Cafe centraal is my fave of the euro cafe chain of restaurants here in Milwaukee. If I could give a 3 1/2 I would. It is a good place in many ways. Great beer selection. Nice bartenders and they were attentive. Most of the food I have had is above a 3 on a scale of 1-5. All around good experience. On the other hand nothing seems to blow me away. I should be satisfied with steady good and variety. My vegetarian friend likes it well enough also. It is solid -if anything is a standout it is the big patio. I will certainly go back probably often. You can take a date their or your parents. Maybe that is good but in a way it seems to Unspecialized in today's niche restaurant market. So it got a 4 instead of 5. Sort of a gut thing.
(4)
Tom B.
Ive wanted to try this place for a long time now, ever since I read a review in the Bay View Compass {since July 29 2011} , The Delicious Cone of Corruption, was not! The review made you think that the french fries were fresh cut and wickedly good, they werent any better than Micky Ds fries, your basic ordinary fry. The Manager says the Fries are the Best selling item on the menu. Im sure that is right {at $4.95}, With 12 buck 1/2 pound burgers {who needs a 1/2 pound burger for lunch anyway?} A friend had the pork tacos also around 13 bucks for 3 tacos{ no beans or rice} , youd be better off at Hectors a little down the street or at Classic Slice, After reading some of the other reviews and what Ive just experienced, I wont be making it back
(2)
Jon H.
Thriving hive of hipster doofuses barely makes the grade, if at all. The chili is good, and the selection of drinks is admirable but the rest of the entire menu is wretchedly overpriced and sub par in quality. The wait staff have this attitude about them that sine they work at a restaurant deemed so high and mighty that they can treat their customers with the highest degree of frigidity. Jokes on you, my friend, you're still just, in essence, a delivery person; get over it.
(2)
Ashley N.
I heard so many good reviews and recommendations from friends that I HAD to go to Cafe Centraal because it is soooooo delicious. I went, got the meatloaf and regretted it. It will be a while before I go back here. Maybe it was an unlucky day for me, but everyone in my party (we all go a different version of the meatloaf) was paying for it later on that night.
(2)
Honest E.
I love this bar - great beer and even better FOOD! It's a chill atmosphere, kind of hipster, pretty reasonably priced stuff. It has a cool back patio as well. Parking can be a pain, but even if you get stuck parking a few blocks away - it's worth it!
(4)
Phillip M.
Great food and great beer selection!
(4)
Cory T.
Centraal let me down on a few occasions now, which is deeply disappointing since it is so close to my home here in Bay View. The atmosphere is ominous and cold--a foreshadowing of the abysmal meal to come. I know that thanks to shows like "Design Star" we're all stuck looking at restaurants that fish their furniture and fixtures from thrift store clearance sales in an effort to look "hip" and "now". Ummm, it just looks ridiculous. Mismatched chairs? How "edgy" and original! As far as the wait staff is concerned, they've proven to be completely forgetable and extraordinarily dull. Hmmmm, not so wonderful yet, Centraal. The food was by far the biggest disappointment. They have a few good items on the menu like the Cranberry Turkey Sandwich with giardinara is a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming menu. The jam-seared turkey on toast is complimented by the hot giardinara. But this is nothing that cannot be made at home. The sandwiches overall are quite good, but are not fantastic values, as everything is priced beyond what it should be. The salads are the weakest part of the Centraal line up. Interestingly, their sister restaurant Benelux, has the most novelGrilled Caesar Salad (the lettuce is actually grilled), and I'm hoping it will show up on Centraal's (hopefully) revamped menu in the near future. The salad I was most unenthused about at Centraal was some concoction with beets and squash. It sounded wonderful in theory, but the beets and squash are not warm, but rather ice cold. Okay, but they taste more like raw pumpkin. My final recommendations for Centraal: 1. Have someone to greet guests. This is apparently lacking, as evidenced by countless reviews indicating said problem. Do you read these reviews? 2. Get the wait staff uniforms, or at least crisp looking aprons. No one wants to be served by a reject that looks like they are on hiatus from living in their mother's basement after a marathon game of Dungeon's & Dragons. 3. Brighten up the interior of this place. Or, at the very least, CLEAN IT. Filth is neither hip, nor trendy. Consider a fresh coat of paint. I feel like I'm eating on the inside of a giant beer carton. 4. Purchase some real furniture. This nonsense of "Decorating on a Dime" might have cut it in the late 90's, but it's been done--TO DEATH. And you are not some struggling entrepreneurs with a start up in SOHO. You have the money, crack open your wallet and free some grounded moths. 5. Tweak your menu a bit. There are some damn good items on the menu. Figure out what people like, and edit out the dogs. 6. Get your food temps where they need to be, and be consistent. Then light a match under your servers' behinds to get the stuff to the table before Christ returns again. 7. Improve your fish fry. It's pretty good--BUT--my friend had it and there was far too much batter on the fish. Get some out-of-this-world bread to accompany this popular fav, and come up with some coleslaw that offers something different and can serve as your signature. 8. Desserts could be your forte. But they aren't. Don't miss out on this opportunity to cross promote with some of your neighbors. You have Wild Flour Bakery and Babe's Ice Cream right across the street. Perhaps you could incorporate their items as components for your dessert line up. 9. Thank your guests for coming in. Put some Vaseline on your servers' teeth if you have to find a way to force them to smile. Damn, they are a depressing bunch at this location.
(2)
Matt X.
Milwaukee's viral Lowlands Group has been opening a Belgian restaurant-bar annually, and I think they are overdue for a cease-and-desist order. Centraal is their third locale (of five so far). They were pretty late to the game, as Bay View's Kinnickinnic strip was already saturated with restaurants that were less corporate and served up better food as a cheaper price point. Like all of the Lowlands Group places, they are pretty much identical. Heavy wooden interiors. Bikes and gimmicky geegaws make it painfully clear they aim for a Flemish vibe. Dozens of expensive Dutch/Belgian beers on tap and dozens more available as bottles. Reliably decent food. Your stomach will be pleased, but with a higher cholesterol and blood pressure. Young hipster servers who are usually able to manage the crowds, though management ought to do better with staffing levels. There's nothing cheap on their menus or taps, so you can't leave without dropping $20 on lunch. A pretty clever restauranteur ploy for extracting dollars from an up-and-coming clientele, but not a choice for a conscientious diner. This spot on KK is actually one of their better cookie-cutter restaurants I've visited. The service has been relatively attentive and the kitchen knows their basics. But unlike sleepy Wauwatosa or Downer Avenue, this neighborhood is dense with great local eateries. Why I give this spot the 2-star rating is the neighborhood competition along Kinnickinnic. You can eat (and certainly drink) for much cheaper at any number of superior places on the strip: Lulu, GTO, and Honeypie to name a few.
(2)
Chad C.
Had a birthday dinner here not too long ago, and while I liked it, I was not blown away. I had the Goat Cheese Mac'n'cheese... and it didn't quite live up to other versions I have had. It's pretty bland - not enough goat cheese flavor. I also went back a second time and got the black & bleu burger... which was also mediocre. It's a nice place with good service but the food just isn't very good. I gave it two chances, and I won't be giving it a third.
(2)
Christophor R.
There's nothing finer than a place that listens to you when you order. I've gone there several times for dinner and brunch. I like my bloody mary a specific way and when I tell them that, they make it that way. Some places just slap it all together without ever catering to the customer (which takes all of 10 seconds for extra Tabasco and celery salt). The brunch menu offers a wide variety of traditional brunch fare with some unique twists on the items as well as some straight up classics. The dinner menu is big and varied as well and there's always a great beer available to pair with your food. If the menu and theme looks familiar that's because it's part of the Benelux/Trocadero/Hollander group... Things are pricey at times but for the quality and atmosphere, it's worth it.
(5)
Nick S.
Overall,pretty good. There's not much to distinguish Centraal from other Lowlands Group restaurants... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The outdoor seating and beer selection are phenomenal.
(3)
Sarah J.
I absolutely love this place! The bartender's are very knowledgeable about the many, MANY beers they have and all the staff is friendly. Their food is amazing and the atmosphere is laid back. I love the diverse crowds that gather there and always feel comfortable.
(5)
Alicia M.
I've been here twice. I remember being impressed with the food the first time around (we were there for dinner) but I also remember being a bit shocked by the price for what we got. Today we went for lunch on a Saturday. We got there at 1:45 and they were still serving their "breakfast/brunch" menu. Apparently they serve it until 3pm. It's mostly breakfast fare but they have a few burgers too. I would say the service was the biggest disappointment. Took our server awhile to first approach us (no water was brought while we waited). There was one point where he walked past and told us he would be with us in a few minutes so at least we got a heads up. However, the restaurant was NOT busy (at all) this time of day so there is no excuse for poor service in my opinion. Once he took our order we literally did not see our server again the rest of the time that we dined (he stopped by once we were pretty much done and asked if everything was ok but by then it was sorta pointless). A different person brought us our food. Our waters were not refilled other than the one time I asked specifically for more water (and then they only filled it half way). When the girl brought us our food I had a few different requests for her (because there was no sign of our waiter) and she seemed kinda put-out that I expected her to do something other than drop off the food. The thing I found so funny about our service experience is that everyone was walking around with these headphones in their ears. So there is the appearance of having it together but at the end of the day the service simply wasn't there. Get rid of the headphones and just train your people in being attentive and helpful. The food was also disappointing. My mom had a 12 dollar burger (which I think they even charged extra for some basic ingredients). She said the beef was good but a 12 dollar burger should knock it out of the park in my opinion. I had a salad. There was only one salad option on the menu for this time of day. It was greens, tomato, onion, blue cheese and candied walnuts. It was the size of a generous side salad. It was 9 dollars! WTF?!? My husband had a biscuits and gravy thing. He said it was good but I tasted the sauce and it was pretty flavorless in my opinion. If you want good food for a good price walk across the street to LuLu's instead. I just feel like if you are going to have "high end" prices then you should have pretty impressive food and at least decent service. For what they charge I don't think I'll be returning here. On the plus side: It's an environment that was kid-friendly (at least during the lunch hour) and the kid's menu was quite nice.
(2)
Bobby G.
(ZERO POINT 5 STARS- 0.5) People must be stupid... i've been here multiple time, and it's bad. Staff doesn't seem to care about anything but making money n drinking beer. I had my WORST restaurant experience here ever! Service was cocky, host rude and rushing.... manager fumbled over 5 mistakes and could not recover. I will strongly NOT recommend this place, unless u want to drink beer. Ehhhh really that's all they offer. ohh did I mention, one of my courses my table could not even eat, bc it was cuddled and discussing!! two they didnt enjoy. and one was just messed up. Good job on not messing up the bottled root beer. I've read pissed off reviews, but this is legit. I had bad mouthing but I this is the Truth. sorry for being harsh, but real.
(1)
Stacey R.
Went for a late dinner Saturday. Centraal always hits the spot. Luckily Kari was our server. She had has a quick wit and the BEST beer recommendations. Get the Rodenbach Classic if you like Belgium sours it's delish!
(5)
Jaclyn A.
Good beer and great food! Try the High Speed Witt and sweet potato fries.
(4)
Chris G.
Whether it's for the atmosphere or great food, I would highly recommend Cafe Centraal to anyone looking for an excellent Saturday morning brunch experience. For a total of about $19 per person, this restaurant is well worth the price. If this how Cafe Centraal treats their guests to an amazing Saturday brunch, expect me back in the summer for a Sunday brunch on their patio! **Ask for the Steak and Eggs Benedict for brunch. Even though it's not on the menu, they will still make it for you. It's one of my favorite brunch items in all of Milwaukee!** Read the full review on MilwaukeeBrunchReviews.c… - milwaukeebrunchreviews.c…
(5)
Gary H.
I like the food here a lot. When I want meat loaf, turkey burgers, fries, this is my spot. I will keep going back. Why not 5 stars? Well, the crowds are hard to manage at peak times. (I now prefer lunch on weekdays, or early Sunday brunch). The service is friendly and hip, just not too prompt of skilled. A regular screw up is ordering a beverage and not getting it, or waiting a long time for it. It seems to me that the kitchen is much better managed than the floor.
(4)
Vladimir K.
I've given this place a couple tries and then decided no more. It's just way too expensive for what it is. All the entrees seem to be around $13, and you can get food just as good at Lulu or sandwiches just as good at Sven's for at least $4 less. For a BLT at $10, I was expecting some nice thick-cut peppered smoked bacon or something awesome, but it just seemed like regular Oscar Myer generic bacon or something. What a ripoff, this sandwich should have beel like $6. Beer here is overpriced, even considering the beers being served, and every single time I've gotten a tap beer it has been a the most skimpy pour I've ever seen (and I have been to many Belgian beer bars, I know some headspace is reserved for foam but geez). I was shocked to find that a DuPont that with the glass only 60% full was like $7.50. I ordered another one thinking it was a fluke but it was just as skimpy. Service was okay. They pour better Belgians at Palm Tavern and they do better food at Lulu, and both are considerably cheaper. This place is overpriced.
(2)
Kirk E.
We've been to Cafe Centraal 3 times since moving to Milwaukee. My wife and I have each ordered something different each time, and every time it has been awesome. Took my picky father-in-law there for brunch, and he absolutely loved it. So good! Also, amazing beer selection and knowledgable beer staff. The Milwaukee Bloody Mary was one of the best bloodies I've ever had. Highly recommend everything at Cafe Centraal.
(5)
Jen M.
I like Cafe Centraal for its beer list, cheese croquettes appetizer, proximity to the south shore part of the oak leaf trail, and constant availability of your choice of seating and friendly service. I've been there four times in 2011, twice for post-bike ride drinks and appetizer and twice for supper. Each visit was great. But I'm a beer connoisseur, which I believe is the best reason to choose Cafe Centraal, Belgian beers are my favorite and I haven't seen a more impressive selection anywhere else in town. The food choices other than the fabulous cheese croquettes with saffron aoli sauce are fine but don't particularly strike me as outstanding. I've really liked all of the staff that have served us - they have been relaxed and friendly and very informative without being intrusive. Each server we've had has really known their drinks and the beer available. They are willing to make recommendations and share their favorites. You get the feeling they are proud of the place and the beer selection, which I think is a very good sign. The beer..OH THE BEER...Try the Maredsous double (not available the last time we were there) or the triple, or my favorite: The Unibrau Ephemere. It is brewed with apples. On Sunday 9/20 I had their monthly special: The Kwak. It is unbelievably smooth...slides down your throat like caramelly liquid velvet. If I have foodie friends to entertain I wouldn't think of taking them to Cafe Centraal but it was very fun to take beer-fan friends from San Francisco there on Sunday night. They have samplers available and are amiable about switching them out. We had a GREAT time. My husband rated their meatloaf 2nd best in the city, behind Comet Cafe's. I loved their nightly dinner special: Tequila Chicken. Yes, I could taste the tequila. It added zesty cohesion to a sauce with a delightful mix of different kinds of peppers and tomato. And, my biking buddy and I have been treated like honored guests, even when we arrived mussed up and sweaty in our biking gear.
(4)
Myra P.
Big fan. Food, beer, staff, patio--on point.
(4)
Jen B.
Centraal has the biggest beer list I have ever seen. When we asked to see it, the server dropped off an encyclopedia-sized binder on the table and I was immediately overwhelmed. Luckily, she was awesome and offered recommendations based on our preferences. Or rather, she did this for the serious beer drinkers in my group. I went with the Piraat based solely on the name. It was delicious and, unlike most beers, I could actually taste the flavors that were described on the menu. The food was off the hook. My party of three shared the five spice tofu, black bean burger and veggie sandwich. I love the tofu and the sweet potato fries that came with the burger. But by far the best thing there is the curry ketchup. I could put that on anything. Hell, I could drink it straight. It's that good.
(4)
Brittany C.
I couldn't help but give it 5 stars. The place was amazing.. food, atmosphere, everything. I ordered the black bean veggie burger (bc I'm obviously watching my figure) and it was hands down THEE best veggie burger I've ever had. Granted, I haven't had THAT many veggie burgers but I'll still rank this one in the top 3 I'll ever have in my life :) We were with a group of 19 people, who all loved their dishes. It was a fun and lively atmosphere, one I'd love to have a few drinks in :) which will have to wait until next time!
(5)
Sarah T.
Somehow - I don't know how - I was suckered into going to Centraal just one more time. My boyfriend ordered the steak. He wanted it medium-rare, but what did he get? A well-done steak. A twenty-dollar well-done steak. When we notified our waitress, she said, "Really? Let me see," as if we were lying. Awesome. We were then told that the manager would be out to speak with us. "So your steak wasn't cooked how you want it? All right, we've got another one cooking for you." Twenty to twenty-five minutes later, the second steak arrived at the table. My boyfriend cut into it to find that it was just shy of being well-done. The manager then stopped by to check on us, but not in a way that was particularly warm or friendly. "Steak's okay now? Good." He then scurried away from our table, offering us nothing in apology for the overcooked steak. And yes, we still had to pay for it. Sure, we could've complained that the steak STILL wasn't done... but we didn't. We didn't want to have to deal with the manager's crappy, high-and-mighty attitude (how dare we complain about anything in such a *highly* respected establishment). I just wanted to get the hell outta there. Oh, and their fish tacos suck. Go to Cafe Lulu for their fish taco special to be delighted by something much tastier and much more reasonably priced.
The title of this review is "Reviewing Cafe Centraal: An Exercise in Describing Mediocrity" Another Diablos Rojos joint. If you've been to one Diablos place, you've been to them all. They all have their unique qualities, and none of them are outright bad. They do good bar food. They serve okay drinks. They have good atmospheres for hanging out. But, there just isn't anything there to rave about. I am not a picky eater. I will put anything in my mouth that you give to me. I will eat here again, and I will enjoy it, because it's really hard to screw up a burger. The food is good, but it won't blow you away. Servers are always very nice. These are probably some of the hardest working people in the Milwaukee service industry, because these places are meant to draw large crowds and serve many at once. I'm gonna give massive props to Centraal for being open for the blizzard of the decade. Our server was upfront that only two of the staff were able to make it in, but they opened anyway. That's die-hard Wisconsin for you!
(3)
Rip S.
Unusual Place. Understand the complaints about Hostesses. We had a booking for 130 on Sunday and showed up 15 early. Given a bit of attitude and We're told to wait tables weren't ready, then watched them put 2 tables together? Food was tasty & plentiful (neither adult finished meal). Kids meals had healthier options (fruit, veg, salad), which is great. Bloody Mary's were spicy and tasty. I'd go back. But wasn't "special" trip worthy. Maybe that's it they only want to play to locals?
(3)
Justin E.
I have not had a chance to have dinner here but I have had a lunch twice. Unfortunately have not had the chance to try any of their drinks or beer. (can not drink at lunch for work). The food is good and plentiful. The wait staff is OK, they screwed up a couple of our orders. We asked for something to be left off the sandwich/burger or added and it was not done we received standard fare. The food was not memorable but it was good. I think this place is over hyped, or people had a few drinks to make it better.
(3)
Molly W.
Good hearty food and drink options. Service is hit-and-miss. Great atmosphere and a wonderful place to take out-of-town visitors to give them some classic MKE. Easy to tuck in on your own, too, for some drinks and reading.
(4)
Tony F.
I like this place a lot more than I let on. They have a huge beer menu, and that means a lot to a guy like me, with a gut like mine. A million choices, with a million flavors, bodies, colors, and alcohol per volume. The food is really good, and I've had almost everything on the menu, & tons of specials. The sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads are all SILLY!!! They also do the whole mussels app/entree/food orgy that this "chain" (Hollander/Benelux) specializes in. It's all really great, and the servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and hip without being TOO hipster (it is pretty hipster.) If there's a reason I resist Centraal, it's because I've been there 9000x.
(4)
Paula Z.
Meh, one step up from Appleby's. Really incredibly so-so with a side of yucky tummy. Also, I overheard the chefs complaining about the awful menu. Who would eat at a place the chefs don't even like? If I could give zero stars I would.
(1)
Valerie J.
Waste of a really cool patio! I visited recently with four friends and the staff made us feel like we were one big hassle. Ok, that's not totally fair, because it was really just the hostess who was awful. First, she ignored me for a few minutes. Then she sighed and huffed when I asked for a table for 4 or 5 (I couldn't remember exactly) on the patio. About a 20-minute wait, she said, but then was insistent that I had to tell her immediately if we had five people instead of four because all of the patio tables can't seat 5 people. She took my cell phone # so the restaurant could send me a text when my table was ready. I walked out front to wait so I could get away from Ms. Rude Hostess. After waiting a half hour, one of my friends when to check on the status of our table. She was told 10 more minutes and then Ms. Rude Hostess said she almost took us off the waiting list because she couldn't see me! What's the point of a text message if I have to stay within view of the hostess?! When we finally were seated, there were at least 5 open tables on the patio (not to mention there were multiple open tables in front of the restaurant while we stood waiting). The empty tables on the patio stayed empty during our entire 2-hour stay! Short staffed? Our waiter was fine. We had multiple orders of fries, which were tasty. I also had vegetarian spring rolls, which also were very good. My friends had sangria and I had two glasses of wine. I was surprised that two small apps and 2 glasses of wine were $32. A $9, half-full, mediocre glass of wine is ridiculous! Centraal earned its 2 stars for the good food and cool patio. It lost 3 stars for pretty much sucking in all other areas.
(2)
Liz A.
This place has the best fries! They are so good! I've not tried their sweet potato fries but if they are anything like the regular ones, I'm sure they're amazing. The Benelux salad is great. I may need to look into just ordering sides when I come here because they were both so good. Upon recommendation from our server, I ordered Unibroue's Maudite bier and found it to be quite enjoyable and will definitely order it again. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich was good and so was their kulminator- grilled cheese sandwich. Always works out well when you can go halfsies with a friend and share what you order. Service was great. Will be back.
(5)
Christine C.
Here for the first time, for a business lunch. I ordered the Marrakesh with just chicken and it looked delicious... but it was quite the opposite. The chicken was very dry and the taste was just unpleasant. I had so much leftover and I didn't even bother to take it home. The chicken avocado sandwich my coworker got looked amazing. Our business partner got the club sandwich and liked it, except there's another layer of bread in the middle which was too much. I would go back, I would just never order the club or the Marrakesh.
(2)
Chris M.
One of our favorite haunts in the Milwaukee area. We stopped in on a Yelp Review (thanks Yelp) about 6 months back for a family dinner. Let me tell you that a family of 6 can only go so many places due to size of restaurants and the desire to not be the parents that ruin a night out for anyone else (picking, crying, screaming...hell that's just the wife and I). Anyways, the food was amazing. Any of the appetizers offer a delicious opportunity to enjoy a different twist on comfort food. From the scotch egg to the pretzel bits, to the sausage balls (not official name I just think that names funnier), the food can really become the focal point of the conversation. The staff has always been pleasant and conversational with us and their beer selection should be able to cover any persons taste. Recently, we had some family in town and decided to go out for a Sunday Brunch. The restaurant was able to accommodate 10 people (with 4 kids) on a reservation made only about 2 hours beforehand. While I won't say that this is a norm, I was very impressed with the staff and our waitress with being so patient and providing great food on such a busy day. Be prepared to pay a little more but get what you pay for. The kids menus offer more than just your standard fare and the presentation makes our kids feel more like young adults than little kids. The serving size is large without being Honey Boo Boo sized and the menu is ever evolving. If there for breakfast, try their twist on biscuits and gravy or the sweet potato pancakes.
(5)
Jessica S.
Pleasantly surprised! I expected the place to have a long wait, since it was Father's Day. Nope! They were able to seat us right away (9:30 am). Coffee: strong. Could have used a refill earlier than I got, and also a refill on the water. The service was pretty slow, and they were not that busy yet. Food: super yum! I had the salmon & eggs Benedict. A little heavy on the sauce, but delicious. The hubs bad the cheesy gooey spicy mess. Of course it was delicious. A great alternative to Honeypie, Zac's, and all the other little places that tend the have a long brunch wait.
(4)
Dylani H.
Spacious and great for brunch. I have come here several times with groups. Good service
(3)
Angela W.
I have tried and tried with this place. Each time is another bad experience that makes me stay away for long periods of time. Today was another of those unfortunate visits. Stopped in for a late lunch, arrived a few minute before 2. While it was busy, when we arrived there were several open tables but we're told there was a 20 minute. I didn't argue because although tables may seem open, there may be people waiting that I am not aware of, fair enough. Because we were starving we decided to just sit at the bar to eat (I typically prefer this anyway). We were approached by the unenthusiastic bartender. I mean.. It was so obvious that he was annoyed by everything, especially patrons that it was uncomfortable. I felt worse for the people who sat after us. They were a very happy couple, who I happened to over hear were celebrating their anniversary, and they had the same unenthusiastic bartender. He really could have attempted to smile at them, but he just wasn't capable of it. Ordered our food and it took a really long time and was okay. Seeing that I spent 20 years in the industry, I get busy and that it can take a long time for food in these busy times, so believe me when I say, I am totally patient. But sitting at a bar where the bartender is beyond annoyed that we are there and has created a beyond uncomfortable situation, the wait was just really frustrating. I think this was finally it, the last time I spend a single dollar in this place. I have had one good service experience ever. I just can't understand how this place is still busy (other then for its great location and patio). But plenty of other great spots to spend my money on
(1)
Gina K.
The lowlands group brings you yet another restaurant with good beer selection and a satisfactory (if not overpriced) menu... This time in Bay View! If it's brunch you seek, expect a bit of a wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. Also beware the hornets on a summer day on the patio - order the Monkey Bread for a nice sticky trap (cruel, but so true - stupid hornets). Have taken co-workers from out of town to Cafe Centraal and the skillets are always a hit. Staff is friendly, and knowledgeable on the beer list. The Bloody Marys are a bit overrated, but still delicious. Parking is what you'd expect for Bay View (aka it can be a bit of a mess, make sure you're an expert at parallel parking or expect a long walk). If you're a fan of Cafe Hollander, Cafe Bavaria, Trocadero, or any of the sister restaurants - you'll likewise enjoy Cafe Centraal. It's of a similar ilk and menu and consistently decent.
(4)
Sandor K.
WHOO HOOO!!! Great Bloody Mary and excellent breaky! Loved the place. The service was very good. My breakfast skillet was cooked just as I ordered and tasted delish! Nice place for a brunch or breakfast!
(4)
Kobi K.
I give 4 stars just based on my never ending love for meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They do that really good, along with a good staff and a young clientele. This place is great in many ways.
(4)
Adam J.
Decent food, terrible service. I'm never greeted at the door, and get slow service by the wait staff. This place has really gone downhill in the last 12-18 months.
(2)
Jennifer R.
One thing I like about Bay View is the many dining options that it has to offer. Cafe Centraal is one of those. I have been here a few times, and have always had a great experience. The place is very spacious, with lots of seating, including patio seating. They also have one of the city's largest bier books and longest bars, according to their website. I believe it. On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve brunch from 8am-3pm. There are so many good things to choose from on the brunch menu. The last time I did brunch here, I had the Smoked Salmon Benedict. It was wonderful. You can top off your meal with a Bloody Mary, a Mimosa, beer (or bier, as they spell it), coffee, juice, or tea. For lunch and dinner, you have plenty of options to choose from: appetizers, soups, salad, burgers, sandwiches and other entrees. I have had the burgers here, and they are delicious. They also have a gluten free menu for those that want or need gluten free options. If you still have room for desert after your meal, they have some delicious options. I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake. There will be more trips to Cafe Centraal for me in the future. There are things on the menu that I still need to try :-)
(5)
Daniela C.
Even though boyfriend live's down the street from Centraal, I've always been hesitant to go there simply because of the bad reputation it's gotten in the service industry for the way management treats it's employees. However, it was 10 PM and I was jonesing for something other than Jimmy Johns after a long shift and an even longer nap. I stopped by a night or two before Christmas Eve and the bartender was super friendly. He knew I was hungry and made some pretty solid suggestions. I think my eyes were hungrier than my stomach, as I ordered the fried ravioli (delicious!) and the vegetarian Risotto (under seasoned, disappointed), which were both larger portions. I stopped by for Brunch a few days later and was enchanted with the different options on their menu. I stuck to the oatmeal and it was SO great. So much flavor. Did. not. disappoint! Also, the fruit and yogurt parfait (which MPB ordered) was also pretty tasty...so much that we ordered a second. Again, the service was just fine. We were sitting and the bar, and it was busy, so we knew what we were in for. The last visit, New Years Day Brunch, I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict. I was ridiculously under-impressed with the taste of it, as there wasn't much of it. The Hollandaise was bland and I just wasn't too pleased with the over all plate (even though the menu description had me DROOLING!). I ordered the brunch mimosa and was very pleased with it. There was a longer than past wait for food, but it was NY Day brunch, so I totally understand and have no gripes about it. Our bartender (TIna? The one with the loopy/swirly gages...?) was super attentive and wonderful. The individual I am assuming was the manager (blonde long hair, with the head piece on yelling at everyone...) on the other hand, was not. While I wish I could say that "reputation" was wrong (from my experiences), I saw a manager yelling at some of the servers [a] for nothing and [b] in front of customers, and I think that in itself is super unprofessional and it's for reasons like this that the company gets such a bad rep. I know it's really hard to find quality management, but at least teach the ones you do hire to not yell at their employees in front of customers (or at all!). Had I not seen that, I would probably be back again. But it's instances like this that keep people in the service industry away from this company.
(2)
Lauren S.
I want to like Centraal: It's cute, has a massive menu, lots of seating both inside and out, and is located in my Bay View stomping grounds. I've never had a bad meal here, but I will say I've always thought the food was a couple bucks more expensive than it's worth. Ultimately, There are two standouts for me at Centraal. One good and one bad: GOOD: Bloody Mary menu. BAD: The service. First, the good. I love the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary, and yesterday I tried the Antipasto for the first time... it's perhaps the only Bloody for which I'd fork over $10. The Bloody Mary is big business up here, and it's tough to find a good one that's not $7+ in Bay View. So, sure. I'll spend my Bloody bucks at Centraal. Now, the bad. I'm not in favor of ripping apart waitstaff. I've been a waitress at a few restaurants, and I know I wouldn't want to be judged solely on one lousy day. But the service at Centraal has been consistently inconsistent, from the host stand to the servers. Their people are slow, apathetic, and ostensibly detached from their jobs altogether. The host yesterday asked if we wanted to sit outside on the sidewalk or in the court yard, and when we had the audacity to respond, "Out front," she proceeded to berate us because we needed to tell her what exactly "out front" was supposed to mean. Um, it means the sidewalk. Sincerest apologies for using a synonymous term. I'd been irked with the iffy service here before, but yesterday's run-in with the host--and the ensuing molasses-slow service from our server--has fully solidified my "meh" feeling about Centraal. The only reason this place gets three stars? Those gosh darn Bloody Marys (Maries? ). If you just want a better meal at a reasonable price with great service, walk across the street to Lulu.
(3)
Adam C.
Despite being here a million billion times in the past, I've yet to review this place until now. And I've got a good reason why, too, it's hard to think of anything unique to say about it. It's solid, no doubt, but even having been in a fair bit, it was, for the longest time, hard to remember which one of the Bayview classics Centraal actually was without a hint. That almost says everything that needs said with regard to the atmosphere here. "It's the one with the beer," is how my friends would remind me. It works. They have a catalog of beers the size of a small book--the word count on this thing is probably in the five digits, no joke. I will say, though, almost everything on the menu will be fantastic. The Marrakesh shrimp and chicken is one of my favorites--it's very sweet, but it's got a well blended flavors and the acid from the tomato serves as a good counterpoint to all of the sweet notes in the dish. I also seriously recommend the cheese stuffed bitterballen with curry ketchup. It's a hearty appetizer that will feed several people and that curry ketchup is actually pretty good. I haven't been able to replicate it at home (I've gotten pretty close but something always seems not quite there).
(3)
Carrie G.
Consistency has been a challenge for this restaurant since it first opened. You never know quite what you're going to get. I've had great to terrible service, and everything in between. And same for the food, sometime good, sometimes not so much. But enticed by a friend who wanted to go, and a City Tin to burn I rolled the dice. And for a weekend brunch on the patio things did not turn out too bad. I was impressed that the host asked if we wanted shade or sun on the patio. But sadly after 15 minutes the sun shifted and shade was not be found, so much for that. But our server was very attentive and only came back once to confirm our order, which I saw as a good sign. I started with the Frenchie, one of their many spins on a bloody. This standby has been on the menu since the beginning and never disappoints. A great bloody base mix starts each of the selections. But the Frenchie then amps things up with dijon mustard (I need to try that at home) giving it the perfect bite. The drink is then decadently topped with bleu cheese stuffed olives that will dance in your mouth. I'm usually a big fan of classic brunch dishes but nothing on their new menu jumped out at me. There's seems to be a plethora of chorizo in most of their dishes so I flipped to the Blunch side of the menu. I found an old fav, the Tulip Turkey Burger, which I had not had in a while. It's a fairly moist ground turkey blended with bell peppers and onions which add a subtle tang to the burger. I'm a fan of the sriracha mayo topping, but the curry ketchup can be a bit overwhelming and I ordered that on the side. And speaking of sides, the sweet potatoes fries must be laced with something because they are addictive. Hot and crunchy and a bit tender on the inside. I ordered the garlic aioli dipping sauce and found it to compliment the fries nicely. Overall this was a four star experience, but considering how many three and even two star encounters I've had here I'll go three overall. And at some point I'm hoping they can pull it together enough to make it to four.
(3)
Rachel F.
Stopped here post-Bay View trick or treat antics for some dinner. It had been awhile, and I'm not one to discount potentially solid spots from my neighborhood roster no matter the prevailing public sentiment. I had to know and update for myself. You feel me? Hating on success/hype? A Milwaukee behavior that's not always warranted. Success doesn't mean a thing is bad/evil... take Colectivo for example. I'll never understand that one fully. Anyways, sticking w/ three stars (almost went to two, but thought better of it) on this one. Sixty bucks later I stand by my A-OK rating, but will most likely never shell for dinner here again.. Here's why: The Good: -beer selection: awesome stuff on tap, awesome stuff in bottles // if you like beer, you'll find something super-solid here -fries + sauces! FRIES AND SAUCES The Bad/Ugly: -the food: pretty dang mediocre given the price points and, more importantly, the beautifully-penned descriptions on the menu. "Grass fed burger stuffed w/ garlic and bleu cheese w/ a fire-roasted tomato pesto + grilled mushrooms = in reality, a semi-flavorful puck of beef on an enriched/falling apart white bread bun, little pesto and few mushrooms to be found: $13.95. The blackberry turkey was no more quality in execution. We were pretty disappointed. (Your menu set the expectations too high!) -Charge extra for your sauce, your guac, by all means, I get it, but if you're making it a point to charge extra, don't be mad stingy with said sauce portions, guys. It's just bad form. L and I agreed: not a spot to throw down for eats, but a periodic stop in for some suds and fries? We're all over it, maybe.
(3)
Brianne S.
Centraal! Not enough good things to say about this place. Tragically, they informed me that my favorite "seafood hot pot" will not be returning, but-the spring menu has a lot going for it. The spicy shrimp salad comes with a good portion of shrimp for the price. The frites with Sriracha mayo made an excellent pairing, and kept my dinner from being TOO healthy. While, I'm constrained to New Grist, the server was very knowledgeable about all of the beers, and when the one my friend selected was out, he brought a small flight, unasked, so she could select the next closest. A noir, I think (thought that only referred to movies, but ok). She loved it and we both had a second round. Comfortable ambiance, fantastic service, and the host on the door was authentically welcoming, a very nice touch. This restaurant was once my introduction to modern Milwaukee dining, and there's a reason it's still my favorite.
(4)
Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: solid brunch in a pleasant setting. Oh no, another Lowlands Group restaurant. Why do I keep coming to these? Thought I'd give Cafe Centraal a try as I was jonesing for some brunchtimes and it's walking distance. It looks just like all the others: semi-industrial, semi-pub, all Millennial-cool. But it's a nice atmosphere to have a meal in, you can't deny. I ordered the Bay View Au Gratin Skillet ($11.95) because I'm a sucker for trying new types of sausage. I expected there to be very little of the Belgian sausage, but I was pleasantly surprised that my skillet came out probably made up half of the sliced stuff. The rest was potatoes, cheese, onions, and a couple fried eggs. Nothing revolutionary, but by far the best solid food I've had a Lowlands place. And the value was there for the amount of food (and sausage!) you get. My only complaint was that there was a Tripel on the menu without a brewery's name next to it and so I figured it must be one of their house brews. I excitedly ordered it, only to be charged $5 for a bottle whose six-pack you could buy at any gas station. A bit disappointing. Experience was more of a 3.5, but rounding up because Cafe Centraal was notably better than any of the other Lowlands Group places I've been to.
(4)
Chrissy S.
I would say that I usually am a fan of the Lowlands group restaurants (especially love that they support the local bike community with sponsored events for various clubs and bike fed), but I think I prefer other locations. I like coming here for a beer (great variety of beers) and have eaten here twice. I miss some of the menu items at other lowlands restaurants, but their menu is decent. Just prior to the world cup, they synced all of their tv's... which was a bit of a bummer since we went there to watch hockey and get a beer and someone who was there before us requested the cardinals game. After saying we were going to find it elsewhere, they told us to hold up and after ten minutes they figured out how to split tv channels. I was grateful for that, but found it odd that they were going to make every tv the same thing.
(3)
Marcus W.
Just had my wife's baby shower at Cafe Centraal and it was amazing! Organizing a baby shower is not an easy task considering I have zero experience, but Jaime and Amber made it as simple as it gets. Yes, there were some hiccups mid-planning but both them and Amanda the General Manager just "worked it out" and the entire experience was very professional! We booked the Sun Room and all my guests loved the ambiance and vibe the room gives off(check Yelp pics). The food was great!(Quinoa Skillet, French Toast, Pork Belly Poutine, Spiced Chicken Waffle, Bay View Burger & Bay LT). Since I was the host, I was busy with all the guests but I can really tell Mia and Lauren our servers, were hustling and did all they can to accommodate our needs. As a Bay View resident and long-time customer of Cafe Centraal, I highly recommend this restaurant for your event needs, great service, overall great food and drinks!
(5)
C G.
Fantastic! We (a group of seven, from 9 to 67 years old) loved every meal we ordered at a Saturday brunch. I have never had better quiche (and I lived in France for a while), my son's French toast was delicious, my daughter fell in love with the beignets, etc. etc. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with a little edge. The only negative was that two of our glasses/mugs had lipstick on them when delivered to the table. Not quite as bad as hair in food, but pretty close. That was an unfortunate way to start a meal, but the food almost completely made up for it.
(4)
Erin L.
Kinda pricy but very good. The beers here are amazing and the atmosphere is fun/hipster/inviting We started with the brat/pretzel bite board and VERY glad we did.
(4)
Blern S.
Excellent beer, service food and vibe. Breakfast was superb. Try the Ooey Gooey Spicy Mess or whatever it's called. Delicious. These people know how to serve the beers you want, exactly how they should be served.
(5)
Kira W.
I love Quizmaster Quiz on Thursdays. I wouldn't go otherwise. I love how the QuizMaster trivia has different categories of questions. It makes it a team effort because we're all able to contribute. Some of us are movie buffs, some of us are audiophiles, and more. It really gives everyone an opportunity to participate because there's such a variety in the content. QuizMaster is new to Centraal. Also worth mentioning is the fact that there were 40 people the first week and over 70 people the second. Wow! We're going to continue to bring more people because we like the trivia. We doubled our team last week and we're going to have to start splitting up since we can only have 8 per team. I haven't had the best experience at Centraal with food or service, but as long as QuizMaster is there, well continue to go and we'll continue to bring 8-12 of our friends. If you need a team, come down and let us know!
(4)
Pita J.
Been here a few times over the last few years. I've had amazing bloody marys, I've had awesome sandwiches, I have shitty expensive burgers, I've had stellar service and I've had shit service. Most recently went for brunch - bloody's were on point as always. First waitress, dropped over menus, and never returned, 2nd waiter, who came to the rescue after the first disappeared, was awesome. I feel bad i forgot his name. Food was good, had the breakfast tacos, the sauce needs a bit more kick, but other than that, i couldn't ask for better service. I will be back, as long as that guy is there.
(4)
Allison F.
I'm a potato enthusiast, so I need something diced and well-seasoned. Cafe Centraal does just that with their rosemary potatoes, and it's cured a couple of hangovers at Sunday brunch. You're a lifesaver, Cafe Centraal!
(4)
Josh B.
This was a spur of the moment brunch decision, and I'm glad we tried it! Cafe Centraal has one of the best beermosas I've ever had, and their blackberry mimosa is pretty good as well, although I think it's a little high priced at $8, I probably would not order it again, unless they lowered the price a bit, or gave you a slightly larger glass. If you do get anything with fries, the best advice I can give is to splurge a bit and get the sweet potato fries. THEY ARE AMAZING WHEN FRESH! Everything we ordered was pretty good, and the service was decent, considering how busy it was (sundays in Milwaukee). The restaurant was mostly clean, although there was a large sticky spot on the table where my napkin and utensils were, but I get the feeling it was a rare oversight, and not a habit. The bloody was pretty good as well, and had a good set of garnishes, including the standard pickles, cheese, and thankfully, bacon. The restaurant was rather loud due to so many people being at the restaurant, which I can't fault them for, but it's something to keep in mind if you're planning on coming for a date, or anything where conversation is going to need to happen. Nothing was overdone, and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying it again on a slower day, so we can really enjoy it.
(4)
Corey C.
I'm a big fan of Cafe Centraal and all of the other restaurants that are owned by the Lowlands Cafe group (Benelux, Trocadero, Hollander, etc). They have a tasty take on food that resonates with me. I've never had anything on the menu I didn't like. My favorites are the frites (fries) and dipping sauce. For brunch (or blunch) try the Berry Basil French Toast for something sweet and with artfully balanced flavors. Or for something hearty, savory, and manly, try the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess. they also have an good selection of Belgian and craft beers, and unique cocktails. Whatever you get, check this place out for a perfect sampling of the Bay View culinary experience.
(5)
Mike K.
the 2nd stp on the SCR world tour was here and.....Meh. that's right, meh. Then again i'm from Chicago so maybe my standards are a bit high...then again I did live in fond du lac so I clearly have no standards. and still a meh for this place. im sure that's not helpful, but this should be...not impressed by their food, albeit the way its presented is....ok. too expensive for a place giving you average items. plus the service was....meh. our waiter was a bit douche...trying way too hard to be a smartass to a bunch of smartasses...plus when you see the size of our group and give us the smallest space possible especially when we're willing to wait for some room...that's a loss.
(2)
Jessica O.
I've been a patron at Cafe Centraal a handful of times over the last few years, and I echo the sentiments of my fellow Yelpers. It is, indeed, inconsistent. I would have been at a solid three stars, IF I hadn't just recently discovered the patio The patio is just lovely. A private, peaceful little refuge, that happens to be filled with lots of peeing cherub fountains. This is a perfect place to sip cocktails. For me, the Ginger Shandie was an awesome choice - Limoncello, ginger beer, and the Lowlands High Speed Wit...hell. yes. Until now, Cafe Centraal was one of those places that I never objected to going, but never suggested on my own. But now it is on a solid list of places I'll offer up when searching for sun and cocktails.
(4)
Flex B.
I'm updating my review, because I decided to give Cafe Centraal a second chance and was pleasantly surprised. I went on Memorial Day, and it was the most quiet that I have ever seen the place. Both our host and waitress were nice and welcoming, so service wise I would say really good other than our food taking quite a while to come out. I ordered the blackened tofu philly and it was awesome. Thanks to this sandwich and the friendly service, I have decided that Cafe Centraal has redeemed themselves of my previous bad experience. I will be returning in the future, because it would be of my utmost pleasure to stuff that beautiful sandwich into my mouth again.
(3)
Teresa D.
As always an excellent selection of beer, creative entrees and excellent cocktails. I'm a fan of this family if restaurants.
(4)
Linda B.
Really annoyed! We were in the neighborhood early and decided to wait until they open at 8am at Collectivo across the street. We walked over a little after 8am and the door was locked. There were people inside who saw us but didn't come over to open the door. Considering it was freezing out side we weren't willing to stand and wait. It was 8:10am when we left and they had not opened their doors. Left a bad impression for me!
(1)
W S.
Really a pretty good spot. Food was very good. This is a "sort of" chain restaurant owned by the same group that owns Cafe Hollander in Wauwatosa. No gripes with the food or drinks. It is just a tad on the $$ side, so if you are looking for cheap eats, not here. Upsides: Food was good, service was ok (middle of the road). Downsides: Parking (its on the street, so in winter, bad weather u r walking in it), When they are busy there is next to no place for you to wait. Not a big deal on a summer day, in the winter you are crammed by the entrance/exit with no place to sit and its the main thoughoufare in and out.
(3)
Jen F.
This place has some really good things going for it: great beer selection; late night food service, and a big patio. The vegan options here are pretty limited, otherwise I would give it a higher rating. It gets a two for vegan, four for regular food (says my BF, who adores their fresh brunch donuts). The menu invites you to "ask about our vegan options," but sadly the answer is "not much." There are a few salads, a hummus appetizer, and oatmeal for brunch. But I like a little protein with my veggies, and there's not much; I think they even got rid of the one tofu dish. :( (Side note: the waitstaff has always been super nice about asking the kitchen about what could be made vegan, or what options could be modified.) The menu changes regularly, so maybe they'll add some real vegan choices. The few options I have tried are good though, so while it's not somewhere I crave to go, I can definitely make do. Brunch can be crazy with the family crowd, so be prepared to wait (or better yet, grab a seat at the bar and eat there). You can watch the parade of bloody mary's go by and decide which one fits your mood.
(3)
Joanna T.
Here's another in my series known as JT's Conversations With Inept Employees: Hubs (earlier): you need to call Centraal at 4:30pm on the dot because they only take reservations 2 hours prior. Me: (grimacing as though in pain at restaurant choice): Centraal? Uhhhh....all right, I guess.... Fast forward to 4:31pm today...... Me: Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for 6 people... Inept Hostess: (cuts me off) we're only taking reservations for after 8:30pm. Me: I thought you took reservations only up to 2 hours prior. IH: That's right Me: (puzzled) But it's only 4:30 pm? IH: we're full for reservations Me: So, all the people that planned to come at 6:30 have already called in the 45 seconds reservations have been open???? IH: We're only taking reservations after 8:30pm. You can call two hours ahead. Me: That's what I'm trying to do. IH: We're full until 8:30 Me: Politely refrains from explaining that if they take reservations just 2 hours prior, that means 8:30pm reservations can only be taken when BOTH the big AND little hand of the clock are on the 6. Me: hangs up, calls Riveria Maya and makes a easy, hassle free reservation. Inept Hostess: goes back to vainly trying to discern the difference between her ass and a hole in the ground.
(1)
Sarah M.
The Duck Bacon Flatbread and Spare Ribs were amazing! I thought the Stuffed Burger fell a little flat, but I was expecting more of a Minneapolis-style juicy Lucy. Great beer selection and friendly staff! Love the atmosphere too, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu, so many tantalizing options!
(4)
Stephen M.
I remember what this place used to be like when there was a thing known as consistency and quality control. Funny how things change. Prices are up, portions are down, and no one seems to care (by which I mean the staff - there are a couple of high spots, but the same tendency towards hipster-cool-apathy that plagues every one of their places). I've been here twice in the last year and will never be again. I know how hard it is to maintain a thing once it's built, especially when you can't entice the ones who built it to stay. But, as they say when you walk off a ledge in Call of Duty...mistakes have been made.
(2)
Barbarossa R.
My wife and I have been going to Centraal for the last 6 years or so, and the service, food and beer used to be great, but somewhere in those six years there was a shift in service and food. I believe the shift can be attributed to the many different and great places to eat around Centraal, and Centraal did not adapt or felt it needed to, which is why last weekend will be the last time I go back. We always sit at the bar, which I fully expect the service to be delayed due to the busy nature of the bartender, but this experience is the one that sealed the deal. The bartender didn't stop by for quite some time, and it wasn't that busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. He clearly wasn't listening when I order a cafe latte because he made a cafe Americano, yes trivial, I know first world problems. So, I didn't say anything and quietly grumbled to my wife and self. We finally order our food and I ordered the Quinoa skillet, which has been a favorite of mine. The eggs were severely over cooked, the skillet had no seasoning and it tasted like the squash hadn't been cooked at all. To top it off when we asked for our bill the bartender gave us the wrong bill. The only saving grace was another server who was incredibly helpful, but unfortunately we've had one to many experiences likes this at Centraal and will no longer go back.
(1)
Danielle R.
So, I went here for breakfast. I currently have a pretty limited diet due to a stomach ulcer, so I was looking for something without spice, but with flavor. I ordered the plainest breakfast on the menu, and it was good (the potatoes were delicious). However, my only complaint is that most of their choices for breakfast and skillets are very fancy and have a lot of "different" ingredients. I would've liked a few more choices that were in between being bland af and crazy concoctions.
(4)
Lisa A.
This is the last of the lowlands restaurants I have visited. I'm always generally anywhere from very much a fan to "that was pretty good"on their places. Their food is generally reliable and reasonably priced (my parents always LOVE the food here and they can be a little picky,) they all have that "beer book" & they have a speciality drink menu. (Although personally, I find their drinks usually just alright). Other things: Service - our server was nice - genuinely nice and friendly without coming off as phony. I know service is often pointed out as an issue here but I thought he was super nice. Atmosphere - hmmmm....all these restaurants are similar but I didnt care for centraal's atmosphere. It didn't seem as "European" as the others, with a giant bar with tv's in the center and a random smattering of tables around that seemed a little too low for the ceiling. Still, I think this is an decent option in the area. In summer with the patio it might be better.
(3)
Amanda P.
No happy hour, but any hour with this beer list is a happy one. New to the neighborhood, my hubby and I were overcaffeinated and in need of wi-fi. We headed to Centraal (using our citytin coaster!) and had a few brews each, paired with frites and tasty dipping sauces. We also asked for a side of the beer cheese sauce that's listed with a different app: I highly recommend dipping your frites and licking the bowl clean after!
Loved the fried chicken sandwich. Spicy ginger BBQ was good. Fries okay. Great beer selection and friendly staff. Cool atmosphere.
(5)
Jake P.
I've been to Centraal multiple times - at least five different occasions. Each time I've experienced bad to average service. Let's go through the ones I remember: 1) I came here with my friend and his girlfriend one summer night. We sat out on the patio (which is very well decorated) and we ordered drinks and a fry cone. Simple, right? Apparently not. The food arrived before the drinks and I kid you not, the server even commented on it and said "it's never good when the food comes before the drinks is it." ... You think? It's not even busy right now! But thanks for pointing it out and reminding me. 2) I came for dinner with two of my friends on a Friday evening. We all ordered drinks and food. I ordered the fish fry. It was good except during his whole narration of the specials, the server forgot to mention that the all you can eat fish fry costs extra . On top of that, we all ordered another round of drinks which just never came. Maybe he was just having a forgetful day. 3) I came here with the same couple from 1. By itself, this visit would not have been bad. It was mostly just an odd situation. But since these visits are listed chronologically, I was skeptical about this place. The hostess came off a little rude to us and kind of acted like we shouldn't even be bothering her. Not the worst thing but not great. And I'm 93% certain the server was stoned. I don't care what you do with your personal life but if I can go to work sober, so can you. 4) I came here with a small group of people (3 or 4) and we all sat at the bar. The bartender handed us the drink menus and we never heard from him again. We waited about 10-15 minutes and just walked out without even ordering. And if you don't know, the bar is set up so that there's plenty of room for everyone to sit down. It's not one of those bars that there's a group of people crowded around one lonely bartender while fighting for attention. 5) The final time I came with a friend from work around 11pm. Since Centraal is one of the only places open late with real food around there, it might explain why I keep coming back to it. We both ordered drinks and a sandwich. They were good but unremarkable and certainly not enough for Centraal to redeem itself. Most of these happened over a year ago and I'm still traumatized by them. I wish I didn't have to drive by this place everyday on my way to work. Overall, Centraal has a good drink selection but it is on the expensive side. There are quite a few other places within walking distance to go for drinks. It is one of the only places open later for actual food, however, and that has always been its appeal for me. Unfortunately, I've had too many bad experiences to ever return, even if they're the only ones offering food late at night.
(1)
Candice O.
Must try oatmeal. All home made except soy milk. Lots of nuts and grains. Outside dinning, unending beer list. Best donuts ever. Fast, attentive and pleasant wait staff. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Beth P.
I've enjoyed some great meals and beers here mostly of the burger and frites/Belgian beer variety. Pro tip: Happy hour is Thursdays during trivia. Our waitstaff has let us do happy hour a little early since we arrived 10 minutes before it started. Better yet, go to Sugar Maple next door and then hit up Cafe Centraal for their grub. Also, they have a really cool outdoor dining area that is open during the summer. I still need to check it out!
(4)
Meagan N.
Consistency! The only thing I have consistently enjoyed here is a bloody Mary. One time the 'bacon' on my Hot Mess looked like the charred bits from under a grill grate. Another time my burger tasted like a slat lick.The food was good initially but since their addition the prices went up and the food went down. Bayview has a lot more to offer than Centraal! Do yourself a favor and try an indie spot instead.
(2)
Noabeth S.
Just like every lowlands experience, good food and good service. The bay view burger was awesome. We got a duck bacon flat bread pizza as an appetizer which was delicious. 3 stars because my meal wasn't very good, the kulminator.
(3)
Gerard T.
Love this place. Always consistent to me. The kitchen stays open late during the week and the appetizers and beers never disappoint. Always a good selection of beers on tap. Also a great spot to catch a game and sometimes randomly they have awesome music. Great spot to relax, drink a beer and have some appetizers or a great place to get together with friends. Expect to spend between $20 -$50. Reasonable priced items snd the service is pretty good
(4)
Rachael G.
Ok Centraal. You've upped your game so I'll give ya more stars. So, I've decided to go vegan. Am I crazy? Probably. But for moral and health reasons its what works for me. So the Lowlands Group posted new fall menu items and I was excited to see that Centraal now had 3 vegan options (1 salad, 2 entrees) and the tofu dish sounded awesome. And it was amazing, really freaking tasty. The dish consisted of pan seared tofu, leeks, roasted red peppers (and some other veggies I can't recall) served in a vegetable au jus of sorts, with a piece of baguette on the side. Really excellent flavor, very hearty, and perfect for the winter months. Why still only 3 stars? Portion. It was a smaller plate (maybe 8 or 9 tofu chucks with some veggies and sauce) and it cost 12.95. I know quality costs a little more, but I definitely expected more than what I received. What was also really nice about this visit was we were placed in a smaller back room that was much quieter and had more space than the main room. Still not my favorite go to spot, but I'm starting to warm up to Centraal.
(3)
Taylor D.
But is it Tortilla soup... or applesauce with no flavor? Confused. Sometimes I don't really dig the food, but I've never actually gotten sick off of the way a bowl of soup looked. Well... Until last night anyways. WILL NOT RETURN
(1)
Mik E.
Will never have a reason to go back. On a recent evening we got there and had a slight wait for a table so we went to the bar to bide the time. My date ordered wine but the glass it was served in had an obvious lipstick impression on it and it took forever to get the bartenders attention to complain. Once we told him about it it simply got a different glass and poured the wine from the dirty glass into the new one. When told that was not acceptable and that we wanted a different drink he asked us what was wrong with the one he just served. While my date tried to tell him that was not acceptable I just went to the Manager to complain. The Manager did come through and comped us the drinks but after that we decided to go elsewhere for dinner. We used to LOVE Centraal (even had a small wedding reception there) but have had several incidents in a row of slow service and slipping quality of food so like I said before... we have no need to return there
Solid choice for beer selection and food. My personal favorite is mussel Monday's, burger and frites or the club sandwich. Be sure to check out the dipping sauces and beer specials.
(4)
Katie S.
I want Centraal to be better. The menu always makes me drool, but the reality never lives up. Somehow the food always seems underseasoned. The atmosphere is always packed...there's a whole row of tables that is flanked on both sides with major aisles. This would be fine-ish, if the servers didn't keep trying to walk in between the tables because the aisle was so long. There's not enough room folks! Go around! The beer list is always good, lots of Euro options. Is it weird that I want to compare it to Applebee's? I mean, I'll still come and eat, I just won't love it in a 5 star kind of way.
(3)
Colin A.
Has Cafe Centraal undergone a radical menu switch in the past few years??? At one point, they had a great manager who paid to sponsor my softball team several years back -- and since we played just down the street at Lincoln Field, we visited several times for beer + eats...most often beer. Their brunch offerings have altered my impression for ...well, ever. I stopped in for brunch two weeks ago Saturday and had a great experience. 1. Arrived at Noon; seated promptly, zero crowd. I know South Shore Festival was the same day, but I was stunned at the emptiness of Centraal. 2. There are at least 20 items on the brunch menu that I would order with a quickness that marvels broadband internet, a rocketship, or The Flash. 3. Price was right and the portions were gigantic. I sampled the green torpedo omelet, which included toast and rosemary potatoes. Delicious all around! My dining companions opted for the same omelet, french toast, black bean burgers, or turkey burgers. The black bean version was huge and looked incredibly tasty. 4. Great beer list; I appreciated the pairing recommendations by dish, but I opted for Alterra coffee for a caffeine blast. I never cared for the dinner menu in the past -- either the dishes were not appealing or the prices were a bit out of my range for usual dinners out -- but as I review it now, there are several items that make my mouth water...and considering most of the dinners don't rise above the $14-15 mark, I'd consider returning for an evening meal. For now, I could see this becoming a brunch destination on plenty of lazy Saturdays to follow.
(3)
Katie K.
Food is always so-so (too salty, I can tell it was frozen). Husband loves the beer selection and I am a huge fan of the brunch mimosa.
(3)
Barbara D.
A fun place to eat. I had the flat bread with pulled pork & mangos. Not something I'd make at home. Ordered it since a special for the day. I was surprised how good it was. Also had the Cowboy Sliders: 3 burgers topped with breaded onion rings. They were perfect. We sat in an area that gave the feel of eating outside without the hassle of smelling car exhaust or having bugs landing on your food.
(4)
Bottomless P.
Food was much better at brunch than at dinner. I'd go back.
(4)
Erin T.
Awesome atmosphere and delicious unique menu that makes me want more. Had the quiche for brunch and it was buttery cheesy goodness that made my day. Excellent fresh coffee as well.
(5)
Jess O.
Hadn't been there for brunch in a while because I found the selections uninspiring. But oh my we went back and I wanted to order everything. Everything I tried was yummy. I will have to go back to try everything else. The kid's brunches were great too. They come on a little divided plate with fruit or veggies and my girls felt very special to see how fancy their food looked.
(5)
Kyle H.
Yet another great pop-in to Centraal and I'm a fan! Bellied up to the bar, prime time on a Friday night, and had a great meal, great service, and I learned a thing or two about beer. Bay View is now becoming baby buggy central, and Cafe Centraal is welcoming to families and kids, and you know what- tables are spaced far enough away to make it a non-issue. It's like a European beer hall, where people bring kids, and even dogs! Centraal is relaxed, and welcoming. Featuring some of their swimming items for Lent, (mussels, blackened seafish tacos) I had the beer-battered Cod fish fry with sweet potato frites and coleslaw. Fish fry passed with flying colors, and it paired well with a Lakefront Fixed Gear. Sitting by the taps, I learned a lot about biers, as the kind waiter answered a lot of questions, and gave out samples. I tried an Estaminet (Pils), which was like Stella Artois, but with a honey sweetness on the backend. A great lightish beer! I'm going to put Centraal in my rotation of places I go with my son, places I belly up to the bar for Beer School, and places I call a Few of My Favorite Things.
(5)
Rohan D.
The food is okay, and the ambiance is great, but that doesn't balance out the lack of respect ownership has for drinking customers. I ordered a rye, nothing special, on the rocks, easy on the ice. It came neat, in a tiny little dessert snifter, the kind they might use in a brandy tasting or for small children who like cognac. I had to snag the waiter who left quickly while I scoffed at the peculiar glass. When corrected, he brought the whiskey in a tiny little tumbler, it matched the rocks glass one of the other professors (she just got tenure, we were celebrating) got, except in size. Her cocktail came in a full size rocks glass that my glass fit INSIDE OF. Then of course the bill needed examination. My American rye, less than a thick finger in a tiny little play rocks glass, was twice as much as the English professors full size cocktail. I asked the waiter about the "neat" upcharge, and his response, yet a new rationalization on this temerarious duplicity was outright legerdemain: "It's the same price." The two different prices were one above the other, merely a centimeter apart. "The same price?" He changed to "ice or no ice, the price is the same for neat." Well there's an insulting way to put it. So not only are you going to charge me more for ordering two ice cubes, you're going to give me less whiskey, and insult my intelligence. Bad form Cafe Centraal. Very shortly after this theft, the Chief of Staff took me to dinner at the Mason Street Grill, and I shouldn't be comparing these two restaurants as the MSG is upscale, elegant, and much more expensive, but there's a big difference in respect for customers with a surprising small difference in price for drinks. At the "expensive" restaurant, a top shelf Balvenie doublewood scotch, served in a real heavy bottom big round whiskey glass, over two fingers, ran $14. No dishonest neat upcharge there, so about twice as much, five times as expensive whiskey was only 4 dollars more than at CC. Two neat common whiskeys at CC will run 20$, or 6$ more than about the same amount of much better whiskey at the better restaurant and....no one will insult my intelligence there.
(1)
Arielle H.
I ate here the other night with my boyfriend, it was a Sunday night we just moved to bay view and nothing that we could really see was opened so we ate here. Now we've been to Benelux and Hollander so we knew what we were in for. They stopped serving food at 10:30 that night that night I believe because they were doing something with the kitchen, you could still have a drink at the bar after 10:30 just not food. The bartender sat us and was happy we got to enjoy dinner before they closed the kitchen which was nice. They did have a big party that night close to about 20 people our waitress was very sweet and wanted to make sure our food got in before the large party. I am not a big beer fan and know they have a decent selection of beer. I ordered the dreamsicle and honestly was not impressed. I was expecting it to taste, well like a dreamsicle. I can't really explain the taste but I was a fan. For an app we ordered the brisket sliders, when I saw it had a horseradish cream sauce I was a little hesitant but they.were.delicious!!!!!! I wish they would have given you 4 instead of 3. For dinner I had the bayview burger. I mean it's a burger and fries doesn't need any further explanation. My boyfriend ordered the kalmunator? (Sp?) it's a grilled cheese with bacon. That was alright, I mean I love my bacon but that had to much bacon and not enough cheese. And for me when ordering any kind of grilled cheese you would think some type of tomato soup would be involved. Overall we had a nice dinner, I felt a little rushed to order only because of the large table so I ended up sticking with something simple, dinner wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad either, I'm personally more of a fan of there brunch
(4)
Jon S.
Food was fantastic. A very good selection with many "alternative" options lets say. But i ended up getting the Bay View Burger. If you want a good burger, I strongly recommend this one. My girlfriend got the beef stew in a pretzel bowl (forgot the name of it). Beef was a little fatty she said and there was a lot of onions in it. I didn't mind that though. I just finished the onions for her haha. Now onto drinks. They had a nice little book with many different selections of beer all organized by type. A very good selection I must say. I would highly recommend this place for food and drink activities.
(5)
Yeng C.
My husband and I had brunch at Cafe Centraal last Sunday. We have been here several times before and I enjoy the brunch while my husband enjoys the beer selection. I am only giving it a 3 star because of our customer service at the bar. We sat at the bar while we waited to be seated. After 10 minutes of being ignored, I literally had to wave down a bartender to get drinks. Other than that, our food was good and our server was excellent (he was thin, with glasses, and wearing a packer jersey). We have both worked in the food industry in the past and customer service determines a lot about a restaurant to us. Cafe Centraal is good but it can be so much better.
(3)
Kay C.
I have been to Cafe Centraal many times, but this is my first stab at a review. I think it is a great addition to any Bay View bar crawl due to the size of the place, which includes a really nice big bar and an awesome secluded patio area. It has a cool, casual atmosphere and the same great beer selection you find at all the Lowlands Group places with an emphasis on Belgian beer. So it has a lot going for it. We just had brunch on Sunday and sat outside in the patio area. Typically my husband is not a fan of patio areas as you are exposed to the elements and many times you're on the street with vehicle and foot traffic. But this patio is different. It actually has a calming effect as you are surrounded by tall vine covered brick walls and little urinating statues of various colors throughout the area. The statues are the symbols of Brussels, Belgium - Manneken Pis - little man pee. No worries about wind and stinky exhaust fumes. The brunch menu is quite extensive offering egg dishes, pancakes/waffles, salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. Pretty much something to please everyone. I ordered the Green Torpedo omelette with basil, spinach and feta cheese accompanied by rosemary potatoes. All so very good. They have a great brunch beverage menu as well with a good variety of Bloody Marys, mimosas, etc. I went with the Southsider Bloody this time with jalapeno infused vodka and a variety of hot spiced pickled accompaniments plus a Hoegaarden beer chaser. Yum. This time around we had excellent, knowledgeable service and really great food. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Greg w.
Food wasn't good but they were cool with my friend puking into his fancy Belgian beer, so that's an extra star.
(4)
Phillip M.
Great sandwiches! Great location (Parking a bit tough!) My favorite "PIKE TANDEM DOUBLE ALE"!
(5)
Bartleby F.
We went here on Tuesday, at about 9:30 after learning that both La Perla and La Fuente do not actually close the kitchen at 10, they close it whenever they feel like. So we were questing for what is considered "late night" food. We found it at Cafe Centraal. The interior is what goes for standard reclaimed industrial these days, exposed ducts, a fantastic wood bar and floor, exposed brick. We were immediately greeted at the door and seated where we learned the kitchen is open to midnight. Huzzah! Our server, Erk, was fantastic. He was attentive, offered suggestions, even told us how some things were cooked, and in general he was a great guy. This is a rarity in Milwaukee where many servers are polite but distant or just rude in the guise of efficiency. The special was the Poutine so that's what my husband ordered. We live close to Red Dot so it was cool to see another take on this dish. The duck/port gravy was delicious and the fried pork belly was simply delicious. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. It was good, but the chicken was a little small. The gouda combined with the Siracha BBQ sauce, however, was an unexpected treat. All in all, we'll definitely go back. I won't say it's cheap, but it's cheaper than Hollander (and less pretentious, too!)
(4)
Pamela M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and I usually have a wonderful experience there. However, last night I ordered a sandwich but wanted it without the spicy peppers and onions. For medical reasons I cannot eat spicy food. I believe it was Doug who waited on us. He was heckling me for wanting to change it. He said it had been a field day for modifications and asked if that's what I really wanted to order. It didn't come off like he was just joking around. My boyfriend even commented about the attitude. I was still able to enjoy my meal but I left wondering what was the point to badgering your customers.
(3)
Heather M.
Love love love this place. If you like Cafe Hollander, you'll love this place. Same owners. Incredible beer selection. Delicous food with diverse menu. The beer cheese soup was incredible. Thick and creamy. The popcorn on the top was a nice touch. Hard to find great beer cheese soup in this city of beer and cheese! I really don't have much of a taste for french fries in general. However, the sweet potato frites are wonderful. Just the right level of crispyness. It also comes with your choice of dipping sauce. I'd recommend the chipotle sour cream. Yum!
(5)
Roseanne S.
This was our next stop on our tour of bars in the Bay View area. I thought The Sugar Maple had a large beer selection. Boy was I wrong. Cafe Centraal definitely took the cake here. Very big, open space with a lot of seating and a nice long bar. My friend and I sat at a small table near the window. I perused the beer menu, eyes wide open at the amount of different beers they had. I had no idea where to even start. Our waiter was very helpful. I asked him what beer he would recommend. Of course, he asked what I liked and I told him basically anything besides stouts and porters. I also asked if they had any hefewizens and admitted that they don't have any he would recommend. I appreciated his honesty about their selection. Instead of letting me try a crappy beer just because I liked the style, which is something another waiter/bartender might do, he offered up some great suggestions, one of which I went with. Seriously, the amount of different beers here is insane and I love it. We only stayed for one drink because my friend isn't a beer drinker and wanted to go somewhere with more fruity girly drink options, but I'm looking forward to coming back with some of my craft beer compadres and getting to know some more of these beers.
(4)
Rachel A.
I'm a huge fan of the Lowlands group. They own some of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. Cafe Centraal is the bad seed of the bunch. I have eaten here three times, and each time I have gotten EXTREMELY sick from the food. It was my intention to give them the benefit of the doubt. Three times is no coincidence. Service is poor. Staff is somewhat unfriendly. I would absolutely not eat here again.
(1)
Hazel C.
Several vegan options, and multiple vegetarian options, as well. The tofu bowl (vegan) was AMAZING. Nice atmosphere, good music, decent sized menu, however, the server wasn't attentive at all. Took about 20-25 minutes for him to come back with the check. Could've just been an off day. I'd go again for the food and hope the service improves.
(3)
Marc R.
Sure, it is part of a restaurant group, but they have got a lot going on here to love. The great beer choices here are amazing, and while many friends have complained about the food being "freezer" food, I really loved the black bean burger here. The servers are pretty friendly - I like the afternoon bartender Sylvia - and are always nice if you are willing to hang out and chat in the afternoon. I love that they made my mussels with a TON of garlic. I had a few strong beers then wanted to eat so went for it. I had the mussels with a not so bright but pretty ex GF who said to the server back then "the mussels are great, but I hate Belgian beers" ... well, um, Centraal Station is in Amsterdam, but hey, I had to hand it to the server for saying "Well, we are a Belgian beer specialist, but I bet you'd like the IPA or spotted cow" and he brought out a couple samples for Miss Super hipster. Yep, It worked. Ok, well, back to the garlic. I had my vampire proof mussels, and I usually ask for more bread and a spoon to suck up the soupy yumminess. So, I do like this place as a anchor property in the Bay View hood. Milwaukee has its investor driven restaurants and bars to be sure - there are a few that have popped up that I really like - example: Boone & Crockett. Centraal was always one of the places I brought my too cool for Milwaukee Wicker Park and Logan Square friends from Chicago and it is still on the list.
(4)
Jeremia F.
Had some good shiitake mushroom style Mussels that were great! And partook in some of their excellent beverage selections which is dominated by Belgians....oooooh. Service was great but the menu was just to "all over the place" and I didn't see anything I loved, too many sandwiches, so went to the Odd Duck.
(4)
D B.
Chain envy. I want to like this place more than I do. The Lowlands family of restaurants all have a similar feel. OK food and decent/predictable drinks served at a premium by uninspired wait staff. There are exceptions, and I don't want to be too negative, but more often than not, I leave mildly disappointed, and I get the impression they could care less. If I had some advice for the lowlands folks it would be to hire some talent, pay them well, and stop trying to be a crappy chain.
(3)
Jennifer C.
The food at Cafe Centraal is pretty good - sometimes it is hit or miss depending on what you order. The decor is pretty cool and it has a pretty relaxed enviroment. The wait staff can be hit or miss as well. I have had amazing services as well as services that is kind of iffy. Yesterday when I went, the bartender seemed more interested in talking with his friend who was a customer as well rather than being of some use to other customers.
(3)
Wendy K.
Centraal is amazing. Great cocktail menu. They also have a burger with blu cheese in it that is the best burger I have ever had. Stuffed grass fed burger. No joke. Also the scotch egg is to die for. I ordered one as an appetizer, and I liked it so much I got another to bring home, which only lasted half my car ride home. Delish!!
(5)
Melissa M.
First time here! Great food and service! I love the black bean burger and selection of beer!!
(4)
Emily S.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD Huge beer selection Amazing sweet potato fries And a menu that changes every few months to improve their recipes Very unique and flavorful
(5)
B B.
First time visit to Cafe Centraal. Brunch was on my mind and I wanted a refreshing cocktail on a hot Saturday afternoon. The place wasn't crowded but it wasn't dead either. Families, couples and what looked to be a great mixture of all walks of life were enjoying the open, sunny atmosphere. We were served water right away which is a nice touch on a hot day in the city. I had a specialty cocktail called a Red Snapper. It wasn't too sweet or boozy...it was made quite well. My husband had the Nuts and Berries from the cocktail menu. Creamy, smooth and the raspberry garnish was a great touch. Every person that was working behind the bar was conversational and genuinely concerned if we needed anything and if we were enjoying our visit. The host was friendly and super cute. The brunch menu is full of choices but my decision was easy. I chose the Red Eye. Black pepper basil biscuits with poached eggs and chorizo gravy served with rosemary potatoes. The eggs were cooked properly and the ample portion size left me with extra to have as a snack later. This dish is full of spice but not overbearing. My husband had the Hot Mess with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage over rosemary potatoes topped with Belgian beer cheese sauce and fresh basil. Another ample portion for a hungry bruncher. He gave it 3.5 stars only because the eggs were slightly overcooked. He ate it all so it had to be good. Our bill was $39 for two tasty drinks and two hearty meals. We'll be back soon and Cafe Centraal is now going to be a must visit place when I'm in MKE.
(5)
Becky S.
Love all their beer choices. A great place to hang out with friends, drink, and try new beers. Love that they have Lambics (Framboise and Peche are the best).
(4)
Chris M.
I've been a fan of the Lowlands restaurant group since they opened their first restaurant. Each have unique and amazing locations. I've been to this location on a few occasions. Here are a few highlights: - Gluten-free MENU! That's right, a separate menu to make it easy for us GF freaks. - Their courtyard is awesome. Very private, you don't feel like you're just sitting along a road waiting for a car to come up over the curb and take you out. - Pork chops, red pepper coulis and polenta dish is the bomb!! - You like a good bloody mary? How about one with Nueske's bacon? Yep. The last time I was there was with a large group (~ 20 people). We all arrived at different times, some stood, some sat, some drank, some ate, we all moved around constantly. However, the server nailed kept each of our bills separated perfectly and always found me to deliver me my gluten-free beer. That's right, gluten-free BEER!
(5)
Brandy H.
One of the best beer selections in town Food is to die for. Favorites include the hummus and damage dip appetizer, rosemary goat cheese & mac, and meatloaf. Fish fry is amazing as well. CAN'T GO WRONG HERE!!!!
(5)
Casey C.
Went here for brunch. The Milwaukeean bloody mary was the best bloody I have ever had. The horseradish adds a spicy kick that is different from Tabasco. And it had bacon and cheese in it. Does it get any better than that. I usually don't like brunch because I don't want a huge meal that is really sweet like French Toast. But here, in addition to the sweets, they had options like the Chili Rojo Corn Cakes. Not ashamed to say I ate the whole colossal portion myself. Yum. And the Basil Berry Bliss is a great French Toast option. Excellent beer selection.
(4)
Robert M.
You could do a lot worse than Cafe Centraal, but you could do a lot better as well. I find all of the Lowlands Group Restaurants (Trocadero, Centraal, Hollander, Benelux, etc) to be remarkably similar. While at one time each of these restaurants represented a unique feel representative of their inspiration (France, Belgium, etc) they now all look, feel, taste act and smell virtually identical. Sort of depressing. The recipe: a very large selection of (mainly Belgian) beer, straight-forward food that is heavy on meats, potatoes and cheeses, decor and presentation that feels a little chain-ish. There's no question this is how you build a brand, but it all feels a little forced. I imagine I will inevitably be at Cafe Centraal again, but it will be at someone else's behest. Pros * Great for families and groups, particularly if you want to appease a lot of tastes * Outstanding beer selection Cons * Everything tastes, looks, feels the same * Service is lackluster at best
(2)
Loesje T.
Our yearly visit to Milwaukee always includes Cate Centraal. The outside patio was in full swing on a sunny Sunday morning. Brunch was outstanding as was the Bloody Mary special. It is so special that the NYT gave it a write up! Centraal keeps getting better and better. A welcome addition to Bay View. Heard that Alterra is building across the street. That and other local spots make this a new happening area. We'll be back!
(5)
Diane M.
The food here was delicious. Especially the belgian donuts. The server was very knowledgeable about the beer, and very sincere. Their beer selection was quite extensive, and the manager Bob was very polite and helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good meal, or a good beer!
(5)
Kip G.
After two wonderful experiences at Trocadero, I decided to give one of their sister restaurants a try today. The service definitely wasn't up to the same level received at Trocadero, but our waitress was training someone, so I completely understand. I decided to give the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy a shot and was pleased with the decision. Was completely in love with the chorizo gravy, but still not sure what to make of the addition of poached eggs to the mix. I'm just not that big of a fan of eggs, I guess. Good stuff though. Side of smoked bacon added a little extra love to the experience and gave me a little something to dip into those yolks. I'm not writing off Centraal, but I definitely think I'll try its other sister (Cafe Hollander) before returning for another meal. Wonderful location though...I love Bayview and can already tell that outside seating during Summer for brunch would be a wonderful experience.
(3)
Denise H.
The Bloody Marys are really good. That was the only good thing about my visit. My group waited over a hour to get a table and then over an hour to get our food order. We were pretty hungry by the time we got our food. I didn't think that the GF Salmon Benedict was worth the $13.99 that I paid for. It was quite a small portion size.
(3)
Becky T.
We live 6 blocks from Centraal, & we eat there quite regularly. The food is always very good & the service is too. I don't think I've ever been disappointed @ Centraal. This goes for the Wauwatosa location as well as the downer avenue location. I also have to give them props for being so fun! the sponsor the Santa Rampage ride and other cycling events and that's just awesome for community, fitness, and good times.(Trocadero on the other hand, has been ultra slow & insanely forgetful on a number of occasions...) But other than Trocadero, I'm very happy w/ Lowlands group, and Cafe Centraal in particular.
(4)
Katie S.
Awesome beer menu. Great indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Great location. (Being in walking distance from my house gives it an extra thumbs up.) Food is always decent, but it's a "sort-of" chain, and a little on the pricey side. I usually find myself at Cafe Centraal more for beers or trivia than for the food. It's a decent spot for sure.
(4)
Andrew A.
I have been to Cafe Centraal a few times but this is my first review. Service is inconsistent but this last time, it was good. No doubt about it has some of the best beer selection in Milwaukee...PBR tall boys to the best Belgian beer. The fish fry is pretty good and has an AYCE option. Last time I had it was $11.95 for regular fish fry and $13.95 for AYCE. It has panko breading, regular fries (not the best), and cole slaw (okay). I have also had the Bayview BELT for $9.95. This is a GOOD sandwich - applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce, 2 fried eggs, and roasted garlic aioli on toasted french bread. The hamburgers are okay. If you are looking for a burger, I'd try Solly's, Sobleman's, Oscar's Pub and Grill, or AJ Bombers. This last time I had the rib-eye and frites for $19.95. It was okay at best but a steak for $19.95 I can't really complain too much. Fries were much better this time around - fresh cut. My wife had the Benelux salad with chicken and enjoyed it.
(3)
Jamie S.
I have many things to talk about here: I live in the area, and so this is one of my options, and regardless of how indifferent i feel towards CC,and at times, I never can quite convince people we should go somewhere else. One time i went in and they made me sit at the bar to get the happy hour price on the fries, even though there were 5 other patrons in the whole place. They could have been nice, and adjusted the price and let me and my friend sit where we were and not move all our stuff up to the bar. Tacky. Employees are ALWAYS seeming to be holding meetings during restaurant hours at the back of the restaurant. Its akward. Period. The food could be better. You go there and eat something, you will know what I am talking about. The beer is great though..the one bright spot. The staff is pretentious at times. Not all of them. But good God, some of them have snotty 'tudes. You never know if you should wait to be seated, because NOONES ever waiting at the podium when its slower. Today i went in for brunch and it took 30 minutes to come to the table, when i asked the waitress where the food was, she said the restaurant is busy and the patio is packed. Soooo..what you are saying is we have to suffer because the patio is busy? I said this to her, and her reply was: the whole restaurant suffers. Bitch! Just snotty, like I mentioned. The gaspacho is good, but I am sure i could make better. You cant really mess up cold veggie soup. Just go to LULU or my house for dinner instead.
(2)
H C.
What is with all of the Lowlands Group restaurants and their crummy service? Went in on Sunday before a birthday party. Place was pretty empty so we sat at a high top table near the entrance to watch the Packer game. Not sure what the deal was with our server, but she was just kind of flighty. She took our food order before even offering us drinks. Food came out pretty fast, but it seemed like it took forever every time one of us ordered another drink. Once she forgot we ordered another drink and a few times after that she had to come back and ask us what we ordered. Then she would randomly take empty plates and glasses, but leave other ones on the table. Food isn't bad and the atmosphere is pretty nice, but the service is just plain crummy. And, going to their other restaurants I can say the service is pretty crummy there too. Thinking they need to pay their servers a bit more, and hire some quality folks. Because I am certainly not going out of my way to frequent their establishment.
(2)
Maria S.
Cafe Centraal is the type of place you want to bring your out of town guests when you have a mixed crowd. The menu lends to both the picky eater and the foodie. I believe they have the best mussels in town (get the traditional sauce). They also have fantastic bloody marys. Their brunch and dinner are both reliable, you know you will get good food. I wouldn't say that it's amazing or innovative, but it is absolutely a solid choice. Also the space is pretty big, I have never had to wait longer than 15 minutes. Finally their outdoor seating is cozy and off the street. I love that they have multi-colored string lights hanging.
(4)
Don W.
Cafe Centraal has a tremendous beer selection. Try their sampler so you can try four tasting samples of beers for $12 and figure out what you like best. The food was very good. My wife had the beer-battered fish fry (three pieces of fish, choice of fries and cole slaw). I had an Italian sausage plate (2 sausages) on top of red-skin mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Parking is a bit cumbersome to locate.
(4)
Megan S.
I'm lucky enough to live within blocks of this fabulous eatery -- part of Milwaukee's Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group (Madisonians, think Food Fight) and an all-around great place for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks. I love the breakfast burrito (it's absolutely massive, so only attempt it when you're half-starved) and I try the daily special whenever it's vegetarian (and haven't been let down yet!). Definitely a place to indulge a bit. The service is somewhat hit-or-miss, but it's never actually bad -- just lackluster at times. The space, on the other hand, is fantastic, along with the Euro-style decor. As for parking, there's a lot across the street and plenty of metered spots along KK; the 15 also stops right at Centraal's doorstep. Overall, it's conveniently located, you won't wait long to be seated, and you'll likely enjoy both the aesthetics and the grub.
(4)
Jennifer C.
PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!! (See last paragraph) This place has potential, it really does. The location is great, the ambiance is wonderful and they really should be doing much better business than they are. I used to wonder why they aren't busier. I no longer wonder. The first time we went for a fish fry there, it's was awesome. The second and third times, it was average. The food here is not consistent. I've been here on many occasions for different entrees and sometimes I'm really impressed and other times I wish I hadn't bothered. The service has much to be desired. Once we went in and stood at the front for almost 10 min. They weren't even half full, it was after 10PM and servers as well as bartenders saw us and no one said a thing. I finally called and spoke to the manager and asked him if he could come to the front to seat us. He was accommodating and apologized. The food service is pretty slow as well although the servers are knowledgeable of the menu and food. We went there one night just for cocktails. We were the only ones sitting at the bar. The bartender was one of the worst I've ever experienced. He refused to talk to us other than take our order and ignored us unless our glasses were empty. When I asked about the absinthe he didn't explain much about it (didn't even tell us it tastes like black licorice which I'm not a fan of). When I asked what other "fun" drinks they had, he just looked at me and said, condescendingly, "oh is it going to be that kind of a night?" WTF? Dude, if you hate your job that much, just quit. Lastly, don't park in the metered parking lot across the street. Went there on Monday for lunch with a friend and his driver's side window was busted open and everything in his car was stolen (laptop, gps, ipod, etc.) in broad daylight!! PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!!
(3)
Tony K.
A great place to play Jenga with friends while drinking one, or two, or three belgium beers.
This is by far my most favorite place to go for drinks or food in Milwaukee. Any time of day this place is fantastic! I literally have dreams about the Bloody Mary "The Frenchie" because it is too good for words. Every Sunday I seem to find myself back there for more. Nothing is a better hangover cure than The Frenchie and Eggs Benedict. It is perfect because there are a lot of vegetarian options as well. The location is cool, the food is great and I find myself there more times than I can count.
(5)
Nick M.
I love interesting beers and they definitely have some here. Lots of exotics with good menu descriptions. But the prices are shocking if you walk in thinking it's a standard bar with customary bar prices. A few pre-dinner drinks here cost me more than I spent on a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant later in the night. I give it 3 stars because for some people the prices are worth the experience. For my tastes, I'll grab a few pints of Guinness across the street and walk out $20 heavier. I'm happy to have visited once but this is not a place I'll visit regularly unless the boss is buying.
(3)
Lauren M.
After reading some of the reviews on here I thought the service would be pretty terrible. However, the waitress that my boyfriend and I had was wonderful! She was very attentive and since it was both my boyfriend and I's first time there it was nice to have someone to ask for suggestions on food and drinks. I ended up getting the Grilled Portabello Sandwich. Oh my god, it was wonderful! I got a side of Sweet Potatoes Fries which my boyfriend stole a ton of...they were amazing. He ordered the Portabello Pasta which he was not the biggest fan of. Now on to the drinks....the beer menu is around 15 pages long. I ended up ordering the High Speed Wit for my first beer and it was so so good! I think it is my new favorite. It reminded me of a much more delicious Blue Moon. My second beer was called Leffe Blonde and was also delicious. A little sweet, but not too sweet. We dined in a red room towards the back. It was pretty quiet and we were able to enjoy our dinner and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. Can't wait to go back and try some new beers and food!
(4)
April B.
We went there for brunch, and I ordered the MIlwaukean Bloody Mary... it was good! Had bacon, olives, cheese, pickle, asparagus and a green bean. Oh, and a lime and a lemon. It was like a salad bar on top of my drink. The hubs got the beermosa and was dissapointed. Food was ok... I got the corn cakes, and they were so spicy that paired with my drink, my mouth was on fire. And I like spicy things. Hubs got the hot mess, and it was ok. Coolest part was the server and the atmosphere.
(3)
Kristy L.
I recently moved from Chicago and appreciate the non-fattening, non-cheesy, vegetarian, fresh sort of cuisine. And Cafe Centraal absolutely has it! I mean,yea, the sweet potato fries are probably a little fattening (:P) but the food is just good, fresh, and very healthy/vegetarian friendly (plus they have raspberry beer on tap!!!!). The only thing I would advise against is their tofu dish.....it is basically a whole plate of tofu with a good yet overwhelming sauce, a little bit of veggies, and rice which is drenched in the overwhelming sauce. Felt a little sick after that on! But yea, go here! Its a good vibe and good food!
(4)
Denise D.
I had the portabella rustica sandwich today and I can't wait to go back to get it again.
One of my favorites. For me, the highlight is the Belgian beer list. Always rotating great new beers in and out, and always with favorites (GULDEN DRAAK!!) sticking around. I have eaten here several times and the food is quite good and I think their fish fry is underrated.
(4)
Krystle K.
Way to expensive for Horrible food and bad service. Was 2pm on a saturday and we could not get a normal lunch, instead we had to order brunch. I order steak and eggs, did not get an option how I wanted my steak or eggs done. Steak came with a HUGE glob of season butter on top of it, cold potatoes, and rare steak. Will never be back, do not waste your time, money, or taste buds on Cafe Centraal.
Been here several times with groups as well as with my girlfried.. It's always very good quality food. The bloody mary's are the best in the city if you ask me, and service is slow but always friendly and apologetic (for delays). I've never had a bad meal or server here, and if you don't mind the slow service, this is a great Bay View restaurant and bar.
(4)
Dee W.
This ultra hip over priced Applebees never fails to disappoint. Being a Bay View resident I've given this place more then enough chances, yet they some how always leave a foul taste. Crappy service to par food(at best) this place seems to find a way to wreck a meal. This restaraunt is the exact opposite of ever other charming spot in Bay View. My advice if your coming down to visit, cross the street and head to Cafe Lulu. Are you Looking for just a great selection of beer Sugar Maple is a few doors down and is so so so much better, Try Tonic, Honeypie or even the diner. Just avoid this place. It's been well over a year and they still haven't gotten thier act together.
(2)
Keith R.
I have yet to have a bad experience here. I go about once a month, either for a Friday beer or brunch on Sunday. I think this group (Centraal, Benelux, Trocadero, and Hollander) is doing the best job in Milwaukee right now. Food, beverage, and service has always been good. Keep it up!
(5)
Ryan S.
I have been in love with Cafe Centraal for the past 2 years. They have an awesome and extensive beer list and great food. I have never had a bad experience here and I have been to Centraal more times than I can count or remember. The servers are always friendly and provide great service. Cafe Centraal has great atmosphere and it's right in the center of Bayview's main street. I have eaten here for lunch, brunch, and dinner and enjoy it every time! I highly recommend coming here. They even have a beer club you can join which takes place weekly (I always intend to attend the weekly meeting but I still haven't) which is pretty cool.
(5)
Caitlin M.
We have only been to Centraal for breakfast, and while it was busy, I now understand why. The breakfasts are great, and just for kicks we tried the fresh-made donuts...oh my god! They were AWESOME! I don't know anything about their other meal offerings, but the beer list is extensive and seems very promising. I think the next time I go back I will also try their mimosas or bloody marys. They have many different varieties of both to choose from. Definitely highly recommend.
(4)
Erin K.
Recently moved to Milwaukee and looking for good brunch/breakfast places. Found Centraal on Yelp. Have to say, I was disappointed. We each started off with Bloodys - I had the Frenchie and my husband had the Traditional. I personally thought the prices were a bit high - $8/each. My Frenchie was made with Dijon and was okay, but definitely lacking in the whole tomato flavor. Erich's Traditional was good. They each came with a wedge of lemon and lime as well as pickle spear, asparagus, and bean. Decent condiments. For our meal I had the three egg omelet with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. It was okay, but nothing special. There was a side of toast, which tasted more like it was fried in a pan. Very crunchy. It also came with a side of roasted rosemary potatoes which I substituted for bacon. The server told me it would be a dollar for the change, but later came back and said the price would be the same. Overall, my meal was meh. Didn't love it and didn't hate it. Erich had the Fat Elvis. It was a french toast sandwich with peanut butter and bananas stuffed in the middle. It was supposed to come drizzled with chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon. It didn't have either of those things. We asked the server about it and he quickly brought out a little bit of chocolate sauce and ONE piece of bacon. While his was tasty, the lack of the chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon was disappointing. I would probably go back one more time, but if it didn't sell me then, I'm over it.
(2)
Chris G.
Really, really enjoyed Cafe Centraal. Excellent food selection, upscale but not haute taute, and very reasonably priced. The restaurant, too, was trendy but still welcoming and true to its Bay View setting. Beer selection was absolutely top notch. And I would disagree that it's not necessarily a place for kids. They have a kids menu with all the standard kids menu fare, and my 11 year old enjoyed it as much as the rest of us. Looking forward to going back.
(5)
Jon A.
This place has a very nice outdoor seating area, but that's really the only stand-out. Otherwise, Centraal is yet another 'European' style, craft-beer-oriented establishment, the likes of which are now littering the Bay View neighborhood. As usual, there are many beers to choose from, with a focus on the Belgian varieties that are popular in the states (not that any of the late-night patrons drink that stuff. You'll see a lot of Pabst or mixed drinks being consumed). I can't speak to the food, so maybe that's what I'm missing out on. Still, if you've been to Hollander, Trucadero, or Cafe Lulu you're not really going to find anything vastly different here.
(3)
Taylor R.
I live in Bay View. When I heard that the people who run Cafe Hollander were opening a restaurant a block from where I live, I was excited to say the least. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to standard of the very good Hollander. The ambiance is very pleasant; it's a spacious, converted Cream City Brick building with nice outdoor areas both on the sidewalk and in the back. The selection of Belgian beers is excellent, as would be expected. The decline, though begins with the spotty (at best) service, and only gets worse with the food. Centraal has many dishes similar to those at Hollander, but the quality is inferior. If you're looking for a decent place in central Bay View sit outside and have a Belgian beer, Centraal works nicely. If you're intent on Centraal's food, though, drive a few miles North and try Cafe Hollander.
(2)
Mariah M.
I am writing about 2 experiences: The first time we ordered mussels and a burger. They were amazing! The second time we went was two days later because we loved the food so much. Ugh, not this second time. It was early 11am and we stood in front to be seated for over 10 min until we sat ourselves (even though it says "please wait to be seated") Service is awful! And the mussels we got the second time around were gritty and raw. I told the manager and he would only cut off half my bill, even though i only at one mussel. Parking is a pain. Park on the street because the lot is a habitat for homeless people who like to steal from cars. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
(2)
Katy G.
Second visit wasn't as nice--bummer! The $11.00 burger was just not very good. It was dry, tough, and extra-well-done instead of medium. Having that price for a burger and fries, you'd expect something pretty wonderful, am I right? My husband did enjoy his meal, so it's not like we'll never ever be back, but with so many nearby alternatives, it might be quite some time.
(2)
Anne B.
My likes: the Mrs Hollander for brunch, eating on the patio (they've extended the season with large outdoor heaters for chilly nights), the huge beer menu with alcohol content listings, the tasty bloody/virgin marys (the Southsider is tops), the way each chair at the bar is a different style, the super-friendly waitstaff, their scrumptious homemade soups, and delicious Alterra coffee... My dislikes but possibly a plus for you: the Friday crowd is a lot of suits -- looks like a popular place for the after-work cocktail.
(4)
Natasha M.
good food and great service.
(4)
Zsa Zsa X.
I really wanted to like this place. I really did. I live right across the street and was hoping this could become my "regular spot." My first (and only) trip to Centraal was for their fish fry. As soon as we walked in the door, we immediately felt we were "not welcome." Centraal is staffed by people who think they are cooler/trendier/more interesting than you, and apparently, if you're not wearing 3+ layers of mismatched clothing, or interesting accessories like thick plastic glasses or ironic hair, you're not worthy of being there. We were seated and a waitress came over who said "I guess I'll be serving you tonight." Awesome, thanks for the enthusiasm. Makes me feel great to know you're so against bringing us food and drink for a sizable tip. We ordered our food and then I perused their drink list. Really great selection, but slightly overpriced. Then our waitress came with our food and this is where the night got a little ugly. As for the food itself, the fish fry was... Well... Pretty nasty. It was soggy. Way too much breading and hardly any fish. I rarely criticize restaurants so harshly but their food was way too overpriced for such a disgusting plate of slop. The breading was so heavy and soggy it was actually falling off the fish, and there was a weird layer of goop between the fish and the breading. My date really enjoyed it at the time, but, suspiciously, he hasn't suggested going back even though I live right across the street. Now, with my meal, I requested a side of remoulade sauce. I believe their menu actually calls it cajun remoulade, so I was expecting the pinkish sauce I got used to down in Louisiana. When my food came, I had my standard cup of tartar sauce (which came with the meal) but no extra side of remoulade. I asked her about it and she said "oh, our tartar sauce *is* our remoulade!" I'm pretty sure she knew she made this simple mistake, but instead of offering to grab the remoulade or bring another sauce, she actually debated the issue with me for about two or three minutes. (I felt like a jerk but I had to get to the bottom of this.) I eventually told her to just forget it. (Note: If, indeed, Centraal does use one tartar/remoulade sauce hybrid, she could have told me that when I was ordering my food. Wait Staff Knowledge 101. Additionally, if the two sauces are one and the same, why were we charged for the extra side of remoulade? Stupid heffa...) After we finished eating, we waited about fifteen or twenty minutes before we actually had to flag our waitress down to get the bill. This whole time we were there (maybe 45 to 60 minutes) she never asked if we were happy with the food or if we needed more to drink. She had no issue paying attention to other tables who were not half as patient or forgiving as we were. I would not recommend this place, despite how badly I wanted to enjoy myself, I just hated it and will not be going back any time soon. Sorry, Centraal, I will continue to drive 15 minutes to my favorite corner bar for their fish fry... Half the price of yours and five times as delicious.
(1)
Alice G.
I went for brunch on a Sunday morning/afternoon. The 15-20 minute wait was expected, but the delicious fried-to-order donuts with dipping sauce were a surprise. OUSTANDING. Perfectly sweetened. I enjoyed my side order of 1 biscuit-n-gravy to go with a standard eggs n bacon n toast plate. Good strong coffee and orange juice. Service was good and the place looked clean. Maybe it's because I am used to Chicago sales tax, but I thought the price was good for what I got.
(4)
Red S.
The short version: Poor service, inattentive bartenders, one very rude and unfriendly manager, and very average food that does not justify it's inflated price. The great beer selection was not enough to make me want to return to this blight on Bayview. Disappointment explained: Upon hearing that a new restaurant and bar was opening up on the corner of KK & Lincoln I was excited at the prospect of having another great establishment with unique flavor opening in Bayview. What Bayview got instead is an uninspired copy of Downer St.'s Cafe Hollander. With the opportunity to create something new and exciting in a Bayview neighborhood hungry for new options, the owners of Cafe Centraal have missed the mark by a long shot. After 3 visits I have these observations: 1. The bartenders are slow, somewhat pretentious, and do little to make the customer feel welcome. Even when the bar was not busy the bartenders would walk past our empty drinks and not even bother to make eye contact or ask us if we needed another. This happened several times on all three visits. 2. It starts at the top. On our second visit we sat at the bar after eating to try out the various brews offered. I caught the attention of a young woman who appeared to be a manager due to the fact that she was in street clothes and was directing other staff. I was SHOCKED by how unpleasant she was! She became immediately annoyed when we placed our drink order with her and was short and curt with us to the point of our party being made to feel unwelcome. It was as though she was too busy and important to be spending time helping group of paying customers (Who spent over $100 on dinner no less!). One of the bartenders then later verified that she was the manager when asked by a curious member of our group. 3. The food. Overall the food options are not that bad here, however, the portions are small, the prices a little high, and the overall quality uninspiring. The menu is essentially a copy of the Hollander menu and attempts to be unique by half-heartedly offering a KK-themed sandwich among other things that does little to mask the fact that little thought went into creating a unique identity. If I wanted to go to eat Hollander's food I would go to Hollander! In the end, myself and my group of friends will think twice about ending up at Centraal. With so many other options in Bayview with friendly people and good food, I can't see spending another dime at Centraal until it becomes a nice place to be. Perhaps I'll check back in six months to see if things have improved, which I sincerely hope they do. Until that point, this place is off limits for us.
(1)
Brennan B.
good for groups (might call first) patio seating kitchen open late good food :: GREAT bar ask for dan the bartender ::: tell him large marge sent 'yah
(3)
Amanda D.
Cafe Centraal is my favorite bayview brunch spot. I consider myself a real Bloody Mary connoisseur and trust me, these Bloodies are the best in the city. They also have delicious cocktails, but for the price make sure you ask them to stiffen them up a bit. This place is also great for dinner and it's never over crowded so you can always get a table. Great beer selection and amazing sweet potato fries. An added bonus: Kitchen is open til midnight. Would be a five star, but it's a bit pricey for the overall food quality and like I said, weak cocktails.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
Drinks get to be pricey here, but they are pretty tasty. Summer drink: Green Rishi Tea Collins, Winter drink: Hot Toddy/anything of the hot drink menu sans the marshmellow one, Beer: many good ones and knowledgeable bar staff. As far as the menu, it's pretty American, quality food, with a fair selection of choices. The burgers are pretty good and I'd highly recommend getting a Scotch Egg!
(4)
Steffi S.
Been there for dinner, ick. Been there for brunch, really good. Service every time very poor. Maybe 3 stars is too high, but I am feeling generous :)
(3)
David S.
I'll start with the good and work to the bad The mussels here rock, especially the green curry variety. The outdoor seating is very cool. Service has always been good and friendly, if a bit overbearing. The other food is decent, but a bit pricy. Brunch is around average but overpriced. The beer selection is large, but nearly everything is European and very high priced. I'd recommend you drink water, then cruise two doors to the east to Sugar Maple for a much better beer selection at much more reasonable rates.
(3)
MacKendrick B.
If you go in the afternoon or something this maybe an okay choice. But on weekends it is SUPER busy and crowded. Which is why you would think the food would be good and service would be great... but that is where you would be WRONG... After being told the wait would be 20 minutes we waited nearly an hour! When we would ask the host if we were close to the top of the list they would say "yes 2 more minutes" and then NO, 20 minutes later still waiting... Check again... "Oh, 2 more minutes".... NOT!!! We were FINALLY seated at a TINY t.v. tray sized table 2 feet from the bar where everyone was crowded and waiting so peoples butts kept knocking into our elbows. I asked to be moved tables and were moved to the smoking section (uck). As if that didn't suck already our waitress messed up our order... We both got fish fry but different batters, we both reciecieved the same type of batter. We told her it was not correct, and she finally brought the correct order for me 10 minutes later. ITS A FISH FRY! IT TAKES LIKE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE! She made no apology. The fish itself was WAY salty and same with the frys. I have not been back since this miserable experience!
(1)
Sandy P.
I love visiting Cafe Centraal -- feels a little like I am out of town for an hour or so. I have been several times, but last night was the first time I tried their Braised Beef Rib Sliders. Oh my God, they were spectacular! I will dream of them for certain. Three hearty sliders topped with Peach Chutney and crumbles of Blu Cheese. With a side of spicy sweet potato fries, it was an amazing dinner. THANK YOU, WE'LL BE BACK!
(4)
Nathan F.
I have never been to a restaurant with such consistently awful service. The food is mediocre at best. The only saving grace is the bloody marys and beer list, but there are literally 20+ alternatives for that in a .5 mile radius.
(2)
Tim H.
Ok, so I've been coming to Milwaukee for years, but I just recently discovered Bayview, and therefore, Centraal. By have I been missing out! I came late nite on a Saturday to find that the kitchen was still open, and the bar full of people sitting at tables, drinking beer and chomping on apps. My friend told me that this place served standards bar food, so I wasn't expecting much. Well, my friend was wrong... The food here is fantastic. I got the goat cheese mac with chicken, and it was amazing. My girlfriend went with the salmon, and it was on point as well. So, good food...what else. The beer selection was amazing. I have officially found my new favorite beer. If you stop by, have a glass of the Gulden Draak. Maybe a little pricey, but an incredible combination of hops, sweetness, chocolate, and....10.2% alcohol. So, I have nothing but high marks for Centraal. Our service was fantastic, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brian L.
Stopped here on a Saturday night looking for something new. We were very pleased to find this gem. The restaurant has an excellent listing of beers. A few kinds I was interested in were not available. I'll surely be back for more. This reminded me a bit of a restaurant in London called Belgo Centraal. This place isn't below ground like Belgo...but the atmosphere is just as good! Will have to go back soon.
(5)
Katie F.
This is one of my favorite spots great atmosphere, love the beer selection, lots of Belgians, and the food is delish. Must trys: frites, mussels and the fish fry rocks
(5)
Rich W.
Chicken coq Au vin sandwich was awesome. The hummus platter was decent. Ok ambience.
(4)
Kileen M.
The brunch menu offers such diversity, one could eat here every weekend for months, and not get gastronomically bored! It's not exactly cheap? But it is certainly worth the expense!
(5)
Barry F.
Cafe Centraal is a good deal! I love a great brunch, and I love when great brunch is cheap. I ordered some combo.. bacon, eggs, toast, hash... it was like $7 (what a deal) all was good tasting, especially the hashbrowns yummmy, I've been craving them since I left. I'm not from Milwaukee, but if i'm there again (please no) I'll be sure to stop on by.
(4)
Sid V.
Weak food, weak service, prices made me think I was in parts of Chicago I don't frequent due to massive pretension and I was in Bay f'ing View Milwaukee!! Really more of a 2.5 star place, probably would not go back but maybe in a pinch.
(2)
Christopher M.
I had the scotch egg and it was probably one of the biggest I have ever had. Pretty decent. And, the beer selection is great! Most of them come in their appropriate glass.
(4)
Christopher H.
When I found out at the Bay View Bash this year that the owners of one of my fave restaurants (Cafe Hollander) were opening a place in Bay View I was ecstatic! My first visit to Cafe Centraal was everything I thought it would be. We had to try the burgers since that is our favorite over at Hollander and they were perfect. The buttertop rolls that they serve the burgers on are out of this world. A couple of Belgium beers from their huge selection were the perfect accompaniment for my meal. And the fries are outstanding as well. The restaurant is huge as well as the bar in the middle. The decor is Euro-comfy. Oh and dessert, flourless chocolate cake with bourbon cream and berries was a delicious end to a great meal. I will be back again and again. Centraal is a terrific addition to Bay View and I'm so glad it is finally here!
(5)
Jen T.
Cafe Centraal is a great smoke-free bar-restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a fabulous drink menu filled with a huge variety of beer, wine and other drinks. I recently tried their Sunday Brunch and completely enjoyed my meal. My friends and I shared 2 entrees. The first entree was Turtle Pancakes which was their special of the day. Totally awesome and decadent pancakes drizzled with warm caramel and chocolate - to die for! The 2nd entree was Steak and Eggs Benedict served with roasted rosemary potatoes. This dish was scrumptious.
(4)
William T.
Mushroom Stroganoff is not something I would normally think of, but it sounded good and tasted better. The soup (stuffed pepper) was a bit on the salty side, but that is not unusual in restaurants. The beer selection was incredible. I will definitely be checking this place out again.
(4)
D S.
Pricey but the food is good
(4)
Lola L.
great brunch place. lots to choose from. nice fruit plate. we ordered the stack of pancakes with an egg, bacon, and who knows what else full of cholesterol in the middle...not bad!!! dinner menu is extensive. love the fries and dipping sauces.
(5)
sean b.
Cafe Centraal made one of the worst brunches I have ever had the displeasure to eat. Do the cooks here know what an omelette is? They certainly can't wait 20 seconds to throw the (ham?) into the pan so that it doesn't break the eggs on the outside of the omelette. If you like food made by crust punks by all means frequent Centraal.
(1)
Tom C.
Had one of the most amazing bar food meals of my life at this place during a holiday visit to Milwaukee. Moules frites to begin with, and they do a curry preparation that really added something. Moved on to a turkey burger with a pretzel-like bun and a nice sauce. Lubricated the whole thing with two big bottle of Ommegang Abbey. Life is good at this place. Now Milwaukee just needs to go non-smoking like, well, every other civilized place in the world.
(5)
Tiffany C.
super cute place. fun, relaxed atmosphere. serves a killer bloody mary and yummy brunch..... a little hard to find healthy options on the menu but don't let that stop you from heading out for a relaxing sunday brunch with a group of friends or the fam.
(4)
Lisa W.
I love this place. I have been a fan of the other restaurants in this same group for a long time (Hollander since it arrived, and of course Trocadero). Cafe Centraal lacks slightly in terms of atmosphere compared to the other two (don't get me wrong - still very nice but just a tad too open?) but maybe that is something that will improve over time. I can't complain - I am happy for any great restaurant additions in my neighborhood, so it's nice to have somewhere different to fall back on. The wait has never been long, even when it's a busy Friday or Saturday night - and if you do have to wait, the bar is long and the beer list is as well. I have tried a number of menu items and always been pleased, although my favorites are the curry seared shrimp appetizer, the tulip turkey burger (with curry ketchup), and the sweet potato fries. I always recommend this as an option for anyone looking to dine in or around Bayview.
(4)
Adam J.
Went for Sunday brunch yesterday at about 12:45 and it was packed. I'm sure the Packers had something to do with the crowd. Food was really quite good (big thumbs up for the unscrambled omlette). The server was pretty bad. He was very flighty and unapologetic. If it wasn't Sunday with a 100m drive ahead of me I would've indulged in their glorious selection of Belgian beers
(3)
Shannon C.
A friend and I went to Cafe Centraal after we stopped by Freya for a bang trim (yay!). Our experience was pretty disappointing. We ordered drinks -- she got a specialty blueberry vodka drink and I got a gin and seltzer. You couldn't taste any gin in my drink -- which was why I ordered seltzer instead of tonic, since I'm actually one of those rare breeds of humanoids that actually enjoys the taste of gin. We ordered some fried cheese appetizer, and the presentation was pretty dismal -- three small, fried cheese balls. So we each had approximately 1.5 cheese ball each. They were good, but we had expected more food. The pretzel we ordered was burned in the back so we had to wait while they made us a new one (gratis). When I ordered another drink, I told our server that my original drink was very weak. Our server -- who doesn't drink -- was very apologetic. I asked for two shots of gin in a SMALL glass topped with seltzer. I received said drink in a large glass. Our poor server was pretty embarrassed, because she knew that's not what I wanted. Then why bring it over? I tasted the double, it was weak, and she took it back and brought out what I originally ordered -- which tasted exactly like how a SINGLE gin and seltzer should taste. Annoying. The pretzel was okay. Can't go wrong with a pretzel. When we went to pay, we discovered that the server comped not only the cheese balls but my original, weak drink, which was nice. But then, when she split the $36 bill, she charged us both $24! I know that computers can go haywire over splitting bills with comped items, but seriously... check to make sure the tab is correct before you bring it to the table! The situation was eventually straightened out but it was still quite irritating. Ugh. Like I said, we were very disappointed. We won't be going back.
(2)
Charity M.
Great food and drinks. Awesome patio. Jordan is THE bomb! - Charity, Annmarie & Sarah
(5)
J R.
Really an extraordinary meal. Other posters have been spot-on about the mussels. Order two pounds (one wittekerk and one classic) with a side of frites, and Bob's your uncle. The beer selection isn't the biggest I've seen at a Belgian cafe, but it was fairly large and quite diverse. I really enjoyed a Belgian strong ale, Triporteur from Hell. But the highlight of the meal was the service. Mia was one of the better servers I've met at any level of restaurant. She was funny, engaging, and attentive without being cloying. Overall, definitely a five-star experience!
(5)
Josh O.
Cafe Centraal was great. I don't make it to Bayview that often. I will be back if only to visit Centraal once again and try another delicious meal. The food is tasty and moderately priced, the service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself has a great chill vibe which I thoroughly enjoyed.
(4)
Nicole H.
Oh my lord did Cafe Centraal fail on the Fourth of July. Clearly having no concept of what kind of traffic they'd have that day, they staffed for a normal Wednesday afternoon lunchtime and were so completely overwhelmed that it was comical. First people in line and we still had to wait 20+ minutes for a table because they had no one to bus them and no server that could serve us. Placed our order and was told the kitchen was overwhelmed, so it would take a while. I mean, the waitress was apologetic and got us extra drinks and it clearly wasn't her fault, but the whole thing was such an incredibly cluster and there should have been some way for them to handle it - whether a manager or owner showed up and did some PR or helped or they closed bc they couldn't handle it, something should have been done. The staff was pushed to their limits and I felt so bad for them. People got really pissy with them, but they were honest up-front in terms of the wait, so that's not fair. All in all, lunch for 4 took two hours from the time we walked in til we walked out. Plus, the food was pretty meh. None of us were particularly happy with our food and were really just happy to get the hell out of there.
(1)
Erin B.
I feel like every trip to Centraal starts like this: Person A: Where do you wanna go? Person B: Don't care...mmmmmaybe [insert any other place here] A: Too busy B: How about [anywhere else] A: Ugh. We go there all the time. I feel like we should pay rent there. B: (sigh) mmmmm...Centraal? A: (sigh) OK It's just so...I don't know. Trying so hard to be interesting but because there are like 4 other restaurants exactly like it, it comes off so ordinary. Not great, not terrible just...ordinary. Pluses: great beer selection and I love any cocktail list that proudly serves drinks featuring Great Lakes Distillery over some bubblegum flavored monstrosity of a vodka (seriously, can we all agree that the world does not need another "flavored" vodka). The server we had recently was seriously a dollface. She was one of those rare people who was genuinely nice and seemed pleased to make recommendations. So the service, in my opinion was great. T said he loved his food (some kind of burger made from the meats of like, 7 different animals), but mine (fish fry) was eh. Not great, not terrible, but...ordinary. I feel like I've eaten here so many times before, but that's because I really liked Cafe Hollendar for a quick minute when I lived practically next door to the one in Tosa and really, it's basically the same thing.
(3)
Phil C.
Great beer selection, intuitive staff and the menu had me at Siracha BBQ Pork Belly. It's my go-to restaurant when I can't make a decision on trying something new.
(5)
Marie W.
My visit to Cafe Centraal was great! No cons to report. Our waiter was knowledgable about the beers and suggested a grapefruit one for me to try. I stopped in for an evening fourth meal so I wasn't looking for a huge dish. I ended up going with the Bay View BELT which was a BLT with fried eggs and roasted garlic aioli. LOVED IT. Next time I make myself a BLT at home, I may just try to jazz it up a little...
(4)
Lauren M.
Cafe Centraal isn't my favorite of the Lowland Group restaurants, but it is a staple on our average restaurant tour. It's typically the place we go when we can't decide where to go, but maybe I should give it a little more credit than that? If you go, go for brunch. It's really good, and the laid back atmosphere is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. The bloodies are pretty delicious, and there are options to please just about everyone. Quick side note: I brought my friends here for a late night snack, and there was DJ playing club music in the corner of the restaurant. It was too loud, no one was dancing (in fact, everyone was as far away as they could be from the guy), and it was hard to convince my friends that this place was awesome. No more Club Centraal, please.
(4)
Kristen G.
Brunch after a night of drinking? Yes, please. This brings me and my group of 9 to Cafe Centraal. Now I know this place gets busy on a Sunday morning and that's fine. We are drinkers, so waiting was not a problem... What is a problem for me is the way that the entire Lowlands Group does "reservations". My friend called hours before we showed up to make one and they have some bizarre rule about it being "too late" and you have to call before a certain time period that has some odd cut off?? The whole thing is exhausting. So needless to say we had no reservation. The bartender was ok, the drinks are way over priced. They can get away with it though. Why is it that this whole restaurant group makes its establishments so pretentious? That is just the vibe here as well. Like why am I paying $7 for a half of a cup of coffee with a half of a shot of Bailey's? Insane. The Brunch food always sounds so inventive, but then when you get it it has no flavor. I had to salt and pepper my Eggs Benedict three times. I finally asked for Sriracha to try and salvage it. Not good. I asked for fried hard yolk eggs instead of poached and they gave me runny yolk... it turned my stomach. Should have asked for a re-fire but I was so hungry from waiting, so I guess my bad. Our server was pleasant, star for that. But Cafe Centraal and really all of the restaurants in this group just never do it for me. Bland and overpriced with a little bit of pretentious hipster...you can pretty much lump them all in to this category.
(2)
Adam R.
I went on a weekday during one of the many snowstorms in '13/'14 so there wasn't many people inside to say the least. With that being said service was great and the beer selection was fantastic. Very nice relaxing atmosphere. Bay View has really turned it around in this area. I'd also recommend checking out Sugar Maple which is right next door.
(4)
Jennifer P.
This is definitely my Bay View go-to. Brunch is spot-on (get the sugar donuts), the burgers and sandwiches are great, and you never have to wait for a table. I'm not personally a beer drinker, but all the family/friends I've brought here who are have been very impressed. The pig tails (which I never would have ordered on my own) were delicious! They also have a very low-pressure and fun trivia night on Thursdays, which is a favorite for my group of friends. This is a place where you don't feel awkward lingering over your drinks or the last few frites on your plate. I've eaten here most often out of any Milwaukee restaurant and have yet to be disappointed!
(5)
Jules M.
Eh, I am somewhere between a 2 and 3 stars. I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and a friend's birthday presented the opportunity. Ambiance: At 7pm on a Saturday it was packed and loud. We ended up by the front door so it was a bit cold at times. However it was festive and jovial. The place quieted down around 8:30pm and more sports folks came in, then it became sporadic bursts of yelling with plays on the TV. So if you are not into the sport bar/cafe feel, be warned. Food: Burgers were a big hit, fries got high marks. Rosemary goat cheese Mac-n-cheese with chicken was also enjoyed. I had the meatloaf, it was okay but I was hoping for more, maybe some veggies to make a more filling meal. Service: They were patient with our party that was larger than initially reported however, service was a bit slow. Staff was nice but an order drink was never served and we waited too long for food, drinks and bill. I was really not very impressed, but I guess I would try it again, with a smaller group, maybe on trivia night. There were a few menu items I would like to try, such as the fried chicken sandwich and the rosemary goat cheese mac-n-cheese. so...I will wait and see.
(3)
Heather V.
After much discussion, the hubby and I give the Centraal/ Hollander/ Benelux family 3 1/2 stars (ok, so I rounded up). 5 stars for the beer selection, but only 2 1/2-3 stars for food. But, since we would definitely go back, it deserves 4 stars. Here's a quick synopsis: * Freakin' awesome beer list, beers are always cold and prices were pretty a-ok (not cheap, but not bad) * Pretty darn good frites and dipping sauces that will keep you coming back (I doubt you'll find anyone to argue here) * Somewhat decent vegetarian options, including salads and a mushroom sandwich, but a veggie burger would have been welcomed * Most main dishes have been just "OK;" nothing to write home about, but still good enough for repeat visits (especially for Milwaukee) * Comfy interior and decent acoustics, usually very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff * As the wife of a Dutchman and new to Milwaukee, the lowland theme was a happy happenstance Definitely would go back and for Milwaukee, this lowland spot was a treat. Pretty sure that these are the same owners as Honey Pie/ Comet/ Balzac, so all in all, a nice group of restaurants.. Just wish the food was as good as Honey Pie/ Comet and Balzac.
(4)
Cory Z.
Nothing great but nothing horrible about this place. I've done brunch and lunch, but never dinner. Service is sometimes a bit slow, and I think the food is a bit overpriced for what you get. All in all it's not a bad place, but it's not very high on my destination radar.
(3)
Eric B.
Food was great! I sat at the bar very enjoyable bartender was friendly and awesome! Manager was super nice overall great time I will be back!
(4)
Sarah S.
I'm in love with this place! Favorite has been to belly up to the bar and have fabulous VIP service, the patio in the summer is perfect for a bottle of wine, mussles and sopping up bread. I sadly have tried most of their menu and there are some major wins and some you live and learn. Not a fan of their version of a turkey club, I'm a bit of a traditional only sort of girl. But salads, mussles, pork belly, burgers, pretzel and beer, meatloaf sandwich, shrimp and chicken curry dish are all amazing! Main tip I have to offer is you have to get a side of the basil aioli to dip your fries or morning breakfast potatoes in. It is life changing and once you dip you can't go back. In the last two years since coming here the food service has gotten so much better. It is such a great place to bring friends from out of town, impress the parents with a gluten free diet. I started as a fan of their brunch and slowly grew into an any occasion and to go ordered twice because I was feeling luscious and not wanting to cook. I don't go out to eat very often but the once every month to two months this is usually the place I will head to.
(5)
Christina L.
Seriously Centraal you've been in the game awhile, you'd think you'd get your management/service issues worked out. I was suckered into giving you another try last night by your "snow day" deal. We arrived and were seated right away. Our server came over within a few minutes to take our drink order and then nothing for at least 15 minutes. She finally arrives with our beers, apologizes and then takes our food order. The food actually came out rather quickly and was ok, but we literally didn't see our waitress again for probably 45 minutes and were sitting there with empty glasses, thirsty for more beer. We'd see her running around every other part of the restaurant. C'mon Centraal, haven't you heard of sections? Since we were done eating we decided to just get the bill and head next door where we could get served. Also, don't try to come in on your lunch break unless your prepared to take a 2 hour lunch. I guess if I had a really good reason to go back here I might see if service is better at the bar, but really it's not worth it.
(1)
Kelsey S.
This is hands-down my favorite Milwaukee brunch location. We've always enjoyed the food here, especially the rosemary potatoes. Yum. We've dabbled through the menu, but the Americana is the most standard breakfast plate and is a great value. Their classic eggs benedict is a tasty treat as well. I love the atmosphere and decor of this place. It's casual yet the right amount of faux-eclectic to fit into Bay View. We've always been lucky with great service as well. One day we stopped in and asked our server if it'd be possible to finish our meal within 40 minutes; she was on the ball and had our food to us in less than ten minutes and our bill to us within 25, encouraging us to take our time but to let her know as soon as we were ready. Super friendly and helpful. I admit, we've never been here for lunch or dinner, but when it comes to brunch: A+.
(5)
Sarah Z.
Sunday brunch was awesome. We went on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and a light breeze came through the restaurant carrying smells of bacon and eggs with it. The mimosas are top notch and the service is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable as well!
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Back that @ss up! I have had a few very lackluster dinners at Centraal. Its a neighborhood establishment, so I have returned a few times to the same outcome. I'm no longer impressed. Even my latest order of Polenta was disappointing. Hummus...this is not rocket science. I ordered the hummus appetizer and it tasted like it came out of a plastic container. I'm sure it did. It was also roasted red pepper flavored, which is my LEAST favorite. Hummus doesn't need flavoring. If a restaurant has hummus on the appetizer menu, it should be fresh and taste good, right? We all know what Athenos tastes like, hence why the majority of us that really like hummus make our own. Chickpeas are cheap, Centraal. Make your own hummus. It takes 2 minutes.
(2)
Ashley S.
I definitely don't hate Centraal. We spent two New Year's in a row here, and it ended up being a stop on my birthday bar crawl (if you can call two bars a crawl?) last year. But I guess I think about Centraal in a few different ways. For dinner... not so much. They're kind of pricey and recently (well, maybe within the last year?) changed around their menu, so there really isn't much I'd want to try again there. Except for the sweet potato fries... nommmm. I was really sad in particular that the curry chicken pita seemed to have changed recipes. I am not sure exactly what it is, but I seem to remember that there was a nice sweetness in it before, maybe from some kind of fruit, that is now regrettably absent. The whole thing is just gritty and bland with the new recipe. Major bummer. Going along with dinner, the servers on staff during weeknights in particular have never been my most favorite part of dining out. It's always a struggle to even get a glass of water, let alone get a refill. Maybe we go in a little later than some other patrons, but that's the nature of having late hours. You still have to pay attention to your customers if you want to receive a good tip. And there have definitely been some WEIRD servers working there, to the point that I wonder what kind of drugs they are doing while they are conspicuously not doing their jobs. But on the other hand, I have had some good experiences on weekend nights. It's just not consistent! As a bar, it's pretty awesome. When I was there on my birthday the bartender bought my beer for me (he's the guy who does trivia there on... Thursday nights? Sweet beard, Turd Ferguson!), and I have always been able to find a beverage that suits my admittedly picky tastes. There is just so much to choose from, I feel like you can't go wrong. The beer-mosas are fantastic - the mix of their High Speed Wit with orange juice is unexpectedly tasty, even for a girly-girl like me. The atmosphere there is pretty cool I guess, probably my favorite out of all the Lowlands group establishments. I particularly like their new patio/courtyard area, particularly because of the Mannekin Pis statues (though I am not sure why they are neon...). We went there once for a beer dinner hosted by Ommegang, which fit perfectly in with their sort of quasi beer-hall vibe. Though, again, the food was only okay. There were these Belgian croques that might have been awesome if they hadn't been positively slathered in a far-too-pungent mustard sauce. I think you can find them on the regular menu. Finally, brunch... I have had two different experiences with Centraal's brunch. There's Saturday brunch, and then there's Sunday brunch. You might think you are patronizing different restaurants depending on the day. My boyfriend and I have ordered and LOVED the berry basil french toast on Saturday (with the rosemary potatoes, dear Lord that's great), with plenty of beermosas to go around. Then, on Sunday, we could order the same thing and be absolutely repulsed by it. Whereas on Saturday the French Toast is served warm, with plentiful berries and lovely dabs of mascarpone between the custardy slices, on Sunday, after waiting forever, we'll receive soggy, lukewarm French Toast with skimpy toppings and a beermosa that's exceedingly light on the beer. The same goes for service quality between these two days... I suppose that brunch is a busier time on Sunday, so to an extent I can understand the differences in service and, I suppose, food quality. But the differences are so dramatic that I have to think something weird is going on. It's like they have a completely different staff, even the kitchen staff, as the days turn over, and it's really unfortunate because Centraal is probably the closest place to our apartment for brunch, and we'd be more likely to go there if the products and service were consistent. But... the Creme Brulee, whichever flavor they have going, is always worth it. So if you really want to go out somewhere in Bay View, and want good beer and good dessert, I think this is the place for you.
(3)
Elena E.
Amazing patio and very impressive beer selection. Food menu is very odd and limited. Ordered scallops, came in a bowl without a sauce or sides. Came back a few times, looked at the menu and walked out. Place can get very loud on theme nights, escape to patio not an option in the wintertime to limit the noise. Would only come here again for drinks and patio in the summer time.
(2)
Kimberly J.
Ive waited till my 10th visit to this place to write an actual review. Centraal is part of the whole lowlands group/ trocadero/ benelux conglomerate...that said I'll dive right in. Brunch is pretty okay here. Better than Denny's not as amazing as blues egg. It's just okay. I can never ever EVER seem to get an order ever correct. EVER. I do really love the beer selection. The triple karmel is high on my list of yummy. Dinner is okay. I really enjoyed the beer cheese soup...but of course it's off the menu now. They also seem to run out of a lot of things on the menu frequently. Meh. The red devil frites and regular frites are very good. I absolutely loathe that they charge for dipping sauces.. I'd be fine with this if I wanted an extra sauce or wanted to add a few...I'm not a fan of the up charging. Seems like kind of a dick move centraal. Service. UGH. So effing hit or miss there. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's like the servers would rather be getting a root canal versus serving food. I don't really want to feel like I'm inconvienancing the staff to take my order. I do love the late hours and the djs....I keep returning in hopes the kinks will work themselves out. Here's to hoping.
(3)
Abigail P.
Love the ambience. Love the food. Love the drinks. Donuts are amazing.
(5)
Francesco R.
Had a great breakfast here on Sunday morning a week ago. Three of us ate for breakfast on our way to work on a Sunday morning. So that can put a damper on things already. But we each had something different and everyone said their meal was god. Was surprised since we were the only one's in there how slow it was. Maybe the staff was a bit foggy too at 8 AM on a Sunday but i would have hoped breakfast didn't take nearly an hour to get our orders, eat and leave. Having eaten at Hollander and Benelux i had high expectations for the food. They did not disappoint. The beermosa was again a pleasant surprise. Only 4 stars for slow service otherwise the food was great.
(4)
Bonna M.
Great mimosas, bloody Mary's and beer! We visited Cafe Centraal on our way up to watch the Buckeyes play Marquette in Milwaukee. The couple that we were traveling with had already eaten there and really liked it. We all ordered a spicy dish. I ordered the Gordo burrito which was huge and full of eggs, chorizo, rosemary potatoes, cheese, jalapeños and some other items. The potatoes inside were fantastic!! The burrito was too big to finish but was awesome. We also had a great server (I think his name was Kyle). He was very helpful and efficient. My husband who only drinks a Bloody Mary about every 3-5 years ordered one with bacon, cheese, olive, asparagus, pickle and a green bean in it. He said it was hands down the best Bloody Mary he's ever had. They have a great beer selection that is dominated by Belgium beers. Next time we visit Milwaukee we will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)
John L.
Nice bloody mary (6?) and burger selection. I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the bloody I got with pepperoni slices, but it was very good. I'll have to try the jalepeno bloody next time. I went with the jalepeno bbq burger after being informed it is likely top five in the city and I definitely enjoyed it. I finished with the brownie dessert over the flourless cake after the server's recommendation and while the ice cream was good I didn't care for the brownie itself. Good service and atmosphere.
(4)
Sarah P.
After a Saturday morning painting a church kitchen for Hunger Cleanup, my friend and I stopped at Centraal for brunch. There was a 20 minute wait and when we were seated the waitress apologized and told us the kitchen is 20 minutes behind on its orders. With that said, we ordered right away and by the time our other companion got there to meet us - our food was ready. I ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Maybe I don't understand what smoked salmon is, because it was raw, and cold. Is this how it's supposed to be? Well, either way it wasn't what I was expecting, so maybe my ignorance got me on this one. So, I really didn't enjoy my brunch but I did enjoy my company and the bustling atmosphere. Next time I'll order the french toast with mascarpone cheese. YUM.
(2)
Kit A.
Being the Bloody Mary Aficionado that I am, I had to try The Milwaukeean ($8) and was SO IMPRESSED! If I could have had more than 1 I would have, but trust me, this things are strong!! I wasn't in the mood for anything very big, so I ordered the Hand-Cut Calamari ($8.95) as my meal and I had no problem with it coming out warm at the same time as everyone elses entrees. If the weather is nice, ask for a seat on the patio so you can admire the naked and extremely hard to miss cherubim statues.
(4)
Brian H.
A very good fish fry, they use potato chips as breading which I found really good & original. Went to brunch for the first time, was pretty amazing. Got a "Fat Elvis" which was french toast with peanut butter.
(4)
Maggi K.
This is part of the entire Benelux / Trocadero / Hollander family; we generally only go to these restaurants for brunch. This one had been my relative favorite. Up till recently, I was in love with the blue corn pancakes served with chorizo and a runny egg on top. And then came the shocker: we had been talking this restaurant up as our favorite within that restaurant group, and we brought some out of town guests here...only to find out that service had really slipped and they had changed their menu - no more blue corn pancake w chorizo. Actually, a shocking lack of chorizo on the menu in general. It was around the holidays, and it was a Bloody Mary kind of morning. As we were discussing the choices with the waiter, we settled on the Milwaukee - all served with bacon. It took 1/2 an hour from the time that our bloodies were ordered till the time they arrived at our table. Our waiter didn't check back in between times. And then the bloodies came...but they didn't bring the bacon. We quickly pointed out the oversight to our waiter, who stumbled through an explanation that consisted of "Um, we're out of bar bacon. There's kitchen bacon - but we can't use that." That was met by 4 faces, all trying to process that statement...and failing dismally. Incidentally, this was during their "12 Days of Brunch"...so you would think having enough bacon would be part of that. Our favorites on the appetizer menu - the Scotch Egg (it sounds disgusting, but is actually really super yummy!) and the Breakfast Frites. On this visit, the aioli that the Scotch Egg was served with was a bit flat and unflavored - more of a squeeze of straight up mayo in my opinion. The rest of the dish (egg, breakfast sausage, salad with balsamic dressing) was quite good. And the breakfast frites: it's a sunny-side up eggs on salty fries. I don't think I need to say more; between the two, it's quite possibly the best hangover food. Our friends both ordered the quinoa skillet and were pleased with it - a healthy breakfast. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which was massive. He was happy with it, although it didn't sing the same way that the black and blue steak with balsamic used to... I ordered the chicken and waffles. It was ok, but I would have liked to see the waffle batter a little less sweet, and a little more savory as well as more acid on the plate to help balance the flavors. Service was a big miss on our last visit. Our waiter did not have a lot of tables - the restaurant was rather empty, but he didn't spend a lot of time with us and didn't seem affable or nice. More than anything, he seemed disorientated / annoyed that we were there. When our appetizers came, only some of us had silverware. He didn't bring appetizer plates. One person at our table actually walked up to the bar to ask for plates and silverware... after that, our waiter checked back a little more frequently. We've generally liked Centraal for brunch, but this visit was an Epic Fail. I'll give them one more chance, and if that doesn't work out, I'll go back to some of my favorites on the east side or Riverwest.
(3)
Jelly R.
Waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly, the cucumber basil martini was tasty and refreshing, and the atmosphere is welcoming. A nice reprieve from the hipster bars typical of Bayview.
(4)
Jim D.
My girls do Jr Roller Derby on Sunday's and this place is not too far from the super secret location for Derby practices so I typically head here for a bite or a beer. The place is nice, the servers are all super welcoming. The bartender on Sunday nights, Dan, is friendly and knows beers really well. I think I have tried all of the vegan offerings (5-6) and they are all good. The beer selection leans way towards the Belgium side, so if that is your style, you will dig on this place. They also have a good selection of bottle beers from regional microbreweries. All in all, I would recommend.
(4)
ML C.
Cafe Centraal is a go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking? Centraal. Late night food after a show? Centraal. Picky relatives from out of town whose taste buds you want to pique a bit? Want an off-the-charts beer and whatever flavor of creme brulee's on the menu? Haven't been there in a while and craving some sweet potato fries? Centraal. I have a long relationship with this restaurant, and I expect it to continue. It's one of the best places to go when I just can't think of what I want, but I want something savory and not TOO "entreeish." I never order things like meat loaf or mac 'n cheese in restaurants, so I can't speak to that, but I can always get a great sandwich and SP fries, or maybe a great salad with a couple of ingredients I love but wouldn't usually bother with at home. I won't say everything's mechanized perfection every time I go, but it's usually pretty damn good, and, like I said, it's the kind of place you just keep in your rotation, even if you have to wait too long one night or get a bee in your bonnet because you want something that's not on the menu. Basically, Centraal is a great Bayview restaurant. It's kind of young, so the people who work there are not necessarily always holding their collective breaths to see if you're happy with every aspect of your experience, but they are a welcoming lot, many of whom are trustworthy "beer docents" and do a good job of hosting while they're serving up some good food and beer.
(5)
Brian P.
I was here a recent Sunday night for dinner, and had a great meal. For starters, our server was awesome. I forget his name, but he was friendly, punctual, and not overbearing. The food was very good. I had a burger with Swiss and mushrooms, and it was top notch. I don't like my burgers to be very compact, like hockey pucks. But more softer and "fresher" feeling. If that makes sense. Well this burger was fresh, with a great bun. The fries were somewhat boring, oh well. The beer. I split a High Speed Wit, and it was the best beer I've had so far in 2012. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Bay View.
(4)
T G.
Love this place! I've always been a burger and fry restaurant kind of person, so when I tried this place I was kind of worried seeing how they're menu is kind of different/trendy. But the turkey and blackberry jam sandwich is AMAZING! I get it everytime I go. Definitely my bay view go to restaurant!
(5)
Sheridan W.
Wow. I have eaten here several times since they opened several years ago. And at various times of the day and at different points in Wisconsin's varied climate. The food was usually tepid to cold (yes, it was supposed to be warm or hot). The flavor was lacking in most of the entrees/items (the place/food was better in its first 1.5 years, I will say that). Service has only been "good" to "personable" -- and that was once, during service on a warm summer night with a younger male server (black hair, 20's) who seemed to most understand the role/job of a "server" and who actually used terms like "please" and "thank you" and "you are welcome." (A rarity, anywhere, these days.) The last two times we (friends) have been there were separated by about 2 months, perhaps less. One occasion was a late Saturday night and the other was a Sunday evening. The food was thoroughly atrocious both times. By atrocious, I mean a.) COLD FOOD (cold sandwiches, tepid fries, barely warm dinner entrees, and the worst---cold coffee) ... b.) INADEQUATE (not awful) SERVICE (rushed, hurried, "hey, guys!', can't wait to put the check down, long intervals to be greeted, longer time for server to come back and ask if customers are in need of anything).... c.) YUCK FACTOR (seeing servers mop tables with dirty rags, drop them on floor, pick them up and reuse them to continue wiping off tables) d.) WTF? FACTOR (crowded room on busy night with music pumped up so loud and bass so jacked that two people opposite one another cannot hear what the other is saying .... employees at bar talking to one another for extended periods of time when it is a fuller or full room and there are plates which need clearing and water to be poured, etc.) e.) FOOD QUALITY & PRICING (even when the food is "better than usual," the taste levels are mediocre or "off" and the prices are--for what the customer is really getting?----about 10 to 20 % high). The final time we were there one entree was sent back (my friend's meal; mine was some sort of stew-y thing and it was room temperature and the side vegetables were raw....maybe that was a choice, I don't know). The staff noted this and did remove it from the check (hooray!) and appeared genuinely concerned. And, truth to tell, I have never had truly BAD, GOD-AWFUL service there. I have had BAD, GOD-AWFUL food, however. I have also never had wonderful service there, but the best example was already cited above, in my opening paragraphs. I have gone back several times, as its location is so damn convenient to where we work and it serves later than other joints in the Bay View and co-workers seem to want to drink more than eat or converse about our various "shifts." The food and ambiance and (most times) the service have been mediocre at best. This place makes OMEGA on 27th or PIZZA SHUTTLE seem like finer dining. And it is overpriced. Unless the quality of food, environment and service were to somehow magically improve by maybe 40 to 60 %, I cannot imagine that the prices are worth it. The place fulfills the expectations of most of the neighborhood (hey, throw up a tent, some really loud and crappy music, stock the event with overpriced beer and POOF! ~ You've got a Festival or a Parade or an EVENT! I hear that this local chain's other joints are about the same (though, to be fair, I hear some are less so-so than others). I won't go back and my absence won't sink this ship, because most folks seem very content with mediocrity or less so, per food, pricing, service and "restaurant after-glow." But then, most people enjoy crappy sports teams in Milwaukee, corrupt and inept politicians, and piss-poor government. Welcome to Detroit!
(1)
Theresa H.
My friend and I came here at 9 pm on a Thursday, and there was a fair amount of people at the bar and seated throughout the restaurant. We were planning on eating, and we stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated for ten minutes before we realized that probably wasn't going to happen since no one acknowledged us. We then walked to the bar where we waited another five minutes before the bartender came over and asked if we wanted a table. Yes please? Since we were starving we still had high hopes. Our server came over spouted off the beer of the day bit, and we ordered our drinks and a soft pretzel to start. My tall captain and coke was filled about 3/4 of the way when it arrived. Then a new server came over and put down sweet potato fries. My friend and I both let her know that we didn't order them and she said "oh.." And walked off with the fries. Our pretzel finally came out, and it was somehow both burnt and cold at the same time. I could get better from the mall food court. We both ordered burgers. I ordered the cafe centraal burger which was supposed to have Swiss cheese and mushrooms. I ordered it medium. It came out way over cooked with hardly any cheese and not a single mushroom. My friend ordered the bay view burger. It came out and the bacon was practically raw. When we saw our server again I let her know that my burger was missing ingredients. She said "really?" And walked away only to return 20 minutes later with a cup of mushrooms. The service at cafe centraal is not good. And the food is lacking. Our server did take my burger off the bill, but when the bill arrived the sweet potato fries we didn't order were also on there? This place has cool decor, and a nice feel to it. They also have 28628 different kinds of beer, but it lacks pretty much everything else.
(2)
Amy W.
Excellent beer selection. We had a blast trying different varieties and learning about them. Our bartender was amazing. So knowledgeable, courteous and helpful with suggestions, each of which was spectacular. This is one of our favorite places to go and just relax with GOOD beer. If you're looking for cheap, mass produced swill, then this is not the place for you. If you're looking to try beers from all over the world, give this place a shot! If you're open minded, this is the place for you.
(5)
Spartevan V.
This place waas doooope! My companions and I enjoyed a pleasant meal in a bright red room. This was my first introduction to edamame hummus, although I have since found it at Trader Joe's in California. That said, I'm happy to see Milwaukee introducing me to a new type of healthy hummus and bucking stereotypes. Well played, Cafe Centraal. Oh, and if you're a health nut tree hugging weirdo hippie from California in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - head here and try the edamame hummus! Dee-lish!
(5)
Adam E.
Keeping it simple--Delicious meatloaf, knowledgeable staff and great vibe.
(4)
Maureen F.
Brunch. That is what I go to Cafe Centraal for. Will it be good? Yes. Will I be happy? Yes. This is why I go back. Its close proximity to my apartment yields my return customer status as well. As noted by others, Centraal, Cafe Hollander, and Benelux are all owned by the same restaurant group. They follow an identical menu pattern and have built a successful business model. In the world of restaurant ownership, go them. Way to fill a niche and be successful. Each time I have gone to Centraal the service has been great. No complaints there. Besides a short wait (it's expected with Sunday brunch) I have never had a bad experience. I love a good Bloody Mary and Centraal does a great job crafting some good ones. They support local distillers with their spirit choices as well. I like that. Recently I dined with someone who introduced me to a Scotch Egg. I was intrigued. Imagine a hard boiled egg surrounded by sausage and then dipped in aioli mayo. It was good. My companion told me that a true Scotch Egg (British Style) is soft boiled in the center. We both ate it regardless and now I know what a Scotch Egg is. Cool. Centraal is huge. It has a big bar and a great outdoor dining space during the warmer months. Seating is ample. Belgian beer flows like water. It's worth a visit.
(3)
Alyssa P.
It's only saving grace is it's extensive beer menu, with reasonable drink prices. Other than that the service was slow, we waited 30 minutes for our server to greet our table. The food was bland and unimaginative. I left hungry and unsatisfied.
(2)
Elizabeth A.
I live in Bay View and have been here many times. Unfortunately, my last few experiences have been less than stellar. Now that Tommy is no longer there, nothing really stands out at this place to bring us back.
(1)
Shannon D.
Love this place. Delicious food, great beer and drink selections. We make a point to stop here every time we're in Milwaukee. The beef brouchettes are my absolute favorite.
(4)
Jay B.
When I was in Milwaukee for work I stopped here and had a burger and a beer. The burger was cooked as I ordered it and was delicious. The bartender was friendly an helped me pick out the Great Lakes IPA, a local beer. He served it to me in a fancy glass and offered up suggestions of where to check out after I left. The food was on point and service matched. Five stars.
(5)
Ellie B.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night and it was great. Our server was excellent and the food was great. They have a good variety of things on the menu. I couldn't decide on just one thing, so I got a couple of appetizers and a salad for my meal: frites, coquettes, and the Benalux salad. I've also been a fan of the Trocadero/Hollander Frenchie bloody mary and they have that here, too. That never disappoints. They also have a gigantic beer and drink selection. I'll be back to try some other things from the menu that I couldn't get this time, due to limited space in my stomach.
(5)
B C.
Luckily I had some good company during my visit to Central, because the food was nothing too memorable and the service was off the mark. These are both issues that could be easily resolved, and the restaurant as a whole is a enjoyable place for brunch. We got the brunch curry wrap and the breakfast tacos. The tacos were generously proportioned and abundantly flavored in a spicey Mexican way. The curry wrap, though, was bland. We also got some sweet potato fries with garlic mayo sauce, which came out 20 minutes late, after we had received and finished our main course, all while our server was chatting it up with a coworker. If he had stopped by at least once during our meal, we would have told him that we were missing our fries. A serving assistant had dropped off our food, and he had said the missing fries would come out at some point soon. We didn't hear from any of the staff until 20 minutes later. The setup of the restaurant is a lot like Cafe Hollander, with lots of natural light, exposed brick, and wood panelling. The bartender working during our Saturday afternoon visit was friendly and very knowledgeable about their tap selection.
(3)
Corey W.
Had lunch at Cafe Centraal today. Very cool place. We sat outside on the patio and it was a very hip atmosphere. Waitress was very nice but did not give me the specials and or do anything over the top to explain the menu or what is good to order. I did notice that the fries were served with quite a few sauces that were noted on the menu as an appetizer but not explained even though all of the sandwiches were included with them. Decided on the BLT and A sandwich which was a good BLT with avocado and an over medium fried egg which was a nice touch. Overall very good food menu and looked like a very cool place to have drinks and beers. The menu even gave a corresponding brew to accompany the dish which is always a nice touch if you are unfamiliar with different taps.
(4)
Vicky B.
Friendly and attentive staff, comfy ambiance, well made cocktails and wonderful food. Just what I hope for on a Saturday evening.! My husband and I arrived on a VERY windy, winter Saturday night. I wasn't feeling the best with an onset of. Cold, but Cafe Centraal sure made me feel better! Hits: bartenders that smile and give you their attention and are quick. A hostess with a pleasant disposition and was welcoming. Great menu. Nice wine list (not a lot of selections, but those offered are nice). Great cocktails too! Our server was friendly, knowledgable, and made a great recommendation for my husband (pork belly). I had the pork tacos - nice bite to them! My husband really enjoyed the pork belly entree. Misses: NONE
(4)
Jennifer I.
If you like beer, this is the place for you. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable. They are godawful slow, though. It's not unusual to wait a half hour for a simple order. They forget and mix up stuff frequently. I've had four different servers and they ALL manage to do this. I'm not sure how that's possible. I guess they're hired for their friendliness, not their efficiency. Anyway, allow a lot of time if you go here. The food itself is pretty good; I can't think of any specific complaints. The frites are absolutely addictive; I can't go there without ordering some.
(3)
Danielle B.
Cafe Centraal is a really fun place to eat. I visited tonight with a large group and we had a lovely time sitting right near the outdoor patio (there was not a table large enough for our group actually on the patio). Unfortunately, our location resulted in some trouble with flies, but we had an otherwise fabulous experience. I ordered the sweet potato fries with sriracha mayo, some cheesey croquettes, and the vegetarian chili. Everything was delicious; familiar flavors but with a twist. The sweet potato fries are sprinkled with a spicy paprika which was really yummy, the cheese croquettes were served with a saffron aioli and they were were SO SO delicious - highly recommended! The vegetarian chili (which I've eaten tons of in my 15+ years as a vegetarian) was unique to Centraal. It had a sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon, or some such warm spice, which added a really yummy scent and flavor, and the cilantro sour cream topping was a refreshing accompaniment. Our group had a wonderful experience this evening, though I will say that on previous visits I have had some minor disappointments. For example, I cannot recommend the veggie burger as it falls apart and becomes far too difficult to eat. I've also had some trouble with prompt service, though tonight our server was wonderful. So for an overall rating, I have to give Centraal a 4/5, though if it's as good on future visits as it was tonight, I'll definitely be changing that to a 5/5.
(4)
Dave S.
The problem with Cafe Centraal is the lack of a true identity. Within walking distance of Cafe Centraal are phenominal bars that specialize in things like scotch, gin, beer, wine, and futbol. Cafe Centraal has all of these (okay, maybe no footy) but they don't do any of them exceptionally well. You can say the same about food, it's good; but again, there are many better (and more focused) restaurants within walking distance. I will eat here again because the food is pretty good. But don't expect it to blow you away.
(3)
T C.
I had previously rated this as 4 stars. However, the consistency of the food and service at this place over the years has made me want to elevate this to 5 stars. This is our absolute "go-to" place for company and anytime we just want to grab consistently good food fast. The place is open and airy; the wait is minimal because the place is so large, and the food is always CONSISTENTLY excellent. We've taken guests here from all over the world, and we are always assured that they have a great experience. How this place is anything but a 4 - 4 1/2 star on Yelp is a complete mystery to me. This place is awesome. Just the beer menu alone is usually very impressive. My only major complaint is the loss of the Highspeed Wit beer. What an aromatic and delicious beer. The turkey burger is amazing. The flavors are delicous. The mussels are incredibly delicious. The mushroom appetizer is awesome. Siracha mayo, chicken/turkey sandwiches. Its hard to know where to stop with what's good here. Oh! And the potato chip fried fish on Friday fish fries are really fantastic too.
(5)
Katie G.
The decor is awesome looking and the number of beers they have it great. I'm not a beer snob by any measure, but I love wheat beers and this is a place I can get a wide selection. As for the food, I don't know why I always think I'm going to get better at one of these Lowland Group Restaurants. Every one I have been to has average food. Not bad, but not great - nothing special. They always look so cool, so hip and the menus sound delicious. And I'm disappointed every time. Grrr. Go for drinks and a fun place to hang out. Don't go if you are expecting great food.
(3)
Tee G.
I only ever go to Centraal for brunch, and I had a great brunch at Centraal today. We're always seated promptly & greeted right away by a very friendly server, and today was no different. We ordered the sugar donuts for an appetizer, & they arrived to our table hot & covered with powdered & cinnamon sugar. There was a little too much sugar on them for my tastes, but it wasn't that big of a deal for me to just scrape the excess sugar off. My son was a big fan of the berry dipping sauce that comes with them. Both of my guys ordered the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess, and I ordered the spinach/basil omelette & a short stack of pancakes. The Hot Mess is definitely a hit among my male companions! Mr. S. orders it every time we've eaten here. The omelette I ordered was packed with yummy spinach, fresh basil (interesting) and feta/goat cheeses. I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese, but the eggs were cooked perfectly and the rosemary potatoes were a complete delight. I got an english muffin instead of toast, but I didn't eat it- I think someone forgot to put it in the toaster. No matter, because I still had pancakes! Huzzah! I split the short stack with my son so I only ate one, but it was delicious- it soaked up the butter & honey I slathered on it like a champ. Our server (darnit I forget her name) kept our water glasses full, & was a really fun lady. All in all, we had a tasty meal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It really doesn't get any better than that.
(4)
Shannon H.
I loved this place! I only visited once while I was in town visiting a friend but I had a great time and some really good food.
(5)
Matthew H.
I really like this place. It is very similar to Trocadero. Bloody Mary's are awesome but they will set you back about eight bucks. I try to order the specials and I always enjoy it. The beer list is on point too! Lunch doesn't start till 3:00pm though. I wish they had it earlier as 3pm seems a little late
(4)
Stefanie C.
I love love love the beer selection here. It's nearly the only place in mke where you can find all the best Belgium beers. Trivia is also worth a stop in.
(5)
Amy M.
This was going to be a 3.5 star rating, until I had the brunch at Cafe Centraal. Centraal is a fun place located in Bayview with an awesome beer menu. I don't drink beer, but if you do this is a good place to go. The first time we went we ordered a series of appetizers. The sweet potatoe frites are very delicious. As a sweet potato lover I hate when restaurants put sugar on sweet potato fries and thankfully Centraal does not. We also ordered mussels which come with bread to dip in the broth at the end. YUM! The bread in the broth is amazing. Finally we ordered a Flatbread that is no longer on the menu, good choice on their part. Back to the amazing brunch. They just redid their menu and it is fabulous. I ordered the BELT, a BLT with a fried egg. It was to die for. My husband ordered The chili rojo corn cakes which he also greatly enjoyed. Mine came with rosemary potatoes, which were delicious. My husband couldn't stop stealing them off of my plate. The Bloody Mary's are also worth ordering. They are spicy and come with great pickled vegetables. Overall Cafe Centraal's new and improved menu is well worth checking out!
(5)
Eric M.
Very average place. The beer selection is good, but there is nothing all that special about the atmosphere in this establishment. I especially didn't get the back room with chinese letters all over the wall. I ordered some of the food which was all very bland and not well thought out. Bitterballen: meatballs that had absolutely nothing special about them. Ale battered cheese croquettes: I don't know how you screw this up, but I felt like I was consuming a large amount of calories and not getting joy out of it. They didn't even taste like cheese, just a tasteless doughy dumpling. White bean chicken chili: Not bad, but definitely not great. The food at Benelux I think is a little bit better.
(3)
Priscilla C.
I came here on a dead Monday afternoon. I actually like eating in peace and quiet. The waitress who took care of us was great! She checked up on us very often but not too overly annoying often which I really appreciate. The food was great! Although I did get super full after eating a cup of soup and the calamari appetizer lol.. I took the rest of my food home and ate it later. It still tasted great and I didn't leave a single bite behind! I really thought the idea of having a choice between eating inside the restaurant or outside or in the "red room". We ate in the red room and I thought it was pretty cool. Big windows to still give that outside feel was awesome! I didn't want to eat outside because of the heat and it felt really cooled down in the red room so that was really nice. I really like this place and will be returning!
(4)
Tamar S.
This is a definite "go to" place when I am going out with former colleagues that reside in Bay View. I also go to Cafe Hollander which is equally as good but with the East Side vibe as opposed to the more "hip" vibe in Bay View. Personally I can never fail with the sweet potato fries and with the sriracha dipping sauce! Yumm! My friends have anything from the tuna entree which was perfectly prepared and she is a former caterer to burgers and fish fries! Bartenders are friendly and will take any drink request even if not on the menu! Keep it up and we'll keep coming. P.S. I love the patio!
(4)
Emily S.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD Huge beer selection Amazing sweet potato fries And a menu that changes every few months to improve their recipes Very unique and flavorful
(5)
Justin E.
I have not had a chance to have dinner here but I have had a lunch twice. Unfortunately have not had the chance to try any of their drinks or beer. (can not drink at lunch for work). The food is good and plentiful. The wait staff is OK, they screwed up a couple of our orders. We asked for something to be left off the sandwich/burger or added and it was not done we received standard fare. The food was not memorable but it was good. I think this place is over hyped, or people had a few drinks to make it better.
(3)
Rip S.
Unusual Place. Understand the complaints about Hostesses. We had a booking for 130 on Sunday and showed up 15 early. Given a bit of attitude and We're told to wait tables weren't ready, then watched them put 2 tables together? Food was tasty & plentiful (neither adult finished meal). Kids meals had healthier options (fruit, veg, salad), which is great. Bloody Mary's were spicy and tasty. I'd go back. But wasn't "special" trip worthy. Maybe that's it they only want to play to locals?
(3)
Molly W.
Good hearty food and drink options. Service is hit-and-miss. Great atmosphere and a wonderful place to take out-of-town visitors to give them some classic MKE. Easy to tuck in on your own, too, for some drinks and reading.
(4)
Tony F.
I like this place a lot more than I let on. They have a huge beer menu, and that means a lot to a guy like me, with a gut like mine. A million choices, with a million flavors, bodies, colors, and alcohol per volume. The food is really good, and I've had almost everything on the menu, & tons of specials. The sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads are all SILLY!!! They also do the whole mussels app/entree/food orgy that this "chain" (Hollander/Benelux) specializes in. It's all really great, and the servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and hip without being TOO hipster (it is pretty hipster.) If there's a reason I resist Centraal, it's because I've been there 9000x.
(4)
Paula Z.
Meh, one step up from Appleby's. Really incredibly so-so with a side of yucky tummy. Also, I overheard the chefs complaining about the awful menu. Who would eat at a place the chefs don't even like? If I could give zero stars I would.
(1)
Valerie J.
Waste of a really cool patio! I visited recently with four friends and the staff made us feel like we were one big hassle. Ok, that's not totally fair, because it was really just the hostess who was awful. First, she ignored me for a few minutes. Then she sighed and huffed when I asked for a table for 4 or 5 (I couldn't remember exactly) on the patio. About a 20-minute wait, she said, but then was insistent that I had to tell her immediately if we had five people instead of four because all of the patio tables can't seat 5 people. She took my cell phone # so the restaurant could send me a text when my table was ready. I walked out front to wait so I could get away from Ms. Rude Hostess. After waiting a half hour, one of my friends when to check on the status of our table. She was told 10 more minutes and then Ms. Rude Hostess said she almost took us off the waiting list because she couldn't see me! What's the point of a text message if I have to stay within view of the hostess?! When we finally were seated, there were at least 5 open tables on the patio (not to mention there were multiple open tables in front of the restaurant while we stood waiting). The empty tables on the patio stayed empty during our entire 2-hour stay! Short staffed? Our waiter was fine. We had multiple orders of fries, which were tasty. I also had vegetarian spring rolls, which also were very good. My friends had sangria and I had two glasses of wine. I was surprised that two small apps and 2 glasses of wine were $32. A $9, half-full, mediocre glass of wine is ridiculous! Centraal earned its 2 stars for the good food and cool patio. It lost 3 stars for pretty much sucking in all other areas.
(2)
Liz A.
This place has the best fries! They are so good! I've not tried their sweet potato fries but if they are anything like the regular ones, I'm sure they're amazing. The Benelux salad is great. I may need to look into just ordering sides when I come here because they were both so good. Upon recommendation from our server, I ordered Unibroue's Maudite bier and found it to be quite enjoyable and will definitely order it again. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich was good and so was their kulminator- grilled cheese sandwich. Always works out well when you can go halfsies with a friend and share what you order. Service was great. Will be back.
(5)
Christine C.
Here for the first time, for a business lunch. I ordered the Marrakesh with just chicken and it looked delicious... but it was quite the opposite. The chicken was very dry and the taste was just unpleasant. I had so much leftover and I didn't even bother to take it home. The chicken avocado sandwich my coworker got looked amazing. Our business partner got the club sandwich and liked it, except there's another layer of bread in the middle which was too much. I would go back, I would just never order the club or the Marrakesh.
(2)
Chris M.
One of our favorite haunts in the Milwaukee area. We stopped in on a Yelp Review (thanks Yelp) about 6 months back for a family dinner. Let me tell you that a family of 6 can only go so many places due to size of restaurants and the desire to not be the parents that ruin a night out for anyone else (picking, crying, screaming...hell that's just the wife and I). Anyways, the food was amazing. Any of the appetizers offer a delicious opportunity to enjoy a different twist on comfort food. From the scotch egg to the pretzel bits, to the sausage balls (not official name I just think that names funnier), the food can really become the focal point of the conversation. The staff has always been pleasant and conversational with us and their beer selection should be able to cover any persons taste. Recently, we had some family in town and decided to go out for a Sunday Brunch. The restaurant was able to accommodate 10 people (with 4 kids) on a reservation made only about 2 hours beforehand. While I won't say that this is a norm, I was very impressed with the staff and our waitress with being so patient and providing great food on such a busy day. Be prepared to pay a little more but get what you pay for. The kids menus offer more than just your standard fare and the presentation makes our kids feel more like young adults than little kids. The serving size is large without being Honey Boo Boo sized and the menu is ever evolving. If there for breakfast, try their twist on biscuits and gravy or the sweet potato pancakes.
(5)
Angela W.
I have tried and tried with this place. Each time is another bad experience that makes me stay away for long periods of time. Today was another of those unfortunate visits. Stopped in for a late lunch, arrived a few minute before 2. While it was busy, when we arrived there were several open tables but we're told there was a 20 minute. I didn't argue because although tables may seem open, there may be people waiting that I am not aware of, fair enough. Because we were starving we decided to just sit at the bar to eat (I typically prefer this anyway). We were approached by the unenthusiastic bartender. I mean.. It was so obvious that he was annoyed by everything, especially patrons that it was uncomfortable. I felt worse for the people who sat after us. They were a very happy couple, who I happened to over hear were celebrating their anniversary, and they had the same unenthusiastic bartender. He really could have attempted to smile at them, but he just wasn't capable of it. Ordered our food and it took a really long time and was okay. Seeing that I spent 20 years in the industry, I get busy and that it can take a long time for food in these busy times, so believe me when I say, I am totally patient. But sitting at a bar where the bartender is beyond annoyed that we are there and has created a beyond uncomfortable situation, the wait was just really frustrating. I think this was finally it, the last time I spend a single dollar in this place. I have had one good service experience ever. I just can't understand how this place is still busy (other then for its great location and patio). But plenty of other great spots to spend my money on
(1)
Gina K.
The lowlands group brings you yet another restaurant with good beer selection and a satisfactory (if not overpriced) menu... This time in Bay View! If it's brunch you seek, expect a bit of a wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. Also beware the hornets on a summer day on the patio - order the Monkey Bread for a nice sticky trap (cruel, but so true - stupid hornets). Have taken co-workers from out of town to Cafe Centraal and the skillets are always a hit. Staff is friendly, and knowledgeable on the beer list. The Bloody Marys are a bit overrated, but still delicious. Parking is what you'd expect for Bay View (aka it can be a bit of a mess, make sure you're an expert at parallel parking or expect a long walk). If you're a fan of Cafe Hollander, Cafe Bavaria, Trocadero, or any of the sister restaurants - you'll likewise enjoy Cafe Centraal. It's of a similar ilk and menu and consistently decent.
(4)
Jennifer R.
One thing I like about Bay View is the many dining options that it has to offer. Cafe Centraal is one of those. I have been here a few times, and have always had a great experience. The place is very spacious, with lots of seating, including patio seating. They also have one of the city's largest bier books and longest bars, according to their website. I believe it. On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve brunch from 8am-3pm. There are so many good things to choose from on the brunch menu. The last time I did brunch here, I had the Smoked Salmon Benedict. It was wonderful. You can top off your meal with a Bloody Mary, a Mimosa, beer (or bier, as they spell it), coffee, juice, or tea. For lunch and dinner, you have plenty of options to choose from: appetizers, soups, salad, burgers, sandwiches and other entrees. I have had the burgers here, and they are delicious. They also have a gluten free menu for those that want or need gluten free options. If you still have room for desert after your meal, they have some delicious options. I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake. There will be more trips to Cafe Centraal for me in the future. There are things on the menu that I still need to try :-)
(5)
Jessica S.
Pleasantly surprised! I expected the place to have a long wait, since it was Father's Day. Nope! They were able to seat us right away (9:30 am). Coffee: strong. Could have used a refill earlier than I got, and also a refill on the water. The service was pretty slow, and they were not that busy yet. Food: super yum! I had the salmon & eggs Benedict. A little heavy on the sauce, but delicious. The hubs bad the cheesy gooey spicy mess. Of course it was delicious. A great alternative to Honeypie, Zac's, and all the other little places that tend the have a long brunch wait.
(4)
Dylani H.
Spacious and great for brunch. I have come here several times with groups. Good service
(3)
Pita J.
Been here a few times over the last few years. I've had amazing bloody marys, I've had awesome sandwiches, I have shitty expensive burgers, I've had stellar service and I've had shit service. Most recently went for brunch - bloody's were on point as always. First waitress, dropped over menus, and never returned, 2nd waiter, who came to the rescue after the first disappeared, was awesome. I feel bad i forgot his name. Food was good, had the breakfast tacos, the sauce needs a bit more kick, but other than that, i couldn't ask for better service. I will be back, as long as that guy is there.
(4)
Daniela C.
Even though boyfriend live's down the street from Centraal, I've always been hesitant to go there simply because of the bad reputation it's gotten in the service industry for the way management treats it's employees. However, it was 10 PM and I was jonesing for something other than Jimmy Johns after a long shift and an even longer nap. I stopped by a night or two before Christmas Eve and the bartender was super friendly. He knew I was hungry and made some pretty solid suggestions. I think my eyes were hungrier than my stomach, as I ordered the fried ravioli (delicious!) and the vegetarian Risotto (under seasoned, disappointed), which were both larger portions. I stopped by for Brunch a few days later and was enchanted with the different options on their menu. I stuck to the oatmeal and it was SO great. So much flavor. Did. not. disappoint! Also, the fruit and yogurt parfait (which MPB ordered) was also pretty tasty...so much that we ordered a second. Again, the service was just fine. We were sitting and the bar, and it was busy, so we knew what we were in for. The last visit, New Years Day Brunch, I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict. I was ridiculously under-impressed with the taste of it, as there wasn't much of it. The Hollandaise was bland and I just wasn't too pleased with the over all plate (even though the menu description had me DROOLING!). I ordered the brunch mimosa and was very pleased with it. There was a longer than past wait for food, but it was NY Day brunch, so I totally understand and have no gripes about it. Our bartender (TIna? The one with the loopy/swirly gages...?) was super attentive and wonderful. The individual I am assuming was the manager (blonde long hair, with the head piece on yelling at everyone...) on the other hand, was not. While I wish I could say that "reputation" was wrong (from my experiences), I saw a manager yelling at some of the servers [a] for nothing and [b] in front of customers, and I think that in itself is super unprofessional and it's for reasons like this that the company gets such a bad rep. I know it's really hard to find quality management, but at least teach the ones you do hire to not yell at their employees in front of customers (or at all!). Had I not seen that, I would probably be back again. But it's instances like this that keep people in the service industry away from this company.
(2)
Sandor K.
WHOO HOOO!!! Great Bloody Mary and excellent breaky! Loved the place. The service was very good. My breakfast skillet was cooked just as I ordered and tasted delish! Nice place for a brunch or breakfast!
(4)
Kobi K.
I give 4 stars just based on my never ending love for meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They do that really good, along with a good staff and a young clientele. This place is great in many ways.
(4)
Adam J.
Decent food, terrible service. I'm never greeted at the door, and get slow service by the wait staff. This place has really gone downhill in the last 12-18 months.
(2)
Lauren S.
I want to like Centraal: It's cute, has a massive menu, lots of seating both inside and out, and is located in my Bay View stomping grounds. I've never had a bad meal here, but I will say I've always thought the food was a couple bucks more expensive than it's worth. Ultimately, There are two standouts for me at Centraal. One good and one bad: GOOD: Bloody Mary menu. BAD: The service. First, the good. I love the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary, and yesterday I tried the Antipasto for the first time... it's perhaps the only Bloody for which I'd fork over $10. The Bloody Mary is big business up here, and it's tough to find a good one that's not $7+ in Bay View. So, sure. I'll spend my Bloody bucks at Centraal. Now, the bad. I'm not in favor of ripping apart waitstaff. I've been a waitress at a few restaurants, and I know I wouldn't want to be judged solely on one lousy day. But the service at Centraal has been consistently inconsistent, from the host stand to the servers. Their people are slow, apathetic, and ostensibly detached from their jobs altogether. The host yesterday asked if we wanted to sit outside on the sidewalk or in the court yard, and when we had the audacity to respond, "Out front," she proceeded to berate us because we needed to tell her what exactly "out front" was supposed to mean. Um, it means the sidewalk. Sincerest apologies for using a synonymous term. I'd been irked with the iffy service here before, but yesterday's run-in with the host--and the ensuing molasses-slow service from our server--has fully solidified my "meh" feeling about Centraal. The only reason this place gets three stars? Those gosh darn Bloody Marys (Maries? ). If you just want a better meal at a reasonable price with great service, walk across the street to Lulu.
(3)
Adam C.
Despite being here a million billion times in the past, I've yet to review this place until now. And I've got a good reason why, too, it's hard to think of anything unique to say about it. It's solid, no doubt, but even having been in a fair bit, it was, for the longest time, hard to remember which one of the Bayview classics Centraal actually was without a hint. That almost says everything that needs said with regard to the atmosphere here. "It's the one with the beer," is how my friends would remind me. It works. They have a catalog of beers the size of a small book--the word count on this thing is probably in the five digits, no joke. I will say, though, almost everything on the menu will be fantastic. The Marrakesh shrimp and chicken is one of my favorites--it's very sweet, but it's got a well blended flavors and the acid from the tomato serves as a good counterpoint to all of the sweet notes in the dish. I also seriously recommend the cheese stuffed bitterballen with curry ketchup. It's a hearty appetizer that will feed several people and that curry ketchup is actually pretty good. I haven't been able to replicate it at home (I've gotten pretty close but something always seems not quite there).
(3)
Carrie G.
Consistency has been a challenge for this restaurant since it first opened. You never know quite what you're going to get. I've had great to terrible service, and everything in between. And same for the food, sometime good, sometimes not so much. But enticed by a friend who wanted to go, and a City Tin to burn I rolled the dice. And for a weekend brunch on the patio things did not turn out too bad. I was impressed that the host asked if we wanted shade or sun on the patio. But sadly after 15 minutes the sun shifted and shade was not be found, so much for that. But our server was very attentive and only came back once to confirm our order, which I saw as a good sign. I started with the Frenchie, one of their many spins on a bloody. This standby has been on the menu since the beginning and never disappoints. A great bloody base mix starts each of the selections. But the Frenchie then amps things up with dijon mustard (I need to try that at home) giving it the perfect bite. The drink is then decadently topped with bleu cheese stuffed olives that will dance in your mouth. I'm usually a big fan of classic brunch dishes but nothing on their new menu jumped out at me. There's seems to be a plethora of chorizo in most of their dishes so I flipped to the Blunch side of the menu. I found an old fav, the Tulip Turkey Burger, which I had not had in a while. It's a fairly moist ground turkey blended with bell peppers and onions which add a subtle tang to the burger. I'm a fan of the sriracha mayo topping, but the curry ketchup can be a bit overwhelming and I ordered that on the side. And speaking of sides, the sweet potatoes fries must be laced with something because they are addictive. Hot and crunchy and a bit tender on the inside. I ordered the garlic aioli dipping sauce and found it to compliment the fries nicely. Overall this was a four star experience, but considering how many three and even two star encounters I've had here I'll go three overall. And at some point I'm hoping they can pull it together enough to make it to four.
(3)
Rachel F.
Stopped here post-Bay View trick or treat antics for some dinner. It had been awhile, and I'm not one to discount potentially solid spots from my neighborhood roster no matter the prevailing public sentiment. I had to know and update for myself. You feel me? Hating on success/hype? A Milwaukee behavior that's not always warranted. Success doesn't mean a thing is bad/evil... take Colectivo for example. I'll never understand that one fully. Anyways, sticking w/ three stars (almost went to two, but thought better of it) on this one. Sixty bucks later I stand by my A-OK rating, but will most likely never shell for dinner here again.. Here's why: The Good: -beer selection: awesome stuff on tap, awesome stuff in bottles // if you like beer, you'll find something super-solid here -fries + sauces! FRIES AND SAUCES The Bad/Ugly: -the food: pretty dang mediocre given the price points and, more importantly, the beautifully-penned descriptions on the menu. "Grass fed burger stuffed w/ garlic and bleu cheese w/ a fire-roasted tomato pesto + grilled mushrooms = in reality, a semi-flavorful puck of beef on an enriched/falling apart white bread bun, little pesto and few mushrooms to be found: $13.95. The blackberry turkey was no more quality in execution. We were pretty disappointed. (Your menu set the expectations too high!) -Charge extra for your sauce, your guac, by all means, I get it, but if you're making it a point to charge extra, don't be mad stingy with said sauce portions, guys. It's just bad form. L and I agreed: not a spot to throw down for eats, but a periodic stop in for some suds and fries? We're all over it, maybe.
(3)
Brianne S.
Centraal! Not enough good things to say about this place. Tragically, they informed me that my favorite "seafood hot pot" will not be returning, but-the spring menu has a lot going for it. The spicy shrimp salad comes with a good portion of shrimp for the price. The frites with Sriracha mayo made an excellent pairing, and kept my dinner from being TOO healthy. While, I'm constrained to New Grist, the server was very knowledgeable about all of the beers, and when the one my friend selected was out, he brought a small flight, unasked, so she could select the next closest. A noir, I think (thought that only referred to movies, but ok). She loved it and we both had a second round. Comfortable ambiance, fantastic service, and the host on the door was authentically welcoming, a very nice touch. This restaurant was once my introduction to modern Milwaukee dining, and there's a reason it's still my favorite.
(4)
Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: solid brunch in a pleasant setting. Oh no, another Lowlands Group restaurant. Why do I keep coming to these? Thought I'd give Cafe Centraal a try as I was jonesing for some brunchtimes and it's walking distance. It looks just like all the others: semi-industrial, semi-pub, all Millennial-cool. But it's a nice atmosphere to have a meal in, you can't deny. I ordered the Bay View Au Gratin Skillet ($11.95) because I'm a sucker for trying new types of sausage. I expected there to be very little of the Belgian sausage, but I was pleasantly surprised that my skillet came out probably made up half of the sliced stuff. The rest was potatoes, cheese, onions, and a couple fried eggs. Nothing revolutionary, but by far the best solid food I've had a Lowlands place. And the value was there for the amount of food (and sausage!) you get. My only complaint was that there was a Tripel on the menu without a brewery's name next to it and so I figured it must be one of their house brews. I excitedly ordered it, only to be charged $5 for a bottle whose six-pack you could buy at any gas station. A bit disappointing. Experience was more of a 3.5, but rounding up because Cafe Centraal was notably better than any of the other Lowlands Group places I've been to.
(4)
Chrissy S.
I would say that I usually am a fan of the Lowlands group restaurants (especially love that they support the local bike community with sponsored events for various clubs and bike fed), but I think I prefer other locations. I like coming here for a beer (great variety of beers) and have eaten here twice. I miss some of the menu items at other lowlands restaurants, but their menu is decent. Just prior to the world cup, they synced all of their tv's... which was a bit of a bummer since we went there to watch hockey and get a beer and someone who was there before us requested the cardinals game. After saying we were going to find it elsewhere, they told us to hold up and after ten minutes they figured out how to split tv channels. I was grateful for that, but found it odd that they were going to make every tv the same thing.
(3)
Marcus W.
Just had my wife's baby shower at Cafe Centraal and it was amazing! Organizing a baby shower is not an easy task considering I have zero experience, but Jaime and Amber made it as simple as it gets. Yes, there were some hiccups mid-planning but both them and Amanda the General Manager just "worked it out" and the entire experience was very professional! We booked the Sun Room and all my guests loved the ambiance and vibe the room gives off(check Yelp pics). The food was great!(Quinoa Skillet, French Toast, Pork Belly Poutine, Spiced Chicken Waffle, Bay View Burger & Bay LT). Since I was the host, I was busy with all the guests but I can really tell Mia and Lauren our servers, were hustling and did all they can to accommodate our needs. As a Bay View resident and long-time customer of Cafe Centraal, I highly recommend this restaurant for your event needs, great service, overall great food and drinks!
(5)
C G.
Fantastic! We (a group of seven, from 9 to 67 years old) loved every meal we ordered at a Saturday brunch. I have never had better quiche (and I lived in France for a while), my son's French toast was delicious, my daughter fell in love with the beignets, etc. etc. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with a little edge. The only negative was that two of our glasses/mugs had lipstick on them when delivered to the table. Not quite as bad as hair in food, but pretty close. That was an unfortunate way to start a meal, but the food almost completely made up for it.
(4)
Erin L.
Kinda pricy but very good. The beers here are amazing and the atmosphere is fun/hipster/inviting We started with the brat/pretzel bite board and VERY glad we did.
(4)
Blern S.
Excellent beer, service food and vibe. Breakfast was superb. Try the Ooey Gooey Spicy Mess or whatever it's called. Delicious. These people know how to serve the beers you want, exactly how they should be served.
(5)
Kira W.
I love Quizmaster Quiz on Thursdays. I wouldn't go otherwise. I love how the QuizMaster trivia has different categories of questions. It makes it a team effort because we're all able to contribute. Some of us are movie buffs, some of us are audiophiles, and more. It really gives everyone an opportunity to participate because there's such a variety in the content. QuizMaster is new to Centraal. Also worth mentioning is the fact that there were 40 people the first week and over 70 people the second. Wow! We're going to continue to bring more people because we like the trivia. We doubled our team last week and we're going to have to start splitting up since we can only have 8 per team. I haven't had the best experience at Centraal with food or service, but as long as QuizMaster is there, well continue to go and we'll continue to bring 8-12 of our friends. If you need a team, come down and let us know!
(4)
Allison F.
I'm a potato enthusiast, so I need something diced and well-seasoned. Cafe Centraal does just that with their rosemary potatoes, and it's cured a couple of hangovers at Sunday brunch. You're a lifesaver, Cafe Centraal!
(4)
Josh B.
This was a spur of the moment brunch decision, and I'm glad we tried it! Cafe Centraal has one of the best beermosas I've ever had, and their blackberry mimosa is pretty good as well, although I think it's a little high priced at $8, I probably would not order it again, unless they lowered the price a bit, or gave you a slightly larger glass. If you do get anything with fries, the best advice I can give is to splurge a bit and get the sweet potato fries. THEY ARE AMAZING WHEN FRESH! Everything we ordered was pretty good, and the service was decent, considering how busy it was (sundays in Milwaukee). The restaurant was mostly clean, although there was a large sticky spot on the table where my napkin and utensils were, but I get the feeling it was a rare oversight, and not a habit. The bloody was pretty good as well, and had a good set of garnishes, including the standard pickles, cheese, and thankfully, bacon. The restaurant was rather loud due to so many people being at the restaurant, which I can't fault them for, but it's something to keep in mind if you're planning on coming for a date, or anything where conversation is going to need to happen. Nothing was overdone, and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying it again on a slower day, so we can really enjoy it.
(4)
Corey C.
I'm a big fan of Cafe Centraal and all of the other restaurants that are owned by the Lowlands Cafe group (Benelux, Trocadero, Hollander, etc). They have a tasty take on food that resonates with me. I've never had anything on the menu I didn't like. My favorites are the frites (fries) and dipping sauce. For brunch (or blunch) try the Berry Basil French Toast for something sweet and with artfully balanced flavors. Or for something hearty, savory, and manly, try the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess. they also have an good selection of Belgian and craft beers, and unique cocktails. Whatever you get, check this place out for a perfect sampling of the Bay View culinary experience.
(5)
Mike K.
the 2nd stp on the SCR world tour was here and.....Meh. that's right, meh. Then again i'm from Chicago so maybe my standards are a bit high...then again I did live in fond du lac so I clearly have no standards. and still a meh for this place. im sure that's not helpful, but this should be...not impressed by their food, albeit the way its presented is....ok. too expensive for a place giving you average items. plus the service was....meh. our waiter was a bit douche...trying way too hard to be a smartass to a bunch of smartasses...plus when you see the size of our group and give us the smallest space possible especially when we're willing to wait for some room...that's a loss.
(2)
Jessica O.
I've been a patron at Cafe Centraal a handful of times over the last few years, and I echo the sentiments of my fellow Yelpers. It is, indeed, inconsistent. I would have been at a solid three stars, IF I hadn't just recently discovered the patio The patio is just lovely. A private, peaceful little refuge, that happens to be filled with lots of peeing cherub fountains. This is a perfect place to sip cocktails. For me, the Ginger Shandie was an awesome choice - Limoncello, ginger beer, and the Lowlands High Speed Wit...hell. yes. Until now, Cafe Centraal was one of those places that I never objected to going, but never suggested on my own. But now it is on a solid list of places I'll offer up when searching for sun and cocktails.
(4)
Flex B.
I'm updating my review, because I decided to give Cafe Centraal a second chance and was pleasantly surprised. I went on Memorial Day, and it was the most quiet that I have ever seen the place. Both our host and waitress were nice and welcoming, so service wise I would say really good other than our food taking quite a while to come out. I ordered the blackened tofu philly and it was awesome. Thanks to this sandwich and the friendly service, I have decided that Cafe Centraal has redeemed themselves of my previous bad experience. I will be returning in the future, because it would be of my utmost pleasure to stuff that beautiful sandwich into my mouth again.
(3)
Teresa D.
As always an excellent selection of beer, creative entrees and excellent cocktails. I'm a fan of this family if restaurants.
(4)
Linda B.
Really annoyed! We were in the neighborhood early and decided to wait until they open at 8am at Collectivo across the street. We walked over a little after 8am and the door was locked. There were people inside who saw us but didn't come over to open the door. Considering it was freezing out side we weren't willing to stand and wait. It was 8:10am when we left and they had not opened their doors. Left a bad impression for me!
(1)
W S.
Really a pretty good spot. Food was very good. This is a "sort of" chain restaurant owned by the same group that owns Cafe Hollander in Wauwatosa. No gripes with the food or drinks. It is just a tad on the $$ side, so if you are looking for cheap eats, not here. Upsides: Food was good, service was ok (middle of the road). Downsides: Parking (its on the street, so in winter, bad weather u r walking in it), When they are busy there is next to no place for you to wait. Not a big deal on a summer day, in the winter you are crammed by the entrance/exit with no place to sit and its the main thoughoufare in and out.
Loved the fried chicken sandwich. Spicy ginger BBQ was good. Fries okay. Great beer selection and friendly staff. Cool atmosphere.
(5)
Jen F.
This place has some really good things going for it: great beer selection; late night food service, and a big patio. The vegan options here are pretty limited, otherwise I would give it a higher rating. It gets a two for vegan, four for regular food (says my BF, who adores their fresh brunch donuts). The menu invites you to "ask about our vegan options," but sadly the answer is "not much." There are a few salads, a hummus appetizer, and oatmeal for brunch. But I like a little protein with my veggies, and there's not much; I think they even got rid of the one tofu dish. :( (Side note: the waitstaff has always been super nice about asking the kitchen about what could be made vegan, or what options could be modified.) The menu changes regularly, so maybe they'll add some real vegan choices. The few options I have tried are good though, so while it's not somewhere I crave to go, I can definitely make do. Brunch can be crazy with the family crowd, so be prepared to wait (or better yet, grab a seat at the bar and eat there). You can watch the parade of bloody mary's go by and decide which one fits your mood.
(3)
Joanna T.
Here's another in my series known as JT's Conversations With Inept Employees: Hubs (earlier): you need to call Centraal at 4:30pm on the dot because they only take reservations 2 hours prior. Me: (grimacing as though in pain at restaurant choice): Centraal? Uhhhh....all right, I guess.... Fast forward to 4:31pm today...... Me: Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for 6 people... Inept Hostess: (cuts me off) we're only taking reservations for after 8:30pm. Me: I thought you took reservations only up to 2 hours prior. IH: That's right Me: (puzzled) But it's only 4:30 pm? IH: we're full for reservations Me: So, all the people that planned to come at 6:30 have already called in the 45 seconds reservations have been open???? IH: We're only taking reservations after 8:30pm. You can call two hours ahead. Me: That's what I'm trying to do. IH: We're full until 8:30 Me: Politely refrains from explaining that if they take reservations just 2 hours prior, that means 8:30pm reservations can only be taken when BOTH the big AND little hand of the clock are on the 6. Me: hangs up, calls Riveria Maya and makes a easy, hassle free reservation. Inept Hostess: goes back to vainly trying to discern the difference between her ass and a hole in the ground.
(1)
Sarah M.
The Duck Bacon Flatbread and Spare Ribs were amazing! I thought the Stuffed Burger fell a little flat, but I was expecting more of a Minneapolis-style juicy Lucy. Great beer selection and friendly staff! Love the atmosphere too, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu, so many tantalizing options!
(4)
Stephen M.
I remember what this place used to be like when there was a thing known as consistency and quality control. Funny how things change. Prices are up, portions are down, and no one seems to care (by which I mean the staff - there are a couple of high spots, but the same tendency towards hipster-cool-apathy that plagues every one of their places). I've been here twice in the last year and will never be again. I know how hard it is to maintain a thing once it's built, especially when you can't entice the ones who built it to stay. But, as they say when you walk off a ledge in Call of Duty...mistakes have been made.
(2)
Barbarossa R.
My wife and I have been going to Centraal for the last 6 years or so, and the service, food and beer used to be great, but somewhere in those six years there was a shift in service and food. I believe the shift can be attributed to the many different and great places to eat around Centraal, and Centraal did not adapt or felt it needed to, which is why last weekend will be the last time I go back. We always sit at the bar, which I fully expect the service to be delayed due to the busy nature of the bartender, but this experience is the one that sealed the deal. The bartender didn't stop by for quite some time, and it wasn't that busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. He clearly wasn't listening when I order a cafe latte because he made a cafe Americano, yes trivial, I know first world problems. So, I didn't say anything and quietly grumbled to my wife and self. We finally order our food and I ordered the Quinoa skillet, which has been a favorite of mine. The eggs were severely over cooked, the skillet had no seasoning and it tasted like the squash hadn't been cooked at all. To top it off when we asked for our bill the bartender gave us the wrong bill. The only saving grace was another server who was incredibly helpful, but unfortunately we've had one to many experiences likes this at Centraal and will no longer go back.
(1)
Danielle R.
So, I went here for breakfast. I currently have a pretty limited diet due to a stomach ulcer, so I was looking for something without spice, but with flavor. I ordered the plainest breakfast on the menu, and it was good (the potatoes were delicious). However, my only complaint is that most of their choices for breakfast and skillets are very fancy and have a lot of "different" ingredients. I would've liked a few more choices that were in between being bland af and crazy concoctions.
(4)
Lisa A.
This is the last of the lowlands restaurants I have visited. I'm always generally anywhere from very much a fan to "that was pretty good"on their places. Their food is generally reliable and reasonably priced (my parents always LOVE the food here and they can be a little picky,) they all have that "beer book" & they have a speciality drink menu. (Although personally, I find their drinks usually just alright). Other things: Service - our server was nice - genuinely nice and friendly without coming off as phony. I know service is often pointed out as an issue here but I thought he was super nice. Atmosphere - hmmmm....all these restaurants are similar but I didnt care for centraal's atmosphere. It didn't seem as "European" as the others, with a giant bar with tv's in the center and a random smattering of tables around that seemed a little too low for the ceiling. Still, I think this is an decent option in the area. In summer with the patio it might be better.
(3)
Amanda P.
No happy hour, but any hour with this beer list is a happy one. New to the neighborhood, my hubby and I were overcaffeinated and in need of wi-fi. We headed to Centraal (using our citytin coaster!) and had a few brews each, paired with frites and tasty dipping sauces. We also asked for a side of the beer cheese sauce that's listed with a different app: I highly recommend dipping your frites and licking the bowl clean after!
(4)
Jake P.
I've been to Centraal multiple times - at least five different occasions. Each time I've experienced bad to average service. Let's go through the ones I remember: 1) I came here with my friend and his girlfriend one summer night. We sat out on the patio (which is very well decorated) and we ordered drinks and a fry cone. Simple, right? Apparently not. The food arrived before the drinks and I kid you not, the server even commented on it and said "it's never good when the food comes before the drinks is it." ... You think? It's not even busy right now! But thanks for pointing it out and reminding me. 2) I came for dinner with two of my friends on a Friday evening. We all ordered drinks and food. I ordered the fish fry. It was good except during his whole narration of the specials, the server forgot to mention that the all you can eat fish fry costs extra . On top of that, we all ordered another round of drinks which just never came. Maybe he was just having a forgetful day. 3) I came here with the same couple from 1. By itself, this visit would not have been bad. It was mostly just an odd situation. But since these visits are listed chronologically, I was skeptical about this place. The hostess came off a little rude to us and kind of acted like we shouldn't even be bothering her. Not the worst thing but not great. And I'm 93% certain the server was stoned. I don't care what you do with your personal life but if I can go to work sober, so can you. 4) I came here with a small group of people (3 or 4) and we all sat at the bar. The bartender handed us the drink menus and we never heard from him again. We waited about 10-15 minutes and just walked out without even ordering. And if you don't know, the bar is set up so that there's plenty of room for everyone to sit down. It's not one of those bars that there's a group of people crowded around one lonely bartender while fighting for attention. 5) The final time I came with a friend from work around 11pm. Since Centraal is one of the only places open late with real food around there, it might explain why I keep coming back to it. We both ordered drinks and a sandwich. They were good but unremarkable and certainly not enough for Centraal to redeem itself. Most of these happened over a year ago and I'm still traumatized by them. I wish I didn't have to drive by this place everyday on my way to work. Overall, Centraal has a good drink selection but it is on the expensive side. There are quite a few other places within walking distance to go for drinks. It is one of the only places open later for actual food, however, and that has always been its appeal for me. Unfortunately, I've had too many bad experiences to ever return, even if they're the only ones offering food late at night.
(1)
Candice O.
Must try oatmeal. All home made except soy milk. Lots of nuts and grains. Outside dinning, unending beer list. Best donuts ever. Fast, attentive and pleasant wait staff. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Beth P.
I've enjoyed some great meals and beers here mostly of the burger and frites/Belgian beer variety. Pro tip: Happy hour is Thursdays during trivia. Our waitstaff has let us do happy hour a little early since we arrived 10 minutes before it started. Better yet, go to Sugar Maple next door and then hit up Cafe Centraal for their grub. Also, they have a really cool outdoor dining area that is open during the summer. I still need to check it out!
(4)
Meagan N.
Consistency! The only thing I have consistently enjoyed here is a bloody Mary. One time the 'bacon' on my Hot Mess looked like the charred bits from under a grill grate. Another time my burger tasted like a slat lick.The food was good initially but since their addition the prices went up and the food went down. Bayview has a lot more to offer than Centraal! Do yourself a favor and try an indie spot instead.
(2)
Noabeth S.
Just like every lowlands experience, good food and good service. The bay view burger was awesome. We got a duck bacon flat bread pizza as an appetizer which was delicious. 3 stars because my meal wasn't very good, the kulminator.
(3)
Gerard T.
Love this place. Always consistent to me. The kitchen stays open late during the week and the appetizers and beers never disappoint. Always a good selection of beers on tap. Also a great spot to catch a game and sometimes randomly they have awesome music. Great spot to relax, drink a beer and have some appetizers or a great place to get together with friends. Expect to spend between $20 -$50. Reasonable priced items snd the service is pretty good
(4)
Rachael G.
Ok Centraal. You've upped your game so I'll give ya more stars. So, I've decided to go vegan. Am I crazy? Probably. But for moral and health reasons its what works for me. So the Lowlands Group posted new fall menu items and I was excited to see that Centraal now had 3 vegan options (1 salad, 2 entrees) and the tofu dish sounded awesome. And it was amazing, really freaking tasty. The dish consisted of pan seared tofu, leeks, roasted red peppers (and some other veggies I can't recall) served in a vegetable au jus of sorts, with a piece of baguette on the side. Really excellent flavor, very hearty, and perfect for the winter months. Why still only 3 stars? Portion. It was a smaller plate (maybe 8 or 9 tofu chucks with some veggies and sauce) and it cost 12.95. I know quality costs a little more, but I definitely expected more than what I received. What was also really nice about this visit was we were placed in a smaller back room that was much quieter and had more space than the main room. Still not my favorite go to spot, but I'm starting to warm up to Centraal.
(3)
Taylor D.
But is it Tortilla soup... or applesauce with no flavor? Confused. Sometimes I don't really dig the food, but I've never actually gotten sick off of the way a bowl of soup looked. Well... Until last night anyways. WILL NOT RETURN
(1)
Katie S.
I want Centraal to be better. The menu always makes me drool, but the reality never lives up. Somehow the food always seems underseasoned. The atmosphere is always packed...there's a whole row of tables that is flanked on both sides with major aisles. This would be fine-ish, if the servers didn't keep trying to walk in between the tables because the aisle was so long. There's not enough room folks! Go around! The beer list is always good, lots of Euro options. Is it weird that I want to compare it to Applebee's? I mean, I'll still come and eat, I just won't love it in a 5 star kind of way.
(3)
Mik E.
Will never have a reason to go back. On a recent evening we got there and had a slight wait for a table so we went to the bar to bide the time. My date ordered wine but the glass it was served in had an obvious lipstick impression on it and it took forever to get the bartenders attention to complain. Once we told him about it it simply got a different glass and poured the wine from the dirty glass into the new one. When told that was not acceptable and that we wanted a different drink he asked us what was wrong with the one he just served. While my date tried to tell him that was not acceptable I just went to the Manager to complain. The Manager did come through and comped us the drinks but after that we decided to go elsewhere for dinner. We used to LOVE Centraal (even had a small wedding reception there) but have had several incidents in a row of slow service and slipping quality of food so like I said before... we have no need to return there
Solid choice for beer selection and food. My personal favorite is mussel Monday's, burger and frites or the club sandwich. Be sure to check out the dipping sauces and beer specials.
(4)
Colin A.
Has Cafe Centraal undergone a radical menu switch in the past few years??? At one point, they had a great manager who paid to sponsor my softball team several years back -- and since we played just down the street at Lincoln Field, we visited several times for beer + eats...most often beer. Their brunch offerings have altered my impression for ...well, ever. I stopped in for brunch two weeks ago Saturday and had a great experience. 1. Arrived at Noon; seated promptly, zero crowd. I know South Shore Festival was the same day, but I was stunned at the emptiness of Centraal. 2. There are at least 20 items on the brunch menu that I would order with a quickness that marvels broadband internet, a rocketship, or The Flash. 3. Price was right and the portions were gigantic. I sampled the green torpedo omelet, which included toast and rosemary potatoes. Delicious all around! My dining companions opted for the same omelet, french toast, black bean burgers, or turkey burgers. The black bean version was huge and looked incredibly tasty. 4. Great beer list; I appreciated the pairing recommendations by dish, but I opted for Alterra coffee for a caffeine blast. I never cared for the dinner menu in the past -- either the dishes were not appealing or the prices were a bit out of my range for usual dinners out -- but as I review it now, there are several items that make my mouth water...and considering most of the dinners don't rise above the $14-15 mark, I'd consider returning for an evening meal. For now, I could see this becoming a brunch destination on plenty of lazy Saturdays to follow.
(3)
Katie K.
Food is always so-so (too salty, I can tell it was frozen). Husband loves the beer selection and I am a huge fan of the brunch mimosa.
(3)
Barbara D.
A fun place to eat. I had the flat bread with pulled pork & mangos. Not something I'd make at home. Ordered it since a special for the day. I was surprised how good it was. Also had the Cowboy Sliders: 3 burgers topped with breaded onion rings. They were perfect. We sat in an area that gave the feel of eating outside without the hassle of smelling car exhaust or having bugs landing on your food.
(4)
Bottomless P.
Food was much better at brunch than at dinner. I'd go back.
(4)
Erin T.
Awesome atmosphere and delicious unique menu that makes me want more. Had the quiche for brunch and it was buttery cheesy goodness that made my day. Excellent fresh coffee as well.
(5)
Jess O.
Hadn't been there for brunch in a while because I found the selections uninspiring. But oh my we went back and I wanted to order everything. Everything I tried was yummy. I will have to go back to try everything else. The kid's brunches were great too. They come on a little divided plate with fruit or veggies and my girls felt very special to see how fancy their food looked.
(5)
Kyle H.
Yet another great pop-in to Centraal and I'm a fan! Bellied up to the bar, prime time on a Friday night, and had a great meal, great service, and I learned a thing or two about beer. Bay View is now becoming baby buggy central, and Cafe Centraal is welcoming to families and kids, and you know what- tables are spaced far enough away to make it a non-issue. It's like a European beer hall, where people bring kids, and even dogs! Centraal is relaxed, and welcoming. Featuring some of their swimming items for Lent, (mussels, blackened seafish tacos) I had the beer-battered Cod fish fry with sweet potato frites and coleslaw. Fish fry passed with flying colors, and it paired well with a Lakefront Fixed Gear. Sitting by the taps, I learned a lot about biers, as the kind waiter answered a lot of questions, and gave out samples. I tried an Estaminet (Pils), which was like Stella Artois, but with a honey sweetness on the backend. A great lightish beer! I'm going to put Centraal in my rotation of places I go with my son, places I belly up to the bar for Beer School, and places I call a Few of My Favorite Things.
(5)
Rohan D.
The food is okay, and the ambiance is great, but that doesn't balance out the lack of respect ownership has for drinking customers. I ordered a rye, nothing special, on the rocks, easy on the ice. It came neat, in a tiny little dessert snifter, the kind they might use in a brandy tasting or for small children who like cognac. I had to snag the waiter who left quickly while I scoffed at the peculiar glass. When corrected, he brought the whiskey in a tiny little tumbler, it matched the rocks glass one of the other professors (she just got tenure, we were celebrating) got, except in size. Her cocktail came in a full size rocks glass that my glass fit INSIDE OF. Then of course the bill needed examination. My American rye, less than a thick finger in a tiny little play rocks glass, was twice as much as the English professors full size cocktail. I asked the waiter about the "neat" upcharge, and his response, yet a new rationalization on this temerarious duplicity was outright legerdemain: "It's the same price." The two different prices were one above the other, merely a centimeter apart. "The same price?" He changed to "ice or no ice, the price is the same for neat." Well there's an insulting way to put it. So not only are you going to charge me more for ordering two ice cubes, you're going to give me less whiskey, and insult my intelligence. Bad form Cafe Centraal. Very shortly after this theft, the Chief of Staff took me to dinner at the Mason Street Grill, and I shouldn't be comparing these two restaurants as the MSG is upscale, elegant, and much more expensive, but there's a big difference in respect for customers with a surprising small difference in price for drinks. At the "expensive" restaurant, a top shelf Balvenie doublewood scotch, served in a real heavy bottom big round whiskey glass, over two fingers, ran $14. No dishonest neat upcharge there, so about twice as much, five times as expensive whiskey was only 4 dollars more than at CC. Two neat common whiskeys at CC will run 20$, or 6$ more than about the same amount of much better whiskey at the better restaurant and....no one will insult my intelligence there.
(1)
Arielle H.
I ate here the other night with my boyfriend, it was a Sunday night we just moved to bay view and nothing that we could really see was opened so we ate here. Now we've been to Benelux and Hollander so we knew what we were in for. They stopped serving food at 10:30 that night that night I believe because they were doing something with the kitchen, you could still have a drink at the bar after 10:30 just not food. The bartender sat us and was happy we got to enjoy dinner before they closed the kitchen which was nice. They did have a big party that night close to about 20 people our waitress was very sweet and wanted to make sure our food got in before the large party. I am not a big beer fan and know they have a decent selection of beer. I ordered the dreamsicle and honestly was not impressed. I was expecting it to taste, well like a dreamsicle. I can't really explain the taste but I was a fan. For an app we ordered the brisket sliders, when I saw it had a horseradish cream sauce I was a little hesitant but they.were.delicious!!!!!! I wish they would have given you 4 instead of 3. For dinner I had the bayview burger. I mean it's a burger and fries doesn't need any further explanation. My boyfriend ordered the kalmunator? (Sp?) it's a grilled cheese with bacon. That was alright, I mean I love my bacon but that had to much bacon and not enough cheese. And for me when ordering any kind of grilled cheese you would think some type of tomato soup would be involved. Overall we had a nice dinner, I felt a little rushed to order only because of the large table so I ended up sticking with something simple, dinner wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad either, I'm personally more of a fan of there brunch
(4)
Jon S.
Food was fantastic. A very good selection with many "alternative" options lets say. But i ended up getting the Bay View Burger. If you want a good burger, I strongly recommend this one. My girlfriend got the beef stew in a pretzel bowl (forgot the name of it). Beef was a little fatty she said and there was a lot of onions in it. I didn't mind that though. I just finished the onions for her haha. Now onto drinks. They had a nice little book with many different selections of beer all organized by type. A very good selection I must say. I would highly recommend this place for food and drink activities.
(5)
Yeng C.
My husband and I had brunch at Cafe Centraal last Sunday. We have been here several times before and I enjoy the brunch while my husband enjoys the beer selection. I am only giving it a 3 star because of our customer service at the bar. We sat at the bar while we waited to be seated. After 10 minutes of being ignored, I literally had to wave down a bartender to get drinks. Other than that, our food was good and our server was excellent (he was thin, with glasses, and wearing a packer jersey). We have both worked in the food industry in the past and customer service determines a lot about a restaurant to us. Cafe Centraal is good but it can be so much better.
(3)
Kay C.
I have been to Cafe Centraal many times, but this is my first stab at a review. I think it is a great addition to any Bay View bar crawl due to the size of the place, which includes a really nice big bar and an awesome secluded patio area. It has a cool, casual atmosphere and the same great beer selection you find at all the Lowlands Group places with an emphasis on Belgian beer. So it has a lot going for it. We just had brunch on Sunday and sat outside in the patio area. Typically my husband is not a fan of patio areas as you are exposed to the elements and many times you're on the street with vehicle and foot traffic. But this patio is different. It actually has a calming effect as you are surrounded by tall vine covered brick walls and little urinating statues of various colors throughout the area. The statues are the symbols of Brussels, Belgium - Manneken Pis - little man pee. No worries about wind and stinky exhaust fumes. The brunch menu is quite extensive offering egg dishes, pancakes/waffles, salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. Pretty much something to please everyone. I ordered the Green Torpedo omelette with basil, spinach and feta cheese accompanied by rosemary potatoes. All so very good. They have a great brunch beverage menu as well with a good variety of Bloody Marys, mimosas, etc. I went with the Southsider Bloody this time with jalapeno infused vodka and a variety of hot spiced pickled accompaniments plus a Hoegaarden beer chaser. Yum. This time around we had excellent, knowledgeable service and really great food. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Greg w.
Food wasn't good but they were cool with my friend puking into his fancy Belgian beer, so that's an extra star.
(4)
Phillip M.
Great sandwiches! Great location (Parking a bit tough!) My favorite "PIKE TANDEM DOUBLE ALE"!
(5)
Bartleby F.
We went here on Tuesday, at about 9:30 after learning that both La Perla and La Fuente do not actually close the kitchen at 10, they close it whenever they feel like. So we were questing for what is considered "late night" food. We found it at Cafe Centraal. The interior is what goes for standard reclaimed industrial these days, exposed ducts, a fantastic wood bar and floor, exposed brick. We were immediately greeted at the door and seated where we learned the kitchen is open to midnight. Huzzah! Our server, Erk, was fantastic. He was attentive, offered suggestions, even told us how some things were cooked, and in general he was a great guy. This is a rarity in Milwaukee where many servers are polite but distant or just rude in the guise of efficiency. The special was the Poutine so that's what my husband ordered. We live close to Red Dot so it was cool to see another take on this dish. The duck/port gravy was delicious and the fried pork belly was simply delicious. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. It was good, but the chicken was a little small. The gouda combined with the Siracha BBQ sauce, however, was an unexpected treat. All in all, we'll definitely go back. I won't say it's cheap, but it's cheaper than Hollander (and less pretentious, too!)
(4)
Pamela M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and I usually have a wonderful experience there. However, last night I ordered a sandwich but wanted it without the spicy peppers and onions. For medical reasons I cannot eat spicy food. I believe it was Doug who waited on us. He was heckling me for wanting to change it. He said it had been a field day for modifications and asked if that's what I really wanted to order. It didn't come off like he was just joking around. My boyfriend even commented about the attitude. I was still able to enjoy my meal but I left wondering what was the point to badgering your customers.
(3)
Heather M.
Love love love this place. If you like Cafe Hollander, you'll love this place. Same owners. Incredible beer selection. Delicous food with diverse menu. The beer cheese soup was incredible. Thick and creamy. The popcorn on the top was a nice touch. Hard to find great beer cheese soup in this city of beer and cheese! I really don't have much of a taste for french fries in general. However, the sweet potato frites are wonderful. Just the right level of crispyness. It also comes with your choice of dipping sauce. I'd recommend the chipotle sour cream. Yum!
(5)
Roseanne S.
This was our next stop on our tour of bars in the Bay View area. I thought The Sugar Maple had a large beer selection. Boy was I wrong. Cafe Centraal definitely took the cake here. Very big, open space with a lot of seating and a nice long bar. My friend and I sat at a small table near the window. I perused the beer menu, eyes wide open at the amount of different beers they had. I had no idea where to even start. Our waiter was very helpful. I asked him what beer he would recommend. Of course, he asked what I liked and I told him basically anything besides stouts and porters. I also asked if they had any hefewizens and admitted that they don't have any he would recommend. I appreciated his honesty about their selection. Instead of letting me try a crappy beer just because I liked the style, which is something another waiter/bartender might do, he offered up some great suggestions, one of which I went with. Seriously, the amount of different beers here is insane and I love it. We only stayed for one drink because my friend isn't a beer drinker and wanted to go somewhere with more fruity girly drink options, but I'm looking forward to coming back with some of my craft beer compadres and getting to know some more of these beers.
(4)
Rachel A.
I'm a huge fan of the Lowlands group. They own some of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. Cafe Centraal is the bad seed of the bunch. I have eaten here three times, and each time I have gotten EXTREMELY sick from the food. It was my intention to give them the benefit of the doubt. Three times is no coincidence. Service is poor. Staff is somewhat unfriendly. I would absolutely not eat here again.
(1)
Hazel C.
Several vegan options, and multiple vegetarian options, as well. The tofu bowl (vegan) was AMAZING. Nice atmosphere, good music, decent sized menu, however, the server wasn't attentive at all. Took about 20-25 minutes for him to come back with the check. Could've just been an off day. I'd go again for the food and hope the service improves.
(3)
Marc R.
Sure, it is part of a restaurant group, but they have got a lot going on here to love. The great beer choices here are amazing, and while many friends have complained about the food being "freezer" food, I really loved the black bean burger here. The servers are pretty friendly - I like the afternoon bartender Sylvia - and are always nice if you are willing to hang out and chat in the afternoon. I love that they made my mussels with a TON of garlic. I had a few strong beers then wanted to eat so went for it. I had the mussels with a not so bright but pretty ex GF who said to the server back then "the mussels are great, but I hate Belgian beers" ... well, um, Centraal Station is in Amsterdam, but hey, I had to hand it to the server for saying "Well, we are a Belgian beer specialist, but I bet you'd like the IPA or spotted cow" and he brought out a couple samples for Miss Super hipster. Yep, It worked. Ok, well, back to the garlic. I had my vampire proof mussels, and I usually ask for more bread and a spoon to suck up the soupy yumminess. So, I do like this place as a anchor property in the Bay View hood. Milwaukee has its investor driven restaurants and bars to be sure - there are a few that have popped up that I really like - example: Boone & Crockett. Centraal was always one of the places I brought my too cool for Milwaukee Wicker Park and Logan Square friends from Chicago and it is still on the list.
(4)
Jeremia F.
Had some good shiitake mushroom style Mussels that were great! And partook in some of their excellent beverage selections which is dominated by Belgians....oooooh. Service was great but the menu was just to "all over the place" and I didn't see anything I loved, too many sandwiches, so went to the Odd Duck.
(4)
D B.
Chain envy. I want to like this place more than I do. The Lowlands family of restaurants all have a similar feel. OK food and decent/predictable drinks served at a premium by uninspired wait staff. There are exceptions, and I don't want to be too negative, but more often than not, I leave mildly disappointed, and I get the impression they could care less. If I had some advice for the lowlands folks it would be to hire some talent, pay them well, and stop trying to be a crappy chain.
(3)
Jennifer C.
The food at Cafe Centraal is pretty good - sometimes it is hit or miss depending on what you order. The decor is pretty cool and it has a pretty relaxed enviroment. The wait staff can be hit or miss as well. I have had amazing services as well as services that is kind of iffy. Yesterday when I went, the bartender seemed more interested in talking with his friend who was a customer as well rather than being of some use to other customers.
(3)
Wendy K.
Centraal is amazing. Great cocktail menu. They also have a burger with blu cheese in it that is the best burger I have ever had. Stuffed grass fed burger. No joke. Also the scotch egg is to die for. I ordered one as an appetizer, and I liked it so much I got another to bring home, which only lasted half my car ride home. Delish!!
(5)
Melissa M.
First time here! Great food and service! I love the black bean burger and selection of beer!!
(4)
Adam J.
Went for Sunday brunch yesterday at about 12:45 and it was packed. I'm sure the Packers had something to do with the crowd. Food was really quite good (big thumbs up for the unscrambled omlette). The server was pretty bad. He was very flighty and unapologetic. If it wasn't Sunday with a 100m drive ahead of me I would've indulged in their glorious selection of Belgian beers
(3)
Shannon C.
A friend and I went to Cafe Centraal after we stopped by Freya for a bang trim (yay!). Our experience was pretty disappointing. We ordered drinks -- she got a specialty blueberry vodka drink and I got a gin and seltzer. You couldn't taste any gin in my drink -- which was why I ordered seltzer instead of tonic, since I'm actually one of those rare breeds of humanoids that actually enjoys the taste of gin. We ordered some fried cheese appetizer, and the presentation was pretty dismal -- three small, fried cheese balls. So we each had approximately 1.5 cheese ball each. They were good, but we had expected more food. The pretzel we ordered was burned in the back so we had to wait while they made us a new one (gratis). When I ordered another drink, I told our server that my original drink was very weak. Our server -- who doesn't drink -- was very apologetic. I asked for two shots of gin in a SMALL glass topped with seltzer. I received said drink in a large glass. Our poor server was pretty embarrassed, because she knew that's not what I wanted. Then why bring it over? I tasted the double, it was weak, and she took it back and brought out what I originally ordered -- which tasted exactly like how a SINGLE gin and seltzer should taste. Annoying. The pretzel was okay. Can't go wrong with a pretzel. When we went to pay, we discovered that the server comped not only the cheese balls but my original, weak drink, which was nice. But then, when she split the $36 bill, she charged us both $24! I know that computers can go haywire over splitting bills with comped items, but seriously... check to make sure the tab is correct before you bring it to the table! The situation was eventually straightened out but it was still quite irritating. Ugh. Like I said, we were very disappointed. We won't be going back.
(2)
Charity M.
Great food and drinks. Awesome patio. Jordan is THE bomb! - Charity, Annmarie & Sarah
(5)
J R.
Really an extraordinary meal. Other posters have been spot-on about the mussels. Order two pounds (one wittekerk and one classic) with a side of frites, and Bob's your uncle. The beer selection isn't the biggest I've seen at a Belgian cafe, but it was fairly large and quite diverse. I really enjoyed a Belgian strong ale, Triporteur from Hell. But the highlight of the meal was the service. Mia was one of the better servers I've met at any level of restaurant. She was funny, engaging, and attentive without being cloying. Overall, definitely a five-star experience!
(5)
Josh O.
Cafe Centraal was great. I don't make it to Bayview that often. I will be back if only to visit Centraal once again and try another delicious meal. The food is tasty and moderately priced, the service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself has a great chill vibe which I thoroughly enjoyed.
(4)
Nicole H.
Oh my lord did Cafe Centraal fail on the Fourth of July. Clearly having no concept of what kind of traffic they'd have that day, they staffed for a normal Wednesday afternoon lunchtime and were so completely overwhelmed that it was comical. First people in line and we still had to wait 20+ minutes for a table because they had no one to bus them and no server that could serve us. Placed our order and was told the kitchen was overwhelmed, so it would take a while. I mean, the waitress was apologetic and got us extra drinks and it clearly wasn't her fault, but the whole thing was such an incredibly cluster and there should have been some way for them to handle it - whether a manager or owner showed up and did some PR or helped or they closed bc they couldn't handle it, something should have been done. The staff was pushed to their limits and I felt so bad for them. People got really pissy with them, but they were honest up-front in terms of the wait, so that's not fair. All in all, lunch for 4 took two hours from the time we walked in til we walked out. Plus, the food was pretty meh. None of us were particularly happy with our food and were really just happy to get the hell out of there.
(1)
Erin B.
I feel like every trip to Centraal starts like this: Person A: Where do you wanna go? Person B: Don't care...mmmmmaybe [insert any other place here] A: Too busy B: How about [anywhere else] A: Ugh. We go there all the time. I feel like we should pay rent there. B: (sigh) mmmmm...Centraal? A: (sigh) OK It's just so...I don't know. Trying so hard to be interesting but because there are like 4 other restaurants exactly like it, it comes off so ordinary. Not great, not terrible just...ordinary. Pluses: great beer selection and I love any cocktail list that proudly serves drinks featuring Great Lakes Distillery over some bubblegum flavored monstrosity of a vodka (seriously, can we all agree that the world does not need another "flavored" vodka). The server we had recently was seriously a dollface. She was one of those rare people who was genuinely nice and seemed pleased to make recommendations. So the service, in my opinion was great. T said he loved his food (some kind of burger made from the meats of like, 7 different animals), but mine (fish fry) was eh. Not great, not terrible, but...ordinary. I feel like I've eaten here so many times before, but that's because I really liked Cafe Hollendar for a quick minute when I lived practically next door to the one in Tosa and really, it's basically the same thing.
(3)
Phil C.
Great beer selection, intuitive staff and the menu had me at Siracha BBQ Pork Belly. It's my go-to restaurant when I can't make a decision on trying something new.
(5)
Marie W.
My visit to Cafe Centraal was great! No cons to report. Our waiter was knowledgable about the beers and suggested a grapefruit one for me to try. I stopped in for an evening fourth meal so I wasn't looking for a huge dish. I ended up going with the Bay View BELT which was a BLT with fried eggs and roasted garlic aioli. LOVED IT. Next time I make myself a BLT at home, I may just try to jazz it up a little...
(4)
Lauren M.
Cafe Centraal isn't my favorite of the Lowland Group restaurants, but it is a staple on our average restaurant tour. It's typically the place we go when we can't decide where to go, but maybe I should give it a little more credit than that? If you go, go for brunch. It's really good, and the laid back atmosphere is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. The bloodies are pretty delicious, and there are options to please just about everyone. Quick side note: I brought my friends here for a late night snack, and there was DJ playing club music in the corner of the restaurant. It was too loud, no one was dancing (in fact, everyone was as far away as they could be from the guy), and it was hard to convince my friends that this place was awesome. No more Club Centraal, please.
(4)
Kristen G.
Brunch after a night of drinking? Yes, please. This brings me and my group of 9 to Cafe Centraal. Now I know this place gets busy on a Sunday morning and that's fine. We are drinkers, so waiting was not a problem... What is a problem for me is the way that the entire Lowlands Group does "reservations". My friend called hours before we showed up to make one and they have some bizarre rule about it being "too late" and you have to call before a certain time period that has some odd cut off?? The whole thing is exhausting. So needless to say we had no reservation. The bartender was ok, the drinks are way over priced. They can get away with it though. Why is it that this whole restaurant group makes its establishments so pretentious? That is just the vibe here as well. Like why am I paying $7 for a half of a cup of coffee with a half of a shot of Bailey's? Insane. The Brunch food always sounds so inventive, but then when you get it it has no flavor. I had to salt and pepper my Eggs Benedict three times. I finally asked for Sriracha to try and salvage it. Not good. I asked for fried hard yolk eggs instead of poached and they gave me runny yolk... it turned my stomach. Should have asked for a re-fire but I was so hungry from waiting, so I guess my bad. Our server was pleasant, star for that. But Cafe Centraal and really all of the restaurants in this group just never do it for me. Bland and overpriced with a little bit of pretentious hipster...you can pretty much lump them all in to this category.
(2)
Adam R.
I went on a weekday during one of the many snowstorms in '13/'14 so there wasn't many people inside to say the least. With that being said service was great and the beer selection was fantastic. Very nice relaxing atmosphere. Bay View has really turned it around in this area. I'd also recommend checking out Sugar Maple which is right next door.
(4)
Jennifer P.
This is definitely my Bay View go-to. Brunch is spot-on (get the sugar donuts), the burgers and sandwiches are great, and you never have to wait for a table. I'm not personally a beer drinker, but all the family/friends I've brought here who are have been very impressed. The pig tails (which I never would have ordered on my own) were delicious! They also have a very low-pressure and fun trivia night on Thursdays, which is a favorite for my group of friends. This is a place where you don't feel awkward lingering over your drinks or the last few frites on your plate. I've eaten here most often out of any Milwaukee restaurant and have yet to be disappointed!
(5)
Jules M.
Eh, I am somewhere between a 2 and 3 stars. I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and a friend's birthday presented the opportunity. Ambiance: At 7pm on a Saturday it was packed and loud. We ended up by the front door so it was a bit cold at times. However it was festive and jovial. The place quieted down around 8:30pm and more sports folks came in, then it became sporadic bursts of yelling with plays on the TV. So if you are not into the sport bar/cafe feel, be warned. Food: Burgers were a big hit, fries got high marks. Rosemary goat cheese Mac-n-cheese with chicken was also enjoyed. I had the meatloaf, it was okay but I was hoping for more, maybe some veggies to make a more filling meal. Service: They were patient with our party that was larger than initially reported however, service was a bit slow. Staff was nice but an order drink was never served and we waited too long for food, drinks and bill. I was really not very impressed, but I guess I would try it again, with a smaller group, maybe on trivia night. There were a few menu items I would like to try, such as the fried chicken sandwich and the rosemary goat cheese mac-n-cheese. so...I will wait and see.
(3)
Heather V.
After much discussion, the hubby and I give the Centraal/ Hollander/ Benelux family 3 1/2 stars (ok, so I rounded up). 5 stars for the beer selection, but only 2 1/2-3 stars for food. But, since we would definitely go back, it deserves 4 stars. Here's a quick synopsis: * Freakin' awesome beer list, beers are always cold and prices were pretty a-ok (not cheap, but not bad) * Pretty darn good frites and dipping sauces that will keep you coming back (I doubt you'll find anyone to argue here) * Somewhat decent vegetarian options, including salads and a mushroom sandwich, but a veggie burger would have been welcomed * Most main dishes have been just "OK;" nothing to write home about, but still good enough for repeat visits (especially for Milwaukee) * Comfy interior and decent acoustics, usually very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff * As the wife of a Dutchman and new to Milwaukee, the lowland theme was a happy happenstance Definitely would go back and for Milwaukee, this lowland spot was a treat. Pretty sure that these are the same owners as Honey Pie/ Comet/ Balzac, so all in all, a nice group of restaurants.. Just wish the food was as good as Honey Pie/ Comet and Balzac.
(4)
Cory Z.
Nothing great but nothing horrible about this place. I've done brunch and lunch, but never dinner. Service is sometimes a bit slow, and I think the food is a bit overpriced for what you get. All in all it's not a bad place, but it's not very high on my destination radar.
(3)
Eric B.
Food was great! I sat at the bar very enjoyable bartender was friendly and awesome! Manager was super nice overall great time I will be back!
(4)
Sarah S.
I'm in love with this place! Favorite has been to belly up to the bar and have fabulous VIP service, the patio in the summer is perfect for a bottle of wine, mussles and sopping up bread. I sadly have tried most of their menu and there are some major wins and some you live and learn. Not a fan of their version of a turkey club, I'm a bit of a traditional only sort of girl. But salads, mussles, pork belly, burgers, pretzel and beer, meatloaf sandwich, shrimp and chicken curry dish are all amazing! Main tip I have to offer is you have to get a side of the basil aioli to dip your fries or morning breakfast potatoes in. It is life changing and once you dip you can't go back. In the last two years since coming here the food service has gotten so much better. It is such a great place to bring friends from out of town, impress the parents with a gluten free diet. I started as a fan of their brunch and slowly grew into an any occasion and to go ordered twice because I was feeling luscious and not wanting to cook. I don't go out to eat very often but the once every month to two months this is usually the place I will head to.
(5)
Christina L.
Seriously Centraal you've been in the game awhile, you'd think you'd get your management/service issues worked out. I was suckered into giving you another try last night by your "snow day" deal. We arrived and were seated right away. Our server came over within a few minutes to take our drink order and then nothing for at least 15 minutes. She finally arrives with our beers, apologizes and then takes our food order. The food actually came out rather quickly and was ok, but we literally didn't see our waitress again for probably 45 minutes and were sitting there with empty glasses, thirsty for more beer. We'd see her running around every other part of the restaurant. C'mon Centraal, haven't you heard of sections? Since we were done eating we decided to just get the bill and head next door where we could get served. Also, don't try to come in on your lunch break unless your prepared to take a 2 hour lunch. I guess if I had a really good reason to go back here I might see if service is better at the bar, but really it's not worth it.
(1)
Kelsey S.
This is hands-down my favorite Milwaukee brunch location. We've always enjoyed the food here, especially the rosemary potatoes. Yum. We've dabbled through the menu, but the Americana is the most standard breakfast plate and is a great value. Their classic eggs benedict is a tasty treat as well. I love the atmosphere and decor of this place. It's casual yet the right amount of faux-eclectic to fit into Bay View. We've always been lucky with great service as well. One day we stopped in and asked our server if it'd be possible to finish our meal within 40 minutes; she was on the ball and had our food to us in less than ten minutes and our bill to us within 25, encouraging us to take our time but to let her know as soon as we were ready. Super friendly and helpful. I admit, we've never been here for lunch or dinner, but when it comes to brunch: A+.
(5)
Sarah Z.
Sunday brunch was awesome. We went on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and a light breeze came through the restaurant carrying smells of bacon and eggs with it. The mimosas are top notch and the service is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable as well!
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Back that @ss up! I have had a few very lackluster dinners at Centraal. Its a neighborhood establishment, so I have returned a few times to the same outcome. I'm no longer impressed. Even my latest order of Polenta was disappointing. Hummus...this is not rocket science. I ordered the hummus appetizer and it tasted like it came out of a plastic container. I'm sure it did. It was also roasted red pepper flavored, which is my LEAST favorite. Hummus doesn't need flavoring. If a restaurant has hummus on the appetizer menu, it should be fresh and taste good, right? We all know what Athenos tastes like, hence why the majority of us that really like hummus make our own. Chickpeas are cheap, Centraal. Make your own hummus. It takes 2 minutes.
(2)
Ashley S.
I definitely don't hate Centraal. We spent two New Year's in a row here, and it ended up being a stop on my birthday bar crawl (if you can call two bars a crawl?) last year. But I guess I think about Centraal in a few different ways. For dinner... not so much. They're kind of pricey and recently (well, maybe within the last year?) changed around their menu, so there really isn't much I'd want to try again there. Except for the sweet potato fries... nommmm. I was really sad in particular that the curry chicken pita seemed to have changed recipes. I am not sure exactly what it is, but I seem to remember that there was a nice sweetness in it before, maybe from some kind of fruit, that is now regrettably absent. The whole thing is just gritty and bland with the new recipe. Major bummer. Going along with dinner, the servers on staff during weeknights in particular have never been my most favorite part of dining out. It's always a struggle to even get a glass of water, let alone get a refill. Maybe we go in a little later than some other patrons, but that's the nature of having late hours. You still have to pay attention to your customers if you want to receive a good tip. And there have definitely been some WEIRD servers working there, to the point that I wonder what kind of drugs they are doing while they are conspicuously not doing their jobs. But on the other hand, I have had some good experiences on weekend nights. It's just not consistent! As a bar, it's pretty awesome. When I was there on my birthday the bartender bought my beer for me (he's the guy who does trivia there on... Thursday nights? Sweet beard, Turd Ferguson!), and I have always been able to find a beverage that suits my admittedly picky tastes. There is just so much to choose from, I feel like you can't go wrong. The beer-mosas are fantastic - the mix of their High Speed Wit with orange juice is unexpectedly tasty, even for a girly-girl like me. The atmosphere there is pretty cool I guess, probably my favorite out of all the Lowlands group establishments. I particularly like their new patio/courtyard area, particularly because of the Mannekin Pis statues (though I am not sure why they are neon...). We went there once for a beer dinner hosted by Ommegang, which fit perfectly in with their sort of quasi beer-hall vibe. Though, again, the food was only okay. There were these Belgian croques that might have been awesome if they hadn't been positively slathered in a far-too-pungent mustard sauce. I think you can find them on the regular menu. Finally, brunch... I have had two different experiences with Centraal's brunch. There's Saturday brunch, and then there's Sunday brunch. You might think you are patronizing different restaurants depending on the day. My boyfriend and I have ordered and LOVED the berry basil french toast on Saturday (with the rosemary potatoes, dear Lord that's great), with plenty of beermosas to go around. Then, on Sunday, we could order the same thing and be absolutely repulsed by it. Whereas on Saturday the French Toast is served warm, with plentiful berries and lovely dabs of mascarpone between the custardy slices, on Sunday, after waiting forever, we'll receive soggy, lukewarm French Toast with skimpy toppings and a beermosa that's exceedingly light on the beer. The same goes for service quality between these two days... I suppose that brunch is a busier time on Sunday, so to an extent I can understand the differences in service and, I suppose, food quality. But the differences are so dramatic that I have to think something weird is going on. It's like they have a completely different staff, even the kitchen staff, as the days turn over, and it's really unfortunate because Centraal is probably the closest place to our apartment for brunch, and we'd be more likely to go there if the products and service were consistent. But... the Creme Brulee, whichever flavor they have going, is always worth it. So if you really want to go out somewhere in Bay View, and want good beer and good dessert, I think this is the place for you.
(3)
Elena E.
Amazing patio and very impressive beer selection. Food menu is very odd and limited. Ordered scallops, came in a bowl without a sauce or sides. Came back a few times, looked at the menu and walked out. Place can get very loud on theme nights, escape to patio not an option in the wintertime to limit the noise. Would only come here again for drinks and patio in the summer time.
(2)
Kimberly J.
Ive waited till my 10th visit to this place to write an actual review. Centraal is part of the whole lowlands group/ trocadero/ benelux conglomerate...that said I'll dive right in. Brunch is pretty okay here. Better than Denny's not as amazing as blues egg. It's just okay. I can never ever EVER seem to get an order ever correct. EVER. I do really love the beer selection. The triple karmel is high on my list of yummy. Dinner is okay. I really enjoyed the beer cheese soup...but of course it's off the menu now. They also seem to run out of a lot of things on the menu frequently. Meh. The red devil frites and regular frites are very good. I absolutely loathe that they charge for dipping sauces.. I'd be fine with this if I wanted an extra sauce or wanted to add a few...I'm not a fan of the up charging. Seems like kind of a dick move centraal. Service. UGH. So effing hit or miss there. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's like the servers would rather be getting a root canal versus serving food. I don't really want to feel like I'm inconvienancing the staff to take my order. I do love the late hours and the djs....I keep returning in hopes the kinks will work themselves out. Here's to hoping.
(3)
Abigail P.
Love the ambience. Love the food. Love the drinks. Donuts are amazing.
(5)
Francesco R.
Had a great breakfast here on Sunday morning a week ago. Three of us ate for breakfast on our way to work on a Sunday morning. So that can put a damper on things already. But we each had something different and everyone said their meal was god. Was surprised since we were the only one's in there how slow it was. Maybe the staff was a bit foggy too at 8 AM on a Sunday but i would have hoped breakfast didn't take nearly an hour to get our orders, eat and leave. Having eaten at Hollander and Benelux i had high expectations for the food. They did not disappoint. The beermosa was again a pleasant surprise. Only 4 stars for slow service otherwise the food was great.
(4)
Bonna M.
Great mimosas, bloody Mary's and beer! We visited Cafe Centraal on our way up to watch the Buckeyes play Marquette in Milwaukee. The couple that we were traveling with had already eaten there and really liked it. We all ordered a spicy dish. I ordered the Gordo burrito which was huge and full of eggs, chorizo, rosemary potatoes, cheese, jalapeños and some other items. The potatoes inside were fantastic!! The burrito was too big to finish but was awesome. We also had a great server (I think his name was Kyle). He was very helpful and efficient. My husband who only drinks a Bloody Mary about every 3-5 years ordered one with bacon, cheese, olive, asparagus, pickle and a green bean in it. He said it was hands down the best Bloody Mary he's ever had. They have a great beer selection that is dominated by Belgium beers. Next time we visit Milwaukee we will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)
John L.
Nice bloody mary (6?) and burger selection. I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the bloody I got with pepperoni slices, but it was very good. I'll have to try the jalepeno bloody next time. I went with the jalepeno bbq burger after being informed it is likely top five in the city and I definitely enjoyed it. I finished with the brownie dessert over the flourless cake after the server's recommendation and while the ice cream was good I didn't care for the brownie itself. Good service and atmosphere.
(4)
Sarah P.
After a Saturday morning painting a church kitchen for Hunger Cleanup, my friend and I stopped at Centraal for brunch. There was a 20 minute wait and when we were seated the waitress apologized and told us the kitchen is 20 minutes behind on its orders. With that said, we ordered right away and by the time our other companion got there to meet us - our food was ready. I ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Maybe I don't understand what smoked salmon is, because it was raw, and cold. Is this how it's supposed to be? Well, either way it wasn't what I was expecting, so maybe my ignorance got me on this one. So, I really didn't enjoy my brunch but I did enjoy my company and the bustling atmosphere. Next time I'll order the french toast with mascarpone cheese. YUM.
(2)
Kit A.
Being the Bloody Mary Aficionado that I am, I had to try The Milwaukeean ($8) and was SO IMPRESSED! If I could have had more than 1 I would have, but trust me, this things are strong!! I wasn't in the mood for anything very big, so I ordered the Hand-Cut Calamari ($8.95) as my meal and I had no problem with it coming out warm at the same time as everyone elses entrees. If the weather is nice, ask for a seat on the patio so you can admire the naked and extremely hard to miss cherubim statues.
(4)
Brian H.
A very good fish fry, they use potato chips as breading which I found really good & original. Went to brunch for the first time, was pretty amazing. Got a "Fat Elvis" which was french toast with peanut butter.
(4)
Maggi K.
This is part of the entire Benelux / Trocadero / Hollander family; we generally only go to these restaurants for brunch. This one had been my relative favorite. Up till recently, I was in love with the blue corn pancakes served with chorizo and a runny egg on top. And then came the shocker: we had been talking this restaurant up as our favorite within that restaurant group, and we brought some out of town guests here...only to find out that service had really slipped and they had changed their menu - no more blue corn pancake w chorizo. Actually, a shocking lack of chorizo on the menu in general. It was around the holidays, and it was a Bloody Mary kind of morning. As we were discussing the choices with the waiter, we settled on the Milwaukee - all served with bacon. It took 1/2 an hour from the time that our bloodies were ordered till the time they arrived at our table. Our waiter didn't check back in between times. And then the bloodies came...but they didn't bring the bacon. We quickly pointed out the oversight to our waiter, who stumbled through an explanation that consisted of "Um, we're out of bar bacon. There's kitchen bacon - but we can't use that." That was met by 4 faces, all trying to process that statement...and failing dismally. Incidentally, this was during their "12 Days of Brunch"...so you would think having enough bacon would be part of that. Our favorites on the appetizer menu - the Scotch Egg (it sounds disgusting, but is actually really super yummy!) and the Breakfast Frites. On this visit, the aioli that the Scotch Egg was served with was a bit flat and unflavored - more of a squeeze of straight up mayo in my opinion. The rest of the dish (egg, breakfast sausage, salad with balsamic dressing) was quite good. And the breakfast frites: it's a sunny-side up eggs on salty fries. I don't think I need to say more; between the two, it's quite possibly the best hangover food. Our friends both ordered the quinoa skillet and were pleased with it - a healthy breakfast. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which was massive. He was happy with it, although it didn't sing the same way that the black and blue steak with balsamic used to... I ordered the chicken and waffles. It was ok, but I would have liked to see the waffle batter a little less sweet, and a little more savory as well as more acid on the plate to help balance the flavors. Service was a big miss on our last visit. Our waiter did not have a lot of tables - the restaurant was rather empty, but he didn't spend a lot of time with us and didn't seem affable or nice. More than anything, he seemed disorientated / annoyed that we were there. When our appetizers came, only some of us had silverware. He didn't bring appetizer plates. One person at our table actually walked up to the bar to ask for plates and silverware... after that, our waiter checked back a little more frequently. We've generally liked Centraal for brunch, but this visit was an Epic Fail. I'll give them one more chance, and if that doesn't work out, I'll go back to some of my favorites on the east side or Riverwest.
(3)
Jelly R.
Waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly, the cucumber basil martini was tasty and refreshing, and the atmosphere is welcoming. A nice reprieve from the hipster bars typical of Bayview.
(4)
Jim D.
My girls do Jr Roller Derby on Sunday's and this place is not too far from the super secret location for Derby practices so I typically head here for a bite or a beer. The place is nice, the servers are all super welcoming. The bartender on Sunday nights, Dan, is friendly and knows beers really well. I think I have tried all of the vegan offerings (5-6) and they are all good. The beer selection leans way towards the Belgium side, so if that is your style, you will dig on this place. They also have a good selection of bottle beers from regional microbreweries. All in all, I would recommend.
(4)
ML C.
Cafe Centraal is a go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking? Centraal. Late night food after a show? Centraal. Picky relatives from out of town whose taste buds you want to pique a bit? Want an off-the-charts beer and whatever flavor of creme brulee's on the menu? Haven't been there in a while and craving some sweet potato fries? Centraal. I have a long relationship with this restaurant, and I expect it to continue. It's one of the best places to go when I just can't think of what I want, but I want something savory and not TOO "entreeish." I never order things like meat loaf or mac 'n cheese in restaurants, so I can't speak to that, but I can always get a great sandwich and SP fries, or maybe a great salad with a couple of ingredients I love but wouldn't usually bother with at home. I won't say everything's mechanized perfection every time I go, but it's usually pretty damn good, and, like I said, it's the kind of place you just keep in your rotation, even if you have to wait too long one night or get a bee in your bonnet because you want something that's not on the menu. Basically, Centraal is a great Bayview restaurant. It's kind of young, so the people who work there are not necessarily always holding their collective breaths to see if you're happy with every aspect of your experience, but they are a welcoming lot, many of whom are trustworthy "beer docents" and do a good job of hosting while they're serving up some good food and beer.
(5)
Brian P.
I was here a recent Sunday night for dinner, and had a great meal. For starters, our server was awesome. I forget his name, but he was friendly, punctual, and not overbearing. The food was very good. I had a burger with Swiss and mushrooms, and it was top notch. I don't like my burgers to be very compact, like hockey pucks. But more softer and "fresher" feeling. If that makes sense. Well this burger was fresh, with a great bun. The fries were somewhat boring, oh well. The beer. I split a High Speed Wit, and it was the best beer I've had so far in 2012. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Bay View.
(4)
T G.
Love this place! I've always been a burger and fry restaurant kind of person, so when I tried this place I was kind of worried seeing how they're menu is kind of different/trendy. But the turkey and blackberry jam sandwich is AMAZING! I get it everytime I go. Definitely my bay view go to restaurant!
(5)
Sheridan W.
Wow. I have eaten here several times since they opened several years ago. And at various times of the day and at different points in Wisconsin's varied climate. The food was usually tepid to cold (yes, it was supposed to be warm or hot). The flavor was lacking in most of the entrees/items (the place/food was better in its first 1.5 years, I will say that). Service has only been "good" to "personable" -- and that was once, during service on a warm summer night with a younger male server (black hair, 20's) who seemed to most understand the role/job of a "server" and who actually used terms like "please" and "thank you" and "you are welcome." (A rarity, anywhere, these days.) The last two times we (friends) have been there were separated by about 2 months, perhaps less. One occasion was a late Saturday night and the other was a Sunday evening. The food was thoroughly atrocious both times. By atrocious, I mean a.) COLD FOOD (cold sandwiches, tepid fries, barely warm dinner entrees, and the worst---cold coffee) ... b.) INADEQUATE (not awful) SERVICE (rushed, hurried, "hey, guys!', can't wait to put the check down, long intervals to be greeted, longer time for server to come back and ask if customers are in need of anything).... c.) YUCK FACTOR (seeing servers mop tables with dirty rags, drop them on floor, pick them up and reuse them to continue wiping off tables) d.) WTF? FACTOR (crowded room on busy night with music pumped up so loud and bass so jacked that two people opposite one another cannot hear what the other is saying .... employees at bar talking to one another for extended periods of time when it is a fuller or full room and there are plates which need clearing and water to be poured, etc.) e.) FOOD QUALITY & PRICING (even when the food is "better than usual," the taste levels are mediocre or "off" and the prices are--for what the customer is really getting?----about 10 to 20 % high). The final time we were there one entree was sent back (my friend's meal; mine was some sort of stew-y thing and it was room temperature and the side vegetables were raw....maybe that was a choice, I don't know). The staff noted this and did remove it from the check (hooray!) and appeared genuinely concerned. And, truth to tell, I have never had truly BAD, GOD-AWFUL service there. I have had BAD, GOD-AWFUL food, however. I have also never had wonderful service there, but the best example was already cited above, in my opening paragraphs. I have gone back several times, as its location is so damn convenient to where we work and it serves later than other joints in the Bay View and co-workers seem to want to drink more than eat or converse about our various "shifts." The food and ambiance and (most times) the service have been mediocre at best. This place makes OMEGA on 27th or PIZZA SHUTTLE seem like finer dining. And it is overpriced. Unless the quality of food, environment and service were to somehow magically improve by maybe 40 to 60 %, I cannot imagine that the prices are worth it. The place fulfills the expectations of most of the neighborhood (hey, throw up a tent, some really loud and crappy music, stock the event with overpriced beer and POOF! ~ You've got a Festival or a Parade or an EVENT! I hear that this local chain's other joints are about the same (though, to be fair, I hear some are less so-so than others). I won't go back and my absence won't sink this ship, because most folks seem very content with mediocrity or less so, per food, pricing, service and "restaurant after-glow." But then, most people enjoy crappy sports teams in Milwaukee, corrupt and inept politicians, and piss-poor government. Welcome to Detroit!
(1)
Theresa H.
My friend and I came here at 9 pm on a Thursday, and there was a fair amount of people at the bar and seated throughout the restaurant. We were planning on eating, and we stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated for ten minutes before we realized that probably wasn't going to happen since no one acknowledged us. We then walked to the bar where we waited another five minutes before the bartender came over and asked if we wanted a table. Yes please? Since we were starving we still had high hopes. Our server came over spouted off the beer of the day bit, and we ordered our drinks and a soft pretzel to start. My tall captain and coke was filled about 3/4 of the way when it arrived. Then a new server came over and put down sweet potato fries. My friend and I both let her know that we didn't order them and she said "oh.." And walked off with the fries. Our pretzel finally came out, and it was somehow both burnt and cold at the same time. I could get better from the mall food court. We both ordered burgers. I ordered the cafe centraal burger which was supposed to have Swiss cheese and mushrooms. I ordered it medium. It came out way over cooked with hardly any cheese and not a single mushroom. My friend ordered the bay view burger. It came out and the bacon was practically raw. When we saw our server again I let her know that my burger was missing ingredients. She said "really?" And walked away only to return 20 minutes later with a cup of mushrooms. The service at cafe centraal is not good. And the food is lacking. Our server did take my burger off the bill, but when the bill arrived the sweet potato fries we didn't order were also on there? This place has cool decor, and a nice feel to it. They also have 28628 different kinds of beer, but it lacks pretty much everything else.
(2)
Amy W.
Excellent beer selection. We had a blast trying different varieties and learning about them. Our bartender was amazing. So knowledgeable, courteous and helpful with suggestions, each of which was spectacular. This is one of our favorite places to go and just relax with GOOD beer. If you're looking for cheap, mass produced swill, then this is not the place for you. If you're looking to try beers from all over the world, give this place a shot! If you're open minded, this is the place for you.
(5)
Spartevan V.
This place waas doooope! My companions and I enjoyed a pleasant meal in a bright red room. This was my first introduction to edamame hummus, although I have since found it at Trader Joe's in California. That said, I'm happy to see Milwaukee introducing me to a new type of healthy hummus and bucking stereotypes. Well played, Cafe Centraal. Oh, and if you're a health nut tree hugging weirdo hippie from California in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - head here and try the edamame hummus! Dee-lish!
(5)
Adam E.
Keeping it simple--Delicious meatloaf, knowledgeable staff and great vibe.
(4)
Maureen F.
Brunch. That is what I go to Cafe Centraal for. Will it be good? Yes. Will I be happy? Yes. This is why I go back. Its close proximity to my apartment yields my return customer status as well. As noted by others, Centraal, Cafe Hollander, and Benelux are all owned by the same restaurant group. They follow an identical menu pattern and have built a successful business model. In the world of restaurant ownership, go them. Way to fill a niche and be successful. Each time I have gone to Centraal the service has been great. No complaints there. Besides a short wait (it's expected with Sunday brunch) I have never had a bad experience. I love a good Bloody Mary and Centraal does a great job crafting some good ones. They support local distillers with their spirit choices as well. I like that. Recently I dined with someone who introduced me to a Scotch Egg. I was intrigued. Imagine a hard boiled egg surrounded by sausage and then dipped in aioli mayo. It was good. My companion told me that a true Scotch Egg (British Style) is soft boiled in the center. We both ate it regardless and now I know what a Scotch Egg is. Cool. Centraal is huge. It has a big bar and a great outdoor dining space during the warmer months. Seating is ample. Belgian beer flows like water. It's worth a visit.
(3)
Alyssa P.
It's only saving grace is it's extensive beer menu, with reasonable drink prices. Other than that the service was slow, we waited 30 minutes for our server to greet our table. The food was bland and unimaginative. I left hungry and unsatisfied.
(2)
Elizabeth A.
I live in Bay View and have been here many times. Unfortunately, my last few experiences have been less than stellar. Now that Tommy is no longer there, nothing really stands out at this place to bring us back.
(1)
Shannon D.
Love this place. Delicious food, great beer and drink selections. We make a point to stop here every time we're in Milwaukee. The beef brouchettes are my absolute favorite.
(4)
Jay B.
When I was in Milwaukee for work I stopped here and had a burger and a beer. The burger was cooked as I ordered it and was delicious. The bartender was friendly an helped me pick out the Great Lakes IPA, a local beer. He served it to me in a fancy glass and offered up suggestions of where to check out after I left. The food was on point and service matched. Five stars.
(5)
Ellie B.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night and it was great. Our server was excellent and the food was great. They have a good variety of things on the menu. I couldn't decide on just one thing, so I got a couple of appetizers and a salad for my meal: frites, coquettes, and the Benalux salad. I've also been a fan of the Trocadero/Hollander Frenchie bloody mary and they have that here, too. That never disappoints. They also have a gigantic beer and drink selection. I'll be back to try some other things from the menu that I couldn't get this time, due to limited space in my stomach.
(5)
B C.
Luckily I had some good company during my visit to Central, because the food was nothing too memorable and the service was off the mark. These are both issues that could be easily resolved, and the restaurant as a whole is a enjoyable place for brunch. We got the brunch curry wrap and the breakfast tacos. The tacos were generously proportioned and abundantly flavored in a spicey Mexican way. The curry wrap, though, was bland. We also got some sweet potato fries with garlic mayo sauce, which came out 20 minutes late, after we had received and finished our main course, all while our server was chatting it up with a coworker. If he had stopped by at least once during our meal, we would have told him that we were missing our fries. A serving assistant had dropped off our food, and he had said the missing fries would come out at some point soon. We didn't hear from any of the staff until 20 minutes later. The setup of the restaurant is a lot like Cafe Hollander, with lots of natural light, exposed brick, and wood panelling. The bartender working during our Saturday afternoon visit was friendly and very knowledgeable about their tap selection.
(3)
Corey W.
Had lunch at Cafe Centraal today. Very cool place. We sat outside on the patio and it was a very hip atmosphere. Waitress was very nice but did not give me the specials and or do anything over the top to explain the menu or what is good to order. I did notice that the fries were served with quite a few sauces that were noted on the menu as an appetizer but not explained even though all of the sandwiches were included with them. Decided on the BLT and A sandwich which was a good BLT with avocado and an over medium fried egg which was a nice touch. Overall very good food menu and looked like a very cool place to have drinks and beers. The menu even gave a corresponding brew to accompany the dish which is always a nice touch if you are unfamiliar with different taps.
(4)
Vicky B.
Friendly and attentive staff, comfy ambiance, well made cocktails and wonderful food. Just what I hope for on a Saturday evening.! My husband and I arrived on a VERY windy, winter Saturday night. I wasn't feeling the best with an onset of. Cold, but Cafe Centraal sure made me feel better! Hits: bartenders that smile and give you their attention and are quick. A hostess with a pleasant disposition and was welcoming. Great menu. Nice wine list (not a lot of selections, but those offered are nice). Great cocktails too! Our server was friendly, knowledgable, and made a great recommendation for my husband (pork belly). I had the pork tacos - nice bite to them! My husband really enjoyed the pork belly entree. Misses: NONE
(4)
Jennifer I.
If you like beer, this is the place for you. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable. They are godawful slow, though. It's not unusual to wait a half hour for a simple order. They forget and mix up stuff frequently. I've had four different servers and they ALL manage to do this. I'm not sure how that's possible. I guess they're hired for their friendliness, not their efficiency. Anyway, allow a lot of time if you go here. The food itself is pretty good; I can't think of any specific complaints. The frites are absolutely addictive; I can't go there without ordering some.
(3)
Danielle B.
Cafe Centraal is a really fun place to eat. I visited tonight with a large group and we had a lovely time sitting right near the outdoor patio (there was not a table large enough for our group actually on the patio). Unfortunately, our location resulted in some trouble with flies, but we had an otherwise fabulous experience. I ordered the sweet potato fries with sriracha mayo, some cheesey croquettes, and the vegetarian chili. Everything was delicious; familiar flavors but with a twist. The sweet potato fries are sprinkled with a spicy paprika which was really yummy, the cheese croquettes were served with a saffron aioli and they were were SO SO delicious - highly recommended! The vegetarian chili (which I've eaten tons of in my 15+ years as a vegetarian) was unique to Centraal. It had a sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon, or some such warm spice, which added a really yummy scent and flavor, and the cilantro sour cream topping was a refreshing accompaniment. Our group had a wonderful experience this evening, though I will say that on previous visits I have had some minor disappointments. For example, I cannot recommend the veggie burger as it falls apart and becomes far too difficult to eat. I've also had some trouble with prompt service, though tonight our server was wonderful. So for an overall rating, I have to give Centraal a 4/5, though if it's as good on future visits as it was tonight, I'll definitely be changing that to a 5/5.
(4)
Dave S.
The problem with Cafe Centraal is the lack of a true identity. Within walking distance of Cafe Centraal are phenominal bars that specialize in things like scotch, gin, beer, wine, and futbol. Cafe Centraal has all of these (okay, maybe no footy) but they don't do any of them exceptionally well. You can say the same about food, it's good; but again, there are many better (and more focused) restaurants within walking distance. I will eat here again because the food is pretty good. But don't expect it to blow you away.
(3)
T C.
I had previously rated this as 4 stars. However, the consistency of the food and service at this place over the years has made me want to elevate this to 5 stars. This is our absolute "go-to" place for company and anytime we just want to grab consistently good food fast. The place is open and airy; the wait is minimal because the place is so large, and the food is always CONSISTENTLY excellent. We've taken guests here from all over the world, and we are always assured that they have a great experience. How this place is anything but a 4 - 4 1/2 star on Yelp is a complete mystery to me. This place is awesome. Just the beer menu alone is usually very impressive. My only major complaint is the loss of the Highspeed Wit beer. What an aromatic and delicious beer. The turkey burger is amazing. The flavors are delicous. The mussels are incredibly delicious. The mushroom appetizer is awesome. Siracha mayo, chicken/turkey sandwiches. Its hard to know where to stop with what's good here. Oh! And the potato chip fried fish on Friday fish fries are really fantastic too.
(5)
Katie G.
The decor is awesome looking and the number of beers they have it great. I'm not a beer snob by any measure, but I love wheat beers and this is a place I can get a wide selection. As for the food, I don't know why I always think I'm going to get better at one of these Lowland Group Restaurants. Every one I have been to has average food. Not bad, but not great - nothing special. They always look so cool, so hip and the menus sound delicious. And I'm disappointed every time. Grrr. Go for drinks and a fun place to hang out. Don't go if you are expecting great food.
(3)
Tee G.
I only ever go to Centraal for brunch, and I had a great brunch at Centraal today. We're always seated promptly & greeted right away by a very friendly server, and today was no different. We ordered the sugar donuts for an appetizer, & they arrived to our table hot & covered with powdered & cinnamon sugar. There was a little too much sugar on them for my tastes, but it wasn't that big of a deal for me to just scrape the excess sugar off. My son was a big fan of the berry dipping sauce that comes with them. Both of my guys ordered the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess, and I ordered the spinach/basil omelette & a short stack of pancakes. The Hot Mess is definitely a hit among my male companions! Mr. S. orders it every time we've eaten here. The omelette I ordered was packed with yummy spinach, fresh basil (interesting) and feta/goat cheeses. I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese, but the eggs were cooked perfectly and the rosemary potatoes were a complete delight. I got an english muffin instead of toast, but I didn't eat it- I think someone forgot to put it in the toaster. No matter, because I still had pancakes! Huzzah! I split the short stack with my son so I only ate one, but it was delicious- it soaked up the butter & honey I slathered on it like a champ. Our server (darnit I forget her name) kept our water glasses full, & was a really fun lady. All in all, we had a tasty meal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It really doesn't get any better than that.
(4)
Shannon H.
I loved this place! I only visited once while I was in town visiting a friend but I had a great time and some really good food.
(5)
Matthew H.
I really like this place. It is very similar to Trocadero. Bloody Mary's are awesome but they will set you back about eight bucks. I try to order the specials and I always enjoy it. The beer list is on point too! Lunch doesn't start till 3:00pm though. I wish they had it earlier as 3pm seems a little late
(4)
Stefanie C.
I love love love the beer selection here. It's nearly the only place in mke where you can find all the best Belgium beers. Trivia is also worth a stop in.
(5)
Amy M.
This was going to be a 3.5 star rating, until I had the brunch at Cafe Centraal. Centraal is a fun place located in Bayview with an awesome beer menu. I don't drink beer, but if you do this is a good place to go. The first time we went we ordered a series of appetizers. The sweet potatoe frites are very delicious. As a sweet potato lover I hate when restaurants put sugar on sweet potato fries and thankfully Centraal does not. We also ordered mussels which come with bread to dip in the broth at the end. YUM! The bread in the broth is amazing. Finally we ordered a Flatbread that is no longer on the menu, good choice on their part. Back to the amazing brunch. They just redid their menu and it is fabulous. I ordered the BELT, a BLT with a fried egg. It was to die for. My husband ordered The chili rojo corn cakes which he also greatly enjoyed. Mine came with rosemary potatoes, which were delicious. My husband couldn't stop stealing them off of my plate. The Bloody Mary's are also worth ordering. They are spicy and come with great pickled vegetables. Overall Cafe Centraal's new and improved menu is well worth checking out!
(5)
Eric M.
Very average place. The beer selection is good, but there is nothing all that special about the atmosphere in this establishment. I especially didn't get the back room with chinese letters all over the wall. I ordered some of the food which was all very bland and not well thought out. Bitterballen: meatballs that had absolutely nothing special about them. Ale battered cheese croquettes: I don't know how you screw this up, but I felt like I was consuming a large amount of calories and not getting joy out of it. They didn't even taste like cheese, just a tasteless doughy dumpling. White bean chicken chili: Not bad, but definitely not great. The food at Benelux I think is a little bit better.
(3)
Priscilla C.
I came here on a dead Monday afternoon. I actually like eating in peace and quiet. The waitress who took care of us was great! She checked up on us very often but not too overly annoying often which I really appreciate. The food was great! Although I did get super full after eating a cup of soup and the calamari appetizer lol.. I took the rest of my food home and ate it later. It still tasted great and I didn't leave a single bite behind! I really thought the idea of having a choice between eating inside the restaurant or outside or in the "red room". We ate in the red room and I thought it was pretty cool. Big windows to still give that outside feel was awesome! I didn't want to eat outside because of the heat and it felt really cooled down in the red room so that was really nice. I really like this place and will be returning!
(4)
Tamar S.
This is a definite "go to" place when I am going out with former colleagues that reside in Bay View. I also go to Cafe Hollander which is equally as good but with the East Side vibe as opposed to the more "hip" vibe in Bay View. Personally I can never fail with the sweet potato fries and with the sriracha dipping sauce! Yumm! My friends have anything from the tuna entree which was perfectly prepared and she is a former caterer to burgers and fish fries! Bartenders are friendly and will take any drink request even if not on the menu! Keep it up and we'll keep coming. P.S. I love the patio!
(4)
William U.
Cafe centraal is my fave of the euro cafe chain of restaurants here in Milwaukee. If I could give a 3 1/2 I would. It is a good place in many ways. Great beer selection. Nice bartenders and they were attentive. Most of the food I have had is above a 3 on a scale of 1-5. All around good experience. On the other hand nothing seems to blow me away. I should be satisfied with steady good and variety. My vegetarian friend likes it well enough also. It is solid -if anything is a standout it is the big patio. I will certainly go back probably often. You can take a date their or your parents. Maybe that is good but in a way it seems to Unspecialized in today's niche restaurant market. So it got a 4 instead of 5. Sort of a gut thing.
(4)
Tom B.
Ive wanted to try this place for a long time now, ever since I read a review in the Bay View Compass {since July 29 2011} , The Delicious Cone of Corruption, was not! The review made you think that the french fries were fresh cut and wickedly good, they werent any better than Micky Ds fries, your basic ordinary fry. The Manager says the Fries are the Best selling item on the menu. Im sure that is right {at $4.95}, With 12 buck 1/2 pound burgers {who needs a 1/2 pound burger for lunch anyway?} A friend had the pork tacos also around 13 bucks for 3 tacos{ no beans or rice} , youd be better off at Hectors a little down the street or at Classic Slice, After reading some of the other reviews and what Ive just experienced, I wont be making it back
(2)
Jon H.
Thriving hive of hipster doofuses barely makes the grade, if at all. The chili is good, and the selection of drinks is admirable but the rest of the entire menu is wretchedly overpriced and sub par in quality. The wait staff have this attitude about them that sine they work at a restaurant deemed so high and mighty that they can treat their customers with the highest degree of frigidity. Jokes on you, my friend, you're still just, in essence, a delivery person; get over it.
(2)
Ashley N.
I heard so many good reviews and recommendations from friends that I HAD to go to Cafe Centraal because it is soooooo delicious. I went, got the meatloaf and regretted it. It will be a while before I go back here. Maybe it was an unlucky day for me, but everyone in my party (we all go a different version of the meatloaf) was paying for it later on that night.
(2)
Honest E.
I love this bar - great beer and even better FOOD! It's a chill atmosphere, kind of hipster, pretty reasonably priced stuff. It has a cool back patio as well. Parking can be a pain, but even if you get stuck parking a few blocks away - it's worth it!
(4)
Phillip M.
Great food and great beer selection!
(4)
Cory T.
Centraal let me down on a few occasions now, which is deeply disappointing since it is so close to my home here in Bay View. The atmosphere is ominous and cold--a foreshadowing of the abysmal meal to come. I know that thanks to shows like "Design Star" we're all stuck looking at restaurants that fish their furniture and fixtures from thrift store clearance sales in an effort to look "hip" and "now". Ummm, it just looks ridiculous. Mismatched chairs? How "edgy" and original! As far as the wait staff is concerned, they've proven to be completely forgetable and extraordinarily dull. Hmmmm, not so wonderful yet, Centraal. The food was by far the biggest disappointment. They have a few good items on the menu like the Cranberry Turkey Sandwich with giardinara is a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming menu. The jam-seared turkey on toast is complimented by the hot giardinara. But this is nothing that cannot be made at home. The sandwiches overall are quite good, but are not fantastic values, as everything is priced beyond what it should be. The salads are the weakest part of the Centraal line up. Interestingly, their sister restaurant Benelux, has the most novelGrilled Caesar Salad (the lettuce is actually grilled), and I'm hoping it will show up on Centraal's (hopefully) revamped menu in the near future. The salad I was most unenthused about at Centraal was some concoction with beets and squash. It sounded wonderful in theory, but the beets and squash are not warm, but rather ice cold. Okay, but they taste more like raw pumpkin. My final recommendations for Centraal: 1. Have someone to greet guests. This is apparently lacking, as evidenced by countless reviews indicating said problem. Do you read these reviews? 2. Get the wait staff uniforms, or at least crisp looking aprons. No one wants to be served by a reject that looks like they are on hiatus from living in their mother's basement after a marathon game of Dungeon's & Dragons. 3. Brighten up the interior of this place. Or, at the very least, CLEAN IT. Filth is neither hip, nor trendy. Consider a fresh coat of paint. I feel like I'm eating on the inside of a giant beer carton. 4. Purchase some real furniture. This nonsense of "Decorating on a Dime" might have cut it in the late 90's, but it's been done--TO DEATH. And you are not some struggling entrepreneurs with a start up in SOHO. You have the money, crack open your wallet and free some grounded moths. 5. Tweak your menu a bit. There are some damn good items on the menu. Figure out what people like, and edit out the dogs. 6. Get your food temps where they need to be, and be consistent. Then light a match under your servers' behinds to get the stuff to the table before Christ returns again. 7. Improve your fish fry. It's pretty good--BUT--my friend had it and there was far too much batter on the fish. Get some out-of-this-world bread to accompany this popular fav, and come up with some coleslaw that offers something different and can serve as your signature. 8. Desserts could be your forte. But they aren't. Don't miss out on this opportunity to cross promote with some of your neighbors. You have Wild Flour Bakery and Babe's Ice Cream right across the street. Perhaps you could incorporate their items as components for your dessert line up. 9. Thank your guests for coming in. Put some Vaseline on your servers' teeth if you have to find a way to force them to smile. Damn, they are a depressing bunch at this location.
(2)
Matt X.
Milwaukee's viral Lowlands Group has been opening a Belgian restaurant-bar annually, and I think they are overdue for a cease-and-desist order. Centraal is their third locale (of five so far). They were pretty late to the game, as Bay View's Kinnickinnic strip was already saturated with restaurants that were less corporate and served up better food as a cheaper price point. Like all of the Lowlands Group places, they are pretty much identical. Heavy wooden interiors. Bikes and gimmicky geegaws make it painfully clear they aim for a Flemish vibe. Dozens of expensive Dutch/Belgian beers on tap and dozens more available as bottles. Reliably decent food. Your stomach will be pleased, but with a higher cholesterol and blood pressure. Young hipster servers who are usually able to manage the crowds, though management ought to do better with staffing levels. There's nothing cheap on their menus or taps, so you can't leave without dropping $20 on lunch. A pretty clever restauranteur ploy for extracting dollars from an up-and-coming clientele, but not a choice for a conscientious diner. This spot on KK is actually one of their better cookie-cutter restaurants I've visited. The service has been relatively attentive and the kitchen knows their basics. But unlike sleepy Wauwatosa or Downer Avenue, this neighborhood is dense with great local eateries. Why I give this spot the 2-star rating is the neighborhood competition along Kinnickinnic. You can eat (and certainly drink) for much cheaper at any number of superior places on the strip: Lulu, GTO, and Honeypie to name a few.
(2)
Chad C.
Had a birthday dinner here not too long ago, and while I liked it, I was not blown away. I had the Goat Cheese Mac'n'cheese... and it didn't quite live up to other versions I have had. It's pretty bland - not enough goat cheese flavor. I also went back a second time and got the black & bleu burger... which was also mediocre. It's a nice place with good service but the food just isn't very good. I gave it two chances, and I won't be giving it a third.
(2)
Christophor R.
There's nothing finer than a place that listens to you when you order. I've gone there several times for dinner and brunch. I like my bloody mary a specific way and when I tell them that, they make it that way. Some places just slap it all together without ever catering to the customer (which takes all of 10 seconds for extra Tabasco and celery salt). The brunch menu offers a wide variety of traditional brunch fare with some unique twists on the items as well as some straight up classics. The dinner menu is big and varied as well and there's always a great beer available to pair with your food. If the menu and theme looks familiar that's because it's part of the Benelux/Trocadero/Hollander group... Things are pricey at times but for the quality and atmosphere, it's worth it.
(5)
Nick S.
Overall,pretty good. There's not much to distinguish Centraal from other Lowlands Group restaurants... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The outdoor seating and beer selection are phenomenal.
(3)
Sarah J.
I absolutely love this place! The bartender's are very knowledgeable about the many, MANY beers they have and all the staff is friendly. Their food is amazing and the atmosphere is laid back. I love the diverse crowds that gather there and always feel comfortable.
(5)
Alicia M.
I've been here twice. I remember being impressed with the food the first time around (we were there for dinner) but I also remember being a bit shocked by the price for what we got. Today we went for lunch on a Saturday. We got there at 1:45 and they were still serving their "breakfast/brunch" menu. Apparently they serve it until 3pm. It's mostly breakfast fare but they have a few burgers too. I would say the service was the biggest disappointment. Took our server awhile to first approach us (no water was brought while we waited). There was one point where he walked past and told us he would be with us in a few minutes so at least we got a heads up. However, the restaurant was NOT busy (at all) this time of day so there is no excuse for poor service in my opinion. Once he took our order we literally did not see our server again the rest of the time that we dined (he stopped by once we were pretty much done and asked if everything was ok but by then it was sorta pointless). A different person brought us our food. Our waters were not refilled other than the one time I asked specifically for more water (and then they only filled it half way). When the girl brought us our food I had a few different requests for her (because there was no sign of our waiter) and she seemed kinda put-out that I expected her to do something other than drop off the food. The thing I found so funny about our service experience is that everyone was walking around with these headphones in their ears. So there is the appearance of having it together but at the end of the day the service simply wasn't there. Get rid of the headphones and just train your people in being attentive and helpful. The food was also disappointing. My mom had a 12 dollar burger (which I think they even charged extra for some basic ingredients). She said the beef was good but a 12 dollar burger should knock it out of the park in my opinion. I had a salad. There was only one salad option on the menu for this time of day. It was greens, tomato, onion, blue cheese and candied walnuts. It was the size of a generous side salad. It was 9 dollars! WTF?!? My husband had a biscuits and gravy thing. He said it was good but I tasted the sauce and it was pretty flavorless in my opinion. If you want good food for a good price walk across the street to LuLu's instead. I just feel like if you are going to have "high end" prices then you should have pretty impressive food and at least decent service. For what they charge I don't think I'll be returning here. On the plus side: It's an environment that was kid-friendly (at least during the lunch hour) and the kid's menu was quite nice.
(2)
Bobby G.
(ZERO POINT 5 STARS- 0.5) People must be stupid... i've been here multiple time, and it's bad. Staff doesn't seem to care about anything but making money n drinking beer. I had my WORST restaurant experience here ever! Service was cocky, host rude and rushing.... manager fumbled over 5 mistakes and could not recover. I will strongly NOT recommend this place, unless u want to drink beer. Ehhhh really that's all they offer. ohh did I mention, one of my courses my table could not even eat, bc it was cuddled and discussing!! two they didnt enjoy. and one was just messed up. Good job on not messing up the bottled root beer. I've read pissed off reviews, but this is legit. I had bad mouthing but I this is the Truth. sorry for being harsh, but real.
(1)
Stacey R.
Went for a late dinner Saturday. Centraal always hits the spot. Luckily Kari was our server. She had has a quick wit and the BEST beer recommendations. Get the Rodenbach Classic if you like Belgium sours it's delish!
(5)
Jaclyn A.
Good beer and great food! Try the High Speed Witt and sweet potato fries.
(4)
Chris G.
Whether it's for the atmosphere or great food, I would highly recommend Cafe Centraal to anyone looking for an excellent Saturday morning brunch experience. For a total of about $19 per person, this restaurant is well worth the price. If this how Cafe Centraal treats their guests to an amazing Saturday brunch, expect me back in the summer for a Sunday brunch on their patio! **Ask for the Steak and Eggs Benedict for brunch. Even though it's not on the menu, they will still make it for you. It's one of my favorite brunch items in all of Milwaukee!** Read the full review on MilwaukeeBrunchReviews.c… - milwaukeebrunchreviews.c…
(5)
Gary H.
I like the food here a lot. When I want meat loaf, turkey burgers, fries, this is my spot. I will keep going back. Why not 5 stars? Well, the crowds are hard to manage at peak times. (I now prefer lunch on weekdays, or early Sunday brunch). The service is friendly and hip, just not too prompt of skilled. A regular screw up is ordering a beverage and not getting it, or waiting a long time for it. It seems to me that the kitchen is much better managed than the floor.
(4)
Vladimir K.
I've given this place a couple tries and then decided no more. It's just way too expensive for what it is. All the entrees seem to be around $13, and you can get food just as good at Lulu or sandwiches just as good at Sven's for at least $4 less. For a BLT at $10, I was expecting some nice thick-cut peppered smoked bacon or something awesome, but it just seemed like regular Oscar Myer generic bacon or something. What a ripoff, this sandwich should have beel like $6. Beer here is overpriced, even considering the beers being served, and every single time I've gotten a tap beer it has been a the most skimpy pour I've ever seen (and I have been to many Belgian beer bars, I know some headspace is reserved for foam but geez). I was shocked to find that a DuPont that with the glass only 60% full was like $7.50. I ordered another one thinking it was a fluke but it was just as skimpy. Service was okay. They pour better Belgians at Palm Tavern and they do better food at Lulu, and both are considerably cheaper. This place is overpriced.
(2)
Kirk E.
We've been to Cafe Centraal 3 times since moving to Milwaukee. My wife and I have each ordered something different each time, and every time it has been awesome. Took my picky father-in-law there for brunch, and he absolutely loved it. So good! Also, amazing beer selection and knowledgable beer staff. The Milwaukee Bloody Mary was one of the best bloodies I've ever had. Highly recommend everything at Cafe Centraal.
(5)
Jen M.
I like Cafe Centraal for its beer list, cheese croquettes appetizer, proximity to the south shore part of the oak leaf trail, and constant availability of your choice of seating and friendly service. I've been there four times in 2011, twice for post-bike ride drinks and appetizer and twice for supper. Each visit was great. But I'm a beer connoisseur, which I believe is the best reason to choose Cafe Centraal, Belgian beers are my favorite and I haven't seen a more impressive selection anywhere else in town. The food choices other than the fabulous cheese croquettes with saffron aoli sauce are fine but don't particularly strike me as outstanding. I've really liked all of the staff that have served us - they have been relaxed and friendly and very informative without being intrusive. Each server we've had has really known their drinks and the beer available. They are willing to make recommendations and share their favorites. You get the feeling they are proud of the place and the beer selection, which I think is a very good sign. The beer..OH THE BEER...Try the Maredsous double (not available the last time we were there) or the triple, or my favorite: The Unibrau Ephemere. It is brewed with apples. On Sunday 9/20 I had their monthly special: The Kwak. It is unbelievably smooth...slides down your throat like caramelly liquid velvet. If I have foodie friends to entertain I wouldn't think of taking them to Cafe Centraal but it was very fun to take beer-fan friends from San Francisco there on Sunday night. They have samplers available and are amiable about switching them out. We had a GREAT time. My husband rated their meatloaf 2nd best in the city, behind Comet Cafe's. I loved their nightly dinner special: Tequila Chicken. Yes, I could taste the tequila. It added zesty cohesion to a sauce with a delightful mix of different kinds of peppers and tomato. And, my biking buddy and I have been treated like honored guests, even when we arrived mussed up and sweaty in our biking gear.
(4)
Myra P.
Big fan. Food, beer, staff, patio--on point.
(4)
Jen B.
Centraal has the biggest beer list I have ever seen. When we asked to see it, the server dropped off an encyclopedia-sized binder on the table and I was immediately overwhelmed. Luckily, she was awesome and offered recommendations based on our preferences. Or rather, she did this for the serious beer drinkers in my group. I went with the Piraat based solely on the name. It was delicious and, unlike most beers, I could actually taste the flavors that were described on the menu. The food was off the hook. My party of three shared the five spice tofu, black bean burger and veggie sandwich. I love the tofu and the sweet potato fries that came with the burger. But by far the best thing there is the curry ketchup. I could put that on anything. Hell, I could drink it straight. It's that good.
(4)
Brittany C.
I couldn't help but give it 5 stars. The place was amazing.. food, atmosphere, everything. I ordered the black bean veggie burger (bc I'm obviously watching my figure) and it was hands down THEE best veggie burger I've ever had. Granted, I haven't had THAT many veggie burgers but I'll still rank this one in the top 3 I'll ever have in my life :) We were with a group of 19 people, who all loved their dishes. It was a fun and lively atmosphere, one I'd love to have a few drinks in :) which will have to wait until next time!
(5)
Sarah T.
Somehow - I don't know how - I was suckered into going to Centraal just one more time. My boyfriend ordered the steak. He wanted it medium-rare, but what did he get? A well-done steak. A twenty-dollar well-done steak. When we notified our waitress, she said, "Really? Let me see," as if we were lying. Awesome. We were then told that the manager would be out to speak with us. "So your steak wasn't cooked how you want it? All right, we've got another one cooking for you." Twenty to twenty-five minutes later, the second steak arrived at the table. My boyfriend cut into it to find that it was just shy of being well-done. The manager then stopped by to check on us, but not in a way that was particularly warm or friendly. "Steak's okay now? Good." He then scurried away from our table, offering us nothing in apology for the overcooked steak. And yes, we still had to pay for it. Sure, we could've complained that the steak STILL wasn't done... but we didn't. We didn't want to have to deal with the manager's crappy, high-and-mighty attitude (how dare we complain about anything in such a *highly* respected establishment). I just wanted to get the hell outta there. Oh, and their fish tacos suck. Go to Cafe Lulu for their fish taco special to be delighted by something much tastier and much more reasonably priced.
The title of this review is "Reviewing Cafe Centraal: An Exercise in Describing Mediocrity" Another Diablos Rojos joint. If you've been to one Diablos place, you've been to them all. They all have their unique qualities, and none of them are outright bad. They do good bar food. They serve okay drinks. They have good atmospheres for hanging out. But, there just isn't anything there to rave about. I am not a picky eater. I will put anything in my mouth that you give to me. I will eat here again, and I will enjoy it, because it's really hard to screw up a burger. The food is good, but it won't blow you away. Servers are always very nice. These are probably some of the hardest working people in the Milwaukee service industry, because these places are meant to draw large crowds and serve many at once. I'm gonna give massive props to Centraal for being open for the blizzard of the decade. Our server was upfront that only two of the staff were able to make it in, but they opened anyway. That's die-hard Wisconsin for you!
(3)
B B.
First time visit to Cafe Centraal. Brunch was on my mind and I wanted a refreshing cocktail on a hot Saturday afternoon. The place wasn't crowded but it wasn't dead either. Families, couples and what looked to be a great mixture of all walks of life were enjoying the open, sunny atmosphere. We were served water right away which is a nice touch on a hot day in the city. I had a specialty cocktail called a Red Snapper. It wasn't too sweet or boozy...it was made quite well. My husband had the Nuts and Berries from the cocktail menu. Creamy, smooth and the raspberry garnish was a great touch. Every person that was working behind the bar was conversational and genuinely concerned if we needed anything and if we were enjoying our visit. The host was friendly and super cute. The brunch menu is full of choices but my decision was easy. I chose the Red Eye. Black pepper basil biscuits with poached eggs and chorizo gravy served with rosemary potatoes. The eggs were cooked properly and the ample portion size left me with extra to have as a snack later. This dish is full of spice but not overbearing. My husband had the Hot Mess with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage over rosemary potatoes topped with Belgian beer cheese sauce and fresh basil. Another ample portion for a hungry bruncher. He gave it 3.5 stars only because the eggs were slightly overcooked. He ate it all so it had to be good. Our bill was $39 for two tasty drinks and two hearty meals. We'll be back soon and Cafe Centraal is now going to be a must visit place when I'm in MKE.
(5)
Becky S.
Love all their beer choices. A great place to hang out with friends, drink, and try new beers. Love that they have Lambics (Framboise and Peche are the best).
(4)
Chris M.
I've been a fan of the Lowlands restaurant group since they opened their first restaurant. Each have unique and amazing locations. I've been to this location on a few occasions. Here are a few highlights: - Gluten-free MENU! That's right, a separate menu to make it easy for us GF freaks. - Their courtyard is awesome. Very private, you don't feel like you're just sitting along a road waiting for a car to come up over the curb and take you out. - Pork chops, red pepper coulis and polenta dish is the bomb!! - You like a good bloody mary? How about one with Nueske's bacon? Yep. The last time I was there was with a large group (~ 20 people). We all arrived at different times, some stood, some sat, some drank, some ate, we all moved around constantly. However, the server nailed kept each of our bills separated perfectly and always found me to deliver me my gluten-free beer. That's right, gluten-free BEER!
(5)
Brandy H.
One of the best beer selections in town Food is to die for. Favorites include the hummus and damage dip appetizer, rosemary goat cheese & mac, and meatloaf. Fish fry is amazing as well. CAN'T GO WRONG HERE!!!!
(5)
Casey C.
Went here for brunch. The Milwaukeean bloody mary was the best bloody I have ever had. The horseradish adds a spicy kick that is different from Tabasco. And it had bacon and cheese in it. Does it get any better than that. I usually don't like brunch because I don't want a huge meal that is really sweet like French Toast. But here, in addition to the sweets, they had options like the Chili Rojo Corn Cakes. Not ashamed to say I ate the whole colossal portion myself. Yum. And the Basil Berry Bliss is a great French Toast option. Excellent beer selection.
(4)
Robert M.
You could do a lot worse than Cafe Centraal, but you could do a lot better as well. I find all of the Lowlands Group Restaurants (Trocadero, Centraal, Hollander, Benelux, etc) to be remarkably similar. While at one time each of these restaurants represented a unique feel representative of their inspiration (France, Belgium, etc) they now all look, feel, taste act and smell virtually identical. Sort of depressing. The recipe: a very large selection of (mainly Belgian) beer, straight-forward food that is heavy on meats, potatoes and cheeses, decor and presentation that feels a little chain-ish. There's no question this is how you build a brand, but it all feels a little forced. I imagine I will inevitably be at Cafe Centraal again, but it will be at someone else's behest. Pros * Great for families and groups, particularly if you want to appease a lot of tastes * Outstanding beer selection Cons * Everything tastes, looks, feels the same * Service is lackluster at best
(2)
Loesje T.
Our yearly visit to Milwaukee always includes Cate Centraal. The outside patio was in full swing on a sunny Sunday morning. Brunch was outstanding as was the Bloody Mary special. It is so special that the NYT gave it a write up! Centraal keeps getting better and better. A welcome addition to Bay View. Heard that Alterra is building across the street. That and other local spots make this a new happening area. We'll be back!
(5)
Diane M.
The food here was delicious. Especially the belgian donuts. The server was very knowledgeable about the beer, and very sincere. Their beer selection was quite extensive, and the manager Bob was very polite and helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good meal, or a good beer!
(5)
Kip G.
After two wonderful experiences at Trocadero, I decided to give one of their sister restaurants a try today. The service definitely wasn't up to the same level received at Trocadero, but our waitress was training someone, so I completely understand. I decided to give the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy a shot and was pleased with the decision. Was completely in love with the chorizo gravy, but still not sure what to make of the addition of poached eggs to the mix. I'm just not that big of a fan of eggs, I guess. Good stuff though. Side of smoked bacon added a little extra love to the experience and gave me a little something to dip into those yolks. I'm not writing off Centraal, but I definitely think I'll try its other sister (Cafe Hollander) before returning for another meal. Wonderful location though...I love Bayview and can already tell that outside seating during Summer for brunch would be a wonderful experience.
(3)
Denise H.
The Bloody Marys are really good. That was the only good thing about my visit. My group waited over a hour to get a table and then over an hour to get our food order. We were pretty hungry by the time we got our food. I didn't think that the GF Salmon Benedict was worth the $13.99 that I paid for. It was quite a small portion size.
(3)
Becky T.
We live 6 blocks from Centraal, & we eat there quite regularly. The food is always very good & the service is too. I don't think I've ever been disappointed @ Centraal. This goes for the Wauwatosa location as well as the downer avenue location. I also have to give them props for being so fun! the sponsor the Santa Rampage ride and other cycling events and that's just awesome for community, fitness, and good times.(Trocadero on the other hand, has been ultra slow & insanely forgetful on a number of occasions...) But other than Trocadero, I'm very happy w/ Lowlands group, and Cafe Centraal in particular.
(4)
Katie S.
Awesome beer menu. Great indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Great location. (Being in walking distance from my house gives it an extra thumbs up.) Food is always decent, but it's a "sort-of" chain, and a little on the pricey side. I usually find myself at Cafe Centraal more for beers or trivia than for the food. It's a decent spot for sure.
(4)
Andrew A.
I have been to Cafe Centraal a few times but this is my first review. Service is inconsistent but this last time, it was good. No doubt about it has some of the best beer selection in Milwaukee...PBR tall boys to the best Belgian beer. The fish fry is pretty good and has an AYCE option. Last time I had it was $11.95 for regular fish fry and $13.95 for AYCE. It has panko breading, regular fries (not the best), and cole slaw (okay). I have also had the Bayview BELT for $9.95. This is a GOOD sandwich - applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce, 2 fried eggs, and roasted garlic aioli on toasted french bread. The hamburgers are okay. If you are looking for a burger, I'd try Solly's, Sobleman's, Oscar's Pub and Grill, or AJ Bombers. This last time I had the rib-eye and frites for $19.95. It was okay at best but a steak for $19.95 I can't really complain too much. Fries were much better this time around - fresh cut. My wife had the Benelux salad with chicken and enjoyed it.
(3)
Jamie S.
I have many things to talk about here: I live in the area, and so this is one of my options, and regardless of how indifferent i feel towards CC,and at times, I never can quite convince people we should go somewhere else. One time i went in and they made me sit at the bar to get the happy hour price on the fries, even though there were 5 other patrons in the whole place. They could have been nice, and adjusted the price and let me and my friend sit where we were and not move all our stuff up to the bar. Tacky. Employees are ALWAYS seeming to be holding meetings during restaurant hours at the back of the restaurant. Its akward. Period. The food could be better. You go there and eat something, you will know what I am talking about. The beer is great though..the one bright spot. The staff is pretentious at times. Not all of them. But good God, some of them have snotty 'tudes. You never know if you should wait to be seated, because NOONES ever waiting at the podium when its slower. Today i went in for brunch and it took 30 minutes to come to the table, when i asked the waitress where the food was, she said the restaurant is busy and the patio is packed. Soooo..what you are saying is we have to suffer because the patio is busy? I said this to her, and her reply was: the whole restaurant suffers. Bitch! Just snotty, like I mentioned. The gaspacho is good, but I am sure i could make better. You cant really mess up cold veggie soup. Just go to LULU or my house for dinner instead.
(2)
H C.
What is with all of the Lowlands Group restaurants and their crummy service? Went in on Sunday before a birthday party. Place was pretty empty so we sat at a high top table near the entrance to watch the Packer game. Not sure what the deal was with our server, but she was just kind of flighty. She took our food order before even offering us drinks. Food came out pretty fast, but it seemed like it took forever every time one of us ordered another drink. Once she forgot we ordered another drink and a few times after that she had to come back and ask us what we ordered. Then she would randomly take empty plates and glasses, but leave other ones on the table. Food isn't bad and the atmosphere is pretty nice, but the service is just plain crummy. And, going to their other restaurants I can say the service is pretty crummy there too. Thinking they need to pay their servers a bit more, and hire some quality folks. Because I am certainly not going out of my way to frequent their establishment.
(2)
Maria S.
Cafe Centraal is the type of place you want to bring your out of town guests when you have a mixed crowd. The menu lends to both the picky eater and the foodie. I believe they have the best mussels in town (get the traditional sauce). They also have fantastic bloody marys. Their brunch and dinner are both reliable, you know you will get good food. I wouldn't say that it's amazing or innovative, but it is absolutely a solid choice. Also the space is pretty big, I have never had to wait longer than 15 minutes. Finally their outdoor seating is cozy and off the street. I love that they have multi-colored string lights hanging.
(4)
Don W.
Cafe Centraal has a tremendous beer selection. Try their sampler so you can try four tasting samples of beers for $12 and figure out what you like best. The food was very good. My wife had the beer-battered fish fry (three pieces of fish, choice of fries and cole slaw). I had an Italian sausage plate (2 sausages) on top of red-skin mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Parking is a bit cumbersome to locate.
(4)
Megan S.
I'm lucky enough to live within blocks of this fabulous eatery -- part of Milwaukee's Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group (Madisonians, think Food Fight) and an all-around great place for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks. I love the breakfast burrito (it's absolutely massive, so only attempt it when you're half-starved) and I try the daily special whenever it's vegetarian (and haven't been let down yet!). Definitely a place to indulge a bit. The service is somewhat hit-or-miss, but it's never actually bad -- just lackluster at times. The space, on the other hand, is fantastic, along with the Euro-style decor. As for parking, there's a lot across the street and plenty of metered spots along KK; the 15 also stops right at Centraal's doorstep. Overall, it's conveniently located, you won't wait long to be seated, and you'll likely enjoy both the aesthetics and the grub.
(4)
Jennifer C.
PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!! (See last paragraph) This place has potential, it really does. The location is great, the ambiance is wonderful and they really should be doing much better business than they are. I used to wonder why they aren't busier. I no longer wonder. The first time we went for a fish fry there, it's was awesome. The second and third times, it was average. The food here is not consistent. I've been here on many occasions for different entrees and sometimes I'm really impressed and other times I wish I hadn't bothered. The service has much to be desired. Once we went in and stood at the front for almost 10 min. They weren't even half full, it was after 10PM and servers as well as bartenders saw us and no one said a thing. I finally called and spoke to the manager and asked him if he could come to the front to seat us. He was accommodating and apologized. The food service is pretty slow as well although the servers are knowledgeable of the menu and food. We went there one night just for cocktails. We were the only ones sitting at the bar. The bartender was one of the worst I've ever experienced. He refused to talk to us other than take our order and ignored us unless our glasses were empty. When I asked about the absinthe he didn't explain much about it (didn't even tell us it tastes like black licorice which I'm not a fan of). When I asked what other "fun" drinks they had, he just looked at me and said, condescendingly, "oh is it going to be that kind of a night?" WTF? Dude, if you hate your job that much, just quit. Lastly, don't park in the metered parking lot across the street. Went there on Monday for lunch with a friend and his driver's side window was busted open and everything in his car was stolen (laptop, gps, ipod, etc.) in broad daylight!! PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!!
(3)
Tony K.
A great place to play Jenga with friends while drinking one, or two, or three belgium beers.
This is by far my most favorite place to go for drinks or food in Milwaukee. Any time of day this place is fantastic! I literally have dreams about the Bloody Mary "The Frenchie" because it is too good for words. Every Sunday I seem to find myself back there for more. Nothing is a better hangover cure than The Frenchie and Eggs Benedict. It is perfect because there are a lot of vegetarian options as well. The location is cool, the food is great and I find myself there more times than I can count.
(5)
Nick M.
I love interesting beers and they definitely have some here. Lots of exotics with good menu descriptions. But the prices are shocking if you walk in thinking it's a standard bar with customary bar prices. A few pre-dinner drinks here cost me more than I spent on a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant later in the night. I give it 3 stars because for some people the prices are worth the experience. For my tastes, I'll grab a few pints of Guinness across the street and walk out $20 heavier. I'm happy to have visited once but this is not a place I'll visit regularly unless the boss is buying.
(3)
Lauren M.
After reading some of the reviews on here I thought the service would be pretty terrible. However, the waitress that my boyfriend and I had was wonderful! She was very attentive and since it was both my boyfriend and I's first time there it was nice to have someone to ask for suggestions on food and drinks. I ended up getting the Grilled Portabello Sandwich. Oh my god, it was wonderful! I got a side of Sweet Potatoes Fries which my boyfriend stole a ton of...they were amazing. He ordered the Portabello Pasta which he was not the biggest fan of. Now on to the drinks....the beer menu is around 15 pages long. I ended up ordering the High Speed Wit for my first beer and it was so so good! I think it is my new favorite. It reminded me of a much more delicious Blue Moon. My second beer was called Leffe Blonde and was also delicious. A little sweet, but not too sweet. We dined in a red room towards the back. It was pretty quiet and we were able to enjoy our dinner and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. Can't wait to go back and try some new beers and food!
(4)
April B.
We went there for brunch, and I ordered the MIlwaukean Bloody Mary... it was good! Had bacon, olives, cheese, pickle, asparagus and a green bean. Oh, and a lime and a lemon. It was like a salad bar on top of my drink. The hubs got the beermosa and was dissapointed. Food was ok... I got the corn cakes, and they were so spicy that paired with my drink, my mouth was on fire. And I like spicy things. Hubs got the hot mess, and it was ok. Coolest part was the server and the atmosphere.
(3)
Kristy L.
I recently moved from Chicago and appreciate the non-fattening, non-cheesy, vegetarian, fresh sort of cuisine. And Cafe Centraal absolutely has it! I mean,yea, the sweet potato fries are probably a little fattening (:P) but the food is just good, fresh, and very healthy/vegetarian friendly (plus they have raspberry beer on tap!!!!). The only thing I would advise against is their tofu dish.....it is basically a whole plate of tofu with a good yet overwhelming sauce, a little bit of veggies, and rice which is drenched in the overwhelming sauce. Felt a little sick after that on! But yea, go here! Its a good vibe and good food!
(4)
Denise D.
I had the portabella rustica sandwich today and I can't wait to go back to get it again.
One of my favorites. For me, the highlight is the Belgian beer list. Always rotating great new beers in and out, and always with favorites (GULDEN DRAAK!!) sticking around. I have eaten here several times and the food is quite good and I think their fish fry is underrated.
(4)
Krystle K.
Way to expensive for Horrible food and bad service. Was 2pm on a saturday and we could not get a normal lunch, instead we had to order brunch. I order steak and eggs, did not get an option how I wanted my steak or eggs done. Steak came with a HUGE glob of season butter on top of it, cold potatoes, and rare steak. Will never be back, do not waste your time, money, or taste buds on Cafe Centraal.
Been here several times with groups as well as with my girlfried.. It's always very good quality food. The bloody mary's are the best in the city if you ask me, and service is slow but always friendly and apologetic (for delays). I've never had a bad meal or server here, and if you don't mind the slow service, this is a great Bay View restaurant and bar.
(4)
Dee W.
This ultra hip over priced Applebees never fails to disappoint. Being a Bay View resident I've given this place more then enough chances, yet they some how always leave a foul taste. Crappy service to par food(at best) this place seems to find a way to wreck a meal. This restaraunt is the exact opposite of ever other charming spot in Bay View. My advice if your coming down to visit, cross the street and head to Cafe Lulu. Are you Looking for just a great selection of beer Sugar Maple is a few doors down and is so so so much better, Try Tonic, Honeypie or even the diner. Just avoid this place. It's been well over a year and they still haven't gotten thier act together.
(2)
Keith R.
I have yet to have a bad experience here. I go about once a month, either for a Friday beer or brunch on Sunday. I think this group (Centraal, Benelux, Trocadero, and Hollander) is doing the best job in Milwaukee right now. Food, beverage, and service has always been good. Keep it up!
(5)
Ryan S.
I have been in love with Cafe Centraal for the past 2 years. They have an awesome and extensive beer list and great food. I have never had a bad experience here and I have been to Centraal more times than I can count or remember. The servers are always friendly and provide great service. Cafe Centraal has great atmosphere and it's right in the center of Bayview's main street. I have eaten here for lunch, brunch, and dinner and enjoy it every time! I highly recommend coming here. They even have a beer club you can join which takes place weekly (I always intend to attend the weekly meeting but I still haven't) which is pretty cool.
(5)
Caitlin M.
We have only been to Centraal for breakfast, and while it was busy, I now understand why. The breakfasts are great, and just for kicks we tried the fresh-made donuts...oh my god! They were AWESOME! I don't know anything about their other meal offerings, but the beer list is extensive and seems very promising. I think the next time I go back I will also try their mimosas or bloody marys. They have many different varieties of both to choose from. Definitely highly recommend.
(4)
Erin K.
Recently moved to Milwaukee and looking for good brunch/breakfast places. Found Centraal on Yelp. Have to say, I was disappointed. We each started off with Bloodys - I had the Frenchie and my husband had the Traditional. I personally thought the prices were a bit high - $8/each. My Frenchie was made with Dijon and was okay, but definitely lacking in the whole tomato flavor. Erich's Traditional was good. They each came with a wedge of lemon and lime as well as pickle spear, asparagus, and bean. Decent condiments. For our meal I had the three egg omelet with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. It was okay, but nothing special. There was a side of toast, which tasted more like it was fried in a pan. Very crunchy. It also came with a side of roasted rosemary potatoes which I substituted for bacon. The server told me it would be a dollar for the change, but later came back and said the price would be the same. Overall, my meal was meh. Didn't love it and didn't hate it. Erich had the Fat Elvis. It was a french toast sandwich with peanut butter and bananas stuffed in the middle. It was supposed to come drizzled with chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon. It didn't have either of those things. We asked the server about it and he quickly brought out a little bit of chocolate sauce and ONE piece of bacon. While his was tasty, the lack of the chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon was disappointing. I would probably go back one more time, but if it didn't sell me then, I'm over it.
(2)
Chris G.
Really, really enjoyed Cafe Centraal. Excellent food selection, upscale but not haute taute, and very reasonably priced. The restaurant, too, was trendy but still welcoming and true to its Bay View setting. Beer selection was absolutely top notch. And I would disagree that it's not necessarily a place for kids. They have a kids menu with all the standard kids menu fare, and my 11 year old enjoyed it as much as the rest of us. Looking forward to going back.
(5)
Jon A.
This place has a very nice outdoor seating area, but that's really the only stand-out. Otherwise, Centraal is yet another 'European' style, craft-beer-oriented establishment, the likes of which are now littering the Bay View neighborhood. As usual, there are many beers to choose from, with a focus on the Belgian varieties that are popular in the states (not that any of the late-night patrons drink that stuff. You'll see a lot of Pabst or mixed drinks being consumed). I can't speak to the food, so maybe that's what I'm missing out on. Still, if you've been to Hollander, Trucadero, or Cafe Lulu you're not really going to find anything vastly different here.
(3)
Taylor R.
I live in Bay View. When I heard that the people who run Cafe Hollander were opening a restaurant a block from where I live, I was excited to say the least. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to standard of the very good Hollander. The ambiance is very pleasant; it's a spacious, converted Cream City Brick building with nice outdoor areas both on the sidewalk and in the back. The selection of Belgian beers is excellent, as would be expected. The decline, though begins with the spotty (at best) service, and only gets worse with the food. Centraal has many dishes similar to those at Hollander, but the quality is inferior. If you're looking for a decent place in central Bay View sit outside and have a Belgian beer, Centraal works nicely. If you're intent on Centraal's food, though, drive a few miles North and try Cafe Hollander.
(2)
Mariah M.
I am writing about 2 experiences: The first time we ordered mussels and a burger. They were amazing! The second time we went was two days later because we loved the food so much. Ugh, not this second time. It was early 11am and we stood in front to be seated for over 10 min until we sat ourselves (even though it says "please wait to be seated") Service is awful! And the mussels we got the second time around were gritty and raw. I told the manager and he would only cut off half my bill, even though i only at one mussel. Parking is a pain. Park on the street because the lot is a habitat for homeless people who like to steal from cars. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
(2)
Katy G.
Second visit wasn't as nice--bummer! The $11.00 burger was just not very good. It was dry, tough, and extra-well-done instead of medium. Having that price for a burger and fries, you'd expect something pretty wonderful, am I right? My husband did enjoy his meal, so it's not like we'll never ever be back, but with so many nearby alternatives, it might be quite some time.
(2)
Anne B.
My likes: the Mrs Hollander for brunch, eating on the patio (they've extended the season with large outdoor heaters for chilly nights), the huge beer menu with alcohol content listings, the tasty bloody/virgin marys (the Southsider is tops), the way each chair at the bar is a different style, the super-friendly waitstaff, their scrumptious homemade soups, and delicious Alterra coffee... My dislikes but possibly a plus for you: the Friday crowd is a lot of suits -- looks like a popular place for the after-work cocktail.
(4)
Natasha M.
good food and great service.
(4)
Zsa Zsa X.
I really wanted to like this place. I really did. I live right across the street and was hoping this could become my "regular spot." My first (and only) trip to Centraal was for their fish fry. As soon as we walked in the door, we immediately felt we were "not welcome." Centraal is staffed by people who think they are cooler/trendier/more interesting than you, and apparently, if you're not wearing 3+ layers of mismatched clothing, or interesting accessories like thick plastic glasses or ironic hair, you're not worthy of being there. We were seated and a waitress came over who said "I guess I'll be serving you tonight." Awesome, thanks for the enthusiasm. Makes me feel great to know you're so against bringing us food and drink for a sizable tip. We ordered our food and then I perused their drink list. Really great selection, but slightly overpriced. Then our waitress came with our food and this is where the night got a little ugly. As for the food itself, the fish fry was... Well... Pretty nasty. It was soggy. Way too much breading and hardly any fish. I rarely criticize restaurants so harshly but their food was way too overpriced for such a disgusting plate of slop. The breading was so heavy and soggy it was actually falling off the fish, and there was a weird layer of goop between the fish and the breading. My date really enjoyed it at the time, but, suspiciously, he hasn't suggested going back even though I live right across the street. Now, with my meal, I requested a side of remoulade sauce. I believe their menu actually calls it cajun remoulade, so I was expecting the pinkish sauce I got used to down in Louisiana. When my food came, I had my standard cup of tartar sauce (which came with the meal) but no extra side of remoulade. I asked her about it and she said "oh, our tartar sauce *is* our remoulade!" I'm pretty sure she knew she made this simple mistake, but instead of offering to grab the remoulade or bring another sauce, she actually debated the issue with me for about two or three minutes. (I felt like a jerk but I had to get to the bottom of this.) I eventually told her to just forget it. (Note: If, indeed, Centraal does use one tartar/remoulade sauce hybrid, she could have told me that when I was ordering my food. Wait Staff Knowledge 101. Additionally, if the two sauces are one and the same, why were we charged for the extra side of remoulade? Stupid heffa...) After we finished eating, we waited about fifteen or twenty minutes before we actually had to flag our waitress down to get the bill. This whole time we were there (maybe 45 to 60 minutes) she never asked if we were happy with the food or if we needed more to drink. She had no issue paying attention to other tables who were not half as patient or forgiving as we were. I would not recommend this place, despite how badly I wanted to enjoy myself, I just hated it and will not be going back any time soon. Sorry, Centraal, I will continue to drive 15 minutes to my favorite corner bar for their fish fry... Half the price of yours and five times as delicious.
(1)
Alice G.
I went for brunch on a Sunday morning/afternoon. The 15-20 minute wait was expected, but the delicious fried-to-order donuts with dipping sauce were a surprise. OUSTANDING. Perfectly sweetened. I enjoyed my side order of 1 biscuit-n-gravy to go with a standard eggs n bacon n toast plate. Good strong coffee and orange juice. Service was good and the place looked clean. Maybe it's because I am used to Chicago sales tax, but I thought the price was good for what I got.
(4)
Red S.
The short version: Poor service, inattentive bartenders, one very rude and unfriendly manager, and very average food that does not justify it's inflated price. The great beer selection was not enough to make me want to return to this blight on Bayview. Disappointment explained: Upon hearing that a new restaurant and bar was opening up on the corner of KK & Lincoln I was excited at the prospect of having another great establishment with unique flavor opening in Bayview. What Bayview got instead is an uninspired copy of Downer St.'s Cafe Hollander. With the opportunity to create something new and exciting in a Bayview neighborhood hungry for new options, the owners of Cafe Centraal have missed the mark by a long shot. After 3 visits I have these observations: 1. The bartenders are slow, somewhat pretentious, and do little to make the customer feel welcome. Even when the bar was not busy the bartenders would walk past our empty drinks and not even bother to make eye contact or ask us if we needed another. This happened several times on all three visits. 2. It starts at the top. On our second visit we sat at the bar after eating to try out the various brews offered. I caught the attention of a young woman who appeared to be a manager due to the fact that she was in street clothes and was directing other staff. I was SHOCKED by how unpleasant she was! She became immediately annoyed when we placed our drink order with her and was short and curt with us to the point of our party being made to feel unwelcome. It was as though she was too busy and important to be spending time helping group of paying customers (Who spent over $100 on dinner no less!). One of the bartenders then later verified that she was the manager when asked by a curious member of our group. 3. The food. Overall the food options are not that bad here, however, the portions are small, the prices a little high, and the overall quality uninspiring. The menu is essentially a copy of the Hollander menu and attempts to be unique by half-heartedly offering a KK-themed sandwich among other things that does little to mask the fact that little thought went into creating a unique identity. If I wanted to go to eat Hollander's food I would go to Hollander! In the end, myself and my group of friends will think twice about ending up at Centraal. With so many other options in Bayview with friendly people and good food, I can't see spending another dime at Centraal until it becomes a nice place to be. Perhaps I'll check back in six months to see if things have improved, which I sincerely hope they do. Until that point, this place is off limits for us.
(1)
Brennan B.
good for groups (might call first) patio seating kitchen open late good food :: GREAT bar ask for dan the bartender ::: tell him large marge sent 'yah
(3)
Amanda D.
Cafe Centraal is my favorite bayview brunch spot. I consider myself a real Bloody Mary connoisseur and trust me, these Bloodies are the best in the city. They also have delicious cocktails, but for the price make sure you ask them to stiffen them up a bit. This place is also great for dinner and it's never over crowded so you can always get a table. Great beer selection and amazing sweet potato fries. An added bonus: Kitchen is open til midnight. Would be a five star, but it's a bit pricey for the overall food quality and like I said, weak cocktails.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
Drinks get to be pricey here, but they are pretty tasty. Summer drink: Green Rishi Tea Collins, Winter drink: Hot Toddy/anything of the hot drink menu sans the marshmellow one, Beer: many good ones and knowledgeable bar staff. As far as the menu, it's pretty American, quality food, with a fair selection of choices. The burgers are pretty good and I'd highly recommend getting a Scotch Egg!
(4)
Steffi S.
Been there for dinner, ick. Been there for brunch, really good. Service every time very poor. Maybe 3 stars is too high, but I am feeling generous :)
(3)
David S.
I'll start with the good and work to the bad The mussels here rock, especially the green curry variety. The outdoor seating is very cool. Service has always been good and friendly, if a bit overbearing. The other food is decent, but a bit pricy. Brunch is around average but overpriced. The beer selection is large, but nearly everything is European and very high priced. I'd recommend you drink water, then cruise two doors to the east to Sugar Maple for a much better beer selection at much more reasonable rates.
(3)
MacKendrick B.
If you go in the afternoon or something this maybe an okay choice. But on weekends it is SUPER busy and crowded. Which is why you would think the food would be good and service would be great... but that is where you would be WRONG... After being told the wait would be 20 minutes we waited nearly an hour! When we would ask the host if we were close to the top of the list they would say "yes 2 more minutes" and then NO, 20 minutes later still waiting... Check again... "Oh, 2 more minutes".... NOT!!! We were FINALLY seated at a TINY t.v. tray sized table 2 feet from the bar where everyone was crowded and waiting so peoples butts kept knocking into our elbows. I asked to be moved tables and were moved to the smoking section (uck). As if that didn't suck already our waitress messed up our order... We both got fish fry but different batters, we both reciecieved the same type of batter. We told her it was not correct, and she finally brought the correct order for me 10 minutes later. ITS A FISH FRY! IT TAKES LIKE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE! She made no apology. The fish itself was WAY salty and same with the frys. I have not been back since this miserable experience!
(1)
Sandy P.
I love visiting Cafe Centraal -- feels a little like I am out of town for an hour or so. I have been several times, but last night was the first time I tried their Braised Beef Rib Sliders. Oh my God, they were spectacular! I will dream of them for certain. Three hearty sliders topped with Peach Chutney and crumbles of Blu Cheese. With a side of spicy sweet potato fries, it was an amazing dinner. THANK YOU, WE'LL BE BACK!
(4)
Nathan F.
I have never been to a restaurant with such consistently awful service. The food is mediocre at best. The only saving grace is the bloody marys and beer list, but there are literally 20+ alternatives for that in a .5 mile radius.
(2)
Tim H.
Ok, so I've been coming to Milwaukee for years, but I just recently discovered Bayview, and therefore, Centraal. By have I been missing out! I came late nite on a Saturday to find that the kitchen was still open, and the bar full of people sitting at tables, drinking beer and chomping on apps. My friend told me that this place served standards bar food, so I wasn't expecting much. Well, my friend was wrong... The food here is fantastic. I got the goat cheese mac with chicken, and it was amazing. My girlfriend went with the salmon, and it was on point as well. So, good food...what else. The beer selection was amazing. I have officially found my new favorite beer. If you stop by, have a glass of the Gulden Draak. Maybe a little pricey, but an incredible combination of hops, sweetness, chocolate, and....10.2% alcohol. So, I have nothing but high marks for Centraal. Our service was fantastic, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brian L.
Stopped here on a Saturday night looking for something new. We were very pleased to find this gem. The restaurant has an excellent listing of beers. A few kinds I was interested in were not available. I'll surely be back for more. This reminded me a bit of a restaurant in London called Belgo Centraal. This place isn't below ground like Belgo...but the atmosphere is just as good! Will have to go back soon.
(5)
Katie F.
This is one of my favorite spots great atmosphere, love the beer selection, lots of Belgians, and the food is delish. Must trys: frites, mussels and the fish fry rocks
(5)
Rich W.
Chicken coq Au vin sandwich was awesome. The hummus platter was decent. Ok ambience.
(4)
Kileen M.
The brunch menu offers such diversity, one could eat here every weekend for months, and not get gastronomically bored! It's not exactly cheap? But it is certainly worth the expense!
(5)
Barry F.
Cafe Centraal is a good deal! I love a great brunch, and I love when great brunch is cheap. I ordered some combo.. bacon, eggs, toast, hash... it was like $7 (what a deal) all was good tasting, especially the hashbrowns yummmy, I've been craving them since I left. I'm not from Milwaukee, but if i'm there again (please no) I'll be sure to stop on by.
(4)
Sid V.
Weak food, weak service, prices made me think I was in parts of Chicago I don't frequent due to massive pretension and I was in Bay f'ing View Milwaukee!! Really more of a 2.5 star place, probably would not go back but maybe in a pinch.
(2)
Christopher M.
I had the scotch egg and it was probably one of the biggest I have ever had. Pretty decent. And, the beer selection is great! Most of them come in their appropriate glass.
(4)
Christopher H.
When I found out at the Bay View Bash this year that the owners of one of my fave restaurants (Cafe Hollander) were opening a place in Bay View I was ecstatic! My first visit to Cafe Centraal was everything I thought it would be. We had to try the burgers since that is our favorite over at Hollander and they were perfect. The buttertop rolls that they serve the burgers on are out of this world. A couple of Belgium beers from their huge selection were the perfect accompaniment for my meal. And the fries are outstanding as well. The restaurant is huge as well as the bar in the middle. The decor is Euro-comfy. Oh and dessert, flourless chocolate cake with bourbon cream and berries was a delicious end to a great meal. I will be back again and again. Centraal is a terrific addition to Bay View and I'm so glad it is finally here!
(5)
Jen T.
Cafe Centraal is a great smoke-free bar-restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a fabulous drink menu filled with a huge variety of beer, wine and other drinks. I recently tried their Sunday Brunch and completely enjoyed my meal. My friends and I shared 2 entrees. The first entree was Turtle Pancakes which was their special of the day. Totally awesome and decadent pancakes drizzled with warm caramel and chocolate - to die for! The 2nd entree was Steak and Eggs Benedict served with roasted rosemary potatoes. This dish was scrumptious.
(4)
William T.
Mushroom Stroganoff is not something I would normally think of, but it sounded good and tasted better. The soup (stuffed pepper) was a bit on the salty side, but that is not unusual in restaurants. The beer selection was incredible. I will definitely be checking this place out again.
(4)
D S.
Pricey but the food is good
(4)
Lola L.
great brunch place. lots to choose from. nice fruit plate. we ordered the stack of pancakes with an egg, bacon, and who knows what else full of cholesterol in the middle...not bad!!! dinner menu is extensive. love the fries and dipping sauces.
(5)
sean b.
Cafe Centraal made one of the worst brunches I have ever had the displeasure to eat. Do the cooks here know what an omelette is? They certainly can't wait 20 seconds to throw the (ham?) into the pan so that it doesn't break the eggs on the outside of the omelette. If you like food made by crust punks by all means frequent Centraal.
(1)
Tom C.
Had one of the most amazing bar food meals of my life at this place during a holiday visit to Milwaukee. Moules frites to begin with, and they do a curry preparation that really added something. Moved on to a turkey burger with a pretzel-like bun and a nice sauce. Lubricated the whole thing with two big bottle of Ommegang Abbey. Life is good at this place. Now Milwaukee just needs to go non-smoking like, well, every other civilized place in the world.
(5)
Tiffany C.
super cute place. fun, relaxed atmosphere. serves a killer bloody mary and yummy brunch..... a little hard to find healthy options on the menu but don't let that stop you from heading out for a relaxing sunday brunch with a group of friends or the fam.
(4)
Lisa W.
I love this place. I have been a fan of the other restaurants in this same group for a long time (Hollander since it arrived, and of course Trocadero). Cafe Centraal lacks slightly in terms of atmosphere compared to the other two (don't get me wrong - still very nice but just a tad too open?) but maybe that is something that will improve over time. I can't complain - I am happy for any great restaurant additions in my neighborhood, so it's nice to have somewhere different to fall back on. The wait has never been long, even when it's a busy Friday or Saturday night - and if you do have to wait, the bar is long and the beer list is as well. I have tried a number of menu items and always been pleased, although my favorites are the curry seared shrimp appetizer, the tulip turkey burger (with curry ketchup), and the sweet potato fries. I always recommend this as an option for anyone looking to dine in or around Bayview.
(4)
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Address :2306 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53207
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
William U.
Cafe centraal is my fave of the euro cafe chain of restaurants here in Milwaukee. If I could give a 3 1/2 I would. It is a good place in many ways. Great beer selection. Nice bartenders and they were attentive. Most of the food I have had is above a 3 on a scale of 1-5. All around good experience. On the other hand nothing seems to blow me away. I should be satisfied with steady good and variety. My vegetarian friend likes it well enough also. It is solid -if anything is a standout it is the big patio. I will certainly go back probably often. You can take a date their or your parents. Maybe that is good but in a way it seems to Unspecialized in today's niche restaurant market. So it got a 4 instead of 5. Sort of a gut thing.
(4)Tom B.
Ive wanted to try this place for a long time now, ever since I read a review in the Bay View Compass {since July 29 2011} , The Delicious Cone of Corruption, was not! The review made you think that the french fries were fresh cut and wickedly good, they werent any better than Micky Ds fries, your basic ordinary fry. The Manager says the Fries are the Best selling item on the menu. Im sure that is right {at $4.95}, With 12 buck 1/2 pound burgers {who needs a 1/2 pound burger for lunch anyway?} A friend had the pork tacos also around 13 bucks for 3 tacos{ no beans or rice} , youd be better off at Hectors a little down the street or at Classic Slice, After reading some of the other reviews and what Ive just experienced, I wont be making it back
(2)Jon H.
Thriving hive of hipster doofuses barely makes the grade, if at all. The chili is good, and the selection of drinks is admirable but the rest of the entire menu is wretchedly overpriced and sub par in quality. The wait staff have this attitude about them that sine they work at a restaurant deemed so high and mighty that they can treat their customers with the highest degree of frigidity. Jokes on you, my friend, you're still just, in essence, a delivery person; get over it.
(2)Ashley N.
I heard so many good reviews and recommendations from friends that I HAD to go to Cafe Centraal because it is soooooo delicious. I went, got the meatloaf and regretted it. It will be a while before I go back here. Maybe it was an unlucky day for me, but everyone in my party (we all go a different version of the meatloaf) was paying for it later on that night.
(2)Honest E.
I love this bar - great beer and even better FOOD! It's a chill atmosphere, kind of hipster, pretty reasonably priced stuff. It has a cool back patio as well. Parking can be a pain, but even if you get stuck parking a few blocks away - it's worth it!
(4)Phillip M.
Great food and great beer selection!
(4)Cory T.
Centraal let me down on a few occasions now, which is deeply disappointing since it is so close to my home here in Bay View. The atmosphere is ominous and cold--a foreshadowing of the abysmal meal to come. I know that thanks to shows like "Design Star" we're all stuck looking at restaurants that fish their furniture and fixtures from thrift store clearance sales in an effort to look "hip" and "now". Ummm, it just looks ridiculous. Mismatched chairs? How "edgy" and original! As far as the wait staff is concerned, they've proven to be completely forgetable and extraordinarily dull. Hmmmm, not so wonderful yet, Centraal. The food was by far the biggest disappointment. They have a few good items on the menu like the Cranberry Turkey Sandwich with giardinara is a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming menu. The jam-seared turkey on toast is complimented by the hot giardinara. But this is nothing that cannot be made at home. The sandwiches overall are quite good, but are not fantastic values, as everything is priced beyond what it should be. The salads are the weakest part of the Centraal line up. Interestingly, their sister restaurant Benelux, has the most novelGrilled Caesar Salad (the lettuce is actually grilled), and I'm hoping it will show up on Centraal's (hopefully) revamped menu in the near future. The salad I was most unenthused about at Centraal was some concoction with beets and squash. It sounded wonderful in theory, but the beets and squash are not warm, but rather ice cold. Okay, but they taste more like raw pumpkin. My final recommendations for Centraal: 1. Have someone to greet guests. This is apparently lacking, as evidenced by countless reviews indicating said problem. Do you read these reviews? 2. Get the wait staff uniforms, or at least crisp looking aprons. No one wants to be served by a reject that looks like they are on hiatus from living in their mother's basement after a marathon game of Dungeon's & Dragons. 3. Brighten up the interior of this place. Or, at the very least, CLEAN IT. Filth is neither hip, nor trendy. Consider a fresh coat of paint. I feel like I'm eating on the inside of a giant beer carton. 4. Purchase some real furniture. This nonsense of "Decorating on a Dime" might have cut it in the late 90's, but it's been done--TO DEATH. And you are not some struggling entrepreneurs with a start up in SOHO. You have the money, crack open your wallet and free some grounded moths. 5. Tweak your menu a bit. There are some damn good items on the menu. Figure out what people like, and edit out the dogs. 6. Get your food temps where they need to be, and be consistent. Then light a match under your servers' behinds to get the stuff to the table before Christ returns again. 7. Improve your fish fry. It's pretty good--BUT--my friend had it and there was far too much batter on the fish. Get some out-of-this-world bread to accompany this popular fav, and come up with some coleslaw that offers something different and can serve as your signature. 8. Desserts could be your forte. But they aren't. Don't miss out on this opportunity to cross promote with some of your neighbors. You have Wild Flour Bakery and Babe's Ice Cream right across the street. Perhaps you could incorporate their items as components for your dessert line up. 9. Thank your guests for coming in. Put some Vaseline on your servers' teeth if you have to find a way to force them to smile. Damn, they are a depressing bunch at this location.
(2)Matt X.
Milwaukee's viral Lowlands Group has been opening a Belgian restaurant-bar annually, and I think they are overdue for a cease-and-desist order. Centraal is their third locale (of five so far). They were pretty late to the game, as Bay View's Kinnickinnic strip was already saturated with restaurants that were less corporate and served up better food as a cheaper price point. Like all of the Lowlands Group places, they are pretty much identical. Heavy wooden interiors. Bikes and gimmicky geegaws make it painfully clear they aim for a Flemish vibe. Dozens of expensive Dutch/Belgian beers on tap and dozens more available as bottles. Reliably decent food. Your stomach will be pleased, but with a higher cholesterol and blood pressure. Young hipster servers who are usually able to manage the crowds, though management ought to do better with staffing levels. There's nothing cheap on their menus or taps, so you can't leave without dropping $20 on lunch. A pretty clever restauranteur ploy for extracting dollars from an up-and-coming clientele, but not a choice for a conscientious diner. This spot on KK is actually one of their better cookie-cutter restaurants I've visited. The service has been relatively attentive and the kitchen knows their basics. But unlike sleepy Wauwatosa or Downer Avenue, this neighborhood is dense with great local eateries. Why I give this spot the 2-star rating is the neighborhood competition along Kinnickinnic. You can eat (and certainly drink) for much cheaper at any number of superior places on the strip: Lulu, GTO, and Honeypie to name a few.
(2)Chad C.
Had a birthday dinner here not too long ago, and while I liked it, I was not blown away. I had the Goat Cheese Mac'n'cheese... and it didn't quite live up to other versions I have had. It's pretty bland - not enough goat cheese flavor. I also went back a second time and got the black & bleu burger... which was also mediocre. It's a nice place with good service but the food just isn't very good. I gave it two chances, and I won't be giving it a third.
(2)Christophor R.
There's nothing finer than a place that listens to you when you order. I've gone there several times for dinner and brunch. I like my bloody mary a specific way and when I tell them that, they make it that way. Some places just slap it all together without ever catering to the customer (which takes all of 10 seconds for extra Tabasco and celery salt). The brunch menu offers a wide variety of traditional brunch fare with some unique twists on the items as well as some straight up classics. The dinner menu is big and varied as well and there's always a great beer available to pair with your food. If the menu and theme looks familiar that's because it's part of the Benelux/Trocadero/Hollander group... Things are pricey at times but for the quality and atmosphere, it's worth it.
(5)Nick S.
Overall,pretty good. There's not much to distinguish Centraal from other Lowlands Group restaurants... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The outdoor seating and beer selection are phenomenal.
(3)Sarah J.
I absolutely love this place! The bartender's are very knowledgeable about the many, MANY beers they have and all the staff is friendly. Their food is amazing and the atmosphere is laid back. I love the diverse crowds that gather there and always feel comfortable.
(5)Alicia M.
I've been here twice. I remember being impressed with the food the first time around (we were there for dinner) but I also remember being a bit shocked by the price for what we got. Today we went for lunch on a Saturday. We got there at 1:45 and they were still serving their "breakfast/brunch" menu. Apparently they serve it until 3pm. It's mostly breakfast fare but they have a few burgers too. I would say the service was the biggest disappointment. Took our server awhile to first approach us (no water was brought while we waited). There was one point where he walked past and told us he would be with us in a few minutes so at least we got a heads up. However, the restaurant was NOT busy (at all) this time of day so there is no excuse for poor service in my opinion. Once he took our order we literally did not see our server again the rest of the time that we dined (he stopped by once we were pretty much done and asked if everything was ok but by then it was sorta pointless). A different person brought us our food. Our waters were not refilled other than the one time I asked specifically for more water (and then they only filled it half way). When the girl brought us our food I had a few different requests for her (because there was no sign of our waiter) and she seemed kinda put-out that I expected her to do something other than drop off the food. The thing I found so funny about our service experience is that everyone was walking around with these headphones in their ears. So there is the appearance of having it together but at the end of the day the service simply wasn't there. Get rid of the headphones and just train your people in being attentive and helpful. The food was also disappointing. My mom had a 12 dollar burger (which I think they even charged extra for some basic ingredients). She said the beef was good but a 12 dollar burger should knock it out of the park in my opinion. I had a salad. There was only one salad option on the menu for this time of day. It was greens, tomato, onion, blue cheese and candied walnuts. It was the size of a generous side salad. It was 9 dollars! WTF?!? My husband had a biscuits and gravy thing. He said it was good but I tasted the sauce and it was pretty flavorless in my opinion. If you want good food for a good price walk across the street to LuLu's instead. I just feel like if you are going to have "high end" prices then you should have pretty impressive food and at least decent service. For what they charge I don't think I'll be returning here. On the plus side: It's an environment that was kid-friendly (at least during the lunch hour) and the kid's menu was quite nice.
(2)Bobby G.
(ZERO POINT 5 STARS- 0.5) People must be stupid... i've been here multiple time, and it's bad. Staff doesn't seem to care about anything but making money n drinking beer. I had my WORST restaurant experience here ever! Service was cocky, host rude and rushing.... manager fumbled over 5 mistakes and could not recover. I will strongly NOT recommend this place, unless u want to drink beer. Ehhhh really that's all they offer. ohh did I mention, one of my courses my table could not even eat, bc it was cuddled and discussing!! two they didnt enjoy. and one was just messed up. Good job on not messing up the bottled root beer. I've read pissed off reviews, but this is legit. I had bad mouthing but I this is the Truth. sorry for being harsh, but real.
(1)Stacey R.
Went for a late dinner Saturday. Centraal always hits the spot. Luckily Kari was our server. She had has a quick wit and the BEST beer recommendations. Get the Rodenbach Classic if you like Belgium sours it's delish!
(5)Jaclyn A.
Good beer and great food! Try the High Speed Witt and sweet potato fries.
(4)Chris G.
Whether it's for the atmosphere or great food, I would highly recommend Cafe Centraal to anyone looking for an excellent Saturday morning brunch experience. For a total of about $19 per person, this restaurant is well worth the price. If this how Cafe Centraal treats their guests to an amazing Saturday brunch, expect me back in the summer for a Sunday brunch on their patio! **Ask for the Steak and Eggs Benedict for brunch. Even though it's not on the menu, they will still make it for you. It's one of my favorite brunch items in all of Milwaukee!** Read the full review on MilwaukeeBrunchReviews.c… - milwaukeebrunchreviews.c…
(5)Gary H.
I like the food here a lot. When I want meat loaf, turkey burgers, fries, this is my spot. I will keep going back. Why not 5 stars? Well, the crowds are hard to manage at peak times. (I now prefer lunch on weekdays, or early Sunday brunch). The service is friendly and hip, just not too prompt of skilled. A regular screw up is ordering a beverage and not getting it, or waiting a long time for it. It seems to me that the kitchen is much better managed than the floor.
(4)Vladimir K.
I've given this place a couple tries and then decided no more. It's just way too expensive for what it is. All the entrees seem to be around $13, and you can get food just as good at Lulu or sandwiches just as good at Sven's for at least $4 less. For a BLT at $10, I was expecting some nice thick-cut peppered smoked bacon or something awesome, but it just seemed like regular Oscar Myer generic bacon or something. What a ripoff, this sandwich should have beel like $6. Beer here is overpriced, even considering the beers being served, and every single time I've gotten a tap beer it has been a the most skimpy pour I've ever seen (and I have been to many Belgian beer bars, I know some headspace is reserved for foam but geez). I was shocked to find that a DuPont that with the glass only 60% full was like $7.50. I ordered another one thinking it was a fluke but it was just as skimpy. Service was okay. They pour better Belgians at Palm Tavern and they do better food at Lulu, and both are considerably cheaper. This place is overpriced.
(2)Kirk E.
We've been to Cafe Centraal 3 times since moving to Milwaukee. My wife and I have each ordered something different each time, and every time it has been awesome. Took my picky father-in-law there for brunch, and he absolutely loved it. So good! Also, amazing beer selection and knowledgable beer staff. The Milwaukee Bloody Mary was one of the best bloodies I've ever had. Highly recommend everything at Cafe Centraal.
(5)Jen M.
I like Cafe Centraal for its beer list, cheese croquettes appetizer, proximity to the south shore part of the oak leaf trail, and constant availability of your choice of seating and friendly service. I've been there four times in 2011, twice for post-bike ride drinks and appetizer and twice for supper. Each visit was great. But I'm a beer connoisseur, which I believe is the best reason to choose Cafe Centraal, Belgian beers are my favorite and I haven't seen a more impressive selection anywhere else in town. The food choices other than the fabulous cheese croquettes with saffron aoli sauce are fine but don't particularly strike me as outstanding. I've really liked all of the staff that have served us - they have been relaxed and friendly and very informative without being intrusive. Each server we've had has really known their drinks and the beer available. They are willing to make recommendations and share their favorites. You get the feeling they are proud of the place and the beer selection, which I think is a very good sign. The beer..OH THE BEER...Try the Maredsous double (not available the last time we were there) or the triple, or my favorite: The Unibrau Ephemere. It is brewed with apples. On Sunday 9/20 I had their monthly special: The Kwak. It is unbelievably smooth...slides down your throat like caramelly liquid velvet. If I have foodie friends to entertain I wouldn't think of taking them to Cafe Centraal but it was very fun to take beer-fan friends from San Francisco there on Sunday night. They have samplers available and are amiable about switching them out. We had a GREAT time. My husband rated their meatloaf 2nd best in the city, behind Comet Cafe's. I loved their nightly dinner special: Tequila Chicken. Yes, I could taste the tequila. It added zesty cohesion to a sauce with a delightful mix of different kinds of peppers and tomato. And, my biking buddy and I have been treated like honored guests, even when we arrived mussed up and sweaty in our biking gear.
(4)Myra P.
Big fan. Food, beer, staff, patio--on point.
(4)Jen B.
Centraal has the biggest beer list I have ever seen. When we asked to see it, the server dropped off an encyclopedia-sized binder on the table and I was immediately overwhelmed. Luckily, she was awesome and offered recommendations based on our preferences. Or rather, she did this for the serious beer drinkers in my group. I went with the Piraat based solely on the name. It was delicious and, unlike most beers, I could actually taste the flavors that were described on the menu. The food was off the hook. My party of three shared the five spice tofu, black bean burger and veggie sandwich. I love the tofu and the sweet potato fries that came with the burger. But by far the best thing there is the curry ketchup. I could put that on anything. Hell, I could drink it straight. It's that good.
(4)Brittany C.
I couldn't help but give it 5 stars. The place was amazing.. food, atmosphere, everything. I ordered the black bean veggie burger (bc I'm obviously watching my figure) and it was hands down THEE best veggie burger I've ever had. Granted, I haven't had THAT many veggie burgers but I'll still rank this one in the top 3 I'll ever have in my life :) We were with a group of 19 people, who all loved their dishes. It was a fun and lively atmosphere, one I'd love to have a few drinks in :) which will have to wait until next time!
(5)Sarah T.
Somehow - I don't know how - I was suckered into going to Centraal just one more time. My boyfriend ordered the steak. He wanted it medium-rare, but what did he get? A well-done steak. A twenty-dollar well-done steak. When we notified our waitress, she said, "Really? Let me see," as if we were lying. Awesome. We were then told that the manager would be out to speak with us. "So your steak wasn't cooked how you want it? All right, we've got another one cooking for you." Twenty to twenty-five minutes later, the second steak arrived at the table. My boyfriend cut into it to find that it was just shy of being well-done. The manager then stopped by to check on us, but not in a way that was particularly warm or friendly. "Steak's okay now? Good." He then scurried away from our table, offering us nothing in apology for the overcooked steak. And yes, we still had to pay for it. Sure, we could've complained that the steak STILL wasn't done... but we didn't. We didn't want to have to deal with the manager's crappy, high-and-mighty attitude (how dare we complain about anything in such a *highly* respected establishment). I just wanted to get the hell outta there. Oh, and their fish tacos suck. Go to Cafe Lulu for their fish taco special to be delighted by something much tastier and much more reasonably priced.
(1)Matthew W.
Where to start. I've been to Cafe Centraal at least 10 times since moving to bay View a few years ago. I will admit that in the summer the patio is awesome and is a big draw. Even though I really don't enjoy their food that much; oddly what brings me back is the fast, free WiFi. The food is OK, it's not bad, it's not great. In fact some dishes are very good. But, just like you will read about what i think of the beer later on; it's all just very blasé. So why the 1 star!? It's because they try to make it look like they have a good beer menu, when what they actually have is more of a tourist trap for what "regular" folk would think is good, unique, belgian beer. Coupled with the fact that it's all too expensive and you have what i feel like is a fluffed up, trendy spot that caters to the average restaurant goer. That's why i feel they get decent reviews on Yelp. The regular joe would probably see this place is so unique and cool; but it just misses.
(1)Shane H.
The title of this review is "Reviewing Cafe Centraal: An Exercise in Describing Mediocrity" Another Diablos Rojos joint. If you've been to one Diablos place, you've been to them all. They all have their unique qualities, and none of them are outright bad. They do good bar food. They serve okay drinks. They have good atmospheres for hanging out. But, there just isn't anything there to rave about. I am not a picky eater. I will put anything in my mouth that you give to me. I will eat here again, and I will enjoy it, because it's really hard to screw up a burger. The food is good, but it won't blow you away. Servers are always very nice. These are probably some of the hardest working people in the Milwaukee service industry, because these places are meant to draw large crowds and serve many at once. I'm gonna give massive props to Centraal for being open for the blizzard of the decade. Our server was upfront that only two of the staff were able to make it in, but they opened anyway. That's die-hard Wisconsin for you!
(3)Rip S.
Unusual Place. Understand the complaints about Hostesses. We had a booking for 130 on Sunday and showed up 15 early. Given a bit of attitude and We're told to wait tables weren't ready, then watched them put 2 tables together? Food was tasty & plentiful (neither adult finished meal). Kids meals had healthier options (fruit, veg, salad), which is great. Bloody Mary's were spicy and tasty. I'd go back. But wasn't "special" trip worthy. Maybe that's it they only want to play to locals?
(3)Justin E.
I have not had a chance to have dinner here but I have had a lunch twice. Unfortunately have not had the chance to try any of their drinks or beer. (can not drink at lunch for work). The food is good and plentiful. The wait staff is OK, they screwed up a couple of our orders. We asked for something to be left off the sandwich/burger or added and it was not done we received standard fare. The food was not memorable but it was good. I think this place is over hyped, or people had a few drinks to make it better.
(3)Molly W.
Good hearty food and drink options. Service is hit-and-miss. Great atmosphere and a wonderful place to take out-of-town visitors to give them some classic MKE. Easy to tuck in on your own, too, for some drinks and reading.
(4)Tony F.
I like this place a lot more than I let on. They have a huge beer menu, and that means a lot to a guy like me, with a gut like mine. A million choices, with a million flavors, bodies, colors, and alcohol per volume. The food is really good, and I've had almost everything on the menu, & tons of specials. The sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads are all SILLY!!! They also do the whole mussels app/entree/food orgy that this "chain" (Hollander/Benelux) specializes in. It's all really great, and the servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and hip without being TOO hipster (it is pretty hipster.) If there's a reason I resist Centraal, it's because I've been there 9000x.
(4)Paula Z.
Meh, one step up from Appleby's. Really incredibly so-so with a side of yucky tummy. Also, I overheard the chefs complaining about the awful menu. Who would eat at a place the chefs don't even like? If I could give zero stars I would.
(1)Valerie J.
Waste of a really cool patio! I visited recently with four friends and the staff made us feel like we were one big hassle. Ok, that's not totally fair, because it was really just the hostess who was awful. First, she ignored me for a few minutes. Then she sighed and huffed when I asked for a table for 4 or 5 (I couldn't remember exactly) on the patio. About a 20-minute wait, she said, but then was insistent that I had to tell her immediately if we had five people instead of four because all of the patio tables can't seat 5 people. She took my cell phone # so the restaurant could send me a text when my table was ready. I walked out front to wait so I could get away from Ms. Rude Hostess. After waiting a half hour, one of my friends when to check on the status of our table. She was told 10 more minutes and then Ms. Rude Hostess said she almost took us off the waiting list because she couldn't see me! What's the point of a text message if I have to stay within view of the hostess?! When we finally were seated, there were at least 5 open tables on the patio (not to mention there were multiple open tables in front of the restaurant while we stood waiting). The empty tables on the patio stayed empty during our entire 2-hour stay! Short staffed? Our waiter was fine. We had multiple orders of fries, which were tasty. I also had vegetarian spring rolls, which also were very good. My friends had sangria and I had two glasses of wine. I was surprised that two small apps and 2 glasses of wine were $32. A $9, half-full, mediocre glass of wine is ridiculous! Centraal earned its 2 stars for the good food and cool patio. It lost 3 stars for pretty much sucking in all other areas.
(2)Liz A.
This place has the best fries! They are so good! I've not tried their sweet potato fries but if they are anything like the regular ones, I'm sure they're amazing. The Benelux salad is great. I may need to look into just ordering sides when I come here because they were both so good. Upon recommendation from our server, I ordered Unibroue's Maudite bier and found it to be quite enjoyable and will definitely order it again. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich was good and so was their kulminator- grilled cheese sandwich. Always works out well when you can go halfsies with a friend and share what you order. Service was great. Will be back.
(5)Christine C.
Here for the first time, for a business lunch. I ordered the Marrakesh with just chicken and it looked delicious... but it was quite the opposite. The chicken was very dry and the taste was just unpleasant. I had so much leftover and I didn't even bother to take it home. The chicken avocado sandwich my coworker got looked amazing. Our business partner got the club sandwich and liked it, except there's another layer of bread in the middle which was too much. I would go back, I would just never order the club or the Marrakesh.
(2)Chris M.
One of our favorite haunts in the Milwaukee area. We stopped in on a Yelp Review (thanks Yelp) about 6 months back for a family dinner. Let me tell you that a family of 6 can only go so many places due to size of restaurants and the desire to not be the parents that ruin a night out for anyone else (picking, crying, screaming...hell that's just the wife and I). Anyways, the food was amazing. Any of the appetizers offer a delicious opportunity to enjoy a different twist on comfort food. From the scotch egg to the pretzel bits, to the sausage balls (not official name I just think that names funnier), the food can really become the focal point of the conversation. The staff has always been pleasant and conversational with us and their beer selection should be able to cover any persons taste. Recently, we had some family in town and decided to go out for a Sunday Brunch. The restaurant was able to accommodate 10 people (with 4 kids) on a reservation made only about 2 hours beforehand. While I won't say that this is a norm, I was very impressed with the staff and our waitress with being so patient and providing great food on such a busy day. Be prepared to pay a little more but get what you pay for. The kids menus offer more than just your standard fare and the presentation makes our kids feel more like young adults than little kids. The serving size is large without being Honey Boo Boo sized and the menu is ever evolving. If there for breakfast, try their twist on biscuits and gravy or the sweet potato pancakes.
(5)Jessica S.
Pleasantly surprised! I expected the place to have a long wait, since it was Father's Day. Nope! They were able to seat us right away (9:30 am). Coffee: strong. Could have used a refill earlier than I got, and also a refill on the water. The service was pretty slow, and they were not that busy yet. Food: super yum! I had the salmon & eggs Benedict. A little heavy on the sauce, but delicious. The hubs bad the cheesy gooey spicy mess. Of course it was delicious. A great alternative to Honeypie, Zac's, and all the other little places that tend the have a long brunch wait.
(4)Dylani H.
Spacious and great for brunch. I have come here several times with groups. Good service
(3)Angela W.
I have tried and tried with this place. Each time is another bad experience that makes me stay away for long periods of time. Today was another of those unfortunate visits. Stopped in for a late lunch, arrived a few minute before 2. While it was busy, when we arrived there were several open tables but we're told there was a 20 minute. I didn't argue because although tables may seem open, there may be people waiting that I am not aware of, fair enough. Because we were starving we decided to just sit at the bar to eat (I typically prefer this anyway). We were approached by the unenthusiastic bartender. I mean.. It was so obvious that he was annoyed by everything, especially patrons that it was uncomfortable. I felt worse for the people who sat after us. They were a very happy couple, who I happened to over hear were celebrating their anniversary, and they had the same unenthusiastic bartender. He really could have attempted to smile at them, but he just wasn't capable of it. Ordered our food and it took a really long time and was okay. Seeing that I spent 20 years in the industry, I get busy and that it can take a long time for food in these busy times, so believe me when I say, I am totally patient. But sitting at a bar where the bartender is beyond annoyed that we are there and has created a beyond uncomfortable situation, the wait was just really frustrating. I think this was finally it, the last time I spend a single dollar in this place. I have had one good service experience ever. I just can't understand how this place is still busy (other then for its great location and patio). But plenty of other great spots to spend my money on
(1)Gina K.
The lowlands group brings you yet another restaurant with good beer selection and a satisfactory (if not overpriced) menu... This time in Bay View! If it's brunch you seek, expect a bit of a wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. Also beware the hornets on a summer day on the patio - order the Monkey Bread for a nice sticky trap (cruel, but so true - stupid hornets). Have taken co-workers from out of town to Cafe Centraal and the skillets are always a hit. Staff is friendly, and knowledgeable on the beer list. The Bloody Marys are a bit overrated, but still delicious. Parking is what you'd expect for Bay View (aka it can be a bit of a mess, make sure you're an expert at parallel parking or expect a long walk). If you're a fan of Cafe Hollander, Cafe Bavaria, Trocadero, or any of the sister restaurants - you'll likewise enjoy Cafe Centraal. It's of a similar ilk and menu and consistently decent.
(4)Sandor K.
WHOO HOOO!!! Great Bloody Mary and excellent breaky! Loved the place. The service was very good. My breakfast skillet was cooked just as I ordered and tasted delish! Nice place for a brunch or breakfast!
(4)Kobi K.
I give 4 stars just based on my never ending love for meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They do that really good, along with a good staff and a young clientele. This place is great in many ways.
(4)Adam J.
Decent food, terrible service. I'm never greeted at the door, and get slow service by the wait staff. This place has really gone downhill in the last 12-18 months.
(2)Jennifer R.
One thing I like about Bay View is the many dining options that it has to offer. Cafe Centraal is one of those. I have been here a few times, and have always had a great experience. The place is very spacious, with lots of seating, including patio seating. They also have one of the city's largest bier books and longest bars, according to their website. I believe it. On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve brunch from 8am-3pm. There are so many good things to choose from on the brunch menu. The last time I did brunch here, I had the Smoked Salmon Benedict. It was wonderful. You can top off your meal with a Bloody Mary, a Mimosa, beer (or bier, as they spell it), coffee, juice, or tea. For lunch and dinner, you have plenty of options to choose from: appetizers, soups, salad, burgers, sandwiches and other entrees. I have had the burgers here, and they are delicious. They also have a gluten free menu for those that want or need gluten free options. If you still have room for desert after your meal, they have some delicious options. I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake. There will be more trips to Cafe Centraal for me in the future. There are things on the menu that I still need to try :-)
(5)Daniela C.
Even though boyfriend live's down the street from Centraal, I've always been hesitant to go there simply because of the bad reputation it's gotten in the service industry for the way management treats it's employees. However, it was 10 PM and I was jonesing for something other than Jimmy Johns after a long shift and an even longer nap. I stopped by a night or two before Christmas Eve and the bartender was super friendly. He knew I was hungry and made some pretty solid suggestions. I think my eyes were hungrier than my stomach, as I ordered the fried ravioli (delicious!) and the vegetarian Risotto (under seasoned, disappointed), which were both larger portions. I stopped by for Brunch a few days later and was enchanted with the different options on their menu. I stuck to the oatmeal and it was SO great. So much flavor. Did. not. disappoint! Also, the fruit and yogurt parfait (which MPB ordered) was also pretty tasty...so much that we ordered a second. Again, the service was just fine. We were sitting and the bar, and it was busy, so we knew what we were in for. The last visit, New Years Day Brunch, I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict. I was ridiculously under-impressed with the taste of it, as there wasn't much of it. The Hollandaise was bland and I just wasn't too pleased with the over all plate (even though the menu description had me DROOLING!). I ordered the brunch mimosa and was very pleased with it. There was a longer than past wait for food, but it was NY Day brunch, so I totally understand and have no gripes about it. Our bartender (TIna? The one with the loopy/swirly gages...?) was super attentive and wonderful. The individual I am assuming was the manager (blonde long hair, with the head piece on yelling at everyone...) on the other hand, was not. While I wish I could say that "reputation" was wrong (from my experiences), I saw a manager yelling at some of the servers [a] for nothing and [b] in front of customers, and I think that in itself is super unprofessional and it's for reasons like this that the company gets such a bad rep. I know it's really hard to find quality management, but at least teach the ones you do hire to not yell at their employees in front of customers (or at all!). Had I not seen that, I would probably be back again. But it's instances like this that keep people in the service industry away from this company.
(2)Lauren S.
I want to like Centraal: It's cute, has a massive menu, lots of seating both inside and out, and is located in my Bay View stomping grounds. I've never had a bad meal here, but I will say I've always thought the food was a couple bucks more expensive than it's worth. Ultimately, There are two standouts for me at Centraal. One good and one bad: GOOD: Bloody Mary menu. BAD: The service. First, the good. I love the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary, and yesterday I tried the Antipasto for the first time... it's perhaps the only Bloody for which I'd fork over $10. The Bloody Mary is big business up here, and it's tough to find a good one that's not $7+ in Bay View. So, sure. I'll spend my Bloody bucks at Centraal. Now, the bad. I'm not in favor of ripping apart waitstaff. I've been a waitress at a few restaurants, and I know I wouldn't want to be judged solely on one lousy day. But the service at Centraal has been consistently inconsistent, from the host stand to the servers. Their people are slow, apathetic, and ostensibly detached from their jobs altogether. The host yesterday asked if we wanted to sit outside on the sidewalk or in the court yard, and when we had the audacity to respond, "Out front," she proceeded to berate us because we needed to tell her what exactly "out front" was supposed to mean. Um, it means the sidewalk. Sincerest apologies for using a synonymous term. I'd been irked with the iffy service here before, but yesterday's run-in with the host--and the ensuing molasses-slow service from our server--has fully solidified my "meh" feeling about Centraal. The only reason this place gets three stars? Those gosh darn Bloody Marys (Maries? ). If you just want a better meal at a reasonable price with great service, walk across the street to Lulu.
(3)Adam C.
Despite being here a million billion times in the past, I've yet to review this place until now. And I've got a good reason why, too, it's hard to think of anything unique to say about it. It's solid, no doubt, but even having been in a fair bit, it was, for the longest time, hard to remember which one of the Bayview classics Centraal actually was without a hint. That almost says everything that needs said with regard to the atmosphere here. "It's the one with the beer," is how my friends would remind me. It works. They have a catalog of beers the size of a small book--the word count on this thing is probably in the five digits, no joke. I will say, though, almost everything on the menu will be fantastic. The Marrakesh shrimp and chicken is one of my favorites--it's very sweet, but it's got a well blended flavors and the acid from the tomato serves as a good counterpoint to all of the sweet notes in the dish. I also seriously recommend the cheese stuffed bitterballen with curry ketchup. It's a hearty appetizer that will feed several people and that curry ketchup is actually pretty good. I haven't been able to replicate it at home (I've gotten pretty close but something always seems not quite there).
(3)Carrie G.
Consistency has been a challenge for this restaurant since it first opened. You never know quite what you're going to get. I've had great to terrible service, and everything in between. And same for the food, sometime good, sometimes not so much. But enticed by a friend who wanted to go, and a City Tin to burn I rolled the dice. And for a weekend brunch on the patio things did not turn out too bad. I was impressed that the host asked if we wanted shade or sun on the patio. But sadly after 15 minutes the sun shifted and shade was not be found, so much for that. But our server was very attentive and only came back once to confirm our order, which I saw as a good sign. I started with the Frenchie, one of their many spins on a bloody. This standby has been on the menu since the beginning and never disappoints. A great bloody base mix starts each of the selections. But the Frenchie then amps things up with dijon mustard (I need to try that at home) giving it the perfect bite. The drink is then decadently topped with bleu cheese stuffed olives that will dance in your mouth. I'm usually a big fan of classic brunch dishes but nothing on their new menu jumped out at me. There's seems to be a plethora of chorizo in most of their dishes so I flipped to the Blunch side of the menu. I found an old fav, the Tulip Turkey Burger, which I had not had in a while. It's a fairly moist ground turkey blended with bell peppers and onions which add a subtle tang to the burger. I'm a fan of the sriracha mayo topping, but the curry ketchup can be a bit overwhelming and I ordered that on the side. And speaking of sides, the sweet potatoes fries must be laced with something because they are addictive. Hot and crunchy and a bit tender on the inside. I ordered the garlic aioli dipping sauce and found it to compliment the fries nicely. Overall this was a four star experience, but considering how many three and even two star encounters I've had here I'll go three overall. And at some point I'm hoping they can pull it together enough to make it to four.
(3)Rachel F.
Stopped here post-Bay View trick or treat antics for some dinner. It had been awhile, and I'm not one to discount potentially solid spots from my neighborhood roster no matter the prevailing public sentiment. I had to know and update for myself. You feel me? Hating on success/hype? A Milwaukee behavior that's not always warranted. Success doesn't mean a thing is bad/evil... take Colectivo for example. I'll never understand that one fully. Anyways, sticking w/ three stars (almost went to two, but thought better of it) on this one. Sixty bucks later I stand by my A-OK rating, but will most likely never shell for dinner here again.. Here's why: The Good: -beer selection: awesome stuff on tap, awesome stuff in bottles // if you like beer, you'll find something super-solid here -fries + sauces! FRIES AND SAUCES The Bad/Ugly: -the food: pretty dang mediocre given the price points and, more importantly, the beautifully-penned descriptions on the menu. "Grass fed burger stuffed w/ garlic and bleu cheese w/ a fire-roasted tomato pesto + grilled mushrooms = in reality, a semi-flavorful puck of beef on an enriched/falling apart white bread bun, little pesto and few mushrooms to be found: $13.95. The blackberry turkey was no more quality in execution. We were pretty disappointed. (Your menu set the expectations too high!) -Charge extra for your sauce, your guac, by all means, I get it, but if you're making it a point to charge extra, don't be mad stingy with said sauce portions, guys. It's just bad form. L and I agreed: not a spot to throw down for eats, but a periodic stop in for some suds and fries? We're all over it, maybe.
(3)Brianne S.
Centraal! Not enough good things to say about this place. Tragically, they informed me that my favorite "seafood hot pot" will not be returning, but-the spring menu has a lot going for it. The spicy shrimp salad comes with a good portion of shrimp for the price. The frites with Sriracha mayo made an excellent pairing, and kept my dinner from being TOO healthy. While, I'm constrained to New Grist, the server was very knowledgeable about all of the beers, and when the one my friend selected was out, he brought a small flight, unasked, so she could select the next closest. A noir, I think (thought that only referred to movies, but ok). She loved it and we both had a second round. Comfortable ambiance, fantastic service, and the host on the door was authentically welcoming, a very nice touch. This restaurant was once my introduction to modern Milwaukee dining, and there's a reason it's still my favorite.
(4)Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: solid brunch in a pleasant setting. Oh no, another Lowlands Group restaurant. Why do I keep coming to these? Thought I'd give Cafe Centraal a try as I was jonesing for some brunchtimes and it's walking distance. It looks just like all the others: semi-industrial, semi-pub, all Millennial-cool. But it's a nice atmosphere to have a meal in, you can't deny. I ordered the Bay View Au Gratin Skillet ($11.95) because I'm a sucker for trying new types of sausage. I expected there to be very little of the Belgian sausage, but I was pleasantly surprised that my skillet came out probably made up half of the sliced stuff. The rest was potatoes, cheese, onions, and a couple fried eggs. Nothing revolutionary, but by far the best solid food I've had a Lowlands place. And the value was there for the amount of food (and sausage!) you get. My only complaint was that there was a Tripel on the menu without a brewery's name next to it and so I figured it must be one of their house brews. I excitedly ordered it, only to be charged $5 for a bottle whose six-pack you could buy at any gas station. A bit disappointing. Experience was more of a 3.5, but rounding up because Cafe Centraal was notably better than any of the other Lowlands Group places I've been to.
(4)Chrissy S.
I would say that I usually am a fan of the Lowlands group restaurants (especially love that they support the local bike community with sponsored events for various clubs and bike fed), but I think I prefer other locations. I like coming here for a beer (great variety of beers) and have eaten here twice. I miss some of the menu items at other lowlands restaurants, but their menu is decent. Just prior to the world cup, they synced all of their tv's... which was a bit of a bummer since we went there to watch hockey and get a beer and someone who was there before us requested the cardinals game. After saying we were going to find it elsewhere, they told us to hold up and after ten minutes they figured out how to split tv channels. I was grateful for that, but found it odd that they were going to make every tv the same thing.
(3)Marcus W.
Just had my wife's baby shower at Cafe Centraal and it was amazing! Organizing a baby shower is not an easy task considering I have zero experience, but Jaime and Amber made it as simple as it gets. Yes, there were some hiccups mid-planning but both them and Amanda the General Manager just "worked it out" and the entire experience was very professional! We booked the Sun Room and all my guests loved the ambiance and vibe the room gives off(check Yelp pics). The food was great!(Quinoa Skillet, French Toast, Pork Belly Poutine, Spiced Chicken Waffle, Bay View Burger & Bay LT). Since I was the host, I was busy with all the guests but I can really tell Mia and Lauren our servers, were hustling and did all they can to accommodate our needs. As a Bay View resident and long-time customer of Cafe Centraal, I highly recommend this restaurant for your event needs, great service, overall great food and drinks!
(5)C G.
Fantastic! We (a group of seven, from 9 to 67 years old) loved every meal we ordered at a Saturday brunch. I have never had better quiche (and I lived in France for a while), my son's French toast was delicious, my daughter fell in love with the beignets, etc. etc. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with a little edge. The only negative was that two of our glasses/mugs had lipstick on them when delivered to the table. Not quite as bad as hair in food, but pretty close. That was an unfortunate way to start a meal, but the food almost completely made up for it.
(4)Erin L.
Kinda pricy but very good. The beers here are amazing and the atmosphere is fun/hipster/inviting We started with the brat/pretzel bite board and VERY glad we did.
(4)Blern S.
Excellent beer, service food and vibe. Breakfast was superb. Try the Ooey Gooey Spicy Mess or whatever it's called. Delicious. These people know how to serve the beers you want, exactly how they should be served.
(5)Kira W.
I love Quizmaster Quiz on Thursdays. I wouldn't go otherwise. I love how the QuizMaster trivia has different categories of questions. It makes it a team effort because we're all able to contribute. Some of us are movie buffs, some of us are audiophiles, and more. It really gives everyone an opportunity to participate because there's such a variety in the content. QuizMaster is new to Centraal. Also worth mentioning is the fact that there were 40 people the first week and over 70 people the second. Wow! We're going to continue to bring more people because we like the trivia. We doubled our team last week and we're going to have to start splitting up since we can only have 8 per team. I haven't had the best experience at Centraal with food or service, but as long as QuizMaster is there, well continue to go and we'll continue to bring 8-12 of our friends. If you need a team, come down and let us know!
(4)Pita J.
Been here a few times over the last few years. I've had amazing bloody marys, I've had awesome sandwiches, I have shitty expensive burgers, I've had stellar service and I've had shit service. Most recently went for brunch - bloody's were on point as always. First waitress, dropped over menus, and never returned, 2nd waiter, who came to the rescue after the first disappeared, was awesome. I feel bad i forgot his name. Food was good, had the breakfast tacos, the sauce needs a bit more kick, but other than that, i couldn't ask for better service. I will be back, as long as that guy is there.
(4)Allison F.
I'm a potato enthusiast, so I need something diced and well-seasoned. Cafe Centraal does just that with their rosemary potatoes, and it's cured a couple of hangovers at Sunday brunch. You're a lifesaver, Cafe Centraal!
(4)Josh B.
This was a spur of the moment brunch decision, and I'm glad we tried it! Cafe Centraal has one of the best beermosas I've ever had, and their blackberry mimosa is pretty good as well, although I think it's a little high priced at $8, I probably would not order it again, unless they lowered the price a bit, or gave you a slightly larger glass. If you do get anything with fries, the best advice I can give is to splurge a bit and get the sweet potato fries. THEY ARE AMAZING WHEN FRESH! Everything we ordered was pretty good, and the service was decent, considering how busy it was (sundays in Milwaukee). The restaurant was mostly clean, although there was a large sticky spot on the table where my napkin and utensils were, but I get the feeling it was a rare oversight, and not a habit. The bloody was pretty good as well, and had a good set of garnishes, including the standard pickles, cheese, and thankfully, bacon. The restaurant was rather loud due to so many people being at the restaurant, which I can't fault them for, but it's something to keep in mind if you're planning on coming for a date, or anything where conversation is going to need to happen. Nothing was overdone, and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying it again on a slower day, so we can really enjoy it.
(4)Corey C.
I'm a big fan of Cafe Centraal and all of the other restaurants that are owned by the Lowlands Cafe group (Benelux, Trocadero, Hollander, etc). They have a tasty take on food that resonates with me. I've never had anything on the menu I didn't like. My favorites are the frites (fries) and dipping sauce. For brunch (or blunch) try the Berry Basil French Toast for something sweet and with artfully balanced flavors. Or for something hearty, savory, and manly, try the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess. they also have an good selection of Belgian and craft beers, and unique cocktails. Whatever you get, check this place out for a perfect sampling of the Bay View culinary experience.
(5)Mike K.
the 2nd stp on the SCR world tour was here and.....Meh. that's right, meh. Then again i'm from Chicago so maybe my standards are a bit high...then again I did live in fond du lac so I clearly have no standards. and still a meh for this place. im sure that's not helpful, but this should be...not impressed by their food, albeit the way its presented is....ok. too expensive for a place giving you average items. plus the service was....meh. our waiter was a bit douche...trying way too hard to be a smartass to a bunch of smartasses...plus when you see the size of our group and give us the smallest space possible especially when we're willing to wait for some room...that's a loss.
(2)Jessica O.
I've been a patron at Cafe Centraal a handful of times over the last few years, and I echo the sentiments of my fellow Yelpers. It is, indeed, inconsistent. I would have been at a solid three stars, IF I hadn't just recently discovered the patio The patio is just lovely. A private, peaceful little refuge, that happens to be filled with lots of peeing cherub fountains. This is a perfect place to sip cocktails. For me, the Ginger Shandie was an awesome choice - Limoncello, ginger beer, and the Lowlands High Speed Wit...hell. yes. Until now, Cafe Centraal was one of those places that I never objected to going, but never suggested on my own. But now it is on a solid list of places I'll offer up when searching for sun and cocktails.
(4)Flex B.
I'm updating my review, because I decided to give Cafe Centraal a second chance and was pleasantly surprised. I went on Memorial Day, and it was the most quiet that I have ever seen the place. Both our host and waitress were nice and welcoming, so service wise I would say really good other than our food taking quite a while to come out. I ordered the blackened tofu philly and it was awesome. Thanks to this sandwich and the friendly service, I have decided that Cafe Centraal has redeemed themselves of my previous bad experience. I will be returning in the future, because it would be of my utmost pleasure to stuff that beautiful sandwich into my mouth again.
(3)Teresa D.
As always an excellent selection of beer, creative entrees and excellent cocktails. I'm a fan of this family if restaurants.
(4)Linda B.
Really annoyed! We were in the neighborhood early and decided to wait until they open at 8am at Collectivo across the street. We walked over a little after 8am and the door was locked. There were people inside who saw us but didn't come over to open the door. Considering it was freezing out side we weren't willing to stand and wait. It was 8:10am when we left and they had not opened their doors. Left a bad impression for me!
(1)W S.
Really a pretty good spot. Food was very good. This is a "sort of" chain restaurant owned by the same group that owns Cafe Hollander in Wauwatosa. No gripes with the food or drinks. It is just a tad on the $$ side, so if you are looking for cheap eats, not here. Upsides: Food was good, service was ok (middle of the road). Downsides: Parking (its on the street, so in winter, bad weather u r walking in it), When they are busy there is next to no place for you to wait. Not a big deal on a summer day, in the winter you are crammed by the entrance/exit with no place to sit and its the main thoughoufare in and out.
(3)Jen F.
This place has some really good things going for it: great beer selection; late night food service, and a big patio. The vegan options here are pretty limited, otherwise I would give it a higher rating. It gets a two for vegan, four for regular food (says my BF, who adores their fresh brunch donuts). The menu invites you to "ask about our vegan options," but sadly the answer is "not much." There are a few salads, a hummus appetizer, and oatmeal for brunch. But I like a little protein with my veggies, and there's not much; I think they even got rid of the one tofu dish. :( (Side note: the waitstaff has always been super nice about asking the kitchen about what could be made vegan, or what options could be modified.) The menu changes regularly, so maybe they'll add some real vegan choices. The few options I have tried are good though, so while it's not somewhere I crave to go, I can definitely make do. Brunch can be crazy with the family crowd, so be prepared to wait (or better yet, grab a seat at the bar and eat there). You can watch the parade of bloody mary's go by and decide which one fits your mood.
(3)Joanna T.
Here's another in my series known as JT's Conversations With Inept Employees: Hubs (earlier): you need to call Centraal at 4:30pm on the dot because they only take reservations 2 hours prior. Me: (grimacing as though in pain at restaurant choice): Centraal? Uhhhh....all right, I guess.... Fast forward to 4:31pm today...... Me: Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for 6 people... Inept Hostess: (cuts me off) we're only taking reservations for after 8:30pm. Me: I thought you took reservations only up to 2 hours prior. IH: That's right Me: (puzzled) But it's only 4:30 pm? IH: we're full for reservations Me: So, all the people that planned to come at 6:30 have already called in the 45 seconds reservations have been open???? IH: We're only taking reservations after 8:30pm. You can call two hours ahead. Me: That's what I'm trying to do. IH: We're full until 8:30 Me: Politely refrains from explaining that if they take reservations just 2 hours prior, that means 8:30pm reservations can only be taken when BOTH the big AND little hand of the clock are on the 6. Me: hangs up, calls Riveria Maya and makes a easy, hassle free reservation. Inept Hostess: goes back to vainly trying to discern the difference between her ass and a hole in the ground.
(1)Sarah M.
The Duck Bacon Flatbread and Spare Ribs were amazing! I thought the Stuffed Burger fell a little flat, but I was expecting more of a Minneapolis-style juicy Lucy. Great beer selection and friendly staff! Love the atmosphere too, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu, so many tantalizing options!
(4)Stephen M.
I remember what this place used to be like when there was a thing known as consistency and quality control. Funny how things change. Prices are up, portions are down, and no one seems to care (by which I mean the staff - there are a couple of high spots, but the same tendency towards hipster-cool-apathy that plagues every one of their places). I've been here twice in the last year and will never be again. I know how hard it is to maintain a thing once it's built, especially when you can't entice the ones who built it to stay. But, as they say when you walk off a ledge in Call of Duty...mistakes have been made.
(2)Barbarossa R.
My wife and I have been going to Centraal for the last 6 years or so, and the service, food and beer used to be great, but somewhere in those six years there was a shift in service and food. I believe the shift can be attributed to the many different and great places to eat around Centraal, and Centraal did not adapt or felt it needed to, which is why last weekend will be the last time I go back. We always sit at the bar, which I fully expect the service to be delayed due to the busy nature of the bartender, but this experience is the one that sealed the deal. The bartender didn't stop by for quite some time, and it wasn't that busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. He clearly wasn't listening when I order a cafe latte because he made a cafe Americano, yes trivial, I know first world problems. So, I didn't say anything and quietly grumbled to my wife and self. We finally order our food and I ordered the Quinoa skillet, which has been a favorite of mine. The eggs were severely over cooked, the skillet had no seasoning and it tasted like the squash hadn't been cooked at all. To top it off when we asked for our bill the bartender gave us the wrong bill. The only saving grace was another server who was incredibly helpful, but unfortunately we've had one to many experiences likes this at Centraal and will no longer go back.
(1)Danielle R.
So, I went here for breakfast. I currently have a pretty limited diet due to a stomach ulcer, so I was looking for something without spice, but with flavor. I ordered the plainest breakfast on the menu, and it was good (the potatoes were delicious). However, my only complaint is that most of their choices for breakfast and skillets are very fancy and have a lot of "different" ingredients. I would've liked a few more choices that were in between being bland af and crazy concoctions.
(4)Lisa A.
This is the last of the lowlands restaurants I have visited. I'm always generally anywhere from very much a fan to "that was pretty good"on their places. Their food is generally reliable and reasonably priced (my parents always LOVE the food here and they can be a little picky,) they all have that "beer book" & they have a speciality drink menu. (Although personally, I find their drinks usually just alright). Other things: Service - our server was nice - genuinely nice and friendly without coming off as phony. I know service is often pointed out as an issue here but I thought he was super nice. Atmosphere - hmmmm....all these restaurants are similar but I didnt care for centraal's atmosphere. It didn't seem as "European" as the others, with a giant bar with tv's in the center and a random smattering of tables around that seemed a little too low for the ceiling. Still, I think this is an decent option in the area. In summer with the patio it might be better.
(3)Amanda P.
No happy hour, but any hour with this beer list is a happy one. New to the neighborhood, my hubby and I were overcaffeinated and in need of wi-fi. We headed to Centraal (using our citytin coaster!) and had a few brews each, paired with frites and tasty dipping sauces. We also asked for a side of the beer cheese sauce that's listed with a different app: I highly recommend dipping your frites and licking the bowl clean after!
(4)Dennis M.
First time here and loved it. We often frequent their sister café, Café Benelux in the Third Ward as it is walking distance. So we came here for a good hearty breakfast and that we got. Fantastic Biscuits and gravy with eggs and a tasty omelets. Service was very good, beautiful outside patio, good prices.
(4)Katelyn H.
Loved the fried chicken sandwich. Spicy ginger BBQ was good. Fries okay. Great beer selection and friendly staff. Cool atmosphere.
(5)Jake P.
I've been to Centraal multiple times - at least five different occasions. Each time I've experienced bad to average service. Let's go through the ones I remember: 1) I came here with my friend and his girlfriend one summer night. We sat out on the patio (which is very well decorated) and we ordered drinks and a fry cone. Simple, right? Apparently not. The food arrived before the drinks and I kid you not, the server even commented on it and said "it's never good when the food comes before the drinks is it." ... You think? It's not even busy right now! But thanks for pointing it out and reminding me. 2) I came for dinner with two of my friends on a Friday evening. We all ordered drinks and food. I ordered the fish fry. It was good except during his whole narration of the specials, the server forgot to mention that the all you can eat fish fry costs extra . On top of that, we all ordered another round of drinks which just never came. Maybe he was just having a forgetful day. 3) I came here with the same couple from 1. By itself, this visit would not have been bad. It was mostly just an odd situation. But since these visits are listed chronologically, I was skeptical about this place. The hostess came off a little rude to us and kind of acted like we shouldn't even be bothering her. Not the worst thing but not great. And I'm 93% certain the server was stoned. I don't care what you do with your personal life but if I can go to work sober, so can you. 4) I came here with a small group of people (3 or 4) and we all sat at the bar. The bartender handed us the drink menus and we never heard from him again. We waited about 10-15 minutes and just walked out without even ordering. And if you don't know, the bar is set up so that there's plenty of room for everyone to sit down. It's not one of those bars that there's a group of people crowded around one lonely bartender while fighting for attention. 5) The final time I came with a friend from work around 11pm. Since Centraal is one of the only places open late with real food around there, it might explain why I keep coming back to it. We both ordered drinks and a sandwich. They were good but unremarkable and certainly not enough for Centraal to redeem itself. Most of these happened over a year ago and I'm still traumatized by them. I wish I didn't have to drive by this place everyday on my way to work. Overall, Centraal has a good drink selection but it is on the expensive side. There are quite a few other places within walking distance to go for drinks. It is one of the only places open later for actual food, however, and that has always been its appeal for me. Unfortunately, I've had too many bad experiences to ever return, even if they're the only ones offering food late at night.
(1)Candice O.
Must try oatmeal. All home made except soy milk. Lots of nuts and grains. Outside dinning, unending beer list. Best donuts ever. Fast, attentive and pleasant wait staff. Can't go wrong.
(5)Beth P.
I've enjoyed some great meals and beers here mostly of the burger and frites/Belgian beer variety. Pro tip: Happy hour is Thursdays during trivia. Our waitstaff has let us do happy hour a little early since we arrived 10 minutes before it started. Better yet, go to Sugar Maple next door and then hit up Cafe Centraal for their grub. Also, they have a really cool outdoor dining area that is open during the summer. I still need to check it out!
(4)Meagan N.
Consistency! The only thing I have consistently enjoyed here is a bloody Mary. One time the 'bacon' on my Hot Mess looked like the charred bits from under a grill grate. Another time my burger tasted like a slat lick.The food was good initially but since their addition the prices went up and the food went down. Bayview has a lot more to offer than Centraal! Do yourself a favor and try an indie spot instead.
(2)Noabeth S.
Just like every lowlands experience, good food and good service. The bay view burger was awesome. We got a duck bacon flat bread pizza as an appetizer which was delicious. 3 stars because my meal wasn't very good, the kulminator.
(3)Gerard T.
Love this place. Always consistent to me. The kitchen stays open late during the week and the appetizers and beers never disappoint. Always a good selection of beers on tap. Also a great spot to catch a game and sometimes randomly they have awesome music. Great spot to relax, drink a beer and have some appetizers or a great place to get together with friends. Expect to spend between $20 -$50. Reasonable priced items snd the service is pretty good
(4)Rachael G.
Ok Centraal. You've upped your game so I'll give ya more stars. So, I've decided to go vegan. Am I crazy? Probably. But for moral and health reasons its what works for me. So the Lowlands Group posted new fall menu items and I was excited to see that Centraal now had 3 vegan options (1 salad, 2 entrees) and the tofu dish sounded awesome. And it was amazing, really freaking tasty. The dish consisted of pan seared tofu, leeks, roasted red peppers (and some other veggies I can't recall) served in a vegetable au jus of sorts, with a piece of baguette on the side. Really excellent flavor, very hearty, and perfect for the winter months. Why still only 3 stars? Portion. It was a smaller plate (maybe 8 or 9 tofu chucks with some veggies and sauce) and it cost 12.95. I know quality costs a little more, but I definitely expected more than what I received. What was also really nice about this visit was we were placed in a smaller back room that was much quieter and had more space than the main room. Still not my favorite go to spot, but I'm starting to warm up to Centraal.
(3)Taylor D.
But is it Tortilla soup... or applesauce with no flavor? Confused. Sometimes I don't really dig the food, but I've never actually gotten sick off of the way a bowl of soup looked. Well... Until last night anyways. WILL NOT RETURN
(1)Mik E.
Will never have a reason to go back. On a recent evening we got there and had a slight wait for a table so we went to the bar to bide the time. My date ordered wine but the glass it was served in had an obvious lipstick impression on it and it took forever to get the bartenders attention to complain. Once we told him about it it simply got a different glass and poured the wine from the dirty glass into the new one. When told that was not acceptable and that we wanted a different drink he asked us what was wrong with the one he just served. While my date tried to tell him that was not acceptable I just went to the Manager to complain. The Manager did come through and comped us the drinks but after that we decided to go elsewhere for dinner. We used to LOVE Centraal (even had a small wedding reception there) but have had several incidents in a row of slow service and slipping quality of food so like I said before... we have no need to return there
(1)Valerie W.
We came to Café Centraal on a Saturday night at the recommendation of Denise D., whom I'd just met at the Tenth & Blake beer dinner the week before. There were definitely some hits and some misses, but all in all, the food, drinks, and atmosphere were good. The restaurant is fairly easy to find, if there's not an international bike race in town. Seriously, all of the streets that led to the corner of KK and Lincoln were shut down because of an international bike race. In Milwaukee. In July. Yes, I'm baffled too. So, we finally get there, and ask to sit outside, because the bike race is literally coming right around the corner at the restaurant. We were seated promptly, but it took quite awhile before our server came to greet us. And even longer before we saw a beer list. And even longer before we were able to order food, order dessert, get the check... you see where this is going. The service was SLOW. Too slow. Luckily, it was a nice night, not too hot, and we had the bike race to watch. The food was pretty good! We shared the soft pretzel as an appetizer, the spicy mustard that comes with it will definitely put some hair on your chest (it's Milwaukee though... so, it's cool.) G had the "Belgian burger bebes" and cheese croquettes from the appetizer menu while I had the Bay View burger, which comes with ale-braised onions, bacon and cheddar, with the burger rubbed in smoked black sea salt. I ordered medium rare, and it came perfectly messy, juicy, and pink. The "frites" were also tasty, I opted for both roasted garlic aioli and curry ketchup for dipping (at 75 cents a pop for dipping sauces, next time I'll just get the aioli.) G was disappointed at my juicy juicy burger while he ate small, dry, thin sliders, but, hey, that's what he wanted! For dessert we shared the pistachio crème brulee, which was good, but not great. The texture wasn't quite right, like it hadn't set up enough. I don't know that I can say I'd go back, because I'm only in Milwaukee once/twice a year, and the service was REALLY REALLY slow, but the food was good... so maybe?
(4)Sarah A.
Solid choice for beer selection and food. My personal favorite is mussel Monday's, burger and frites or the club sandwich. Be sure to check out the dipping sauces and beer specials.
(4)Katie S.
I want Centraal to be better. The menu always makes me drool, but the reality never lives up. Somehow the food always seems underseasoned. The atmosphere is always packed...there's a whole row of tables that is flanked on both sides with major aisles. This would be fine-ish, if the servers didn't keep trying to walk in between the tables because the aisle was so long. There's not enough room folks! Go around! The beer list is always good, lots of Euro options. Is it weird that I want to compare it to Applebee's? I mean, I'll still come and eat, I just won't love it in a 5 star kind of way.
(3)Colin A.
Has Cafe Centraal undergone a radical menu switch in the past few years??? At one point, they had a great manager who paid to sponsor my softball team several years back -- and since we played just down the street at Lincoln Field, we visited several times for beer + eats...most often beer. Their brunch offerings have altered my impression for ...well, ever. I stopped in for brunch two weeks ago Saturday and had a great experience. 1. Arrived at Noon; seated promptly, zero crowd. I know South Shore Festival was the same day, but I was stunned at the emptiness of Centraal. 2. There are at least 20 items on the brunch menu that I would order with a quickness that marvels broadband internet, a rocketship, or The Flash. 3. Price was right and the portions were gigantic. I sampled the green torpedo omelet, which included toast and rosemary potatoes. Delicious all around! My dining companions opted for the same omelet, french toast, black bean burgers, or turkey burgers. The black bean version was huge and looked incredibly tasty. 4. Great beer list; I appreciated the pairing recommendations by dish, but I opted for Alterra coffee for a caffeine blast. I never cared for the dinner menu in the past -- either the dishes were not appealing or the prices were a bit out of my range for usual dinners out -- but as I review it now, there are several items that make my mouth water...and considering most of the dinners don't rise above the $14-15 mark, I'd consider returning for an evening meal. For now, I could see this becoming a brunch destination on plenty of lazy Saturdays to follow.
(3)Katie K.
Food is always so-so (too salty, I can tell it was frozen). Husband loves the beer selection and I am a huge fan of the brunch mimosa.
(3)Barbara D.
A fun place to eat. I had the flat bread with pulled pork & mangos. Not something I'd make at home. Ordered it since a special for the day. I was surprised how good it was. Also had the Cowboy Sliders: 3 burgers topped with breaded onion rings. They were perfect. We sat in an area that gave the feel of eating outside without the hassle of smelling car exhaust or having bugs landing on your food.
(4)Bottomless P.
Food was much better at brunch than at dinner. I'd go back.
(4)Erin T.
Awesome atmosphere and delicious unique menu that makes me want more. Had the quiche for brunch and it was buttery cheesy goodness that made my day. Excellent fresh coffee as well.
(5)Jess O.
Hadn't been there for brunch in a while because I found the selections uninspiring. But oh my we went back and I wanted to order everything. Everything I tried was yummy. I will have to go back to try everything else. The kid's brunches were great too. They come on a little divided plate with fruit or veggies and my girls felt very special to see how fancy their food looked.
(5)Kyle H.
Yet another great pop-in to Centraal and I'm a fan! Bellied up to the bar, prime time on a Friday night, and had a great meal, great service, and I learned a thing or two about beer. Bay View is now becoming baby buggy central, and Cafe Centraal is welcoming to families and kids, and you know what- tables are spaced far enough away to make it a non-issue. It's like a European beer hall, where people bring kids, and even dogs! Centraal is relaxed, and welcoming. Featuring some of their swimming items for Lent, (mussels, blackened seafish tacos) I had the beer-battered Cod fish fry with sweet potato frites and coleslaw. Fish fry passed with flying colors, and it paired well with a Lakefront Fixed Gear. Sitting by the taps, I learned a lot about biers, as the kind waiter answered a lot of questions, and gave out samples. I tried an Estaminet (Pils), which was like Stella Artois, but with a honey sweetness on the backend. A great lightish beer! I'm going to put Centraal in my rotation of places I go with my son, places I belly up to the bar for Beer School, and places I call a Few of My Favorite Things.
(5)Rohan D.
The food is okay, and the ambiance is great, but that doesn't balance out the lack of respect ownership has for drinking customers. I ordered a rye, nothing special, on the rocks, easy on the ice. It came neat, in a tiny little dessert snifter, the kind they might use in a brandy tasting or for small children who like cognac. I had to snag the waiter who left quickly while I scoffed at the peculiar glass. When corrected, he brought the whiskey in a tiny little tumbler, it matched the rocks glass one of the other professors (she just got tenure, we were celebrating) got, except in size. Her cocktail came in a full size rocks glass that my glass fit INSIDE OF. Then of course the bill needed examination. My American rye, less than a thick finger in a tiny little play rocks glass, was twice as much as the English professors full size cocktail. I asked the waiter about the "neat" upcharge, and his response, yet a new rationalization on this temerarious duplicity was outright legerdemain: "It's the same price." The two different prices were one above the other, merely a centimeter apart. "The same price?" He changed to "ice or no ice, the price is the same for neat." Well there's an insulting way to put it. So not only are you going to charge me more for ordering two ice cubes, you're going to give me less whiskey, and insult my intelligence. Bad form Cafe Centraal. Very shortly after this theft, the Chief of Staff took me to dinner at the Mason Street Grill, and I shouldn't be comparing these two restaurants as the MSG is upscale, elegant, and much more expensive, but there's a big difference in respect for customers with a surprising small difference in price for drinks. At the "expensive" restaurant, a top shelf Balvenie doublewood scotch, served in a real heavy bottom big round whiskey glass, over two fingers, ran $14. No dishonest neat upcharge there, so about twice as much, five times as expensive whiskey was only 4 dollars more than at CC. Two neat common whiskeys at CC will run 20$, or 6$ more than about the same amount of much better whiskey at the better restaurant and....no one will insult my intelligence there.
(1)Arielle H.
I ate here the other night with my boyfriend, it was a Sunday night we just moved to bay view and nothing that we could really see was opened so we ate here. Now we've been to Benelux and Hollander so we knew what we were in for. They stopped serving food at 10:30 that night that night I believe because they were doing something with the kitchen, you could still have a drink at the bar after 10:30 just not food. The bartender sat us and was happy we got to enjoy dinner before they closed the kitchen which was nice. They did have a big party that night close to about 20 people our waitress was very sweet and wanted to make sure our food got in before the large party. I am not a big beer fan and know they have a decent selection of beer. I ordered the dreamsicle and honestly was not impressed. I was expecting it to taste, well like a dreamsicle. I can't really explain the taste but I was a fan. For an app we ordered the brisket sliders, when I saw it had a horseradish cream sauce I was a little hesitant but they.were.delicious!!!!!! I wish they would have given you 4 instead of 3. For dinner I had the bayview burger. I mean it's a burger and fries doesn't need any further explanation. My boyfriend ordered the kalmunator? (Sp?) it's a grilled cheese with bacon. That was alright, I mean I love my bacon but that had to much bacon and not enough cheese. And for me when ordering any kind of grilled cheese you would think some type of tomato soup would be involved. Overall we had a nice dinner, I felt a little rushed to order only because of the large table so I ended up sticking with something simple, dinner wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad either, I'm personally more of a fan of there brunch
(4)Jon S.
Food was fantastic. A very good selection with many "alternative" options lets say. But i ended up getting the Bay View Burger. If you want a good burger, I strongly recommend this one. My girlfriend got the beef stew in a pretzel bowl (forgot the name of it). Beef was a little fatty she said and there was a lot of onions in it. I didn't mind that though. I just finished the onions for her haha. Now onto drinks. They had a nice little book with many different selections of beer all organized by type. A very good selection I must say. I would highly recommend this place for food and drink activities.
(5)Yeng C.
My husband and I had brunch at Cafe Centraal last Sunday. We have been here several times before and I enjoy the brunch while my husband enjoys the beer selection. I am only giving it a 3 star because of our customer service at the bar. We sat at the bar while we waited to be seated. After 10 minutes of being ignored, I literally had to wave down a bartender to get drinks. Other than that, our food was good and our server was excellent (he was thin, with glasses, and wearing a packer jersey). We have both worked in the food industry in the past and customer service determines a lot about a restaurant to us. Cafe Centraal is good but it can be so much better.
(3)Kay C.
I have been to Cafe Centraal many times, but this is my first stab at a review. I think it is a great addition to any Bay View bar crawl due to the size of the place, which includes a really nice big bar and an awesome secluded patio area. It has a cool, casual atmosphere and the same great beer selection you find at all the Lowlands Group places with an emphasis on Belgian beer. So it has a lot going for it. We just had brunch on Sunday and sat outside in the patio area. Typically my husband is not a fan of patio areas as you are exposed to the elements and many times you're on the street with vehicle and foot traffic. But this patio is different. It actually has a calming effect as you are surrounded by tall vine covered brick walls and little urinating statues of various colors throughout the area. The statues are the symbols of Brussels, Belgium - Manneken Pis - little man pee. No worries about wind and stinky exhaust fumes. The brunch menu is quite extensive offering egg dishes, pancakes/waffles, salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. Pretty much something to please everyone. I ordered the Green Torpedo omelette with basil, spinach and feta cheese accompanied by rosemary potatoes. All so very good. They have a great brunch beverage menu as well with a good variety of Bloody Marys, mimosas, etc. I went with the Southsider Bloody this time with jalapeno infused vodka and a variety of hot spiced pickled accompaniments plus a Hoegaarden beer chaser. Yum. This time around we had excellent, knowledgeable service and really great food. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Greg w.
Food wasn't good but they were cool with my friend puking into his fancy Belgian beer, so that's an extra star.
(4)Phillip M.
Great sandwiches! Great location (Parking a bit tough!) My favorite "PIKE TANDEM DOUBLE ALE"!
(5)Bartleby F.
We went here on Tuesday, at about 9:30 after learning that both La Perla and La Fuente do not actually close the kitchen at 10, they close it whenever they feel like. So we were questing for what is considered "late night" food. We found it at Cafe Centraal. The interior is what goes for standard reclaimed industrial these days, exposed ducts, a fantastic wood bar and floor, exposed brick. We were immediately greeted at the door and seated where we learned the kitchen is open to midnight. Huzzah! Our server, Erk, was fantastic. He was attentive, offered suggestions, even told us how some things were cooked, and in general he was a great guy. This is a rarity in Milwaukee where many servers are polite but distant or just rude in the guise of efficiency. The special was the Poutine so that's what my husband ordered. We live close to Red Dot so it was cool to see another take on this dish. The duck/port gravy was delicious and the fried pork belly was simply delicious. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. It was good, but the chicken was a little small. The gouda combined with the Siracha BBQ sauce, however, was an unexpected treat. All in all, we'll definitely go back. I won't say it's cheap, but it's cheaper than Hollander (and less pretentious, too!)
(4)Pamela M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and I usually have a wonderful experience there. However, last night I ordered a sandwich but wanted it without the spicy peppers and onions. For medical reasons I cannot eat spicy food. I believe it was Doug who waited on us. He was heckling me for wanting to change it. He said it had been a field day for modifications and asked if that's what I really wanted to order. It didn't come off like he was just joking around. My boyfriend even commented about the attitude. I was still able to enjoy my meal but I left wondering what was the point to badgering your customers.
(3)Heather M.
Love love love this place. If you like Cafe Hollander, you'll love this place. Same owners. Incredible beer selection. Delicous food with diverse menu. The beer cheese soup was incredible. Thick and creamy. The popcorn on the top was a nice touch. Hard to find great beer cheese soup in this city of beer and cheese! I really don't have much of a taste for french fries in general. However, the sweet potato frites are wonderful. Just the right level of crispyness. It also comes with your choice of dipping sauce. I'd recommend the chipotle sour cream. Yum!
(5)Roseanne S.
This was our next stop on our tour of bars in the Bay View area. I thought The Sugar Maple had a large beer selection. Boy was I wrong. Cafe Centraal definitely took the cake here. Very big, open space with a lot of seating and a nice long bar. My friend and I sat at a small table near the window. I perused the beer menu, eyes wide open at the amount of different beers they had. I had no idea where to even start. Our waiter was very helpful. I asked him what beer he would recommend. Of course, he asked what I liked and I told him basically anything besides stouts and porters. I also asked if they had any hefewizens and admitted that they don't have any he would recommend. I appreciated his honesty about their selection. Instead of letting me try a crappy beer just because I liked the style, which is something another waiter/bartender might do, he offered up some great suggestions, one of which I went with. Seriously, the amount of different beers here is insane and I love it. We only stayed for one drink because my friend isn't a beer drinker and wanted to go somewhere with more fruity girly drink options, but I'm looking forward to coming back with some of my craft beer compadres and getting to know some more of these beers.
(4)Rachel A.
I'm a huge fan of the Lowlands group. They own some of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. Cafe Centraal is the bad seed of the bunch. I have eaten here three times, and each time I have gotten EXTREMELY sick from the food. It was my intention to give them the benefit of the doubt. Three times is no coincidence. Service is poor. Staff is somewhat unfriendly. I would absolutely not eat here again.
(1)Hazel C.
Several vegan options, and multiple vegetarian options, as well. The tofu bowl (vegan) was AMAZING. Nice atmosphere, good music, decent sized menu, however, the server wasn't attentive at all. Took about 20-25 minutes for him to come back with the check. Could've just been an off day. I'd go again for the food and hope the service improves.
(3)Marc R.
Sure, it is part of a restaurant group, but they have got a lot going on here to love. The great beer choices here are amazing, and while many friends have complained about the food being "freezer" food, I really loved the black bean burger here. The servers are pretty friendly - I like the afternoon bartender Sylvia - and are always nice if you are willing to hang out and chat in the afternoon. I love that they made my mussels with a TON of garlic. I had a few strong beers then wanted to eat so went for it. I had the mussels with a not so bright but pretty ex GF who said to the server back then "the mussels are great, but I hate Belgian beers" ... well, um, Centraal Station is in Amsterdam, but hey, I had to hand it to the server for saying "Well, we are a Belgian beer specialist, but I bet you'd like the IPA or spotted cow" and he brought out a couple samples for Miss Super hipster. Yep, It worked. Ok, well, back to the garlic. I had my vampire proof mussels, and I usually ask for more bread and a spoon to suck up the soupy yumminess. So, I do like this place as a anchor property in the Bay View hood. Milwaukee has its investor driven restaurants and bars to be sure - there are a few that have popped up that I really like - example: Boone & Crockett. Centraal was always one of the places I brought my too cool for Milwaukee Wicker Park and Logan Square friends from Chicago and it is still on the list.
(4)Jeremia F.
Had some good shiitake mushroom style Mussels that were great! And partook in some of their excellent beverage selections which is dominated by Belgians....oooooh. Service was great but the menu was just to "all over the place" and I didn't see anything I loved, too many sandwiches, so went to the Odd Duck.
(4)D B.
Chain envy. I want to like this place more than I do. The Lowlands family of restaurants all have a similar feel. OK food and decent/predictable drinks served at a premium by uninspired wait staff. There are exceptions, and I don't want to be too negative, but more often than not, I leave mildly disappointed, and I get the impression they could care less. If I had some advice for the lowlands folks it would be to hire some talent, pay them well, and stop trying to be a crappy chain.
(3)Jennifer C.
The food at Cafe Centraal is pretty good - sometimes it is hit or miss depending on what you order. The decor is pretty cool and it has a pretty relaxed enviroment. The wait staff can be hit or miss as well. I have had amazing services as well as services that is kind of iffy. Yesterday when I went, the bartender seemed more interested in talking with his friend who was a customer as well rather than being of some use to other customers.
(3)Wendy K.
Centraal is amazing. Great cocktail menu. They also have a burger with blu cheese in it that is the best burger I have ever had. Stuffed grass fed burger. No joke. Also the scotch egg is to die for. I ordered one as an appetizer, and I liked it so much I got another to bring home, which only lasted half my car ride home. Delish!!
(5)Melissa M.
First time here! Great food and service! I love the black bean burger and selection of beer!!
(4)Emily S.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD Huge beer selection Amazing sweet potato fries And a menu that changes every few months to improve their recipes Very unique and flavorful
(5)B B.
First time visit to Cafe Centraal. Brunch was on my mind and I wanted a refreshing cocktail on a hot Saturday afternoon. The place wasn't crowded but it wasn't dead either. Families, couples and what looked to be a great mixture of all walks of life were enjoying the open, sunny atmosphere. We were served water right away which is a nice touch on a hot day in the city. I had a specialty cocktail called a Red Snapper. It wasn't too sweet or boozy...it was made quite well. My husband had the Nuts and Berries from the cocktail menu. Creamy, smooth and the raspberry garnish was a great touch. Every person that was working behind the bar was conversational and genuinely concerned if we needed anything and if we were enjoying our visit. The host was friendly and super cute. The brunch menu is full of choices but my decision was easy. I chose the Red Eye. Black pepper basil biscuits with poached eggs and chorizo gravy served with rosemary potatoes. The eggs were cooked properly and the ample portion size left me with extra to have as a snack later. This dish is full of spice but not overbearing. My husband had the Hot Mess with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage over rosemary potatoes topped with Belgian beer cheese sauce and fresh basil. Another ample portion for a hungry bruncher. He gave it 3.5 stars only because the eggs were slightly overcooked. He ate it all so it had to be good. Our bill was $39 for two tasty drinks and two hearty meals. We'll be back soon and Cafe Centraal is now going to be a must visit place when I'm in MKE.
(5)Becky S.
Love all their beer choices. A great place to hang out with friends, drink, and try new beers. Love that they have Lambics (Framboise and Peche are the best).
(4)Chris M.
I've been a fan of the Lowlands restaurant group since they opened their first restaurant. Each have unique and amazing locations. I've been to this location on a few occasions. Here are a few highlights: - Gluten-free MENU! That's right, a separate menu to make it easy for us GF freaks. - Their courtyard is awesome. Very private, you don't feel like you're just sitting along a road waiting for a car to come up over the curb and take you out. - Pork chops, red pepper coulis and polenta dish is the bomb!! - You like a good bloody mary? How about one with Nueske's bacon? Yep. The last time I was there was with a large group (~ 20 people). We all arrived at different times, some stood, some sat, some drank, some ate, we all moved around constantly. However, the server nailed kept each of our bills separated perfectly and always found me to deliver me my gluten-free beer. That's right, gluten-free BEER!
(5)Brandy H.
One of the best beer selections in town Food is to die for. Favorites include the hummus and damage dip appetizer, rosemary goat cheese & mac, and meatloaf. Fish fry is amazing as well. CAN'T GO WRONG HERE!!!!
(5)Casey C.
Went here for brunch. The Milwaukeean bloody mary was the best bloody I have ever had. The horseradish adds a spicy kick that is different from Tabasco. And it had bacon and cheese in it. Does it get any better than that. I usually don't like brunch because I don't want a huge meal that is really sweet like French Toast. But here, in addition to the sweets, they had options like the Chili Rojo Corn Cakes. Not ashamed to say I ate the whole colossal portion myself. Yum. And the Basil Berry Bliss is a great French Toast option. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Robert M.
You could do a lot worse than Cafe Centraal, but you could do a lot better as well. I find all of the Lowlands Group Restaurants (Trocadero, Centraal, Hollander, Benelux, etc) to be remarkably similar. While at one time each of these restaurants represented a unique feel representative of their inspiration (France, Belgium, etc) they now all look, feel, taste act and smell virtually identical. Sort of depressing. The recipe: a very large selection of (mainly Belgian) beer, straight-forward food that is heavy on meats, potatoes and cheeses, decor and presentation that feels a little chain-ish. There's no question this is how you build a brand, but it all feels a little forced. I imagine I will inevitably be at Cafe Centraal again, but it will be at someone else's behest. Pros * Great for families and groups, particularly if you want to appease a lot of tastes * Outstanding beer selection Cons * Everything tastes, looks, feels the same * Service is lackluster at best
(2)Loesje T.
Our yearly visit to Milwaukee always includes Cate Centraal. The outside patio was in full swing on a sunny Sunday morning. Brunch was outstanding as was the Bloody Mary special. It is so special that the NYT gave it a write up! Centraal keeps getting better and better. A welcome addition to Bay View. Heard that Alterra is building across the street. That and other local spots make this a new happening area. We'll be back!
(5)Diane M.
The food here was delicious. Especially the belgian donuts. The server was very knowledgeable about the beer, and very sincere. Their beer selection was quite extensive, and the manager Bob was very polite and helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good meal, or a good beer!
(5)Kip G.
After two wonderful experiences at Trocadero, I decided to give one of their sister restaurants a try today. The service definitely wasn't up to the same level received at Trocadero, but our waitress was training someone, so I completely understand. I decided to give the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy a shot and was pleased with the decision. Was completely in love with the chorizo gravy, but still not sure what to make of the addition of poached eggs to the mix. I'm just not that big of a fan of eggs, I guess. Good stuff though. Side of smoked bacon added a little extra love to the experience and gave me a little something to dip into those yolks. I'm not writing off Centraal, but I definitely think I'll try its other sister (Cafe Hollander) before returning for another meal. Wonderful location though...I love Bayview and can already tell that outside seating during Summer for brunch would be a wonderful experience.
(3)Denise H.
The Bloody Marys are really good. That was the only good thing about my visit. My group waited over a hour to get a table and then over an hour to get our food order. We were pretty hungry by the time we got our food. I didn't think that the GF Salmon Benedict was worth the $13.99 that I paid for. It was quite a small portion size.
(3)Becky T.
We live 6 blocks from Centraal, & we eat there quite regularly. The food is always very good & the service is too. I don't think I've ever been disappointed @ Centraal. This goes for the Wauwatosa location as well as the downer avenue location. I also have to give them props for being so fun! the sponsor the Santa Rampage ride and other cycling events and that's just awesome for community, fitness, and good times.(Trocadero on the other hand, has been ultra slow & insanely forgetful on a number of occasions...) But other than Trocadero, I'm very happy w/ Lowlands group, and Cafe Centraal in particular.
(4)Katie S.
Awesome beer menu. Great indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Great location. (Being in walking distance from my house gives it an extra thumbs up.) Food is always decent, but it's a "sort-of" chain, and a little on the pricey side. I usually find myself at Cafe Centraal more for beers or trivia than for the food. It's a decent spot for sure.
(4)Andrew A.
I have been to Cafe Centraal a few times but this is my first review. Service is inconsistent but this last time, it was good. No doubt about it has some of the best beer selection in Milwaukee...PBR tall boys to the best Belgian beer. The fish fry is pretty good and has an AYCE option. Last time I had it was $11.95 for regular fish fry and $13.95 for AYCE. It has panko breading, regular fries (not the best), and cole slaw (okay). I have also had the Bayview BELT for $9.95. This is a GOOD sandwich - applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce, 2 fried eggs, and roasted garlic aioli on toasted french bread. The hamburgers are okay. If you are looking for a burger, I'd try Solly's, Sobleman's, Oscar's Pub and Grill, or AJ Bombers. This last time I had the rib-eye and frites for $19.95. It was okay at best but a steak for $19.95 I can't really complain too much. Fries were much better this time around - fresh cut. My wife had the Benelux salad with chicken and enjoyed it.
(3)Jamie S.
I have many things to talk about here: I live in the area, and so this is one of my options, and regardless of how indifferent i feel towards CC,and at times, I never can quite convince people we should go somewhere else. One time i went in and they made me sit at the bar to get the happy hour price on the fries, even though there were 5 other patrons in the whole place. They could have been nice, and adjusted the price and let me and my friend sit where we were and not move all our stuff up to the bar. Tacky. Employees are ALWAYS seeming to be holding meetings during restaurant hours at the back of the restaurant. Its akward. Period. The food could be better. You go there and eat something, you will know what I am talking about. The beer is great though..the one bright spot. The staff is pretentious at times. Not all of them. But good God, some of them have snotty 'tudes. You never know if you should wait to be seated, because NOONES ever waiting at the podium when its slower. Today i went in for brunch and it took 30 minutes to come to the table, when i asked the waitress where the food was, she said the restaurant is busy and the patio is packed. Soooo..what you are saying is we have to suffer because the patio is busy? I said this to her, and her reply was: the whole restaurant suffers. Bitch! Just snotty, like I mentioned. The gaspacho is good, but I am sure i could make better. You cant really mess up cold veggie soup. Just go to LULU or my house for dinner instead.
(2)H C.
What is with all of the Lowlands Group restaurants and their crummy service? Went in on Sunday before a birthday party. Place was pretty empty so we sat at a high top table near the entrance to watch the Packer game. Not sure what the deal was with our server, but she was just kind of flighty. She took our food order before even offering us drinks. Food came out pretty fast, but it seemed like it took forever every time one of us ordered another drink. Once she forgot we ordered another drink and a few times after that she had to come back and ask us what we ordered. Then she would randomly take empty plates and glasses, but leave other ones on the table. Food isn't bad and the atmosphere is pretty nice, but the service is just plain crummy. And, going to their other restaurants I can say the service is pretty crummy there too. Thinking they need to pay their servers a bit more, and hire some quality folks. Because I am certainly not going out of my way to frequent their establishment.
(2)Maria S.
Cafe Centraal is the type of place you want to bring your out of town guests when you have a mixed crowd. The menu lends to both the picky eater and the foodie. I believe they have the best mussels in town (get the traditional sauce). They also have fantastic bloody marys. Their brunch and dinner are both reliable, you know you will get good food. I wouldn't say that it's amazing or innovative, but it is absolutely a solid choice. Also the space is pretty big, I have never had to wait longer than 15 minutes. Finally their outdoor seating is cozy and off the street. I love that they have multi-colored string lights hanging.
(4)Don W.
Cafe Centraal has a tremendous beer selection. Try their sampler so you can try four tasting samples of beers for $12 and figure out what you like best. The food was very good. My wife had the beer-battered fish fry (three pieces of fish, choice of fries and cole slaw). I had an Italian sausage plate (2 sausages) on top of red-skin mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Parking is a bit cumbersome to locate.
(4)Megan S.
I'm lucky enough to live within blocks of this fabulous eatery -- part of Milwaukee's Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group (Madisonians, think Food Fight) and an all-around great place for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks. I love the breakfast burrito (it's absolutely massive, so only attempt it when you're half-starved) and I try the daily special whenever it's vegetarian (and haven't been let down yet!). Definitely a place to indulge a bit. The service is somewhat hit-or-miss, but it's never actually bad -- just lackluster at times. The space, on the other hand, is fantastic, along with the Euro-style decor. As for parking, there's a lot across the street and plenty of metered spots along KK; the 15 also stops right at Centraal's doorstep. Overall, it's conveniently located, you won't wait long to be seated, and you'll likely enjoy both the aesthetics and the grub.
(4)Jennifer C.
PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!! (See last paragraph) This place has potential, it really does. The location is great, the ambiance is wonderful and they really should be doing much better business than they are. I used to wonder why they aren't busier. I no longer wonder. The first time we went for a fish fry there, it's was awesome. The second and third times, it was average. The food here is not consistent. I've been here on many occasions for different entrees and sometimes I'm really impressed and other times I wish I hadn't bothered. The service has much to be desired. Once we went in and stood at the front for almost 10 min. They weren't even half full, it was after 10PM and servers as well as bartenders saw us and no one said a thing. I finally called and spoke to the manager and asked him if he could come to the front to seat us. He was accommodating and apologized. The food service is pretty slow as well although the servers are knowledgeable of the menu and food. We went there one night just for cocktails. We were the only ones sitting at the bar. The bartender was one of the worst I've ever experienced. He refused to talk to us other than take our order and ignored us unless our glasses were empty. When I asked about the absinthe he didn't explain much about it (didn't even tell us it tastes like black licorice which I'm not a fan of). When I asked what other "fun" drinks they had, he just looked at me and said, condescendingly, "oh is it going to be that kind of a night?" WTF? Dude, if you hate your job that much, just quit. Lastly, don't park in the metered parking lot across the street. Went there on Monday for lunch with a friend and his driver's side window was busted open and everything in his car was stolen (laptop, gps, ipod, etc.) in broad daylight!! PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!!
(3)Tony K.
A great place to play Jenga with friends while drinking one, or two, or three belgium beers.
(4)Jason B.
A handsome establishment where service is blemished by a disorganized waitstaff and much-too-casual attitude. I like the food here. Brunch options are, for the most part, good and always adequately boost my recuperation from a hangover. Their alcohol selection is impressively large and includes a number of specialty and craft beers. The donuts are delicious, although much too rich for the large portion in which they are served. I especially enjoy the Grand Café club. It's a solid sandwich with simple and attractive flavors. Always with sweet potato "frites". Unfortunately, there is a undeniable vein of pretension running through the whole operation. What the hell are frites? They're called fries. Or french fries. And the youngish waitstaff approach everything with an oddly condescending "yeah, cool, bro" mentality. Don't expect professional conversations with these guys. They've got your tip on their mind the whole time (which, by the way, they've already mentally committed to spending on tonight's really cool whatever) and expect to earn it by being your best pal. I've had tremendous waits for my food, waiters that completely forgot my table, and drinks that remained empty for almost the entirety of my meal Expect decent food and mediocre service. Visit for lunch on a weekday for the best possible experience.
(3)Rosie G.
This is by far my most favorite place to go for drinks or food in Milwaukee. Any time of day this place is fantastic! I literally have dreams about the Bloody Mary "The Frenchie" because it is too good for words. Every Sunday I seem to find myself back there for more. Nothing is a better hangover cure than The Frenchie and Eggs Benedict. It is perfect because there are a lot of vegetarian options as well. The location is cool, the food is great and I find myself there more times than I can count.
(5)Nick M.
I love interesting beers and they definitely have some here. Lots of exotics with good menu descriptions. But the prices are shocking if you walk in thinking it's a standard bar with customary bar prices. A few pre-dinner drinks here cost me more than I spent on a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant later in the night. I give it 3 stars because for some people the prices are worth the experience. For my tastes, I'll grab a few pints of Guinness across the street and walk out $20 heavier. I'm happy to have visited once but this is not a place I'll visit regularly unless the boss is buying.
(3)Lauren M.
After reading some of the reviews on here I thought the service would be pretty terrible. However, the waitress that my boyfriend and I had was wonderful! She was very attentive and since it was both my boyfriend and I's first time there it was nice to have someone to ask for suggestions on food and drinks. I ended up getting the Grilled Portabello Sandwich. Oh my god, it was wonderful! I got a side of Sweet Potatoes Fries which my boyfriend stole a ton of...they were amazing. He ordered the Portabello Pasta which he was not the biggest fan of. Now on to the drinks....the beer menu is around 15 pages long. I ended up ordering the High Speed Wit for my first beer and it was so so good! I think it is my new favorite. It reminded me of a much more delicious Blue Moon. My second beer was called Leffe Blonde and was also delicious. A little sweet, but not too sweet. We dined in a red room towards the back. It was pretty quiet and we were able to enjoy our dinner and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. Can't wait to go back and try some new beers and food!
(4)April B.
We went there for brunch, and I ordered the MIlwaukean Bloody Mary... it was good! Had bacon, olives, cheese, pickle, asparagus and a green bean. Oh, and a lime and a lemon. It was like a salad bar on top of my drink. The hubs got the beermosa and was dissapointed. Food was ok... I got the corn cakes, and they were so spicy that paired with my drink, my mouth was on fire. And I like spicy things. Hubs got the hot mess, and it was ok. Coolest part was the server and the atmosphere.
(3)Kristy L.
I recently moved from Chicago and appreciate the non-fattening, non-cheesy, vegetarian, fresh sort of cuisine. And Cafe Centraal absolutely has it! I mean,yea, the sweet potato fries are probably a little fattening (:P) but the food is just good, fresh, and very healthy/vegetarian friendly (plus they have raspberry beer on tap!!!!). The only thing I would advise against is their tofu dish.....it is basically a whole plate of tofu with a good yet overwhelming sauce, a little bit of veggies, and rice which is drenched in the overwhelming sauce. Felt a little sick after that on! But yea, go here! Its a good vibe and good food!
(4)Denise D.
I had the portabella rustica sandwich today and I can't wait to go back to get it again.
(5)Foodie M.
Made in the likeness of its twins: Café Hollander(x2) and Trocadero, Café Central benefits from the same great design work and hot spot locations but unfortunately suffers (like its siblings) from the lack of diversity in menu items and quality of service. I recently made my third trip to Café Central? Why might you ask continue the suffering (see review on Café Hollander- Tosa)? My third trip was prompted by a 28 year old co-worker who is still learning the difference between a good restaurant and being sold up the river for overly expensive beer that you can get much cheaper a few blocks down the road (and you can get it with a smile!). My coworkers that had been to Café Central hemmed and hawed at the thought of having to endure another Café Central experience but these were outnumbered by curious first timers. 1. While waiting for a table at the bar for our other coworkers to arrive, I ordered a cranberry juice. "Just a cranberry juice? You don't want anything else?" this could have been a nice way of prompting me to order additional food, but instead the bartender just rolled his eyes and huffed off. He did look surprised when my pregnant self did manage to waddle to our table revealing my baby bump. I then got a sort of apologetic look from that bartender... 2. When the rest of our group got to the bar (five in total) The bartender wanted the drink order to be taken IN ORDER. One of our guests didn't know what he wanted and suggested that the bartender move on to the next person. But the lumberjack/bicyclist/bartender stated again, "I will take your drink orders when you are ALL ready". He then moved on to another customer. 3. Our waitress had to leave our table no less than seven times to figure out answers to questions regarding: The Beir Club, Specials, If a beer was in stock, The Beir Club, The Bier Club. Our waitress was also training someone but clearly had no idea what was going on herself. 4. It took half an hour in a less than one third filled restaurant to get a second round of drinks ordered. Which was odd because she came and left our table so often. 5. The one modified dish we ordered ( no onions) came with extra onions. My coworker summed it up: " It's been over ten years since I haven't left a tip for a meal". He won't have to worry about it for another ten years as it will take at least that long before we venture out to Café Central again. It gets two stars (instead of one) for serving food extra late to less discerning customers.
(2)Kyle K.
One of my favorites. For me, the highlight is the Belgian beer list. Always rotating great new beers in and out, and always with favorites (GULDEN DRAAK!!) sticking around. I have eaten here several times and the food is quite good and I think their fish fry is underrated.
(4)Krystle K.
Way to expensive for Horrible food and bad service. Was 2pm on a saturday and we could not get a normal lunch, instead we had to order brunch. I order steak and eggs, did not get an option how I wanted my steak or eggs done. Steak came with a HUGE glob of season butter on top of it, cold potatoes, and rare steak. Will never be back, do not waste your time, money, or taste buds on Cafe Centraal.
(1)Anthony R.
A couple of friends and I met up at Cafe Centraal this past Saturday for brunch. There was six of us total and we were meeting at noon and my intuition was telling me that such a large group of people at such an ideal time would be hard pressed to find seating right away. I couldn't have been more wrong. We walked in and we were seated right away. The place was busy but not packed which is ideal. The waitress greeted us right away and got our drink orders in. If you come here you MUST order a bloody mary. I love bloody mary's and this place has some nice options. I picked out the "Frenchie" which was delicious. After we got our drinks the waitress took our food orders and we were set. The food was really good as well. I had the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy which had a little kick to it which I like. Other people in my group ordered the Hot Mess, the Fat Elvis, and the Breakfast Burger and I think everyone was satisfied with their orders. Portions are bigger than average and not everyone could eat what was on their plate. After our meal a manager was nice enough to come to our table to make sure everything was ok, which it was. That is a nice touch. Another nice touch was that the waitress, after seeing us try and figure out the bill among 6 people, offered to separate the bill for each of us which we gladly took her up on. She didn't have to do that and I believe most waitresses/restaurants would not offer to do that (and more should). Overall I don't see how I could give this place anything but 5 stars. The service was above and beyond. The bloody mary was outstanding. The food was really good and the prices are fine in my opinion. Café Centraal sits on a very busy corner in Bay View and if you get a window seat you'll definitely have something to look at. The place itself is very open and inviting. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Jeff K.
Been here several times with groups as well as with my girlfried.. It's always very good quality food. The bloody mary's are the best in the city if you ask me, and service is slow but always friendly and apologetic (for delays). I've never had a bad meal or server here, and if you don't mind the slow service, this is a great Bay View restaurant and bar.
(4)Dee W.
This ultra hip over priced Applebees never fails to disappoint. Being a Bay View resident I've given this place more then enough chances, yet they some how always leave a foul taste. Crappy service to par food(at best) this place seems to find a way to wreck a meal. This restaraunt is the exact opposite of ever other charming spot in Bay View. My advice if your coming down to visit, cross the street and head to Cafe Lulu. Are you Looking for just a great selection of beer Sugar Maple is a few doors down and is so so so much better, Try Tonic, Honeypie or even the diner. Just avoid this place. It's been well over a year and they still haven't gotten thier act together.
(2)Keith R.
I have yet to have a bad experience here. I go about once a month, either for a Friday beer or brunch on Sunday. I think this group (Centraal, Benelux, Trocadero, and Hollander) is doing the best job in Milwaukee right now. Food, beverage, and service has always been good. Keep it up!
(5)Ryan S.
I have been in love with Cafe Centraal for the past 2 years. They have an awesome and extensive beer list and great food. I have never had a bad experience here and I have been to Centraal more times than I can count or remember. The servers are always friendly and provide great service. Cafe Centraal has great atmosphere and it's right in the center of Bayview's main street. I have eaten here for lunch, brunch, and dinner and enjoy it every time! I highly recommend coming here. They even have a beer club you can join which takes place weekly (I always intend to attend the weekly meeting but I still haven't) which is pretty cool.
(5)Caitlin M.
We have only been to Centraal for breakfast, and while it was busy, I now understand why. The breakfasts are great, and just for kicks we tried the fresh-made donuts...oh my god! They were AWESOME! I don't know anything about their other meal offerings, but the beer list is extensive and seems very promising. I think the next time I go back I will also try their mimosas or bloody marys. They have many different varieties of both to choose from. Definitely highly recommend.
(4)Erin K.
Recently moved to Milwaukee and looking for good brunch/breakfast places. Found Centraal on Yelp. Have to say, I was disappointed. We each started off with Bloodys - I had the Frenchie and my husband had the Traditional. I personally thought the prices were a bit high - $8/each. My Frenchie was made with Dijon and was okay, but definitely lacking in the whole tomato flavor. Erich's Traditional was good. They each came with a wedge of lemon and lime as well as pickle spear, asparagus, and bean. Decent condiments. For our meal I had the three egg omelet with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. It was okay, but nothing special. There was a side of toast, which tasted more like it was fried in a pan. Very crunchy. It also came with a side of roasted rosemary potatoes which I substituted for bacon. The server told me it would be a dollar for the change, but later came back and said the price would be the same. Overall, my meal was meh. Didn't love it and didn't hate it. Erich had the Fat Elvis. It was a french toast sandwich with peanut butter and bananas stuffed in the middle. It was supposed to come drizzled with chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon. It didn't have either of those things. We asked the server about it and he quickly brought out a little bit of chocolate sauce and ONE piece of bacon. While his was tasty, the lack of the chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon was disappointing. I would probably go back one more time, but if it didn't sell me then, I'm over it.
(2)Chris G.
Really, really enjoyed Cafe Centraal. Excellent food selection, upscale but not haute taute, and very reasonably priced. The restaurant, too, was trendy but still welcoming and true to its Bay View setting. Beer selection was absolutely top notch. And I would disagree that it's not necessarily a place for kids. They have a kids menu with all the standard kids menu fare, and my 11 year old enjoyed it as much as the rest of us. Looking forward to going back.
(5)Jon A.
This place has a very nice outdoor seating area, but that's really the only stand-out. Otherwise, Centraal is yet another 'European' style, craft-beer-oriented establishment, the likes of which are now littering the Bay View neighborhood. As usual, there are many beers to choose from, with a focus on the Belgian varieties that are popular in the states (not that any of the late-night patrons drink that stuff. You'll see a lot of Pabst or mixed drinks being consumed). I can't speak to the food, so maybe that's what I'm missing out on. Still, if you've been to Hollander, Trucadero, or Cafe Lulu you're not really going to find anything vastly different here.
(3)Taylor R.
I live in Bay View. When I heard that the people who run Cafe Hollander were opening a restaurant a block from where I live, I was excited to say the least. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to standard of the very good Hollander. The ambiance is very pleasant; it's a spacious, converted Cream City Brick building with nice outdoor areas both on the sidewalk and in the back. The selection of Belgian beers is excellent, as would be expected. The decline, though begins with the spotty (at best) service, and only gets worse with the food. Centraal has many dishes similar to those at Hollander, but the quality is inferior. If you're looking for a decent place in central Bay View sit outside and have a Belgian beer, Centraal works nicely. If you're intent on Centraal's food, though, drive a few miles North and try Cafe Hollander.
(2)Mariah M.
I am writing about 2 experiences: The first time we ordered mussels and a burger. They were amazing! The second time we went was two days later because we loved the food so much. Ugh, not this second time. It was early 11am and we stood in front to be seated for over 10 min until we sat ourselves (even though it says "please wait to be seated") Service is awful! And the mussels we got the second time around were gritty and raw. I told the manager and he would only cut off half my bill, even though i only at one mussel. Parking is a pain. Park on the street because the lot is a habitat for homeless people who like to steal from cars. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
(2)Katy G.
Second visit wasn't as nice--bummer! The $11.00 burger was just not very good. It was dry, tough, and extra-well-done instead of medium. Having that price for a burger and fries, you'd expect something pretty wonderful, am I right? My husband did enjoy his meal, so it's not like we'll never ever be back, but with so many nearby alternatives, it might be quite some time.
(2)Anne B.
My likes: the Mrs Hollander for brunch, eating on the patio (they've extended the season with large outdoor heaters for chilly nights), the huge beer menu with alcohol content listings, the tasty bloody/virgin marys (the Southsider is tops), the way each chair at the bar is a different style, the super-friendly waitstaff, their scrumptious homemade soups, and delicious Alterra coffee... My dislikes but possibly a plus for you: the Friday crowd is a lot of suits -- looks like a popular place for the after-work cocktail.
(4)Natasha M.
good food and great service.
(4)Zsa Zsa X.
I really wanted to like this place. I really did. I live right across the street and was hoping this could become my "regular spot." My first (and only) trip to Centraal was for their fish fry. As soon as we walked in the door, we immediately felt we were "not welcome." Centraal is staffed by people who think they are cooler/trendier/more interesting than you, and apparently, if you're not wearing 3+ layers of mismatched clothing, or interesting accessories like thick plastic glasses or ironic hair, you're not worthy of being there. We were seated and a waitress came over who said "I guess I'll be serving you tonight." Awesome, thanks for the enthusiasm. Makes me feel great to know you're so against bringing us food and drink for a sizable tip. We ordered our food and then I perused their drink list. Really great selection, but slightly overpriced. Then our waitress came with our food and this is where the night got a little ugly. As for the food itself, the fish fry was... Well... Pretty nasty. It was soggy. Way too much breading and hardly any fish. I rarely criticize restaurants so harshly but their food was way too overpriced for such a disgusting plate of slop. The breading was so heavy and soggy it was actually falling off the fish, and there was a weird layer of goop between the fish and the breading. My date really enjoyed it at the time, but, suspiciously, he hasn't suggested going back even though I live right across the street. Now, with my meal, I requested a side of remoulade sauce. I believe their menu actually calls it cajun remoulade, so I was expecting the pinkish sauce I got used to down in Louisiana. When my food came, I had my standard cup of tartar sauce (which came with the meal) but no extra side of remoulade. I asked her about it and she said "oh, our tartar sauce *is* our remoulade!" I'm pretty sure she knew she made this simple mistake, but instead of offering to grab the remoulade or bring another sauce, she actually debated the issue with me for about two or three minutes. (I felt like a jerk but I had to get to the bottom of this.) I eventually told her to just forget it. (Note: If, indeed, Centraal does use one tartar/remoulade sauce hybrid, she could have told me that when I was ordering my food. Wait Staff Knowledge 101. Additionally, if the two sauces are one and the same, why were we charged for the extra side of remoulade? Stupid heffa...) After we finished eating, we waited about fifteen or twenty minutes before we actually had to flag our waitress down to get the bill. This whole time we were there (maybe 45 to 60 minutes) she never asked if we were happy with the food or if we needed more to drink. She had no issue paying attention to other tables who were not half as patient or forgiving as we were. I would not recommend this place, despite how badly I wanted to enjoy myself, I just hated it and will not be going back any time soon. Sorry, Centraal, I will continue to drive 15 minutes to my favorite corner bar for their fish fry... Half the price of yours and five times as delicious.
(1)Alice G.
I went for brunch on a Sunday morning/afternoon. The 15-20 minute wait was expected, but the delicious fried-to-order donuts with dipping sauce were a surprise. OUSTANDING. Perfectly sweetened. I enjoyed my side order of 1 biscuit-n-gravy to go with a standard eggs n bacon n toast plate. Good strong coffee and orange juice. Service was good and the place looked clean. Maybe it's because I am used to Chicago sales tax, but I thought the price was good for what I got.
(4)Red S.
The short version: Poor service, inattentive bartenders, one very rude and unfriendly manager, and very average food that does not justify it's inflated price. The great beer selection was not enough to make me want to return to this blight on Bayview. Disappointment explained: Upon hearing that a new restaurant and bar was opening up on the corner of KK & Lincoln I was excited at the prospect of having another great establishment with unique flavor opening in Bayview. What Bayview got instead is an uninspired copy of Downer St.'s Cafe Hollander. With the opportunity to create something new and exciting in a Bayview neighborhood hungry for new options, the owners of Cafe Centraal have missed the mark by a long shot. After 3 visits I have these observations: 1. The bartenders are slow, somewhat pretentious, and do little to make the customer feel welcome. Even when the bar was not busy the bartenders would walk past our empty drinks and not even bother to make eye contact or ask us if we needed another. This happened several times on all three visits. 2. It starts at the top. On our second visit we sat at the bar after eating to try out the various brews offered. I caught the attention of a young woman who appeared to be a manager due to the fact that she was in street clothes and was directing other staff. I was SHOCKED by how unpleasant she was! She became immediately annoyed when we placed our drink order with her and was short and curt with us to the point of our party being made to feel unwelcome. It was as though she was too busy and important to be spending time helping group of paying customers (Who spent over $100 on dinner no less!). One of the bartenders then later verified that she was the manager when asked by a curious member of our group. 3. The food. Overall the food options are not that bad here, however, the portions are small, the prices a little high, and the overall quality uninspiring. The menu is essentially a copy of the Hollander menu and attempts to be unique by half-heartedly offering a KK-themed sandwich among other things that does little to mask the fact that little thought went into creating a unique identity. If I wanted to go to eat Hollander's food I would go to Hollander! In the end, myself and my group of friends will think twice about ending up at Centraal. With so many other options in Bayview with friendly people and good food, I can't see spending another dime at Centraal until it becomes a nice place to be. Perhaps I'll check back in six months to see if things have improved, which I sincerely hope they do. Until that point, this place is off limits for us.
(1)Brennan B.
good for groups (might call first) patio seating kitchen open late good food :: GREAT bar ask for dan the bartender ::: tell him large marge sent 'yah
(3)Amanda D.
Cafe Centraal is my favorite bayview brunch spot. I consider myself a real Bloody Mary connoisseur and trust me, these Bloodies are the best in the city. They also have delicious cocktails, but for the price make sure you ask them to stiffen them up a bit. This place is also great for dinner and it's never over crowded so you can always get a table. Great beer selection and amazing sweet potato fries. An added bonus: Kitchen is open til midnight. Would be a five star, but it's a bit pricey for the overall food quality and like I said, weak cocktails.
(4)Elizabeth A.
Drinks get to be pricey here, but they are pretty tasty. Summer drink: Green Rishi Tea Collins, Winter drink: Hot Toddy/anything of the hot drink menu sans the marshmellow one, Beer: many good ones and knowledgeable bar staff. As far as the menu, it's pretty American, quality food, with a fair selection of choices. The burgers are pretty good and I'd highly recommend getting a Scotch Egg!
(4)Steffi S.
Been there for dinner, ick. Been there for brunch, really good. Service every time very poor. Maybe 3 stars is too high, but I am feeling generous :)
(3)David S.
I'll start with the good and work to the bad The mussels here rock, especially the green curry variety. The outdoor seating is very cool. Service has always been good and friendly, if a bit overbearing. The other food is decent, but a bit pricy. Brunch is around average but overpriced. The beer selection is large, but nearly everything is European and very high priced. I'd recommend you drink water, then cruise two doors to the east to Sugar Maple for a much better beer selection at much more reasonable rates.
(3)MacKendrick B.
If you go in the afternoon or something this maybe an okay choice. But on weekends it is SUPER busy and crowded. Which is why you would think the food would be good and service would be great... but that is where you would be WRONG... After being told the wait would be 20 minutes we waited nearly an hour! When we would ask the host if we were close to the top of the list they would say "yes 2 more minutes" and then NO, 20 minutes later still waiting... Check again... "Oh, 2 more minutes".... NOT!!! We were FINALLY seated at a TINY t.v. tray sized table 2 feet from the bar where everyone was crowded and waiting so peoples butts kept knocking into our elbows. I asked to be moved tables and were moved to the smoking section (uck). As if that didn't suck already our waitress messed up our order... We both got fish fry but different batters, we both reciecieved the same type of batter. We told her it was not correct, and she finally brought the correct order for me 10 minutes later. ITS A FISH FRY! IT TAKES LIKE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE! She made no apology. The fish itself was WAY salty and same with the frys. I have not been back since this miserable experience!
(1)Sandy P.
I love visiting Cafe Centraal -- feels a little like I am out of town for an hour or so. I have been several times, but last night was the first time I tried their Braised Beef Rib Sliders. Oh my God, they were spectacular! I will dream of them for certain. Three hearty sliders topped with Peach Chutney and crumbles of Blu Cheese. With a side of spicy sweet potato fries, it was an amazing dinner. THANK YOU, WE'LL BE BACK!
(4)Nathan F.
I have never been to a restaurant with such consistently awful service. The food is mediocre at best. The only saving grace is the bloody marys and beer list, but there are literally 20+ alternatives for that in a .5 mile radius.
(2)Tim H.
Ok, so I've been coming to Milwaukee for years, but I just recently discovered Bayview, and therefore, Centraal. By have I been missing out! I came late nite on a Saturday to find that the kitchen was still open, and the bar full of people sitting at tables, drinking beer and chomping on apps. My friend told me that this place served standards bar food, so I wasn't expecting much. Well, my friend was wrong... The food here is fantastic. I got the goat cheese mac with chicken, and it was amazing. My girlfriend went with the salmon, and it was on point as well. So, good food...what else. The beer selection was amazing. I have officially found my new favorite beer. If you stop by, have a glass of the Gulden Draak. Maybe a little pricey, but an incredible combination of hops, sweetness, chocolate, and....10.2% alcohol. So, I have nothing but high marks for Centraal. Our service was fantastic, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Brian L.
Stopped here on a Saturday night looking for something new. We were very pleased to find this gem. The restaurant has an excellent listing of beers. A few kinds I was interested in were not available. I'll surely be back for more. This reminded me a bit of a restaurant in London called Belgo Centraal. This place isn't below ground like Belgo...but the atmosphere is just as good! Will have to go back soon.
(5)Katie F.
This is one of my favorite spots great atmosphere, love the beer selection, lots of Belgians, and the food is delish. Must trys: frites, mussels and the fish fry rocks
(5)Rich W.
Chicken coq Au vin sandwich was awesome. The hummus platter was decent. Ok ambience.
(4)Kileen M.
The brunch menu offers such diversity, one could eat here every weekend for months, and not get gastronomically bored! It's not exactly cheap? But it is certainly worth the expense!
(5)Barry F.
Cafe Centraal is a good deal! I love a great brunch, and I love when great brunch is cheap. I ordered some combo.. bacon, eggs, toast, hash... it was like $7 (what a deal) all was good tasting, especially the hashbrowns yummmy, I've been craving them since I left. I'm not from Milwaukee, but if i'm there again (please no) I'll be sure to stop on by.
(4)Sid V.
Weak food, weak service, prices made me think I was in parts of Chicago I don't frequent due to massive pretension and I was in Bay f'ing View Milwaukee!! Really more of a 2.5 star place, probably would not go back but maybe in a pinch.
(2)Christopher M.
I had the scotch egg and it was probably one of the biggest I have ever had. Pretty decent. And, the beer selection is great! Most of them come in their appropriate glass.
(4)Christopher H.
When I found out at the Bay View Bash this year that the owners of one of my fave restaurants (Cafe Hollander) were opening a place in Bay View I was ecstatic! My first visit to Cafe Centraal was everything I thought it would be. We had to try the burgers since that is our favorite over at Hollander and they were perfect. The buttertop rolls that they serve the burgers on are out of this world. A couple of Belgium beers from their huge selection were the perfect accompaniment for my meal. And the fries are outstanding as well. The restaurant is huge as well as the bar in the middle. The decor is Euro-comfy. Oh and dessert, flourless chocolate cake with bourbon cream and berries was a delicious end to a great meal. I will be back again and again. Centraal is a terrific addition to Bay View and I'm so glad it is finally here!
(5)Jen T.
Cafe Centraal is a great smoke-free bar-restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a fabulous drink menu filled with a huge variety of beer, wine and other drinks. I recently tried their Sunday Brunch and completely enjoyed my meal. My friends and I shared 2 entrees. The first entree was Turtle Pancakes which was their special of the day. Totally awesome and decadent pancakes drizzled with warm caramel and chocolate - to die for! The 2nd entree was Steak and Eggs Benedict served with roasted rosemary potatoes. This dish was scrumptious.
(4)William T.
Mushroom Stroganoff is not something I would normally think of, but it sounded good and tasted better. The soup (stuffed pepper) was a bit on the salty side, but that is not unusual in restaurants. The beer selection was incredible. I will definitely be checking this place out again.
(4)D S.
Pricey but the food is good
(4)Lola L.
great brunch place. lots to choose from. nice fruit plate. we ordered the stack of pancakes with an egg, bacon, and who knows what else full of cholesterol in the middle...not bad!!! dinner menu is extensive. love the fries and dipping sauces.
(5)sean b.
Cafe Centraal made one of the worst brunches I have ever had the displeasure to eat. Do the cooks here know what an omelette is? They certainly can't wait 20 seconds to throw the (ham?) into the pan so that it doesn't break the eggs on the outside of the omelette. If you like food made by crust punks by all means frequent Centraal.
(1)Tom C.
Had one of the most amazing bar food meals of my life at this place during a holiday visit to Milwaukee. Moules frites to begin with, and they do a curry preparation that really added something. Moved on to a turkey burger with a pretzel-like bun and a nice sauce. Lubricated the whole thing with two big bottle of Ommegang Abbey. Life is good at this place. Now Milwaukee just needs to go non-smoking like, well, every other civilized place in the world.
(5)Tiffany C.
super cute place. fun, relaxed atmosphere. serves a killer bloody mary and yummy brunch..... a little hard to find healthy options on the menu but don't let that stop you from heading out for a relaxing sunday brunch with a group of friends or the fam.
(4)Lisa W.
I love this place. I have been a fan of the other restaurants in this same group for a long time (Hollander since it arrived, and of course Trocadero). Cafe Centraal lacks slightly in terms of atmosphere compared to the other two (don't get me wrong - still very nice but just a tad too open?) but maybe that is something that will improve over time. I can't complain - I am happy for any great restaurant additions in my neighborhood, so it's nice to have somewhere different to fall back on. The wait has never been long, even when it's a busy Friday or Saturday night - and if you do have to wait, the bar is long and the beer list is as well. I have tried a number of menu items and always been pleased, although my favorites are the curry seared shrimp appetizer, the tulip turkey burger (with curry ketchup), and the sweet potato fries. I always recommend this as an option for anyone looking to dine in or around Bayview.
(4)Adam J.
Went for Sunday brunch yesterday at about 12:45 and it was packed. I'm sure the Packers had something to do with the crowd. Food was really quite good (big thumbs up for the unscrambled omlette). The server was pretty bad. He was very flighty and unapologetic. If it wasn't Sunday with a 100m drive ahead of me I would've indulged in their glorious selection of Belgian beers
(3)Shannon C.
A friend and I went to Cafe Centraal after we stopped by Freya for a bang trim (yay!). Our experience was pretty disappointing. We ordered drinks -- she got a specialty blueberry vodka drink and I got a gin and seltzer. You couldn't taste any gin in my drink -- which was why I ordered seltzer instead of tonic, since I'm actually one of those rare breeds of humanoids that actually enjoys the taste of gin. We ordered some fried cheese appetizer, and the presentation was pretty dismal -- three small, fried cheese balls. So we each had approximately 1.5 cheese ball each. They were good, but we had expected more food. The pretzel we ordered was burned in the back so we had to wait while they made us a new one (gratis). When I ordered another drink, I told our server that my original drink was very weak. Our server -- who doesn't drink -- was very apologetic. I asked for two shots of gin in a SMALL glass topped with seltzer. I received said drink in a large glass. Our poor server was pretty embarrassed, because she knew that's not what I wanted. Then why bring it over? I tasted the double, it was weak, and she took it back and brought out what I originally ordered -- which tasted exactly like how a SINGLE gin and seltzer should taste. Annoying. The pretzel was okay. Can't go wrong with a pretzel. When we went to pay, we discovered that the server comped not only the cheese balls but my original, weak drink, which was nice. But then, when she split the $36 bill, she charged us both $24! I know that computers can go haywire over splitting bills with comped items, but seriously... check to make sure the tab is correct before you bring it to the table! The situation was eventually straightened out but it was still quite irritating. Ugh. Like I said, we were very disappointed. We won't be going back.
(2)Charity M.
Great food and drinks. Awesome patio. Jordan is THE bomb! - Charity, Annmarie & Sarah
(5)J R.
Really an extraordinary meal. Other posters have been spot-on about the mussels. Order two pounds (one wittekerk and one classic) with a side of frites, and Bob's your uncle. The beer selection isn't the biggest I've seen at a Belgian cafe, but it was fairly large and quite diverse. I really enjoyed a Belgian strong ale, Triporteur from Hell. But the highlight of the meal was the service. Mia was one of the better servers I've met at any level of restaurant. She was funny, engaging, and attentive without being cloying. Overall, definitely a five-star experience!
(5)Josh O.
Cafe Centraal was great. I don't make it to Bayview that often. I will be back if only to visit Centraal once again and try another delicious meal. The food is tasty and moderately priced, the service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself has a great chill vibe which I thoroughly enjoyed.
(4)Nicole H.
Oh my lord did Cafe Centraal fail on the Fourth of July. Clearly having no concept of what kind of traffic they'd have that day, they staffed for a normal Wednesday afternoon lunchtime and were so completely overwhelmed that it was comical. First people in line and we still had to wait 20+ minutes for a table because they had no one to bus them and no server that could serve us. Placed our order and was told the kitchen was overwhelmed, so it would take a while. I mean, the waitress was apologetic and got us extra drinks and it clearly wasn't her fault, but the whole thing was such an incredibly cluster and there should have been some way for them to handle it - whether a manager or owner showed up and did some PR or helped or they closed bc they couldn't handle it, something should have been done. The staff was pushed to their limits and I felt so bad for them. People got really pissy with them, but they were honest up-front in terms of the wait, so that's not fair. All in all, lunch for 4 took two hours from the time we walked in til we walked out. Plus, the food was pretty meh. None of us were particularly happy with our food and were really just happy to get the hell out of there.
(1)Erin B.
I feel like every trip to Centraal starts like this: Person A: Where do you wanna go? Person B: Don't care...mmmmmaybe [insert any other place here] A: Too busy B: How about [anywhere else] A: Ugh. We go there all the time. I feel like we should pay rent there. B: (sigh) mmmmm...Centraal? A: (sigh) OK It's just so...I don't know. Trying so hard to be interesting but because there are like 4 other restaurants exactly like it, it comes off so ordinary. Not great, not terrible just...ordinary. Pluses: great beer selection and I love any cocktail list that proudly serves drinks featuring Great Lakes Distillery over some bubblegum flavored monstrosity of a vodka (seriously, can we all agree that the world does not need another "flavored" vodka). The server we had recently was seriously a dollface. She was one of those rare people who was genuinely nice and seemed pleased to make recommendations. So the service, in my opinion was great. T said he loved his food (some kind of burger made from the meats of like, 7 different animals), but mine (fish fry) was eh. Not great, not terrible, but...ordinary. I feel like I've eaten here so many times before, but that's because I really liked Cafe Hollendar for a quick minute when I lived practically next door to the one in Tosa and really, it's basically the same thing.
(3)Phil C.
Great beer selection, intuitive staff and the menu had me at Siracha BBQ Pork Belly. It's my go-to restaurant when I can't make a decision on trying something new.
(5)Marie W.
My visit to Cafe Centraal was great! No cons to report. Our waiter was knowledgable about the beers and suggested a grapefruit one for me to try. I stopped in for an evening fourth meal so I wasn't looking for a huge dish. I ended up going with the Bay View BELT which was a BLT with fried eggs and roasted garlic aioli. LOVED IT. Next time I make myself a BLT at home, I may just try to jazz it up a little...
(4)Lauren M.
Cafe Centraal isn't my favorite of the Lowland Group restaurants, but it is a staple on our average restaurant tour. It's typically the place we go when we can't decide where to go, but maybe I should give it a little more credit than that? If you go, go for brunch. It's really good, and the laid back atmosphere is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. The bloodies are pretty delicious, and there are options to please just about everyone. Quick side note: I brought my friends here for a late night snack, and there was DJ playing club music in the corner of the restaurant. It was too loud, no one was dancing (in fact, everyone was as far away as they could be from the guy), and it was hard to convince my friends that this place was awesome. No more Club Centraal, please.
(4)Kristen G.
Brunch after a night of drinking? Yes, please. This brings me and my group of 9 to Cafe Centraal. Now I know this place gets busy on a Sunday morning and that's fine. We are drinkers, so waiting was not a problem... What is a problem for me is the way that the entire Lowlands Group does "reservations". My friend called hours before we showed up to make one and they have some bizarre rule about it being "too late" and you have to call before a certain time period that has some odd cut off?? The whole thing is exhausting. So needless to say we had no reservation. The bartender was ok, the drinks are way over priced. They can get away with it though. Why is it that this whole restaurant group makes its establishments so pretentious? That is just the vibe here as well. Like why am I paying $7 for a half of a cup of coffee with a half of a shot of Bailey's? Insane. The Brunch food always sounds so inventive, but then when you get it it has no flavor. I had to salt and pepper my Eggs Benedict three times. I finally asked for Sriracha to try and salvage it. Not good. I asked for fried hard yolk eggs instead of poached and they gave me runny yolk... it turned my stomach. Should have asked for a re-fire but I was so hungry from waiting, so I guess my bad. Our server was pleasant, star for that. But Cafe Centraal and really all of the restaurants in this group just never do it for me. Bland and overpriced with a little bit of pretentious hipster...you can pretty much lump them all in to this category.
(2)Adam R.
I went on a weekday during one of the many snowstorms in '13/'14 so there wasn't many people inside to say the least. With that being said service was great and the beer selection was fantastic. Very nice relaxing atmosphere. Bay View has really turned it around in this area. I'd also recommend checking out Sugar Maple which is right next door.
(4)Jennifer P.
This is definitely my Bay View go-to. Brunch is spot-on (get the sugar donuts), the burgers and sandwiches are great, and you never have to wait for a table. I'm not personally a beer drinker, but all the family/friends I've brought here who are have been very impressed. The pig tails (which I never would have ordered on my own) were delicious! They also have a very low-pressure and fun trivia night on Thursdays, which is a favorite for my group of friends. This is a place where you don't feel awkward lingering over your drinks or the last few frites on your plate. I've eaten here most often out of any Milwaukee restaurant and have yet to be disappointed!
(5)Jules M.
Eh, I am somewhere between a 2 and 3 stars. I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and a friend's birthday presented the opportunity. Ambiance: At 7pm on a Saturday it was packed and loud. We ended up by the front door so it was a bit cold at times. However it was festive and jovial. The place quieted down around 8:30pm and more sports folks came in, then it became sporadic bursts of yelling with plays on the TV. So if you are not into the sport bar/cafe feel, be warned. Food: Burgers were a big hit, fries got high marks. Rosemary goat cheese Mac-n-cheese with chicken was also enjoyed. I had the meatloaf, it was okay but I was hoping for more, maybe some veggies to make a more filling meal. Service: They were patient with our party that was larger than initially reported however, service was a bit slow. Staff was nice but an order drink was never served and we waited too long for food, drinks and bill. I was really not very impressed, but I guess I would try it again, with a smaller group, maybe on trivia night. There were a few menu items I would like to try, such as the fried chicken sandwich and the rosemary goat cheese mac-n-cheese. so...I will wait and see.
(3)Heather V.
After much discussion, the hubby and I give the Centraal/ Hollander/ Benelux family 3 1/2 stars (ok, so I rounded up). 5 stars for the beer selection, but only 2 1/2-3 stars for food. But, since we would definitely go back, it deserves 4 stars. Here's a quick synopsis: * Freakin' awesome beer list, beers are always cold and prices were pretty a-ok (not cheap, but not bad) * Pretty darn good frites and dipping sauces that will keep you coming back (I doubt you'll find anyone to argue here) * Somewhat decent vegetarian options, including salads and a mushroom sandwich, but a veggie burger would have been welcomed * Most main dishes have been just "OK;" nothing to write home about, but still good enough for repeat visits (especially for Milwaukee) * Comfy interior and decent acoustics, usually very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff * As the wife of a Dutchman and new to Milwaukee, the lowland theme was a happy happenstance Definitely would go back and for Milwaukee, this lowland spot was a treat. Pretty sure that these are the same owners as Honey Pie/ Comet/ Balzac, so all in all, a nice group of restaurants.. Just wish the food was as good as Honey Pie/ Comet and Balzac.
(4)Cory Z.
Nothing great but nothing horrible about this place. I've done brunch and lunch, but never dinner. Service is sometimes a bit slow, and I think the food is a bit overpriced for what you get. All in all it's not a bad place, but it's not very high on my destination radar.
(3)Eric B.
Food was great! I sat at the bar very enjoyable bartender was friendly and awesome! Manager was super nice overall great time I will be back!
(4)Sarah S.
I'm in love with this place! Favorite has been to belly up to the bar and have fabulous VIP service, the patio in the summer is perfect for a bottle of wine, mussles and sopping up bread. I sadly have tried most of their menu and there are some major wins and some you live and learn. Not a fan of their version of a turkey club, I'm a bit of a traditional only sort of girl. But salads, mussles, pork belly, burgers, pretzel and beer, meatloaf sandwich, shrimp and chicken curry dish are all amazing! Main tip I have to offer is you have to get a side of the basil aioli to dip your fries or morning breakfast potatoes in. It is life changing and once you dip you can't go back. In the last two years since coming here the food service has gotten so much better. It is such a great place to bring friends from out of town, impress the parents with a gluten free diet. I started as a fan of their brunch and slowly grew into an any occasion and to go ordered twice because I was feeling luscious and not wanting to cook. I don't go out to eat very often but the once every month to two months this is usually the place I will head to.
(5)Christina L.
Seriously Centraal you've been in the game awhile, you'd think you'd get your management/service issues worked out. I was suckered into giving you another try last night by your "snow day" deal. We arrived and were seated right away. Our server came over within a few minutes to take our drink order and then nothing for at least 15 minutes. She finally arrives with our beers, apologizes and then takes our food order. The food actually came out rather quickly and was ok, but we literally didn't see our waitress again for probably 45 minutes and were sitting there with empty glasses, thirsty for more beer. We'd see her running around every other part of the restaurant. C'mon Centraal, haven't you heard of sections? Since we were done eating we decided to just get the bill and head next door where we could get served. Also, don't try to come in on your lunch break unless your prepared to take a 2 hour lunch. I guess if I had a really good reason to go back here I might see if service is better at the bar, but really it's not worth it.
(1)Kelsey S.
This is hands-down my favorite Milwaukee brunch location. We've always enjoyed the food here, especially the rosemary potatoes. Yum. We've dabbled through the menu, but the Americana is the most standard breakfast plate and is a great value. Their classic eggs benedict is a tasty treat as well. I love the atmosphere and decor of this place. It's casual yet the right amount of faux-eclectic to fit into Bay View. We've always been lucky with great service as well. One day we stopped in and asked our server if it'd be possible to finish our meal within 40 minutes; she was on the ball and had our food to us in less than ten minutes and our bill to us within 25, encouraging us to take our time but to let her know as soon as we were ready. Super friendly and helpful. I admit, we've never been here for lunch or dinner, but when it comes to brunch: A+.
(5)Sarah Z.
Sunday brunch was awesome. We went on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and a light breeze came through the restaurant carrying smells of bacon and eggs with it. The mimosas are top notch and the service is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable as well!
(4)Elizabeth H.
Back that @ss up! I have had a few very lackluster dinners at Centraal. Its a neighborhood establishment, so I have returned a few times to the same outcome. I'm no longer impressed. Even my latest order of Polenta was disappointing. Hummus...this is not rocket science. I ordered the hummus appetizer and it tasted like it came out of a plastic container. I'm sure it did. It was also roasted red pepper flavored, which is my LEAST favorite. Hummus doesn't need flavoring. If a restaurant has hummus on the appetizer menu, it should be fresh and taste good, right? We all know what Athenos tastes like, hence why the majority of us that really like hummus make our own. Chickpeas are cheap, Centraal. Make your own hummus. It takes 2 minutes.
(2)Ashley S.
I definitely don't hate Centraal. We spent two New Year's in a row here, and it ended up being a stop on my birthday bar crawl (if you can call two bars a crawl?) last year. But I guess I think about Centraal in a few different ways. For dinner... not so much. They're kind of pricey and recently (well, maybe within the last year?) changed around their menu, so there really isn't much I'd want to try again there. Except for the sweet potato fries... nommmm. I was really sad in particular that the curry chicken pita seemed to have changed recipes. I am not sure exactly what it is, but I seem to remember that there was a nice sweetness in it before, maybe from some kind of fruit, that is now regrettably absent. The whole thing is just gritty and bland with the new recipe. Major bummer. Going along with dinner, the servers on staff during weeknights in particular have never been my most favorite part of dining out. It's always a struggle to even get a glass of water, let alone get a refill. Maybe we go in a little later than some other patrons, but that's the nature of having late hours. You still have to pay attention to your customers if you want to receive a good tip. And there have definitely been some WEIRD servers working there, to the point that I wonder what kind of drugs they are doing while they are conspicuously not doing their jobs. But on the other hand, I have had some good experiences on weekend nights. It's just not consistent! As a bar, it's pretty awesome. When I was there on my birthday the bartender bought my beer for me (he's the guy who does trivia there on... Thursday nights? Sweet beard, Turd Ferguson!), and I have always been able to find a beverage that suits my admittedly picky tastes. There is just so much to choose from, I feel like you can't go wrong. The beer-mosas are fantastic - the mix of their High Speed Wit with orange juice is unexpectedly tasty, even for a girly-girl like me. The atmosphere there is pretty cool I guess, probably my favorite out of all the Lowlands group establishments. I particularly like their new patio/courtyard area, particularly because of the Mannekin Pis statues (though I am not sure why they are neon...). We went there once for a beer dinner hosted by Ommegang, which fit perfectly in with their sort of quasi beer-hall vibe. Though, again, the food was only okay. There were these Belgian croques that might have been awesome if they hadn't been positively slathered in a far-too-pungent mustard sauce. I think you can find them on the regular menu. Finally, brunch... I have had two different experiences with Centraal's brunch. There's Saturday brunch, and then there's Sunday brunch. You might think you are patronizing different restaurants depending on the day. My boyfriend and I have ordered and LOVED the berry basil french toast on Saturday (with the rosemary potatoes, dear Lord that's great), with plenty of beermosas to go around. Then, on Sunday, we could order the same thing and be absolutely repulsed by it. Whereas on Saturday the French Toast is served warm, with plentiful berries and lovely dabs of mascarpone between the custardy slices, on Sunday, after waiting forever, we'll receive soggy, lukewarm French Toast with skimpy toppings and a beermosa that's exceedingly light on the beer. The same goes for service quality between these two days... I suppose that brunch is a busier time on Sunday, so to an extent I can understand the differences in service and, I suppose, food quality. But the differences are so dramatic that I have to think something weird is going on. It's like they have a completely different staff, even the kitchen staff, as the days turn over, and it's really unfortunate because Centraal is probably the closest place to our apartment for brunch, and we'd be more likely to go there if the products and service were consistent. But... the Creme Brulee, whichever flavor they have going, is always worth it. So if you really want to go out somewhere in Bay View, and want good beer and good dessert, I think this is the place for you.
(3)Elena E.
Amazing patio and very impressive beer selection. Food menu is very odd and limited. Ordered scallops, came in a bowl without a sauce or sides. Came back a few times, looked at the menu and walked out. Place can get very loud on theme nights, escape to patio not an option in the wintertime to limit the noise. Would only come here again for drinks and patio in the summer time.
(2)Kimberly J.
Ive waited till my 10th visit to this place to write an actual review. Centraal is part of the whole lowlands group/ trocadero/ benelux conglomerate...that said I'll dive right in. Brunch is pretty okay here. Better than Denny's not as amazing as blues egg. It's just okay. I can never ever EVER seem to get an order ever correct. EVER. I do really love the beer selection. The triple karmel is high on my list of yummy. Dinner is okay. I really enjoyed the beer cheese soup...but of course it's off the menu now. They also seem to run out of a lot of things on the menu frequently. Meh. The red devil frites and regular frites are very good. I absolutely loathe that they charge for dipping sauces.. I'd be fine with this if I wanted an extra sauce or wanted to add a few...I'm not a fan of the up charging. Seems like kind of a dick move centraal. Service. UGH. So effing hit or miss there. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's like the servers would rather be getting a root canal versus serving food. I don't really want to feel like I'm inconvienancing the staff to take my order. I do love the late hours and the djs....I keep returning in hopes the kinks will work themselves out. Here's to hoping.
(3)Abigail P.
Love the ambience. Love the food. Love the drinks. Donuts are amazing.
(5)Francesco R.
Had a great breakfast here on Sunday morning a week ago. Three of us ate for breakfast on our way to work on a Sunday morning. So that can put a damper on things already. But we each had something different and everyone said their meal was god. Was surprised since we were the only one's in there how slow it was. Maybe the staff was a bit foggy too at 8 AM on a Sunday but i would have hoped breakfast didn't take nearly an hour to get our orders, eat and leave. Having eaten at Hollander and Benelux i had high expectations for the food. They did not disappoint. The beermosa was again a pleasant surprise. Only 4 stars for slow service otherwise the food was great.
(4)Bonna M.
Great mimosas, bloody Mary's and beer! We visited Cafe Centraal on our way up to watch the Buckeyes play Marquette in Milwaukee. The couple that we were traveling with had already eaten there and really liked it. We all ordered a spicy dish. I ordered the Gordo burrito which was huge and full of eggs, chorizo, rosemary potatoes, cheese, jalapeños and some other items. The potatoes inside were fantastic!! The burrito was too big to finish but was awesome. We also had a great server (I think his name was Kyle). He was very helpful and efficient. My husband who only drinks a Bloody Mary about every 3-5 years ordered one with bacon, cheese, olive, asparagus, pickle and a green bean in it. He said it was hands down the best Bloody Mary he's ever had. They have a great beer selection that is dominated by Belgium beers. Next time we visit Milwaukee we will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)John L.
Nice bloody mary (6?) and burger selection. I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the bloody I got with pepperoni slices, but it was very good. I'll have to try the jalepeno bloody next time. I went with the jalepeno bbq burger after being informed it is likely top five in the city and I definitely enjoyed it. I finished with the brownie dessert over the flourless cake after the server's recommendation and while the ice cream was good I didn't care for the brownie itself. Good service and atmosphere.
(4)Sarah P.
After a Saturday morning painting a church kitchen for Hunger Cleanup, my friend and I stopped at Centraal for brunch. There was a 20 minute wait and when we were seated the waitress apologized and told us the kitchen is 20 minutes behind on its orders. With that said, we ordered right away and by the time our other companion got there to meet us - our food was ready. I ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Maybe I don't understand what smoked salmon is, because it was raw, and cold. Is this how it's supposed to be? Well, either way it wasn't what I was expecting, so maybe my ignorance got me on this one. So, I really didn't enjoy my brunch but I did enjoy my company and the bustling atmosphere. Next time I'll order the french toast with mascarpone cheese. YUM.
(2)Kit A.
Being the Bloody Mary Aficionado that I am, I had to try The Milwaukeean ($8) and was SO IMPRESSED! If I could have had more than 1 I would have, but trust me, this things are strong!! I wasn't in the mood for anything very big, so I ordered the Hand-Cut Calamari ($8.95) as my meal and I had no problem with it coming out warm at the same time as everyone elses entrees. If the weather is nice, ask for a seat on the patio so you can admire the naked and extremely hard to miss cherubim statues.
(4)Brian H.
A very good fish fry, they use potato chips as breading which I found really good & original. Went to brunch for the first time, was pretty amazing. Got a "Fat Elvis" which was french toast with peanut butter.
(4)Maggi K.
This is part of the entire Benelux / Trocadero / Hollander family; we generally only go to these restaurants for brunch. This one had been my relative favorite. Up till recently, I was in love with the blue corn pancakes served with chorizo and a runny egg on top. And then came the shocker: we had been talking this restaurant up as our favorite within that restaurant group, and we brought some out of town guests here...only to find out that service had really slipped and they had changed their menu - no more blue corn pancake w chorizo. Actually, a shocking lack of chorizo on the menu in general. It was around the holidays, and it was a Bloody Mary kind of morning. As we were discussing the choices with the waiter, we settled on the Milwaukee - all served with bacon. It took 1/2 an hour from the time that our bloodies were ordered till the time they arrived at our table. Our waiter didn't check back in between times. And then the bloodies came...but they didn't bring the bacon. We quickly pointed out the oversight to our waiter, who stumbled through an explanation that consisted of "Um, we're out of bar bacon. There's kitchen bacon - but we can't use that." That was met by 4 faces, all trying to process that statement...and failing dismally. Incidentally, this was during their "12 Days of Brunch"...so you would think having enough bacon would be part of that. Our favorites on the appetizer menu - the Scotch Egg (it sounds disgusting, but is actually really super yummy!) and the Breakfast Frites. On this visit, the aioli that the Scotch Egg was served with was a bit flat and unflavored - more of a squeeze of straight up mayo in my opinion. The rest of the dish (egg, breakfast sausage, salad with balsamic dressing) was quite good. And the breakfast frites: it's a sunny-side up eggs on salty fries. I don't think I need to say more; between the two, it's quite possibly the best hangover food. Our friends both ordered the quinoa skillet and were pleased with it - a healthy breakfast. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which was massive. He was happy with it, although it didn't sing the same way that the black and blue steak with balsamic used to... I ordered the chicken and waffles. It was ok, but I would have liked to see the waffle batter a little less sweet, and a little more savory as well as more acid on the plate to help balance the flavors. Service was a big miss on our last visit. Our waiter did not have a lot of tables - the restaurant was rather empty, but he didn't spend a lot of time with us and didn't seem affable or nice. More than anything, he seemed disorientated / annoyed that we were there. When our appetizers came, only some of us had silverware. He didn't bring appetizer plates. One person at our table actually walked up to the bar to ask for plates and silverware... after that, our waiter checked back a little more frequently. We've generally liked Centraal for brunch, but this visit was an Epic Fail. I'll give them one more chance, and if that doesn't work out, I'll go back to some of my favorites on the east side or Riverwest.
(3)Jelly R.
Waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly, the cucumber basil martini was tasty and refreshing, and the atmosphere is welcoming. A nice reprieve from the hipster bars typical of Bayview.
(4)Jim D.
My girls do Jr Roller Derby on Sunday's and this place is not too far from the super secret location for Derby practices so I typically head here for a bite or a beer. The place is nice, the servers are all super welcoming. The bartender on Sunday nights, Dan, is friendly and knows beers really well. I think I have tried all of the vegan offerings (5-6) and they are all good. The beer selection leans way towards the Belgium side, so if that is your style, you will dig on this place. They also have a good selection of bottle beers from regional microbreweries. All in all, I would recommend.
(4)ML C.
Cafe Centraal is a go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking? Centraal. Late night food after a show? Centraal. Picky relatives from out of town whose taste buds you want to pique a bit? Want an off-the-charts beer and whatever flavor of creme brulee's on the menu? Haven't been there in a while and craving some sweet potato fries? Centraal. I have a long relationship with this restaurant, and I expect it to continue. It's one of the best places to go when I just can't think of what I want, but I want something savory and not TOO "entreeish." I never order things like meat loaf or mac 'n cheese in restaurants, so I can't speak to that, but I can always get a great sandwich and SP fries, or maybe a great salad with a couple of ingredients I love but wouldn't usually bother with at home. I won't say everything's mechanized perfection every time I go, but it's usually pretty damn good, and, like I said, it's the kind of place you just keep in your rotation, even if you have to wait too long one night or get a bee in your bonnet because you want something that's not on the menu. Basically, Centraal is a great Bayview restaurant. It's kind of young, so the people who work there are not necessarily always holding their collective breaths to see if you're happy with every aspect of your experience, but they are a welcoming lot, many of whom are trustworthy "beer docents" and do a good job of hosting while they're serving up some good food and beer.
(5)Brian P.
I was here a recent Sunday night for dinner, and had a great meal. For starters, our server was awesome. I forget his name, but he was friendly, punctual, and not overbearing. The food was very good. I had a burger with Swiss and mushrooms, and it was top notch. I don't like my burgers to be very compact, like hockey pucks. But more softer and "fresher" feeling. If that makes sense. Well this burger was fresh, with a great bun. The fries were somewhat boring, oh well. The beer. I split a High Speed Wit, and it was the best beer I've had so far in 2012. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Bay View.
(4)T G.
Love this place! I've always been a burger and fry restaurant kind of person, so when I tried this place I was kind of worried seeing how they're menu is kind of different/trendy. But the turkey and blackberry jam sandwich is AMAZING! I get it everytime I go. Definitely my bay view go to restaurant!
(5)Sheridan W.
Wow. I have eaten here several times since they opened several years ago. And at various times of the day and at different points in Wisconsin's varied climate. The food was usually tepid to cold (yes, it was supposed to be warm or hot). The flavor was lacking in most of the entrees/items (the place/food was better in its first 1.5 years, I will say that). Service has only been "good" to "personable" -- and that was once, during service on a warm summer night with a younger male server (black hair, 20's) who seemed to most understand the role/job of a "server" and who actually used terms like "please" and "thank you" and "you are welcome." (A rarity, anywhere, these days.) The last two times we (friends) have been there were separated by about 2 months, perhaps less. One occasion was a late Saturday night and the other was a Sunday evening. The food was thoroughly atrocious both times. By atrocious, I mean a.) COLD FOOD (cold sandwiches, tepid fries, barely warm dinner entrees, and the worst---cold coffee) ... b.) INADEQUATE (not awful) SERVICE (rushed, hurried, "hey, guys!', can't wait to put the check down, long intervals to be greeted, longer time for server to come back and ask if customers are in need of anything).... c.) YUCK FACTOR (seeing servers mop tables with dirty rags, drop them on floor, pick them up and reuse them to continue wiping off tables) d.) WTF? FACTOR (crowded room on busy night with music pumped up so loud and bass so jacked that two people opposite one another cannot hear what the other is saying .... employees at bar talking to one another for extended periods of time when it is a fuller or full room and there are plates which need clearing and water to be poured, etc.) e.) FOOD QUALITY & PRICING (even when the food is "better than usual," the taste levels are mediocre or "off" and the prices are--for what the customer is really getting?----about 10 to 20 % high). The final time we were there one entree was sent back (my friend's meal; mine was some sort of stew-y thing and it was room temperature and the side vegetables were raw....maybe that was a choice, I don't know). The staff noted this and did remove it from the check (hooray!) and appeared genuinely concerned. And, truth to tell, I have never had truly BAD, GOD-AWFUL service there. I have had BAD, GOD-AWFUL food, however. I have also never had wonderful service there, but the best example was already cited above, in my opening paragraphs. I have gone back several times, as its location is so damn convenient to where we work and it serves later than other joints in the Bay View and co-workers seem to want to drink more than eat or converse about our various "shifts." The food and ambiance and (most times) the service have been mediocre at best. This place makes OMEGA on 27th or PIZZA SHUTTLE seem like finer dining. And it is overpriced. Unless the quality of food, environment and service were to somehow magically improve by maybe 40 to 60 %, I cannot imagine that the prices are worth it. The place fulfills the expectations of most of the neighborhood (hey, throw up a tent, some really loud and crappy music, stock the event with overpriced beer and POOF! ~ You've got a Festival or a Parade or an EVENT! I hear that this local chain's other joints are about the same (though, to be fair, I hear some are less so-so than others). I won't go back and my absence won't sink this ship, because most folks seem very content with mediocrity or less so, per food, pricing, service and "restaurant after-glow." But then, most people enjoy crappy sports teams in Milwaukee, corrupt and inept politicians, and piss-poor government. Welcome to Detroit!
(1)Theresa H.
My friend and I came here at 9 pm on a Thursday, and there was a fair amount of people at the bar and seated throughout the restaurant. We were planning on eating, and we stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated for ten minutes before we realized that probably wasn't going to happen since no one acknowledged us. We then walked to the bar where we waited another five minutes before the bartender came over and asked if we wanted a table. Yes please? Since we were starving we still had high hopes. Our server came over spouted off the beer of the day bit, and we ordered our drinks and a soft pretzel to start. My tall captain and coke was filled about 3/4 of the way when it arrived. Then a new server came over and put down sweet potato fries. My friend and I both let her know that we didn't order them and she said "oh.." And walked off with the fries. Our pretzel finally came out, and it was somehow both burnt and cold at the same time. I could get better from the mall food court. We both ordered burgers. I ordered the cafe centraal burger which was supposed to have Swiss cheese and mushrooms. I ordered it medium. It came out way over cooked with hardly any cheese and not a single mushroom. My friend ordered the bay view burger. It came out and the bacon was practically raw. When we saw our server again I let her know that my burger was missing ingredients. She said "really?" And walked away only to return 20 minutes later with a cup of mushrooms. The service at cafe centraal is not good. And the food is lacking. Our server did take my burger off the bill, but when the bill arrived the sweet potato fries we didn't order were also on there? This place has cool decor, and a nice feel to it. They also have 28628 different kinds of beer, but it lacks pretty much everything else.
(2)Amy W.
Excellent beer selection. We had a blast trying different varieties and learning about them. Our bartender was amazing. So knowledgeable, courteous and helpful with suggestions, each of which was spectacular. This is one of our favorite places to go and just relax with GOOD beer. If you're looking for cheap, mass produced swill, then this is not the place for you. If you're looking to try beers from all over the world, give this place a shot! If you're open minded, this is the place for you.
(5)Spartevan V.
This place waas doooope! My companions and I enjoyed a pleasant meal in a bright red room. This was my first introduction to edamame hummus, although I have since found it at Trader Joe's in California. That said, I'm happy to see Milwaukee introducing me to a new type of healthy hummus and bucking stereotypes. Well played, Cafe Centraal. Oh, and if you're a health nut tree hugging weirdo hippie from California in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - head here and try the edamame hummus! Dee-lish!
(5)Adam E.
Keeping it simple--Delicious meatloaf, knowledgeable staff and great vibe.
(4)Maureen F.
Brunch. That is what I go to Cafe Centraal for. Will it be good? Yes. Will I be happy? Yes. This is why I go back. Its close proximity to my apartment yields my return customer status as well. As noted by others, Centraal, Cafe Hollander, and Benelux are all owned by the same restaurant group. They follow an identical menu pattern and have built a successful business model. In the world of restaurant ownership, go them. Way to fill a niche and be successful. Each time I have gone to Centraal the service has been great. No complaints there. Besides a short wait (it's expected with Sunday brunch) I have never had a bad experience. I love a good Bloody Mary and Centraal does a great job crafting some good ones. They support local distillers with their spirit choices as well. I like that. Recently I dined with someone who introduced me to a Scotch Egg. I was intrigued. Imagine a hard boiled egg surrounded by sausage and then dipped in aioli mayo. It was good. My companion told me that a true Scotch Egg (British Style) is soft boiled in the center. We both ate it regardless and now I know what a Scotch Egg is. Cool. Centraal is huge. It has a big bar and a great outdoor dining space during the warmer months. Seating is ample. Belgian beer flows like water. It's worth a visit.
(3)Alyssa P.
It's only saving grace is it's extensive beer menu, with reasonable drink prices. Other than that the service was slow, we waited 30 minutes for our server to greet our table. The food was bland and unimaginative. I left hungry and unsatisfied.
(2)Elizabeth A.
I live in Bay View and have been here many times. Unfortunately, my last few experiences have been less than stellar. Now that Tommy is no longer there, nothing really stands out at this place to bring us back.
(1)Shannon D.
Love this place. Delicious food, great beer and drink selections. We make a point to stop here every time we're in Milwaukee. The beef brouchettes are my absolute favorite.
(4)Jay B.
When I was in Milwaukee for work I stopped here and had a burger and a beer. The burger was cooked as I ordered it and was delicious. The bartender was friendly an helped me pick out the Great Lakes IPA, a local beer. He served it to me in a fancy glass and offered up suggestions of where to check out after I left. The food was on point and service matched. Five stars.
(5)Ellie B.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night and it was great. Our server was excellent and the food was great. They have a good variety of things on the menu. I couldn't decide on just one thing, so I got a couple of appetizers and a salad for my meal: frites, coquettes, and the Benalux salad. I've also been a fan of the Trocadero/Hollander Frenchie bloody mary and they have that here, too. That never disappoints. They also have a gigantic beer and drink selection. I'll be back to try some other things from the menu that I couldn't get this time, due to limited space in my stomach.
(5)B C.
Luckily I had some good company during my visit to Central, because the food was nothing too memorable and the service was off the mark. These are both issues that could be easily resolved, and the restaurant as a whole is a enjoyable place for brunch. We got the brunch curry wrap and the breakfast tacos. The tacos were generously proportioned and abundantly flavored in a spicey Mexican way. The curry wrap, though, was bland. We also got some sweet potato fries with garlic mayo sauce, which came out 20 minutes late, after we had received and finished our main course, all while our server was chatting it up with a coworker. If he had stopped by at least once during our meal, we would have told him that we were missing our fries. A serving assistant had dropped off our food, and he had said the missing fries would come out at some point soon. We didn't hear from any of the staff until 20 minutes later. The setup of the restaurant is a lot like Cafe Hollander, with lots of natural light, exposed brick, and wood panelling. The bartender working during our Saturday afternoon visit was friendly and very knowledgeable about their tap selection.
(3)Corey W.
Had lunch at Cafe Centraal today. Very cool place. We sat outside on the patio and it was a very hip atmosphere. Waitress was very nice but did not give me the specials and or do anything over the top to explain the menu or what is good to order. I did notice that the fries were served with quite a few sauces that were noted on the menu as an appetizer but not explained even though all of the sandwiches were included with them. Decided on the BLT and A sandwich which was a good BLT with avocado and an over medium fried egg which was a nice touch. Overall very good food menu and looked like a very cool place to have drinks and beers. The menu even gave a corresponding brew to accompany the dish which is always a nice touch if you are unfamiliar with different taps.
(4)Vicky B.
Friendly and attentive staff, comfy ambiance, well made cocktails and wonderful food. Just what I hope for on a Saturday evening.! My husband and I arrived on a VERY windy, winter Saturday night. I wasn't feeling the best with an onset of. Cold, but Cafe Centraal sure made me feel better! Hits: bartenders that smile and give you their attention and are quick. A hostess with a pleasant disposition and was welcoming. Great menu. Nice wine list (not a lot of selections, but those offered are nice). Great cocktails too! Our server was friendly, knowledgable, and made a great recommendation for my husband (pork belly). I had the pork tacos - nice bite to them! My husband really enjoyed the pork belly entree. Misses: NONE
(4)Jennifer I.
If you like beer, this is the place for you. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable. They are godawful slow, though. It's not unusual to wait a half hour for a simple order. They forget and mix up stuff frequently. I've had four different servers and they ALL manage to do this. I'm not sure how that's possible. I guess they're hired for their friendliness, not their efficiency. Anyway, allow a lot of time if you go here. The food itself is pretty good; I can't think of any specific complaints. The frites are absolutely addictive; I can't go there without ordering some.
(3)Danielle B.
Cafe Centraal is a really fun place to eat. I visited tonight with a large group and we had a lovely time sitting right near the outdoor patio (there was not a table large enough for our group actually on the patio). Unfortunately, our location resulted in some trouble with flies, but we had an otherwise fabulous experience. I ordered the sweet potato fries with sriracha mayo, some cheesey croquettes, and the vegetarian chili. Everything was delicious; familiar flavors but with a twist. The sweet potato fries are sprinkled with a spicy paprika which was really yummy, the cheese croquettes were served with a saffron aioli and they were were SO SO delicious - highly recommended! The vegetarian chili (which I've eaten tons of in my 15+ years as a vegetarian) was unique to Centraal. It had a sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon, or some such warm spice, which added a really yummy scent and flavor, and the cilantro sour cream topping was a refreshing accompaniment. Our group had a wonderful experience this evening, though I will say that on previous visits I have had some minor disappointments. For example, I cannot recommend the veggie burger as it falls apart and becomes far too difficult to eat. I've also had some trouble with prompt service, though tonight our server was wonderful. So for an overall rating, I have to give Centraal a 4/5, though if it's as good on future visits as it was tonight, I'll definitely be changing that to a 5/5.
(4)Dave S.
The problem with Cafe Centraal is the lack of a true identity. Within walking distance of Cafe Centraal are phenominal bars that specialize in things like scotch, gin, beer, wine, and futbol. Cafe Centraal has all of these (okay, maybe no footy) but they don't do any of them exceptionally well. You can say the same about food, it's good; but again, there are many better (and more focused) restaurants within walking distance. I will eat here again because the food is pretty good. But don't expect it to blow you away.
(3)T C.
I had previously rated this as 4 stars. However, the consistency of the food and service at this place over the years has made me want to elevate this to 5 stars. This is our absolute "go-to" place for company and anytime we just want to grab consistently good food fast. The place is open and airy; the wait is minimal because the place is so large, and the food is always CONSISTENTLY excellent. We've taken guests here from all over the world, and we are always assured that they have a great experience. How this place is anything but a 4 - 4 1/2 star on Yelp is a complete mystery to me. This place is awesome. Just the beer menu alone is usually very impressive. My only major complaint is the loss of the Highspeed Wit beer. What an aromatic and delicious beer. The turkey burger is amazing. The flavors are delicous. The mussels are incredibly delicious. The mushroom appetizer is awesome. Siracha mayo, chicken/turkey sandwiches. Its hard to know where to stop with what's good here. Oh! And the potato chip fried fish on Friday fish fries are really fantastic too.
(5)Katie G.
The decor is awesome looking and the number of beers they have it great. I'm not a beer snob by any measure, but I love wheat beers and this is a place I can get a wide selection. As for the food, I don't know why I always think I'm going to get better at one of these Lowland Group Restaurants. Every one I have been to has average food. Not bad, but not great - nothing special. They always look so cool, so hip and the menus sound delicious. And I'm disappointed every time. Grrr. Go for drinks and a fun place to hang out. Don't go if you are expecting great food.
(3)Tee G.
I only ever go to Centraal for brunch, and I had a great brunch at Centraal today. We're always seated promptly & greeted right away by a very friendly server, and today was no different. We ordered the sugar donuts for an appetizer, & they arrived to our table hot & covered with powdered & cinnamon sugar. There was a little too much sugar on them for my tastes, but it wasn't that big of a deal for me to just scrape the excess sugar off. My son was a big fan of the berry dipping sauce that comes with them. Both of my guys ordered the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess, and I ordered the spinach/basil omelette & a short stack of pancakes. The Hot Mess is definitely a hit among my male companions! Mr. S. orders it every time we've eaten here. The omelette I ordered was packed with yummy spinach, fresh basil (interesting) and feta/goat cheeses. I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese, but the eggs were cooked perfectly and the rosemary potatoes were a complete delight. I got an english muffin instead of toast, but I didn't eat it- I think someone forgot to put it in the toaster. No matter, because I still had pancakes! Huzzah! I split the short stack with my son so I only ate one, but it was delicious- it soaked up the butter & honey I slathered on it like a champ. Our server (darnit I forget her name) kept our water glasses full, & was a really fun lady. All in all, we had a tasty meal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It really doesn't get any better than that.
(4)Shannon H.
I loved this place! I only visited once while I was in town visiting a friend but I had a great time and some really good food.
(5)Matthew H.
I really like this place. It is very similar to Trocadero. Bloody Mary's are awesome but they will set you back about eight bucks. I try to order the specials and I always enjoy it. The beer list is on point too! Lunch doesn't start till 3:00pm though. I wish they had it earlier as 3pm seems a little late
(4)Stefanie C.
I love love love the beer selection here. It's nearly the only place in mke where you can find all the best Belgium beers. Trivia is also worth a stop in.
(5)Amy M.
This was going to be a 3.5 star rating, until I had the brunch at Cafe Centraal. Centraal is a fun place located in Bayview with an awesome beer menu. I don't drink beer, but if you do this is a good place to go. The first time we went we ordered a series of appetizers. The sweet potatoe frites are very delicious. As a sweet potato lover I hate when restaurants put sugar on sweet potato fries and thankfully Centraal does not. We also ordered mussels which come with bread to dip in the broth at the end. YUM! The bread in the broth is amazing. Finally we ordered a Flatbread that is no longer on the menu, good choice on their part. Back to the amazing brunch. They just redid their menu and it is fabulous. I ordered the BELT, a BLT with a fried egg. It was to die for. My husband ordered The chili rojo corn cakes which he also greatly enjoyed. Mine came with rosemary potatoes, which were delicious. My husband couldn't stop stealing them off of my plate. The Bloody Mary's are also worth ordering. They are spicy and come with great pickled vegetables. Overall Cafe Centraal's new and improved menu is well worth checking out!
(5)Eric M.
Very average place. The beer selection is good, but there is nothing all that special about the atmosphere in this establishment. I especially didn't get the back room with chinese letters all over the wall. I ordered some of the food which was all very bland and not well thought out. Bitterballen: meatballs that had absolutely nothing special about them. Ale battered cheese croquettes: I don't know how you screw this up, but I felt like I was consuming a large amount of calories and not getting joy out of it. They didn't even taste like cheese, just a tasteless doughy dumpling. White bean chicken chili: Not bad, but definitely not great. The food at Benelux I think is a little bit better.
(3)Priscilla C.
I came here on a dead Monday afternoon. I actually like eating in peace and quiet. The waitress who took care of us was great! She checked up on us very often but not too overly annoying often which I really appreciate. The food was great! Although I did get super full after eating a cup of soup and the calamari appetizer lol.. I took the rest of my food home and ate it later. It still tasted great and I didn't leave a single bite behind! I really thought the idea of having a choice between eating inside the restaurant or outside or in the "red room". We ate in the red room and I thought it was pretty cool. Big windows to still give that outside feel was awesome! I didn't want to eat outside because of the heat and it felt really cooled down in the red room so that was really nice. I really like this place and will be returning!
(4)Tamar S.
This is a definite "go to" place when I am going out with former colleagues that reside in Bay View. I also go to Cafe Hollander which is equally as good but with the East Side vibe as opposed to the more "hip" vibe in Bay View. Personally I can never fail with the sweet potato fries and with the sriracha dipping sauce! Yumm! My friends have anything from the tuna entree which was perfectly prepared and she is a former caterer to burgers and fish fries! Bartenders are friendly and will take any drink request even if not on the menu! Keep it up and we'll keep coming. P.S. I love the patio!
(4)Emily S.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD Huge beer selection Amazing sweet potato fries And a menu that changes every few months to improve their recipes Very unique and flavorful
(5)Justin E.
I have not had a chance to have dinner here but I have had a lunch twice. Unfortunately have not had the chance to try any of their drinks or beer. (can not drink at lunch for work). The food is good and plentiful. The wait staff is OK, they screwed up a couple of our orders. We asked for something to be left off the sandwich/burger or added and it was not done we received standard fare. The food was not memorable but it was good. I think this place is over hyped, or people had a few drinks to make it better.
(3)Rip S.
Unusual Place. Understand the complaints about Hostesses. We had a booking for 130 on Sunday and showed up 15 early. Given a bit of attitude and We're told to wait tables weren't ready, then watched them put 2 tables together? Food was tasty & plentiful (neither adult finished meal). Kids meals had healthier options (fruit, veg, salad), which is great. Bloody Mary's were spicy and tasty. I'd go back. But wasn't "special" trip worthy. Maybe that's it they only want to play to locals?
(3)Molly W.
Good hearty food and drink options. Service is hit-and-miss. Great atmosphere and a wonderful place to take out-of-town visitors to give them some classic MKE. Easy to tuck in on your own, too, for some drinks and reading.
(4)Tony F.
I like this place a lot more than I let on. They have a huge beer menu, and that means a lot to a guy like me, with a gut like mine. A million choices, with a million flavors, bodies, colors, and alcohol per volume. The food is really good, and I've had almost everything on the menu, & tons of specials. The sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads are all SILLY!!! They also do the whole mussels app/entree/food orgy that this "chain" (Hollander/Benelux) specializes in. It's all really great, and the servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and hip without being TOO hipster (it is pretty hipster.) If there's a reason I resist Centraal, it's because I've been there 9000x.
(4)Paula Z.
Meh, one step up from Appleby's. Really incredibly so-so with a side of yucky tummy. Also, I overheard the chefs complaining about the awful menu. Who would eat at a place the chefs don't even like? If I could give zero stars I would.
(1)Valerie J.
Waste of a really cool patio! I visited recently with four friends and the staff made us feel like we were one big hassle. Ok, that's not totally fair, because it was really just the hostess who was awful. First, she ignored me for a few minutes. Then she sighed and huffed when I asked for a table for 4 or 5 (I couldn't remember exactly) on the patio. About a 20-minute wait, she said, but then was insistent that I had to tell her immediately if we had five people instead of four because all of the patio tables can't seat 5 people. She took my cell phone # so the restaurant could send me a text when my table was ready. I walked out front to wait so I could get away from Ms. Rude Hostess. After waiting a half hour, one of my friends when to check on the status of our table. She was told 10 more minutes and then Ms. Rude Hostess said she almost took us off the waiting list because she couldn't see me! What's the point of a text message if I have to stay within view of the hostess?! When we finally were seated, there were at least 5 open tables on the patio (not to mention there were multiple open tables in front of the restaurant while we stood waiting). The empty tables on the patio stayed empty during our entire 2-hour stay! Short staffed? Our waiter was fine. We had multiple orders of fries, which were tasty. I also had vegetarian spring rolls, which also were very good. My friends had sangria and I had two glasses of wine. I was surprised that two small apps and 2 glasses of wine were $32. A $9, half-full, mediocre glass of wine is ridiculous! Centraal earned its 2 stars for the good food and cool patio. It lost 3 stars for pretty much sucking in all other areas.
(2)Liz A.
This place has the best fries! They are so good! I've not tried their sweet potato fries but if they are anything like the regular ones, I'm sure they're amazing. The Benelux salad is great. I may need to look into just ordering sides when I come here because they were both so good. Upon recommendation from our server, I ordered Unibroue's Maudite bier and found it to be quite enjoyable and will definitely order it again. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich was good and so was their kulminator- grilled cheese sandwich. Always works out well when you can go halfsies with a friend and share what you order. Service was great. Will be back.
(5)Christine C.
Here for the first time, for a business lunch. I ordered the Marrakesh with just chicken and it looked delicious... but it was quite the opposite. The chicken was very dry and the taste was just unpleasant. I had so much leftover and I didn't even bother to take it home. The chicken avocado sandwich my coworker got looked amazing. Our business partner got the club sandwich and liked it, except there's another layer of bread in the middle which was too much. I would go back, I would just never order the club or the Marrakesh.
(2)Chris M.
One of our favorite haunts in the Milwaukee area. We stopped in on a Yelp Review (thanks Yelp) about 6 months back for a family dinner. Let me tell you that a family of 6 can only go so many places due to size of restaurants and the desire to not be the parents that ruin a night out for anyone else (picking, crying, screaming...hell that's just the wife and I). Anyways, the food was amazing. Any of the appetizers offer a delicious opportunity to enjoy a different twist on comfort food. From the scotch egg to the pretzel bits, to the sausage balls (not official name I just think that names funnier), the food can really become the focal point of the conversation. The staff has always been pleasant and conversational with us and their beer selection should be able to cover any persons taste. Recently, we had some family in town and decided to go out for a Sunday Brunch. The restaurant was able to accommodate 10 people (with 4 kids) on a reservation made only about 2 hours beforehand. While I won't say that this is a norm, I was very impressed with the staff and our waitress with being so patient and providing great food on such a busy day. Be prepared to pay a little more but get what you pay for. The kids menus offer more than just your standard fare and the presentation makes our kids feel more like young adults than little kids. The serving size is large without being Honey Boo Boo sized and the menu is ever evolving. If there for breakfast, try their twist on biscuits and gravy or the sweet potato pancakes.
(5)Angela W.
I have tried and tried with this place. Each time is another bad experience that makes me stay away for long periods of time. Today was another of those unfortunate visits. Stopped in for a late lunch, arrived a few minute before 2. While it was busy, when we arrived there were several open tables but we're told there was a 20 minute. I didn't argue because although tables may seem open, there may be people waiting that I am not aware of, fair enough. Because we were starving we decided to just sit at the bar to eat (I typically prefer this anyway). We were approached by the unenthusiastic bartender. I mean.. It was so obvious that he was annoyed by everything, especially patrons that it was uncomfortable. I felt worse for the people who sat after us. They were a very happy couple, who I happened to over hear were celebrating their anniversary, and they had the same unenthusiastic bartender. He really could have attempted to smile at them, but he just wasn't capable of it. Ordered our food and it took a really long time and was okay. Seeing that I spent 20 years in the industry, I get busy and that it can take a long time for food in these busy times, so believe me when I say, I am totally patient. But sitting at a bar where the bartender is beyond annoyed that we are there and has created a beyond uncomfortable situation, the wait was just really frustrating. I think this was finally it, the last time I spend a single dollar in this place. I have had one good service experience ever. I just can't understand how this place is still busy (other then for its great location and patio). But plenty of other great spots to spend my money on
(1)Gina K.
The lowlands group brings you yet another restaurant with good beer selection and a satisfactory (if not overpriced) menu... This time in Bay View! If it's brunch you seek, expect a bit of a wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. Also beware the hornets on a summer day on the patio - order the Monkey Bread for a nice sticky trap (cruel, but so true - stupid hornets). Have taken co-workers from out of town to Cafe Centraal and the skillets are always a hit. Staff is friendly, and knowledgeable on the beer list. The Bloody Marys are a bit overrated, but still delicious. Parking is what you'd expect for Bay View (aka it can be a bit of a mess, make sure you're an expert at parallel parking or expect a long walk). If you're a fan of Cafe Hollander, Cafe Bavaria, Trocadero, or any of the sister restaurants - you'll likewise enjoy Cafe Centraal. It's of a similar ilk and menu and consistently decent.
(4)Jennifer R.
One thing I like about Bay View is the many dining options that it has to offer. Cafe Centraal is one of those. I have been here a few times, and have always had a great experience. The place is very spacious, with lots of seating, including patio seating. They also have one of the city's largest bier books and longest bars, according to their website. I believe it. On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve brunch from 8am-3pm. There are so many good things to choose from on the brunch menu. The last time I did brunch here, I had the Smoked Salmon Benedict. It was wonderful. You can top off your meal with a Bloody Mary, a Mimosa, beer (or bier, as they spell it), coffee, juice, or tea. For lunch and dinner, you have plenty of options to choose from: appetizers, soups, salad, burgers, sandwiches and other entrees. I have had the burgers here, and they are delicious. They also have a gluten free menu for those that want or need gluten free options. If you still have room for desert after your meal, they have some delicious options. I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake. There will be more trips to Cafe Centraal for me in the future. There are things on the menu that I still need to try :-)
(5)Jessica S.
Pleasantly surprised! I expected the place to have a long wait, since it was Father's Day. Nope! They were able to seat us right away (9:30 am). Coffee: strong. Could have used a refill earlier than I got, and also a refill on the water. The service was pretty slow, and they were not that busy yet. Food: super yum! I had the salmon & eggs Benedict. A little heavy on the sauce, but delicious. The hubs bad the cheesy gooey spicy mess. Of course it was delicious. A great alternative to Honeypie, Zac's, and all the other little places that tend the have a long brunch wait.
(4)Dylani H.
Spacious and great for brunch. I have come here several times with groups. Good service
(3)Pita J.
Been here a few times over the last few years. I've had amazing bloody marys, I've had awesome sandwiches, I have shitty expensive burgers, I've had stellar service and I've had shit service. Most recently went for brunch - bloody's were on point as always. First waitress, dropped over menus, and never returned, 2nd waiter, who came to the rescue after the first disappeared, was awesome. I feel bad i forgot his name. Food was good, had the breakfast tacos, the sauce needs a bit more kick, but other than that, i couldn't ask for better service. I will be back, as long as that guy is there.
(4)Daniela C.
Even though boyfriend live's down the street from Centraal, I've always been hesitant to go there simply because of the bad reputation it's gotten in the service industry for the way management treats it's employees. However, it was 10 PM and I was jonesing for something other than Jimmy Johns after a long shift and an even longer nap. I stopped by a night or two before Christmas Eve and the bartender was super friendly. He knew I was hungry and made some pretty solid suggestions. I think my eyes were hungrier than my stomach, as I ordered the fried ravioli (delicious!) and the vegetarian Risotto (under seasoned, disappointed), which were both larger portions. I stopped by for Brunch a few days later and was enchanted with the different options on their menu. I stuck to the oatmeal and it was SO great. So much flavor. Did. not. disappoint! Also, the fruit and yogurt parfait (which MPB ordered) was also pretty tasty...so much that we ordered a second. Again, the service was just fine. We were sitting and the bar, and it was busy, so we knew what we were in for. The last visit, New Years Day Brunch, I ordered the Salmon Eggs Benedict. I was ridiculously under-impressed with the taste of it, as there wasn't much of it. The Hollandaise was bland and I just wasn't too pleased with the over all plate (even though the menu description had me DROOLING!). I ordered the brunch mimosa and was very pleased with it. There was a longer than past wait for food, but it was NY Day brunch, so I totally understand and have no gripes about it. Our bartender (TIna? The one with the loopy/swirly gages...?) was super attentive and wonderful. The individual I am assuming was the manager (blonde long hair, with the head piece on yelling at everyone...) on the other hand, was not. While I wish I could say that "reputation" was wrong (from my experiences), I saw a manager yelling at some of the servers [a] for nothing and [b] in front of customers, and I think that in itself is super unprofessional and it's for reasons like this that the company gets such a bad rep. I know it's really hard to find quality management, but at least teach the ones you do hire to not yell at their employees in front of customers (or at all!). Had I not seen that, I would probably be back again. But it's instances like this that keep people in the service industry away from this company.
(2)Sandor K.
WHOO HOOO!!! Great Bloody Mary and excellent breaky! Loved the place. The service was very good. My breakfast skillet was cooked just as I ordered and tasted delish! Nice place for a brunch or breakfast!
(4)Kobi K.
I give 4 stars just based on my never ending love for meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They do that really good, along with a good staff and a young clientele. This place is great in many ways.
(4)Adam J.
Decent food, terrible service. I'm never greeted at the door, and get slow service by the wait staff. This place has really gone downhill in the last 12-18 months.
(2)Lauren S.
I want to like Centraal: It's cute, has a massive menu, lots of seating both inside and out, and is located in my Bay View stomping grounds. I've never had a bad meal here, but I will say I've always thought the food was a couple bucks more expensive than it's worth. Ultimately, There are two standouts for me at Centraal. One good and one bad: GOOD: Bloody Mary menu. BAD: The service. First, the good. I love the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary, and yesterday I tried the Antipasto for the first time... it's perhaps the only Bloody for which I'd fork over $10. The Bloody Mary is big business up here, and it's tough to find a good one that's not $7+ in Bay View. So, sure. I'll spend my Bloody bucks at Centraal. Now, the bad. I'm not in favor of ripping apart waitstaff. I've been a waitress at a few restaurants, and I know I wouldn't want to be judged solely on one lousy day. But the service at Centraal has been consistently inconsistent, from the host stand to the servers. Their people are slow, apathetic, and ostensibly detached from their jobs altogether. The host yesterday asked if we wanted to sit outside on the sidewalk or in the court yard, and when we had the audacity to respond, "Out front," she proceeded to berate us because we needed to tell her what exactly "out front" was supposed to mean. Um, it means the sidewalk. Sincerest apologies for using a synonymous term. I'd been irked with the iffy service here before, but yesterday's run-in with the host--and the ensuing molasses-slow service from our server--has fully solidified my "meh" feeling about Centraal. The only reason this place gets three stars? Those gosh darn Bloody Marys (Maries? ). If you just want a better meal at a reasonable price with great service, walk across the street to Lulu.
(3)Adam C.
Despite being here a million billion times in the past, I've yet to review this place until now. And I've got a good reason why, too, it's hard to think of anything unique to say about it. It's solid, no doubt, but even having been in a fair bit, it was, for the longest time, hard to remember which one of the Bayview classics Centraal actually was without a hint. That almost says everything that needs said with regard to the atmosphere here. "It's the one with the beer," is how my friends would remind me. It works. They have a catalog of beers the size of a small book--the word count on this thing is probably in the five digits, no joke. I will say, though, almost everything on the menu will be fantastic. The Marrakesh shrimp and chicken is one of my favorites--it's very sweet, but it's got a well blended flavors and the acid from the tomato serves as a good counterpoint to all of the sweet notes in the dish. I also seriously recommend the cheese stuffed bitterballen with curry ketchup. It's a hearty appetizer that will feed several people and that curry ketchup is actually pretty good. I haven't been able to replicate it at home (I've gotten pretty close but something always seems not quite there).
(3)Carrie G.
Consistency has been a challenge for this restaurant since it first opened. You never know quite what you're going to get. I've had great to terrible service, and everything in between. And same for the food, sometime good, sometimes not so much. But enticed by a friend who wanted to go, and a City Tin to burn I rolled the dice. And for a weekend brunch on the patio things did not turn out too bad. I was impressed that the host asked if we wanted shade or sun on the patio. But sadly after 15 minutes the sun shifted and shade was not be found, so much for that. But our server was very attentive and only came back once to confirm our order, which I saw as a good sign. I started with the Frenchie, one of their many spins on a bloody. This standby has been on the menu since the beginning and never disappoints. A great bloody base mix starts each of the selections. But the Frenchie then amps things up with dijon mustard (I need to try that at home) giving it the perfect bite. The drink is then decadently topped with bleu cheese stuffed olives that will dance in your mouth. I'm usually a big fan of classic brunch dishes but nothing on their new menu jumped out at me. There's seems to be a plethora of chorizo in most of their dishes so I flipped to the Blunch side of the menu. I found an old fav, the Tulip Turkey Burger, which I had not had in a while. It's a fairly moist ground turkey blended with bell peppers and onions which add a subtle tang to the burger. I'm a fan of the sriracha mayo topping, but the curry ketchup can be a bit overwhelming and I ordered that on the side. And speaking of sides, the sweet potatoes fries must be laced with something because they are addictive. Hot and crunchy and a bit tender on the inside. I ordered the garlic aioli dipping sauce and found it to compliment the fries nicely. Overall this was a four star experience, but considering how many three and even two star encounters I've had here I'll go three overall. And at some point I'm hoping they can pull it together enough to make it to four.
(3)Rachel F.
Stopped here post-Bay View trick or treat antics for some dinner. It had been awhile, and I'm not one to discount potentially solid spots from my neighborhood roster no matter the prevailing public sentiment. I had to know and update for myself. You feel me? Hating on success/hype? A Milwaukee behavior that's not always warranted. Success doesn't mean a thing is bad/evil... take Colectivo for example. I'll never understand that one fully. Anyways, sticking w/ three stars (almost went to two, but thought better of it) on this one. Sixty bucks later I stand by my A-OK rating, but will most likely never shell for dinner here again.. Here's why: The Good: -beer selection: awesome stuff on tap, awesome stuff in bottles // if you like beer, you'll find something super-solid here -fries + sauces! FRIES AND SAUCES The Bad/Ugly: -the food: pretty dang mediocre given the price points and, more importantly, the beautifully-penned descriptions on the menu. "Grass fed burger stuffed w/ garlic and bleu cheese w/ a fire-roasted tomato pesto + grilled mushrooms = in reality, a semi-flavorful puck of beef on an enriched/falling apart white bread bun, little pesto and few mushrooms to be found: $13.95. The blackberry turkey was no more quality in execution. We were pretty disappointed. (Your menu set the expectations too high!) -Charge extra for your sauce, your guac, by all means, I get it, but if you're making it a point to charge extra, don't be mad stingy with said sauce portions, guys. It's just bad form. L and I agreed: not a spot to throw down for eats, but a periodic stop in for some suds and fries? We're all over it, maybe.
(3)Brianne S.
Centraal! Not enough good things to say about this place. Tragically, they informed me that my favorite "seafood hot pot" will not be returning, but-the spring menu has a lot going for it. The spicy shrimp salad comes with a good portion of shrimp for the price. The frites with Sriracha mayo made an excellent pairing, and kept my dinner from being TOO healthy. While, I'm constrained to New Grist, the server was very knowledgeable about all of the beers, and when the one my friend selected was out, he brought a small flight, unasked, so she could select the next closest. A noir, I think (thought that only referred to movies, but ok). She loved it and we both had a second round. Comfortable ambiance, fantastic service, and the host on the door was authentically welcoming, a very nice touch. This restaurant was once my introduction to modern Milwaukee dining, and there's a reason it's still my favorite.
(4)Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: solid brunch in a pleasant setting. Oh no, another Lowlands Group restaurant. Why do I keep coming to these? Thought I'd give Cafe Centraal a try as I was jonesing for some brunchtimes and it's walking distance. It looks just like all the others: semi-industrial, semi-pub, all Millennial-cool. But it's a nice atmosphere to have a meal in, you can't deny. I ordered the Bay View Au Gratin Skillet ($11.95) because I'm a sucker for trying new types of sausage. I expected there to be very little of the Belgian sausage, but I was pleasantly surprised that my skillet came out probably made up half of the sliced stuff. The rest was potatoes, cheese, onions, and a couple fried eggs. Nothing revolutionary, but by far the best solid food I've had a Lowlands place. And the value was there for the amount of food (and sausage!) you get. My only complaint was that there was a Tripel on the menu without a brewery's name next to it and so I figured it must be one of their house brews. I excitedly ordered it, only to be charged $5 for a bottle whose six-pack you could buy at any gas station. A bit disappointing. Experience was more of a 3.5, but rounding up because Cafe Centraal was notably better than any of the other Lowlands Group places I've been to.
(4)Chrissy S.
I would say that I usually am a fan of the Lowlands group restaurants (especially love that they support the local bike community with sponsored events for various clubs and bike fed), but I think I prefer other locations. I like coming here for a beer (great variety of beers) and have eaten here twice. I miss some of the menu items at other lowlands restaurants, but their menu is decent. Just prior to the world cup, they synced all of their tv's... which was a bit of a bummer since we went there to watch hockey and get a beer and someone who was there before us requested the cardinals game. After saying we were going to find it elsewhere, they told us to hold up and after ten minutes they figured out how to split tv channels. I was grateful for that, but found it odd that they were going to make every tv the same thing.
(3)Marcus W.
Just had my wife's baby shower at Cafe Centraal and it was amazing! Organizing a baby shower is not an easy task considering I have zero experience, but Jaime and Amber made it as simple as it gets. Yes, there were some hiccups mid-planning but both them and Amanda the General Manager just "worked it out" and the entire experience was very professional! We booked the Sun Room and all my guests loved the ambiance and vibe the room gives off(check Yelp pics). The food was great!(Quinoa Skillet, French Toast, Pork Belly Poutine, Spiced Chicken Waffle, Bay View Burger & Bay LT). Since I was the host, I was busy with all the guests but I can really tell Mia and Lauren our servers, were hustling and did all they can to accommodate our needs. As a Bay View resident and long-time customer of Cafe Centraal, I highly recommend this restaurant for your event needs, great service, overall great food and drinks!
(5)C G.
Fantastic! We (a group of seven, from 9 to 67 years old) loved every meal we ordered at a Saturday brunch. I have never had better quiche (and I lived in France for a while), my son's French toast was delicious, my daughter fell in love with the beignets, etc. etc. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with a little edge. The only negative was that two of our glasses/mugs had lipstick on them when delivered to the table. Not quite as bad as hair in food, but pretty close. That was an unfortunate way to start a meal, but the food almost completely made up for it.
(4)Erin L.
Kinda pricy but very good. The beers here are amazing and the atmosphere is fun/hipster/inviting We started with the brat/pretzel bite board and VERY glad we did.
(4)Blern S.
Excellent beer, service food and vibe. Breakfast was superb. Try the Ooey Gooey Spicy Mess or whatever it's called. Delicious. These people know how to serve the beers you want, exactly how they should be served.
(5)Kira W.
I love Quizmaster Quiz on Thursdays. I wouldn't go otherwise. I love how the QuizMaster trivia has different categories of questions. It makes it a team effort because we're all able to contribute. Some of us are movie buffs, some of us are audiophiles, and more. It really gives everyone an opportunity to participate because there's such a variety in the content. QuizMaster is new to Centraal. Also worth mentioning is the fact that there were 40 people the first week and over 70 people the second. Wow! We're going to continue to bring more people because we like the trivia. We doubled our team last week and we're going to have to start splitting up since we can only have 8 per team. I haven't had the best experience at Centraal with food or service, but as long as QuizMaster is there, well continue to go and we'll continue to bring 8-12 of our friends. If you need a team, come down and let us know!
(4)Allison F.
I'm a potato enthusiast, so I need something diced and well-seasoned. Cafe Centraal does just that with their rosemary potatoes, and it's cured a couple of hangovers at Sunday brunch. You're a lifesaver, Cafe Centraal!
(4)Josh B.
This was a spur of the moment brunch decision, and I'm glad we tried it! Cafe Centraal has one of the best beermosas I've ever had, and their blackberry mimosa is pretty good as well, although I think it's a little high priced at $8, I probably would not order it again, unless they lowered the price a bit, or gave you a slightly larger glass. If you do get anything with fries, the best advice I can give is to splurge a bit and get the sweet potato fries. THEY ARE AMAZING WHEN FRESH! Everything we ordered was pretty good, and the service was decent, considering how busy it was (sundays in Milwaukee). The restaurant was mostly clean, although there was a large sticky spot on the table where my napkin and utensils were, but I get the feeling it was a rare oversight, and not a habit. The bloody was pretty good as well, and had a good set of garnishes, including the standard pickles, cheese, and thankfully, bacon. The restaurant was rather loud due to so many people being at the restaurant, which I can't fault them for, but it's something to keep in mind if you're planning on coming for a date, or anything where conversation is going to need to happen. Nothing was overdone, and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying it again on a slower day, so we can really enjoy it.
(4)Corey C.
I'm a big fan of Cafe Centraal and all of the other restaurants that are owned by the Lowlands Cafe group (Benelux, Trocadero, Hollander, etc). They have a tasty take on food that resonates with me. I've never had anything on the menu I didn't like. My favorites are the frites (fries) and dipping sauce. For brunch (or blunch) try the Berry Basil French Toast for something sweet and with artfully balanced flavors. Or for something hearty, savory, and manly, try the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess. they also have an good selection of Belgian and craft beers, and unique cocktails. Whatever you get, check this place out for a perfect sampling of the Bay View culinary experience.
(5)Mike K.
the 2nd stp on the SCR world tour was here and.....Meh. that's right, meh. Then again i'm from Chicago so maybe my standards are a bit high...then again I did live in fond du lac so I clearly have no standards. and still a meh for this place. im sure that's not helpful, but this should be...not impressed by their food, albeit the way its presented is....ok. too expensive for a place giving you average items. plus the service was....meh. our waiter was a bit douche...trying way too hard to be a smartass to a bunch of smartasses...plus when you see the size of our group and give us the smallest space possible especially when we're willing to wait for some room...that's a loss.
(2)Jessica O.
I've been a patron at Cafe Centraal a handful of times over the last few years, and I echo the sentiments of my fellow Yelpers. It is, indeed, inconsistent. I would have been at a solid three stars, IF I hadn't just recently discovered the patio The patio is just lovely. A private, peaceful little refuge, that happens to be filled with lots of peeing cherub fountains. This is a perfect place to sip cocktails. For me, the Ginger Shandie was an awesome choice - Limoncello, ginger beer, and the Lowlands High Speed Wit...hell. yes. Until now, Cafe Centraal was one of those places that I never objected to going, but never suggested on my own. But now it is on a solid list of places I'll offer up when searching for sun and cocktails.
(4)Flex B.
I'm updating my review, because I decided to give Cafe Centraal a second chance and was pleasantly surprised. I went on Memorial Day, and it was the most quiet that I have ever seen the place. Both our host and waitress were nice and welcoming, so service wise I would say really good other than our food taking quite a while to come out. I ordered the blackened tofu philly and it was awesome. Thanks to this sandwich and the friendly service, I have decided that Cafe Centraal has redeemed themselves of my previous bad experience. I will be returning in the future, because it would be of my utmost pleasure to stuff that beautiful sandwich into my mouth again.
(3)Teresa D.
As always an excellent selection of beer, creative entrees and excellent cocktails. I'm a fan of this family if restaurants.
(4)Linda B.
Really annoyed! We were in the neighborhood early and decided to wait until they open at 8am at Collectivo across the street. We walked over a little after 8am and the door was locked. There were people inside who saw us but didn't come over to open the door. Considering it was freezing out side we weren't willing to stand and wait. It was 8:10am when we left and they had not opened their doors. Left a bad impression for me!
(1)W S.
Really a pretty good spot. Food was very good. This is a "sort of" chain restaurant owned by the same group that owns Cafe Hollander in Wauwatosa. No gripes with the food or drinks. It is just a tad on the $$ side, so if you are looking for cheap eats, not here. Upsides: Food was good, service was ok (middle of the road). Downsides: Parking (its on the street, so in winter, bad weather u r walking in it), When they are busy there is next to no place for you to wait. Not a big deal on a summer day, in the winter you are crammed by the entrance/exit with no place to sit and its the main thoughoufare in and out.
(3)Dennis M.
First time here and loved it. We often frequent their sister café, Café Benelux in the Third Ward as it is walking distance. So we came here for a good hearty breakfast and that we got. Fantastic Biscuits and gravy with eggs and a tasty omelets. Service was very good, beautiful outside patio, good prices.
(4)Katelyn H.
Loved the fried chicken sandwich. Spicy ginger BBQ was good. Fries okay. Great beer selection and friendly staff. Cool atmosphere.
(5)Jen F.
This place has some really good things going for it: great beer selection; late night food service, and a big patio. The vegan options here are pretty limited, otherwise I would give it a higher rating. It gets a two for vegan, four for regular food (says my BF, who adores their fresh brunch donuts). The menu invites you to "ask about our vegan options," but sadly the answer is "not much." There are a few salads, a hummus appetizer, and oatmeal for brunch. But I like a little protein with my veggies, and there's not much; I think they even got rid of the one tofu dish. :( (Side note: the waitstaff has always been super nice about asking the kitchen about what could be made vegan, or what options could be modified.) The menu changes regularly, so maybe they'll add some real vegan choices. The few options I have tried are good though, so while it's not somewhere I crave to go, I can definitely make do. Brunch can be crazy with the family crowd, so be prepared to wait (or better yet, grab a seat at the bar and eat there). You can watch the parade of bloody mary's go by and decide which one fits your mood.
(3)Joanna T.
Here's another in my series known as JT's Conversations With Inept Employees: Hubs (earlier): you need to call Centraal at 4:30pm on the dot because they only take reservations 2 hours prior. Me: (grimacing as though in pain at restaurant choice): Centraal? Uhhhh....all right, I guess.... Fast forward to 4:31pm today...... Me: Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for 6 people... Inept Hostess: (cuts me off) we're only taking reservations for after 8:30pm. Me: I thought you took reservations only up to 2 hours prior. IH: That's right Me: (puzzled) But it's only 4:30 pm? IH: we're full for reservations Me: So, all the people that planned to come at 6:30 have already called in the 45 seconds reservations have been open???? IH: We're only taking reservations after 8:30pm. You can call two hours ahead. Me: That's what I'm trying to do. IH: We're full until 8:30 Me: Politely refrains from explaining that if they take reservations just 2 hours prior, that means 8:30pm reservations can only be taken when BOTH the big AND little hand of the clock are on the 6. Me: hangs up, calls Riveria Maya and makes a easy, hassle free reservation. Inept Hostess: goes back to vainly trying to discern the difference between her ass and a hole in the ground.
(1)Sarah M.
The Duck Bacon Flatbread and Spare Ribs were amazing! I thought the Stuffed Burger fell a little flat, but I was expecting more of a Minneapolis-style juicy Lucy. Great beer selection and friendly staff! Love the atmosphere too, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu, so many tantalizing options!
(4)Stephen M.
I remember what this place used to be like when there was a thing known as consistency and quality control. Funny how things change. Prices are up, portions are down, and no one seems to care (by which I mean the staff - there are a couple of high spots, but the same tendency towards hipster-cool-apathy that plagues every one of their places). I've been here twice in the last year and will never be again. I know how hard it is to maintain a thing once it's built, especially when you can't entice the ones who built it to stay. But, as they say when you walk off a ledge in Call of Duty...mistakes have been made.
(2)Barbarossa R.
My wife and I have been going to Centraal for the last 6 years or so, and the service, food and beer used to be great, but somewhere in those six years there was a shift in service and food. I believe the shift can be attributed to the many different and great places to eat around Centraal, and Centraal did not adapt or felt it needed to, which is why last weekend will be the last time I go back. We always sit at the bar, which I fully expect the service to be delayed due to the busy nature of the bartender, but this experience is the one that sealed the deal. The bartender didn't stop by for quite some time, and it wasn't that busy for 1:30 in the afternoon. He clearly wasn't listening when I order a cafe latte because he made a cafe Americano, yes trivial, I know first world problems. So, I didn't say anything and quietly grumbled to my wife and self. We finally order our food and I ordered the Quinoa skillet, which has been a favorite of mine. The eggs were severely over cooked, the skillet had no seasoning and it tasted like the squash hadn't been cooked at all. To top it off when we asked for our bill the bartender gave us the wrong bill. The only saving grace was another server who was incredibly helpful, but unfortunately we've had one to many experiences likes this at Centraal and will no longer go back.
(1)Danielle R.
So, I went here for breakfast. I currently have a pretty limited diet due to a stomach ulcer, so I was looking for something without spice, but with flavor. I ordered the plainest breakfast on the menu, and it was good (the potatoes were delicious). However, my only complaint is that most of their choices for breakfast and skillets are very fancy and have a lot of "different" ingredients. I would've liked a few more choices that were in between being bland af and crazy concoctions.
(4)Lisa A.
This is the last of the lowlands restaurants I have visited. I'm always generally anywhere from very much a fan to "that was pretty good"on their places. Their food is generally reliable and reasonably priced (my parents always LOVE the food here and they can be a little picky,) they all have that "beer book" & they have a speciality drink menu. (Although personally, I find their drinks usually just alright). Other things: Service - our server was nice - genuinely nice and friendly without coming off as phony. I know service is often pointed out as an issue here but I thought he was super nice. Atmosphere - hmmmm....all these restaurants are similar but I didnt care for centraal's atmosphere. It didn't seem as "European" as the others, with a giant bar with tv's in the center and a random smattering of tables around that seemed a little too low for the ceiling. Still, I think this is an decent option in the area. In summer with the patio it might be better.
(3)Amanda P.
No happy hour, but any hour with this beer list is a happy one. New to the neighborhood, my hubby and I were overcaffeinated and in need of wi-fi. We headed to Centraal (using our citytin coaster!) and had a few brews each, paired with frites and tasty dipping sauces. We also asked for a side of the beer cheese sauce that's listed with a different app: I highly recommend dipping your frites and licking the bowl clean after!
(4)Jake P.
I've been to Centraal multiple times - at least five different occasions. Each time I've experienced bad to average service. Let's go through the ones I remember: 1) I came here with my friend and his girlfriend one summer night. We sat out on the patio (which is very well decorated) and we ordered drinks and a fry cone. Simple, right? Apparently not. The food arrived before the drinks and I kid you not, the server even commented on it and said "it's never good when the food comes before the drinks is it." ... You think? It's not even busy right now! But thanks for pointing it out and reminding me. 2) I came for dinner with two of my friends on a Friday evening. We all ordered drinks and food. I ordered the fish fry. It was good except during his whole narration of the specials, the server forgot to mention that the all you can eat fish fry costs extra . On top of that, we all ordered another round of drinks which just never came. Maybe he was just having a forgetful day. 3) I came here with the same couple from 1. By itself, this visit would not have been bad. It was mostly just an odd situation. But since these visits are listed chronologically, I was skeptical about this place. The hostess came off a little rude to us and kind of acted like we shouldn't even be bothering her. Not the worst thing but not great. And I'm 93% certain the server was stoned. I don't care what you do with your personal life but if I can go to work sober, so can you. 4) I came here with a small group of people (3 or 4) and we all sat at the bar. The bartender handed us the drink menus and we never heard from him again. We waited about 10-15 minutes and just walked out without even ordering. And if you don't know, the bar is set up so that there's plenty of room for everyone to sit down. It's not one of those bars that there's a group of people crowded around one lonely bartender while fighting for attention. 5) The final time I came with a friend from work around 11pm. Since Centraal is one of the only places open late with real food around there, it might explain why I keep coming back to it. We both ordered drinks and a sandwich. They were good but unremarkable and certainly not enough for Centraal to redeem itself. Most of these happened over a year ago and I'm still traumatized by them. I wish I didn't have to drive by this place everyday on my way to work. Overall, Centraal has a good drink selection but it is on the expensive side. There are quite a few other places within walking distance to go for drinks. It is one of the only places open later for actual food, however, and that has always been its appeal for me. Unfortunately, I've had too many bad experiences to ever return, even if they're the only ones offering food late at night.
(1)Candice O.
Must try oatmeal. All home made except soy milk. Lots of nuts and grains. Outside dinning, unending beer list. Best donuts ever. Fast, attentive and pleasant wait staff. Can't go wrong.
(5)Beth P.
I've enjoyed some great meals and beers here mostly of the burger and frites/Belgian beer variety. Pro tip: Happy hour is Thursdays during trivia. Our waitstaff has let us do happy hour a little early since we arrived 10 minutes before it started. Better yet, go to Sugar Maple next door and then hit up Cafe Centraal for their grub. Also, they have a really cool outdoor dining area that is open during the summer. I still need to check it out!
(4)Meagan N.
Consistency! The only thing I have consistently enjoyed here is a bloody Mary. One time the 'bacon' on my Hot Mess looked like the charred bits from under a grill grate. Another time my burger tasted like a slat lick.The food was good initially but since their addition the prices went up and the food went down. Bayview has a lot more to offer than Centraal! Do yourself a favor and try an indie spot instead.
(2)Noabeth S.
Just like every lowlands experience, good food and good service. The bay view burger was awesome. We got a duck bacon flat bread pizza as an appetizer which was delicious. 3 stars because my meal wasn't very good, the kulminator.
(3)Gerard T.
Love this place. Always consistent to me. The kitchen stays open late during the week and the appetizers and beers never disappoint. Always a good selection of beers on tap. Also a great spot to catch a game and sometimes randomly they have awesome music. Great spot to relax, drink a beer and have some appetizers or a great place to get together with friends. Expect to spend between $20 -$50. Reasonable priced items snd the service is pretty good
(4)Rachael G.
Ok Centraal. You've upped your game so I'll give ya more stars. So, I've decided to go vegan. Am I crazy? Probably. But for moral and health reasons its what works for me. So the Lowlands Group posted new fall menu items and I was excited to see that Centraal now had 3 vegan options (1 salad, 2 entrees) and the tofu dish sounded awesome. And it was amazing, really freaking tasty. The dish consisted of pan seared tofu, leeks, roasted red peppers (and some other veggies I can't recall) served in a vegetable au jus of sorts, with a piece of baguette on the side. Really excellent flavor, very hearty, and perfect for the winter months. Why still only 3 stars? Portion. It was a smaller plate (maybe 8 or 9 tofu chucks with some veggies and sauce) and it cost 12.95. I know quality costs a little more, but I definitely expected more than what I received. What was also really nice about this visit was we were placed in a smaller back room that was much quieter and had more space than the main room. Still not my favorite go to spot, but I'm starting to warm up to Centraal.
(3)Taylor D.
But is it Tortilla soup... or applesauce with no flavor? Confused. Sometimes I don't really dig the food, but I've never actually gotten sick off of the way a bowl of soup looked. Well... Until last night anyways. WILL NOT RETURN
(1)Katie S.
I want Centraal to be better. The menu always makes me drool, but the reality never lives up. Somehow the food always seems underseasoned. The atmosphere is always packed...there's a whole row of tables that is flanked on both sides with major aisles. This would be fine-ish, if the servers didn't keep trying to walk in between the tables because the aisle was so long. There's not enough room folks! Go around! The beer list is always good, lots of Euro options. Is it weird that I want to compare it to Applebee's? I mean, I'll still come and eat, I just won't love it in a 5 star kind of way.
(3)Mik E.
Will never have a reason to go back. On a recent evening we got there and had a slight wait for a table so we went to the bar to bide the time. My date ordered wine but the glass it was served in had an obvious lipstick impression on it and it took forever to get the bartenders attention to complain. Once we told him about it it simply got a different glass and poured the wine from the dirty glass into the new one. When told that was not acceptable and that we wanted a different drink he asked us what was wrong with the one he just served. While my date tried to tell him that was not acceptable I just went to the Manager to complain. The Manager did come through and comped us the drinks but after that we decided to go elsewhere for dinner. We used to LOVE Centraal (even had a small wedding reception there) but have had several incidents in a row of slow service and slipping quality of food so like I said before... we have no need to return there
(1)Valerie W.
We came to Café Centraal on a Saturday night at the recommendation of Denise D., whom I'd just met at the Tenth & Blake beer dinner the week before. There were definitely some hits and some misses, but all in all, the food, drinks, and atmosphere were good. The restaurant is fairly easy to find, if there's not an international bike race in town. Seriously, all of the streets that led to the corner of KK and Lincoln were shut down because of an international bike race. In Milwaukee. In July. Yes, I'm baffled too. So, we finally get there, and ask to sit outside, because the bike race is literally coming right around the corner at the restaurant. We were seated promptly, but it took quite awhile before our server came to greet us. And even longer before we saw a beer list. And even longer before we were able to order food, order dessert, get the check... you see where this is going. The service was SLOW. Too slow. Luckily, it was a nice night, not too hot, and we had the bike race to watch. The food was pretty good! We shared the soft pretzel as an appetizer, the spicy mustard that comes with it will definitely put some hair on your chest (it's Milwaukee though... so, it's cool.) G had the "Belgian burger bebes" and cheese croquettes from the appetizer menu while I had the Bay View burger, which comes with ale-braised onions, bacon and cheddar, with the burger rubbed in smoked black sea salt. I ordered medium rare, and it came perfectly messy, juicy, and pink. The "frites" were also tasty, I opted for both roasted garlic aioli and curry ketchup for dipping (at 75 cents a pop for dipping sauces, next time I'll just get the aioli.) G was disappointed at my juicy juicy burger while he ate small, dry, thin sliders, but, hey, that's what he wanted! For dessert we shared the pistachio crème brulee, which was good, but not great. The texture wasn't quite right, like it hadn't set up enough. I don't know that I can say I'd go back, because I'm only in Milwaukee once/twice a year, and the service was REALLY REALLY slow, but the food was good... so maybe?
(4)Sarah A.
Solid choice for beer selection and food. My personal favorite is mussel Monday's, burger and frites or the club sandwich. Be sure to check out the dipping sauces and beer specials.
(4)Colin A.
Has Cafe Centraal undergone a radical menu switch in the past few years??? At one point, they had a great manager who paid to sponsor my softball team several years back -- and since we played just down the street at Lincoln Field, we visited several times for beer + eats...most often beer. Their brunch offerings have altered my impression for ...well, ever. I stopped in for brunch two weeks ago Saturday and had a great experience. 1. Arrived at Noon; seated promptly, zero crowd. I know South Shore Festival was the same day, but I was stunned at the emptiness of Centraal. 2. There are at least 20 items on the brunch menu that I would order with a quickness that marvels broadband internet, a rocketship, or The Flash. 3. Price was right and the portions were gigantic. I sampled the green torpedo omelet, which included toast and rosemary potatoes. Delicious all around! My dining companions opted for the same omelet, french toast, black bean burgers, or turkey burgers. The black bean version was huge and looked incredibly tasty. 4. Great beer list; I appreciated the pairing recommendations by dish, but I opted for Alterra coffee for a caffeine blast. I never cared for the dinner menu in the past -- either the dishes were not appealing or the prices were a bit out of my range for usual dinners out -- but as I review it now, there are several items that make my mouth water...and considering most of the dinners don't rise above the $14-15 mark, I'd consider returning for an evening meal. For now, I could see this becoming a brunch destination on plenty of lazy Saturdays to follow.
(3)Katie K.
Food is always so-so (too salty, I can tell it was frozen). Husband loves the beer selection and I am a huge fan of the brunch mimosa.
(3)Barbara D.
A fun place to eat. I had the flat bread with pulled pork & mangos. Not something I'd make at home. Ordered it since a special for the day. I was surprised how good it was. Also had the Cowboy Sliders: 3 burgers topped with breaded onion rings. They were perfect. We sat in an area that gave the feel of eating outside without the hassle of smelling car exhaust or having bugs landing on your food.
(4)Bottomless P.
Food was much better at brunch than at dinner. I'd go back.
(4)Erin T.
Awesome atmosphere and delicious unique menu that makes me want more. Had the quiche for brunch and it was buttery cheesy goodness that made my day. Excellent fresh coffee as well.
(5)Jess O.
Hadn't been there for brunch in a while because I found the selections uninspiring. But oh my we went back and I wanted to order everything. Everything I tried was yummy. I will have to go back to try everything else. The kid's brunches were great too. They come on a little divided plate with fruit or veggies and my girls felt very special to see how fancy their food looked.
(5)Kyle H.
Yet another great pop-in to Centraal and I'm a fan! Bellied up to the bar, prime time on a Friday night, and had a great meal, great service, and I learned a thing or two about beer. Bay View is now becoming baby buggy central, and Cafe Centraal is welcoming to families and kids, and you know what- tables are spaced far enough away to make it a non-issue. It's like a European beer hall, where people bring kids, and even dogs! Centraal is relaxed, and welcoming. Featuring some of their swimming items for Lent, (mussels, blackened seafish tacos) I had the beer-battered Cod fish fry with sweet potato frites and coleslaw. Fish fry passed with flying colors, and it paired well with a Lakefront Fixed Gear. Sitting by the taps, I learned a lot about biers, as the kind waiter answered a lot of questions, and gave out samples. I tried an Estaminet (Pils), which was like Stella Artois, but with a honey sweetness on the backend. A great lightish beer! I'm going to put Centraal in my rotation of places I go with my son, places I belly up to the bar for Beer School, and places I call a Few of My Favorite Things.
(5)Rohan D.
The food is okay, and the ambiance is great, but that doesn't balance out the lack of respect ownership has for drinking customers. I ordered a rye, nothing special, on the rocks, easy on the ice. It came neat, in a tiny little dessert snifter, the kind they might use in a brandy tasting or for small children who like cognac. I had to snag the waiter who left quickly while I scoffed at the peculiar glass. When corrected, he brought the whiskey in a tiny little tumbler, it matched the rocks glass one of the other professors (she just got tenure, we were celebrating) got, except in size. Her cocktail came in a full size rocks glass that my glass fit INSIDE OF. Then of course the bill needed examination. My American rye, less than a thick finger in a tiny little play rocks glass, was twice as much as the English professors full size cocktail. I asked the waiter about the "neat" upcharge, and his response, yet a new rationalization on this temerarious duplicity was outright legerdemain: "It's the same price." The two different prices were one above the other, merely a centimeter apart. "The same price?" He changed to "ice or no ice, the price is the same for neat." Well there's an insulting way to put it. So not only are you going to charge me more for ordering two ice cubes, you're going to give me less whiskey, and insult my intelligence. Bad form Cafe Centraal. Very shortly after this theft, the Chief of Staff took me to dinner at the Mason Street Grill, and I shouldn't be comparing these two restaurants as the MSG is upscale, elegant, and much more expensive, but there's a big difference in respect for customers with a surprising small difference in price for drinks. At the "expensive" restaurant, a top shelf Balvenie doublewood scotch, served in a real heavy bottom big round whiskey glass, over two fingers, ran $14. No dishonest neat upcharge there, so about twice as much, five times as expensive whiskey was only 4 dollars more than at CC. Two neat common whiskeys at CC will run 20$, or 6$ more than about the same amount of much better whiskey at the better restaurant and....no one will insult my intelligence there.
(1)Arielle H.
I ate here the other night with my boyfriend, it was a Sunday night we just moved to bay view and nothing that we could really see was opened so we ate here. Now we've been to Benelux and Hollander so we knew what we were in for. They stopped serving food at 10:30 that night that night I believe because they were doing something with the kitchen, you could still have a drink at the bar after 10:30 just not food. The bartender sat us and was happy we got to enjoy dinner before they closed the kitchen which was nice. They did have a big party that night close to about 20 people our waitress was very sweet and wanted to make sure our food got in before the large party. I am not a big beer fan and know they have a decent selection of beer. I ordered the dreamsicle and honestly was not impressed. I was expecting it to taste, well like a dreamsicle. I can't really explain the taste but I was a fan. For an app we ordered the brisket sliders, when I saw it had a horseradish cream sauce I was a little hesitant but they.were.delicious!!!!!! I wish they would have given you 4 instead of 3. For dinner I had the bayview burger. I mean it's a burger and fries doesn't need any further explanation. My boyfriend ordered the kalmunator? (Sp?) it's a grilled cheese with bacon. That was alright, I mean I love my bacon but that had to much bacon and not enough cheese. And for me when ordering any kind of grilled cheese you would think some type of tomato soup would be involved. Overall we had a nice dinner, I felt a little rushed to order only because of the large table so I ended up sticking with something simple, dinner wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad either, I'm personally more of a fan of there brunch
(4)Jon S.
Food was fantastic. A very good selection with many "alternative" options lets say. But i ended up getting the Bay View Burger. If you want a good burger, I strongly recommend this one. My girlfriend got the beef stew in a pretzel bowl (forgot the name of it). Beef was a little fatty she said and there was a lot of onions in it. I didn't mind that though. I just finished the onions for her haha. Now onto drinks. They had a nice little book with many different selections of beer all organized by type. A very good selection I must say. I would highly recommend this place for food and drink activities.
(5)Yeng C.
My husband and I had brunch at Cafe Centraal last Sunday. We have been here several times before and I enjoy the brunch while my husband enjoys the beer selection. I am only giving it a 3 star because of our customer service at the bar. We sat at the bar while we waited to be seated. After 10 minutes of being ignored, I literally had to wave down a bartender to get drinks. Other than that, our food was good and our server was excellent (he was thin, with glasses, and wearing a packer jersey). We have both worked in the food industry in the past and customer service determines a lot about a restaurant to us. Cafe Centraal is good but it can be so much better.
(3)Kay C.
I have been to Cafe Centraal many times, but this is my first stab at a review. I think it is a great addition to any Bay View bar crawl due to the size of the place, which includes a really nice big bar and an awesome secluded patio area. It has a cool, casual atmosphere and the same great beer selection you find at all the Lowlands Group places with an emphasis on Belgian beer. So it has a lot going for it. We just had brunch on Sunday and sat outside in the patio area. Typically my husband is not a fan of patio areas as you are exposed to the elements and many times you're on the street with vehicle and foot traffic. But this patio is different. It actually has a calming effect as you are surrounded by tall vine covered brick walls and little urinating statues of various colors throughout the area. The statues are the symbols of Brussels, Belgium - Manneken Pis - little man pee. No worries about wind and stinky exhaust fumes. The brunch menu is quite extensive offering egg dishes, pancakes/waffles, salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. Pretty much something to please everyone. I ordered the Green Torpedo omelette with basil, spinach and feta cheese accompanied by rosemary potatoes. All so very good. They have a great brunch beverage menu as well with a good variety of Bloody Marys, mimosas, etc. I went with the Southsider Bloody this time with jalapeno infused vodka and a variety of hot spiced pickled accompaniments plus a Hoegaarden beer chaser. Yum. This time around we had excellent, knowledgeable service and really great food. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Greg w.
Food wasn't good but they were cool with my friend puking into his fancy Belgian beer, so that's an extra star.
(4)Phillip M.
Great sandwiches! Great location (Parking a bit tough!) My favorite "PIKE TANDEM DOUBLE ALE"!
(5)Bartleby F.
We went here on Tuesday, at about 9:30 after learning that both La Perla and La Fuente do not actually close the kitchen at 10, they close it whenever they feel like. So we were questing for what is considered "late night" food. We found it at Cafe Centraal. The interior is what goes for standard reclaimed industrial these days, exposed ducts, a fantastic wood bar and floor, exposed brick. We were immediately greeted at the door and seated where we learned the kitchen is open to midnight. Huzzah! Our server, Erk, was fantastic. He was attentive, offered suggestions, even told us how some things were cooked, and in general he was a great guy. This is a rarity in Milwaukee where many servers are polite but distant or just rude in the guise of efficiency. The special was the Poutine so that's what my husband ordered. We live close to Red Dot so it was cool to see another take on this dish. The duck/port gravy was delicious and the fried pork belly was simply delicious. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. It was good, but the chicken was a little small. The gouda combined with the Siracha BBQ sauce, however, was an unexpected treat. All in all, we'll definitely go back. I won't say it's cheap, but it's cheaper than Hollander (and less pretentious, too!)
(4)Pamela M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and I usually have a wonderful experience there. However, last night I ordered a sandwich but wanted it without the spicy peppers and onions. For medical reasons I cannot eat spicy food. I believe it was Doug who waited on us. He was heckling me for wanting to change it. He said it had been a field day for modifications and asked if that's what I really wanted to order. It didn't come off like he was just joking around. My boyfriend even commented about the attitude. I was still able to enjoy my meal but I left wondering what was the point to badgering your customers.
(3)Heather M.
Love love love this place. If you like Cafe Hollander, you'll love this place. Same owners. Incredible beer selection. Delicous food with diverse menu. The beer cheese soup was incredible. Thick and creamy. The popcorn on the top was a nice touch. Hard to find great beer cheese soup in this city of beer and cheese! I really don't have much of a taste for french fries in general. However, the sweet potato frites are wonderful. Just the right level of crispyness. It also comes with your choice of dipping sauce. I'd recommend the chipotle sour cream. Yum!
(5)Roseanne S.
This was our next stop on our tour of bars in the Bay View area. I thought The Sugar Maple had a large beer selection. Boy was I wrong. Cafe Centraal definitely took the cake here. Very big, open space with a lot of seating and a nice long bar. My friend and I sat at a small table near the window. I perused the beer menu, eyes wide open at the amount of different beers they had. I had no idea where to even start. Our waiter was very helpful. I asked him what beer he would recommend. Of course, he asked what I liked and I told him basically anything besides stouts and porters. I also asked if they had any hefewizens and admitted that they don't have any he would recommend. I appreciated his honesty about their selection. Instead of letting me try a crappy beer just because I liked the style, which is something another waiter/bartender might do, he offered up some great suggestions, one of which I went with. Seriously, the amount of different beers here is insane and I love it. We only stayed for one drink because my friend isn't a beer drinker and wanted to go somewhere with more fruity girly drink options, but I'm looking forward to coming back with some of my craft beer compadres and getting to know some more of these beers.
(4)Rachel A.
I'm a huge fan of the Lowlands group. They own some of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. Cafe Centraal is the bad seed of the bunch. I have eaten here three times, and each time I have gotten EXTREMELY sick from the food. It was my intention to give them the benefit of the doubt. Three times is no coincidence. Service is poor. Staff is somewhat unfriendly. I would absolutely not eat here again.
(1)Hazel C.
Several vegan options, and multiple vegetarian options, as well. The tofu bowl (vegan) was AMAZING. Nice atmosphere, good music, decent sized menu, however, the server wasn't attentive at all. Took about 20-25 minutes for him to come back with the check. Could've just been an off day. I'd go again for the food and hope the service improves.
(3)Marc R.
Sure, it is part of a restaurant group, but they have got a lot going on here to love. The great beer choices here are amazing, and while many friends have complained about the food being "freezer" food, I really loved the black bean burger here. The servers are pretty friendly - I like the afternoon bartender Sylvia - and are always nice if you are willing to hang out and chat in the afternoon. I love that they made my mussels with a TON of garlic. I had a few strong beers then wanted to eat so went for it. I had the mussels with a not so bright but pretty ex GF who said to the server back then "the mussels are great, but I hate Belgian beers" ... well, um, Centraal Station is in Amsterdam, but hey, I had to hand it to the server for saying "Well, we are a Belgian beer specialist, but I bet you'd like the IPA or spotted cow" and he brought out a couple samples for Miss Super hipster. Yep, It worked. Ok, well, back to the garlic. I had my vampire proof mussels, and I usually ask for more bread and a spoon to suck up the soupy yumminess. So, I do like this place as a anchor property in the Bay View hood. Milwaukee has its investor driven restaurants and bars to be sure - there are a few that have popped up that I really like - example: Boone & Crockett. Centraal was always one of the places I brought my too cool for Milwaukee Wicker Park and Logan Square friends from Chicago and it is still on the list.
(4)Jeremia F.
Had some good shiitake mushroom style Mussels that were great! And partook in some of their excellent beverage selections which is dominated by Belgians....oooooh. Service was great but the menu was just to "all over the place" and I didn't see anything I loved, too many sandwiches, so went to the Odd Duck.
(4)D B.
Chain envy. I want to like this place more than I do. The Lowlands family of restaurants all have a similar feel. OK food and decent/predictable drinks served at a premium by uninspired wait staff. There are exceptions, and I don't want to be too negative, but more often than not, I leave mildly disappointed, and I get the impression they could care less. If I had some advice for the lowlands folks it would be to hire some talent, pay them well, and stop trying to be a crappy chain.
(3)Jennifer C.
The food at Cafe Centraal is pretty good - sometimes it is hit or miss depending on what you order. The decor is pretty cool and it has a pretty relaxed enviroment. The wait staff can be hit or miss as well. I have had amazing services as well as services that is kind of iffy. Yesterday when I went, the bartender seemed more interested in talking with his friend who was a customer as well rather than being of some use to other customers.
(3)Wendy K.
Centraal is amazing. Great cocktail menu. They also have a burger with blu cheese in it that is the best burger I have ever had. Stuffed grass fed burger. No joke. Also the scotch egg is to die for. I ordered one as an appetizer, and I liked it so much I got another to bring home, which only lasted half my car ride home. Delish!!
(5)Melissa M.
First time here! Great food and service! I love the black bean burger and selection of beer!!
(4)Adam J.
Went for Sunday brunch yesterday at about 12:45 and it was packed. I'm sure the Packers had something to do with the crowd. Food was really quite good (big thumbs up for the unscrambled omlette). The server was pretty bad. He was very flighty and unapologetic. If it wasn't Sunday with a 100m drive ahead of me I would've indulged in their glorious selection of Belgian beers
(3)Shannon C.
A friend and I went to Cafe Centraal after we stopped by Freya for a bang trim (yay!). Our experience was pretty disappointing. We ordered drinks -- she got a specialty blueberry vodka drink and I got a gin and seltzer. You couldn't taste any gin in my drink -- which was why I ordered seltzer instead of tonic, since I'm actually one of those rare breeds of humanoids that actually enjoys the taste of gin. We ordered some fried cheese appetizer, and the presentation was pretty dismal -- three small, fried cheese balls. So we each had approximately 1.5 cheese ball each. They were good, but we had expected more food. The pretzel we ordered was burned in the back so we had to wait while they made us a new one (gratis). When I ordered another drink, I told our server that my original drink was very weak. Our server -- who doesn't drink -- was very apologetic. I asked for two shots of gin in a SMALL glass topped with seltzer. I received said drink in a large glass. Our poor server was pretty embarrassed, because she knew that's not what I wanted. Then why bring it over? I tasted the double, it was weak, and she took it back and brought out what I originally ordered -- which tasted exactly like how a SINGLE gin and seltzer should taste. Annoying. The pretzel was okay. Can't go wrong with a pretzel. When we went to pay, we discovered that the server comped not only the cheese balls but my original, weak drink, which was nice. But then, when she split the $36 bill, she charged us both $24! I know that computers can go haywire over splitting bills with comped items, but seriously... check to make sure the tab is correct before you bring it to the table! The situation was eventually straightened out but it was still quite irritating. Ugh. Like I said, we were very disappointed. We won't be going back.
(2)Charity M.
Great food and drinks. Awesome patio. Jordan is THE bomb! - Charity, Annmarie & Sarah
(5)J R.
Really an extraordinary meal. Other posters have been spot-on about the mussels. Order two pounds (one wittekerk and one classic) with a side of frites, and Bob's your uncle. The beer selection isn't the biggest I've seen at a Belgian cafe, but it was fairly large and quite diverse. I really enjoyed a Belgian strong ale, Triporteur from Hell. But the highlight of the meal was the service. Mia was one of the better servers I've met at any level of restaurant. She was funny, engaging, and attentive without being cloying. Overall, definitely a five-star experience!
(5)Josh O.
Cafe Centraal was great. I don't make it to Bayview that often. I will be back if only to visit Centraal once again and try another delicious meal. The food is tasty and moderately priced, the service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself has a great chill vibe which I thoroughly enjoyed.
(4)Nicole H.
Oh my lord did Cafe Centraal fail on the Fourth of July. Clearly having no concept of what kind of traffic they'd have that day, they staffed for a normal Wednesday afternoon lunchtime and were so completely overwhelmed that it was comical. First people in line and we still had to wait 20+ minutes for a table because they had no one to bus them and no server that could serve us. Placed our order and was told the kitchen was overwhelmed, so it would take a while. I mean, the waitress was apologetic and got us extra drinks and it clearly wasn't her fault, but the whole thing was such an incredibly cluster and there should have been some way for them to handle it - whether a manager or owner showed up and did some PR or helped or they closed bc they couldn't handle it, something should have been done. The staff was pushed to their limits and I felt so bad for them. People got really pissy with them, but they were honest up-front in terms of the wait, so that's not fair. All in all, lunch for 4 took two hours from the time we walked in til we walked out. Plus, the food was pretty meh. None of us were particularly happy with our food and were really just happy to get the hell out of there.
(1)Erin B.
I feel like every trip to Centraal starts like this: Person A: Where do you wanna go? Person B: Don't care...mmmmmaybe [insert any other place here] A: Too busy B: How about [anywhere else] A: Ugh. We go there all the time. I feel like we should pay rent there. B: (sigh) mmmmm...Centraal? A: (sigh) OK It's just so...I don't know. Trying so hard to be interesting but because there are like 4 other restaurants exactly like it, it comes off so ordinary. Not great, not terrible just...ordinary. Pluses: great beer selection and I love any cocktail list that proudly serves drinks featuring Great Lakes Distillery over some bubblegum flavored monstrosity of a vodka (seriously, can we all agree that the world does not need another "flavored" vodka). The server we had recently was seriously a dollface. She was one of those rare people who was genuinely nice and seemed pleased to make recommendations. So the service, in my opinion was great. T said he loved his food (some kind of burger made from the meats of like, 7 different animals), but mine (fish fry) was eh. Not great, not terrible, but...ordinary. I feel like I've eaten here so many times before, but that's because I really liked Cafe Hollendar for a quick minute when I lived practically next door to the one in Tosa and really, it's basically the same thing.
(3)Phil C.
Great beer selection, intuitive staff and the menu had me at Siracha BBQ Pork Belly. It's my go-to restaurant when I can't make a decision on trying something new.
(5)Marie W.
My visit to Cafe Centraal was great! No cons to report. Our waiter was knowledgable about the beers and suggested a grapefruit one for me to try. I stopped in for an evening fourth meal so I wasn't looking for a huge dish. I ended up going with the Bay View BELT which was a BLT with fried eggs and roasted garlic aioli. LOVED IT. Next time I make myself a BLT at home, I may just try to jazz it up a little...
(4)Lauren M.
Cafe Centraal isn't my favorite of the Lowland Group restaurants, but it is a staple on our average restaurant tour. It's typically the place we go when we can't decide where to go, but maybe I should give it a little more credit than that? If you go, go for brunch. It's really good, and the laid back atmosphere is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. The bloodies are pretty delicious, and there are options to please just about everyone. Quick side note: I brought my friends here for a late night snack, and there was DJ playing club music in the corner of the restaurant. It was too loud, no one was dancing (in fact, everyone was as far away as they could be from the guy), and it was hard to convince my friends that this place was awesome. No more Club Centraal, please.
(4)Kristen G.
Brunch after a night of drinking? Yes, please. This brings me and my group of 9 to Cafe Centraal. Now I know this place gets busy on a Sunday morning and that's fine. We are drinkers, so waiting was not a problem... What is a problem for me is the way that the entire Lowlands Group does "reservations". My friend called hours before we showed up to make one and they have some bizarre rule about it being "too late" and you have to call before a certain time period that has some odd cut off?? The whole thing is exhausting. So needless to say we had no reservation. The bartender was ok, the drinks are way over priced. They can get away with it though. Why is it that this whole restaurant group makes its establishments so pretentious? That is just the vibe here as well. Like why am I paying $7 for a half of a cup of coffee with a half of a shot of Bailey's? Insane. The Brunch food always sounds so inventive, but then when you get it it has no flavor. I had to salt and pepper my Eggs Benedict three times. I finally asked for Sriracha to try and salvage it. Not good. I asked for fried hard yolk eggs instead of poached and they gave me runny yolk... it turned my stomach. Should have asked for a re-fire but I was so hungry from waiting, so I guess my bad. Our server was pleasant, star for that. But Cafe Centraal and really all of the restaurants in this group just never do it for me. Bland and overpriced with a little bit of pretentious hipster...you can pretty much lump them all in to this category.
(2)Adam R.
I went on a weekday during one of the many snowstorms in '13/'14 so there wasn't many people inside to say the least. With that being said service was great and the beer selection was fantastic. Very nice relaxing atmosphere. Bay View has really turned it around in this area. I'd also recommend checking out Sugar Maple which is right next door.
(4)Jennifer P.
This is definitely my Bay View go-to. Brunch is spot-on (get the sugar donuts), the burgers and sandwiches are great, and you never have to wait for a table. I'm not personally a beer drinker, but all the family/friends I've brought here who are have been very impressed. The pig tails (which I never would have ordered on my own) were delicious! They also have a very low-pressure and fun trivia night on Thursdays, which is a favorite for my group of friends. This is a place where you don't feel awkward lingering over your drinks or the last few frites on your plate. I've eaten here most often out of any Milwaukee restaurant and have yet to be disappointed!
(5)Jules M.
Eh, I am somewhere between a 2 and 3 stars. I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and a friend's birthday presented the opportunity. Ambiance: At 7pm on a Saturday it was packed and loud. We ended up by the front door so it was a bit cold at times. However it was festive and jovial. The place quieted down around 8:30pm and more sports folks came in, then it became sporadic bursts of yelling with plays on the TV. So if you are not into the sport bar/cafe feel, be warned. Food: Burgers were a big hit, fries got high marks. Rosemary goat cheese Mac-n-cheese with chicken was also enjoyed. I had the meatloaf, it was okay but I was hoping for more, maybe some veggies to make a more filling meal. Service: They were patient with our party that was larger than initially reported however, service was a bit slow. Staff was nice but an order drink was never served and we waited too long for food, drinks and bill. I was really not very impressed, but I guess I would try it again, with a smaller group, maybe on trivia night. There were a few menu items I would like to try, such as the fried chicken sandwich and the rosemary goat cheese mac-n-cheese. so...I will wait and see.
(3)Heather V.
After much discussion, the hubby and I give the Centraal/ Hollander/ Benelux family 3 1/2 stars (ok, so I rounded up). 5 stars for the beer selection, but only 2 1/2-3 stars for food. But, since we would definitely go back, it deserves 4 stars. Here's a quick synopsis: * Freakin' awesome beer list, beers are always cold and prices were pretty a-ok (not cheap, but not bad) * Pretty darn good frites and dipping sauces that will keep you coming back (I doubt you'll find anyone to argue here) * Somewhat decent vegetarian options, including salads and a mushroom sandwich, but a veggie burger would have been welcomed * Most main dishes have been just "OK;" nothing to write home about, but still good enough for repeat visits (especially for Milwaukee) * Comfy interior and decent acoustics, usually very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff * As the wife of a Dutchman and new to Milwaukee, the lowland theme was a happy happenstance Definitely would go back and for Milwaukee, this lowland spot was a treat. Pretty sure that these are the same owners as Honey Pie/ Comet/ Balzac, so all in all, a nice group of restaurants.. Just wish the food was as good as Honey Pie/ Comet and Balzac.
(4)Cory Z.
Nothing great but nothing horrible about this place. I've done brunch and lunch, but never dinner. Service is sometimes a bit slow, and I think the food is a bit overpriced for what you get. All in all it's not a bad place, but it's not very high on my destination radar.
(3)Eric B.
Food was great! I sat at the bar very enjoyable bartender was friendly and awesome! Manager was super nice overall great time I will be back!
(4)Sarah S.
I'm in love with this place! Favorite has been to belly up to the bar and have fabulous VIP service, the patio in the summer is perfect for a bottle of wine, mussles and sopping up bread. I sadly have tried most of their menu and there are some major wins and some you live and learn. Not a fan of their version of a turkey club, I'm a bit of a traditional only sort of girl. But salads, mussles, pork belly, burgers, pretzel and beer, meatloaf sandwich, shrimp and chicken curry dish are all amazing! Main tip I have to offer is you have to get a side of the basil aioli to dip your fries or morning breakfast potatoes in. It is life changing and once you dip you can't go back. In the last two years since coming here the food service has gotten so much better. It is such a great place to bring friends from out of town, impress the parents with a gluten free diet. I started as a fan of their brunch and slowly grew into an any occasion and to go ordered twice because I was feeling luscious and not wanting to cook. I don't go out to eat very often but the once every month to two months this is usually the place I will head to.
(5)Christina L.
Seriously Centraal you've been in the game awhile, you'd think you'd get your management/service issues worked out. I was suckered into giving you another try last night by your "snow day" deal. We arrived and were seated right away. Our server came over within a few minutes to take our drink order and then nothing for at least 15 minutes. She finally arrives with our beers, apologizes and then takes our food order. The food actually came out rather quickly and was ok, but we literally didn't see our waitress again for probably 45 minutes and were sitting there with empty glasses, thirsty for more beer. We'd see her running around every other part of the restaurant. C'mon Centraal, haven't you heard of sections? Since we were done eating we decided to just get the bill and head next door where we could get served. Also, don't try to come in on your lunch break unless your prepared to take a 2 hour lunch. I guess if I had a really good reason to go back here I might see if service is better at the bar, but really it's not worth it.
(1)Kelsey S.
This is hands-down my favorite Milwaukee brunch location. We've always enjoyed the food here, especially the rosemary potatoes. Yum. We've dabbled through the menu, but the Americana is the most standard breakfast plate and is a great value. Their classic eggs benedict is a tasty treat as well. I love the atmosphere and decor of this place. It's casual yet the right amount of faux-eclectic to fit into Bay View. We've always been lucky with great service as well. One day we stopped in and asked our server if it'd be possible to finish our meal within 40 minutes; she was on the ball and had our food to us in less than ten minutes and our bill to us within 25, encouraging us to take our time but to let her know as soon as we were ready. Super friendly and helpful. I admit, we've never been here for lunch or dinner, but when it comes to brunch: A+.
(5)Sarah Z.
Sunday brunch was awesome. We went on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and a light breeze came through the restaurant carrying smells of bacon and eggs with it. The mimosas are top notch and the service is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable as well!
(4)Elizabeth H.
Back that @ss up! I have had a few very lackluster dinners at Centraal. Its a neighborhood establishment, so I have returned a few times to the same outcome. I'm no longer impressed. Even my latest order of Polenta was disappointing. Hummus...this is not rocket science. I ordered the hummus appetizer and it tasted like it came out of a plastic container. I'm sure it did. It was also roasted red pepper flavored, which is my LEAST favorite. Hummus doesn't need flavoring. If a restaurant has hummus on the appetizer menu, it should be fresh and taste good, right? We all know what Athenos tastes like, hence why the majority of us that really like hummus make our own. Chickpeas are cheap, Centraal. Make your own hummus. It takes 2 minutes.
(2)Ashley S.
I definitely don't hate Centraal. We spent two New Year's in a row here, and it ended up being a stop on my birthday bar crawl (if you can call two bars a crawl?) last year. But I guess I think about Centraal in a few different ways. For dinner... not so much. They're kind of pricey and recently (well, maybe within the last year?) changed around their menu, so there really isn't much I'd want to try again there. Except for the sweet potato fries... nommmm. I was really sad in particular that the curry chicken pita seemed to have changed recipes. I am not sure exactly what it is, but I seem to remember that there was a nice sweetness in it before, maybe from some kind of fruit, that is now regrettably absent. The whole thing is just gritty and bland with the new recipe. Major bummer. Going along with dinner, the servers on staff during weeknights in particular have never been my most favorite part of dining out. It's always a struggle to even get a glass of water, let alone get a refill. Maybe we go in a little later than some other patrons, but that's the nature of having late hours. You still have to pay attention to your customers if you want to receive a good tip. And there have definitely been some WEIRD servers working there, to the point that I wonder what kind of drugs they are doing while they are conspicuously not doing their jobs. But on the other hand, I have had some good experiences on weekend nights. It's just not consistent! As a bar, it's pretty awesome. When I was there on my birthday the bartender bought my beer for me (he's the guy who does trivia there on... Thursday nights? Sweet beard, Turd Ferguson!), and I have always been able to find a beverage that suits my admittedly picky tastes. There is just so much to choose from, I feel like you can't go wrong. The beer-mosas are fantastic - the mix of their High Speed Wit with orange juice is unexpectedly tasty, even for a girly-girl like me. The atmosphere there is pretty cool I guess, probably my favorite out of all the Lowlands group establishments. I particularly like their new patio/courtyard area, particularly because of the Mannekin Pis statues (though I am not sure why they are neon...). We went there once for a beer dinner hosted by Ommegang, which fit perfectly in with their sort of quasi beer-hall vibe. Though, again, the food was only okay. There were these Belgian croques that might have been awesome if they hadn't been positively slathered in a far-too-pungent mustard sauce. I think you can find them on the regular menu. Finally, brunch... I have had two different experiences with Centraal's brunch. There's Saturday brunch, and then there's Sunday brunch. You might think you are patronizing different restaurants depending on the day. My boyfriend and I have ordered and LOVED the berry basil french toast on Saturday (with the rosemary potatoes, dear Lord that's great), with plenty of beermosas to go around. Then, on Sunday, we could order the same thing and be absolutely repulsed by it. Whereas on Saturday the French Toast is served warm, with plentiful berries and lovely dabs of mascarpone between the custardy slices, on Sunday, after waiting forever, we'll receive soggy, lukewarm French Toast with skimpy toppings and a beermosa that's exceedingly light on the beer. The same goes for service quality between these two days... I suppose that brunch is a busier time on Sunday, so to an extent I can understand the differences in service and, I suppose, food quality. But the differences are so dramatic that I have to think something weird is going on. It's like they have a completely different staff, even the kitchen staff, as the days turn over, and it's really unfortunate because Centraal is probably the closest place to our apartment for brunch, and we'd be more likely to go there if the products and service were consistent. But... the Creme Brulee, whichever flavor they have going, is always worth it. So if you really want to go out somewhere in Bay View, and want good beer and good dessert, I think this is the place for you.
(3)Elena E.
Amazing patio and very impressive beer selection. Food menu is very odd and limited. Ordered scallops, came in a bowl without a sauce or sides. Came back a few times, looked at the menu and walked out. Place can get very loud on theme nights, escape to patio not an option in the wintertime to limit the noise. Would only come here again for drinks and patio in the summer time.
(2)Kimberly J.
Ive waited till my 10th visit to this place to write an actual review. Centraal is part of the whole lowlands group/ trocadero/ benelux conglomerate...that said I'll dive right in. Brunch is pretty okay here. Better than Denny's not as amazing as blues egg. It's just okay. I can never ever EVER seem to get an order ever correct. EVER. I do really love the beer selection. The triple karmel is high on my list of yummy. Dinner is okay. I really enjoyed the beer cheese soup...but of course it's off the menu now. They also seem to run out of a lot of things on the menu frequently. Meh. The red devil frites and regular frites are very good. I absolutely loathe that they charge for dipping sauces.. I'd be fine with this if I wanted an extra sauce or wanted to add a few...I'm not a fan of the up charging. Seems like kind of a dick move centraal. Service. UGH. So effing hit or miss there. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's like the servers would rather be getting a root canal versus serving food. I don't really want to feel like I'm inconvienancing the staff to take my order. I do love the late hours and the djs....I keep returning in hopes the kinks will work themselves out. Here's to hoping.
(3)Abigail P.
Love the ambience. Love the food. Love the drinks. Donuts are amazing.
(5)Francesco R.
Had a great breakfast here on Sunday morning a week ago. Three of us ate for breakfast on our way to work on a Sunday morning. So that can put a damper on things already. But we each had something different and everyone said their meal was god. Was surprised since we were the only one's in there how slow it was. Maybe the staff was a bit foggy too at 8 AM on a Sunday but i would have hoped breakfast didn't take nearly an hour to get our orders, eat and leave. Having eaten at Hollander and Benelux i had high expectations for the food. They did not disappoint. The beermosa was again a pleasant surprise. Only 4 stars for slow service otherwise the food was great.
(4)Bonna M.
Great mimosas, bloody Mary's and beer! We visited Cafe Centraal on our way up to watch the Buckeyes play Marquette in Milwaukee. The couple that we were traveling with had already eaten there and really liked it. We all ordered a spicy dish. I ordered the Gordo burrito which was huge and full of eggs, chorizo, rosemary potatoes, cheese, jalapeños and some other items. The potatoes inside were fantastic!! The burrito was too big to finish but was awesome. We also had a great server (I think his name was Kyle). He was very helpful and efficient. My husband who only drinks a Bloody Mary about every 3-5 years ordered one with bacon, cheese, olive, asparagus, pickle and a green bean in it. He said it was hands down the best Bloody Mary he's ever had. They have a great beer selection that is dominated by Belgium beers. Next time we visit Milwaukee we will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)John L.
Nice bloody mary (6?) and burger selection. I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the bloody I got with pepperoni slices, but it was very good. I'll have to try the jalepeno bloody next time. I went with the jalepeno bbq burger after being informed it is likely top five in the city and I definitely enjoyed it. I finished with the brownie dessert over the flourless cake after the server's recommendation and while the ice cream was good I didn't care for the brownie itself. Good service and atmosphere.
(4)Sarah P.
After a Saturday morning painting a church kitchen for Hunger Cleanup, my friend and I stopped at Centraal for brunch. There was a 20 minute wait and when we were seated the waitress apologized and told us the kitchen is 20 minutes behind on its orders. With that said, we ordered right away and by the time our other companion got there to meet us - our food was ready. I ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Maybe I don't understand what smoked salmon is, because it was raw, and cold. Is this how it's supposed to be? Well, either way it wasn't what I was expecting, so maybe my ignorance got me on this one. So, I really didn't enjoy my brunch but I did enjoy my company and the bustling atmosphere. Next time I'll order the french toast with mascarpone cheese. YUM.
(2)Kit A.
Being the Bloody Mary Aficionado that I am, I had to try The Milwaukeean ($8) and was SO IMPRESSED! If I could have had more than 1 I would have, but trust me, this things are strong!! I wasn't in the mood for anything very big, so I ordered the Hand-Cut Calamari ($8.95) as my meal and I had no problem with it coming out warm at the same time as everyone elses entrees. If the weather is nice, ask for a seat on the patio so you can admire the naked and extremely hard to miss cherubim statues.
(4)Brian H.
A very good fish fry, they use potato chips as breading which I found really good & original. Went to brunch for the first time, was pretty amazing. Got a "Fat Elvis" which was french toast with peanut butter.
(4)Maggi K.
This is part of the entire Benelux / Trocadero / Hollander family; we generally only go to these restaurants for brunch. This one had been my relative favorite. Up till recently, I was in love with the blue corn pancakes served with chorizo and a runny egg on top. And then came the shocker: we had been talking this restaurant up as our favorite within that restaurant group, and we brought some out of town guests here...only to find out that service had really slipped and they had changed their menu - no more blue corn pancake w chorizo. Actually, a shocking lack of chorizo on the menu in general. It was around the holidays, and it was a Bloody Mary kind of morning. As we were discussing the choices with the waiter, we settled on the Milwaukee - all served with bacon. It took 1/2 an hour from the time that our bloodies were ordered till the time they arrived at our table. Our waiter didn't check back in between times. And then the bloodies came...but they didn't bring the bacon. We quickly pointed out the oversight to our waiter, who stumbled through an explanation that consisted of "Um, we're out of bar bacon. There's kitchen bacon - but we can't use that." That was met by 4 faces, all trying to process that statement...and failing dismally. Incidentally, this was during their "12 Days of Brunch"...so you would think having enough bacon would be part of that. Our favorites on the appetizer menu - the Scotch Egg (it sounds disgusting, but is actually really super yummy!) and the Breakfast Frites. On this visit, the aioli that the Scotch Egg was served with was a bit flat and unflavored - more of a squeeze of straight up mayo in my opinion. The rest of the dish (egg, breakfast sausage, salad with balsamic dressing) was quite good. And the breakfast frites: it's a sunny-side up eggs on salty fries. I don't think I need to say more; between the two, it's quite possibly the best hangover food. Our friends both ordered the quinoa skillet and were pleased with it - a healthy breakfast. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which was massive. He was happy with it, although it didn't sing the same way that the black and blue steak with balsamic used to... I ordered the chicken and waffles. It was ok, but I would have liked to see the waffle batter a little less sweet, and a little more savory as well as more acid on the plate to help balance the flavors. Service was a big miss on our last visit. Our waiter did not have a lot of tables - the restaurant was rather empty, but he didn't spend a lot of time with us and didn't seem affable or nice. More than anything, he seemed disorientated / annoyed that we were there. When our appetizers came, only some of us had silverware. He didn't bring appetizer plates. One person at our table actually walked up to the bar to ask for plates and silverware... after that, our waiter checked back a little more frequently. We've generally liked Centraal for brunch, but this visit was an Epic Fail. I'll give them one more chance, and if that doesn't work out, I'll go back to some of my favorites on the east side or Riverwest.
(3)Jelly R.
Waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly, the cucumber basil martini was tasty and refreshing, and the atmosphere is welcoming. A nice reprieve from the hipster bars typical of Bayview.
(4)Jim D.
My girls do Jr Roller Derby on Sunday's and this place is not too far from the super secret location for Derby practices so I typically head here for a bite or a beer. The place is nice, the servers are all super welcoming. The bartender on Sunday nights, Dan, is friendly and knows beers really well. I think I have tried all of the vegan offerings (5-6) and they are all good. The beer selection leans way towards the Belgium side, so if that is your style, you will dig on this place. They also have a good selection of bottle beers from regional microbreweries. All in all, I would recommend.
(4)ML C.
Cafe Centraal is a go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking? Centraal. Late night food after a show? Centraal. Picky relatives from out of town whose taste buds you want to pique a bit? Want an off-the-charts beer and whatever flavor of creme brulee's on the menu? Haven't been there in a while and craving some sweet potato fries? Centraal. I have a long relationship with this restaurant, and I expect it to continue. It's one of the best places to go when I just can't think of what I want, but I want something savory and not TOO "entreeish." I never order things like meat loaf or mac 'n cheese in restaurants, so I can't speak to that, but I can always get a great sandwich and SP fries, or maybe a great salad with a couple of ingredients I love but wouldn't usually bother with at home. I won't say everything's mechanized perfection every time I go, but it's usually pretty damn good, and, like I said, it's the kind of place you just keep in your rotation, even if you have to wait too long one night or get a bee in your bonnet because you want something that's not on the menu. Basically, Centraal is a great Bayview restaurant. It's kind of young, so the people who work there are not necessarily always holding their collective breaths to see if you're happy with every aspect of your experience, but they are a welcoming lot, many of whom are trustworthy "beer docents" and do a good job of hosting while they're serving up some good food and beer.
(5)Brian P.
I was here a recent Sunday night for dinner, and had a great meal. For starters, our server was awesome. I forget his name, but he was friendly, punctual, and not overbearing. The food was very good. I had a burger with Swiss and mushrooms, and it was top notch. I don't like my burgers to be very compact, like hockey pucks. But more softer and "fresher" feeling. If that makes sense. Well this burger was fresh, with a great bun. The fries were somewhat boring, oh well. The beer. I split a High Speed Wit, and it was the best beer I've had so far in 2012. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Bay View.
(4)T G.
Love this place! I've always been a burger and fry restaurant kind of person, so when I tried this place I was kind of worried seeing how they're menu is kind of different/trendy. But the turkey and blackberry jam sandwich is AMAZING! I get it everytime I go. Definitely my bay view go to restaurant!
(5)Sheridan W.
Wow. I have eaten here several times since they opened several years ago. And at various times of the day and at different points in Wisconsin's varied climate. The food was usually tepid to cold (yes, it was supposed to be warm or hot). The flavor was lacking in most of the entrees/items (the place/food was better in its first 1.5 years, I will say that). Service has only been "good" to "personable" -- and that was once, during service on a warm summer night with a younger male server (black hair, 20's) who seemed to most understand the role/job of a "server" and who actually used terms like "please" and "thank you" and "you are welcome." (A rarity, anywhere, these days.) The last two times we (friends) have been there were separated by about 2 months, perhaps less. One occasion was a late Saturday night and the other was a Sunday evening. The food was thoroughly atrocious both times. By atrocious, I mean a.) COLD FOOD (cold sandwiches, tepid fries, barely warm dinner entrees, and the worst---cold coffee) ... b.) INADEQUATE (not awful) SERVICE (rushed, hurried, "hey, guys!', can't wait to put the check down, long intervals to be greeted, longer time for server to come back and ask if customers are in need of anything).... c.) YUCK FACTOR (seeing servers mop tables with dirty rags, drop them on floor, pick them up and reuse them to continue wiping off tables) d.) WTF? FACTOR (crowded room on busy night with music pumped up so loud and bass so jacked that two people opposite one another cannot hear what the other is saying .... employees at bar talking to one another for extended periods of time when it is a fuller or full room and there are plates which need clearing and water to be poured, etc.) e.) FOOD QUALITY & PRICING (even when the food is "better than usual," the taste levels are mediocre or "off" and the prices are--for what the customer is really getting?----about 10 to 20 % high). The final time we were there one entree was sent back (my friend's meal; mine was some sort of stew-y thing and it was room temperature and the side vegetables were raw....maybe that was a choice, I don't know). The staff noted this and did remove it from the check (hooray!) and appeared genuinely concerned. And, truth to tell, I have never had truly BAD, GOD-AWFUL service there. I have had BAD, GOD-AWFUL food, however. I have also never had wonderful service there, but the best example was already cited above, in my opening paragraphs. I have gone back several times, as its location is so damn convenient to where we work and it serves later than other joints in the Bay View and co-workers seem to want to drink more than eat or converse about our various "shifts." The food and ambiance and (most times) the service have been mediocre at best. This place makes OMEGA on 27th or PIZZA SHUTTLE seem like finer dining. And it is overpriced. Unless the quality of food, environment and service were to somehow magically improve by maybe 40 to 60 %, I cannot imagine that the prices are worth it. The place fulfills the expectations of most of the neighborhood (hey, throw up a tent, some really loud and crappy music, stock the event with overpriced beer and POOF! ~ You've got a Festival or a Parade or an EVENT! I hear that this local chain's other joints are about the same (though, to be fair, I hear some are less so-so than others). I won't go back and my absence won't sink this ship, because most folks seem very content with mediocrity or less so, per food, pricing, service and "restaurant after-glow." But then, most people enjoy crappy sports teams in Milwaukee, corrupt and inept politicians, and piss-poor government. Welcome to Detroit!
(1)Theresa H.
My friend and I came here at 9 pm on a Thursday, and there was a fair amount of people at the bar and seated throughout the restaurant. We were planning on eating, and we stood at the front of the restaurant waiting to be seated for ten minutes before we realized that probably wasn't going to happen since no one acknowledged us. We then walked to the bar where we waited another five minutes before the bartender came over and asked if we wanted a table. Yes please? Since we were starving we still had high hopes. Our server came over spouted off the beer of the day bit, and we ordered our drinks and a soft pretzel to start. My tall captain and coke was filled about 3/4 of the way when it arrived. Then a new server came over and put down sweet potato fries. My friend and I both let her know that we didn't order them and she said "oh.." And walked off with the fries. Our pretzel finally came out, and it was somehow both burnt and cold at the same time. I could get better from the mall food court. We both ordered burgers. I ordered the cafe centraal burger which was supposed to have Swiss cheese and mushrooms. I ordered it medium. It came out way over cooked with hardly any cheese and not a single mushroom. My friend ordered the bay view burger. It came out and the bacon was practically raw. When we saw our server again I let her know that my burger was missing ingredients. She said "really?" And walked away only to return 20 minutes later with a cup of mushrooms. The service at cafe centraal is not good. And the food is lacking. Our server did take my burger off the bill, but when the bill arrived the sweet potato fries we didn't order were also on there? This place has cool decor, and a nice feel to it. They also have 28628 different kinds of beer, but it lacks pretty much everything else.
(2)Amy W.
Excellent beer selection. We had a blast trying different varieties and learning about them. Our bartender was amazing. So knowledgeable, courteous and helpful with suggestions, each of which was spectacular. This is one of our favorite places to go and just relax with GOOD beer. If you're looking for cheap, mass produced swill, then this is not the place for you. If you're looking to try beers from all over the world, give this place a shot! If you're open minded, this is the place for you.
(5)Spartevan V.
This place waas doooope! My companions and I enjoyed a pleasant meal in a bright red room. This was my first introduction to edamame hummus, although I have since found it at Trader Joe's in California. That said, I'm happy to see Milwaukee introducing me to a new type of healthy hummus and bucking stereotypes. Well played, Cafe Centraal. Oh, and if you're a health nut tree hugging weirdo hippie from California in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - head here and try the edamame hummus! Dee-lish!
(5)Adam E.
Keeping it simple--Delicious meatloaf, knowledgeable staff and great vibe.
(4)Maureen F.
Brunch. That is what I go to Cafe Centraal for. Will it be good? Yes. Will I be happy? Yes. This is why I go back. Its close proximity to my apartment yields my return customer status as well. As noted by others, Centraal, Cafe Hollander, and Benelux are all owned by the same restaurant group. They follow an identical menu pattern and have built a successful business model. In the world of restaurant ownership, go them. Way to fill a niche and be successful. Each time I have gone to Centraal the service has been great. No complaints there. Besides a short wait (it's expected with Sunday brunch) I have never had a bad experience. I love a good Bloody Mary and Centraal does a great job crafting some good ones. They support local distillers with their spirit choices as well. I like that. Recently I dined with someone who introduced me to a Scotch Egg. I was intrigued. Imagine a hard boiled egg surrounded by sausage and then dipped in aioli mayo. It was good. My companion told me that a true Scotch Egg (British Style) is soft boiled in the center. We both ate it regardless and now I know what a Scotch Egg is. Cool. Centraal is huge. It has a big bar and a great outdoor dining space during the warmer months. Seating is ample. Belgian beer flows like water. It's worth a visit.
(3)Alyssa P.
It's only saving grace is it's extensive beer menu, with reasonable drink prices. Other than that the service was slow, we waited 30 minutes for our server to greet our table. The food was bland and unimaginative. I left hungry and unsatisfied.
(2)Elizabeth A.
I live in Bay View and have been here many times. Unfortunately, my last few experiences have been less than stellar. Now that Tommy is no longer there, nothing really stands out at this place to bring us back.
(1)Shannon D.
Love this place. Delicious food, great beer and drink selections. We make a point to stop here every time we're in Milwaukee. The beef brouchettes are my absolute favorite.
(4)Jay B.
When I was in Milwaukee for work I stopped here and had a burger and a beer. The burger was cooked as I ordered it and was delicious. The bartender was friendly an helped me pick out the Great Lakes IPA, a local beer. He served it to me in a fancy glass and offered up suggestions of where to check out after I left. The food was on point and service matched. Five stars.
(5)Ellie B.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night and it was great. Our server was excellent and the food was great. They have a good variety of things on the menu. I couldn't decide on just one thing, so I got a couple of appetizers and a salad for my meal: frites, coquettes, and the Benalux salad. I've also been a fan of the Trocadero/Hollander Frenchie bloody mary and they have that here, too. That never disappoints. They also have a gigantic beer and drink selection. I'll be back to try some other things from the menu that I couldn't get this time, due to limited space in my stomach.
(5)B C.
Luckily I had some good company during my visit to Central, because the food was nothing too memorable and the service was off the mark. These are both issues that could be easily resolved, and the restaurant as a whole is a enjoyable place for brunch. We got the brunch curry wrap and the breakfast tacos. The tacos were generously proportioned and abundantly flavored in a spicey Mexican way. The curry wrap, though, was bland. We also got some sweet potato fries with garlic mayo sauce, which came out 20 minutes late, after we had received and finished our main course, all while our server was chatting it up with a coworker. If he had stopped by at least once during our meal, we would have told him that we were missing our fries. A serving assistant had dropped off our food, and he had said the missing fries would come out at some point soon. We didn't hear from any of the staff until 20 minutes later. The setup of the restaurant is a lot like Cafe Hollander, with lots of natural light, exposed brick, and wood panelling. The bartender working during our Saturday afternoon visit was friendly and very knowledgeable about their tap selection.
(3)Corey W.
Had lunch at Cafe Centraal today. Very cool place. We sat outside on the patio and it was a very hip atmosphere. Waitress was very nice but did not give me the specials and or do anything over the top to explain the menu or what is good to order. I did notice that the fries were served with quite a few sauces that were noted on the menu as an appetizer but not explained even though all of the sandwiches were included with them. Decided on the BLT and A sandwich which was a good BLT with avocado and an over medium fried egg which was a nice touch. Overall very good food menu and looked like a very cool place to have drinks and beers. The menu even gave a corresponding brew to accompany the dish which is always a nice touch if you are unfamiliar with different taps.
(4)Vicky B.
Friendly and attentive staff, comfy ambiance, well made cocktails and wonderful food. Just what I hope for on a Saturday evening.! My husband and I arrived on a VERY windy, winter Saturday night. I wasn't feeling the best with an onset of. Cold, but Cafe Centraal sure made me feel better! Hits: bartenders that smile and give you their attention and are quick. A hostess with a pleasant disposition and was welcoming. Great menu. Nice wine list (not a lot of selections, but those offered are nice). Great cocktails too! Our server was friendly, knowledgable, and made a great recommendation for my husband (pork belly). I had the pork tacos - nice bite to them! My husband really enjoyed the pork belly entree. Misses: NONE
(4)Jennifer I.
If you like beer, this is the place for you. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable. They are godawful slow, though. It's not unusual to wait a half hour for a simple order. They forget and mix up stuff frequently. I've had four different servers and they ALL manage to do this. I'm not sure how that's possible. I guess they're hired for their friendliness, not their efficiency. Anyway, allow a lot of time if you go here. The food itself is pretty good; I can't think of any specific complaints. The frites are absolutely addictive; I can't go there without ordering some.
(3)Danielle B.
Cafe Centraal is a really fun place to eat. I visited tonight with a large group and we had a lovely time sitting right near the outdoor patio (there was not a table large enough for our group actually on the patio). Unfortunately, our location resulted in some trouble with flies, but we had an otherwise fabulous experience. I ordered the sweet potato fries with sriracha mayo, some cheesey croquettes, and the vegetarian chili. Everything was delicious; familiar flavors but with a twist. The sweet potato fries are sprinkled with a spicy paprika which was really yummy, the cheese croquettes were served with a saffron aioli and they were were SO SO delicious - highly recommended! The vegetarian chili (which I've eaten tons of in my 15+ years as a vegetarian) was unique to Centraal. It had a sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon, or some such warm spice, which added a really yummy scent and flavor, and the cilantro sour cream topping was a refreshing accompaniment. Our group had a wonderful experience this evening, though I will say that on previous visits I have had some minor disappointments. For example, I cannot recommend the veggie burger as it falls apart and becomes far too difficult to eat. I've also had some trouble with prompt service, though tonight our server was wonderful. So for an overall rating, I have to give Centraal a 4/5, though if it's as good on future visits as it was tonight, I'll definitely be changing that to a 5/5.
(4)Dave S.
The problem with Cafe Centraal is the lack of a true identity. Within walking distance of Cafe Centraal are phenominal bars that specialize in things like scotch, gin, beer, wine, and futbol. Cafe Centraal has all of these (okay, maybe no footy) but they don't do any of them exceptionally well. You can say the same about food, it's good; but again, there are many better (and more focused) restaurants within walking distance. I will eat here again because the food is pretty good. But don't expect it to blow you away.
(3)T C.
I had previously rated this as 4 stars. However, the consistency of the food and service at this place over the years has made me want to elevate this to 5 stars. This is our absolute "go-to" place for company and anytime we just want to grab consistently good food fast. The place is open and airy; the wait is minimal because the place is so large, and the food is always CONSISTENTLY excellent. We've taken guests here from all over the world, and we are always assured that they have a great experience. How this place is anything but a 4 - 4 1/2 star on Yelp is a complete mystery to me. This place is awesome. Just the beer menu alone is usually very impressive. My only major complaint is the loss of the Highspeed Wit beer. What an aromatic and delicious beer. The turkey burger is amazing. The flavors are delicous. The mussels are incredibly delicious. The mushroom appetizer is awesome. Siracha mayo, chicken/turkey sandwiches. Its hard to know where to stop with what's good here. Oh! And the potato chip fried fish on Friday fish fries are really fantastic too.
(5)Katie G.
The decor is awesome looking and the number of beers they have it great. I'm not a beer snob by any measure, but I love wheat beers and this is a place I can get a wide selection. As for the food, I don't know why I always think I'm going to get better at one of these Lowland Group Restaurants. Every one I have been to has average food. Not bad, but not great - nothing special. They always look so cool, so hip and the menus sound delicious. And I'm disappointed every time. Grrr. Go for drinks and a fun place to hang out. Don't go if you are expecting great food.
(3)Tee G.
I only ever go to Centraal for brunch, and I had a great brunch at Centraal today. We're always seated promptly & greeted right away by a very friendly server, and today was no different. We ordered the sugar donuts for an appetizer, & they arrived to our table hot & covered with powdered & cinnamon sugar. There was a little too much sugar on them for my tastes, but it wasn't that big of a deal for me to just scrape the excess sugar off. My son was a big fan of the berry dipping sauce that comes with them. Both of my guys ordered the Cheesy Spicy Hot Mess, and I ordered the spinach/basil omelette & a short stack of pancakes. The Hot Mess is definitely a hit among my male companions! Mr. S. orders it every time we've eaten here. The omelette I ordered was packed with yummy spinach, fresh basil (interesting) and feta/goat cheeses. I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese, but the eggs were cooked perfectly and the rosemary potatoes were a complete delight. I got an english muffin instead of toast, but I didn't eat it- I think someone forgot to put it in the toaster. No matter, because I still had pancakes! Huzzah! I split the short stack with my son so I only ate one, but it was delicious- it soaked up the butter & honey I slathered on it like a champ. Our server (darnit I forget her name) kept our water glasses full, & was a really fun lady. All in all, we had a tasty meal on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It really doesn't get any better than that.
(4)Shannon H.
I loved this place! I only visited once while I was in town visiting a friend but I had a great time and some really good food.
(5)Matthew H.
I really like this place. It is very similar to Trocadero. Bloody Mary's are awesome but they will set you back about eight bucks. I try to order the specials and I always enjoy it. The beer list is on point too! Lunch doesn't start till 3:00pm though. I wish they had it earlier as 3pm seems a little late
(4)Stefanie C.
I love love love the beer selection here. It's nearly the only place in mke where you can find all the best Belgium beers. Trivia is also worth a stop in.
(5)Amy M.
This was going to be a 3.5 star rating, until I had the brunch at Cafe Centraal. Centraal is a fun place located in Bayview with an awesome beer menu. I don't drink beer, but if you do this is a good place to go. The first time we went we ordered a series of appetizers. The sweet potatoe frites are very delicious. As a sweet potato lover I hate when restaurants put sugar on sweet potato fries and thankfully Centraal does not. We also ordered mussels which come with bread to dip in the broth at the end. YUM! The bread in the broth is amazing. Finally we ordered a Flatbread that is no longer on the menu, good choice on their part. Back to the amazing brunch. They just redid their menu and it is fabulous. I ordered the BELT, a BLT with a fried egg. It was to die for. My husband ordered The chili rojo corn cakes which he also greatly enjoyed. Mine came with rosemary potatoes, which were delicious. My husband couldn't stop stealing them off of my plate. The Bloody Mary's are also worth ordering. They are spicy and come with great pickled vegetables. Overall Cafe Centraal's new and improved menu is well worth checking out!
(5)Eric M.
Very average place. The beer selection is good, but there is nothing all that special about the atmosphere in this establishment. I especially didn't get the back room with chinese letters all over the wall. I ordered some of the food which was all very bland and not well thought out. Bitterballen: meatballs that had absolutely nothing special about them. Ale battered cheese croquettes: I don't know how you screw this up, but I felt like I was consuming a large amount of calories and not getting joy out of it. They didn't even taste like cheese, just a tasteless doughy dumpling. White bean chicken chili: Not bad, but definitely not great. The food at Benelux I think is a little bit better.
(3)Priscilla C.
I came here on a dead Monday afternoon. I actually like eating in peace and quiet. The waitress who took care of us was great! She checked up on us very often but not too overly annoying often which I really appreciate. The food was great! Although I did get super full after eating a cup of soup and the calamari appetizer lol.. I took the rest of my food home and ate it later. It still tasted great and I didn't leave a single bite behind! I really thought the idea of having a choice between eating inside the restaurant or outside or in the "red room". We ate in the red room and I thought it was pretty cool. Big windows to still give that outside feel was awesome! I didn't want to eat outside because of the heat and it felt really cooled down in the red room so that was really nice. I really like this place and will be returning!
(4)Tamar S.
This is a definite "go to" place when I am going out with former colleagues that reside in Bay View. I also go to Cafe Hollander which is equally as good but with the East Side vibe as opposed to the more "hip" vibe in Bay View. Personally I can never fail with the sweet potato fries and with the sriracha dipping sauce! Yumm! My friends have anything from the tuna entree which was perfectly prepared and she is a former caterer to burgers and fish fries! Bartenders are friendly and will take any drink request even if not on the menu! Keep it up and we'll keep coming. P.S. I love the patio!
(4)William U.
Cafe centraal is my fave of the euro cafe chain of restaurants here in Milwaukee. If I could give a 3 1/2 I would. It is a good place in many ways. Great beer selection. Nice bartenders and they were attentive. Most of the food I have had is above a 3 on a scale of 1-5. All around good experience. On the other hand nothing seems to blow me away. I should be satisfied with steady good and variety. My vegetarian friend likes it well enough also. It is solid -if anything is a standout it is the big patio. I will certainly go back probably often. You can take a date their or your parents. Maybe that is good but in a way it seems to Unspecialized in today's niche restaurant market. So it got a 4 instead of 5. Sort of a gut thing.
(4)Tom B.
Ive wanted to try this place for a long time now, ever since I read a review in the Bay View Compass {since July 29 2011} , The Delicious Cone of Corruption, was not! The review made you think that the french fries were fresh cut and wickedly good, they werent any better than Micky Ds fries, your basic ordinary fry. The Manager says the Fries are the Best selling item on the menu. Im sure that is right {at $4.95}, With 12 buck 1/2 pound burgers {who needs a 1/2 pound burger for lunch anyway?} A friend had the pork tacos also around 13 bucks for 3 tacos{ no beans or rice} , youd be better off at Hectors a little down the street or at Classic Slice, After reading some of the other reviews and what Ive just experienced, I wont be making it back
(2)Jon H.
Thriving hive of hipster doofuses barely makes the grade, if at all. The chili is good, and the selection of drinks is admirable but the rest of the entire menu is wretchedly overpriced and sub par in quality. The wait staff have this attitude about them that sine they work at a restaurant deemed so high and mighty that they can treat their customers with the highest degree of frigidity. Jokes on you, my friend, you're still just, in essence, a delivery person; get over it.
(2)Ashley N.
I heard so many good reviews and recommendations from friends that I HAD to go to Cafe Centraal because it is soooooo delicious. I went, got the meatloaf and regretted it. It will be a while before I go back here. Maybe it was an unlucky day for me, but everyone in my party (we all go a different version of the meatloaf) was paying for it later on that night.
(2)Honest E.
I love this bar - great beer and even better FOOD! It's a chill atmosphere, kind of hipster, pretty reasonably priced stuff. It has a cool back patio as well. Parking can be a pain, but even if you get stuck parking a few blocks away - it's worth it!
(4)Phillip M.
Great food and great beer selection!
(4)Cory T.
Centraal let me down on a few occasions now, which is deeply disappointing since it is so close to my home here in Bay View. The atmosphere is ominous and cold--a foreshadowing of the abysmal meal to come. I know that thanks to shows like "Design Star" we're all stuck looking at restaurants that fish their furniture and fixtures from thrift store clearance sales in an effort to look "hip" and "now". Ummm, it just looks ridiculous. Mismatched chairs? How "edgy" and original! As far as the wait staff is concerned, they've proven to be completely forgetable and extraordinarily dull. Hmmmm, not so wonderful yet, Centraal. The food was by far the biggest disappointment. They have a few good items on the menu like the Cranberry Turkey Sandwich with giardinara is a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming menu. The jam-seared turkey on toast is complimented by the hot giardinara. But this is nothing that cannot be made at home. The sandwiches overall are quite good, but are not fantastic values, as everything is priced beyond what it should be. The salads are the weakest part of the Centraal line up. Interestingly, their sister restaurant Benelux, has the most novelGrilled Caesar Salad (the lettuce is actually grilled), and I'm hoping it will show up on Centraal's (hopefully) revamped menu in the near future. The salad I was most unenthused about at Centraal was some concoction with beets and squash. It sounded wonderful in theory, but the beets and squash are not warm, but rather ice cold. Okay, but they taste more like raw pumpkin. My final recommendations for Centraal: 1. Have someone to greet guests. This is apparently lacking, as evidenced by countless reviews indicating said problem. Do you read these reviews? 2. Get the wait staff uniforms, or at least crisp looking aprons. No one wants to be served by a reject that looks like they are on hiatus from living in their mother's basement after a marathon game of Dungeon's & Dragons. 3. Brighten up the interior of this place. Or, at the very least, CLEAN IT. Filth is neither hip, nor trendy. Consider a fresh coat of paint. I feel like I'm eating on the inside of a giant beer carton. 4. Purchase some real furniture. This nonsense of "Decorating on a Dime" might have cut it in the late 90's, but it's been done--TO DEATH. And you are not some struggling entrepreneurs with a start up in SOHO. You have the money, crack open your wallet and free some grounded moths. 5. Tweak your menu a bit. There are some damn good items on the menu. Figure out what people like, and edit out the dogs. 6. Get your food temps where they need to be, and be consistent. Then light a match under your servers' behinds to get the stuff to the table before Christ returns again. 7. Improve your fish fry. It's pretty good--BUT--my friend had it and there was far too much batter on the fish. Get some out-of-this-world bread to accompany this popular fav, and come up with some coleslaw that offers something different and can serve as your signature. 8. Desserts could be your forte. But they aren't. Don't miss out on this opportunity to cross promote with some of your neighbors. You have Wild Flour Bakery and Babe's Ice Cream right across the street. Perhaps you could incorporate their items as components for your dessert line up. 9. Thank your guests for coming in. Put some Vaseline on your servers' teeth if you have to find a way to force them to smile. Damn, they are a depressing bunch at this location.
(2)Matt X.
Milwaukee's viral Lowlands Group has been opening a Belgian restaurant-bar annually, and I think they are overdue for a cease-and-desist order. Centraal is their third locale (of five so far). They were pretty late to the game, as Bay View's Kinnickinnic strip was already saturated with restaurants that were less corporate and served up better food as a cheaper price point. Like all of the Lowlands Group places, they are pretty much identical. Heavy wooden interiors. Bikes and gimmicky geegaws make it painfully clear they aim for a Flemish vibe. Dozens of expensive Dutch/Belgian beers on tap and dozens more available as bottles. Reliably decent food. Your stomach will be pleased, but with a higher cholesterol and blood pressure. Young hipster servers who are usually able to manage the crowds, though management ought to do better with staffing levels. There's nothing cheap on their menus or taps, so you can't leave without dropping $20 on lunch. A pretty clever restauranteur ploy for extracting dollars from an up-and-coming clientele, but not a choice for a conscientious diner. This spot on KK is actually one of their better cookie-cutter restaurants I've visited. The service has been relatively attentive and the kitchen knows their basics. But unlike sleepy Wauwatosa or Downer Avenue, this neighborhood is dense with great local eateries. Why I give this spot the 2-star rating is the neighborhood competition along Kinnickinnic. You can eat (and certainly drink) for much cheaper at any number of superior places on the strip: Lulu, GTO, and Honeypie to name a few.
(2)Chad C.
Had a birthday dinner here not too long ago, and while I liked it, I was not blown away. I had the Goat Cheese Mac'n'cheese... and it didn't quite live up to other versions I have had. It's pretty bland - not enough goat cheese flavor. I also went back a second time and got the black & bleu burger... which was also mediocre. It's a nice place with good service but the food just isn't very good. I gave it two chances, and I won't be giving it a third.
(2)Christophor R.
There's nothing finer than a place that listens to you when you order. I've gone there several times for dinner and brunch. I like my bloody mary a specific way and when I tell them that, they make it that way. Some places just slap it all together without ever catering to the customer (which takes all of 10 seconds for extra Tabasco and celery salt). The brunch menu offers a wide variety of traditional brunch fare with some unique twists on the items as well as some straight up classics. The dinner menu is big and varied as well and there's always a great beer available to pair with your food. If the menu and theme looks familiar that's because it's part of the Benelux/Trocadero/Hollander group... Things are pricey at times but for the quality and atmosphere, it's worth it.
(5)Nick S.
Overall,pretty good. There's not much to distinguish Centraal from other Lowlands Group restaurants... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The outdoor seating and beer selection are phenomenal.
(3)Sarah J.
I absolutely love this place! The bartender's are very knowledgeable about the many, MANY beers they have and all the staff is friendly. Their food is amazing and the atmosphere is laid back. I love the diverse crowds that gather there and always feel comfortable.
(5)Alicia M.
I've been here twice. I remember being impressed with the food the first time around (we were there for dinner) but I also remember being a bit shocked by the price for what we got. Today we went for lunch on a Saturday. We got there at 1:45 and they were still serving their "breakfast/brunch" menu. Apparently they serve it until 3pm. It's mostly breakfast fare but they have a few burgers too. I would say the service was the biggest disappointment. Took our server awhile to first approach us (no water was brought while we waited). There was one point where he walked past and told us he would be with us in a few minutes so at least we got a heads up. However, the restaurant was NOT busy (at all) this time of day so there is no excuse for poor service in my opinion. Once he took our order we literally did not see our server again the rest of the time that we dined (he stopped by once we were pretty much done and asked if everything was ok but by then it was sorta pointless). A different person brought us our food. Our waters were not refilled other than the one time I asked specifically for more water (and then they only filled it half way). When the girl brought us our food I had a few different requests for her (because there was no sign of our waiter) and she seemed kinda put-out that I expected her to do something other than drop off the food. The thing I found so funny about our service experience is that everyone was walking around with these headphones in their ears. So there is the appearance of having it together but at the end of the day the service simply wasn't there. Get rid of the headphones and just train your people in being attentive and helpful. The food was also disappointing. My mom had a 12 dollar burger (which I think they even charged extra for some basic ingredients). She said the beef was good but a 12 dollar burger should knock it out of the park in my opinion. I had a salad. There was only one salad option on the menu for this time of day. It was greens, tomato, onion, blue cheese and candied walnuts. It was the size of a generous side salad. It was 9 dollars! WTF?!? My husband had a biscuits and gravy thing. He said it was good but I tasted the sauce and it was pretty flavorless in my opinion. If you want good food for a good price walk across the street to LuLu's instead. I just feel like if you are going to have "high end" prices then you should have pretty impressive food and at least decent service. For what they charge I don't think I'll be returning here. On the plus side: It's an environment that was kid-friendly (at least during the lunch hour) and the kid's menu was quite nice.
(2)Bobby G.
(ZERO POINT 5 STARS- 0.5) People must be stupid... i've been here multiple time, and it's bad. Staff doesn't seem to care about anything but making money n drinking beer. I had my WORST restaurant experience here ever! Service was cocky, host rude and rushing.... manager fumbled over 5 mistakes and could not recover. I will strongly NOT recommend this place, unless u want to drink beer. Ehhhh really that's all they offer. ohh did I mention, one of my courses my table could not even eat, bc it was cuddled and discussing!! two they didnt enjoy. and one was just messed up. Good job on not messing up the bottled root beer. I've read pissed off reviews, but this is legit. I had bad mouthing but I this is the Truth. sorry for being harsh, but real.
(1)Stacey R.
Went for a late dinner Saturday. Centraal always hits the spot. Luckily Kari was our server. She had has a quick wit and the BEST beer recommendations. Get the Rodenbach Classic if you like Belgium sours it's delish!
(5)Jaclyn A.
Good beer and great food! Try the High Speed Witt and sweet potato fries.
(4)Chris G.
Whether it's for the atmosphere or great food, I would highly recommend Cafe Centraal to anyone looking for an excellent Saturday morning brunch experience. For a total of about $19 per person, this restaurant is well worth the price. If this how Cafe Centraal treats their guests to an amazing Saturday brunch, expect me back in the summer for a Sunday brunch on their patio! **Ask for the Steak and Eggs Benedict for brunch. Even though it's not on the menu, they will still make it for you. It's one of my favorite brunch items in all of Milwaukee!** Read the full review on MilwaukeeBrunchReviews.c… - milwaukeebrunchreviews.c…
(5)Gary H.
I like the food here a lot. When I want meat loaf, turkey burgers, fries, this is my spot. I will keep going back. Why not 5 stars? Well, the crowds are hard to manage at peak times. (I now prefer lunch on weekdays, or early Sunday brunch). The service is friendly and hip, just not too prompt of skilled. A regular screw up is ordering a beverage and not getting it, or waiting a long time for it. It seems to me that the kitchen is much better managed than the floor.
(4)Vladimir K.
I've given this place a couple tries and then decided no more. It's just way too expensive for what it is. All the entrees seem to be around $13, and you can get food just as good at Lulu or sandwiches just as good at Sven's for at least $4 less. For a BLT at $10, I was expecting some nice thick-cut peppered smoked bacon or something awesome, but it just seemed like regular Oscar Myer generic bacon or something. What a ripoff, this sandwich should have beel like $6. Beer here is overpriced, even considering the beers being served, and every single time I've gotten a tap beer it has been a the most skimpy pour I've ever seen (and I have been to many Belgian beer bars, I know some headspace is reserved for foam but geez). I was shocked to find that a DuPont that with the glass only 60% full was like $7.50. I ordered another one thinking it was a fluke but it was just as skimpy. Service was okay. They pour better Belgians at Palm Tavern and they do better food at Lulu, and both are considerably cheaper. This place is overpriced.
(2)Kirk E.
We've been to Cafe Centraal 3 times since moving to Milwaukee. My wife and I have each ordered something different each time, and every time it has been awesome. Took my picky father-in-law there for brunch, and he absolutely loved it. So good! Also, amazing beer selection and knowledgable beer staff. The Milwaukee Bloody Mary was one of the best bloodies I've ever had. Highly recommend everything at Cafe Centraal.
(5)Jen M.
I like Cafe Centraal for its beer list, cheese croquettes appetizer, proximity to the south shore part of the oak leaf trail, and constant availability of your choice of seating and friendly service. I've been there four times in 2011, twice for post-bike ride drinks and appetizer and twice for supper. Each visit was great. But I'm a beer connoisseur, which I believe is the best reason to choose Cafe Centraal, Belgian beers are my favorite and I haven't seen a more impressive selection anywhere else in town. The food choices other than the fabulous cheese croquettes with saffron aoli sauce are fine but don't particularly strike me as outstanding. I've really liked all of the staff that have served us - they have been relaxed and friendly and very informative without being intrusive. Each server we've had has really known their drinks and the beer available. They are willing to make recommendations and share their favorites. You get the feeling they are proud of the place and the beer selection, which I think is a very good sign. The beer..OH THE BEER...Try the Maredsous double (not available the last time we were there) or the triple, or my favorite: The Unibrau Ephemere. It is brewed with apples. On Sunday 9/20 I had their monthly special: The Kwak. It is unbelievably smooth...slides down your throat like caramelly liquid velvet. If I have foodie friends to entertain I wouldn't think of taking them to Cafe Centraal but it was very fun to take beer-fan friends from San Francisco there on Sunday night. They have samplers available and are amiable about switching them out. We had a GREAT time. My husband rated their meatloaf 2nd best in the city, behind Comet Cafe's. I loved their nightly dinner special: Tequila Chicken. Yes, I could taste the tequila. It added zesty cohesion to a sauce with a delightful mix of different kinds of peppers and tomato. And, my biking buddy and I have been treated like honored guests, even when we arrived mussed up and sweaty in our biking gear.
(4)Myra P.
Big fan. Food, beer, staff, patio--on point.
(4)Jen B.
Centraal has the biggest beer list I have ever seen. When we asked to see it, the server dropped off an encyclopedia-sized binder on the table and I was immediately overwhelmed. Luckily, she was awesome and offered recommendations based on our preferences. Or rather, she did this for the serious beer drinkers in my group. I went with the Piraat based solely on the name. It was delicious and, unlike most beers, I could actually taste the flavors that were described on the menu. The food was off the hook. My party of three shared the five spice tofu, black bean burger and veggie sandwich. I love the tofu and the sweet potato fries that came with the burger. But by far the best thing there is the curry ketchup. I could put that on anything. Hell, I could drink it straight. It's that good.
(4)Brittany C.
I couldn't help but give it 5 stars. The place was amazing.. food, atmosphere, everything. I ordered the black bean veggie burger (bc I'm obviously watching my figure) and it was hands down THEE best veggie burger I've ever had. Granted, I haven't had THAT many veggie burgers but I'll still rank this one in the top 3 I'll ever have in my life :) We were with a group of 19 people, who all loved their dishes. It was a fun and lively atmosphere, one I'd love to have a few drinks in :) which will have to wait until next time!
(5)Sarah T.
Somehow - I don't know how - I was suckered into going to Centraal just one more time. My boyfriend ordered the steak. He wanted it medium-rare, but what did he get? A well-done steak. A twenty-dollar well-done steak. When we notified our waitress, she said, "Really? Let me see," as if we were lying. Awesome. We were then told that the manager would be out to speak with us. "So your steak wasn't cooked how you want it? All right, we've got another one cooking for you." Twenty to twenty-five minutes later, the second steak arrived at the table. My boyfriend cut into it to find that it was just shy of being well-done. The manager then stopped by to check on us, but not in a way that was particularly warm or friendly. "Steak's okay now? Good." He then scurried away from our table, offering us nothing in apology for the overcooked steak. And yes, we still had to pay for it. Sure, we could've complained that the steak STILL wasn't done... but we didn't. We didn't want to have to deal with the manager's crappy, high-and-mighty attitude (how dare we complain about anything in such a *highly* respected establishment). I just wanted to get the hell outta there. Oh, and their fish tacos suck. Go to Cafe Lulu for their fish taco special to be delighted by something much tastier and much more reasonably priced.
(1)Matthew W.
Where to start. I've been to Cafe Centraal at least 10 times since moving to bay View a few years ago. I will admit that in the summer the patio is awesome and is a big draw. Even though I really don't enjoy their food that much; oddly what brings me back is the fast, free WiFi. The food is OK, it's not bad, it's not great. In fact some dishes are very good. But, just like you will read about what i think of the beer later on; it's all just very blasé. So why the 1 star!? It's because they try to make it look like they have a good beer menu, when what they actually have is more of a tourist trap for what "regular" folk would think is good, unique, belgian beer. Coupled with the fact that it's all too expensive and you have what i feel like is a fluffed up, trendy spot that caters to the average restaurant goer. That's why i feel they get decent reviews on Yelp. The regular joe would probably see this place is so unique and cool; but it just misses.
(1)Shane H.
The title of this review is "Reviewing Cafe Centraal: An Exercise in Describing Mediocrity" Another Diablos Rojos joint. If you've been to one Diablos place, you've been to them all. They all have their unique qualities, and none of them are outright bad. They do good bar food. They serve okay drinks. They have good atmospheres for hanging out. But, there just isn't anything there to rave about. I am not a picky eater. I will put anything in my mouth that you give to me. I will eat here again, and I will enjoy it, because it's really hard to screw up a burger. The food is good, but it won't blow you away. Servers are always very nice. These are probably some of the hardest working people in the Milwaukee service industry, because these places are meant to draw large crowds and serve many at once. I'm gonna give massive props to Centraal for being open for the blizzard of the decade. Our server was upfront that only two of the staff were able to make it in, but they opened anyway. That's die-hard Wisconsin for you!
(3)B B.
First time visit to Cafe Centraal. Brunch was on my mind and I wanted a refreshing cocktail on a hot Saturday afternoon. The place wasn't crowded but it wasn't dead either. Families, couples and what looked to be a great mixture of all walks of life were enjoying the open, sunny atmosphere. We were served water right away which is a nice touch on a hot day in the city. I had a specialty cocktail called a Red Snapper. It wasn't too sweet or boozy...it was made quite well. My husband had the Nuts and Berries from the cocktail menu. Creamy, smooth and the raspberry garnish was a great touch. Every person that was working behind the bar was conversational and genuinely concerned if we needed anything and if we were enjoying our visit. The host was friendly and super cute. The brunch menu is full of choices but my decision was easy. I chose the Red Eye. Black pepper basil biscuits with poached eggs and chorizo gravy served with rosemary potatoes. The eggs were cooked properly and the ample portion size left me with extra to have as a snack later. This dish is full of spice but not overbearing. My husband had the Hot Mess with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage over rosemary potatoes topped with Belgian beer cheese sauce and fresh basil. Another ample portion for a hungry bruncher. He gave it 3.5 stars only because the eggs were slightly overcooked. He ate it all so it had to be good. Our bill was $39 for two tasty drinks and two hearty meals. We'll be back soon and Cafe Centraal is now going to be a must visit place when I'm in MKE.
(5)Becky S.
Love all their beer choices. A great place to hang out with friends, drink, and try new beers. Love that they have Lambics (Framboise and Peche are the best).
(4)Chris M.
I've been a fan of the Lowlands restaurant group since they opened their first restaurant. Each have unique and amazing locations. I've been to this location on a few occasions. Here are a few highlights: - Gluten-free MENU! That's right, a separate menu to make it easy for us GF freaks. - Their courtyard is awesome. Very private, you don't feel like you're just sitting along a road waiting for a car to come up over the curb and take you out. - Pork chops, red pepper coulis and polenta dish is the bomb!! - You like a good bloody mary? How about one with Nueske's bacon? Yep. The last time I was there was with a large group (~ 20 people). We all arrived at different times, some stood, some sat, some drank, some ate, we all moved around constantly. However, the server nailed kept each of our bills separated perfectly and always found me to deliver me my gluten-free beer. That's right, gluten-free BEER!
(5)Brandy H.
One of the best beer selections in town Food is to die for. Favorites include the hummus and damage dip appetizer, rosemary goat cheese & mac, and meatloaf. Fish fry is amazing as well. CAN'T GO WRONG HERE!!!!
(5)Casey C.
Went here for brunch. The Milwaukeean bloody mary was the best bloody I have ever had. The horseradish adds a spicy kick that is different from Tabasco. And it had bacon and cheese in it. Does it get any better than that. I usually don't like brunch because I don't want a huge meal that is really sweet like French Toast. But here, in addition to the sweets, they had options like the Chili Rojo Corn Cakes. Not ashamed to say I ate the whole colossal portion myself. Yum. And the Basil Berry Bliss is a great French Toast option. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Robert M.
You could do a lot worse than Cafe Centraal, but you could do a lot better as well. I find all of the Lowlands Group Restaurants (Trocadero, Centraal, Hollander, Benelux, etc) to be remarkably similar. While at one time each of these restaurants represented a unique feel representative of their inspiration (France, Belgium, etc) they now all look, feel, taste act and smell virtually identical. Sort of depressing. The recipe: a very large selection of (mainly Belgian) beer, straight-forward food that is heavy on meats, potatoes and cheeses, decor and presentation that feels a little chain-ish. There's no question this is how you build a brand, but it all feels a little forced. I imagine I will inevitably be at Cafe Centraal again, but it will be at someone else's behest. Pros * Great for families and groups, particularly if you want to appease a lot of tastes * Outstanding beer selection Cons * Everything tastes, looks, feels the same * Service is lackluster at best
(2)Loesje T.
Our yearly visit to Milwaukee always includes Cate Centraal. The outside patio was in full swing on a sunny Sunday morning. Brunch was outstanding as was the Bloody Mary special. It is so special that the NYT gave it a write up! Centraal keeps getting better and better. A welcome addition to Bay View. Heard that Alterra is building across the street. That and other local spots make this a new happening area. We'll be back!
(5)Diane M.
The food here was delicious. Especially the belgian donuts. The server was very knowledgeable about the beer, and very sincere. Their beer selection was quite extensive, and the manager Bob was very polite and helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good meal, or a good beer!
(5)Kip G.
After two wonderful experiences at Trocadero, I decided to give one of their sister restaurants a try today. The service definitely wasn't up to the same level received at Trocadero, but our waitress was training someone, so I completely understand. I decided to give the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy a shot and was pleased with the decision. Was completely in love with the chorizo gravy, but still not sure what to make of the addition of poached eggs to the mix. I'm just not that big of a fan of eggs, I guess. Good stuff though. Side of smoked bacon added a little extra love to the experience and gave me a little something to dip into those yolks. I'm not writing off Centraal, but I definitely think I'll try its other sister (Cafe Hollander) before returning for another meal. Wonderful location though...I love Bayview and can already tell that outside seating during Summer for brunch would be a wonderful experience.
(3)Denise H.
The Bloody Marys are really good. That was the only good thing about my visit. My group waited over a hour to get a table and then over an hour to get our food order. We were pretty hungry by the time we got our food. I didn't think that the GF Salmon Benedict was worth the $13.99 that I paid for. It was quite a small portion size.
(3)Becky T.
We live 6 blocks from Centraal, & we eat there quite regularly. The food is always very good & the service is too. I don't think I've ever been disappointed @ Centraal. This goes for the Wauwatosa location as well as the downer avenue location. I also have to give them props for being so fun! the sponsor the Santa Rampage ride and other cycling events and that's just awesome for community, fitness, and good times.(Trocadero on the other hand, has been ultra slow & insanely forgetful on a number of occasions...) But other than Trocadero, I'm very happy w/ Lowlands group, and Cafe Centraal in particular.
(4)Katie S.
Awesome beer menu. Great indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Great location. (Being in walking distance from my house gives it an extra thumbs up.) Food is always decent, but it's a "sort-of" chain, and a little on the pricey side. I usually find myself at Cafe Centraal more for beers or trivia than for the food. It's a decent spot for sure.
(4)Andrew A.
I have been to Cafe Centraal a few times but this is my first review. Service is inconsistent but this last time, it was good. No doubt about it has some of the best beer selection in Milwaukee...PBR tall boys to the best Belgian beer. The fish fry is pretty good and has an AYCE option. Last time I had it was $11.95 for regular fish fry and $13.95 for AYCE. It has panko breading, regular fries (not the best), and cole slaw (okay). I have also had the Bayview BELT for $9.95. This is a GOOD sandwich - applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce, 2 fried eggs, and roasted garlic aioli on toasted french bread. The hamburgers are okay. If you are looking for a burger, I'd try Solly's, Sobleman's, Oscar's Pub and Grill, or AJ Bombers. This last time I had the rib-eye and frites for $19.95. It was okay at best but a steak for $19.95 I can't really complain too much. Fries were much better this time around - fresh cut. My wife had the Benelux salad with chicken and enjoyed it.
(3)Jamie S.
I have many things to talk about here: I live in the area, and so this is one of my options, and regardless of how indifferent i feel towards CC,and at times, I never can quite convince people we should go somewhere else. One time i went in and they made me sit at the bar to get the happy hour price on the fries, even though there were 5 other patrons in the whole place. They could have been nice, and adjusted the price and let me and my friend sit where we were and not move all our stuff up to the bar. Tacky. Employees are ALWAYS seeming to be holding meetings during restaurant hours at the back of the restaurant. Its akward. Period. The food could be better. You go there and eat something, you will know what I am talking about. The beer is great though..the one bright spot. The staff is pretentious at times. Not all of them. But good God, some of them have snotty 'tudes. You never know if you should wait to be seated, because NOONES ever waiting at the podium when its slower. Today i went in for brunch and it took 30 minutes to come to the table, when i asked the waitress where the food was, she said the restaurant is busy and the patio is packed. Soooo..what you are saying is we have to suffer because the patio is busy? I said this to her, and her reply was: the whole restaurant suffers. Bitch! Just snotty, like I mentioned. The gaspacho is good, but I am sure i could make better. You cant really mess up cold veggie soup. Just go to LULU or my house for dinner instead.
(2)H C.
What is with all of the Lowlands Group restaurants and their crummy service? Went in on Sunday before a birthday party. Place was pretty empty so we sat at a high top table near the entrance to watch the Packer game. Not sure what the deal was with our server, but she was just kind of flighty. She took our food order before even offering us drinks. Food came out pretty fast, but it seemed like it took forever every time one of us ordered another drink. Once she forgot we ordered another drink and a few times after that she had to come back and ask us what we ordered. Then she would randomly take empty plates and glasses, but leave other ones on the table. Food isn't bad and the atmosphere is pretty nice, but the service is just plain crummy. And, going to their other restaurants I can say the service is pretty crummy there too. Thinking they need to pay their servers a bit more, and hire some quality folks. Because I am certainly not going out of my way to frequent their establishment.
(2)Maria S.
Cafe Centraal is the type of place you want to bring your out of town guests when you have a mixed crowd. The menu lends to both the picky eater and the foodie. I believe they have the best mussels in town (get the traditional sauce). They also have fantastic bloody marys. Their brunch and dinner are both reliable, you know you will get good food. I wouldn't say that it's amazing or innovative, but it is absolutely a solid choice. Also the space is pretty big, I have never had to wait longer than 15 minutes. Finally their outdoor seating is cozy and off the street. I love that they have multi-colored string lights hanging.
(4)Don W.
Cafe Centraal has a tremendous beer selection. Try their sampler so you can try four tasting samples of beers for $12 and figure out what you like best. The food was very good. My wife had the beer-battered fish fry (three pieces of fish, choice of fries and cole slaw). I had an Italian sausage plate (2 sausages) on top of red-skin mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Parking is a bit cumbersome to locate.
(4)Megan S.
I'm lucky enough to live within blocks of this fabulous eatery -- part of Milwaukee's Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group (Madisonians, think Food Fight) and an all-around great place for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks. I love the breakfast burrito (it's absolutely massive, so only attempt it when you're half-starved) and I try the daily special whenever it's vegetarian (and haven't been let down yet!). Definitely a place to indulge a bit. The service is somewhat hit-or-miss, but it's never actually bad -- just lackluster at times. The space, on the other hand, is fantastic, along with the Euro-style decor. As for parking, there's a lot across the street and plenty of metered spots along KK; the 15 also stops right at Centraal's doorstep. Overall, it's conveniently located, you won't wait long to be seated, and you'll likely enjoy both the aesthetics and the grub.
(4)Jennifer C.
PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!! (See last paragraph) This place has potential, it really does. The location is great, the ambiance is wonderful and they really should be doing much better business than they are. I used to wonder why they aren't busier. I no longer wonder. The first time we went for a fish fry there, it's was awesome. The second and third times, it was average. The food here is not consistent. I've been here on many occasions for different entrees and sometimes I'm really impressed and other times I wish I hadn't bothered. The service has much to be desired. Once we went in and stood at the front for almost 10 min. They weren't even half full, it was after 10PM and servers as well as bartenders saw us and no one said a thing. I finally called and spoke to the manager and asked him if he could come to the front to seat us. He was accommodating and apologized. The food service is pretty slow as well although the servers are knowledgeable of the menu and food. We went there one night just for cocktails. We were the only ones sitting at the bar. The bartender was one of the worst I've ever experienced. He refused to talk to us other than take our order and ignored us unless our glasses were empty. When I asked about the absinthe he didn't explain much about it (didn't even tell us it tastes like black licorice which I'm not a fan of). When I asked what other "fun" drinks they had, he just looked at me and said, condescendingly, "oh is it going to be that kind of a night?" WTF? Dude, if you hate your job that much, just quit. Lastly, don't park in the metered parking lot across the street. Went there on Monday for lunch with a friend and his driver's side window was busted open and everything in his car was stolen (laptop, gps, ipod, etc.) in broad daylight!! PARK ON THE STREET ONLY!!
(3)Tony K.
A great place to play Jenga with friends while drinking one, or two, or three belgium beers.
(4)Jason B.
A handsome establishment where service is blemished by a disorganized waitstaff and much-too-casual attitude. I like the food here. Brunch options are, for the most part, good and always adequately boost my recuperation from a hangover. Their alcohol selection is impressively large and includes a number of specialty and craft beers. The donuts are delicious, although much too rich for the large portion in which they are served. I especially enjoy the Grand Café club. It's a solid sandwich with simple and attractive flavors. Always with sweet potato "frites". Unfortunately, there is a undeniable vein of pretension running through the whole operation. What the hell are frites? They're called fries. Or french fries. And the youngish waitstaff approach everything with an oddly condescending "yeah, cool, bro" mentality. Don't expect professional conversations with these guys. They've got your tip on their mind the whole time (which, by the way, they've already mentally committed to spending on tonight's really cool whatever) and expect to earn it by being your best pal. I've had tremendous waits for my food, waiters that completely forgot my table, and drinks that remained empty for almost the entirety of my meal Expect decent food and mediocre service. Visit for lunch on a weekday for the best possible experience.
(3)Rosie G.
This is by far my most favorite place to go for drinks or food in Milwaukee. Any time of day this place is fantastic! I literally have dreams about the Bloody Mary "The Frenchie" because it is too good for words. Every Sunday I seem to find myself back there for more. Nothing is a better hangover cure than The Frenchie and Eggs Benedict. It is perfect because there are a lot of vegetarian options as well. The location is cool, the food is great and I find myself there more times than I can count.
(5)Nick M.
I love interesting beers and they definitely have some here. Lots of exotics with good menu descriptions. But the prices are shocking if you walk in thinking it's a standard bar with customary bar prices. A few pre-dinner drinks here cost me more than I spent on a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant later in the night. I give it 3 stars because for some people the prices are worth the experience. For my tastes, I'll grab a few pints of Guinness across the street and walk out $20 heavier. I'm happy to have visited once but this is not a place I'll visit regularly unless the boss is buying.
(3)Lauren M.
After reading some of the reviews on here I thought the service would be pretty terrible. However, the waitress that my boyfriend and I had was wonderful! She was very attentive and since it was both my boyfriend and I's first time there it was nice to have someone to ask for suggestions on food and drinks. I ended up getting the Grilled Portabello Sandwich. Oh my god, it was wonderful! I got a side of Sweet Potatoes Fries which my boyfriend stole a ton of...they were amazing. He ordered the Portabello Pasta which he was not the biggest fan of. Now on to the drinks....the beer menu is around 15 pages long. I ended up ordering the High Speed Wit for my first beer and it was so so good! I think it is my new favorite. It reminded me of a much more delicious Blue Moon. My second beer was called Leffe Blonde and was also delicious. A little sweet, but not too sweet. We dined in a red room towards the back. It was pretty quiet and we were able to enjoy our dinner and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. Can't wait to go back and try some new beers and food!
(4)April B.
We went there for brunch, and I ordered the MIlwaukean Bloody Mary... it was good! Had bacon, olives, cheese, pickle, asparagus and a green bean. Oh, and a lime and a lemon. It was like a salad bar on top of my drink. The hubs got the beermosa and was dissapointed. Food was ok... I got the corn cakes, and they were so spicy that paired with my drink, my mouth was on fire. And I like spicy things. Hubs got the hot mess, and it was ok. Coolest part was the server and the atmosphere.
(3)Kristy L.
I recently moved from Chicago and appreciate the non-fattening, non-cheesy, vegetarian, fresh sort of cuisine. And Cafe Centraal absolutely has it! I mean,yea, the sweet potato fries are probably a little fattening (:P) but the food is just good, fresh, and very healthy/vegetarian friendly (plus they have raspberry beer on tap!!!!). The only thing I would advise against is their tofu dish.....it is basically a whole plate of tofu with a good yet overwhelming sauce, a little bit of veggies, and rice which is drenched in the overwhelming sauce. Felt a little sick after that on! But yea, go here! Its a good vibe and good food!
(4)Denise D.
I had the portabella rustica sandwich today and I can't wait to go back to get it again.
(5)Foodie M.
Made in the likeness of its twins: Café Hollander(x2) and Trocadero, Café Central benefits from the same great design work and hot spot locations but unfortunately suffers (like its siblings) from the lack of diversity in menu items and quality of service. I recently made my third trip to Café Central? Why might you ask continue the suffering (see review on Café Hollander- Tosa)? My third trip was prompted by a 28 year old co-worker who is still learning the difference between a good restaurant and being sold up the river for overly expensive beer that you can get much cheaper a few blocks down the road (and you can get it with a smile!). My coworkers that had been to Café Central hemmed and hawed at the thought of having to endure another Café Central experience but these were outnumbered by curious first timers. 1. While waiting for a table at the bar for our other coworkers to arrive, I ordered a cranberry juice. "Just a cranberry juice? You don't want anything else?" this could have been a nice way of prompting me to order additional food, but instead the bartender just rolled his eyes and huffed off. He did look surprised when my pregnant self did manage to waddle to our table revealing my baby bump. I then got a sort of apologetic look from that bartender... 2. When the rest of our group got to the bar (five in total) The bartender wanted the drink order to be taken IN ORDER. One of our guests didn't know what he wanted and suggested that the bartender move on to the next person. But the lumberjack/bicyclist/bartender stated again, "I will take your drink orders when you are ALL ready". He then moved on to another customer. 3. Our waitress had to leave our table no less than seven times to figure out answers to questions regarding: The Beir Club, Specials, If a beer was in stock, The Beir Club, The Bier Club. Our waitress was also training someone but clearly had no idea what was going on herself. 4. It took half an hour in a less than one third filled restaurant to get a second round of drinks ordered. Which was odd because she came and left our table so often. 5. The one modified dish we ordered ( no onions) came with extra onions. My coworker summed it up: " It's been over ten years since I haven't left a tip for a meal". He won't have to worry about it for another ten years as it will take at least that long before we venture out to Café Central again. It gets two stars (instead of one) for serving food extra late to less discerning customers.
(2)Kyle K.
One of my favorites. For me, the highlight is the Belgian beer list. Always rotating great new beers in and out, and always with favorites (GULDEN DRAAK!!) sticking around. I have eaten here several times and the food is quite good and I think their fish fry is underrated.
(4)Krystle K.
Way to expensive for Horrible food and bad service. Was 2pm on a saturday and we could not get a normal lunch, instead we had to order brunch. I order steak and eggs, did not get an option how I wanted my steak or eggs done. Steak came with a HUGE glob of season butter on top of it, cold potatoes, and rare steak. Will never be back, do not waste your time, money, or taste buds on Cafe Centraal.
(1)Anthony R.
A couple of friends and I met up at Cafe Centraal this past Saturday for brunch. There was six of us total and we were meeting at noon and my intuition was telling me that such a large group of people at such an ideal time would be hard pressed to find seating right away. I couldn't have been more wrong. We walked in and we were seated right away. The place was busy but not packed which is ideal. The waitress greeted us right away and got our drink orders in. If you come here you MUST order a bloody mary. I love bloody mary's and this place has some nice options. I picked out the "Frenchie" which was delicious. After we got our drinks the waitress took our food orders and we were set. The food was really good as well. I had the Red Eye Biscuits & Gravy which had a little kick to it which I like. Other people in my group ordered the Hot Mess, the Fat Elvis, and the Breakfast Burger and I think everyone was satisfied with their orders. Portions are bigger than average and not everyone could eat what was on their plate. After our meal a manager was nice enough to come to our table to make sure everything was ok, which it was. That is a nice touch. Another nice touch was that the waitress, after seeing us try and figure out the bill among 6 people, offered to separate the bill for each of us which we gladly took her up on. She didn't have to do that and I believe most waitresses/restaurants would not offer to do that (and more should). Overall I don't see how I could give this place anything but 5 stars. The service was above and beyond. The bloody mary was outstanding. The food was really good and the prices are fine in my opinion. Café Centraal sits on a very busy corner in Bay View and if you get a window seat you'll definitely have something to look at. The place itself is very open and inviting. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Jeff K.
Been here several times with groups as well as with my girlfried.. It's always very good quality food. The bloody mary's are the best in the city if you ask me, and service is slow but always friendly and apologetic (for delays). I've never had a bad meal or server here, and if you don't mind the slow service, this is a great Bay View restaurant and bar.
(4)Dee W.
This ultra hip over priced Applebees never fails to disappoint. Being a Bay View resident I've given this place more then enough chances, yet they some how always leave a foul taste. Crappy service to par food(at best) this place seems to find a way to wreck a meal. This restaraunt is the exact opposite of ever other charming spot in Bay View. My advice if your coming down to visit, cross the street and head to Cafe Lulu. Are you Looking for just a great selection of beer Sugar Maple is a few doors down and is so so so much better, Try Tonic, Honeypie or even the diner. Just avoid this place. It's been well over a year and they still haven't gotten thier act together.
(2)Keith R.
I have yet to have a bad experience here. I go about once a month, either for a Friday beer or brunch on Sunday. I think this group (Centraal, Benelux, Trocadero, and Hollander) is doing the best job in Milwaukee right now. Food, beverage, and service has always been good. Keep it up!
(5)Ryan S.
I have been in love with Cafe Centraal for the past 2 years. They have an awesome and extensive beer list and great food. I have never had a bad experience here and I have been to Centraal more times than I can count or remember. The servers are always friendly and provide great service. Cafe Centraal has great atmosphere and it's right in the center of Bayview's main street. I have eaten here for lunch, brunch, and dinner and enjoy it every time! I highly recommend coming here. They even have a beer club you can join which takes place weekly (I always intend to attend the weekly meeting but I still haven't) which is pretty cool.
(5)Caitlin M.
We have only been to Centraal for breakfast, and while it was busy, I now understand why. The breakfasts are great, and just for kicks we tried the fresh-made donuts...oh my god! They were AWESOME! I don't know anything about their other meal offerings, but the beer list is extensive and seems very promising. I think the next time I go back I will also try their mimosas or bloody marys. They have many different varieties of both to choose from. Definitely highly recommend.
(4)Erin K.
Recently moved to Milwaukee and looking for good brunch/breakfast places. Found Centraal on Yelp. Have to say, I was disappointed. We each started off with Bloodys - I had the Frenchie and my husband had the Traditional. I personally thought the prices were a bit high - $8/each. My Frenchie was made with Dijon and was okay, but definitely lacking in the whole tomato flavor. Erich's Traditional was good. They each came with a wedge of lemon and lime as well as pickle spear, asparagus, and bean. Decent condiments. For our meal I had the three egg omelet with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. It was okay, but nothing special. There was a side of toast, which tasted more like it was fried in a pan. Very crunchy. It also came with a side of roasted rosemary potatoes which I substituted for bacon. The server told me it would be a dollar for the change, but later came back and said the price would be the same. Overall, my meal was meh. Didn't love it and didn't hate it. Erich had the Fat Elvis. It was a french toast sandwich with peanut butter and bananas stuffed in the middle. It was supposed to come drizzled with chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon. It didn't have either of those things. We asked the server about it and he quickly brought out a little bit of chocolate sauce and ONE piece of bacon. While his was tasty, the lack of the chocolate sauce and "gratuitous" bacon was disappointing. I would probably go back one more time, but if it didn't sell me then, I'm over it.
(2)Chris G.
Really, really enjoyed Cafe Centraal. Excellent food selection, upscale but not haute taute, and very reasonably priced. The restaurant, too, was trendy but still welcoming and true to its Bay View setting. Beer selection was absolutely top notch. And I would disagree that it's not necessarily a place for kids. They have a kids menu with all the standard kids menu fare, and my 11 year old enjoyed it as much as the rest of us. Looking forward to going back.
(5)Jon A.
This place has a very nice outdoor seating area, but that's really the only stand-out. Otherwise, Centraal is yet another 'European' style, craft-beer-oriented establishment, the likes of which are now littering the Bay View neighborhood. As usual, there are many beers to choose from, with a focus on the Belgian varieties that are popular in the states (not that any of the late-night patrons drink that stuff. You'll see a lot of Pabst or mixed drinks being consumed). I can't speak to the food, so maybe that's what I'm missing out on. Still, if you've been to Hollander, Trucadero, or Cafe Lulu you're not really going to find anything vastly different here.
(3)Taylor R.
I live in Bay View. When I heard that the people who run Cafe Hollander were opening a restaurant a block from where I live, I was excited to say the least. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to standard of the very good Hollander. The ambiance is very pleasant; it's a spacious, converted Cream City Brick building with nice outdoor areas both on the sidewalk and in the back. The selection of Belgian beers is excellent, as would be expected. The decline, though begins with the spotty (at best) service, and only gets worse with the food. Centraal has many dishes similar to those at Hollander, but the quality is inferior. If you're looking for a decent place in central Bay View sit outside and have a Belgian beer, Centraal works nicely. If you're intent on Centraal's food, though, drive a few miles North and try Cafe Hollander.
(2)Mariah M.
I am writing about 2 experiences: The first time we ordered mussels and a burger. They were amazing! The second time we went was two days later because we loved the food so much. Ugh, not this second time. It was early 11am and we stood in front to be seated for over 10 min until we sat ourselves (even though it says "please wait to be seated") Service is awful! And the mussels we got the second time around were gritty and raw. I told the manager and he would only cut off half my bill, even though i only at one mussel. Parking is a pain. Park on the street because the lot is a habitat for homeless people who like to steal from cars. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
(2)Katy G.
Second visit wasn't as nice--bummer! The $11.00 burger was just not very good. It was dry, tough, and extra-well-done instead of medium. Having that price for a burger and fries, you'd expect something pretty wonderful, am I right? My husband did enjoy his meal, so it's not like we'll never ever be back, but with so many nearby alternatives, it might be quite some time.
(2)Anne B.
My likes: the Mrs Hollander for brunch, eating on the patio (they've extended the season with large outdoor heaters for chilly nights), the huge beer menu with alcohol content listings, the tasty bloody/virgin marys (the Southsider is tops), the way each chair at the bar is a different style, the super-friendly waitstaff, their scrumptious homemade soups, and delicious Alterra coffee... My dislikes but possibly a plus for you: the Friday crowd is a lot of suits -- looks like a popular place for the after-work cocktail.
(4)Natasha M.
good food and great service.
(4)Zsa Zsa X.
I really wanted to like this place. I really did. I live right across the street and was hoping this could become my "regular spot." My first (and only) trip to Centraal was for their fish fry. As soon as we walked in the door, we immediately felt we were "not welcome." Centraal is staffed by people who think they are cooler/trendier/more interesting than you, and apparently, if you're not wearing 3+ layers of mismatched clothing, or interesting accessories like thick plastic glasses or ironic hair, you're not worthy of being there. We were seated and a waitress came over who said "I guess I'll be serving you tonight." Awesome, thanks for the enthusiasm. Makes me feel great to know you're so against bringing us food and drink for a sizable tip. We ordered our food and then I perused their drink list. Really great selection, but slightly overpriced. Then our waitress came with our food and this is where the night got a little ugly. As for the food itself, the fish fry was... Well... Pretty nasty. It was soggy. Way too much breading and hardly any fish. I rarely criticize restaurants so harshly but their food was way too overpriced for such a disgusting plate of slop. The breading was so heavy and soggy it was actually falling off the fish, and there was a weird layer of goop between the fish and the breading. My date really enjoyed it at the time, but, suspiciously, he hasn't suggested going back even though I live right across the street. Now, with my meal, I requested a side of remoulade sauce. I believe their menu actually calls it cajun remoulade, so I was expecting the pinkish sauce I got used to down in Louisiana. When my food came, I had my standard cup of tartar sauce (which came with the meal) but no extra side of remoulade. I asked her about it and she said "oh, our tartar sauce *is* our remoulade!" I'm pretty sure she knew she made this simple mistake, but instead of offering to grab the remoulade or bring another sauce, she actually debated the issue with me for about two or three minutes. (I felt like a jerk but I had to get to the bottom of this.) I eventually told her to just forget it. (Note: If, indeed, Centraal does use one tartar/remoulade sauce hybrid, she could have told me that when I was ordering my food. Wait Staff Knowledge 101. Additionally, if the two sauces are one and the same, why were we charged for the extra side of remoulade? Stupid heffa...) After we finished eating, we waited about fifteen or twenty minutes before we actually had to flag our waitress down to get the bill. This whole time we were there (maybe 45 to 60 minutes) she never asked if we were happy with the food or if we needed more to drink. She had no issue paying attention to other tables who were not half as patient or forgiving as we were. I would not recommend this place, despite how badly I wanted to enjoy myself, I just hated it and will not be going back any time soon. Sorry, Centraal, I will continue to drive 15 minutes to my favorite corner bar for their fish fry... Half the price of yours and five times as delicious.
(1)Alice G.
I went for brunch on a Sunday morning/afternoon. The 15-20 minute wait was expected, but the delicious fried-to-order donuts with dipping sauce were a surprise. OUSTANDING. Perfectly sweetened. I enjoyed my side order of 1 biscuit-n-gravy to go with a standard eggs n bacon n toast plate. Good strong coffee and orange juice. Service was good and the place looked clean. Maybe it's because I am used to Chicago sales tax, but I thought the price was good for what I got.
(4)Red S.
The short version: Poor service, inattentive bartenders, one very rude and unfriendly manager, and very average food that does not justify it's inflated price. The great beer selection was not enough to make me want to return to this blight on Bayview. Disappointment explained: Upon hearing that a new restaurant and bar was opening up on the corner of KK & Lincoln I was excited at the prospect of having another great establishment with unique flavor opening in Bayview. What Bayview got instead is an uninspired copy of Downer St.'s Cafe Hollander. With the opportunity to create something new and exciting in a Bayview neighborhood hungry for new options, the owners of Cafe Centraal have missed the mark by a long shot. After 3 visits I have these observations: 1. The bartenders are slow, somewhat pretentious, and do little to make the customer feel welcome. Even when the bar was not busy the bartenders would walk past our empty drinks and not even bother to make eye contact or ask us if we needed another. This happened several times on all three visits. 2. It starts at the top. On our second visit we sat at the bar after eating to try out the various brews offered. I caught the attention of a young woman who appeared to be a manager due to the fact that she was in street clothes and was directing other staff. I was SHOCKED by how unpleasant she was! She became immediately annoyed when we placed our drink order with her and was short and curt with us to the point of our party being made to feel unwelcome. It was as though she was too busy and important to be spending time helping group of paying customers (Who spent over $100 on dinner no less!). One of the bartenders then later verified that she was the manager when asked by a curious member of our group. 3. The food. Overall the food options are not that bad here, however, the portions are small, the prices a little high, and the overall quality uninspiring. The menu is essentially a copy of the Hollander menu and attempts to be unique by half-heartedly offering a KK-themed sandwich among other things that does little to mask the fact that little thought went into creating a unique identity. If I wanted to go to eat Hollander's food I would go to Hollander! In the end, myself and my group of friends will think twice about ending up at Centraal. With so many other options in Bayview with friendly people and good food, I can't see spending another dime at Centraal until it becomes a nice place to be. Perhaps I'll check back in six months to see if things have improved, which I sincerely hope they do. Until that point, this place is off limits for us.
(1)Brennan B.
good for groups (might call first) patio seating kitchen open late good food :: GREAT bar ask for dan the bartender ::: tell him large marge sent 'yah
(3)Amanda D.
Cafe Centraal is my favorite bayview brunch spot. I consider myself a real Bloody Mary connoisseur and trust me, these Bloodies are the best in the city. They also have delicious cocktails, but for the price make sure you ask them to stiffen them up a bit. This place is also great for dinner and it's never over crowded so you can always get a table. Great beer selection and amazing sweet potato fries. An added bonus: Kitchen is open til midnight. Would be a five star, but it's a bit pricey for the overall food quality and like I said, weak cocktails.
(4)Elizabeth A.
Drinks get to be pricey here, but they are pretty tasty. Summer drink: Green Rishi Tea Collins, Winter drink: Hot Toddy/anything of the hot drink menu sans the marshmellow one, Beer: many good ones and knowledgeable bar staff. As far as the menu, it's pretty American, quality food, with a fair selection of choices. The burgers are pretty good and I'd highly recommend getting a Scotch Egg!
(4)Steffi S.
Been there for dinner, ick. Been there for brunch, really good. Service every time very poor. Maybe 3 stars is too high, but I am feeling generous :)
(3)David S.
I'll start with the good and work to the bad The mussels here rock, especially the green curry variety. The outdoor seating is very cool. Service has always been good and friendly, if a bit overbearing. The other food is decent, but a bit pricy. Brunch is around average but overpriced. The beer selection is large, but nearly everything is European and very high priced. I'd recommend you drink water, then cruise two doors to the east to Sugar Maple for a much better beer selection at much more reasonable rates.
(3)MacKendrick B.
If you go in the afternoon or something this maybe an okay choice. But on weekends it is SUPER busy and crowded. Which is why you would think the food would be good and service would be great... but that is where you would be WRONG... After being told the wait would be 20 minutes we waited nearly an hour! When we would ask the host if we were close to the top of the list they would say "yes 2 more minutes" and then NO, 20 minutes later still waiting... Check again... "Oh, 2 more minutes".... NOT!!! We were FINALLY seated at a TINY t.v. tray sized table 2 feet from the bar where everyone was crowded and waiting so peoples butts kept knocking into our elbows. I asked to be moved tables and were moved to the smoking section (uck). As if that didn't suck already our waitress messed up our order... We both got fish fry but different batters, we both reciecieved the same type of batter. We told her it was not correct, and she finally brought the correct order for me 10 minutes later. ITS A FISH FRY! IT TAKES LIKE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE! She made no apology. The fish itself was WAY salty and same with the frys. I have not been back since this miserable experience!
(1)Sandy P.
I love visiting Cafe Centraal -- feels a little like I am out of town for an hour or so. I have been several times, but last night was the first time I tried their Braised Beef Rib Sliders. Oh my God, they were spectacular! I will dream of them for certain. Three hearty sliders topped with Peach Chutney and crumbles of Blu Cheese. With a side of spicy sweet potato fries, it was an amazing dinner. THANK YOU, WE'LL BE BACK!
(4)Nathan F.
I have never been to a restaurant with such consistently awful service. The food is mediocre at best. The only saving grace is the bloody marys and beer list, but there are literally 20+ alternatives for that in a .5 mile radius.
(2)Tim H.
Ok, so I've been coming to Milwaukee for years, but I just recently discovered Bayview, and therefore, Centraal. By have I been missing out! I came late nite on a Saturday to find that the kitchen was still open, and the bar full of people sitting at tables, drinking beer and chomping on apps. My friend told me that this place served standards bar food, so I wasn't expecting much. Well, my friend was wrong... The food here is fantastic. I got the goat cheese mac with chicken, and it was amazing. My girlfriend went with the salmon, and it was on point as well. So, good food...what else. The beer selection was amazing. I have officially found my new favorite beer. If you stop by, have a glass of the Gulden Draak. Maybe a little pricey, but an incredible combination of hops, sweetness, chocolate, and....10.2% alcohol. So, I have nothing but high marks for Centraal. Our service was fantastic, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Brian L.
Stopped here on a Saturday night looking for something new. We were very pleased to find this gem. The restaurant has an excellent listing of beers. A few kinds I was interested in were not available. I'll surely be back for more. This reminded me a bit of a restaurant in London called Belgo Centraal. This place isn't below ground like Belgo...but the atmosphere is just as good! Will have to go back soon.
(5)Katie F.
This is one of my favorite spots great atmosphere, love the beer selection, lots of Belgians, and the food is delish. Must trys: frites, mussels and the fish fry rocks
(5)Rich W.
Chicken coq Au vin sandwich was awesome. The hummus platter was decent. Ok ambience.
(4)Kileen M.
The brunch menu offers such diversity, one could eat here every weekend for months, and not get gastronomically bored! It's not exactly cheap? But it is certainly worth the expense!
(5)Barry F.
Cafe Centraal is a good deal! I love a great brunch, and I love when great brunch is cheap. I ordered some combo.. bacon, eggs, toast, hash... it was like $7 (what a deal) all was good tasting, especially the hashbrowns yummmy, I've been craving them since I left. I'm not from Milwaukee, but if i'm there again (please no) I'll be sure to stop on by.
(4)Sid V.
Weak food, weak service, prices made me think I was in parts of Chicago I don't frequent due to massive pretension and I was in Bay f'ing View Milwaukee!! Really more of a 2.5 star place, probably would not go back but maybe in a pinch.
(2)Christopher M.
I had the scotch egg and it was probably one of the biggest I have ever had. Pretty decent. And, the beer selection is great! Most of them come in their appropriate glass.
(4)Christopher H.
When I found out at the Bay View Bash this year that the owners of one of my fave restaurants (Cafe Hollander) were opening a place in Bay View I was ecstatic! My first visit to Cafe Centraal was everything I thought it would be. We had to try the burgers since that is our favorite over at Hollander and they were perfect. The buttertop rolls that they serve the burgers on are out of this world. A couple of Belgium beers from their huge selection were the perfect accompaniment for my meal. And the fries are outstanding as well. The restaurant is huge as well as the bar in the middle. The decor is Euro-comfy. Oh and dessert, flourless chocolate cake with bourbon cream and berries was a delicious end to a great meal. I will be back again and again. Centraal is a terrific addition to Bay View and I'm so glad it is finally here!
(5)Jen T.
Cafe Centraal is a great smoke-free bar-restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a fabulous drink menu filled with a huge variety of beer, wine and other drinks. I recently tried their Sunday Brunch and completely enjoyed my meal. My friends and I shared 2 entrees. The first entree was Turtle Pancakes which was their special of the day. Totally awesome and decadent pancakes drizzled with warm caramel and chocolate - to die for! The 2nd entree was Steak and Eggs Benedict served with roasted rosemary potatoes. This dish was scrumptious.
(4)William T.
Mushroom Stroganoff is not something I would normally think of, but it sounded good and tasted better. The soup (stuffed pepper) was a bit on the salty side, but that is not unusual in restaurants. The beer selection was incredible. I will definitely be checking this place out again.
(4)D S.
Pricey but the food is good
(4)Lola L.
great brunch place. lots to choose from. nice fruit plate. we ordered the stack of pancakes with an egg, bacon, and who knows what else full of cholesterol in the middle...not bad!!! dinner menu is extensive. love the fries and dipping sauces.
(5)sean b.
Cafe Centraal made one of the worst brunches I have ever had the displeasure to eat. Do the cooks here know what an omelette is? They certainly can't wait 20 seconds to throw the (ham?) into the pan so that it doesn't break the eggs on the outside of the omelette. If you like food made by crust punks by all means frequent Centraal.
(1)Tom C.
Had one of the most amazing bar food meals of my life at this place during a holiday visit to Milwaukee. Moules frites to begin with, and they do a curry preparation that really added something. Moved on to a turkey burger with a pretzel-like bun and a nice sauce. Lubricated the whole thing with two big bottle of Ommegang Abbey. Life is good at this place. Now Milwaukee just needs to go non-smoking like, well, every other civilized place in the world.
(5)Tiffany C.
super cute place. fun, relaxed atmosphere. serves a killer bloody mary and yummy brunch..... a little hard to find healthy options on the menu but don't let that stop you from heading out for a relaxing sunday brunch with a group of friends or the fam.
(4)Lisa W.
I love this place. I have been a fan of the other restaurants in this same group for a long time (Hollander since it arrived, and of course Trocadero). Cafe Centraal lacks slightly in terms of atmosphere compared to the other two (don't get me wrong - still very nice but just a tad too open?) but maybe that is something that will improve over time. I can't complain - I am happy for any great restaurant additions in my neighborhood, so it's nice to have somewhere different to fall back on. The wait has never been long, even when it's a busy Friday or Saturday night - and if you do have to wait, the bar is long and the beer list is as well. I have tried a number of menu items and always been pleased, although my favorites are the curry seared shrimp appetizer, the tulip turkey burger (with curry ketchup), and the sweet potato fries. I always recommend this as an option for anyone looking to dine in or around Bayview.
(4)