Braise

I went to Braise for the first time last night. It was a Friday at 6PM- we had a reservation and were seated right away.My first impressions: I love the historic building the restaurant is in. I didn't see a parking lot but there was plenty of street parking. When I first walked in, I noticed the beautiful bar and warm atmosphere. The hostess was friendly.We sat upstairs and I just remember the lights seeming really bright. Our waitress was very friendly and soft spoken. She was knowledgeable about the menu.Our food was great. We shared a couple of appetizers and main entrees, along with the chocolate dome for dessert. The steamed pork buns were a hit with our table! My friend ordered the Biryani Chicken, which came with A LOT of rice. I ordered the Roasted Pork Loin. I thought it was good, I liked the creamy celery root puree it was served with.Regarding their menu, I love the farm to table concept and was pleased to hear they do their shopping locally. Their menu changes with the foods they get in daily. My only complaint is the available root vegetables in most of the dishes were potatoes. I was hoping for more of a variety. I'm looking forward to coming again in the spring/summer to see what options they have on the menu and to attend one of their cooking classes!

We came to Braise for our friends' wedding rehearsal dinner and were absolutely blown away by this place.The food was amazing (you cannot pass on the steamed pork buns)! Service was great as well. All the servers and bartenders were attentive and made the night go by seamless. We were also able to enjoy their rooftop patio which was such a cool space.We can't wait to return to Braise the next time we're in Milwaukee

My husband made a reservation for two for my birthday dinner this year. We had never been before so we were excited to try the menu available. We fell in love with the polenta dish in the small plates menu. We ordered the charcuterie and another small plate and ended with main plates. We both agreed the small plates were better and we would likely just order more small plates to split if we came back. We ordered the risotto and eggplant steak as the main dishes. They were good but not great. After my husband reminded the hostess and waitress, we were disappointed the waitress did not wish me a happy birthday or offer any kind of drink/dessert as it was a special occasion for us. Not a big deal but just something that would have made the night more special. We would want to come back to try some new items but would not recommend to come dine here for a special occasion.

Our first experience with Braise was a takeout order during the pandemic, and We finally dined at the restaurant for the first time this week. We were a bit surprised that the restaurant was filled up quickly that evening even though it was in the middle of the week. There was only one server for the customers upstairs, but she seemed very professional and able to attend to the needs of every table quickly. Both of her two recommendations turned out to be very good. We ordered 4 appetizers plus a main dish to share, and the total quantity of food was significantly more than we could finish, with leftovers (two steamed dumplings and half of the main course) almost enough for another meal. The dishes that we liked most were the Steamed Pork Buns and the Almond Crusted Trout. The toasted pork cubes with scallion vinaigrette in the Pork Buns was very tasty. Almost every restaurant in the city has a dish with trout, but the Almond Crusted Trout at Braise stands out for its tasty and unusual flavor combinations. The prices of the dishes were also reasonable. So, we consider Braise to have a high quality-to-price ratio.

Another hidden gem! Cute place on the edge of a neighborhood near shops and industry. Very friendly service, a bit pricey, but well worth it for creative and tasty gourmet food and cocktails. The house old fashioned's were excellent as were the other cocktails. Four of us ordered 2 entrees and numerous small plates to share, and deserts. Please the photos and descriptions. Did forget to photograph the Five spiced smoked chicken which was lightly smoked and delicious. Also had the bok choy salad. Highly recommend all we had. Great mix of flavors,

Braise is flannel wrapped in silk . I thought it was a fancy joint, cooking school and all, with pretensions to be more than it is. Wrong! Braise is down to earth, relaxed, Cream City true, and perfect for a weekday boozer with food. The difference? Braise's food is great, not good, I mean Chicago/NYC great. Their kitchen produced the best dishes I have had in Milwaukee since our return in May, and the prices are reasonable, bordering on inexpensive. Their P.R. Is too professional. Braise has more in common with Camino than Morel. Kyle and Alex, two Milwaukee dudes took care of us at the bar, which is large and accessible. Wine, beer and booze are integral to the Braise concept. Kyle served me two Mezcals, but I fell in love with one of them and the other bottle felt rejected. Sorry. Kyle knows his beer, booze and wine. The other patrons were all "down home" Milwaukee people, and we discussed music and all sorts of shit. Laughs were loud and proud. The kitchen produces creative and flavorful dishes. Milwaukee's Sanford, one of the city's finest restaurants, was the incubator for one of the proprietors of Braise, and that culinary wizardry is evident. The steamed pork buns and the barbecue pork are not to be missed. I adored the pork, and I'm Jewish. The dish tasted so good, it was worth the risk. I'll atone on Yom Kipper. Yet, the trout and risotto were almost as scrumptious. Portions are humongous, and we brought more than half home to enjoy another day. The only misstep, if there is one, was the decor does not meet my European modern ideal. But hey, that's me, and I'm odd. Go and enjoy Braise. It's one of Milwaukee's best restaurants. I woke up with an oink, because the barbecue pork was that good. "Oink Oink!"

Braise was on my list for awhile when I moved to Milwaukee, and I'm thrilled I finally got to test it out! I went alone for a solo dinner - and it's the perfect spot to post up by the bar and enjoy (especially since you get access to a "Secret Password" small bites menu). I enjoyed a gin martini (bartender was great about asking preferences) and a few small items - Smoked Trout Chowder, Garlic Bread, and Roasted Olives. Incredibly flavorful - and I couldn't believe the cost. I felt like I got such a deal for high quality, highly local food. I'm already planning my next cozy visit back.

I love coming to Braise and eating in the bar area. Their booths and candle lights give a cozy atmosphere and can make a perfect date night. Sit at the bar to enjoy fun conversations and witness Flan and Evan crafting up the amazing cocktails behind the bar. Even if you don't see a drink on the menu that catches your eyes, they can make anything you are feeling or give them the freedom to surprise you with a "dealers choice" cocktail. I love that the food menu changes every few weeks, one of the many reasons I keep coming back!

This review is for the Braise food truck: Over the top!!! Tonight's Juniper Shredded Pork on an arepa with slaw could not be beaten anywhere. I even went back to thank the chef.I am such a fan that the servers have remembered my name, too.

Excellent flavorful, fresh and unique tapas and entrees. Hip rustic atmosphere with superb service.