The Wharf Manitowoc — Restaurant in Manitowoc

We went on a Tuesday afternoon. The bar looked cool, and has a really beautiful view. After standing around by an indoor table for several minutes, I finally went to the bar to ask if there were servers, she informed me that there weren't and we were to order at the window around the corner.. Cute idea, but it should be posted somewhere or mentioned by the bartender as you walk in. I ordered a drink, it was good. I ordered a second drink and the bartender got distracted talking and took at least 15 minutes to get my second drink. She wasn't busy, she was distracted easily, and seemed quiet and unsure of herself. There were also 3 other employees congregated by the end of the bar talking and laughing.. enjoying what I have to assume was their break because they were significantly not helpful. I was polite and nice and still tipped the bartender very well. The same thing happened when I asked for a box for my food. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Which ended up going in the garbage because it was not good. For starters, there weren't many options. Salads, pizzas, deep fried sides. The chicken tenders were chewy and the french fries tasted stale. The food comes on a tray like a cafeteria, with a small station of napkins and condiments. I would've rather gone to the food truck that was in the parking lot. The salads and pizzas looked good, and I asked another customer and she said hers was "ok".. This bar/restaurant is in an awesome location with a beautiful view of the river and the Maritime Museum submarine.. The deck is huge, and the stage looks like it would be a good time. It has so much potential but the food and service were seriously lacking. I would definitely visit again if food options change and the staff was...

When I saw this restaurant from the museum across the river, it looked to be a nice little place that ought to have a nice fish and chips platter. But, I was very disappointed when I saw that it was not a seafood joint, but just another lousy bar. I would expect a place called “The WHARF” would have a decent selection of seafood. No whitefish? No cod? That’s one big missed opportunity in my opinion.

That being said, I was expecting a lousy bar to have lousy bar food. However, to my surprise, the food was actually very pleasant. The homemade chips were very good, super crunchy and flavorful. The fries were also decent but did have the taste of old oil, almost a carnival food type of flavor. The mushroom and Swiss burger I ordered was overall enjoyable, the toasted bun was tasty and the cheese was melty. The burger itself wasn’t the biggest or juiciest and was far from the best burger I’d ever had but it was also far from the worst.

In conclusion, the food was surprisingly appetizing and something I might recommend, especially the chips, but the place has a deceivingly oceanic theme that I believe should be reflected in the food. It’s a restaurant with a lost identity.

I would recommend getting rid of the oversized bar in the middle and adding more tables, making the place largely a seafood oriented sit-down restaurant experience that happens to have a bar, rather than a bar that happens to have a couple of stereotypical bar food...

The Wharf is hands-down one of my favorite spots in Manitowoc. The food is amazing—their cauliflower crusted pizza is seriously to die for (gluten-free or not, it’s just that good). And if you’re into apps with a little kick, the Firecracker Shrimp is a must—crispy, flavorful, and that combo of firecracker aioli and Thai chili sauce is pure magic.

They’ve got live music and events going on all the time, which just adds to the whole vibe. The location is unbeatable—right next to the farmers market and along the Manitowoc River. We’ve kayaked the river and docked our yaks to stop in for a bite, and we’ve even pulled up by boat a few times to grab food, a drink, and catch some live music. It’s such a fun experience.

The outdoor patio is one of the best parts—it’s covered, so you can still enjoy being outside even if the weather’s not perfect. The atmosphere is laid-back but lively, and the team there always makes you feel welcome. Huge shoutout to Brennan for building such a great space and to Beau behind the bar—always keeping the energy right.

If you’re looking for good food, good drinks, and a seriously fun place to hang, The Wharf nails...