Comet Café
1947 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Comet Café Menu
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Appetizers
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Soup & Sides
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Salads
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Entrees
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Sandwiches
Healthy Meal suggestions for Comet Café
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Appetizers
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Soup & Sides
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Salads
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Entrees
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Sandwiches
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1947 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53202 - Phone (414) 273-7677
- Website https://www.thecometcafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Katie K.
After eating here, it was easy to see why this is one of the most popular restaurants in Milwaukee. The place definitely has a hipster/diner vibe. Our server was friendly and helpful. We had a 15 minute wait on a Saturday night for 3 people - not too bad. I was a little confused about the vegetarian concept, as the menu had meat and vegetarian options listed together. We found ourselves wondering if we had ordered meat or not. For an appetizer we got the "ribs" (not real meat). They were fried and came with fries, as well as some good dipping sauces. The Compact Turkey Dinner (real meat) was excellent - would definitely order again. That kale though that came as a side... incredible. Didn't know kale could taste like that! The prices were reasonable except perhaps for the banana cream pie that we got for dessert for about $6-7. However, it was so delicious I'd order it again in a heartbeat.
(5)Lala S.
Went to Comet cafe last night for dinner. A friend and I got there at 6pm and the restaurant was not crowded at all. We decided to sit outside and our waitress came and brought us some water. It took her about 15-20 minutes to come back and take our order. Again the restaurant was not busy so I am not sure what the delay was about. Once she finally came to take our order I asked her about the mac and cheese since I seen it on Diners and Drive ins and her reply was "people come from all over the world to eat our mac and cheese and meatloaf", so at this point I am thinking this is going to be awesome. Needless to say, I am still questioning why people would come from all over the world to try something that is as bland as that mac and cheese. All you tasted was heavy whipping cream and cheese. There was no flavor coming from this mac and cheese and they were missing 2 important ingredients (salt and pepper). This is definitely not something that I would write home to my family about as it is not worth people traveling all over for this mac and cheese. Once we were done with our main meal our waitress brought us the bill without asking us if we wanted dessert. So we ended up ordering dessert and she had to re complete the bill. Had she asked us if we wanted dessert instead of assuming we were done she would not have had to re complete our ticket. She was so rude I mean what do you expect. What we did order that was good spectacular was the artichoke dip and the German chocolate cupcake. Delicious. I rated this place with 3 stars because I think that it is all it deserves which includes my service from my rude waitress and the food that I ordered. In terms of price it was cheap. My friend and I shared an appetizer, we ordered separate entrees, and separate dessert. She ordered a drink and our bill was $45 which was a fairly decent price.
(3)Christina C.
Comet used to be a "go-to" for brunch and even late night dinner. Lately, it has been pretty disappointing in the food department - fish fry was mostly fry and no fish. Chilli was bland. Pancakes were dry. I love Comet for its location and style but I think I'm done eating there. Drinks only please!
(2)Erik R.
I love this place! Great food with most ingreedients sourced locally. Excellent beer, wine, coffee and tea selection. I highly recomend the Rishi vanilla bean black tea. Pretty much all the entrees are great and you get baskets of free bacon when you order beer depending on when u go.
(4)Nate W.
What a wonderful little spot! Great comfort food menu and a plentiful, eclectic drink selection. Coffee and service were great as well! Wish we lived closer so we could come here more often! But alas, it was one of the highlights of our trip to MKE. Keep up the great work and we will be back the next time we're in town!
(5)T C.
Buttafucco with a side of fries. Quiet tasty,a little pricey Atmosphere is typical Milwaukee, you know desd things hanging on the walls, a few maps and malted beverage.
(4)John W.
This highly overrated cafe is nothing more than an unfortunate guess at what a real diner ought to be. The food was uniformly disappointing, the atmosphere grimy and extremely loud. We had the so-called turkey balls (greasy and nearly inedible) the Reuben ( overlooked and very tough-to-eat), the hamburger (pretty good but overpriced), and the nightly special. The nightly special was some chopped vegetables and pulled chicken on a slice of pita bread for $11. It had no flavor, very little chicken, and a few vegetables. We will not return to this restaurant and do not recommend that you go there either.
(1)Michael W.
Great breakfast. I had Comet Benedict, and it was good, but my wife had the Bacon Cakes and they were awesome!
(5)Dave S.
Wow! Kiddo had bacon pancakes. She is finicky but even she loved it. I had a beer and the chicken fried steak. I loved it! Pretty cool vibe and very good food and service. Will be back for more!
(4)Robert S.
I spy with my little eye a restaurant people either Love or Hate, given the 1-star vs 4/5-star reviews. I had no issues with the waitress (friendly and quick even though it was late evening), and the food was amazing. When you enter the place, you get right away that this is an unpretentious local place run by young folks. I'm old--I can write that. And yes, there was no hostess to greet and seat us. We put out name down, and 8 minutes later a waitress sat us. My late supper was phenomenal. I started with a small crisp house salad with ranch on the side, followed by a delicious broiled spinach artichoke dip with Parmesan cheese and pita slices instead of Ciabatta toasts, and made-to-order creamy Mac n Cheese. Pause to explain that the Mac n Cheese is a force to be reckoned with--the very large bowl they serve it in, with chili--and you will probably not finish it all. The cheese wasn't standard cheddar cheese; it tasted like 13-year old sharp cheddar cheese--the stuff gourmands search for when a recipe calls for the tangiest cheddar available. It was golden gooey goodness. My supper was a tad expensive--$27, but for a nice evening meal, this was perfection.
(4)XL V.
Ate here with a friend recently 5/15/15. The food selection was fair. I was very happy to see vegan choices. Atmosphere was a bit loud & smelled like smoke. I'd go back though.
(4)Tony P.
Fantastic! The pancakes are heavenly! Fresh and hot homemade maple syrup. We ordered the Rocket Platter. Hash browns were so tasty, eggs cooked perfectly and the back was nice and thick. The cappuccino was a huge surprise. Smooth, hot and creamy. Hazlenut cappuccino is a plus. Awesome service with lots of smiles. We were first timers and will definitely be back very soon!
(5)Dana M.
Sweet baby Jesus this place was good! I had the vegan meatloaf and I'm still having dreams about it. Perfect texture and taste served with mashed potatoes. I would definitely go back to Milwaukee just to eat here. Their vegan ribs were also really good. I'm a fan.
(4)Kat L.
Pancakes not so great. Bloody Mary was kinda sour. Meat loaf sandwich wasn't quite what i expected. dry on the inside. soggy because of the mashed potatoes. forgettable tomato. soggy rye by the end of it. i dunno.. i'm no meatloaf conoisseur by far, but i just don't know.. service was fine. the one amazing thing: the deep fried vegan riblets! got by recommendation. i'm no vegan. but oh dear lord i could eat these all day.
(3)Jennifer D.
Very nice restaurant! The food was great for me and all of my friends, the staff was friendly and nice. And the price was just right! Highly recommend. :)
(4)Ari D.
Good lunch at comet. Had the Camilla sandwich, pretzel coated... Hello! Came in for the tuna sandwich but they were out... Boo. Left hand milk stout is a great find especially with a good bartender who knows to use a glass and pour it hard. Showing the brewer game and playing good music created a great and diverse atmosphere. Staff is attentive and really guest focused. I wish the fries were made to order, felt like I got the end of the fry bowl poured onto my plate. Kudos for the homemade new pickles. Good experience and I'll certainly be back!
(4)Allison F.
My mother's meatloaf can't hold a candle to Comet's. Bacon-wrrapped and smothered in beer gravy...it's seriously the best I've ever had...THE BEST.
(5)J J.
After my second visit here, I had to write a review because the meal I had was insanely delicious. The mac and cheese is literally the best I have ever had. It had the perfect consistency and richness and the extra bacon I threw in there took it to another level. The only reason I gave my review four stars is because of the slowness of the service. The waiter, although very friendly and helpful, did not come back to take our order for at least 15 minutes after initially greeting us. The food also took a long time to arrive. However, he was pretty good about making sure we were doing well and he even noticed the table was wobbly so he got on his knees and adjusted it for us, which I really appreciated. We weren't in a terrible rush, so we didn't mind the wait, but if we had been super hungry, the slow service would have been more annoying. But I must reiterate that the mac and cheese was DIVINE. The chicken sandwich my boyfriend got was not very impressive, but everyone else we dined with had very delicious meals.
(4)Melissa R.
Our brunch was by far the best we've had. The French toast was ridiculous. The hash browns deserve an award. The staff...amazing.
(5)James C.
Every time I come to the Comet Cafe I leave extremely pleased. The macaroni and cheese is to die for. Really the only Mac 'n Cheese I've ever had worthy of being in a restaurant. I'm not a fan of meatloaf but if I had to eat done I'd request theirs. But my favorite menu constant has to be the all in one turkey dinner. Crispy balls of thanksgiving full of smiles, live, and memories. Can't beat that with a stick.
(4)Anthony C.
Fun but a bit too hipstery. I do love the Coozie Club and the selection of great beers. I've never been blown away by their food though, except for the pies. If your friends appreciate the trendy hip atmosphere, then bring them here for drinks. But do it early because the inside is small and usually overcrowded.
(3)Andrew B.
Stopped in for brunch while in town on the recommendation of some local friends. Was not disappointed. Comet Café has possibly the best cup of coffee I have had in my life. Macaroni and cheese with bacon was excellent. I didn't realize this place was so vegan friendly before going, but overheard the waitstaff telling customers that the chai cupcake had cream cheese frosting so it was not vegan that day. Being a guy who would like extra meat products in my food please ("Bring me all the bacon you have") I didn't mind. Holy Moses, what a treat! After recovering from my sugar coma I can safely say I can't wait to come back.
(5)Jessica L.
Don't come here if you're on a diet or are afraid of grease. This is not the place for you. That being said, be prepared to gorge yourself!! Décor: At first glance, it seems like a little diner, but it's so much more than that. They have small details all around the bar, i.e. the creative (and somewhat confusing) beer menu (it's in a baseball card format; beer name on the front and the description on the back). It's not a sparkly clean place, in fact, I think it has like a biker feel to it, hehe. They also have both booth seating and some limited tables, and a bartop. Service: Extremely nice waitress! All smiles and friendliness, thanks! Food: They have a HUGE selection of great sandwiches and have plentiful vegetarian/vegan options. - Duck Poutine: so nommy!! The fries were hot and crispy, the duck was plentiful and the gravy was just right. I posted up pictures- how can you say it wasn't yummy?? - BBQ Pork Sandwich: recommended by the waitress. I'll have to admit that it wasn't anything "out there", but it was darn good. The bread was nice and thick, bbq pork was sweet and pull-able. Oh, did I mention that it's also as big as my head?? - Artichoke Sandwich: The bf got this, and what came to the table looked like a giant mass of cheese on bread. There were plenty of artichokes inside, no worries, but if you think you're getting a healthy option with this... head's up, you're not. All in all, he seemed to like it enough to fill up more than his stomach could hold of this sandwich. Oh, they also come with your choice of sides. Since we had the poutine, I asked for the salad which was just an ordinary salad, but the point I want to make is that your sandwich will take most of your attention and stomach space!! Overall: Solid establishment. I would love to go back and try that compact turkey dinner--- everything in one ball???
(4)Lisa E.
I occasionally make my way over to Comet Café a few times a year. Brunch, lunch, dinner, all are great. I would recommend brunch though only because I'm a brunch girl. I think I could order anything off the menu and be satisfied. I really like the Comet Benedict with a mimosa. I've always tried their cupcakes a couple of times which are delicious. Bacon is also a huge part of the menu but don't worry vegetarians you also have options.
(4)Ari S.
I love comet!! They have delicious food and also creative drinks. One of the best things about Comet is that they try to use all local products and ingredients. Plus they have vegan and vegetarian options. The variety on their menu can please anyone! From their vegan ribs (and I am not vegan), biscuits and gravy, to their sandwiches. Delicioussss. Also, they offer a variety of cupcakes which who can turn down a cupcake?? They can also make separate checks! Parking is on the street so it can be a bit difficult...but it's worth it. Also call ahead of time to make a reservation!
(5)Ashley F.
I went to comet for the first time tonight and absolutely LOVED it. The food was amazing, the bloody was delicious and the service was wonderful. We had a nice, polite, red headed waitress. The drinks and food came out quick. I was completely satisfied with my visit. I highly recommend this place to anybody. They also have such wonderful vegan options. I will be back without a doubt. Great job guys!!!
(5)Hana C.
Walked into Comet during a busy brunch hour on the weekend and grabbed a seat at the bar. They were having a chilaquiles special: homemade tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, ranchero sauce, salsa verde, tofu scramble, and hash browns on the side. Restaurant has a really indie feel and I loved that they were playing the Cure. The bartender was super friendly and chill. The place was packed and the bar was busy, but he still managed to get me menus, drinks, and food, with time to check on me a couple times all in a timely fashion. Now onto the food! The homemade tortilla chips were ridiculously good. They were thick and cut into big pieces so I could pile on all the other stuff onto the chips and easily eat with one hand. The eggs, sauce, and scramble were all really excellent, savory, and not too salty. The hash browns were super crunchy on the outside (top and bottom) and a little soft on the inside. The portions were huge so I was full after eating about half of it. Overall, a great little brunch spot to get a good vegetarian brunch fix. Great vibe, good food, and good service. Will definitely be back!
(5)Peter C.
Always busy and great hipster atmosphere. I lived a block away and would come here for drinks monthly at night and food every now and then. They are always packed for Brunch but have damn good bloody marys. I would say go with the SconnieMosa. It has cherry wine in it and is delicious. All the food is comfort food that is pretty filling yet they do have a good amount of vegetarian options. Who can forget about chalkboard where you can buy anyone a drink for future use. You can buy a beer for a buddy that you know will be there in the next couple of days and it is written who buys it and for whom on the chalk board. Always a fun thing to check.
(3)Ian H.
I've lived in MKE for 8 years and this is hands down my favorite place to eat. Try the open faced meat loaf sandwich. TRUST ME. If you go on the weekend for brunch be prepared to wait, however its a great neighborhood to take a stroll in.
(5)James D.
Watching 55 year olds eating to Jane's Addiction makes my stomach crawl, unfortunately the food here did too. This is a fine place to go for some drinks and the coffee pie was quite good, however, I would not recommend the food. Very uninspired artichoke melt with wilted fries. My wife got cold mashed potatoes and gravy. The melt was something a 13 year old would dream up and put on a Wonder bun! Overrated! Amazing how busy this place is.
(2)Emily K.
Comet is awesome. I love heading there with my vegetarian sister since there is so much we can both eat. We split the veggie ribs last time as an app and they were amazing! I could seriously eat them every day. Our waitress was also amazing. Helpful, but not pushy. We couldn't make up our minds and she gave us a lot of good info on all of the dishes. We finished the meal with one of their amazing pies. Seriously, always leave room for dessert.
(4)Jordan S.
Comet Café is awesome! Gives off a really cool vibe. I noticed that the employees don't have a formal uniform, they get to choose what the want. To me this really makes the place welcoming and relaxed. Expect a little bit of a wait because it tends to fill up after 7. Even on a Wednesday night! This is telling you something! They run a lot of drink specials, half bottles of wine, $1 off canned beer of you bring in a can Koozie, etc. The portion sizes are massive and it's not expensive. They also have really great homemade pies and gourmet cupcakes the size of your hand. Can't wait to go back!
(5)T K.
The first time I went to Comet was for brunch about a year ago and I remember it was yummy. So we decided to go there for dinner a few weeks ago. First thing first, don't go there if you are starving. It takes them a while(more than 30 min) to serve food. We were seated fairly quickly on a random week night. After reading Yelp reviews I decided to order the meatloaf entree. The first meatloaf came. I took a first bite and it was lukewarm. Not sure if this the way Comet meatloaf is served, I asked the waiter. He apologized and took the meatloaf back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later my second order came. This time the middle is cold...not "room temperature cold", it was "just-out-of-fridge cold". I started to wonder how come the kitchen does not know how to properly reheat one of their most popular dishes. Well, they say third time is the charm, I finally got the properly heated meatloaf. After this much effort, I am sadly to report that the meatloaf is just...mediocre. I definitely have had better else where. Needless to say that I will not be order meatloaf the next time. Now moving on to the good stuff - dessert! After the disappointing entree I decided to order a Bourbon Pecan Pie with ice cream and let me tell you. It was heavenly! I will definitely go back there for their dessert. The wait staff was nice as well. In fact our waiter felt bad about my experience, he gave us the dessert for free. Will I go back again? I will give Comet Cafe another chance...and hopefully next time will be better than this!
(3)Tony K.
Rehorst gin and vodka as the "rail" drink??? YEP! SWEET! The best vegan/vegetarian options in the city. I love you Comet.
(5)Matthew T.
Comet Cafe has the best comfort food of any restaurant I've been to in the Milwaukee area. Their tomato soup is stellar, and I've never had a sub-par sandwich here. If it wasnt so crowded seemingly all the time, Id eat here more frequently.
(4)Michael G.
I was in Milwaukee last month and I was looking for something good to eat. I looked up Triple D and found this place. My friends and I had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and those fried turkey ball thingies. Everything was quite good, but I could only finish half of the meatloaf because it was so big. The turkey balls were like Thanksgiving made portable. What a great idea. We also had the beer cheese fries with pulled pork. I could have just eaten this it was so good, but very rich and probably not too good for your arteries. I don't usually eat such rich food, but every once in awhile, it hits the spot. I would have loved to have tried the delicious looking desserts, but I didn't have any room for them. The place is small and very popular. We got a table right away, but I hear for breakfast on the weekend, there is a line to get in. Go with friends and share several different things. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Brady G.
Very trendy/hipster feeling making this place always busy! Usually there is a wait of at least 15 minutes. The food is quite delicious! The hidden gem is the spicy fries that you will pay about $1 more for vs regular fries. GET THE SPICY FRIES! The spicy fries come with with a dill based dipping sauce that helps cool your mouth down....you will need it cooled down. My meals have been delicious. From multiple burgers to a turkey sandwich, this place is definitely great for a not so upscale meal. The prices are very reasonable for the amount that you receive. My only complaints would have to be the bar area and cleanliness. If you sit at the bar and want to eat, expect to see the waiter/waitresses butts and cleavages right in your face. Might make this not so appetizing if you come for a meal. The bar area seems cramped which is why I have this complaint. Comet seems to be a little dirty most of the time, however I would still eat their delicious food on what I can tell are clean plates.
(4)Ryan M.
I've been to Comet twice, once for dinner (a few months ago) and today for brunch. Yes, this is how my review of Chicago Diner started, as well. Apparently it takes two meals to really motivate me to write a review. Or I need brunch. Either way, here we are. I remember not much about the dinner. It was good. It was vegetarian friendly. I liked the beer a lot. The place had a cool chill, local vibe (and probably a little hipster, which apparently is at least 1/3 the population of the River West, Milwaukee area [I learned that during a tour of Lakefront Brewery -- do that, too!]). On to brunch! I recently decided to try veganism for a month, to see if my health felt improved. Happily, Comet is very vegan friendly. They offer several wonderful options--breakfast burrito, scrambles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy (seriously!)--that can be converted to vegan-approved dishes for only an extra dollar. I tried the vegan scramble and the pancakes. First, the scramble: Minced tofu w/vegan gravy and the best vegan sausage I've ever had, lots of veggies, tasty tasty TASTY hasbrowns with just the right amount of salt, housemade sourdough bread... it was marvelous. I'm not always one for faux meat, but this sausage was memorable. That's saying a lot, considering vegan sausage probably is not high on the radar of anyone's "Moments of Life Worth Remembering" (it's right after your first stillborn child... that was inappropriate). The meal was very filling and reminded me of the classic breakfast, only it was plant-happy and animal-free. I'm very ok with that. The vegan pancakes were very massive, I'm talking manhole-cover-sized massive. Two of us ate 1/2 of one. The other two will feed all of Zimbabwe for a month. But seriously, I was not expecting edible LPs on a plate. Mapley, soft, edible LPs. I'm not a sweet-breakfast fan, but these were tasty, the two bites I could finish. Another bonus--Good coffee!! Rich, bold, extra dark, syrupy coffee, I'm thinking Sumatra (I'm a coffee snob, believe me on this). It was the way you want coffee. Don't go ruining it with cream or nonsense of that sort, either. Be a man (or a woman, it's your choice' but either way drink the coffee black). The meat-filled options looked great and smelled great, but the taste-test is up to you. Whether vegan or carnivore, I recommend Comet Cafe for a solid brunch (or meal at any time of day) in Milwaukee. Also, the door has a bunny! Yay!!!
(4)Stephanie C.
Came here when I was in town for Summerfest after seeing it on DD&Ds. I ordered the duck confit fries, and also tried the meatloaf sandwich. I love fries, so whenever I see a unique fry dish, I have to go for it. I was a little disappointed with the food--- I found it overly salty. The fries also got pretty soggy from the gravy, but I guess that can be expected. Maybe my tastebuds are just sensitive, not sure. The atmosphere is pretty nice- service is decent, not great. The cupcake I ate, though, was delicious! I had a chocolate almond one...it was moist and not too sweet!
(3)Axel A.
Every time my family and I go to Comet we end our meal with plates that look as though the were recently cleaned. You do not want to leave behind a shred of the hash browns, a piece of the eggs and bacon, or a morsel of burrito. The specials are interesting. This last time I had a burrito with chorizo, bacon, egg, and potatoes, slathered in a chili sauce. Awesome! The only disappointment with Comet's food is ..... oh wait, there are none.
(5)Alison W.
Comet Cafe is one of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they don't take reservations (highly recommend avoiding during weekend dinner due to long waits) and I wish they didn't serve brunch so long on the weekends (maybe a plus for others). Last time I went during brunch, I wasn't able to order my favorite item on the menu which is the pulled pork sandwich. My friends joke that I am a bit of pulled pork connoisseur so it should mean a lot when I say they have the BEST pulled pork sandwich I've ever had. I don't know what they do to it but it's perfect! I also appreciate that they try to use local ingredients. My husband also loves their meatloaf. I've brought other friends and family and they have always been happy with their choices from the menu.
(4)Jen W.
I went through a Food Network craze for a while. I watched a lot of divers Drive Ins and Dives. It is always fun to see one of your local establishments on national TV. That being said it still took me 7 years to get here. For my sister's Birthday we finally ventured over. I had been wanting to try the bacon wrapped meatloaf since I had seen it on Food Network years earlier. It did not disappoint. The texture of the meatloaf was outstanding. As was the flavor of the potatoes on the side. I have not personally tried these but the mac and cheese and burgers came highly recommended in our group as well. The atmosphere is a little crowded. We were there in the middle of the week and had about a 20 minute wait. There was no where to wait which made it a bit awkward to fit a group around the cash register for that long. We frustrated a customer or two on their way to the bathroom. Check out their website for a list of their awards, ranging from best brunch to the Shepherds express winner for multiple years running. We brought our daughter. She was the only child in the restaurant and she did not find the menu acceptable to her four year old palette but her experience overall was just fine. I would probably not bring her there again. You may have a bit of a hike parking, but it is well worth the hike. Consider it pre-dinner unintentional exercise. They support locally grown produce too. Amazing.
(4)Erica B.
we had SUCH high hopes for this place. We had been trying to get here for years, and we were in town from chicago for our anniversary and my husband is a huge brunch fan, so we finally had the chance to check it out. We were SO dissapointed. He got the biscuits and gravy and they were so bland. I got a breakfast sandwich, and honestly there wasnt much to it. It was a sunday morning, and it was super crowded, but the service was not very friendly at all. They werent rude, but it was very much "get in and get out" kind of attitude. I thought chicagoans werent the warmest people, and i would have expected more out of wisconsin, but this seemed to be the attitude of just about everywhere we dined that weekend. Brunch is a big deal in chicago, but our waiters seem to at least make SOME time for small talk. not here. I will say the vegan cupcakes are divine. We had two while we were here, and attempted to go back and get a third, but they were sold out when we returned. The vegan options were a-plenty overall, so that made me happy. The food was just ok though. nothing to write home about.
(2)Jason C.
I had the compact turkey dinner. It was very tasty, though maybe a bit salty. Either way, it was a very filling meal and was great to eat after a workout. I tried a bite of the meatloaf and I think that was probably a bit more tasy.
(4)Ken C.
Great food ... great desserts ... perfect for couples like us with one vegan (me) and one omnivore. I had my first gyro in my 17 years as a vegan. It was super.
(5)M M.
Milwaukee land mark - as seen on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. Solid food, solid service. It was a bit underwhelming on my first visit due to the hype I had heard about it. However, I have been there for dinner and brunch, and loved the brunch - great breakfast burrito.
(4)Krish M.
One of my favorite restaurants to go to in MKE. I have been here twice and both times that food and the drinks have been awesome. Tried the Desert Rose this time and it was very refreshing... I have tried their Veggie burger and their Vegan Salisbury Steak and they were both amazing.. Can't wait to come back and try the Brunch.. The staff is always friendly and i have never had trouble finding a spot at the bar. A true MKE Gem!
(5)Julia M.
Comet used to be my favorite east side restaurant. What happened? The breakfast burrito has been gross the last two times. If you are vegan or vegetarian, or someone who doesn't like smoky flavor, do not order the Bloody Mary.
(2)Andrew Z.
Awesome food, awesome service. A slice of vegetarian that is not matched at anywhere what I've been in Milwaukee so far. Superb cupcakes as well.
(5)Emily B.
I am a sucker for visiting places I see on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives and Guy F delivers again! We went on a Sunday for brunch and there was a brief wait. There is not a ton of room to wait but the wait list seems to be an organized operation. Once seated I started the agonizing process of deciding what to order. I settled on The Standler - a nice blend of corn beef, hash browns and scrambled egg in a burrito. It was good but not the best thing on the table. That, my friends, was the "get up and go" and coming in second was the biscuits and gravy. I am happy that my husband and friends shared with me since I couldn't order everything on the menu. I quickly got over my ordering disappointment because I had the best bloody mary of my life. As Guy would say, "Out of bounds!" For starters it came with a full piece of bacon. Not enough for you? Ok. It also had an array of vinegary vegetables: olives, mushroom and brussel sprouts. Kick in the lemon and lime and I have a salty, spicy, tangy party in my mouth. TDF. Definitely worth the trip. I would love to come back and try some of the lunch items that caught my eye but didn't make it to the table.
(4)David A.
Vegan or vegetarian or meat eater, this place is for you! So many options! I had a monster vegan banana chocolate chip cupcake for my appetizer. Looked amazing like a work of art! Pictures to follow :) However, too rich and large for me. Had to share with the wife :) It didn't taste amazing :( For my entree, I had the Ahi Tuna sandwich. The hunk of tuna was HUGE and seared. It sounded so appetizing on the menu, but failed to work for me. It was pretty bland. The Tuna steak was too large for the sandwich, too, so taking bites was a challenge. The staff was friendly, but took a long time to come on over and to deliver the food and refill the water. Hell, I ordered the cupcake and our entrees at the same time and asked for them to bring the cupcake first. How much prep does that take? I should have went to the dessert case myself, reached out and put it on a plate. Meanwhile, our meter is ticking and we had to reload the parking meter. Of note, the restaurant was not busy at all (80% empty).
(2)Carrie H.
Comet has some of the best food and drinks in Milwaukee and the restaurant gives a true feel of the local culture.
(5)George D.
Came here with my roommate on a roadtrip from Chicago. Had the meatloaf and roommate got the cheesy roast beef sandwich, which came with some pretty good fries (even though the seasoning is probably just a mix of paprika and cayenne). meatloaf came with a cup of soup (I had the cream of asparagus - came with ham and lots of mushrooms but was a bit salty for my taste) and some bacon mash. filling and tasty!
(4)Michael H.
Went in for Saturday brunch. I started with a Bloody Mary/High Life chaser. Not the best bloody I have had, but it really hit the spot. For brunch I had the breakfast burrito which came with hash browns. Hash browns were very crispy just the way I like them. Burrito was nicely seasoned the the eggs had a great texture. I also got a cupcake to try later in the day as well. Cupcake itself was a little dry, but the frosting on top was epic. Highly recommend it, but be prepared to wait unless you come on off hours.
(4)Julie S.
It pains me to write this review. I used to love this place...but the last couple of times I've been here my meatloaf has been served cold. Today was no exception. My husband and I took our daughter and her new boyfriend here for breakfast, hoping to impress him with Milwaukee and desperately trying to forget our previous experiences because of our affection we once had for Comet, only to be super disappointed. My daughter ordered eggs benedict and her eggs were waaaaay over-cooked with no required runny yolk to be found. My husband and her boyfriend both ordered the pork breakfast burrito (can't remember the name of it) and the cheese sauce had great flavor but was super gritty. My meatloaf and hash browns (no eggs for me/opted for more hash browns) covered with what was supposed to be sausage gravy was terrible. The first time it came out my meatloaf was completely cold. We sent it back only to have it come out AGAIN, you guessed it...cold! The outside border was hot but completely overcooked and the interior was not even warm. The gravy was NOT sausage gravy that I could detect with only two teeny tiny pieces of sausage and totally flavorless. My hash browns and sour dough toast were great, but man oh man why can't they figure out how to heat up their meatloaf?!? It was super busy, but this place always is...and we waited nearly 30 minutes for our food-plenty of time for meatloaf to be heated through had it been warming when our order was first taken. My stomach started hurting almost immediately after we left...not sure why. The employees are always super friendly but I think I have eaten here for the last time. So bummed.
(2)Jung K.
I really liked this place. First, the location is great since it's a little away from the college campus. If it was any closer, I think it would've been over run by college kid's looking for cheap drink and been a little trashy. But it's not. Staff is great and the atmosphere is a little hipster. The food is great. The compact turkey dinner was amazing. Thanksgiving put into one ball of goodness. If willie wonka had a restaurant, he would have the compact turkey dinner on the menu. The meat loaf was also pretty good. gravy was a good complement to the meal but the meat loaf itself could have had more flavor. The chicken noodle soup was fantastic. I could have just the chicken noodle soup if it came in bucket-full quantities. Overall, this place is great. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and friendly staff. Definitely worth stopping by.
(4)Adam K.
Laid back, home-style, and a bit hipster, this place serves the best meatloaf in town as a breakfast supplement. I enjoy sitting at the bar with friends on a weekend morning to take in the action, but this place is good at all hours of the day. It is a very refreshing, eclectic gem on the East side of the city.
(4)Angela W.
Comet cafe serves up the best comfort food. The meatloaf, fish fry, and everything else I've had were amazing-and all of the sides are delicious as well. They definitely pay attention to the quality and detail of all food leaving the kitchen. If you eat here, you can expect a delicious meal that will resonate with you. The only negative is how busy it gets, and that the servers seem to get stressed out. Other than that it's a relaxed and laid back atmosphere.
(4)Izzi C.
Great food and drink! I love, love, love the spinach and artichoke sandwich. And the cupcakes, they are large and delicious, perfect for sharing!
(5)Jason K.
I really wanted to be a fan of this place. I always seem to be hearing about this place, so I expected better. My parents were in town visiting, and my dad had seen the place on Dinners, Drive-is and Dives and wanted to try some of the food he saw there. We decided to drop in for lunch on a Saturday to see what they are all about. We were disappointed to find that they only serve the breakfast menu until 3:00pm, so the stuff my dad wanted to try wasn't even available for us. We had already had breakfast, and the lunch options were very sparse on their breakfast menu. We decided to stay anyway, since we had already waited 45 minutes for our table. Speaking of, there is no decent waiting space and we were forced to stand out in the cold the entire time. Once we sat down we were able to enjoy the cool Milwaukee divey-chic-urban dinner aesthetics. We found a couple of dishes that sounded good and ordered. The coffee was good, sourced from Anodyne, tho they do not have decaff, you have to order a decaff Americano and you don't get any refills, sorry mom. The food was burnt and bland. Two of us got the spinach and artichoke something or other sandwich that ended up being kind of burnt and not as flavorful as they had hoped. The rest of us had the pulled chicken and jam sandwich, which the menu made it sound like it would be a hot sandwich. It was cold, so kind of unexpected and wasn't what we were hoping for. Quite flavorless and don't call something a "pulled" meat sandwich unless you are actually slow cooking the meat, it was obvious from the tough chicken that this was not the case. The service was decent, but between the long wait in the cold and the disapointing meal, I can't justify anything more than 2 stars at this point.
(2)Elissa B.
I have heard about Comet forever, from everyone, and finally made it there with a bunch of friends. My friends admired the lengthy and interesting beer list and all enjoyed their beverages. I don't drink beer and cannot be helpful on this account. I ordered the artichoke melt and...yum. So yum. An excellent sandwich, which is made obvious by the fact that three of us ordered and devoured it. Everyone was also excited by the free piles of bacon we got after 6:00pm. Only three stars today because I need to go back and experience it again to have a stronger impression. Also, I'm almost positive the french fries were cooked in bacon grease. Which is fine for me (only a part-time vegetarian), but others will definitely be displeased about that. It is also super crowded, which makes parking and seating an issue. At any rate, it's a super fun joint. Who wants to go with me next time?
(3)Clyde F.
Comet Cafe is probably my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee, with plenty of options for vegetarians and omnivores. They use the "slow food" philosophy, but even at peak hours, the food comes out faster than other restaurants. Getting a table can take up to an hour at some times and there are no reservations. The staff tries to present an image of fashionable nonchalance which seems to be trendy for some reason, but they're actually pretty nice. The sausage gravy is great and comes in a regular and vegan variety. The vegan scrambler is above average compared to other restaurants' version, but nothing you can't do at home with mashed tofu and turmeric. The Big Rig (vegan riblets), vegan meatloaf, and vegan chili are okay. Where they really shine are the Vegan Apple Walnut Burger and the Vegan Deep Fried Ribs (breaded seitan with dipping sauce; listed as an appetizer but great as a meal). I really want to try the Vegan Gyro, but I end up getting those same two things every time now. My omnivore friends tend to like the B.E.L.T. (BLT with egg), Reuben, BBQ Pork, Meatloaf, and the Spinach Artichoke Dip. I always give the meat-eaters a piece of my deep-fried seitan and think everyone will be converted soon. My biggest complaint is that they're a bar at night, so they don't open until 9:00 on the weekends and they often can't even accommodate everyone who is lined up at 9:00. If they opened at 8:00, they could deal with the brunch rush a little better. Putting a sign-up sheet in the vestibule the night before would also be advisable, as many of their patrons don't understand lines.
(5)Michelle D.
Where to begin. If you buy a beer ($2) you get a TRAY of bacon. Wish we had known this before ordering massive amounts of food. We had The duck confit poutine for an appetizer, and it didn't disappoint. However, the real stars were the Mac and cheese and the Compact Turkey dinner. The former was huge and cheesy, kind of baked on top for a little cheesy crunch. The latter was beer-battered fried balls of turkey, stuffing, and cheesy mashed potatoes served in a bowl of gravy. Very unique and original and delicious. Desserts were Written on a chalkboard, and as they flew off the shelves, the waitstaff erased said dessert. My dessert- loving boyfriend panicked over this and reserved a piece of chocolate and pistachio pie. He was not disappointed. They also carry purple door ice cream, which is apparently famous in Milwaukee. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgable. We were given Comet Cafe stickers too. It was a fun experience.
(5)Kathleen O.
Visiting from Illinois, I was actually recommended to try this diner by a friend of mine. He's a hardcore meat eater who loves nugs, chillin', and grindage. Walking up from our hotel, there were people chilling out on the beautiful sunny day drinking mimosas and other alcoholic beverages on the curb of the street. WOAH... HOLD the phone!!! WE CAN'T DO THAT IN ILLINOIS!!! What a perfect way to wait for a table! Too bad there wasn't a waitress taking drink orders on the sidewalk... that would have made all of my drunken dreams come true. Once we were seated, we got several dishes to split between us. After taking my first bite of my BELT (Fakin' Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato), I just couldn't take it anymore.... sharing, that is. While I breathed the sandwich in, I promptly washed away heaven with some angels as I chugged down a delicious milkshake. NOM NOM NOM! YESSSS NOM, NOM, NOM! Since then, I have started to make my own BELTs, but I still think about the first one that I had at Comet, and my desire to go back again sometime in the future!!
(5)Sadie T.
HEARTBREAK! Comet has changed their seitan. For those of you who have met me, or read my profile under "current crush" or asked me for a great veg place in MKE, you know I was in love with the vegan gyro. My favorite food. Comet does have other good food and a great selection of beers, which earns them 3 stars. To date (October 2013) I have not received a response. Here is my open letter to Comet: December 17, 2012 Comet Café 1947 North Farwell Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 Dear Comet Café: I experienced heartbreak (and stomach discomfort) at your establishment on Saturday night. I was in love with your vegan gyro. I told everyone about it. I wrote 5 star reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor (attached!). I recommended it to all my vegetarian friends. I actually put "Comet's Vegan Gyro" as my 'current crush' on Yelp, and have left it that way for about 2 years because your gyro was my favorite food in Milwaukee. Yes, my very favorite. This Saturday, my partner and I came to Comet around 4:30pm. I didn't even need to look at the menu. I came for the gyro. We have a lot of restaurant city tin deals left for 2012, but I didn't care about the savings. I cared about the vegan gyro. It arrived. My mouth had been watering for days. But what was on that nice flatbread? A hideous gray mess soaked in grease. I picked a piece up. The oil dripped down onto my plate and coated my fingers with grease. I squeezed the seitan in napkins (soaking 10 through) and tasted it, hoping for the best. I wish I could say this seitan deserves more than 1 star, but it does not. It was terrible. Terrible texture, terrible seasoning. I flagged down the server who apologized and said she would have another one made. They put the seitan on the flattop and it did turn out to be edible (which meant a lot less grease) but the seasoning and texture were still very unpleasant. My stomach hurt for hours. We paid, but frankly, I felt robbed. I have never written a letter like this before, but you had to know. Your old seitan was the best I've ever had. I wanted to recipe. To me, your seitan was like my bacon (I'm a vegetarian), my holy food. That gyro was perfect. The sauce, the flatbread, the seitan. It was perfection. You do have other delicious food, but the vegan gyro was my veg Mecca. If you ever go back to the old recipe, please let me know right away. Truly, please contact me if you ever change back to the old delicious perfect stuff. And I'll Yelp the socks off of that gyro. Sincerely, Sadie T
(3)Maggi K.
This is our favorite place for brunch. The restaurant matches the neighborhood - unique and full of je ne sais quoi. There is almost always a bit of a wait...but the beer list is fantastic (including Green's GF beers!), and the mixed drinks great, so you can have something to sip on while you wait. The servers are friendly and attentive. And perhaps most importantly, the food is excellent. My favorites: the meat loaf (I could literally drink the gravy..) the turkey croquettes the turkeystein the cheesy roast beef with giardiniera the french toast (it's the almond that sets it apart...) (Note - all of the above are 5 star dishes!) As I mentioned before, mixed drinks (especially bloodies) are great, and their beer selection is wonderful. This is an oldie but a goodie, and whenever I'm missing the east side of MKE, this is where I head for a little piece of heaven. I highly recommend you check it out.
(5)Alexandria T.
As there were two vegetarian/pescatarians in the group, we couldn't leave Milwaukee without eating at Comet Cafe. We arrived around 10:45am on Friday, and after some confusing directions about signing in, we were able to sit down at one of the open tables right away. I was in the mood for brunch, but it seemed pretty standard, and I wanted to try something that I couldn't get anywhere else. The rest of the table went with lunch options as well. The server in general seemed very pissed off and disinterested in serving. I was quite shocked at how rude people in the service industry seemed all over Milwaukee. Maybe we just kept getting sour apples, but it was a trend throughout our entire trip. We once again decided to ignore it and not let it ruin our meal. We started off with the beer cheese fries. The portion came out in a massive bowl and was huge! The verdict: They were delicious! There was even left over beer cheese that we wanted to enjoy with our fries that came out with our sandwiches, but sadly, the server turned his back as my friend asked him not to take away the plate. I ordered the reuben vegetarian. I normally make vegetarian reubens at home with avocado subbed for the corned beef, so it was nice to have a vegan alternative that tasted somewhat like the real thing. If you've not eaten meat for a long enough time, I feel like you know what you're in for with alternative to meat options. The best part about the reuben though was the grilled salted rye bread it was served on. Way good! I also had a bite of the vegetarian meatloaf sandwich which was pretty spectacular. After having that bite, I wished that I had ordered it as well. The portion sizes of everything were huge and the quality was pretty great. It is much easier to sell restaurants that cater to vegetarians to your meat eating friends when the menu has meat options as well. My only wish is that our server here and all of the other rude Milwaukeeans in the service industry wake up on the right side of the bed.
(4)Kayla M.
Best place ever!!!! Beer and bacon Tuesday's! Thought I was having a heart attack! Duck fries are awesome too. Only thing that sucks is there is a lot of people that go out of their way to be ugly that go in there. East siders and emo guys.
(5)McKenna C.
Our server was super sweet and the atmosphere was Ok. We heard RAVING reviews of this place so were anxious to check it out. We were a little disappointed that nothing knocked our socks off. Perhaps it was all of the expectations we had going in to it- but it didn't love up to the hype. We were told we had to get he Mac and cheese and we didn't love it.
(3)Jeff C.
I think I'm with reviewer Chuck F. on this one - the hipster servers are dropping the ball! I've dined at Comet Cafe several times with good results, but today's experience was horrible, and I probably won't go back. I don't mind a surly server, but our guy was just plain rude. I don't know if he got up on the wrong side of bed or if his beard was in a knot or what, but he was really unpleasant, and I'm the kind of guy that gives EVERYONE the benefit of the doubt. Our food sat in the kitchen window for quite some time before he brought it over, and by then it was lukewarm, but we were famished, so we dug in. I don't know if it was the food or the experience or what, but I suffered significant gastrointestinal distress two hours after lunch. In any event, when I'm paying good money to dine out for lunch, I'd like to be served hot food in a courteous manner. Come on Comet, get rid of the jerk staff and get back to dishing out the good stuff with smiles. If Comet management reads this, please know that I wanted to email you my observations and disappointment, but you don't list an email address on your web site.
(1)Parker C.
the food, the service, and the atmosphere are all top notch!
(5)Beth B.
I went for dinner one night that I was in town with a couple of coworkers. This is a little local dive spot with a pretty interesting menu. One of my coworkers got the compact turkey dinner and I totally had food envy. It was delicious! Thursdays are half off bottles of wine, so that's a good time to check it out. The staff was great and my food was delicious.
(4)Kira W.
Interesting diner owned by the same people that own Fuel and Bel Air Cantina. I really like this little diner. Some of it is greasy, but my favorite is the artichoke open face sandwich with fries. They have decent breakfast as well. The one thing is that it's very busy on the weekends and in the summer it is HOT AS HECK in there. Some summer days it's hotter inside than outside.
(4)Lexie G.
Breakfast burritos, beer cheese sauce, and bloody mary's oh my. My oh my. Where do I start? Between the breakfast burrito with the spice sour cream, to the Sunday omelet special with beer cheese sauce, to the divine blend of spices (and bacon) in the blood mary, this place was great. I was in Milwaukee for a weekend trip and decided to yelp breakfast places. I like places off the beaten path, and by the reviews posted on here I was not let down. I wish I was not stuffed to the gills from brunch so I could have tried one of the behemoth cupcakes sitting in the bakery case. They looked adorable. My qualms about this place? The lack of rhyme and reason behind seating people; you could tell those close to the door did not particularly enjoy people crowding around their tables while waiting for a table of their own. Additionally, I'd like to see a marginal price decrease. I get quality over quantity (and I believe you get what you pay for) but I feel the daily special was a smidge too pricey, and that's coming from a self-proclaimed Madison yuppie. Whoever voted this place as 2012's hangover breakfast was correct. Kudos to you, whoever you may be.
(4)Hannah B.
By far one of my favorite spots to eat in Milwaukee. Usually have to wait to be seated but it is definitely worth it. As a huge bloody mary fan, I can't get enough of Comet's bloody drink. I always ask for it spicy, and it comes with a piece of bacon and high life. Their spinach and artichoke dip is an excellent appetizer. I've had many dishes on the menu however the AJ's compact turkey dinner is the go-to entree. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes all beer battered, need I say more? The entree is incredibly filling that I always end up bringing some home. To top the amazing meal off, they have a delicious cupcakes. Atmosphere is great, large beer selections, and variety of vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes.
(5)Michael S.
Outside seating is mostly in shade so our desire to eat outside with the doggies on the first beautiful day in Milwaukee was thwarted by it being cold as heck in the shade, lol. On hotter days though it should be welcome. I had the meatloaf in beer gravy that was delicious. You can actually taste the beer in the beer gravy which is rare. The side vegetables were well cooked and the meatloaf had a nice taste and texture. My wife had the mac and cheese with bacon which she really loved as well. We took home some pie and cupcakes too so overall a successful satisfying dining experience. Except for the shade :)
(4)John Z.
I had really high expectations after the food network feature, and I was not disappointed. I would consider it really upscale diner food with new age twists to favorite foods. I has massive pancakes and a really good skillet. We will be back.
(4)Douglas A.
We got seated fairly quickly, but we waited FOREVER for our food. The food was very good, the staff was courteous, but it simply was not worth the wait. I probably won't be going back.
(3)Chan L.
This is a hidden gem of a diner. What a great place that is reasonably priced. The coffee is great too. If you are downtown, this is the best place to grab some breakfast.
(5)Kelsey P.
I want to give Comet 5 stars, I really do but there's just some stuff that bothers me. Let's start positive: Go on Sunday night - you get a basket of tasty bacon. For free. Yep. That's reason enough to go. They make a mean sandwich. I've had the majority of them and they're all tasty. They have cupcakes. And they're good cupcakes. I'd recommend the carrot cake. Finally- their compact turkey dinner or whatever they call it is phenomenal. I'd eat that every day of my life. Now the stuff that bugs me: There is always a wait here and the staff does nothing to make you feel more comfortable. They advertise that it's slow food but they take slow to a whole new level. Don't go here if you're in a rush. Last time around, I got two old fashioneds and walked out stone cold sober. We also got the duck confit fries and they were wayyyyy over salted.
(4)Michael S.
Great food. GREAT service. Fun atmosphere. So many things have a vegan option. More places should take a cue from this one!
(5)Kalen K.
If I ever win the lotto, I am going to open a place just like this in California. It is such a cool little bar/restaurant - amazing number of beers and a really unique menu. First, you have to order the duck fat poutine. Honestly, you can probably stop there becuase it is so filling, but everything else on the menu is so tempting as well that you will probably order more. The first day I went there during our weekend trip, I also ordered the hamburger. After eating the fries from the poutine, I was totally stuffed, but I manned up and took down the burger too. Alcohol- did I mention they serve Bloody Mary's with bacon in them? And a tiny little miller high life as a beer back. Or they have some other crazy concoctions as well as lots and lots of beer. On the second day, I went for breakfast and got the chorizo dish. Holy shnikeys it is good. Again, way too much food, but worth all of the heartburn. If I lived nearby, I would be a regular.
(5)Rachael G.
I think television has killed Comet for me. Before DDD, you could get a table at Comet, you may even see your waiter, and the prices are reasonable. Now? If you are lucky enough to get a table, you barely see you waiter, the prices are through the roof, and you feel crowded and cramped. The last time I went there our meal was good but our drinks were not refilled a single time (2.00 for a small glass of soda with no refill? Unacceptable), our waitress charged me for extra sauce which I never received, and the whole time we ate we had a hungry 10 year old eyeing us down. There is no standing room, so people just cram in wherever possible. What can Comet do to help? Hire more help. I realize they may want to keep the restaurant as its always been, but the quality and presentation of the food has gone down, as well as the quality of the service.
(2)Cassie D.
And east side standby that's worth a revisit every now and then. The menu is great and eclectic. A plethora of vegan/vegitarian options. Solid micro-brew list and amazing cupcakes. I like the decor...It's got a little throw back diner feel. The ambiance is hipster-chic and although I totally crush on hipsters, that's not gonna earn you extra stars in my book. The food and service is solid and consistent. I went recently for the first time in years! Felt the same, they know and are very true to who they are and I think that's what keeps people coming back!
(4)May B.
Delicious foods! They have a wide selection of beers and great food. I had their meatloaf which was so good, great home cooking taste - and I'm really picky about my meatloaf. But how can you lose when it is wrapped in bacon? It's usually pretty busy in here so it can be difficult to get a table, but last time I was in, we had a table pretty quickly, even for a larger group (possibly because we went in around 6 on a weeknight?). I love the food here and the fact that there is so much bacon. I'm totally a fan and if I still lived downtown, I'd probably visit it more than I should.
(4)Rad P.
Don't let the vegetarian description fool you because when I went there it was free bacon night! They just kept giving us plates of bacon before our meal. Rad food, good service, cool beer menu. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Nicole C.
Before I travel, it's become customary for me to check the Food Network website for recommended restaurants (and cross-reference them with Yelp, obviously). That's how I came across Comet Cafe, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, and when the reviews checked out on Yelp, it was bookmarked for sure! Meatloaf Sandwich - This dish was given a spotlight on the show and now I see why! A HUGE open-faced sandwich that consisted of a thick slice of bacon-wrapped meatloaf topped with mashed potatoes, grilled tomato, onion, and more bacon! Served on a hearty slice of bread and all drizzled with beer gravy. MOUTH WATERING! Duck Confit Poutine- This was one of the specials of the day. Crispy fries under a mountain of salty duck confit and melty chunks of cheese, also drizzled with their beer gravy. We had been touring breweries all day, and oh MAN did this hit the spot. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup - The cheesiest grilled cheese made with provolone, mozzarella & American cheese. It was delicious as is... but when I dunked it into the BEST tomato soup I've ever had-- the words "comfort food" do not even begin to describe... The meal wouldn't have been perfect if we left without dessert. The Raspberry-Apple Pie was sweet & tart with a flaky crust and toasty oatmeal crumb! Ok, now perfect! All served with friendly hipster service in modern diner decor and with more than reasonable prices, and that's pretty much as good as it gets. I'm definitely coming back next time I'm in town!
(5)Tomas G.
Staff can be rude and Pretty pretentious- a tad overpriced but their vegan riblets were pretty good. I dislike restaurants that cater to a certain scene, in this case, hipsters -which makes it awkward to bring your grandparents. But the food is great.
(2)Ariel W.
Who cares about the wait. Its totally worth it. May suck in the winter because of no good wait area. Meatloaf Sandwich. Look at the pic. Your mouth will just water looking at it. Excellent service. Just need to remember to leave room for dessert.
(5)Pat O.
I used to live right across the street from this place. There's always a crowd in the morning and a lot of hype built around this place. However, I've been here a few times and was never impressed. The food is mediocre and the service is okay. Nothing really jumps out at me here, nor have I understood why it attracts so many hipsters. Free bacon? Okay, I see how that can bring people in. However, if you need to give away free food, how good is the rest of your menu?
(2)Krystin F.
Comet, I like it, I really do! Their vegetarian options are delicious and I love a place that can serve up a good french fry. Their vegetarian gyro was so good when I had it. Their bbq riblets appetizer is also a great meal in itself. I definitely reccomend getting it with both sauces. (Although, for some reason when I order a full 'rack' they always short me a riblet or two! Not cool...) Everything else I have had here has been equally as good yet nothing pops into mind as so outstanding that I must have that particular item again. Although my boyfriend does crave their meatloaf! Honestly, what can I say that hasn't been said all over this board? Comet is a great Milwaukee spot and worth a visit. Take the advice here...if you don't like to wait, come early or during really off hours as this place doesn't experience a whole lot of down time!
(4)Tim S.
Very excellent place, they have amazing food for any time of the day. They often have a fantastic beer selection, it was featured on Diners Drive Ins and Dives as well. I have nothing bad to say about this place, all dishes and all times I have gone they have treated me well. Unlimited bacon on Sunday when you buy a drink, they have cool beer events and even a beer school.
(5)Melanie B.
I was in Milwaukee for work and my husband and kids came for dinner here (from chicago) because of the food network press ... And not sure what the hype is?? It's good if you are in the area - but not a destination restaurant. Food is decent but by no means great? The server recommended the "famous" meatloaf and it was really just fine? And brussels sprouts side was also fine at best. I had the artichoke sandwich and also just fine. Fries were really good- hand cut and salty. Chicken strips were very overcooked and kids wouldn't even touch them. Server was a bit snotty and not around much? Ohh and the bacon was supposed to be the "thing" here and it was not huge pieces or anything different than a typical breakfast place bacon?? Net/net- not sure what the hype was about??
(3)Sam P.
Had a great time for a Sunday morning brunch. The service was great. The bloodies were just perfect. And, we all had fantastic food. No complaints. We'll be back.
(5)M L.
Food is diner-like. Bartenders are rude, confidently clueless, and content with mediocrity. This place seems to attract an unsophisticated and immature crowd with low expectations.
(2)Joe P.
Meatloaf in beer gravy, vegan salisbury steak, grilled cheese, brunches, bloody marys, great beer list, and bacon bacon bacon. If there's anything this place doesn't do really well, we still haven't found it. That it makes our kids, vegetarian mom, and a carnivorous (and baconivorous) dad equally happy...score!
(5)Marie W.
I've been here a few times and I have never had a complaint about the food. I last visited for brunch and had the bacon cakes. YUP, bacon pancakes! They're huge plate-sized pancakes with bacon bits cooked inside (and blueberry jam to go along with it). DELICIOUS. I'm just not a fan of how busy and packed it always is inside. Oh well, as long as it doesn't effect the quality of the food, they will still have my business.
(4)Bob S.
I want so much to give 5 stars. The food is so, so good. The drinks are great. Everything is just awesome. Except ONE time I had a waiter who was just such a jerk. He was not waiting on us, we were waiting on him. Wasn't even busy. Everything took so long it was ludicrous. And I don't mean the food. I expect it to take some time to make good food. But the check and the drinks and the refills. Stupid things. Every stupid thing. I just expected more from Comet, you know? Had to subtract a star because of that one bad waiter. If you are going to work at a respectable institution, please try to help everyone else enjoy it.
(4)Christina D.
Super cozy and casual diner with great comfort food. Healthy/vegetarian options are available. Great atmosphere and service. Good beer selection too!
(4)Roxanne O.
While in town for work with my boyfriend, I told him we were going to go to Comet Cafe for dinner. He thought I was nuts because everything we'd read online talked about Comet's brunch. But like always, I was right. We had a really fantastic meal at Comet Cafe. I was lured in by the vegan deep fried riblets. I travel a lot and I've never seen vegan riblets on a menu anywhere else. They were pretty incredible. My meatatarian boyfriend loved them, too. And he especially loved the vegan ranch dressing that came with them. As he said, if I could make vegan ranch that good at home, he might go vegan. (not really, but...) I ordered a vegan Salisbury steak not knowing what to expect. It was SO good. it came with some really creamy mashed potatoes and a nice vegan gravy. I was pleased. But my boyfriend? He's still talking about his meal weeks later. He got the turkey dinner, or "turkey balls" as he likes to call them. I don't eat meat, but the idea of mixing turkey, stuffing, and potatoes together, rolling them up in a ball, and then deep frying them seems like a genius idea to me. Overall, an excellent meal. If I lived in the area, I'd totally be a regular.
(4)Simon K.
Compact Turkey Dinner? I couldn't fathom what that meant before I went to Comet Cafe. Now that I've had it, I'm trying to figure out how to make my own. Here are some of my thoughts in bullet point form (because it's the best way to get people to read things): - As mentioned before, the compact turkey dinner was by far the best meal I tried. It's turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes all balled up, deep fried, and covered with gravy. This is what Thanksgiving should be. - The meatloaf and the meatloaf sandwich were both solid. The gravy that comes with it compliments the meatloaf and mashed potatoes well but the meatloaf itself needs a little more flavor. If you get to taste the meatloaf alone, it doesn't even seem to be seasoned with salt or pepper. - The mac and cheese looks delicious!.... and then the taste is a little disappointing. The cheese is dull and I wish it had packed a bigger punch. - The chicken noodle soup is like the inside of a pot pie. It's creamy, hearty and thick and I could drink a gallon of that as my meal. - The Comet fries are a little on the salty side. The cucumber sauce that comes with it balances out the strong seasoning and if you dip it in both the sauce and ketchup, it creates a ridiculously amazing combination of salty, cool, and tangy. Overall, it's good food at a reasonable price. I'd stop by Alterra afterwards to grab some coffee as it's less than a mile away. Personal Recommendation: Compact Turkey Dinner
(4)Liz B.
I didn't eat here, but drank at the bar. The drinks were good, The Smiths were playing and the bartender was fun. I'm looking forward to eating here the next time I find myself in Milwaukee.
(5)Karen M.
Cool spot! Great playlist! Chill very welcoming! I had their garden salad it was a great portion! Very lovely and the tofu was so tasteful! The only thing wrong with this place is No WIFI! Not cool! Come on, I travel a lot and look for these spot that are friendly to those that eat solo! I would have loved to stay a little bit longer and do some work but had to go look for another place!!
(4)Gisela G.
I love, love, love this joint. I visit Comet Cafe every time I visit Milwaukee. It is has a great down to earth atmosphere while serving great food and drinks. I visited last night and started with a tasty Miller High Life. I learned that their Tuesday drink special is $3 classic cocktails so, I proceeded to have an Old Fashioned. I tell you, it is usually difficult to get this drink right and the bartender (I believe his name was Nick) got it just right. Food: I was with a group of 5 and between all of us we ordered The Meatloaf, AJs compact turkey dinner, Mac N cheese and spinach and artichoke dip. It was all so GOOOOD! My personal favorite was AJ's Compact Turkey dinner. This meal consists of turkey, stuffing Nd mashed potatoes balled up and fried and covered in gravy. I highly recommend this dish. The meatloaf was also good and recommended. HOWEVER, what takes the cake is the bacon ice cream. Heaven! I wish they still served the Akimbo sandwich. My friend and I wanted to split it. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Sudipto G.
Amazing little place in downtown Milwaukee by Brady street...have been there twice, once for sunday brunch and once for dinner...You do have to wait quite a bit on sundays but the food is well worth it.. The Compact turkey dinner is amazing and so is the Chicken Leghorn sandwich..and btw they have quite a wide variety of beers as well..try the beermosa if you're in for one of their weekend brunches!
(5)Megan S.
Nothing to write home about. Decent food but nothing mind blowing.
(3)Allyson U.
Not that this place needs any more reviews, but I'll still throw in my 2 cents. I'm giving 3.5 stars, but rounding up (my good deed of the day). I feel like Comet is kind of hit or miss. I have probably been here at least ten times, and had good, mediocre and bad experiences. For example, the bloodies- a couple times they were amazing, a couple times they were okay, and a few times they were undrinkable. The food- mostly good. The pancakes and biscuits are unbelievable- by far the best I've had. The breakfast burrito- not good, and I'm not as big of fan of their dinner entrees than their brunch. The service is usually decent, sometimes can be slow, but that's probably due to all the people standing in their way. For brunch there is almost always a wait- It's a pretty small restaurant so in the summer it's not so bad, since you can wait outside. But when it's cold, everyone packs into every space they can find, so you will definitely be staring at those peoples' butts during your entire meal. They do have some good brunch drinks and a decent beer list, I love that they made baseball-esque beer trading cards instead of just have a regular beer menu- cute idea. Comet is definitely worth trying at least once for their great brunch food, as long as you don't mind waiting for it.
(4)Tyler H.
We probably waited in line for 25-30 mins. I don't usually wait that long for anywhere (unless its good BBQ). After we were seated, my partner asked if I downgraded a star onYelp for waiting in a long line. My response-Not if the food was worth it. I think the Comet Cafe is a SOLID 4 stars. It is a dive and a college hangout. We were clearly the oldest people in there, but we didn't feel out of place. Te staff was friendly and working their butts off. We split an order of pancakes (2 giant pancakes) and a ham and cheese omelet. The omelet came with hash browns and toast. I was very sceptic about giant pancakes. They are usually heavy and tasteless. To my surprise, these were light, fluffy, and totally delicious. The omelet was good. I think it was the Wisconsin cheese. :-) The hash browns were very greasy and very good. This was a perfect Sunday Brunch. Wish I was going to be around longer to try the Yelp favorites.
(4)Carl F.
Comet has changed over the years it's former coffee shop self was awesome and change can be tough, the very good vegan menu options help make up for that. I'm a fan of the vegan meatloaf besides a number of sandwiches. Bar service can be off at times, but table service is reliably amicable.
(5)Julia M.
Fun place! Went on a Friday morning at around lunch time. I was impressed by the amount of people that were jamming into the place at a consistent rate! I had the bacon pancakes which were absolutely gigantic and tasty. Talk about portion size!! I had seen this place on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and was intriqued. It was a cool atmosphere, but the breakfast menu could have had a little more variety. Would like to go back to try lunch or dinner as these seemed to have more selections that were not "ordinary" restaurant fare.
(3)Sarah B.
Awesome place! Food is outstanding, fun drinks, and a neat atmosphere. A nice diner for "grown-ups".
(5)Valeri B.
Such a great place and always packed with new faces. Excellent food and the best customer service every time I'm here!
(5)Beni H.
I love this place mainly for the cupcakes... I enjoy coming to Comet Cafe because of the crazy menu items and the low key vibe. I always order the same thing AJ's compact Turkey dinner and what ever beer sounds good. And I never ever leave without taking home 3 cupcakes. I don't know who makes them but they are they best I've had and I'm a total cupcake junkie! Truly they are better than most bakeries so go early enough to have your pick of the menu. Once they have sold out they are done for the day. Yes, the parking sucks, yest the wait time usually stinks and the service can be hit or miss, but the food makes up for it...and the cupcakes, just sayin!
(4)lisa N.
Has a great, very professional waitress and a delicious salad. Brussels sprouts were gourmet. Cupcakes look much, much, better than they taste. A great place for vegans and non vegans.
(5)Tee G.
Solid. I had lunch at Comet again today. This time there was no wait, so we were seated right away by another friendly member of the waitstaff. My only disappointment was that I couldn't get breakfast after 3pm (and of course we walked in right at 3...d'oh!), but I managed to get some breakfast foods in me anyway with the B.E.L.T. sandwich I got: bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato on toasted bread. It was magically delicious. My partner-in-grub got the meatloaf sandwich, and it was so magnificent looking I had to take a picture of it. The service was friendly & very polite, the almond joy Anodyne coffee I had with my meal was delish, and the BELT sandwich made my day. I also got a couple of cupcakes to go for myself & my favorite teenagers (I lorded the cupcakes over them as an incentive to do some chores.) They gobbled them up, and I must agree that the red velvet cupcake I ate was fabulous. *cheering wildly* I'm definitely a fan!
(4)Joey P.
Always a line for this place but it's worth waiting. Arrived at 8pm on a Friday and actually had no line and several table options! Food is great, drink selection is great, service is always fast & friendly. Never really had a bad experience with this place. It's just not quite 5 stars but it's definitely a fun place to eat at.
(4)Ron J.
A bit of a hipster place, with more hype than food. Definitely a good place, but I guess I am put off by the long waits for what is basically good diner food.
(3)Joanna T.
The Comet is haunted. Seriously. Every time I visit, I experience some supernatural phenomena. For example, when I was in for brunch recently, I looked at the menu and thought "hmm...fruit and granola. That looks good. Yep, I'll have that". Yet - when the friendly hipster dude comes to get my order, a voice not my own orders the Comet Benedict. Or at dinner...I've decided on a salad, a fresh and leafy salad. Yet, somehow a deep fried turkey dinner gets ordered. This tricky poltergeist even has the ability to suppress the body's natural satiety signals, meaning you will eat and drink WAY too much. Listen carefully when you exit, and doubtless you will hear an evil laugh as the resident ghost watches you waddle down the sidewalk. He knows you will have a terrible, terrible gluttony induced stomachache later. I call this phantom The Ghost of Terrible but Delicious Decisions, and he is one dirty bastard. Please Comet, call in the Ghostbusters. I'm fat enough and out of Tums.
(5)Bill C.
Don't let the fact that this place serves craft beer and sandwiches; they are much more than that. Cool vibe in a college neighborhood adds to the experience for any age group. What we were expecting as typical bar food was far from it. A good eclectic menu made ordering very difficult. Their grilled cheese (yes, grilled cheese) was to die for. The fish fry was just as good as I have had in New England. Everyone in the family (two adults and three adult teenagers) loved the quality of the food. Portions will fill you, especially the spicy fries, so you may want to check the desert menu before you stuff yourself. Highly recommend!
(5)Rachel H.
Help, I'm having a beermergency! Comet Cafe to the rescue. Comet Cafe has a weekday beermergency happy hour deal of $1off all their beers on tap. This is your reward for not eating lunch until 3pm. I'll take it. I also needed to take a nap after drinking a certain9% ABV IPA, but that's more like a personal problem. My vegetarian companion was in heaven here with their numerous veg. options and he went for the deep fried vegan ribs. Of course he did. I went with the open faced meatloaf sandwich, in part because the salted rye bread was calling to me, and boy was that a great component it was. Everything else about this was also wonderful. I go to Milwaukee for little day trips often enough to have a regular rotation, and Comet Cafe is definitely joining the list.
(4)Claudia S.
I remember when my friend told me we were eating here, that it was a must and tradition whenever she's in Milwaukee and having brunch. Fine. I was warned there could be a wait, and sure enough there was, but it wasn't long and once inside, I found out just how worth it it was. I don't remember what I've had from here, I just remember it was really, really good. So good in fact that I actually finished what I ordered. That could have been because of the previous night's booze, but I normally don't finish a meal unless it's worth it. Plus, they can please vegetarians and meat eaters without compromising one group's food. This is a "must" I have no problem being a part of when in Milwaukee.
(5)Justine N.
We are from Chicago and were so impressed with all of the food in Milwaukee. Comet was exceptional. Our server was so nice and the food was DELICIOUS! Everything was reasonably priced and the portions were huge. Thanks for a great time! We'll be back!
(5)Brian M.
5 Stars, What else can be said? In spite of Guy "d-bag" Fieti's visit, the Comet is still one of the coolest places in Milwaukee. We've been here for all meal times now, but we love the Comet mostly for Sunday brunch. My go-to is the 'Stender, a sweet-ass breakfast burrito packed with enough corned-beef, eggy, cheesy goodness to wipe away even the most brain-crushing of open-bar south-side wedding hangovers. As much as I whole heatedly approve of and love almost everything else on the brunch menu, I repeatedly order the 'Stender for the Sihracha artwork applied to the burrito. Some of my favorites have been the Egyptian "Evil Eye" hieroglyph and the time the cook wrote "Common Error" on my 'Stender when he mistakenly served it with a side of hash browns (again). Other non-brunch favorites include the Mac 'n Cheese, and the deconstructed Thanksgiving dinner. Both are amazing. Best advice I can give about the Comet: If you are going for brunch, come early, before 10:00 AM if you want to get a table. Even better yet, sit at the bar. The service has always been great.
(5)Evan K.
Awesome place! Love the people. Love the atmosphere. Love that the drink menu is a collection of baseball cards in a card book. The Mac and cheese is amazing.
(4)Greg M.
Wonderful place. Yes, they have vegan food, but everything I have had there is fantastic. The meatloaf is to die for, best ever! Save room for the desserts, they might be vegan, but they are wonderful!
(5)Mark S.
Comet Cafe is a great option for when you have a pesky vegetarian in your group and you want to please the meat eaters as well! The atmosphere is a lot of fun. The food was very good. Compact Turkey Dinner ($12) - I was expecting more turkey in this dish. It was very tasty, but had too much stuffing and not enough turkey. Artichoke Melt ($9) - The veggie girl in our group loved this sandwich. She was thrilled with all the vegetarian options on the menu. Friday Fish Fry Everyday ($12) - I don't know why more restaurants don't do this. It's nice to have a good fish fry on a Monday. If you're in a hurry, this place is probably not for you. It took a long time to get our food after we ordered, but it gave our group time to talk and have drinks. We didn't feel like they were rushing us out when we finished eating too. We will be back again. Brunch looks like it would be really good.
(4)Mark T.
The bartenders are nice. It was my first time there. There are many local beers and good explanation on drinks menu. I ordered fish fry. I pick meat cheddar soup. It was very good. I would love to have the soup again. I like the beer that has the Robot logo. Very good.
(5)Kate B.
This place is magical. Cute, punky atmosphere and delicious food -- with both vegetarian and vegan options. Came here for brunch on Labor Day and can't wait to return. I had the tofu scramble (Kelly's scramble), which is now my favorite tofu dish in the world because it comes with VEGAN GRAVY!!!! My husband enjoyed the breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, cheese, ranchero sauce & chipotle sour cream. This was hands down my favorite meal while visiting Milwaukee. So, so good!
(5)Sonia B.
I was SO excited to come here after hearing the rave reviews about it! Maybe when a place is hyped up so much, one has a higher expectation of what the food will be like. My husband came in and we had about a 1/2 hour wait on a Sunday morning...not bad! I ordered a specialty item of meatloaf with eggs, hash browns, and toast. I LOVE meatloaf and was really excited that it was an option on the menu! When my meal came out, the meatloaf was burnt...please see the picture I posted! It was super dry and it's probably because it was absolutely charred! :( I wish I said something to the server, but really didn't want to wait any longer as we had to hit the road to return home to Chicago. My husband ordered a breakfast burrito and I think he enjoyed it. I really wish I enjoyed my meal. :( The atmosphere at Comet Cafe is cute. It's friendly with a hipster feel. Based off of what I ordered, I wouldn't recommend the place. But...maybe it was an off day? I'm just surprised that whoever plated my meal would serve something that was charred and wouldn't think of making another portion. Kind of goes against best practices in the food industry.
(2)Clara S.
First stop in Milwaukee because of the mention in the show, diners, drive-ins, and dives. Honestly not as great as I expected, though. Friendly service and a clean diner type place. Drink- the desert rose was pretty interesting because of the dash of siracha mixed in. I liked the taste as it was not too sweet, but the siracha may have been a little overpowering. It looks like comet cafe had some good drink specials for each night, though. Food- the meatloaf with beer gravy was good for meatloaf, but not as good as it was hyped to be. We should've ordered the meatloaf sandwich but accidentally ordered the entree instead. Finished it, but not amazing. The Mac and cheese with chili was very rich. Not rich as in creamy but rich with a lot of sharp cheese. This dish was nothing special either. Overall, probably one of the more interesting restaurants in Milwaukee but food didn't excite my palate too much. I did get to eat meatloaf though, which is not something I would usually order at a restaurant.
(4)Lisa A.
I still had cable tv when Comet was originally on Diners, drive-ins, and dives so you know it was a long time ago. Buuut its still just as legit. I usually am there at breakfast or brunch but even the basics (eggs, hash browns, and toast) are filling and stellar here. They have a lot of vegetarian/vegan comfort food options as well as plenty of bacon, sausage, meatloaf, etc for the meat eater. Dogs and cats living together peacefully. I never really feel like a drink or beer here for whatever reason (its usually too early?) but if that's what you're there for I hear they have excellent drinks and lots of beers. (Riding your bike here with your bike benefits sticker gets you "happy hour every hour pricing.") They offer (my fav) iced sport tea here, and make a mean chai. Specials are generally posted on a chalkboard at the back wall upon entering. They have awesome pies, and although they are a little 2007, very excellent cupcakes with frosting that was plentiful without being overwhelming and sugary tasting. Service is always prompt if a bit bearded and keeping in the spirit of the word yelp uses for the ambience of the place. Still a great spot!
(5)Nancy R.
I am sorry it has taken so long to update my last review. I am totally back to all five stars for Comet Cafe. My favorite here is the cheesy tomato with giardenara sandwich. I also love the walnut apple burger. I have only had the one bad experience here and it has never been repeated. I seldom r eat breakfast here because it is so crowded, but when I do I'm careful to order my eggs over medium. They currently have Bell's Oberon on tap which is one of my all time favorites! Oh, Comet - I am so glad to be back and loving you again!
(5)Jeffrey S.
..... Haven't been here in about 8 months , the 3 of us ordered - Meatloaf - Mac n cheese - and a special Turkey avocado sandwich - fries -- well , none of it had any flavor : ( really ? Even meatloaf n Mac n cheese ?? These are simple staples of easy to prepare , easy to make great tasting ! ... But no ... No flavor ---- too bad I'll stop praising the place .
(2)Lauren J.
Comet- you bring me such inner turmoil. Every single thing on your menu is so amazing, I have a fit figuring out what to order. There is no question why this was the first stop on my visit back to Milwaukee. While we decided what we wanted, my friend and I split the s'mores cupcake. (And by split, she had the top and I had the bottom, because she's a trainer and much stronger than me). We ordered dessert first because we are adults and we can, stop judging us. I wanted something to warm up my insides after a chilly flight in. The grilled cheese, tomato soup and side of fries spoke to me. Besides going to Marquette, it was the best decision of my life. The cheesy, crispy goodness dunked in the hot and chunky soup was perfect. The fries were cut fresh and salted to perfection. It's amazing how even a simple dish is taken up a notch. There are not enough adjectives to describe Comet. I left broken hearted realizing I forgot to order the poutine. Luckily I know I will be back and the poutine and I will meet again. Comet, you have my vote all day, any day.
(5)Sebastian B.
This is a cool place with hip friendly staff and comfortable shabby chic surroundings. It's a counter joint like the old days with a new style partly cultivated by the staff, the tunes and the clientele and partly cultivated by the cuisine. Somebody in the kitchen is very creative and aware of the balance between meat eaters and vegans. Take into consideration the fried vegan ribs. I am a carnivore plain and simple but I had to try that dish and guess what, I enjoyed it! The key player in my book was the tasty BBQ sauce which was a honey/roasted pepper concoction, a unique blend, hats off to that guy!!! I never pass up a good meat loaf but the pulled chicken sandwich nearly drew me off my game (nearly). I had the open face meatloaf and everything from the 2 hearty slices of artisan rye (one side griddles and crispy) to the 4 crunchy thick slices of bacon to the 4 cheese mashed potatoes and that excellent gravy. The unspoken g are the onion and tomato on top. Bravo to that guy again! He knows who he is... the creative genius in the kitchen. I went because of Diners Drive-ins and Dives, because that's how I find the funky joints when I travel. I didn't expect such a good show from this place, boy was I wrong. Although creative I'd like to see more scratch made items. The vegan ribs are brought in from a vendor and no house made bread. Is this me being picky? Damn straight it is! Can't give everybody 5 stars and remain credible. Go to the Comet Cafe and tell then the FoodDude from NJ sent ya!
(4)Danielle W.
Disclaimer: I only go for brunch The pancakes are the only pancakes I like (sorry, Mom). They're already sweet, no syrup is needed and they are giant and fluffy. You seriously only need one. However, I got a kind of burnt one this weekend and it was not good. 9/10 they do it correctly though. The bacon is great thick cut bacon. Ask for it extra crisp. The coffee and coffee based drinks are very good here. So are the mimosas. Sadly, i'm not a fan of their bloody mary. Go around 10 and you won't wait that long, go any later than that and bring a coffee to sip on outside during your wait.
(4)Sallie Jo C.
What a fun place! My husband and I were in town for the night from Madison, and a friend recommended Comet Cafe since we were going to a show at Shank Hall that night. Comet has great comfort food in a diner setting. They also have a very nice beer, wine and mixed drinks list. The drinks and beer menu items are individually printed on baseball cards and placed into a binder at each table. It's a very cool concept. My husband had a turkey dinner that was basically the turkey and dressing rolled up into three huge balls and deep fried! He was VERY impressed! I was going for something a bit more healthy, so opted for the seared tuna sandwich. I asked for it to be served deconstructed with no bread. They had no issue with this and served it on a beautiful platter. They had steamed broccoli as a side that night and it was just that - steamed and nothing else. It was just the way I like it, not drowning in a bunch of butter or sauce. Oh, and the tomato soup, which is on the menu every day, was excellent. It was bitterly cold that night, so all the warm comfort food tasted especially good! They have a lot of pies and cookies for dessert. We opted out of that, but I'm sure they are just as delicious, if not more so, than the rest of the menu items. I have to point out the service was outstanding. Our waitress shared her opinions and made suggestions throughout the night. We were there early on a Friday night because we were headed to Shank Hall. I noticed several families there with small children. This is a good place for kids and you can feel good about the food they'll be eating.
(5)Susan C.
This place has a great vibe and really good food. It's small and busy but we got there at 10 and were seated within five minutes. This is a must see in Milwaukee for breakfast for sure. Son said best pancake he ever had and he's had a lot of pancakes lol
(4)Gina S.
Super delicious cocktails- loved the Crab Ass... I think that's what it was called - basically a Moscow Mule. Great decor, music, and staff. And the vegan gyro and spicy fries were dynamite! Totally enjoyed lunch here. I'm not sure if waiting is normal, but we did pass by on a Sunday morning, and there was a line to get in.
(5)Tracy J.
Known for brunch. Service was really good. I had eggs, sausage potatoes and toast. The potatoes are extremely crispy and shredded. The toast was good and I like that they put the butter on the side rather than drenching it. They had homemade jam, I believe it was apricot and it was delicious. The omelette was great. So it was a hit. Prices were very good, about $10 entrees. So I liked it. It's a neighborhood eatery so don't expect fine dining. I wish I had room for the beautiful cupcakes they had displayed but I didn't. Next time for sure.
(4)Heather W.
I feel bad giving Comet two stars, I like Comet - for no reason in particular really, yet I do. I'd say this is more of a 2.5 star review. I've eaten here a few other times before, (not sure what I had) and I don't remember much, but I remember I always wanted to go back. Then finally last night I did go back... and had a very mediocre experience. First, we ordered the spinach and artichoke dip. It was okay as far as taste goes, but the cheese was literally so hard we had to cut through it with a fork and knife :( The cheese on spinach and artichoke dip should easily break/melt/bend with the bread its served with so I don't know what was going on here but it was sad. Also it was advertised as having jalapenos and stuff but yet, I didn't taste jalapenos at all... also sad. I had high hopes for that dip and it was just okay. Then I ordered the Roast Beef sandwich. It was good... but not really. It was just blah. All I really tasted was bread. The roast beef was really light in color which was kind of unappetizing. I got mine with a side salad and I hated the balsamic... it just tasted way weird, almost like horseradish... conversely, my bf liked it so who knows - maybe its me! I ended up not eating it. Boyfriend had the reuben and fries. Looked okay, I have never met a French fry I didn't like... until I ate these.. I was not a fan. They weren't terrible, I just was able to eat 3 and then stop... lets just leave it at that. Overall, my favorite part of the meal was my beer. One last note, we asked our server a few recommendations and it was so clear he wanted to recommend whatever we wanted and didn't really have/or care to think of an opinion on his own. Don't take this the wrong way, It wasn't a problem because it was honestly just really funny to me. He still was a fine waiter. As I read this review, I realize its pretty obvious I don't like comet that much, but I refuse to admit that to myself.
(2)Dane H.
Small joint with a *very* hip feel to it. You'll know what I mean when you arrive. It's a cool, intimate place with some very cool dishes. Appears to be quite vegetarian/vegan friendly. Seating is..... eh. Don't come here with more than 4 people during busy hours or you'll have a bad time. I used to come here for their happy hour regularly and sit at the bar - they had half-priced cocktails and there was there was a bartender with a long beard who made some some killer drinks for me and my posse while carrying good conversation. I went there a few times when said bearded hero was absent and it was a pretty terrible experience (pretentious bartender who couldn't make a decent drink or talk to us like we were human beings) - so no more happy hours for me. I now come here for the occasional brunch or dinner. The food is good and the service is fine. I do feel some of the items on the menu exceed their culinary abilities, but it very well could've been just a few slip-ups. I wouldn't consider myself to be TOO MUCH of a square but I definitely feel judged/exiled by staff and patrons here occasionally, and I'm not the only person to feel this way. I've been to plenty of places that carry the same vibe and dynamic of Comet and I've never been met with the same coldness I have with some of the staff here - but it's cool - I still digg this place.
(3)Carla C.
The beer suggested by Freddy was good, the ahi tuna was fabulous!!!!! Very customer oriented!!! Will go again....
(3)Adam C.
The ladyfriend loves this place. I'm somewhat less enthusiastic about Comet, but I still think it's an alright place. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's bad. Some of the offerings are interesting (compact turkey dinner, bacon pancakes), but I just...I don't know. My complaint about Comet is similar to my thoughts on the Lulu/Centraal/Honeypie family of Milwaukee restaurants (okay..so I actually really like Honeypie and don't mind the others terribly, but I'm making a point here, so shut it). It seems like there's been a real effort put into making the menu quirky and interesting and fun that they end up being very similar and something falls by the wayside. I feel like these places try to be everything to everyone, and end up being mostly mediocre with a couple of real gems on their menu. I don't have the experience with Comet to say for sure that that's the case, but it's my perception. Rant over, as far as specifics... I stopped in recently for lunch. I've generally avoided Comet because this place gets so packed for brunch. I ordered a reuben--one of my go-tos in gauging general quality of a restaurant where it's offered--it certainly wasn't the worst I've ever had, but it wasn't the best either, by a long-shot. The corned beef was a little leathery, they went very light on the dressing and kraut. All-in-all, it was very dry for a reuben, and that's just not anything to write home about, you know? I'd be willing to give them another chance to live up to the hype, but so far I'm kinda in the "meh" camp.
(3)Marmar M.
in the land of lumpy dumpy comes the comet with waitress a little frumpy i asked "what meal Guy had?" she rolled her eyes but, she didn't get mad he had the Frankenstein something or other (i forget) i said.. ok!.. gimme that please (not a bad bet) other dishes looked ok, but it was the mac and cheese and balls in gravy that made me freeze what the heck was that? looks like a lot of FAT! it is, and if you need that, get it on tried it too, how can you go wrong? place is a'right.. a little more liquor then its gonna be a wild night.. go during the weekday and not the busy times.. less of a hassle and you can enjoy my rhymes!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Suzanne P.
I've been coming to Comet for almost 10 years but after today, it will probably be my last time. I brought my friend here for the "Comet experience". I'd always recommend Comet to friends when in search of a place to grab some good grub on the East side. Upon being seated, we were greeted by our unfriendly server who seemed as if he'd rather be doing anything else but serving me, my daughter and friend. Right off the bat, my friend mentioned that he was a jerk lol. I figured I would give him a chance to redeem himself. He must've asked us like 7 times if we were ready to order, never once asking if we had any questions about the menu. We finally ordered the chilli with the works, the Compact Turkey Dinner, Camilla sandwich and Mac and Cheese. The beloved chilli that I once knew and cherished was now replaced with something extremely tangy and sweet. Tasted like spaghetti sauce. Not to mention it was lukewarm. The Turkey dinner was terribly underseasoned and tasted like something you'd find in a hospital cafeteria. How could this possibly be the same turkey dinner that people have raved about? Beats me. I couldn't even eat more than two bites. On top of the atrocity, it was also lukewarm. Now, I know I am not the only person that likes food served to them hot - and the fact that it's deep fried and was still lukewarm, leads me to wonder how long it was miserably sitting underneath the warmer waiting to be remembered. The Camilla was meh. It needed a little extra something. The Mac and Cheese was the star of the bunch. Gooey, hot and rich - just like how Mac and Cheese should be. Mr. Crabby pants never once came over to check how we were doing or how everything was tasting. I had to ask for a refill of coffee. Once we decided that we were incredibly turned off, we sat there waiting for some boxes and the bill. I guess sitting at the bar and being on his phone was more important than customer satisfaction. I informed him about our dissatisfaction with the food which he did not seem very happy about. Not surprised. Once we paid our bill, we actually went up the street to Glorioso's for an Italian Roast beef sandwich to make up for our shitty experience and half fulfilled appetites. I'm embarrassed for taking my friend to a place for a great foodie experience just to leave with a bad taste in our mouths. Literally. I'm not sure if I even want to return after today. It's unfortunate to see quality in food and service has plummeted significantly. I guess all once great relationships must come to an end some time. I'll surely reminisce about the good ol' days, Comet.
(2)James C.
What a find on my visit to Milwaukee! Thank you yelp because you didn't disappoint. We split the cheesy beef sandwich with fries and it fantastic. I'm from Chicago and a bit of a snob when it comes to my sandwiches. They killed it with this one! Iced tea was fresh and flavorful. We topped our meal off with a piece of cherry pie. The atmosphere was vintage yet hip cafe style. Honestly, I wish I had more time here in Milwaukee to hit this place up a few more times. Well done Comet Cafe, well done!
(5)Meghan L.
This cafe was highly recommended by my fellow Yelpers with over 500 reviews; the restaurant touts that it has won several "Best Breakfast/Brunch" awards so I had high hopes walking to the cafe for the breakfast that awaited us. There was a line out the door for brunch on Sunday and the restaurant creatively reduces wait time for patrons by seating some at the bar. I've never dined at the bar for brunch, but this is Milwaukee where there's a pub serving Pabst and Miller Lite on every corner so I figured it was part of the experience. The music was loud and the bar was busy serving up mimosas and Bloody Marys, so I wouldn't say this is a family friendly, "bring the kiddos" kind of spot. Service was slow at the bar as the bartenders had to craft drinks, occasionally run food, and also take food orders for those of us "lucky enough" to be seated at the bar. The Mr. and I both ordered the Rocket Platter ($9.50) which came with one pancake, two eggs, hash browns and bacon. The hash browns and bacon were undercooked for my liking. I asked our server if the bacon could be cooked more and he offered to bring out a fresh order of crispy bacon. Unfortunately, he never returned with said bacon. The eggs and pancake were fine but nothing special in my book. The pancake was huge (filled the whole plate), but it was dry and didn't have the buttery flavor and light, fluffy consistency I was hoping for. The highlight of our meal was my deliciously smooth Hazelnut Cappuccino, which I enjoyed down to the last drop! Overall, the meal was good but nothing I would return for the next time I visit Milwaukee.
(3)Maggie I.
I feel bad giving Comet a 3 because I love this place, but there are a few things that don't really cut it for me. But let's start with the good stuff! Drinks are great. There's a pretty good beer selection that are affordable. Bloodies are alright. Mondays are Coozie Club days, where you buy one of their coozies, and every Monday you bring it back, you get a dollar off your beer. The cupcakes are worth 5 stars. Please take that away from this review. I'm lactose intolerant and that fact that I could find a vegan red velvet cupcake was mindblowing. Buy any of the cupcakes though. I dare you to find one that isn't delicious. The food is where I get a little iffy about this place. The breakfast burrito, vegan biscuits and gravy, and AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner are great and I fully recommend them. However, I've had a variety of the sandwiches (vegan, vegetarian, AND meat products) and they've never really been too special. The apple walnut burger is good, but not $12 good. The Big Rig is good, but boring. They're overpriced sandwiches I can make at home, and I do not pride myself on my cooking abilities. The meatloaf, which was featured on some Food Network show, was overrated. The vegan rib appetizer is good, but nothing that stands out too much for me (also, I'm not a veg but eat a lot of veg-friendly products, so maybe my opinion is a little off here?). Beware of the infamous line. Parking is rough. Come at 3pm on a weekday. Giving Comet 3 stars is still making me feel weird, but for all the hype this place gets, it's gotta pack a little bit more of a punch.
(3)Joel L.
This place is A-OK. We had dinner on a weeknight and it was about 75% full. It has a distinct feel but also feels like a typical neighborhood café. The menu is amazing. Their use of ingredients is interesting and unique. The food tastes pretty good.
(3)Karl C.
Comet Cafe is a godsend for me because I am married to someone who oscillates between vegetarianism and veganism. Comet is a god damn gift to me, as a normal man. This place gets insanely busy during peak weekend hours, so be prepared to wait while rubbing elbows with the only skinny, ironically-mustachioed Wisconsinites in MKE. Although the menu is definitely pricey for diner fare, the service and food are great. I can't speak for the vegan offerings but if you eat meat, you NEED to get the Meatloaf with Beer Gravy. You get a side of soup or salad with it, and the meal is just killer. Their pies are usually outstanding as well. Plus, they carry a bunch of local craft beers. If you're in Milwaukee, you've definitely gotta try Comet.
(5)Doreen L.
FANTASTIC. Yes, the wait is long. Yes, people will bump into you while you wait for your table. WHO CARES? The food here was so good. I ended up getting the mother of all breakfasts: eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a pancake that was bigger than my head. I couldn't even think of finishing it. If you want a HUGE breakfast, as well as a stand-out mimosa/Bloody Mary, then this is your spot. (The cute waitstaff/bartenders/cooks also helped. Just saying.)
(5)Layla B.
I freaking love Comet. They make so much of their meaty food available VEGGIE or VEGAN. I can get a veggie reuben? Vegan BLT? Vegan bacon wrapped meatloaf?! What sort of witch magic are these people pulling?!?? It's such a dive, but it's just so lovely that way. I've loved and devoured every meal I've eaten here. The wait times are totally crazy cause this place is so popular. I've even come on a Monday night at 8 as had to sit at the bar for service. No biggie though, cause the bar service is spot on. They also do cheap classic cocktails on some nights... Hello, $3 dirty martini! If you like delicious homestyle food in a dark and crowded bar, I think it's time you tried comet. Veggies and non-veggies alike will definitely find some tasty eats here.
(4)Rossel E.
We should have gone after 3pm on a weekend since they serve the better menu than the traditional american brunch. A very hip punk rock diner with the sound tracks and all. Just getting a seat takes forever and the guy who's doing the seat reservation is sooo disorganized. The guy passed us by several times even there's vacant seats. Given it was an Easter brunch but the line is not that long people! So we took matters to our own hands and just seated ourselves on an unclean table. Did I mention food's great:-) I ended up ordering a solid meal, bacon wrapped meatloaf, eggs , and hashbrowns. Props for the warm pancake syrup and strawberry jam! Oh they also forgot my toast and I have to remind them. That's 2 strikes, only if the service was good I could've bumped to 4 stars.
(3)Jenna O.
I've only been to comet once, the atmosphere is cozy and our server was pretty good. I'm giving it a 3 star simply because there really weren't any healthy options on the menu the sandwich I ordered sounded relatively healthy on the menu but it came out dripping in oil and cheese. My overall experience was alright though.
(3)Vava B.
Wow, where did yelp reviewers go wrong with this one? We stopped by because we wanted a Bloody Mary with breakfast on a Monday while we were in MLK. We were quick to be seated by a hipster bearded dude in skinny pants. I really wish I would have remembered his name. Food was ok but really how the heck does one mess up pancakes? The pancakes were dense and over cooked and I never even touched my Bloody Mary except for 2 sips...the second sip only to verify that I wasn't mistaken, it was truly horrible. When the server came by, I asked what kind of mix they use and he told me it was their own, I told him it was awful. He never asked if he could get me something else or offer to take it off the bill. It was SO bad, I didn't even touch the beer chaser...there couldn't be enough beer to chase that nasty taste out of my mouth. I would not recommend this place, nor will I be back when I'm in the area. Best thing about our meal was the water to rinse the taste out of our mouths. BLECK!
(1)Jen Y.
Props for some of the best vegan stuff!.. love the veg burgers and vegan cupcakes! Haven't met something I didn't like here... won't attempt on weekends though eith the hoards of people... weekday lunches are perfect for me!
(5)Jeff M.
Well... I always see a line when I drive by in the morning over the weekend. I finally had my chance to eat there and it just didn't live up to the hype. I've been here twice now, once for breakfast and once for dinner. I actually would prefer to go for dinner. I went on a Sunday and they had free bacon. YES, free bacon. My mother is a vegan, and she loves the place. I am not anything close to vegan. I think it's set up well if you don't eat meat - but if you like a hearty breakfast, there are other places you can go. I will say, I was pretty impressed with their cupcakes. Would I say it's worth the wait? No. But my friends love this place, so I will probably be back. Also, your entire group must be present if you are waiting to be seated. This is annoying to me... but it's how they roll.
(3)John G.
Unassuming place from the outside. On the inside it's a cool, energetic, and casual vibe. I got the meatloaf and it was some of the best I've ever had. It was almost like a cut of meat rather than ground up and uniform. Really good stuff. They also had Cuvee des Jacobins on tap, which is pretty rare to see even in a bottle. Sat at the bar and got food and our server/tender was very helpful and friendly.
(4)Tyler S.
I heard of this place in a lyft and stumbled in drunk that night. It was amazing. The deep-fried vegan ribs are to die for, the sauces are amazing, and they top off a delicious batch of fries. If you want to balance the deep-fried heaven, the hummus and veggies is a perfect counterbalance to have simultaneously while sipping on some Wyders. This was one hell of a pleasant surprise.
(5)Jennifer R.
The Comet is solid! I've visited a few times over the past few months and love, Loved, LOVED it. Here's why... 1. Deep fried Thanksgiving. Imagine your favorites from Turkey Day...Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes...all compacted into a ball, dipped in fish fry batter, and deep fried with gravy on top. Yep...heaven in a plate and a diet wrecker that's to die for. Mine was served with perfectly roasted Brussels sprouts. Divinely delicious! 2. Pie. My oh my, I like me some. I had the most decadent coconut banana caramel pie recently. I downed it with an energy blend drink because I needed to boost metabolism to absorb the excess calories. But it was so delicious I had absolutely no regrets and enjoyed every bite thoroughly! 3. Breakfast. You probably know their reputation for bacon. As in they give it out with beer. They also make the most delicious pancakes. With bacon. To die for. So huge I could only eat one of the two that came on a plate. Next time I will order Al A Carte. 4. Fish fry. A Wisconsin Friday night tradition. Craving it on a Tuesday? Comet can take care of you. It's on the daily menu. Served in a portion that could feed a small family of four. I'm not kidding. Yummy! Don't say I didn't forewarn you. It's kinda noisy here. As in an introverted friend and I popped in here about 3:30 pm on a Saturday to get some pie, thinking it would be quiet. It was out the door busy with a noise level to match. We went somewhere quieter. I could go on gushing about how good this place is. But I'm going to take myself to Comet Cafe for another daily dose of deliciousness to savor. You should too!
(4)Rachel G.
Never disappointed by this place. Service is great, bar choice is excellent, and food is wonderful and comforty! Shared the "Thanksgiving Turkey dinner balls" aka Turkey Balls--delicious! Always ready to come here!
(4)Leah O.
Comet cafe is always a stop for us when we're in Milwaukee. The food here is superb. The atmosphere makes you feel like you're at a punk concert. I love it. If you're looking to have a quiet lunch or dinner to just chat with a friend, you may want to go somewhere else. They get pretty busy for the lunch rush if you can wait a little they can usually seat you right away. Even during the rush they seem to keep the line moving at a good pace. On Saturdays and Sundays they only have a brunch menu which is kind of a bummer because we usually are up there only on the weekends. But their brunch menu isn't any less than their regular menu. The turkenstein sandwich is huge and there is enough there you could probably have the other half for a later dinner or tomorrow's lunch. For awhile I was vegan, this place caters to the non meat and dairy eaters. Anything I ordered vegan was amazing. Make sure you save room for dessert!! Their Key lime pie is outstanding and deserves it's own special mention. I've also had the coconut cream pie. If you're in the area make sure you stop here! You won't regret it.
(5)Daniel S.
My kind of place, big portions of food for reasonable prices, i got the breakfast burrito, one of the better ones I've had of late, with a side of hash browns. They also had a good selection of good beer for low prices. My IPA was $4! They also had lotsa pastries that looked good that I didn't get to try. If I ever go back I'll definitely try those. I hope I do get to go back, and soon
(5)Brian W.
This a must for anyone visiting MKE. I suggest breakfast. Huge portions! Great service. Coffee was great and purchased what they serve at the Public Market in the 3rd ward. Anodyne coffee...great stuff.
(5)Christopher C.
I was visiting for a weekend and was informed that I had to come to this restaurant for the bloody marys - and food. But most importantly, I wanted a bloody mary that would rock my socks off. Roll my soul. The kind you write home about. It is true. Now, I've been told that Milwaukee holds many places that serve a mean bloody mary - but who among them also serves vegan Salisbury steak? It was had some kind of hazelnut crust that was absolutely fantastic, with great veggie sides and a healthy portion. I downed two bloody marys and this steak in an hour's worth of joy and excitement. The restaurant itself is also really swanky - I like the design, because it is quite large but doesn't feel as open. It's not closed off either - you feel as though you're in a small diner at each table. It makes socializing and chatting much easier, because there are less distractions and sounds. The people at the restaurant were cool too - a few were eating and playing cards at the same time, what looked like a weekly tradition. That's some awesome stuff. This restaurant came so highly recommended and fulfilled every desire I had. I miss it and cannot wait to come back in order to order from them again.
(5)Daniel S.
Very nice cozy cafe with very good food server quickly and with a smile
(4)Calin D.
On a whim, I drove to Comet Cafe from Chicago - here's what I found. Open relatively late for dinner. Grade-A beer list. A relatively full bar. A decent latte served late and quite tasty. A packed eatery filled inside and out with patrons waiting to get in. Polite server staff. Hipsters, lots of hipsters. Interesting Vegan and veggie options on a menu that also serves meat. Easy street parking. The "vegan ribs" and french fries hit the spot for sure. The vegan chile with mac was decent, though now I wonder what the Mac N' Cheese tastes like. Go with a friend, though avoid groups if you can - the place is full! Wait to get an actual table, as the bar is, well, a bar, unless you're on the diner side. If it's from Wisconsin, it'll have cheese, lots of cheese! ;-)
(3)Jen K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. I've been here plenty of times, and always left happy. The atmosphere is fun and casual, so I'd recommend coming here for a fun date or a group dinner. But please understand that Comet Cafe is very popular in the Milwaukee area and does not take reservations, so be prepared to wait a bit during the lunch or dinner rush. That being said, whenever it is packed, the staff has an organized system so seating would be done as efficiently as possible. As for the food, I love how they cater to vegetarians, vegans, and meat-lovers. Their Vegetable-Heaven Salad and Ahi Tuna Sandwich are my favorites. I also recommend the Roasted Red Pepper if you want an appetizer. My friend, who I always go with, is a gluten-free omnivore so he would always order the Steak Salad, and has enjoyed it many times over. The portions are pretty generous since I always leave with leftovers. Overall, their food is incredibly tasty, and their produce is always top notch. If you're ever in Milwaukee, go to Comet Cafe.
(5)Ian Y.
2.5 stars= extremely average. Definitely a "hipster spot" plenty of skinny jeans and Rollie fingers mustaches. Beer and drink selections looked good but we went in the morning so I didn't get to sample. Service was meh. Waitress was pretty disinterested until check time (tip time) when she was all smiles. Between my family we ordered the duck confit poutine, bacon wrapped meatloaf, and the Mac and cheese with bacon. Seasoning can make or break a dish and it definitely broke all 3 in this visit. Everything was extremely bland. I'm not a big salt guy but it has to be added to each dish. I'm not talking a little dash, the good had very little taste. After seeing this joint on DDD we had to try but unfortunately it was a must miss.
(3)Dhyia T.
Loved the vibe of this place and it is very popular. So one should probably come early or bring something fun to read, because there will be a wait. We had fun sitting at the bar. It's gotta a diner feel to it w/a bar, so you can order drinks while you wait. Lots of vegan and non-vegan options - so all you mixed food-i-terians this is a place that will help please the pallets of everyone. I also got a signature drink, like a beer/mimosa. It was really popular. I thought it was just okay. They did however make an awesome mint hot chocolate for us (hand made, we saw her!) that was delicious. My entree was less than memorable, but the service was great. Overall the experience was cool, but I'm not sure if I'm craving the food. Definitely a place to check out at least once. Bonus: we found them because they were featured on Diners, Drive-thrus and Dives.
(3)Michelle B.
Sounds hopelessly hipster-y to say this, but Comet Cafe is badass. I never thought I'd eat a turkey dinner at a mostly-vegan cafe in Wisconsin, but there you go - I did. The menu here has some vegan food as well as just normal grub. Not being anywhere close to identifying as a vegan, I ordered the compact turkey dinner, which consisted of three fried balls of turkey and mashed potatoes (together) and gravy. Verdict: it was ridiculous. Creamy, hot potatoes, tender turkey all in a crunchy fried cocoon of deliciousness and I devoured it all. It's also worth mentioning that they have a huge alcohol (mostly beer) selection, and I had an elderberry cider that was pretty good. Prices are decent and the food is great. Staff is super nice and service is solid to boot. Can't beat this place!
(5)Michael U.
Items Selected: Duck Confit Poutine with Fontina Cheese and Beer Gravy AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner - Beer Battered Slow roasted Turkey, Sage Stuffing, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Creamy Tomato Soup and Sauteed Zucchini Sourcream Pancake Blueberry Pie Having come to terms with the fact that 'hipster' service has spread from coast-to-coast and even managed to infest much of the Midwest I was admittedly forewarned not to expect much from my 'experience' at Comet Café but with rumors of excellent upscale comfort food and some of the region's best pies I decided I could stomach a bit of feigned disinterest before departing for Madison, the resultant meal providing exactly what I was promised from the moment I sat down until the second I settled the tab. Every bit the trendy space with exposed ceilings and reclaimed wood surrounding skinny jeans, plenty of ink, plus a menu dotted in words like "craft," "seasonal," "scratch," and "local" it was only after declining a beer and waiting for water that I put together my order and requesting items to be coursed out appropriately it would not be long before my first plate arrived, the crispy confit melded with cheese decidedly delicious while thin ' gravy' rendered all but the highest piled fries into a soggy mess of hops and starch. Moving next to the clever "turkey dinner," which was joined by soggy squash and a cup of impressive tomato soup, it was just under forty minutes after sitting down that Comet Café finally took flight and with each golden ball sporting a surprisingly light coating atop a nearly molten core one really couldn't help but smile, the tender turkey melding seamlessly with stuffing and potatoes amidst the sort of gravy quick to rouse memories of Thanksgivings back home. Unable to pass up pancakes, particularly at a place known to be a curator of comfort foods, it was onward to a large flapjack moistened with sourcream, butter, and plenty of pure maple syrup that my meal progressed and although I should have liked to have eaten the whole hubcap-sized thing I instead showed restraint, a half of it returned to the kitchen so that I could instead indulge in a seasonal slice of pie so stuffed with fresh blueberries atop a pure butter crust that I nearly ordered another to go, my substantial dining plans just a few hours later the only thing holding me back.
(3)Mad I.
Thanks you Triple D!!!!! Yum!!! This place lived up to my expectation for sure! The turkey dinner balls were phenominal! Think, amazing chicken pot pie in beer batter in a ball form with yummie gravy-yes!! And the meatloaf sandwich that was also on the show was spot on. Delish kitschy diner, wish we lived closer!
(5)PJ C.
Stopped by for an early (11am) lunch on a Friday and was surprised to see the place almost full. I guess it is a popular place. Given it was a Friday I opted for the Comet Bloody Mary since I needed some bacon in my drink. I went for the gimmick. It had good spice and the 7 oz beer bottle chaser was a nice touch. Though it was a bit pricey. The sliced beef sandwich with the mozzarella cheese was gooey good and full of flavor. Unfortunately the fries were limp. My brother's pulled pork sandwich was very good - so he said. Our server did a good job of helping us despite the hopping lunch crowd
(4)Gina K.
After hearing the constant rave reviews, I finally tried Comet. And it was just alright. Went at noon on a Sunday for a late brunch. In winter, the line is a bit rough since you're basically standing on top of the patrons that are already eating. But in our case, it went pretty fast and for two we only had to wait about 15 minutes at that time of day (for counter seating). In the summer when you can wait outside I'm sure it's better. Brunch menu features the staples. I went with Kelly's Scramble, which ended up not really being scramble and was lacking in certain ingredients. The Veggie Sausage was surprisingly good though (convinced me it was meat). The toast was actually just standard white bread that they let look at the toaster and then gave back to me - aka not toast. My boyfriend had the breakfast burrito, which arrived with a message written across it in sauce which was a cute touch (it was something to the effect of "you're cute" - so if your fellow bruncher is the jealous type, caution). We didn't opt for any cupcakes, but they definitely looked delicious. The staff was friendly and the menu has a good amount of vegan/vegetarian options. Plan to try it again to see if Comet can't change my mind and make me a believer too.
(3)Lauren K.
Being a fan of both Guy Fieri as well as Honeypie and Palomino, I knew I needed to try Comet Cafe. I'm glad I did. This is my favorite restaurant ever! Everything I've had from here is amazing. I'm a vegetarian, so there are tons of delicious choices at Comet. My favorite ever is the vegan pulled pork. It's life changing. Their cupcakes are also scrumptious (my favorite is the chai cupcake). I've also had the vegan rib sandwich and the cheesy tomato sandwich. The people who work here are all really cool and friendly. I love Comet Cafe so much! PS - Yeah the music is loud, but it's punk rock. Get with it.
(5)Chuck F.
HIPSTER NIRVANA The employees and clientele are more interested in being hip then providing good food/service. Poutine? Great. Beer cheese fries? Kill me please. Would be more merciful. Sand wiches? Highly variable. Dine at your own risk Drink menu? Not bad. Not great. Service? Atrocious. Want an interesting experiment? Watch how many times the waiter can walk past your empty water glass without acknowledging, never mind refilling. IF you want hipster atmosphere with better quality and food, go to Story Hill BKC.
(2)Vicky S.
Is it just me, or is the service just better at restaurants in Milwaukee than in Madison? I kinda think it's true. From the host to our server (and to the servers who weren't even assigned to us but who were looking out for us nonetheless), this place had fantastic, friendly, helpful service. I last came to the Comet Cafe in the late 90's when it was just a regular cafe with sandwiches (omg the cheesy tomato on that amazing baguette...) and coffee. It's now a full-scale cafe and bar and it was awesome. Both of our breakfasts were delicious - great portions, great quality ingredients, and reasonably priced. We would definitely go back.
(4)Tanya M.
I'm honestly not sure why this place has a 4 star average. It's good, but not stellar. I moved here from Chicago, so maybe I've just seen so many other diner type places who do this scene much better. Pluses for me: cute trading card beer menu, good variety of craft beer in bottles and on tap, lots of veggie options that can be made vegan, along with meat options for the carnivores. Wait staff is friendly and quick in my experience. It's dark, kind of gritty hipster with indie tv or films on the screen. Expect a line if you go on the weekend for brunch. Not quite worth the wait to me. I may end up back here for another shot to wow me, but not if it's too busy.
(3)Larissa G.
This was my favorite meal I had while in Milwaukee on business. After catered and boxed lunches for two days, I was ready to eat something fresh and healthy. Traveling solo can make for some awkward eating-out scenarios, but not here. I was immediately seated at the bar during prime dinner time on Saturday and kept a friendly conversation with the server, who was very present, although not painfully so. I ended up ordering two different cocktails (it's Milwaukee and cocktails cost $7, so why not) and the veggie lover salad. The salad was big and perfect, with perfectly cooked and delicious tofu. My first cocktail (the "daisy cutter" I believe?) was just okay- it was a bit watery, but the next one, made with grapefruit beer, was much better. The place is cute and has tons of options, whether you're a veggie or not. The sandwiches all sounded amazing, and the homemade pies were enticing. It seems like a very laid back and comfortable place to grab food, whether alone or with friends. If I am ever in town again, I'll be back!
(4)Bri M.
I love coming here during lent because they have so many vegetarian options. My favorite meal is the tomato soup with grilled cheese. That's comfort food done right. There is always a nice variety of cupcakes and pies. Many are vegan. I've tried both and the vegan will not disappoint. They are all delicious. If you get an oversized cupcake to go, it comes in a very cute box that makes you feel like you are unwrapping a present. My only complaint is that parking is a little tough but most places on the east side are like that.
(4)Robert S.
I am normally pretty impressed with this place. After my past few visits however...not so much. I come here because it has a number of vegan options (not typical for most restaurants in the Milwaukee area), and sadly have been disappointed the past 3 times I have been there because the restaurant has been out of the ingredients needed to make their meals vegan. I tried to order the breakfast burrito and unfortunately they were out of tofu scramble. Last time they were out of the ingredients for my vegan Ruben. I understand restaurants run out...however I never come during peak times (usually I come on Tuesdays) so it leads me to think that the restaurant is just plain bad at ordering ingredients. Don't advertise vegan options if you can't follow through! Luckily I am not strictly vegan and was able to order something non vegan, however I definitely was disappointed. Service was average as well. The server even asked me "how do you propose I fix this problem?" When telling me they were out of vegan ingredients. Why would I be the one to come up with a solution to the problem? Shouldn't that be the server's responsibility? Not sure what is going on here, however I probably won't be back for a while.
(2)Camille R.
I want to bathe in their mac n cheese. I dream about it from time to time. Oozing cheese, oily and smelly. It's so damn good. You can imagine... They use Wisconsin Cheese. Mmmmmm... I hesitated to order the deep-fried ribs, afraid they'd be too oily or heavy. When they got to the table, it looked just as good as the words describing it. It was everything I dreamt it would be. The tomato soup was just as amazing, thank you. It's in a cute little neighborhood with a ton of other cool eateries, shops, and bars. The staff was friendly and the crowd was a mixture of misfits and family folks. The only thing, and this is a pretty big thing, was the fly infestation. The fucks were buzzing around the entire 3 or 4 hours we were there. There were millions of them swarming around the restaurant, getting in people's foods and drinks. Nasty.
(4)Bartleby F.
The food is so good but it's rare that I go here because it's usually a long wait and quite frankly, there are ton of other East Side restaurants to go to. The service can be hit-or-miss and the hipper than thou attitude can get tiresome. Last night was a fantastic experience. We had an attentive and excellent server, the food was quick and delish, and the beers tasty.
(4)Kurt B.
Giant servings of great junk food for reasonable prices. The meatloaf sandwich was teeming with bacon and was a gigantic portion. I loved it. One of the signature dishes of the city of Milwaukee. The vegan gyros was good and actually tasted somewhat like the real thing, in a small portion. The vegan salisbury steak was outstanding, and benefitted from being deep fried and smothered with a vegan gravy. The room's music levels were a little off and the bass was oppressively loud. I'd still give Comet 5 stars but their bathrooms were disgusting and the lock was broken on the door. Broken locks can be dangerous but they're also easily fixed. Otherwise, this is a must-visit for great food and friendly service.
(4)Laura R.
Interesting daily specials. I always plan to have a cupcake, and never have enough room. Maybe next time! Breakfast is good and Sunday morning traffic comes in waves so you might have to wait a bit. Dinner is very good. And the bar keeps interesting mixed drinks featured as well as some of their specialties like Beermosas.
(4)Jason A.
By far one of my favorite spots for comfort food and a great beer. The food is good and consistent each time I go, and I usually get one of the daily specials if its still on the board. My favorite from the menu is the cheesy roast beef. The beer selection is fantastic, with a rotation of quality craft beers on tap. Their brunch on the weekends is great... and if you have a craving for beer and bacon, go visit them after 5 on Sunday's for the free bacon!
(5)Mike W.
If you have to been to Comet Cafe then you have not experience some of the best that this city has to offer. From great drinks to some the most innovative entries, pulling off classics with their own unique twits. The staff at Comet has reintroduced me to how wonderful meatloaf can be. The brunch menu is just as good as the dinners and time and time again they satisfy my taste buds. From savory to sweet, vegan to everything with meat, Comet truly has something for everyone. I have never had a bad experience at Comet and I strongly feel I do not think I every will. Remember, everything goes better with bacon.
(5)Mia B.
When I walk into an establishment, I like to be greeted by a human being, not a clipboard. Here is a typical brunch experience...You walk into Comet, you write your name on the clipboard, and you stand there waiting with your group halfway inside/halfway outside the restaurant. Servers hurry past without making eye contact with you. In their opinion, you are not a "customer" yet. This is the first impression Comet has chosen to make. The food is not very good. I've had some luck with the chef specials. But by and large, Comet's food is bland. You can cover anything with cheese and bacon and it will taste decent, which seems to be the culinary philosophy here. "They're Wisconsinites, maybe they won't notice!" Come on, Wisconsin, you deserve better! I have given Comet's brunch a few chances and the service has always been horrible. Last time, it took my boyfriend 15 minutes just to get an iced tea. Were they steeping it fresh for him? Somehow, I doubt it. The cupcakes suck. I'm skeptical about the over-priced-cupcake craze in general. If I'm eating one of these fancy expensive cupcakes, they'd better be the best damn cupcakes I've ever had in my life. Don't be deceived by the appearance of Comet's cupcakes. All frosting, no personality. The two stars are for the weeknights I've gone to Comet. Definitely not as frantic and far better service. Kirsten, the waitress, is sweet and great at her job. She always remembers us and even waves to me when I'm walking by the restaurant. The bartenders are also pleasant, friendly, polite, and generally seem to be embarrassed by Comet's reputation for poor service.
(2)Brooke R.
Hands down one of the BEST places in Milwaukee. And that's saying something, because Milwaukee has fantastic food. Bacon wrapped meatloaf. Deep-fried compact turkey dinner. Amazing mac n' cheese. Need I say more? I may not need to, but I will! Dessert is always amazing and fresh, whether you get a cupcake or slice of pie. Comet Cafe does comfort food the way it was meant to be done. We took many friends and family members from out of town to visit Comet and all of them wanted to go back again and again. This place is usually very busy and is rather small, but it is totally worth the wait.
(5)Jessica B.
So i was visiting my friend in milwaukee and asked her to take me here the first day as I had seen this place on the guy fieri show. We got there and waited about 15 minutes for a table as it was pretty packed. Service was great, the atmosphere was bumpin and the food was good. We ordered the fried veggie riblet for appetizer, then i had the famous meatloaf sandwich which was huge. The mix of the mash potato and meatloaf was tasty but the rye bread was salty so i left that behind, My friend ordered the turkey sandwich with fries and she really liked it, with a sports tea which she now is obsessed with. Comet cafe is a cool place to hang out.
(3)Veronica H.
Amazing. All the food is great but I particularly love the duck appetizer, artichoke sandwich, and turkey balls entre. If they have the butternut squash soup, this is a must! Parking can be a pain and I've heard the wait can get bad but I have always been there in the late afternoon/early evening and never had issues getting a seat. Must try in WI.
(5)Jay M.
I love this place. Me and the family found this on our way home from Door County. First of all, they have awesome beers. (I guess who doesn't in this town.) But, when I ordered two beers, one for me and one for my wife, he asked "do you want bacon"? I was like what do you mean do I want bacon. He said "it's free bacon night. you get a free plate of bacon with each drink purchase if you want it". I was like "Hell-yeah, I want some bacon!". They brought out a giant plate of bacon. I don't know how they didn't go bankrupt giving away pounds of bacon like this, but i was not to argue. So, I ordered these what I call "thanksgiving balls". It was turkey and potatoes wrapped in stuffing and fried. then gravy pourred over it. OMG delish! great place. service was great. bartenders were fun. they had a great menu and the drink menu were old baseball cards of beer. soo unique.
(5)LaTasha S.
new
(5)James P.
Had the Meatloaf Sandwich and added Comet Fries. Fantastic! Lots of other great options I wanted to try!
(5)Khiem L.
We saw other yelpers suggest so many items on the dinner menu and our palettes were ready to try them all. We got there on a Saturday afternoon however and they were only serving brunch. What we did get though was something that makes me want to go back. I had one of their brunch menu sandwiches and it wasn't bad. One thing that everyone suggested is their meatloaf. Luckily that is on the brunch menu and it is as good as people make it out to be. Someone from my table ordered it and I got a sample. GREAT dish. Their ecelectic drink menu had misses and hits. The bloody mary really required getting used to. I had a beer and liquor concoction however that was really good. I could easily get drunk off of that. I'd love to go there again for dinner sometime. I will say however, that was a really long wait. We waited maybe 30 minutes to an hour for a table. Just warning.
(4)Bar C.
Awesome place. Great beer selection and a wonderful meatloaf dinner! I will be back, for sure.
(5)Kathleen M.
Yelp friends saved us from a dismal fast food meal while traveling to Door County. Multiple recommendations when I posted a question about where to eat in Milwaukee. Yelpers know what is good! I had a Cuban sandwich that would please Fidel himself with delicious fries but I decided not to finish so I would have room for pie. Good decision if I do say so myself. Blackberry, peach streusel that made me just want to forget Door County and stay in Milwaukee! It was my first time ever in Milwaukee and the only thing that would have made it better would have been running into LaVerne and Shirley!
(5)Lori F.
If you're looking for fancy, fussy, or fast, Comet probably isn't going to impress. But, if you're looking for a fantastically cozy neighborhood spot with impressive comfort food fare, you've come to the right place. One of the first things you'll notice about Comet is that it's not a large space. You will, most assuredly, need to wait for a table. But, there's a good reason they arrive early and stake out their spots on the waiting list. Comet's food is worth waiting for. Their emphasis on locally sourced fresh ingredients is a draw for the locavore crowd. But, their expertise in down-home comfort food is what keeps all of their clientele coming back. Their standard menu is filled with carnivorous comfort food favorites like turkey sandwiches, meatloaf, and macaroni & cheese (with options for customization). It's also smattered with delicious vegetarian options like the artichoke melt and the buttafuoco -- a deliciously warm sub roll stuffed with melted mozzarella and provolone cheeses, fresh tomatoes and red onions, and dressed with with Italian herbs, olive oil, and spicy giardinara. That said, you might want to venture off the menu and try one of Comet's delicious daily specials. How about that coffee rubbed pork belly served with delicously creamy grits, pan gravy, and house-made pickle relish? Or how about a Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, shaved fennel, market apples, mixed greens and pomegranate vinaigrette? Hop over for brunch on the weekend, and you'll find an inspiring list of inventive breakfast specials (think farm fresh omelette filled with arugula, ham and gruyere cheese and topped off with a creamy beet sauce), as well as classic favorites like the Stendler -- a grande flour tortilla packed full of hashed brown potatoes, corned beef, swiss cheese, creamy scrambled eggs, and a drizzle of Siracha. And don't forget to order a bloody mary -- made with vodka, a hint of Guiness., and garnished with olives, mushrooms, and strip of bacon -- this drink comes complete with its very own tiny Miller Lite as a chaser. A small-but-stellar wine list, classic cocktails, and a fantastic selection of microbrews (with an emphasis on local) round out the experience at Comet -- a restaurant that showcases comfort food at its best.
(4)Caroline M.
Last summer I went to Summerfest for my first time (yay!) and we stopped here in the morning on our way out of town. I'll admit I was a tid bit nervous since it is: 1) shady lookin from the outside 2) known for being vegan friendly (note: i'm far from vegan) Woooah was I in for a surprise! Chicago needs this place. For realsies. Comet Cafe would fit perfectly anywhere in Bucktown. Anyway, they had a lot of local beers. Not that I was craving beer at 10am, but I tend to notice those kinds of things. One of my friends did get the bloody mary with bacon garnish....if I only liked bloody marys, but it did look cool :) I remember getting a fantastic mocha and french toast. It was inexpensive and tasty. Sometime I would love to go up to Milwaukee for the weekend and the next chance I get I am going back here! This place rocked.
(4)Firstname L.
Stopped here while on a business trip to Chicago (Milwaukee is less than an hour drive away) because it was on DDD and I am a sucker for DDDs. I had the BEST MEATLOAF I HAVE EVER HAD here. Not only that, but the meal was easily in my top ten meals I've ever had, ever. I can't say enough good things about this dish. I would go back in a heartbeat. Want to try the turkey dinner. I also had an oreo cupcake. It was great, and I was surprised to find it was still good more than a day later. The only things you may not like are the parking (street parking, hard to find a spot) and the wait (I ended up sitting at the bar rather than waiting for a booth). TIP: Go a little early before the crowds really clog the place up.
(5)Paul C.
My boo and I took a day trip to Milwaukee and ended up at Comet Cafe on a Sunday during the brunch hour. This is a nice spot for grub and drinks, at a reasonable press. Plus who doesn't love a Bloody Mary with bacon in it with a Miller High Life side car? I tried the BELT sammich, which was solid and my boo got an omelet as big as a the entire plate. I liked the vibe too. Casual with a good mixed crowd of all ages and walks of life. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
(3)Greg W.
I've been to Comet Cafe twice. A friend of mine recommended it to me. I'm a huge fan of breakfast food and they serve it all day (I believe), so I had to give it a shot. Oddly enough, both times I went here I didn't quite feel welcomed. It a feeling I don't get very often. It's first come, first serve which isn't a problem, but when you finally do sit down at the counter area there is no warm welcome. It's more like hand you a menu and what can I get you to drink? At least this was my experience. I ordered a meal with pancakes and scrambled eggs. They give you a good portion of food but it wasn't what I expected. I was told the food was so great so I came in with high expectations even for a simple meal. Unfortunately, the food was just so-so. Couple that with the lack of service and it's not a place I want to become a regular at any time soon. I believe the easiest thing in the world for a local restaurant to provide is a nice warm smile and hello, how can I help you to it's customers, but hey I could be wrong.
(2)Ray K.
Comfort food. That is what Comet does best. Yes, they have some "healthier" options, but screw that. Pass me a plate of their famous meatloaf wrapped in bacon, their butter & beer sauteed Brussels sprouts, and a pint of some crazy micro I've never heard of until I walked in 3 minutes ago. And keep a look out for specials. They usually run out fast, as they as delicious as they are intriguing, and change fairly frequently. When hungover from a night out in brew city, stop in for some killer brunch (I go for the Meat & Meat or their twist on eggs Benedict) and great bloodies. Bloodies with bacon, take that eastsiders and your damn fixies.
(4)Becky C.
I CAN DRINK A BOWL OF THAT BEER GRAVY! Yes, it is that good! I am drooling over the meatloaf sandwich! Huge portions and delicious all over. I can't wait to try other items on their menu, especially that duck confit fries poutine dish (which they ran out of when I visited). And yes I will make that 1.5 hours from Chicago to try this place out again.
(5)Carol M.
If Chicago's Map Room had a puppy...it's name would be Comet. This place has an awesome selection of beers. If you go there on a weekend it's not bursting at the seams. I've never had the food...although when we went back morning after to pick up a forgotten credit card...the seams were definitely bursting. So maybe I should give that a try sometime too. For now, I'll stick to boozin'.
(5)Bridget W.
Let me begin by saying that I have tried several items off the menu, and almost everything I have had has been excellent. The red pepper humus with pita bread and veggies is one of the best appetizers! I cannot say enough about the Compact Turkey dinner, Reuben on salted rye, meatloaf sandwich, and the mac and cheese with ham and peas added. Comet does a fantastic job of putting together awesome specials and their soup is always homemade and fabulous. They always have seasonal salads and specials that do a great job of bringing out the tastes of the season. the Leghorn sandwich has a really fun mix of flavors with apricot jam added. Finally, the fish fry is always a classic choice (and not just offered on Fridays). Having said all that, the breakfast items can be hit and miss. To be honest, I'm not a huge breakfast person to begin with. I have tried the eggs, breakfast burrito, and pancakes. All three left something to be desired. The wait can be a little strange because there is no place to stand other than the doorway. When its busy in the winter there is really not an option other than to crowd the tables in the front of the restaurant. I do wish they would be able to take reservations. Comet is a great place to come and have lunch or dinner. For those who appreciate a nice beer with your meal you choose from one of their many beer options. They have such a great selection and the bartenders are very knowledgeable. The staff is always friendly, and I love going in after 10 pm or so when they play classic movie favorites. And I would be doing everyone a huge injustice if I didn't mention that their cupcakes are out of this world! I definitely recommend Comet Cafe!
(4)Kristina K.
Oh how I do love you Comet. Best. Cafe. Ever. Especially after a hangover. Cheesy roast beef with spicy peppers is my go-to on the menu. Enormous sandwich topped with shaved roast beef, broiled with tons of cheese. Add in the decadence of a huge side of fries, I'm set. I usually have to take home half the sandwich because there is so much food! Lastly, add in a bloody mary with bacon in it - it's heaven. I love you Comet and I would eat here every day if physically possible.
(5)Sebastian P.
Holy wow, amazing place. Food so good you wish you had more on your plate. It's good ole' sloppy greasiness with a touch of vegan influence. It'd make any meat-lover drool at the sight of their delicious sandwiches. Just make sure you ask about their vegan options. I feel like it wasn't very clear on the menu when I first came to visit. Otherwise, it's worth the visit to come try it out. This is the place you have to come for a romantic date. Though be prepared for a wait, for some reason it keeps getting busy and there's a long wait....it must be popular
(5)Elaine E.
Last night myself, my boyfriend and several friends enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening dinner at the Comet Cafe. I had stopped in once for coffee but had been meaning to come back to try the food. Three of our friends were visiting from Illinois and were on a self-designed culinary tour of Milwaukee. We all had seen Comet on the TV shows "United States of Bacon" and "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" so we made sure to get this spot on the itinerary. OMG! I am so glad we did!!! First of all, we LOVED the bacon special. Order their featured beer -- Furthermore -- and get a basket of bacon! YUM!! Beer and Bacon instead of chips or pretzels or peanuts. Who knew?? Anyway, we ordered a bunch of food with the help of our server and shared it. We had the Meatloaf with Beer Gravy ($12), the Mac n Cheese (we added beef) - $ 13, AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner ($12), the Ahi Tuna Sandwich ($11) and the Cheesy Tomato Sandwich ($ 8). It was FABULOUS!!!!! The meatloaf, turkey dinner and mac n cheese came with soup or salad. Sandwiches came with fries. Salads were fresh and tasty, soup of the day was very good. Fries were yummy. I was amazed at the menu and the variety, including vegetarian and vegan options like Veggie Ribs!! Everything was so consistent. Presentation and visual appeal of the food will make you salivate! I expected the meatloaf to be a total gut bomb, and while I was certainly full it was not as heavy as I thought it would be. The Ahi sandwich was beautifully cooked -- a nice sear and lovely reddish pink inside and so flavorful. The Mac n Cheese had excellent cheesy goodness on macaroni with a nice al dente texture. Melted and browned shredded cheese was scrumptious. Chunks of seared ground beef added another layer of great flavor. The Compact Turkey dinner was so delicious -- it was like Thanksgiving at Grandma's only better and deep fried to a nice crispness. And oooh, the gravy!! Brussel sprouts were also served with the entrees as the veggie of the day. They had been sauteed and seasoned, retained their bright green color and had a nice bite to them. I am a huge brussel sprouts fan and I loved these! Sadly, we were too full for dessert. The atmosphere is great. It's very homey like an old time diner, they have a lunch counter with stools and booths. Then there's a relly nice bar to hang out at, too. Service was great -- prompt and friendly. Prices are also very reasonable. Final ruling -- The Comet Cafe is a great place to relax with friends, drink beer, eat bacon and enjoy comfort food whether you are a meat eater or a vegan. All will be more than satisfied!
(5)John J.
Best Bloody Mary! My vegetarian wife loves and craves the biscuits and gravy.
(5)Adam S.
The food is good to better than good, and as a father of a daughter with dairy and egg allergy I appreciate their vegan fare, and the options they have available for her. Always a nice rotating list of taps and bottle beer. Service is okay. If you're not a hipster be ready to be talked down to or treated as "square". As usual in a hipster atmosphere, nothing here is as amazing as it's presented, but of course I've heard of the place so it's already been done for years now.
(3)Hoa N.
Bacon garnish on a Bloody Mary! I had to take a photo of it for the cute 7 oz Miller High Life back that goes with (see pic). Went for brunch with a local, on a day when you just gotta have brunch food and an adult drink. I had a micro brew beer (maybe a Spotted Cow? hazy) to go with my artichoke heart sandwich . I didn't taste the red onions that were said to be in the sandwich but I enjoyed it: the bread was hardy and the fries hand-cut. Terrific variety of beer. Great bar service, friendly, fast. If I lived here, I'd be here for brunch. Alot. The Bloody Mary also was spiked with Guinness and finished with a garnish of a pickle spear, a brussel sprout, and an olive. And bacon. Work of freaking art.
(4)Chris S.
The food was actually a lot better than I expected, but the menu was not as large as I had hoped. This may be the best diner in the area, but I've been spoiled by my dad when it comes to breakfast food. The special that I got the morning I was there was very good, but it was also the best looking thing on the menu. The food took a long time to come out, but the waitress was also really patient with us and honestly it is a worthwhile stop if you need a place for brunch.
(3)Joe M.
Sometimes when you sit down at a restaurant, whether it be fine dining or diner food, you have an idea of how the meal is going to go. If you're at a place that is well-regarded, you expect to have an excellent meal. Comet Cafe is a place that has a highly-regarded reputation, and still leaves you in awe about what you get. I saw the Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives episode. I knew that at Comet Cafe they know what they are doing. But when you watch something on TV or read a review, there is still one component that you can not experience. Taste. The food is fantastic. The Meatloaf Sandwich, Duck Confit Poutine are musts. Being from NY, everyone said "You have to try cheese curds when you're here." Seeing Poutine on the menu I thought divine intervention. But there are no cheese curds on this poutine. It's cubes of cheese. I almost thought twice about getting it. But I am glad that I came to my senses. Duck Confit, French Fries, Cheese and Beer Gravy. A match made in a greasy, fattening offshoot of Heaven. And you can't go home without trying a slice of something in the pie/cupcake display. If you get the chance I recommend sitting at the counter, because not only do you get to interact with the waitstaff, who are super helpful and friendly, but you get to see a lot of the food come out of the kitchen, a perfect opportunity to say "What's that?". Aside from the great food, they have an equally spectacular beer menu. I did not expect when I walked in to be able to get Founder's Brewing Company's Breakfast Stout ON TAP. I expected to be drinking coffee or water with dinner. But sitting at the counter I was able to look at one of the bottle refrigerators, and I was very impressed with depth and breadth of selection. Between the food and the beer, this is the kind of place that will have me doing whatever I can to get back there for another round when I'm back in Milwaukee.
(5)Stephen K.
I went back to give this place another chance. My girlfriend (ex) and I though it was good, but not great. Not worth waiting 30 minutes to get a table. The food was "cute" and creative, but not out-worldly. Had I built this place up in my head too much? Me thinks not, as my girlfriend (ex) said she would never go there again. Prices were high, service was slow, and her food was actually COLD, send back once, came back cold. Not just "Not hot", I'm talking "COLD" They made her a new dish and said "NOW it's hot! :)" All she said was "Taste this..." I did and it was luke warm, not hot. PS: I'll eat just about anything and be happy. But for things like this at a place that brags about their food so much, I'm a lot less forgiving. This is a review/critique after all... Sorry Comet. You will have to do better...
(2)Ashe D.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Comet until now! Comet is my favorite veg*n restaurant in the city. Their food is great, the service (when it isn't crazy busy) is great, and the atmosphere is perfect. Since they were on whatever food show they got featured on, it has been crazy busy there. We tend to go on off hours (3pm for lunch, early dinner, etc) to make sure we don't have to wait in line. Almost everything on their menu can be made veg*n, which you can't say of many other places in Milwaukee. My personal favorites are the tomato soup (perfectly tangy and creamy), the salad with ginger dressing (super fresh!), the macaroni and cheese (more than any human can eat in a sitting), and the meatloaf (ask for the gravy on the side unless you REALLY like gravy). Their cupcakes are huge and to die for. They always have a selection of vegan ones - I hope you like frosting!
(5)Jason P.
Love this place. Cozy and rustic. They offer vegan fair that looks tasty in spite of the fact that it's vegan, as well as bacony meaty goodness. Grammar Schmammar. They also have an amazing bloody mary that has bacon in it and is served with a mini high life beerback. The coctails are unbelievably creative and tasty. Par for the course, as the food is the same!
(5)Z Z.
amazing veggie burger, love their side salad (instead of getting fries-- fries are tasty, but need to cut my calories somewhere), OMGAWD the veggie chili mac is like the most tastiest thing on the planet.. husband always lets me have a bite of his when he orders, & delish cocktail/beer selection. pretty much a couple times a month staple for our household.
(5)Jim W.
Best brunch in Milwaukee hands down. Fantastic food served in gigantic portions. And bloody marys with bacon? Yes please. You'll have to wait on the weekends, but stick around it's worth it.
(5)Dani B.
mmmmm free bacon! Who brings home the bacon in your house? Comet does in mine! Sunday is free bacon day, just buy a drink and the bacon keeps on coming! Long time fan of Comet Cafe I was so excited when my friends told me about bacon Sunday. The food here is always good with plenty of Veg options. I agree the sevice is not fabulous, in fact it never has been. The crowd at the door is a hot mess, and restaurant is under staffed as far as the waitresses go. Even so, I will keep returning to enjoy bacon and many other fab items on Comet menu.
(3)M L.
How on God's Green Earth could I not have reviewed this place yet? I don't know what's wrong with me, but for the present I'll blame too much schoolwork and Raymond Chandler. So...without further ado...two words. Artichoke Melt. "Drools" Artichokes, onions, mayonnaise, and melted, gooey cheese served lovingly on big hunks of bread. The first time I bit into one of these things, I knew what ambrosia might taste like. It was so good and definitely not vegan-friendly, though for a vegetarian-leaning-toward-vegan like myself (I try to eat as little dairy as possible), it was pure heaven. There are numerous servings to accompany this little(?) sandwich. I'll go with a salad when I feel guilty for wanting to sink my teeth into this calorific thing, but I recommend the fries. The spicy fries, nonetheless. Mmmm... I've also had their seitan gyro and that was quite amazing, too. Quite memorable. Their salads are quite delicious as well and I've tried their vegan pumpkin muffin. Om nom nom. Muffins... I haven't tried anything else, but that's because once I find something I like, I latch onto it, and right now I'm stuck on these confounded artichoke melts. It's probably a good thing I live all the way down in Chicago and visit Milwaukee once in a blue moon, otherwise I'd be fatter than a walrus. For meat eaters, my friend had the meatloaf stack. Meat doesn't whet my appetite in the least, but other folks might enjoy this thing. It looked more like a tower than a stack, but whatever. My other friend loved the burger, although it was messy. Street parking has always been a pain in the ass for us, though, so enjoy that.
(5)Nicole S.
I love going to breakfast at Comet. It has become a place where my brother and I catch up over a mug of black coffee and eggs (or giant pancakes depending on my mood). I don't like going on the weekends (it's too busy) but I love catching breakfast on a Wednesday or Thursday morning. It's nice to stop it when it's not super busy and just enjoy chilling out at a great east side location. Our current breakfast favorites include: Bacon cakes (a giant pancake with delicious bacon inside!!) or the Rocket Platter ( a little bit of everything to get the day started). Yummy!
(4)Jeff V.
My wife and I had breakfast here at it was terrific. We started with a bloody mary which came with a strip of bacon on top and a beer chaser on the side. It was good but needed a little more kick. For food my wife had a bbq pulled pork burrito with a chipolte sauce. It was there special for the day and it was off the charts tasty. Just as my wife took her first bite they ran out so we got lucky. I had the homemade meatloaf covered in homemade sausage gravy. Each of our meals came with hash browns which were solid and mine also had scrambled eggs. When we left we each bought a cupcake. Mine was double chocolate and hers was banana cream with chocolate chips. The cupcakes were meals in themselves so we did not eat them till later in the day but they were fantastic as well. Everything we ate tasted like a lot of time and effort were put into it. I will be going back for sure.
(5)K S.
Love everything about this place! Great food! Great ambiance! We've eaten here several times for brunch and it's never disappointed. Great vegetarian and vegan options as well as delicious entries for meat lovers. On our last visit I tried their Bloody Mary...could possibly be the best I've ever had! Wish there was a restaurant like this closer to home.
(5)Karen M.
I've only been to Milwaukee twice in my lifetime, yet I've been to Comet Cafe three times. That's how much I adore this place! It's like a brunch spot. No, a diner. No, a coffee shop. No, a dive bar. All of the above! But, unlike other dining establishments that offer all of the above, and yet can't seem to establish a real identity, Comet Cafe pulls off the hard-to-classify-ness without a hitch! This place has the best vegan options too! I just love their vegan reuben, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the cupcakes, the large mimosas! And I especially love the classic cocktail menu! How many bartenders truly know how to make a Sidecar?! The ones at Comet do! Plus, they have an adorable little bunny as part of their logo (and in front of each menu item that can be made vegan!). Love it! (I realize I've used the word "love" a few too many times here, but that's just how strongly I feel :)
(5)T C.
I still really like the place and support a limited menu done well, but would like to see some updates to the menu and see them do a couple of new things well. We'd probably go more often if there was something different or new on the menu. If you've not eaten here before, the food is great and well worth trying. If you've been here before, the food is still great, but unless you're interested in having the same things over and over again, probably better going someplace else. A small menu is great, but if you're going to do such a small menu, its probably best to change things up once in a while.
(4)Tiffany K.
After waiting for about 10-20 minutes on a Sunday, we were able to get a table for three here. After much debate, I ordered a Leghorn sandwich (pulled chicken, peach jam, cucumber, cream cheese, lettuce) and a BEERMOSA. Yes, a BEERMOSA. It's white beer + orange juice, and I must say, it was quite impressive and delicious! The sandwich came with really amazing fries, and the sandwich was filling and well worth the $7.75. My friends ordered Bloody Marys and they both agreed that their Bloody Marys were the best they ever had. They even come with BACON! Too bad I'm not into Bloody Marys, or else I would have had like four of them... The vegetarian eggs benedict was a hit, as was the sandwich special which had veggie chorizo, potatoes, egg, and this crazy spicy sauce drizzled all over it for $8. They also have awesome-looking cupcakes and desserts here, which I will try next time I am here!
(4)Emmy G.
I am from out of town and looking for a good place to et a feel of the local vibe. Comet Cafe was awesome! Coming from a place with great local beers, I was very excited about all of the oh i dont know like 100 beers that they had available. I would definitely recommend this place to ANYONE local or not :)
(5)Kevin R.
Comfort food at its best. There is a reason that Diners, Drive-ins and Dives came here. Good food, but don't think you'll find any health options on this menu. I think they would serve bacon on everything if they could. Pay close attention to their daily specials. My only knocks are that they open late for breakfasts, the place is small (so it can be a long wait for a table), and it tends to be loud. Street parking only, but you can usually find a spot within a block or two.
(4)Jack H.
It was a whirlwind adventure trying to see all the things my former Milwaukeean wanted me to see, especially on the last day before we had to catch our flight back to Houston. Not wanting to eat airport food, we swung by the classic Comet Cafe, and I was immediately taken by the lettering on the front window declaring they were purveyors of all the essentials: Dinner, Dessert, Drinks, Bacon. We had each resolved to get a sandwich until, that is, we saw duck confit poutine on the menu. Impossible to resist. So we split the Turkenstein sandwich, a monstrous creation consisting of roast turkey breast, bacon (as promised), pepperjack and veggies on sourdough toast slathered with a spicy Sriracha mayo. The space was inviting, but we didn't have a lot of time, so we took our order to-go after a short wait, and dug into the poutine once we got to our gate at General Mitchell. The French-style duck, cured and poached in fat, was impossibly tender on a bed of hand-cut fries with creamy fontina cheese, all doused in a rich beer gravy. Two things Wisconsin does well: cheese and beer. I don't mind sounding gluttonous when I say we jealously guarded these fantastic frites, carried them on the plane, and finished them off waiting for our connection in Chicago. Yeah, so the fries were a little soggy, the gravy cold... LAY OFF ME I'M STARVING. Sorry about that. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
(4)Louise M.
Last Sunday, I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to visit my friend, Heather. Heather had been wanting to take me to try Comet Cafe. This cafe is quite famous in Milwaukee because it was featured at "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives." Guy Fieri was there and since then, the place is so popular. We tried a couple of times to go there, but there was always a long line out the door. This time, we were lucky. Well, also it was rather early for dinner. I didn't care since I'd rather not wait in line outside in the month of February in Wisconsin. Mild winter or not - it was still cold that day! The place definitely had that diner look and feel to it; yet, it was super trendy. The diners' employees all had that artsy quirky look (hopefully that made sense). Heather and I chose to sit by the diner counter to get the full diner experience. It took me awhile to ponder on the menu. It wasn't a big menu but I couldn't decide what I wanted. The menu consisted of mostly sandwiches. They had about 4 dinner items which were their famous meatloaf, turkey dinner, fish-fry, and mac and cheese. The lady that sat next to me got the mac and cheese and it looked wonderful. Yet, it was so big and I couldn't imagine just eating carb and cheese for a whole meal. I was torn between the Comet's Meatloaf, the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, and the Comet's Cuban Sandwich. After several minutes of flakiness, I settled on the meatloaf though I didn't really want it. I'm not really a meatloaf girl; but, I thought I needed to try their specialty. I had a sense of obligation to report that to my readers here. See, I put you all first over my own desire. The meatloaf dinner came with a cup of soup. I had their soup of the day which was the chipotle chili. I really enjoyed the soup. At first, I was expecting just a cup of chili. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't like a regular chili. It wasn't thick and filled with meats and beans. It was rather watery - like a broth base soup. The broth was super flavorful of beef stock that has been nicely spiced. It had a pronounced tomato taste for the acidity. Then, the heat from the chipotle pepper hit me. It was spicy! I didn't think I have ever tasted a chili that was actually really spicy like this! I thought the soup was really good and I didn't think I could finish the cup due to the heat; but, I did! While we were waiting for our entrees to arrive, the girl who sat next to Heather was welcoming her food. She ordered the meatloaf sandwich. When I saw that, I thought I made the right choice for ordering the meatloaf. The sandwich looked fantastic. It was a tower of goodness as I saw from where I sat. On the bottom, there were two slices of bread. Then, the bacon wrapped meatloaf was sitting on top of it. Then it was topped by a ball of bacon chive mashed potatoes. Then, two strips of crispy bacon were placed criss cross on top. Then, some grilled onions. Then, it was doused by their beer gravy! Amazing! I couldn't wait at that point for my meatloaf to grace my countertop. Finally, our entrees arrived! Heather is a vegetarian, and she ordered the artichoke melt. One thing about Comet, they really cater to the vegans and vegetarians. Many of the menu items can be made into a vegan and/or vegetarian option. Heather tried the vegetarian version of the meatloaf sandwich in the past and she loved it. Heather's artichoke melt looked phenomenal. It was a good size sandwich and it was served with ample of fries. My meatloaf also looked delish! It was neatly wrapped in bacon to keep the meatloaf moist and at the same time flavoring it with the yummy bacon taste. I took a bite of the meatloaf and it was moist and tasty. They mixed the meat with a little bit of veggies and of course some ketchup. The beer gravy tasted perfect paired with the bacon chive mashed. Oh, they also served my arch enemy: Brussels Sprout. Well, one of the reasons I didn't really want the meatloaf was because of the Brussels Sprout. Turned out, Brussels Sprout wasn't so bad after all. Maybe because they were cooked in bacon fat! That was a guess but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. They really love their bacon in this diner. According to their website, they serve homemade bacon! Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Comet Cafe. I can always appreciate made from scratch food anytime. They claimed to be a cafe that serves slow food - all homemade foods cooked in their little kitchen. At times, when a restaurant was featured on a TV show, the hypes were bigger than what it is actually. I couldn't say the same about Comet Cafe. It was honestly good! If you're in Milwaukee area, stop by! They won so many awards not for nothing. They got some coveted titles like best brunch, best diner, best restaurant for vegetarian, and best hangover breakfast! Go try 'em!
(4)Kathleen R.
Don't come here, the food is bad, the servers insult you, and they play Justin Bieber on repeat. No. Well I tried. This place is so damn good and everyone knows it. I wish they didn't. I wish it was a neighborhood secret. Every element from the service to the beer list to the brunch to the dinner entrees are the best. And they serve Anodyne coffee. Wow, when a restaurant serves good coffee you know they care. This place is probably not suited for a large group of people who are impatient (think families in town for graduation, in that case go to a place where they can be seated immediately with the drinks coming). What I love about Comet is the dedication to quality food sourced from local vendors. As they say on their menu it is slow food made from scratch. This is the direction I hope more restaurants move in.
(5)Cristina T.
We first visited Comet about 3 years ago, and my family and I have been hooked ever since. I have tried a variety of items here, but I have to say that the bloody mary's and the mac & cheese are phenomenal. If you are in the mood for even more comfort food, be sure to try the meatloaf dish, as its wrapped in bacon and topped with mashed potatoes. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are also a ton of vegan friendly dishes here. I have tried the hummus and its rich and creamy-a great starter. Their breakfast granola, fruit and yogurt dish is also great. Leave a little room at the end, as you will for sure be eye-ing the pastry case in front. The cupcakes and pies are homemade and creative. Comet is a Milwaukee staple for me.
(5)K V.
One of my favorite vegetarian places in the country. Delicious diner food with a great beer selection. Basically everything that makes me happy in life. They even made me learn to love Brussels sprouts, a food that I had previously thought to be inedible mush. I have dreams about this place and can't wait to eat there again.
(5)Antoine W.
So, you were on Food Network's television show, "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives". And, I'm in Milwaukee on vacation. So, of course if it's on "Triple D", I gotta check this place out...right? Location Not knowing anything about Milwaukee geography, I can tell you that it's on a corner and we were able to find free street parking one block away, even though it was Saturday brunch time. Atmosphere Never stepped foot indoors because the hostess was taking names and party size at the door. We also ended up eating outside at a sidewalk table. Great people-watching view of N. Farwell Avenue. Service The Comet Café tells you in its logo, "Slow Food". And boy, are they right: THEY ARE EXTREMELY SLOW! It was so bad, we had our waitress bring us our check with our food so we could pay immediately. That way, when we were done with our food, we could just get up and leave. We were given the "It'll be just a few more minutes" and the "We're really busy because it's Saturday morning brunch" lines, but being from the DC/Baltimore area, where we have more people and more people who eat brunch, even I have never waited that long for food. How long? About 35 minutes, if I remember correctly. I know that when our food did arrive, my cocktail glass was empty (even the ice had melted). Food The Cheesy Tomato sandwich: It's only tomatoes, lettuce, onion, mozzarella and provolone cheese, mayo, and some herbs on a roll. Sounds very plain and simple? Yes. Sounds very average tasting? Yes...but you're wrong! I have NEVER had a sandwich so good, tasty, and fulfilling that didn't have meat! I don't know if it was the two cheeses or the herbs that heighten your taste buds, but this sandwich was truly a delight and I was so glad this was my choice! My French fries, on the other hand, were mostly cooked too well (to the point that some of them were a little burnt on the inside) and cold. But, by time I waited all this time, I didn't care; ate them anyway. P.S.: The dish "AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner", which was featured on "Triple D" and was the MAIN reason why I wanted to eat at The Comet Café, isn't served until dinner...which is after 3:00pm. We ate there around 1:30pm. And no, they will not make it especially for you if you're there before 3:00pm...even if you are visiting from out of town. :-(
(3)Lisa B.
Oh man. Why have I lived on the east side for three years and only now go to comet? I was taken here for a business lunch this past week and was not sure what to expect. First thing to note is the fact that it is crowded, so crowded, and for a good reason. We were told we could sit and the bar for immediate service, but due to the confidential nature of our conversation we decided to wait for a booth. It took about 15-20 minutes. This was a week day afternoon, but it was right at lunch time. I ordered a lemonade, which was fresh instead of a gun, which they get props for. I then ordered their three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich and I added bacon and tomato to it. It came with a cup of soup, a pickle and fries. the fries were hot and crispy and I feel that it is important to note. The tomato soup was homemade and quite possibly the greatest soup I ever had. The cheese in the grilled cheese wasn't as melty as I had hoped, but it still was amazing. They had these giant, delicious cupcakes for dessert. It was yummmmmmy. I hear they do non-stop bacon plates on Sunday, I will return.
(5)Erik A.
The person I was with recommended we give this place a try - a co-worker of his suggested it they had been a regular for along time, before the DDD episode. It has a great little atmosphere inside and even some outdoor sidewalk seating. The service was prompt and friendly which starts the visit off on the right foot! They have a huge beer selection but again the wait staff was able to answer a number of questions about the selections. We split their Akimbo (sp?) burger that is not on the menu, more for fun than anything else. Split is the main word here! It's one of those crazy burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches for the buns, onion rings, bacon a spicy sauce and of coarse the burger itself. The combination, although messy, was really tasty! The other person had the basic Mac and cheese which was really good as well. If I'm in the area again I will definitely explore not only the rest of the food menu but the beer menu as well.
(4)Clifford S.
Great diner with only one problem - had to choose between the meatloaf and the mac n cheese, which won. It was a lunchtime break on our drive up to Door County, such a short drive that we could afford a really good lunch stop. Cherry pie topped off a great lunch. We left Door County too late to make a stop here on the way back. We'll have to plan a return trip to Milwaukee to check this place out again.
(5)John W.
Fun atmosphere, good beer on tap, very vegan friendly. I had the vegan salisbury steak with mushroom gravy and it was delicious. The bar tenders were very attentive. I will come back when I'm back in Milwaukee again.
(4)Angie O.
My boyfriend, roommate and I went to Comet cafe Sunday evening for a drink and some food. Comet was packed around 7:30pm and we had to wait 15-20 minutes for our table. We must have caught the end of the dinner as the majority of the crowd left around 8:30pm. We ordered bloody marys as well as Three Floyd's on tap (the special of the evening, only $2.50). I've been to Comet before this trip, and the bloody marys were MUCH better than what they served us last night. What we experienced were drinks containing hardely any garnish (couple of olives and a celery piece - where as before they served them up with cheese, bacon, and more veggies) and basically tasted like tomatoes juice and vodka... the spices were MIA.... However, I highly recommend the Three Floyd's, the beer special on Sundays ($2.50). I had no idea what style beer it was when I ordered it and was pleasantly surprised it was a flavorful dark, creamy beer reminiscent of Smithwick's. They also served free bacon on Sundays with a drink purchase. Free bacon = awesomeness!!!!! What we ordered: Cheesy twice-baked potatoes - AMAZING! Huge portion for $6. Grilled buffalo chicken sandwich, served with fries - Super delicious, put's Kopp's buffalo chicken sandwich to shame. The chicken was done perfectly and was not overly spicy. Fries were also seasoned well. Our waiter was not overly friendly, and there is always a wait for the food but it is well worth it. They also offer many vegan and vegetarian options, and had delicious looking cupcakes. I do love Comet's food and will definitely be going back to try their other food creations and drinks.
(4)Charles R.
Comet Cafe is a classic East Side spot to hang with friends and catch a good meal without breaking your wallet. I eat here often (when parking isn't ridiculous, but it's the East Side, that's to be expected), and the meal I had last night was the usual great stuff i've come to expect from this place. They had one of their Beer School events going on that looked pretty fun...I heard when the next one was, but I can't remember at the moment. The downside to that is that the special event took up half the already small-ish restaurant, so the wait for a table was a little long, but okay. There was a special on cocktails last night for $3, but the Tom Collins's I had were pretty weak...by contrast, my friend's Heavenly Coffee was liquored up (never a bad thing, lol). Next time I need to make sure the volume on my drink is turned up a little more and we'll be A-OK. Food was good, I had the Chicken Strips for an appetizer....you could tell they were homemade, they looked exactly like the ones I make for myself when I feel like cooking. Fries were fresh cut and crispy, I ended up eating way more of the appetizer than I planned on, lol. Their Spinach and Artichoke Dip is also excellent, but they don't really give you enough bread to finish it and extra bread is like $1. For an entree I had the Walk The Flank, a steak sandwich with onions and blue cheese that I always get...if you like steak sandwiches, I highly recommend this. Since we had a late dinner right before they closed, the waitress gave me and my date free cupcakes they had leftover....SCORE! Overall I like the place, they have a lot of good sandwiches and vegetarian options, and their Meatloaf is pretty good too....if you can, go on a Sunday and take part in the free bacon with drinks, they were recently featured on the United States of Bacon for it! The only knocks I have is that parking over there sucks, sometimes the wait can be crazy, and inconsistent drinks....besides that, i'd recommend you to check it out!
(4)Rachel F.
I was on a road trip up north and wanted to drive through Milwaukee to show my friend the old grounds of Pabst. We figured it was also a great time to grab some grub. Yelp brought us here and thank goodness for that. First we were taken aback by the amazing happy hour drink specials, which we missed but if you live up here you should take advantage. We settled on two different sandwiches with the mind to split. The first was the artichoke melt, which was like cheesy bread on steroids. (I don't mind). But the real star was the Meatloaf sandwich! I don't actually really like meatloaf, well the concept of it... but this sandwich was so good. Mounds of mashed potatoes, rivers of gravy, hearty rye bread, a garnish of chewy bacon and don't forget that amazingly tender hunk of meatloaf... oh yeaaaaaa. I really couldn't put my fork down. We left Milwaukee full for our driving adventure and the whole trip we couldn't stop talking about how rad that meatloaf was.
(5)Chad W.
@thecometcafe, oh what to say. Food network says you rock. My wife says you are great. Our friends, well, they all just seem to say you are the bomb. Well, something inside me seems to say, you are pretty great. The roasted red peper hummus was exceptiona
(4)Sara J.
Sorry to bring you down a star, but it's for two reasons. First, the vegan gyro was good but the "meat" was completely the wrong texture and a little skimpy. Real gyro meat is tender and almost falls apart with a fork. This stuff (seitan, probably fried) was tough, couldn't even cut it with a butter knife. I ended up tearing it to pieces with my fingers before eating it. Second, the waitress was very attentive and kind but also VERY annoying. She talked to us like we were kids, even saying "good job" to me for clearing my plate. She asked if the food we had was "yummy." My husband had our pre-entree bowls set aside for her to pick up (we're nice like that instead of having it strewn all over the place) and she said "oh look at you, aren't you nice?!" All of this said in the tone you would use with a small child. What are we, 3?! I don't want them to get rid of her, she is doing her best to provide good quality service, but she should talk to us like adults not children... unless we get a totally cool paper hat we can color in with free crayons (actually, never mind, I think at that point I'd have her eat the hat!). On an up note, my husband's vegan meatloaf with mash and gravy was very good. I stole an extra bite off his plate. :-) We'll be back, I just won't order the gyro again and I hope I don't get that waitress!
(4)Wizardbunz Z.
typical hipster garbage. it's like george web's with facial hair. bad food. bad service.
(1)Colin A.
By most definitions, comfort food doesn't equate to "healthy." But in the world of Comet Cafe, it does mean "damn good." I wouldn't say that I frequent Comet but it is one of my favorite places to eat and I manage to make it there once every few months. Almost any entree can be made vegetarian or vegan, which is a nice touch for this former veg-head. My personal favorites are the cheesy twice-baked potatoes, mac n' cheese, artichoke melt, and the leghorn sandwich. Even the grilled cheese and tomato soup, while simple, are stellar (though admittedly you could make your own for far less than the cost on Comet's menu, but I digress). The Ahi tuna sandwich is delicious, just be sure to add the fries with Comet's seasoning for an added kick to your throat. Service can be slow, but it is always pleasant. The drink selection and weekly specials make up for this. Most of the time, Comet is packed and you'll wait for a table -- bring your patience. The clientele is interesting -- a mix of regulars, hipsters, super-hipsters, and people who step tentatively inside the doors looking for Guy Fieri's goatee -- which makes for some fascinating people watching and conversation over a few beers or cocktails (classics are $3 on Tuesday evenings). Don't forget about bacon Sundays -- spend $3 or more on drinks and get free bacon; I recommend anything Comet has on tap from Three Floyd's. Something I didn't note is brunch/breakfast -- but I've heard that meal can be anywhere from "ehh" to "OK." Comet is a solid place that I often forget about especially when out-of-town guests visit -- and sometimes that's because I don't want to wait upwards of 45 minutes for a table when there are some other quality places on the Eastside. Regardless, you can't go wrong...
(4)Kate B.
I had always heard great things about comet, and I knew it was often packed, but I just never got around to trying it in my 7 years in Milwaukee. Mistake. The food was excellent... I was missing out! We came on a Sunday night, so my fiance and I only had to wait about 15 minutes for a spot. We sat at the counter and had very friendly service, however it was slow service as well. He got the meatloaf sandwich and I got the Cuban.... We loved both, however I think my Cuban won. The French fries were delicious and the kicker was FREE BACON while you wait for your meal. They aren't kidding around with a bread basket here, you get a basket of bacon with every drink on Sundays... Craziness. Overall it's a unique enough menu, yummy food and friendly service.
(4)Mike P.
DINED: On a Thursday evening due to weekend mornings being intimidatingly busy. ORDERED: Big Luck - $9.00 Mac 'n Cheese - $10.00 Side Salads Espresso Shot - $1.65 TASTE: The Big Luck Burger (named after Chef Luck I assume?) is deceptively simple sounding on the menu but is LARGE on flavor. The six ounce savory grass fed beef patty contrasts with the sweetness of 1000 Island dressing with all the fixings. It's not a new concept, hello McDonald's Big Mac, but it works really well. Great Burger. The Mac 'n Cheese is a HUGE serving that's fit for four diners. It's really rich and a dish Ms. Paula Dean would be proud of. The leftovers reheated nicely the next day. The side salads were a sign Comet pays attention to detail. No iceberg lettuce here, but in it's place greens with ripe cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks. The ginger dressing is great. I washed the meal down with a shot of Anodyne espresso. POST: My dining partner and I sat at the bar and were treated to great service by Mr. Andy. The inverted skateboard half-pipe that covers the North side of Comet is really cool. If Comet is "slow food" shouldn't the logo be a turtle instead of a rabbit?
(5)Jim D.
A must visit for any vegan or vegetarian, but also incredible for everyone else. If you are all about fancy table clothes and such, this might not be a hit with you. It has more of a thrift store meets diner meets bar feel. Have visited many times but recently went with a group of eight and everyone had something different... absolutely ever dish was perfect. Things you MUST try include the Vegan Meatloaf and Compact Turkey dinner. The unsung feature of this place is the bar with a knock down changing selection of great beers. ONLY downer is if it is crowded, there is no where to wait and the waits can be long.
(5)Zak R.
Breakfast a comet is a must for Locals. It's the ideal restaurant you would find Guy in eating on the FOOD Network My recommendation is go in winter when its not as busy, or if its summer time, put your name down, relax outside, but don't and I mean don't walk away from this place because the wait is to long. This is one place you don't want to miss. Im a huge fan of their omelet breakfast with hash browns and toast but they have a great menu and nothing disappoints. Drinks are amazing, if your craving coffee or a Chi Tea Latté (trust me give it a try here) or a bloody mary (great w/ any meal) or a beer this place has it all. It's not as busy in winter but does still have waits on weekends. In the summer this place gets super busy on the weekends, so plan on having time. You have to go up to the front a sign your name on the list. It's worth any wait.
(4)Matthew M.
Beer gravy. Bacon. Extensive craft beer selection. Homemade pie. Perfectly crispy skin-on fries. If you are not lightly aroused, check you pulse you may be dead. I had a near perfect experience at the Comet last weekend. Starting with walking in and being bombarded by two different servers looking to seat us in whatever station we wanted, we opted for sitting at the bar, my equivalent of the chef's table. Immediately greeted by our mustachioed, hipster bartender, he answered our many questions and firmly helped us chose. "I am stuck between the meatloaf sandwich and--" "Meatloaf sandwich," he interrupted. "Yeah?" "Don't question beer gravy." "I will not...." When the food came up, he took time to consider, grab and discuss what beer would go best from their well-chosen menu. I opted for a peppered ale that really complimented the the sizable sandwich that is bacon-centric and piled high. I would spend an hour or two crafting an appropriate description of how good the gravy was, but that would be like your dad trying to explain Woodstock-- it eventually ends with "you just had to be there." The turkey sandwich my girlfriend had, I regret to say, was entirely forgettable, smeared with what amounted to jelly, cream cheese and cucumbers. The turkey was impossibly fresh, but the flavor of it all was virtually free of seasoning. I finished my sandwich, her sandwich and my beer, and we decided to wash it down with some pie making it a rather gluttonous Saturday. The pie was good enough to elicit creepy mmmmmm sounds and heavy breathing from us both. Well done across the board. Decor, environment, service, gravy, pies, and damn near everything about this place make it a must for foodies, stupid hipsters, beer drinkers and bacon lovers. As always, I think sitting at the bar ensures the most skilled service, but the wait-staff was awfully eager to please. It is now on my Milwaukee must-do list.
(5)Kelvin V.
Comet Cafe is a gem of Milwaukee's East Side. It's got a great, chill vibe. Finding the restaurant for first-timers used to be a challenge because there was not a terrible amount of signage. They've recently added a new sign on the side of the building. Parking can be a tough especially on Friday or Saturday night. The famous dish here is the meatloaf and gravy. Both are good, and other Yelpers have described them abundantly. Try the meatloaf and gravy, but be sure to get some of the other great things they have on the menu. My favorite here is the ahi tuna sandwich. It comes with a substantial piece of tuna and a pleasantly spicy wasabi mayo. The bun is also delicious. I recently tried the Reuben sandwich. There's a decent amount of thinly sliced corned beef on it. The sandwich is among the "lightest" Reubens I've had. The corned beef didn't taste much like corned beef, the sauerkraut didn't taste much like sauerkraut, and the Russian dressing didn't taste much like Russian dressing. It's not a bad sandwich--it just didn't have as much punch as other Reubens I've had. I've also had both the regular fries and seasoned fries. The seasoned fries have a something like paprika and/or chili powder on them, which provide a decent amount of heat. The seasoned fries also come with a cucumber dip, which provides some relief from the heat.
(4)Ricardo D.
Cool place, excellent selection of beer; simple comfort food, service is great
(4)Cassandra B.
Comet is one of my least-favorite vegan-friendly places in Milwaukee because their service and food availability is so inconsistent. I visited last week and the wait was about 30 minutes (likely due to holiday travelers) but the service was very friendly. My non-veg sister joined me and loved her vegan Reuben, which made me quite happy. I tried the vegan seitan Philly, which was good, but the Riverwest Co-op's is way better. The previous 3 times I have been there, they were out of the vegan deep fried ribs, which is my all-time favorite. One time, because they were out of the ribs, and also out of a few other vegan items, my group of friends and I all had to get the vegan gyros, which they totally skimped on, likely because they were low on seitan. Last time, I thought I'd call ahead and be safe. The guy answering the phone rudely said they had the vegan ribs. I asked again, explaining that I had come in a few other times in the past, only to find out they were out. Again, he said they had them. Guess what. I got there and they didn't have the ribs. Not cool, Comet! They did have the vegan ribs this last time I went, and they were very good, but probably better split as an appetizer, versus as a meal since it's so greasy. Some other quick opinions about their items: the Reuben is very good, the vegan "pulled pork" sandwich is really just cold cuts so it's not spectacular, and their homemade vegan cheese sauce is decent, but nothing to brag about (tastes like a basic nutritional yeast/margarine combination).
(2)caryn b.
We went because of the diners, drive-ins and dives show. I am so glad we did. Although Sunday mornings has a special menu we loved everything we ordered. Bacon pancake...yummy, I had meatloaf with eggs and hashbrowns, the blody mary with bacon and a side beer was great. We ate outside and enjoyed a beautiful Sunday morning Will definitely go back
(4)Michelle M.
I knew I would like Comet Café when I walked in and heard The Gaslight Anthem playing! However, quality music does not a good restaurant make- it's ok, though, because the food is great, too. I had the meatloaf, which was delicious, savory and bacon-wrapped and accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes in an awesome beer gravy. There were brussels sprouts, too, and I am not a vegetable person, and especially not a brussels sprout person, but I tried them and even those weren't bad! My husband got the compact turkey dinner, and you can't really go wrong with fried balls of turkey, stuffing and cheesy mashed potatoes. Oh, we had soup, too- a fresh-tasting tomato soup for my husband and slightly sweet, delicious summer squash soup for me. My only real complaint is that it took a LONG time to get our food. But they have Sprecher's root beer, and a full bar, and baked goods, and good food, so it all works out.
(4)David G.
One of my favorite places in town. Certainly on my list of go to places. Don't expect to get a seat right away because this place is (justifiably) busy. Luckily they have a good selection of beer and drinks that will keep you happy while you wait. This is one of the rare restaurants where the vegan and vegetarian options are just as good as the regular items. I don't recommend the carryout. They are clearly not set up for that since i sat there for 20 minutes waiting for my food which was sitting on the bar.
(4)Andrea A.
Comet Cafe was opened after the Urban Outfitters revival of the early 2000's. Thirty-seven percent of the staff have at least one tattoo, this tattoo is visible to about 50 percent of the patrons of Comet Cafe at all times. A lot of the reviews here say this is 'quintessential East Milwaukee'. I guess you have to live in Milwaukee to determine a difference between East Milwaukee and the rest of Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, all of the hipster's or people that really want to be hipster, or people that wanna flirt with the idea of being hipster by associating themselves with a pseudo-kitsch cafe, eat meat. I have to assume that if I ate meat, in particular bacon, I would have loved this place. Their website says 'we have a small kitchen, and we cook all our food from scratch' Please keep in mind this also prevents them from delivering orange juice. If I ever have to explain away anything in my life, I will be using the excuse "I'm sorry, I have a small kitchen." Sometimes Midwesterner's mistake a lot of food for good food. I believe the atmosphere of this place might even seduce them into believing that what they are eating actually tastes good. Occasionally, when I go into Urban Outfitters I often get the impression that what I'm actually buying is good, but when I try to wear it I realize it's actually a piece of crap with a nice tag on it. If food had an ability to taste monochromatic, it would taste like the breakfast I ate. I don't mind monochromatic things, sometimes monochromatic things are really great. That is, if they are high quality, but this, was not one of those situations. We paid 1.00 extra for the customization of my breakfast. I ordered cinnamon toast. I thought "oh great, imma get some cinnamon swirls and shi*" No. What I got was cold toast with some cinnamon sprinkled in the middle. This is probably my fault, I grew up in the age of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and I think I've been brainwashed into assuming that cinnamon means swirl's. So I'll give them a pass on that. Soggy, oil drenched hash brown's however, do not get a pass. If you did a study comparing all breakfast / brunch joints in Milwaukee and if that study elicited results that said Comet Cafe is the number two best place to get breakfast/brunch, then I would say one of two things 1. Your study is significantly flawed or 2. That people need to be reacquainted with what the word 'best' means.
(2)Lacrisha L.
I've been here a few times. Me and my boyfriend been here for breakfast, lunch and early dinner. Their take on the Cuban sandwich is great. The homemade bread butter pickles have quite a kick! The homemade sausage links are a treat to the homemade beer gravy. On Sunday's after 5:00 you can get a basket of bacon with the purchase of a drink. Beer in one hand and bacon in the other. The staff is great as well
(5)Kevin S.
I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch at The Comet Cafe. Great vibe, lots of great "Morning After" drink specials, ala bloody mary, mimosas, beermosas, but my favorite was the Sconnie-Mosa! Orange Juice, Champagne and a dash of cranberry wine. Highly recommend! Breakfast was the usual, eggs, bacon and the like. But I give this restaurant "Yay! I'm a Fan." because of the drinks and vibe!
(4)Julie D.
Anyone who has perused the reviews of this Julie D will see that she is a lover, not a hater. She gives out 5 stars reviews as if they are candy at a kiddies birthday party when all the Mommies are not watching. However, Julie D has only one star for Comet Cafe. And that's because she is unable to give no stars. They say that you can judge a restaurant by the number of people hanging outside, waiting their turn for a table. Based on that alone, you would think that Comet Cafe is an amazing place. My experience says otherwise. We were seated at the bar for breakfast. Service was horrendous. And while our server was quite charming, I mean full of himself with his cocky attitude, I believe he was spread a bit too thin. We waited for everything. We waited to order. We waited for drinks. We waited for refills, we waited for food. The biggest wait was for the food. A long wait for food is no problem at all. Especially for people on vacation. That is, if the food is worth waiting for. The food at Comet Cafe is not worth the wait. It's less than what I could fix at home. And anyone that knows Julie D's cooking knows that you don't want it. Much like Comet Cafe. BJ ordered The Stendler, which is corned beef, scrambled eggs, hash browns and cheese stuffed in a tortilla topped with a stupid message written on it in Sriracha hot sauce . The guy next to us says "Oh, dude. I am getting The Stendler, too. It's awesome, dude. You will love it.". Okay. Julie D goes for the French toast described as fresh brioche dipped in almond-vanilla batter and griddled to perfection. Haha. BJ rarely complains. Only about Julie D's occasional snoring, but not about her lack of cooking. But BJ complained a lot about his Stendler. "Can you see any corned beef in here?", says BJ. " I think it's those tiny little brown flecks", says Julie D. "You would think that an entree that lists corned beef as the first ingredient would have some corned beef in it", say BJ. My meals wasn't any better. The brioche was not fresh. In fact, the crust was so stale, I could barely cut it with my knife. I barely ate half of it. Beyond disappointing describes our visit here. Beyond. Food with very little flavor. Even the alcohol we consumed couldn't mask this terrible meal.
(1)Laura M.
Great service, great atmosphere. Really interesting menu choices. This is a solid option for breakfast/lunch/dinner or something in between. It's an awesome option for a group to dine at that have very different dietary needs - vegetarian, meat lover, gluten free.
(4)Danielle B.
Comet is great. It's one of the first restaurants I visited after moving to Milwaukee and I quickly became a regular. The food is creative, made from scratch whenever possible, and local and organic whenever possible. It's a great place to take visitors, and know that no matter what you order it's going to rock. Also, if you happen to be free the first Tuesday of each month, Beer School is an experience I would absolutely recommend. Things that make me sad: it's SO much busier post-Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives than before and it's not an easy place to wait for a table because it's so small; because they are just ridiculously packed for brunch, I think the food sometimes suffers; though they were originally just a cafe, I've never had a great espresso beverage; their bloody marys definitely leave something to be desired; desserts are hit or miss. Food items I love and highly recommend: BELT, Vegan Gyros, Meatloaf, Seitan Philly, Comet Cuban, Veggie Chili, Vegan Ribs. Go. You're going to love it. But prepare to wait and don't order a latte or Bloody Mary.
(5)Nati K.
I remember when Comet Cafe was just a divey coffee shop where you could write on the tables and find cigarettes stashed in the holes in the walls. A lot has changed since those glory days when you could get cheap refills on your coffee and sit and talk with the east side hobos while skipping class. Now it's a hip, diner style restaurant with food that is really truly good. The meatloaf sandwich is enormous and absolutely mouth watering. The vegan wings: unmatched. I had the tuna sandwich once, and if I could afford to get it again, I would. If you're there for breakfast get the bacon pancakes, you won't regret it. They are the most satisfying sweet/savory breakfast combo in the history of breakfast. One thing that disappoints every time is the mac n' cheese. They don't make a nice, complex cheese sauce: it's mostly just cheddar on top of noddles. Everyone knows that if you don't craft a sauce out of the cheese, it will separate and you are left with an oily mess and rubbery cheese solids floating on top of your pasta. I want the mac n cheese to be good here because everything else is so delicious and American comfort foody that it seems like a huge failure that they can't get this basic menu item right. For the most part though, Comet is a delight.
(4)Ben C.
Tried this since it was on triple d. They serve alcohol. I had the meatloaf. Looked like it had onion and green pepper in it. I didn't think it was that good. The mashed potatoes were ok. The snap peas were good. Better than green beans in my opinon. Guess I'll go back and try some other things.
(3)Jen P.
Again, an absolute gem in MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN (I know, right?). Seriously, this place is amazing. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we agonized over what to order more than any other restaurant I've been too-- so many awesome and appetizing choices. After much debate, we settled on the following feast: Sugar Snap Pea & Mint Soup: It sounds so weird. It looks like Slimer from Ghostbusters has been pureed. But it was freaking awesome. A flavor that I can't describe, but highly recommend you experience. Meatloaf Sandwich: A HUNK of meatloaf wrapped in bacon served with mashed potatoes on rye bread with BEER GRAVY. Everything about this screams Midwest. The loaf itself was a little bland for me, but with the bacon and potatoes and gravy, who cares. It was fantastic. A.J.'s Compact Turkey Dinner: I will have a very hard time not ordering this every time I return to Comet (which I hope is often). Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, beer battered and deep fried. I've died and gone to heaven. I cannot wait to try to make these at home and maybe add a little dried cranberry to up the flavor. Seriously though, pure brilliance. Mexican Chocolate Cupcake: We had no business ordering any kind of dessert, but I'm glad we did. Moist, rich, and....vegan?? Whatever...it was awesome.
(5)Caitlin T.
Such a fun place! Always love their service and food. Long wait times for Sunday brunch, as expected at any good place in Milwaukee.
(5)Katharine S.
If I were presented with someone who had the opportunity to eat only one meal in Milwaukee, I would hands down recommend that they choose Comet Cafe. I was in precisely that position at the beginning of last month: the boyf and I had one dinner opportunity during our visit to the city and many places from which to choose. I did my research beforehand and a good acquaintance strongly urged us to check out Comet Cafe. I ended up directing us to the Hi Hat Garage instead, where we had a very lovely meal. But yesterday the boyf and I were in town again. I steered us over here and we found street parking without a problem. The place was packed except for the lunch counter, where we were able to be seated immediately. It was a great place to sit: we got to watch drinks (of which there are many) being made, we were waited on by plural super friendly dudes, and we got to stare down the cupcake and pie display to the left of us throughout our meal. But more about that later. One of the reasons why I was hesitant on my first visit to try Comet Cafe was because it was billed to me as a fabulous vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurant with extremely creative meals. This sounded fabulous to me, but I eat anything and everything. The boyf doesn't. At all. "Extremely creative meals" is exactly the opposite of what he would like, which is a plain hamburger (meat and bread) and French fries. SURPRISE: Comet Cafe satisfies all kinds of eaters, meat-luvin' and not! Okay, CSH could have done without the buttering and grilling of the inside of his burger buns (can't make a plain burger without that extra touch, it appears). But he is of the opinion (I concur) that the Comet Cafe's French fries are Decatur-worthy, which for us means "as good as the ones at the Brick Store or Leon's or the Marlay House in Decatur, GA," which is a very high standard to meet. Although we love trying out places all over the country when we travel together, the fries usually don't end up holding a candle to the ones we eat Back Home. But the crispy, irregular cut fries we were served at Comet Cafe were delicious and perfectly portioned. It kind of kills me to pay more than $10 for an entree under any circumstances, so I ruled out some fabulous sounding options, particularly the meatloaf with beer gravy ($12), the compact turkey dinner ($12, served with Brussels sprouts!!!), and a duck confit poutine daily special ($11). They have many, many sandwiches in the $7-9 range, though, and I was extremely pleased with my choice of BBQ pork. Their craft beer menu boasts over 150 kinds of bottles and they have a mean cocktail menu of classics and affordable and inventive combos (like the 'beermosa' [white beer and OJ, $4] and the 'Sconnie-mosa [Door County cranberry wine, champagne, and OJ, served in a pint glass, $7]). And their cupcakes: huge, delicious, and made in a variety of flavors, four out of seven still left in the case by 9 pm on Saturday night were vegan. The boyf chose chocolate mint and I chose chocolate with vanilla frosting. Both were amazing. The only possible downside of Comet Cafe is that the food may, in fact, be slow to come out to one's table. But they warn this on their website and menu: "We are a little cafe with a little kitchen! We cook great, from-scratch food, but not fast food." The boyf and I waited 30+ minutes, but we like each other's company and had plenty of neat things to watch going on in the cafe while we yapped. You were right, Guy Conn: this place is fantastic. Five plus stars in my book.
(5)Michelle C.
While on a leisure trip to Milwaukee with my best friend, we sought out the perfect morning-after breakfast joint to both cure our hangovers and get us pumped to start the day. We landed on Comet after my friend found a blurb about it from the Food Network and off we went. We were fortunate to score an outdoor table on a Saturday morning, though I suspect it was because the sensible patrons realized it was about to pour down rain... Needless to say we say down and were tended to promptly. We ordered two large OJs and one coffee (for me!). Our waitress went about filling water, taking orders and doing everything but bringing our drink order to us for nearly 10 mins.. Once she brought the coffee, I immediately ordered a new cup, commenting on how grimy the mug was to which the waitress replied, "It's an oldie!" - ....uh, yeah...it's an "oldie", like, should have been thrown away before I was born kind of old. I ordered the Southwest Burrito while my friend ordered a pancake the size of her head. My breakfast choice was..."eh". I was hardly impressed and felt like I could have ordered something very similar at Denny's and wound up happier and more full; it was taseless. Coffee = good, typical diner coffee Food = mediocre Service = good, once you have the waitress' attention Atmosphere = it's a diner, what do you expect?! Would I return? No. No thank you.
(3)Meg B.
A friend at work told me about Comet Cafe a few months back and I decided to try the little diner out. It was a bit crowded and the service was on the slower side but it was well worth the wait! Our server was friendly and knew the menu well. She recommended her favorites and pointed us in the direction of their drink list. I have visited a handful of times since my first visit and plan on continue enjoying their delicious homemade dishes! Some of my favorites include: Leghorn sandwich with seasoned fries on the side. Tomato Soup AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner
(4)Janelle M.
Over 150 beers, food from scratch, and awesome people. I visit Comet several times a month. It is one of my favorite places to both eat and drink in Milwaukee. The atmosphere is great and they have reasonably priced drinks. They have whiskey old fashioneds that will make anything else you drink taste like crap. Don't go there if you're in a hurry-their menu even says so on the front. "Slow Food." But it's worth the wait! The commuter sandwich at brunch hits the spot, especially if you're recovering from the night before.
(5)Bess R.
YUM. Went for brunch when we were in town last weekend with a group of 6. We had to wait for a bit, but service was great. Tip: go to the grocery store across the street and play some Pong on the huge Atari! Had the Leghorn Sandwich - pulled chicken, cream cheese, cucumbers, apricot jam on wheat bread. My god was it tasty. Light and delicious paired well with some crispy fries. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Looks like they have lots of vegan options. I am obsessed with the Alterra coffee. So good.
(5)Layla A.
Food was yummy! My friends and I split the duck poutine and got a couple of drinks. THANK GOD it's an air conditioned place, but our waiter looked like a volunteer at Bikerowave ( yelp.com/biz/bikerowave-… ) so that was kind of weird... My juice that I got was very watery, though. Bummer. I would love to stop in again for those fries!
(3)Katie S.
All I can say is "omelet, with pepper-jack and bacon, please!" Seriously, they're omelets are fantastic. I can't even bring myself to order anything else for breakfast, although every time I've watched a a server bring out a plate of pancakes to another table I consider it - they're huge! It gets pretty crowded for brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and there's not much room to wait for a table, so you might find yourself sitting in the curb waiting to eat, but I can see why. It's totally worth the wait. Excellent food, and always good service. They also have a case of cupcakes when you walk in - Usually filled with different flavors every time I go. I usually give in and end up buying one. They're always delicious, but I'm biased - cupcakes are my weakness. :)
(5)Molly M.
Go on a Sunday night, they put out baskets of bacon, thick slabs, and will refill. The grass fed burger quite nice. Super bartender. We sat at the bar due to a very full dining room. Busy warm and tasty. Whetted my appetite for the Slow Food I was just learning about. Then made me want more of it! They network with many area farms and vendors, and are proud of it, all their connections are listed on their menu.
(5)Andrew K.
Came here based on Diners, Drive ins and Dives - where randomly a person on my dorm floor was in the video. Cool spot in a cool are of the Wauk. Great edgy homestyle menu. Pulled pork was yummy. Loved the healthy spicy ginger dressing. Cool waitress. Big portions.
(4)Jon D.
For being the sister restaurant of Honey Pie, I was incredibly disappointed. The service was slow. Now, I get it. It's Sunday, prime brunching hour, but it shouldn't have been THIS bad. Credit to the new waiter, he was trying, but screwed up my drink order, and left one person hanging on their drink for about 20 minutes. The food came at the speed of nothing, and again, a member of our party had to wait longer, as they had screwed something up in the back. The menu was lackluster. Super lackluster. Like, 8 items you could probably get at any diner anywhere lackluster. What I did get, Stently? Stentson? It was corned beef, eggs, potatoes and cheese in a tortilla, smothered in siracha, was boner-killing. I'm thinkin "Hey, Jon," I thought, "you like all these things, and 'drizzled with a little siracha'? Sure!" All I tasted was cinnamon from the corned beef (ugh) and ABOUT A BOTTLE OF SIRACHA squirted on top. I can make that at home, its called "anything covered in siracha." The decor was modern hipster. The drink menu was interesting, the beer menu mighty impressive. It was clean, seemed to be well staffed, and the check came quickly.
(2)A D.
A nice little eatery in Milwaukee's East Side neighborhood, Comet Cafe is one of the city's gems. They have great vegetarian/vegan options but meat-eaters are welcome too! Milwaukee natives, visitors, and everyone in between should try this place out. Just be very aware of WHEN you stop by. You'll have to wait to be seated during every traditional meal time. Any time before or after will probably require a wait as well. Basically, Comet Cafe is always busy, so plan on waiting. The artichoke dip, Turkenstein sandwich and BBQ Pork Sammy, and vegan Meatloaf are favorites and come highly recommended. Baskets of bacon, the selection of beer, and desserts are also parts of Comet Cafe's appeal.
(4)Rebecca F.
I wish that we would have had food this good our entire vacation in Wisconsin! We aren't strangers to restaurants like this in Kansas City, we are lucky to have many options when looking for local, grass fed, happy food, but this place was just so lovely. The atmosphere was nice, the vibe was good, the service was great and the price was awesome. We were there on a Thursday night and it was crazy busy, but, it was worth it. Our two year old waited quite nicely for at least twenty to thirty minutes for our table. When we did get sat we were greeted by our wonderful waitress who also found a cars coloring book and a cup of crayons for our son which was very helpful to keep him from joining the group in the booth behind us as he was getting antsy. I had the burger and it was perfectly done and the fries were great. I splurged and got bacon on my burger and man the party in my gut thanked me, it was so good. My husband ordered the Cuban and he said it was also very good. My son got chicken fingers which were clearly made fresh, not some bagged shaped chicken nuggets. They were delicious. I didn't have room for pie, but holy moly they looked amazing. Next time in town this will be the first place we eat! And, I'll get dessert first.
(5)Laura F.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Milwaukee. As a vegetarian, I have found the cheesy tomato w/ added vegan field roast meat to be my go-to. My husband swears by the Ahi Tuna. In addition to my cheesy tomato staple, there are plenty of other tasty vegetarian dishes and many things can be made veggie. Also, great beer selection. Great casual atmosphere, tasty food and great beer. Can't ask for more.
(5)Hannah L.
I've been meaning to writing a review for Comet for quite some time now. I have been here for times that I can count (from brunch to lunch to dinner to bacon to drinks) and it is always wonderful. The menu is unique enough to keep things interesting, but still has the staples you crave on a hungover Sunday. And you can't forget the beer list--that is also quite stellar. Having tried the majority of the things on the menu over the years, I now tend to migrate toward the sandwiches (usually the Turkenstein, but I like to switch it up occasionally) and one thing I feel obligated to warn future diners about is 'Comet's Special Seasoned Fries' that you can substitute for $1.00 should actually be called 'Comet's Spicy-As-Shit Fries' and will burn your face off. Stick with the regular fries with your sandwich order, and you're golden! Not much else to say, other than if you haven't yet been to Comet, it is worth the long wait and probably best to go on a Sunday for the free bacon.
(4)Scott O.
Comet is one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee. Amazing beer selection, the best comfort food in town, and a cool, laid-back atmosphere. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And as if you need an excuse to drink beer on a Saturday or Sunday morning, there's no way you can pass up at least a pint or two from their impressive selection of imports, micro brews, and other hard-to-find beers. Waits can be a bit long on weekends for brunch if you show up after 10:15 or so, but don't hesitate to order a coffee or drink from the bar. Or maybe even a slice of pie as an appetizer.
(5)Erika B.
Oh, Comet, I know I shouldn't be upset. I mean, with so many tasty, fried, heavily-sauced foods on your menu, I shouldn't have expected my Veggie Lovers salad with ginger dressing and Ahi to be that good. I mean, salads aren't your bag, because you concentrate all of your awesome powers on churning out plates of perfectly fried fish, tasty burgers and delicious mac n' cheese. While the Ahi was dry and lifeless, I should have been sinking my teeth into a delicious Cheesy Buttafuoco, using up half a tree's worth of napkins to sop up the grease. But alas, Comet, I am trying to watch my figure, so I suppose that my relationship with you with have to be more like a tawdry, extra-marital affair reserved for special occasions only, especially when I sneak in for (a quarter of) a slice of your delectable carrot cake. Yes, I know you'll be calling my name come Sundays when you throw that free bacon at anyone with a cold beer in their hands, but look, it's not you, it's me, and you just have to lose my number. Maybe when I'm in a better place we can talk again. Sincerely, Erika B.
(3)Gina S.
Overrated. This place is just 'meh' because the food is expensive but not particularly good. The atmosphere is like a typical diner - nothing special. I ordered the Comet Benedict (I'm sort of a connoisseur of eggs benedict and get it almost every time I see it on a menu I haven't seen before) and it was over-cooked, the gravy on it was almost tasteless, and the biscuit was stale. We originally came here because several of my friends were vegetarian or vegan, but the brunch menu was disappointing and showed a low amount of options for either dietary preference. We glanced at their lunch menu, which they didn't start serving until three, and it had many more options for vegans and veggies, but alas - it was too early to order. After reading all the raving reviews on yelp, I was especially disappointed with this place.
(2)Eric I.
Went on Sunday The food was great I had the vegan scramble. Normally vegan food is very bland but not this it was great.
(5)Amy G.
This was a great stop for a light meal that was quick and easy. Very kid friendly as well. I may be back before I leave Milwaukee this week.
(5)Amber L.
I'm a fan of Comet. I like the atmosphere, although a bit hipster like, because they have a bar area in addition to the tables and the lighting is low and relaxing. The wait for a table can sometimes be annoying and they do not take reservations but it's always been worth the wait for their food. They have a very homemade and rich menu which caters to both vegetarians (like me), vegans and meat eaters. The Seitan Gyro and grilled cheese are excellent, but I wasn't too thrilled with their omelet. The staff is nice and helpful, good beer selection, and all in all a place I plan to continue to visit.
(4)K. M.
As a vegetarian whose fiance is a carnivore, I like that this is a place where we can go on date nights and both of us can have delicious satisfying "comfort food". I would recommend trying the vegan deep fried ribs and the VEGETARIAN version of the Big Luck burger (their veggie patty for this burger is better than the typical veggie patty). I also liked the veggie meatloaf open faced sandwich with the mashed potatoes. The cupcakes are also delicious here, so save room for dessert! The only downsides: At peak times, you should pretty much always expect to wait a little while to be seated. But, hey, I consider it a good sign if a restaurant is popular! This is not a place to go if you're in a rush, but if you are patient, it's not that big of a deal (we usually have gotten seated within 15-30 mins). When the restaurant is full it tends to be loud, but in good weather you can get outdoor seating if you would prefer to be away from the noise.
(4)Michele H.
This compact turkey dinner was superb. I can't praise it enough. Working my way through the dish, the flavor nuances kept hitting my taste buds eliciting audible praise. They also had great beer & cider selections, but the cup cakes were disappointingly dry.
(4)Lindsay A.
How can such a little space offer so much? A coffee shop, a diner and a bar? Yes, yes and oh yes. With a limited number of tables and hungry Eastsiders - you'll most likely have to wait for a table. While the breakfast burrito and granola are worth the wait - you have to awkwardly stand next to other diners (again, worth it). Although Comet is busy, the atmosphere is so cozy, you want to linger with multiple cups of coffee - or sip a few beer-mosas. After a late night, it's a perfect spot for a late brunch.
(3)Krystine B.
The best thing disguised on the menu = Breakfast Burrito with Tofu Scrambler... but don't forget the tofu substitute for the eggs. I get this every time and I have never been let down. Other people I have been with have gotten among others the Cheese and Roast Beef sandwich with an egg...don't forget the egg... haha. Seriously the best things on the menu. Enjoy! Oh and don't forget to get a cupcake! They are killer delicious!
(5)Jessica G.
I love that they offer vegetarian hazelnut-crusted field roast. So yummy. I HAD to try the leghorn sandwich. I subbed in the field roast patty. And it was topped with peach jelly, cream cheese, red onions, and leaf lettuce. Sweet and Savory done right. Yes please. The vegan deep fried ribs are also special. A must for a girl like me. A cute diner feel, great coffee, and wonderful service.
(4)Kyle K.
Probably my favorite place on the east side, and likely the only reason I ever venture north of downtown anymore. Some of the best comfort food I have ever had, and a nice beer list to boot. The chili mac was very good, and the Ahi tuna sandwich is a favorite.
(4)Kim C.
I had the BELT - bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato sandwich with fries and a mimosa. While the food was fine, I didn't think it was particularly interesting. The bacon was fatty and undercooked - a real disappointment as bacon was a big splurge for me. My brother and his girlfriend both had the biscuits and gravy, which was gigantic and - they both agreed - quite tasty. I appreciate the fact they use local ingredients and the prices were right.
(2)Stephanie P.
You have no idea how much I wanted to love this place, but couldn't. That said, my food was still good - just not what I wanted. I came on Memorial Day, so I guess they were still serving their brunch menu in honor of the holiday weekend. After dining, I looked at their website and I think their normal lunch menu is more up my alley. I got a 3-egg omelet with spinach and tomato. It came with toast and hash browns. It was a big portion and tasted great. Even as a non-potato lover, the hash browns were delicious and not at all greasy. It is interesting they were not greasy, as looking at what everyone else ordered, the place specializes in huge (I mean enormous) dishes full of grease. Post-lunch, I googled the place only to find out it was featured on the Food Network for fried turkey balls or something. It seems the person who recommended it to me gave me false hope that it was a pretty healthy place - thus my discontent with it. Oh - they serve Beermosas. I didn't have one, but they looked good and piqued my interest!
(3)Kevin S.
I've been here twice now for brunch and have been very pleased both times. This time I had an omelet with cheese and bacon, which was delicious. My boyfriend was more ambitious and had one of the specials of the day: Mel Gibson vs The British (it was a July 4-themed special). It involved pork and a sausage patty and some other stuff all piled into a sandwich, and he loved it. On my first trip I tried the commuter sandwich and was stuffed. In addition to their food menu, they have extensive coffee bar and alcohol menus. We had to wait to get in this time, but even though it was prime brunch hour on a holiday, it was only about 10 minutes. Once we were in, our server took exceptional care of us and was incredibly friendly. I plan to make this place a mandatory visit any time I'm in Milwaukee.
(5)Shant K.
Comet Cafe was discovered on triple DDD featuring Chef Guy Fieri on Food network. So this place was on my list when I booked a trip to Milwaukee. Home Comfort food at its greatest. I had the AKIMBO burger. A true Culinary experience. A tower of ingredients between 2 grilled cheese acting as buns. It was great. I didn't eat for about 24 hours after but it was a burger that I would consider going to Milwaukee for. I just wish there was more to do in that city.
(5)R R.
Great place! Was there on Sunday for breakfast. A bit of a wait for a table but well worth it! My son had the french toast that could have served 3 people so portions don't disappoint. My husband had the breakfast platter and was very impressed. I had the breakfast burrito and it too was outstanding. Adorable place. Service was a bit slow but it was ok, whats the big hurry for anyway! Definitely will go back.
(4)Eileen L.
this place is amazing. AMAZING. my boyfriend and i came here on NYE to get some dinner before festivities. all i have to say is that milwaukee has the best vegan comfort food i have EVER had. even better than chicago's. comet cafe would hands own be the king of all vegan comfort food. i ordered the vegan salisbury steak. covered in walnuts then fried to perfection, the seitan has this amazing texture that is unlike anything i've ever eaten before. the gravy was awesome and the chive mashed potatoes and green beans were superb. there is so much more that i would have wanted to try, but unfortunately i can only consume so much. drink wise they have great specialty drinks. i got a drink that was champagne + white wine + orange juice (forgot the name of it). it is hands down now my new favorite cocktail ever. service was excellent! our waitress was super cute, friendly and gave us good ideas of what to do around town. can't wait to go back to milwaukee when it is not -5 degrees out and eat at comet again. i've heard great things about their brunch which i will be back for one day! apparently this place was on the food network and i can definitely see why :)
(5)Jessica H.
I have lived the entirety of my 20 years and 11 months on Earth here in Milwaukee, but not once have enjoyed the pleasures of Comet Cafe until tonight. Let the drooling commence. For a Friday night at this popular spot, the wait was minimal, but I took a seat in the cafe so I could get to the good stuff right away. Despite raving reviews for the tomato soup, I opted for the baked potato and collard greens soup accompanied with a Rouge beer from their large drink selection. Round two included the huge Mac & Cheese with chili. The extra $2 bucks for the addition of the chili was well worth the extra kick in the tastebuds. Paired with a smokey, chipotle beer as suggested by the guy at the bar I was in Comet Cafe heaven. Dinner was polished off with coffee and a moist chocolate cupcake topped with a creamy vanilla frosting and purple sprinkles. Staff was noticeably friendly and helpful not just with me, but with others seated at the cafe. I'll be back, two , four, seven more times. This is a Milwaukee Must.
(5)Joe L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. I got the meatloaf sandwich with beer gravy... Nuff said. Great beer, great friendly service. Definitely recommend it.
(5)Denise D.
I can't believe I hadn't been there before-- I went with friends who go frequently and I see why. I like the set-up (yay! a non-smoking section)-- diner-ish on one side, bar on the other. I liked our server, who was honest about her favorite items and was very patient with me. (I made her list off all the Lakefront beers they have, and then ordered a Spotted Cow anyway). Really liked the mac-n-cheese, and the wooden salad bowl reminded me of my 70s childhood. Next time I'll go during the day and order a latte.
(4)little b.
well, i wish i could say i still love comet, but we're on a break. i have worked in a million restaurants, and a sense of urgency goes a long way. this does not exist at comet. they don't have a hostess, the servers deal with the flow of people coming in. when it's busy, this just don't work. i have seen them walk around leisurely, filling water glasses, slowly clearing tables, chatting with the bar staff, etc, while 5+ parties are waiting to be sat. annoying. i waited over TWO HOURS for a dinner table once. the last time we were in for brunch, they were moving so slow that we finally said screw it and sat at the counter. we mentioned to the bartender that things had seemed slow lately, and his response was, "nah, i think we do okay". when i told him about the previous two hour wait, he replied,"no, you didn't wait two hours". with a straight face. as if i was just making it up for fun. we really should have just taken our business elsewhere at that point, but now we were cranky AND starving, so we stayed. the bartender was nice from that point on, and even comped our drinks, but the damage was done. the food has been pretty average, and very, very slow. there are better places to spend your time and money.
(2)Melissa S.
I recently went to Milwaukee on a business trip and had to be there for a week. Every time I travel I like to check out at least one great food stop in the area. Since I knew absolutely nothing about Milwaukee, I came to YELP to get the skinny on the best Diners, Drive-ins and Dives so I would be sure to get to the right places. Thanks everyone out there who helped me out and made sure I made it to Comet! What a great place. First off, I drove there from my hotel and was able to park right in front of the place. I sat at the bar with no problem and was immediately greeted by both bartenders. They have some great micro-brew choices and Andy behind the bar was more than happy to pour me a sample of a beer I was considering and tell me all about their selection. I had their potato-cheese thingie - it was an appetizer. But it was like a twice baked potato in a casserole dish without the skin. Delish. After eating that and having 2 awesome brews I was full. I will most definitely be back.
(5)Katie L.
This spot earns the title of my favorite spot for brunch in Milwaukee if only for the delicious almond vanilla brioche french toast (which, btw, they do NOT serve on the weekdays, to my disappointment). A half-order is plenty for one person. Their breakfast burrito is also quite delicious and enough to feed a small army. Dive-y feel on the inside, it doubles as a bar at night. Waits can be pretty long on the weekends around lunch time.
(5)Rhoda H.
Oh Comet...my love...I just can't resist you! Something light? Hummus please...some comfort? Don't mind if I do have the meatloaf... Always a delight!
(4)Carlos M.
I tell you what after seeing this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives I wanted to come here. At first service was slow, but got better and followed up with a knock out punch with the food, it was awesome. I had the meatloaf with bear gravy, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts and dang it was good. It have gotten five stars if it wasn't for the slow start. Highly recommend!!
(4)Lauryn M.
HUGE fan!! But again, restaurants that feature a Vegan-friendly menu will usually win me over. The Veggie Lovers salad is one of my favorites, but also the Vegan Cinnamon toast and breakfast burrito are enough for 3 meals! I also hear they do FREE bacon on Sundays, and while that sounds completely awful to me, I realize what an obsession this country has with it, so be ready to wait for a table on Sundays. The grilled cheese and tomato soup are also tasty, very casual atmosphere, very "East side" if you will. Prices aren't outrageous either. Love Comet!! :)
(4)MaryEllen S.
Their hashbrowns, coffee, and fluffy pancakes make this a must for breakfast. Yes, you'll probably have to wait but so worth it. Can't wait to go back to try the almond/vanilla French toast!
(4)Elle L.
I love this place! You can get a little bit of everything here. The tofu salad was really satisfying and they have lots of vegetarian and vegan options. They also have lots of greasy late night food, I once ordered the grilled cheese with bacon. It was served with tomato soup and fries (I think) and I remember it being the perfect birthday dinner splurge. I've never actually tried their desserts or cupcakes but I have heard they are also delicious. Friendly servers and fun atmosphere. If you stop by when it's really busy, there may be a wait for a table. I would definitely recommend stopping by! One of my favorite places to eat on the east side for sure.
(5)Bill B.
This is all about managing expectations. I was really expecting a whole lot more than I got because of the fantastic pub this place gets. But, while I liked it, I was not throwing hyperbole at them with abandon after eating there. Had to go with the tomato soup and it was okay. Yep, just okay. It tasted like Campbell's with milk added--just like mom made. I drank about half the bowl. I then had the Beer City Hot Brown sandwich. Got it without the cheese. Turkey tasted fresh and the gravy was very good. Bread was a little spongy and did not cut well so you ended up with big glops of bread pulling out from under the sandwich. But, that's okay. It was also happy hour and had a couple of Tom Collins. Talk about throw-back. It took awhile for the drinks to come, but they were tasty and well made. I was happy, so Happy Hour was a success! I liked the place. I would come back. But, I did not think it was the knock your socks off, absolutely have to have it place to eat. That would be Ma Fishers to me!
(3)april s.
I used to go to Comet when it was still only the small space on the corner, they didn't serve booze, and it was hip to be on the east side. Now I go to Comet when I fly home for a visit and I'm craving the double baked cheesy potatoes, a buttafuco or a Booze-a-Latte. I also highly recommend the bloody mary. The line usually sucks on a weekend morning, but Comet is an MKE staple and is well worth the wait.
(4)Joe T.
Really good turkey sandwich: the turkenstein.
(4)Robyn W.
What a disappointment. After seeing Comet Cafe on DDD - i could not wait to get there and try it for myself. My Hubs got the turkey dinner balls - this was good. The gravy was good and the deep fried croquets were tasty. I got the meatloaf sandwich. When it placed in front of me, it looked fantastic. I should've stopped there. The meatloaf, itself, was cold. The bacon was limp and only half cooked. The gravy was alright (and hot) and the grilled onions on top were a nice touch. We flagged down the waitress and advised her that my meal was cold, she apologized and brought it back to the kitchen. When it was returned to me - it was simply the remaining meatloaf and bread on a new plate. Everything else - the gravy and onions and raw-ish bacon - was scraped off and the meatloaf was nuclear hot from the micrwave. Not cool, Comet Cafe. This is a 2.5* review, but I am rounding down because I had such high hopes for this place and I ended up being so disappointed with the entire experience.
(2)H.K. L.
Fabulous! My Dad and I arrived promptly at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning. Dad currently lives in North Dakota, a state where you cannot consume alcoholic beverages until noon (NOON!) on Sundays. Fascism, I tells ya. We sidled up to the bar and sat down. Dad ordered perhaps the best Bloody Mary I've ever tasted in my life. I had the best (well, OK, only) beermosa I've ever tasted in my life. Breakfast and alcohol. Sign me up! Dad ordered the Rocket Platter, which consisted of more food than a human being could reasonably consume. I went for the meat-n-eggs...bacon-wrapped meatloaf and scrambled eggs. Top notch. I don't know what was in the meatloaf, but it was OUTSTANDING. There was a line for seats by 9:30 or so and I understand why. Very good food served in a great setting. If I lived in Milwaukee, I would be a fixture at the bar! FIVE STARS!
(5)Chelsea M.
This Milwaukee landmark is one of my all-time favorite places. Some complain about the slow service, but there is, after all, a large sign stating Slow Food on the building. It's a great place to sit and enjoy your afternoon or evening with friends and drinks. Great beer selection and the vegan 'ribs' are to die for.
(5)Cris M.
Great menu and energy in this joint. We drove from Chicago to check it it. Brunch menu on Sunday until 3pm.. But they do have sandwiches and some great combinations. We had bacon wrapped meatloaf, bacon pancakes, and cream cheese chicken sandwich- just stop by & give them a try.
(4)matt h.
I have been meaning to write a review. It simple their food is fresh and they cater to everyone. You can get anything vegetarian and your meat water friend can also enjoy amazing food as well. Trust me you will love it.
(5)Elizabeth F.
Who orders a vegan burger with bacon and cheese? This lady, that's who! Credit goes to my friend Brit for the idea, though. It's a delicious vegan burger, too - not as heavy as beef but still substantial and yummy. My other favorites: Leghorn Sandwich, breakfast burrito, tomato soup w/grilled cheese, spinach salad (huge and surprisingly filling), Phillies. I've loved and scarfed up everything I've had here. The bonus, however, is the cupcake selection. There are other desserts, too, but the cupcakes make me drool. Every day brings a different selection but my all-time favorite is German chocolate. Also awesome: Mexican chocolate, pumpkin spice, cookies 'n cream, red velvet. There are so many more that I haven't had the chance to try but they look fantastic. I'm not a Bloody Mary kind of girl, but my lunch buddy has had some that even tempted me; they're pieces of art. Service has always been good. Did I mention the cupcakes? Mmmmm.
(5)Michelle V.
Awesome, Casual, Delicious! Totally loved my first time experience. It was busy - you add your own name to the wait list so we had a good idea of how many were ahead of us. The bartender made some hearty bloody's while we waited for a table. The place was busy, but the staff was very friendly and accommodating even when we were in their way. Huge servings, amazing brunch options, and very fairly priced. I would go here every weekend I I could!
(5)Jaron O.
5 stars, 5 reasons: 1) Great breakfast that's served until 3pm (always scores points with me) 2) Amazing sandwiches and various tasty lunch options 3) Cupcakes that'll make you cry 4) Commitment to local/organic ingredients 5) Beer!
(5)Anna W.
I'm debating between 3 and 4 stars, so I'll say 3.5 and round up. After hearing my friends rave about Comet Cafe for a long time I was looking forward to checking it out. It definitely was not what I expected. I like the low key diner feel, yet with sophisticated dining options and a great alcohol selection at decent prices. My only qualm is that the night we were there our service was painfully slow. Our drinks took a while to come out, although one of the drinks (the brunch box) was one of the coolest I've ever tried. It has Guinness, orange juice, and amarretto. Then, our appetizer took a good 15-20 minutes and all we had ordered was hummus and artichoke dip. The artichoke dip, however, was some of the best I've ever had. Our meals then took another 30ish minutes. I ordered the duck and fennel salad. YUM. It had a pomegranite reduction, pomegranite seeds, and apples. I craved that salad for weeks after going there. So, overall, the atmosphere is nice, the food is great, but if you're in a hurry probably not the best place to go.
(4)Monica S.
Comet Cafe is a Milwaukee native staple and so if your visiting from out of town it's a local place that's definitely worth stopping by for. The one complaint I have is that service is incredibly slow...not bad...just slow. If you go in expecting to be there for a while you will have an enjoyable experience and it's certainly not a bad atmosphere in which to kill a Sunday afternoon. Who can say no to free bacon? (On Sundays). Menu is decent, beer selection is usually pretty good. People are nice.
(3)Esther C.
My husband and I stopped by this place and had the compact turkey dinner and meatloaf sandwich. Really enjoyed the turkey dinner, the brussel sprouts were great that came with it. However, my husband was not overly excited about the meatloaf sandwich, 2 dishes from DD&D but the meatloaf was overrated, a bit dry. Service was great though and being from Chicago, any of the drink specials in Milwaukee are such a great deal. We went during the weekday at an earlier hour but it was still a pleasant experience. Glad we stopped by but not sure if we would go back.
(4)Andy M.
Favorite brunch spot in MKE thus far. Love the biscuits and gravy and had a great curry omelet (the "Anne Curry") on special recently. We bring everybody that comes to visit here and no one goes away hungry or disappointed!
(5)Sarah S.
I went here two days in a row because it was that GOOD. The wait was definitely worth it. The food is local...and you can taste it. My new favorite restaurant in MKE. Love it.
(5)Bill M.
For the better part of the last year I had said that if Chicago got the 2016 Olympic games I would move to Milwaukee, WI. As someone who has never lived outside the Chicago city limits, Milwaukee is the ideal candidate for a city to seduce me. I have a handful of friends living there that are connected to several different scenes, it's a city that's big enough for touring bands to not skip for the most part, they have a pretty great local music scene, I already sort of know my way around town and if you know what you're doing rents are cheap. I was more than willing to take a four or five year sabbatical to the land of "Cows and Beer" as Die Kreuzen put it. Unfortunately (and this will be the only time you'll ever hear/see me say this) Chicago didn't get the 2016 games so Milwaukee will be strictly limited to visits. The existence of Comet kind of made me wish otherwise. Last weekend a friend and I drove up to Milwaukee for a party and due to circumstances we had to leave straight in the middle of rush hour. Neither of us had eaten since lunch so needless to say the stomachs were rumbling by the time we got to town. Parking around Comet was extremely scarce but our friend insisted that we should keep trying to find a space. She said it was her favorite place so we kept it up (that's what she said?) until finding a space a few blocks down. Good thing she insisted because ten minutes later my driving buddy and I were inside, making our way to our counter seat. As I was taking off my Dee Dee Ramone leather jacket, "Blitzkrieg Bop" was playing over the speakers. Perfect. Though the music was hard to hear since we were seated by the kitchen I'm positive I heard Clash, Misfits, Joy Division and Lifetime songs over the speakers amongst others that I just couldn't quite place. Once we got a look at the menu there were so many good beers listed and such tempting food. I opted for water and a Tomato Soup/3-Variety-Grilled-Cheese-Sandwich, while he got a tuna sandwich and some fancy beer and our host was boring, only getting an order of french fries for herself. Though the wait was longer than I would have liked (and our host said it was the longest she'd ever waited) it was completely worth it for my food. I love grilled cheese sandwiches but the thing about making them is that they take about a minute to eat but a much longer time to prepare. Not this variety though because this grilled cheese sandwich was suuuuuuuubstantial, with three different cheeses inside. That alone would have been a meal but hey, let's not forget about that glorious tomato soup. It had a slightly orange tint to it, why I don't know but won't question because it was delicious. The damn thing came with fries too! I ate maybe 1/4 of those before giving up and handing them over to the host to take home for hangover food to eat the next day. Soup and sandwich was $7.75 menu price. Considering what I pay for shitty Thai food a few blocks away from me that's a great bargain. The only thing keeping it from five stars is the wait (it took about an hour from the time the three of us sat down to when we left) and the fact that I'm spiteful that it's not walking distance from me.
(4)H C.
For as long as I have heard how great the food is at Comet, I never considered going. Maybe because of the Hipster feel that I have heard it has, or just because I don't get out on that side of town nearly enough. A group of us were going to a show at the Oriental last night, and decided to give Comet a go. The staff was friendly as soon as we walked in and made us feel welcome. The place definitely has an old school diner feel. Being such a Pulled Pork fan, I am sad that I didn't give Comet a chance earlier. The BBQ Pork sandwich was Delicious (they offer a vegetarian option) and the fries were tasty. Was happy to see they have Purple Door Ice Cream, but I couldn't pass up the cupcakes at the counter. I took a Chai cupcake to go. Most delicious breakfast this morning!! I am glad I gave them a chance!!
(4)Amanda K.
My Dad saw this on DDD and wanted to go. I had the meatloaf, he had the mac and cheese. The meatloaf was fine, but not nearly as yummy as DDD made it out to be. The brussels sprouts on the side were more exciting to me than the loaf of meat. The mac and cheese was awesome though, some of the best I've ever had! Great combination of cheeses, this is Wisconsin after all! Sweet atmosphere though, I would go back again.
(4)Jess S.
Oh this place is alright. For SURE. Combining the atmosphere of your local diner with the, um, booze of a bar is pure genius. Brunch was delish. Wish I didn't live so far away. Boo to that.
(5)Nada R.
Reason to visit Milwaukee #412: Comet Cafe I mean it. I would rather ride the train where I can read and nap, and have fresh fried "riblets" when I arrive than even think about making them from scratch. Careful now, they also come with fries. Bring your friends and starve them a bit first. Would you like a well-crafted sidecar with that? You're in luck. Care to finish up with a $3 Allagash? Done. Immaculate joint with impeccable staff. Can't wait to return next time somebody (Kraftwerk, wtf?) plays in Milwaukee and not Chicago.
(4)Lauren W.
The only bad part was a minor wait (20 mins?) for a party of 2 on a rainy weeknight. Other than that - it was so great! We ate the bar and had wonderful food. The bar staff were attentive to the perfect degree. The specials of the day were duck confit poutine and a salad with dried figs, candied hazelnuts, pancetta and some other wonderful things --- both dishes were amazing. Plus the soup of the day was a creamy bacon fingerling-potato chowder. Awesome. I took home a pistachio rose-water cupcake which was lovely...and so so moist. Good beer selection. Will definitely go again.
(5)marie b.
Came for lunch on a Saturday between noon and 1:00. Had a half hour wait for a table. Had hoped to have lunch, but they were serving Brunch until 3:00! We had seen the 'Check, Please' episode for Comet and had hoped to try some of the wonderful looking items featured. Alas, that was not to be during the Brunch time. I'm not big on breakfast at 1 p.m. We may try it again, but much later in the day.
(3)Francis D.
This place is great to rub in the hair of the dog that bit ya! Besides bacon bloodies and other booze for breakfast... Ba zing!!! This place is very chill and there's enough background noise to continue having a good time with your family, friends, and anybody else - the booths are close so you could easily pickup others' conversations, people watch or craigslist a missed connection. The servers are very welcoming and though you should usually tip breakfast staff extra, they don't act they'd rather be somewhere else... when I'm there, there's no other place I'd rather be! Oh, and just one more thing, and the breakfast burrito needs work, I'd sooner cut off a taco truck and steal one from a wetback than order it again... aye sancho a huevo!
(5)Robin Z.
Absolutely loved the vegan options. The Reuben didn't quite taste like most veggie Reubens I've had, but that's because they don't use tempeh- they use something called "vegan field meats" according to the menu. It tasted a bit like pork roll, the only meat I've ever missed since going veg in 1987, so your mileage may vary. The double chocolate cupcake was to die for (not vegan). The bill came and we were sure there was an error- it was so affordable for such a tasty meal!
(5)Robyn W.
We went there for breakfast this morning and we had a decent experience. I had their special, which was Shiitake mushroom, leek and spinach crepes in a Gruyère cheese sauce. It was quite delicious. My husband, however, had the simple breakfast of two eggs with hash browns, and ordered cinnamon toast and sausage extra. The sausage was really, really dry, as if it had been made several hours ago and sat in a warming dish. So, he sent it back and asked for bacon instead. Our server had no problem with that, but returned in less than a minute with equally dry and cold bacon. It seems that they don't cook their meats fresh, so I would recommend NOT getting them, especially when they charge $1.50 for a side. Stick with the specials.
(3)K C.
Small, out of the way place, but fun atmosphere and great food. My son had bacon pancakes and they were delicious. I had regular small stack and they were flavorful and tasty. Seems like it is a "hippie" type of place. One negative was that I saw cooks come out to get drink, and they had long hair and NO HAIR NETS. Yuck.
(4)Mike J.
Great home made food. The Compact Turkey Dinner is awesome. I've also had the meatloaf which is wrapped in bacon, can't go wrong there either.
(5)Masha G.
Man, o man o man!!! That place rocks! So my bf and I went to Milwaukee to see the city, to go to the nice show, to taste local beer and see local places. Asking locals here and there we found out about this place. And did we not regret stopping by!!! Beer selections are great, plus they have decent whiskey choices and other drinks if you wish. Food was amazing! You have to try meatloaf. IT comes with delicious mush potatoes and gravy, and a mountain( and I mean it - mountain!) of perfectly roasted brussels sprouts. Simple but super delicious! Atmosphere is great, staff is nice and knowledgeable. I am glad we stopped by - I would drive back to Milwaukee, just to eat at the Comet ... well, and maybe have a walk by the lake shore too.
(5)Teri P.
I love that they can make vegan/vegetarian versions of about 2/3 of their menu! Every item that has a little rabbit by it can be made vegan. It was pretty awesome. We started with the artichoke dip, which was exceedingly delicious (not vegan). It had a beautiful crust of cheesey goodness on top. mmm. I had the vegan meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The brussels sprouts were braised in beer, and even I liked them (words I have only once before uttered about brussels sprouts!). The beer gravy is so delicious. The vegan meatloaf...I don't know how they did it, but it was so good. My dad had a hamburger, which he insisted must have been more than 6oz because it felt so large. He said it was delicious. He never even touched his fries, because he got full eating the burger. Probably a good sign. By the time we got here and got seated it was well after 8pm, and the desserts were gone. I watched them erase "turtle cupcake" just as we sat down, which made me sad because I'd wanted to try it! Of course, by the time I ate my ridiculously large dinner, I didn't want it anymore, so that worked out okay. I plan to drive back up here to try out the mac-n-cheese, the true measure of comfort food, and maybe get my hands on some dessert, before deciding on a 5th star. IMPORTANT: this is a slow-food restaurant. Not in the sense that the service is slow or anything bad, but that they are a stated antithesis to the fast food culture. Be prepared to spend some time here, both waiting for a table and waiting between courses or between ordering and getting food. Relax and enjoy the meal experience.
(4)Jen L.
I was driving around during my one break away from the office and my hotel and found this place with my co-worker. Dare I say that I think I found my new fav hangout / home away from home whenever I have to come to Milwaukee for work. It had it all: staff was extra friendly and attentive, menu offered vegan/veggie options that were perfectly portioned and very tastey, beverage variety is all you could ask for (espresso, tea, full bar, drink specials) and atmosphere is cozy and interesting but not too much one way or the other. I saw Fuel Cafe logos on their drink cozies so I wondered if there was an affiliation. Again, I was just thrilled to be here rather than my usual "eat in the hotel" routine. 4/4 Visit: Went back before heading home to Chicago and had the Longhorn sandwich. The peach(?) jam on roasted chicken and cream cheese sounded odd, but my was it tastey! I'll have to try to replicate for brown bag lunches in the future.
(5)Phil K.
Probably the best food I've had in along time
(5)Siobhan G.
Came here based on the yelp reviews, but I don't agree on this place. I'd give this place 2.5 stars. In general the service was inattentive and the food was just okay. I came to Comet with my bf, brother and mom. I had the vegan scramble with biscuits (instead of toast) and the shorewood (raspberry) mocha -- the scramble was okay, but I couldn't finish my food because the taste was overwhelming of salt. I really wanted something with vegetables but I couldn't even taste them. Perhaps it was the contrast with my food, but the raspberry mocha was too sweet for me, so I really had no desire to finish that either. I LOVE brunch, but this was just a disappointment. The rest of my fellow diners didn't seem to thrilled about their food either. Will not be back.
(2)Anthony R.
Great place and great food. I was really craving AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner so a friend and I stopped by here this past Monday. This place is usually busy at all hours but you can't be surprised by that when word gets out about a restaurant with awesome grub. We walked in about 7ish and to my surprise the counter was completely unoccupied so we bypassed all of the people waiting for a table and rec'd some pretty prompt service. The Compact Turkey Dinner hit the spot. I opted for the soup of the day which was this cream of green bean with bleu cheese concoction and it was super good. My friend had the Leghorn Sandwich which she said was good. She said multiple times the fries that came on the side were the best she's ever had. With the amount of food you get here there really is no need to order apps unless you want to take half your entree home. This place has a really cool vibe and the ambiance is great. My service experience on this most recent trip and past trips has always been good. They have a great drink menu and a huge beer selection. Whether you're at Comet for breakfast, lunch, or dinner the food will be amazing. I know people complain about the wait for the table and the wait for the food once you've ordered but I don't know if you can complain about those types of things when the restaurant advertises itself as "slow food." If you can deal with the wait for a seat and the wait for the food it is well worth it.
(5)Kelsey J.
Love the Comet! I used to live within a block of the restaurant so I frequented it often. Now that I'm a little further I'm not there as often but I crave the sandwiches. There are a few Milwaukee restaurants where I constantly crave certain things while I'm away, especially traveling in foreign countries. For the Comet, it's the cheesy roast beef sandwich with fries. I don't know what makes it so dang good, but its good. I love all the creative drinks, the sunday night bacon and the atmosphere. Service can be slow, but always pleasant.
(4)joel w.
the chicken vegetable soup was CRAZY good. food was good, staff was friendly. you owe it to yourself to try this homey little place.
(4)Hannah H.
This is what I miss about Milwaukee, in restaurant form. Super cheap beer specials on amazing beers, free baskets of bacon on Sundays, warm summer afternoons with all the doors open as WWF plays on every TV. Yes! They had wonderful and inventive specials like 1/2 Milwaukee's best for the bearded and two dollar old fashioned cocktails. Their bloody marys come with a salad: pickle, mushroom, olive, brussel sprout, and slice of bacon if you want it, and a mini High Life chaser. During the winter I would regularly stop by for bacon meatloaf with beer gravy, or the tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich. Superb!
(5)Jackie S.
As long as you understand their service is not the fastest, you will have a great time here. They have the BEST vegan food in Milwaukee... the vegan scrambler is my absolute favorite. yum!
(5)Emily T.
Order the Mac and cheese. But make sure you bring all your friends, it's Huge! The pulled pork sandwich and meatloaf are awesome! It's a great go to, but can get Very busy!
(4)Emily K.
We loooooved Comet. My vegan girlfriend, who hadn't had meatloaf in about 2 years, actually teared up eating their vegan version. I had the vegan salisbury steak which was great but a little crunchy- maybe deep fried a bit too long. But whatever, I love anything covered in gravy. I also love bacon. And I am sorely disappointed that, being the designated driver, I couldn't try the bloody mary's with bacon. Kudos to Comet for combining a full bar with diner food that is vegan/vegetarian friendly.
(4)Catharine H.
We decided to try them out because they were on Foodnetwork with Guy Fieri...first off, the wait was pretty long but kind of expected because they were on tv...but once we got seated, we wanted to order a bottle of wine...ordered a red one and I tasted it and it was not good so I asked for something lighter...tried it and it tasted worse...so just went with white wine... We then ordered our food...my husband ordered the meatloaf entree because it was on tv...well first it did not look like that...it was burnt...and then it was dry and the brussel sprouts were gross...I guess they are beer battered... I ordered a salad with tuna...it was not worth paying an extra 5 bucks for the tuna...it was dry and hard...I have had so much better...at least everything else in the salad was okay... Oh and then we took cupcakes to go...not worth it! We do not plan to go back here...we would have preferred going across the street and get better burgers.
(2)Eric H.
Yes the meatloaf (and eggs) is pretty darn good. The outer "bark" is crisp and has bacon in it-yes bacon! Not a fan of the brunch menu on the weekends because of the limited selection. I did not drink but the bloody mary's (with a piece of bacon in it) looked quite good. Nice micro-brew selection. The dessert cupcakes looked ridiculous. The staff were quick and efficient-they all seemed like an artist of some sort which fits the ambiance of the place. Expect a wait time of up to 20 minutes on saturday.
(4)Pam L.
My first visit here in a really long time. The BBQ pork sandwich is perfection. It is obviously slow roasted with some bites being that crispy chewy connection that only comes with hours of sloooow cooking, combined with a wonderful not-to-sweet-not-so-salty sauce that gave it another whole texture to offset the crispy. The bun was heaven. And it was sitting next to these incredible looking fries. The fries were the disappointment of the meal, sadly. They had been crisp but my guess is spent too much time on the plate waiting for the scrumptious sandwich. By the time the plate arrived the fries were barely warm. I will definitely try again. We ate at the bar and the bartender was friendly and efficient.
(4)Kathryn M.
This place is delicious. I go to comet with friends for brunch on the weekends. There will almost always be a line for brunch on the weekends but at least you can stand around the bar with a tasty drink until a table opens. My favorite drink is the boozalatte. Laid back, fun atmosphere. This place has a great sense of humor. I just smile and laugh every time I'm at comet. Food is wonderful and creative. I take all of my out of town friends here and they all love it too!
(5)Ben F.
Probably my favorite place to eat in Milwaukee there is usually a wait but the environment, service, and food make it more than worth it. I love places that pride themselves on making good homemade comfort food from the heart and this place is high on my list. The wait staff is so helpful and knowledgeable about all the menu items and the wide selection of beers. Truly a wonderful dining experience every time!
(5)Ben R.
I've been coming here for sometime for breakfast and I love it. They have some of the craziest and most delicious breakfast concoctions around. My favorite is the Comet Benedict. A biscuit over hashbrowns then covered with sausage gravy and sausages, a little cheese and then a poached egg. It is wonderful. They also have really good bloody marries but anyone who gets excited about their bacon is kidding themselves. Also the wait is long, parking is crappy but the food definitely makes up for it.
(3)Emily L.
I like the changing menu and the vegan friendly options. Yummy seasoned fries! I like sitting on the diner side best, but I've enjoyed the outside seating and the bar side. 3 out of 4 times we've had great service, the other time it was really busy (Friday night) Comet is unique and has great drink selections. Definitely visit this and the other places owned by these people!
(4)Carrie N.
This place was awesome all across the board !! My friend and I road tripped to Wisco for the day and came here on a recommendation from a co- worker of mine and really glad we did! It was so fun that we came here twice once for bloody's and brunch and once for boozy coffee and cupcakes! The beer selection was awesome, music was good, the bar staff was friendly and fun! Thanks to Andy for playing our most hated celebrities game with us because he made our time especially fun. The entire staff there was great though and next time I'm there it will most definitely be on my agenda for lunch and maybe dessert again too! Had a great time !
(5)Tanya C.
My goal at comet is to get something different each time I go, but it is very difficult considering i love what I had before. Grilled cheese and tomato soup and leghorn are two favorties. Salads so fresh you might have a grasshopper in them. ginger dressing is amazing. cucumber dip for fries is also great.
(5)Angie K.
I've been here a number of times and I have never been disappointed. It's my go-to whenever I'm in Milwaukee. Some of my veg favs are the open-faced meatloaf sandwich and the hazelnut cutlet with gravy. The riblets are an awesome appetizer and the Sat and Sun brunch should not be missed. I also recommend the Boozalatte. ;)
(5)Sabrina P.
If your looking for a great place to indulge in comfort food look no further! They have the best meatloaf in town! Also there Sunday special of beer and free bacon makes your mouth water!
(4)Jennifer M.
I went here for the first time Saturday evening. It wasn't that busy, we waited only about 10 minutes for a table. The food was pretty good. The service was pretty dreadful. We all had salads and soup before we even got our water or beers. One person's soup was completely forgotten. After our meal, the plate clearing task was half done then abandoned by our server. One in our party ordered a beer - ten minutes later he asked about it and the server's response was "Oh...do you still want it?" He did, so we all ordered another round (several dirty plates still on the table) about ten minutes later we got our beer. We were never offered dessert and about five minutes later - without being asked - brought our check. It really wasn't a great experience. Overall, the server made me feel like he didn't care one way or the other if we were there, happy or taken care of. The music was too loud (not to sound like a granny but conversation was hard with each other at our own table). The cupcakes looked good but I wasn't given the chance to order one - I'm not sure I'll go back to find out :(
(2)Bill S.
The food is great and differs from traditional menus. The environment is cool and definitely represents the young hip East Side neighborhood. The only downfall is that due to it's popularity, you better be ready to wait for a table and some service.
(4)Babs H.
Grilled cheese with bacon, tomato bisque, and tater tots? Yes please! All you can bacon for breakfast? Talk dirty to me! It's open late night on weekends, so perfect place to hit and grab grub after drinking. Not ready to call it quits? There's huge beer menu available!
(5)Chase H.
Fuck Yeah!!!! I love the food & if you try it you will too. If not well... move on then. Ciao'. Doctor & Andy M. Rule!!!
(5)Chad W.
Love it like lord Myron loves petit fours! Modern soul food done right! Vegans eat up, freegans the dumpster is loaded with yummy treasure!
(5)Sandra A.
I still repeat the sentence to my boyfriend, even though I went to Comet Cafe a few months ago while in Milwaukee for a day or two. "I once ate at a restaurant that put a basket on bacon on your table just to have."
(4)Patrice R.
This is my family's favorite restaurant. We go here for any reason whatsoever because the food is so tasty and the service is great. For dinner we always start off with the vegan riblets and order both sauces. Family favorites are the vegan Big Luck Burger, vegan Reuben, vegan Salisbury Steak...did I mention we are vegan? Comet has the best vegetable sides. I had the most incredible amazing Brussell Sprouts of my entire life here and even got an order to go. They have bakers who are magicians and create the best vegan desserts ever. The only thing I don't care for that much is sitting on the bar side because the music is loud. All in all we LOVE COMET.
(5)Solomohn E.
The food and drinks are like a flaming hot comet between your legs. For those of you who cannot understand the goodness of a flaming hot comet between one's legs: the food is good.
(5)Emily C.
I have to start by saying this: BLOODY MARY WITH BACON IN IT. Better than any hook I could ever write. Milwaukee, in general, seems to know what the heck it's doing when it comes to Bloodys more than any city I've visited thus far. And, oh my Christ, does Comet Cafe make an amazing one with that huge, thick, stick of bacon for the stirrer (Because bacon beats celery. Always.) and the pickled pepper and artichoke, plus the little bitty beer wash to cut down on the spiciness. My whole table was in borderline cultlike adoration of those Bloody Marys. Apparently they also serve other things with bacon. Like, for instance, pancakes. And a BLT sandwich with a fried egg on it (called the BELT. Har har.) And then, once you're done stuffing yourself with bacony stuff, Comet takes the brunch thing one step further and offers dessert in the form of pastries and cupcakes. Hold the phone. I thought if you wanted breakfast with dessert, you had to order stuffed Fronch toast or other sweet breakfasts of that ilk. Nope, not here. I ate a BELT and then, for dessert, ate an incredibly delicious coconut-vanilla cupcake with dark chocolate frosting. I took one star away because they don't serve decaf. COME ON COMET, some of us who look like 28 year old women actually have the stomachs of 76 year old men and can't drink caffeine due to impossible amounts of heartburn. They have some coffee + booze combo that I probably would have drank like seven of had they been able to offer me decaf. (My stomach is great with booze and terrible with caffeine. I don't ask questions; I just thank God every day it's not the other way around!) So yeah, Comet, pick up the decaf thing and you are heaven on earth. With bacon. And vodka. And cupcakes.
(4)Mike K.
Superb! On a recent trip to visit friends, I learned of the many glories of Milwaukee. What a town! And it's places like Comet that make the place so special. Comet was just crowded enough that we had to wait a few minutes for a table, but once we sat down the wonders never ceased. Great coffee, excellent brunch food. People around me were drinking bloody marys with gobs of veggies and huge slices of bacon in them. Our table got an order of bacon pancakes (definition: pancakes with bacon cooked into them). All of a sudden, bacon surrounded us on all sides. Despite the bacontimidation, Comet is extremely veggie/vegan friendly. You simply can't go wrong here. Check it out!
(5)Dustin U.
The only complaint I could ever have with Comet is that I've been so much that I know the menu inside out. Brilliant food and my favorite bar to watch a football game.
(5)Will H.
wow, worth whatever wait there is... so good for a hangover and a delicious breakfast... the Bloody-Mary with Bacon and with a Miller High Life shooter is an excellent hangover cure. There is some drink with OJ and beer which sounds gross but is actually quite good. Hurray for breakfast drinking. All of the food we ordered was well prepared, hot and delicious. Nothing was standard breakfast fare and everything was really good. I'd love to try this place for lunch or dinner if they are open.
(5)Nana H.
I haven't been there in a while its been remodeled its clean not as smoky as you used to be. The place is smoke free until 10pm. I am very happy about personally.
(5)Kate C.
The good: -Vegetarian chicken drumsticks! These were a special and were pretty amazing, complete with faux chicken skin and all. I was amused by the little wooden dowel inside, but it was cool - kind of like a shish kabob. -The expansive beer and cocktail menu! Very impressive and cheap too! -The wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options. Comet Cafe has so many choices! Philly needs a casual, sit-down place like this with lots of veg options and booze. We mainly have grab-and-go places, byos, or fancypants vegan restaurants. The meh: -A whole bunch of said vegetarian options weren't available the night we were there. There were so many unavailable that I couldn't remember them all. -The veggie meatloaf. It was fine, but nothing remarkable, and was swimming in gravy. Came with brussel sprouts though, which made me very happy (but not very many brussel sprouts which made me kind of sad). The bad: -The table of hipsters behind us who were loudly making fun of the way deaf people talk (or were those their stereotype "retard" voices? Hard to tell, but obnoxious either way). -The waitress didn't ask us if we wanted anything after dinner and just brought the check to us. What if I wanted some rhubarb pie or another beer? :( I bet if I went back, the number of stars might go up, but based on my lone visit, it was a three star experience.
(3)Nathan K.
Great Vegan and Vegetarian options. Home cooking and great bar food, chill atmosphere. Also has great beer selection.
(5)Elyse C.
So good! This place rocks! Bloody Mary with bacon...uh yes please! Everyone loved the food, spicy fries are a must. Compact turkey dinner is awesome! Turkenstein yum! My husband got the special which was some sandwich made with French toast.. Uh Glorious! Stop in, thanks DDD!
(4)Rachel T.
I wish this place was in Chicago... Delicious coffee, a wide range of cocktails and beer, and a menu that is inclusive to both vegan/vegetarians and meat eaters! As a vegetarian, I'm used to dining out with meat eaters and the level of compromise it usually involves - on my part or theirs. It was great for everyone to leave satisfied. I had a mocha (it had the perfect balance of sweet chocolate flavor to coffee) and the meatloaf sandwich made with vegan Field Roast (which was a tower of food almost the size of my head and made 2 large meals). Not exactly health food, but it hit the spot, and down to every detail the food and drinks seemed thoughtful and considered. I'd love to visit Comet Cafe again if I'm ever in Milwaukee... next time I'd try them for dinner and drinks!
(5)Pizz o.
Went before a brewers game the other night. We had a really great server who was very nice and helpful. I ordered the roast beef Sammy, another ordered something like the vegan deep fried rib tips (can't remember the name) and the other guy ordered vegan gyra pita. We all shared and tried each others. We all agreed my Sammy was excellent. Those deep fried vegan things were really good too. But we all agreed we wish we wouldn't ordered something other than the gyro. It just wasnt that good. However, this is coming from 3 people who are no where close to being vegans so maybe our taste buds just weren't used to it. All of our fries were cold too. But I would definitely try it again next time in Milwaukee because there were lots of other tasty sounding dishes on the menu.
(3)Terry O.
Lots of good things to say about the food -- "comfort food" at good prices and even with a little flair here and there. Have been many times now, and will keep going back. Wife: "Best Reuben I ever had". Son: "Love the Grilled Cheese and the tomato soup." Me: Something with bacon, and that's just about anything at Comet if you want it that way, it seems. Very diverse clientele, and clearly a local favorite hangout. The only problem (and why I held back a star): Twice we got shorted (no soup included today) on our take out orders, and when I called to tell them about it after getting home --- very blase "sorry bout that" (which came across sort of like: "hey, tough doo-doo") instead of a sincere attempt to "make it right".
(4)Heather T.
I haven't been to Comet for a long time--and in fact, I thought they were closing a few years ago? I guess not. That delights me. :) This used to be one of my favorite cafes in Milwaukee. They had a great tea selection. It was nice to get a nice hot cup of tea to go and walk around the Lake Dr. neighborhood and the park with the water tower in it at night. This place also introduced me to wasabi on a veggie sandwich. It was like a wonderful punch in the face.
(4)Jen B.
A slow food cafe that serves the classics. It looks like two cafes smooshed together, with a bar in the middle. I love the atmosphere and the effort to serve up sustainable meals. But sadly my food wasn't great. The breakfast burrito had a bad tortilla-to-fillings ratio. Everyone else's meal looked awesome, though, so probably just aovid what I got and you'll be fine.
(3)Douglas R.
This place has my vote for "Milwaukee's best." Pros: Beer selection, food, wait staff location. Con: I don't really like green onions that much...so i have to say "No green onions on that sh@t, please" but that isn't really a huge deal Pro: Bacon Roolz! The alley just down the way is perfect for recreations of fight club dumpster diving, and wall scaling. The wood paneling behind the bar is freaking awesome. People are going to talk sh@t about pabst in a bottle, but it really isn't that bad when it is cold. What more could you want? Pretty sure they still honor "beard night."
(5)Olivia P.
I am definitely a snob when it comes to brunch, but I really enjoyed the breakfast burrito and its accompanying sauce. It was also HUGE and I enjoyed taking a good portion of it home, and eating it later that day. Four stars instead of 5 because I feel like as delicious as it was, it wasn't THE best breakfast burrito ever. Granted, maybe next time I will branch out and order something else. I've heard mention of Comet being known for bacon, so I will have to give that a try. Mmmm bacon. As a final note, I also visited during bar time and had a fun time chatting with friends and enjoying a $2 beer.
(4)Ty M.
Comet = 5 stars! One of my favorite breakfast spots REAL coffee not crappy coffee flavored water that most resturants serve, and a breakfast food to die for! Anyone bitchin about the slow service needs to learn how to read becasuse it says it on the menu "slow service".... BTW Guy doesn't stop by to review a crappy resturant he stops by to tell the world THIS PLACE ROCKS!
(5)amy j.
Checked out the Comet Cafe just before it was featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" so we beat the crowds. It's a hip, little dive bar with pretty good food. I'm sure if I was about 20 years younger, I'd be more impressed with the "vibe". The employees were friendly and having a good time. They seem to have great relationships with their regulars, as a good time was being had by all. If you're looking for one of their famous sandwiches like the meatloaf sandwich (meatloaf sandwiched by a grilled cheese sandwich on each side) you'll have to order it by name as it a specialty item that's not on the menu. The service was a tad bit slow, but that's the kind of place this is... slow, comfort food. So go ahead, check it out, have a good time.. that's what this place is all about.
(3)Sara R.
We had a very disappointing visit to Comet Cafe after reading such great reviews. While there was no wait, it was easy to understand why. There were several flies that would not stop flying around our table which was just really annoying. The waiter was less than friendly, never offering refills on our drinks and walking by our table several times without stopping to check on us or ask how the food was. When he brought out my broccoli I immediately saw a hair on it and had to practically chase him down to get his attention. All he did was look at it and take the plate away. No apology or anything! Eventually he brought out another plate of broccoli but by that time my appetite had been ruined and I couldn't wait to leave. As far as the food goes my daughter liked the spinach and artichoke dip, my son thought the fish was awful and my husband liked the turkey balls that were featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives. This was not a good dining experience.
(2)Tawnee S.
Came here for lunch with my mom the other day. The food is tasty (the fries are fantastic) and everything seems to be priced just right. The service is a little slow, but it's definitely worth the wait! My only complaint is that on the day that we went, there were a ton of flies inside- apparently from the patio being open. Just very irritating to be constantly slapping at these big flies, but that isn't really the restaurant's fault. Definitely go here, the sandwiches are fantastic!
(5)Nick F.
Very busy on a Saturday afternoon. I had a turkenstein with seasoned fries. The fries were ok, the sandwhich was fantastic. I love this place.
(5)Arthur E.
I would have to say that this was my favorite hangout while I still lived in Milwaukee. The staff are all great people, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the food...ugh, if there is one thing I miss about Milwaukee it's the food. This place can hook it up on the meat side of things as well as the vegan. Being vegan, I'd have to say this is probably the best vegan restaurant in all of the Milwaukee area. They have many different choices and a fairly diverse menu. The head cook Adam takes great pride in his creations. Now, all I'm left to do is hope that they open one of these up in San Francisco. Yes, that's right. I'm a vegan, live in San Francisco, and I still can't get this place out of my mind. Not one restaurant out here can even come close to this place. DO IT!
(5)Donna S.
Yum! The food is not fast, but it is good. My kids crave the vegetarian deep fried riblets. Great atmosphere as well. I highly recommend a visit, especially if you are looking for delicious vegetarian options.
(4)Alexis P.
I have scoured my current city of Chicago for a tofu scramble comparable to the one at Comet and have failed to find one that is near as good. I held off for a long time trying the Comet tofu scramble, even though people told me it was delicious...how right they were. Pretty much everything here is great - the grilled cheese and tomato soup, bottomless coffee, vegan gyro (spectacular!), breakfast burrito (one of the best I've ever had), and the list goes on. The only thing that disappoints me, is that I swear the pancakes have changed. The last time I ordered one it was too thick and dry. However, they have another big draw and that is the Booze-a-Late. Who could say no to a giant coffee flavored iced cocktail at brunch?
(5)Sarah J.
Things I have inhaled at comet: Buttafucco - with the side of spicy peppers and the fries Artichoke Melt - side salad Cheezy Roast Beef - side salad I had the fries as a side the first time, but have gone with the salad thereafter. My reasoning being that their ginger dressing is OUTSTANDING! Though I have a thing for ginger, so I might not be the best person to judge. The only thing I didn't like about the ginger dressing is that it kept my mouth company the rest of the day no matter what I did. So you'll have to weigh the sacrifice, is the taste worth covering your mouth when you come into contact with any lifeform for the rest of the day? For me, it's a definitive yes. Deal, friends! Onto the meat and potatoes of this review though - the sammies. My relationship with comet started long ago with high school and mashed potatoes. While it had been years, a friend brought me back to taste their awesomeness. My first taste, the buttafucco, was delicious but it wasn't really anything to write home about. My next attempt was the the artichole melt and this is where I was riding rainbows of happiness in my mouth. The perfect blend of artichokes and spinach, with a liberal douse of mayo (which makes everything better) and cheese melted on top of a crispity crunchity hunk of bread. I called it heaven on bread. Then came the cheezy roast beef. Which historically has been one of my favorite combos, beef and cheese, seriously folks, good stuff. This was even better to me, perhaps I was just in a beefy mood that day, but this was it. This is the one I had been waiting for, no meat sweats either. Just pure happiness. So, either way you go, veggie, not veggie, there's a little something for every taste bud.
(4)Michelle T.
I'm glad I finally made it to Comet Cafe. We went for an early dinner on a Saturday and actually got a table right away. Our service was decent, and the food was fantastic. I went with the grilled cheese and tomato soup- both were great. We had a side of the double cheese mashed potatoes (yummy but so much we had to bring them home). What I loved most was the dessert, though- the chocolate ho-ho cake is amazing. I'll definitely go back soon to get a comfort food fix.
(5)Cathy H.
Sorely disappointed, to be honest. I've only tried one other Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives feature (Glenn's Diner in Chicago), and I loved it, so I figured I'd try another when I passed through Milwaukee. Boy, was this a disappointment. I ordered the chicken philly without mayo, which was tasty, but super-duper greasy (I can only imagine what it's like with mayo!). Although tasty, it wasn't anything to write home about. My eating companion's bacon pancakes were also okay, but not anything you couldn't put together at home with minimal effort (I did like that the bacon was in big chunks, though). The real disappointment was the cream of tomato soup. The first bite wasn't good, but it was okay. The subsequent bites were inedible! They were so acidic I winced with every bite (and stopped after three or four). And the final kicker: I ordered tea with honey, and the honey bottle had a bug in it! So one bug, not a big deal. But then my replacement honey bottle ALSO had a bug in it! Seriously, two jars, two bugs? Ew. In conclusion: ew.
(2)Alice G.
A number of friends had suggested Comet for my recent visit to Milwaukee and it did not disappoint! I had what I call Turkey Balls (fried ball of thanksgiving dinner ina bowl of gravy) and it took all our will power not to go to Comet for each meal after. I'll probably like this place even better once smoking is banned in restaurants.
(5)Gabrielle K.
theyre not grumpy, YOU ARE A YUPPY. it's supposed to make yr mouth turn green its SUPPOSED to taste like gas-o-lean ginger brandy hot toddies and nat shermans after 11....veggie chili tastes like being 16....good for kids of all ages....i brought a fairly difficult family friend there....no, she didnt eat the ahi tuna sandwich she ordered (she thought it would be tuna salad), but the sweetypie waitress in 50's uniform hooked it up with some fries. happy day ! whatever. i've been going here since i was a brooding 15 year old with a nasty smoking habit....and every time im back i make sure to stop into this establishment.... o! and pie!
(5)M S.
Decided to check out a Triple-D joint while on vacation - the Comet Cafe was everything I would expect from a Guy Fieri'd establishment! They were packed when we arrived, but we found a couple spots at the bar. Bartender was busy, but we never felt it - he took the time to chat, as well as explain the food and drink specials. He suggested a locally distiled gin for a couple drinks (which were great!) and a nice beer too. We ate the double-baked potato (good), my BF had the Thanksgiving Dinner balls (if you don't know what they are, look them up on the menu - it's hilarious and VERY yummy!), and I had the amazing, cheesy homemade mac 'n cheese. We also had their soup d'jour, which was apple/fennel and you would have thought you were sitting in a small 5-star Top Chef restaurant. LOVED IT!!
(5)J T.
This place is amazing. My wife and I accidentally discovered Comet a few years ago while looking for a bagel joint and couldn't be happier. We used to go here at least once a week, but since have moved about 45 minutes away. We still trek downtown to eat here at least twice a month so that should tell you something. It's by far our favorite restaurant in Milwaukee. The drink menu is staggeringly good, and they always have excellent beers on tap (and an incredible selection available in bottle form). The bloody mary is also quite good. Also, it's fantastic that it's non-smoking until 10:00pm (may be 10:30, not positive). Their specials are usually fantastic, we've found that the weirder it sounds the better it is. Our favorites include the Sweet Cobra with are Mac&Cheese pancakes (!) with BBQ pork inside. It's incredible. Then there is the Akimbo Burger, which is a Kobe beef burger topped with Jalepeno relish, a fried egg, and bacon. Oh and the "bread" for the burger is actually 2 fried cheese sandwiches, one with mushroom inside and the other with bacon. It's a sight to behold, but would feed 2-3 people EASILY. Regular menu items that are great include the meatloaf, artichoke sandwich (personal fav), breakfast burrito, and the stendler. One thing to note, is this is not a fast-in/out establishment. We regularly have spent 2+ hours here, especially during peak times. The seating is rather limited, so an hour wait is not unheard of.
(5)Kristen S.
The food here is comparable to Beans N Barley. Based upon the experience with the service, I'll skip the trip back.
(3)Julie P.
Good food and good service. Food was better than the beer selection, very little for Wisconsin beers, on tap or in a bottle. The fish and chips were delicious, and the burger looked great too. Low key, totally affordable. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal with beer that won't break the bank.
(4)Mike A.
good food -- check extensive wine/beer list -- check hipsters -- check I have been visiting this place since it "expanded" a few years ago and I can say that it is consistently pretty great. The food is as good as you are going to get at any diner aspiring to do more. The tuna sandwich is good. The bowl of Mac & Cheese is made with real cheese and so huge it will put you to sleep. The Turkey Reuben is great and made with real turkey pieces not the heated up deli meat. The gravy on the meatloaf tastes like it was made on-site and very savory. There is a bacon special on Sundays. They will give you as much bacon as you can eat for free and put it your Bloody Mary if you ask. The Beermosas are not as bad as they sound. If you are older (like me) you will like this place because you can sit down and talk, the bartenders know their booze, music is interesting, and there is a game on TV. If you are a UWM student from a small Wisco town, this is the "cool" place you will take your friends when they come to visit. If you are a hipster, this is the place to spend the money your parents send you and hook up.
(4)Jamie B.
When the old Comet existed in its smokey haze, I would go for brunch sometimes as I waited for my laundry to wash in the 'mat next door. Then I left the East Side and only went when I was at work at Koppa's. I have been to the "new" Comet several times, and while I don't ZOMGLOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE it, I certainly don't hate it, either. It is totally just fine by me. Although a tad bit on the expensive side, I am more grumping about price for breakfast. I am more willing to pay the prices for the dinner foods, absolutely. Probably just because, while the breakfast *is* yummy, I have most of those ingredients in my house, always. There was some hubbub after the remodel about selling out, blah blah and the new 21+ policy [after, 4pm? 5pm?], but, as Scott and Leslie put it - their regular clientele are aging so they remodeled to reflect what customers were asking for, and what they, as the owners, would want to patronize. With Fuel [who recently applied for a liquor license] retaining the same interior, but adding some [awesome!] items to the menu although taking away the smoking, I see a compromise to the patrons who were upset at losing the old Comet. I also see businesses who are prepping for the probably-inevitable smoking ban that I am sure Milwaukee will pass SOMEDAY. Although not anytime soon. And with a lot of kicking and fighting. As far as the 21+ policy, well, they are a bar now basically, and liquor laws are often a bitch; a confusing and illogical one, but nonetheless, a bitch. The goal IS to stay in business and not get fined and shut down. Or so they say. I am not a business owner. The baked macaroni and cheese is my favorite, even though I sometimes get a belly ache or fall into a cheese-coma afterwards. If comfort food is what you like, then Comet is your place to eat! [And, as noted by plenty of other reviewers, don't worry if you eat meat or not: they have you covered either way.] Haha, remember when they had that whole-Thanksgiving-dinner-fried-in-a-ball thing? I never tried that. I wanted to, but I also felt ahead of time how sick I am sure I would have been afterwards. The drink specials at Comet are pretty sweet, and they have Lakefront Beers and the new-old Schlitz. There is some night of the week where they show wrestling stuff on TV for those who like that and I am pretty sure if the Brewers are playing, that will be on the TV, also. The baskets of bacon always sound like the BEST IDEA EVA! I like bacon! It is delicious. I don't eat it often because it is also horrendously bad for you. Back to the baskets of bacon. Best idea, especially when drunk, but I've only indulged twice. Because each time, I learned the icky lesson that goddamnit, you CAN eat too much bacon and oh my poor dear heart. I DO want to live a long and fruitful life, after all. Regarding bacon: Bacon in pancakes IS a delicious way to eat pancakes, but I did not really like the way Comet prepared them: the bacon was not crispy enough and therefore kind of flabby. To be noted: My parents' [who live several states away] favorite place in Milwaukee to have breakfast is Beans 'n' Barley. My dad is Mr. Meat + Potatoes, but my mom is a vegetarian who is practically vegan since she can't do egg yolks or a lot of dairy. My parents second favorite place to have breakfast in Milwaukee is probably Comet.
(4)Sam E.
A fun place to stop that has a large variety of people. You get the skater punk kids that have tattoos from head to toe to people stoping in for a good meal. The service was great when i went there and the food was awesome. Great drink specials also helped me give them a nice rating. I will definitely be back there to try more of the menu and nice beer selection. It is a perfect fit for milwaukee and especially near the brady street area where there's just a melting pot of different people.
(4)Emily P.
we need one of these in chicago. reasonable prices. friendly waitstaff. our seitan nuggets had the perfect texture and the spicy sauce was spicy. my marinated tofu salad was hearty and perfectly peppered. his hazelnut cutlet was to die for. their selection of micro brews was mouthwatering. and it was not inundated w snobby hipsters. but maybe that's just bc we're not in chicago.
(5)Shaun M.
This should get 5/5 stars but I'm giving it a 4 because you have to wait soooo long to get service and because it is on the east side. Comet is also owned by Honeypie which usually has less of a wait, plus I like the Bayview area better. The people seem nicer and not sooo "I deserve this so I'm going to be a jerk..." like so many people on the east side.
(4)Stephen S.
Where all the tortured souls go to comiserate about their pathetic lives on the eastside and talk about how they're so arty or hip or whatever. Was better in its old days and old looks.
(2)Rain T.
I love Comet! I will drive all de way from IL to Milwaukee just to sink mi teeth into some of those vegan German Chocolate Cupcakes or cake.. Also LOVE LOVE LOVE de vegan ribs!! YUP I LOVE COMET!! :-) See u soon! Anyting I have tasted made mi happy!
(4)Jane R.
This is a good veggie-friendly restaurant. pretty greasy bar food but delicious none the less. Almost like if Handlebar and Earwax had a baby. Looking forward to it's Chicago location in Noble Square!
(4)Godsballs T.
First time I went to Comet, I drank too many of the fine craft beers. Second time, I was put into a coma from the portions that were so big that I was fighting gravitys pull when I was done. The atmosphere is lively, the staff seem to be enjoying themselves. This made me feel at welcomed as well. If you like bacon, this is the place for you. I bet bacon is on 50% of the menu. Everytime I have gone I have enjoyed myself.
(5)Linda K.
During my lunch visit with coworkers I think I was the only one who was disappointed. I tried the vegan gyro and the grilled seitan was so over cooked and dried out that it couldn't be cut or chewed. That's what I get for trying to eat healthy! A comment to the waiter simply elicited a shrug and no offer of replacement. But the special Comet seasoned fries were awesome. Since everyone else enjoyed their meal and Comet has a great reputation I planned on going back for breakfast with my family. The atmosphere is hip and trendy in a bohemian chic sort of way. Casual is definitely better, we felt out of place in our suits and business clothes. The restrooms get a C+.
(2)Karen J.
Having tried Honeypie (to which Comet is affiliated), was curious to see the differences here. Comet is a much bigger space, but definitely more crowded, and their "slow food" moniker is truthful. We waited an hour to be seated (from 5-6) and then another hour for our food (which arrived at 7). Good thing our waiter was friendly and brought out salads and soups early on. When our entrees came, it was worth it! A few of us tried the specials of the evening--southern fried chicken, duck with kale, and risotto cakes with mushrooms--all were very satisfied. The table raved most about the mac and cheese and the specialty beer selection, though! GOOD TO KNOW: GO EARLY if you want specials. They erased half of them from the board along with some desserts even before our food came. One last thing--good selection for vegetarians and meat eaters alike, but don't expect light food. Comfort food can be a little on the heavy side.
(4)Shawn S.
Stopped by the Comet on a recommendation from a friend while we were in Milwaukee; absolutely surprised by the quality of the food and service! I'm fairly realistic in my expectations while eating out -I rarely experience both good food AND good service- but this place is exemplary. I ordered the Leghorn sandwich just because it sounded odd (chicken, cream cheese, red onions, jam, and some other stuff) and it was AMAZING. The fries were homemade and great. My only complaint was the bread -it's good but both me and my sidekick felt afterwards like we had eaten three bowls of Captain Crunch each -our pink little mouths were a bit shreddy. (Is that too gross?) Anyway, the lady who served us was very sweet and attentive, which is refreshing. Their beer list is massive and their vegetarian options astounding! Go there often and tip well!
(5)Smiling P.
This is probably not the most thorough review as EVERY time I come here, all I get is the cheesy tomato with the seasoned fries and cucumber sauce. I try to venture out on their menu, but I just can't do it. The sandwich is perfectly seasoned with those Italian spices, the cheese is beautifully melted and, oh... those fries...with the cool sauce. Simply heaven. My dining companions seem to always love their dishes too but I'm too busy getting face time with my cheesy tomato to really recall the details...something about their meatloaf and mac and cheese dishes being really good.
(4)Wisco V.
The vegan salisbury steak is back!!! I still miss the vegan thanksgiving balls, but I'll take it!
(4)Kamran D.
pretty nice
(4)Amy G.
Went here on the request of my 10 year old son. Which was odd. But he's a Triple D junkie and wanted to go here for his birthday. Now "back in the day" I used to go the Comet Cafe - it was cheesy but in a good way. You'd place your order - get a little plastic picture as an order marker for your table. It was smoky - it had the "grunge" "alternative" feel to it. But the food was incredible. (the espresso milkshake - had ground up coffee beans in it - ) But fast forward to modern day. Now I was going with kids. Would that even be possible? Turns out it is possible - and apparently quite common. Early Saturday evenings. Strollers and kids and families. Odd sight from how I remembered it. We signed on the sheet and waited our turn for a table. This could be awhile if you do not time it right. Our wait wasn't that bad. My 10 yr old knew exactly what he wanted - the open faced meatloaf sandwich/tower. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, bacon, gravy - the reaction to the size of the "sandwich" was priceless. He enjoyed it. It lived up to his expectation. I had the grilled chicken philly sandwich. Well made, good flavors. No complaints. The fries were the girls' favorite. They were good. Addicting. The husband had the cheesy tomato sandwich. He also thought it was good. Nothing dramatic. At heart its still a diner - with good homemade food. The service was good. I would recommend it. What I struggle with is the memory of the "undiscovered" Comet versus the "discovered" Comet. Its true, Triple D guru Guy Fiery was here - as such noted on the kitchen door. (at least its not emblazoned across the front counter) That kind of publicity can only help a local establishment. I don't know that Comet needed help though. The food and service was not lacking on any level at my visit with the family in tow. Its the "before" atmosphere that I miss. But that wouldn't keep me from going back.
(3)Bryan J.
My friend and I came up to Milwaukee from Chicago for a concert. He's a vegan, so sometimes that makes it challenging to find a place we both like. A self-described "slow food" eatery, Comet Cafe completely exceeded any and all expectations. I will admit my expectations were not very high...the place doesn't look like much from the outside. Upon opening the menu I began to get very excited: a litany of offerings showcasing some of the best ingredients you can get in Wisconsin. It is certainly not typical cafe fare, it goes above and beyond that in terms of ingredients, preparation and style. However, it can certainly all be classified as comfort food. I mean it when I say, this showcases the best Wisconsin has to offer. The drinking menu is superb. There are dozens of hard-to-find brews offered as well as libations you would not expect to find at a place designated as a "cafe", such as champagne. I don't know what all the meatloaf haters are talking about...the stuff was incredible. I had the open-faced meatloaf sandwich (only $10) and a Oskar Blues Gubna brew. Perfection.
(5)Tom R.
Oh Comet Cafe. I don't frequently write mediocre reviews. Why are you making me do this?? But I think it is important. That is because there are still some positive things to say and I am sure that things will improve for a return visit. First - what was not so good. As someone else wrote, the service was strange. Really strange. I was there on a Monday morning around 11 AM. It was relatively busy inside - it seemed to be a lot of tourists, a few locals. The waiter was.......somewhere else. And didn't seem to be enjoying any of it. That always makes me uncomfortable. My sister (who I was hanging out with) felt the same. She told me that recently Guy Fiery had been here and signed the wall somewhere. Can't say I was interested to check it out. But I do wonder if the publicity has anything to do with the experience I had. So then the food. I had the bacon pancakes. Disappointed. Super-flat, bacon was brittle - like bacon bits. My sister had the pancakes as well and the theme was flat flat flat. So I used to go to the Comet back in the day. When they first opened and they were tiny and people still smoked in cafes. I had the meatloaf back then - and various other amazing tasting items. Really - I loved loved loved their food back in the day. So I am confident that my experience was a fluke - and the Comet Cafe I know and love is still there. So please Comet - focus on the food and service. The intention behind the Comet's mission in the food industry is so noble - it simply can't falter. I'll be back Comet.
(2)Laura v.
I've been coming to Comet long before their new rehab. This place is a wonderful pit stop whether you want just a hot cup of joe or a meal in itself. It is a "hip" cafe but it is not a "hipster-joint". I'm often towing my eighteen month daughter along with me and the servers are more than friendly and accomodating. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a comfy, cozy place to just relax and get a great meal!!
(5)Richard L.
Great creative food. The menu hasn't changed much over time, but everything I have ordered was excellent.
(5)Marie H.
1 MILLION STARS!!!! Comet has delicious food with HUGE portions, they are bacon-friendly, and some of the cooks are Bears/Cubs fans. Everyone that works there is really nice and there's always good music playing everytime I roll in there (if Joy Division, the Stooges, Buddy Holly, or Pulp is your definition of good that is...) Most importantly, as far as I can tell, their extensive beer selection seems to be growing by the day, if not the hour, and they have some pretty rad specials, like BEERMERGENCY! Can I somehow give Comet 10 stars? Oh yeah, and the monthly beer school....100 STARS! I could live anywhere if I lived by a Comet.
(5)Natalie J.
loved this place! had delicious biscuits and gravy and a beermosa. the staff was great and went out of their way to make our visit real nice. i hope to go back to milwaukee and will definitely come back here.
(5)c. b.
The grilled cheese with tomato soup is to die for. They also serve it with their fries, which are the best fries in town. Malt vinegar to provided to douse them with, for those of you who grew up out east like me. The hours and new policies regarding the kiddos are questionable. Apparently there is free bacon on Sundays which would appeal to all the bacon lovers. Nice place to watch the Brewer's game at.
(4)Greg M.
I saw this place on Diners, Drive thrus and Dive on Food Network and knew this was a sign from the powers above being that a month from my viewing this place on tv I was heading out to you guessed it! MILWAUKEE! I know call me crazy but I actually think Milwaukee is pretty cool and a good place to relax. So anyways my friend and I get to the Comet. I'd already looked at the menu before going and was having a hard time. After getting seated and seeing what folk were chowing down on made it even harder to decide. After much head scratching and drooling over other folks dinners I chose the compact turkey dinner. Honestly these aren't all that compact because there is a ton of mouth watering gravy and three good sized balls packed with stuffing and turkey. I could have easily eaten two but that third one I had to unbutton a button and try my hardest to consume the third and lost. The balls were still soft and moist (I know don't that sound dirty?) even though they were deep fried. The veggie of the day for my visit was asparagus and was grilled with some lemon to perfection! Even the stalks were nice and thin just the way they should. I can't wait to get back to Milwaukee (weather permitting) and trying more yummies on the menu! Oh and being a coffee snob that I am the coffee was perfect as well :)
(4)Heather T.
Comet is my favorite restaurant in the universe. The vegetarian/vegan menu is amazing. I still crave the hazelnut loaf and vegan riblets and I'm living in San Francisco now, where the veg-friendly restaurants are omnipresent. Nothing tops Comet for fantastic food and comfortable atmosphere. The bartenders are great, the servers are great, the chefs are great. 100%, A+ and 5 stars. Worth the wait whether you're there for weekend brunch or dinner rush.
(5)Sarah C.
best. reuben. of. my. life
(5)Harley P.
Am I insane to drive from NW Chicago 'burbs to the Comet Cafe for breakfast? Hardly. This place is awesome. Easy to get in/out and then you're in downtown to hit the Harley museum or the other museums. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)Kelly M.
This place is almost always packed and when you get your plate you immediately understand why. The food will knock your socks off. One of Milwaukee's best vegan/ vegetarian option restaurants. The waitstaff can be pretty indifferent but the food is so good to me that I honestly don't care!
(5)Daniella B.
YOU MUST GET A BLOODY MARY! I am a self proclaimed bloody mary connoisseur and this was the best one I've ever had. It was super rich and it came either bacon or a pickled brussel sprout. The food was also great. Our waiter almost forgot to tell us the specials so it's good that my friend asked because I ordered a special which was some sort of breaded pork sandwich with an egg. It probably had tons of calories which was good because we preparing for a 60 mile bike ride but bad because I didn't get to try any of the baked goods. I also like the selection of vegan items, although I wish the vegan gravy was a mushroom gravy. Can't wait to come back and try more food! Bring an appetite when you come here!
(5)Phillip C.
My friend and I found this place as we were looking for a place to eat. The service was quick and friendly, and their selection of beer was surprisingly good. I ordered the meatloaf with beer gravy, and my friend ordered the mac and cheese. I was rather underwhelmed by the meatloaf, which instead of tasting homey and "how mum makes it," was just rather bland and boring. The mashed potatoes were good and the gravy was good. My friend's mac and cheese was the same way. Boring and cloyingly creamy and cheesy. The prices are fair and the service was good, but I'm not too keen on returning here if all their food is the same way. I'm hoping to come back another time and be proven wrong, since everything else seems excellent.
(3)Gert D.
I love this place. The food is consistently delicious. I've been there 8-10 times over the past few years and I have never had a bad experience. The cooks are quick and accurate--they need to be in order to minimize the 30-60 minute wait during weekend brunch. Great food, good price, and creative, fun daily specials that are actually worth ordering. I like that they keep an updated beer and drink menu, and they have some desserts to choose from. My only gripes are the wait during peak times and the excessive noise. But, if you time it right don't want to wait, then go for an early breakfast (not brunch-time) or an early dinner.
(4)Josh B.
My friends love Comet. Everyone loves Comet. You can tell by the huge wait any weekend. Comet almost lives up to it's hype, to be honest. The bloodies are fantastic, and the beer selection is pretty good as well! The servers are awesome, friendly, and will definitely take the time to help you find something if you're like me, and having difficulty choosing between two items. The food came out quickly, and the portions were generous. I've had the artichoke melt, and it's one of my favorite things on Farwell. The Turkenstein is a close second though, and is a monster of a BLTT. My friend's fish fry was rather greasy/oily, which unfortunately bled over to the fries that it laid on, making them soggy. PROTIP: If you're getting a BLT, look at the Turkenstein, it's 50 cents more, and is the same thing, but stacked with turkey! My friend's fish fry was rather greasy/oily, which unfortunately bled over to the fries that it laid on, making them soggy, which is a shame, because the fries are great when they're crisp and hot! Definitely spring for the seasoned fries, as the extra dollar is worth it, but if get the spicy mayo to dip them in. I usually hate mayo, but this.... this is a perfect combination. When it gets busy, the service does tend to stall a bit, but the staff definitely makes up for it with their honest eagerness to make sure you have the best experience possible. While not perfect, Comet is a solid choice to go with a small group of friends, if you manage to get in when it's not ridiculously busy.
(4)Steve G.
Very fun diner. Went for breakfast, had a tasty duck confit omelette. Excellent, friendly, hip service. Looked like an excellent beer list and drinks list. Some creative options. Would totally go again next time I visit Milwaukee.
(4)Devin N.
Comet is a great place for brunch on the weekend. Be prepared to wait even though their service is fast this place is packed with people. Their Beermosas are a great addition to any breakfast!
(5)Howie G.
Milwaukee classic. Veggie, Vegan, American aka All Of The Above Eater: there is something for everyone here. Cool balance of punk rock, old school diner and classic bar. Brewers games on mute in the summer and $2 PBR. Sold! Forever! good to know stuff: vegan cupcakes daily, kitchen open till 10pm, big wait time after 10am for Brunch, moderate wait Fri and Sat nites from 6pm - 8pm. just a heads up. But do not be deterred. Comet, you rule.
(5)Steve Japan 4.
Within 3 minutes of walking into this place, we were treated to a basket of free bacon. No joke. And good bacon too. Fresh, thick cut, perfectly crisp. Just delicious. The bacon was followed by one of the absolute top sandwhiches I've ever eaten; the Chicken Philly. Without question an honor roll menu piece, this thing was like a party with all the right guests invited. Accompanied with seasoned fresh cut fries, which were ace to say the least, and some fresh brewed ginger ale....I was in heaven. My compadres ordered the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup and the Open-faced Meatloaf sandwhiche respectively, and they echoed my enthusiasm or the meal. Quite simply, this is one of the best joints in North America.
(5)Lynee G.
So glad I got to try Comet while in Milwaukee! My friends live around the block so they took us here for our farewell dinner. Comet is a hip, bar/restaurant. They have tons of beers, and a great menu. I had the mac and cheese with peas. YUMMMM. I had to have Wisconsin cheddar while visiting the state! SO good! The burgers are huge, portions are extra large and prices are pretty low! Most of the items can be substituted for vegan protein which is also a plus. Great for veggies or meat eaters! Go here you won't be disappointed!!!
(5)Jean-Paul M.
We eat here often and love it. Get the Mac n cheese and add chili. You're welcome.
(5)Kimberly G.
I moved from Chicago to Milwaukee to live with my bf and I was afraid of not having any good vegan place to eat at. But I was so happy with Comet. Finallly a place where the word "vegan" is known. I was there for two years and the Vegan Biscuits and Gravy is my favorite. I would have cravings for those. Now, we are moving back to Milwaukee after being California for 10 months and even though I am sad to leave the sunny weather here - the one thing I am really looking forward to is eating at Comet again. There are no Vegan Biscuits and Gravy in California. I guess it is not a West Coast thing. The waitresses are always very nice - even when it is busy. It is so nice and cozy to sit there are eat too. The brunch can be packed on the weekends and you will often have to wait but I think it is worth it. I wish they would bring back those Vegan Potato Pancakes. Those were to die for! I could think of a few more things they could make vegan but I happy to have a good vegan place to eat at at all!
(5)Julie V.
A solid standby. It's one of 5 or so restaurants that I go to when I want to go out to eat. Food is always of high quality and freshness, specials are new and creative, service is top notch. Items I order frequently: Big Luck Burger, chicken strips. Bells Oberon to drink. You can't go wrong with Comet.
(5)Dave P.
Awesome food. Great service. Got the turkenstein and it was delicious.
(5)Tom B.
I had been to Milwaukee a bunch of times, but never to the East Side so I went up with one of my friends from Wisconsin and he showed me around and suggested Comet because they had a lot of vegetarian options. He was correct. I got the vegan gyros and it was incredible. The service was good and the people seemed cool. I absolutely loved the decor, there were some bizarre but amazing murals on the wall if I recall correctly. Comet's existence added fuel to my theory that Milwaukee is the most underrated city in America. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town!
(5)Eli B.
Comet cafe has a lot of hype, I think it has been voted best brunch several time in the Shepard. So, it can be tough when everyone says how good it is for the place to live up to expectations. This time I think they came pretty close, and I would deforest return again! Service was very good, as long as you don't mind tattoo's or facial piercings. Everyone is super friendly, and that's all that matters to me! The drinks were great, bloody Mary with bacon was interesting and the other specialty drinks looked good from what I saw up and down the bar. Bartenders definitely knew what they were doing! Food was good. Again a lot of hype brings high expectations, and I believe that there are better. The prices were right on par if not good for level of food! One last note is that you should not be fooled by the vegan/vegetarian tag, it is mostly normal breakfast foods including the meats... Did I mention the bacon in the bloody Mary?
(4)Josh P.
The food is decent - great comfort food. But something that plagues this restaurant is a lack of seating and no parking available. You stand in the doorway like an awkward spectacle waiting for a group to vacate their booth for 20-30 minutes, if you can find a parking spot within walking distance.
(3)Carly F.
Vegan & vegetarian paradise! I've been coming to Comet since it was just a tiny coffee shop. Loved their sandwiches. So glad it's now a full restaurant & bar. Serving dinner till 10pm is awesome for those of us that work late. Or a great place to come for wine & cupcakes after a long day!
(5)Jessica D.
Very delicious BELT (bacon egg lettuce tomato) sandwich. The fries were also pretty tasty as they seemed hand cut. The cupcakes looked delicious, but I simply did not have enough room for that too. This place gets really packed, so be prepared to wait or sit at the bar!
(5)Emily A.
Whoo hoo! I got everything I wanted at Comet tonight! Long time admirer, first time diner. Ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup based on other yelper's raves. NOT KIDDING BEST GRILLED CHEESE AND FRIES IN TOWN!!! Soup was good too. So satisfied--but wait there's more! I was already feeling nice and fat and happy so why not finish it off with a homemade mint chocolate chip cupcake? DIVINE. Heaven = non diet food at Comet.
(5)Julie G.
I really like this place - the food is pretty good, the drinks are phenomenal, but CRIPES! The service is bad. I waited with my boyfriend for 15 minutes to be acknowledged when we walked in. We were sat 10 minutes later. Our server approached us 15 minutes later and only asked for our drinks, despite us being ready to order food (but we couldn't get a word in to order the food). TWENTY minutes later our drinks still weren't served, AND our order hadn't been taken. The bartender didn't appear to be making them, probably because our server had decided to instead stand and talk forever to another table who she was obviously friends with, while not putting our drink orders in. I don't have any opposition to talking to your friends at work, heck, I do it too, but just take care of the other tables in a timely matter too at least! We ended up leaving early, while our server kept talking to that table. I figured it wasn't a problem for them since our drinks had obviously not been ordered. This isn't the first time the servers brought me down. I pretty much always feel like I'm not cool enough to be served by the employees here. Go if you have AMPLE time to spare, and go for the drinks. Some of the food is pretty good too, if you get a chance to actually get it.
(2)Summer P.
I was in Milwaukee visiting a friend and Comet Cafe was just a quick jaunt from her house. Their speciality is comfort food...always a favorite of mine! I had a hard time choosing between Friday Fish Fry Everyday, Grilled Cheese, and the Artichoke Melt but eventually settled on the Artichoke Melt based on our server's recommendation...it was deliciously different! The sandwich comes with a side of french fries; I'd have to say that they were some of the best fries I've had in awhile...crispy and seasoned to perfection. The minus one star comes from the fact that it took our food longer than average to come out (I'd say a 1/2 hour at least) BUT they were quite busy and the conversation helped pass the time.
(4)Annie M.
Good food, good services, good atmosphere. Nice for vegans and non-vegans alike. The slow food concept is refreshing. The french fries are faboo!
(4)Tony V.
Not gonna lie, this place is my favorite in the city. Love the atmosphere, love the $1 Old Styles at happy hour, and sometimes find it hard to live without their vegan corned beef. In my opinion Comet has the best vegan or vegetarian options in Milwaukee and it's a great place for carnivores too. Once in a while it's hard to get a table but....it's worth it.
(4)wenting x.
saw this place featured on foodnetwork to decided to come in to check it out...right away something was strange about this place. no reservation, first come first serve. its a legit diner but no hostess to seat you. what is annoying is when two people chooses to sit at this big table and a group of 6 ppl are trying to squeeze into a booth. the food here is..OK. nothing super amazing. i tried the burger and their meat loaf. nothing out of the ordinary. the meatloaf was kinda dry and not as seasoned as i would have liked it.
(3)Katy G.
Hm. Food's still good, but service is kind of strange. We got checked on like 5 times in 15 minutes, and then waited about that long to finally get our bill.
(4)Miz S.
I had watched a video on the creation of the meatloaf (lots of meat, meat, meat, beer, and bacon) and read about it in Midwest Magazine and had to stop in. Sadly, there were no famed free baskets of bacon (my friend had told me of these mythical items) when I stopped in ;( However, everything else was fabulous! Our waitress Kiersten was incredibly nice & thoughtful. My Dad ordered a beer and she asked if he wanted to taste it first (I think she knew it was a sub-par selection). Sadly, he declined. But what a selection they have! I don't drink beer... but damn the lagers meads etc page was ginormous! There was also a very decent wine & cocktail selection (for a non-fancy restaurant). Our appetizer of artichoke dip was piping hot & tasty, and came with seared garlic-like bread (which I'm sure has 500 calories per slice - but tastes damn good). I was tempted by the turkey meal in ball form, but stuck to ordering the meatloaf. It was excellent & unlike any meatloaf I've had before. The gravy was not of ketchup but a divine sauce made of rendered fat and beer. In addition, the meatloaf was wrapped in bacon (though I wish the bacon was a bit crispier). My meal came with a watercress-orange soup (I kid you not). I liked the oddity, but this coming from the girl who likes flower flavoured things and Turkish Delight. My father got the Reuben. Wow. I am usually against ordering mere sandwiches at restaurants, but I would severely consider ordering this. The fries weren't bad either... though I want to try the "spiced" fries (which I'm sure aren't actually spicy, we are in Wisconsin, but I imagine are good to eat). Also... I know I raved about the alcohol selection, but holy tipping cows! They have an insane tea selection as well! Tea lovers delight! Chai to different types of Earl Grey (some with lavender, others Green?!?) and more. An entire pages worth. But now to the most important thing: Dessert. My friend had said the apple pie was quite good, sadly there was none. We saw cupcakes & blueberry & mixed berry pie. I got the mixed berry pie; it was perfect - exactly as I would make it (sweet but a little tart, firm flaked crust). The cupcakes were good (a little too moist), but enjoyable. The restaurant also had a nice ambiance - artwork (I imagine local) on the walls. Everyone at the bar seemed friendly. Clean bathrooms. Moral of the story: check it out. (And I better get a basket of bacon next time I stop by!)
(4)Karen M.
The pancakes are a must! The hours yelp has listed are incorrect. Make sure to call to find out their hours. I think the kitchen opens at 9 am and closes at 10 pm during the week. My husband and I had an omelet, toast, and pancakes and enjoyed it all!
(4)ali s.
Comet is two blocks from my house, and I am so happy. It's a diner done right - food is under $10 and tastes delicious. They seem to specialize in soul-vegetarian and vegan, while offering lots of hearty meat stuff too. Crowd-pleasing. Also, half is a bar, so no kids on that side which is totally awesome. Portions are big, beers are cold, service is "hip" because they are "hipsters" but we forgive them because hipsters are nice, too. Try the turkey dinner, fried balls of turkey and stuffing with gravy. Or fish and chips. Or the yummy sandwiches. Beware of waits for weekend breakfasts - but on Sundays you get free bacon if you order a bar drink. Maybe I should stop giving places I like positive yelp reviews or i'll have to wait for a table. Eh, no one is reading this anyway. Go. Or don't.
(5)Joe B.
We stopped into Comet for breakfast after a night of moderate (to heavy) drinking, and it definitely hit the spot. The last thing I wanted at 10 a.m. was another beer, but I couldn't resist after seeing multiple varieties of Three Floyds on tap. The bartender chatted with us for awhile, and informed us that anyone who buys a drink at the bar after 6:30 on a Sunday gets a complimentary basket of bacon. COMPLIMENTARY BACON?!? WHAAAAAT??? As if I needed a reason to drink on a Sunday night! Aside from that mess in my trousers, the skirt steak, pepperjack cheese, and giardiniera omelette I had was pretty tasty. We sat at the bar and the weather was pretty bad, so we weren't forced to wait for a seat, though there were still tables available. That being said, the food (and drinks) were good enough that I'd still be willing to wait. Comet didn't disappoint!
(4)Alyssa R.
Best food you can get anywhere in Milwaukee. The atmosphere is very chill and the servers are very nice. My only problem is, it is very overpriced for my taste and depending on when you go, there are usually a lot of flies buzzing around you while you eat which is very obnoxious. However, I love the bloody mary's with bacon!
(4)Jason M.
Finally a place that agrees with me...bacon makes everything better! And their bacon mashed potatoes and bacon wrapped meatloaf, though not the best I've ever had, don't disapoint. My only critique is that the side of vegetables, though cooked perfectly as far as not too crunchy and not too soft, were sauteed in a sauce too sweet to be enjoyed by me.
(3)Dave H.
When I get visitors from out of town who I want to entertain with some seriously unique food, I take them to Comet. My rule for eating here is: The more ridiculous it sounds, the better it tastes. Take AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner, for instance. The description from the menu reads, "Slow roasted turkey, sage stuffing, cheesy mashed potatoes in easy to eat ball form! Beer battered, fried and served with country gravy and Brussels sprouts." These people are culinary mad scientists and I love them for it. It's a great place to go if you want to satisfy a veggie friend and a meat head in one spot. If you are one of the latter, try the meatloaf. Good lord, THE MEATLOAF!
(5)Jeffrey C.
I do believe this place has potential to rise to the 4-star yelp rating average, but my experience was pretty sad. Great reading menu, all of it seemingly well thought-out and carefully planned concoctions of one kind or another. Frankly, I had difficulty in choosing from the great sounding regular menu, so I looked at the daily specials. I figured I can get a regular menu item anytime, why not get what the chef's whim is making for today, it's got to have that extra something special. The special of the day I chose was named the Sloppy Jamie. A new a slightly different take on a classic Sloppy Joe? Supposedly composed of grass fed beef, bacon, and black beans served on a egg-wiped bun, with fries and cottage cheese. When the dish arrived, it looked like it sat at the pickup station for a long time. It looked dried out. Sure enough, it was dry, and somehow so impossibly bland, that any taste inquiry beyond ketchup and a minute remote dusting of chili powder would be giving this mush-wich far too much credit. Seriously though, it was like beans, ketchup, and a dash of flavor-subtractor. Grassfed beef, where? Bacon, again...where? Pureed beans, plenty. Not suitable for service in a microwave-only grade school cafeteria. Then there's the fries... HOW ON EARTH DO YOU MAKE FRIES THAT SUCK? The fries appeared so nicely with little bits of skin on them, maybe they actually process them there and are not from a food service, whoa, that would be cool... whoops, my bad. The fries were just what that poorly conceived 'sandwich' needed to ensure a totally hellish rest of the day burping up poorly cooked food. The fries were the chaser if you will, an insurance policy to make sure whatever sad shape my stomach was going to be in from the sloppy-whatsit, was locked in as a 'for-sure' bet. COOL! All this for $9. The cottage cheese was aces, and the pickles were too. Something tells me they were not made there... hmmm, really? I did not mind the long wait for the food, even though this sandwich required ZERO actual cooking-to-order, and my partner's salad also required no cooking. The service was terrible. We sat at the counter. The dude who took our order, was seen only one other time for our time there. Someone else brought the food and auctioned it off to us, and someone else managed to fill my water once, only after being pestered for the burden. Sidenote- Chipped plastic water cups (how the f*ck do you chip a plastic water cup made from bullet proof plastic? but why you don't replace this $.05 piece is even further baffling). Ahh, maybe now I see the light, with all the kitchen staffers overloading on quad-shot esperessos with vanilla soymilk, I see how little things like plastic water cup replacement is procrastinated upon. Like I said up front- I do believe there is a way for this place to live up to the 4-star yelp average.. but for me, this experience will simply require me to not come back for another dose. Good luck.
(2)Julie M.
Ahhh, I am still fantasizing about the vegan gyro...so yummy and satisfying, and the cucumber sauce was awesome. This combined with a lovely side salad that was accompanied by the best damned ginger dressing I've ever tasted made for the best restaurant lunch I've had in a while. Service was great, cute young fella working at the counter was friendly, attentive and quick--even to a middle aged broad like myself that was eating alone. I used to hang out on the east side "back in the day", probably before most of the kids that work here were born, but I felt perfectly comfortable at Comet since it was a nice mix of folks, ranging from some gentlemen in their 60's to young east side hipsters. I can't wait to go back.
(5)abigail b.
i used to live pretty close to here, so i would make a day out of my trip to koppa's by capping it off with a little comet cafe. i haven't been after they were on the food network; however, a few of my favorite places have been hit by the food network tornado and i know what it's like. it's pretty frustrating for people like me who know exactly what they want and have since, you know, years ago. fortunately, their love of bacon fat really saves the day. and i know bacon is sort of a novelty right now, but seriously... add bacon fat. you can feel good knowing it was probably a local, happy pig. go on their website and look at their purveyors. their prices used to be a bit lower (an $8 omelette?), but it's worth going there at least once. and did i mention koppa's? it's right across the street, y'all.
(4)Kip G.
By far Milwaukee's best diner. There hasn't been an item on their menu that I've tried that has disappointed me. If hipster comfort food is what you desire, this is the place! The beefy mac n cheese smothered with sriracha sauce is a personal favorite. The meatloaf is outstanding too. As seen on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives: youtube.com/watch?v=cNEQ…
(4)Jen B.
A very good dinner. My dining partner ordered the vegan hazelnut crusted salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. It was very tasty! If I weren't watching what I eat I would have loved to dig into a big plate of that myself but I ordered the vegetarian grilled tofu salad with carrots, almonds, green onion, tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, and ginger dressing. All was good except I am just tired of salads with a giant pile of mixed greens. Let's face it...mixed greens aren't all that. I would much rather have way more bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes (instead of the tiny sprinkling I received) than a massive load of lettuce in my bowl. I left at least 3/4 of it but picked the rest of it clean. Overall a tasty place with a funky and cool vibe.
(3)Nazgul W.
Turkenstein, beermosa, delicious! Just had to remark on this place because I've always been happy with everything here and just thinking about it makes me want to drive to Milwaukee right now. With over 300 reviews though, little needs to be said!!
(4)Dennis L.
Comet Cafe is a great spot for brunch. I tried the Buttafouco sandwich, and it was amazing! Yes, it was basically a glorified grilled cheese on a baguette, but it certainly hit the spot. The fries were crispy and delicious. Service was efficient and friendly. Overall, a great cafe with solid food at great prices.
(4)Kevin V.
If your not into fast food or other junk then this is the place for you. Down to earth food and very down to earth prices. Servers are very polite and offer good suggestions for food. Compact turkey dinner and the meatloaf with beer gravy is to die for at dinner time. For lunch their ahi tuna and their burger were spectacular. Huge beer menu, nice little spot to relax, cool off and eat some great food. This place was on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives for a reason!
(5)Jennifer W.
I stopped by after a long day of exploring Milwaukee. The place looks ordinary on the outside, but the inside is super welcoming. I plopped myself on a bar stool and hemmed and hawed over which beer to get. The bartender was incredibly patient and let me sample a few. I settled on a Bell's (I really wanted the creme brulee, but at 9.2%- I wouldn't be driving home). I also really wanted the veggie burger or the veggie riblets with fries, but I decided to be all healthy (and boring) and ordered the veggie heaven salad with tofu. The salad was actually not boring at all. The tofu packed a ton of flavor, it was so so so good. I couldn't finish it though so I packed it to go. This would definitely be my go to place if I lived in the area. It's good food and good beer at a decent price.
(4)Bobby G.
Cool hipster/hippy space. food is good, not great, but consistent. staff is down to earth and great space to vege out. Not sure I like how dirty n grungy it seams. divebars are one thing, but i'm eating... love the local thing just like Industri cafe and la meranda. see you soon for lunch.
(3)Ed G.
Every time i visit Milwaukee I HAVE to stop by Comet! EVERYTHING here is delicious. I particularly love the tomato soup and grilled cheese with the spicy seasoned fries! It's also a diverse enough restaurant that I can go with a friend who keeps a vegan diet, and still order meat-loaf if i wanted. I also recommend stopping in for brunch on the weekends! delicious pancakes and omelettes!
(5)Julia T.
I really wanted to like this place - it was recommended to us by two different people who had lived in Milwaukee. I didn't dislike it but I wasn't overly impressed either. The food was on the solid end of the good scale but not tipping over into great. The service was on the light end of good, not quite tipping over into bad. The wait was ridiculous - especially since we went early, arriving at 5:15. It was an hour before we sat down and had menus. There is no good place to wait either so it seemed like we were always in the way of the servers and almost sitting in someone's dinner because we were right up agains tables. I may be spoiled by being a Chicagoan, but places like this are a dime a dozen at home. And there are much better vegetarian, vegan and just good comfort food places to be found.
(3)Sona B.
Came here on a Sunday evening. We sat at the bar and waited for a table to open up. The people sitting next to us had a basket of bacon sitting next to them...I started to drool. How lucky are we to have walked in on the spectacular free basket of bacon night!! The service was incredibly friendly and attentive. Their beer list was extensive and featured some hard to find goodies. I got the chicken philly. The lettuce on top was a bit much, but overall it was delicious. On another encounter, I ordered the veggie gyro. I've never had seitan before, but these pieces were really hard and crunchy, almost burnt...not my favorite dish ever. The tomato soup was pretty basic, no fancy toppings or croutons, but still quite good. I always leave with a piece of pie and every single one has been absolutely heavenly; with a rich flaky crust and perfectly sweet filling. Glad I found this place and look forward to trying out some more of their delicious comfort foods.
(4)Cheri W.
A hipster greasy spoon My hubby and I were famished after we flew in on an early flight from Austin. We read about Comet Cafe on Yelp and since it is close to where we're staying, decided to try it out. We were both craving breakfast. Often, it's hard to find a menu item that has meat and carbs, but alas! As I scanned the menu at Comet Cafe, I immediately knew what I was going to get: the Rocket Platter which consists of 2 eggs (mine scrambled with tons of cheese!), bacon, hash browns AND a pancake. I was thrilled! Psychologically, when I have to order the bacon or the pancake on the side, it always feels like an afterthought and is never as good as if it were just part of the menu item. When I received my plate, I noticed that the portions were huge, the eggs were fantastic (the chef isn't afraid to put a little salt in the scramble), the bacon was crispy without being burned, and the pancake was ginormous! The server was a peach. Despite it being so busy, she took time to chat with us and i marveled at her accent. Comet Cafe is easily the best breakfast I've ever had in Milwaukee. It ain't fancy or pretentious, but it's wonderfully inviting and the food is terrific.
(5)E D.
Had no problem parking right on the street, easily got a table for 6(if you can believe that). Friendly polite servers. Standard assortment of other diners hipsters to familys but casual. The Meatloaf with beer gravy was awesome, great taste and left me wanting more...
(4)Mary D.
Just got back from an early dinner with our son. Fell in love with this place! I started with a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup...yum,yum! The I moved onto the Big Luck burger. 6oz of WI grass fed burger with cheese, onion, tomato, lettuce, pickles and 1,000 island. OMG! The last time I had burger this good, was when I made it myself! Hubby had the turkenstein which was also AWESOME! Son had the Comet Cuban which looked awesome. The fries were too die for and fresh! We all took part of our meals home, but I did leave room for pie. Not just any kind of pie...blueberry/pear pie and our server warmed it foe me. Great service, great food and great drinks...can't ask for more then that!
(5)Ariel F.
I was in Milwaukee for the first time with no clue of where to go or what to do & thanks to a very friendly recommendation from a local coffee shop, my boyfriend and I went down the street to comet cafe. Let me just tell you, if i lived in Milwaukee, i'd go there every day. They have so many vegan options, so many drinks, such fun atmosphere, and such good wait staff! Our waitress was AWESOME. She gave us all the good meals, helped us with tons of recommendations on places to go, always had a smile on her face, and was so upbeat and excited to have us there. Seriously. don't second guess yourself on this place. it's so fun and SO delicious!
(5)Samantha G.
Yum. I woke up early on a Monday, Memorial day, and went here for breakfast. Luckily I did not have to wait, I got an awesome table outside in the sun. My food came quickly and it was delicious. I was happy with just about everything. I will go here again most definitely. I had the Comet Benedict, which was delicious - it came with a biscuit (not an English muffin), which was more and better than I expected! It had awesome gravy too. I can't tell you what my friend got because I was too consumed in my awesome food. Price was EXTREMELY reasonable (when I say this it means when I got the bill I was ecstatic because It was half the price of what I usually pay when I go out for breakfast). Another bonus: its a block away from my house.
(5)Rex L.
I was expecting so much more after reading the reviews. Nice beer selection. The Bloody Mary had an odd taste andvery bland. Nice touch adding the "pony" Miller Lite bottle with the Bloody Mary. The meatloaf and mashed potatoes were dry. Also needed seasoning. Brussel Sprouts were good. Pulled pork was tasty, but the fried fish had too much batter and not enough fish. Fries seemed like they sat around for a little bit as they were not hot or crisp. Didin't get to try the desserts as most were gone by the time we finished. There were 2 open booths. The host sat 4 fat old people in a small booth by the bar and sat the 3 of us in a booth that could hold 6 in the diner area. They only seemed interested in turning tables and not using any commom sense.
(3)Roxanne M.
Delicious. Go.
(4)George T.
Popped in for dinner Thursday night.early to get a good spot. The comet cafe has a great wine and beer selection. I was happy with the Meatloaf tower, damn that thing was special, all of the best flavors of meat loaf , bacon, mashed potatoes, rye bread and beer gravy was a treat. We also had vegan burger with an order of Mac and cheese, along with Fried turkey ball entree. The fries were hot and delicious and desert was surprisingly very good with just the right amt of fruit and sweetness. Ho Ho cake. Service was quick and quality of food was great. This diner / cafe restaurant also has a good selection of teas as well. As we left the place was getting busy with a line of people forming, but well worth the wait. a good hint would be to arrive early if you can. remember the street meter as they will ticket way into the evening.
(5)Roberto F.
I don't know this place qualifies and vegan or vegetarian but they do. Don't let that tag persuade you to not visit. They have plenty of amazing meat entrees as well. The burgers are amazing but meatloaf is just mouth watering and topped off with some lovely mash potatoes. I was a little disappointing about not them running out of duck confit poutine but what can you do. Great beer selections, both bottle and draft, and great prices all around. From what I hear, I'm going to have to go back and try one of there Bloody Mary's. Atmosphere is great and service is excellent. Depending on what time you get there you could be in for a little bit of a wait. No worries though, they'll make sure you get seated as soon as possible
(5)Katie D.
Went here last week when I was visiting town. It rocketed to the top of my favorite places to eat list. Call me picky or whatever, but I don't care how fancy your menu is, so long as it's actually made with care and quality. Comet exemplifies this. You won't confuse their menu with someplace getting a Michelin star, but almost everything is delicious. I had the Chili Mac and Cheese, my friend had the Chicken Fingers. We split an order of the braised brussels sprouts. All were fresh, home made, and delicious. Service was excellent from our waitress and the bar staff. Sadly, we were too late into the evening to get the Apple Pie, and had to *settle* for a Cookies and Cream Cupcake. Again, amazing. Cannot recommend this place more.
(5)Dana M.
I've been to Comet twice in the past few weeks because it has outdoor seating for warm summer nights, and the food is always good. I want to try some of the other vegan/vegetarian options, but for now, since it's summer, I'm sticking to my tomato soup and salad with tofu and ginger dressing. So, when I went a few weeks ago it was on a thursday and they have half off bottles of wine that day. So cool! Every other place in Milwaukee or wherever are usually mondays or tuesdays. So, that was such a great surprise. However, learned a lesson yesterday... the wine special doesn't start until 6p. So, my friend and I showed up at 4:30p, and our server who was very nice, was also uncompromising about doing the wine special before 6p. We asked if we could run across the street to Koppas and just get a corking fee... nope. So, the experience started off as a being frustrating. We asked what the drink specials were and it was $1 Old Style beer. So, as joke we ordered just one beer. Then about 20 minutes later, ordered a bowl of soup to share. I thought this would piss the server off but he actually found our method completely hilarious. We we're basically making it pretty painful on everyone while we waited for 6p to roll around. It was beautiful day and we were just gonna milk it. He finally came out at like 5:30p and was like, "okay, you can order your wine now". Turned out to be one of the best bottles of wine I've ever had, and then we proceeded to order our dinner. I think we were there for 3 hours. Andy (I think that was our server's name) came out and chatted with us a bit. He even gave us free dessert and was laughing about the whole experience. He could have been a total ass, but instead enjoyed our sassy and stubborn way of defying the rules. Comet Rules!
(5)Chad C.
Chances are you're going to wait awhile just to get a table at Comet, and then you're probably going to wait a longer while to get your food. Don't do it - it's not worth your time. This ranks up there with Beans & Barley as one of the most overrated restaurants in Milwaukee. Their food is nothing special, service is especially slow on a consistent basis, and the vibe of the bar is very snotty. Lots of girls and guys-wearing-girl-jeans smoking cigarettes and talking about how crappy the new Hold Steady album is. I'm done with this place. Go to Mayura across the street - get seated right away - and have some great Indian food.
(1)James C.
I really want to like this place but every time I've been there the service has been terrible. The food is decent and the atmosphere is pretty chill. If I was more of a hipster I probably would have gotten better service. Oh well.
(2)M. J. W.
We came up to visit the inlaws this Xmas. We went out to the Comet an couldn't say enough about the place. Casual, eclectic music, good comfort food plus a nice staff. I had the Belt which is a BLT with a fried egg. Why didn't I ever do this at home???
(4)Oliver B.
Comet Cafe how I love you. I order your pancakes and say "hello lover" when the plate comes. The pancakes are a-mazing. Fluffly, thick and light all at the same time. I want to meet who makes the cakes. I dream about them. I call in pick up orders for the tomato soup on my lunch break. It's creamy and delightful. The chicken sandwich with cheese and peppers...mmmmhhh. However...my last 2 trips to Comet were, disappointing. More recently I had the chicken sandwich sans the onions. It tasted...not the same. It was almost bland. Not enough cheese, this guy loves his cheese, and was just not the same. Prior to that, I took my brother for breakfast. We ordered pancakes because I rave that they're like sex on a plate. What an anti-climatic waste. Both orders of pancakes were thin and rubber like. They weren't good. Both visits I was taking a newbie or an out of town but familar guest. Both times I was embrassed for raving. What happened? New kitchen staff? Food Network impact? Whatever it is, please no more! Comet you are my staple. My delightful wal k to eat, people watch and enjoy. Don't go mainstream because of some cheese with badly bleached hair. I'm going tonight and I hope the tomato soup has not been affected.
(4)Dave C.
i have to thank this place for making me want to return to Milwaukee for another daytrip. i had the fried fake riblets and they were delicious and have the consistency of a McDonald's chicken nugget (a good thing for me). the fake meatloaf was decent, but not great and i enjoyed a side of cabbage. i really dig how one half is a bar and the other is a restaurant. as a Chicagoan, i enjoyed trying a bottle of Spotted Cow. it tastes like a yummy cow in a beer bottle. moo!
(4)Michael T.
Our current favorite place. Hell, any place where vegetarians and bacon munchers can sit across the table from each other and smile is special. I get the bloody mary, my wife gets the beermosa, smiles all around.
(5)barney m.
veggie gyro tasy soup big glass of award winning weise! free internet! if wi they had a swimming pool i would up to a five star
(4)ryan h.
even though you may not be able to trust guy fieri's fashion sense but you can certainly trust his gut... this is another one of those place's from diners, drive-ins, and dives, and it very well deserved its spot on the show... there is usually about a 20 to 30 minute wait which i dont think is terrible being from ny, but in milwaukee this is like an eternity. as soon as you sit down you need to order a bloody mary... you will be impressed... you will need a second one to wash down your giant pancakes, because this is indeed what you need to order when you go to comet. the flavor is just magnificent, its like they have little angels in the back making these things because surely the recipe is from heaven. this place takes 2 dumps on ihop, and 3 on waffle house... i've also tried their meatloaf which i believe was made by the hands of God himself, i've had some good meat loaf in my life but this was easily the best and just in case i didnt like the meat loaf they had it wrapped in a giant piece of bacon, just to make sure i got as many calories as necessary... i can not wait to go back!
(5)Mike W.
Comet has changed a lot recently it used to be an overpriced coffee shop where angst ridden teens from Shorewood would come to smoke and caffeinate. Now it is a bar and restaurant. They merged there old building with the former Eddy's Chinese next to it. They have a bar on one side and non-smoking restaurant on the other. Their food is good, offering vegan and vegetarian dishes for the hippies. They also have a killer meatloaf with beer gravy which they make meat and meatless. If you like this place you'd probably like the Palomino in Bay View on Russel. I think the owners are the same, and some of the staff is too.
(4)Brian W.
true comfort food. the baked mac and cheese and bbq pork sammy are both staples of my milwaukee diet. also they have a solid selection of innovative drinks thanks to dr. nick. try a beermosa or a john daly, you'll be glad.
(5)Allison F.
I shouldn't knock a place because it's popular but this place is always packed and seems disorganized. Plus it's loud in there. I've been there many times and the food is much better than average. Interesting choices and high quality. I've always been treated well by the staff. Their beer selection is very good. This place is totally worth trying out, if you're in the mood for a long wait.
(3)Julie A.
The dishes came out quick and were awesome! I had three people in the group and we all ordered different entrees. All said they were one of the best meals they had out in awhile. Great variety of dishes, great beer selection, and definitely will go back!!!
(4)Heidi S.
This is a review for brunch- specifically Saturday morning brunch. There is usually quite a bit of a wait after 10am- I've waited up to an hour, but we had a larger group of 6. The French toast is the best deal on the menu- it's a huge portion (I can never finish it) and it's only $5. Everything else is just standard, normal brunch menu items. The benedicts are all good. Good alcohol selection. Just nothing to really write home about. Nice atmosphere.
(3)Hannah D.
Comet Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. Casual atmosphere, great food, and always friendly service. It can get pretty busy, so sometimes there may be a bit of a wait, but I've normally had pretty good luck and haven't had to wait long. In my opinion, the lunch/dinner menu is better than the brunch menu. My favorite is the mac and cheese with chili in it. It is amazing! Hands down best mac and cheese in the area! The menu has tons of vegetarian and vegan options, which I love. Also notable are the vegan cupcakes. There are always a bunch of rotating flavors. Basically, you can't go wrong here. Everything is delicious. End of story.
(5)Alex L.
Basket of Bacon
(5)Elena C.
Great food and cool building/atmosphere, which is the only reason they're getting two stars from me. But dude. You gotta have better service. I get that it's a bunch of kids working there that probably don't care a whole lot but come on. I came in with my dad for his birthday since I have had great delivery from them before. The waiter kept walking past us without stopping to take our order or get us anything to drink...water would have been really nice. After the 4th time he walked past us he said he would be right with us. Another 5 minutes went by and we decided hell, let's go sit at the bar and get a drink. The bartender looked at us like we were crazy for going to someone else to be served, since we were already sitting at the first table before. We explained that no one had been by to take our order, and we just wanted a drink and some food. Our previous waiter heard the whole thing and he and the bartender looked at each other like "wow, can you believe these people?" like, as if we were total jerks for sitting at the bar instead of the table. The bartender took care of us after making us feel incredibly uncomfortable and awkward, like we had done something wrong. It was really weird. The rest of the experience was fine, food was great as usual and awesome beer! Just pretty weird customer service experience. I'm new to Milwaukee but where I come from people don't do that to their customers... The next time I decided to try out Comet Cafe was when I wanted a sandwich delivered, since I've gotten delivery from them before like I said, and it was awesome. So I called, and a girl answered who just sounded like she was either hungover or didn't want to be there or both. So I asked if I could order for delivery and she took my order, said it would be ready soon, and hung up. I realized, wait a minute, they never took down my phone number or address or form of payment. So I called back and said I had ordered delivery just recently and (I think it was the same girl on the phone as the first time I called) the girl just sounded really annoyed/irritated with me. She sharply said "We don't DO that anymore." Okay, god, sorry. I said "okay, can you go ahead and cancel the order then" and she just seemed relieved to be getting off the phone with me. Dude..
(2)Dan O.
Visited MKE last weekend and wanted to try a local gem. Researched and headed down to the Comet Cafe. Went down after 1 pm, so missed the lunch crowd. Street parking was nearby, and there were some open seats at the counter. Debated between the compact turkey dinner and the meatloaf sandwich, and the meatloaf won today. A large slice of meatloaf with bacon, carmelized onions, on top of bread with mashed potatoes and gravy. Man, it was good! Add to that several local craft beers, what a joy! Definitely someplace to repeat the next time I'm in town. Can't wait to try the compact turkey dinner!
(4)Krista L.
THE MAC & CHEESE IS REVOLUTIONARY. Loved everything about this place. Great ambiance and service. The food was stellar and the specialty cocktails were amazing. Only downside is that it is small and we had to wait a bit (on a Sunday evening). Other than that, we loved it!
(5)Crystal K.
Decent amount of veggie options, yummy chai lattes + pie. However, service can be a bit sketchy. Sometimes spot on, other times it can take 30 minutes just to get the check. If you're in a hurry ask for your check when the food arrives to be safe.
(4)Lauren S.
Buhhhhhhh Yelp keeps asking me to review this place because I checked in over the weekend. So OK, here's the bottom line: It's not worth going out of your way for Comet. IF: You happen to be in the area and you can snag a table with little to no wait, jump on it. IF NOT: Don't bend over backwards (or wait an hour) to make it happen. I know there's buzz about Comet because it was featured on a TV show or something (? a simple Google search would answer this, I suppose). And I know the open-faced meatloaf sandwich is a Big Deal. And that's fair, because that sandwich is delicious. I hate meatloaf, and I even think that sandwich is delicious. Other sandwiches on the menu, though? They're not bad. They're just not that memorable. Service here is iffy, at best. The first time I went to Comet was over the summer for a late dinner. We were seated immediately outside and our waiter was friendly and attentive. The second time I went to Comet, the host grossly underestimated our wait time (you never do that! you always overestimate!) and treated us like a thorn in his side from the moment we put our name in the queue. Our server was monumentally negligent. I never tip under 20%--working as a server for several years has ingrained good tipping practices in me--but I only left our server 10% on Saturday because she was that slow to bring drinks, that slow to take orders and that slow to notice we were even in her section. She seemed about as apathetic as the salty host who begrudgingly seated us in her section. To be fair, I cut a lot of slack for salty servers (everybody has a bad day) and slow-ish service on a busy night, but man, did Saturday night leave a bad taste in my mouth. At least the food was alright. But to reiterate: Not worth going out of your way.
(3)Gary S.
As a vegetarian that eats meat, this fine establishment offers many great choices. Can be difficult to find parking and there is usually a wait, but the food is terrific.
(5)Heather B.
While I was pregnant I could not get enough of their Mac -n- Cheese with peas. It was like a bazillion calorie treat with cheeziness galore!! What more does a pregnant lady want :) Seriously though, Comet does great comfort/bar food but in unique and fun ways! I've had their Thanksgiving Dinner thing - where they roll turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy into breaded balls and deep fry them. Oh it's so bad but it's so good! I've eaten here quite a few times throughout my years in Milwaukee and I can't recall everything I've had but I have always been satisfied. For me, I am drawn to all the "bad for you" items so I can't eat here too often or I'll weigh 1,000 pounds. My only complaint about this place is that they get away with charging $1 to put some seasoning on their fries (calling them, I think, spicy fries.) I hate those kind of upcharges restaurants ...
(4)Karl H.
Great place! Food was awesome as well as the ambiance. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Marge Y.
Forever will be one of may favorite Milwaukee cafes! I have never been disappointed by food or by service. They offer a vast variety of local brews which can warm anybodies belly :) I believe that they also use all local ingredients in their food menu, but I am not 100% sure on that statement... so don't quote me on it. On Sundays they offer a free basket of bacon with any purchase of $2.50 or more... that is if that appeals to you. But get there early!!! Sunday's are jam packed! For those of us Veg heads though I highly recommend the Veggie Chili! I've been hooked for years!!! Back when Comet was my beloved coffee and sandwich shop it was love at first bite, I was ecstatic to find out that they kept it on the menu when they turned over to the amazing restaurant they are now!!! Another great staple to try is the Vegan Salisbury Steak!!! I'm in love.
(5)Megan E.
Having been to Comet Cafe before, I had fond, boozy memories of delicious comfort food...that evaporated on my last trip. My waiter asked me and my companion if "we had ever been to a restaurant before" when we requested if we could get separate checks before we ordered our food, and added that we were "ridiculous". I should have left then but my friend was set on us staying as it was her birthday. The whole time we were there we were treated as if we were a hindrance or an afterthought. I ordered the poutine, which came out cold and soggy and was extremely salty. When we complained to the manager about our experience he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that "they were having a bad night too"; he didn't even offer an apology. I don't think I could stomach going back.
(1)Jen F.
Vegans, no trip to MKE is complete without eating at Comet. There, now you know. This is our Chicago Diner. (well, except that they also serve lots of meat) Here's how to win at the game of Comet: Go at 2:30 in the afternoon when the swarms from brunch have dissipated and the crowds for dinner have yet to arrive. Sit at the bar and order one of their awesome cocktails or fabulous craft beers. Start out with the vegan riblets (half-order!) Pace yourself! There are a lot of must-try items. Follow that up with the vegan salisbury steak. It is one of the best things I've had. Like, ever. I have dreams about it. It comes with a veg o the day, mashed potatoes and gravy, AND a side salad or soup. I know you'll probably be uncomfortably full by now, so just get one of those lovely vegan cupcakes (chai, red velvet, Mexican chocolate, banana split? they change daily) to go and eat it when you awake at 8 pm from your food coma. If you happen in for breakfast, the veganized pancakes are $*()%$( delish, and they have one of, if not the best, tofu scrambles in the city.
(5)Frank W.
Hour wait, no parking. I ordered the biscuits & sausage gravy. Nice biscuits but only about a table spoon of gravy. Asked for more gravy & received it. Gravy was super thin & looked like dirty water with specs of sausage granules in it. The meal upset my stomach; ached for hours afterward. 4 of us & 3 were disappointed in their meals all agreed to not return. Worse than Honey Pies of which I am not a fan of but at least has decent food. So now I know.
(2)Joseph W.
This place is a very old haunt for me and every time my cousin comes back into town, we have to make a pilgrimage to Comet for old times sake. There's a lot of talk of being here "before it was cool". I honestly remember a time when I was scribbling in a sketchbook, blaring Method Man on my cassette Walkman while my cousin was dressed like a vampire writing messed up poetry. There wasn't a whole lot of people present. I sort of liked it better back then, grab whatever table you want, give your order at the counter and bus your table as you leave. They used to have a honey ham sandwich back then that was out of this world. Now, years later, they've expanded and changed so much, but one thing hasn't changed...the quality of the food. If I would be on the East Side more often, this would be a semi-regular spot. This trip I had tried the breakfast burrito while my cousin had her normal Artichoke Melt. The burrito was not only huge, but it tasted wonderful. We stayed for dessert after watching the table next to us being served a slice of salted brownie pie. I'm not really into the "sweet and salty" thing, but this pie was incredible. It stays pretty busy now, you can expect to wait at least a little bit for a table. Service is mediocre nowadays, that's why I probably wish it was the way it was way back when. Still worth it for a pretty good food experience.
(4)Lesley W.
I used to be a regular here when I lived across the street. I love the wide range of vegetarian options! It's so nice to go to a casual restaurant where the food is good and you have options beyond a mushroom sandwich. It's a fun diner-type place where you can relax and enjoy updated takes on classic comfort foods, like mac n cheese or meatloaf and they have options for everyone.
(4)Christi G.
We love this place, the vibe, the food! Oh my the food! I personally love their tomato soup, my son declared it was the best grill cheese ever! I am totally smitten with their balsamic vinaigrette and my mate loves the meatloaf. My picky eater kids like the fish and the chicken tenders, and the adults appreciate the beer selection. We try to take everyone who visits us to Comet so they too can experience it. Just be prepared to wait for a table and sometimes that is uncomfortable in the rain/ snow.
(4)Michelle K.
Good for dinner, not worth the wait for brunch. I ordered the French Toast with a side of scrambled eggs. Simple, right? Unfortunately, the french toast was a disaster. It was made from the thickest slabs of toast I'd ever seen, which trust me, does not make for a good french toast experience. Presentation was lacking as well--no dusting of powered sugar or anything to doll them up. Just 4 mega-thick pieces of dark, dense toast. They did not stand on their own without syrup whatsoever. Thankfully the scrambled eggs tasted good. (Small miracle.) Service was mediocre. The food took awhile to arrive and the server was kept so busy that he never had a chance to fill our water glasses or coffee cups more than one time. I will not return here for brunch--the menu was nothing to get excited about. Tip: Don't order your Bloody Mary's before ordering your food unless you are okay with waiting forever to place your food order. The server didn't check back on our table until after he delivered the drinks, which took ages to make. Big mistake.
(1)Justin L.
With all the great reviews and being on the Food Network, I really wanted to give this place more than 3 stars...but the food really didn't amaze me. I guess I went in with too high of an expectation? Anyways...went in for Sunday brunch and the place was pretty packed. Had to wait about 45 minutes for table of 6 around noon. It's pretty much an old-school diner filled with hipsters. I think that's a good description. Service was just okay...a little slow, but it could just be that they were busy? *shrugs* Coffee was great. They brew Anodyne, which I love. I hear the cocktails are great, but it was had only been 12 hours since my last alcohol intake...so I exercised some self-control there. Maybe next time... Food is were I was semi-disappointed... Meat 'N Eggs: Comet is known for their meatloaf and I agree that they should. The meatloaf was flavorful and delicious. I think they are baked individually because it had a nice crispy/burnt exterior that was delicious...and with sausage gravy on top? man...that shiz was pretty bomb. Wish there was more gravy actually. That went wrong? It comes with 2 eggs and I ordered them poached. I pretty much got 2 soft/hard boiled eggs. The yolks were firm and not runny like poached eggs should be. I want that runny golden goodness to dip my toast in damnit! And adding onto that...I was given a skippy side of hash browns that weren't even cripsy. BOO, Comet! C'mon...how can you NOT make good poached eggs and crispy browns?... Other people in my party ordered other things and were likewise semi-disappointed as well. They had the benedict specials, comet benedict (comes w/ fried eggs interestingly), and breakfast burrito. My friend has been to Comet before and said she has had a way better experience with their lunch menu/service...so I guess I will be back for lunch or dinner at a future time...gives me an excuse to try their cocktails, I guess.
(3)Daura A.
Service great! Food better than expected! We had the ribs then the walnut burger and the vegan pita. We left satisfy and full. I would be back if i lived in the city. Only down side: music too loud for a sunday 3:30 pm lunch
(4)Jason K.
This is a 4.5 star kind of place. It is very good, but not perfect. Its way too small. Parking is a bear. There is always a line. It feels very East Side, and therefore mildly pretentious. That being said, the food is great, the bacon flows, and the beer menu is good. I always get the compact turkey dinner, as seen on one of those food network shows, and its great. The prices are not low, but they aren't outrageous. When you head out, set aside a few hours for the line, the walk to your car, and the wait for your food.
(4)Dana V.
I can only fairly give this place a 4/5 stars for now since I haven't tried the entrees, but I got the dessert! I got the cookies and cream and red velvet cupcake. O-M-G the cookies and cream cupcake was HUGE. Had it with some ice cream on the side and was like mm mm good. Not the best I have ever had, but it definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. My bf's red velvet was only so-so. The cream cheese frosting was not what I thought it was supposed to taste like. I'm not sure if they make these in house or order them from somewhere else since I just ordered off the board. Other than that, the staff were friendly, smiley, and nice overall. I wish I could go back to try the food now!
(4)Steven P.
I've had multiple experiences with Comet and all are pretty consistent. It's pretty all right. Two summers ago I played it safe and only ordered burgers. Which were decent. This last summer, I ventured on and order the open-faced meatloaf sandwich. By far one of the best slices of meat-loaf I've had in my entire life. Sorry Mom. I appreciated going here because it offers a lot of the unhealthy choices I enjoy in life while being able to accommodate others with food allergies. Gluten and dairy free - you got it. Sunday night is bacon night - you get a basket of bacon with the purchase of a drink. I love bacon just as the next guy. But wow, is there a such thing as too much bacon? I think after our second basket, my group was a little worn out. They throw their bacon in the fryer here which means it comes out perfectly crisp. Comet was featured on Diners Dive-ins and Drives, which means there's some novelty behind why people fancy it. Yes, it's a cool place, but be ready to wait for a table during meal times because more often than not you and everyone else is bringing their friend from out of town here. It's worth it and it's fun to share with them the history of the cafe. I'm just saying, you may have to wait unless you plan ahead. I'm wondering if the quality of service has changed here in the more recent. Some of my friends haven't had the best service, but mine hasn't been bad. I recommend trying it out and making your own judgement.
(3)Brit G.
Free bacon Sundays. 'Nuff said. This hipster diner has soul food with a heart of gold. Try their vegan burger with bacon and cheese added. This creation gets a look every time I order it. The vegan patty has such a wonderful texture and flavor, almost like a Midwest falafel sandwich with homemade Thousand Island dressing....and then you add bacon and cheese. And now I'm hungry
(5)Deb C.
Of all the times I said that a particular Bloody Mary was the best I ever had, I was wrong. The Comet Café has the best! Tastefully spicy but not too hot. And bacon! What??? My brother had bacon pancakes to keep the theme rolling which we big and filling. I had the Rocket combo so enjoyed one pancake with eggs, crispy hash browns and... you guessed it: bacon. So I've got my fix. I can't wait to go back and try some more of their interesting cocktails and food!
(4)Stephanie B.
Only been here once, but thought the food was good. The wait was a very long time though.
(3)Dee C.
Great food, too much fuss. Lines out the door because of one review. I went over one day late afternoon and asked if we could have a reservation for four for 6 p.m. before their normal clientele arrived. This was just as the wave of television reviews hit and they became snooty. We showed up sans reservation at six and of course a table was available. They didn't take reservations. Now every place in the neighborhood dies because of Comet. Is it because of the food? It's good. Is it worth killing everyone off in your neighborhood? No, because Comet will be next, dead, in a space of death that no on wants to inhabit. I think the Comet gurus got really bad grades at playing with others in the sand box.
(4)Nate H.
I visited Comet Cafe for brunch on a Sunday. You know that a place is good when there is a line out the door. We only had to wait about 20 minutes and it was well worth it. I had seen this place on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives and my friend in Milwaukee confirmed that it was a must visit. We sat at the bar and the service was great. They have a special brunch menu for Saturdays and Sundays, which I took advantage of. I ordered the "Stendler" which was a breakfast burrito filled with corned beef, scrambled eggs,hash browns and cheese. On the top of each one the cooks in the back write a personal message in Sriracha Hot Sauce. My message was "Brundy." I have no idea what that means, but it is kind of unique and cool regardless. The "Stendler" was delicious and filling. I think no matter what you get at this place, you are going to be full when you walk out. They also have a nice list of Pre- 5:00 alcoholic beverages. They have bloody mary's, mimosas, and beermosas. This was my first encounter with a "beermosa", but it is something that I would be using frequently as a hair of the dog. They basically just top off 3/4 of a glass of beer (in this case Bell's Oberon) with a 1/4 a cup of orange juice. It was surprisingly smooth and tasty. This is a unique and quirky place with lots of local flare. Would definitely recommend for brunch on the weekends or for drinks after work.
(4)Sonya Z.
Whoaaaa this place is too damn good. It's so hard to find a restaurant that you could bring a hardcore carnivore AND a hardcore vegetarian to and have them BOTH be happy, but Comet Cafe is exactly that. Plus, the service is amazing. Vegan deep fried rib bite appetizer - amazing and comes with the vegan mayo that's off the chain Vegan rib sandwich with coleslaw - my friend is OBsessed with this Brussels sprouts - vegetable of the day, was alright Free HUMONGOUS basket of bacon on Sundays The fries are delicious too I'm obsessed with this place and I kind of want to move to Milwaukee so I can eat here very day. Also our server CARLY was like the sweetest girl in the whole entire world. Thank you Carly!!!
(5)Kristin S.
I keep having intense dreams where I am gorging myself on their vegan riblets. Seriously, intense dreams with vegan riblets everywhere. Also, was crushing on my cute lady waitress. This place turns me on dammit!!! I wish I could eat here every damn day!
(5)Jennifer C.
I like Comet cafe but yet I don't.. When it's busy, it's hard to get in to get a seat, which sucks. The food is okay, the bacon was a bit overdone. The service was nothing spectacular. Parking is also a pain in the butt since it's street parking & it always seems like it's busy. Maybe when I go when it's just way too busy....
(3)Glory J.
This place is pretty baller, especially cool that it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Their beer selection is one of the most diverse I've ever seen, but I'm more of a sucker for buy local places, and the Comet definitely supports local farmers. Their portions are gigantic!!! I was starved one morning after a long run and I ordered pancakes and eggs and the pancakes were insane! Their eggs were pretty bad though, like these weird fat long strings. It's a decent place, but not my favorite breakfast joint (I'm more of a super healthy eater and their meat entrées for breakfast kinda throws me because it's those options, or eggs and pancakes).
(4)Thomas P.
Have been here twice, after having been recommended to it by a friend. They are well known for their "Compact Turkey Dinner", which is just as amazing as it sounds. The gravy is excellent and the deep-fried "turkey/stuffing/mashed potato" balls come out crisp, hot, and tasting just like Thanksgiving dinner. Second time here I came with my partner. She got the Leghorn sandwich and I can't say enough about it. I suggested "going halvsies" but she had no interest, and I can't blame her. Ambiance is fun, chill and casual. The place certainly doesn't try to put on airs but doesn't need to - the food speaks for itself. If you manage to have room after your meal (or want something to go), check out the baked goods!
(5)Patrick F.
Another stellar meal at Comet Cafe. This time it was breakfast and the Rocket Platter. Contents: 1 pancake, eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Now I know what you're thinking, 1 pancake? Come on. Believe me, you only need 1. It's the size of a plate and as thick as a manhole cover. Tasty as hell too. I didn't know this before I ordered an additional pancake. Needless to say, I am now a little sad with food. But it'll be ok. I learned my lesson. But I wholeheartedly recommend if you're in the area for breakfast, stop in and enjoy a slab o' pancake. Ask for Becky, she'll do you up right.
(5)Elise G.
I love their pulled pork sandwich! The pork is tender and delicious. The bun is puffy and perfectly buttery. I also like their twice baked potatoes, although the filling was slightly tough the most recent time I had it, nothing that a little more milk wouldn't have fixed. Only downside is that I always have to have a backup restaurant when I want to go here because it's so small and ALWAYS busy. It would be nice if they expanded, or at least had more chairs at the bar area so I didnt need to wait outside all the time.
(4)Rachel L.
I love this place! The food never fails and the service is excellent. Love their grilled cheese and french fries. Can't go wrong with Comet!
(5)Taylor S.
Be sure to get there right at opening time or you will be waiting for quite a while. They have delicious typical breakfast foods, but combine that with the beermosas, bloody maries, and my favorite, the Booze-a-latte
(5)Troy J.
Nothing is 'perfect' at the Comet Cafe -- by design. Food is authentic and hand made. The decor is casual. The menu is a mix of vegan and meaty items. The Reuben and the Vegan Gyro we tried were equally good. Spicy fries have a nice kick. If you're in the mood for cocktails, this is a great destination -- especially on Tuesdays when cocktails are on special at 6pm.
(4)Mike M.
Comet café is a must stop location for vegans and vegetarians, looking for down home diner, comfort food. Its eclectic, "hole in the wall" charm and tasty veg-friendly, Americana pairings, serves up cozy familiarity, with a hint of grit, making the experience all the more comfortable and memorable. Highly recommended for vegan/vegetarian diets and the coffee aficionado.
(5)Alex K.
Spontaneously making a trip to Milwaukee while in Chicago to catch a Brewers game, I looked this place up on FlavorTownUSA.com . I was fortunate enough to get a parking spot right in front of the restaurant without even trying, so I'm off to a great start so far. Like a lot of places I go to when I visit cities I haven't been to (or have been to already), I like to go to restaurants that have been on TV. Most specifically, "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" or "Man v. Food". This place was on DDD, and I didn't realize I saw the episode until I watched it after coming here. The feel of this place is just great. I came in here at around 9:30pm on a Friday, and the place was maybe half full. It's not a very big place, but it has the look of a cafe that could take place on a TV show. I have NO idea what that means... I guess it's that Comet Cafe feels "cozy". On one side there's the bar (I didn't really get a great look at it), and on the other side is bakery-esque. Even though the area was closed, I could see cupcakes through a window. Enough of *that*... the food and service. The waitress was extremely attentive, but not to the point where it became annoying. Maybe people just think I reek like shit, but it's very rare that I get a refill of my water without asking, so I appreciated that. I wish I remembered her name. My table ordered: The meatloaf sandwich (which was on DDD), the Leghorn sandwich, ahi-tuna, and I got the Camilla with seasoned fries. The Camilla is described as, "6oz pretzel breaded chicken breast on an egg washed bun with melted pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, peppercorn ranch, and of course... bacon." I also got a Sixpoint 3Beans (12oz can for $5), which I can't get in Michigan for some damn reason. The "best by" date was only five days away, but that's not a big deal. I didn't have anything to eat other than what I ordered, but it seemed like everyone else thought the food was about as good as I thought mine was. For $12 (dollar extra for the seasoned fries), I think I got about what I paid for. My only gripe with the Camilla is that the edges around the chicken where it was fried was somewhat dry/tough -- like it was in the fryer a little too long. The middle of it was juicy and very good though. The fries at Comet Cafe on their own are rather unremarkable, but the cajun-esque seasoning that they put on them spruces them up a lot. Comet Cafe, I'll visit you again if I'm ever in Milwaukee again. This place has a pretty awesome beer list (with very reasonable prices), the service is wonderful, and the food is what the place's rating indicates. Try this place out.
(4)Benjamin L.
Great vegetarian options! I had the vegan meat and eggs, and came away very satisfied.
(5)Anthony M.
I am not quite sure what all of the hype is about this place. I read all of the reviews and I was very excited to come here for breakfast. But I left feeling disappointed. We arrived early because we knew that there was going to be a crowd here. We got very lucky when we arrived and only had to wait about 5 minutes for our table. We were seated and looked over the menu...the menu looked really good and we asked the waiter for a few recommendations. He was nice but seemed a little rushed. He did not want to have to spend any time with first time customers and stupid food related questions...hey wait isn't that what a waiter is suppose to do? I ordered the Breakfast Burrito. It described that it was smothered in Ranchero Sauce but I got that on the side. I am so glad that I did because I did not really like the sauce. If it had been all over my breakfast it would have been ruined for sure. So I started eating but was not happy with my choice. Usually I always seem to order the perfect thing off of a menu but I was totally wrong with this choice. My wife had ordered the Cheesy Tomato Sandwich Buttafucco style which meant it came with hot giardiniera on it. She also substituted the fries for hash browns Both plates looked amazing...I would even say picture perfect...if you do not believe me check out our pictures. One thing I did not like was that we both asked to have our hash browns crispy and only my wives came out crispy...mine were the typical rawish hash browns that everyone else was getting. That made me a little mad but I never send anything back to the kitchen because you never know how mad the chef is going be. Somewhere in the middle of our meal we offered each other a bite...we both looked at each other and decided to trade breakfasts. My wife also did not like her choice either. So we tried salvaging our breakfast by taking the others breakfast. I did like the Cheesy Tomato Buttafucco Sandwich better then the Breakfast Burrito. I could have used a piece of bacon on there. Bacon makes everything better. Another thing I did not like was that people, who are waiting for tables, start standing over you, while you are trying to eat. It is kind of annoying. You can also feel there stares, as you take a bite of your meal. It is not relaxing at all. Plus it is not fun to have people's midsections near your mouth as you are trying to take a bite out of your food. I am sure if our table was in the back we would have never had to deal with this but if you do eat here get something away from the front door. I know that everyone likes this place but I did not. Guy F usually delivers but I think he missed the boat on the Comet Cafe. I am glad that I tried it but I know I will not be back again because I was not impressed at all.
(2)Emily S.
Comet Cafe is home to the best Mac and Cheese on the planet. Okay, at least the Midwest. Seriously. I have eaten Mac and Cheese at lots...and lots...and lots of restaurants. Comet's Mac is like no other. It almost tastes as though they melted cheese curds over the noodles. I don't know how to explain it other than it's amazing and makes your mouth very happy. Comet is my go-to restaurant to take friends to when we meet in Milwaukee. The servers are always friendly and the atmosphere is very casual and laid back, even when bringing your feisty, small children! Love this place - it lives up to its reputation as being one of the best in Milwaukee.
(5)Stella K.
My friends and I were rolling through Milwaukee on the way back from a cabin trip and decided to give this place a try since we have a vegan or two onboard. We were shocked by how affordable the beer was. I really enjoyed my generous heap of cod with my Friday Fish Fry and I got to sample my friend's macaroni and cheese which was pretty decent. The server was A+, she was polite, refilled our drinks promptly, and when she saw us scrambling to find out where an ATM was, or who was gonna pay on who's card, she offered to split the checks! It was a f@$@king miracle!
(4)Andrea K.
This is one of my favorite cafes in the Milwaukee area. It's a cool hipster place, where the servers are friendly and the food is tasty. I like their music selection, which is mostly oldies or chill indie music. They have a huge drink selection, including a Beer Mimosa for brunch! They have a lot of dessert options, such as pies and cupcakes! This is a good place for late night dinner (up until 10PM when the kitchen closes) and for hanging out at night with a group of people.
(5)Kyler O.
Doesn't get any easier handing out 2 star reviews. Again I really want to like these local places that are seemingly doing a good job pulling in clientele. However i was left here sadly unsatisfied with my food. Comet seems to focus a little too much on their Laissez-faire attitude and not enough on he quality of their food. I have been here twice and the most recent time decided to go with the breakfast burrito, cant go wrong there right? Wrong, what i received was a big tortilla with maybe one egg in it, dissapointed to say the least. I could have nibbled on a tortilla at home. I did recieve good service from the bartender and the coffee was coffee but unfortunatley the food justified 2 stars here..
(2)Emily S.
Last night I got the big luck burger but with a veggie burger instead (I'm a vegetarian) and it was the BEST veggie burger I have ever had! It was so juicy and perfectly cooked. It had 1000 island sauce on it and WOW I ate the whole thing without putting it down!! The Mac and cheese is also amazing and creamy. The tomato soup is always so good! They have a variety of great cupcakes! Some are vegan too! I go here a lot and this is one of my favorite restaurants between the food and the awesome vibes!
(5)Dinah T.
We were in the neighborhood coming back from a Tough Mudder event in Wisconsin. It's eh, we went during lunchtime and they didn't serve their Mac n cheese that day. Disappointed triple D show. The meatloaf was ok, thick and kind of heavy. The dessert cupcakes were pretty good I have to say. Next time we'll have to try their breakfast as I see a lot of folks ordering that and it was pretty busy when we got there. There were even people who were waiting to be seated that stood by us, that's how busy they were.
(2)Tabitha W.
In planning a cheesy road trip to the "dairy state" and checking out restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Comet Cafe was featured high on my list of places I definitely wanted to check out. So, Friday night pulling into Milwaukee, they were first on the agenda. Walking into the restaurant, there was a group of people hovering near the door. There was a sign-in sheet posted at the counter, so we added our name and went to hover near the door with the other waiting patrons. This wasn't ideal, but at least with the sign-in sheet, we could count the names ahead of us to see when we could expect to be called. Space was limited, so I'm not sure where else customers could wait. Finally, it was our turn to be seated, and we were directed to a corner booth near the bar. It was very noisy - we were directly below a speaker, and I would've preferred a bit of a quieter environment. I ordered a half-order of the vegan deep-fried ribs, which were ah-maz-ing. My husband got the vegan salisbury steak, which he thought was amazing. I thought they were good, but not as great as my ribs! My brother had a burger, and he really enjoyed it. They had cupcakes at the register that we had stared at while waiting for a table, so we decided to indulge in one for a dessert. I think it was the Chocolate Malt cupcake, and it tasted just as good as it looked.
(5)Joan R.
Total comfort food! I had the compact turkey dinner and we shared the ( best I ever had) Mac and Cheese. Warm, tasty and satisfying. The atmosphere is loud and energetic. It's a no frills environment- but service was fast and friendly. Two people at our table had the meatloaf and although both servings were large- one was twice the size of the other. The waitress explained "because it doesn't come from a factory". Reviews of meat loaf is: "very good, very very good". We were there for a late lunch so we missed out on the pie. We will have to come back for that.
(5)Joshua C.
Had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
(4)Adam R.
I think it's a cute place. The food quality is there as well. However there are two reasons I only give it three stars. The first is the music sounds to be pretty much local distorted alternative/punk/rock music (I'm unsure of the genre). I know there are people who like that type music but not me, and I like most all genres. The music is just loud enough to be annoying. The second reason is that from what I can tell most of the menu items are comfort food items. I looked up vegetarian and this place showed up on yelp and it looked cool. And while they do have vegetarian offerings, the food is surely not lacking in fat and carbs. All in all I thought my food was too greasy. But if you are in the mood for a massive sandwich or some good ole' comfort food then this is for sure worth a try.
(3)Rachel Lauren H.
Comet always has the best eclectic vibe with a varietal mix of people, plates, drinks, and sounds!
(5)Meg S.
When in Milwaukee for a long holiday weekend, we stopped into Comet Cafe on July 4th. We knew they'd be busy, and they were. To me this is a good sign and I knew they also had been featured on a couple of food tv shows as well. The wait wasn't long, because we had told them we would sit at the bar if need be and they did end up seating us as the end of the bar. It took a few minutes for someone to acknowledge the fact that we had sat down with no menus or drinks. There were only a couple of bartenders, and since they have such yummy brunch cocktails it was even more of a madhouse to them. At first I was a little worried we wouldn't get service, but when I realized how busy they were I just tried to relax and let it happen. When we were approached, I ordered the beermosa (white beer & orange juice) and my hubby for the bloody mary (with bacon). These were both delish. Since we were at the end of the bar, we were right next to the kitchen and front row for the chef's antics. This included yelling for the servers and singing to whatever radio they had going on back there. They were actually pretty funny, and the servers/bartenders bantered back & forth with them. We are pretty laidback people so we didn't mind, but someone else might have been offended by the language and what not being thrown back & forth. My husband had the meatloaf & eggs which was to die for. I had the country fried steak which was also really good. Hashbrowns were soooo good. I overheard a server telling the kitchen they were understaffed, and also overheard a patron telling the bartender they all work too hard. I would have to agree, especially since they were open on a holiday. If you're going to be open on a holiday, then you should be properly staffed and not make the rest of your staff that did agree to come in on a holiday work 4x as hard. A great experience & ambiance, and the hard work by the bartender and chefs was much appreciated. We will definitely return!
(5)Che R.
This place serves diner food and I have yet to be disappointed. It is fairly casual and a good place for food and drinks. It is one of the more vegan friendly places in town so I particularly recommend it for vegans or mixed diet groups. In addition the customer service is great. On my most recent visit our food took awhile to get to the table and the staff owned up to the delay and totally took care of us.
(4)Jin K.
My favorite place. Really tasty cake and other food. I'm visiting this place frequently. A must-visit for casual dinner with friends but also good for a date. OMG, I just got hungry with writing this reivew.
(5)S Q.
All I can so is OMG !!!! The cupcakes where out of this world!!! We where there on Sat. at noon took 20 min, worth the wait. Wait staff was very friendly, food was excellent LOVED the homemade pickles wanted more then just the 3 that was on the plate;) The only thing bad was parking
(5)Hayley P.
I'm originally from NYC and this is the BEST spicy Bloody Mary I've ever had. It came with BACON IN IT!! The menu is super interesting, lots of sandwich options and some breakfast items. Some dishes are able to be made vegan which was really cool. I would definitely come back again if I come back to Milwaukee.
(5)Matthew W.
I spent a year living right around the corner from Comet Café and can't say enough great things about this place. Comet is my Milwaukee go-to. We've been through a lot together: I used to join friends on Thursday evenings to drink wine (they have a half-off all bottles deal each Thursday), or spend a Saturday afternoon there with a book and a glass of iced tea. Comet's got indoor and outdoor seating, two bars, one diner-themed, the other more, well, Milwaukee. The space is hipster, trendy, comfortable, with a number of cozy booths. That said, be prepared to wait when you come to Comet: the food is SO GOOD that you'll most likely have to wait for at least a few minutes for a seat. Comet is popular, and for good reason. While the service is generally fabulous, and the space comfortable, if crowded, the very best part of Comet is the food. Innovative, vegetarian friendly, and absolutely DELICIOUS comfort food makes Comet easily one of the best casual restaurants I've ever eaten at. I almost always order the Leghorn Sandwich, with roasted chicken, apricot preserves, goat cheese, cucumbers, greens, and onions on wheat bread (and served with Comet's delicious fries). That said, you really can't go wrong with any of Comet's offerings. This is a place fit for foodies. I can't think of one legitimate reason to not visit Comet. It's the perfect combination of Milwaukee's casual, low-key vibe with a true reverence for good, quality food. A true, indisputable gem.
(5)Brianna K.
My all time number 1 go-to place for really anything vegan at any hour when I am in Milwaukee. They are open to 2 am- because it is a bar (but let all ages in whenever)- and whenever I go out at night I end up here for giant vegan cupcakes/pie. Their selections are limited but always so so good. The red velvet vegan cupcake is to die for. The vegan riblets are great, as is the walnut burger and leghorn sandwich. But nothing compares to the brunch here. Most items can be made vegan (delineated by a cute carrot next to the item) and they are always excellent. My favorite is the tofu scramble with hash browns and the pancakes. I cannot describe to you the amount of pleasure that my mouth received from eating those pancakes. The servers are always so great and attentive. Looking back, it's pathetic how many times I've gone here and yet to have tried their whole menu. It fills up fast and I always have to wait, but it is so well worth it. I love this place- we need one in Philly.
(5)Aaron K.
Best carrot cake ever. Our server recommended the carrot cupcake (3.75$) with high regard and I took his recommendation. It blew me away, seriously the best ever, and worth the cab fare from downtown milwaukee. The rest of the menu is good but not great. Really fatty comfort food. Really unique twists on the classics. I had the meatloaf which was really dry. Bites with the bacon that was wrapped around and the ketchup on top were good. I should have used ketchup with the whole thing. My wife had the AJ's compact turkey dinner. This was pretty good as well, but I found the beer batter a little overwhelming compared to the other ingredients. They did an awesome job on our brussel spouts, some were steamed some braised with stout ale, all great. I saw a lot of people eating sandwiches in here so maybe that's the way to go? I don't know if it's a must try, but that cupcake is probably worth the trek alone. Come at an odd time or expect a wait. Prices are really reasonable (12$ for our entrees, 3.75 for a huge cupcake). Their drink menu looks awesome (both in presentation and the actual drinks). As a card collector when I was younger I really loved seeing a drink menu that looked like a card collection.
(4)Elliot S.
This place is the definition of a neighborhood diner. We'll be living right around the corner from Comet and are so excited to have found this gem. We went with my mom (vegetarian for over 30 years) and she was instantly in love. She ordered Kelly's Vegan Scramble with toast and freshly made jam. It was awesome. We also had the Leghorn Sandwich and the Breakfast Burrito. Everything was awesome. It's just great to find a place where everyone, carnivore or herbivore, leaves full and satisfied! We can't wait to explore more of the menu!
(4)Kristen R.
I love this place! My favorite place in Milwaukee for a bloody mary. Even meat-eaters will enjoy the vegetarian dishes here.
(5)Barry M.
Love it here! I have had almost everything on the menu but my favorite is the Spinach artichoke sandwich. And the craft beer selection always amazes me.
(4)Becky P.
Good golly I'm salivating just thinking about the deliciousness that is Comet! I highly suggest enjoying a bloody mary with pretty much whatever you order! I had the ahi tuna sandwich last time I visited and it was excellent. You can't go wrong with anything you're in the mood for.
(4)Jill N.
Yes, if you don't get here early, you will have to wait. But they do an amazing job of seating everyone as quickly as possible. They service is great and no matter how many times they've repeated the same thing to other customers, they are always extremely pleasant. The food is fresh and very tasty! And the drinks are fantastic as well. Don't forget to get one of their huge cupcakes to take with you for later!!
(5)Paul A.
The Comet Cafe was recommended to us by a server from Mader's Restaurant earlier in the day. She recommended the cafe if you really like hamburgers. Comet Cafe is a dive, but a good dive. I did find it funny that we had to check ourselves in, but this is a busy place and luckily we did not have to wait too long. Their specialty is comfort food and craft beers.It appears to be run by young whippersnappers who know how to run a place like this. It looks as if its broken up into two areas: one for food and one for drinks. At 9pm, the kitchen closes; but if you get in before then, they should till feed you. The bar is open much later as they close around 2:00am every night. For my meal, I had the small house salad with ranch and a Big Luck Hamburger with fries. The small house salad is ANYTHING but small, just FYI - you get a great portion of salad for your buck! The Big Luck was just that -- BIG. Basically is was 6oz of Wisconsin grass-fed beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and Thousand Island on an egg-glazed bun. HUGE and delicious. Just a about a dollar or so over-priced. It was a little tough-and-go at first with getting refills on water, but eventually, things worked out and we recv'd steady service. It was a BUSY Sunday night, no less. But service was smooth after that. Also, they supply lunches to the students at Escuela Verde in the area - so that's great to know as well! FINAL SAY: Would I go back? Definitely -- just a little earlier, i think. Date & Time of Visit: 05.25.14 | 830P
(3)Annie G.
Delicious grilled cheese and fries! Took a solid 25 minutes to get a seat but the meal was worth the wait! Very cool atmosphere.
(4)Bob R.
Not being from Milwaukee, we don't really know the history or how Comet regularly operates. I start off with that because I believe they must change the menus frequently. The selection was not very big, but it was diverse. I don't eat anything with milk products, so seeing they offered vegan options was very exciting to me. We chose this place to meet an old friend who I've not seen in many years. I live in Chicago, he lives in Milwaukee and said this would be a great place to give us the "Milwaukee feel." It's less than a mile from the art museum in a cute, older part of town. I got eggs. (I eat eggs, I don't do milk.) The eggs came with hashed browns and sour dough toast. The eggs were cooked perfectly but a little bland. The hashed browns were really excellent - they were not too greasy and they had just the right amount of crisp. We sat in a corner booth by the window. The seating against the window was a wooden bench. The bench also went around one side of the table. The other side of the table was against the wall and the 4th side had a chair. It was a fairly large space, but I have to admit it was not particularly comfortable. In particular, an old guy like me trying to maneuver around the side of the table and then stand up was hard. But, we were there at least 2 1/2 hours and the staff never complained. So, they get extra credit for that. All in all, Comet Cafe was fun and enjoyable. The food was good. They also offer a full bar and offer plenty of brunch type drinks (Bloody Mary's, Mimosas) but we decided against that or we'd be tired the rest of the day. The best part was getting together with an old friend. And, he picked a great spot for a reunion.
(4)Rachel F.
Another go earlier this month for my one and only (younger) sibling's birthday, and I'm even less impressed, Comet. No... I'm not downgrading. I'm just reasserting what I've noticed to be a trend, now. I was really hoping that perchance this whole mediocrity in fare deal was a fluke, especially since they rolled out a menu re-vamp just prior to our visit. "I am open-minded! I will try again! I will trade dollars for foods and drinks one more time at least!" Everything always *sounds* so stellar on Comet's menu... Droppin' the honesty: Our pulled pork sandwich wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't awful, either. The fish fry was so greasy it was almost inedible. Less fry more fish, por favor. Fries were bland and undercooked. So my hope goes unfounded; the food is still just middle of the road. It's not bad, it's just, well... for a much more reasonable price tag I can get bar fare that's of consistent quality at the Swingin' Door downtown. I'll choose them over Comet every time, now. So why no downgrade? Because the bar is still awesome (beers! cocktails! great bartenders... shout out Dr. N!) and they have lots of delicious-looking cupcakes and pies, etc. I don't think I'll be dining at Comet again anytime soon, however.
(3)Patrini S.
The atmosphere is welcoming. I absolutely love the loft style design. I ordered the burger with seasoned fries with the cucumber sauce. The fries were delicious! I haven't had great fries like this anywhere. The cucumber sauce was fresh and crispy. Best tasting cucumber sauce that I've ever had. The burger was large, I was only able to eat half of it. It wasn't the greatest burger. It needed more seasoning. Overall, the service was great. Our cups were always filled and the waiter took our plates after we put them to the side. I will come back to try something different on the menu.
(4)Gillian H.
I just love this place. There is always a wait, but it is ALWAYS worth it. The food is so delicious, the waiters are so hipster, the drinks are boozy and wonderful. the only thing that I haven't been impressed with was desserts, maybe because the food is always so good and filling but the cupcakes seem a bit lackluster, but this small detail will never stop me from loooooving the place.
(5)Hollie D.
This place is on point! Had perfect timing on this one and grabbed two seats at the bar right before a huge line formed. The service is great, very friendly. Very satisfied with my drink (crab ass) and sandwich (leghorn). It was a tough choice between the sandwich and the chilaquile special which also sounded really good. Would definitely stop in again next time I find myself in Milwaukee. Also make sure to check out the trading card drink menu!!
(5)Emily D.
Love their food in general, but that whole toast thing... I'm sure it's good bread, but all of their sides just doesn't seem like enough food for the price you pay.
(4)Luke R.
This attempt to review Comet has created such an interesting wrestlefest in my mind. Three or four stars? It looks like three, in a decision. Here's why there was a struggle. I know that I like going there from time to time. It's always great for people watching. I like to sit at the bar. Especially as a last stop, late at night. I love one - and maybe even more than one - of the pros pulling the strings behind the bar. I'm sure this is why it's such a great late night stop. The food, however, has yet to really make me want to come back for the food. Truly, as some of you may know, I'm not a picky eater. I'm frequently called "Garbage Cat" by a familiar lady with a more discerning pallet. Nevertheless, I have reservations about plopping down dollars on consistently middle of the road food that makes me feel like I am filling myself with heavy blankly-flavored greasy weight. And honestly, I have not tried the Meatloaf atop bacon, wrapped around a smoked bacon dynamite stick that's stuffed with distilled bacon covered in bacon gravy served with a side of bacon with a bacon napkin. The meatloaf thing looks good every time I peruse the menu. Maybe I'll get it someday. The salt and meat induced depression that follows may be worth it. I hope so. There are already more that 100 reviews of Comet, so I don't need to include too much. You'll get the drift. Plus, they are very popular. So what do I know? Why would something be popular if it wasn't great? I don't know. Have you ever encountered something popular that wasn't great? I'll tell you what: there is a lot about Comet that is great whether they are popular or not. First and foremost are some of those shining gems of employees. They have a great list of beer and drinks and show considerable attention to the alcohol serving segment of your experience. Also, decent atmosphere. Good location. Nice windows for your wandering eye. See, lots of nice and good things about Comet. Lots!
(3)Tex T.
food is passable at best everything is dirty and covered in grime, staff made us feel inconvenient for being there and making them work, they were out of vegan gyros which was the only reason I went there. Might try it again someday if circumstances dictate, but not planning on it anytime soon. I have no idea how this place is as popular as it is.
(2)Alex S.
Breakfast!?! Check their hours, first. We stopped in the morning for breakfast and they do not open until 10 AM!
(1)Cyril L.
If you're around Milwaukee, Comet Café is a great place to eat. Their Chicken Pot Pie is one of the best things I've had in the longest time. They also have a fine selection of beer to choose from.
(4)Sarah H.
Confession time: I first heard of this place on "Triple D" on the Food Network. And then my fiance saw it on the Food Network. And then my mom saw it. After many hours of wedding research, we were all ready for lunch, which is why we ordered six dishes for four people. I got the breakfast burrito, which had corned beef and hashbrowns in it. Now, that would have been enough to entice me. The real kicker was that the server noticed I was stressed out and wrote an encouraging message in Sriracha on my burrito. It made my day. No, seriously, it did. I think this is on the roster from now on when I come to visit the family in Milwaukee. MMMMMMMM
(5)Tim W.
I think I have a love hate relationship with breakfast burritos. On one hand, I love them because they contain delicious breakfasty goodness like eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, cheese, chorizo etc. It's a traditional breakfast served in a more portable and easy to eat form. What's not to love? On the other hand, I hate breakfast burritos because often times, they come out tasting worse than the sum of all of its parts. I'm not sure if it's an inherent problem with the breakfast burrito or maybe most places I go to just commit this sin. The biggest problem by far is the eggs. The eggs are what separate the breakfast burrito from a regular burrito. I feel like 3 out of 4 times I order a breakfast burrito at any establishment, the eggs are overcooked. The eggs should be the soft and fluffy glue that holds the burrito together. When they are overcooked they make the entire burrito dry like the Sahara, which no amount of Cholula can fix. Unfortunately, the breakfast burrito I had at Comet was disappointingly dry. Combined with rather bland pieces of flank steak, it was overall a pretty uninspiring breakfast burrito. I still really like the sandwiches at Comet, so maybe I'll stick to those instead... On another note, my friends really like to order benedicts, and Comet seems to be the second establishment in a row that overpoaches their eggs. I'm not talking a little bit either. The yolk is completely solid.
(3)Dustin T.
The only bad thing is the wait but it is definitely worth waiting for. I have tried something different every time I have come here and have yet to be disappointed. You have to give this place a shot if you're in the area.
(5)Douglas B.
One of my favorite places to eat in Milwaukee. The cheesy roast beef sandwich is always at the top of my list, and the french fries are delicious. It can sometimes take a while to get a table, but it's well worth it. During busier hours, it may be worthwhile calling in your order and taking it to-go. Don't pass up the cupcakes - SO SO GOOD!
(5)Laura Z.
I feel like I've been to Comet a gazillion times. The truth is that I've been there a lot for dinner, and a couple times for brunch. For dinner, I'm always incredibly happy. Every single sandwich is delicious, and the Mac n Cheese is the best I've ever had.The seasoned fries are good too (and I don't even like fries). I usually don't get the fries though, because the homemade ginger dressing is fantastic, so I always get a side salad. As I write this, I realize I haven't been there for dinner in a while. This needs to change. Each time I go for brunch, I leave underwhelmed. Maybe it is because I had such high hopes from dinner, but I'm just never that excited about my food. I should start getting the sandwiches. Did I mention that you HAVE to take a cupcake home to-go? It's a rule. They are so very delicious. Lastly, the beer list is exciting. Go here if you like craft beer. Actually, I have more to say. Be prepared to wait. I usually wait a half hour plus to get seated. I'm also totally on board with Comet's attempt to buy as many ingredients locally as possible. This complements the hipster-y vibe that fills the place. Keep it up, Comet.
(4)Kenneth B.
Had lunch here and was serenaded by No Doubt the entire time. That in itself would have excuse poor service or mediocre fare, but both of those were excellent. It's grungy, but not in the dirty, appetite-spoiling sense. I mean "grungy" in that it feels sort of industrial, kind of the way I think Milwaukee is in general. So, you could say that Comet captured the essence of the city and serves it up alongside a delicious bowl of mac & cheese, and a very agreeable music selection. I spent two days in Milwaukee, and ate at probably six or seven different establishments. This was my favorite. The only reason I withheld a star is because the cheesy potato dish was slightly more onion-y than I would have liked, but that's subjective. You may love it, as I did everything else. Bottom line: this place has coffee, beer, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
(4)Jason B.
Very very good food, and if you leave here hungry, YOU'VE done something wrong. I ordered the french toast and laughed at the bartender when he asked if I wanted a half order or a full order. I'm a man, I'll take the full order I said........and that was almost a terrible mistake. The french toast came out and I was overwhelmed with how much food it was. The toast itself was about double the thickness of any french toast I've seen before, and there were 6 freaking slices of it. This is where I started feeling like an idiot for laughing at the bartender when he asked if I wanted the half order. With my pride on the line, I was able to finish all 6 pieces and my hash browns, and left a very happy man. The bartending staff was very friendly and funny and very attentive. The place is pretty small and is always packed, but it's definitely worth it.
(4)Elliott D.
Pancakes are more like mancakes. They're huge and super tasty!
(4)Becky H.
With a bit of a classic diner feel to it, you don't necessarily expect an amazing vegan menu when you first step into Comet. When a friend tells you about Comet being a great vegan restaurant, you might not expect them to do meat-atarian dishes all that well. But the food here is excellent across the board. All my vegetarian and/or tofu-loving friends are impressed with the food, and I've sampled multiple meat dishes that have been absolutely delicious. Their tea, beer, and cocktail menu is also excellent, although I can't personally vouch for more than a couple of the drinks. They also have both vegan and regular cupcakes and pies every day, which is pretty damn awesome. If you're trying to get in on a weekend or during a traditional lunch hour, you may want to reserve a table ahead of time, as it can get pretty packed. Even when I went there on a weekday for an early lunch, there were a respectable number of customers in the restaurant.
(5)Nick F.
Always enjoy this place! Turkenstien is great! only complaint is parking,or lack their of.
(4)Kimberly F.
Bring your appetite!!! The portions are huge, and the options are plentiful. Basically anything you're in the mood for can be found. I started with the Bruncharita, basically a margarita with passion fruit juice, it was refreshing and amazing. For breakfast I got the Breakfast Burrito, it didn't look that big, but I was fooled, it packed a tasty punch! It was filled with super fresh ingredients, but could have been a bit spicier. Our waiter was super attentive and knowledgeable on all the vegan options (of which this place has a ton). The food came out quick, and there was so much of it we needed a doggy bag. My friends got the pancake, with eggs. The pancake is enough for two people easy! My share of the bill was $27 bucks, I got a drink, breakfast and an adorable ten dollar tote bag. Featuring their logo, the blue whale. 4 Yummy Stars!!!
(4)Mandy S.
Amazing vegan apple walnut burger with side apple curry slaw .. Very busy place but worth the wait. Wait is never long during week maybe 10-20 lmk get on weekends not worth it. Many dishes can be made vegan. Service is always good. Sign is sheet at front counter by cupcake and pie display.
(5)Jen G.
Awesome food! Enter hungry, leave very, very full!
(4)Mary B.
Love, love, love the Comet Cafe! I've been out to eat maybe 10 times since I moved here in September, and half the time I end up coming here. This is the kind of place that makes everything homemade, including, very importantly, the sauces and dressings! I'm a vegetarian, recently turned vegan, and the veggie friendly stuff here is so, so delicious. Not like "delicious for vegan food," but delicious, period. I've had the veggie burger, veggie pulled pork sandwich, vegan deep fried ribs and vegan rib sandwich, and all were off the chain. The veggie pulled pork sandwich with apple coleslaw was literally lingering in my mind for days after I ate it. And they have this vegan chive mayo stuff that is even more delicious than regular mayo. Anyways, I can't speak to all their cheesy, meaty stuff, but everyone I've been out to eat with loved their meat sandwich, potatoes and gravy, fish fries, etc. too. Also, the food comes out quick, and the service is incredibly friendly in a very genuine way.
(5)Shannon C.
I give Comet four stars based solely on two things: their waitstaff is lovely, and their vegan Reuben is the best in town. The texture of the seitan, coupled with the sauerkraut (which isn't overdone) and the dressing, is perfection. And the bread? The fries? If I write about it anymore I will have to go there right now! Even die-hard meat eaters will love the vegan Reuben, trust me. I knocked off a star because their food is super greasy, so it sometimes makes me feel not-so-good after a few hours. But to me it's worth it!
(4)Beth P.
Comet Cafe is a solid dining choice. Their homestyle food is delicious and they have a small bar so you can order a drink too. I got a burger, which was ok. The spinach and artichoke dip was amazing! They serve it with toasted bread. It can get pretty busy on weekends so plan accordingly. My friend and I came on a Friday night around 8 pm and ended up sitting at the bar. Don't forget to plug you meter like I did. The meters on the street charge until 9 pm during the week (including Fridays). Oops...
(4)Stacy O.
My greatest regret about Comet Cafe is that I don't live closer because I would be a regular here if I did. We had breakfast here while celebrating our anniversary weekend. We arrived before they opened for the day, and were seated immediately when they unlocked the doors. The small group waiting around was affirmation we'd made a good choice of restaurants. I had the biscuits and sausage gravy, which was phenomenal. The biscuit was dense with good flavor; the gravy had chunks of sausage and a nice kick of spice to it. The hash browns were great as well (though I should have ordered them crispy). My husband's breakfast was some concoction of jalapeño cornbread, barbecue pork, poached eggs... He also kicked off the meal with a beermosa, a surprisingly perfect breakfast drink. We both also had coffee; I believe they brew Alterra. The refills were plentiful. We joked that we had no idea how much coffee we actually drank because our cups were never empty. Our server was amazing. I, unfortunately, didn't catch her name, but she was delightful. We had a small glitch with my husband's order. It took more than 30 minutes for our meals to come out because my husband was the first person to order it so the kitchen fumbled a bit. Our sever apologized several times, and ultimately the restaurant comped our drinks and a cupcake we ordered at the end of our meal. And the price was perfect. Before we tipped, we added up how much the bill should have been (we're no slouches -- our sever shouldn't be penalized) and it was completely reasonable for the amount and quality of the food.
(5)J. C.
The set up of this place is interesting. It's half diner, half bar. Literally. The menu is solid, fresh and makes every attempt to locally source. I'm not a craft beer drinker, but my husband is and he likes their selection (not extensive as some, but solid). I enjoy a well crafted cocktail and they do a good job of this as well. The place has a low key, cool-kids vibe to it, yet doesn't have that too-cool edge.
(4)Paul R.
Mac and Cheese day! Yes it was Mac and Cheese day..But I could not get past the open faced meatloaf offering. Yes it is as good as it looks in the photos. Great looking beer selection and the desert list is freeking awesome. As if u will have room for desert... Yes they have pie and cupcakes.... I liked the idea that it's a dive but accepts just about all credit cards. Go here and get pleasantly stuffed!
(5)Ken W.
I visited Milwaukee in May of 2014 and was looking for a spot to eat around breakfast time. We took a chance on this little cafe called the Comet on the east side after reading the reviews on YELP. For those of you visiting from LA, if that's possible, it might remind you of Venice a little...okay maybe not. Nonetheless, the food wasn't bad, the service is great and they have vegetarian options. We had the Kelly scramble (vegan), mmmmm tasty. The Blood Mary came with a small Miller High Life, nice touch. The only problem was the mimosa it came in a beer glass with ice and a straw, need I say more. Don't mind me just go and try it for yourself.
(4)Nicole L.
Hubby and I were really looking forward to trying the meatloaf and mac & cheese but we learned the hard way that on weekends you cannot get either until after 4 pm, so heads up! I had the leghorn sandwich and my husband had the cheesy beef. He enjoyed his sandwich but I was a bit disappointed in mine. Flavor-wise it was pretty decent, but a) the chicken was very bland with no seasoning b) there wasn't much chicken on the sandwich, and c) the sandwich itself was smaller than I was expecting. I upgraded to the spicy fries thanks to all the recommendations on Yelp and I'm glad I did because my husband's regular fries did nothing for me. I couldn't finish my fries so I took the rest to go because there was no way those were going in the garbage. We took a $4 chocolate almond cupcake (chocolate cake, almond frosting) to go and enjoyed it later. It was fairly moist with tons of delicious frosting. I think I enjoyed that more than the actual meal. That being said, we plan to come back here some day to try that meatloaf and mac and cheese that everyone has raved about. P.S. Their bloody marys are pretty good too, and it seemed like everyone in the place had one, if not two! Visited: September 28, 2013
(4)Meghan M.
I've been here a couple times and it's hit or miss. Last trip my date's Vegan Salisbury Steak was cold, dry, bland and disappointing. Maybe it sat around waiting for the rest of the order? Not cool and not worth the $. Too many decent vegetarian options to take a risk here. Also, sometimes they add Field Roast if you want a meat dish vegetarian without confirming you want it. There's an upcharge and I don't like Field Roast. Ok, whine over. Delicious cupcakes, which I'm sure they buy-in.
(2)Brooke B.
Just ate here and it was amazing! My husband and I have been mostly vegetarian for a year. (We still eat seafood) The sandwich I miss the most is a Reuben. When I saw they had a vegetarian option for that particular sandwich, I knew I had to get it. I did and it was so delicious! It was made with Field Roast, which never disappoints. And it sure didn't disappoint with this Reuben! As soon as I had my first bite, I asked my husband if we could return for lunch the next day. It was THAT good! Speaking of my husband, he had the vegan meatloaf with beer gravy which was also made with Field Roast. He also had a salad with their ginger dressing. Again, both were delicious. I highly recommend this place and wish it wasn't 4 hours from us! Beer selection was also impressive!
(5)Emma E.
As if they need another 5 star review! Oh well though, here goes! We ate here 10/13/13 around 4 pm on a Sunday. We heard it gets busy but there was no wait at 4! The staff was super friendly! Drinks were fabulous- I had the booze-a-latte, husband had the beer mosa. He is pretty picky but loved everything. He had the meatloaf with potatoes and I had the mac & cheese. I have tried many a macaroni and cheese. This was unreal. Super creamy, thick, cheesy, gooey, almost sweet tasting. Wow. I could only get through half but I will be eating the rest momentarily. Definitely a hipster art student type vibe but that is not a bad thing! Delicious. Really glad we stopped by!
(5)mary j.
Really wanted to like this place. For people who plan on trying this spot, get there early (especially on the weekends). We managed to get a table just before the rush last weekend. We were told to seat ourselves at any open table. People arriving half an hour later ended up on a list and waiting outside for their names to be called. Not very happy with our server or the food. Long story short, it took exactly an hour before we received our food from the point where we ordered. Normally, I would cut them some slack because they were busy BUT other people who were seated at the same time or after us received their food and left while we waited for our food. When ordering, I was told that I "can't substitute" my toast and hasbrowns for fruit. I was told that the kitchen does not take substitutions on the menu. The waitress said that I had to order a side of fruit at $4.00! Are you kidding me? I can buy a whole watermelon for less than that. So, instead, I decided to piecemeal my breakfast by ordering sides of eggs ($2/piece) and Vegan sausage ($4/piece). So, an hour goes by before I get my eggs and sausage. The eggs were unseasoned and sausage was rock hard. It was broken in half and charred beyond recognition. It was so hard that it couldn't be cut with my knife/fork. In fact, I bet that if I had thrown it at the window, the sausage would win. As I ate my eggs, I flagged down the waitress to ask her for a less burned piece of sausage. She told me that this is how it was prepared. At that point, I pointed to my boyfriend's breakfast which also had the sausage. It looked nothing like mine and was actually tender and edible. Only after pointing out the difference on the one on my boyfriend's plate did she offer to get a replacement. Long story short, I finished my eggs and my boyfriend finished his breakfast before the sausage or waitress came back. I asked for a manger and who then offered to remove the eggs/sausage from my bill. I told her that we had looked forward to visiting the cafe all week after reading all the great reviews and that I was shocked at how poorly we were treated. I asked her why I couldn't sustitute fruit for my sides and she said that it costs the restaurant too much because fruit costs more than toast. I explained to her that I wanted to replace BOTH sides with fruit and that I was willing to pay an up-charge (a buck or two) for the fruit but was told I couldn't do that. She said that the waitress was wrong and that it was definitely and option and the waitress should have told me this. So very disappointed. Really can't believe that this place is so highly rated. Milwaukee definitely has more to offer.
(1)Pam G.
Two words: Vegan Gyros. OMG, sooooo good. Their homemade seitan is amazing and they give you so much you could take some of it home and eat it the next day. Back when I still ate meat I have had many other things there and was never disappointed. Sometimes there are long wait times but it's worth it. Quirky environment and hipstery, friendly waitstaff.
(5)Leslie A. B.
My co-workers and I got lunch for delivery. I thought it was just ok. Maybe had I eaten at the restaurant, I would have enjoyed it better. I had the apple something burger and the mac and cheese. I don't have to have it again.
(2)Mike O.
Right where the neighborhood transitions from yuppie to hipster, you get this strange yipster vibe. On this cusp of tattoo parlors and yoga studios, record stores and whole foods, you have the well known and regarded Comet Cafe. The vibe ranges from endearingly lame to aspiringly too cool, and manages both to a degree. The jokes on the menu are corny, but the food is nothing but (well, except the corn. SEE, it's CONTAGIOUS!) You can order your drinks from an 80s style baseball card holder. The cocktails are wildly cheap on Tuesday evenings. THREE F-ING DOLLARS? Did I die and go to good cost-of-living purgatory? The menu is large and diner-y. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily HEALTHY. Lotsa deep-fried stuff here, too, so if you're going for health, just beware that you'll have to do some hunting on the menu. My colleague and I sat outside on a beautiful summer MKE evening. Perfect. Our server was a little rude, like she didn't have the patience for people who would be ordering and eventually tipping her. Poor thing probably wants/needs a different job, or would rather be some sort of artist. Unfortunately, economies can support only so many artists...they can support a lot of cheeseburger eating dudes like me, however, and that is what I ordered and ate, along with a couple pints of West Coast IPA. (Tip, this place needs more Sconny beers. I've said it before, Milwaukee doesn't need to look West or East or anywhere when it comes to beer.) My burger was quite good. The pickles here, on spear that came with the burger and one that was chopped into a rough relish on the bun was a little spicy and dill and awesome. Very good. Overall, I can see why all the hubbub. I would certainly put it on a short list of places to eat at in the city. I just don't yet know how short that list would be...
(4)Dustin Z.
Full disclosure here: I've only indulged in the Comet brunch, and of that, multiple times. In that great regard, I do have to say that it has been absolutely delicious every single time. I'm a big fan of the breakfast burrito, which is little short of simply divine, and while I withhold from the alcohol at the lunch-hour, I do appreciate the availability of the Comet trading card menu at that time quite a bit, as I'm certain one day a brunch entree and a beer will eventually be what my stomach desires. Vegan options are a fantastic +, even though I'm a meat-eater myself, Comet is a frequent destination for brunches with my vegan friends with ample options for all of us. I hesitate from giving Comet 5/5 for a few simple reasons, all of which are a bit nitpicky, but Yelp doesn't let me throw a 4.95/5 their way. - Water glasses are extremely tiny/no pitchers on the table. I consume a lot of water - still working on why, but I drink a lot of water. With a glass half full of ice, I'm lucky to last 3 drinks before needing a not always available refill. - For a place as hoppin' as Comet is, and it's always hoppin' during the brunch hour - there's no great spot to wait inside. This isn't as big of an issue during summer when diners waiting for a seat can migrate outside the doors, but during winter, you're forced to awkwardly shove your butt in the peripheral vision of a diner who's mid-feast.
(4)The Decide R.
5 stars for their excellent execution of the classic meatloaf as well as their Mac n cheese. They also have Fox Barrel Cider available which is an excellent way to wash down the supper flavorful loaf of meat. This place does not disappoint.
(5)Meli S.
I had forgotten about this little cafe. Returned again recently. Excellent food and service.
(4)David S.
Visited Comet on a recent trip to Milwaukee. The beer selection was creative, and the food was delicious. I ate the meatloaf sandwich. But I have to only give two stars for a couple of reasons: 1) Service. A bit on the cold and and apathetic side. Attention to detail is important. Our server double charged us for a cupcake. He fixed the error, but still - attention to detail. 2) FLIES - Everywhere. I can understand a fly or two in the summertime. But this place was so overloaded with flies that it basically ruined my dining experience. The problem is that with so many flies, I call into question the overall cleanliness of the restaurant and kitchen. If you walk into this place and it's still loaded with flies, don't eat there. They're not clean.
(2)Marc R.
Caveat: Now, if you don't like to wait, and you don't like street parking this place might not be for you. It is as busy as any cafe might be in LGA, ORD, LAX, or SFO. I am so cool I know the airport codes! I suppose my point is that if you find cooler-than-cool people and servers annoying, you will be annoyed. But, if you can put up with the BS, and love good food, good drinks, you will love this place. Ok, so that's out of the way. Go in, put your name down, wait, and get ready for great food: I went to this place back in 2008 and it was busy, but not crazy busy like it was when I went here the week after Christmas. Man, we gave up on a booth because two nice ladies let us take their seats at the bar. As was the case back in 2008, the place has a hipster, yuppie, rich kid, hippy kid, guy in a band vibe to it, but as was also true in 2008, the place has amazing food, amazing drinks (top notch locally roasted coffee, and excellent bloody Mary's), They have great cupcakes in the display and I suggest getting one on the way out. My friend and I had eggs. I had the sandwich, and he had the burrito. Both were out of this world amazing. We sat next t some very cool women who were downing bloody Mary's with beer chasers (they serve what we used to call High Life "short-boys" as chasers!). I just loved watching these girls drinking the Mary's and downing the high life's. As a Cream City native, I was nostalgic for the days people's mom's drank short boys and the dads drank beers in returnable bottles in 24 pack rigid cardboard boxes (great for sitting on round a fire). Ah, those were the days, Milwaukee, and this was America then! OK, I am getting all nostalgic. Sorry... play Happy Days soundtrack here, or Laverne and Shirley. :) What rocks about this place? The options. Eat meat? Fine. No one is going to call you a Babe killer. Don't eat meat? Your options are good as well. Almost all meats have veggie substitutes. So, meaties and veggies are both welcome here. Have a hang over (see bloody Mary mentioned above). I have never been here at night, but I hear they mix up some amazing drinks a-la the mixology craze that has hit the big cities. Thanks Milwaukee, thanks Comet Cafe, I will drive from the south side past Bay View and the 3rd Ward to check you out.
(4)Ben C.
Very nice location the East side in a busy neighborhood. The cafe is a bit small but avoids feeling cramped. I had the "seasonal veggies" which were green beans and a cup of soup. The seasonal veggies were a bit expensive for the quantity; I believe for $4 I got about 15 green beans that had been sauteed. They had a nice beer selection and the menu was priced very fair. One important aspect is they apparently source a lot of their food from the local non profit "Growing Power' which encourages urban agriculture. I'd like to see them promote this more.
(4)Mary P.
We usually come for breakfast. The food is always wonderful. (Usually eating eggs.) We only wish they would open earlier. Service quick even when crowded. We enjoy the atmosphere.
(4)sean k.
I came here because Guy Fieri told me to. The place has a great, upbeat feel with a cool look to it. The Meatloaf, as featured on DDD, is what I ordered. Tons of flavor, great beer gravy, and the brussels were delicious. A bit too much pepper used in the mix, but definitely a solid dish. The Mac n cheese was probably the best I've had. Topped with bacon and a mix of some of the tastiest cheese I've ever had, this dish was just amazing, I could not stop eating it. The Bacon Pancakes were also great. Fluffy, tasty cakes with bacon cooked in to them, how could you go wrong? The service was a bit douche-y, and he had no answers to why I could not get my bacon latte, as I've seen them serve before. He was trying to rush us out of there, it seemed. The regular latte was very good, though. I cannot wait to go back here and have that mac n cheese w/ bacon.
(4)Chette I.
Hi my name is Ann, but you can call me Amy...lol...the host was so busy that he mistakenly called me Amy instead of Ann - i just figured he was calling out our group but that didn't bother me at all. It was just a funny thing to share. It was such a hectic sunday brunch at this place (& i knew beforehand that this is the usual), but you wouldn't feel any pressure nor get any bad service from the staff. They were very courteous, welcoming and still with all smiles. The place was very simple yet attractive and clean. The food? Outstanding! I got the Comet Benedict and the serving is just right. I love their hash brown - it looks similar as what other diners serve but this one tastes very homemade and less greasy. Their gravy complements the biscuit so much so that i could've asked for more :) it was worth the wait, the price, and the distance. I'm from Chicago and this won't stop me from coming back for more. I still got to go through a lot in their menu.
(5)Nickie R.
Comet literally never disappoints. One of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants that I always send people to.
(5)Jenna S.
If you come in to Comet Cafe to eat, expect to wait. I'm warning you now. Is the wait worth it? Absolutely. We arrived for Sunday brunch about 10 a.m. and we definitely had to wait about 30 minutes. It's a bit cramped and awkward, but it's totally worth the wait. We asked for first available, so we were seated at the bar, which was definitely a good choice. I really liked watching the bartenders work their morning brunch magic with all the Bloodys and Mimosas they were putting together. Food: So delicious. I got the Eggs Anyway You Like, which is a standard breakfast staple and done very well here. I enjoyed that my over-easy eggs weren't too overdone (nice and runny) and the bacon was crispy and yummy. I asked for a pancake on the side and it was enormous (prepare yourself). It was light, fluffy and super flavorful. Add some butter and syrup and you've got one mighty pancake. My fiance had a turkey sandwich and said everything was delicious. I can't attest to any of their lunch items, but he pretty much cleared his plate, which means it had to be good. Drinks: Mostly the source of the 5th star. The Bloody Mary here was amazing! Yummy piece of bacon inside plus a skewer of yummy fixins made this really great. The mix is homemade and has just enough spice to make it hot yet not unbearable. The little tiny Miller High Life served on the side really sealed the deal for me - so adorable! I appreciate a good Bloody Mary and Comet definitely has one, so come in and get your fill. The Mimosas also seemed popular, so definitely try one if that is your thing. I kind of wish I could come here one night because they have drink specials every night of the week and they're all great. They have a good selection of beer on tap (highly appreciated) and the food is fabulous. You could definitely make this a weekly hangout if you lived in the area, for sure. I'll be back when I find myself in Milwaukee again... I totally want to sample more of those delicious brunch items!
(5)Stephen M.
Maybe 3.5 if I could. I've been here before for snacks at the bar and drinks late, and had decent experiences here each time with that. The beer selection is pretty strong and the bartenders have always been pretty cool to hang with. Today's review is brought to us by brunch, however, and that was where we were disappointed. Today was the 2/20 snowstorm, so they were as packed as we'd figures they'd be, so we got to hang around and watch people forget how to drive in the snow all over again on Farwell. Our service at the table was decent, with drinks out fast, refills in coffee often and a pretty attentive server. The entrees were a little off though. All of our hash browns were soft, wet and sorta warm, like they came from a steam table rather than a flat. I'd ordered the Stengler, a breakfast burrito featuring corned beef and found no corned beef other than one strip at the end of the burrito. My friend Jami had the Tunar Eclipse, a seared tuna benedict, and asked for the hollandaise on the side. It came out smothered and when she pointed it out to the server, he said that the chef tends to ignore them and do whatever he wants. This was a little weird, and he asked if it would be okay as it is. Jami took one for the team and said yes, but we ended up sending it back due to her potatoes being cold and mushy. The dish came back a few minutes later, sauce on the side, and hash browns well browner. The other dishes, both Rockets, were easy eggs, bacon and pancakes. I will say the coffee was great, as was the oj, especially for it's price. I love the vibe, and I love the bar. I'm just not there yet for brunch.
(3)Melanie B.
Whoa. What happened to Comet? It must have been the Diners, Dives and Whatever show because this place BLEW UP. Not to be "one of those people" that goes on about how they "discovered" this place and used to go here before it was cool...... but I used to frequent Comet back in the day when you could comfortably sit at the bar on a Friday and Saturday night and converse with the bartender and other patrons. Not anymore my friends......In the words of Ke$ha (yes, I used the dollar sign in her name) "This place about to BLOW." My bestie lives across the street so when they first started serving food, we were there probably 2-3 nights a week. It was our "spot" we affectionately referred to as "Commie." However, I am taking this off the "Go-to" list after we went for happy hour the other night. Don't get me wrong, I am really happy this place is doing well and no question the food is SPOT freakin' ON every time we eat there. So, is it their fault that they create such awesome food and drink and people flock here? Of course not. Keep doin' your thang, Comet. However, I don't like people breathing down my neck like dragons tryin' to steal my bar seat when I go to the bathroom. This is supposed to be Happy Hour, not Angry Hour right? Packed bars are just not my thing. So, word got out on this little gem. Selfishly, I'm sad because no longer can I stroll in for brunch around 10am after a long night of drinkin. We now have to get there promptly when they open or else you wait and wait amongst all the other folks that want to get their grub on. (I'm not much for waiting when I'm hungry.) Food: 5 stars (homemade, slow cooked food! I haven't had a bad meal here) Drink: 5 stars (always something delish on tap and glorious cocktails) Coffee: 5 stars Bakery: 5 stars Service: 4 stars Comfort/Ambiance: 2 stars
(3)Frank B.
Nice little vegetarian/vegan/omnivore spot in a cute neighborhood. Good local beer selection and the food is tasty and filling. Veggie burger is good and built like an In n' Out burger i.e. lettuce, pickles with thousand island (secret sauce). Vegan riblets are pretty tasty and smokey flavored. Eclectic crowd and sweet outdoor seating. This will be a standard spot when I visit Milwaukee
(3)Adam J.
Outstanding. Definitely worth the wait and it lived up to the hype. Duck Breast w/ Spaetzel and Cranberries was unreal. I'd drive up to Milwaukee on a random night just to have dinner there in the future
(5)Frank C.
Any place that hands out free baskets of bacon like other places do with tortilla chips gets an A+ in my book........thats right, free unlimited bacon. So I ordered the Akimbo burger which is about 12" high and packed with goodness. If your ever in Milwaukee go there and try it. My wife got the deep fried Thanksgiving ball's, great idea and super delicious. Frank Campeglia (The Food Club)
(5)Al S.
With all of the other reviews basically covering what I would say I will keep it simple. This is my favorite restaurant in the entire city for the atmosphere, beer and food selection. Hands down.
(5)Libby T.
Best bloody Mary in the whole wide world
(4)Lacey R.
This place is the reinvention of classic comfort with just the right amount of cool to make it perfect for all types of diners. To be honest, I had no idea this place was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives until after my second visit. And I'm happy for that because I might have had different expectations. Both of my visits to this diner were for breakfast -- but I have heard that dinner is excellent. Our first visit was on my birthday. We bellied up the counter with the haggard look of two people who had indulged too much the night before (because we had). The server was calm, cool, and tattooed -- and didn't talk to loudly (a plus). He welcomed us, asked if we were vegan, and then offered Bloody Mary's. The vegan question (and our "NO!") made sense when the Bloodies came out with a slice of fried bacon in each. Delicious. And the mini Miller on the side is so cute I wanted to take it home. Every day there is a new special or two on the chalk board. I was lucky enough (happy birthday to me!) that the special that day was a Cuban Frittata. Pulled pork, ham, egg, swiss, some crazy mindblowing pickled relish... it was fantastic. The server was conversational and helpful and recommended a lot of fun things to do in Milwaukee. Our meal was perfect and we vowed to go back... Which is why, three weeks ago, for my mom's birthday, we went back to Comet for breakfast. The Bloodies were as good as I remembered and the coffee (from Anodyne) was spectacular. We sat in a booth this time and the waitress was attentive and had a great, dry sense of humor. The food was, once again, amazing. I had the Stendler (like corned beef hash and a breakfast burrito had a baby). My dad had the Meat-n-Eggs which is a slab of homemade meatloaf with eggs, topped in sausage gravy. My husband and my mom each ordered one of the specials: a crazy huge and yummy egg sandwich and an egg scramble loaded with shrimp and chorizo. All of us were happy and well fed. Both times I have taken cupcakes home with me and, while they are a bit large for my taste, they are tasty... and most people are not crazy enough to complain about large cupcakes. Just me. Noted again: go back to Comet.
(5)Lisa M.
Eh, pretty good. Like a lot of other people, we like to try places that have been on TV. We found this place for breakfast and stopped in on our way out of town. I figured we'd have to wait a while, so when we walked in and the place was jam packed, we got a little concerned. Not really many places for waiting considering the fact the wind was blowing like a mo-fo outside. We were seated within 15 mins. I like to know what I'm getting into so, I always check out the menu ahead of time. I was set on the Commuter Sandwich with cheddar on rye. I chose to skip hash browns and get 1 pancake (they have just one on the menu, so HM people like me don't need to fell HM!) and a tomato juice. Dining companion had the Meat N Eggs. Food came rather quickly, but much to our disappointment, it just was okay. Not great. My complaints - the rye bread must have been a salt rye because the crust was way too salty for my liking. The pancake and huge and good, but the insides were a little doughy. Dining companion said, "this would have been better if the meatloaf was hot." Dang! The food came quick, the place was clean and the service friendly. I would not go back for breakfast, but I would try the place for a couple of drinks the next time I'm in town.
(3)Mike M.
So, I kinda loved this place as I was eating my Reuben on a Sunday night, and then the free bacon happened. If I could marry a restaurant, this place would be my lady wife. It was crazy busy when I went, but I found a seat at the bar. YMMV, but the food is tasty. BACON!
(4)Mindy J.
A bit of a wait to get in but well worth it! I has the bacon cakes and he had the meat and eggs. So good I wanted to slap someone! The bacon cakes were gigantic, two cakes took up the whole plate. Served with real maple syrup and a generous helping of butter. Meat and eggs were meatloaf made with bacon, eggs and hash browns and gravy. Meatloaf seemed a little burnt but otherwise great.
(4)Austin H.
Comet Cafe is a staple in Milwaukee, almost so popular it's not popular.. strange. Anyways it's a must. Excellent food and a great vibe. I recommend the meatloaf. Because of its popularity it's busy, so expect a wait especially on the weekends.
(5)DWFMB A.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had anywhere. Get the meatloaf and a Saison with your eggs and call it a day.
(5)Melinda V.
Service was deplorable. We were sitting at the bar, right where service staff walk by every 2 seconds, but I couldn't manage (with much effort, waving for a waiters attention and blatantly being ignored.) to get a water refill. The servers were able to fill their own personal coffees (2 sugars and soy milk) right in front of my face tho. Hmmmmm... My boyfriend's lunch was awful (cold, soggy, flavorless). I felt bad. My spinach salad wasn't much better. It was so sweet it felt like dessert. After waiting 3 years to get it I didn't much care how bad it tasted, I was eating it anyway. Nobody seemed to care if I was enjoying it or not. To make matters worse this seems to be a hipster hangout. Ughhh.
(2)Kevin K.
We love Comet! We live close to the location, but that's not the reason we keep coming back. It doesn't matter if I want to go and have a a giant bowl of macaroni and cheese, a meatloaf sandwich, or some of the best vegetarian restaurant food I've ever had! Probably one of my favorites is their Tomato soup, I could have it every day. Can't recommend this place enough!
(5)Courtney M.
If you are on the East Side and looking for good, hearty food, you are almost obligated to go to Comet. They can get crowded - really, really crowded - so if you're going at any major meal time (be it weekend or weekday) be prepared for a wait. Keep in mind, though, it is so worth it. Their menu is great in that it caters to people who love meat while still being super vegan/vegetarian friendly, and their specials are always amazing. All of their food is 'slow food,' meaning that it's made from scratch (and most often from fresh, locally sourced ingredients). Don't plan to come here if you're looking to cram in a meal and run! It'll take time, so bring people who you can have a good conversation with. I've been going to Comet for ages and haven't had a thing off the menu that I didn't like. My favorite is probably the Vegan Salisbury Steak, though - it does a great job of making faux steak that has a great taste and texture. My carnivore friends will even occasionally order the vegetarian food - especially if it's during All You Can Eat Bacon on Sundays. Make sure you try some of their delicious baked goods and their cocktails. They're a little pricey, but the bartenders are very liberal with their pouring, so it evens out.
(5)Danny C.
I must be getting old...Everything in this place tasted sour. I wish I could give it a stellar review like everyone else here, but it just wasn't that great. I give it props for its uniqueness, variety, and portion size though. I had two choices for the soup: tomato or cautiflower. I went with the tomato soup because I'm not a big fan of cautiflower. I was already kind of expecting the tomato soup to be sour, but there just wasn't much soup selection. I was right. It's pretty good for tomato soup though. I had a hard time deciding between the "Turkey Balls" and the meatloaf. I asked the waitress for her recommendation and I went with the turkey dish. I wish I stuck with the meatloaf. The gravy or sauce was very sour and killed the taste of the turkey. In fact, the turkey balls didn't really have a taste to them at all. Meanwhile, my friends are all saying how great the meatloaf is and how it's the best meatloaf they ever had... Jerks...
(3)Aurore L.
Only a few days away from National (Dry) Turkey Day - I have news for you, gobble-gobble lovers: at Comet, it's Thanksgiving every day if you wish. Except MUCH BETTER. Imagine this: slow roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and sage stuffing, all lovingly bundled in a small ball of wonder, then beer battered, fried and served with country gravy and Brussels sprouts. It is incredibly light, not greasy at all and most of all - yummy-licious. The only unfortunate thing about it? Its name. AJ's Compact Turkey Dinner. Comet excels at cooking but its marketing skills....hmm...not really up there. You would never guess how great this thing is by glancing over the menu. At least - I didn't. That's why I ordered the meatloaf - and it was wonderful as well. And I haven't said anything yet about their fantastic beer selection......their darling diner setting....their luscious desserts....this is a comfort place if there was ever one. The menu is simple and doesn't feature anything fancy but the food is perfectly executed, and the atmosphere is a delight. Expect to wait for your dinner though because the word is definitely out. A true little gem.
(4)Jen M.
I love Comet so much I kind of gasp and smile when I walk in. I've deeply loved my meals there. 2 out of 3 visits I've tried the specials and was greatly pleased. I had a BBQ chicken sandwich with pineapple on it and it knocked my socks off. And the BELT.....Bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato....OMG. I've been there twice for a weekday lunch and it wasn't busy - comfortable amount of folks there, and everyone seemed as happy to be there as me. The service has always been fast, friendly, knowledgeable and professional.
(5)Eric E.
Heard great things before I tried it, and I agree with the things I've heard. I've been there four times and love the mac and cheese with bacon. The serving size is large and the top has crispy cheese! I usually get the tomato soup, which is strange because I don't like tomato soup... but here it is delicious! My only negative is that sometimes service can be slow.
(4)Cassandra W.
I am so happy that I found this place! On a trip from California, I wanted to do as the locals do, so I checked out the Milwaukee City Guide on design sponge. Comet cafe was recommended, so I went. Then I loved it so much I went again 2 days later. First, let me say that Wisconsin is probably the only place where somewhere specializing in all things bacon and unhealthy things will be called a "hipster place." I love it. I know they also have vegan options, but I saw many hipsters with a giant meatloaf sandwich. Speaking of meatloaf sandwich, that is what I ate. Both times. For those of you that don't know, it is 2 pieces of their salted rye, topped with a giant piece of bacon-wrapped meatloaf, bacon and chive mashed potatoes, fried tomato and onion, and homemade beer gravy that takes 3 days to prepare. I can't even describe how delicious this was. The meatloaf and the mashed potatoes on top are easily the best I've had in my life. I also tried the reuben sandwich, which was really good, especially with their homemade 1000 island, but I thought it could stand for a little more corned beef, and a little bit less fatty. The fries with this were pretty great. Apparently they also have bottomless bacon with the purchase of a beer on Sundays. I really wish I could have stayed for this. I liked the ambiance here, and the service was very friendly and attentive. I always ask for recommendations and they were really nice about it. It is street parking, but I never had trouble finding a spot and I never had to walk too far. You should go here.
(5)Shane H.
It's difficult to review Comet. I don't know anybody who hasn't been here. It has a reputation that draws people in from all over. It's a life force. I will never not love this food. I don't CARE what it does to my insides a few hours later. I require daily consumption of bacon in order to function. Comet knows what I'm talkin' 'bout. The famous Sunday Night Basket O' Bacon is a bucket list item for anyone. I'm about to dis my mom: Mom, I do not like your meatloaf. Comet, I LOVE YOUR MEATLOAF. There are the detractors...those who grew up in the Milwaukee area and remember "Old Comet" and they all get a misty look in their eyes when you bring it up, get all morose and/or angry and I'm just like CHRIST I'M SORRY IT CHANGED BUT HEY, EAT THAT. And they hate to admit that the food is good and it's nice to not sit in a cloud of cigarette smoke. (sidenote: whatever you do, DO NOT say "hey, there's still Fuel" because that is different too now and they will just implode from grief). My favorite thing? The espresso grinder that says "DO NOT ADJUST GRIND, EVER". Hahaha, Comet! That's so wrong. Hilarious!
(5)Maria R.
Yum, great beer and drink selection. Bonus on Sundays order a pint of beer and you get a FREE basket of bacon, while supplies last.
(4)Marvin M.
Great homemade food--especially the meatloaf with beer gravy. Good beer selection too. The artichoke dip and bread was to die for. Will be back to try other menu items.
(4)Erica S.
Dig it. Everyone seems to head here for brunch-time festivities; but they've got a great selection of foods for any time of day. I went with three other friends to enjoy a Friday evening dinner. 15-minute wait, not too bad with a beer from the bar while we waited. Perks: Exceptional beer list (both tap and bottle), tasty ginger salad dressing, super awesome friendly waitstaff, and beermosas -- Wittekerke brew with a splash of OJ. oh, It's good. (My friend put it in perspective: It's not unlike putting an orange slice in Blue Moon, right?) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, someone order the AJs Compact Turkey Dinner. I hear it's famous ala Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. This amazing, deep fried ball of turkey-day deliciousness shouldn't be required for first-time diners. The side of Brussel sprouts, on the other hand, I could leave before take. I tried the special of cornmeal crusted tilapia fish tacos. Not too shabby, but more sauce would've made for a less dry taco. Two other reasons I'll be back: -Sundays they have free baskets of bacon with any purchase of $2.50 or more. -Cupcakes. I hear they're kind of a big deal.
(4)Katie D.
This is one of my favorite spots for brunch/lunch in Milwaukee! I'm not vegan, but the vegan gyro is my favorite item on the menu - it is so flavorful and delicious! The spicy seasoned fries are where it's at, so if you like a little kick, definitely try them out. There does tend to be a wait here on weekends, especially for brunch, and the servers are not always super attentive, but the food and atmosphere are great!
(4)Michelle M.
Alright, I ordered the wrong meal, so this review is going to be a bit slanted... I went for the veganized reuben. Bad idea. Just a whole bunch of corned beefish veggie meat that felt deep fried in oil and slapped together by toasty, oily pieces of rye and slivers of sauerkraut. Yuck and Yuck!!! The french fries were good, but man o' man this place loves their food to be sopping in oil!!! Should have gone with my instincts!!! The vegan salisbury steak w/ mashed potatoes!! Next time...maybe... Anyway, my boyfriend and I were starving when we got there on a Thursday night, and we had to wait around 15-20 for a table to free up. Then the waiting really began -- just kidding! For a slow foods place, they're pretty quick with getting ur meal on. He got some club sandwich with gobs of turkey, avocado, red peppers and bacon? maybe? He liked it way more than I dug my 'reuben'. If i had ordered something different, I'm sure I would have dug this place more, but meh I'd rather hit up the Chicago Diner than drive up to Milwaukee for this place again.
(3)KELLEN K.
I learned about beer-mosa's here... so needless to say this place is awesome. Aside from feeling inadequate in the hipster department I love to go here when I'm hungover. The cure: Deluxe Bloddy's with a side of bacon.
(4)Laurie M.
Great Bloody Mary's with bacon and a small beer chaser. The food was great loved smothered roast beast. Great experience and great collection of micro beers I strongly recommend the Comet The best bar tender was. Kirk just ask for him great service
(5)Sam H.
After just finishing a hangover brunch at Comet Cafe, I had to write a review. The food was absolute spot on. I had the stemler, a heart healthy burrito stuffed with eggs, corn beef, and hash browns.On top was the word "Sunny D" drawn with sriracha sauce. It was just really homemade greasy goodness. No other words to describe it. It was like heaven after a drunk night of shenanigans. The sriracha sauce is what really nailed it and reminded me of college, where the cook for my fraternity cooked amazing breakfast burritos, applied with a liberal dose of hot sauce. The biscuit was fresh, hot, and warm. And of course made my taste buds explode. I've never been a big biscuit fan, but definitely shell down the $1 for one. Service was spot on. Even though there was a long line, we sat down after around 15 minutes, so it wasn't too bad of a wait. The guy working the bar was real friendly, in face probably one of the most friendly servers that I've encountered here in Milwaukee. You could tell he genuinely enjoyed his job, unlike some people in the service industry. The crowd is a mixed of people. Hipsters, Families, young professionals, and of course college students If you want to see a snapshot of Milwaukee, go to Comet Cafe. Overall, I will have to rate this 5 stars. This place is THE place for greasy food after a fun night out.
(5)Emily T.
Pros: Pretty good food at a decent price... For the most part, excellent service Nice beer selection Great location Wonderful selection of vegan/vegetarian dishes Cons: Great location (PARKING) No space to stand while you wait to be seated (don't bother coming in at night if you have a party of more than 4) The food isn't as good as it used to be (the cuban in particular) I will most likely go back, however it will be during the day on a weekday for lunch!
(3)Jessica T.
Comet Cafe...I love you and hate you at the very same time. I have been to the Comet quite a few times and you can never be quite sure how your dining experience will go. I've gone for Sunday brunch with friends and waited 20 minutes but had some of the best breakfast fare I'd ever tasted...but I've also gone for Sunday brunch, waited over an hour and gotten served cold eggs and barely-toasted toast. More often than not, the food and service are very good but the inconsistency can be a little unnerving. I love this place so much though that generally I am willing to wait it out and some favorites are the compact turkey dinner and turkenstein.
(4)Krystle M.
I absolutely love coming here! I have eaten pretty much everything on the menu and it's all great. My favorite thing about this place is the bloody marys...pretty much a meal in itself and the best I've had in Milwaukee. It was excellent on New Years because I feel like it was the ONLY place open.
(5)Kevin K.
who woulda thought someone like me who loves meat would enjoy vegan food?! not me! so i ordered the pulled bbq pork sandwich, and oh my god i have zero regrets eating meat on Good Friday or whatever. the bbq sawce on the soft pulled pork definitely has my approval on sweetness and deliciousness. also, the egg-glazed buns definitely added a subtle flavor of deliciousness. everyone should egg glaze buns. so good. what a great meal. anyways, i also ended up trying my friend's vegan bbq ribs thing? i mean it's not as great as eating real ribs, but if that's the way i rolled and didn't eat meatt i'd say comet's "the big rig" serves as a decent substitute. 4.5/5 cuz i didn't like the loud environment and their pistachio rosewater cupcake tasted too healthy/herby/lemongrassy/idk but great food + service once you're seated
(5)Rosanna H.
My first trip to MKE and was advised to head here for brunch. So glad I did! Our waitress, Ariel, was fantastic. The food was delicious. I ordered the bacon cakes and they did not disappoint. Highly recommend getting there early. I got there a few minutes after they opened and within 15 minutes there was already a wait. That tells you something! Highly recommend!
(5)Stacey K.
I am in love. This place is so gooood. I am so happy to have found a restaurant/ café/ bar that is vegan/veg friendly, has good beer, good coffee and really good cupcakes! The servers are nice and it seems busy all of the time. Cool place to eat, or just relax and enjoy the day.
(5)Matt L.
The best vegan ribs. Huge bar selection. Prolly the best vegan place in Milwaukee. An amazing breakfest place as well.
(5)Kim M.
It was good, but not fantastic. We gave it two tries. Once at 2:30 on a Saturday (which you have to order brunch until 3!) , the other time around 5 on a Sunday. We were disappointed that we were unable to get the dinner specials until 5:30, and the neverending bacon basket didn't start until 6. Kind of a bummer not to be able to order lunch at 2:30, or dinner at 5. They go by their own time I guess. Not really surprising when you look at the crowd, which is mostly hipster, and drinking bacon bloody marys by the gallon. Parking is tough, street only, and there is always a wait to get a table, or even a counter seat. You sign yourself up on a list, and they call you when they are ready for you. There is no real waiting area, and you are kind of in the way. When you sit down, service is pretty efficient. You can tell they are in the business of turning over tables. Their motto is something like" slow food fast" and that is pretty accurate. For the "brunch" visit, everyone was happy with their food, but it wasn't out of this world phenomenal. The almost dinner visit was better, we had the compact turkey dinner (divine!) Mac and cheese (one of the better versions we had) The meatloaf (featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives) and a burger. Everyone was really happy, but the meatloaf was not as great as it had been built up to be. I tried the bacon bloody mary, and it was just meh. Tasted like they used brussel sprouts in it. Kind of weird. They will put bacon in just about everything here, including the vanilla ice cream...believe it or not, that was really good in an odd sort of way. At the same time, they offer a TON of vegan choices, that looked good enough for the non-vegan to order anyway. That is a feat that deserves a shout out.
(3)Stacey L.
Last night marked my third visit to Comet over the last few years, and as usual I wasn't disappointed. Unfortunately for me, I had a late lunch with a friend on our drive back from Chicago, so I just wasn't hungry enough for an actual meal. I went with the small dinner salad, and what came out was larger than the entree-sized salad at many other places. Definitely a steal for $3.50, though it was a little greens-heavy in comparison to the other veggies (tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers). My friend Cara got the mac & cheese, and she let me steal a bite. Oh. My. Perfectly-cooked noodles, creamy cheese sauce, and an amazing crust of broiled, slightly sharp cheddar to top it off. Our friend Cole, visiting from Austin, TX, got the chili mac, and as a non-Wisconsinite was unprepared for the sheer volume of dairy on his plate. Despite packing away a good portion of it, it looked like he maybe had three bites. Both mac & cheese meals were enough for at least two meals, if not three. Also visiting from Austin was Chelsea, who got the vegan salisbury steak. I didn't try it, but it looked delicious. I also didn't try Chris's compact turkey dinner, but I am definitely ordering it on my next visit - mashed potatoes, stuffing, and turkey balled, battered, and swimming in gravy. Bonus points for the staff, who kept our glasses full and smiles on both their faces and ours.
(4)Bridget G.
As a former very regular customer, it's about time I write a review of Comet Cafe. I'm sure most people comment on the wait, which at peak hours (around noon-ish on weekends) can take awhile but it's worth the wait. The worst part about having to wait, in winter at least, is that it is pretty cramped right inside the door and there's really nowhere to go. If there are a lot of people waiting, you end up feeling like you're hovering right over someone's table. That being said, once you're seated, life is good. I always have the hardest time deciding between a coffee drink, as they have an espresso bar, and a boozey drink, as they have a bar bar! This is usually determined by the night before or if I'm crazy, I'll just get both. One drink negative: when I went on Saturday, I was told they do not have bellinis, which, as someone who enjoys day drinking but doesn't like orange juice or bloody mary's, was disappointing. However, they made me a mimosa with apple juice (the "Bridget"- tell your friends, it's actually really good) so I was happy. Food: My friend is a vegan and I am definitely not but we both found great stuff. She had the Kelly's Vegan Scramble (or something like that) and a soy latte and I had the Commuter Sandwich, which I've had many times before, and, of course, the Bridget. Tasty and customizable, I've had variations of this before. But this time, the bread was realllll greasy and seemed like it was soaked in butter. Never had that happen before. Still tasted good though (of course, if it's soaked in butter). Overall it was great, did not have to wait long at all this time and the food was good. I've always liked the food here. The only other thing that bugs me is they don't have avocado! I always ask because breakfast sandwiches are awesome with it and it seems like they would have it at a hipstery, vegan-friendly place, but no. Strange...
(4)William C.
Girlfriend had the meatloaf sandwich, it was better than my omelette. Also, drank a Bloody Mary and I don't even like Bloody Marys. I think it was because it had bacon and came with a Miller High Life Bullet. COOOOOOOL!
(4)Sarah L.
I absolutely love, love this place. The restaurant itself is full of ambience, with a 50's diner feel and huge booths and retro dining sets. When you walk in if there is a wait, make sure to quickly add your name to the waitlist as the majority of the time the waitors/waitresses might not acknowledge you. They try to quickly accommodate everyone, though it can be awkward trying to stand around in the tight space. During the days the restaurant has no smoking and even at night the majority of the smoking is on one side of the restaurant, so you can ask to be seated on the opposing non-bar side. Once seated the service is always friendly and helpful. The wait staff knows the menu and how to help you find what you want to eat. Since going there I have tried many different dishes. -Vegan Riblets: These are my absolute favorite thing at Comet Cafe. I always get a full order that comes with fries, vegan chive mayo (which is extremely thick and creamy, not mayo-y), bbq sauce or hot sauce. These are fried to the max, but are crispy and tender on the inside. All of my omnivore friends absolutely love them too. -Veggie Chili: The veggie chili is good, nice and hearty texture, thick creamy taste, but definitely needs some spicing to it with hot sauce. They dont charge for putting on extras like onions, noodles, cheese, or sour cream. I just wish they had green onions! -The Vegan Reuben: Being a Chicago native and having the Chicago Diner reuben many times I was a bit skeptical that anybody could do it like they do. But boy is this reuben a match for the Chicago Diner. The bread is crisp and fresh, sauerkraut just as fresh and crunchy with the right taste, seitan was also crispy and tasted just like a reuben. I love it and always am contemplating between the riblets and the reuben when i come here. -Marinated Tofu Sandwich: Stuffed with red peppers, lettuce, and onions. The tofu is smoky and sweet, with a little kick all at the same time. It is delicious and extremely filling. -Vegan Cupcakes: even if you are bursting at the seams ask to have one to take home! They are so rich and moist and topped so high with thick, delicious frosting. I have yet to try everything I can eat on the veganized menu, but there is so much to eat and so much that I already love!
(5)Rohan D.
This diner has a lot of character, great food, excellent beer selection, the service is always wonderful. Often a wait, but it's never long, this is the place to go if you have a group that includes some vegetarians and non-vegetarians, as the menu is pretty complete in both ways, vegan too. And, unlike most healthy food restaurants, the vegetarian and vegan dishes are pretty tasty! Also unlike most restaurants with healthy vegan dishes, this diner has delicious meaty selections that aren't good for you at all. Save room for dessert.
(4)Amy E.
While I like this place, I often long for the good ol days of Comet Cafe with the crappy tables and the cigarette smoke that hung in the air. It felt like a place that was broken in and a little dirty, but in a good way. Now I feel like they've made it shiny and new - which means it takes me longer to get a table and my food. The reason I keep coming back is that darn artichoke melt - it's so f-ing good I just savor it, along with my memories of the old Comet Cafe.
(3)Elizabeth R.
I would absolutely LOVE to give this place a 5. But sadly, I can not. It was our first time here and we were dying to try this place out. Besides seeing it on TV and hearing about it from friends, it smelled sensational when you walked in. First and foremost, we walk in and write out name down. The hostess comes by and says something to us. I assume it is friendly because she smiled but she was walking so fast we could not understand her. I know they were busy but do not give a half hearted greeting, it just looks rude. We were able to get seated immediately and our server walked over to us to see if we needed anything. When I asked her what the soup of the day was, her response: I don't know. Not: "I can go find out" or perhaps she should have already known. Little things people, little things make the difference. The saving grace of the restaurant? The food! I had the cheesy beef. Wow. Thick slices of roast beef seasoned to give maximum flavor without overpowering the meal. Even the bread choice was fantastic. It gave enough crunch on the outside and it was not too chewy. Accompanied with my meal, the best cup of cocoa I have had in a while. They steam the milk and add chocolate syrup for a light taste of chocolate. It comes in an over sized mug that makes you feel like you are in Central Perk with the cast of Friends. The extensive wine, beer and specialty drink list will satisfy anyone's pallet. My fiance got the baked Mac and Cheese. I am not a huge fan of that kind of meal but honestly, it looked sensational. I have been searching long and wide for a restaurant with heart and substance. I would absolutely reccomend this to everyone looking for a good meal. The cost of two meals, one cocoa and a beer? With tax $24.00. That is hard to pass up. Happy eating.
(4)Aeris W.
Hmm... Probably 2 & 1/2 stars. I was craving badly for breakfast food so my fiance & I came here on a Sunday morning. Luckily, the wait wasn't too long; we waited around 15 mins or so for bar seats. I ordered pancakes with hash browns and a cup of mimosa. Honestly, I wasn't very pleased. First of all, the presentation of the food did not look good - It actually brought my appetite level down and trust me, I was STARVING. The pancakes didn't come with any sort of cream or butter and the syrup that came with it? Just a regular pancake syrup that you can get from the grocery store. The pancakes itself were really fluffy but it wasn't enough to make it "yummy pancakes". The hash browns? I don't have much to say about them. No flavor, dry, and oily. Not a fan. The only good thing about the meal was the mimosa lol... Sorry, Comet Cafe. We shall never return again.
(3)Chris A.
Yum! AMAZING beer selection and a darn good Bloody Mary (but what isn't good if it has bacon in it?) Meatloaf could have been a little hotter temp wise, but the beer gravy made up for it. Ask for a spoon. Got there at 11:40am...about 5 minutes before the lunch crowd...Thank goodness. There was quite a line. Always a good sign.
(4)Jules M.
Well here is an unusual event, no line at Comet Cafe. In fact we went to use a Groupon at Mayura Indian restaurant across the street but the wait there was crazy long. So Comet, you are another reason why I think Milwaukee is so quirky, I have lived here on and off for over 20 years now and I just don't get it. Comet ain't all that. Atmosphere: like Honey Pie, odd but not weird enough to be interesting. Very hodge podge restaurant auction compilation. Our booth seat had a huge tear in it with the stuffing coming out. Color me crazy but if I am gunna spend $12 on a sandwich, gimme a decent seat! Wait staff: Ours was very aloof at first but she did perk up as we went along in the short term tipper/tippee relationship. Another server who picked up our food from the kitchen and delivered it to us seemed annoyed that we had not been given utensils by our server yet. Food: I skipped beer for water, but there are plenty to choose from, and a titillating array of fancy tap pull thingys - I just might order my next beer based on the tap totem. Diner 1 (me) - ordered the AJ's Turkey dinner deep fried balls. Gross and Delicious all in one. the batter was perfect. Three tennis size ball- wads of potatoes and turkey situated in a bath of gravy. I ate it all, a bit achey on the sides when I was done but this is not something you leave to left overs. Worth trying and might be even better mid winter. The gravy was essential for this dish even though it was moist and had a good consistency. My meal came with salad or soup - ordered sweet potato bacon soup - spicy yet good , chunks of sweet potato in a squashy soup base, but any more than a small cup and it might not be as good Veggie side was steamed squash, cooked perfectly but it tasted strangely of lighter fluid. We mentioned this to our waitress who tasted it right there ( I was actually cool with it that time) and she agreed, it tasted like charcoal-ishness. She said she would ask the kitchen but we heard no word on what the deal was. Diner 2 - is going gluten free so she ordered the pork sandwich without the bun. they put in a nice casserole dish on the plate. She liked it, as well as the fries that she thought tasted more like potato chips. There were so many fries that many were wasted. Sprecher Rootbeer - always good. When we asked about what they had as far as gluten free, the waitress that sat us stated they have gluten free cupcakes but to let our server know so she could set one aside for us. She did. It was a vanilla with chocolate frosting. Moist, rich and good! Might have to return for the cupcake (made by Honey Pie). Bill: $28.68 (entree, sandwich, root beer and cupcake) Overall: Good, but I am not sure how it has gotten it's weird cultish following. Good for the occasional comfort food coma but really not worth the wait if there is a long line.
(3)Marc Z.
Origianlly from Chicago but I was in Milwaukee for the weekend and was told "You have to go here!". So of course I did. I am vegetarian so I didn't get to enjoy the many meat/bacon options that people tend to talk about but boy was this food fantastic! There was a little bit of a wait but I immediately understood why upon my first bite. My girlfriend and I both split a dish. We had the Vegan Scramble and the Belt (with vegan bacon). Both were AMAZING and very delicious! My only regret is not trying coming back, in my short weekend here, to try the dinner menu.
(5)Corey B.
A lot of my friends lose their mind for their brunch, but personally, I can make scrambled eggs. Nothing is overly exciting on thier brunch menu in my opinion. For their dinner options, I'd rather go to Honeypie. They make good meatloaf, but that isn't something I would normally order when I go out. That's jut me. What's left a sour taste with me is I've tried the Leghorn twice, and the concept is good, but both times they've ran out of their bread and it seems like someone ran to Koppa's and got a loaf of Sara Lee to take it' place. Both times I was told I'm missing out because the bread is so good. They have bacon Sundays which is pretty great. They have lots of good beers to choose from. They used to show wrestling pay per views. I don't know if they still do. I'll go back, but if I order that damn sandwich one more time and you've run out of bread, I'm done.
(3)Nick J.
Average service. Disappointing meals. I had heard a lot of great reviews about Comet Cafe so I invited a business supplier to have a casual lunch there. Maybe it was just that day...but the food was sub-standard. Seems like standards might have dropped! Complacency?
(2)Ks K.
We went here for dinner a few times during our visit to MKE. Dinners we enjoyed: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, seasoned fries (spicy!!), burger w onions, bacon, cheese, compact turkey dinner, drunk brussel sprouts (beer-welcome to WI), grilled cheese w cripsy bacon, chili w works (minus noodles), regular fries, root veggie soup. Favorites were the grilled cheese (so perfect blend of cheeses & perfectly done crispiness) & root veggie soup (wonderful veggie mix, nice change-up from the tomato), but all was good. Very interesting-got-to-try the compact turkey dinner. just cuz. Cupcakes we tried: vegan red velvet, chocolate almond, Mint chocolate, dbl chocolate. Favorite was the mint chocolate, but all very good & very artistic. Drinks we enjoyed: cafe mocha, mint hot chocolate. Dessert in a cup! Perfect mocha, wish sbux could do as good. Mint hot chocolate (non-alcoholic) is like the peppermint patty's my dad used to make me. Staff was awesome, friendly & efficient. Cool vibe, and interesting people watching. Only bummer was the parking. We managed to find spots a block down (for a couple hours) no pay and side street no pay. Metered in front.
(5)Jason C.
The best mac and cheese I've ever had. The best grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had. The best tomato soup I've ever had. My stop in Milwaukee lasted about a nano second but I'm glad I came here. I don't always dream of mac and cheese. But when I do, it's from Comet Café.
(5)Angela L.
I wish I could have picked up this restaurant and brought it back to Chicago with me. I've never had such an amazingly flavorful breakfast. The biscuits (biscuit) and gravy platter was amazing. The biscuit and gravy was cold, but so flavorful I didn't even care. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The hash browns? Holy crap. It was like each shred of hash brown was individually dipped in butter and fried by itself. I was amazed. I've never had breakfast potatos so delightfully greasy before. Keep it up, Comet. I'll be back someday.
(4)Nik D.
This place has amazing food. Try everything, it's all good. Sometimes the service can be slow, but that is understandable considering how busy this place can get. Make sure you try a bloodie marry here, delicious !!!
(4)David B.
We showed up at 1:30p on a Saturday. And I was about to deduct a star because my wife and I wanted to have the dinner menu--not the brunch menu. Sorry tatooed hipsters, we were not hung over jonesing for some grease and starch. We just heard that it was creative, well-prepared food. And yes, that douche Guy Fieri did shoot an episode here, which I viewed only after being chained to the sofa a while back. Whatever, the promise of tasty, inventive food gets me in the door. 30 minute wait to get seated. It was packed and noisy. Not an upsetting noisy, just a boisterous one. It's a cool place to eat and be--I get it, groovy hipsters! Nice beard, grizzly. Here's a razor! Occupy Milwaukee! Then your bathroom! Got to look at the beer/drink menu, brunch menu and a few of the dishes therein while we waited. The missus had the Rocket Platter because it had bacon and a pancake. I had the Meat-n-Eggs because it had, well, meat. Meatloaf, in particular. Hash browns and toast, too. A couple of sizable eggs. Although I do recall the mention of a beer gravy that takes 3 days to make and is used only for the meatloaf. I was hoping for this. To my disappointment, this is not available during brunch. That's why I wanted to take a star out just on principle alone because of this much ballyhooed sauce...but I digress. Instead the meatloaf was topped with sausage gravy (yes, biscuits and gravy gravy). I was wary, but I was looking forward to this fabled meatloaf. No 3 day gravy? Ah, what the hell... Everything came out in a couple of minutes. Drink refills provided promptly. It's diner food, so I don't expect any parsley or twisted orange slices. I wasn't surprised with the presentation. Just a good, sizable mound of food. The meatloaf came out an inch and a half thick and charred--broiler charred--not burnt. Bacon topped and wow--really good. Diced onions, peppers...I gotta tell you I really only like my mom's meatloaf. Even the sausage gravy worked. This was one fine loaf of meat. Wasn't greasy, either. My wife was equally pleased. Her pancake (they only gave you one, but you could have another if you wished because the thing's about 10 inches in diameter) was fluffy and tender. Again, really well made. Hash browns, eggs, bacon slices all cooked to perfection. Really, other than not ordering off the dinner menu (which was my oversight), the meal was fantastic. And for not liking anybody else's meatloaf but my mom yet raving to her later on that even she needs to try it... Yeah, it was that good. Just ignore the hipsters like we did.
(5)Steve D.
DDD made me curious and we werent disappointed. Its small and you will wait for a seat. We sat at the bar on a Saturday just beofre noon. 20 minute wait. Service was exellent and food was outstanding. Portions are huge and priced reasonably. I had breakfast and the Mrs. had the Foghorn Turkey sandwhich. Would love to come back for the Thanksgiving balls!
(5)Jay N.
Street parking is pretty easy on this one way boulevard. There are other stores in the area and the surrounding area is pretty lively on a weekend evening. The place is a little dark but plenty of windows looking out. The staff is really friendly and gave some good suggestions. I ended up getting a frozen coffee infused drink as well. The open-face meatloaf sandwich was spectacular. One of the few things with their homemade beer gravy, the tower presentation was much better than putting half on each side of 2 pieces of bread. A lot of the entrees on the menu (including breakfast) give you some choices so you can customize it to fit your tastes, even vegan options. Definitely a place to go back to since there are so many things to try!
(5)Sam T.
Are you allergic to hipsters? If so, steer clear, my friend. From the second you open the front door you will be bombarded by too-tight-flannels and skinny jeans....even in the middle of July. If that bothers you, you best stay away. If, however, you can get past the onslaught of chain wallets and free-thinking, you will find some top notch grub! Everything I have tried has been great. There are, of course, a plethora of vegan options, which seems odd when there is also a great deal of focus on bacon. For instance, you can get a basket of bacon all day sunday just for ordering the beer special. I also hear you can add bacon to any dish, but I fear this may just be an urban legend. But you can also get vegan cupcakes (which, surprisingly, are pretty good and don't taste like cardboard). Not bad. As for the other dishes, just about everyone can find something to like. The turkey-ball dinner is fantastic....a whole turkey dinner rolled into three balls, deep fried and served in a bowl of gravy....outstanding. The meatloaf is great, but I did leave hungry that night. Even the Leghorn sandwich, which has cream cheese, jelly, turkey, cucumbers, and probably some other vegetables on toast is quite delicious; this coming from a man who definitely does not like vegetables. By far the best is their baked mac'n cheese. You can, of course, get it with bacon, but it does not need it. It is quite honestly the best mac'n cheese that I have ever eaten....and I have eaten A LOT of different mac'n cheeses. Lastly, and my favorite, is the Kimbo burger. Look it up on youtube because it is not on the menu but it was on Food Network's DDD. Quite excellent. I won't spoil the surprise for you about what is on it, but it is HUGE. If you are like me, however, and you are capable of eating a ton of food, I suggest you do the following: First, order the Kimbo burger. Second, order the mac'n cheese. Then, when it comes, put the mac'n cheese ON THE BURGER!!! I don't mean a little inside the buns...no way. I mean slather the whole thing with your mac'n cheese. If you run out of burger for your mac, just dip the fries in the mac'n cheese for the BEST fries you have ever eaten. This will probably fill up even the biggest appetites, as well as gain you some disgusted looks from the people sitting around you. Just try it. Trust me. I ate the whole thing and was almost too full to walk home afterward. There are also a ton of beers to choose from , which change seasonally. Lots on tap, lots of imports and micro brews, some with quite high alcohol contents. The selection is quite large and you should plan on having a difficult time leaving sober. And the desserts....wow. They are brought in from Honeypie (which deserves a review of it's own), Comet's sister cafe in Bayview. Every cupcake I have had has been great, even the vegan ones. The pies are great too. I have never had a "bad" dessert from Comet. Here's my beef: The service. Wow....eat before you go because you will wait to be seated. Then you will wait to meet your server. Then you will wait to get your drinks. Then you will wait (a LONG time) for your meal. If you are patient, it is definitely worth it, but I have never received fast service, and I have been there MANY times (because I live close by). Bottome line: Girls will like it because it is a cute little diner and you have to wait a long time to get your food, forcing you to talk. Men will like it because you can get a ton of different beer (many with high alcohol contents) and order a HUGE burger. My advice is to not try the Kimbo burger-mac'n cheese meal on the first date....it's not romantic and doesn't impress your date....just trust me. The only thing keeping me from giving this place a fifth star is the service. It is pretty bad, though never rude (always friendly). The food is well worth the wait though. I have been there many timesand will be back many times.
(4)Heather H.
What a fantastic diner! I'd heard great things about CC, and knew we were going to visit, but I figured we'd come for breakfast. But, on the 4th of July, we were wondering by, and had to stop in for dinner. When we walked in, the first thing that caught my attention was the huge display of cupcakes. Hot damn, I wanted to try them all! I made sure to leave room to try one of these tasty treats before we left... Our server was great. She gave us a ton of recommendations, and we were happy with all of them. We started with the Vegan Deep Fried Ribs. It comes with either Franks hot sauce, or their own BBQ Sauce (our waitress brought both for us to try, thankyouverymuch!) as well as chive mayo for the fries. The ribs were good, I loved the batter, and I would definitely order these again. The fries were just how I like them, thin, crispy, and peppery. Next, we decided to split the Seitan Philly, which also came with fries. Our waitress right away offered to sub either soup or salad for us, since we already were getting fries with the ribs. We ordered the soup special, red pepper soup, which was very very good. (See what I mean about kick-ass service? She even brought us two spoons.) They were out of the ciabatta bread that it normally comes on, so we substituted sourdough. That may have been a mistake, it was still good, but probably would have been better with the other. Comet also had some great wines. We ordered the Velvet Devil Merlot (good) and Chocolate Box Shiraz (hell yes!) Lastly, we saved just enough room to split a cupcake. She started going down the line of cupcake varieties they have, and I had to stop her when she got to the Mexi-Chocolate. My husband looked at me funny when I ordered it, and I assured him if he didn't like it, I'd finish his portion. Guess what? Not a problem. Cheyenne pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate cake, with a chocolate butter-cream frosting? I'm writing the review 4 days later, and contemplating the 1 1/2 hour drive from Chicago to Milwaukee just to try this masterpiece again. Go here, now - and if anyone is coming to Chicago, PLEASE bring me some of those cupcakes!! I promise to even split one with you.
(5)Nelson S.
Ambiance: Hipster. LOL. Oh Yelp. While this place may be a hipster sanctuary (trust me, sometimes there are as many handlebar mustaches as bike handlebars), it doesn't really downgrade any part of the atmosphere at all. Personally, I can handle a few hipsters. But that's unimportant right now. Comet is far and away, beyond a doubt, some of the best vegan food I've ever had in my life. Unlike beans and barley (which their food I can cook at home, and better), I come to comet when I'm craving something I can't make at home. Awesome yummy greasy vegan bar food goodness. Highlights include the vegan gyro (omnivorous friend ordered this under his own power and proceeded to vegasm in his pants), the vegan meat loaf, and their house seasoned fries. Holy SHIT those are good. Don't forget to ask your server about the vegan cupcakes of the day, which are absolutely divine. I've heard people bitch and complain about the time their food takes to get there. Yeah, its marketed as slow food, so come expecting that. Not only is the food worth the pay off, but grab a beer while waiting for your grub and maybe invest in some new friends, since obviously they're not doing to the trick to soak up your wait for the food. The late night bar scene can get interesting here too. I'll leave it at that. All in all, cheers Comet for being awesome. I just wish suburban yup's would stop trekking in on their SUV's and taking up seats.
(5)Scott H.
Probably the worst-kept secret for a great breakfast or brunch in MKE, Comet is always busy and you can always expect a wait on the weekends. But it's always worth the wait and we always return like free bacon-loving lemmings. The standard breakfast fare is a full notch above anything you'd find at your local diner with some selections (anything involving the MEATLOAF) sending my taste buds into the stratosphere! Great cup of coffee, craft beer selection is plentiful and the servers always seem bright, cheery and eager to please. QUICK TIP: If it looks like a long wait for a table, put your name on the list, then go play free Atari games in the back of Koppa's market across the street. A perfect way to pass the time!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Comet is a constant in my life. I remember the days of mismatched furniture occupied by the local chess players, book dealers, and artists. I actually boycotted Comet when they made the switch from the quaint cafe that was known for their cheesy potatoes, to the totally hip and insanely crowded restaurant of today. I came to my senses eventually and for many years since, I have enjoyed many delicious occasions there. Among my favs are the totally amazing vegan pancakes that are so sweet, they don't even need syrup; the vegan Big Luck Burger (best veggie burger that exists!); the fruit bowl, which actually has strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries (most places just give you an assortment of melons...gross!); vegan cupcakes; vegan gyro (ask for a side of their delicious red pepper hummus); and their thick, bubbling over the side of the bowl, chili! The service is good, and fast despite how busy they are. We always do a drive-by first to see how many people are standing inside or outside the restaurant in order to evaluate the duration of the wait time. Most of the time, the wait is worth it.
(4)Chris G.
If you hunger for a brunch filled with comfort food, plan to spend a Sunday morning at Comet Cafe. For around $18.75 per person, this restaurant delivers slow, local food that will have you in a food coma at the end. And if you do check it out, you will be in good company: OnMilwaukee.com readers voted this place as having the "Best Brunch in Milwaukee 2010." So, if you wake up on a Sunday morning and want some comfort food to fill you up for the reset of the day, get over to Comet Cafe! Read the full review on MilwaukeeBrunchReviews.c… - milwaukeebrunchreviews.c…
(4)Natasha F.
I've only been for breakfast/brunch, and never left unhappy! I've tried something different every time. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is: 1) the wait time is always crazy long (guess that's what happens when the food is this great!). 2) the restaurant feels dirty, like the bar closed just minutes before they started serving food.
(4)Dave S.
Comet is a good place. A great vegan and vegetarian friendly menu, although they definitely know how to throw down for us carnivores as well. Waitstaff is friendly, food of top quality. Thankfully, the restaurant section of the business enforces a no smoking policy. Just all-around one of my favorite places in Milwaukee.
(4)Kitt H.
best seasoned fries & best chipotle mayo. love.
(4)Erin B.
I moved to the neighborhood about three months ago and have eaten here about 8 times since. It's that good. I was almost scared away when, after a long day of moving into a new place, I went here with the bf and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table at 9 on a Friday night. I'm glad he made me stick it out because it was totally worth it. Best vegan/veggie options in the city and the atmosphere is comfy and worn in -- like a great pair of old jeans. My bf and I had been wandering the SE corner of the state aimlessly every Friday night for months in search of our own top ten list of WI fish fry joints, but we've since given up our pilgrimage because we feel like we've found our mecca. The fish fry at Comet is unbelievable (served every day and only $10 -- are you kidding me?!) and the vegan chili is the best chili I've ever had in any restaurant. The service here is admittedly slooooooooow when you're waiting for a table and every single bartender I've come in contact with here has been on the rude-side, but the servers are great. (We always end up getting the same guy and Joe, if you're ever reading this -- we love 'ya!) I'm scared to try breakfast here, because there have been lines out the door and I'm not about to sacrifice half my day for an omelet, but the lunch/dinner menu is enough to make me keep coming back. This is the one place I practically drag non-believers to and they always come out converted. 2 people (dinner); 2 entrees, 3 beers, 1 cocktail about $45
(5)Justin H.
Fantasic food and atmosphere. Got in early for breakfest and place was filled up quick. Bacon is great too!!!
(5)Isaac S.
Five stars all the way. This place's food is amazing. The big luck burger is very good, both meatloaf dishes are delish and the seasoned fries are to die for. The macaroni and cheese is very good too. Love, love this place. Only, avoid the meat substitutes; they aren't spectacular.
(5)Andrew R.
Comet cafe is seriously awesome! I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had! They were on the show "diners, drive ins and dives" and for good reason, this place is amazing. Just make sure you get there early because on multiple occasions I've seen people waiting in line outside the place, looking at menus and waiting for a table. They also have free stickers that look great on my guitar :)
(5)Katie R.
I've been here twice since my original review. Brunch - again, fantastic. This time I had a bloody mary (taste as good as they look) and a turkey sandwich with apricot jam and cream cheese. My friends had some ridiculous meat-and-sausage-gravy specials that make the "Vegan, Vegetarian" classification laughable. Dinner - I had the veggie chili and a side of brussels sprouts, my boyfriend had the fish fry. The chili was thick and incredibly tomato-pastey (not how I prefer it), but had a nice heat to hit and was very filling. I had a bite of the fish and it was de-lic-ious, very light and fluffy. Fluffy? It seems fitting. And it was served with toast, which is right up his alley.
(5)Veronica M.
We were visiting Milwaukee and decided to check out what was recommended on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We checked out Comet Café for dinner and it was really good. The problem is that it was a little hit or miss. I tried their bloody mary which was great with the bacon. I just wish there was another stick of bacon but mostly because I don't like mushrooms or green olives. My mom liked her meatloaf but I thought it was a bit dry. I have definitely had better. My dad ordered the fried cod and he was not happy with it. He said that it didn't have a lot of flavor. I tried the fried turkey and that was delicious. The gravy was great too. My husband had the burger and it was VERY juicy. I ordered the mac-n-cheese for my kids and my daughter loved it but my son was not that happy with it. It was really good and very cheesy. We also ordered the beer battered fries and they were awesome. They were a tad too greasy but oh so good! Also, the two pies we tried (key lime and coconut)were out of this world! They were so good but the two cupcakes we ordered were terrible. They were very dry and very sweet It's hard to give it a review because some things were great and some were not. I definitely think it is worth checking out.
(3)Angela K.
I've heard so many amazing things about Comet Cafe. My friends swear by it and love it to death. Whenever I've tried to stop in, there has ALWAYS been a wait for a table regardless of day of the week or meal time. So, with all of this hype I had very high expectations. Sadly, they weren't really met. As a starter, we ordered the duck confit poutine. It was as awesome as it sounds. I really enjoyed it and thought the gravy was very flavorful without being too heavy. For my main course, I ordered the infamous Mac and Cheese. I have a friend who drives a considerable distance just to have this dish. When I took my first bite I wondered if I had tasted something wrong. After the second and third, it was totally evident that the dish was totally wrong. Someone must have overcooked the roux or something, but it tasted awful: like cheap cheese melted over butter and noodles. Mac and Cheese out of a box tastes better in my opinion. I'm really sincerely hoping that this was just a fluke from the kitchen because I can't see how people can adore this dish and I couldn't even stomach it. And trust me, I LOVE Mac and Cheese. I had to send it back (something I despise having to do) and subsequently ordered a BLT. I wanted to try a dish that seemed more unique to the location but I was hungry and was scared of striking out again. The BLT was super delicious and the fries were very scrumptious. Also, I have to commend our server. She was a sweetheart throughout the whole meal and was very accommodating when I sent my dish back. I'll definitely give Comet another try, but I was definitely disappointed with this visit. For a restaurant that gets as much hype as it does, I shouldn't have to send a single thing back.
(3)Michael G.
Best Breakfast In the world... Get the Beermosa.....Next time Im in town I will always stop here.
(5)Jonah C.
Drove up from Chicago for a friend's birthday. Saw this place on Check Please! Roadtrip and was uber excited! Unfortunately, the wait time killed the excitement (not necessarily the fault of the diner). But, as we were ready to be seated next, some douche slipped the server a $5 so him and his pregnant wife could be seated next (which they were). Hmmm...last I checked pregnancy wasn't an ailment and if one experiences that much exhaustion standing, I believe you're suppose to be on bed rest. Don't get me wrong...not heartless here. Mayhaps subtracting the $5 visible bribe would have made it better but considering my friend has congenital dilated cardiomyopathy, my sympathy for the elected pregnancy was lower. We ended up leaving and dining at the Indian restaurant across the street. Just a turn-off...doubt I'd return.
(2)Justin F.
Comet Cafe is the type of place you continually come back because it makes a damn good meal and cocktail. I have been there for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. The parity of my orders range from the hot artichoke sandwich to the southern influenced meatloaf with sausage gravy. They do everything so well. Comet Cafe is a guilty pleasure and not part of any low carb diet.
(5)Jami E.
I stopped in last weekend just to split a pumpkin-chocolate-chip cupcake with my mom. She was just as enthusiastic about Comet Cafe as I am. Mom approved. The cupcakes at this place are just insane.
(5)Leslie B.
Cute breakfast spot and friendly staff. I had the cod cakes eggs benedict. I thought it was just okay. My bf got the pulled chicken with pepper jelly sandwich and he thought it was just okay too. The chicken was cold and we were expecting it to be warm. We also bought cupcakes, and those were just okay too. They did have a meatloaf sandwich that they only serve during the weekdays for lunch and it looked delicious based of the pics from yelp, maybe that's the thing to order here.
(3)Nina F.
This is a fun place to go! I really enjoy the atmosphere. The food is always pretty good, with fair prices most of the time. The service, however, isn't always the best- I've been left waiting for about 15-20 minutes before a server even came to say hi/take drink orders.
(3)Jess O.
I'm probably one of the few people that actually misses the old comet. I really liked the punk rock coffee house. Although I admit I am glad the thick cloud of smoke is gone. Although described as a bar and restaurant, it is really just a restaurant. We went on a Sunday night at 5pm and I was impressed on the number of families there with small kids. We had an infant in our group and we fit right in. and of course, can't review this place without talking about bacon. we ordered beers and got a basket full of bacon. Must have been a full package. it was awesome. we'll have to limit the number of times we go there for our arteries' sakes. At least not on Sunday night -- basket o' bacon with your beer beginning at 5pm.
(4)Catherine S.
Worth a visit for hip, urban "slow food" and sandwiches. Plenty of choices for vegetarian/vegan diners. Generous portions (dining companion could hardly fit her leftover half-sandwich into the takeaway container). Crazy-spicy spicy fries. Desserts! Substantial homemade fruit pies, pretty cupcakes. Ate at the counter, which was perfect, since there were only two of us and the booths seat six or eight - I would have felt like a jerk taking up all that space in such a busy place. Plus, had a nice conversation with the couple next to us after their food arrived: "Whoah. What is *that* amazing-looking sandwich?" (him: marinated tofu, her: artichoke melt) Great experience overall. Less than ideal, but not a deal-killer: limited street parking and no place to stand while you want for a table. Bonus points for fabulous logo that you can refer to as 'Frightened Rabbit' for extra hipster street cred.
(5)D N.
Turkey Compact Dinner and a Bacon Bloody Mary for me please! The menu is full of yummy choices. I've cried over the meatloaf with beer gravy. The vegan ribs are pretty delish as well. It's definitely a hipster venue, lending itself to great people watching while you wait for your table. You'll most likely have a bit of a wait during the typical hungry times and then you'll wait a bit for your food as its slow food. Meaning they take the time to prepare from scratch and use fresh ingredients. *Worth the wait.* The bartenders seem to be attentive and able to perform their duties; along with making some tasty drinks. Mmmmm Cupcakes a plenty! Although during busy times you may want to have your server snag the one you want in case someone comes in for a dozen! The cupcakes are that GOOD. I've been going to Comet for a few years now and believe I'll be a fan for life. Cheers to Comet Cafe!
(5)Kevin B.
Stopped over late Friday afternoon which turned out to be great for not waiting long for a table - about 5 minutes. The number of tables are small but sitting at the counter wouldn't have been bad. My son had been here for breakfast and raved about it but had never been here for dinner. We wound up having the Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) featured entrees: the Metaloaf sandwich (for him) and the Compact Thanksgiving Dinner (for me). Both were great and I'll be back to try more more of the menu. We were too stuffed for dessert but again, that will happen next time.
(4)Mike P.
As featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this joint on Milwaukee's Lower East Side is a tasty dining option. I got a chance to check out the dinner menu here and was impressed with its offerings. Their burgers are tasty, and the meatloaf with beer gravy is worth the visit alone . Plenty of drinking options, including many craft beers. I must check out their breakfast/brunch menu on my next visit. Bacon is big here, as noted on Triple D. It's reasonably priced,and totally worth the effort to stop by. Oh, btw, I wished I had left some room for dessert because the selection looked tempting.
(5)Brad S.
Where else but Milwaukee's Fashionable East Side would you find a place justifiably feature on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives? What Comet lacks in restaurant space they make up for in flavor, technique, and bacon. Space is indeed an issue here, and Comet's main detractor, though it can hardly be faulted for it. The place was a little more than a bar with a few tables. Now that it's been on TV, the place is completely insufficient for the traffic that is coming through the restaurant. Milwaukee is often overshadowed by the accomplishments of Chicago; when the Brew City is singled out, people are quick to support it. My visit began with writing my name on the wait list and standing in the cramped walkway of the restaurant with several other parties for about an hour. Once a seat became available, my party and I were quick to submit our order. Not that there was much question as to what to eat - the meatloaf and compact turkey dinner were two of the meals ordered. The former was the best meatloaf I have ever eaten, not only because there is a distinct lack of gourmet meatloaf out there, but the damn thing takes three days to make. Served with the beer gravy and mashed potatoes, it was welcoming and homey and fulfilling. The turkey dinner was good and a unique approach, though I question if four turkey balls would have been a more hearty meal, especially given the size of some of the other dishes. As if the restaurant wasn't enough, the alcohol menu is something to behold, featuring crazy cocktails, a large selection of wines, and some of the best microbrews from the area, notably Three Floyds. It's one of the only places in Wisconsin to get the brand, actually. Milwaukee is not well known for its gourmet food, but places like Comet show that we have our diamonds in the rough. I would recommend that everyone who is looking to visit take a look at the website first to make sure that the item you want to eat is being served (they serve brunch well into the afternoon on the weekends) and to go during off-peak times.
(5)Nick T.
Question: What can I say about Comet that hasn't been said in the other 180 reviews here? Answer: Probably nothing. However, I will say this: Comet has changed considerably in the past few years, yet it has kept everything that made it so great to begin with: The Stoner-influenced food menu, the wisely selected beer and wine options and the (mostly) great service. Comet is the type of place that you can visit in the morning for some coffee (and Jamo, if you're feeling adventurous) and then return to in the evening for dinner and drinks. p.s. You can even sneak back much later (1:25am) for a nightcap, but shh... 5 red stars!
(5)Dan G.
Solid diner food in a casual atmosphere. My two favorite items are the burger and the fish fry. This place is Honeypie's sister restaurant. Think of it as the older more popular sister who everyone adores. The Marsha Brady to Honeypie's Jan if you will. I had to take away a star because the service is pretty inconsistent and to clarify I'm not talking about wait time. If a place advertises slow food, you should be prepared to wait. I've just had some poor service in the past, but it was not so off putting as to keep me from coming back.
(4)Becky D.
I think it should be acknowledged that comet is the only place in MKE where breakfast/brunch can be a 3 course meal without going super fancy. We got there super early on a Sunday and there was a line. No worries, we got a seat right away. I recommend getting there early, or being prepared to wait. It's a fact of Comet. I started with a Booze-a-Latte. Delicious! A little on the sweet side, but I should have been prepared for that. And this was a strong beverage as well! Then there was food. I got the breakfast burrito (delicious!), a side of fruit, and bacon. All very good. Don't go to Comet and not get the bacon... they cook it just how I like nice and crispy. I tried my friends bacon cakes, they were delicious. I might have to get those next time. I ended my meal with one of their giant cupcakes. The chocolate raspberry was perfectly moist. The red velvet was delicious as well. My only complaint is there was a lot of frosting, but that is easily remedied with a knife. I like Comet. I need to remember to come to Comet more often.
(4)Casey W.
with the history of reviews of this place.. I feel boo's and hisses coming on for only rating it 3 stars. I was really excited to try Comet.. I have heard a ton of hype about it. I was completely prepared for the wait. We had a group of six and a baby around noon time on Sunday. It was a sunny day out, the baby was sleeping in her car seat and bundled so we were fine chatting outside while we waited about 35 minutes or so. not horrible. My first impression on walking in... a typical joint on the east side. "Trendy" east-siders at the counter and working there. Loud. The service was not stellar. She was there. We had to dig up our own high chair. **let me add here-- you are probably asking why the eff would you bring a baby here? Why not. We are young, we like to try different places to eat.. and the kid comes with us. She is fine and you didn't hear a peep out of her the whole time. Also let me add that restaurants in general that don't have changing tables get me pissy. Same with Lulu- the bathroom is huge. No changing table. I had to change the baby on the floor. I digress.... I ordered a drink.. the name of which escapes me at the moment.. it had fresh squeezed orange juice and beer... it was good! Could have been the beermosa?? For brunch I ordered the Benedict. I looooovveeee eggs Benedict. This was obviously going to be different from the original version. It had a sausage gravy on top. It also said it had cheddar cheese on it somewhere.. but I don't know where that was. There was a slice of ham and a redonk piece of bread.. super thick and didn't do anything for the dish. 3 others ordered the same thing. The gravy was less like gravy and more like huge hunks of sausage in about... oh.. three tablespoons of actual gravy. How do I know that? Because there was so little on the plate, that we all three ordered extra gravy. The waitress seemed.. beside herself.. when we did so, and then added right away that there would be an extra charge. We didn't have a choice. It was a big heap of dried out food if you didn't get it. It was three dollars extra. I already was paying $1.50 extra for the hash browns. At our table someone else ordered the french toast, there was also a bacon cake and an omelet. The person who ate the omelet ate.it .up. He had been to Comet before, so he knew what to order. The others at the table simply said it was.. "eh.. okay". I am going to agree with that. Eh.. okay. People on all sides of us were ordering sandwiches. I am thinking that if that is the way to go if you decide to go. They smelled and looked good. There are so many places in Milwaukee to choose from.. I am glad we stopped by.. and if we do again, I will go for the sandwich and pray that my kid doesn't poop her pants.
(3)Heather V.
My husband and I are in love. Comet Cafe, why can't you be in NYC?! It's a good thing we're moving to MKE. Vegetarian and vegan options of proper comfort food (I had a vegan Salisbury steak with green beans, mash, and a nice little salad, the hubby has a vegan gyro with fries). Giant beer list, including many Belgian style triples/ trappists and domestic beers that are so great they should be cherished (not only local MKE breweries, but Rogue Brewery and others). Full bar with yummy cocktails (the first time I came, I had a proper martini -- it was fab). Nice, casual atmosphere with dim lighting. Cool music playing all the time. Honestly, it's that good and that's all I need to say. I've been twice so far and really cannot wait to head back. (I wonder if we can go for brunch today....)
(5)Nick K.
I see the appeal, but I just can't wrap my arms around it. Good food, had better, but I really like consistency and this place has it.
(3)Erik W.
I went at 9pm on a Tuesday night and was surprised how packed it was. It took about 30 minutes to get a table... probably because the atmosphere compels people to stick around for another drink or two. But it was worth the wait! Once we got seated, it only took 15 minutes to get our food. I got the "Comet Cuban", and it was incredible. It was cooked perfectly, and I loved whatever mustard spread they used.
(4)Christina M.
OMG! I was extremely happy to go into a restaurant during breakfast with more options than hash browns and fruit! Here I had scrambled tofu with "meat" crumbles, awesome hash browns, toast, and much more! I will definitely eat at this restaurant when I visit Milwaukee again!
(4)Jax B.
I visited Comet Cafe after work with a friend. There was not a wait (5p). Had the Moscato $5 or $6 a glass (small pour) and the pulled pork sandwich with their hot fries (large serving). I enjoyed the wine and the meal. Our server was attentive. I would go back.
(4)Becky S.
I like Comet, I do. You just have to know what you're getting into. Usually there's a 15-30 minute wait for a table and there's not a lot of space to wait. It is certainly true that they are a "slow food" place. Yesterday's dinner for four took about 35 minutes to come out, but that's fine when you know to expect it and that this is part of the experience here. Brunch is great here as is the selection of drinks. Yesterday I had Meatloaf Sandwich. I spotted someone else eating it and immediately wanted it. It was really yummy- rye bread, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and bacon all piled on top of each other. It was all very good together. The meatloaf was missing a little bit of flavoring (my mom's is better), but don't get me wrong it was still all very good. Enjoyed with a can of Strongbow, all in all it was a tasty meal for all of us.
(4)Brian P.
Having spent a few months in Milwaukee recently, I tried to do as much as I could on my shoestring budget. I'd heard numerous suggestions to try out Comet Cafe, both in person and on Yelp. I must admit that yes, I was skeptical to try a place that had been featured on TV. Not because I thought the food wouldn't be good, but that it would be overpriced and just not worth the hype. I decided to silence this little voice, especially when I checked the menu on-line, and saw it was rather reasonable. My girlfriend and I opted for an early dinner, arriving around five on a Thursday night. Luckily the place wasn't busy yet, and we were able to pick a nice booth in the back. Our waitress was very friendly. The one problem I had was that there weren't any dinner specials. I'm not saying that I was expecting a dinner special. But, there was a big chalkboard with soup of the day, desserts, etc. The waitress said normally there were specials, but, "The kitchen is being lazy", so there weren't any up yet. When we left at 6:15, still no specials up. There was a happy hour special for $1 Old Style bottles, which my companion quickly ordered. I had just had my wisdom teeth out a few days prior, so I stuck with H20. After being at the restaurant that was on TV, I wasn't planning on ordering what was featured on the show. But the meatloaf looked so good! And I wanted something soft due to my mouth being swollen. My girlfriend ordered the grilled cheese with bacon and tomato soup. I had a house salad that came with my meal. The ingredients tasted fresh, and if anything, the salad was larger than most house salads. Our meals came quick, and were both great. My meatloaf was tender, but not to the point where it was falling apart with good flavor. It was also wrapped in bacon, which I guess must be a theme at the restaurant. The mashed potatoes were good, but the asparagus was top notch. I was hesitant to bite into one, thinking it might be too hard for my teeth to handle. It was perfect. Just the right amount of salt and seasonings, and cooked to just the perfect consistency. My girlfriend's meal was very satisfying for her. I tried the tomato soup, and it had a nice kick to it. She enjoyed the three different cheeses on the thick sourdough bread. Her fries were good, but greasy. We were both full, and opted against dessert. We took a look at the bar on the other side, and it seemed to be a nice place to have a drink. Overall, a great place for a meal, and I would definitely go back.
(5)Erin L.
Great food, busy atmosphere. Great pie, who knew vegan pie could be so good!! Well worth our drive from northern Illinois and would go again if in the area.
(4)Jen C.
the duck con fit appetizer was awesome! the beer was awesome! but the entrees? not so much. I got the famous thanksgiving balls (featured on DDD) the flavor seemed a bit off, it was very citrusy and very tart. The meatloaf dinner wasn't anything to write home about either. The cupcake, though, was probably the worst cupcake I've ever had. I love sweets, love! but the cake was so dense it could have broken a window if you threw it at one. The frosting was overly sweet and I didn't have more than two bites. From me? That's saying something. Overall, not sure I'll ever go to Milwaukee again, but if I do, I probably won't make another stop in here.
(2)Megan O.
Oh Comet, your sign is small and we walked right passed you...walked a half mile with crappy flat sandals, realizing we went too far and almost got caught on the rain, but hey...you were totally worth it. It was a Saturday, around 5'o clock and after walking from the North End of Milwaukee to there, I was famished! You seat yourself, which I appreciate because then you have no one to blame but yourself if you don't get seated right away. Plenty of bar seating and booths and tables. If I had to stereotype the decor, it was very "hipster chic" but gave it this laid back vibe. What we ordered: Artichoke Melt with fries --HUGE ASS SANDWICH, with an artichoke heart, spinach and I believe provolone cheese. Seriously, two sandwiches for the price of 1. ($8.50 for this combo with fries) Wine Spritzer --cranberry wine with some spritzer... aka cranberry juice with fizz! Delish, but very simple. ($6.00) Beermosa --Their take on mimosas, but with a white ale and oj!! ($4.00) I'd love to come back here, and try this one drink that had ice cream, jager, baileys and other concoctions...I MEAN DANG, ICE CREAM & ALCOHOL IN ONE DISH? yes. I will be back.
(4)RJ D.
after running the rock and sole half marathon last weekend, my husband and i were staaaaaarving. we looked online to find some good vegan eats in the big city of milwaukee and comet cafe came up. well, reviewed too. as we approached this ultra trendy restaurant, that i almost felt not trendy enough to eat at... we noticed a long line of people waiting in the street. apparently, word has gotten out that this place is good. i don't mind waiting in line. in fact, i usually think it's a good sign at a restaurant. we were seated in about 20 minutes, which isn't that big of deal. they were seating anywhere in the cafe that had a chair... the bar, the booths, outdoors... whatever. we ended up sitting at the bar, and that was fine. it was just the two of us. i ordered the meat and eggs breakfast -- veganized. there were several options for vegans, and a little bunny on the menu denoted which items could be made vegan. "meat and eggs" seemed like it might be difficult to make vegan, but i was intrigued. my husband got a sandwich, and opted to add field roast meat to it. our meal arrived and it was.... well..... it was awesome. my husband enjoyed his sandwich a lot. my meal turned out to be a couple of pieces of vegan meatloaf with gravy, hash browns, toast, and a side of tofu scramble. when our waiter brought it to the table, he asked if i wanted butter. so used to saying no, because i don't eat dairy products, i said no. he said, "oh, i mean it's... like vegan butter." i wanted to cry. my days of eating dry toast in restaurants.... OVER! service was good. it was friendly. the cafe has a nice ambiance. people there seemed happy to be working there, and enjoyed serving the food and the people that stopped in to eat it. my only criticism was that my meal was pretty salty. not inedible salty, but salty. my body was craving some salt and carbs after a good long run, but this was a little much. when i head back to milwaukee, this place will be back on my go to list.
(4)Avinash V.
Never knew vegetarian meatloaf with beer gravy could taste so good
(5)Ron R.
You know, every time that D-bag Guy Fieri hits a place, it usually goes downhill. This place is no exception. I agree with an earlier post, it almost seems to be a place where hipsters go to be seen, and not so much for good service. After being quickly seated at the bar, we waited for 10 minutes to get our drink order. The server was fine, but very overwhelmed, making drinks, coffees, and still waiting on the entire counter. I ordered the special, "Black and Bleu Scramble"- it was supposed to be blackened flank steak scrambled with eggs, and topped with bleu cheese. The steak was not blackened, it was just regular old cooked steak- blech. Kudos on the Bleu cheese, it was a very good cheese. Water and coffee refills came infrequently, and usually only when asked.
(2)Tim N.
About three years ago I enjoyed coming to Comet for bite to eat. I still enjoy going here, but perhaps not as much so. The place is quintessential East Side of Milwaukee. When I first walked in the place, I remember the interesting assortment of characters both working and dining at Comet. Comet was a unique establishment; there was as much art work on the bodies of the patrons and staff as there was on the walls. Very arty in a kind of unkept way, but it was fun. Half the reason for going to the comet was to check out the interesting characters. If you were drunk and horny by the time you left, you could also grab a condom out of glass jar sitting next to stack of Shepherd's express magazines in the corner. So what about the food? The beer selection is awesome, and if you are on a budget you could grab a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon which is kind of nice. Back in the day they were selling Pabst for a buck a can. Now that was cool, but more recently they jacked the price up to $2.50. Selling for a buck a can was kind of novelty and if lent itself to the oddball charm of the place. Wish they would bring that back. Other favorites were the free baskets of bacon (I mean what the hell?) when you bought an alcoholic drink. This was clever gimmickry. Not that much has changed over the years; the menu is pretty much the same. One Yelper described it as "stoner influenced." I can see that. Many of the staffers look like stoners who sobered up. The food is mostly comfort food like meatloaf and chili. They also add a little variety with vegan meals for those opposed to eating dairy and eggs. One of the best things on their menu is a sandwich called the triple decker club. They take very good wheat or white bread, lather it in chive mayo, stack on some turkey, some American cheese, peppers and go it all over again, giving you a triple decker sandwich. The fries are good too, as they are steak variety and you can splash on a little malt vinegar. Other notable mentions include the breakfast burrito covered in Sirachi sauce. But lately things have not been the same. You go in at lunch, you have to wait an eternity to get a table. Yes, I am glad the place is popular, so why not expand or something? And as much as I like the place, I think a lot of people take advantage of the rebel, carefree atmosphere and choose not to shower or try to look as freaky as possible. Me, I have grooming standards. And sometimes the reverb from Minor Threat blasting from the speakers does not exactly mesh well with the rhythm of eating your meatloaf. So, yeah I would go back, but I really think the place needs to get back to basics if they want a fourth star. Maybe have a tattoo contest or something.
(3)Matthew W.
Biscuits and gravy and meatloaf were delicious. Sconnie mimosa top knotch as well.
(5)