite! Some of the best small plates in Milwaukee, in a cozy dining room setting, with friendly service and a delicious sangria! This time around we tried the La Merenda Salad, Truffle Potato Skins, and Butter Chicken. Do not skip the Potato Skins! We order them every time, and they never disappoint. Salad was light and refreshing, and the Butter Chicken was a warm, savory comfort on a cold winter night. They also have a fabulous little garden patio available for dining in the summer. A must-visit Milwaukee staple! read more

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I never write reviews. This is the best restaurant in Milwaukee hands down. Everything is mouth watering and life changing. Get the butter chicken. Pistachio salad. The corn empanadas. The shrimp dishes. Perfection ALL AROUND. You cannot go wrong here. read more

We had a great time at La Merenda this past weekend. Even though we arrived before our reservation, the staff promptly greeted us and showed us to an available table. The wait staff was attentive and explained the specials thoroughly. We selected the pistachios salad, chicken risotto, Argentinean steak and patatas bravas and chorizo. The salad was simple but incredibly flavorful. The patatas dish maxed out the paprika flavor and was unexpectedly tasty. I don't often take extras home but I was excited to try these the next day. The steak and potatoes were ok but the risotto missed the mark as I found it overly sweet. We had a lovely time and will definitely be back. read more

The service during lunch is excellent. Very friendly, not hurried, this place is a five star place for a nice birthday lunch. My former boss brought me here! I maintain it's a three star place on a Friday or Saturday night and I would like to see more traditional Spanish tapas dishes. Do NOT park in the lot next door, that gate will close and you'll be locked out. I happen to know because my band used to have a rehearsal space in that building and we used to think it was funny how many people drove in but couldn't drive out. read more

La Merenda - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

La Merenda is sooooo good! Food is tapas style so I can't even tell you everything we ordered. I was the only non-meat eater of the group and there were so many menu options. I had the mushroom risotto, patatas bravas (amazing!), orange and beat salad, and potato skins. Each dish arrival was better than the next! The atmosphere is wonderful with lots of cool hanging lights. Service was excellent! There were four of us and we split the bill in half. My half with tip was less than $150, which was totally reasonable for all the amazing food. Highly recommend! read more

My cousins and I started out the evening thinking we were going out somewhere else. Thankfully, that somewhere else turned out to be closed which is how we ended up here! And this is what you call a Happy Accident!!! The vibe was warm and casual. Service was on point. Some of us had never been here before and found out that this is farm to table. LOVE THAT SO MUCH! The food was delicious. I can't think of anything that we didn't enjoy! We had a group of 6 and each of us ordered up to two dishes each. This included: Pistachio Salad, Empanada Vegetarianas, Sautéed Spinach, Patatas Bravas, Mushroom Risotto, Gnocchi d'Autunno, Gambas al Ajillo, Beef Empanadas, Goat Cheese Curds, Peruvian Pork. The food came out fairly quickly. We were distracted by the wine and conversation - as we should be! I ordered the flan for dessert. It was decent... (I'm pretty picky about flan because I compare it to my grandmother's.) Overall, my group and I were happy with our experience. We definitely plan on a return visit! read more

Very solid small plates restaurant. It has great indoor and outdoor seating and the food is excellent. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu too if you have questions. With their portion sizes, I would say 4-5 plates is good for a table of two. This time around, we got the butter chicken, ceviche, prosciutto salad, goat cheese curds, and the Moroccan braised goat. The butter chicken is a crowd pleaser and has been on the menu for a while. It's good, but I highly recommend the ceviche! It was our favorite this time. read more

I cannot see enough good things about la Merenda. We recently came here on a Thursday evening for our anniversary. We were able to enjoy the outdoor patio. We enjoyed the tostadas, which were the special of the day, the ahi tuna appetizer. The pistachio arugula salad and the patatas bravas. My favorite was the salad. The pistachio dressing was delectable. The tuna appetizer was served with plantain chips and was delicious, but I wish there was more tuna. It was a wonderful experience. read more

La Merenda - Tuna - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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First time here. It was excellent and definitely a place that we would come back to. Had a 6:00 reservation on a Saturday night. There was a Valet Parking attendant in front, but we found a spot right out front on the street. The place is a little deceiving in size. When you get in, there is a bar area, and several small tables, and then it opens up to a large dining room. The place was already full. We got seated towards the rear, where one side is a long bench, then there are different size tables with chairs on the other size. Because it was full, it was on the noisy side. We had a group of 4 to one side and they could be loud at time. So don't come if you are expecting a quiet/intimate dining experienc. Got waters right away, and then met our server. They were friendly and helpful, and took good care of us the entire evening. (thanks Martin). We ordered a couple of Sangrias to get started. Both the white and the red were both good. We told our server that we were not in hurry, and that we would be taking our time. (Tapas restaurants can sometimes feel like they are constantly bringing you the next course, and I find it more relaxing to get some downtime between servings). Ended up deciding on several items. The Empanadas (we couldn't decide, and the server told us we could get a half (2) of each), the Pistachio Salad, the Pork & Shrimp Tostadas, and the Rabbit Guazzetto. Both types of Empanadas were amazing. The yellow cornmeal pastry is unique, along with the aji sauce. Great flavor. The Pistachio salad has simple ingredients, yet it was probably one of the best parts of the meal. The Penta Creme Blue Cheese was balanced nicely by the Pistachio vinaigrette. The Rabbit was mostly for me (my spouse doesn't like the "idea" of eating bunnies), and it was so tender. Along with the homemade gnocchi and mushrooms. Another superb combination. The last pick, the Pork and Shrimp Tostada, was "okay", but not great. Even though the server mentioned it would be spicy, they suggested it would be fine, with the Pineapple-Poblano pico de gallo on the side. It was not. Still too spicy from the salsa verde? Should have picked something else. We were full, and didn't have room for dessert. Maybe next time. And hoping that there will be a next time. Lots of other excellent menu choices that we would want to try. read more

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My favorite place for tapas in the city. The ambiance is swanky and the staff is so nice. It can be very busy and you may need to wait, but they do take reservations if you want to ensure your spot. The staff does a great job recommending dishes, and I love that they come out randomly to keep things changing and always getting to try something different. The truffle potato skins are delicious! read more

La Merenda is my favorite restaurant in the city. It might be my favorite restaurant, period. Their menus (both dinner and drink) rotate frequently, so even for someone like myself who goes here a number of times each year, there's always something new to try. I love farm-to-table restaurants on principle, and this one is cool because many of their ingredients are things locals have heard of. For two people, we'll often order 4-6 tapas to share, and we always end up taking some home in little boxes after eating more than enough. You can enjoy flavors from around the globe made with ingredients found locally. It has an artsy interior with medium to low light and music, plus servers who are very knowledgeable about the menus and offerings. read more

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Recently checked out La Merenda for a date night with my husband we had a great time trying from the menu and were super pleased with the quality, ambiance, and service. This came as a recommendation from a friend and we totally get why! I loved as a vegetarian that there were many bites to choose from. Portions ranged from small bites to heavy apps throughout the menu and with 2-3 dishes per person you are more than satisfied. I will be back here with girl friends to try the rest of the menu! read more

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We returned to one of our Milwaukee faves for date night this weekend and it didn't disappoint. We enjoyed the La Merenda salad, the goat cheese curds (always a favorite), the butternut squash gnocchi, Argentinian beef, and tres leches cakes. Always looking for good NA bevs, I had the faux fizz mocktail and my husband enjoyed the Riverwest Stein NA beer. Our server was super friendly and paced everything nicely. It's always great to revisit a favorite and be reminded why we love it in the first place! read more

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follow up to my last review - sambal goreng udang: very unique, wish the sauce was served over rice instead of mashed potatoes. would've complimented the shrimp better argentinian steak: not crazy on the mashed potatoes but the steak was superrrrr tender and chimichurri was yummy peruvian pork: pork was not great but LOVED the lil potato pieces chicken confit crepe: mid tbh wouldn't get again summer gnocchi: unfortunate that this is a summer dish bc it's my second fav after the beef empanadas. the sauce goes crazy and cheese melted in soooo well GET THE BEEF EMPANADAS. this was mine and everyone's favorite !!! read more

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My husband treated me to a birthday dinner here because we LOVED Engine Company No. 3, missed some of our brunch favorites, and hadn't tried La Merenda before. It was a bit of a last minute decision, so he made reservations the day before and there were still some times available, luckily! The restaurant itself looks very unassuming from the outside, but don't be fooled - it holds some very delicious treasures! We were seated right away and we noticed the place was pretty full, so I'm glad we made the reservation. Our server was kind, knowledgeable, and very efficient. I got their special cocktail of the day which was kind of in between a piña colada and a Mai Tai, which was one of the best fruity cocktails I've ever had, and my husband got a beer. The menu is tapas style, so they're smaller plates and meant to be shared. Unlike other tapas/small plates style restaurants, however, La Merenda prices are very reasonable and allow you to order more dishes to get a more varied sampling. I also like that they have a dedicated vegetarian section. From it we got the empanadas, the gnocchi, the patatas bravas, and the quesadilla. It was all SO good! The empanadas were warm and filled to the brim; I could drink the sauce it comes with on its own. The quesadillas were loaded and tasty. The patatas bravas were a known favorite for us from their sister company's brunch menu, and the gnocchi was a perfect summer dish with the pesto cream sauce light and flavorful! When our waitress found out it was my birthday, she brought out the dessert menu and asked me to pick one, which was super sweet of her. I went with the Guinness chocolate cupcake, which she brought out with a lit candle. Oh my goodness, the cake was so good! Dense, but moist and soft. Delicious and rich. The frosting was divine. I shared with my husband, but I could've eaten two of these cupcakes on my own easy! Loved this restaurant and our experience! read more

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I really wanted to love this place, but I did not. The food was just not good! The ambiance was great. But the food was just So-So. The salad should have had a pistachio flavor because of the vinaigrette and pistachios but it was lacking. The beef was ground up into much in the empanadas so it was more of a bean flavor as opposed to beef. The pork belly had no seasoning and was bland and the polenta could have used more salt, heavy cream, ect. Something to bring it up a notch. The potatas bravas was the best thing we had but then again it's simply potatoes tossed in a tomato sauce and lacked enough aioli to even out the flavors. The service was ok and the drinks were so-so. In my opinion, for $200+ I could have gotten a great ribeye somewhere else. read more

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Brandon's service was impeccable. Do get: lamb queso fundido y beef empanadas y thai duck y argentine steak , and car bomb for dessert. Don't bother with ceviche (tuna was cooked practically through) . Vibe was awesome. Food was seriously next level delicious and plates were easy to share. This would be a repeat spot for me if ai lived here. read more

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We visited Milwaukee and wanted a one of a kind spot for dinner. La Merenda was that and more! First time tapas place, and the server explained it perfectly. We had: Prosciutto Salad (hubs is raving about this 3 days later), Ceviche (great veggie/seafood balance), Mushroom Risotto (inspired my daughter to learn to make this delicious dish), Gnocchi d'estate (never had gnocchi with such a delicious sauce), beef empanadas (crisp outside and delicate and moist inside), Roman Pork Belly (perfect with great polenta), New York Strip (well cooked and the kale was a nice surprise), pork and shrimp tostadas (a little fishy-probably the only thing I wouldn't order again), and crème brûlée s'mores. Yum yum yum. Melissa was our server. I notified her of my food allergy and she let me know what to stay away from. We'll definitely go back! The space was loud, but the delicious food compensated for that. read more

La Merenda - Crème brûlée s'mores. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a funky little tapas bar - where else can you get mushroom risotto, butter chicken and ceviche? We found this spot while in town for a girls trip and they were able to accommodate us on a Friday night without a reservation - but I definitely recommend getting one, as they were quite busy! We tried a variety of options on the menu - and there were great options for our vegetarian friend. It was fun to surprise your palate from all these regional dishes. My favorite were the summer pasta and the mushroom ravioli! Service was great and food came out quickly! read more

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The food was absolutely delicious here. We loved how fresh tasting everything was. Our waitress was super welcoming and very nice. It was crowded so you know the food must've been good for all of us people to keep coming back. read more

La Merenda was scrumptious! Went here with my parents before going to show. I made a reservation in advance and it made the process easier . We were recommended cocktails and I got the special "the Flannel Shirt" . We got 7 dishes for the 3 of us to share. The cheese curds were amazing - unique and lovely. Empanadas are so good - we got the veggie and it was great. The maple pork chop was fantastic - I highly recommend this. The dishes that disappointed were the potato truffles and the Argentinian beef. The beef was very bland and not special. The Moroccan beef was fantastic ! I highly recommend this dish too. Overall La Merenda was great! The prices were very low for the portion sizes and quality. I would recommend two dishes per person to share unless you're extremely hungry. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Super great spot! It was our first time here and couldn't have been more satisfied leaving:) We ordered a bit of everything and everything was 10/10! Couldn't recommend more! read more

Food was amazing! Great staff! Lots of options. I love their use of all local purveyors, but also it would be nice if they mixed in a few staples. read more

This was my second time visiting and it was not as good as the first time. I went for my 21st birthday and the service was not up to par this time around. I called ahead to ask if they do reservations and the staff member told me they do not do reservations which is not true. Our server did not visit our table as much as she should have, when we wanted to order more food she was nowhere to be found. Another staff member reached behind me to grab empty plates unannounced and it completely scared me. She did not apologize or acknowledge us during that interaction. My food was good (gnocchi and steak) however the rest of my party did not enjoy their food. The ambiance was great which is what I love about this restaurant however I was disappointed by the service. read more

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Tried this place visiting from out of town. Atmosphere is old tavern/pub vibes. Drinks were okay. Food came out quickly and was good overall. We tried the empanadas, mushroom crepe, cheese board, and rabbit. Rabbit and empanadas were our favorites! Server was sweet and attentive. Overall enjoyed the experience just didn't think the atmosphere and quality was worth the price point we paid which bumped rating down! read more

Wow did my family enjoy La Merenda! You truly can't miss on any dish you order. We couldn't get over how flavorful each and every dish was!! The only other meal we ordered (not pictured) was the Beef Ram-Don. Ate it too fast so forgot to take a picture lol. We will definitely be going back. The only dish I would probably skip next time is (maybe) the gnocchi d'estate. I only say this because compared to all the other dishes, this was probably the least flavorful. My personal favorite was the pork belly (which I was not expecting to love soooo much). The beef empanadas had an awesome smoky flavor as well. Can I also quick shout-out how cute the s'mores crème brûlée is!? Overall, La Merenda has quickly turned into one of my all time favorite restaurants. Period. read more

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Have been here a couple times and loved it the first time, but second time around I found it super, super salty. We got korean beef, sambal, beef tostadas, the Goan curry special, and gambas al ajillo, and everything but the shrimp was overly salted. Typically I have a far higher tolerance for a lot of salt than my partner/family, but this time it wasn't possible to ignore. Will be back but that was a bummer. read more

Although I can't stand the dividing partitions at the bar, the food at La Merenda is fantastic. Sarah took care of us, and her recommendations were right on. The menu covers the world, with dishes representing countries proud of their culinary traditions. We loved the Pistachio salad, Butter Chicken, the Sambal Goreng Udang, whose coconut milk mashed potatoes were orgasmic. Pricing was more than reasonable. Get rid of those partitions, and I'll be there every week. After living in Seattle, I don't need to be frozen out from humanity any more. Three years were enough. We all need to get closer. Tribalism isn't healthy. read more

La Merenda - Partitions - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I finished a workout class nearby and walked the 5-7 minutes in the freezing cold just to try La Merenda. So worth almost slipping and dying on ice because I didn't want to repark my car. Lots of street spots, though. Called the restaurant on my way there, and they answered to tell me they were still open. Closes at 9pm. Last seating at 8:45pm. Sweet! I was welcomed into the front bar area, and I already knew what I wanted. I'm obsessed with their menu of tapas from all over the world, and customer service is so wonderful. Got the Argentinian Style Beef ($19) because I can't resist anything with chimichurri or garlic mashed potatoes. Got a glass of their STRONG sangria and was convinced (didn't need much) to order their melt-in-your-mouth Tres Leches Cake. Totally going out of my way to come back here again on my next trip to Milwaukee! read more

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