Café At The Plaza

An honest review—the food did not change my life. It was fine, not fantastic. BUT the courtyard is this beautiful little escape in the middle of Milwaukee that I’ll go back for and our server was amazing and funny and engaging and helpful. This is what made the experience great!

A touch of elegance and old school. Love the old school counter seating wrapped around the open kitchen. The dining room is elegant and charming. The hash browns are a signature and definitely worth the hype. The patty melt was on point with the perfect amount of cheese and caramelized onions. Service was impeccable.

The food is excellent and the atmosphere is very pleasant. However, the restaurant is not adapted for people with disabilities. Other than that, everything was outstanding.

Bloody Mary and Avacado Toast. Delicious. Beautiful interior and peaceful atmosphere. This was my first ever Bloody Mary and I loved it. A little on the pricey side for what I was hoping for, but I didn’t look at the menu in advance.

In A Nutshell: -This restaurant inside The Plaza Hotel is really good. -I like the retro vibe, the rounded countertop where you can watch your being cooked in the very open kitchen. -The service is pretty friendly & good too. -I stopped by for a breakfast, which was super delicious. -The portions were very generous of eggs, sausage patties & hash browns w/ toast. -I also ordered a mushroom burger for lunch which mouth-watering good on top of a bed of thin crispy fries. Overall, I would recommend grabbing a meal or two here if you are staying here as it's convenient & also very good.

Al fresco at its best! The food was great and the service was excellent. The homemade pastry, in this case, an Orange and Cranberry buttery pound cake, was heaven on the tongue! My Vegetarian Eggs Benedict was head and shoulders above the Sausage Eggs Benedict (though that was the best tasting egg muffin ever). The coffee was too bitter but could be overlooked with the awesome outdoor atmosphere, exquisite food, and great service.

Our first visit was certainly not our last. I had the traditional eggs Benedict which were very well prepared and filling. I was very tempted by the shrimp and grits....next time. My wife liked the traditional breakfast. We both enjoyed sitting counterside and watching the food preparation. Coffee hot and plentiful. We'll be back... Go early or be prepared to wait, we went on a Sunday prior to 9. About 20 minutes for 2 of us, after we left the lobby was very full. Art deco hits my soft spot and its very present throughout the entrance and diner area. I can't imagine trying to cast the crown mounding in plaster. No idea if the rooms are similarly adorned. A very pleasant and enjoyable experience.

Cafe at the Plaza Layout/atmosphere *Located to the right of the front desk of hotel; counter area; dining room in back Food/drink *Plaza Benedict (Poached eggs, sausage patties and cheddar on a toasted English muffin with hollandaise and chives) - solid *Challah Bread French Toast (Turano Bakery Challah bread dipped in house made cinnamon vanilla batter) - Good

One of my favorite brunch spots in Milwaukee! Located in the Plaza Hotel, the restaurant is on the first floor and has a beautiful outdoor area to eat in of the weather is nice. I haven't sat inside yet, but there is a diner feel. Outside has a beautiful terrace with ivy on the brick walls between buildings. Larger groups will need to wait a little if it's busy, but if you're 2-4 people it's usually a pretty short wait even on a weekend. We had the plaza scramble with hash browns and fresh toast with strawberries and another order of chive hashbrowns. The hashbrowns are perfectly cooked. Crispy on both sides and delicious.

Good, not great. We were seated right away on a Saturday morning and then they filled up quickly shortly after we were seated. Popular place. Our server was kind but wasn't understanding our questions about the menu. She was also gone for long stretches of time. Other than that, the food was okay. The hashbrowns and bacon were really greasy. The eggs, toast and French toast were good. The ambiance is what you ultimately come here for. Will probably try again but in warmer weather so as to check out the patio.

After about 20 minutes we got seated in the courtyard which is very pretty. Beverages came quickly but our server warned us that the kitchen was running behind. However the food came out reasonably quickly. Two of us ordered tuna melts which were average at best. The tuna was dry and needed more mayo. I ordered a stuffed hash brown dish with a spinach and artichoke filling. It was bland and lukewarm. It could have used more time in the oven to cook through. The challah French toast and the veggie Benedict were the best items. Service was prompt and attentive.

Had a lovely breakfast. I was surprised at how good the pancakes were. The only thing that would have elevated the experience would be real maple syrup.

Again, breakfast at The Plaza does not disappoint. I sat outside on one of the last warmer Fall days and got to look at the beautiful ivy that was in peak fall colors. The coffee always hits perfectly and the food comes out hot and fresh. Truly one of my favorite local spots.

We decided to have brunch outside to kick off Fall with the perfect Fall day. Our server was very friendly and checked in on us throughout the meal. We both had a cup of soup and half chicken salad sandwich, both of which were delicious. We ordered a stuffed buffalo chicken hash brown to share, which was incredible and a much larger portion that I was expecting, which was great! The space is large and was bustling with people. I would definitely recommend for breakfast or lunch food!

My friends and I recently came here on a Friday morning while in town for a girls trip; the ambiance of the hotel is stellar - especially the outside courtyard. The food was fine - no complaints. I had the spinach and artichoke stuffed hash browns which were quite filling. Plus, I love that they had a seasonal mimosa to try!

Busier than expected here but has a nice vintage feel with fast service. We were unlucky with our wait time due to group size and Peter offered us some refreshments while we waited. He was so kind and professional and continued checking in on us after we had even ordered. Our server was kind as well and had some good recommendations. The food was good as well, though nothing extremely extraordinary.

We went to this restaurant for breakfast because we saw high ratings on Yelp and Tripadvisor, but we were disappointed in the food. The eggs in the Plaza Scramble that one of us ordered were flavorless. The Mexican Scramble that I ordered had some flavor because there were chicken chorizo, green onions and pickled jalapeno in it, but the overall flavor profile was still not very appealing. The only redeeming aspect of our breakfast there was the nice environment of the outdoor seating area, even though the quality of the food was in our view below average.

Visited this quaint art deco cafe in the Plaza hotel on Milwaukee's east side this morning. Very tidy and cozy main dining room sporting linen table cloths and napkins adding a touch of class. Additionally there is an outdoor patio available in the summer months and a small counter in the kitchen area. Ours was a party of 4 in a basically empty dining room but we were early for the lunch trade. Several other groups were seated as we ordered our meals. Just a note here, the day we visited outside temps were below zero, this place is usually busier. We were offered coffee, one in our party chose that, others chose orange juice. Our waitress was attentive and friendly and took our orders after bring drinks and glasses of water. Our food arrived soon after and included build your own omelets, breakfast sandwich and the eggs Rueben Benedict. Each was accompanied with toast and chive hash browns. We all enjoyed our hearty meals. It's been a while since I visited this establishment but it's as good as I remember it. A summer visit to the patio is definitely worth the wait you're likely to experience at this popular spot.

I had been wanting to come here for a while to sit outdoors in their beautiful garden patio and it did not disappoint! I came on a Sunday morning around 10am and the wait was only ~20 minutes which is not bad for a usual Milwaukee brunch spot. I am a bloody mary afficionado and theirs was delicious, the best part was the thick candied bacon. The shrimp and grits was cooked perfectly and loved the pepper/onion medley as well as the bacon in it. Everyone else that I dined with also had great things to say about their food. Highly recommend!

This has been a long time bookmark of mine and I was real serious about finally stopping and C19 hit and they were closed for a while so today I called to see if they reopened and they are open. The place is in the plaza hotel which is almost 100 years old. The place is old school beautiful on the inside and very ornate. Breakfast comes with a wait so get on the list early. They have an old school lunch counter, dining room and outdoor dining, the lunch counter had the least wait time so that's were I put my name on the list. The food and drink menus are small but it has something for everyone I believe. I ordered a Bloody Mary and the traditional breakfast which is choice of meat, hash browns, two eggs and toast. The bloody was delicious with an awesome candied bacon strip which alone is why you order a bloody from here. The place was packed at 8:30am on a Sunday morning so I'm going to cut my server some slack for forgetting about me in the end and left me for over 10 minutes trying to pay my check and leave so I eventually left cash and walked out. The kitchen is at the lunch counter and it's controlled chaos orchestrated by probably the head chef. My breakfast didn't take long and it looked great with my meat of choice was ham which looked like spiral ham off the bone. The hash browns were golden crispy on the outside and Al dente on the inside. The eggs were perfect sunny side up. The ham was very tame and not smokey like some hams can be. The sourdough toast was two slices, thank you and the good kind with that crust with a chew. Overall I can see why this is a popular breakfast place because it's a beautiful space inside and out with good food and drinks, 3 years was worth the wait for the whole breakfast experience.

We ate out on the lovely courtyard. There was plenty of seating inside but the dining bar area seemed warm to us so we asked for outside. The food was excellently prepared by skilled chefs. We had the classic breakfast. Everything was cooked to perfection. The wait staff were helpful, very pleasant yet professional. I would highly recommend the cafe. If you have a fear of birds eat inside. We saw lots of small birds picking up crumbs that had fallen. I enjoy knowing nature is alive and well!

Faith was an amazing server filled with great recommendations and friendly banter. I ordered the veggie eggs Benedict with the chive hash browns and I also had most of my friend's falafel salad and truffle fries. Everything was smashingly delicious and came out piping hot and quickly. As you can see I totally forgot to get a pic before we devoured everything but I promise you it's so delicious and aesthetically appealing. I had a wonderful first time at the Cafe and I cannot wait to return next time I'm in Milwaukee.

Yum! My husband and I love cafe at the plaza for breakfast. When the weather is nice, the patio is the perfect place to sit. There are plenty of umbrellas for when it's hot and lots of tables for the gorgeous days! We started with bloody Mary's and beer chaser, so you can't go wrong. We got the lemon poppyseed pancakes, one of my favorites! Careful when ordering they are bigger and more filling than you think, but so good! My husband had the brioche French toast with strawberries that looked so delicious and we got a side of the chive hashbrowns and bacon. All the food was delicious and we took some of it home to enjoy later! Our waitress was so friendly and even when there was a malfunction with the ordering system, she made sure we got all our food and had everything we wanted. We will be back again!

In A Nutshell: -This restaurant inside The Plaza Hotel is really good. -I like the retro vibe, the rounded countertop where you can watch your being cooked in the very open kitchen. -The service is pretty friendly & good too. -I stopped by for a breakfast, which was super delicious. -The portions were very generous of eggs, sausage patties & hash browns w/ toast. -I also ordered a mushroom burger for lunch which mouth-watering good on top of a bed of thin crispy fries. Overall, I would recommend grabbing a meal or two here if you are staying here as it's convenient & also very good.

This was a regular breakfast spot back in my 20s. At 55, I can say it is just as quaint and delish as I remember. Their options for eggs Benedict are appreciated ( and yummy). Be aware- this place is busy!

Awesome food and service. Even the take out is great. Love the art deco motif. We like the classic Benedict and corned beef omelet. Yum

EXCELLENT...HOT..food. But you neeeeed to be early as they are booked!. Parking may be bill but doable and try the Hashbrowns...full of cheese and crispy on top!

My experience at the Café at the Plaza was pleasant. My party of two was seated promptly and the waitress was quick to take our orders. The blueberry pancakes I ordered were quite good. They could have used a few more blueberries, but they were tasty nonetheless. However, I do have a couple critiques. My party was seated directly next to the kitchen. It was incredibly loud and quite hot. Making conversation was difficult because of the noise. It also took us a very long time to receive our bill. We probably waited a good 20-25 minutes to receive it. If you're nearby or staying at the hotel, I think this would be a fine place to dine at. But don't go out of your way to visit this restaurant. There are plenty of other good places to grab brunch.

One of my favorites in Milwaukee, I visit every time I'm back in town. Service is top notch, professional and friendly. The courtyard ambiance is soo peaceful and pretty as all the flowers and green plants are in full bloom. Food is always on point, consistent and delicious!! BTW-I met the head chef at the Public Market this summer and he's such a great guy with an inspirational life story. Meet ur chef interview should happen, if it hasn't already. Go support this restaurant, you will leave so full and happy after your experience.

5 stars for food. 4 stars for ambiance (only because a cup of bees near us). 2.5 stars for service. Food was good. The omelettes were great. Our actual server was not great. She took our order but never came back. Sydney, however, was great! She took our drink order, checked on us and helped to clear our table. And our server was inside eating when we left.

The food was delicious! It's also situated in a quaint, old timey feeling hotel. They were able to bring my order out quickly which was nice and my server was able to offer a recommendation to add to my order. Would definitely come back to try the lunch menu

Walking in to the hotel I wasn't sure what we were in store for, but we were pleased with our meal. There is a diner counter room that gives great breakfast vibes - it was full so we first opted for the patio on a beautiful MKE day. Unfortunately the birds had hoped for breakfast too so we made our way in doors before our food arrived. The staff was very accommodating and moved us in to dining room area where we got our meals. The portions were huge - I got the eggs benny with hash browns. It was tasty, but the addition of the cheddar cheese was just a bit much for me. We definitely could have shared the one meal between the two of us - but we enjoyed sitting and chatting while picking at it for a while. Since it wasn't too busy we stayed and enjoyed.

What a fun place to grab breakfast or brunch with friends. I've been here twice and it feels like a hidden gem that I'm excited to share with my friends. The food is delicious and very reasonably priced. I like that there aren't pages or meal options but just the right amount or savory and sweet dishes. The vibe gives very much an iconic and classy feel while you're enjoying your food. The staff always are kind and attentive. I'd recommend coming with friends or a brunch date with a significant other or bestie. You might have to wait a bit when it's busy on a Sunday morning but it's worth it.

Excellent choice for breakfast in a hurry.my wife and I stopped in for quick two-eggs over easy, bacon and hash browns. I was in and out in 20 minutes. The bacon was excellent. Great service. Easy to pay with my iPhone.

I've only ever eaten outside here bc the patio is elite. Go during patio season! Service is usually pretty good - things move surprisingly quick for such a large place. It's nothing fancy, but the food is delicious. Best hashbrowns in town. I also love the breakfast sandwich and pancakes. I do like grabbing their soup for takeout in the colder months. Well-priced too!

"1920s" and "historic landmark"--I must say that I was easily swooned by those words. From the outside, the Plaza's exteriors are nothing out of the ordinary and dare I say, uninspiring? But whatever preconceived notion that you had in mind, it is the Plaza Hotel of Milwaukee--not THE Plaza Hotel of NYC. If anything, it can easily be mistaken for one of the few remaining pre-war spacious apartment buildings in NYC. I wouldn't say that this location is at the core of downtown Milwaukee, but rather in a very residential area that feels very community-oriented. I had a Plaza Benedict with a side of truffle chive fries. The benedict was average--it had a stale-like texture that tasted like it was reheated and was a bit sourish, so I was not a fan of that. The truffle chive fries, on the other hand, were REALLY good and probably the only thing out of that meal that tasted fresh. Didn't feel like the benedicts were worth the $12.50 but the fries were worth the extra dollar. The staff was very kind and I had a great time just in awe of how well preserved the interiors were, like a step back into the 1920s. Such a cute place, but was a bit let down by the food after hearing all the rave from locals!

I would describe Café at the Plaza as a quaint breakfast spot with a lot of historic charm. My mom and I went here two weeks ago and toured an apartment in the building and grabbed brunch. We loved the candied bacon on the bloodies and the chive hash browns. I thought the ham on my sandwich was sliced a little thick but it was still delicious. Service was quick and we were seated immediately.

Greeted promptly and sat in the larger dining room. Items are priced appropriately for the servings, and everything was delicious. For a treat, dine at the cafe counter and see the food being made. All around a staple in Milwaukee dining.

We ate her twice when we were visiting from Texas. I loved sitting outside between the two ivy laden buildings. The Greek scramble was excellent. The hashbrowns here are spectacular. Service was great, too, and the music on the first day was really nice. Highly recommended!

Yoselin was on point. I called the restaurant to ask about gluten-free options for my daughter and she made all the suggestions. She happened to be our server (may have been the only server). The place started fill up, but we never felt like she rushed. The food was very tasty and well portioned. We left with some delicious iced coffee at the end of the meal. Located in a historical building. I never posted my review from the first visit. We are now back again a month later. Lucky enough we got Yoselin again as our server. Amazing young lady. Just as kind and courteous and on point as the first time.

Do you like teamwork? How about a great meal? Tucked away inside The Plaza, this place offers a warm and friendly breakfast experience to kick off your day. Three staffers effortlessly kept my coffee full and provided an organized table that was just wonderful to receive. Breakfast was capital P perfect so hats off to the grill staff. crisped and tasty. Classic eggs Benedict with the difficult to find balanced hollandaise I don't always get to enjoy. Fruit cup instead of hashbrowns today - a great choice given the freshness.

Food and service on point. Great atmosphere- art deco period. Would recommend for breakfast.

We were staying at the Plaza Hotel and figured why not try out their breakfast. It was a great experience and didn't disappoint. I got the Plaza Pleaser with french toast and included bacon and sausage. Everything was delicious and very filling. It was a lot of food. Our server was attentive and very nice. We didn't feel rushed and we're able to linger after finishing our breakfast.

This is a Milwaukee landmark classic and yet somehow I'd never made it for breakfast. I remedied that on a recent Saturday morning. You have multiple seating choices - the old school counter, the patio or the dining room. We choose the dining room, which is, to be fair, kind of like a hallway space. There are great tucked away booth nooks for larger parties though. There is a good selection for meat eaters and vegetarians. I had the breakfast sandwich with avocado instead of meat, They had me at goat cheese. It was excellent. The hash-browns on the side were well cooked with a crispy exterior and good flavor. Portions are generous. BF had the lemon poppy seed pancake stack. It was huge. The picture here shows a side order of just one. I ordered it not realizing how big the portions were. It was also very good, although I'd prefer them to be even more lemon forward. They have a nice selection of brunch cocktails, but I didn't try them. The house coffee was definitely underwhelming and a little bitter. Very institutional. Service was friendly.

Stumbled across this place on a weekend in Milwaukee, and it was a little busy. Beautiful, vintage-antique looking decor! Very old fashioned vibe. I believe this restaurant sits under a hotel/apartment so when I went, there was a bit of foot traffic. We waited about 20/30 mins to be seated. I got the Benedict and my boyfriend got the chicken sandwich. The fries tasted like truffle or garlic Parmesan which I enjoyed a lot! Super good. The Benedict was alright. The chicken sandwich was yummy as well.

This is a great brunch spot. The inside is cozy with historic character of the building, and they have a super cute garden patio in the summer. Great portions that will fill you up for not a bad price! It was a little busy so our server took a bit, but once our order was in it wasn't long before we got our food. Definitely want to try more of the menu as there was a lot of selections for both brunch and lunch!

The food is amazing. All fresh ingredients with very personable staff. You can't beat the history of this hotel and cafe. The original architecture will keep you busy while you wait for your food.

The hash browns are pretty buttery! But overall the food is pretty good. I have only had the breakfast.

Always a delicious and generous breakfast, and a they make a decent bloody too. Sometimes a little slow service but always worth the wait because when they are busy

This place was awful. If you want breakfast go to Denny's or Ihop. This place is not worth the price. I came with three friends and we all had different meals. It started off with our waitress spilling our drinks all over the table. The food took forever and the only meal out of our four meals that was decent was the french toast. I was starving and couldn't bring myself to finish my meal. Food at my college dining hall was better to say the least. To end the experience, our waitress stood over us as we were paying which I found very disrespectful as I am trying to pay and tip her without her adding pressure to my decision on how much to tip for this below average dining experience. Truly disappointing for my first meal in Milwaukee.

From the outside, you would never know that this unassuming building contained a really awesome cafe with a 1920s ambience and fantastic food. The first thing that catches your attention when you walk in is the 1920s art deco vibe. And I mean this in the most genuine and positive way - I was reminded of "The Shining" Overlook Hotel minus the ghosts. The brown and beige tones, the art deco accents in random places (a little window looking into the server's drink station) make this location great to just enjoy the scenery. But the food... I'm sure all of their dishes are great, but if I lived in Milwaukee and frequented the Cafe, there is one dish that I would come back for over and over again: the 1007 Breakfast Sandwich, eggs over easy with bacon on sourdough or rye and a side of truffle chive fries. This is the breakfast sandwich to end all breakfast sandwiches. Not only were the eggs amazingly runny (great to dip the fries in) and bacon crispy as can be, but the addition of roasted tomatoes and herbed goat cheese made this sandwich a 100. Some would say that this sandwich is the cat's pajamas. I lapped up every delectable morsel of this sandwich and if I was thinking ahead, I should have ordered another to go. The fries were equally as amazing. You could smell the truffle oil as the plate hit the table, and the fries were skinny and crispy. I loved this plate so much, I'll most likely be dreaming of it for some time. Everyone who worked at the cafe was super nice and welcoming. I loved everything about this place, and hope to return on my next trip to Milwaukee.

I'm surprised not many people in MKE know of this place. It's a cute little restaurant inside the Plaza hotel and they serve delicious food! My husband and I found this place by chance about 3 years ago and had to go back when we visited MKE this time. While we were seated indoors, I'd suggest always trying to sit in their patio. There's not a time I've been here where the servers haven't been in a good mood and extremely helpful. But then again, most people in MKE are extremely friendly and helpful. The only problem with visiting this restaurant is that parking can be difficult. You'll need to park in the street and it's and may end up having to walk 2-3 blocks. It's not terrible and when the weather is nice the walk ends up being really pleasant. There are restaurants that serve tastier food in the area, but the atmosphere of this place makes everything feel better. And honestly, the food here is good too!

I'm reviewing for eating solo here... Parking: actually pretty good. There is free parking across the street from the cafe. Location: downtown-ish but definitely feels off the beaten path. The cafe is in a larger building and you have to hang a right in the lobby to find it. Ambiance: it's a cross between traditional Roman columns and a 1950s diner with Gumby green chairs and counter. The cook works right in front of you if you eat at the counter. Friendly person that likes to discuss the bucks:) Food: I'm a fan of the presentation; I normally don't enjoy powdered sugar on my French toast...but it was actually pretty good. Also, is French toast actually French? I watched ratatouille so I'm somewhat of a aficionado on French cuisine. Bacon was super crisp and the eggs were cooked medium perfectly. 12 bucks isn't super cheap but the food and ingredients make it worth spending the money on.

Classic breakfast is solid - can easily make a sandwich, nice stackable factor. Wife said avocado toast was a 2, son said waffles and side of bacon was a 3. Nice old hotel. Parking not great- but that's downtown for ya. Service was great.

Wonderful experience from the timeless decor, amazing food and the most beautiful courtyard!

The best breakfast spot in Milwaukee - hands down! Peter does such a great job running the restaurant and Sophia is one of the best servers in the city.

I was staying at the hotel, and thought this spot would be an easy layup for a breakfast option. I've ordered a few times from here, and each time, the service was extremely delayed. The last order I placed that prompted this review resulted in me paying for food I ordered via their website, and never receiving it. I got a text notification that it was ready, and so naturally I go up there to pick it up. I'm told the food was still being prepared, and the hostess let me know that I'd get an update on when to pick it up. Needless to say, I never got that update and had to go to work, thus, I never got my food. I didn't get a phone call, text notification, or anything from the restaurant. Forget trying to call them directly; it's a nightmare of epic proportions. I just charged it to the game and went to a credible restaurant. When I did try have the food from a few previous orders, it took forever to prepare, and the food was like eating iHop with a bachelors degree. If you're going to stay at the Plaza Hotel, and you really want breakfast, drive or Uber to an actual breakfast restaurant; not a place that functions like a Ponzi Scheme to get tax breaks.