Café at the Pfister — Restaurant in Milwaukee

My husband and I stayed a night at the Pfister for a little staycation and wanted to soak in the full experience, including breakfast at the hotel's café. We headed down around 9:30am on a Saturday and were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't busy at all. We were seated right away. There's also a convenient grab-and-go section if you're just looking for a pastry and coffee.

The dining area feels a bit dated, but it's clean and charming in a way that fits the historic vibe of the hotel.

I really liked one of the special drinks, the Oatmeal Cookie Chai, it tasted like a liquidified cookie! I went with the Colossal Breakfast Sandwich to eat, my husband got the farmhouse omelet and we both got a side of hashbrowns. Each plate came with a little cup of ketchup, which I feel like is not something a lot of people enjoy with their breakfast but they must've had enough requests to make it standard, I don't think either of us touched it.

As for the food, it was just okay. My sandwich didn't really stand out--the bagel and bacon were a bit too crispy for my liking--and the hashbrowns were underwhelming. Given the price and the Pfister's reputation, I was expecting something a bit more impressive. Maybe my expectations were just a little too high for a luxury hotel.

That said, the service was excellent! Our server, Sam, was warm, friendly, and brought such a positive energy that it really helped start the day off on...

I will start by saying that just because you pay top dollar, it does not mean it's good. Now on to the disaster. We wanted to try something different. It was my birthday, and why not try one of the "top" places for food in Milwaukee. We started off with drinks, I have long black hair in mine... things happen, I understand. Being a classy place, though, it shouldn't have. Next was the food, I ordered a chicken wrap because it sounded amazing, it was not. The chicken was dry, and there was little flavor that was from the mango. Anyways, moving on, we ordered the WHITE chili hotdogs, sounded different and amazing, just kidding. No white chili, just regular chili. So, not what the menu says, and when that was brought up, they just shrugged it off like it didn't matter. When we were clearly upset about the lack of caring, they took the drinks off the bill, not like it mattered with the hair in mine that I didn't even complain about. Just remember just because you pay good money, doesn't...

The Cafe at the Pfister is a hidden gem in Milwaukee. Many who dine at the Pfister are hotel guests but there are lots of locals on the know. While I have had other dishes, which are all done well, I typically go for the Belgian Waffle and request fruit (and of course whipped cream) on top or as a side. The waffle is cooked to perfection and is both light and airy. The wait staff is on their game and are attentive without being overbearing. No dining experience would be complete without stopping to pick up bakery, located right as you walk in (and out). I strongly endorse the Peanut Butter Cookies as well as the Butterscotch Cookies. My dinning companion loves the mini banana bread loaves. I recommend making reservations to avoid waiting and doing so offers you an opportunity to request sitting in the enclosed patio (portico) which is fun for people watching. All and all a great way to...