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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.
4 years ago
I've only been there twice; once, years ago and, while I can't remember what we had for a "fancy night out" all I remember is that the dining experience was incredible. The second time was very recently for their annual backyard BBQ and, unfortunately, it was pretty crappy out. The BBQ also featured a number of extraordinary taps procured by Mitchell, the owner, an great server and an even nicer guy all around. In addition to the incredible brews featured that day (and most other days, really) their pulled pork sandwich was nothing less than perfect. I need to get there far more often. read more
7 years ago
Tess is a cute local restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. We sat outside on the patio under the awning. We were promptly greeted by our server who was appropriately attentive throughout the evening. We had a 1/2 bottle of red wine to drink, the kale salad, sea bass, and lamb. The food was presented beautifully and in a timely manner. The taste of both entrees was fabulous! Don't get the lamb if you're very hungry as the portion is small. We had purchased their Groupon but if you exclude those savings our meal was approximately $85 before the tip. I'd definitely return for a special occasion! read more
6 years ago
Just finished our takeout dinner from Tess. Highly recommend the Korean fried chicken entree - it was delicious. Super easy curbside pickup, too. Do yourself a favor, and treat yourself while helping a local business read more
There are a few places in Milwaukee that are consistently good. Tess is on that list for my wife and I. Last night we had an impromptu date night so we went in for dinner. We had been passed several times before, and were comforted by it unwavering tastiness and service The atmosphere is cute, not pretentious. An old house turned in to a restaurant with an attached, fenced patio. 10 person bar and small sitting area welcomed you into the space. The food selection started with a mixed green salad, Gruyere and onion tart, and baked bread. They happen to have 3 Floyd's zombie dust on top so I had one of those and my wife had a split of champagne. For the main course I had the beef tenderloin with French beans, garlic mashed potatoes with truffle mushrooms. And my wife tried the special, a rosemary salmon with fried brussels sprouts and purple fingerling potatoes. And though we were all, we made room for the vanilla crème brûlée. It was a little bit burnt but the custard was perfect. read more
7 years ago
Absolutely blown away by this place. A friend and I came here on Valentine's Day to treat ourselves to a nice meal, and we were not disappointed. The restaurant is in an older home, and hidden away from the main roads. It's a fairly small restaurant, but very quaint. I had the island salmon, and it was to die for. Not overly spicy, but has a nice kick to it. Ended the meal with some flourless chocolate cake w/ a coffee cream. Absolutely delicious. This is such a great restaurant for a nicer night out. read more
I've tried making a reservation here a few times in the past on a Saturday and have always been told they have nothing open so when I finally scored a table, I was pretty excited. We walked in at 7 and I'd say the place was maybe half full. It stayed that way the entire time we were there. Maybe a slow weekend for them? We started with the mussels for an appetizer. They were the perfect complement for the warm crusty bread they brought out when we were first seated. For an appetizer, it's a huge portion and we enjoyed every bit of it. For dinner, I ordered the cioppino and the man got the beef tenderloin (of course). My entree was delightful. Lots of seafood and they clearly put a lot of time into the sauce. My one critique is that the mini shrimp they put in the sauce were quickly wayyyy overcooked because the sauce was so hot. They were almost crispy by the time I got to them. I stole a bite of the tenderloin and it was cook perfectly. Melt in your mouth tender. Food - 5 stars. Service: 3 stars. It took at least 10 minutes for our waitress to show up even though another server brought us water right away. After we got our food, she disappeared again for the length of the meal. When we finished out dinner, we sat there with empty plates for a good 10 minutes until another server cleared our plates when she noticed us sitting there. While I appreciate the team effort when it comes to the service here, I'm not sure where the server could disappear for so long when the restaurant has maybe 15 tables? Ambiance definitely is a bit on the stuffy side. There were a few younger couples there but a mostly older professional crowd. The food was outstanding but not sure I'd return because there are so many other places in Milwaukee where I can get great food AND service with a better ambiance. read more
11 years ago
13 years ago
Last night, we decided to brave the cold weather and visit Tess for the first time in over a year. Drinks: Burbon Old Fashioned [sour] Whisky Old Fashioned [sour] The drinks were excellent and very reasonably priced -- $4.50 each! Appetizer: Sautéed calamari Unfortunately, we really hated this dish. The calamari didn't look sautéed, it looked steamed, and instead of being a variety of shapes and cuts (little squids, rings, etc.), the pieces were long and about an inch and a half wide. The taste and texture were just not good. And it seemed a little too ambitious -- pistachios, corn, edamame, pickled onions... It was too much. Meals: Blackened tilapia [him] Crab cake [moi] Our meals were fantastic. Yes, I did order an appetizer as a meal, but the crab cake was HUGE! Like the size of a fat hamburger. The tilapia was also excellent -- the green sauce was to. die. for. Such good flavors. I'd definitely eat at Tess again. Our service was exceptional, and the interior design of the space is very relaxing. They even had a crackling fireplace playing on the TV above the bar. Very good ambiance. Can't wait to go back. read more
14 years ago
I lived on the eastside only a few blocks from Tess for 4 years and did not even know this place existed, what a great hidden gem. The place is small and quaint, I would say better for smaller groups than large ones. We went on Friday night at around 9pm, without a reservation and the wait for 45 min so we sat at the bar instead, and I'm glad we did. The bartender serving us, Tyler, was fantastic. He was polite and funny without being unprofessional. Unfortunately his shift was over before we left, so the owner took over the bar. It was nice seeing an owner actually serving and do some work behind the bar, he was very nice as well. The food was amazing! We got the mussels to start- we had to ask for more bread to soak up the broth with, so yummy. I ordered the scallops, which were cooked perfectly. My boyfriend got the beef tenderloin which was also perfectly cooked and had the most amazing sauce. For dessert the owner recommended the butterscotch budino- this was one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. They put salt on top of the dessert that brings it to perfection. I would definitely come back just to order this again. I think with a few more visits Tess will become one of my 5-star places. read more
With the help of groupon I was able to stop into Tess for a wonderful evening. I looked at the menu over the summer and I thought to myself there is nothing I would like to eat here. Upon months later and looking for a second time. I found something. So I decided to go with it. I made reservations for a weekend. This was a good idea because it was fairly crowded when we got there. The place isnt that big so dont expect to have much room. The bar is directly at the entrance with a couple of tables towards the front and the majority of the tables towards the rear. The establishment looks like a house or old tavern converted into a eatery. The candles along with the white table clothes and napkins added a nice touch. We were given complementary bread prior to the meal. Who doesnt like things for the free? I do! The menu is heavy on beef and seafood. I am a poultry eater, this is why I couldnt find anything on the menu when I looked before. We settled in on the pan seared chicken breast and beef tenderloin. The waitress was very pleasant and was able to tell us that the wait time would be extended become the chicken was cooked to order. A glass of wine and a little tequila on the table, there was no problem with waiting. The food came and it was worth the wait. The portion size is what I imagine that we (Americans) should be eating. So the plates are not shareable if you are wondering.The beef was cook exactly as asked and the chicken was crispy. They honored the groupon with no issue. This is a intimate spot so this isnt a spot that you would go to weekly or monthly. It is for events and special occasions. I hope that they add more poultry items in the future. I will go back. read more
3 years ago
Years of great mussels, gluten-free items and crème brulees have helped make Tess a consistent favorite. I had celiac friends way before it was popular, so had many a meal here in its youth, and still make sure to go back occasionally as they never disappoint. After the demise of the nearby Scotty's Crab House, this was the one affordable place to get great mussels. Many more great options around now, yet they're still great here. Somethings their ideas for apps and desserts may not work the way they like, but I never, nor has a companion, ever had a non-great entree. My last visit's pork tenderloin was amazing! Juicy melty meaty all in one. Crisp green beans had Nueske's bacon to make them extra awesome. Only miss was the squash puree didn't stand up to the rest of the flavors. Crème brulee of the month is normally outstanding also. Strawberry is the one possible to skip. Flourless chocolate cake is the other consistent and a great version for those who like them. read more
Tess, Tess, Tess...how have I not reviewed you before? We love going to Tess. Honestly, I have never been let down. We go at least once a year and in the past this was our go-to place when we lived in RiverWest. Last night I had the Salmon. Yum! I thought I read it wrong, or it really wouldn't be a tortellini, but to the side of my salmon was a wonderful large cheese pasta. The dish was perfect. Actually I will tell you the salmon was excellent but my husband ordered the standout dish of the night, pork tenderloin. That was perfection. For a appetizer you must order the mussels and crab cake. Last night I had some variation of a spring roll and was unenthused by it. Should have ordered the crab cake again. In the past I will say the tenderloin is terrific, the pasta of the day is wonderful, fish of the day is always a good choice....really, you can't go wrong. Tess is also on the City Tin 2016 so don't miss out! Make reservations or go early, becasue they seem to be always busy. read more
8 years ago
What a gem. I lived right across the street from this place a few years ago and never went. Boy do I regret it. It's very small inside, but the outside patio is beautiful and spacious. The fresh baked bread to start the meal is always a good start. We got some BISON TOSTADAS, very flavorful and delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly, fish fry was great and sea bass was exceptional. I will definitely be coming back and recommending this place to everyone! read more
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Although I reserved the patio, but when we got there, they told us there is a party there so you cannot sit there! But seriously During the covid19 I prefer sit outdoor! We ordered steak and San Francisco dish and carb cake. Crab cake was delicious, SF dish smelled awful! And we ordered medium for the steak. But it was rawest! All in all, i will not try this pricy place anymore! read more
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