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    Stella Van Buren

    4.1 (262 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Stella Van Buren Photos

    STELLA VAN BUREN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Stella Van Buren

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    Burrata Bruschetta
    Tarik B.

    Let's start with Tayler, our server, she was absolutely awesome, very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu all of her recommendations were 10/10 hits! The beef was from Linz Heritage Farms (code for halal protein option ) was cooked perfectly, the crispy Brussels sprouts were delicious and well seasoned. But the three main stars of the night were my wife's ravioli (even though it was too spicy for her, I ate it the next day for lunch, shoutout to Tayler for helping to get her a more mild version as well) , the Baratta bruschetta, and the those Italian donuts... I didn't even have room but you best believe I polished off those donuts they were special! Great date night spot! Will be back for sure!

    An excellent, if a tad peppery, carbonara.
    Warren D.

    Date of visit: April 6, 2025 I'm rather shocked that despite being open for seven years, I've never dined at Stella Van Buren! I've been in the building (the restaurant is part of the wonderful Westin) for events, but never really spent any time here, a faux pas on my part for sure. The decor is wonderful, with semi-circular booths and sheer curtains breaking up the space and lending a touch of privacy to your meal, but still allowing you the opportunity to see and be seen, if that's your thing, of course. Menu is Italian with some unique twists on the dishes--definitely not your staid, old school Italian. My carbonara did not have the overly salty taste that many carbonaras do from the prosciutto, if anything this one was too peppery, but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the entree. My husband had the chicken parmesan and he was pleasantly surprised that the pasta did not overtake the chicken, as so many preparations of this dish do, with a healthy portion of the meat. We were treated to dessert and I selected the tiramisu, which had a wonderful presentation. My spouse went with the bread pudding (ice cream on the side, because lactose) and the bite I had was great. It was a near perfect meal; our friend who made the reservation had to remind staff that he had indicated it was a birthday (despite receiving an email confirming that the restaurant was aware and would make it special) and our server was very nice, but seemed a bit nervous, perhaps she was new. At any rate, certainly not enough of a concern to prevent us from dining at Stella Van Buren again, and definitely sooner than seven years from now!

    Van Buren Old Fashioned
    Shelly R.

    I can't say enough about the amazing experience we had at Stella last night. From the phenomenal Old Fashions to the sea scallops and Waygu hot stone appetizer and the whipped Yukon gold potatoes, everything was amazing. Our table also got steaks, raviolis and three types of desserts (tiramisu, bread pudding and gelato) and they were the perfect topper for the evening. Service was top notch as well. We cannot WAIT to visit again!

    Ny Dry-Aged New York Strip*
    Sam P.

    Can you guys burn this steak any more? Not only this, you guys need to reevaluate your dry age or cooking process, the steak was sour. The worst steak I have ever had in Milwaukee

    Karen T.

    Was here hosting an event in sept and had breakfast. Fast service and tasty food. Would recommend.

    Wedge Salad 10/10!!!

    We had the best time! Felt fancy for the night. We had the BEST waitress ever, I think her name was Katie! Honestly we would have been perfectly happy just ordering a bunch of apps to share. Those were our best! -GOAT cheese Brushetta 8.5/10 -Wedge salad 10/10! Big ol slab of bacon and sooo much flavor with the Gorgonzola -Spinach/Mushroom Ravioli 3/10 (came out kind of cold) -Vodka Rigatoni 7.5/10 (good flavor, the meat was in big chunks and it could have been creamier) Overall I would go again!

    Banana Bread
    Ryan V.

    We stayed at the Westin and decided to head downstairs to check out Stella's for breakfast. The restraint is very clean and the staff is very friendly with outstanding service. The breakfast menu isn't huge but they do everything on there well. I'll let you in on a little secret, get the sourdough bread and it comes with preserves (you're welcome). I also would highly recommend their banana bread. They crisp it up on the flat top and serve it with butter and the butter melts on an each warm piece of banana bread. I went back for more banana bread and it's the best I've ever had from a restaurant. Don't sleep on Stella's for breakfast if you're in the area or staying at the Westin in Milwaukee.

    Steakhouse Wedge Garlic Parmesan French Fries
    Lauren S.

    Came here for dinner last night and thought the atmosphere itself was stunning. The bar was very ornate but also modern and it seemed like a hot spot for happy hour. My steakhouse wedge salad was delicious. The Parmesan fries were just okay and slightly under cooked.

    Mac and cheese | Italian salad

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    2 months ago

    Good spot. Service is wonderful. Food is fine. Nothing stand out but everything is solid. Would return for the wedge salad and apps

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    Ask the Community - Stella Van Buren

    Do we have to dress up?

    Don't think you have to, but a most people at dinner had at least a buttoned shirt, even with jeans and casual shoes....for men's attire… Read more

    So they have gluten free pasta / bread options?

    Hi Paige, we make our own fresh pasta daily however it does contain gluten. We also keep gluten free pasta and a gluten free bread on hand for guests that are gluten free. thank you for your inquiry.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Swingin' Door Exchange

    Swingin' Door Exchange

    4.5
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    The Swingin' Door Exchange is one of the unassuming places I frequently tell people to get to and…read moretry because the food is some of the best in the Milwaukee area! Consistently busy over the years and for good reason. I've been here a few times and I've never been disappointed with the service or the food. It's a dark, cozy little restaurant bar but with so much character and history. Service is friendly and efficient. I love that the food I've ordered here has always exceeded my expectations with the seasonings and quality of ingredients used. Reasonably priced too! If you don't have a reservation, you may end up waiting for a table in the back area at a high top but it's a great opportunity to enjoy one of their great drinks in the meantime!

    As visitors from out of state, this was the very first restaurant we visited and unfortunately it…read moreleft a terrible first impression. We quite literally came here straight from the airport. To make matters worse, we had not eaten anything substantial all day and had actually looked this restaurant up weeks before our trip while researching places to eat the infamous Wisconsin fish fry, so we were really looking forward to the experience. The experience started off poorly when our party was essentially scolded by the hostess for sitting at a table that apparently needed to be cleaned for the wait list. To make matters worse, the busser laughed and joked that we were "in trouble," to which I could only respond, "Sounds like it." Not exactly the welcoming atmosphere you'd hope for as a first time visitor. The fish fry was decent our tab came out to $150 for 5 people, but the service was absolutely subpar and our tip reflected that. We also had to send back two drink glasses because they were dirty one still had lipstick on it, and another had food stuck to the inside of the glass. Overall, this was a very disappointing dining experience. Between the unprofessional treatment, lackluster service, and cleanliness issues, I would not recommend stopping here. There are plenty of other restaurants worth trying instead.

    Photos
    Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it
    Hometown old school bar and restaurant. Has a Cheers feel to it
    Ahi Tuna Steak
    Ahi Tuna Steak
    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
    Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen

    Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen

    4.3
    (276 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    After interacting with the GM, I think I may have been a bit too harsh in my original review. It's…read moreentirely possible that I misread the overall tone of the staff, and Andrew took the time to personally reach out and apologize, which felt genuine and deserved to be acknowledged. There's a good chance I'll be back in Milwaukee next year for Summerfest, and I'm looking forward to giving this place another shot. The food looked fantastic, and, honestly, the cocktails and beers we had were already worthy of a few stars. I'm hoping my next visit lives up to how good everything looked.

    Best cheese curds in town!…read more Oh my gosh, this place has the best cheese curds. They were super tasty, had a perfect crunch, and were oh so cheesy. The pork chop was also very good. Full of flavor. Cooked just right. The Brussels sprouts were charred which I like. We enjoyed their whiskey tasting. Of course they have miller on tap which is good. So many drink options to choose from! If you do a tasting, you get a whiskey glass to take home (at least May 2026). I ordered a Wisconsin old fashioned, and they made it taste so good! They offer it sweet (sprite), sour (squirt), or press (not so sweet, I'd say in the middle)? If nothing else, stop in for some cheese curds! This place has so much more to offer than the public market across the way. Don't skip out on this place! Im still dreaming of the Wisconsin old fashioned and those curds!! Most of their ingredients are from local vendors! Even better! That's why everything tastes fresh and good. Oh they have happy hour from 3:20-6:20.

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Brunch burger
    Brunch burger
    Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned
    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee

    Pilot Project Brewing - Milwaukee

    4.2
    (140 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped for a drink before a game and was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful inside. It was a…read more10-minute walk to Baird Center and the center of downtown. But parking is paid parking on the street, with spots hard to find. Once the parking situation is resolved, things are great. The vibes inside was awesome - very open, with lots of seating. There seems to be tons of seating options, and outdoor seating as well for when the days are warmer. And for a brewery, the most important thing? The beer, of course! And it was good. We've had their beer before and have always like them. It was great getting some more on draft. Agro pop IPA Yummy!! Panther pale ale OK, but not my fave. I wouldn't get it again. Cheese curds $14 These were delicious, but it did get salty after munching through the plate. We were limiting ourselves to just one drink, and needed more drinks or another food item to mediate our tastebuds. I'd order again with a proper meal or with more booze. Service was super nice, though not quite polished, which I don't mind at all. Points for a nice smilze!

    Back AGAIN. This time disappointed that there wasn't an extension on happy hour even tho there…read morekitchen was down until after it ended. But since I wasn't getting the happy hour special, I had a Piña colada. It was amazing, the bartender Blair made it to perfection. And I could quite literally say it was the cherry on top to my day. The wings are spectacular so they were a must. And I may be teetering on the scale to say that the dry rub is my favorite instead of the classic bbq. I also tried their fried pickle fries for the first time, I was skeptical since I'm not a fan of Texas Roadhouse fried pickles. Nope these could easily be a swap for regular fries. Not to mention these pickles remind me of the fresh pickles you buy from the fridge at the grocery store. Line dancing was a hit, another mixed crowd. Pleasant energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Even the host and waiters seem to hype it up, particularly if you come in with cowgirl boots. They opened up the garage door that let in a perfect breeze and the view was spectacular since it was a clear sunny forecast of a day.

    Photos
    Rooftop Cocktails Happy Hour
    Rooftop Cocktails Happy Hour
    Stouts!
    Stouts!
    Taco Special

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    Taco Special

    Stella Van Buren - italian - Updated July 2026

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