42 Ale House
3807 S Packard Ave, Saint Francis, WI, 53235
42 Ale House Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Francis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Francis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Francis for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
3807 S Packard Ave
Saint Francis, WI, 53235 - Phone (414) 249-4952
- Website https://42alehouse.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jessica P.
Let me start out by saying I was looking forward to the opening of 42 Ale House from its initial announcement. I frequently checked the facebook page for updates and rubbed my hands together in anticipation. He interior is great. Tastefully decorated in various knick knacks of geek stuff but not to the point that it feels imposing or clustered. The decor was kept very clean and the doodles on the chalkboard were an amazing touch. We wish we had planned better, since there is a tabletop game library in the restaurant. When we went they were streaming a league of legends player which is appreciated since we are huge fans of their esports. We are hoping they stream lcs games and possibly worlds because we will definitely be back to drink and scream at the tvs like any good sports fans. Once we actually ate I felt a bit.. Underwhelmed. The food was good and plated very nicely. However, there was very little that was extraordinary. There were some very cool combinations on the menu each named after a bit of geek culture. The menu itself is small since the restaurant has just opened but I would like to suggest some fish dishes (maybe even calamari named for Cthulhu?), a house salad (maybe named after Poison Ivy?) and possibly a vegan/vegetarian option. As someone who tends to avoid heavy greasy food and often meat, I had a difficult time picking something to eat. Drinks were a tad expensive but super awesome and skillfully prepared. The Pyramid head cocktail was strong, beautiful to look at, and delicious but also seemed very small for its price. Perhaps consider a bigger drink and call it the bubblehead nurse? Just a suggestion from a huge fan of the series and an avid nurse cosplayer! Service was not great. We waited way too long for a slow afternoon for our drinks and food. Our waiter disappeared for long stretches so getting things like refills, boxes, and the check took frustratingly long. All in all this place is a pretty good experience, the menus need to be updated so that they aren't so plain looking and the drinks either need to come down on the price or up on the value. Service issues should be addressed. I'm keeping in mind this is a new venture for the 42 lounge so there are bound to be hiccups. I will, despite having a few issues, most definitely look to have this place become a frequent haunt. Especially for the cosplay events!
(3)Duke F.
Duke enjoyed this location before in its many incarnations. This newest incarnation wasn't up to snuff in my book. It's a welcoming enough place; the geezer at the front was cordial, welcoming and accommodating. Haven't changed the physical space much, which is good. Food was average, not on par with other foodie places north of here, but decent pub food. Seems that the theme might draw in some out of the area folks, but not sure it'll sustain the locals. But one never knows, there's a nice LARP population in Bay View. The concern was with the bar service. Not sure if it was the blokes fight night working as barman, but he was woefully unprepared for the amount of drink tickets tossed his way. The word awkward doesn't begin to describe this gent while he moved behind the bar. When I inquired about the bill of sale, he gave me someone else's (which I should've paid...it was less). I explained that the bill was not ours and he snatched it off the bar in a somewhat brusque manner and proclaimed that he'd get mine as soon as he could and Bob's your uncle! Now I'm no John Taffer but he was a bit in over his head from my vantage point, struggling to keep up with what I perceived as a less than average night. This gent is the front line and he's not winning over any converts with his confusion and lack of grace. If it were premiere night, I'd accept his inability to keep up with the service, but seems that the pub was a couple months in. His ballcap was ace! Probably won't muster up a repeat performance from Duke with so many other choices in the Bay View area.
(2)Jenna O.
I checked out 42 Ale House tonight for the fist time. We arrived at 8 to participate in the Tuesday night trivia game which was X-files themed!! Heck yussss. We ordered a pizza Gannon something or another which had pulled pork, beer cheese and bacon on it. The za was pretty good, a little on the smaller size but perfect for splitting if you're not too hungry. As for the atmosphere, I was hoping for a little more geek decor but they do have a large selection of games available from tabletop to counsel which you can check out up at the bar! They also host fun events from time to time such as themed nights and little field trips like a trip to the renaissance faire! All in all, Ale House is pretty good when you're feeling a more laid back vibe, for more of a nightlife feel check out 42 Lounge downtown Milwaukee!
(4)Shareef J.
42 ale house is a great restaurant. The menu has improved significantly from the start,with cool new salads along with the burgers and tots. Lynn and Tony are very active owners and make sure that customers are satisfied. The geek theme is awesome, especially the themed nights like Harry Potter. All in all, a great place for Milwaukee.
(5)Giggles Z.
Good food, fast and good service. Played Mario Kart at our table. Would like to come back with a group to enjoy their large boardgame library. Settlers, Pandemic, Ticket to Ride. All the good, nerdy stuff.
(5)Stephen D.
Now I am not geeky, I am probably up there on the cool meter so this review will just be honest. We came there to meet up with a scooter riding group, which is for cool people to begin with, but I had the date wrong. We thought about leaving but figured we would stay and eat. My cool wife had a pulled pork sandwich. She said it was good but needed some sauce. I had a grilled cheese thing and really enjoyed it. I was a little surprised about the place. I was expecting more geeky people there but I only saw more cool people like me. Next time I think I will bring my laptop and play some Neverwinter nights. Love that game!
(4)Donajean C.
Upon walking in, the first thing I noticed was the smell of something burning. Then I noticed that it seemed like any other restaurant besides a sprinkling of "geeky" items hanging on walls or placed on shelves. I guess I was just expecting more when the place is marketed in the way that it is. On the TV above our table, they had something called TwitchTV on with a girl that was playing video games via a webcam in a very low-cut tank-top and in my opinion, it was too early in the night for boobs in my face. Although our server was friendly and attentive, the food took entirely too long to come out and we were beginning to wonder whether we were at 42 Ale House or 42 Snail House. We were the only other people in the place and those others had already been served so I'm not sure what the problem was. When the food eventually came out, it was ok and not necessarily worth the wait. The burger just had no flavor to it at all and even with the egg, bacon, cheese, and fried onions, it was bland and disappointing but it not inedible. Even with every employee standing around not doing much, boobs on the TV, subpar food, not enough geek, and a slow kitchen, I plan to give it another shot. Perhaps try something else on the menu and at a different time of day.
(2)R_A F.
Nerd heaven! Super chill environment, with great, friendly and attractive staff. Love that I can go with friends, have a few beers and play games. Love the tourneys and all the extra things they host. Absolutely love this place.
(5)Brittany Z.
My friend and I decided to check out the 42 Ale House on a whim after dinner. I'm quite familiar with the 42 Lounge, and was interested in seeing a geek food pub. We went in on a Friday night, and I have to say, I wasn't impressed. For a place that calls itself a "geek pub", it was severely underwhelming. A few pictures framed on the wall, and a few action figures here and there don't make a geek pub. This is the exact same problem with the 42 Lounge. There is hardly any sort of feeling to it. To me, the 42 Ale House tends to cater toward the "geek chic" aspect. Slap a few pictures on the wall, put a Iron Man action figure, and mask with again, another framed picture on a shelf, and bam! It's just disappointing. They also had this giant chalkboard that just said, 'Happy Friday!', with what I thought might have been a drawing of Pikachu? They had the perfect opportunity to spin off their small burger menu to have, "Bob's Burger of the Week". I would have been sold completely if they had used that board, or even acknowledged on the menu by the burgers, something Bob's Burgers themed. Because the bar was full, they sat us at a table near our bar. Our waiter came by once to get our drink orders, it took about 10 minutes to get a bottle of Angry Orchard, and then we never saw him till about 30 minutes later, when he asked if we wanted anything else. Yes, we wanted the check. This place has the ability to be wonderful if they actually came up with good ideas. They want to theme their menu, but they don't want to actually think of things that match to said theme. The 'Luna Lovegood' is basically a caprese pizza. Maybe you should have used her name for a dessert. Like a blondie brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and edible glitter, because Luna herself is wonderfully unordinary. Good idea, terrible execution. Save your time and money. Play board games with friends at home, cook out some burgers, name them yourself.
(2)Ryan B.
The pizza I ordered was pretty much raw in the middle but the ambience is still great and the beer selection is good. Great place for a drink but the food quality and preparation is lacking. So after being reinvited to try the new pizza it was still not quite right. It was still a bit undercooked for me plus it came out 15 minutes after the rest of my party received their food. Our server was nice but was hanging around their friends at the table next to ours too much. Which was a bunch of immature guys who were joking about jacking off and using fuck every other sentence which normally I'm not offended by but I was with my mom and my sister and it was inappropriate... much needed improvement is needed here!
(2)Christopher C.
Cool atmosphere. Good selection of drinks but the food is horrible. I've been here 3 times and something has always been wrong with the food. Hire good cooks and change your menu!
(2)Jeff O.
I have been coming in since they opened here and I can say that things have turned for the best. The service staff is more knowledgeable, great beer selection and the menu is getting better. New chicken sandwich, salads and I hear home made mac and cheese is coming soon! I had the Ezio pizza and the cheese curds. Amazing thin crispy crust from the wood fired pizza oven in just a few minutes! Amazing!
(5)Steven E.
I went to dinner with my partner and a couple friends with high expectations (I love 42 Lounge!) and was met with an okay experience. I'll break this review down into three sections: atmosphere, service, and food. Atmosphere: 3 stars I love the location on the lake. The outside could use some improvement (removing old signage from previous restaurant, more obvious 42 Ale House sign), but it is still spring and the weather hasn't been too kind lately so it's totally understandable. Inside, I was struck by how under-utilized the space was. There is definitely room for more nerd/gamer/comic decor. Aside from a few scattered posters and accent pieces (as well as the excellent behind-the-bar chalkboard art) I felt the restaurant did not have much identity. As a side note, the booth the four of us sat at (south side of the building) was huge! Thankfully it wasn't too loud so we could still carry on a conversation but I felt very far away from the other side of the table. In the future I could see this turning into a fun half-circle type seating arrangement for larger groups! The menu was sparse and designless and contained a lot of manual edits. If they made their on-site menus as flashy as their website menu this would be a whole 'nother story! Service: 2 stars The service was sub-par. When we walked in, we saw a sign to wait to be seated. We stood by the bar for a good minute before someone approached us. During our stay, I noticed a mix of people being seated and people seating themselves. I'm still not sure what the preferred method is. Our waiter was very soft-spoken and nervous. I got the impression this may have been his first time as a waiter, so I'm chalking a lot of my feedback up to that. Our drinks (three beers and a mixed drink) took 15 minutes to make with the restaurant at maybe 1/3 capacity. There were two bartenders who did not appear to be overwhelmed so I felt it was a little long to wait for our drinks (especially compared to places like Bel Air who are always packed and still get your drinks to you within 5 minutes of ordering them). The waiter took our orders (four burgers, more on this in the next section, and an order of fried pickles). Then came the wait. The 45 minute wait. During this wait our waiter stopped by once and hesitantly asked to refill our waters. Otherwise he kind of skirted around our table and avoided eye contact. After confirming that we were still getting our food with him (and asking if we would get our appetizer before our meal) the waiter shakily carried out our burgers on a serving tray. Handing out the food was a tottering ordeal resulting in a few lost tots and a tomato/pickle burger side and an amnesiac waiter who didn't know which burger was which and who ordered what. Still no fried pickles. After confirming the pickles with the waiter again, he told us they would be right out. Fifteen minutes go by and we finish our burgers. The waiter comes back and tells us that they will be right out and five minutes later they were. Once that was all said and done, the waiter had some trouble splitting the bill but by then I wasn't too surprised. Food & Drink: 2 stars & 4 stars First things first, the drink menu was great (though I was hoping for more mixed drink options a la 42 Lounge) and the food menu felt limited. Since this is a new venture, I assume they are starting with a smaller menu until they work out the kinks, then expanding from there. No hard feelings. The beer I ordered was fine (it's hard to mess up a glass of beer!) and I have it on good faith that the mixed drink my friend ordered was very tasty. I ordered the Galactus Burger, my partner ordered the 42 Burger, one friend ordered the Veggie Mushroom Burger, and the other ordered the Pulled Pork (burger?) Sandwich. My burger was slightly above average, though the waiter may as well of not asked how I wanted it cooked (medium rare) because everything came out medium-well to well-done. I was also struck by how small the burger was. It cost $12.50 and didn't live up to the price. While the restaurant is in St. Francis, there are a good number of very competitive burger joints in the greater Milwaukee area where I can get a better, thicker burger for that price.. 42 Ale House either needs to step up their burger game or lower the price. I'm not sure how the rest of my party enjoyed their meal, but there was no outright rejection (always a good sign!) and we all finished our food. Also, the tots were fantastic. Something in the seasoning hit all the right spots. The fried pickles were very good and homemade - though piping hot so be warned! They were almost worth the wait but would have been better enjoyed before our
(2)Anna K.
Omgomgomg! The 42 burger was delectable, and the sprecher bbq sauce on the wings is to DIE FOR! Soooo many beer choices! And they are open to suggestions! The staff owners are super nice. We will be attending all the geeky trivia. And all the other events they are planning! This is bigger than the lounge, and they have so much more room for additional things! I hope they put in an arcade room or something. That would really sweeten the deal. This is seriously geek heaven. Please don't bring your kids here, thinking it is a good place to drink beer and let them play on the console games. That would ruin it for all of us.
(5)Justin L.
Great food and service in an amazingly geeky atmosphere. Love it!
(4)Miranda W.
I was really excited for 42 Ale House, however our first visit left my boyfriend and I quite underwhelmed. Being in the service industry, I work late and finding decent late night food can sometimes suck. We double-checked the website, and there was no mention of the kitchen closing earlier than midnight -- and neither the host, nor the server thought to mention that the kitchen was closing shortly (just that multiple taps were 86'd on a Monday night at a bar focused on beer). We showed up between 9:30 and 10pm, and I was deciding on a drink when our server came back and asked if we wanted food; the kitchen was about to close but she could definitely sneak an order in like right now. Pressured to make a decision suddenly (because we thought the kitchen stayed open until midnight), he ordered "The Answer" burger and I ordered tots. The burger was okay, nothing special. The tots were served over a puddle of oil though, gross. I could get over that still come back again, but probably won't. We were seated close to the kitchen and watched the cook get super angry ("Are you f*ing serious!?") that we ordered food. We felt like such an inconvenience. So we uncomfortably waited for our food. In the meantime, we tried to play Mortal Kombat X, but the PS4 was acting up. We like 42 lounge WAY BETTER!! I probably won't come back to the 42 Ale House, despite its proximity to my house; there are other places for craft beers (and late night "pub food") where we feel much more welcome.
(1)J C.
Went there for the first time this past Saturday with my husband. We live right by the restaurant so were excited to finally give it a shot. We were seated immediately and drink orders were taken, it took 25 minutes, YES 25 minutes for me to get my dirty martini, my husband's drink was brought well ahead of mine and was warm by the time I got my cocktail as he was trying to be a gentlemen and not drink in front of me, evidently something fell in the first martini and it had to be remade, still 25 minutes for vodka and olive juice is extreme. We ordered the piccolo's and 2 chicken sandwiches. The food was ok, nothing spectacular, I think they could probably do way better with a bit of effort, but it wasn't horrible. I gave them 2 stars because their beer cheese sauce is amazing. I am a beer cheese junkie and that sauce has all the makings of a great soup for fall with just a little bit of work. So while it wasn't the best we have ever had, it was ok and it is close so we will probably go back there again but it wont be our first choice for neighborhood dining.
(2)Adam J.
This is pretty much the ideal bar for gamers. It's a top-notch bar and grill in general, but the video game theme puts this over the top for me. The ambience is great, it's got a casual atmosphere with some great original game art on the walls. The TVs were a mix of cable TV and Twitch.tv (video game streaming). There are two HUGE patios outside, one in front and one in back - I'm really looking forward to checking this place out when it's warmer out. The food was delicious bar food - we had the deep fried pickles, the queso and pulled pork /w chips, and a pizza (which had a homemade hand-tossed crust and was baked in a proper pizza oven). For drinks, I had the "Zangief's Piledriver" drink, which was a play on a screwdriver, while my companion had a Seattle semi-sweet cider (they have a great beer and cider selection). I'm looking forward to trying the burgers and wings when I go back, both of them looked great when I saw them leaving the kitchen. The game room had 4 large TVs with game systems attached, and a ton of table space for board games (of which they have a ton available to play for free). I wonder if they would consider getting some arcade games in there as well? The service was perhaps a little on the slow side, which is 100% expected in a new restaurant - I'm sure it'll pick up once they get in a groove. Overall this is a great addition to the Milwaukee scene, and definitely someplace I'll be frequenting.
(5)Mikey B.
...'twas a deeeliteful place to stop in for a beer (Gumballhead on tap !) and a yummy burger on my evening bicycle ride.. outdoor patio is lovely and wind sheltered (42 is a block from Lake Michigan)... you get immediate recognition when walking in door... and youthful and enthusiastic staff is wonderful... interior is bricky and woody and inviting... lots of room for lots of people.... definitely will be back :)
(4)Brian M.
5 stars. 5/5. 10/10. A+. Regardless of the scale you use to measure excellence, 42 Ale House delivers on all fronts. The dining room has a modern look with a rustic appeal, adorned throughout with wood and brick and dominated by a primary bar that would make many a bar owner green with envy. The roots of the 42 experience, celebrating nerd, geek, and gamer culture, are subtly woven throughout the space (for example, the beautifully lit DOTA 2 characters set atop a gorgeous shelf space on the far end of the dining room). The nods and references to nerd culture are never overpowering, never overstated. In that respect, even though a certain culture may be catered to, 42 Ale House becomes a space for everyone. The fully stocked bar is equipped with a thoughtfully curated beer list that would satiate the thirst of any connoisseur. The food menu consists of "pub favorites with a twist", and the twists that 42 Ale House incorporates into its menu make the fare a wonderful culinary experience. The grilled cheese offering I ordered (being I consider myself an expert in all things grilled cheese) came equipped with white cheddar, American, pepper jack, thick cut bacon, and a delightful Sriracha ketchup that wove the entire package together in a symphony of flavor. The wood-fired pizza oven cranks out sheer excellence in a timely and consistent manner, and every patron I spoke with was delighted with their expertly crafted pies. When your belly is full and your thirst is quenched, you can make your way to the adjacent game room. This expansive space completes the 42 Ale House experience, offering plenty of room for you and your friends to enjoy a tabletop or card game, or relax and watch an e-sports event on an enormous projection screen. Along the far wall, several large screen televisions are set up to play a wide selection of current console titles or tune in to whatever strikes your fancy. This space is complemented by a secondary bar for when your thirst for top-tier adult beverages inevitably returns. 42 Ale House provides a complete package for any fan of great drinks and amazing food in a casual atmosphere. Fans of 42 Lounge will find much to love here, but the owners and employees have exercised care in creating a welcome and vibrant atmosphere for all walks of life, geek or otherwise. An enthralling experience through and through, I can't wait to return.
(5)greg c.
We ate there the other night and the place was packed. Good to see a successful business in st francis. We walked in and stood at the host station for almost 5 min and nobody seated us. We sat ourselves after a little while. We then ordered the answer. It was a good burger but not worth 12 bucks more like an $8 burger. Other than that the beer prices reasonable and still a fun place.
(4)Giggles Z.
Good food, fast and good service. Played Mario Kart at our table. Would like to come back with a group to enjoy their large boardgame library. Settlers, Pandemic, Ticket to Ride. All the good, nerdy stuff.
(5)Ryan B.
The pizza I ordered was pretty much raw in the middle but the ambience is still great and the beer selection is good. Great place for a drink but the food quality and preparation is lacking. So after being reinvited to try the new pizza it was still not quite right. It was still a bit undercooked for me plus it came out 15 minutes after the rest of my party received their food. Our server was nice but was hanging around their friends at the table next to ours too much. Which was a bunch of immature guys who were joking about jacking off and using fuck every other sentence which normally I'm not offended by but I was with my mom and my sister and it was inappropriate... much needed improvement is needed here!
(2)Christopher C.
Cool atmosphere. Good selection of drinks but the food is horrible. I've been here 3 times and something has always been wrong with the food. Hire good cooks and change your menu!
(2)Jeff O.
I have been coming in since they opened here and I can say that things have turned for the best. The service staff is more knowledgeable, great beer selection and the menu is getting better. New chicken sandwich, salads and I hear home made mac and cheese is coming soon! I had the Ezio pizza and the cheese curds. Amazing thin crispy crust from the wood fired pizza oven in just a few minutes! Amazing!
(5)Steven E.
I went to dinner with my partner and a couple friends with high expectations (I love 42 Lounge!) and was met with an okay experience. I'll break this review down into three sections: atmosphere, service, and food. Atmosphere: 3 stars I love the location on the lake. The outside could use some improvement (removing old signage from previous restaurant, more obvious 42 Ale House sign), but it is still spring and the weather hasn't been too kind lately so it's totally understandable. Inside, I was struck by how under-utilized the space was. There is definitely room for more nerd/gamer/comic decor. Aside from a few scattered posters and accent pieces (as well as the excellent behind-the-bar chalkboard art) I felt the restaurant did not have much identity. As a side note, the booth the four of us sat at (south side of the building) was huge! Thankfully it wasn't too loud so we could still carry on a conversation but I felt very far away from the other side of the table. In the future I could see this turning into a fun half-circle type seating arrangement for larger groups! The menu was sparse and designless and contained a lot of manual edits. If they made their on-site menus as flashy as their website menu this would be a whole 'nother story! Service: 2 stars The service was sub-par. When we walked in, we saw a sign to wait to be seated. We stood by the bar for a good minute before someone approached us. During our stay, I noticed a mix of people being seated and people seating themselves. I'm still not sure what the preferred method is. Our waiter was very soft-spoken and nervous. I got the impression this may have been his first time as a waiter, so I'm chalking a lot of my feedback up to that. Our drinks (three beers and a mixed drink) took 15 minutes to make with the restaurant at maybe 1/3 capacity. There were two bartenders who did not appear to be overwhelmed so I felt it was a little long to wait for our drinks (especially compared to places like Bel Air who are always packed and still get your drinks to you within 5 minutes of ordering them). The waiter took our orders (four burgers, more on this in the next section, and an order of fried pickles). Then came the wait. The 45 minute wait. During this wait our waiter stopped by once and hesitantly asked to refill our waters. Otherwise he kind of skirted around our table and avoided eye contact. After confirming that we were still getting our food with him (and asking if we would get our appetizer before our meal) the waiter shakily carried out our burgers on a serving tray. Handing out the food was a tottering ordeal resulting in a few lost tots and a tomato/pickle burger side and an amnesiac waiter who didn't know which burger was which and who ordered what. Still no fried pickles. After confirming the pickles with the waiter again, he told us they would be right out. Fifteen minutes go by and we finish our burgers. The waiter comes back and tells us that they will be right out and five minutes later they were. Once that was all said and done, the waiter had some trouble splitting the bill but by then I wasn't too surprised. Food & Drink: 2 stars & 4 stars First things first, the drink menu was great (though I was hoping for more mixed drink options a la 42 Lounge) and the food menu felt limited. Since this is a new venture, I assume they are starting with a smaller menu until they work out the kinks, then expanding from there. No hard feelings. The beer I ordered was fine (it's hard to mess up a glass of beer!) and I have it on good faith that the mixed drink my friend ordered was very tasty. I ordered the Galactus Burger, my partner ordered the 42 Burger, one friend ordered the Veggie Mushroom Burger, and the other ordered the Pulled Pork (burger?) Sandwich. My burger was slightly above average, though the waiter may as well of not asked how I wanted it cooked (medium rare) because everything came out medium-well to well-done. I was also struck by how small the burger was. It cost $12.50 and didn't live up to the price. While the restaurant is in St. Francis, there are a good number of very competitive burger joints in the greater Milwaukee area where I can get a better, thicker burger for that price.. 42 Ale House either needs to step up their burger game or lower the price. I'm not sure how the rest of my party enjoyed their meal, but there was no outright rejection (always a good sign!) and we all finished our food. Also, the tots were fantastic. Something in the seasoning hit all the right spots. The fried pickles were very good and homemade - though piping hot so be warned! They were almost worth the wait but would have been better enjoyed before our
(2)J C.
Went there for the first time this past Saturday with my husband. We live right by the restaurant so were excited to finally give it a shot. We were seated immediately and drink orders were taken, it took 25 minutes, YES 25 minutes for me to get my dirty martini, my husband's drink was brought well ahead of mine and was warm by the time I got my cocktail as he was trying to be a gentlemen and not drink in front of me, evidently something fell in the first martini and it had to be remade, still 25 minutes for vodka and olive juice is extreme. We ordered the piccolo's and 2 chicken sandwiches. The food was ok, nothing spectacular, I think they could probably do way better with a bit of effort, but it wasn't horrible. I gave them 2 stars because their beer cheese sauce is amazing. I am a beer cheese junkie and that sauce has all the makings of a great soup for fall with just a little bit of work. So while it wasn't the best we have ever had, it was ok and it is close so we will probably go back there again but it wont be our first choice for neighborhood dining.
(2)Mikey B.
...'twas a deeeliteful place to stop in for a beer (Gumballhead on tap !) and a yummy burger on my evening bicycle ride.. outdoor patio is lovely and wind sheltered (42 is a block from Lake Michigan)... you get immediate recognition when walking in door... and youthful and enthusiastic staff is wonderful... interior is bricky and woody and inviting... lots of room for lots of people.... definitely will be back :)
(4)Miranda W.
I was really excited for 42 Ale House, however our first visit left my boyfriend and I quite underwhelmed. Being in the service industry, I work late and finding decent late night food can sometimes suck. We double-checked the website, and there was no mention of the kitchen closing earlier than midnight -- and neither the host, nor the server thought to mention that the kitchen was closing shortly (just that multiple taps were 86'd on a Monday night at a bar focused on beer). We showed up between 9:30 and 10pm, and I was deciding on a drink when our server came back and asked if we wanted food; the kitchen was about to close but she could definitely sneak an order in like right now. Pressured to make a decision suddenly (because we thought the kitchen stayed open until midnight), he ordered "The Answer" burger and I ordered tots. The burger was okay, nothing special. The tots were served over a puddle of oil though, gross. I could get over that still come back again, but probably won't. We were seated close to the kitchen and watched the cook get super angry ("Are you f*ing serious!?") that we ordered food. We felt like such an inconvenience. So we uncomfortably waited for our food. In the meantime, we tried to play Mortal Kombat X, but the PS4 was acting up. We like 42 lounge WAY BETTER!! I probably won't come back to the 42 Ale House, despite its proximity to my house; there are other places for craft beers (and late night "pub food") where we feel much more welcome.
(1)Brittany Z.
My friend and I decided to check out the 42 Ale House on a whim after dinner. I'm quite familiar with the 42 Lounge, and was interested in seeing a geek food pub. We went in on a Friday night, and I have to say, I wasn't impressed. For a place that calls itself a "geek pub", it was severely underwhelming. A few pictures framed on the wall, and a few action figures here and there don't make a geek pub. This is the exact same problem with the 42 Lounge. There is hardly any sort of feeling to it. To me, the 42 Ale House tends to cater toward the "geek chic" aspect. Slap a few pictures on the wall, put a Iron Man action figure, and mask with again, another framed picture on a shelf, and bam! It's just disappointing. They also had this giant chalkboard that just said, 'Happy Friday!', with what I thought might have been a drawing of Pikachu? They had the perfect opportunity to spin off their small burger menu to have, "Bob's Burger of the Week". I would have been sold completely if they had used that board, or even acknowledged on the menu by the burgers, something Bob's Burgers themed. Because the bar was full, they sat us at a table near our bar. Our waiter came by once to get our drink orders, it took about 10 minutes to get a bottle of Angry Orchard, and then we never saw him till about 30 minutes later, when he asked if we wanted anything else. Yes, we wanted the check. This place has the ability to be wonderful if they actually came up with good ideas. They want to theme their menu, but they don't want to actually think of things that match to said theme. The 'Luna Lovegood' is basically a caprese pizza. Maybe you should have used her name for a dessert. Like a blondie brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and edible glitter, because Luna herself is wonderfully unordinary. Good idea, terrible execution. Save your time and money. Play board games with friends at home, cook out some burgers, name them yourself.
(2)Adam J.
This is pretty much the ideal bar for gamers. It's a top-notch bar and grill in general, but the video game theme puts this over the top for me. The ambience is great, it's got a casual atmosphere with some great original game art on the walls. The TVs were a mix of cable TV and Twitch.tv (video game streaming). There are two HUGE patios outside, one in front and one in back - I'm really looking forward to checking this place out when it's warmer out. The food was delicious bar food - we had the deep fried pickles, the queso and pulled pork /w chips, and a pizza (which had a homemade hand-tossed crust and was baked in a proper pizza oven). For drinks, I had the "Zangief's Piledriver" drink, which was a play on a screwdriver, while my companion had a Seattle semi-sweet cider (they have a great beer and cider selection). I'm looking forward to trying the burgers and wings when I go back, both of them looked great when I saw them leaving the kitchen. The game room had 4 large TVs with game systems attached, and a ton of table space for board games (of which they have a ton available to play for free). I wonder if they would consider getting some arcade games in there as well? The service was perhaps a little on the slow side, which is 100% expected in a new restaurant - I'm sure it'll pick up once they get in a groove. Overall this is a great addition to the Milwaukee scene, and definitely someplace I'll be frequenting.
(5)Brian M.
5 stars. 5/5. 10/10. A+. Regardless of the scale you use to measure excellence, 42 Ale House delivers on all fronts. The dining room has a modern look with a rustic appeal, adorned throughout with wood and brick and dominated by a primary bar that would make many a bar owner green with envy. The roots of the 42 experience, celebrating nerd, geek, and gamer culture, are subtly woven throughout the space (for example, the beautifully lit DOTA 2 characters set atop a gorgeous shelf space on the far end of the dining room). The nods and references to nerd culture are never overpowering, never overstated. In that respect, even though a certain culture may be catered to, 42 Ale House becomes a space for everyone. The fully stocked bar is equipped with a thoughtfully curated beer list that would satiate the thirst of any connoisseur. The food menu consists of "pub favorites with a twist", and the twists that 42 Ale House incorporates into its menu make the fare a wonderful culinary experience. The grilled cheese offering I ordered (being I consider myself an expert in all things grilled cheese) came equipped with white cheddar, American, pepper jack, thick cut bacon, and a delightful Sriracha ketchup that wove the entire package together in a symphony of flavor. The wood-fired pizza oven cranks out sheer excellence in a timely and consistent manner, and every patron I spoke with was delighted with their expertly crafted pies. When your belly is full and your thirst is quenched, you can make your way to the adjacent game room. This expansive space completes the 42 Ale House experience, offering plenty of room for you and your friends to enjoy a tabletop or card game, or relax and watch an e-sports event on an enormous projection screen. Along the far wall, several large screen televisions are set up to play a wide selection of current console titles or tune in to whatever strikes your fancy. This space is complemented by a secondary bar for when your thirst for top-tier adult beverages inevitably returns. 42 Ale House provides a complete package for any fan of great drinks and amazing food in a casual atmosphere. Fans of 42 Lounge will find much to love here, but the owners and employees have exercised care in creating a welcome and vibrant atmosphere for all walks of life, geek or otherwise. An enthralling experience through and through, I can't wait to return.
(5)greg c.
We ate there the other night and the place was packed. Good to see a successful business in st francis. We walked in and stood at the host station for almost 5 min and nobody seated us. We sat ourselves after a little while. We then ordered the answer. It was a good burger but not worth 12 bucks more like an $8 burger. Other than that the beer prices reasonable and still a fun place.
(4)Justin L.
Great food and service in an amazingly geeky atmosphere. Love it!
(4)Stephen D.
Now I am not geeky, I am probably up there on the cool meter so this review will just be honest. We came there to meet up with a scooter riding group, which is for cool people to begin with, but I had the date wrong. We thought about leaving but figured we would stay and eat. My cool wife had a pulled pork sandwich. She said it was good but needed some sauce. I had a grilled cheese thing and really enjoyed it. I was a little surprised about the place. I was expecting more geeky people there but I only saw more cool people like me. Next time I think I will bring my laptop and play some Neverwinter nights. Love that game!
(4)R_A F.
Nerd heaven! Super chill environment, with great, friendly and attractive staff. Love that I can go with friends, have a few beers and play games. Love the tourneys and all the extra things they host. Absolutely love this place.
(5)Donajean C.
Upon walking in, the first thing I noticed was the smell of something burning. Then I noticed that it seemed like any other restaurant besides a sprinkling of "geeky" items hanging on walls or placed on shelves. I guess I was just expecting more when the place is marketed in the way that it is. On the TV above our table, they had something called TwitchTV on with a girl that was playing video games via a webcam in a very low-cut tank-top and in my opinion, it was too early in the night for boobs in my face. Although our server was friendly and attentive, the food took entirely too long to come out and we were beginning to wonder whether we were at 42 Ale House or 42 Snail House. We were the only other people in the place and those others had already been served so I'm not sure what the problem was. When the food eventually came out, it was ok and not necessarily worth the wait. The burger just had no flavor to it at all and even with the egg, bacon, cheese, and fried onions, it was bland and disappointing but it not inedible. Even with every employee standing around not doing much, boobs on the TV, subpar food, not enough geek, and a slow kitchen, I plan to give it another shot. Perhaps try something else on the menu and at a different time of day.
(2)Duke F.
Duke enjoyed this location before in its many incarnations. This newest incarnation wasn't up to snuff in my book. It's a welcoming enough place; the geezer at the front was cordial, welcoming and accommodating. Haven't changed the physical space much, which is good. Food was average, not on par with other foodie places north of here, but decent pub food. Seems that the theme might draw in some out of the area folks, but not sure it'll sustain the locals. But one never knows, there's a nice LARP population in Bay View. The concern was with the bar service. Not sure if it was the blokes fight night working as barman, but he was woefully unprepared for the amount of drink tickets tossed his way. The word awkward doesn't begin to describe this gent while he moved behind the bar. When I inquired about the bill of sale, he gave me someone else's (which I should've paid...it was less). I explained that the bill was not ours and he snatched it off the bar in a somewhat brusque manner and proclaimed that he'd get mine as soon as he could and Bob's your uncle! Now I'm no John Taffer but he was a bit in over his head from my vantage point, struggling to keep up with what I perceived as a less than average night. This gent is the front line and he's not winning over any converts with his confusion and lack of grace. If it were premiere night, I'd accept his inability to keep up with the service, but seems that the pub was a couple months in. His ballcap was ace! Probably won't muster up a repeat performance from Duke with so many other choices in the Bay View area.
(2)Anna K.
Omgomgomg! The 42 burger was delectable, and the sprecher bbq sauce on the wings is to DIE FOR! Soooo many beer choices! And they are open to suggestions! The staff owners are super nice. We will be attending all the geeky trivia. And all the other events they are planning! This is bigger than the lounge, and they have so much more room for additional things! I hope they put in an arcade room or something. That would really sweeten the deal. This is seriously geek heaven. Please don't bring your kids here, thinking it is a good place to drink beer and let them play on the console games. That would ruin it for all of us.
(5)Jenna O.
I checked out 42 Ale House tonight for the fist time. We arrived at 8 to participate in the Tuesday night trivia game which was X-files themed!! Heck yussss. We ordered a pizza Gannon something or another which had pulled pork, beer cheese and bacon on it. The za was pretty good, a little on the smaller size but perfect for splitting if you're not too hungry. As for the atmosphere, I was hoping for a little more geek decor but they do have a large selection of games available from tabletop to counsel which you can check out up at the bar! They also host fun events from time to time such as themed nights and little field trips like a trip to the renaissance faire! All in all, Ale House is pretty good when you're feeling a more laid back vibe, for more of a nightlife feel check out 42 Lounge downtown Milwaukee!
(4)Shareef J.
42 ale house is a great restaurant. The menu has improved significantly from the start,with cool new salads along with the burgers and tots. Lynn and Tony are very active owners and make sure that customers are satisfied. The geek theme is awesome, especially the themed nights like Harry Potter. All in all, a great place for Milwaukee.
(5)Jessica P.
Let me start out by saying I was looking forward to the opening of 42 Ale House from its initial announcement. I frequently checked the facebook page for updates and rubbed my hands together in anticipation. He interior is great. Tastefully decorated in various knick knacks of geek stuff but not to the point that it feels imposing or clustered. The decor was kept very clean and the doodles on the chalkboard were an amazing touch. We wish we had planned better, since there is a tabletop game library in the restaurant. When we went they were streaming a league of legends player which is appreciated since we are huge fans of their esports. We are hoping they stream lcs games and possibly worlds because we will definitely be back to drink and scream at the tvs like any good sports fans. Once we actually ate I felt a bit.. Underwhelmed. The food was good and plated very nicely. However, there was very little that was extraordinary. There were some very cool combinations on the menu each named after a bit of geek culture. The menu itself is small since the restaurant has just opened but I would like to suggest some fish dishes (maybe even calamari named for Cthulhu?), a house salad (maybe named after Poison Ivy?) and possibly a vegan/vegetarian option. As someone who tends to avoid heavy greasy food and often meat, I had a difficult time picking something to eat. Drinks were a tad expensive but super awesome and skillfully prepared. The Pyramid head cocktail was strong, beautiful to look at, and delicious but also seemed very small for its price. Perhaps consider a bigger drink and call it the bubblehead nurse? Just a suggestion from a huge fan of the series and an avid nurse cosplayer! Service was not great. We waited way too long for a slow afternoon for our drinks and food. Our waiter disappeared for long stretches so getting things like refills, boxes, and the check took frustratingly long. All in all this place is a pretty good experience, the menus need to be updated so that they aren't so plain looking and the drinks either need to come down on the price or up on the value. Service issues should be addressed. I'm keeping in mind this is a new venture for the 42 lounge so there are bound to be hiccups. I will, despite having a few issues, most definitely look to have this place become a frequent haunt. Especially for the cosplay events!
(3)