Bavarian decor and traditionally attired waitstaff
Mader's has the legendary ambiance that has attracted world famous diners for many decades. The food is also great. The pretzel bread and pork shank are the dishes I will get next time. German hospitality always provides plenty to eat and drink. No kraut about it.
We visited this place during our trip from Southern California, and it is definitely a cool place to check out at least once if you’re in Milwaukee. The restaurant has so much history, and there are photos throughout the restaurant of famous people who have visited over the years, including actors, celebrities, and presidents. The decor, artifacts, and overall atmosphere almost make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, with a medieval-style vibe that makes the experience unique. Our server was really nice, and the food came out quickly. We ordered the German sampler and the pork shank, and it was more than enough food for two people. The food was good and definitely worth trying, but for me, the only dish I would probably come back for again was the veal wiener schnitzel, which was delicious. Overall, it’s a great spot for the history, atmosphere, and experience.
We wanted to love this place because Bavarian food is one of our favorites, but overall it felt more touristy than authentic. It’s also incredibly overpriced. While, the portions are huge, $40 per plate is a bit stiff for comfort food. Also, there’s really no need to order an appetizer, the meal is plenty. My husband went with the pork shank, and I ordered the Rhine Sampler. The spaetzle was good, and while the goulash had nice flavor, a few pieces were tough. The schnitzel was smaller than expected, especially with the $9 veal upcharge, and not quite as thin and crispy as we prefer. The side of sauerkraut and red cabbage was enormous, I couldn’t come close to finishing it. Fries or cucumbers would have given more of an Austrian feel. My husband did really enjoy the pork shank, especially since it’s hard to find. He said it had great flavor and fell right off the bone. One thing we absolutely recommend: get dessert to go. It was phenomenal and honestly the highlight of the meal. Service was slow, more in line with what you’d expect in Europe than in the U.S. If you’re looking for a fun, themed Bavarian experience, this place delivers, just be prepared for a hefty bill.
I was acknowledged and seated quickly. The atmosphere was both relaxed and "old world", which I really appreciated. I've had a ton of German food, both in the US and in Germany and prefer southern German to northern German cooking. Most of what I had (German sampler plate) had a Southern German twist and it was all really good. I would really recommend this place to others and I'm looking forward to a return visit if work brings me back to Milwaukee.
First time visiting from out of state and we had the best experience! Food was outstanding and we suggest ordering the Tour of Germany, if you would like to try a little of everything this is it! The Pork Shank was so tender, fell right off the bone and we upgraded to the Veal Schnitzel , Delicious! What made our night was our server Daniel , he was so helpful with answering all our questions and very knowledgeable about the menu and we enjoyed all his stories he told us of the restaurant and all the famous people who have walked through the doors, showed us pictures too! We will come back just to see him plus of course the excellent food, staff and atmosphere! Everyone was really nice! Oh and don’t forget the Reuben Egg Rolls, plus the Apple Strudel!
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