Monica's on Astor — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Since I've only been here once, I can't give Monica's five stars... yet.

I've done it before, bestowed five after a first visit. That said, it's pretty unheard of.

So four for now, with the caveat that I can't imagine not bumping Monica's up to five in the very, very near future.

Why the dig after just one visit?

The ambiance, the service, and the vibe. This basement bar is anything but basement-y in a bad way. A fireplace, ample seating, a friendly bartender, board games/pool table/darts, warm woods, low lights, exposed brick, and neutral colors. It's warm and cozy and inviting. It's like sneaking away. The bar itself is somewhat communal in nature due to its round-ish setup, and the whole thing just feels so home-y and comfortable in the kind of way that makes you want to stay and stay and stay. Our bartender, Chase, was friendly and fun and attentive... as others noted, there was dice, and then? There was Rumchata. #boozycinnamontoastcrunchmilk

You won't even notice that there aren't any windows, I promise. Also: bonus points for the fat white Christmas lights adorning the entrance/smoking patio. Christmas lights always mean bonus...

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I went here this last Saturday with a large group of friends celebrating a friend’s birthday and all of us experienced terrible service from both bartenders: a male and female bartender. They completely ignored me for a good 20 minutes even after making eye contact and signaling I’d like a drink. It was busy but by no means packed. They proceeded to serve only people on the other two sides of the bar to a point where I wondered if they simply did not serve drinks on The side where I was. It became almost comical how blantantly they ignored me and the friends I was with. In order to get their attention and a beer I had to wave my hands over my head and when I stated I had been trying to get served for quite a while the male bartender did not apologize but rudely said “what do you want?” The bartenders were more interested in doing shots with their regulars or friends on the other side of the bar. I can say none of us would go back to Monica’s and I only stayed as long as I did because we were waiting for...

What a magical and fantastic place for a meet cute. I was sitting at the bar, minding my own business earlier this week, and in walked the most gorgeous woman. Her smile and dimples lit up the low lit room. I shakily set down my beer. Is this real? I must be dreaming, I thought to myself. As soon as we locked eyes, we ran into each other's arms for a long, blissful hug. At least now, I knew she was real.

We spent the next two hours laughing and learning about each other. It was a special evening in the basement of Monica's.

I can't guarantee you that the same thing is going to happen to you, but hey, man, why not give it a shot?

Oh, and they have a decent tap beer list and a pretty extensive bourbon list for a dive bar. So...