EsterEv

This was our first time here, and I liked that the decor matched the part of town they are in - simple, chic, and casual. All of the servers were very knowledgeable, and our main server was a bundle of joy - you could tell he really loves what he does. I came with a group of three people, and we decided to order three different things from each course and share bites and I highly recommend this method! I liked being able to try more things, and there were some dishes that were absolute flavor bombs that were fun to experience, but you probably wouldn't want more than one or two bites. (We did all start with our own Caviar Tater Tots though - the server described it as the best McDonald's hash brown you'll ever have. $22 is steep for one, but worth it!) We were obsessed with the bread and broth starter that had seaweed oil and a few other notes that just blended so perfectly together...can we have the recipe please?! They also have a extra dessert bite after the final course which was a nice surprise and finish to a lovely meal. I would definitely come back here!

Our meal at EsterEv was possibly the best dining experience I have ever had in Milwaukee. We were seated and provided with an already marked-up menu identifying which items were gluten free and nut free. We enjoyed the Employee Cocktail of the Month (Julepe) with our bread and broth course and then were off to the races!We decided to partake in the beverage pairings and both "enhancements" which were great additions to the traditional tasting menu. All the food was delicious - not a single morsel was remaining after any dish. Menu highlights included Enhancement #1 (Caviar Tater Tot), Sunflower Risotto, Duck, and last but certainly not least, the Chocolate Caraibe dessert. The service was excellent, the courses were timed perfectly, and we could not have enjoyed ourselves more. If you are looking for an over the top Milwaukee dining experience, this is the place to be!

This is my first time doing a fine dining experience in MKE. I think it's always hard to justify spending "so much" for "so little" with these experiences, but it's safe to say that this place is worth it and definitely gave more than we bargained for!We booked a two-person reservation about a month in advance and I would advise you to check at least a week before your planned day to ensure you get to experience this place.The menu outlines a 4-course meal with optional wine pairing. I went in early July and chose:Steak tartare: 3/5, I enjoyed how light this was but it came a bit salty.Taglionlini 5/5, soo creamy and yummy! I wish I had more of thisDuck 5/5, really enjoyed all the textures with the duck and the vinaigrette really helped cut all the fat from the meatRhubarb 3/5, this reminded me of a yogurt with a tart jam at the bottom, flipped and served to you. Nothing special but enjoyed it as a meal "ender"We came in with the idea that we would only get 4 courses but were surprised with a bread and soup pre and two amuse bouches at the very end. I had a great experience and would recommend this to anyone wanting to try an elevated food scene!

EsterEv did not knock my socks off. It was good, but 50% of the dishes were mediocre. My opinions are always biased, as we have a place in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, a Mecca of creative cooking. Every block has a tiny restaurant with an innovative kitchen, producing food that will make you go sockless. You dine well in the 11th for about 50 Euros per person.With cocktails and two glasses of wine, our bill at EsterEv was over $300. That's a lot of moolah for unmemorable food. We did get to meet the incomparable Dan, who came around to visit with each group, a magnanimous gesture for a celebrity chef. That was worth a few bucks. His love of Wisconsin and appreciation for down to earth Milwaukee is all over EsterEv. On returning, I would sit at the bar, have one or two bites, several drinks, and leave happy. No more degustation menus at EsterEv for me.My favorite taste of the evening was the soup, a savory Asian inspired broth, that was nothing like matzoh ball soup, but had the same medicinal effect. The chicken liver toast deserves its well advertised popularity, but both the cappelletti and sunflower were odd, with a disquieting taste. I guess I applaud the creativity. The lamb was good, but nothing I haven't tasted in the past, while the walleye hit the strange button again, and we both didn't understand the dish. Desserts were fine, but again, nothing memorable. Service at the bar by Casey was professional, and reminded us of the service the Casey provides at Goodkind. We live in Bayview and cherish having a restaurant like EsterEv in the hood. It's a gourmet spot without airs. I just wish the food tasted better.

One of our first fine dining experiences and wow was it amazing!! Our server was so nice and helpful answering all of our questions when ordering. All of the food was delicious, especially the wagyu steak and the complimentary bread, butter and broth to start us out! Would highly recommend the chocolate dessert and the rhubarb one as well. Not sure how often the menu changes, but those two were absolutely delicious! The environment was nice, but not so upscale that you'd feel out of place in casual clothes which was nice.

A truly unique tasting experience. Each plate has exquisite flavor from start to finish. The wines paired with each plate were excellent, with some unusual combinations that worked very well. My favorite dish was the truffle pasta "pillows", closely followed by the olive oil ice cream desert course. The service was impeccable, delicious food, beautiful tasting room. If you've never had a tasting menu experience, start here!

The best high end meal we've had in Milwaukee since we've moved back. Seriously good. On par with Chicago's food scene. Reimagined staples ( tater tots and chocolate pudding ) and some unique and delish plates ( mushroom pasta and kale wrapped walleye) were really wonderful. And the wine parings were perfection. Fabulous service and homey ambiance- I love the plants everywhere. And the custom plates really add a touch of extra care to the dining experience.

Chef Dan and his team are absolutely top notch! My partner and I didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and had a truly warm and welcoming experience interlaced with some fun and lively conversation with the bartenders throughout our meal.As is fairly typical for my partner and me, we opted for the tasting menu and all the add-ons we were offered. Since we don't live anywhere near MKE, we would probably do this again every single time we dine at EsterEv, but if we lived in MKE, we would probably show up more frequently, always sit at the bar, and go in for some onesie-twosies instead of the entire menu.At the start of our meal, Chef Dan came out and chatted with us briefly and told us about the amuse bouche which was a beautiful taste of broth and some delicious bread and butter and from then on it was perfectly timed, perfectly executed, and, perhaps most importantly, perfectly delicious!I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I have been to several Michelin starred restaurants and plenty that should be starred, yet I have never once loved every single bite from a tasting menu experience until now. This restaurant was the first time I can honestly say that I loved absolutely everything we tasted.Take a gander at the pics and let them do the rest of the talking for me.

Absolutely delightful evening with phenomenal service! We did the wine pairing along with our service and we were happy we did. We sat at the bar and had such enjoyable conversations with both bartenders, really inviting space to enjoy a lovely dinner service. Highly recommend!

Amazing, fantastic and outstanding!Everything from the fantastic, warm and welcoming staff to the outstanding food. The food is probably some of the best we have had. From the beautiful display to the taste. Thank you for the great memory and making our 32 year wedding anniversary so enjoyable.