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My friend and I were briefly in town over the dinner hour, and I picked Tess based on nothing more than reviews and a quick web search. Pulling up to the outside of the building we were immediately charmed by its neighborhood vibes. It was a little chilly, so we sat inside (but the patio looked lovely). We got the lamb empanadas for our appetizer and they were delicious. Our entrees were equally good. I would definitely come back here next time I'm in town.
Wonderful experience at Tess! Great service, really good food, we had a few dishes, our favorite was the sirloin, all of the sides were super delicious because they were covered In the delicious red wine sauce. THE BEST DESERT IN THE WORLD: The Butterscotch Budino, salty, sweet, creamy... just super good. Very ambient little place place with a nice vibe.
Highly Recommend Tess - Exceptional Experience! Tess may not be a very large restaurant during the winter since the patio isn't open, but that didn't stop them from delivering an absolutely wonderful experience. I called just four days in advance, and they were able to accommodate 14 of us for a surprise 75th birthday party--which was impressive on its own. From start to finish, everything was amazing. The food was outstanding, the party setup was perfect, and the attention to detail did not go unnoticed. The owners and our server truly went above and beyond. They worked incredibly hard, were extremely professional, and stayed on top of everything all night long. We never had to wait for a thing. Thank you so much to the entire Tess team for making this celebration so special. We had a fantastic evening and highly recommend Tess to anyone looking for great food and exceptional service.
Tess was recently brought to my attention again by an On Milwaukee article. After reading about it, I added it to my short list of place to try and gathered a group of family to join me. We were seated on the patio, which is charming and open, fully paved and lovely. We only walked through the interior briefly, but it struck me as comfortable, but tiny. They definitely lose tables in the Wisconsin winters. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is at a premium. The waitress we had was very nice - no complaints about the service. We started with some cocktails. I enjoyed the house Manhattan, while BF had a good martini and my cousin enjoyed a tropical cocktail. Bread for the table was warm, fresh and came with excellent butter as well as flavored olive oil. We all opted for individual starters, being anxious to try many menu items. My crab cake was very flavor forward, despite being bready and a non-lump style. It was very large, easily sharable and deep fried to a crispy finish. The presentation was whimsical with a giant chip piercing the cake. The lamb empanadas were a hit for flavor, while the sauce plating looked like someone has dragged their finger through already. The 24-hour pork belly was well received even by the meat eaters who thought they didn't like pork belly. A cousin had the Rocket Salad, which she quite enjoyed. For me it was over sweet, heavy with molasses, but that's a personal preference. Another cousin had a special soup with curry vegetable and rice that looked amazing. The dinners were impressive in plating and variety of choices. While the menu is not huge, there is plenty for carnivores, pescatarians and vegetarians to choose from. A cousin enjoyed the ravioli, which featured sausage in the sauce and can be made vegetarian on request. It is one giant ravioli. Another thought the short ribs well done very well and was very pleased. Cousin-in-law had Cioppino which had large scallops, shrimp, mussels and salmon presented beautifully - no tiny bits of random seafood here. I can affirm the scallops were excellent. BF's steak was good, but not as nuanced as he had expected. Everything was good, just not extraordinary on his dish. My sea bass special was tasty, pretty and plentiful, if perhaps a little salty. The veggies on top were a little limp and overdone, but good wild rice base. While we were tempted by dessert, we eschewed it this time. The restaurant does add a 20% gratuity for tables of 5 or more, so be aware of that. Our bills were quite high and while I enjoyed Tess very much, I feel like my total tab was pretty high and I'm not sure I need to rush back. Overall, this was very good and solid but not quite great.
We stopped here after shopping on Downer. I had a city tin coaster to use! We didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly. The place is quaint and they have about 10-15 tables throughout the whole place and a large, old-fashioned bar. Very intimate. Our server was quick to grab drinks and gave us time to look at the menu and chat. Very nice server, Jada. We ordered the short ribs and ravioli. The ravioli was good with lots of fresh flavors - lemon, parsley, basil. The short ribs were tender and I heard the crispy jalapeño paired well with it. The risotto tasted a little bland and looked dry but wasn't the worst I had. In my opinion, the dishes weren't worth the price tag but I'm happy we tried it. My glass of wine was also pretty light for $12. We kept having fruit flies buzz around our face, food and wine the whole dinner. Lastly, when we got the bill, they took the $10 tin amount off AFTER tax, not before, like other establishments. I wanted to like this place but a few things added up in the negative column for me. Don't plan on going back.
We have dined here 4 times. The first time was during the height of the pandemic in late 2020 when we ordered carryout food from Tess. We had Steamed Mussels, Crab Cake, Pork Belly, and another dish with kimchee, and we very much liked those fusion dishes with Asian and Latin influence. Our second experience was dining-in at the restaurant's cute patio in the middle of 2021, and we ordered some of the same dishes and like them just the same. We then visited the restaurant with some friends a couple of months later and tried different dishes, which were not as flavorful. Most recently, we just ordered two dishes - San Fracisco Cioppino (seafood stew) and Tempura Beer Battered Barramundi (fish fry). The Barramundi fish fry was excellent - perhaps as good as any fish fry we'd ever had. But the seafood stew (which the server highly recommended) was subpar, mainly because the mussels were very chewy and sandy and had a strong fishy flavor (presumably not as fresh), which degraded the flavors of the shrimps and scallops. The drinks we ordered were also uneven. The lemon basil spritz was very good, but the pomegranate mocktail that the bartender came up with was too sweet for us to drink. As mentioned above, the patio at Tess is very nice. During our most recent visit, the restaurant appeared adequately staffed, and the staff offered reasonably good service although one of the dishes that was recommended to us was not good. So, our experiences suggest that the restaurant offers some very flavorful dishes on a consistent basis such as Steamed Mussels, Crab Cake, and Pork Belly, but other dishes vary in quality. Tess is within walking distance from our place, so we may still visit it in the future. If we do, we will probably stick to the dishes that we have liked before and avoid trying other dishes.
Came here for a birthday dinner and it was so lovely! It had just rained and we asked to be seated outside. The patio was so nice to look at and it was so nice to sit outside. Chairs aren't the most comfortable, but it's not a big deal. It would be nice if there was a coat rack outside where we could hang our purse or coats; we had to put our bags on the floor. On to the food; I opted to get the Korean chicken. This was cooked to perfection. I enjoyed everything about this dish. My friend got the steak and this too was cooked perfectly. We ordered the tostadas for an appetizer. And well, they were good, but I'd honestly skip it. I've had better tostadas. It was so great to finally try Tess after having it book marked for years! It was a nice dining experience! Also, the butterscotch pudding dessert is so freakin delicious I wish I would have gotten some to go. The only con and biggest disappointment, is that they were out of the one dish that I wanted to try. But other than that, everything was awesome. Parking can be tricky, as it's street and in a residential area, but nothing that's a huge inconvenience.
I had been to Tess a few years back and it was nothing to write home about so I didn't go again for a while. What brought me back this time was a Groupon and I was optimistic about it being a great experience because of the 4.5 star rating on Yelp. Unfortunately that was not the case. The service was good but the dining room and tables are right outside of the kitchen door (see picture) and the kitchen staff was kind of rowdy during our dinner (a bit disruptive). My boyfriend and I shared a New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb beer which was delicious - never even heard of that flavor before! As an appetizer we shared the French onion tart and a cup of spinach soup (soup of the day). This is where the disappointment began. The French onion tart sounded so good, but it was smaller than expected and it came to our table at room temperature. It was not warm at all in the slightest bit. The menu didn't mention that it would be served cold so I was surprised and actually unhappy with that. I think it would've tasted better if it had been warm. On the plate with the French onion tart was a small side salad with a vinaigrette. I believe it was the roasted tomato vinaigrette. It was horrendous. It tasted like the inside of a tin can. Horrible metal taste. I stayed away from that part of the appetizer. The spinach soup was tasty and had very Indian flavors which I enjoyed. We had to order a half loaf of bread for the table and pay extra for it which I think is a bit tasteless for a restaurant whose entrees are $20+ each. We both ate ravioli for dinner. The pasta was nice and tasted freshly made. The sauce was tasty but on the acidic side so it was difficult to eat the whole plateful of it. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake with coffee "custard" and the butterscotch budino. The chocolate cake was warm which made it gooey and delicious. I enjoyed that part. I put "custard" in parenthesis because it was not soft as you usually expect custard to be. It seemed like regular ice cream to me. The butterscotch budino was not that great. It was overly sweet with pieces of sea salt which were not pleasant when crunched and the caramel sauce was runny on top of the pudding itself. Overall, I would not go back to Tess. I am glad I had a Groupon because I do not think the meal is worth the money you'll end up paying.
One of Milwaukee's best kept secrets nuzzled in the eclectic neighborhood of Riverewest. If you love romantic patio vibes and yummy food, Tess should be on the top of your list of places to try. My date and I had one of the most unforgettable meals delivered by our waitress, Sam who sold us on the special of the night of a pork dish I cannot remember the name of but will never forget the flavors of the dish. If they have it when you go, order right away. We shared the strawberry rocket salad, dressed to perfection and large enough to share between two. I had the mahi mahi that melted and provided a textured experience with the crumble and warm flavors of a roasted red pepper liquid base. Each bite is worth savoring so be sure to put your fork down each time you take a bite to not miss one minute of the flavors. My date ordered the ravioli which he allowed me a bite and wow! The flavors, the cheese, absolutely delicious. The meal was made perfect ordering the butterscotch budino recommended by Sam and that did not disappoint. The pink salt dances with the flavors in your mouth and may be hands down one of the best desserts I've ever had. Thank you Tess. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!
Had a great dinner here. We had heard it can get busy here so we're prepared with a reservation on a cold, Thursday night. It wasn't necessary this time but always good to be prepared. This place is cute and intimate. Their breasts is amazing! You can definitely tell it was made there. Crab cake was delicious. I enjoyed my duck breast. The sauce accompanying it was so good. Service was good. My only complaint is that they say the only other table directly next to us. It's a quiet place and I have a louder voice. I think the couple next to us was a bit annoyed. We came here with a Groupon which was of great value $30 for $50. I'd come back again.
6 months ago
8 months ago
First time here and it was take out. It looks like a great cozy spot inside, but due to a prior engagement, takeout was the way to go. I thought the empanadas were pretty good, as well as the Peruvian chicken and rocket salad! Not pictured but the seafood pasta was delicious. Our order time start to finish was roughly 30 minutes. We did call and place an order as the online ordering seemed a bit fidgety, and we wanted to pay at pickup since we had a City Tin. It might be a bit of a preference but I wasn't absolutely blown away, but I did enjoy the meal. I felt it was a spot I'd check out again. read more
My friend and I were briefly in town over the dinner hour, and I picked Tess based on nothing more than reviews and a quick web search. Pulling up to the outside of the building we were immediately charmed by its neighborhood vibes. It was a little chilly, so we sat inside (but the patio looked lovely). We got the lamb empanadas for our appetizer and they were delicious. Our entrees were equally good. I would definitely come back here next time I'm in town. read more
7 months ago
Wonderful experience at Tess! Great service, really good food, we had a few dishes, our favorite was the sirloin, all of the sides were super delicious because they were covered In the delicious red wine sauce. THE BEST DESERT IN THE WORLD: The Butterscotch Budino, salty, sweet, creamy... just super good. Very ambient little place place with a nice vibe. read more
9 months ago
Highly Recommend Tess - Exceptional Experience! Tess may not be a very large restaurant during the winter since the patio isn't open, but that didn't stop them from delivering an absolutely wonderful experience. I called just four days in advance, and they were able to accommodate 14 of us for a surprise 75th birthday party--which was impressive on its own. From start to finish, everything was amazing. The food was outstanding, the party setup was perfect, and the attention to detail did not go unnoticed. The owners and our server truly went above and beyond. They worked incredibly hard, were extremely professional, and stayed on top of everything all night long. We never had to wait for a thing. Thank you so much to the entire Tess team for making this celebration so special. We had a fantastic evening and highly recommend Tess to anyone looking for great food and exceptional service. read more
Tess was recently brought to my attention again by an On Milwaukee article. After reading about it, I added it to my short list of place to try and gathered a group of family to join me. We were seated on the patio, which is charming and open, fully paved and lovely. We only walked through the interior briefly, but it struck me as comfortable, but tiny. They definitely lose tables in the Wisconsin winters. Reservations are highly recommended, as space is at a premium. The waitress we had was very nice - no complaints about the service. We started with some cocktails. I enjoyed the house Manhattan, while BF had a good martini and my cousin enjoyed a tropical cocktail. Bread for the table was warm, fresh and came with excellent butter as well as flavored olive oil. We all opted for individual starters, being anxious to try many menu items. My crab cake was very flavor forward, despite being bready and a non-lump style. It was very large, easily sharable and deep fried to a crispy finish. The presentation was whimsical with a giant chip piercing the cake. The lamb empanadas were a hit for flavor, while the sauce plating looked like someone has dragged their finger through already. The 24-hour pork belly was well received even by the meat eaters who thought they didn't like pork belly. A cousin had the Rocket Salad, which she quite enjoyed. For me it was over sweet, heavy with molasses, but that's a personal preference. Another cousin had a special soup with curry vegetable and rice that looked amazing. The dinners were impressive in plating and variety of choices. While the menu is not huge, there is plenty for carnivores, pescatarians and vegetarians to choose from. A cousin enjoyed the ravioli, which featured sausage in the sauce and can be made vegetarian on request. It is one giant ravioli. Another thought the short ribs well done very well and was very pleased. Cousin-in-law had Cioppino which had large scallops, shrimp, mussels and salmon presented beautifully - no tiny bits of random seafood here. I can affirm the scallops were excellent. BF's steak was good, but not as nuanced as he had expected. Everything was good, just not extraordinary on his dish. My sea bass special was tasty, pretty and plentiful, if perhaps a little salty. The veggies on top were a little limp and overdone, but good wild rice base. While we were tempted by dessert, we eschewed it this time. The restaurant does add a 20% gratuity for tables of 5 or more, so be aware of that. Our bills were quite high and while I enjoyed Tess very much, I feel like my total tab was pretty high and I'm not sure I need to rush back. Overall, this was very good and solid but not quite great. read more
5 months ago
We stopped here after shopping on Downer. I had a city tin coaster to use! We didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly. The place is quaint and they have about 10-15 tables throughout the whole place and a large, old-fashioned bar. Very intimate. Our server was quick to grab drinks and gave us time to look at the menu and chat. Very nice server, Jada. We ordered the short ribs and ravioli. The ravioli was good with lots of fresh flavors - lemon, parsley, basil. The short ribs were tender and I heard the crispy jalapeño paired well with it. The risotto tasted a little bland and looked dry but wasn't the worst I had. In my opinion, the dishes weren't worth the price tag but I'm happy we tried it. My glass of wine was also pretty light for $12. We kept having fruit flies buzz around our face, food and wine the whole dinner. Lastly, when we got the bill, they took the $10 tin amount off AFTER tax, not before, like other establishments. I wanted to like this place but a few things added up in the negative column for me. Don't plan on going back. read more
We have dined here 4 times. The first time was during the height of the pandemic in late 2020 when we ordered carryout food from Tess. We had Steamed Mussels, Crab Cake, Pork Belly, and another dish with kimchee, and we very much liked those fusion dishes with Asian and Latin influence. Our second experience was dining-in at the restaurant's cute patio in the middle of 2021, and we ordered some of the same dishes and like them just the same. We then visited the restaurant with some friends a couple of months later and tried different dishes, which were not as flavorful. Most recently, we just ordered two dishes - San Fracisco Cioppino (seafood stew) and Tempura Beer Battered Barramundi (fish fry). The Barramundi fish fry was excellent - perhaps as good as any fish fry we'd ever had. But the seafood stew (which the server highly recommended) was subpar, mainly because the mussels were very chewy and sandy and had a strong fishy flavor (presumably not as fresh), which degraded the flavors of the shrimps and scallops. The drinks we ordered were also uneven. The lemon basil spritz was very good, but the pomegranate mocktail that the bartender came up with was too sweet for us to drink. As mentioned above, the patio at Tess is very nice. During our most recent visit, the restaurant appeared adequately staffed, and the staff offered reasonably good service although one of the dishes that was recommended to us was not good. So, our experiences suggest that the restaurant offers some very flavorful dishes on a consistent basis such as Steamed Mussels, Crab Cake, and Pork Belly, but other dishes vary in quality. Tess is within walking distance from our place, so we may still visit it in the future. If we do, we will probably stick to the dishes that we have liked before and avoid trying other dishes. read more
8 months ago
11 months ago
Came here for a birthday dinner and it was so lovely! It had just rained and we asked to be seated outside. The patio was so nice to look at and it was so nice to sit outside. Chairs aren't the most comfortable, but it's not a big deal. It would be nice if there was a coat rack outside where we could hang our purse or coats; we had to put our bags on the floor. On to the food; I opted to get the Korean chicken. This was cooked to perfection. I enjoyed everything about this dish. My friend got the steak and this too was cooked perfectly. We ordered the tostadas for an appetizer. And well, they were good, but I'd honestly skip it. I've had better tostadas. It was so great to finally try Tess after having it book marked for years! It was a nice dining experience! Also, the butterscotch pudding dessert is so freakin delicious I wish I would have gotten some to go. The only con and biggest disappointment, is that they were out of the one dish that I wanted to try. But other than that, everything was awesome. Parking can be tricky, as it's street and in a residential area, but nothing that's a huge inconvenience. read more
1 year ago
I had been to Tess a few years back and it was nothing to write home about so I didn't go again for a while. What brought me back this time was a Groupon and I was optimistic about it being a great experience because of the 4.5 star rating on Yelp. Unfortunately that was not the case. The service was good but the dining room and tables are right outside of the kitchen door (see picture) and the kitchen staff was kind of rowdy during our dinner (a bit disruptive). My boyfriend and I shared a New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb beer which was delicious - never even heard of that flavor before! As an appetizer we shared the French onion tart and a cup of spinach soup (soup of the day). This is where the disappointment began. The French onion tart sounded so good, but it was smaller than expected and it came to our table at room temperature. It was not warm at all in the slightest bit. The menu didn't mention that it would be served cold so I was surprised and actually unhappy with that. I think it would've tasted better if it had been warm. On the plate with the French onion tart was a small side salad with a vinaigrette. I believe it was the roasted tomato vinaigrette. It was horrendous. It tasted like the inside of a tin can. Horrible metal taste. I stayed away from that part of the appetizer. The spinach soup was tasty and had very Indian flavors which I enjoyed. We had to order a half loaf of bread for the table and pay extra for it which I think is a bit tasteless for a restaurant whose entrees are $20+ each. We both ate ravioli for dinner. The pasta was nice and tasted freshly made. The sauce was tasty but on the acidic side so it was difficult to eat the whole plateful of it. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake with coffee "custard" and the butterscotch budino. The chocolate cake was warm which made it gooey and delicious. I enjoyed that part. I put "custard" in parenthesis because it was not soft as you usually expect custard to be. It seemed like regular ice cream to me. The butterscotch budino was not that great. It was overly sweet with pieces of sea salt which were not pleasant when crunched and the caramel sauce was runny on top of the pudding itself. Overall, I would not go back to Tess. I am glad I had a Groupon because I do not think the meal is worth the money you'll end up paying. read more
1 year ago
One of Milwaukee's best kept secrets nuzzled in the eclectic neighborhood of Riverewest. If you love romantic patio vibes and yummy food, Tess should be on the top of your list of places to try. My date and I had one of the most unforgettable meals delivered by our waitress, Sam who sold us on the special of the night of a pork dish I cannot remember the name of but will never forget the flavors of the dish. If they have it when you go, order right away. We shared the strawberry rocket salad, dressed to perfection and large enough to share between two. I had the mahi mahi that melted and provided a textured experience with the crumble and warm flavors of a roasted red pepper liquid base. Each bite is worth savoring so be sure to put your fork down each time you take a bite to not miss one minute of the flavors. My date ordered the ravioli which he allowed me a bite and wow! The flavors, the cheese, absolutely delicious. The meal was made perfect ordering the butterscotch budino recommended by Sam and that did not disappoint. The pink salt dances with the flavors in your mouth and may be hands down one of the best desserts I've ever had. Thank you Tess. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more
Had a great dinner here. We had heard it can get busy here so we're prepared with a reservation on a cold, Thursday night. It wasn't necessary this time but always good to be prepared. This place is cute and intimate. Their breasts is amazing! You can definitely tell it was made there. Crab cake was delicious. I enjoyed my duck breast. The sauce accompanying it was so good. Service was good. My only complaint is that they say the only other table directly next to us. It's a quiet place and I have a louder voice. I think the couple next to us was a bit annoyed. We came here with a Groupon which was of great value $30 for $50. I'd come back again. read more
Our third visit to Tess was on-par with our first and second. Our second visit was just for fish fry, which was good. The third visit was an enjoyable evening for dinner on the cozy patio. Good service, great food, but pricey for the portions. The menu seems to be designed for guests to choose an appetizer, a salad, a main, and a dessert each to compare to portions at an average restaurant. I don't think Tess is portrayed as a small plates, however I would say it should be categorized as such. A big plus - a notably excellent craft beer list. We wanted to order the Steamed Mussels again, however they were out for the evening. We went with the Shredded Bison Tostadas instead, which were great. The Honey Sriracha Crema and the Napa Cabbage Slaw were definitely my favorite elements. Sharing an order between the two of us, plus the fantastic warm bread they bring out, was barely enough to tide us over until our mains arrived, however, as it did seem to take some time. Our server was attentive in the meantime, with drinks and water refills. I went with the Coriander Duck Breast, and my significant other chose the Roasted Pork Tenderloin. The duck was cooked perfectly, as was the pork. The vegetables that came with the duck were good, although I wish there had been more - just a few carrots and a few small potatoes. The caramelized pearl onions were really nice, and the blackberry coulis was great. The next time we go back, I'll probably opt for two appetizers and two mains for two people (we're not really dessert people). Tess has consistently great quality for their food and is worth a visit, especially for a special occasion or date night. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
Very good deal and excellent food and service. We had made a reservation before hand for an earlier appointment but we're running a little late. The restaurant accommodated us without any complaints. The little restaurants is tucked into a neighborhood and has about ten tables or so inside. I think still being Valentine's day week( we came on a Sunday ), every table had a nice red rose in a little vase. I ordered a martini with three kinds of liquor with passion fruit flavors. It was very refreshing and not sweet. For appetizer, we got mussels in creamy coconut sauce to share and it was made to perfection. Each mussel was very plump and full of flavor. For main course I ordered the seabass with bacon bits, brussel sprouts. My friend got the seared duck breast with mash potatoes Our server was very sweet and attentative and offered me hot water with lemon when I didn't want to drink iced water. Towards the end if the meal I believe we were the last people to be there, but it was a relaxed setting and not rushed are all Last but definitely not least, we had no problem using a Groupon ( didn't get any weird looks or oh... U can't use it on so and so...). Thumbs up Tess! read more
Tess provided a wonderful evening for us. Nestled into a quiet, east side neighborhood, Tess is located in a building that has probably been a neighborhood watering hole for a hundred years, there's even a patio. Coming here was a spur of the moment decision, so without a reservation, we wound up sitting at the bar. That was fine, Tyrone was entertaining and made the best Old Fashioned I've had in a long time. There is a separate drink menu, several pages long, including beer and wine lists, and several special cocktails. The Kat Lady ordered a Huck Finn Martini. (I don't remember Huck ever taking a drink, but what do I know?) I did have a small sip, it is made with pomegranate that adds an interesting taste to the vodka base. After ordering dinner, we were presented with a basket of hot, fresh bread, hard crust over soft, chewy bread. It is served with olive oil for dipping with salt and pepper. With my limited appetite, I once again ordered from the appetizer menu. The crab cake sounded pretty good, but I should have paid more attention to the description of the sauce - Creole Remoulade - way too spicy for my wussy palate but probably very popular with normal people. It is also served with a homemade potato chip, thin sliced lengthwise from a large Idaho potato. In case you're wondering, I scraped off the Creole Remoulade and enjoyed the crab cake. I would order it again but ask them to hold the sauce! The Kat Lady ordered Chicken served on roasted, curried chickpeas. I sampled this dish, too, and it was delicious until the curry kicked in as aftertaste! One again, too strong for me but the Kat Lady enjoyed it immensely. The menu offers a "Flourless Chocolate Cake with housemade colectivo coffee custard" that sounds wonderful, but we were too stuffed to try it. Next time...and there will certainly be a next time! read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
Everyone once in awhile you come across a place that simply takes you by surprise. I didn't know much about Tess but having the same passion for beer as the owner does definitely put them on my radar. Pulling up to the restaurant, we were a little concerned about it. Really close to the North Ave bar strip, you are just far enough away to not have to worry too much about traffic or parking. The building is a tad unassuming but you forget that once you walk in. Not an exceptionally large place, it gets that cozy feeling for sure. And the outdoor back patio area extends out the dining area in the summer nicely. They have "people heaters" outside too, which came in handy since the wind shifter and we got a touch chilly. We had a party of 6: First, the service was fantastic. Our waitress was on top of everything and honestly made our experience amazing. She was attentive but not overbearing and we never needed or wanting anything for very long. Smiling and honest with her opinions when asked about the food, she steered us in the right direction at every pass. Second, the beer list was amazing! Now granted, they just had their anniversary party so these were left over but damn... I could've stayed there all night and drank (and we almost did). The wine list looked pretty extensive but with what they had on tap, no one was looking at anything else. Third, the food was down right amazing. Everything came out at a good pace and everyone really enjoyed their meals. Appetizer: The braised baby octopus was really tasty and a nice treat in Milwaukee. The wild mushroom polenta was so good that we actually ordered another dish of it. The Al Pastor egg rolls are a little strange in that their size is pretty small but they make up for that in taste! The steamed mussels was plentiful and there wasn't enough bread in the land to soak up all that amazing broth. Main Course: 3 out of the 6 got the Lamb and no one was mad about that. I am not a fan of lamb...at all... but when my wife insisted I try this she was not wrong. I really enjoyed it. I got the San Francisco Cioppino and loved every bite. I felt that everything was cooked just right and the amount of food was appropriate too. I heard comments that the chicken was really good and the pork tenderloin was pretty tasty... (until he tasted the lamb and fell in love with it). Is it a little pricey... yes. Because of that I cannot see coming here for a casual dinner but more for a special occasion or just for a nice evening out. Come check it out... I don't think you'll be disappointed. read more
7 years ago
Everything I tried here was amazing! Since its located in the middle of a residential area It seems like a neighbor restaurant. The waitress and patrons at nearby tables chatted about life updates. I sat on the patio with my boyfriend. I had the roasted rack of lamb. It was cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. When it first arrived I thought I was still going to be hungry since the portion liked small, however, with the side of potatoes and spinach I actually felt just right by the time I finished my entree. The dishe was around $28 For dessert I ordered the butterscotch budino. I highly recommend this dessert. The pink salt balances out the sweet caramel sauce well. The dessert was $7 Service was fast and friendly. Food was excellent. read more
I finally made it in to visit Tess thanks to a Groupon. The place was full on a Tuesday night. Luckily I found a spot at the bar, so I didn't have to wait for a table. I started with the shrimp ceviche and plantain chips. The chips were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and they had a light and crisp texture. The ceviche was made with a tomato sauce and was much sweeter than I expected, but I still enjoyed the fresh flavors. The ceviche came out quickly but I waited around 45 minutes before the entree came out. Yikes! The Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin was inconsistently prepared which surprised me. I ordered it medium. One end of the tenderloin was cut a little thinner than the opposite end. As a result, the thinner side was cooked to medium well and a bit dry. The thicker side was cooked medium and had the tender and juicy texture I was looking for. I don't blame the cook. I blame the butcher for cutting an uneven piece of meat causing the different results. The flavor of the red wine sauce was solid and I loved the mashed potatoes. For dessert, I ordered the Elvis Cake. Three layers of banana cake surrounded by peanut butter frosting and topped with a warm chocolate ganache and crispy bits of bacon. Yes, this was very good. The cake wasn't super moist but moist enough. I didn't taste the bacon flavor in the bits but it didn't matter. The chocolate, banana, and peanut butter flavors provided the party in my mouth that I expected. For a busy night, the kitchen did a good job with execution. My experience was solid and worthy of a future visit for appetizers and maybe an entree, which seem to be heavy on seafood options. I would like to see more meat options to get me excited about going back sooner than later. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
Small hidden gem When I first saw the place from the outside it almost seemed like it was closed...so glad it was open and thriving! The inside was super cute, we sat outside and it was so charming with twinkling lights all around. The food was great! My friend and I got drinks and two apps A classic spotted cow and huckleberry fin martini(I think that's what its called) which tasted like jungle juice....which is didn't mind haha The apps were the crab cake which was super tasty, one large cake with a large chip in the middle I got the bison meat tostadas which were to die for!! The meat was perfectly cooked and paired with carmelized onions, and a kick of something a bit spicey! They were amazing! We split a raspberry crime brulee which was made perfectly! The creme was just the right amount of tart and sweet. Overall a pricier place but well worth it! Check it out! Happy eating! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
We went again (after getting carry out twice over the past year) for our first in-person, post-vaccinated dining. The day was warm enough that we ended up sitting on their lovely patio, supplemented by plentiful overhead heaters. Surprisingly, nobody else sat outside the whole time we were there (a Friday evening), though the small dining room was packed indoors when we departed. The service was excellent. When our server offered to take a drink order, she let us know they'd be happy to make a cocktail for us even though none were listed on the wine/beer menu. I ordered a Negroni, and it was superb. After that, we ordered a couple of hearty appetizers - the steamed mussels and a pork belly appetizer. Both were great. The mussels are served with a broth that's to die for (we order it every time), and the pork belly is super flavorful with Korean spices, some micro greens, and just overall deliciousness besides looking beautiful on the plate. We then shared the Friday fish Fry special, choosing the tempura tilapia. I think there was also a Panko crusted cod or perch option. The fish was good, and came with sweet potato fries and an Asian inspired coleslaw. I loved that the coleslaw wasn't dripping in your typical Mayo dressing (not even sure if it contained Mayo). All in all it was a great meal, and we hope to return to their patio soon with friends! read more
6 years ago
I love this place! You honestly can't go wrong with anything you get. Everything is super fresh and very flavorful! Defiantly a hidden Gem. If you like seafood I suggest the San Fransico Cioppino(ask for it spicy) sooo good!! read more
We have been here plenty of times in the past and they have yet to disappoint. They are always consistently good whether you eat at the bar or sit down at a table for your meal the service is excellent. The wait staff is super friendly and accommodating. Tess is a smaller location that I almost want to say a hole in the wall, but has a cosy atmosphere. As for the food, I don't think I've ever ordered something from here that I didn't like. They switch up the menu to seasonal things from time to time to keep the ingredients fresh, but they also have their main stays. This time around we went with a few of those staples of the menu. We shared two appetizers to start the mussels in a spicy coconut milk broth and al pastor spring rolls. Mussels were great and we had to ask for another order of bread to sop up the broth. The spring rolls were also quite tasty that they paired with pineapple and pickled red onion I think. I had to get a hopslam since they had it on tap (they always have a great selection) and my girlfriend had a blueberry cider. We then shared the seared duck breast that had a mole sauce with masa and goat cheese which was the star of the show. Then we finished off the meal with their creme brulee of the week which was honey lavender, sometimes I lean towards just getting the regular but this flavor lent itself well to the dessert. As you can tell I like this place a lot, the only thing that I can think of that is a little off putting is the price point. You pay for quality to be sure, but it is definitely on the pricier side of things. If you are looking for a nice cosy little place with great food and you feel like treating yourself this is the place for you. read more
6 years ago
I'm in love. I've been wanting to try this place for a while. Oh I should've tried it long time ago! I made my reservation and we sat on the patio. the food was flavorful, hospitable atmosphere and cost was reasonable. read more
6 years ago
I just had the best meal of my life. I've been to Tess once before about a year ago and it was fantastic which is why we came back for a Valentine's Day dinner tonight. I swear everything just tastes better here, even things we eat regularly at home like arugula. My dinner was incredible, I had the mole pork tenderloin with zucchini, Spanish rice, and a pineapple chutney. The flavors paired so well together, if I were to die today and get one more meal to eat this would be it. If you're looking for a fancy place to treat yourself or a significant other please go here, you can't go wrong with any of their food!! read more
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