South Shore Terrace Kitchen & Beer Garden — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan in the historic South Shore Park Pavilion, South Shore Terrace Beer Garden offers a singular blend of Milwaukee heritage, thoughtful culinary execution, and an enviable beer program—rendering it far more than a seasonal diversion.

Though the day’s weather veered toward the inclement—cold rain rolling off the lake in sheets—we were fortunate to dine indoors within the beautifully restored WPA-era bathhouse. The structure itself, with its fieldstone architecture and civic-era charm, evokes a sense of continuity with Milwaukee’s past while providing a warm and character-rich refuge from the elements.

The beer selection was both expansive and curated, favoring a robust rotation of local drafts with a discernible emphasis on craft quality and variety. It’s a rare pleasure to encounter a public venue where the beer list reads more like a regional anthology than a predictable catalog.

Our meal, taken leisurely, began with the “Farmers Salad”—a medley of greens, fruit, vegetables, and cheese presented with a sense of restraint and freshness that speaks to thoughtful sourcing. Each element felt deliberate: the produce crisp, the fruit balanced, and the cheese nuanced in flavor.

The lobster roll was, quite frankly, a standout. A generous portion of tender lobster meat tucked into a buttery split-top roll, unpretentious in its plating but indulgent in every bite. The accompanying fries, while visually eccentric—somewhere between rustic and whimsical—were texturally perfect and paired beautifully with a bright, garlicky aioli that elevated them beyond the realm of side dish.

In sum, South Shore Terrace exemplifies how casual dining can still maintain an intellectual respect for flavor, setting, and historical context. It is a rare place where a simple lunch can leave one feeling both nourished and...

We rented a chalet on December 26 and couldn't have had a worse experience. The only redeeming factor was our server who was very nice but not fast, I think we saw her twice. We started out by getting our 4th choice of beverages, they were out of almost every type of alcohol which was disappointing. We literally had to ask what do you have to make it easier. It took about 20 minutes to get our drinks. We then tried the food we ordered the mac & cheese & brat. The mac & cheese looked like it was made in a school cafeteria, half the bowl was filled with water and it had no taste. I literally would have preferred Kraft Mac & Cheese for .99 over what we were served for $10. The brat was cold and seemed like it had been in a warmer for a while. We then thought about getting a second drink but they managed to run out of more product. The hut was fine but it was cold, they could have used a foot heater or somehow heated seats. We all left feel very underwhelmed and could have used that money for something much better. Hopefully in the past month this has improved but I will never go back...

The South Shore Terrace has added more food to their offerings and this is good news for vegans because now they have The Impossible Burger! I am so happy that more and more restaurants are offering this burger to its customers in this city. I am really surprised at this, I have always thought this city wasn't all that progressive when it comes to food (it shines in every other area!), but I am glad to be proven wrong! The Impossible Burger is the best veggie burger I've ever had and now it's in like 4 or 5 restaurants in Milwaukee - that's huge. Now when they add a veggie hot dog to its menu, I'll give South Shore Terrace FIVE STARS! Everything else about this lovely beer garden is super nice. Lots of friendly people to meet and watch, a playground nearby, the lake is right there, dogs, joggers, walkers go right by on the path. South Shore Park and it's Terrace beer garden...