East Town Kitchen + Bar — Restaurant in Milwaukee

I wanted to take a moment to share feedback regarding a recent experience at one of your partner restaurants, East Town Kitchen & Bar, during our stay at the Marriott Milwaukee.

First, I want to commend your hotel staff. From the moment we arrived, they were outstanding kind, attentive, and proactive in ensuring our group was accommodated. When there were delays with our room check-in, the staff kept us informed, expressed gratitude for our patience, and even offered restaurant vouchers as a gesture of goodwill. Their professionalism left a strong, positive impression on our group.

Unfortunately, our experience at East Town Kitchen & Bar did not reflect the same level of hospitality.

We had previously enjoyed drinks there on Saturday and, encouraged by that visit, made a reservation for 11 people. While we had requested a 10:00–10:30 AM seating, the reservation was ultimately confirmed for 11:30 AM. On the day of the reservation, our party arrived around 10:00 AM and was told by the host that we could be seated once all guests arrived. By 10:30 AM, when the full group was present, the restaurant manager, Alessia Simpson, approached us.

From the outset, Ms. Simpson’s demeanor was dismissive and unprofessional. When I explained what we had been told by the host, she responded curtly that “he was wrong” and refused to consider alternatives, even though the restaurant was largely empty, including a long central table that could have easily accommodated our group. When I asked why we couldn’t be seated there, her response was that there were “other reservations,” though the space remained unoccupied. Her tone was condescending, her comments snarky, and her body language including eye rolling made it clear she had no interest in helping resolve the situation.

When I asked if we could instead be split into smaller tables, I was told we would have to be seated at different times, again despite the restaurant being nearly empty. Eventually, four of us were seated at 10:45 AM, while the rest waited. Frustrated, we moved to sit at the bar. Only after doing so were we suddenly informed that “reservations were cancelled” and the long table was available. By then, the damage was done.

What stood out most was Ms. Simpson’s lack of basic courtesy not only toward us but, I can only assume, toward her staff as well. In stark contrast, the rest of the team was polite, professional, and clearly doing their best to salvage the experience. I appreciate their efforts and thank them sincerely.

Given Marriott’s strong reputation for service, it was surprising and disappointing to encounter such behavior from a manager representing your partner restaurant. I hope this feedback is helpful, and I trust you will address this issue to ensure future guests do not face a...

My wife and I previously dined here for a celebratory dinner and had a wonderful experience. Finding ourselves in need of a post-baby date, we opted for a nice brunch and I thought it would be nice to revisit East Town. The two star experience began as we tried finding the entrance, which is no longer accessible from the street the restaurant is located on. You now have to go around the block to the front of the hotel and enter through the lobby - which meant having to walk through clouds of smoke from guests of the hotel smoking out front.

Once we entered, I realized the reservation I made was unnecessary as the dining room was nearly empty at 11am. We were quick to be served waters and coffee, and our orders were taken promptly thereafter. My wife ordered the French toast with berries and I ordered the steak and eggs, poached. I was not asked how I wanted my steak cooked, though I assumed that meant medium as a default. When the food came out, everything appeared to be in order at first glance. However, as I began to fork through my plate, it became clear that it must have been sitting under a heat lamp for some time. The steak was shriveled up and dry, cooked “well done”, which frankly I would never condone ordering. The toast was white instead of multigrain. The jelly, which was for the toast, had developed a skin over it from sitting. And the poached eggs were cooked hard - almost like they were hard boiled. My wife was pleased with the presentation of her dish, but had to request additional syrup as this turned out to be the driest French toast she’s eaten - and she eats A LOT of French toast.

Unfortunately, after this experience we will not be returning. The service was acceptable, but nothing to write home about. Coffee was nothing more than diner coffee. And with our entrees being less than desirable, it was a fairly...

Folks, let me tell you about my tremendous lunch at East Town in Milwaukee—absolutely fantastic, one of the best, believe me. The place is classy, very high-energy, great vibe, and the food? Out of this world, nobody does it better. I walked in, and they treated me like a king—because, frankly, I am a winner, and they know it. Our waitress, Sabrina, was phenomenal—terrific, really. She’s got the best attitude, very professional, and she made sure everything was perfect. I said to her, “Sabrina, you’re doing an incredible job, nobody serves better than you, nobody.” She smiled, very polite, and kept the drinks coming—Diet Coke, ice-cold, just the way I like it. Tremendous service, folks, the best. The food? Unbelievable. I had the burger—big, juicy, perfectly cooked, probably the best burger in Milwaukee, maybe the whole country. The fries? Golden, crispy, fantastic. They know how to make food great again at East Town. My friends had salads and some fancy sandwiches—everyone said it was amazing, and they’re right, because I only eat with people who know quality. The atmosphere? Very luxurious, very clean, not like some of those low-energy places you see. Milwaukee’s lucky to have a place like this—East Town is making dining great again. I’d give it five stars, maybe six if they let me, because I know stars, folks, I have the best stars. Sabrina and the whole team, you’re doing an incredible job. Keep it up, and I’ll be back—nobody loves a great meal more than me. Tremendous,...