I recently dined at Esther Ev, drawn in by its reputation for delivering a culinary masterpiece, and opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings. While the food itself was exceptional—each dish artfully crafted and bursting with flavor—the experience left much to be desired when considering the cost.
The four-course tasting menu was priced at $80 per person, but each course was extremely small, with only 3-4 bites per dish. Though we can appreciate the skill and creativity behind the food, the portion sizes were disappointingly minimal for the price.
The wine pairing was an additional $55 per person, but the pours were meager, with each glass providing only 5-6 sips. By the end of the evening, we hadn't even consumed the equivalent of a full glass of wine. For $55, we could have purchased an entire bottle and enjoyed far more wine than the tiny portions provided. It felt like an unreasonable charge for what we received.
To top it all off, there was an additional 5% charge for "employee health and wellness." While I understand the importance of supporting employee healthcare, it felt misplaced to pass this cost directly onto the customers. It added to the feeling that the meal was overpriced.
Ultimately, while the food was undoubtedly excellent, the overall experience left me feeling that the price was out of line with what was delivered. I won't be returning, as I believe I can find a more satisfying dining experience elsewhere with better value for money.
Jennifer Pierron
LOVED IT and highly recommend! We went for my Aunt's birthday and also because we are all fans of Dan on Top Chef. Everything was incredible.
Luc Vinaja
We loved all the plates and the surprise bread. Sadly the bite they ended on would have been better before the dessert as it was a bit disappointing and the dessert would have been a better note to end in. Still the rabbit is a must have (just watch out for bones).
Trisha Baird
We love Dan Dan and the love they have for food. Unfortunately the move to a larger space with zero oversight of the Dans has left the meal and the atmosphere lacking as compared to the intimate EsterEv of the back room at DanDan.
Decreased quality. Subpar service. Noisy. No story. Just good food. But lacking love. High cost. Missing the mark all around.
Daniel Scott
Fantastic food and wonderful atmosphere!
Jessica Maes
Utterly fantastic food and atmosphere! This was our first time dining at EsterEv and we were genuinely wowed. The plate with gnocchi and wagyu beef was especially outstanding and I will dream about the chocolate dish with olive oil ice cream for a very long time. Bravo to the Dans and the entire team!
Jennifer Hoffmann
Having had to make a reservation well in advance, my friends and I had been looking forward to this meal for over a month. Sadly, all 4 of us left quite disappointed. We arrived promptly at 7:30pm for our reservation, but were told that our table would not be ready for 20 minutes or so and that we should visit one of the bars down the street until the table was available. When they texted asking us to return 20-30 minutes later, they were somewhat apologetic and gave us each a complimentary 1/2 glass of Cava which I guess was a nice gesture, but the wine itself was not good and wasn’t enough to make up for the fact that our table wasn’t ready and we were sent down the street earlier. The first food brought to us was a savory ‘monkey bread’ with a soup/broth on the side, which honestly was maybe the best thing we consumed, although it was all quite salty. The over abundance of salt was a continued theme throughout each of the courses that followed. Portions were small, and we all in the end still felt hungry… And also thirsty/dehydrated from all the sodium. I’m not sure if the chef/owner sensed our frustration with our food or not, but we all noticed that we were the only table (of only maybe 3 tables left at the end of the evening) that he did not personally visit. Considering we spent $500+ for 4 of us, we expected a lot more than the experience we received.
Christine Dalessio
Moved to Milwaukee from the East Coast not long ago, and EsterEv has been on our list, but moved to the top as our anniversary came around. From the very knowledgeable, helpful wait staff to the exquisite timing and comfortable environment - just intimate enough for two, but with happy buzz and an artful air, this place is a treasure.
Still discovering Milwaukee's treasures, I was thrilled to find globally influenced yet honorably local and creative courses, like zucchini three ways and sunflower with rabbit. But near to my heart was the opening foray of pillowy cheddar bread and broth or the crispy bright and nostalgic yet new filled squash blossoms. Proud of myself for not fangirling at Chef Dan Jacobs when he kindly wished us well on our anniversary, but wanting to commend in loud letters the balance of warm hospitality and exquisite skill in artful dishes. This was our first visit, yes, but we will absolutely be back for more. Thank you Chef and staff for helping us make memories and feeding us well in every way.
Rich Visotcky
What a fantastic meal! The team crafted a great meal for us tonight, with everything we tried feeling new, fresh, and delicious. The monkey bread and broth starter, served by Dan Jacobs himself as a warm welcome to his establishment was seriously one of my favorite moments and dishes of the night. The other was the waygu bavette. That was one of the best steaks I've ever had. Everything else was well balanced with the right amount of punch, with flavor combinations I've never seen before. I definitely look forward to our next visit.
Jordan Kaminski
EsterEv has been on my list long before Chef Dan’s impressive run on Top Chef, but it always seemed inaccessible as a self contained pop up within their other restaurant DanDan. The new brick and mortar space in Bayview is bright, airy, and cozy… all of the required ambiance for a top notch meal. I was skeptical after a run of recent Michelin and James Beard award let downs, but where so many of those restaurants prided themselves in taking themselves soooo seriously, Esterev took fine dining and made it playful. The service was amazing and even if they weren’t having a good time you couldn’t tell on any of the staffs faces. Now the food. Wow. I won’t go into detail on everything because the menu changes often, but the asparagus and brown butter 1st course and walleye 3rd course were two of the best bites I’ve had at any Milwaukee restaurant. The burn onion stuffed pasta in the second course was so deliciously weird and I can respect the desserts, but after a few tries, I just don’t think I’m a fan of sunchokes. All in all, as a reality cooking show alum myself, I am proud that the boost in profile for both EsterEv and Chef Dan will continue to give awareness for the exciting things going on in the Milwaukee food scene
Thank you Dan and team for bringing this truly unique experience to MKE. You’ve achieved the art of elevated comfort to cuisine never before accomplished. Each course brought our enjoyment to another level. Every bite was new yet familiar. Authentically special.
Todd Stanley
Dan Jacobs got robbed on "Top Chef"! You are my Top Chef Dan! Love you!
Amanda Yacobian
Inventive, delicious, and thoughtful! So many unique dishes and flavors that left us feeling fulfilled, this tasting menu was a very memorable experience. Loved all the special touches start to finish. We are lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in Milwaukee. We will be back again, and again, and again!
Liam McIntyre
Food was incredible, amazing depth of flavor. Rich, luxurious, bright, fresh. Service (Ilana) was wonderful, plates cleared quickly and great recommendations/rapport. Very well priced for tasting menu in the area. The new location has such a wonderful Milwaukee charm and pairs wonderfully with Dan’s personality as a chef. A++
Philip Gissen
EsterEv did not knock my socks off. It was good, but 50% of the dishes were mediocre. My opinions are always biased, as we have a place in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, a Mecca of creative cooking. Every block has a tiny restaurant with an innovative kitchen, producing food that will make you go sockless. You dine well in the 11th for about 50 Euros per person.
With cocktails and two glasses of wine, our bill at EsterEv was over $300. That’s a lot of moolah for unmemorable food. We did get to meet the incomparable Dan, who came around to visit with each group, a magnanimous gesture for a celebrity chef. That was worth a few bucks. His love of Wisconsin and appreciation for down to earth Milwaukee is all over EsterEv. On returning, I would sit at the bar, have one or two bites, several drinks, and leave happy. No more degustation menus at EsterEv for me.
My favorite taste of the evening was the soup, a savory Asian inspired broth, that was nothing like matzoh ball soup, but had the same medicinal effect. The chicken liver toast deserves its well advertised popularity, but both the cappelletti and sunflower were odd, with a disquieting taste. I guess I applaud the creativity. The lamb was good, but nothing I haven’t tasted in the past, while the walleye hit the strange button again, and we both didn’t understand the dish. Desserts were fine, but again, nothing memorable. Service at the bar by Casey was professional, and reminded us of the service the Casey provides at Goodkind.
We live in Bayview and cherish having a restaurant like EsterEv in the hood. It’s a gourmet spot without airs. I just wish the food tasted better.
**Restaurant Review: Esther Ev**
I recently dined at Esther Ev, drawn in by its reputation for delivering a culinary masterpiece, and opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings. While the food itself was exceptional—each dish artfully crafted and bursting with flavor—the experience left much to be desired when considering the cost.
The four-course tasting menu was priced at $80 per person, but each course was extremely small, with only 3-4 bites per dish. Though we can appreciate the skill and creativity behind the food, the portion sizes were disappointingly minimal for the price.
The wine pairing was an additional $55 per person, but the pours were meager, with each glass providing only 5-6 sips. By the end of the evening, we hadn't even consumed the equivalent of a full glass of wine. For $55, we could have purchased an entire bottle and enjoyed far more wine than the tiny portions provided. It felt like an unreasonable charge for what we received.
To top it all off, there was an additional 5% charge for "employee health and wellness." While I understand the importance of supporting employee healthcare, it felt misplaced to pass this cost directly onto the customers. It added to the feeling that the meal was overpriced.
Ultimately, while the food was undoubtedly excellent, the overall experience left me feeling that the price was out of line with what was delivered. I won't be returning, as I believe I can find a more satisfying dining experience elsewhere with better value for money.
LOVED IT and highly recommend! We went for my Aunt's birthday and also because we are all fans of Dan on Top Chef. Everything was incredible.
We loved all the plates and the surprise bread. Sadly the bite they ended on would have been better before the dessert as it was a bit disappointing and the dessert would have been a better note to end in. Still the rabbit is a must have (just watch out for bones).
We love Dan Dan and the love they have for food. Unfortunately the move to a larger space with zero oversight of the Dans has left the meal and the atmosphere lacking as compared to the intimate EsterEv of the back room at DanDan.
Decreased quality.
Subpar service.
Noisy.
No story.
Just good food. But lacking love.
High cost.
Missing the mark all around.
Fantastic food and wonderful atmosphere!
Utterly fantastic food and atmosphere! This was our first time dining at EsterEv and we were genuinely wowed. The plate with gnocchi and wagyu beef was especially outstanding and I will dream about the chocolate dish with olive oil ice cream for a very long time. Bravo to the Dans and the entire team!
Having had to make a reservation well in advance, my friends and I had been looking forward to this meal for over a month. Sadly, all 4 of us left quite disappointed. We arrived promptly at 7:30pm for our reservation, but were told that our table would not be ready for 20 minutes or so and that we should visit one of the bars down the street until the table was available. When they texted asking us to return 20-30 minutes later, they were somewhat apologetic and gave us each a complimentary 1/2 glass of Cava which I guess was a nice gesture, but the wine itself was not good and wasn’t enough to make up for the fact that our table wasn’t ready and we were sent down the street earlier. The first food brought to us was a savory ‘monkey bread’ with a soup/broth on the side, which honestly was maybe the best thing we consumed, although it was all quite salty. The over abundance of salt was a continued theme throughout each of the courses that followed. Portions were small, and we all in the end still felt hungry… And also thirsty/dehydrated from all the sodium. I’m not sure if the chef/owner sensed our frustration with our food or not, but we all noticed that we were the only table (of only maybe 3 tables left at the end of the evening) that he did not personally visit. Considering we spent $500+ for 4 of us, we expected a lot more than the experience we received.
Moved to Milwaukee from the East Coast not long ago, and EsterEv has been on our list, but moved to the top as our anniversary came around. From the very knowledgeable, helpful wait staff to the exquisite timing and comfortable environment - just intimate enough for two, but with happy buzz and an artful air, this place is a treasure.
Still discovering Milwaukee's treasures, I was thrilled to find globally influenced yet honorably local and creative courses, like zucchini three ways and sunflower with rabbit. But near to my heart was the opening foray of pillowy cheddar bread and broth or the crispy bright and nostalgic yet new filled squash blossoms.
Proud of myself for not fangirling at Chef Dan Jacobs when he kindly wished us well on our anniversary, but wanting to commend in loud letters the balance of warm hospitality and exquisite skill in artful dishes. This was our first visit, yes, but we will absolutely be back for more. Thank you Chef and staff for helping us make memories and feeding us well in every way.
What a fantastic meal! The team crafted a great meal for us tonight, with everything we tried feeling new, fresh, and delicious. The monkey bread and broth starter, served by Dan Jacobs himself as a warm welcome to his establishment was seriously one of my favorite moments and dishes of the night. The other was the waygu bavette. That was one of the best steaks I've ever had. Everything else was well balanced with the right amount of punch, with flavor combinations I've never seen before. I definitely look forward to our next visit.
EsterEv has been on my list long before Chef Dan’s impressive run on Top Chef, but it always seemed inaccessible as a self contained pop up within their other restaurant DanDan. The new brick and mortar space in Bayview is bright, airy, and cozy… all of the required ambiance for a top notch meal.
I was skeptical after a run of recent Michelin and James Beard award let downs, but where so many of those restaurants prided themselves in taking themselves soooo seriously, Esterev took fine dining and made it playful. The service was amazing and even if they weren’t having a good time you couldn’t tell on any of the staffs faces.
Now the food. Wow. I won’t go into detail on everything because the menu changes often, but the asparagus and brown butter 1st course and walleye 3rd course were two of the best bites I’ve had at any Milwaukee restaurant. The burn onion stuffed pasta in the second course was so deliciously weird and I can respect the desserts, but after a few tries, I just don’t think I’m a fan of sunchokes.
All in all, as a reality cooking show alum myself, I am proud that the boost in profile for both EsterEv and Chef Dan will continue to give awareness for the exciting things going on in the Milwaukee food scene
Restaurantji Recommends
Thank you Dan and team for bringing this truly unique experience to MKE. You’ve achieved the art of elevated comfort to cuisine never before accomplished. Each course brought our enjoyment to another level. Every bite was new yet familiar. Authentically special.
Dan Jacobs got robbed on "Top Chef"! You are my Top Chef Dan! Love you!
Inventive, delicious, and thoughtful! So many unique dishes and flavors that left us feeling fulfilled, this tasting menu was a very memorable experience. Loved all the special touches start to finish. We are lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in Milwaukee. We will be back again, and again, and again!
Food was incredible, amazing depth of flavor. Rich, luxurious, bright, fresh. Service (Ilana) was wonderful, plates cleared quickly and great recommendations/rapport. Very well priced for tasting menu in the area. The new location has such a wonderful Milwaukee charm and pairs wonderfully with Dan’s personality as a chef. A++
EsterEv did not knock my socks off. It was good, but 50% of the dishes were mediocre. My opinions are always biased, as we have a place in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, a Mecca of creative cooking. Every block has a tiny restaurant with an innovative kitchen, producing food that will make you go sockless. You dine well in the 11th for about 50 Euros per person.
With cocktails and two glasses of wine, our bill at EsterEv was over $300. That’s a lot of moolah for unmemorable food. We did get to meet the incomparable Dan, who came around to visit with each group, a magnanimous gesture for a celebrity chef. That was worth a few bucks. His love of Wisconsin and appreciation for down to earth Milwaukee is all over EsterEv. On returning, I would sit at the bar, have one or two bites, several drinks, and leave happy. No more degustation menus at EsterEv for me.
My favorite taste of the evening was the soup, a savory Asian inspired broth, that was nothing like matzoh ball soup, but had the same medicinal effect. The chicken liver toast deserves its well advertised popularity, but both the cappelletti and sunflower were odd, with a disquieting taste. I guess I applaud the creativity. The lamb was good, but nothing I haven’t tasted in the past, while the walleye hit the strange button again, and we both didn’t understand the dish. Desserts were fine, but again, nothing memorable. Service at the bar by Casey was professional, and reminded us of the service the Casey provides at Goodkind.
We live in Bayview and cherish having a restaurant like EsterEv in the hood. It’s a gourmet spot without airs. I just wish the food tasted better.
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