Mader's Restaurant

If you’re craving a taste of Germany without booking a flight, Mader’s delivers the full experience right in downtown Milwaukee. From the moment you walk in, the medieval decor — suits of armor, stained glass, and antique wood carvings — sets the tone for a meal that’s anything but ordinary. The menu is a celebration of classic German fare: buttery pretzels, crisp fried fish, and schnitzels that could double as comfort food therapy. The beer selection is robust, with Spaten Lager served in glass boots that practically beg for a toast. Whether you’re diving into oxtail soup or the Bavarian platter, portions are generous and flavors are bold. It’s a great spot to hang out, indulge, and let the atmosphere transport you.

I was impressed with the Bavarian decor walking in. The service was wonderful, everyone from the valet to the busing staff went above and beyond. We had a pretty good pretzel with delicious cheese to dip it in to start. I had a sampler platter for dinner. The pork and schnitzel were good, the beef was okay, and the potato was meh. The sides of cabbage and kraut were both good. Overall, if you ignore the price, I'd give the food a three and a half stars. When you include the price, I give it a three. But the service was five stars, so I reluctantly bump my review up to four stars.

Fantastic staff, food, beer, and ambiance. We had a large party meet and they were so welcoming and helpful. Excellent food (the pretzel is huge and delicious!) and German beers. The owners even provided a brief history of the armory throughout the restaurant. Highly, highly recommended!!!

Excellent! Service, food, atmosphere. A friend recommended and he was not wrong. The schnitzel took me back to Germany or Austria. Loved the food coming out steaming hot. Server was very helpful. We’d return any trip to Milwaukee.

Genuinely delicious. The food was delicious. We ordered the tour of German and it was just. The cake was also the best Ive ever had. The beer tasted great and paired fantastic with the food. The waitress and waiters wore authentic german clothing and were super sweet. The entrance is grand with stained glass and large chairs.

I used to spend a great deal of time in Milwaukee both for work and pleasure. My favorite dining spot was here at Madera's. Of German heritage, so right at home here. It has been years since I have been here. I brought a long 6 folks who have never been but some lived in Germany. What an excellent experience. We had a wonderful time. Our server was outstanding. The food was perfect. The photos give you an idea how wonderful the atmosphere is. If you really like German food, this is the place for you.

This place is truly excellent. Started with the Reuben rolls which was actually my favorite dish of what I ate. I had the butter chicken schnitzel as my main course. It was cooked perfectly with a slight crisp to the breading and nice tender chicken inside. Flavor was great too. Dessert was the only thing I was underwhelmed with. The bread pudding was fine. Maybe just skip dessert if you come here. It was on the expensive side, especially for what you're eating. But it's a great experience with excellent food. It was also really neat reading about the history and looking around at the decor and celebrity pics.

Food was great. We only had appetizers (potato pancakes, Ruben roles and spatzel) and it was plenty. The beer was authentic German. The atmosphere was great - lots of wood carvings and German decor. Service was excellent.

A wonderful tradition of delicious German food! I had the pork shank and the other dish was the sampler, both were perfectly done. Reminded me of being in Munich.

I was impressed with the Bavarian decor walking in. The service was wonderful, everyone from the valet to the busing staff went above and beyond. We had a pretty good pretzel with delicious cheese to dip it in to start. I had a sampler platter for dinner. The pork and schnitzel were good, the beef was okay, and the potato was meh. The sides of cabbage and kraut were both good. Overall, if you ignore the price, I'd give the food a three and a half stars. When you include the price, I give it a three. But the service was five stars, so I reluctantly bump my review up to four stars.

OVERHYPED OVERPRICED TOURIST's TRAP Mader's is terribly overhyped. I had my expectations up when I saw all the good reviews online. We got the tour of Germany (big platter around $90 that says suitable for two but the portion was enough for 3-4 people) and found the dishes to be either terribly sweet & sour or bland. And I can see that the dishes on the platter were preped long time ago and just did an easy assemble and brought to us. The spetzle and whinerschnitzel, along with our drinks & bread, but the rest of the food was underwhelming despite its' eye-widening price. Overall the service was good, but rather awkward. You have to park by Valet parking too. The room was too dark until somebody realized and turned on the lights when we already half way done eating. $140 for a class of don't trust the HYPE!

Authentic German cuisine. Delicious selections. Not sure if there are selections besides German food for patrons. Prompt service. Make reservations. It took a bit for the food to come out. The restaurant was very busy. Classic Old World decor. Beautiful and authentic. A lovely place.

Diane and I joined my cousin and his wife for dinner at this decades-old bastion of German food during our cross-country road trip. In a dining room that featured stained glass windows and bas-reliefs on walls we began by sharing a nice Pretzel Loaf and good Potato Cakes. But I made the mistake of ordering Liver Dumpling Soup to try it. The big hunks of liver were far different than traditional Chinese dumplings, and way too dense for my taste. So, I didn't eat much of the soup. I then had a Baby Spinach Salad with spinach leaves and egg, which I liked. Next for me was a German Sampler with Veal. The Sauerbraten was cool. But the Veal Schnitzel, Red Cabbage, ham, and sauerkraut were all warm and good. Diane had the Veal Schnitzel Scallop Sampler and found it to be okay. The two others in my party enjoyed Herb Crusted Salmon and Duck Chambord. Service was good. Except for my cousin, who ordered an Apple Strudel ala mode, we passed on several available desserts, posed for photos with each other, and then said our goodbyes until we meet again in Las Vegas.

I was surprised to notice I hadn't reviewed Mader's before. This is a great dinner destination. Especially for a group. Especially if you have kids with you. You can hardly say you've been to Milwaukee if you haven't been to Mader's. The staff have always been surprisingly cool with a little kid getting hyped up and running around a little bit. And it's understandable because they have stuff like suits of armor in here, and what little kid wouldn't get over-excited about that? I can hardly stop myself from getting up and running around here. The food is a good representation of traditional German food. If you like meat and potatoes, you'll be fine here. If you have a group of four or more adults, and no one is a vegetarian, order the tour of Germany. So. Much. Meat. We've found that when it's just two of us, we enjoy sitting in the bar and sampling the appetizers. Everything's good. Most of it's sausage. I think. It's kind of a blur now. Did I mention the drinks are excellent? mean, I haven't had the espresso martini, but all the other cocktails are pretty good. And if you want an espresso martini, I don't know what you're doing in a German restaurant. You can't go wrong with beer here. Great beer selection, obviously. And Sprecher root beer to keep the kids hopped up on sugar.

The food was delicious, I've never seen a pretzel that large. The restaurant is so cute on the outside and inside. I felt like we had authentic food and good service.

I have no skin in the Authentic German game as I have never been to Germany so my statement is: felt authentic. Cool vibe inside like you are inside a castle. Interesting painting on the wall. Servers all wear lederhosen. Our waiter was a young guy who I liked his blatant honesty. (He told us he had never washed his lederhosen and he had worked there for about a year. Pretty gross thought actually.) Potato pancake- delicious, needs the toppings The Giant pretzel is GIANT! The guys went with authentic food, but I can't remember what. It does take awhile to get your food but we were pleased.

We had a reservation for a large group at Mader's. When we got there we were seated quickly and had our drink order in pretty fast. That's when things ground to a halt. The server came back about 15 minutes later to get our food order and we actually had to ask where our drinks were. He said they were a little busy, but it was obvious they were understaffed for a Saturday night. After we finally got our drinks, the food started to hit the table. It was good, not the best German food I've had, but it was solid. I tried the portobello napoleon and it was tasty! The portobello was overpowered by the bell pepper. Honestly the giant pretzel was the highlight of the meal. It was baked to perfection, and the cheese was Wisconsin heaven in a bite! Mediocre service, decent food.

This place was amazingly good! I've had German food before in other places around the county but this was exceptional! Now most of you will not agree with my trying the liver dumpling soup but I can tell you I felt I was growing strong by the minute as I ate this warm, tasty soup! The fried pickles were amazing and were cut like thin french fries instead of big wedges or slices. The pretzel we got on the appetizer was very fresh and warm. We ended up splitting a plate because that's just what we do and it was more than enough for both of us! The wait staff is dressed in traditional German garb so that adds to the experience. The restaurant immerses you in Germany with its beautiful wall, hangings and staining glass. Lots of famous people have eaten there, and they have their pictures running along one of the walls. I would definitely go back there, but make room for dessert this next time.

Over priced, underwhelming. Meat was tough, dry and overcooked. Lacked seasoning. Spatzel was mushy. I make jagerschitzel at home and was excited to try theirs. At $40 a plate I would save my money and go somewhere else or make your meal at home. I gave it 2 stars only for the ambience and pleasant staff. Otherwise I would have given it one.

This is one of the very best German dining experiences you could hope for. We visited while in Milwaukee and had a great meal. The service was super engaging and friendly. The atmosphere is of a genuine German restaurant with stained glass, steins, wood carvings and music. I give it a 10 out of 10. It's a must!

I hadn't been here for over 20 years, and I was stopping through town and wanted to revisit! First of all, I forgot how absolutely dead Milwaukee was on Monday, I walked by and looked in and it was nearly empty--after checking online that they were open I ventured in and they were seating right away for dinner--quick! (maybe 5 people in the whole place at the time, another 10 or more came later). Myles was a giant sparkler of a human in lederhosen that broke the silence and made the the night lively, great waiter! I had a very full meal of hot wine/old fashioned and the Bavarian platter, ith 3 types of Wurst, Ham, sauerkraut, and potato dumpling: great protein meal after a long day of less food. No room for dessert! The decor is fun and "medieval"/old school German as always, a Milwaukee classic!

In town for wedding & made reservations for lunch. The German restaurant been here over 100 years & looks authentic inside with Knights armor plus beautiful stained glass windows. We were seated immediately... My girlfriend & I started potato pancakes plus cheese & suagage board...cheeses & sausage were all tremendous...mustard plus warm baguettes!!! We shared the Tour Of Germany entree...delicious with a variety of items She had a German beer on tap but went famous Milwaukee roor beer. I totally reccomend to take a walk around especially if never going across the Pond for Octoberfest....this next best thing for authentic German food.

This place is a solid 4 star! The food was good, and Mercedes did a great Job being our server. The ambiance definitely takes you back in time, Which has a cool feel.

Great German food! Wonderfully authentic atmosphere! Awesome service! 10/10 would return!

This is a very historic German restaurant in Milwaukee that I wanted to try during a recent visit. Having grown up in Germany I am always looking for good German food. You can make a reservation online which is highly recommended given how popular the place is. The interior is very authentic and definitely has the ambiance of a German dining room. I was seated right away, and the server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I was seated at the same table Gerald Ford used, and I was told that Will Ferrell had previously sat in my seat. I had the sausage and pretzel starter. Delicious! The pretzel was warm and soft and perfect. The sausage was also delicious and authentic with tasty and mild flavor. I had the schnitzel entree and substituted the potato dumpling for the spaetzle. The schnitzel was tender although a little bit bland. It did have a good crunchy coating with tender pork. The dumpling was fairly good although for some reason was not shaped into a dumpling and looked more like a serving of mashed potatoes. It definitely had the potato dumpling taste, though. Save room for dessert. I had the apple "apfel" strudel which was delicious. Perfectly warm with a flaky crust and plenty of apples and raisins within. Overall this was a great meal, and I highly recommend Mader's for a German meal in Milwaukee!

Updated review since my last visit to Mader's was 3 years ago (hard to believe!) and a star change. This restaurant is a Milwaukee institution that serves up some of the best, authentic German food in the city. Inside you'll find a fun atmosphere- a moody, Bavarian feel with dimly lit spaces, large round chandeliers, huge stain glass windows, life-sized suits of Medieval armor and lots of large, dark wooden furniture. Servers are even dressed up in traditional German lederhosen and Bavarian dresses. There's a big bar if you want to stop in for drinks and light bites but I recommend you dine here for a full meal. Best to make reservations in advance especially on the weekends and if there are major events taking place in the city like graduations or a Bucks basketball game. Portions are on the large side. My favorite vegetarian dishes are: the big, soft pretzel served with mustard and cheese, vegetarian spaetzle and potato pancakes. The sauerkraut used to be the freshest I could find in the city but it is now served with bits of corn beef so vegetarians beware! Even though I told my server I was a vegetarian before I ordered, I did order a side of the kraut and wasn't told it had meat in it until after the fact. Thankfully my meal was taken off the bill as a result. We've started coking here once a year around the holidays and hope to continue the tradition for a long time. It's a fun time for the whole family. Be sure to snap a picture in the huge chair by the main checkout/hostess counter and peruse the antique collection too. Bonus! This place is centrally located location right downtown near Fiserv Forum and theaters (in the Deer District). There is a valet which is incredible considering the location and how hard it can be to find free street parking in the city. Best practice is to tip valet $3-$5.

Ambiance is old German upscale restaurant/bar with swords and stained glass... so far so good. Lots of German beer and wine selections but most of the "by the glass" are small bottles so no way to try anything without buying. Service was hit and miss... mostly miss on a very quiet afternoon with only a few patrons. Lunch menu was very small with only a few options beyond sausages Portions big on starch but small on meat. Taste was unremarkable it then it is German so some of that is expected. If you are looking for old school tourist German then this is your place!

Went for lunch at this very famous German restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. It's been here since 1902. The place is beautiful with wood carvings and stained glass windows. Wait staff were wearing traditional German lederhosen. The server was prompt and friendly, however this was lunch service and not very busy. Started with a wonderful charcuterie board with bread, beer cheese spread, 2 different cheeses, 2 meats, fruit, nuts, pickles and a delightful spicy cherry jam which paired well with the beer cheese. Hubby had a dunkle beer he really enjoyed. We both had the veal schnitzel with jaeger style mushroom gravy. Came with homemade spaetzel and sauerkraut. Too stuffed to have any of the delicious dessert offerings. All very delicious and authentic German. I can say that having lived in Germany. When visiting Milwaukee you've got to go here!

Delicious, authentic German food. We actually ate at their tent during Germanfest this past weekend. I ordered their sausage sample that came with 3 different sausages, sauerkraut, and German potato salad. My sister had the cheese and bacon spatzel. We loved the spatzel, it was super rich, springy and full of flavor. I will add it was VERY salty, but I loved it. Just maybe chase it with a nice beer or some water. It was nice to sample the different sausages, my favorite was the bratwurst and I really enjoyed this vinegary (hint of sweet) take on potato salad. I couldn't put my fork down! I also had a jager cocktail that had lemonade, this was super refreshing and was a good chaser for my meal. I won't speak to service or ambience since this was in a unique setting but I did walk past the exterior of the storefront and it looks very classic and charming.

We were in the mood of some German food and everyone recommended Mader's in downtown so we decided to check it out. Here's my take on the experience: Quality of drinks and food: Excellent. I tried the Rhine Sampler that came with Weiner Schnitzel, beef goulash, spaetzle, red cabbage, and sauerkraut. Everything was seasoned to perfection and tasted very authentic. The portion size was also huge. For beer I had their dark Dunkel which paired brilliantly with the hearty food. Décor: really neat. Just one look at the menu would tell you that some very famous presidents and celebrities have dined at Mader's. That's not only because of their excellent food but the historic nature of the restaurant. There are stained glass murals on the walls and the whole place feels very cozy and very German. Cleanliness: good. The tables and carpets were being kept clean. Service: good. Our server was quick at taking and bringing our orders. Price: expensive. The sampler was around $40 and the beer price also seemed a bit high. They definitely can demand higher prices because of their well known restaurant status in Milwaukee. If you're up for some authentic albeit pricey German food then you must checkout Mader's.

This 120+ year old German restaurant looks incredible inside and outside, we just had to check it out! I've been to Germany three times, and just got back from Munich's Oktoberfest! But some research we saw that the main dishes, however, were more on the upscale pricier level so we opted to just visit the bar area for appetizers and happy hour beers...though we learned the hard way that happy hour is only $2 off draft beers, no food specials...doh! At least they had some good German beers on draft, a 1 liter "Ein Mass" glass costing $14 after the $2 discount. The $14 Reuben rolls, with corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese, deep fried in a batter...tasty, meaty, and delicious! The $15 Giant Pretzel really is humungous! Bartender served with a genuine big smile, as well as the runners. The interior decor is amazing, definitely worth a look and great place for a German beer, and a dinner splurge.

This is the most perfect German theme restaurant I've ever experienced! The servers are dressed in German outfits and are a delightfully to be around. The murals are so captive and their architecture reminds me of a church that you would go to! What a wonderful experience

If you are looking for the authentic German cuisine experience Mader's is your place. The staff is dressed in old time German clothes and the service is great. The food was cooked and flavored just like a German grandma did it. Everything about this place gives you a positive vibe and family feeling.

Less than stellar service this Saturday night. Slow service, took forever to get a glass of wine and totally forgot our potato pancake app. Wiener Schitzel was dry, but my husband's pork shank was good. Won't be returning anytime soon. Adding to the review that I did not appreciate getting bitched out upon leaving about this review. Very unprofessional.

I wish. I could give this place zero stars. I highly wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The customer service is awful. Our server Menucha had the most unpleasant and rude attitude. From the moment we sat down she had a chip on her shoulder. I was actually ready to go but My Aunt wanted to stay and try the fried potatoes. I tried goulash at a restaurant in Chicago and loved it. Our food was a disaster the potatoes were hard and overcooked. We mentioned it to our server and she had an even more attitude with us. My goulash came with some type of sticky rice and raw peppers.The meat was so tender that it was hard to even chew it. I thought it was suppose to be more like a soup. Just a terrible experience at this establishment. I rank this place as the most unpleasant and awful place to dine in Milwaukee. Definitely Don't Recommend to come here and spend your money.

Very cool atmosphere, awesome weapons collection. Food was great - very authentic. The giant pretzel is truly enormous! Recommend the potato pancakes and spätzle.

The service was good, however the food was not what we expected. The Food was extremely dry and when we Made the reservation we told them it was our anniversary however nothing was done. Would not recommend Mader's for a special occasion.

An incredible dining experience. My brother, sister and myself were from out of town and went there and were blown away. The German beer on draft was amazing, and the food was great. As I said to our waiter " the food and the service couldn't have been better". It was so good we went back the next night for dinner!

Still a reliable stop when in Milwaukee. Our last visit was a bit more uneven than past visits, but still VERY good, and will be back. The atmosphere is great; the service is usually great (ours last night was a bit plodding, but may have been understaffed a bit), and the food is authentic and tasty. I tried the Sauerbraten as advertised on the menu, although they no longer say it has sour cream (and it did), and it was supposed to have golden raisins (and it didn't), but it did have the almonds. I still stand by my earlier assertion that you should get it Bavarian Style - which is just with ginger snap sauce, and you should ask for more sauce as it's fantastic...as is the meat. The wine we wanted was out of stock, so we got a similar bottle that our waiter painstakingly searched for and located. It was my birthday, so we got a discount and a free dessert to go, because most of the dishes here are going to fill you up for the evening!

How can't you love the authenticity and history of Mader's in Milwaukee. This place screams old school German cuisine. Recommended by business clients, Mader's lived up to the hype. Started with some apps that included potato pancakes and an enormous Bavarian pretzel. Potato pancakes were spectacular, reminded me of my grandmothers. The Bavarian pretzel could have fed the entire restaurant. It's freakish size did not diminish it's golden baked goodness. Beer cheese was equally as satisfying. For main course, ordered the rhouladen. This was the first time eating this German staple. Beef tenderloin stuffed with bacon over spatzle. Who wouldn't love this? Finished off with maybe the best piece of bread pudding I have had. Definitely one of the most memorable. The blackberry sauce was a perfect compliment. Service was solid. Servers took care of our every need! Can't wait to revisit this Milwaukee landmark on my next visit!

Late post This was the first time Greg and I came here. My cousin, Mair, and her hubby, Reg love this place and although we were still full from lunch, we came here for coffee and dessert. Reg was the only one who came in and ordered coffee, while my cousin and I ordered the cider old-fashioned cocktail, and Greg ordered his usual Amaretto stone sour. Our cocktails were served warm, and you can see the cinnamon sticks in it. Absolutely delicious! The charcuterie board was delicious. Greg enjoyed his apple strudel, which is a favorite among the patrons per our waitress, Mercedes, who was awesome! He opted not to have ice cream on it. The second favorite is the bread pudding, which Mair and I had. Again, delicious! It's a great place and a favorite among many celebrities such as Ron Howard, Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Frank Sinatra, and Audrey Hepburn, to name a few. Their pictures are hung on a wall. So, we definitely will be back to try one of their entrees! ,

My mom and I were so excited to come to Mader's. It was her first time and she loved it as much as I do. This restaurant has been around since 1902 and I can definitely see why. They have the best authentic German food around. My mom and I both split the German sampler and it was absolutely delicious! We really enjoyed the schnitzel, ham, and potato pancakes the most. They came on top for us. The service was friendly and prompt. The restaurant itself is nostalgic and truly represents German heritage. Mader's is a must when in Milwaukee! I love this place!

This place became an instant favorite the first moment I stepped in. Authentic music, the staff wears all of the traditional German serving attire, and the food is amazing! It's honestly ruined all other German restaurants for me because I feel like nothing will ever come close to everything about this place. I recommend the pork shank, it really is THAT good and worth trying it out. I had the German sampler the second time I came and it was also fantastic, I feel like I would be hard pressed to find something I didn't like about this place. They also have a valet service parking lot and their portion offerings of beer are haughty and that's just how I like it. 5/5 must visit if you're in the area! Love this place!

Highlights/Lowlights 1) Iconic Milwaukee German Restaurant 2) Friendly Service 3) A Little Pricy for Food/Atmosphere Mader's had been on my bucket list for awhile so I was glad to finally stop in and try for dinner! I made a reservation in advance and we were seated right away upon arrival. The place was fairly busy so I would recommend a reservation, especially on a weekend. Our friendly server walked us through the menu and quickly took our drink order. Our group wanted to try a bunch of things and share so we landed on a potato pancake appetizer and then the sampler platter which included a pork knuckle, sausages, potato salad and mustards. Overall we enjoyed trying all of the different foods but found it to be fairly expensive? For the 3 of us we split a bottle of wine, an appetizer and the entree platter and I think we paid about $80 each. This is a fun one to try if you are a Milwaukee local or just in town visiting.

I got the schnitzel and prawns, but the flavors were not quite there for me. It just needed more seasoning overall. The shareable pretzel was pretty good and about the size of a steering wheel. Service and ambiance is great. The place is huge and has plenty of seating, as well as a bar. Expect to spend over $40-50/per person just on food. They also have a great selection of wine and beer (you can get beer in a glass boot).

Always a fantastic time at Mader's! The food is delicious and authentic, drinks excellent, and all in an authentic atmosphere! The staff is helpful and welcoming, happy to answer any questions and make recommendations. The location is iconic and makes for a great time. Have been going since I was young and so glad it is still a wonderful institution! Cannot recommend enough!

The vibe was really cool. It felt very authentic and had cool memorabilia all over the wall. It was very pricey, you do get a ton of good but I wish it had options for half portions.

We took my mom for Mother's Day Brunch. The food was terrible and overpriced. Not one item was hot. The salmon was overcooked. The biscuits and gravy were bland. The strudel was soggy and apples had no flavor. The chocolate cake was dry. The waitstaff had nothing to do so they had personal conversation with each other. And this meal cost us $230 for 3 people.

If you've lived in Milwaukee or even have visited more than once, you've likely heard of Mader's. It's an iconic German restaurant that's been around a hundred plus years. I've only been there a few times in my life, surprisingly. But we had the opportunity to go for lunch before seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra this past holiday season. I'm glad I made a reservation. There were 7 of us and it was an event day. Had we not made one, we would have had to go elsewhere because it was pretty full! Our server was super nice. Maybe not the most attentive service but friendliness goes a long way. We got seated a whole 2 hours before the show. We ordered a round of drinks, some appetizers and some lunches and wound up being a few minutes late to the show. It all worked out but I didn't think a tried and true place like this would be surprised by an event-driven influx of traffic. The food was great though. We had the Reuben rolls and beer dip for starters and both were excellent. All of us were quite pleased by the meals we got. I went weiner schnitzel and loved it! And most of their lunch options are reasonably priced and portioned. All in all, was a great return to a Milwaukee institution.

We have not walked out of a restaurant in YEARS. It is 8:20 pm and our resy was at 7:00 pm. Our drink and food order was taken around 7:10 and 20 minutes later my husband went to the bar and ordered our drinks. The food hadn't surfaced by 8 pm so we walked. The poor server was running around like crazy and clearly needed help. My husband spoke to the manager and she was disinterested in our situation. When we walked out at 8:05 an hour later, the same manager was hanging at the hostess stand talking to a few other women and fanning herself. Absolutely no interest in rectifying the situation. Was really looking forward to the food but not hanging around. Very disappointing.

A staple of Milwaukee...and my first time to Milwaukee's oldest restaurant. We had to go during our trip to Milwaukee. Hubby loves German food. This place did not disappoint and Eve (our waitress) went above and beyond. We ordered the German sampler for 2 - I'm gfree/hubby is not. They made a separate plate for both of us and shared pickled beets and sauerkraut for us both. I appreciated that sooo much. On a funny note...we arrived around lunch time and thought valet was only at night time and this guy came up to my car and grabbed the keys. I wasn't even sure if he worked for maders. Ha!

Overpriced, dated decor. OK food, limited menu selections. Menu seems basically the same as 25 years ago

I'm German and based on reviews, I went there with high expectations. The waitress was very nice. We ordered just appetizers and had to wait for at least 30 minutes to get the food. The pretzel and the mustard were good. The Bavarian white sausage was ok. The potato salad was too sweet, almost disgusting. We found a hair in the Frikadellen. And the taste and the texture of the Frikadellen was awful. My verdict as a German, don't go there if you want to eat good, authentic German food.

I lived in Bavaria for nearly five years, and developed a deep appreciation for Bavarian cooking, especially the in the smaller towns and villages where each local brewery offers its specialty beers and its kneipe offers its own take on Bavarian dishes. I travel several times a month in my work, and always search for but seldom discover, the quality of the food I remember from Bayern. Milwaukee held promise, with its brewing tradition and German-immigrant history. I discovered Mader's, which promised success with its ambiance (faux bier keller), some several servers in dirndl and kurze lederhosen, as will as a long list of German beers, including Erdinger, Hacker-Schor, Andechs, and Weihenstephen. I ordered the Sauerbraten, and asked to substitute potato dumpling (kartoffelknoedl) for the Spaetzle. What an utter-letdown. While the side-dishes of red cabbage and sauerkraut were adequate, the marinated roast beef should have been a large slice from a recent roast. Instead, thin slices of gray, dried-out meet were served with only the warmed ginger gravy adding anything similar to the moist beef I expect. The dumplings were a disaster. It was difficult to identify them as being potato, in taste or consistency, and especially in shape. As mentioned in another review, instead of a round dumpling, these creations appeared to be mashed potatoes scooped together and refrigerated for several days until served. $39.95 for this lackluster offering is highway robbery. Oh yes, one more thing. The server apparently knew nothing about Weissbier, expecting me to drink my Erdinger from the bottle.

This German restaurant is not only a destination and a must during a Milwaukee visit, but also an establishment that has so many historical stories. The food, service, and ambience of this restaurant is just amazing! There is a valet service and street parking available. I highly recommend making reservations. The evenings definitely get very busy. I have only dined there twice in six years, but both experiences were so wonderful. Friendly service, incredible ambience, and flavorful food! On their about us page they share "Mader's was founded in 1902, before the Wright brothers first flight and before Henry Ford's Model T. A porterhouse steak or roast duckling dinner were priced at 20 cents. Lunch was four cents. A stein of beer was three cents. If you drank two steins of beer, your lunch was free." This is not just a destination but an institution. This is also a very special place to my other half's family. Many celebrations and dinners were hosted here over the 120 years. It is also a very special place because many of the artifacts and carvings or sculptures we're done by their families ancestors. "120 years later.. to this day, Mader's Restaurant is still entirely family owned and operated. Indeed this is a blessing to the city of Milwaukee in the preservation of heritage establishments." I love this restaurant and love the history and preservation of history. Thank you for an amazing meal and experience. We loved the REUBEN ROLLS Corned Beef, Sauerkraut and Swiss cheese inside a wonton wrap, with crispy spinach and Dusseldorf mustard sauce CARAMELIZED BRUSSEL SPROUTS With Mader's Bacon, Baby Swiss, Haystack onions and Red Wine Gastrique BAKED ONION Sliced Onions in a Burgundy broth, topped with Swiss cheese BABY SPINACH Baby spinach with red onion, sliced egg, sesame croutons topped with our Famous Mader's Hot Bacon Dressing Mader's Specialties EXCLUSIVELY OURS - PORK SHANK Mader's Most Famous Dish Number one favorite for over one hundred twenty years. Skinless shank with apple demi glaze, red potatoes, and choice of Vince Lombardi's favorite. GERMAN SAMPLER Our Most Popular Dish Wiener schnitzel, Kassler Rippchen, and Rheinischer sauerbraten with potato dumpling, sauerkraut and red cabbage. Inspired by John F. Kennedy. TOUR OF GERMANY Serves Two Sauerbraten, Kassler Rippchen, pork shank and wiener schnitzel with German potato salad, spaetzle and red cabbage HUNGARIAN STYLE BEEF GOULASH Braised beef sirloin resting in a rich Hungarian paprika sauce, onions, caraway seed, spaetzle and sautéed spinach WIENER SCHNITZEL- order the Veal version Lightly breaded pork cutlet pan sautéed and served with sauerkraut, spaetzle and lemon RHINE SAMPLER Wiener schnitzel, beef goulash with spaetzle, red cabbage and sauerkraut. Plus you have to order the APPLE STRUDEL ALA MODE - it's so good!!! Plus if you can then order a boot too!

Stopped here for a small bite and a brew. Had the Ruben Roll it was out of this world delicious. Had the .5 L of pale ale and it was excellent. Inside is amazing and historic. Bartender was really cool to chat with. I will be back for sure

The whole dining experience was amazing. The waitstaff were dressed in authentic German attire. The restaurant is spotless clean and food and service were amazing. The selection of beers and wines were plentiful. We also had strudel for dessert. Definitely going back to Mader's on my next trip to Milwaukee.