Sanford

White table cloth dining experience in a comfortable older building. We enjoyed the chef's surprise tasting menu and wine pairings—some very surprising wines and every dish was delicious and offered intriguing flavors and textures. It really was a delightful evening without a single misstep from the chef or the staff. One of the best things about Sanford is that they are a real throwback to a time when you didn't have to guarantee your reservation with a card, didn't have to get out for the next table, didn't have to venmo money to a friend because the restaurant wouldn't split the check or whatever. This felt easy and relaxing and fun—like a restaurant should be.

Wow! This is a unique dining experience. We chose the 7 course tasting menu. You sit down and they just start bringing you awesome food. You have no idea I'm what is coming and no need to make any decisions. Of my 7 courses - 6 were incredible. The one potential issue is all night you are comparing to the previous courses. The service topped my high expectations. The staff was incredible. I should note, I went for a special occasion and they were very helpful.

For the love of Pete this meal was amazing!!! Celebrated our anniversary and chose Sanford based on the reviews. Carrie was our server and she was nothing short of amazing!! Explained the menu and answered our questions. We chose the 7 course surprise dinner. Most of the time we sat in silence just trying to figure out what just happened to our taste buds! Absolutely delicious every single plate. A meal like this in Chicago would have been three times as much. We were the last ones in the restaurant and had the honor of meeting the Chef and seeing the kitchen! The entire experience from start to finish is one we will remember for ever. Thank you xoxo

My partner and I visited for the Valentine’s Day weekend and we really enjoyed our visit. This was a perfect experience for the both of us. The best service I’ve had at a restaurant. The second anything was needed the staff was available and happy to help. The food was fantastic, the stuffed venison I had was delicious and my partners steak was one of the best I’ve ever had. You definitely get what you pay for. The drinks were good as well and the servers are very flexible when it comes to wine pairings. I can’t recommend this experience more.

Sanford recently hosted a special summer dining event: a 5-course tasting menu accompanied by curated wine pairings from a local sommelier. On paper, the evening promised a fine-dining experience approaching the caliber—and cost—of a one-star Michelin meal. At nearly $250 per person, expectations were understandably high. To their credit, the service was warm, attentive, and professional throughout the evening. The wine pairings were thoughtful and in some cases exceptional, offering bright, surprising notes that complemented the pacing of the courses. Unfortunately, the food itself didn’t quite rise to meet the occasion. Each dish arrived composed and presented with the finesse of a high-end kitchen. Ingredients were clearly chosen with care, and the techniques employed aimed squarely at sophistication. But across the board, flavors landed muted or muddled. The dishes felt like they were checking all the right boxes—visually impressive, ingredient-forward, technically plated—but lacked an execution that typically brings contrast and juxtaposition to the palette. The sauces specifically tasted oddly too similar despite being wildly different on paper– it honestly made me think that they were all prepared in the same pot/pan or something. Also, the interior feels a bit dated. They could use some new furnishings or just a slightly elevated space or seating arrangement. In short, it was a meal that looked the part, but didn’t quite earn the price tag. Sanford is clearly capable of excellence, but this particular night fell short of its ambition.

This 7 course tasting and wine pairing was an experience I won't forget soon. I tasted things I wouldn't have ordered, and that culinary bravery was repaid with absolutely delicious food. I wish it was a full 3 hr experience, and that I could have given an example of what I would have picked from the 4 course dinner as a 7 course experience but I'd do it again tomorrow anyway.

We did the surprise tasting menu and it was excellent. The dishes were unique and full of flavor. The proteins were cooked to perfection. The scallop was awesome it melted in your mouth and the braised pistachios it came with were really interesting. I thought the portions were great and myself and the other guests in my party were very full at the end of dinner. Beverage pairing was really nice too. Service was excellent.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while...it finally happened! We celebrated our Anniversary last month and Sanford did not disappoint. We had an earlier reservation on a Tuesday. We each did the 7 course surprise tasting menu with the wine add on... everything was perfectly presented and prepared. The pairings went together nicely and the presentation made you want to savor each bite. The experience easily took 3 hours... we had the best of the best serving us. Great conversation, funny and very knowledgeable about what was being presented to us. Corrie Lynn really did a great job. We ended up staying until the close and Corrie Lynn and Carrie were so fantastic. I also got to meet some of the people in the kitchen that prepared our beautiful dishes. I am thrilled that I got to finally try this place and will definitely return!

The outside of this restaurant does not match the inside at all. From the moment you walk into the restaurant it's like you were transported to a completely different place. The service was amazing. Our server was very knowledgeable and touched on the table when needed. She gave wonderful suggestions and everything was delicious. Kudos to the chef and his team for the amazing things that they create in the kitchen! We were given an opportunity to see the kitchen and it's amazing what they can do in the kitchen that they have! Highly recommend.

Sanford is a nice restaurant with some good food options, good flavors, kind and thoughtful service. To properly rate/review something like this it needs to be against other fine dining establishments. I think for a lot of people it's 5 stars compared to the standard chains and mom and pops they might frequent. But what about when it's rated against other high end places like Per Se, French Laundry, Alinea, or Smyth? Still good but not 100% the best. If those are the 5 star restaurants, then Sanford would find 4 it's ceiling. My main gripe here is the timing. We were a party of 6. We arrived slightly before 6 and left a little before 10. That's four hours which is far too long. Since each course is smaller you find yourself finishing faster and then sitting and waiting for the next course to appear. The gaps of time between courses made my table a little impatient/frustrated. The food itself was pretty good but the service fell short. The poor pacing of the meal left everyone having the same conclusion. It was good but there was no desire to go back.

As usual, our experience at Sanfords was amazing. It's our way of celebrating our wedding anniversary. This was our 49th on 9/27. This has become our tradition for the last ten years. We even did there "meal-to-go" during the height of Covid. We absolutely love this place and have never been disappointed both in the staff and the food.

I wanted to love it. Maybe I'm just not the fine dining type, but the food left something to be desired. Went with my bf for our anniversary, and the service was phenomenal. I appreciated the well spaced, thought out menu, but the main dish was lacking. They offered a four course menu that we opted out of due to the options. I'm not into huge portions, however I finished my main course in 3 bites! The dessert, however, was out of this world. I still think about that delicious toffee.... All in all a very pretty place with fantastic staff but I won't hurry back.

We went for our anniversary and chose their 7 course Chefs Surprise dinner with the wine pairing added on. Upon entering and being seated I looked around and thought to myself, " what's all the fuss about". The interior decor and setting were not impressive but ok. But the Sanford is not about Decor it's about a food experience, and they certainly stand out above most restaurants I've been to. Their Wine pairings with the dishes was spot on. The servings were both delicious and presented well. After being seated initially we sat for a bit with just waters waiting for our server, but once or waitress arrived she was very informative and helpful. We had a few food preferences that we wanted to try and she went to the chef and asked if they could be incorporated in the tasting, and he did so. I would highly recommend reservations for this restaurant, as it is quite popular.

Our group agreed that our Sanford food experience was amazing! Each course that was brought to the table was pleasing to the eyes and a party for the taste buds, wow! I must also include that our waitress and servers were top notch! We will definitely come back again for a special occasion dinner. We had a great evening at Sanford!

Sanford is a great choice for an upscale dinner in Milwaukee. They are very consistent, so whenever you're going there, you know what you're going to get. Very professional service and consistently good food. They do try to push the envelope in terms of creativity, but the flavors are pretty consistently new American. They have an a la carte menu or a tasting menu. It is fairly pricey and a dinner here can take longer than other places. The ambiance is intimate. With those things being said, it's a great choice for special events like birthdays or anniversaries.

No special occasion...really just came for a nice dinner. We made reservations ahead of time. When we were seated, we were offered the options of a 7 course tasting menu at chef's choice or a 4 course set menu. I'd say the 4 course set menu took about 2.5 hours and they said that the chef's choice would be about 3. I was able to share most of the dishes with my cousin who shared this experience. I ordered the grilled pear and roquefort tarte, foie gras, duck, and Banana Butterscotch Toffee Tart as dessert. Doing the course set menu left us full! I had opted out of the wine pairing as I had to drive 1.5 hours home. Honestly, all of the food was great. The duck was possibly the best I've ever had. The desserts are on the sweeter side but if you kind of sample everything on the dessert, the flavors meld well and cut the entire sweetness. Service was excellent and since we went when the place opened at 5, there was ample street parking. I would definitely come back to try the 7 course tasting menu next time!

Exceptional fine dining. We just move to Milwaukee from Michigan - and were excited to score a last minute reservation. At first, we thought we were in the wrong place because it looks like a neighborhood, but we saw the valet sign and figured it out. The restaurant is warm and inviting, and were greeted and seated immediately. The team of bustling servers and tables of cozy candle lit dinner with plates of delicious food immediately set the mood for a great evening. That initial impression did not disappoint. Our server took time to ask about us and explain the menu, drink options, and wine pairings. We chose a few cocktails and then the fun began. There were so name delicious sounding options to choose from for each of the four courses - especially the desserts. We needed to make a dessert selection when ordering our main courses, because each dessert is individually prepared, so we enjoyed our cocktails and chatted, debated the many amazing sounding options, and soaked in the ambiance around us. Our server was great about answering any questions. When we had made our choices, the service was expedient and attentive, but never intrusive. Each course was well timed, well seasoned, and delicious. My husband opted for wine parings, and had a half glass with each course. I had a sip of his - and they wee all great choices. The prices for each were also incredibly fair. The amuse bouche was an olive based bite of lusciousness. We each tried each others dishes, and we were both very impressed with the preparations. We opted for the carrots and stuffed grape leaves, parsnip soup and green curry shellfish soup, duck breast and swordfish, banana torte and black tea cake. The duck was cooked to perfection. Crispy skin, rendered fat, tender and still pink/red in the center. A sight to behold. The swordfish was also handled beautifully. The vegetables were and accompaniments for each soup wee diced and caramelized with care. It's a joy to eat a meal prepared with such love and expertise. The pop of caraway and hint of rye in the carrot dish was absolutely delightful. The Bitterballen were better than any we'd ever had. What an amazing meal! My only wish would be for a vegetarian or vegan main course option. Thank you for a memorable meal, we look forward to our next visit.

I am just blown away by this place! I called Friday and was able to get a reservation for 2 for Saturday no problem. We did the 4 course menu. So many great choices (I don't eat seafood which I feel limited with course meals but I had plenty of options). Portions were great- we were feeling stuffed by course 3! Make sure you save room for dessert. Everything was top notch. Beef dish was delicious, banana tart was heavy but loved the toffee crust. My husband and I were so pleased! The place itself is so cute- kind of feels like you're in someone's home. Such a surprise with the caliber of you get. If you're in MKE area try and get a reservation here!! $95/person and we got got a bottle of wine. $300 for 2 of us

We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Service was excellent! Darus was our server but they worked as a team. We would go back.

What an amazing dining experience. The most gracious staff and inviting decor. My server paired wines with each course that perfectly complemented the food I chose. Every course was fresh and the flavor profiles worked perfectly. Speaking with chef Justin at the end was a wonderful way to end the meal. I can't recommend Sanford enough.

Cannot recommend, very rude and bacon heavy. Some wonderful dishes of culinary perfection, others not so much. Took the wife out for our anniversary dinner. Waiter asks if my wife is pregnant immediately after she says she prefers her food well cooked. This spoiled most of the evening and overall vibe. We did the six/seven course meal. The scallops and fish were amazing... the rest of the dishes not so much. However it felt as if all or most all dishes had too much bacon grease in it. Both of ours palettes were overwhelmed by bacon as we finished each dish. -3.0 - Initial conversation with our server. Mood killing. 4.1 - Overall service. Great service but seems like everyone is your server. Just confusing until you under stand what's going on. 3.5 - Food. Way over priced for what you pay for. 5.0 - Ambiance was perfect! Overall bill was about $300+ with two cocktails. Rating of 1 star is primarily due to the initial conversation with our server and the bacon forward dishes. Not super glad we went once, but the ambiance was nice for our anniversary. Other thoughts: If you go here... you can't just order the entree you want. It starts at four courses for 90 dollars+ or six/seven for 125+. Would have been nice to know ahead... if you weren't as hungry and wanted an entrée and desert only.

We went here for the Valentines Day event. I had heard really good things and was excited about the menu. Unfortunately, the food was simply not good and I left still hungry. I had the scallops as my appetizer and they tasted weird in combination with the seasonings. The shellfish soup as the second course tasted flat out bad and didn't work enough to send back. For the third course I got the tenderloin, which while edible was just fine. Tasted like a steak you could get anywhere else for a fourth the price. The dessert was the hot fudge toffee nut ball. Tasted fine. Could have got something similar tasting in the ice cream isle at Pick and Save or at Kopps. Service was nice. Our waitress seemed very knowledgeable about the menu and the chef. I can't fault the staff for the food. They were very attentive, but I wish they had mentioned they charge for refills on Coke products. I left feeling very scammed and penny pinched. Ambiance was also fine. It's a fine dining place. White tablecloths, clean, lots of silverware. Don't know if the lights were dim because of the Valentine's event, but it was kind of dark. Bathroom is way out of the way, but very clean. Overall it's the food that makes it a 1 star for me. It is absolutely not worth the hype by any stretch. And I really implore anyone reading this to spend your money elsewhere. It's not a good experience. I would have preferred a night in with a bag of chips, frozen pizza, and ice cream from a tub.

Top 3 restaurants for me in mke. Did the 4 course. Came here for a celebration, they made it super special. Came with another person and we tried to get completely different things. Got the smoked salmon, shisito pepper, tenderloin, halibut, drive in for dessert (this maybe a single best dessert I've ever had in my life). I wished I had taken more pictures!

Highlights/Lowlights 1) Excellent Service 2) 2 Meal Options - 7 Course Tasting Menu or 4 Course Pre Fixe Menu 3) Great Wine Pairings My husband and I recently had a great experience at Sanford. Currently, Sanford has 2 dine in options which is a little different than what they were doing pre-COVID. Option 1 is a seven course "surprise" tasting menu. This is for adventurous eaters as you cannot request/accommodate anything on this tasting menu. Option 2 is a 4 course pre fixe tasting menu with a ton of options for each course. We opted for the 4 course menu as there were so many great sounding options in each. I also have a wheat allergy, and you are supposed to call in advance if you want to do the 7 course with an allergy. Each of our 4 courses was generously portioned and very flavorful. We both left quite full (which doesn't always happen with premium dining!). For drinks, we just asked our sever to pair a wine he recommended with each course, this was super fun and our server took us on a nice wine adventure! This is definitely a restaurant you shouldn't reserve for a special occasion as it's quite a splurge but we did really enjoy ourselves and hope to be back. Be aware that this is in Milwaukee's East Side so you may have to park a few blocks away (I believe valet service is available as well).

Amazing food, ambiance, service. A wonderful and unique experience. Highly recommended

Our first time dining at Sanford and it was amazing. We were a party of four celebrating a birthday. We did the seven course surprise menu option and everything was perfect from start to finish, including our server, Ralph. Super friendly staff and awesome, delicious food. Can't wait to return for our next special occasion.

Twenty years since we've been here- and it did not disappoint. Four course or 7 course Chefs choice were the options. We were hungry, but not THAT hungry, so decided on the 4 course. It was amazing. The duck was perfection. Gazpacho was really tasty. The Halibut was surprising- mild but flavorful. The service was spectacular, too.

Great food. Great service. Pricey, but worth the splurge. Very cozy. Every course that I had was excellent. The desserts were superb. A hit with my group of diners.

Amazing food with beautiful presentation. Our server was very knowledgeable on the wines that were paired with each dish we ordered. Exceptional value for the four course pre fixe dinner and added wine pairing. Highly recommend and will be going back again when we visit Milwaukee.

After living in Milwaukee for 11 years, I made it a priority to go to Sanford for my birthday. Extremely happy with that decision. The pacing of the courses is a great change from more traditional restaurants that get you in, fed, and out. Plan on being there a couple hours to throughly enjoy the variable/seasonal menu. The staff was knowledgeable about the items and were able to answer questions about specifics to the dishes. My first course is the pear and caramelized onion tart was finished before I thought to snap a picture. Go in with an open mind and an empty stomach. I will make it a point to be back before another 11 years!

I was a special guest on a special occasion, and though surpisingly the restaurant wouldn't have been my first choice (because of the lack of spices), I appreciate every single moment of the food, presentation and our server's professionalism and kindness. The description says the decor is minimalist, and I argue that the food was too... And it was great to be exposed to this in this manner. We ordered the chef's menu which was a fantastical plate after plate served up for us. They seriously consider allergies and restrictions which is top-tier. Reserve hours out of your time for this gastronomocal experience and of course, getting lost in conversation with your date. Oddly, I remember getting a small cookie at the end--that was probably a piece that wasn't needed and changed the taste in my mouth a little. Perhaps a wrapped handmade candy to take away as a momento, or maybe I just need better willpower? Love this place, would return on a special occasion splurge.

I was so excited to try this place based on reviews as well as recommendations from friends. It did not live up at all to expectations. First, and most importantly, the meal was ill-timed. It was three hours from beginning to end. Now, that could've been lovely. But in this case, it wasn't. There were long drags of time between courses and attention to us. In other words, we were ignored for long stretches of time. The server was inept, at best. Not what I would expect for a restaurant of this caliber. While the menu was unique, the combinations of food left a lot to be desired. It just didn't make sense. Everything tasted off. Finally, I made reservations for a three-course $75 a plate meal. What I ended up paying for was something completely different. The bill was $600 for four people with a bottle of wine. Not at all worth it. I have no plans to try it again. So disappointing!

Last night Saturday, November 26, 2022 we revisited Sanford restaurant in Milwaukee Wisconsin. From the moment we walked through the door until the moment we left, we were taken care of with mindfulness, care and love. Front of the house beautiful manager Anne was present as well as a full team of servers including Jen and Kelly. We were especially excited because our friend Jen was the server for the evening and we were so lucky to have her. Our two person table looked both east and west. The minimalist decor has remained consistent since it's opening in the 80s: white cloth tablecloths and napkins, white serving ware elegant and simple. On Saturday nights there is a four course menu for $95. You choose one of four areas for food including dessert. You can get a wine pairing. We chose two with our first taste. We also purchased a bottle of wine. Our choices for food were the maple and fennel cured pork belly (pickled cherries, amazing acidity), and the Scottish smoked salmon for course one. For course 2, Ned chose the garam masala spice kohlrabi soup. We enjoyed the wines chosen for that dish and the dish before so much fun our server Jen then had the bottle of wine open for the main part. I got the saffron monkfish with riced cauliflower not printed on the menu. Ned ordered the fennel dusted beef tenderloin ~ awesome. The bottle of wine we chose was a Gamay from Willamette in Oregon :-) We had so much fun watching all the people. The restaurant was full warm and lovely. The food truly was sublime. And we were able to go say hello to Chef Justin and compliment the whole crew in the kitchen! Kudos team Chef Justin Aprahamian! And I will end this review with the two desserts we chose: one, the banana butterscotch toffee tart with banana rum ice cream. And, the "Drive in" hot fudge toffee nut ball with open faced milk chocolate ganache toffee bar! AGAIN, a sublime MKE supper! Honored, Mary & Ned W.

The culinary experience and ambience at Sanford is unparalleled. The service is very good, but we did not get our wine poured by our server once the initial pouring was done. This requires a bit of attention. As the bread sticks are terrific, we asked for more, but had to repeatedly ask for them. I'd like to see the bread sticks replenished once the server sees they are gone - I shouldn't have to beg for a bread stick! :)

This excellent restaurant is still at it, and yipeeyiyay for that. We actually ate in this locally renowned place almost exactly 12 years ago and had a most enjoyable and classy meal here. This time around, the son brought his Mommy back a delicious carryout Mother's Day dinner for 4 for $190. It was a high quality 6 course dinner that came with detailed reheating instructions. Deeelightful and deeelicous!

Fresh peas must have been pretty darn good at the local farmer's market last week. Every dish I ordered at Sanford included peas. There were peas in the appetizer, peas in the soup, and peas in the entree. At least there were no peas in my dessert! But just because the chef happened to use peas in everything shouldn't be held against him. Every dish was top notch and the peas were a positive enhancement, and not the dominant element on each plate. After a rather pedestrian amuse and refreshing aperitif I started with the morel and sweetbread agnolotti appetizer. For some reason, I don't believe the dish as served was quite as described on the menu. There was a pile of morels (which were really good), and there were plenty of peas and carrots in a delicious sauce, but I don't recall any pasta (agnolotti) or sweet breads. Perhaps I should have taken a picture to refresh my memory. Even so, this was a first rate appetizer and the morels alone were fantastic. Next up for me was the chilled pea and watercress soup with confit snails -- a perfect soup for a summer evening -- in fact I would say it was flawless. The slight bitterness of the watercress soup contrasted well with the sweetness of the peas and the richness of the snails. Several brioche croutons added just the right amount of texture and crunchiness. As we were awaiting our entrees we realized that we did not make any wine selections -- so we asked our server if the sommolier could pair a wine with the next course. He happily obliged and personally, I was very happy with the wine selected to go with my main course of the evening. I've always loved soft-shelled crab so that's what I ordered for my entree. The three crab were fried crisp and brown on a scorching hot pan and served on a bed of peach & ginger preserves with spring vegetables (including peas of course) and a peach reduction. Another flawless dish, rich and filling with a nice balance of sweet and savory contrasting with the umami of the crab. Finally it was time for the dessert (which you need to order at the start of your meal so it can be properly prepared and ready at the end of your meal). I ordered the Cherry Clafoutis -- something I've not had before -- but something I'll be ordering again AND making at home in the future. Door county might be known for it's classic cherry pie, but Sanford's cherry clafoutis elevates the sweetness and tartness of cherry pie to another level. Paired with cherry ice cream (which seemed to be made in house) and a digestif it was a luscious dessert. I would like to give Sanford five stars -- because this is as good as it gets in Wisconsin -- but unfortunately for them I just happened to dine at a Michelin starred restaurant in Italy a few days earlier -- so the lack of refinement in both the cuisine and service was all too apparent. Little things like seating a group of four at a table abutting the wall so the servers cannot easily serve or clear the table without reaching over those seated away from the wall, forgetting to remove a plate after a course is finished, using the same ingredient in too many dishes, and salt and pepper shakers on the table, stand out like sore thumbs after experiencing true world class dining. But I am coming back -- because my preferred way of dining is to put it in the hands of the chef and do the tasting menu. It wasn't possible this time because we were a group of four with different tastes, but next time I'm coming with friends who are committed to the tasting menu -- and I am anxious to see what the chef can do!

We always have excellent food and service. The dishes are thoughtful, locally sourced when possible and always delicious.

We have been to Sanford's several times over the past 20-30 years, with the last being around 2019 before the pandemic. We were celebrating a special anniversary and decided to return. We discovered that it was a fixed price menu at $95 for four courses. Though that was steep, again it was a special night and thought we were getting a special dinner. The appetizers, salads, and desserts were good. But we were very disappointed with the entrees. Not only were they very skimpy, but they had an odd taste with ingredients, for example, that created a rather sour tasting sauce with only about four small slices of duck breast, and a large pile of braised kale and ramps, which again had an odd sour taste. My husband's scalllops were equally odd tasting. Our server never asked after our meals. Our bill was over $300. Not to say the least, we were very disappointed and will not be planning on returning. Really sad as this had been one of the best restaurants in town.

this place was such a joy. my boyfriend and I went to celebrate some big professional milestones, and I could not think of a better place to do it at! an understated exterior with an adorably quaint inside. it's bright & full of kind staff. the restaurant lets you choose from the four course menu, or a surprise tasting -- you just have to make sure your entire table does the same. we went for the surprise tasting because we love trying new things, and rarely find a tasting menu in MKE. we also splurged with the wine pairings which I would also recommend -- GREAT unique glasses, and a healthy portion! our tastings were all incredible, and left us full & happy. the tastings rotate weekly based on the chefs inspiration / ingredients they source. its certainly not a cheap date, but I can't wait to come back someday and enjoy again.

Quite creative, some high peaks, affordable half pours of wine. Very good at tarts and ice cream. Super filling. Course 1 Grilled Pear and Roquefort Tart with Caramelized Onions and Walnuts - 4/5. For blue cheese lovers, fantastic tart, nice crunch from walnuts. Smoked Salmon* with Marinated Beets and Pomegranate, Orange Pomegranate Reduction - 5/5. Salmon rich and complex. Well complemented. Course 2 Molasses Glazed Quail* with Root Vegetable Caponata, Cocoa Raisin Reduction - 5/5. I wasn't as much a fan but my wife loved this. Delicious quail. Fun to have to use your hands in a fancy restaurant. Garlic Beet Soup - 3.5/5. Tomato Beet base that's intriguing. Shrimp bites are a little odd. Bland green mix in. Course 3 Seared Sea Scallops*, Tindora Squash, Cauliflower and Golden Raisins, Saffron Lima Bean Purée - 4/5. Perfect scallops. Surprisingly complex complements that are fun so there are some great bites but the tangy sauce is too loud for a delicate bite like scallops. Grilled Duck Breast* with Maple Mascarpone Polenta, Confit Chestnuts and Peperonata Fennel Dusted - 3/5. Fine but not as good. Layer of fat on the duck not really edible. Course 4 Bittersweet "Intentional" Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate Tart, Coffee Ice Cream - 4/5. Rich chocolate tart. Complemented well with coffee ice cream. Macadamia Nut Tart, Coconut Ice Cream - 3/5. WAY too much macadamia nuts. Literally 10 full nuts. If you love macadamia nuts, you'd be in heaven. But for an average level of liking them, it gets overkill. But great rest of tart and coconut ice cream. Wine selection - 5/5. Super fun to get 3oz pours paired for each meal for only $4-6 each. Quite a good selection for each. Had a Sauterne dessert wine.

Great fine dining spot in Milwaukee. We had their Sanford cocktail which had a fruit and bubbly mix, kind of a take on a Belini and very nice drink to start. The Amuse Bouche was a nice little starter for the taste buds. I had the Salmon as the first course and liked it. The prosciutto salad was very tasty. The tenderloin was also very tasty and a decent portion, very savory but also very pepper forward. The lady had the scallops and I had a bite, they had a nice zesty taste maybe ginger forward and quite a contrast with the tenderloin. I finished with the Apple Tart and liked the tart. Overall food was excellent. Service was top notch. Not sure what some comments are in here on decor, the decor is appropriate and fine. Overall a top spot.

Delicious food. Awesome wait staff. Very quiet and cozy for a nice special dinner Course Tasting

Absolutely amazing. Favorite spot I went to while in Milwaukee. Service was perfect, including the timing in which each dish was brought out. Even the little rosemary sticks and bread and butter they give you at the beginning were great!!

Good food, fast service. I would recommend, we were seated quickly, prices were fair, wait staff was great, very clean dining experience

5/5 Stars! Went here with my best friend to celebrate my Birthday. Was an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. We had the four course meal and everything was divine. I would recommend the Fennel Dusted Beef Tenderloin and the Banana Butterscotch tart!Out waitress was also phenomenal. She was so knowledgeable about every single thing on the menu and made this experience worth while! Sanford also was quite accommodating to our food allergies as well

Great service. Large kitchen staff and many servers. Excellent food made by hand for each guest. High quality ingredients, many entries and unique sauces. Special 7 course surprise meal with pared wine over a three hour time frame available if all guests choose. Otherwise, you may select a four course option. Awesome desserts. Quiet small dining room. No bar. Street parking. Valet available. Expensive.

My wifu surprised me with this for my birthday! It was amazing to pick up this kind of meal. Four course customized meal for $75 per person could be steep but for a special occasion totally worth it. I would call ahead to see what they have going on the day of. The best organized pickup at a restaurant thus far. Call when you get there and they will bring the food to your car.

Rarely do I go to dinner somewhere and am still thinking about it days later. Sanford sets the standard for Milwaukee fine dining. From the food to drinks to service, everything here is extraordinary. My group attended and we all opted for the 7-course surprise tasting menu with wine pairings. We stayed for three and half blissful hours. At the start of each course our server, Allison, gave in-depth explanations of what we were being served, often giving anecdotes about where the food and wine come from. She was charming, engaging, ready to answer all of our questions, and even allowed us to come to the back to see the kitchen! This seems to be Sanford's specialty-- assuring that their front of house staff is educated on every aspect of the dish and having them convey it in a way that makes you feel like you met the distributors yourself. The service team works cohesively, making you feel constantly cared for and helping the entire meal run smoothly. To anyone who visits, I cannot recommend the multi-course options (4 or 7) more highly. Chef Justin elevates so many dishes by incorporating home grown flair into quality ingredients. From 5-year aged kimchi that he himself made to displaying his passion for beer in the reductions on the plate, it's clear that each dish includes a special flair connecting the entire meal. Beyond the food, the wines are tactfully paired and allow you to try a wide range of styles and flavor profiles. It's important to go into your Sanford experience willing to expand your knowledge and horizons, spend the evening dining, and spend a little extra to treat yourself because it is SUCH a treat to dine here.

Wow! We had an amazing experience and dinner at Sanford. The service, food, and presentation were impeccable. We did the tasting menu and ordered a few drinks and it was amazing. We look forward to our next trip to Sanford and their rotating seasonal menu. I'd love to see some options to choose from on their chefs tasting menu though, as we did have some dietary restrictions in our party.

Amazing place. The food is so good and they where kind to cater to vegetarian and vegan customers. The wine pairing was great. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely will return again and again.

Wow just wow! Beyond my expectations. We went there for Valentines Day & the had a 4-course menu with plenty of options. I chose to do the wine pairing which was great! For the appetizer, I had the seared Tuna & my husband has the kimchi dumplings. Both amazing! The Tuna melted in my mouth. Soup was next & that was a lobster bisque which was very good & had a little kick. Next was the main course - My husband had the loin of elf which was incredible (I stole a bite :)) & I had white fish with a cauliflower purée. For dessert my husband had a chocolate 'fried' ice cream thing & moose, wow, so good! I had a fruit crumble that was also on point. Our servers name was Allison & she was very attentive & explained all the wines that came with the pairing. I'll be back again & again & again!

One of the best meals of my life and such a pleasant atmosphere and superlative staff. Our server and the sommelier treated us like we were close friends. We chose the four course with wine pairing. Grilled morel mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns were to die for, just scrumptious. Field greens with prosciutto, asiago and brittle pear wafers - equally delicious. Seared sea scallops were a wee bit overdone, but I didn't care (I actually liked a bit more "bite"), and the horseradish cream and borscht launched it to the stratosphere. Went decadent with dessert - banana butterscotch toffee tart with banana rum ice cream and it definitely was decadent and quite delightful (took half of it home for the next morning - yum!). Each wine pairing was perfect with the course, wish I'd written them down but I was too engrossed in eating and enjoying. We are big fans of "Charleston" in Baltimore (go there 2-3 times a year) and Sanford stands right beside it in quality, comfort and soul. WAY better than Gabriel Kreuther in NYC where we paid three times as much, were patronized by snooty pretentious blase servers and had some of the worst bread I've ever eaten.

Always thee place to go for low key special anniversary nights. 3 or 4 course meals served perfectly in the entire Midwest.

The service was wonderful! The food was excellent! The "Drive In" open faced toffee bar was to die for! Highly recommend.

Had dinner here a few weeks ago and it was incredible! We came during a snow storm and even though they had a lot of cancellations because of that, we were still treated amazing by the great staff! Did the surprise menu and the food was on the same level as a Michelin Starred restaurant. Very romantic atmosphere and we will be back.

I haven't been to Sanford in decades, and it was wonderful to meet old friends at this vestige of Milwaukee elegant dining. So many of the great white tablecloth restaurants of lore are gone: Grenadier's, Osteria del Mondo, Mike and Anna's,Fleur de Lis, etc. Sanford now remains on top of the Milwaukee restaurant scene. It is the best restaurant in Milwaukee, and our dinner was perfect, and I use that word the way it was meant. It went by without a flaw. The four course set menu on Saturday night at $85 a person is reasonable for this kind of gourmet cooking. Service is elegant and professional. Because Sanford does not have the space for a sit down bar, it can come across as stuffy, but that is not the intent of the staff. Thus, don't be intimidated and feel the need to be hush hush. This is Milwaukee, and fun is inherent in everything you should do. Sanford is a great restaurant. Go, dine well, and have a good time.

All I can say is amazing! We did the four course menu for $85 and everything was phenomenal! My husband and I ordered different things and shared. It doesn't matter what you order as everything is good..I highly recommend this place.