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    Sanford Restaurant

    4.5 (285 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American
    Closed 5:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Sanford Restaurant Photos

    SANFORD RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Sanford Restaurant

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    Coppa
    Ellena K.

    If you're looking for a refined and intimate dining experience, Sanford is a must-visit. From the moment you step inside, the cozy and elegant atmosphere immediately sets the tone for an amazing night. The four-course menu was very diverse yet cohesive. Cocktail, beer and wine list was impressive also. Tried the special Cupid Cocktail, which was tart and smooth. To start, we tried a grilled pear and Roquefort tart and the coppa. The tart was a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The second course was a shellfish soup. It was very rich and flavorful, but did have a strong seafood flavor. For the main course, I opted for the duck and my partner the tenderloin. Both dishes were expertly prepared. Duck was juicy, flavorful, and complemented by a rich sauce. We really liked the texture and flavor that the grilled lettuce added to the tenderloin. Lastly, the desserts really stole the show. The banana butterscotch toffee was great if you like a sweet dish. The Drive In hot fudge sundae was like an elevated childhood treat, so wonderful and nostalgic. Overall, we were so happy with our meal and grateful to the wonderful staff who were so forgiving to us being late due to travel and a snow storm. Valet was easy when we couldn't find any street parking nearby. Cost was added to our check which simplified things also.

    Excellent and exceeded our expectations. We pulled up to valet park where Joe reassured us that Larry at their lot would take very good care of our car. It was our anniversary, which they promptly and continuously referenced. Much to my surprise, my sister bought us a gift certificate which was waiting at our table. It was an intimate atmosphere where other parties were close but not crowded and encouraged some discussion about the food if one wanted to engage. We went all in and decided on the 7 course surprise dinner. Each course was better than the last served in portions that left me feeling comfortably full, although there were a few offerings that pushed me outside my comfort zone. A plate with a strawberry, yummy homemade whipped cream and a candle further acknowledged our anniversary. Next time I think I'll take control of my dinner and choose from the four course menu though. From the hostess to our primary server Christine and the many employees who strived to make it an incredible experience, they succeeded and then some. When it was time to leave, our car was waiting for us right outside the door. Easy breezy. So repeatable. Thanks Sanford for a great anniversary dinner.

    Interior
    Megan B.

    I had no idea this little restaurant was tucked into Milwaukee's east side. There is one dining room with probably about 15 tables total. The service was excellent. The food was good, our favorite was the elk steak and desserts. Would come again.

    the Fennel Dusted Beef Tenderloin
    Courtney C.

    This was our second time to sanford- we are from out of state and boy are we thankful to have found this place! it's the perfect special occasion restaurant- it feels kind of hole in the wall in its unique old house feel environment. There are only 2 menu options which is either a 4 course or a surprise 7 course option. We chose the 4 course option and then we shared each dish so we really got to try 8 courses so it was great! Each course they give you several options to choose from- everything we had was absolutely delicious! They started off with an amuse buse which was so tasty- the meal also ends with some little bite size pastry type bites. The customer service was excellent as well- they have someone bringing drinks, someone bringing food, someone changing your silverware- it really is set up super well! they are prompt and very helpful. They even had a little lemon water to clean your hands after eating the quail off the bone with your hands. i really don't have enough space or time to write about all of the variety of flavors but let's just say they were on point! We really enjoy every single dish! I don't understand how this place could have any negative reviews- it's an amazing find! Yes it is more expensive but you will leave satisfied and very very full! We didn't even have it in us to eat the little pastries at the end so we took it home. It's also nice that they have 3 oz glasses of wine as options so we pretty much made our own wine pairing with the selections we picked on the menu. I highly recommend Sanford and will be back anytime we are in town!

    Christina H.

    The outside of this restaurant does not match the inside at all. From the moment you walk into the restaurant it's like you were transported to a completely different place. The service was amazing. Our server was very knowledgeable and touched on the table when needed. She gave wonderful suggestions and everything was delicious. Kudos to the chef and his team for the amazing things that they create in the kitchen! We were given an opportunity to see the kitchen and it's amazing what they can do in the kitchen that they have! Highly recommend.

    Beautiful menus and table
    Alex S.

    I wanted to love it. Maybe I'm just not the fine dining type, but the food left something to be desired. Went with my bf for our anniversary, and the service was phenomenal. I appreciated the well spaced, thought out menu, but the main dish was lacking. They offered a four course menu that we opted out of due to the options. I'm not into huge portions, however I finished my main course in 3 bites! The dessert, however, was out of this world. I still think about that delicious toffee.... All in all a very pretty place with fantastic staff but I won't hurry back.

    Richard K.

    As usual, our experience at Sanfords was amazing. It's our way of celebrating our wedding anniversary. This was our 49th on 9/27. This has become our tradition for the last ten years. We even did there "meal-to-go" during the height of Covid. We absolutely love this place and have never been disappointed both in the staff and the food.

    House cocktail (peach)
    Hannah W.

    Sanford is a great choice for an upscale dinner in Milwaukee. They are very consistent, so whenever you're going there, you know what you're going to get. Very professional service and consistently good food. They do try to push the envelope in terms of creativity, but the flavors are pretty consistently new American. They have an a la carte menu or a tasting menu. It is fairly pricey and a dinner here can take longer than other places. The ambiance is intimate. With those things being said, it's a great choice for special events like birthdays or anniversaries.

    Elk Loin, Rapini Pesto, Bacon Vinaigrette 2019 Shiraz Blend - Tait - The Ball Buster - Barossa Valley, Australia
    Alisha Z.

    We went for our anniversary and chose their 7 course Chefs Surprise dinner with the wine pairing added on. Upon entering and being seated I looked around and thought to myself, " what's all the fuss about". The interior decor and setting were not impressive but ok. But the Sanford is not about Decor it's about a food experience, and they certainly stand out above most restaurants I've been to. Their Wine pairings with the dishes was spot on. The servings were both delicious and presented well. After being seated initially we sat for a bit with just waters waiting for our server, but once or waitress arrived she was very informative and helpful. We had a few food preferences that we wanted to try and she went to the chef and asked if they could be incorporated in the tasting, and he did so. I would highly recommend reservations for this restaurant, as it is quite popular.

    Amuse bouche
    Jessica G.

    Exceptional fine dining. We just move to Milwaukee from Michigan - and were excited to score a last minute reservation. At first, we thought we were in the wrong place because it looks like a neighborhood, but we saw the valet sign and figured it out. The restaurant is warm and inviting, and were greeted and seated immediately. The team of bustling servers and tables of cozy candle lit dinner with plates of delicious food immediately set the mood for a great evening. That initial impression did not disappoint. Our server took time to ask about us and explain the menu, drink options, and wine pairings. We chose a few cocktails and then the fun began. There were so name delicious sounding options to choose from for each of the four courses - especially the desserts. We needed to make a dessert selection when ordering our main courses, because each dessert is individually prepared, so we enjoyed our cocktails and chatted, debated the many amazing sounding options, and soaked in the ambiance around us. Our server was great about answering any questions. When we had made our choices, the service was expedient and attentive, but never intrusive. Each course was well timed, well seasoned, and delicious. My husband opted for wine parings, and had a half glass with each course. I had a sip of his - and they wee all great choices. The prices for each were also incredibly fair. The amuse bouche was an olive based bite of lusciousness. We each tried each others dishes, and we were both very impressed with the preparations. We opted for the carrots and stuffed grape leaves, parsnip soup and green curry shellfish soup, duck breast and swordfish, banana torte and black tea cake. The duck was cooked to perfection. Crispy skin, rendered fat, tender and still pink/red in the center. A sight to behold. The swordfish was also handled beautifully. The vegetables were and accompaniments for each soup wee diced and caramelized with care. It's a joy to eat a meal prepared with such love and expertise. The pop of caraway and hint of rye in the carrot dish was absolutely delightful. The Bitterballen were better than any we'd ever had. What an amazing meal! My only wish would be for a vegetarian or vegan main course option. Thank you for a memorable meal, we look forward to our next visit.

    Halibut

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    6 months ago

    Might be the best restaurant in Milwaukee. Sophisticated food that's super approachable. They've been doing it for years and it shows.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food, ambiance, service. A wonderful and unique experience. Highly recommended

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    2 years ago

    We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Service was excellent! Darus was our server but they worked as a team. We would go back.

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    Odd Duck - Chili Crisp Devilled Eggs

    Odd Duck

    4.5(1k reviews)
    2.1 miWalker's Point
    $$

    On the tail end of my summer trip where I completed visiting all fifty US States, passed thru…read moreWisconsin on the way to Chicago to fly home back to California. The Odd Duck was where my friend and I grabbed dinner one night. Street parking. I didn't buy a lottery ticket but lucked out and found a spot across the street. Didn't have to do laps or pay. Always a good start when going out anywhere. Place was busy. No reservation. However, the luck continued as a table opened up in the bar area - window seating to boot. And though busy, service was attentive, friendly and great. Food was great! See pics. There wasn't a dish I didn't like and I can say that I'd definitely order the same line up again. Though I'd definitely like to try other menu items. It wasn't just about presentation - ingredients, flavors all just hit the spot. These are tapas size dishes so I could have eaten everything myself. Know that so you order accordingly. If you're looking for a cool, fun spot with good food and drinks, make a reservation and head over. If I lived in the area, this would definitely be a spot I'd regularly hang out at.

    Odd Duck has been one of the top places I've been wanting to go to for a while…read more The vibes were 10/10. This is such a cool place to take your time eating at. The servers here know the menu very well which was super helpful when deciding what we wanted to order. The food was good but out of the 4 dishes we ordered the Tempura Nori Roll GIMMARI was the only memorable item to me and our server said it would be rotated off of the menu. I can tell that there has been a lot of care and detail put into the experience here and I can really appreciate that.

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    Odd Duck - Bar service!

    Bar service!

    Odd Duck - Charred Broccolini $17

    Charred Broccolini $17

    Odd Duck - Chili crisp deviled eggs $6

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    The Edison Kitchen & Cocktails - Scallops with mushrooms and peas. Really good!

    The Edison Kitchen & Cocktails

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    I'm not usually a fan of establishments that have an "everything" menu, meaning they don't…read morespecialize in 1 particular genre, but The Edison is the exception. The seasonal sangria was fresh tasting with forward notes of cherry. We started with the truffle cheese dip which was decadent. The pigs jb a blanket were nostalgic! The ahi aka yellowfin was served perfectly rare, the farro was such a great change up than the usual rice dishes. The pistachios were whole & a bit much, but they were easily omitted. The skillet cookie was the star of the show! Perfectly warm served with classic vanilla ice cream. We thoroughly enjoyed the service, our waitress was kind, knowledgeable, and did not make us feel rushed to order or leave while we were yapping. Looking forward to going back & trying more menu items!

    Very nice dimly lit establishment. The workers were very nice and efficient on a busy holiday. We…read morearrived late for our reservation and ordered a but late but they gladly accommodated. My friend had the Edison burger which she loved. I had the cacio e pepe which I've heard great things about, but I fear it lacked a bit of flavor for me but it sufficed. Overall it was nice, we both had a specialty holiday cocktail, a love bug martini which was very strong. Overall it was a nice experience though the menu is a bit limited to me, it has something for most!

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    The Edison Kitchen & Cocktails - Decor

    Decor

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    Lobster pasta

    The Edison Kitchen & Cocktails - Front of The Edison located on 322 N Broadway Avenue

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    Swingin' Door Exchange - Carrots and Grilled Beets!! Delicious

    Swingin' Door Exchange

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    0.9 miDowntown, East Town
    $$

    We were happy to find parking super close to the front door and then dismayed to find out we had a…read more45 minute wait time with nowhere to sit or stand without being in the way of servers. We got lucky and had bar seats open up after about 5 minutes which allowed us to grab cocktails and relax. After a bit we ordered some Brussel sprouts as an appetitizer and before they could show up our table opened up. My wife chose the 2 piece cod fry with chips while I opted for the perch fry with fries. Everything was spectacular. The bartenders were jumping around each other to keep people happy at the bar and the rest of the staff get people's bellies filled with food. If you go keep in mind there are no reservations and will probably be a wait, but they will take great care of you and serve you some awesome fish!

    I was heading to the Downer Theater after work for a movie on Friday night and of course wanted a…read morefish fry beforehand. I surprisingly don't have many options in my "MKE - Fish Fry" collection that are near downtown, but Swinging Door Exchange was one of them. I was pressed for time, so I placed a to go order rather than dining in. I got the combo fish fry (two pieces of cod, two pieces of perch, and three fried shrimp) with potato pancakes. I was also very easily talked into the half rack rib appetizer. The ribs were good, even though I prefer sauce that's more sweet and smokey. Their sauce was on the tangy side with a tease of spice that really only became noticeable when the majority of the half rack was gone. If I were in the mood for ribs as my main meal, I'd consider getting theirs as an entree. The two potato pancakes weren't homemade; instead, they were premade hash brown patties that some other restaurants also serve with their fish frys. These were perfectly acceptable in lieu of homemade pancakes. The cod tasted great, but the breading didn't hold up very well. Either the fish itself was too wet or the two block walk back to my car allowed for condensation to wreck it or possibly both. The perch was not yellow lake perch but probably something like pike perch. Even though both kinds of fish and the shrimp were all good sized portions, $29 feels like a lot. I wouldn't say no to it, though, if I were dining in next time and avoid the extra cost of their takeout fee. Shout-out to the bartenders working that night. The bar area was absolutely packed, but both of the ones I talked to about placing my order were friendly and helpful even with being super busy.

    Photos
    Swingin' Door Exchange - Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it

    Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it

    Swingin' Door Exchange - Ahi Tuna Steak

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    Swingin' Door Exchange - Historic Mackie Building, once the site of the Grain Exchange. Swingin Door is bottom right

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    Historic Mackie Building, once the site of the Grain Exchange. Swingin Door is bottom right

    The Dark Room at Saint Kate - Root Beer Brussel Sprouts

    The Dark Room at Saint Kate

    4.6(16 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown, East Town

    I was brought to this steakhouse by a friend going back a few months. I don't spend a lot of time…read morein Milwaukee, so I'd never heard of it. The day we came, I didn't have a taste for steak, which unusual for me! I ordered a wedge salad to start and a crab dish instead of steak and both were delicious. Everything was Fresh with great flavor. The atmosphere in this restaurant is very warm and dark but not too dark and cozy but spacious. Our server was very nice. Very attentive. Fabulous restaurant that I recommend when in Milwaukee.

    We had Omakase in the Dark room dining experience just yesterday, November, 19th, 2025. What I want…read moreto say. The food was nice, right enough for dinner. Staff was not prepared at all, actually telling people the guy who usually does speech did not come and they do not know what to say actually. For any alcohol you will buy you will pay in addition which is fine BUT the price for that drink(s) will be surprising you a lot. For 5 sake drinks the bill was around $370. Last two glasses were having less sake than first glasses we were provided, probably because people who already drunk something would not notice the difference. It's ok to have expensive alcohol pairing with high end dinner but in this case the sake was very regular. By the way, at bar 10 steps away from the Dark room (same hotel, same floor, same the floor area) the same sake did cost $23 for two glasses. Well... I understand people try to run business and earn money but everything should not cross some decency borders. These guys did cross the line in my opinion. Alcohol prices are not mentioned in Menu by the way. I do not recommend this place not only due to drinks pricing policy but due to "ok" food/service/price ratio

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    Cream brûlée

    Sanford Restaurant - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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