The Mothership — Restaurant in Milwaukee

The Mothership is a cool little nook of a bar. It's very much a local "watering hole" vibe, but it strikes me that people from across Milwaukee are patrons. The ambiance is dark and sparkly which works well for the overall geist.

Some unique elements are how beers and campari cocktails are delivered. The beer is sorted by type and not by brand. This means that there is a Lager on tap, which one isn't exactly clear, but it's definitely a lager. I like this approach since I can approach a style that I like without preconceived notions of what I'm getting based on the brand. With the campari cocktails (and perhaps others, I'm not sure), they're on tap with a little finish by the bartender. This makes for a very consistent cocktail and of a wide variety. For example, my personal favorite, a boulevardier, is quick to be poured and just great. There is some variation between batches, but never in a bad way; just different.

Great bar, and I'm sure you'll...

This is a "love it or hate it" place. There are strong opinions printed on the menus and on signs throughout. I agree with the opinions, and I like the drinks and the vibes said opinions foster, so it's 5 stars from me. If you're anti-mask, or out to get embarrassingly drunk and rambunctious at the expense of everyone around, or to try and hit on bartenders, this might not be the place for you. On the bright side though, these principles ensure every visit here is one that's chill, enjoyable, and as safe as can be reasonably assumed of a public establishment. They have a wide variety of specialty in-house cocktails, time-honored classics, down to the old Hamms and Campari boilermaker. The vibe leans tiki, both in the cocktail selection and decor, but it's definitely not just a tiki hut. The space isn't huge but they make the most of it with a small outdoor patio out front and a larger one in the back when...

Bartender was extremely rude and aggressive because we didn’t like the idea of putting up our masks in between sips….for a place that claims to be “accepting,” they were awfully mean and discriminatory…. doesn’t deserve business IMHO

Edit: If you feel the need to hawk over your patrons to make sure their mask is up in between sips, you probably shouldn’t be open. If the sight of somebody’s nose “triggers” you into uncontrollably threatening, swearing, and flipping off your customers, then you should probably reopen after the mask mandate is lifted.

We probably would have really enjoyed our time if it weren’t for the abrasive interaction that left us feeling alienated at,...