Barnacle Bud's

ALEXIS BURNS

2 weeks ago

My family and I had a delicious dinner at Barnacle Bud’s! Tucked away in the warehouse district, it feels a little off the beaten path, but it’s truly a hidden gem and well worth the visit. The seafood was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I loved the fried grouper sandwich with sweet potato fries, and their spectacular key lime pie was the perfect way to end our meal. The atmosphere made us feel as though we had escaped to Key West for the evening. I can’t wait to return!

Daniela Lehmkuhl

a month ago

Barnacle Bud's is hands down one of the best summer spots in Milwaukee. There's really nowhere else in the city that makes you feel like you're on vacation the minute you sit down. We had multiple cocktails and started with a beautiful sheet of oysters, followed by the crab cake appetizer, tuna tartare tostadas, and a fried grouper basket. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious. The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and the waterfront atmosphere is hard to beat! We'll definitely be back!

Laura Bowers

a month ago

We frequent Barnacle Buds in the summer months in SE Wisconsin and love the casual laid back vibe on the river. A great spot for a quick beer or beverage and the snacks and food are always spot on. If you enjoy shrimp I highly recommend the buffalo shrimp app...OMG you will love love love them! We always start with them and they have quickly become a favorite of ours. It is also a great place to go for a fish fry. The grouper is amazing and comes with fries, coleslaw, tarter sauce and a slice of rye. A happy satisfied customer who enjoys food and loves to brag when its good. Sorry next time I will get those food photos for you🤩

Scott Schroeder

2 months ago

It was a great day to eat lunch outside. The staff were great and explained the menu. The chowder is a bit different than New England style (chunkier), and is only available on Friday. The ahi tuna sandwich was ordered medium rare and was great. It was better than fancier places we have been to. Be aware it is in more of an industrial area and there is an active boat storage service you have to walk through, but knowing that up front helps. Also, no one seemed to mind.

AstroNomad

2 months ago

I really wanted to like this place, especially because it's right on the water, but unfortunately it was a disappointing experience from start to finish. First, Barnacle Bud's was surprisingly difficult to find. Once we finally arrived, I assumed the waterfront location would be matched by great seafood, but that wasn't the case. The food lacked seasoning entirely. We actually had to ask for seasoning, and they brought us a small container so we could season it ourselves. My partner ordered the fried fish, and I had the barbecue shrimp. While the shrimp were impressively large, there was more bread than anything, and the flavor just wasn't there. Neither dish was memorable for the right reasons. The menu was confusing and felt disorganized, which should have been our first clue that the dining experience might not be great. On top of that, the wait staff weren't particularly friendly or welcoming. To make matters worse, my partner was given flimsy plastic forks to eat with. They bent so easily that it was difficult to even pick up the food, which made the meal even more frustrating. The waterfront setting is nice, but good views alone can't make up for bland food, unfriendly service, and an overall disappointing dining experience. Unfortunately, this isn't a place I'd return to.