My absolute favorite restaurant and third ward is where I have my membership through because this location serves out the best food out of the 4 locations. They even go above and beyond and have done our picky requests. Also the main reason I have my membership through third ward is because of the staff, especially Michael! Shout out! Absolutely love talking with him and he really makes us feel at home. One last thing is this is my favorite location because of the aura of this place. I can't get enough of third ward Explorium! read more

If you are GF, you need to stop at Explorium Brewpub for their food! I had the cheese curds and boneless wings. (Even my non-gf boyfriend said they were top tier) Service was fast and very nice! They were very informative about the menu and fryers read more

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Cucumber martini - YUM Cheese curds - YUM So many GF/GR options! Service here is always quick - the build your own calzones do take forever though! Great place and they even do trivia on Wednesday nights! Vibes are always there. read more

I was there on the Sunday afternoon, it wasn't very busy, I said at the bar, the bartender was super friendly, great beer, selection, excellent bourbon suction, I had a mushroom pizza which was delicious. Great location, nice decor. read more

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I love Explorium at Southridge, I love it even more in the Third Ward! Stopped by here for the first time for beer and pub grub on a Friday night. We made reservations but would have been easily seated without them. We started with a beer order (of course). I'm such a fan of Explorium beers. I got their peanut butter stout and loved it. If you're a porter and stout fan, their stout list is much more robust than many breweries. And, all that we've tried have been pitch perfect. For my dinner, I got their caesar salad with blackened chicken. The chicken is super flavorful with a nice heat. Their caesar has additions that I don't normally dig on my caesar (kalamatas, tomatoes) but here? I love it. It came perfectly dressed and was absolutely delicious. After dinner, my dining companion and I ordered their 'perfect manhattan' which was deliciously well made and well named. We enjoyed it over a game of cribbage. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and the service was spot on. Get to it! read more

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Highlights 1) Great Spaces for Special Events 2) Friendly Staff 3) Great Food We had our baby shower here recently in "the tunnel". It was perfect for our group of 50 and loved that we could choose to have the big garage doors open for a breezy feel on a nice day. Food and drinks were great and the staff was friendly! read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - Tunnel Area set up for a private event - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I love visiting the Explorium. It's a huge warehouse, beautiful with exposed brick and tons of available seating. The bar is huge and wrap around with plenty of seating if you prefer to order right from the bar and chat with one of their friendly bartenders, who can also help you choose from one of their many beers. The outside side alleyway is cute as well if you'd rather sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. Great apps - I love their sprouts and bang bang shrimp. Fun beers to choose from as well, I love their cheesecake beers, and their "tastes like" seltzers are exactly as they sound - they literally taste like that specific color from your childhood. So nostalgic! read more

GREAT beer. Such a wide variety and they are constantly updating the menu with new beers to try. I loved the bramble berry cheesecake beer and the peanut butter stout. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - Peanut butter stout - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Fun place! Would love to come watch a game here. Came for a late night bite - friendly service. read more

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Fantastic food and even better service! Had Michael as our waiter and he made the whole experience amazing! He was so personable and attentive! I've always said that it's not necessarily the food that keeps people coming back to a particular place, it's how they make you feel when you are there eating that food. Thanks to Michael, we will definitely be back! read more

I love going to Explorium for food or drinks. I love all the space they have with an indoor area, half out/indoor space AND a patio area. We sat in the middle out/indoor space where we could get a breeze from outside. The bar out there is really casual and the staff checked on us often which is as nice! The drinks and beers are so good here. It's a great place to go with a big group because of all the space they have. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We came down because we heard about the library society - which is such a great idea and awesome way to bring in patrons. Once a month they bring out a series of brews from the vault and talk about how they were made and showcase how the beers have evolved over the years. We'll miss a February but will definitely be back to pinch our cards. We also decided to eat in the pub beforehand. The space is big and accommodating, but they felt a little short staffed for a not very busy night. We waited a good 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged us at our table, but after that we were well cared for. Food was good and as you'd expect for a pub. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Explorium is a very cool spot to check out in the Third Ward area if you're looking for pub food, cocktails, and a wide variety of specialty beers to choose. They have a large amount of seating options for dining and have a full bar with seating. Our waitress was super kind, chatty, and very attentive all evening which we so very much appreciate! The Mai tai is a delicious cocktail choice although I was sooo hoping to get an espresso martini however although it was on the menu, they said they are discontinuing it so couldn't order, sad! The beer we chose was very light and had good flavor overall. One of my favorite items to order is their beer cheese soup- it is pretty hearty and filling but the flavor is delicious and pairs so well with the croutons. I tried the Chicken Caesar wrap today which was not my fave -maybe because of the olives- although I will say the chicken had very good flavor. I loved the season french fries and my sig others said the burger was just fair. Would recommend stopping by if you're in the third ward for some unique beer options or specialty cocktails! read more

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Was recommended early in my trip. Not just a place for beer lovers. Portions on point to price, cheese curds, best I had, lots of milwaukee influence but different enough to not have everything, in a good way. Was told to try the curds 10/10. Told to have a crusher 10/10 for a cream ale. Bar tender/wait staff are jovial, attentive, and knowledgeable. Had a great lunch +! Wish i had come at the beginning of the trip so i could come back twice. Haven't tried the meats to the burgers but plenty of gluten friendly (reduced and free) choices and variety of normal priced foods for my area, which makes it affordable as crowd or a lunch! Thanks Explorium! read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - Flight. - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Exporium Brew Pub Third Ward Milwaukee Wisconsin is in the middle of major events in downtown Milwaukee and the Third Ward. I attended an event downstairs in a private area that included a bar as well as tables. High ceilings with hanging exposed lights created an ambience. Tables were close together to accommodate the crowd. Cobblestone walking area what's difficult for some to manage. This was a weekend night and the entire facility was packed. Staff members were courteous but definitely overworked. I was seated and was greeted by a friendly server. She took our drink orders at the table. It was an open bar with certain drinks available. Our server was great at explaining what was available. Food was available at the front and she offered to bring some over, as some of us in the group had limited mobility. This venue is extremely loud, making it difficult to hear conversation. A taco table was laid out and it was good. The guacamole had a great flavor with a little kick. Parking in their garage is extremely expensive and you need special codes to get in and out. Not my first choice for groups with an older crowd. read more

Goood food. Cool vibes. Dog friendly. We came in by chance because the restaurant our friend recommended was closed after lunch. Vegan pizza was dope. Chicken wings were amazing. read more

WOW!!! The hubs and I ventured up to MKE on a motorcycle jaunt, and our first night there went in search of some "bar food". Quick Yelp search (as one does) and *POW* The Explorium Brewpub's menu jumped out at us! The parking is plentiful, however, you do have to pay (BUT it's reasonable, and you can do it right from a smart phone! And in a garage attached to the pub - street parking if you get there in time). The restaurant itself is open, decorated eclectically and super funky-fun! TONS of beer on tap, and then the food!!! OH MY the food!! We indulged in the highly suggested Wisconsin fried cheese curds, and pretzel as big as my, well.. it's big! I had a burger and fries, and the hubs got a basket of wings. Everything was delicious, fresh, and plentiful! Our server was primo and on top of our refills and requests, and spot on with the recommendations! If we ever make our way back up to Milwaukee, I can assure you, we WILL be back here for food and fun! read more

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Hit up the Explorium afters seeing some unique brews on their menu. We had just eaten so didn't get any food but it looked decent. It's a nice, unique space but can be a little cramped if you get in the booths. The bartenders and other folks at the bar were really great. Had some good conversation and even got a small pour of something I really wanted to try but wasn't on the menu in that size. The beer itself was mediocre, IMO. Not super well balanced but unique for the most part. Given the glut of brewpubs in the city I don't think I'd make this a priority but definitely wouldn't be upset if someone chose here to stop in for some food and a drink. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This was the new restaurant of the week and a bookmark since they first opened so I stopped by for a cocktail and some lunch on a Sunday. The food menu I was given was different from the online menu I thought because I didn't see the southwest steak sandwich and some other items I felt. The place is definitely a nice space with a nice bar and cool wooden plank floors. My servers were very friendly. I ordered a spicy Bloody Mary which was weird because I see ice in it but ick it was warm and disgusting was my first thought, after extensive stirring and it was chilled I thought it had good flavor but not very spicy. My local bartender always shakes the Bloody so it's evenly mixed and chilled, fail on the Bloody. Since the menu seemed slightly off what I thought was going get I opted for the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with a side of mashed potatoes. My first thought on the mashed potatoes is that it's bland and not seasoned well which I could fix until I noticed that my booth doesn't have any salt or any table fixings. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was on the pathetic side with this small pounded flat looking chicken breast on a bed of pickles topped with slaw, more fast looking. Once again bland and not seasoned and not very hot at all, but it had a very crunchy breading that lasted the whole sandwich. For just under $40 bucks with a $10 tip for lunch I feel that there are way better options around, swing and a miss this time. read more

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I've received a response from the owner regarding the issues we've had at the establishment. I very much appreciate his owning up to the the issue and for his apology. His reassurances regarding taking the gluten issues seriously is very much appreciated. Since people with celiac disease don't display immediate symptoms and our friend with the allergy had such a big issue, we just assumed this establishment is not too serious about the gluten issues. My friend with celiac just stopped eating her tacos to be on the safe side rather than ask further questions since we didn't want to cause any more of a scene than we had to. Assurances from the owner that the tacos are actually not deep fried and cooked separately to avoid cross contamination is truly appreciated, since we're always looking for places that are safe for us. My friend with the non gluten-free burger did think that the bun tasted too good to be true, but the server bringing the dish very precisely said, "gluten-free burger" as she brought the order out. She did not eat more than three bites before realizing something definitely was wrong, and then had to go to the bathroom. Thanks for clearing up the parking signs. So parking is $5 after 5pm, or free sometimes when they know it's going to be busy. Good to know. The owner's response makes me feel confident that the place deserves more than the 1 star rating I had previously left. Owners that truly care about gluten issues are absolutely appreciated. Apology is noted and accepted. I have the confidence now that I could definitely try the place again, and what we experienced was not the norm. ********** Previous review*********** To start off, the vibes here is awesome, if that's what you're looking for. It's a pub, and the vibe is a bit of a cross between a pub and a trendy restaurant. TVs are showing games, and music is loud on a Friday night. We had reservations and didn't have to wait. After we all found street parking across the street, we found out that parking in the garage (right next door) is $5, but sometimes, free. They have a sign on the sidewalk saying parking is free sometimes. Not sure when that is though. Our server was nice, but more friendly than professional. He kept on wanting to joke around with us, when we asked him questions. But he was nice, and we weren't too bothered. Food was a bit slow to come, but overall quite yummy. Everything tasted at least a 4. All the cocktails were too sweet. Stick with beer or shots or ask them to cut down on the syrup on the cocktails. The problem was the kitchen. Even though what we got tasted fine, there were some problems. 1. They forgot bacon in my "the beast burger". 2. gluten issues: Two in our party has serious gluten problems - one has a wheat allergy (hives and all), and one has celiacs disease. - One ordered tacos with corn tortillas. She didn't realize until after we got the food that the tortillas were fried, but not separately from other gluten ingredients. So there's definite cross contamination. - Another wondered burgers with gluten free buns. Our server took the order correctly. When the food came out, a different server brought the food out, and when setting it down, called out, "burger with gluten free buns". So friend ate... until she couldn't. Suffice to say that she was sick for a week afterwards. When the server saw the buns, he knew immediately that they weren't their gluten free ones. This last obviously put a damper on the whole evening for all of us. My friend had an asthma attack on the way home, got sick in their bathroom, had an upset stomach for a week afterwards. the night was ruined and we didn't want to make a huge deal so we didn't complain. But the server saw that the kitchen messed up with the order and talked to the manager. They took off her burger from the bill. Considering how sick my friend was, I don't feel that was properly dealt with. At the very least, the manager should have come and offered an apology in person. read more

First brewery stop in Milwaukee and this one is going to be hard to beat. There is plenty of seating in the main bar with lots of decor to look at with an open brew area for all to see. There is also an outdoor bar that is dog friendly along with two very large fire fire for patrons. The service was top notch from the bartenders to the servers. They made us feel very welcome as out of town visitors. The food was excellent. The cheese curds are a must try and the homemade pretzel is absolutely massive (recommend as a shared app). The only downside is they close at 10pm :( If you're on the Untappd beer app, this beer is for you. Very well done beer and sodas (hard sodas too). The hard house made root beer and ginger beer was out of this world. Please check out if you're in the area. read more

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Fantastic experience at Explorium! Was a wonderful introduction to cheese curds. Cheese tasted fresh and batter was light. The flat bread had unique topics that combined well. Our server was helpful with recommendations for a drink. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We have now been to Explorium twice and it is now a favorite place of ours! The menu is so broad, diverse, and scrumptious! The first few times that you go, we highly recommend getting flights. There are so many delicious beers and ciders that it is truly impossible to just choose one! They have a wonderful selection of hard seltzers alongside their fabulous beers, which is a very nice alternative if you are looking for something tasty/on the lower end of calories. The food is also fantastic! The menu is so wide and diverse that it can be overwhelming! We ended up going more basic sandwich routes: buffalo chicken sandwich and mushroom Swiss burger. My husband got a side it tots and I got the French fries. We both loved our food and walked away extremely full. Delicious and filing food AND scrumptious and diverse beers. What more could you ask for? How about kind, compassionate, and helpful service. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and cared for. They truly have a fantastic staff! The ambiance is warm, rustic, and homey. With lots of places to sit and get cozy; the wooden interior space feels both intimate and expansive. It's a great spot both for larger groups and intimate gatherings. It has it all! Explorium has definitely won our hearts and tastes buds! We look forward to our next visit! read more

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Went for a work holiday event. It was pretty busy so we opted out of food. Nice place for rotational beers and surprisingly good cocktails for a brewpub. read more

Saw a review saying the cheese curds were the best, so I definitely wanted to try them! This was my first fried cheese curd experience ever, and it was pleasant overall. Every bite was perfectly crispy, there was melty cheese inside, and the ranch dip, celery, and carrots made me feel like I was eating wings. The service was great. Multiple people came up to ask if I needed anything as I waited for my order at the bar, and the whole place had a cool vibe. High ceilings, indoor and outdoor bar, and good energy. I'd def come back. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - Cheese curds! - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Seriously .....the best truffle fries in Milwaukee...amd im a connoisseur of them! The service is always great! Their selection of liquor is unbelievable too! read more

What a super great place for eats and a HUGE selection of drinks!! And merchandise galore!! The staff was super kind and friendly!! You owe it to yourself to stop here! read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - One side of the bar - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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2nd time going & again I just this place is overrated. Yes a large beer menu but prices are above average for a place that only sells their beer. We got apps, beer, & pizza. Again, the apps are good but main menu food is below average. Our table got two pizzas & they were no way the same dough size. I swear the other pizza that had more toppings had to be a 2" circumference larger with much more toppings. For a veggie pizza, this was one of the worst pizzas I have ever had. Had little to no toppings or even feta cheese. Cool place & great appetizers but below average entree read more

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Great service, Bucks game on the TV, and friendly atmosphere. Would love a few more IPA and Sour selections on tap, but the beer we tried was great! The beer cheese soup alone is worth the visit! read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The Explorium has become a regular fixture on Milwaukee trips. Their beer list is extensive, covering many styles, as well as a number of hard seltzers. There has been more than one occasion where I have grabbed a couple of cans to go of the Milwaukee County stouts and a barleywine or two. They also have Milwaukee's smallest liquor store if you need other libations to go. I haven't had too much of the menu, but from what I have had, it's good bar food and their Cubano is certainly one I'd have again. Service has always been friendly and knowledgeable about whatever is on tap. read more

Great lunch here!! We stopped on a Sunday right when they opened since we had a show at 1pm. We were served quickly which really helped. Brendan was great and super fun and funny which also brightened our day. The food and drinks were great. Loved the hefeweiss with my burger. Everyone raved about their food and we look forward to coming back soon!! read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - Big space - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

First off 10/10! I have celiac and this was like a paradise of greatness to me! But my extremely fussy judgmental Chef de Cuisine husband from Milwaukees finest restaurant literally down the street... died and went to heaven here! Our server was busting her backside but was absolutely fantastic in every way! She was a tall dark curly hair maybe middle 30s medium skin. absolutely beautiful! Never a server better in my life! We definitely will be regulars and we want her EVERYTIME! We had the boneless chili glaze wings OMG! STAAAAP IT! Soo good! I had the Philly style sandwich and my husband the Nashville Hot sand with a fantastic glass of Hot Dog! We finished off with the chocolate chip cookie sundae! You can't stop eating it...so roll us out the door we were! The atmosphere was fantasti! Ive been a server(career) for a VERY long time I've worked EVERYWHERE and am currently at a brewhouse! I've never believed or loved a restaurant and its food and beverage more in my life! if you are ever looking for a server! Please! I'm in love with all of it! One visit and I've taken pride in somewhere I don't even work! This is the place people! Right here! This is it! Look no further! With tons of their own beer to try and choose from even flights to over I kid you not 300 types of bourbon alone! Food outta this world for the Gluten Free folks as well as the gluten folks! So much fun! Soo good! 500 stars! I've never given a restaurant review in my life! That's how much I love it! Only hope one day to be able to call it somewhere I get the pride to serve! St Paul yall rock! Thank you! read more

Explorium is my got to spot! Great place to lounge or catch sports with some of the best waitstaff and bartenders in town. Lost in the Sauce is the truth, and the chicken wings are one of the best in Milwaukee. Between the food, atmosphere, and service we were so happy to see Explorium land down at the Pritzlaff. Parking nearby is a breeze if you know what's up and the back porch area by the bar and by the firepits is all dog friendly. I've spent afternoons working down here and weekends chilling out having a few drinks. Located just across the bridge from the Public Market Explorium East is one of our favorites, plus we're Mug Club members to boot! read more

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I came here for a late lunch while I was in town. It wasn't very busy since it was an off peak time on a Wednesday. It's a pretty big spot - it has an outside patio, a large inside, and then a middle part that's a bit of both. I sat in the middle part. I got a flight of beer - orange creamsicle, blueberry cheesecake, and the lime lager. None of them knocked my socks off but all were decent beers. I liked that a flight had 3 beers - enough to try a few but not so many that you're super full after. I had a side house salad and the blackened shrimp taco app for my meal. The salad was good - decent size for a side salad and the champagne vinaigrette was delish. Really made the salad. The tacos were decent - the shell was kinda weird...it was in between a soft and hard shell so weird texture. And the shrimp was a little chewy. Overall not bad. I think the food was a little on the high side, in terms of prices. Seems like it would be a fun spot in the evening to hang with friends. Server was friendly. read more

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waited 10-15 for someone just to take our drinks as we sat down for dinner. most of the night was characterized by slow and inattentive service. food was bland, ordered the burger and asked for it to come medium. instead it came well done and was dry. fries were not good either. Wings tasted ok, some came slightly undercooked. The place was pretty cold inside. Also, as we were about to leave, a lady behind us started begging for money. Very bizarre and overall underwhelming experience. won't be back. read more

I'll admit I felt a little queasy after having one of the least healthy meals of my life here, but it did not detract from the flavors! Indeed, this was everything I dreamed of Milwaukee - interesting beers and deep fried cheese curds in a historic building next to the Third Ward. In addition to the cheese curds - paired with the traditional ranch on the side - we tried the Bavarian pretzel and the fried cauliflower. The crispy fried cauliflower was actually my favorite item, and had the perfect mix of textures. As for beers, I was not a huge fan of the baklava-flavored option - it was sort of a weird mix of sweetness and bitterness. I liked the strawberry cheesecake beer best. read more

The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Really enjoyed our food at Emporium. I am Gluten Free and everything was clearly marked for safe choices. The burger and gluten free bun was very good. We shared some fries and bang bang shrimp. Just a heads up, the shrimp are Jumbo! Our server was also terrific, I cannot remember her name though. The restaurant was spacious and clean. This was our pre game meal before the Bucks/Bulls game and it was great. Highly recommend! read more

Michael , was fantastic took his time explaining the different beers and the food out fast and tasty.

I have had a previous bad experience here with extremely slow service and missing food. We came back only because we had a Pub Pass. Sat at the bar and were able to get beers. No one came back to take our food order for 25 minutes, even after I tried to flag someone down 3 times. We decided not to order food at that point and go elsewhere. The bartender even flicked back one of my bills at me from the tip. Needless to say. I don't care if this place is on the Pub Pass next year, I'm avoiding like the plague. read more

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We had a great time here! The cheese curds are amazing! We got a few appetizers for the group, the mezze platter, pretzel, and cheese curds and all we're delicious. I ordered a calzone which was huge and very yummy. The fish fry looked awesome too, I want to come back to try that out. I will admit the flatbread looked like it left more to be desired. The space is nice with indoor, outdoor, and an in between seating. It did get quite loud with all the groups, but overall a nice time. read more