The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Unfortunately one of the worst dinning experiences I’ve ever had. As someone who has worked in restaurants for the last 13 years, I really try to give the staff and the businesses the benefit of the doubt. I know all of the unfortunate things that can happen. This was just bad from start to finish.

Knowing it was the Sunday before Labor Day, and that it was nearing peak dinner rush hours, we called ahead and made sure they were open and that they could accommodate a group of five. The person we talked on the phone said yes they could. We double checked that if we showed up within the next 15 minutes we could be sat and they said yes. We asked if we should make a reservation, and were told that we would be fine without. Upon arrival (maybe 10 minutes after that) we were told there was a wait. Honestly, I understand. Lots can happen in a short amount of time and we were only quoted 10-15 minutes. Not a problem, we got a drink at the bar and the host told us she would come get us when the table was ready.

Multiple bartenders behind the bar and yet not one came over to even give us a drink menu until 10 minutes later. This girl looked like she would rather be anywhere else. I get it, it’s not fun to work holiday weekends, but it’s your job. And looking like you swallowed a bee doesn’t really make guests feel welcome. 30 minutes go by and the host has not come back. We go check and she clearly forgot about us, as a table was magically ready as soon as we inquired. I get that things happen to extend wait times (tables sit longer than expected, things get backed up), but not communicating that to guests who were quoted a drastically different wait time is crazy.

After being sat, our server took an almost additional 15 minutes to even greet our table. Mind you it’s about 6:45 at this point and the restaurant is at most half full. We place our order right away and everything is fine. Our server does not come back to our table at all. We had to walk up to her at almost 7:45 and inquire about our food since we hadn’t gotten it yet. I understand that she can’t control long ticket times, but not coming back to our table? For an hour? At that point everyone had long since finished their drink from the bar, and we had just been sitting with no service.

Finally our food had been brought out, by someone else who is not our server, and it was a mess. One persons burger didn’t have the right cheese, the other persons was burnt (even the bun was burnt). One of our group got the Ruben, and despite specifically asking for no sauerkraut, it was on there. Even if we wanted any of our food fixed, we wouldn’t have been able to do so as our server NEVER CAME BACK TO OUR TABLE. She walked right past us multiple times and never once stopped to ask how anything was throughout our meal. One of her other tables also had to get up and go ask her about their food. Incredibly disappointing considering the restaurant is just continuing to clear out at this point.

Once finished we sat for probably an extra 20 minutes before another employee overheard us talking about the terrible service and we were finally asked if we needed anything. We when we said we needed our bill, SHE was the one to cash us out. Not the girl “serving” us, the completely random employee that just happened to overhear us. We could have spent easily double what we did. Had our sever come back before our food came out, we easily could have gotten another round of drinks, and we initially had already planned out dessert. But after waiting an hour for our food, and the tremendously TERRIBLE service, we didn’t want to spend another second in that place.

If you can’t handle the business, just be honest with guests. Telling them you can accommodate them, when you clearly can’t, only leads to situations like this.

Would also like to note, we did not see a single person that looked like they were a manager. If that’s the kind of leadership this place has (not helping their employees while they are clearly struggling) then it’s no wonder they’re providing such awful...

I've received a response from the owner regarding the issues we've had at the establishment. I very much appreciate his owning up to the the issue and for his apology. His reassurances regarding taking the gluten issues seriously is very much appreciated.

Since people with celiac disease don't display immediate symptoms and our friend with the allergy had such a big issue, we just assumed this establishment is not too serious about the gluten issues. My friend with celiac just stopped eating her tacos to be on the safe side rather than ask further questions since we didn't want to cause any more of a scene than we had to. Assurances from the owner that the tacos are actually not deep fried and cooked separately to avoid cross contamination is truly appreciated, since we're always looking for places that are safe for us.

My friend with the non gluten-free burger did think that the bun tasted too good to be true, but the server bringing the dish very precisely said, "gluten-free burger" as she brought the order out. She did not eat more than three bites before realizing something definitely was wrong, and then had to go to the bathroom.

Thanks for clearing up the parking signs. So parking is $5 after 5pm, or free sometimes when they know it's going to be busy. Good to know.

The owner's response makes me feel confident that the place deserves more than the 1 star rating I had previously left. Owners that truly care about gluten issues are absolutely appreciated. Apology is noted and accepted. I have the confidence now that I could definitely try the place again, and what we experienced was not the norm.

• Previous review**

To start off, the vibes here is awesome, if that's what you're looking for. It's a pub, and the vibe is a bit of a cross between a pub and a trendy restaurant. TVs are showing games, and music is loud on a Friday night.

We had reservations and didn't have to wait. After we all found street parking across the street, we found out that parking in the garage (right next door) is $5, but sometimes, free. They have a sign on the sidewalk saying parking is free sometimes. Not sure when that is though.

Our server was nice, but more friendly than professional. He kept on wanting to joke around with us, when we asked him questions. But he was nice, and we weren't too bothered.

Food was a bit slow to come, but overall quite yummy. Everything tasted at least a 4.

All the cocktails were too sweet. Stick with beer or shots or ask them to cut down on the syrup on the cocktails.

The problem was the kitchen. Even though what we got tasted fine, there were some problems. They forgot bacon in my "the beast burger". gluten issues: Two in our party has serious gluten problems - one has a wheat allergy (hives and all), and one has celiacs disease. One ordered tacos with corn tortillas. She didn't realize until after we got the food that the tortillas were fried, but not separately from other gluten ingredients. So there's definite cross contamination. Another wondered burgers with gluten free buns. Our server took the order correctly. When the food came out, a different server brought the food out, and when setting it down, called out, "burger with gluten free buns". So friend ate... until she couldn't. Suffice to say that she was sick for a week afterwards. When the server saw the buns, he knew immediately that they weren't their gluten free ones.

This last obviously put a damper on the whole evening for all of us. My friend had an asthma attack on the way home, got sick in their bathroom, had an upset stomach for a week afterwards. the night was ruined and we didn't want to make a huge deal so we didn't complain. But the server saw that the kitchen messed up with the order and talked to the manager. They took off her burger from the bill.

Considering how sick my friend was, I don't feel that was properly dealt with. At the very least, the manager should have come and offered an...

I want to preface by saying I’ve been here almost a dozen times and mostly enjoyed my experience. However the last few (4) times I’ve arrived by myself for a solo meal or to meet someone arriving later. Every time I’m completely ignored for nigh on 15 minutes. Not given a menu. Once packed, once busy, twice pretty dead. Watching the servers it’s clear they go to groups and ignore individuals. Literally I was in the bar for 20 minutes and wasn’t able to order. My friend showed up and 1 minute later we were both given menus and asked what we want to drink while sitting at the bar the whole time. I ordered food and had to beg menus from other patrons. The food came and I wasn’t given condiments and had to walk to flag down a server to ask for ketchup and salt. The couple next to me got their food 5 minutes earlier and were offered multiple condiment trays immediately? Servers are busy, I realize, and the product is decent, but having the vast majority of my experiences in the last year as a solo/waiting patron end up really frustratingly compels me to finally say something. I’ll also mention that I see solo male patrons show up and are immediately served. Again, on multiple occasions. Things aren’t improving and i see myself spending more than a couple who orders one drink yet being blatantly ignored and having to hunt down servers. I’ve had servers come to me and then apologize profusely for the wait I experienced once I order several things. I asked why when others are served and they just say they were “chatting with groups” and thought I wasn’t ready when they didn’t provide me a menu and I fetched my own and had an order prepared. Really? I’m done. Clearly my business isn’t wanted when others get 2x drinks and I...