I haven't been here in over 8 years since sue left and my quest to try all the early restaurants around but I was craving corn beef hash and not the can crap I can buy in the grocery store, you know the real deal corn beef hash. Since I got to a point in my young life and made my own money and choose the restaurant of my liking with out a parental making my choices I settled into a dive diner like this in Chicago for corn beef hash which at any time of the day I would stop by for and unfortunately it was a can because I hadn't and any real corn beef hash. Lisbon cafe has one thing at this point in my life on the menu that I know when I crave corn beef hash I'm going to get a real deal corn beef hash. It's almost perfect with the ratio of soft hash browns, corn beef, green peppers and onions. Top that with two sunny side up eggs and buttered toast it becomes a breakfast indulgence for me because a real corn beef hash homemade is hard to find like my other favorite from back in the day a real country fried steak because it's all frozen crap today. It's nice to have a quality corn beef hash place when it's few and far between. Yah the decor is old school diner divey but they do one thing I like very well. Service is always friendly. If you like corn beef hash and don't mind a dive cafe I would recommend going for a satisfying real corn beef hash. read more

See all

Cash only! The one detail that I figure we should start with so you can plan ahead. This is a true mom and pop shop as a diner. Very friendly staff and they treat you like family, even on your first visit (granted, I've been there once - but the interactions reminded me of those I had with my Grandma). Beyond that, the food is your standard diner food, I enjoyed a breakfast that left me feeling full afterwards. A lot of booth seating or you can sit up at the counter. If you forget cash, the corner shop has an ATM. read more

Lisbon Cafe - Vegetarian omelette with hashbrowns and toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best bang for your buck neighborhood breakfast cafe. It's a diner style establishment. It's tiny and it gets packed quick. The food is always fresh and they give you big portions. Friendly service. And it's cash only! Be prepared to wait for your food, it's worth it though. read more

Loved it! A small, unassuming, family owned cafe that has been around for about 25yrs. I have seen photos for years of the food they make and it always looks delicious. Finally today I made it there. They are only open for breakfast and lunch. They were pretty busy when we arrived around the noon hour. They have a nice menu offering a variety of options to suit everyone's taste. I ordered the tuna melt with fries and my boyfriend ordered the chef salad. The family that runs the restaurant were very pleasant and friendly. The food was delicious. We will definitely go back! I can't wait to try some of their homemade soups. read more

Lisbon Cafe - Chef 's Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

OLD school and excellent!! Food is perfect diner-ish in a classic, quiet setting that reflects pride of ownership and consistent quality. Everything on the menu is as you would expect and, incidentally, a GREAT VALUE! read more

This is a perfectly serviceable family-run old style diner. Nothing fancy, just good basic home style food. I had a large chef salad, which looks exactly like everyone's photos. And it tastes like what I'd make when I was a kid, which in this case is a compliment. I was impressed that they gave me a brand new bottle of French dressing, which was way easier than squeezing a bunch into little cups. I'll definitely come back when I'm looking for simple good food. PS they are cash only, which I'm sure is one reason they can keep their prices so reasonable read more

Lisbon Cafe - Large chef salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I've frequented this restaurant many times over the past few years but have noticed a decline in the cleanliness. However, this week when I visited the establishment was the worst ever. I was seated in a booth along the windows and noticed a bunch of bugs some fluttering, some crawling and many dead. I tried not to make an issue but the final straw for me was when my food arrived and I noticed a bug crawling on top of the food. I understand that this is a small diner but they should still have to follow health code cleanliness codes. Hopefully this can be addressed and corrected by the business. Thank you! read more

Ordered a veggie omelette and it was very tasty. Couple days later ordered a omelette and a 3stack of pancakes l. Food again was good but the total of $29 seemed way too high for just 2 items. read more

Fun neighborhood gathering place. Customers interact..very relaxed,casual home environment.

Sue is the greatest server you will ever meet. Even if you have been here once, she will remember you and your order! She has a terrific memory! The food is your typical diner food - but the customer service and the regulars make this place a 5 star place. The prices are way too cheap, less than $20 for 2 breakfasts- hubby and I would come after church when we lived in the area on a weekly basis. Portion sizes are big! My favorites are their pancakes and their chili omelette and coffee is always free flowing. The only issue with this restaurant is that it is only cash. So you have to come prepared, or you can go next store and use their ATM for a fee. read more

Excellent breakfast diner... very good prices , good variety of food ...very professional and friendly service... neighborhood friendly diner... read more

Lisbon Cafe is like the "Cheers" of breakfast places - there are tons of regulars, the employees know just about everyone's name and how they like their eggs. We stopped here because our beloved NAG is remodeling right now and it's always good to have a back up breakfast place, right? The interior is a fairly standard diner set up - booths along the wall and some counter seating. I would say things could use a good scrubbing as the window sill we sat near had actual dirt on it. The menu has all of the standard favorites, plus there are specials on a board - prices are crazy, crazy cheap! One of the specials was biscuits and gravy (which I love) so I ordered it and wished I hadn't. It wasn't "bad" but the gravy was definitely out of a Sysco can with no discernible sausage or pepper to be found. The biscuits are the "cake" type vs buttermilk which isn't my fav either. I see raves about their corned beef hash so I definitely would go that route next time. Service is welcoming and friendly - like others have noted Sue will make you feel like a regular on your first visit. It's a good neighborhood spot for a filling and inexpensive breakfast. Next time - corned beef hash! read more

Very pleasant. Great service and value. Like walking back into time when life had less worries.

I wasn't to impressed at this diner. More disappointed they didn't have turkey bacon or sausage. This limited my choices so this swayed my entire experience here. The staff is super friendly though and the diner is comfortable. read more

Delicious affordable old-school dunner. I had chocolate chip pancakes and corn beef hash everything's really fresh and delicious. highly recommended! read more

Old school diner with great service & food! I love the menu, it's simple - not overwhelming. The coffee is always strong and hot!

We had to stop in and check out our new neighborhood cafe (not that the joint is new, we are new to the area). It's everything I wanted and more. The perfect greasy breakfast joint with no frills, delicious meals. I'm amazed how good the service was considering there was just the one waitress! Just be sure you're not in a rush. I tried the corned beef hash. Hash was good, not the best I've ever had (shout out to Mc Bob's) but for the price I cannot complain. My husband got the Polish sausage and it was delicious. We will definitely return. As others noted, it is cash only, so come prepared. read more

Lisbon Cafe - Polish sausage brekkie. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Definition of classic Milwaukee diner. I love the mixed crowd. All walks of life here. Evert ine is treated equal. Good homemade food. But NO comlaints so far read more

Local and inexpensive No kids menu but we made it work Did the patty melt and a burger Service good and friendly Patty melt perfect Downside No credit cards cash only No kids meal read more

Lisbon Cafe - Patty Melt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

This restaurant here is the Best for your buck. Staff is so friendly and polite. They make you feel like, they knew you for years. The food there is magnificent. Fresh to order. Their full presentation is so amazing. I'm in love with LISBON CAFE. read more

I enjoyed the low key feel. Food was good. Felt I was being served by my mom if she was trying to be nice after waking up on the wrong side of the bed; totally made me laugh. Please, please, please clean the place. It's pretty dirty and in desperate need of a deep clean. Will not be going back simply because I don't pay to eat in filth. read more

By far my favorite place to get breakfast. Eat in or take out. Best prices you'll find in the city. Cash only read more

We came here because of the good reviews and they don't lie. It's a very unassuming establishment. The interior is not updated but the tables were clean and the booth was comfortable. Maria gave amazing service - she made sure we had everything we needed, she and Cathy checked in frequently to offer to top off our coffee, and when we asked for to-go boxes, Maria boxed our food for us (I've only seen that at higher end restaurants). The food itself was very good. I had the Lisbon Special which is essentially a meat lover's omelette with cheese. My girlfriend had a gyro omelette which came with a delicious tzatziki sauce they make in-house (my girlfriend could tell it was homemade because of how fresh it tasted in comparison to other tzatziki sauces she's had). We also shared some delicious chocolate chip pancakes which they split onto two different plates without us asking (we did say we were going to share the pancakes). The prices are affordable and extremely fair for the quality and quantity of food they give you - I ate my leftovers as another meal later on. We will definitely be coming back! OH and remember to bring cash (but if you don't, you can go to the ATM next door at the liquor store which is what we did). read more

Great classic greasy spoon. Don't go if looking for refined food, modern decor, or particularly fast service. The joint is kept in biz by regulars who are very friendly. They serve classic breakfast fare at very reasonable prices. Cash only. Definitely worth checking out if you are not in a hurry and looking for a good classic breakfast. read more

Update: the food here continues to be good, but the last few times I have come in, customer service has been lacking. This time, no offer for coffee or any drink besides water, and they forgot my toast. Its probably because the poor waitresses always look like they are being run into the ground. I feel bad for them. I am docking a star...most definitely no longer 5 star worthy. Still recommended for a good meal though. read more

Love this place, it's no frills but just what you need for a diner breakfast. Service is a bit slow sometimes but the food makes up for it. Get the pork chop and eggs! read more

We come for the food, but we also visit for Gus and Sue. They are truly neighborhood treasures and the Lisbon Ave. Diner cranks out quality chow like it's goin' out of style. Pancakes. Delicious. Corned beef hash. Mouth watering. Burgers. YUM. Coffee. Spectacular. Anything (and I do mean ANYthing) on the specials board. Scrumptious. Parking can be a bit of a challenge and, if you intend to go on Sunday, be sure to get there before the church crowd. It's a small dive and the place fills up fast. There's a lot to be said for their food and Cheer's-like atmosphere. Bring cash! They don't do plastic. ;) read more

Good ol' American breakfast. Cute place, amazing "mama" cooked meals, and big portions. Was here over the weekend on a Wisconsin "exploring trip" and both my partner and I fell in-love with the atmosphere and the food. Amazing waitresses and conversations! read more

"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your naaaame". Gus', or Lisbon Café, knows my mum's name when we walk in. The waitress will chat with us and ask us how we're doing. No, it's not fancy, no it's not very healthy, no you can't order steak tartare, but that's not what anyone goes there for. It's divey, in a very homestyle, familiar way. Good food. Very cheap. Greasy. Small place. Your food comes out fast. Gets the job done. read more

Great food, great prices, not your run of the mill place. People seem to know each other here, and there is an eclectic mix of people who come here. Many of the people may be regulars, but as a newcomer, I felt welcomed like I was going there for years. Nothing fancy, but the food is great, the staff and customers are down to earth, and I will be back soon. read more

I went to this restaurant about five times a week for 10 years when I worked in Milwaukee and it was my home away from home. I go in there for a late breakfast early lunch when I was a nurse visiting in the Inner City. I went there when George owned it and it was called Georgia's and now I go there when it's called Lisbon Cafe. Food is absolutely delicious greasy spoon you can call it what you want it's good food make sure you get the haddock and potato pancakes. Corn beef hash is real homemade. I love Susan. My son is 33 so I've been going there at least 33 years read more

I have been eating here for over 40 years. It is as good now as always. They have the best breakfast in Milwaukee. Always have. In 1978 it was the "inflation fighter"! NOW it is just the same. Gus has been behind the wheel for 38 years and is as good as his brother Spiro. read more

I eat here today and it was very good.... I got the corn beef hash for me and the 2x2x2 for my daughter all for 14.00 dollar she love her egg and pancake she a fan read more

Great hidden gem - it's a hole in the wall but oh so good! Breakfast specials are always worth it. Cash only, so hit the ATM before you go.

Until recently I lived a couple of blocks away, and this was my usual stop for a hearty saturday morning breakfast. Apparently now this place is open through the dinner hour, but breakfast is the specialty here. And boy do they do it well, I dream of the fried potatoes at this place. Big, fluffy pancakes too (I wish I knew what makes them so darned good!), and omlettes that would send a cardiologist running. Cheap, mostly-friendly waitresses, and the place is always full of regulars from the neighborhood. read more

This is by far is my favorite spot in the city. I've been coming here for years, lately this place has been getting packed. So difficult to find a seat. Food is amazing, take it easy the server is tries, but it's hard to be the only one serving the whole diner. She's the sweetest though, very friendly. read more

Great breakfast, even better wait staff. Excellent all around!!!!!!! Hidden gem for sure!!!!!!

I usually go here on Saturday mornings. Their breakfasts are great! I also did try their lunch menu, which was also good. It is an old school "greasy spoon." If you are looking for fancy schmancy, it is not your place. However, if you want friendly service (although not always the fastest), good food at a fair price, and a true neighborhood experience, then I would definitely recommend it. read more

This place is amazing if your in the area and want real food this is the place to be I love the corned beef hash its homemade and oh so good. They are fast friendly and just feels like a cafe should. But have cash they dont take credit read more

It was pure happenstance that I learned about ye olde Lisbon Cafe. I was out to lunch with a friend, and he ran into a couple of old co-workers whose post-retirement life purpose was dining out. Somehow, they told me that the Lisbon Cafe was worth a visit, if I like Corned Beef Hash. If! Why yes, I do! I love it, in fact! And so I like to say it was fate that brought us together, me and the L.C., and nothing shall ever tear us apart. It has become THE breakfast spot for my sister, my brother-in-law, and yours truly. So much so, that if we make plans to go out to breakfast, we no longer have to define where it is we will be going--we just know. The Lisbon Cafe is your standard neighborhood greasy spoon. It is dingy and dated and perfect in every way. Country music blares from a tiny little radio in the kitchen, which reminds me of my grandma's house. The waitress, Sue, shares my birthday and a love for all things silly and playful. The breakfast food is made to order and is guaranteed to be piping hot when it arrives at your table. The price is right, and as an added bonus, Sue can give you a referral for pretty much any service you might need for your life, your auto or your home. She's a real networker, that Sue. I'm telling you, kids...they don't make 'em like this anymore. If you like a traditional old school diner breakfast, you will love the Lisbon Cafe. read more