On a recommendation, we decided to make Purslane the place to go on our 20th wedding anniversary this past January. It was a wonderful choice. We had an amazing meal, a great time, and were well taken care of. It's a small, cozy place. It's a little hard to notice on the outside, without a very prominent sign. We got to hang out next to a beautiful fish tank while we waited for our table, which was a short wait. The staff was extremely friendly. We were well taken care of the entire time. It was a nice, relaxing time hanging out. We had appetizers, drinks, main entrees and some dessert. Because I waited so long to write this review and the menu changes, I can't specifically tell you what we ordered...but everything was great. I capped it off with a Turkish coffee. Terrific place. Can't recommend it enough. We chose it for a special milestone and it delivered in all ways. read more

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Here's a tighter, punchier version that still keeps your vibe: Amazing place! I make "friends" wherever I go, and this spot made it easy--the staff is attentive, professional, and genuinely friendly. We had the Meze Trio, Sunchoke, and Ali Nazik Beef Kebab, and every bite delivered. The "small" plates are surprisingly generous, and the kebab was a standout--rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Cocktails are unique and actually strong (in the best way). Great energy, great food, great service--total gem. Can't wait to go back! read more

Have heard people rave about this place and have wanted to come for some time now. So glad that we did! Food: Everything about the menu and food feels intentional. Just to get us settled in, we were given a couple of small glasses of warm Turkish apple cider. It had mild flavors and was a nice way to awaken the palate. For cocktails, we got the "Above the Terracotta" Manhattan and the "Mosaic Form" Old Fashioned. Both lived up to their descriptions, especially the smokiness of the Old Fashioned. After consulting with our server, we decided on a couple of small plates and one large one. The Meze Trio was a wonderful way to start. Each was delicious, with a distinct texture and flavor profile. We both agreed that the sweet potato was our favorite. The Fattoush Salad was fresh, with excellent flavors, and provided an abundance of complementary textures. The Juusto cheese squares are fried and lent a nice richness to the dish. We ended with the Ali Nazik Beef Kebab. (We learned that kebab without the shish simply means grilled food.) It was tender and flavorful and came out plenty hot. We loved all the accompanying ingredients, with one exception. It was my first time having bulgur pilav, and I just wasn't impressed. Service: From the time we entered to the time we left, we felt like we were in a space where our presence mattered. Everyone did their very best to make our dinner special. We had lots of questions, and our server was more than happy to answer them and make suggestions. The pacing was perfect, never feeling like we were forgotten or rushed. So nice to be treated with kindness. Thank you, Kyle. Atmosphere: Maybe I should have known, but I was surprised by the size of the space. In the area where we dined, there were fewer than 10 small tables and 7 seats at the bar counter. It was a warm, intimate space with subdued lighting. There were only a few other people when we arrived, and it was quiet, which made for easy conversation. I had the impression of having dinner at a friend's home. I don't often mention the restrooms in restaurant reviews, but this place deserves bonus points. Even that space is a nice extension of the attention to design and comfort found in the dining area. Purslane gets excellent reviews and ratings. Now that we've dined here, I understand the attraction. Definitely planning to come back for a repeat performance. read more

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Purslane knocked it out of the park and is now one of my favorites! Service, food, drinks, ambiance - impeccable! The tuna Nayah, sunchoke, and fattoush small plates were absolutely delicious. They have an excellent cocktail list, including good n/a drinks and you know they'll be perfect because Kyle makes them - one of the best bartenders in the city! They also have really fun special drinks like absinthe service. The apple kunefe for dessert was heavenly as well. You just can't go wrong with anything on this menu. read more

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A cozy and intimate Mediterranean hot spot! We enjoyed our dinner on a Friday night. First thoughts coming in - sooo cute! I love how bright and colorful this place is for how small the space really is. We were welcomed with a delicious spiced tea as we were sitting down. The service here was amazing all night and I wish I remembered our server's name (sorry!) Between two people we shared: Pickles (pass) Meze trio (5/5, especially the muhammara)) Harissa wings (4/5) Tuna (4/5) Fattoush salad (3/5) Olive oil cake (3/5, was really dry when we had it) All the items had a really unique flavor and was good but we definitely favored the meze trio, tuna, and harissa wings. This spot sits on the more pricey end for the amount you get, but enjoyed it nonetheless and wish it well! I'll definitely need to revisit for their seasonal menu changes. read more

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Yesss Purslane! Lovely little space, sweetest staff, incredible food. My husband and I went in for a Thursday date night, very excited to try out a new spot (only two months open)! It certainly met and succeeded date night expectations. The little eatery is tucked in the lower level of a building on Farewell. It's unassuming and could be easy to miss, but don't miss it! We were greeted by a friendly face at the hostess stand, who sat us at a corner two-top. Definitely book a rez because there's only a dozen or so seats, and then a few at the cutie little bar. You can see a bit into the kitchen where they are hard at work too. The walls are splashed with vibrant paint colors and decor. Overall great vibes. Right away someone brought us little glasses with an apple-tea of sorts. It was refreshing! A nice touch and 'welcome' from their team, who were all so nice. I ordered the forest & stone martini because I'm a martini gal and it was delightful, made with white pine and cucumber vodka. Hubby had a cold beer on tap. Mediterranean food is by far my favorite type of cuisine, and at Purslane it's mostly shareable plates, which we love! We started with the olive snacks covered in a chios spice (yum). Next was - what might be my fave - the tuna naya dish. If you're a fan of raw fish like me, this is a must. It was so damn flavorful & fresh. The fattoush salad was also really great, and the ali nazik beef kebab took us home for the winnnn. So tender and moist, accompanied with a smokey eggplant yogurt. Truly not a bite of this meal I didn't enjoy (and outwardly rave over). You can absolutely tell they pour love into the craft of making these dishes -- thank you chef Mary! Highly rec this spot! I know I'll be back for sure. read more

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Service and ambience were really good but Food was just ok. not as AMAZING as I was hoping for given how many good reviews I've seen of this place. Portions are small and food is a bit pricey for what you get. The mezze trio of 3 different hummus/spreads is 25$ which was a little steep for hummus. You can get a better hummus trio with better pita at other Mediterranean spots in the city for like $10 less. The harissa wings had good flavor and probably my favorite thing we ate. The tuna appetizer was tasty as well (they gave this to us by accident and let us keep it free of charge which was very kind and speaks to the high quality service of this place). The artichoke spanakopita was our main dish, and while the sauce with it was great, it was not your typical spanakopita. It was basically 4 large pieces of artichoke with some filling and a sauce under it. For over $30, this was not worth the price and wouldn't really fill you up. Flavors overall are good but not sure if I'd go again. read more

1) Amazing Food 2) Friendly Service 3) WOW SO happy we were able to snag a last minute reservation to try Purslane! The reservation was definitely needed as there are limited tables and this place is new and hot! From start to finish service was friendly and attentive. Servers were very aware and attentive to food allergies. They have some great NA choices for drinks as well as a healthy beer, wine and cocktail menu. We ordered a bunch of plates to share. Every single item was bursting with flavor and we dug in so fast I wasn't snapping pics until half way through. This is the BEST addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene. Go as fast as you can! read more

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Amazing. I placed a reservation here last week and, upon arriving, was met by a very cute, well-decorated place and friendly dining staff. We were sat at the bar, which gave us the perfect view into the kitchen. One chef was responsible for all the meal preparation that night, and everything she made was excellent. We started with the 3 hummus spread and then I had the chicken wings, which were both excellent. It was so fun watching the bartender making drinks and chatting with him--an extremely genuine and kind server. Truly some of the best service I have ever had at a restaurant. I hope to visit here again soon and try more. read more

Purslane - Mediterranean Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Very nice spot excellent location sunken below street level. Great service especially with the open kitchen layout. Got the walleye and hummus sides, was amazing. Great place if you're looking to try new things. read more

A super cute & welcoming restaurant in the previous Red Light Ramen place. Service was super friendly. The chef even came out to serve food and greet customers. Pricey but perfect for a date night. They have an extensive drink menu and a smaller food menu. We got Meze Trio (small plate), Ali Nazik Beef Kebab, Sea Scallop and Kaymek Semifreddo (dessert). Also got Turkish coffee and Above the Terracotta - Manhattan cocktail. Everything was delicious and we particularly enjoyed the trio and the beef kebab. Even our picky toddler ate a lot of the carrot purée and pita in the trio dish. Pro tip: they have a glossary for non-English words of the dish names in the last page of the menu. read more

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This place is amazing. My friend and I sat at the bar and chatted with the server and bartender the whole time - they were both so friendly. The food was absolutely amazing - it was nice to get little bites of different items. I'll be back for sure to try more off the menu. They decor was cute and cozy - love this place! read more

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Overall, really delicious food. The restaurant itself is quite small, we went mid-week so I think there wasn't a huge crowd but it may be more challenging to get a table on the weekend. We tried a handful of dishes: maze trio, harissa fried chicken, a spanakopita twist. Overall the flavors were delicious. They also have some unique wines available to try! Will definitely go back to try more dishes. read more

**June 2025: Wednesday Dinner Visit** While randomly scrolling through Instagram I saw a local food blogger post about Purslane and raving about the Sea Scallops. She commented that it was one of her favorite dishes of that month, so my friend were eager to try it. We made a 5pm reservation and drove from Tosa, WI to see if it was worth the hype. The restaurant itself is located in the basement of a building, but the interior was very homey and intimate. I loved the coziness of the pillows and the exotic prints. We ordered the following -Deviled egg $13: good -Tuna Naya $23 -Foolish Salad $17 -Sea Scallops $39 - the star dish was a let-down unfortunately. I felt like the strawberry jam/sauce overpowered the dish -Olive Oil Cake $11 - This was very dry, which was a shame since Olive Oil Cake should be very moist. Service was outstanding. The waiter was attentive, friendly and took good care of us. Food - Everything was presented beautifully, but I wasn't wowed by the flavor combinations. Perhaps for my palette just wasn't' accustomed to fusion mediterranean style and/or my expectations were really high because of the praise from the journalist. Was just okay for me. read more

In a word: Wow! Lovely, cozy spot with warm decor. Excellent service. But the food ...?! Really unique, well-balanced, fresh and original. So glad my husband and I chose to celebrate our anniversary here. Only downside? I was asked when making the reservation about any allergies and whether we were celebrating a special occasion. At the restaurant, they acknowledged the former, but not the latter. A glass of champagne would've been appreciated! Otherwise, why ask? read more

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We sat at the bar again, and had our best dinner yet at Purslane. The sunchoke small plate was amazing. Great winter comfort food. The short ribs were was incredibly tender and flavorful. The fluke stuffed with crab was delicious and very inventive. Kyle who tends bar was delightful as always. We were told by a local chef we should have ordered dessert. Next time! read more

Purslane - A beautifully "composed" gin & tonic - Mediterranean Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I dined here with a colleague in early October, and we both very much enjoyed the dishes we shared (Tuna Naya, Meze Trio, Walleye Falafel, Sea Scallop and Ali Nazik Beef Kebab). The two that we found most unique were Walleye Falafel and Beef Kabab. I went to the restaurant again with my family in late December. The four of us each order a cocktail and shared 6 dishes (Meze Trio, Sunchoke, Harissa Chicken Wings, Sea Scallop, Duck Confit Bastilla and Ali Nazik Beef Kebab). We found Meze Trio and Sunchoke to stand out as the best among the six and agreed that the Sea Scallop was cooked perfectly and very delicious. The Duck Confit Bastilla also had a complex and balanced flavor profile. The Chicken Wings were quite tasty but a bit dry. The Beef Kebab was very rich and flavorful, although one of us felt that the beef in the center was a bit stringy. In addition, all the drinks were very tasty, and the desserts we ordered (Apple Kunefe and Fig and Chocolate Baklava) were also amazing. Overall, every one of us was very impressed with the quality, and we agree that Purslane is one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee. read more

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We come from the Bay area so we are very familiar with high quality Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. The good people at Purslane deliver the real thing. We walked in (without reservations) and they did a wonderful job seating us and serving us. Highly recommend the Deviled Eggs and the Kebab. This would be a great place for special occasions. read more

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I went there for the first time and will definitely be coming back. The wait staff was very friendly and the food was amazing. My friends and I split a bunch of small plates and every single one was some of the best food I have had. Some stand outs: The deviled egg- by far the best I have ever had The monk salad in the meze trio - didn't think I liked eggplant but apparently I do Tuna naya - if you are ok with raw fish and spicy food - definitely order this Sugar snap pea with whipped feta - just amazing read more

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We risked a three-top walk in last night, not knowing how popular and quaint the space was... but they accommodated us immediately. And we are soooooo glad they could. It was my bestie and her twin sister's bday, and we were excited to try it out. Walking up we all felt like we were transported to Brooklyn or something- stepping down into a magical little enticing eatery. The decor is so colorful and playful without being too kitschy- and the service was incredible. We've all been in hospitality for ages- in the area and in Seattle and Portland (our respective home cities), and we know delicious food and exceptional service when we see it. This place has it all dialed in, with the customer service from the back of the house being as warm and personable as the front of the house (and we in the industry know that's not always the case... ha!). The food is flavor bomb after flavor bomb and the cocktails and mocktails are creative and tasty. (Also take some time to enjoy the aperitif/digestif menu... it's hilarious) This has quickly become our fav restaurant in the area and we will all be recommending it to any and everyone that will listen. So, yes... get there. Tonight. And prepare to be charmed. read more

Very impressive. Unique flavors and fantastic staff. Super educated on the menu options and the flavor pairing were out of this world. Loved the meze trio and the Fattoush Salad was out of this world. Scallops and beef kebob were amazing. Top notch all around. We will be back. read more

Purslane - Mediterranean Gin and Tonic - Mediterranean Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We had dinner on a Wednesday night. We had reservations at 6 and the place was empty when we arrived, but almost full when we left. The cocktail menu was small but had enough variety to please most folks. Our drinks were strong and nicely presented. We started our order with a tuna based small plate and a fanoush salad, both of which were world class. A great combination of tastes, textures and colors for both. We then moved on to a large plate scallops dish. This was good, but not great. The scallops were good quality and large, but the accompanying sauce didn't really add much. There was a small amount of what seemed like crisp, shredded coconut that provided some texture contrast , but not enough to elevate the dish. We went back to the small plates menu to try walleye falafel for our last dish. Interesting concept and very "Wisconsin", but at the end of the day , falafel is still falafel. Again, good but not great. Not sure if we'd have been higher on our last two dishes if we'd had them first, but the tuna and the salad set the bar very high The menu will change since lots of things are locally sourced, but this is a worthy successor to Ardent read more

Great service and great food! This restaurant is a cozy atmosphere with knowledgeable staff, great drinks, etc. Beef kabob and chicken wings were incredible. read more

Walking in to Purslane it feels casually refined. Not only was the service stop in, the food was fantastic! The freshness is on par with other agricultural areas and the combination of flavors and presentation are enhanced by the perfect portion size. Wow! What a find! Michelin inspectors are in for a treat! read more

Both the food and cocktails were unique and flavorful, and the attention to detail was top-notch. The atmosphere was welcoming; I think every staff member chatted with us! We sat at the chef's counter (so fun, especially if you live to cook), and got to witness true and exceptional teamwork. We will be back again-with our Chicago foodie friends in tow! read more

The food is unique and delicious. The chef and mixologist are fun to watch work if you sit at the bar.

What an amazing time! I cannot wait to return. The Spanish Gin and Tonic is sooooo good. Started with the pickles and snack mix fab! Sugar snap pea, Fattoush salad, wings, and deviled egg for mains...GET the SALAD. You will not regret it. Every bite was amazing each dish better than the last. We also had both desserts. Get em! Treat yourself! 5+ stars amazing. Thanks for the great food and service! read more

Great food selection, service and atmosphere. The deviled eggs are awesome. The wine and drink selection is amazing. I will be back.

Outstanding food, amazing service. Everything was perfect and exceeded our expectations! We ordered the deviled eggs- amazing, meze trio, fattoush salad and the Ali nazik beef kebab. The flavors were perfect. Truly a treat! read more