Mallards Southern Kitchen — Restaurant in Glendale

Summary: Our party of 5 was charged an automatic 20% gratuity tied into our bill. The credit card sign sheet showed that total plus tip (without line items for each charge) and had a NEW line to add a new tip. Had we not realized the tip had already been added in, our group would’ve paid an additional 20% tip, including a tip on the original tip and tax. It’s not the fault of the waitstaff although we would’ve appreciated the heads up. If forcing a 20% tip then having a line to add another tip to your total without telling the patrons isn’t an illegal practice, it should be.

Full review: Went for Mother’s Day buffet brunch 2025. Beautiful bright spring day. The restaurant looked nice but was oddly dark, which was sort of strange given the time of day and occasion, but whatever.

Our group of 5 adults were seated at a booth that only allows you to exit on one side. Seemed a bit odd considering they were only serving a buffet at the time but we were told it would be fine and there’d be plenty of room. The booth was comfortable but with three adults on one side I there wasn’t plenty of room, and all of us having to get in and out multiple times for the buffet was sort of weird.

Our waiter was very nice, friendly and just a great guy, period. We all liked him a lot.

An ad for the buffet (that I’m looking at now) calls it a “cheerful atmosphere” including a “seafood-focused menu” and “made-to-order omelets”. The buffet area was quite dark and messy. There weren’t as many food options as I expected. Hot options included scrambled eggs, fatty bacon, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, shredded hash browns, mac and cheese and carved ham.

The seafood included half shell oysters and shrimp, and a small plate of salmon. I like seafood but none of it looked appetizing so I skipped them. The advertised made-to-order omelets was actually 2 (maybe 3?) choices for omelets. We were told they were pre-mixed for speed’s sake, so you either got what was in them didn’t get an omelet. Two in our group got the omelets. One was wrong but quickly fixed.

Food was okay, nothing was bad but not exceptional.

We were a party of five. One beer was purchased, and 1 soda. The two mothers at our table were given 1 free mimosa each.

Five people, 2 drinks. Our bill was $274, split two ways ($137 each bill). I didn’t know the prices beforehand as one of the men in our group chose the place and made reservations.

The credit card receipts to sign had tip lines to fill in on each. Both parties paying started filling out the tip line with a 20% tip — then I looked at our original receipt and saw the totals already included a 20% tip.

I found out afterward their Mother’s Day buffet was advertised at $39.99 a person. So we’ve got 39.99 x 5 = $200 1 beer + 1 soda + taxes + tip = $74

Had we added a SECOND 20% tip our total goes from $274 to $329. For 5 meals and 2 drinks.

I understand getting a double-plus tip is super exciting if you’re waitstaff, but to people going out for one meal, looking back they’ll probably never go there again, regardless of whether they figure out they were double charged for a tip or not. Either they find out they were screwed or think your place it way too expensive to go back to.

I haven’t been to Mallard’s before but looking at their regular menu items and prices, and photos of the place, I would have expected the buffet to be a little more upscale, more interesting and better options. Or at least I wouldn’t have expected the pricing situation to have been what it was for what we got.

And sadly I wouldn’t have noticed the double-20% tip had the buffet price been a little lower or the whole food / experience part better. I get the impression that they put this together solely for a Mother’s Day cash grab.

To whomever runs Mallards, you should be ashamed for deceptively asking for double tips - one 20% gratuity added in without choice and one blank tip line afterward - which would now be a second tip on the food and drinks PLUS a tip on taxes and...

Had Dinner here. First visit. Casual and roomy atmosphere. Prices were mostly reasonable in comparison to similar local venues. Good selection of beers available. Our server was excellent. The crab cake appetizer was excellent. However, the entrees we had were not good. My wife had blackened fish tacos. The fish in them was minimal but prepared well. Main drawback was that the fish was surrounded by a relatively large quantity of shredded cabbage. Whoever shredded the cabbage may have included stalk because the contents included bits that were very hard. In the mouth, they felt like seeds or bits of eggshell, giving rise to an urge to spit them out. The taco contents had an overly vinegary taste and the shell quickly became limp with moisture from the contents. I chose Jambalaya, which was listed as a "Specialty." Based on past experiences elsewhere, I was expecting it to be a moist rice based dish that most people would eat with a fork. What was served (in a bowl) had all the right ingredients but they were sitting in a roughly 1/2 inch deep lake of liquid. I don't know if the soupy character was intended. If it was not, whoever prepared it either wasn't paying attention to or didn't care how the finished product to be served went out. The rice in it was underdone and the shrimp and sausage in it was overdone,. They both were rubbery and tasted kind of stale, as if they had been cooked hours earlier in a soup that was kept simmering on the stove top too long before being poured over undercooked rice. The server offered to substitute a different dish when he asked me, early on, how I was liking the Jambalaya and I told him the truth. I accepted and chose the wild mushroom pasta with added grilled shrimp. The pasta had a very good flavor but the shrimp was over-seasoned and borderline overdone. I speculate that the restaurant's food preparers have good intent but need more experience and attention to detail. We plan to try this restaurant again because we liked the atmosphere but think next time we will have more mainstream dishes, e.g., burgers, and see how the...

We stumbled upon Mallard’s at Bayshore Mall in Glendale, WI thanks to a last-minute OpenTable search for a Mother’s Day brunch—and what a gem we found! With so many places in the Milwaukee County area charging a small fortune for holiday dining, Mallard’s was a welcome surprise with an incredibly reasonable price: just $39.99 for adults and $19.99 for children. For the quality and experience, it felt like a steal.

From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting—perfect for a celebratory brunch. The buffet spread was nothing short of impressive. The made-to-order omelet station was a highlight, with options like ham & cheese or veggie that were fresh, fluffy, and cooked to perfection. The ham carving station served up juicy, tender slices with a smile, and the carver even took a moment to compliment our son’s outfit and engage him in a fun chat about bacon. Small gestures like that go a long way in making a meal memorable.

The Southern-style fried chicken and creamy mac & cheese were a comfort food dream. Add to that made-to-order pancakes hot off the griddle, flaky fresh pastries, and a chilled seafood spread featuring oysters, smoked salmon, and peel-and-eat shrimp, and you’ve got a buffet that caters to both traditional brunch lovers and adventurous palates alike.

My wife opted for the bottomless mimosas (how could she not?), and as a lovely touch, moms received their first mimosa complimentary—classy and well-deserved!

Special shout-out to our server, Briana, who was a true standout. Friendly, attentive, and exceptionally thoughtful, she went above and beyond, even taking the time to find answers to our curious son’s questions about the building and restaurant. If we have the chance to return (and we certainly hope we do), we’d absolutely request her by name.

Mallard’s delivered not just a delicious brunch but a delightful experience. The food, the value, the service—it all came together to create a wonderful Mother’s Day memory. If you're looking for an affordable yet elevated dining experience in the Milwaukee area, this spot is a must-try. We’ll...