I’ve been here once before and had an excellent experience, so I was eager to take my son and best friend last night. We had reservations and arrived early, and were seated. I ordered the chicken ($65) and they each ordered the NY Strip ($72). We did order the fries as an appetizer and got it and our drinks right away—started out perfect. After about 50 minutes my chicken came, but not the steaks. Another 40 minutes passed and still no steaks. We asked staff twice and didn’t get a satisfactory answer as if they didn’t know themselves what was taking so long, which was possible. We were getting really annoyed and had run out of patience so we asked for them to go because we had already been there almost 2 hours. We spent almost $400 and felt like the staff didn’t think there was anything wrong with waiting 90 minutes for your dinner. I’m not one to make a scene and I tipped 25% bc I always give the benefit of the doubt (it was a very busy, rainy Saturday night; he said something about a mix-up in the kitchen). The food was amazing, it was the communication and accountability that was sorely lacking. I truly feel they should have offered to pay for one of the steak dinners. I wasn’t going to ask and be an asshole—- it would’ve been nice if it had been offered though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Lucy Telkamp
Absolutely excellent in every aspect. Food was wonderful, service was attentive and friendly. Dane and Anna are exceptional humans, and their establishment reflects that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marilyn Cannon Miller
Service is VERY slow. Food was OK.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
R W
Visited last Saturday when they lost power.
Showed up early for cocktails and had a great time at the bar. Bartender was great, but everything changed when we were seated.
Waitress took our order of 2 small appetizers and a cocktail each and then ignored us for over an hour. She was gone so long I had to ask another waiter for a new jug of water.
Waitress only came back after they lost all power in the restaurant. She came back and told us they will only cook fries and bread, which confused us. The waiter for the table next to us told those diners they were still cooking in the kitchen, so hearing about only fries and bread was disappointing. I asked my girlfriend what she wanted to do and she kind of froze since it was a bizarre situation in the dark.
I decide to order one of each and a bottle of wine since we went for a reason, but that was a mistake. We should have just left.
After I told the waitress, she then proceeds to talk to my girlfriend in such a manner she no longer felt welcome at the restaurant. I forget the exact details, but the gist was the stress they were feeling working there was a lot more the weirdness we were feeling being in a restaurant in the dark. What a bizarre thing to tell a paying customer.
So, my girlfriend leaves to go for a walk and I get the check. Once I pay, I try to bring up to the waitress we were disappointed in the service aspect. She then proceeds to basically blow up on me and said she takes great offense. Turns out, it’s the co-owner and chef’s wife. She then brings the chef over to hear the situation and I try to calmly tell him what I was feeling and he essentially doesn’t listen and kicks me out.
Overall, the most disappointing dining experience I’ve ever had. There are better places in Milwaukee, especially in relation to service.
I’ve been meaning to dine in at The Diplomat for a while now and I’m so glad I finally did. Everything from start to finish was phenomenal. We tried the deviled eggs, tartine, onion salad, the trout, the chocolate mousse and truly loved them all. There’s a lot of intention and care that goes into every little part of the experience. Cant wait to go back!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Andrew B
Excellent meal at the diplomat! The burger is the best in Milwaukee!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gavin Lee
One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee for sure! Best date spot! My girlfriend and I have been 3 times and we love trying new things on their menu. We ventured out and got the venison tenderloin last Friday and we were not disappointed! So good! The pickled deviled eggs are must! 5/5 will be back again :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
g gerl
Andrew almost entirely potato dinner but so satisfied. Although still wishing had gotten the burger that two others were devouring and raving about next to at the bar. Excellent tartar with the salted fish hash brown, and it overall was glad tried. Could have skipped the wedges but we're great non the less. Fantastic cocktails, will be back for more and that burger next time in town
Luke M
Excellent experience. Can't believe it took so long for us to try the Diplomat. Dishes prepared with care and skill, excellent flavors and wonderful service. Will return for sure, lots of menu items we didn't get to try yet
I’m still kind of baffled. Our waiter took my wife’s order and then walked away. Eventually he asked me if I wanted anything almost 30 minutes later. It was very awkward eating my meal in front of my wife well after she finished her meal. Weirdest dinner night ever.
update … owner called me (creepy) and told me off and hung up. Wow . So professional. The weirdest part of the call was after I told him that I was a waiter for years, and when he asked me what restaurants I worked at I told him the names and indicated that one closed and is no longer around around to which he replied, “I wonder why that is.” In a sarcastic tone. Really? Haha Then he asked me WHY I tipped 20%. Almost like he didn’t know how little he pays his staff. I was a waiter so I knew it was my duty to pay his waiter the money he wasn’t paying him
A strange experience during the meal and hours after when he called me. You should check it out
Alexandria M
Delicious! Great service!
Michelle Mosbach
All I can say is Wow! Our dinner at the Diplomat was one of the best dinner experiences we have ever had. We made reservations to celebrate our son’s college graduation and Anna, the manager, as well as our server, Nicci, made us feel so welcome and waited on so attentively. The food and drinks were delicious and the overall experience was absolutely delightful!! Highly recommend this restaurant, you will not be disappointed.
James Nicholas
The Diplomat staff are friendly and welcoming, while providing service that rivals Michelin star restaurants, and providing food that is delightful while still approachable. This has become my favorite stop in Milwaukee, as it hits on every level. Their atmosphere and bar make it a great stop for a drink and apps at the beginning of a night on Brady, while also being perfect for an upscale date night.
Satyaki “Seth” Mitra
The Diplomat serves inventive and well-crafted fare. We tried the lamb cheeks and roasted pork belly for appetizers, and both were excellent. For the main course, we opted for the rainbow trout, which was delicious—the vegetables were fantastic as well.
The ambience is warm and inviting, with a dimly lit setting and a muted color palette, almost Nordic with a Midwest twist. I can see why this place is often ranked among the top restaurants in the Midwest—it also explains why the chef won the prestigious James Beard Award.
I’ve been here once before and had an excellent experience, so I was eager to take my son and best friend last night. We had reservations and arrived early, and were seated. I ordered the chicken ($65) and they each ordered the NY Strip ($72). We did order the fries as an appetizer and got it and our drinks right away—started out perfect. After about 50 minutes my chicken came, but not the steaks. Another 40 minutes passed and still no steaks. We asked staff twice and didn’t get a satisfactory answer as if they didn’t know themselves what was taking so long, which was possible. We were getting really annoyed and had run out of patience so we asked for them to go because we had already been there almost 2 hours. We spent almost $400 and felt like the staff didn’t think there was anything wrong with waiting 90 minutes for your dinner. I’m not one to make a scene and I tipped 25% bc I always give the benefit of the doubt (it was a very busy, rainy Saturday night; he said something about a mix-up in the kitchen). The food was amazing, it was the communication and accountability that was sorely lacking. I truly feel they should have offered to pay for one of the steak dinners. I wasn’t going to ask and be an asshole—- it would’ve been nice if it had been offered though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Absolutely excellent in every aspect. Food was wonderful, service was attentive and friendly. Dane and Anna are exceptional humans, and their establishment reflects that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service is VERY slow. Food was OK.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Visited last Saturday when they lost power.
Showed up early for cocktails and had a great time at the bar. Bartender was great, but everything changed when we were seated.
Waitress took our order of 2 small appetizers and a cocktail each and then ignored us for over an hour. She was gone so long I had to ask another waiter for a new jug of water.
Waitress only came back after they lost all power in the restaurant. She came back and told us they will only cook fries and bread, which confused us. The waiter for the table next to us told those diners they were still cooking in the kitchen, so hearing about only fries and bread was disappointing. I asked my girlfriend what she wanted to do and she kind of froze since it was a bizarre situation in the dark.
I decide to order one of each and a bottle of wine since we went for a reason, but that was a mistake. We should have just left.
After I told the waitress, she then proceeds to talk to my girlfriend in such a manner she no longer felt welcome at the restaurant. I forget the exact details, but the gist was the stress they were feeling working there was a lot more the weirdness we were feeling being in a restaurant in the dark. What a bizarre thing to tell a paying customer.
So, my girlfriend leaves to go for a walk and I get the check. Once I pay, I try to bring up to the waitress we were disappointed in the service aspect. She then proceeds to basically blow up on me and said she takes great offense. Turns out, it’s the co-owner and chef’s wife. She then brings the chef over to hear the situation and I try to calmly tell him what I was feeling and he essentially doesn’t listen and kicks me out.
Overall, the most disappointing dining experience I’ve ever had. There are better places in Milwaukee, especially in relation to service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Clean establishment. Nice aesthetics. Welcoming owner
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve been meaning to dine in at The Diplomat for a while now and I’m so glad I finally did. Everything from start to finish was phenomenal. We tried the deviled eggs, tartine, onion salad, the trout, the chocolate mousse and truly loved them all. There’s a lot of intention and care that goes into every little part of the experience. Cant wait to go back!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Excellent meal at the diplomat! The burger is the best in Milwaukee!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee for sure! Best date spot! My girlfriend and I have been 3 times and we love trying new things on their menu. We ventured out and got the venison tenderloin last Friday and we were not disappointed! So good! The pickled deviled eggs are must! 5/5 will be back again :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew almost entirely potato dinner but so satisfied. Although still wishing had gotten the burger that two others were devouring and raving about next to at the bar. Excellent tartar with the salted fish hash brown, and it overall was glad tried. Could have skipped the wedges but we're great non the less. Fantastic cocktails, will be back for more and that burger next time in town
Excellent experience. Can't believe it took so long for us to try the Diplomat. Dishes prepared with care and skill, excellent flavors and wonderful service. Will return for sure, lots of menu items we didn't get to try yet
Restaurantji Recommends
I’m still kind of baffled. Our waiter took my wife’s order and then walked away. Eventually he asked me if I wanted anything almost 30 minutes later. It was very awkward eating my meal in front of my wife well after she finished her meal. Weirdest dinner night ever.
update … owner called me (creepy) and told me off and hung up. Wow . So professional. The weirdest part of the call was after I told him that I was a waiter for years, and when he asked me what restaurants I worked at I told him the names and indicated that one closed and is no longer around around to which he replied, “I wonder why that is.” In a sarcastic tone. Really? Haha Then he asked me WHY I tipped 20%. Almost like he didn’t know how little he pays his staff. I was a waiter so I knew it was my duty to pay his waiter the money he wasn’t paying him
A strange experience during the meal and hours after when he called me. You should check it out
Delicious! Great service!
All I can say is Wow! Our dinner at the Diplomat was one of the best dinner experiences we have ever had. We made reservations to celebrate our son’s college graduation and Anna, the manager, as well as our server, Nicci, made us feel so welcome and waited on so attentively. The food and drinks were delicious and the overall experience was absolutely delightful!! Highly recommend this restaurant, you will not be disappointed.
The Diplomat staff are friendly and welcoming, while providing service that rivals Michelin star restaurants, and providing food that is delightful while still approachable. This has become my favorite stop in Milwaukee, as it hits on every level. Their atmosphere and bar make it a great stop for a drink and apps at the beginning of a night on Brady, while also being perfect for an upscale date night.
The Diplomat serves inventive and well-crafted fare. We tried the lamb cheeks and roasted pork belly for appetizers, and both were excellent. For the main course, we opted for the rainbow trout, which was delicious—the vegetables were fantastic as well.
The ambience is warm and inviting, with a dimly lit setting and a muted color palette, almost Nordic with a Midwest twist. I can see why this place is often ranked among the top restaurants in the Midwest—it also explains why the chef won the prestigious James Beard Award.
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