La Merenda is an amazing choice for a nicer meal in Milwaukee. Everything I've had I have loved, despite sometimes being weary based on the description on the menu. My favorites include: Gnocchi d'Autunno, Sambal Goreng Udang, Ceviche Hondureño, Goat Cheese Curds. Be prepared to spend a little more than other restaurants in the area, and make sure your group is good with tapas/splitting dishes. We had some picky eaters in our group who were a little hard to please, but the food is excellent. read more

Excellent experience with some fantastic food at La Merenda. They have an adorable backyard-like patio that creates a wonderful atmosphere. In our group of 4, we started with the Moroccan Spiced Parsnips and they were packed with zesty flavor with the right amount of spice. The Pork Empanadas were an all-around favorite. The Seared Trout was good, but we didn't consume it correctly with the ginger miso dashi so that was a miss for us. I realize that it's likely these menu items will be phased out eventually because of the menu rotation that likely takes place. You can see where many of the ingredients come from in their menu from local farms and I have a lot of respect for that. For drinks, it looked like their wine selection was above average, but we stuck with some cocktails. Our favorites were the Blackbird and Casa No Campo. read more

Great, efficient, thoughtful service was congruent with the splendid food last night at La Merenda. Melissa checked in and reassured us that we were fine taking our time in perusing the excellent menu. We opted for truffled potato skins , spinach, tostadas, lamb bolognese, Argentinian beef, and three splendid desserts. All excellent. read more

Very decent tapas style restaurant - 5 out of the 6 dishes I ordered were excellent! Between the two of us, we ordered 5 dishes and 1 dessert. It was just a tad too much - I would order one less dish if I were to visit again. Highlight of my night was the butter chicken and the sage gnocchi - I would come back for that in a heart beat. The prosciutto salad was excellent and a good appetizer, but the Argentinian Style Beef was slightly disappointing as the meat was not as tender as I'd expect, and a little salty. The tres leches dessert was excellent. Service was great and quick. If I were to criticize, I would say that the lighting was not great - the restaurant could use a warmer lighting and decor which would make the dining experience more relaxing. Other than that, good place for dinner overall. read more

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Casual place with a great looking menu touting its farm to table tapas, but fell far short of our expectations. Fried empanadas were ok. Three of the four other dishes were served with mashed potatoes, kind of ruining the eclectic mix of flavors that draws one to a tapas restaurant in the first place. The beef tenderloin (with mashed potatoes) was so salty we needed to send it back, the other dishes (octopus, chicken, and shrimp) were better but still too salty. Dessert, beer, and hot tea were fine but not worth a detour. Busy on a Thursday night but we got reservations early. Found parking on street about a block and a half away, but then discovered there is valet parking available. Service was terrific, pricing was reasonable. read more

Creative small plates--excellent service--best outdoor patio! Always a great experience!

Food was amazing. We actually didn't get everything we ordered either. Server Kelly made sure to tell the couple and table next to us the specials and didn't tell us. We waited a super long time for our food compared to everyone else and she really couldn't care less when we asked her if the food was coming. It was so ridiculous we couldn't even get what we ordered. Wild. To top things off the server charged a party of ten's bill on our card. The money part got resolved , but it really sucks that a place that has food this good didn't get to give us what we ordered or a good experience! Sorry you don't like tourists Kelly we heard you. Thanks for ruining our time for no reason. Fyi I've been meaning to make this review since August. I was excited to try this place and it suck's that we had such a rude and pretentious server. 5 stars for the food and food runners though. I'd love to come back for the food , but I don't ever want a server or service like that again. read more

Finally was able to get a reservation at La Merenda this week! Make sure to plan ahead of time and reserve your spot at least 1 week prior (more if on a weekend) on OpenTable. Plenty of free street parking right outside as well we a complimentary valet service. Inside ambiance is dark, cozy, and calm, very unsuspecting from the outside. Appreciated the plastic barriers between all tables that made our dining experience feel more private and Covid-19 friendly. Masks are also required to enter. 5 dishes + a dessert was more than enough food for 2 people. The goat cheese curds lived up to the hype and the sauce was the best part of our meal. The sambal goreng udeng and manoomin salad were both very unique in flavor, we were big fans. The empanadas vegetarianas had great texture and taste, but were a little salty. Argentinian style beef was tender but the flavors weren't anything special, it did not compare to the other dishes we had and could have done without it. For dessert we tried the creme brulee and the rotating flavor for that night was pumpkin. The serving was big and the taste was good, although the sugar on top was a little burnt/bitter in some areas. It seems some dishes are a hit and some are slight misses, but overall I'd come back to try more of the menu. read more

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Located in a renovated woodworking shop in Walker's Point, La Merenda is serving up some seriously flavorful cuisine in a colorfully welcoming environment. I was elsewhere in Walker's Point enjoying cocktails when my cocktail companion and I decided dinner was in order. Hopped online and made 9:30pm reservations at La Merenda (happy to note they are open until 11pm on Fridays). La Merenda may mean "early snack" in Italian...but they really came through for our late(ish) night dining needs. Offering a variety of small plates, our lovely and attentive server recommended choosing two plates per diner, which turned out to be perfect. We went for the local artisan cheese and meat plate, the goat cheese curds, the butter chicken, and one of their specials of the evening, which was a tortellini in a light and lovely (and slightly lemony) sauce. It was all delightful. The goat cheese curds were probably my favorite. Served atop crostini and smothered in a chorizo cream sauce, they were a savory, flavorful pleasure. Service was top notch throughout what turned out to be an exemplary dining experience. Get to it! read more

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Fantastic tapas/small plates restaurant! Many unique and tasty plates to choose from. My favorite was the trout. They also offer a decent selection of cocktails and wine. I particularly enjoyed their house sangria. The restaurant is small on the inside with a bar you can sit at as well. Apparently, they have a sizable outdoor patio for when the weather warms up. The servers were friendly and attentive. Street parking can be a little challenging depending on the hour but I was able to find a spot not too far away. I can't wait to go back again and try some more dishes! read more

Four of us arrived around 5:50 for our 6:00 p.m. reservation. We were seated fairly quickly. The place is decorated nicely with a mishmash of different countries representation. The bench area we were seated at was kind of cold as it was right under the vent. There is unisex bathrooms which was okay other than the fact the toilet seat was always up the few times I used the bathroom so I would use toilet paper to put the seat down. The tapas there are hearty ones and 7 dishes were plenty with some we couldn't even finish. We ordered the white fish tostadas, come snapper ceviche, pork belly, pork & shrimp dumplings, and one more I can't recall. Then we shared the caramel custard which was fantastic. The custard had perfect consistency and the caramel with amaretto whipped cream was a great pairing. Before we left we checked out their patio per recommendation from the waitress. Such a relaxing space with ample seating. It was like being in a southwest garden patio. read more

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Went to la Merenda for the second time the other night and the food was delicious. We got the veg empanadas, goat cheese curds, pork belly, and the autumnal gnocchi. Service was good and food was great. Especially the empanadas and pork belly. read more

Fantastic tapas and wonderful atmosphere in the garden. We enjoyed the feta and watermelon salad, pork and shrimp tostadas, beef short rib and trout. Fresh, unique and complimentary flavors in each dish. The lemonade was a good refresher and palate cleanser. The menu is extensive. We look forward to future trips back. read more

Very cool little place that you would probably never find if you didn't know it was there. Much like they pack a lot of flair into the decor, they pack a lot of flavor into their international tapas which cover seemingly everywhere. The Goat Cheese Curds were absurdly good with a mix of flavor and textures. The Jamaican Curry was a nice little kick. And the Gambas were like a spicy shrimp scampi. My only wish is that I would have tried more dishes. Great place for a group and to try a variety of international flavors! read more

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AMAZING food, atmosphere and service! We tried a few of the tapas and they all had so much flavor and they were delicious! I loved that there were so many different options from several different countries! I would definitely go back when I visit MKE again! So delicious! read more

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Wow. Just wow. Not sure why it took us 8 years to come back to this place but I blame me for being stupid. Simply phenomenal. If you want to have incredible food from about 4 continents....go. Best Indian, Argentinian, Spanish, Italian ....I've had in the city. Just amazing read more

Super good. We had the truffled potato skins which were unique and outstanding. The Spanish shrimp in oil was really good and the highlight was the goat over lentils. Really good service here too. read more

The food was delicious! Our waitress was friendly and efficient. Loved it! We will definitely be back.

Nikki was our server and she is the BEST! We frequently dine at La Merenda and thoroughly enjoy the food, ambience and great service. Tonight we tried the pork empanadas, pistachio salad, churasco steak & fries. All I can say is YUM! read more

This restaurant serves up reimagined global dishes that are the perfect size for sharing! They nailed the tapas portion and have an eclectic variety of dishes to select from including ample veg forward options. Our favorite was the goat cheese curds (Wisconsin-inspired). You can never go wrong with clock shadow creamery curds! These were served on toasted bread with a tomato-base sauce. The presentation wasn't what we expected so this was a surprise and delight dish for sure. Unfortunately the other dishes we tried were heavy with oil and didn't quite hit the mark. The potato skins were not what we expected and lacked in substance but were a good add-on when mixed with other dishes. Our cocktails were also too sour to drink but we ordered an orange-infused drink we don't typically order so maybe we weren't fully aware of what we were ordering. If you want to fry this place out I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. Tables are set for social distancing for indoor seating. The patio was closed when we visited but I hear it's a lovely space. Quick note about service, it's great but they are short staffed so be prepared to wait (depending on time/day of the week you go). read more

La Merenda - Entry space by the bar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the front, it is deceiving, but a lovely dining space in the back. Global recipes combined with some Wisco favorites, really good food and flavor. These platted were pretty big for tapas which was nice. Prosciutto salad was a highlight and the Beef Ram Don was phenomenal! read more

La Merenda - Beef Ram Don - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Three of us came here for lunch on a Friday and sat outside. I was surprised that there weren't many customers that day, perhaps because of its location a bit far from downtown. The server seemed very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us choose. The plates we ordered were Gnocchi d'estate, Pork and Shrimp Tostadas, Argentinian Style Beef, Empanadas Vegetarianas, Moroccan Braised Goat, and Churrasco Pork. The Argentinian Style Beef was tender and flavorful -- one of my favorite dishes that day. Another favorite of mine was Gnocchi d'estate, which is even tastier than some of the meat dishes. I also liked the Moroccan Braised Goat, although it was saltier than I would have liked. The other dishes are also quite good, except that Churrasco Pork was a bit dry and plain. This is the second time I dined at La Merenda. The first time was in the summer of 2021, and I also enjoyed my experience then. read more

The food is exceptional! Everything is better than the last. The beef empanadas will be in my dreams.

Awesome place...don't let the facade deceive. There is a nice outdoor patio in back and the serve amazing food and drink. You will not be sorry! Argentinian beef was the favorite dish read more

I would recommend making a reservation cause they can definitely get busy. They have beautiful outdoor seating in the back as well. The food is excellent!! With tapas I'm usually skeptical that the portions will be too small but they were actually quite large! A group of 3 of us couldn't even finish some of the dishes. For three people we got 7 dishes and 1 dessert. Shared everything and it was totally worth it! Plenty of food comes out with each dish so sharing is easy! Everything tasted amazing and was such good quality. Would definitely come back! read more

Highly recommend. Tapas with a unique pairing of flavors that are so very tasty. Very casual and inviting atmosphere. read more

Such a classic and almost never fails to disappoint. The empanadas (beef and vegetarian) are authentic and not greasy. The sauce that accompanied them was fantastic. The pistachio salad was good although I always wish there were more pistachios. Truffle potato skins were yummy although the grated Parmesan made it a messy eat. The dessert menu seemed incredible, so we ended up ordering 3 of the 4 options, including raspberry crème brûlée, chocolate bomb (I think), and crème caramel. All were fabulous although the chocolate dessert was nice quite as special, IMO. The ambience of the patio is so lovely and our server (Vince or Victor ??) was second to none and the reason I decided to take the time to write this review. His enthusiasm was infectious and his recommendations were spot on. We arrived at about 1:15 and they close lunch service at 2, but he never felt us feel rushed and provided amazing service from beginning to end. Thank you! read more

Look, I don't know how I've lived here for so long without making here, and everyone I worked with agreed, so we FINALLY came out for a birthday meal, and it was one of the best we've ever had. This is a much delayed post from a summer visit, so if you come during the right weather, you MUST sit outside and enjoy the garden and space. We had a relatively new waitress who had so many good things to say about the space, and honestly overate based on her recommendations which were all hits, no misses. We also, that day, made a follow up reservation for the next week on a day we are traditionally vegetarian, because we knew we'd have enough delicious options then too! 10/10, would do again. read more

Can never go wrong with this one! Love La Merenda! (My one and only negative is they took away the plantain and walnut purée for the Argentinian steak.) Good wine list, and they change the menu seasonally. It's a really phenomenal restaurant! I do have a quick story for you... A few years ago they had a butternut squash ravioli that sounded so delicious, but as it had mushrooms in the sauce I knew I wouldn't be able to have it as I'm allergic. I had let our waiter know previously of my allergies, and asked if they could hold the sauce. The chef came out and asked if I'd be open to another sauce. I said sure. It was the most divine rosemary cream sauce and I've been working to perfect it ever since. The fact that he went way over and above like that was just amazing! While I am unable to go often the way I'd like, it's always a treat to be in its eclectic and rustic bohemian kind of atmosphere where the chairs don't match and they have an amazing patio out back for the warmer months too. read more

Drinks and tapas for days. We tried so many dishes. They were all very good. Grilled octopus, cheese curds and pork were stand outs. Car Bomb cupcakes for dessert are a can't miss. We were 3 sharing and the portions seemed more geared towards 2.. but we made it work! More reasons to keep trying new things. Atmosphere was very cool, not too loud but lively enough. read more

La Merenda is *that* restaurant in town for me. Want to impress your out-of-town foodie friend? La Merenda. Want your parents to know you're doing well in life? La Merenda. Want to know if your date really likes you? La Merenda. Just need some amazing food? La Merenda. I have all the more reason to love them now too! I am a frontline health care worker in this COVID-19 pandemic, and La Merenda generously donated food to my department. I was literally craving empanadas for a week, and they brought some of the best beef empanadas I've ever had. They also had a refreshing beet salad and delicious tres leches cake. I never needed a reason to want to visit La Merenda. Their generosity and care during this difficult time makes me love them all the more though! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee! I LOVE sharing small plates to try lots of different flavors, and La Merenda has so many delicious offerings from all over the world. Some favorites include the empanadas, sage squash gnocchi, risotto, sambal goreng (Indonesian shrimp), butter chicken, duck confit poutine, and more! Did not love the pad Thai when we tried it, that was the only miss I can remember at La Merenda!! Plus we really like the National Avenue red ale made specially for them by Lakefront Brewery. Super worth splitting a pitcher! read more

This concept of global tapas just didn't work particularly well. The vegetable sambal was lacking in fresh Indonesia flavor and came over an overwhelming pile of mashed potatoes. The arugula salad was quite large, but the pistachio dressing was too much and overwhelmed the prosciutto (if there actually was any). Like the sambal, the pad Thai was also rather bland, with limited noodles, although the beef was tasty. The patatas bravas y chorizo included a link of zesty sausage over a rather large pile of potatoes seasoned with smoked paprika; more sausage and less potatoes would have been a better balance. On Monday's wine is half price and the Sangiovese blend was very tasty. read more

Food was okay not great. Most of the potato dishes I found kind of disappointing because it was soggy (I.e. Patatas Bravas tasted like soggy breakfast potatoes drenched in franks red hot sauce). Truffle potato skins were the exception. It's a fusion restaurant that takes from a lot of different cultures so the dishes aren't necessarily authentic. However the deserts were really good and I thoroughly enjoyed those. I'd probably come back just for the dessert alone. read more

Perfection. Everything about this place makes my heart sing. Craft cocktails are on point. The ambience of the patio was dreamy on a warm afternoon. The food- everything was so delicious. Like how can sautéed spinach be THAT good?! My friends butter chicken was amazing and I kept stealing bites. If I'm ever in these parts again I'll go back and you should too! read more

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What a gem! Tucked away on a quiet street in the walker's point neighborhood, a trip to La Merenda evokes a visit to a quiet street in Madrid or Barcelona. From the decor to the hospitality, the only thing markedly different from an authentic Spanish tapas is the time of day we're likely eating our lunch or dinner vs the super late dining times you'd experience while in Spain. (Never could get used to a 10pm dinner there!) On this particular visit, we let the super helpful waitress make the selections for us. She took great care of us. The salad with beets and chèvre was yummy. The empanadas were well seasoned. My absolute favorites were the homemade gnocchi and the crostini with seafood. Both of these dishes were superb and sequenced brilliantly (heavier toward the end instead of up front). The only thing missing from our mid day lunch was sangria or a nice red. But being a weekday/workday and all that, we'll save that for next time All in all, if you like tapas, nothing else I've had in Milwaukee has been a better treat. read more

You know the joke about how women never know what they want to eat? Well, the thing is, we do know what we want to eat, it's just that we want 2.5 chicken nuggets, half a plate of boar cheek ravioli, a sip of an old fashioned, and oh wait, let's throw in a single potato from a pot of dakbokkeumtang while we're at it. Fellow ladies, if this sounds like you, La Merenda is absolutely the place for you. This restaurant, to me, really epitomizes Milwaukee's growth in terms of the culinary scene. So to the naysayers from big cities (as I once was), I say, "but do you have a place where you can enjoy indigenous food, Wisconsin cheese, and sambal goreng under one roof? I think not." My partner and I came here for a casual date night after hearing a lot of great comments about this restaurant. This restaurant is intimate yet warm, currently with ample space and tall plastic dividers between every table for COVID safety (much appreciated!). There is also a small bar and cozy lounge area in the front. It looks like they have lovely outdoor seating in the area, but unfortunately we came on a very foggy and cold day! Seems they have a complimentary valet service which we missed, but there is plenty of street parking around the corner. To be honest, we were a little skeptical at first looking at the wide range of dishes on the menu- there was such variety that we weren't sure that the restaurant could pull off this diverse an array of dishes well. But this skepticism quickly was dissolved as we tucked into our first dishes- the manoomin salad [$15] and seared trout [$15]. I was really excited to try the manoomin salad because it's really hard to find indigenous-inspired dishes anywhere in the US, and I'm happy to say that it exceeded expectations. The trout was crisp and delicate, and listen, I absolutely abhor salad, but I would eat the manoomin salad by the bucketload if only my stomach had the capacity. There was something just so addictive about the flavor and "dry" textures. All of that, plus the wojapi (which my partner proclaimed with dismay that now this would be something he would be craving forever) made this one of the best things I've ever eaten. The seared trout was great too; again, perfectly cooked fish in a savory, salty dashi. I'd just note that the vegetables were a little overcooked. We thought it was a little too salty when it came out, but when eaten with rice, it was delicious. The last dish to complete our first round was the jerk pork loin [$14]. The pork was cooked well and served with an exquisitely spiced mashed sweet potato side. I think this didn't pack as much of a punch as jerk from a Jamaican restaurant would, and the dish overall would've benefited from an additional component since it was pretty simple (just the pork and the sweet potatoes). However, what was on the plate was well-executed. After this great start, we had to go for a second round, of course. The duck confit poutine [$14] was another dish I was excited about because I love poutine and I love duck...so of course it was a must-order. The portion was really generous with this dish, but I don't think it was quite what I envisioned. Not sure about the use of goat cheese curds and the gravy was not quite what I'm used to, but I'm also lowkey a poutine purist and I don't want to gatekeep a restaurant trying to have fun with a dish. We finished with the Argentinian pork belly [$14], two succulent pieces of pork belly confit with chimichurri over some very garlicky mashed potatoes. I wish there was a lot more chimichurri with this dish in order to balance the savory and fatty flavors of the pork and potatoes, but overall still good. I will echo previous reviews and note that most of the dishes were pretty salty, but overall we liked everything, with the first two dishes being our favorites. After 5 dishes, we were absolutely stuffed and had no room for dessert (sad!) For drinks, I had an apricot rum punch [$10], and my partner had 2 beers [$5 each]. Service was friendly without being overbearing; both my partner and I were very pleased with the attentive and considerate service. Something I hear a lot from people here is that they really want to try ethnic food but aren't sure of where to start or are hesitant about branching out. I think La Merenda is also a great option for those who are curious but maybe don't want to commit to a full dish for the cuisine of interest. The food is not as authentic or flavorful as it would be at a restaurant that specializes purely in one cuisine, but the dishes here are a great way to get a feel for the flavor profiles. But for those who consider themselves already adventurous or global eaters, La Merenda is still sure to please with its wide variety of well-executed dishes that pay homage to their cultures of origin while finding roots in locally-sourced ingredients. I absolutely look forward to my next visit and can't wait to try the other offerings on their menu! read more

La Merenda - Manoomin salad - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

All around 5 stars. Quaint place with a flavor packed menu very well executed. You know it's a good place when a chef chooses to take you here. Our server was very nice too, will be back soon! read more

If you are in Milwaukee you must visit this restaurant. One of the best restaurants to try Tapas and world cuisine in smaller sized portions. Their spicy potatoes in tomatoes sauce is absolutely amazing. Everything else we tried Beef Empanadas, Argentinian steak, Shrimp over potatoes (Indonesian style), Shrimp in olive oil garnished in garlic and red pepper flakes absolutely phenomenal. For dessert Tres Leches cake two thumbs up. Our server Sara was very attentive and knowledgeable. Loved the experience! My wife and I are foodies... when we recommend something just take our word for it read more

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Stopped in randomly on a Saturday evening around 5. Sat outside in the beautiful outdoor patio. Absolutely loved the patio. Service was great. Started with the goat cheese curds and I hate goat cheese but that dish was amazing! The ceviche was good but the massive amount of salt on the chips was too much for me. Had the lobster ravioli... the taste was strong so you have to be open to bold flavor, I liked it! Also ordered the white shrimp in coconut (forgot the name it was from Indonesia) and that was my fave next to the goat cheese curds! What blew me away was the tres leches. I'm not a fan of tres leches at all but this cake was phenomenal. The flan was also delicious. Drinks were a little pricy but decent. I would 100% come back here the food and atmosphere was great! We left full and satisfied! read more

La Merenda - Tapas Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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