The National Cafe

It’s my birthday weekend, so of course I had to treat myself... and The National Cafe never disappoints 💎✨ This place will always be one of my favorite hidden gems in the city. I’ve been doing more DoorDash lately, so it felt so good to stop in and enjoy brunch in person. The vibe is cozy, the staff is always warm and accommodating with my dietary needs, and the food? A whole vibe. The Vegan Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich and French Toast were both chef’s kiss 👌🏾, and that mimosa? The perfect birthday touch 🥂💜 If you know, you know... The National Cafe always hits. And since I’m in the Top 20% of Google Reviewers in the area, you can definitely trust me on this one ✨

First time here. We stopped in for a brunch. The place has a nice feel. Lots of smaller tables spread around. The counter also has seats. You order online an a server brings your food when ready. The online menu is a fairly straight forward process. Got our drinks first, the Rishi tea was good, as well as the Latte (with cookie dough flavoring). Got a couple of Breakfast Burritos and a Rice Bowl. All of them came out a reasonable time. They were all hot, flavorful and good portions. I especially enjoyed the rice bowl that had avocado, eggs, bacon, pickles and siracha ketchup, and I added some bacon as well (nice and crispy). My one complaint would be the actual rice. The menu describes it as fried rice, but for me it was not as "fried" as you would normally get. I would specifically ask for "extra" fry next time. The service was very good too. Helpful and friendly. However once they serve the food you are pretty much on your own. I would have preferred more hot water for the tea. (I know, I could have gone to the counter, but we were deep in conversation :) Would definitely come back.

Cute trendy spot with delicious vegetarian options on the menu! I had the slider croissant sandwich, Mexican mocha and a side of potatoes- super delicious!! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Limited seating, should plan on getting there earlier or call ahead to check wait time. Positive experience overall!

Excellent breakfast! Had the burrito, was fantastic. Will be back soon.

Great place for a late breakfast. Sat in a table in the front window and enjoyed some fabulous people-watching. The Hot Mess is perfectly named, lots of potatoes, covered in an egg, hearty dosing of paprika and hollandaise. Highly recommend.

Visiting Wisconsin we were impressed to find so many vegan options. We stopped by The National Cafe for an early breakfast and were pleased to find such an adorable cafe, that smelled of fresh baked goods, serving (what we would later find out to be) delicious breakfast options. Food was great, coffee was strong, and service was with a smile! Definitely check this cute place out.

Super cute cafe in 5th ward. Great for a date, outing with friends, or just stopping for a coffee. May not be the best for working remote - not a lot of outlets and limited seating. The breakfast sandwich was good. I probably wouldn’t get it with spinach again though. It left a chalky feel on my teeth after eating it. The latte was SO good. The French toast was some of the best I’ve ever had. It wasn’t too sweet and the texture was right on. So tasty 😋

The food was good and tasty but service was okay. We ordered house coffee but we didn't know we need pour that ourself so we were sitting and waiting that is fine but there were no mugs , we saw our neighbor table folks pouring coffee then we asked for mug. The thing which bothered us most was that they were preparing roasted potatoes for next day probably. They kept the whole tray on the counter and the staff keep coming and eating potatoes from the same tray from which they would be serving next day. Also the food takes good 30-40 minutes to come so prepare yourself accordingly.

We came here on a Sunday morning, so it was fairly busy. They only have street parking and it can get a little complicated if you want to be really close to the restaurant. We ended up getting the full English breakfast, I had a London fog latte and my fiancée had a regular coffee. They do have oat milk and soy milk if you prefer that instead of regular milk in your coffee. The full English breakfast has baked beans, tomato, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, eggs and toast. I have had this numerous times here and it has always been my favorite! the baked beans are just a little sweet n tangy, the eggs are however you like them cooked, and the mushrooms at a bit of earthy flavor. If you have ever been to England, the only difference is there is no white or black sausage here. I don't exactly like it so I am glad the sausage here is more like a broiled regular one. The London fog here is the ONLY one I like in MKE! They always put just the right amount of vanilla syrup and milk in it. Most places end up making it super sweet but this place is PERFECT! I come here occasionally because it's also cute and we like to sit in the window and people watch. The service is great and you just order from your phone at the table you choose and pay using Apple Pay or a card.

First time here. We stopped in for a brunch. The place has a nice feel. Lots of smaller tables spread around. The counter also has seats. You order online an a server brings your food when ready. The online menu is a fairly straightforward process. Got our drinks first, the Rishi tea was good, as well as the Latte (with cookie dough flavoring). Got a couple of Breakfast Burritos and a Rice Bowl. All of them came out a reasonable time. They were all hot, flavorful and good portions. I especially enjoyed the rice bowl that had avocado, eggs, bacon, pickles and siracha ketchup, and I added some bacon as well (nice and crispy). My one complaint would be the actual rice. The menu describes it as fried rice, but for me it was not as "fried" as you would normally get. I would specifically ask for "extra" fry next time. The service was very good too. Helpful and friendly. However once they serve the food you are pretty much on your own. I would have preferred more hot water for the tea. (I know, I could have gone to the counter, but we were deep in conversation :) Would definitely come back.

A true Walker's Point gem! I can't believe I waited so long to have breakfast here. I've been on a special elimination diet for a bit over a year due to some unforeseen circumstances which left me to eliminate all dairy and soy from my diet without warning. There are very few restaurants that I can actually enjoy a meal at because of the soy allergy, and most places aren't able to accommodate that because soy is in pretty much everything these days. National Cafe and Bakery was able to accommodate for these food allergies--it wasn't even hard because they use such high quality ingredients. I love that they focus on local ingredients and bake a lot of their baked goods in house. They were super friendly and looked up some ingredients--I was even able to get a sweet treat after breakfast which was such a morale boost for me. I can't wait to come back to National Cafe for another breakfast!

I have passed this place for years and always wanted to try it. The menu is a Covid holdover of ordering from your phone, paying and tipping before you receive any food. My husband was happy to have the tofu rice bowl, kind of an interesting offering, garnished with Japanese pickles. I had the French Toast, which was alright, although it wasn't very hot. The servers were kind, although you're pretty much on your own after they drop your food--no one checked back with us, nor greeted us /said goodbye when we left. Even though this is a sit-down restaurant, if you want water, you need to get up and help yourself up front at the dispenser. The prices and portions seemed about right, so that was good. The one thing that really bothered me there...the whole restaurant needs a good scrub. The floor under where we were sitting in the window didn't look like it had been swept or mopped in a longggg time. The light fixtures were all dusty grey. I was happy to see they got a good inspection score because I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Not sorry we came here, but I'm not sure I'll be coming back too soon.

Can't go wrong with french toast when craving a sweet breakfast. The service was friendly and the ambiance was enjoyable.

Ok so the ambiance is perfect in this quaint cafe and the staff were SUPER friendly. I ate in the window seat with all the adorable succulents and enjoyed a wonderful black tea (not pictured). However, I just have a petty personal grievance with this rice bowl I need to air out via Yelp review. This bowl touts all the trappings for a perfect vegetarian millenial bowl; avocado, kimchi/spicy stuff, spinach, rice and delicious eggs on top. And it delivered on that! But the whole thing was drenched - I mean DRENCHED - in what I thought would be a unique sauce. It is ketchup. It is ketchup all the way down. It was particularly confounding because the cooked tofu was spiced pretty well, the egg was cooked perfectly, the spinach was sincerely wonderful. Why ruin a perfectly good dish with all this ketchup? I'm so serious like this is really bothersome to me. Maybe it's my mistake for eating a mostly vegan diet in Wisconsin, but if I wanted to eat a bowl of ketchup, I'd just do that! I ate around all the damn ketchup as much as I could. But I'm begging you, The National: please amend or lower the amount of that sauce!

A casual cafe with delicious brunch options. You order and pay with your phone and the rest is self service. I ordered the Hot Mess which was very tasty and filling with the hollandaise sauce. I had a bite of the vegan breakfast sandwich which was also delicious. Very vegan friendly. Would definitely return for a causal brunch.

Got this as a gift and didn't know what to expect but WOW I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied beyond expectations. Quaint corner local vendors supplied with friendly and good service! Great selections of regular and vegan items. The Mediterranean panini was on point loaded with fresh vegetables and especially fresh fresh spinach hit the Spot today! The bread was perfectly pressed and toasted arriving piping hot. The American potatoes, eggs bacon and toast all cooked to perfection Contactless ordering available . Highly recommended!

While on a trip to Milwaukee I was searching for a spot to grab a vegan breakfast, and I'm so glad I found this place! I got the Ultimate Vegan Breakfast Sandwich and thought it was delicious! The cold brew coffee was also great. Easy to order using the QR code on the table, and food was ready fairly quick. Will definitely be back next time I am in town!

Everything is local and absolutely delicious! There was only one table open when we got here but I love the vibe. AND we were greeted by a super friendly girl with a tuxedo t-shirt. Love it! The playlist was dope and the coffee was tasty. We will be making this place a staple of our trips to MKE.

Delicious. Loved it. Turkey bacon Brie sandwich and lavender Italian soda. Wonderful.

Great restaurant. I had the American breakfast and loved it, but probably wouldn't go quite as far as my friend who said it was the best American breakfast he had maybe ever. It was very good, but he's prone to exaggeration!

Very good. Area traffic alittle heavy but it's a very nice place to stop. Service is good and coffee are hot as well.

Great food, very friendly and supportive staff, excellent coffee. This was our first visit and we were impressed with the vegan, vegetarian and meat options, something for everyone!! The experience is best appreciated as a no-rush, just relax and enjoy a good breakfast or lunch! Cute find and we will return

My friend found this, so we stopped in for a last breakfast before they headed home. It's a cute little space and I love that it's easy to order with Toast and split the check. I got a half order of french toast and the fancy potatoes. The french toast was really good, just the way I like it (not very eggy). It, like much of the menu has a vegan option. The fancy potatoes were a little bit of a letdown. The jalapenos were diced so small, I didn't pick up any heat. I also didn't see the first cheese, I assumed it melted into the potatoes, but didn't pick up on the flavor. National isn't a huge place, but the food is solid and real. I'd definitely make a return visit.

Good quality food. It really is a cafe and not a restaurant. You go in, seat yourself and place your own order online through toast. Clean up by yourselves too. Google pics made me think of it as a restaurant. I was disappointed to not see what i was expecting. Small but cozy. I wouldn't come back thought cause the food was not to die for. But at the same time it was just good food and so they get their well deserved stars. Husband and I ordered the French toast and breakfast burrito. Pumpkin spice latte 5/5!

The National Cafe is a spot I've often driven by but never stopped to check out until recently and I'm glad I did! Their hours focus on being a breakfast/lunch spot so you need to plan your trip accordingly. What I didn't expect was there to be a variety of vegetarian and vegan options! While there are definitely a handful of vegan-friendly restaurants, I still find many to consider those menu items as an afterthought - not at the National Cafe though! I can't remember exactly what I ordered (I know, I'm the worst!) but it was an egg sandwich that came out on a croissant - and if I see "on a croissant" on their menu again, I'm ordering it! They do have cocktail options in addition to coffee - turn that breakfast into a brunch real fast! When I went, they had plastic dividers on between tables to add a little extra barrier between customers. I sat outside in their back patio area - which is so well hidden from the road I had no idea it even existed! If you haven't been yet - you definitely need to add this to your Milwaukee list!

My husband and I went there for brunch on a Sunday and we were not pleased with our experience. You seat yourself, grab your own waters and bus your own table (which we didn't realize). You can order at the bar or through a QR code at the table. I ordered the two egg breakfast with ham, toast and potatoes and a Bloody Mary. My husband initially didn't want anything, so I ordered food for myself. Not even three minutes later, he decided he wanted the French toast, so I placed a separate order. The bloody came out within ten minutes and it was just okay. No real garnish. The food came out within twenty minutes of placing the order, at least my food did. My husband's food came out about ten minutes after mine. The ham is just like sliced deli ham that has been warmed up. The eggs were just eggs and the toast was a little overdone for my liking. I tried the potatoes and they lacked seasoning and they were cold, so I didn't eat them. It was something I could have made better myself at home than paying a bunch of money for mediocre food. The French toast was just average as well. This place is quaint and has a sort of hipster vibe to it. All in all, I wouldn't return to it again, nor do I think it deserves the hype that it has.

Had The National the other day for the first time in a while (probably about a year) and it was still pretty good. I got the food to go which I know means that sometimes the sandwiches don't last as well since they are wrapped in foil as they would if I ate there in person. That being said, I just didn't think the turkey and the bacon on the sandwich tasted as fresh/good/hot as it did the last few times I had gone. I got the turkey bacon brie sandwich and didn't get a ton of the brie taste either. I did get the cranberry which was delicious! I will definitely be back again because most of my experiences at this restaurant are awesome, but this past time was just a little off! I will say that they were quite quick with getting me my order during prime time lunch hour on a Friday.

Incredibly friendly staff, food was great, enjoyed a nice brunch in the back patio with our dog. Next time we are in Milwaukee we will be coming back.

This place is just so easy, simple, solid good that its a no-brainier. I had a terrific egg croissant sandwich with home fries and a cup of darn good coffee. Price is just where it should be in order to support a casual, local, tasty breakfast place!!

This place is great! Recommendation, get here before 10, otherwise plan to wait. This is my 2nd visit time here and again, I was not disappointed. There is something on the menu for everyone, even your keto friends. You order at the counter, get a number and grab a table. I went with the hot mess: sunny side up egg, fried peppers, roasted tomato, caramelized onions, cheese, your choice of meat (I went with bacon), potatoes, all covered in the deliciousness that is hollandaise sauce. My sister went with the ultimate breakfast sandwich and while I enjoyed my food, I had some serious food envy. Ham, fried egg, cheese, caramelized onions, spicy mayo, and avocado sandwiches between bread. I had to have a bite, it was so good! House coffee is 2.25 and unlimited refills. Between that and amazing food, this is a go to place for breakfast.

Nice place nice servers! They have this scan and order system with QR code's for right now for COVID so bring a card! Sat out on the window seats that have curtains with a friend. She got an Irish coffee and some French toast and enjoyed and i really liked my vegan brekkie sandwich! The chipotle sauce was really nice and not too spicy at all. I got it on the side and just piled it on. I feel almost like i didn't savor it enough. Pretzel bun and hash browns for a burger seems so sweet!

Wow! The food here is incredible, high quality, fresh, flavorful and chefy. I'm pretty sure that I've heard them say "chefy" on Food Network." It must be a legit word then, right? Yep. Today I got the huevos rancheros. Truthfully, I was hesitant to get a Mexican dish at a restaurant that's not actually a Mexican restaurant. I almost didn't get it but I'm so glad that I did! Huevos rancheros is one of my favorite meals of all time and now The National Cafe's rendition is on the top of my list of "most delicious huevos rancheros in Milwaukee." It had a fresh flavorful and it was seasoned beautifully. It even had just a perfect amount of heat. The corn tortillas are slightly crispy. This was such a great touch! The eggs were perfectly cooked. I love a restaurant that isn't afraid of the perfect runny egg yolk. Friends, let me tell you that I love potatoes. All of the potatoes. And these were the best, most flavorful and tastiest roasted potatoes that I've ever had. I loved dipping the potatoes in the runny yolks and ranchero sauce. The fruit bowl was lovely as well. The fruit was fresh, crisp and perfectly ripe. This was very well the best strawberry that I've ever had. They have Sport Tea. Love it! I find the ambiance here so relaxing. And I love the brunch menu for it's originality and simple and smartly executed dishes. This is a wonderful place to get a bite with friends.

Great breakfast spot in Milwaukee! Great menu with lots of options for carnivores and vegans and all those in between. Food is made fresh and you can tell the ingredients are top notch. The folks working there are friendly and the vibes are positive! Best breakfast I had whilst in town. Only complaint would be the online ordering system- I'm a bit of a traditionalist and I'm glad most places have gone back to standard wait service. I would've enjoyed that more personal aspect of the dining experience here. That being said, this was a five star breakfast!

Online ordering system works really well. Huge props for their pride shortbread cookie bar that has all proceeds going to Courage MKE for black trans and queer youth; available the weekend of June 6-7, 2020. The cookie/bar itself was super cute and gooey; very tasty!!

This weekend was my second time at The National Cafe. I remember being really bummed while on an awkward first date that there were no brunch cocktails but they have them now!! Yay! I got a Chai latte with a shot of whiskey and it was ! It's a tiny spot so it's not the best for a large group but you can definitely get a table for four, esp if you're patient. It's seat yourself and order at the counter with a diner like vibe. It's cute and simple on the inside. Large menu with an array of delicious looking things to try. It was so hard to decide I ended up looking at yelp reviews to see photos I can't have eggs or gluten but they had a breakfast sandwich for me! Amazing?! I think so. Subbed gluten free bread (that was legit good and I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference) and tofu instead of eggs. I got it with bacon, which was thick cut and crispy. I left feeling perfectly content, not overstuffed. Probably because it came with a side of fruit instead of potatoes. I'm excited to go back and try more dishes but realistically the sandwich was so dang good I'm going to get the same thing.

Polenta cakes, yay! This is an absolutely great place for breakfast. It is cozy and better yet, the food is yummy and reasonably priced. You order at the counter. House cups of coffee come with free refills. The place is a bit small, so depending on when you get there (before 11:30 for lunchtime) it might be easier to get a table. Right on the corner of National and 9th and right by the 19 and 23 bus lines. Totally worth checking out.

Wow, That was fantastic! The best burrito in a long time. Local and fresh ingredients along with great service, cook / chef. So much flavor in every bite along with a great cup of coffee. I will certainly be looking to come back when in the area.

I went here with some friends on a whim when another restaurant we were hoping to go to had too long a wait and I was pleasantly surprised. It is an order at the counter establishment. The food was great and they have free refills on coffee. The service was fairly quick as well. This place is certainly more of a casual spot. I loved that they had some really unique breakfast items on their menu, as well as some classics. I would recommend this place to someone who wants to try a dish that is out of the normal breakfast routine. They have cool lighting and great natural light in the restaurant as well.

tl;dr very cute spot and made an excellent place to remote work/lunch! I've had breakfast and lunch at this place, both for personal and for work. The spot is very cute, well lit and small, there's adorable seating right in the front window area. The kitchen is small so you have to realize if it's super busy you're looking at a wait (they even fully disclosure if you're planning to bring 6 or more people on a Saturday - you better dang well call ahead.) I had a brunch date with some friends where I grabbed a cup of coffee and had the "Ultimate Breakfast sandwich" with bacon,caramelized onions, fried eggs, cheddar, avocado and sriracha mayo on sourdough and was served with fruit. The sandwich was really good and the egg was cooked just right (I liked the zing of the sriracha mayo) and the fruit was fresh and sweet (and arranged on the plate beautifully!) The second time around I was on the clock and going between two client sites and it was a good midway point: 1) You can used the wifi there! 2) Delicious lunch! 3) Coffee to keep you jump started! Again, realize it may get busy and takes extra time since it's a smaller kitchen work space. But, I was able to order before the busier lunch rush and got my food in a timely manner. Even working on my laptop, I was in and out in about an hour. I got myself the turkey club with the chips and hummus (light and creamy). The club was with turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion cheese and mayo. The best part was the ciabatta roll, the crispy bread was fresh and smelt amazing. No ramen there yet, but it's next on my list of things to try!

I love the style & vibe of this gem of a restaurant; casual, eclectic, inviting. I had the Vietnamese Baguette; on a scale of 1 - 10, I give it an 11. It was so satiating sinking my teeth into the fresh French bread with crisp slaw and mouthwatering chicken drizzled in siracha Mayo. Special mention about the hummus; not sure what's in it but man is it addictive! (I ain't gonna lie, I almost licked the plate). Also had the Thai Coffee and the Sport Tea; both good but the sport tea I can easily drink by the gallon...sooo good! There are so many great offerings on the menu that I wIll be back to try them all.

I was very excited to hit this place up for lunch and, for the most part, it was so-so. It is a nice space with the slightest funky vibe and gorgeous exposed cream city brick. The bathroom sink is the smallest sink I have ever seen! I couldn't stop staring at it. It is SO small. We were able to walk in and find a table with zero wait time around 11:30 am on a Sunday. There are not many tables and it didn't look there was outside dining space, but I heard there was. Something to inquire about before going if you are looking for outdoor seating options! After grabbing a table, we saw a QR code and signage on the table to view the menu and place your order. The phone ordering system was very straightforward and easy to use. After we placed our order, we noticed a large chalkboard that said "wait time for food: 45 mins". No big deal, but seemed like a long time to wait based on the amount of people in the restaurant. They do still offer carry out/pick-up so that could have played into the wait time as well. There is no way to know how long your wait time is or where you are in the queue. After ordering we noticed everyone had water at their tables. We were never asked if we wanted water. I had to go ask for some. Maybe that is how the water situation works; I am not exactly sure. Our drinks took forever to be served. We are talking about a $3 glass of iced tea and a can of sprite. Took ~ 20 mins for someone to bring it out. There just seemed to be a disparity in the service being provided to guests and a general lack of communication between employees and guests. There were a lot of people working there too so I am no sure how the responsibilities were being divvied up, but it could have been better on that morning. As for the food, the Vietnamese tofu sandwich was great! You never see a vegetarian Vietnamese sammie on a menu unless in Vietnam, so this was a treat. It was served with tortilla chips and hummus. Interesting combo and no side options were listed in the menu on the app. The breakfast burrito with baby red, seasoned potatoes was mediocre. We could have served that up at home. I have heard rave reviews about the ramen dishes so we will go back to give this place a second shot. I also am all about trying a specialty coffee drink next time. More to come!

I like this cafe a lot - simple, friendly and food is decent. I ordered the polenta cakes with two sunny-side eggs, grilled vegetables, salads and balsamic. I also ordered house coffee which is free for refill (wonderful!). They are like my perfect brunch!!! Everything that I wanted and needed was there. Also, usually the size of the side salad is small. But this cafe gave me a lot and I liked it sooo much!!!

Great food! We were able sit right down and order online as we sat down and pay at the table as well. The Chorizo burrito was fantastic.

Ordered breakfast rice bowl and 1/2 french toast and mint mocha. The first thing that I noticed after taking the first bite of the omelette in the breakfast bowl was how delicately it was cooked. The same feeling lasted until I finished the whole thing. Rice, veggies and the cheese were so perfectly cooked. It is easily one of the best breakfast places I have tried so far. French toast was good and the mint mocha perfectly accompanied the food.

I've eaten here many times over the past 10ish years and am finally writing a review! This place may not look like much, but they're serving some amazing food. On my most recent visit here, I took my aunt and uncle who have never been. When my uncle entered he told me he used to live 2 blocks away and that this place was a small market he would frequent as a kid. Anyways, they ordered an omelette and french toast and both loved it - said they'd go back! (Even though they forgot to bring my uncle's drink and when he finally remembered and asked about it 10 mins later, they said they were out of what he wanted, kind of a bummer since it was already paid for.) I'm vegan and gluten-free so I got the huevos rancheros which is my go-to here. Corn tortillas topped with black bean spread, tofu, and a super delicious spicy sauce. Served with tasty potatoes. They have vegan and gf options labeled which is super helpful if you need that. Everything is pretty consistent here and I love visiting when I'm in town!

Needed a breakfast before going to the airport and this was a highly rated place on the way and close to the freeway. This is a hipster looking place. Clean and lots of unique menu items. Friendly staff. I had the stuffed avocado toast with arugula and a scrambled egg add-on. The avocado was stuffed with onions, tomatoes, and other veggies that I can't remember. The only protein was the add-on egg. The toast also had goat cheese. The whole meal was good and healthy. Decent portion size too for $10. About 8 tables or so inside. Looked like only street parking as I had parked across the street.

Yummmm is all I can say. I split the huevos rancheros, French toast, and mushroom Brie soup with a friend. The huevos rancheros were recommended by the woman at the register. AMAZING. So much salsa and freshness. The French toast was also delicious. Try it with their homemade jam that's on each table. Btw the place is small but they bring out the food quick so tables free up very quickly. You order at the register and they bring the food to you. A wonderful brunch spot in Walker's Point, check it out!

I've dined here or grabbed take-out several times over the years. The food is all made in-house and ingredients come from various local providers listed on a board in the cafe. The story behind how Chef Nell Benton acquired the space is great, and she has paid it forward with letting Amilinda host pop-up dinners last year. Now Amilinda has it's own space. Weekends are very busy here and they do a lot of catering in the summer. It's a very popular spot and for good reason. Some of the hits I've enjoyed include the corned beef hash, the Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich, and recently the Tonkotsu style ramen. The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich was added to the menu after one of the employees suggested Chef Benton add it, considering she made it for herself so often. It's filling and really delicious. The name is fitting. The ramen recipe has been overhauled since the first time I had it a couple of years ago, and the recipe (toppings anyway) has been tweaked slightly recently. The ramen I had on Friday was in the top 3 Tonkotsu style ramen dishes I've had. I think I've had Tonkotus style at 7 or 8 restaurants in Milwaukee and one in Minneapolis. The broth is rich, the house made noodles hold the flavor of the broth, the egg was perfectly cooked, and the pork was tender with nice flavor. If you go on the weekend, prepare to wait. Otherwise go during the week or get your order to-go.

National Cafe is a good place for breakfast and lunch takeout. The food is fun takes on breakfast classics, such as adding olive tapenade to their breakfast sandwich and hollandaise sauce to the breakfast potatoes. I got the vegetarian Hot Mess, which had rosemary potatoes, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, onion, an egg, and hollandaise sauce. It was very good and filling. I highly recommend for a fun breakfast.

A very cute coffee shop with delicious food. I enjoyed their selection of homemade syrups and croissants. I ordered a BLTA on croissant and it was flakey and delicious. I ate the whole thing! Bigger portion sizes. We also ordered this stuffed French toast. If you enjoy sweet and salty things, make sure to order this. Apricot cream cheese with ham and powdered sugar on the outside. Bomb. The staff were very attentive and nice. Great easy stop right off the freeway.

Very cozy environment. I liked it quite a bit compared to other brunch places I've been. It's not as tight or feel as crowded because of the relaxed spaces among tables, and the high ceiling, despite its small interior size. Food: I ordered ramen. Yum! Two generous sized pieces of pork belly plus egg, and thick broth. It was an easy noodle to eat anytime of the day on any day.

We dropped into the National after I surfed Yelp for a good breakfast place in Milwaukee, and as usual, Yelpers did not lead me astray. (Cause of course once I saw five stars from Annie D, I knew I was in good hands!) The National is in a really cool old building on the edge of a neighborhood. You can tell the building has a lot of history, and there's a cool hand-painted sign on the side of it. I knew walking up that I already loved it. This is one of those order at the counter and they bring your food out to you type places. The menu is up on two big chalkboards that hang above the counter. We did not partake in any pastries, but they looked delicious. My hubby got the breakfast slider, which is kind of a misnomer since it's not the size of like a White Castle slider... it's a breakfast sandwich. He got it on a croissant at the recommendation of the girl at the counter. And it was truly an excellent croissant. One of the best we've had. Everything was hot, greasy and perfect. A great breakfast sandwich. He also got a side of the rosemary potatoes, which were excellent. I got the hot mess, because how can I resist a dish called "hot mess" that comes with hollandaise sauce??? It was indeed a big gooey mess but really delicious. It has potatoes, eggs, cheese, peppers, onions and is kind of just a kitchen sink breakfast dish. But really yummy and ridiculously filling. More props -We were asked whether we wanted light roast or dark roast coffee. -Local art and random nicknacks for sale were a lot of fun to look at -Bright and sunny atmosphere -Free WiFi. There are only nine tables and a couch a la "Friends" so I could see how this place could get uncomfortably full quickly. But when we visited it was nice and quiet, early in the morning, and we had a lovely time.

This place was on my bookmark list, and boy am I glad I had a chance to try it out. The place: unassuming and generally unimpressive upon entering. The menu, while definitely inclusive of a relative variety of sweet and savory dishes, didn't initially wow me. You pay up front at the beginning (which sort of makes tipping a bit odd), and we bussed our own tables ( we didn't mind at all). Small place, seats maybe 30. Maybe. The taste: this is where the national earns the 5 star rating. WOW. The food was phenomenal. We all took turns tasting the granola and ginger infused yogurt parfait (not too sweet, with just the right amount of zing) the lingonberry french toast (warm potato goodness) and the tofu scramble...so flavorful- and the toast that came with it-- yum! My face: a huge smile across my face that I found a brunch place within walking distance from my apt, that I cannot wait to walk back to. $32 for brunch for 3 - soo worth it. Yum national cafe!

What a sweet place! Stopped by because it neighbors a great antique shop. This is a strange comment, but the bathroom was the cutest in the world! It's super small but the plants and at atmosphere were something worth mentioning! Back to the drinks, I had the ginger turmeric tea which was light and relaxing and my mom had an espresso and they drinks were $4 total, which is a steal for hand crafted drinks! We didn't have food but other people were enjoying the huge plates of delicious foods and they had a great bakery case. I would love to come back and nestle in with a book!

Swanky spot in downtown Milwaukee for breakfast and lunch. Order at the counter for there or to go. They are a scratch kitchen, vegetarian and vegan options. The coffee is good, a local company makes it / distributes it. Eggs, pastries, sandwiches, sausage etc. The food tasted great. They have street parking.

Been waiting for our food for over 25 minutes. Your order on your phone via QR code, they ask for a tip right away Get charged $1 for order processing. Can't pay cash. You have to bus your own table, get your own water, seat yourself. Table that came in after us got their food before us. This place is a mess.

The National is a must visit cafe for everyone in Milwaukee. It contains a large selection of delicious breakfast options that will satisfy your appetite without breaking the bank. We loved both dishes that we were able to try and would jump at a chance to come back to try their lunch options. The National is on the smaller size, so its a better option for groups of 4 or less. Super cute and cozy interior, friendly staff, and a great location with plenty of street parking in the area.