Barnacle Bud's

The always packed Bud's is getting even trickier to get a table at. This summer staff were up front to seat all comers. They told my party of four there were no empty tables, but we'd just walked the restaurant and there were three ready to go.Service was friendly, but lackadaisical and slow.The atmosphere rules, as always.Food was just okay - not as good as on previous visits and when I pay $20 for a sandwich - it needs to be excellent. Everything was a bit bland, from burgers to my lobster roll.Lunch for 4 with 2 drinks, a soda and beer came to $112 with the grooper po'boy, the lobster roll and two burgers. Too much for too little.

Pretty decent! I got the shrimp po boy, some oysters, and a cocktail. The drink was way too sweet for my taste, but the food was good. Not the best seafood I've ever had, but the experience was fun being outside on the river! Would come back in the future

Restaurant on the beach vibes! Our server was outstanding. Came on a Friday during lunch and he did an amazing job checking in and making sure we were happy throughout the meal. The oysters were perfect, not the earthy flavored ones, very refreshing. The muscles would have been more enjoyable if it didn't have the Cajun- but not a deal breaker and I loved the garlic bread. The clam chowder, grouper, and curds were just outstanding including overall flavor and portion sizes. Get the key-lime pie. The crumbly crust and more of a "cheesecake texture" vs "jello texture" makes this my new favorite spot for Key-lime pie. Don't let the drive off the beaten path turn you away, it's my new favorite restaurant!

What a great little outside seafood restaurant, made me feel like I was on a marina in Florida. Very casual, menus on colored xerox paper at the table. Our server was very patient and explained dishes/drinks. We had the garlic cheese curds...the best I had all weekend in Milwaukee! I had the cod fish fry which included 3 nice pieces of fish on top of crisp nicely seasoned fries. Not sure why, but no photos taken, just enjoyed the atmosphere. Beware: if you go on a weekday be very conscious of where you park!

tl;dr - you're coming here for the sun and the bevvies, baby!This is an amazing spot, beautiful and somewhat hidden over by Skipper bud's boat storage. You can relax, feel like you're in a tropical getaway and watch INSANELY expensive yachts and boats get ushered into the water via a giant forklift machine nearby. Being right on the water, it gives just a hint of escape from the hot hot heat when you visit. The place is always jam packed during the summer (there was even one time my husband and I just shared a table with another couple behind us to make everyone's lives just a little bit easier and help them avoid the wait.) I have eaten here. You don't have to. I would focus on the positives which is the delicious crazy menu of drinks, the gorgeous view and festive bar. Just grab your meal and be full before you go. You can spend way too much time (and money on delicious drinks here) which is also why the wait is so long, as it's the perfect escape when you're having flashbacks of horrible Wisconsin winter weather. You definitely will get a mix of clientele here with older adult boat-owning drink lovers, hipsters and family get togethers. Cute spot and since I'm writing this review in the middle of January, I'm dreaming of it.

Went to Gene's Supper Club last night with another couple and it was very enjoyable. Cocktails, appetizers and entrees were all very good. Timing of service was spot on and Chris our waiter was a blast, with equal parts humor, knowledge and good restaurant sense to make the night even more enjoyable. Enjoyed myself too much to take pictures. Couldn't get a seat last year and jumped at the chance this year as soon as we could. We will be back asap. Seating is tight and limited so don't wait to try for a reservation now.

Barnacle Bud's is the perfect spot for anyone looking to escape the city vibe and dive into a relaxing, coastal atmosphere right in Milwaukee! The laid-back setting by the water feels like a mini-vacation. The seafood is fantastic - the oysters and fish tacos are must-tries. The drinks are refreshing, and the friendly staff make the experience even better. It's a hidden gem that feels like a local secret! Can't wait to come back and bring friends. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food, drinks, and waterfront vibes!

Amazing! Can't believe we didn't know about this pace until til now. They close for the season in October so we've been here 5 times in a month. So good!!!

Got seated quickly outside by the water. Vibes were great as the sun was setting and pop rock music was playing. Food came out quick and was very good. The fish and fries were both crispy. We even got visited by a friendly local creature

Hubby and I said all year, "we need to go to Barnacle Bud's and sit on the patio", well we finally did and boy was it worth it! We picked the weekend after labor day and who knew it was the perfect time to go - we expected a big crowd but it was very reasonable. We started with the dumpster punch, a classic which is always SO good and refreshing - I could drink 5 if my hubby let me LOL (jk). We got the crab cake and clam chowder to start. Both were great. We were going to share the clam chowder but the waitress convinced us to go from the cup to bowl. I would complain but we took the left overs home and enjoyed them the next day - love a good leftover moment! For dinner meals, I went with the perch fish fry and my hubby got the grouper fish fry. My hubby cleaned his plate which is always a good sign. We were too full to handle any dessert but I've had the key lime pie before and it was quite good. Will be back for patio hangs sometime soon Barnacle Bud's thanks for another yummy meal and the best vibes :)