Reviews of La Merenda. (Restaurant) in Milwaukee (Wisconsin).

La Merenda

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386 Comments

Restaurant

Tapas restaurant

125 E National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States

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Information of La Merenda, Restaurant in Milwaukee (Wisconsin)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Open hours of La Merenda

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Reviews of La Merenda

Dave Bishop

I've been here several times over the last ten years. I can honestly say I believe this is the best restaurant in WI. Prices are right on, staff are awesome, but the food is out of this world. Flavors and sauces to thrill you and fill you. To top this all off, it's a local farm to table place. It is the best of all things. Glad they survived the pandemic shutdown and hope they stay here for many more years!!

Pakou Lo

The food choices were extensive. The server was knowledgeable and was able to describe more in depth the ingredients. She was very friendly and attentive. I had the pistachio salad, which was nice and flavorful. It was very fulfilling for being a salad. My second plate was the mushroom risotto which was perfect, nice and creamy. And lastly I had the tostada, which was probably my favorite! Ultimately I enjoyed all the dishes I had chosen. The outside patio was beautiful with all the flowers! Though be warned if you have a bee allergy, stay inside as my friend was stung.

Brittany Strozier

Come hungry, often and ready to make some of the hardest decisions of your life! Haha there are SO many things to choose from and everything is SO very good! Tapas make it so easy to try so many different things and they are seasonal and support local farmers while still representing so many different cuisines around the world! Drinks were also amazing! Love the sangria! One of my favorite places!!!

Daniel Silver

La Merenda was the perfect place to celebrate my one year anniversary with my girlfriend. They food was delicious! We got the Argentinian steak, patatas bravas, the mushroom risotto, the truffle potato skins, and the espresso flan. The only complaint was that the truffle potato skins were slightly too salty, but besides that, everything else was great!

Rucha Naik

La Merenda is phenomenal. Everything we had was amazing and the portion sizes were appropriate for what our wonderful server recommended. There was 2 of us and we had 4 plates and a dessert. I highly recommend! One of our new favorites.

Alyssa Burnett

We absolutely lucked out with finding this place. At first glance at the outside, it looks like a small and unassuming restaurant. On the inside, it's beautiful, warm, clean, and actually quite big. We went on a Tuesday and they were completely reserved out (great for them and means we were in the right place at the wrong time). We absolutely lucked out and thankfully the good news was there were four spots for us at the bar. To be honest, I'd sit at the bar every time. The bartender was incredible; every drink was perfection. The tapas came SO quickly too, and we ordered a bunch. From the pistachio salad to their pork belly, every single dish was inch perfect with such a wonderful blend of flavors and textures. I will come here every time im in MKE no question.

Krittiphong Manachamni (NeospiritTH)

If you want to chill out with great food and have variety. Here is your place. There're lots of flavors per dish and easy to understand. My recommended plate is Duck Confit which have strong flavor. However, if you don't like salty plate, try to ask them for less salt.

Julia

La Merenda is a fantastic joint with delicious drinks, dessert and staff. HIGHLY recommend the Creme Brulee. Chris the bartender graciously accommodated my group at the bar when we rapidly went from 4 to 7 people. Quick, courteous staff all around.

P. Kahn

First I'd like to say that our server was amazing. She described the dishes in a way that made you hungry and wanted to order everything. The tapas here are delicious and the choices are wide ranging. Cocktails were very good, Pinot Noir was excellent and the desserts (Irish car bomb cake and tres leches cake) were fabulous. A very special meal and I highly recommend you give it a try!

Kacey Kaderly

Heard nothing but great things about this place and we love tapas so we finally gave it a try. Not exactly what we were expecting but overall great experience and can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. The Argentina steak melted in my mouth like butter. The gnocchi was delightfully creamy and I could have probably at 3 dishes of that.

Mason Y

Great experience here on the patio. I'll give 4 stars because not every dish was amazing for us but there were definitely some standouts. Pros: - great server, she described the menu very well and spoke in a way anyone could understand despite the mask. She also constantly made sure we were being taken care of. - amazing dishes: the trout special and the farmer's salad. The farmer's salad had amazing beets and goat cheese and really opened the palette for the next courses. -very good dishes: roasted spices parsnips. Great presentation and pairing of kale and parsnips Ok: -The Argentinian pork belly was something we looked forward to, but it was a bit salty and burnt and we could taste that burnt taste in the flavor. However, the preparation was excellent and the meat was so soft and succulent it just melted in your mouth. -truffled potato skins were likely tasty but a bit salty. Cons: - The butter chicken was extremely salty - the mashed sweet potato in another dish was likewise too salty. In general, the only con about this restaurant, I'd say, is that food when food wasn't right, it was because of the saltiness level dialed in way too high. It was a bit cold on the patio but there was a heater (not the best one). The night was very enjoyable!

Mark

First time here tonight and already reserved our next dinner. Food was amazing! Colin, our server did a wonderful job describing his favorite dishes that we absolutely loved. Argentinian beef that melted in your mouth, gambas that was so fresh and tasty I thought I was eating lobster tails, pork belly and shrimp tostadas that just captured everything you want in a tapas.. Wow, you guys nailed it! I'm not even going to talk about how much we loved the Irish car bomb dessert, but I will tell you we even took one to go! Hats off to the chef and the amazing team that puts this all together! Looking forward to our next dining adventure at La Merenda!

marina moreno

We ate food from four different countries in one sitting! Truly enjoyed our food. In my humble opinion, this is the best place I've visited in a LONG TIME. My husband ordered steak ( Argentina) my oldest daughter ordered Shrimp ( Indonesia) my other daughter ordered Korean and I ordered Moroccan Goat. You don't see goat in many menus so when I saw it, I immediately wanted to try it, BEST decision I've made in regards to food, it was to die for. The plates were big enough that we all shared them and were satisfied when we finished. We also ordered an appetizer, goat cheese from Wisconsin (locally made) this too was delicious. Definitely recommend this place. I have already sent three friends.

Chase Nelson

I made the mistake of eating at Odd Duck before La Merenda last night, but I'm sort of glad I did. I didn't feel as welcome at La Merenda and the overall vibe was lacking. It reminds me of a tapas dive bar, amazing food, but lackluster service and presentation. I'd consider coming back but I don't live in MKE. @dietproof

Shaan Somani

I didn’t take nearly enough photos, but the food here was all spectacular. Highly recommend coming in on Monday nights when wine bottles are 50% off.

Marc Starvaggi

Absolutely incredible dinner. The parsnips and stew were fantastic. The Argentinian beef and pork belly were delicious. My partner enjoyed the pork and shrimp tostadas. The octopus was a bit chewy, but its salad was very good. Our server also provided wonderful conversation!

Cassie F.

Extremely good; folks advised me to go here, and it didn't disappoint. Here's the thing, this place knocked it out of the park, but the bull, with 4 plates and a bottle of wine, was less than 100. Will definitely be coming back. Great experience and friendly staff!

Kal Vorpahl

The atmosphere was fun and the food was delicious, with a variety of options from various different cuisines. It tasted great and made for a very fun experience. My favorite dish was the seared trout. The restaurant is small and packed rather tightly together, but it was a great time nonetheless.

Malinda Moore

The food is amazing here, the cocktails are delicious, and the building it's is beautiful. I would have given it 5 stars but we ordered coffee at the end and they completely forgot it. We ended up going to a cafe for post dinner coffee/tea. Though I highly recommend for date night, girls only dinners, and even small parties. I brough my kids, which the menu could be hit/miss depending on what your kids like. They also don't have a changing table. You can bring your kids and have a good time, but I recommend changing them before and bringing snacks to be safe.

Rebecca Kurzendoerfer

Delicious food, excellent service. Many gf options. Worth the drive. Do not pass up the truffled potato skins! A wonderful evening.

India Saunders

Everything we had was a 10/10. The best restaurant in MKE. We will be back and said it will be our mission to try everything on the menu. Everything time we go back we love everything we order.

Amanda Marin

The food was incredible so great that we had to go back twice in one week!! And at a very reasonable price. The outdoor seating area is so cozy and serene. Our favorite dishes were the buttered chicken, summertime gnocchi, the goat cheese balls and their house made cola and sprite version. 10/10!

Tracey Sperko

Friendly welcoming staff. One of the best patios to dine on. Flowers and vegetables growing. Space in a relaxed environment. Food is a joy and treat to sample. Never miss a dessert as these are works of creation. No pictures as I was relaxing and eating.

Bradley Langlo

This is a must-try in Milwaukee. Their Empanadas are to DIE for. Service is usually pretty good, and their outdoor seating is really nice in the warmer months. They were especially friendly with my little one walking around the grassy area doing toddler things. Prices are very reasonable here too.

mdnoman haoladar

La Merenda offers imaginative, creative, exquisite, and delectable tapas from around the world. It is quite understated and unassuming from the outside, but the food and ambiance are excellent. It’s an ideal place for sharing small-plate tapas with couples and friends. This is a restaurant that should not be missed when visiting Milwaukee!

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La Merenda offers imaginative, creative, exquisite, and delectable tapas from around the world. It is quite understated and unassuming from the outside, but the food and ambiance are excellent. It’s an ideal place for sharing small-plate tapas with couples and friends. This is a restaurant that should not be missed when visiting Milwaukee!

Ryan Metzler

Our go to dinner spot. Everything is fantastic from atmosphere to food to service. The patio seating is perfection, and the menu is filled with a HUGE variety of delicious options. Service is always on point. If you haven't been, go!

Garrett Sterken

Very disappointed with our recent experience. This used to be one of our favorite restaurants and after moving out of state we made sure to stop by while visiting family. We drove an hour and a half and were super excited. I’m not sure if there is a new chef or just new recipes but the entire experience was different. The empanadas didn’t have any veggies, the sauce was extremely spicy (a little kick is fine but this was hot), the goat had a very interesting after taste (almost a stinky taste) and the tres leches had half a strawberry on it, no flavor outside of that so it was just a milky cake. The tostadas were delicious, pork belly and the special ravioli were both pretty good. Pretty good service too. I’d still recommend, but this place used to be a 9.5/10. Now it’s more like a 7. We unfortunately won’t be back.

Nate Heinen

So here's the deal, leave your expectations at the door. Was I skeptical when I got there and the restaurant looked closed? Yes. Did I walk in and think this place might be a dump? Yah. I'll the honest, the indoor ambiance doesn't get better either. Kind of a bohemian Bay-View feel to the whole place. Not my fave. That said, just wait for the food. Gosh dang. Whoever is cooking back there knows what they're doing! Drink menu was ok, passable. The food itself though, great variety to choose from, great quality. Some really delicious options. The portions are bigger than you expect from tapas. My wife and I were sharing, and we both had 2 servings each per small plate. So yes, ultimately we massively over-ate. That didn't stop us from topping it off...twice...with a delicious hot-chocolate-creme-brulee, which was absolutely amazing! Highly recommend this spot. No need to get too fancy, don't expect many frills, just really amazing food!! Enjoy.

Danny Mccanna

A few reasons why I only give this place 3 stars. I thought most the food was pretty good but priced a bit high for what you get. My wife drinks captain and diet. They don't have Captain, I don't fault them for this, but they also have no diet soda at all. We went during covid so I don't think we got the full experience but I will say I really like the decor. I usually don't like to eat outside but there outside area was really cool.

June Dustin

The food was phenomenal, somany choices, very delicious. Our server was so helpful and friendly. She went above and beyond. Loved the dividers between tables/booths.

Sarah Sterling

This has been in my top 3 of MKE restaurants for at least 10 years. I will never not recommend La Merenda. Always excellent. Had the risotto which was better or on par with the best in the city and the chorizo con patatas bravas - I don't think that's a dish that's even served anywhere else in MKE! Outstanding. Plopped down at the bar and was helped immediately. Just can't beat this place, especially for the price. Anyone who hasn't been here -- what are you waiting for???

Daryl Clasen

Order Gambas al Ajillo and a Samurai Jack, and you will ask your server for extra bread. Excellent combination. Don't know if they are aware of that. Then understandably move on to those Colombian empanadas. I thought the salad was a little sparse, but the flavors were good in all the tapas. Moroccan braised goat was another good choice. Very nice service.

Becky L

My friends and I ordered about six different dishes to share, and each one was more delicious and flavorful than the last! My favorite was the gnocchi with cream and kale- upscale comfort food at its finest! They also use local ingredients and brew their own soda- the lavender cola was unique and refreshing! The size of the plates was perfect as well, and very reasonably priced. Can’t wait to go back!

Lauren

What a lovely spot! The outdoor dining area is beautiful and comforting, like being at a dinner party in a wealthy friend’s backyard. I love the fact that you can get multiple dishes without being overloaded with food, and that they serve dishes from all over the world. Honestly I’d go back even just for the pistachio salad! But also the veggie empanadas and shrimp sambal.... and the GNOCCHI.... and the drinks.... and everything actually?? Our server was also just too sweet - she let us name the resident backyard bunny ‘Razzy’ - in honor of the wild grown raspberries grown there that he munches on! All employees took special care to take covid precautions as well.

David Trang

Another gem in Milwaukee, oh what a place. The hospitality was amazing, the service was quick, and the food incredible. Everything was just packed with flavor! If you're looking for worldly cuisines in a central location, then La Merenda is your place! There were some items such as the "Butter Chicken" that wasn't as good as the ones at actual Indian restaurants in Milwaukee, but it was definitely a good attempt. La Merenda, a must try for the food explorers out there!

Martha Sanchez

Date night spot! So many excellent tapas on the menu. We tried the special of the day along with a few more dishes, and they were delicious! We finished off the night by sharing their special cupcake!

Kaye Martin

Eat on the patio, if possible. Beautiful flowers and herb gardens make for a relaxing time. (Inside is kinda dark and dingy.) Food is fantastic, and plentiful for tapas. We tried 8 different dishes. All were A+! Can't go wrong with whatever you try!

William Spankowski

A nice, casual restaurant. The staff was very friendly and attentive to our needs. The order was taken and the plates came quickly. We enjoyed three: Whitefish tostadas, veal stracotto, and seafood polenta cakes, in that order. The fish was perfectly deep fried under a delicious red cabbage slaw. The veal tender, on a bed of creamy risotto. The seafood mix with deep fried polenta wedges had a nice warmth from the blackened fish. Negatives: The dining room is a little tight, with some tables closer than usual-for some. It was a nice crowd.

Deanna Lynch

Very pleased with our experience here. The Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo was delicious! Food and drinks came in a very timely manner. Seafood polenta cakes were my fave, my husband liked the lamb bolognese gnocchi the best. Highly recommend La Merenda for a cozy date night with phenomenal food. 👍👌 …

Peter Mueller

Great spot. The sweetness of the salad dressing balanced well with the savory flavors of the pork belly. Delicious.

Thomas Zeise

Chef Peter Sandroni is one of the founders of the farm to table movement in Milwaukee and continues delivering amazing food at such approachable prices. The finest local ingredients are expertly prepared across the ever changing diverse global menu. The ambience is very casual and always lively. Our most recent visit included sauteed spinach, super bright green with perfect garlic flavor and essentially absent of any bitterness; beef empanadas; tajin samak; lombo feijoada; tas kebap with homemade naan; lamb merguez; Argentinean style beef; Irish stew and tres leches for dessert. Everything was awesome, Sitka rockfish in the tajin was fantastic as was the inclusion of coconut milk in the tres leches.

Jared O

This restaurant was amazing. Do not judge this gem by the appearance of the building from outside. Inside is clean, cozy, and inviting! Food was absolutely amazing; every dish was unique and full of flavor. I am a very picky eater when I go out, but here I enjoyed every dish I tried. Since the dishes are served in smaller portions (tapas), you can try several of them. Very hard to stop ordering more. Pricing is a steal as well! Fed a group of 6 and bill was under 200$ which included wine. Mondays are buy one get 1. Perfect!!

Susie Christiansen

Incredible. We were treated to a special lunch at work, so we decided to pick up food from La Merenda and bring it to our conference room. From the lovely woman who helped me take our food to the car, to each and every perfectly spiced and flavored dish we ate - Moroccan Goat, Local Mushroom Risotto, Argentinian Pork Belly, Pad Thai, Duck Leg Confit Poutine, Butter Chicken, Truffled Potato Skins, Beef Empanadas. We kept asking each other which dish was the favorite, and none of us could choose just one. The flavor of each dish was spectacular. And then...the Car Bomb Cake. None of us will ever be the same again. La Merenda - still at the top of my list.

Justin Fermenich

La Merenda is a perennial favorite. The food is always good and incredibly consistent. The menu doesn't seem to rotate much, so that combined with the cost makes it a place we don't visit more than once or twice a year. As is usual with tapas style places, the best value is if you go with a group of people and share plates. Tonight's red wine special was delicious and at $30 a bottle was a decent value.

Taralynn Rouse

Wonderful tapas dining restaurant! The food is DELICIOUS, drinks are fun, and the environment is casual and homey. Highly recommend!

A Filter

Always a wonderful experience. Few changes to the menu but delicious as always!

Ravindra Kempaiah

Our goal was to find a vegan friendly restaurant that serves great tasting food. La Merenda didn't disappoint. Salad, crepes, empanada all served in tapas style. Very delicious. The waiter was conscious of our needs and was attentive. The wooden chairs need some refurbishment but the interior is kozy with dim lighting. Overall experience was great and will be back again.

Ran Eliahu

This restaurant has to be one of the best in Milwaukee! Every dish is so flavorful and unique that every time I go there I can’t choose which dishes I want. I do think the winner is the short rib gnocchi, such unique taste! Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything here, the pad Thai is fantastic and empanadas are great. I do wish that they would expand their beer menu or change it from time to time. The atmosphere is lacking a bit as well, but the food is so good consistently and reasonably priced that it compensates for it.

Quality Goods Racine

One of our all time favorite Milwaukee restaurants. It's consistently great food and service. Sitting outside on the patio in warmer weather is one of the most pleasant experiences in the area! You can't go wrong here!!

Nastassia Malin

my favorite restaurant in all of the states ive lived in 😍🤤 everytime I come visit MKE, I stop here …

Sarah Braun

Cannot recommend highly enough! The perfect spot to experience lots of delicious flavors with a little room for adventure if you're looking for it. My party of 4 was able to try 7 plates, 2 desserts, and several cocktails - and everything was top notch. The highlights were the gnocchi (perfectly light and pillowy!), goat cheese curds, Argentinian beef, and the sweet potato mash. The banana split creme brulee also gets an honorable mention as the most creative version I've ever tried! Service was excellent and attentive, though I suspect it would be better at a table (we had to sit at the bar since we didn't have a reservation). All in our party agreed it's the best meal we've had in some time and can't wait to visit Milwaukee again and go back!

Andrew Kull

Really liked this place. Dishes are small, made to share and order more than one. Cuisine is from all over the world.

Stacey Rafalowski

I have no photos to share because we were so busy enjoying the food and service! Do not miss this restaurant. We sampled gnocchi, risotto, empanadas, chimichurri, and so much more. The cheese board was lovely but the pistachio salad blew me away - what an incredible (and unexpected) dining experience! The staff was so knowledgable and friendly with perfect wine pairings and pacing on the meal. Our entire group of six was raving about the food and we promptly put it on the list for the locals that we know.

adoramann

Quick lunch today and was floored by the amazing service!!! Rebecca F was the most personal host/ server ever! We tried several suggested plates and were pleasantly filled with the choices! I even selected plates for my next visit.

Jennifer Holtslander

Loved the outdoor patio space. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the delicious food they served. I will definitely be coming back soon. Highly recommended!

Jenniree Aguilar

Best tapas place in MKE! (Not like there's a lot of them, but this one is for sure #1). Very simple menu, a wide variety of choices, mild or spicy foods. Really good size to share, or even if you don't eat a lot, one tapa is more than enough for one person. The service is good, they explain how everything works, they listen to you, and give you recommendations for their most popular tapas. The flavors are just mind-blowing. My favorite dish is the "Churrasco con papas fritas," I recommend that dish over ANYTHING else on the menu. The dessert choices are very clear, and easy to choose from too. The tres leches is sooooo good!!! I have to give this place 11 out of 10. They went above and beyond my expectations in the first visit.

Florence

In the seedy part of town, this spot impresses with a huge selection of delicious tapas (including vegetarian ones) and a lovely outdoor area in the back. With bangin drinks and such friendly and bubbly waitstaff, I had such a great time. Of everything I tried, I really enjoyed the Empanadas Vegetarianas stuffed with sweet potato, chili beans, squash, and corn. With the sofrito sauce, it tasted like a party! Then the Goat Cheese Curds in a Tia Paquita chorizo cream sauce with crostinis to sop up every drip drop was so gewd! With over 30 tapas choices and a vast cocktail menu, this spot's excellent for sexy dates and mixed groups. TIPS/NOTES: **Street parking available **Gender-free restroom **Wheelchair-accessible

Luke Barbarich

My wife and I visited last week and got several small plates. They were so good, we got the butter chicken, the poutine, and the truffle French fries. It was so good and the server was awesome too and had great suggestions. Will definitely go back!

Ashanti Cook

The food was wonderful, the sangria plentiful, and the atmosphere enjoyable. A little pricey, but worth it.

Elizabeth Bisciglia

Everything was awesome here! Love tapas restaurants in general. This one had a very good variety, too. Only complaint would be that they brought the food out while it was still sizzling, boiling, etc. so we had to patiently wait while it cooled even though we wanted to dig in right away! :) not a bad thing though, everything was delicious. Plus there's a cool patio out back! We ate inside but next time I'm definitely requesting a patio table. 10/10

Corriyarns

Incredible food! We were a large party and we got great service. Nice timing between dishes and no one waited for another drink. I will be going back very soon. Good to know: they can do pre-fixe meals for large groups which makes everything easier!

Sarah Streicher

Excellent tapas. Recommend the goat cheese curds and the veal stracatto. Dessert is a must have here!

mahmoud jasaar

I personally like to have multiple options when it comes to food and this place does it right!

Ashley Stecker

The food is always amazing, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!

Thomas Genack

Best tapas in the city; my favorite is the beef empanadas. The patatas bravas is really good too. For drinks, their house red sangria is a must-try. It's tough to get a table here; be sure to make reservations well in advance.

Ginger Davis

Fantastic little hidden gem! Great food, drinks, and staff. Doesn't get much better.

Elias Estrada

Great place to share delicious small plates and some bubbly.

Tricia Mann

Amazing!! We had multiple friends recommend and we waited over a month for a reservation. Completely worth it! Great food! Loved the banana split brule and vegetarian gnocchi.

Stephen Kaiser

A hidden gem. Go here. The food is excellent. The patio was very comfortable.

Mark Moersfelder

Top notch, love La Merenda! Cooking with tons of flavor, great to try so many dishes in one meal. They use a lot, maybe all, local ingredients which I also love to support. Buy local! Very gluten friendly and focus for those allergic like my wife. Perfect for date night or out with friends. Highly recommended. And we just ate and drank for two for just under 100 bucks, left very satisfied. Can't wait to go back to sit on the patio this summer.

Amro

Overall, a very nice Tapas experience. The menu is diverse, dining-in is fun and the service is perfect. The menu offers wide variety of dishes from across the globe. Portion is enough to be shared by 2 people, Tapas style. Some dishes taste really good, like the Pork and Shrimp Tostadas, others taste okay, like the Butter Chicken. Argentinian Style Beef was not a disappointment. It is hard to go wrong here. 6 items was enough for 2 people with enough leftovers for a light dinner/snack. Dining-in experience is really good. The place offers 2 patios, small one with street view, and a larger one at the back with grass and fence. The larger patio is much better. Tables and chairs are nice and clean, most tables are shaded but some tables might get more sun depending on the day/time. The place also offers in-door experience. The place requires masks (masks are currently not mandatory in the city of Milwaukee) Street Parking is available but it can be very tricky depending on the time of the day (usually harder during brunch hours). The place accepts and encourages reservations. The service was perfect. Fast, patient, informative and accurate. The server explained to me how the restaurant work. The portions to expect, how many orders to place, and even what orders to avoid if you don't like spicy. Nice experience, I will be returning.

Javier Evans

Located in a more industrial setting, LA Merenda offers up great tapas abd small plate options that are made to share. The focus is on locally sourced fresh foods. The empanadas, shrimp and pad tai were all great choices.

Lynn Smith

This place is great! We sat in the garden and every dish we had was very tasty. The Argentina beef was a favorite. We also shared 2 desserts, both fantastic. The Hide the Wine & Some Like it Hot cocktails were very tasty, too. We will be back.

Amanda Howser

Excellent food and atmosphere. Everything we sampled was delicious, and the patio is a great summer spot for an evening cocktail.

Tony Allegretti

One of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. Food is Phenomenal, vibe is awesome and inviting, and the staff is great. However, please take to-go orders over the phone and not just online. Also, it’d be nice if so many menu items weren’t unavailable for takeout. Tonight’s experience was well below their capability and potential. Had those two things not occurred, they’d easily have five stars. Won’t deter me from coming again, though.

Tatiana Carvalho

Absolutely a must! This place never disappoints. The goat cheese curds are a longtime favorite, along with empanadas and risotto. If you have an opportunity to eat on the patio, it’s stunning. I’ve been there for dinner for two or with a large group and the service is always amazing!

Kristen Dees

Honestly, wow. What an experience! My fiancé and I are total foodies can never pick one thing on the menu because they always all sound good. So this place was perfect! We split 6 tapas and they were truly delicious. The best dish to me was the pork belly! A must visit restaurant!

Robert Konzelmann

Had a really great time here with my friends. We were visiting from out of town and this was our stop for dinner. The food was really well seasoned and had so much flavor. There was a huge variety of tapas to choose from so I would recommend bringing a group to try it all. I recommend ordering the fish as the skin is crispy and well cooked as well as the custard for dessert.

Amanda Barber

Our favorite Milwaukee restaurant by far. The argentinian beef, all empanadas and the truffled potatoes are our favorites! Appreciate all of their covid safety measures as well. 💜

Anastasia Leach

I came in with my family without a reservation around 5:30 on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly on the beautiful patio out back and were greeted by CJ. She offered 2 samples of wine to help us choose a bottle to order. Service was prompt throughout our meal & we enjoyed the breeze on the patio! We loved every dish, but the octopus was a standout. Go & ask for CJ, you won’t be disappointed!

Kimberly Hardy

I ate here several times between 2017-2020 and I still think about this place! That's how good it was!!

Joe Sullivan

We loved it here! The food was amazing. It was a very cozy atmosphere. The staff was very accommodating of our large group.

Joel Ebert

Everything was fantastic. One of the best meals I have had in Milwaukee. Cocktails, Food, Dessert and Service was amazing. The seafood tostadas were the highlight of the night. Our Server Maura was very attentive and paced the meal perfectly. Everyone was working together it was great to see. We will for sure be back and bring our friends.

Tenia Ruffin

I always enjoy my experience at La Merenda. The servers are so pleasant and the food is amazing! I highly recommend for a causal night out, a night out with the girls or even date night.

Peter Hatzinger

So, it's my birthday. My lovely lady brought me here for dinner. It's a very quaint place. We were greeted and sat immediately after standing in line and waiting for it to open. (Please get the hint) Our server Julie was fawning over us from the get go. My girlfriend picked the Argentinian Beef and we asked Julie for her recommendation on the rest. She picked Butter chicken, Chorizo Patatas Bravas, and Sambal Goreng Udang (shrimp). The food was made by someone's mom. Dinner check with drinks was $70. You'd be cheating yourself if you don't try this place. It's better than great. I promise. Thank you Julie!

Troy Makulec

Wonderful tapas restaurant. Patio is incredibly picturesque and servers are user friendly.

slevinator12

A small but pretty nice place to sample a variety of dishes from different countries so if you want to taste some Argentinian or something in your mouth go ahead man I won’t judge. Unfortunately not the biggest portion sizes but what can you do.

Nora Barr

Does La Merenda really need another positive review? It's so well spoken of by everyone I've met, but it never hurts to add another reason to make it down to this wonderful spot. We dined on the patio and had a lovely experience. The atmosphere was lovely and we had a corner table outside which felt very private. All the food was delicious. Particularly the lamb bolengese, vegetable gnocchi, and Columbian style empanadas were delicious. The Moroccan spiced grilled parsnips were interesting, but I wouldn't order them again unless there were at least 4 people sharing them to take a taste. It's a bit intense to eat the entire plate on your own or even splitting between two people. The bar tender made a drink "heat of the moment" on the fly which my partner said was delicious. It was orange flavored and involved tequila, sweetness, and a little kick at the end. Server was lovely and attentive the entire night. We went on a weeknight which could have made a difference in service, but the restaurant was still mostly full and the whole evening was relaxed and fun. Definitely recommend going here!!

Dustin Dutter

This place never disappoints, all small plate options are amazing. They are a little strict on the mask / social distancing which isn't a bad thing, a safer dining experience. Don't let it stop you from an amazing night out. Support as many places as you can !!

Fred Rasio

Very creative dishes (tapas but not Spanish… more like Mediterranean-Indian-Mexican fusion). Many dishes were outstanding and all were good. Octopus salad and garlic shrimp highly recommended. Also goat cheese curds.

Charles Otis

This place is excellent. Lots of small plates and a huge selection for various palates. The food is on the pricy end, but you're paying a premium for very well put together dishes and some of the best wait staff in the city. Wine selection was also quite good, though we all took down a borolo that was really good the whole time.

Jenny Stanley

Taking a short Labor Day weekend getaway to Milwaukee, I was looking for a tapas restaurant and going off of yelp reviews alone found la merenda. This restaurant absolutely did not disappoint. Just because tapas stands for small plates in Spanish doesn’t mean you only have to order a few. You can order as much food as you want to your hearts desire and eat away the day. The menu is extensive and there is something for everyone, even picky eaters. I especially recommend the lemonade to cleanse the palate between each course. You absolutely cannot forget dessert at the end. In fact, they’re small so order like six!

Christianne Varela

First time here for my birthday date with hubby. Will be on our go-to list, for sure! Loved the sage squash gnocchi, manoomin salad and sambal shrimp.

Nicholas Grohall

This is, by far, our favorite small plate restaurant hands down. Their food is prepared with expert detail, the flavors and ingredients are always in point, and they have a nice drink menu. Their outside patio is great in summer and fall and is huge! Every time we've been here, it's been a 5 star experience.

Cassandra Polzin

This is my favorite restaurant for celebrating! Their menu is great for accommodating multiple dietary needs. Food is always incredible! You can’t go wrong with the Truffled Potato Skins.

Titankiller

Most of the food was too salty. The Colombian empanadas were not authentic. Was looking forward to good cuisine. I recommend the special Russian trout and risotto. Desserts were very good.

Andrew Cochran

The food here is wonderful. Some of the best in the city. I’ve been lucky enough to have the same waitress both times I’ve visited, and her service has always been perfect. I would recommend this spot to anyone.

Steve Wellenstein

Fantastic place. We were lucky to get a table outside on the patio. Great social distancing. Service was great. I saw are server sanitize her hands after serving every dish. The food was fantastic as usual. A great selection and wonderful flavors.

Eric Smith

Had heard of this place from others and was not disappointed at all. The service was really great including when we were ordering and would probably have gotten too much food and the server advised us to eat and could always order more since everything comes out in small plates that are meant for sharing. The food was super tasty and very delicious.

Harris Connell

This was a super great dining experience! I felt lightened up by the food and service there. I strongly recommend the pork belly and short rib! They were super tasty with great texture. I love the sauce and sides as well. The dark chocolate cake was awesome also! Will be back again!

Robert Bornheimer

This place has great tapas. All kinds of choices and specials every night. Come hungry leave with great friends.

Carl Nerup

Milwaukee is always full of surprises in some odd places - and this restaurant is the proof of that argument. They have established a garden dining experience that is unique to most any city in America. It is simultaneously intimate and inclusive. The staff is solid and very knowledgeable. The food is very tasty and has a unique blend of flavors that truly sets it apart. Plenty of options for for all different diets - with a robust menu of tasty tapas. The beer list is strong, they make a great cocktail - but the cocktail list is very deep. Challenge the bartender - he can make most anything you request. Would return in a heartbeat as there is a big swath of the menu still to be sampled. Well done.

Angela Geskermann

Rachel was our server for our beautiful dinner last night. Right away we could tell she was professional, knowledgeable, and kind. We thought she was the manager! Rachel gave us food selections that were absolutely delicious and helped us pick out the best wine for our palette. We highly recommend LA Merenda!

Ra Lumpy Limpy Hiker

It is like entering an entirely different world when you walk in from the street. Sit on the deck, if you can. Have some sangria and definitely try the pad thai.

Jeri Rose

Not sure if one more positive review is needed but our experience was so great I felt compelled to post. We ordered curbside pickup during our big snow yesterday and used the online ordering system which was very easy and straight forward. We did call a couple of times to check on some menu item details and also specifically re: dairy allergy for one of our party and they were very helpful. The food was excellent. I believe the best way to put it is to quote my husband who is not very effusive about food reviews..."either we made excellent choices or all the food is outstanding". Four of us ordered 4 items and 3 salads to share. We had left overs, though not a huge amount. I can't really single out any one item but among our group, the Sambal Goreng Udang, Braised Beef Short Rib Gnocchi, Veal Stracotto, and Grilled Octopus Salad were standouts. Its been years since I was first there but this recent experience will keep this place the top of my list, especially for special occasions. I can't wait for warmer, covid-free weather to enjoy in-dining eating.

Travis Waite

Came here for a birthday a couple weeks ago. Get there early or you risk items running out. They didn't have syrup for 2 of the cocktails we wanted. The waitress seemed like she had better stuff to do. We always had to flag her down to order and she never stopped to see how our food was. The Argentinian steak didn't come with the chimichuri. Not a great experience for such a nice place.

Lindsey Croasdale

The food and cocktails here are delicious. The ingredients taste fresh and flavorful. Great beer and wine list too. The dumplings, pistachio salad, and churrasco are my favorites. Recommend making a reservation, but I’ve gone without one and never had to wait long, if at all, for a table or to sit at the bar.

Betsy Kubicek

Went there for my birthday lunch and had a lovely day on their patio. So pretty and serene. Ordered 4 of the small plates & then ordered one more. Everything was delicious! Then split a slice of "birthday" tres leches cake 3 ways for dessert. Highly recommend!

Jered Shilling

Awesome food. Great for a date night.

Dmitry K

Truly quality food and always a great visit. The COVID decor has made it much less intimate and we're hopeful they'll return to normal soon, otherwise no complaints whatsoever!

Marilyn Hartmann

This a tapas place but portion size is good. All fresh local food with specialties from around the world. A nice variety. Everything we had was delicious! There is outdoor seating & our server was very friendly & accommodating. Highly recommend .

Kathleen Michel

Food is always exceptional. Patio dining is a pleasant option in nice weather. La Merenda is a favorite of mine. Make sure everyone knows how tapas are shared. Some people are not comfortable sharing dishes.

Ann Saqr

Haven’t been in awhile and I have to say we were a bit disappointed. The service was great as was the outdoor patio, cocktails and wine. But the food just wasn’t up to their previous standards. Three of our selections - a Butter Chicken, Short Rib and Gnocchi, and a veal dish - all had shredded meat. What’s that all about? The butter chicken was SO slathered in sauce it was difficult to find the finely shredded chicken. The shredded short ribs were tough - so was the gnocchi, and cauliflower in the dish was pretty tasteless. The veal dish had flavor, but again the meat was shredded. Not sure we’ll be quick to return.

Neil Zielinski

Great food and their house made sodas are delicious. It's best to go with a lot of friends so you can try more of the plates. Some of the offerings are a bit out there, but I wasn't disappointed by anything we got. One of my pickier coworkers even tried some of the more interesting dishes and enjoyed them (the octopus in this case). Highly recommended.

Chole W

Empanadas, mushroom risotto and short rib was delicious, plating was underwhelming. Trout was dry and salty and the duck confit was unappetizing to look at on top of fries, just looked weird and had no color. The waitress was ok but interrupted our conversation a few times without first saying excuse me.

Tammy Lind

So good.. Small plates so order lots of different items!

Olivia Burger

Great overall experience, but I will admit the service here can be mixed. They are very busy on weekends (wait is often over an hour), and the servers can be a bit flustered for that reason (though still friendly). The food is very good, interesting dishes that I certainly wouldn't make at home! Wine selection is limited (about 10 by the glass, but I have liked most of the ones I've tried) and there is a decent variety. The portions are large for tapas, so if you want to try a bit of everything, bring a larger group! Overall, it is one of my go-to restaurants in Milwaukee. I would recommend going, especially on a weekday.

Meryl Fitzpatrick

Let's start with the beautiful atmosphere, we sat on the huge patio. There was a fire place, large couch, and out door bar. This would be a great spot even just for drinks! The staff, all of them were warm, friendly, and efficient. As food was run out and water filled everyone seemed to work well as a team. Now the food we had gnocchi pesto, spicy potatoes, Jamaican goat curry, and beef empanadas. All of these dishes were amazing! We were too full for dessert, but will be back to try more off of this diverse menu!

John L

La Merenda really is a local gem, it is also a great date atmosphere. For anyone looking for tapas, this is the place to go. It can be difficult to get a reservation, especially over the weekend. As of this review, you can come when they open and they have a large open shared table that is first come, first serve. I have eaten at the shared table and traditional tables and always enjoyed dinners here. The menu is semi-rotating, so you will often see new options when you return. A single restaurant generally is not able to make food of so many different cultures good, but this place pulls it off. Parking can be somewhat difficult, but they do have a valet. Probably for the best, since the area around isn't very pretty. For whatever reason, if you insist on pop/soda, La Merenda doesn't carry it. They have their own artisan sodas, but to be honest, they're not great. But seriously, that point is hardly worth mentioning as the food is fantastic. This place is definitely one of my local favorites.

Angie Yamashita

La Merenda is an amazing restaurant. I have been there 3 times, a couple birthdays and my bachelorette party dinner. The small plates are fun to share and the cozy atmosphere is lovely. The food of course is great! I recommend this place to anyone looking for a group outing.

D Castle

Their empanadas are what dreams are made of. Seriously, so good. Great dishes for sharing and a decent wine list. Gorgeous outdoor patio. And the empanadas, oh the empanadas!

Magda Chrzanowska

Work dinner with a guest from the West Coast. We chose the restaurant based on great reviews. We tried a variety of tapas, which we shared. The food was unfortunately average at best. Most of the dishes were too salty and lacked finesse. Squash creme brûlée was probably the best. The service was fine. Overall, with so many great restaurants in Milwaukee, there are many better and more creative places to try.

Lizz Tsosie

100% the best restaurant in town. So many great food spots in Milwaukee, but La Merenda is hands down my favorite. I cannot even give specifics. Literally everything tastes so fresh & perfect. Owners know what they are doing. Such a treat every time!

AJ Werner

Out of the world eclectic tapas. This was my first visit and I'm definitely going back. I've never had anything like their food (stuffed Greek pastry with lamb was outstanding!). The place is causal and the staff is great to talk to. I highly recommend stopping by and sampling a variety of their plates!

Rebecca “Becky” Vaccaro

If you can't travel the to enjoy different countries culinary talents, I suggest you give LA Merenida. You will leave with a smile on your face and a happy heart ❤

Suzanne Kalra

Let's start with the beautiful atmosphere, we sat on the huge patio. There was a fire place, large couch, and out door bar. This would be a great spot even just for drinks! The staff, all of them were warm, friendly, and efficient. As food was run out and water filled everyone seemed to work well as a team. Now the food we had gnocchi pesto, spicy potatoes, Jamaican goat curry, and beef empanadas. All of these dishes were amazing!

Old Mke

We've enjoyed every visit to La merenda. On this visit, we took advantage of the Monday special: 1/2 off bottles of wine. We shared two plates; mushroom risotto and butter chicken. Both were perfectly prepared and presented. The bar staff was wonderful and very helpful in selecting a nice bottle of wine to compliment our food. All in all, a perfect visit.

Brian Geisbrecht

What an amazing meal! We enjoyed a variety of different dishes to share among three of us. Be sure to ask if certain things accommodate three people, otherwise they will make that possible (e.g. tostadas). Great place with great drinks and attentive service!

Brendon Duran

Some of the best food we had on our trip to Milwaukee. We really enjoyed the pistachio salad, the house-made carrot gnocchi, and especially the vegetarian empanadas. My family's Colombian and biting into those empanadas took me back. The bartenders were super friendly and knew the menu, and their cocktails were excellent. We look forward to coming back on another visit!

Gary Hollander

Good food, good service, good company made this luncheon enjoyable. We shared five delicious plates without breaking the bank. The last menu change eliminated three of my favorite dishes, but I am still able to find good alternatives. Why not five stars? On one hand, it feels like the menu changes are quite infrequent -- not what you'd expect from locally sourced, breakout farm to table vibe. On the other, why remove items that are fan favorites?

Marika B

Our party of 4 thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! It has a great atmosphere. We were able to enjoy our conversation without shouting or whispering. We ordered about 6 dishes and 2 cheeseplates to share. The cheese plates were sized to share and had perfect pairings. The grilled octopus (which none of us had ever tried before) was very tasty. Everything we tried was well prepared and presented. Their cocktails were enjoyable, too.

HK P

The outdoor dining space was absolutely beautiful! We had a party of 9 and needed to sit at two separate tables. The ambience pleased us so much we hardly noticed being split. All the drinks and dishes we ordered were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the jamaican curried goat and the pork and shrimp tostadas. The garlic green sauce with the pork empanadas was an amazing addition. This was the perfect spot for outdoor dining during this pandemic! Thank you, La Merenda.

Carol Wagner

Took our family of four out for a holiday visit to Walker’s Point, complete with lunch at La Merenda. Loved that the waiter didn’t try to oversell us, but recommended we go with 6 shared plates - which was absolutely perfect. Every dish was exceptional and I look forward to going back to explore more of their amazing menu. Great for a couple or a group. Amazing and eclectic small plates. Something for everyone. Nice wine list....reasonably priced. Make a reservation or expect a wait.

Kim Alwan

LOVE LOVE LOVE La Merenda. They never disappoint with the selection of tapas. Presentation & service is spot on. Martin, our server, was attentive & knowledgeable.

Joseph Fasi

Wonderful outdoor space and food. Just had an enjoyable lunch and conversation with delicious recommendations from our server, sitting under an umbrella providing shade on a beautiful June day. Highly recommend sitting outdoors, if weather permits, and enjoying a wonderful variety of tapas served with a smile. I will return.

Richard Hawkins

Been coming for years but it seems to just get better and better. Even food I would normally steer away from (I’m looking at you, mushrooms) is delicious here. Add stellar service on top of it, and a gorgeous patio, and you can’t go wrong. (Shout out to Nikki who makes sure you have the best night)

Delectable Debauchery (xedd72)

There is a cozy bar just inside the entrance, you can sit and wait for your party and check in at the host stand. Although the main dining area is quite large, it still feels somehow homey and relaxed. Always a feast for the senses, you can not go wrong here. From delicious craft cocktails like the spiced pear whiskey sour and the fresh blackberry old fashioned to house made cola, ginger ale, and lemon-lime soda. Depending on your appetite I recommend 2-3 plates per person, and of course sharing is key. There is something for everyone on the menu, vegetables, seafood, meats, cheeses, and nuts. Even on a busy night you never feel rushed and the service is outstanding and always friendly. It is really the perfect setting for great conversation over food, with friends and family.

Eric L

One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. The small plates are internationally inspired and always include flavors that are both interesting and reminiscent of the cuisines they represent. The service is excellent. This is a busy and very popular place, so a reservation is always in your best interest. Whether you are a local or are just in Milwaukee for a visit, this gem of a spot with a great patio in Walker's Point should really be on your list.

Danielle Casanova

Had reservations for 830 and out table was ready shortly after we got there. They have a great selection of small plates, lots of variety. They use ingredients from local farms and vendors which is awesome. Also the $5 house wines were good.

C. Ross Stavoe

Wisconsin Farmers Salad, Pork Empanadas, and Beef Short Rib Gnocchi were amazing! Moroccan Spiced Grilled Parsnips, Coffee Rubbed Pork Shoulder were good too. Lovely outdoor area in courtyard.

Ravi Nagavarapu

Excellent tapas place. Has a wide variety of vegetarian and gluten free options that don't seem like they are an be afterthought or have been made by taking something out. Loved the potatoes, risotto, empanadas and the goat cheese. The potato skins were a tad too salty and oily. The ambience was nice with excellent service. Would go again.

Brandon Combs

A perfect place for a date night or a going out in a large group. All the small plates are perfect for sharing. Each plate that I have had here have been really well made and enjoyable. My waitress was so helpful on picking and selecting dishes. Excited to come back again.

Steve Chepp

Great Tapas place, very clean, limited parking awesome atmosphere. The staff is awesome. Prices are on par with most Tapas places. Great vegetarian options. They do use common allergen ingredients in some dishes, but are very aware and open to that fact. If you let your waiter know prior to ordering, they will help in every way possible.

adam barash

Awesome tapas. Been here many times always satisfying! La merenda salad, goat cheese curds, Argentinian beef, sauteed spinach with parmesan, and vegetable gnocchi. Delicious as always! Maybe consider a spin on some nyc Street food? potato knish, falafel, shish kebabs, or schwarma? 😀

Katarina Jevtic

Genuinely surprised by how tasty the food was here! We tried 6 dishes, and I would say 5/6 of them were amazing and the 6th was still very good but could have been amazing with just a little tweaking. Will definitely be returning!

Evan Koch

The place was a little small, but very nice. I had never been to tapas restaurant before and I loved every minute of it, as well as every dish. I'm not a big pork fan, but even the dishes with pork were quite tasty! Very fun place to go with a group!

Teresa Hardesty

Local farm to table items. Menu is globally inspired the atmosphere is awesome. Nice patio area in Summer. The manager made us feel welcome and the foods is the best. Great shareable dishes. The care is definitely in the food. Great spices and food is the Best.

Jerome Oneill

I just love this place, but only if I sit on the patio or at the bar. I just don't like the dining room, but I'm picky. The food is always amazing and their bartenders are attentive and make some pretty creative cocktails. The owner frequently comes out and talks to people in the restaurant, checks in to see if everyone likes his food. I think that is just awesome. The dishes are reasonably priced and just so delicious! If you ever see Osso Bucco on the menu - get it!!!

Rebecca Higgins

Best food around! So so good!

Jeff Benjamin

My favorite restaurant in all of Milwaukee. Go with a group of 4-6 and get a variety of small plates to share. Every plate we have ordered there has been good to excellent and we have gone there 4 times. I would suggest about 1 1/2 plates per person: 6 plates is enough food for 4 people. You can always order more. If it is nice outside, try to get a table out on the patio; you might have to wait a little longer, but it's worth it.

jack e

Let me just start by saying wow. This restaurant is to die for. This is one of my favorite restraints in Milwaukee. It offers tapas which is small plates to share with your friends or family whoever you decide to come with or all by yourself if you are flying solo. The food is delicious I have never ordered something from La Merenda and had it be anything but amazing. You could throw a dart and pick anything on the menu and have it come out delicious. On top of the amazing food the wait staff is always kind and respectful which is really all you could ask of a waiter or waitress.

Jacob Falck

My favorite restaurant in the city. Wen't there for a graduation dinner with a group of 19 people. Wait staff was very attentive and upbeat. The food was served tapas style and was absolutely outstanding. Very cool to be able to try different cuisines in one meal. Would 100% recommend.

Hendrick Long

I enjoy Tapas and small plate restaurants so decided to try La Merenda on Tuesday 6/19 and I was not disappointed. I arrived around 6:00pm and sat at the bar as the place began to fill up quickly. I started with one of the house craft cocktails (Spiced Pear Whiskey Sour) but the bartender said they only had enough of the ingredients to make a half drink and she would not charge me. The drink was fantastic and really appreciated the sample. After reviewing the menu and narrowing down the choices I asked for a recommendation and decided on Pistachio Salad & Argentinian Beef that is a staple on the menu. I'm a big fan of Beef with Chimichurri and the steak was tender and cook perfectly and Chimi was amazing! I will be definitely be back on my next visit.

Patrice Luer

Large hidden garden & patio area with a lovely atmosphere. Excellent cocktails and a variety of beautifully prepared small plates. Wonderful service. Our palates were very happy.

Jane Jenkins

Our first time here - greeted immediately. Had to wait for a table, but it was worth it. Had the meatloaf plate and jambalaya, with a cup of soup. All were excellent, as was the service from Andrew. Eventhough downtown, it is definitely a casual environment, which made it even more enjoyable. With 2 drinks, bill was only $40. Well worth the trip. Definitely would recommend.

mark bachmann

Food was fabulous. Tried six dishes and each was better than the previous. Must visit when in MKE

Cassandra Fleury

I love everything about this place. Every single dish that I have tried has been delicious. I went recently with a large group, and we ordered just about everything on the menu. The best part is that just about everything either is or can be made gluten free! La Merenda is my new favorite place! 😍 …

James Agpoon

If you're in the mood for tapas, this is the place to go. Nice ambience, great flavors. Excellent vegetarian and gluten free menu options as well. I also recommend their house citrus soda and Car Bomb cake dessert. Delicious!

Brooke Pinar

Great place for a special night out for friends or date night. Sauteed spinach and mushroom quesadilla were absolutely delicious. Price is reasonable for the quality of the food. Nice bar in the front to grab a drink pre dinner if there's a wait. Reservations available on website. Service was on point to top the experience off.

Candace Sanchez

First time here, I'll be back. Food was so great to share. Delicious! Fast service and very attentive to customer needs. Server was amazing!

jn vo

Nice place with cool internal decor. Tapas style food that is hit or miss. The steak tapas is weak but the majority of other dishes are solid. Fish tapas and the mushroom tapas surprisingly good. Wine list ok. Made reservations short notice online. Only available for 9'00 pm for a Friday evening. Showed up prepared to wait in bar with my wife and daughter. Arrived at 8:15 and was seated immediately in a half filled restaurant. Wasn't sure why reservation line was so off? Place never got full but a nice fill but certainly not what I would have expected. Feel like more hype or other BS. Prices very reasonable. Service was good. Overall nice place, will probably come back when in Milwaukee if reservation time is available and decent. I read some reviews about this place prior and feel a bit overrated and probably puzzled me about the discrepancy with limitation for reservations but plenty of capacity.

Melissa H

Loved the variety of small plates here! The proscuitto salad and potatas bravas were excellent. Our server was also very knowledgeable and friendly. Don't sleep on this one, everything is delicious!

Matt -

I honestly don't know how anyone can give this restaurant anything less than five stars. If Google Maps allowed you to give 4.5 stars, I could see that being legitimate simply because of their lack of beer choices. That is the only thing I can complain about. The menu is second to none if you like to eat diverse food offerings at one location. This is not a steakhouse, but you can get some steak, albeit a small serving. It's essentially a small plates joint. Every dish served here is exploding with flavor. You will also find unique dishes here, which is something almost impossible to find outside of a huge foodie city like Chicago or San Francisco. I make a trip here three or four times per year, and would go more often if I did not live an hour away.

Billy Jones

“Fabulous!” Unabelievable food quality, impeccable service, and beautiful setting on the lakefront. I had been at this restaurant in days of old when it was Pieces of Eight. It is now bright, white, modern, and vibrant! I can't say enough about the quality of the food. The menu offered crab claws as an special appetizer which were perfectly delivered on a.

Ryan Barnard

La Merenda is for sure one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. The atmosphere and service are always great, and the food is unbelievable. They also did a great job with COVID measures.

Jake Baldwin

My wife and I have been looking for a decent Tapas place since moving back to Wisconsin and we definitely have found it. The location is cozy, with a hole in the wall looking restaurant with free valet parking. The decor was definitely going for a hipster Vibe, with mismatched chairs, and unevenly finished tables. The service is fantastic and the servers take their own initiative to assist whichever table needs assisting, whether or not it belongs to them. The food is absolutely amazing. We only stuck to pescatarian choices. They have a wide selection of vegetarian options which is always a plus. The food was amazing, and 4 plates were enough to feed my wife and I comfortably. We had the vegetarian empanadas, squash Capatelli, vegetable tart, a shrimp dish, and a cocktail, and our bill came to about $50. This restaurant is a gastronomist dream, with every single dish season perfectly, and brought out to you as it is ready; not all at once, which personally, I enjoyed, as it allowed us to enjoy each dish on its own. We will definitely go back. This isn't exactly a place for kids, and it isn't exactly possible to get a full meal for very cheap, but it is worth every penny.

Steve Hoelter

Great Service. We dined outside. Safe distancing. Everyone wore masks until seated. Servers all kept masks on. Plenty of hand sanitizers. Food was excellent. Small plates. Vegetarian and meat choices. Gluten free choices. Highly recommend.

G B

This place was delicious! Family style and the dishes are all very unique. Cozy feel with a patio. Only complaint is that towards the end we felt rushed to get out of there.

Julie Dickerson

We went for a work dinner. Hubby and I had never been here before, or any sort of tapas place. Very busy Saturday night, waitress was very pleasant and knowledgeable, eager to explain how everything worked. The goat cheese curds were DIVINE, as well as the argentinian style beef. Delicious! The plaintain mash that came with it was delicious. Some of the dishes my husband got were a bit too spicy or salty. Potato skins were very salty, and butter chicken was quite spicy. We had a bit of a problem getting our waitress to keep filling our water, which was kind of an inconvenience when things were so salty/spicy. But I understand it was a busy night.

Jocelyn Fuller

La Merenda is a lovely casual eatery with some seriously tasty dishes. We arrived in the evening and sat at the bar and enjoyed a sample of dishes and drinks. Staff were friendly and very informative. We ordered a mix of dishes and most got high marks. One or two slight mis-fires - Ceveche was a little on the small side and the Empandas didnt quite hit the mark. But the rest were all great. I had 2 dishes - a pork special with succotash so flavourful the Pork wasn't needed and Cheese Curd with Chorizo Sauce - again, the sauce was delicious with great balance of flavours. Desserts were sizable and tasty and the overall experience was very good, with lots of variety and flair. Well worth a visit.

Adam Mageed

Fantastic food. My wife and I got: - cheese plate - La Merenda salad - market fish curry - gnocchi All were scrumptious. I recommend the ginger beer, too! We'll definitely be back.

Justin Kasdorf

Excellent food and service. It is an expensive place and it can get way out of control if you are hungry and want to be full... but I was not paying! They have a beautiful patio area outside. The only way to ensure you get a table is to make reservations 1 to 2 weeks prior. Otherwise you may have a long wait. Their menu is different than most places, so be prepared to try some new things. I really enjoyed it here, but again, it was very pricey.

Kumar Madison

I've been here a few times and have always had a nice experience. Great options for both meat and non-meat eaters. Reservations are highly recommended (at least during what one would consider peak hours). Shockingly the beer menu is not overpriced.

Jaime Meyer

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. It's a great place for small plates with plenty of vegetarian options as well as meat. I love the staples like the Potatoes Bravas and the Goat Cheesecurds, yum! They also frequently change the menu items based on the season. Also, they have house wines that are only 5 bucks a glass!

Erik Hasselquist

If I could give 10 stars, I would. Absolutely the best food I've had in Milwaukee. Tons of vegetarian and gluten free options. Vegetarian empanadas! Oh yes, it was so nice, we ordered it twice. Don't get me started on the chocolate creme brulee with peanut brittle....

Jake Brennan

Another great dinner experience at La Merenda. We ordered about 6 to 7 dishes to pass around the table. We went here for our son's birthday. I nine-year-old, a 13-year-old, and two adults. We had a salmon special, potatoes bravas without chorizo, Argentinian beef, butter chicken curry. Everything was tasty. The only complaint came from the kids who didn't like the homemade cola and citrus sodas. This service is very nurturing, attentive. The atmosphere reminded me of my time in another place. Miss matched chairs and tables with random pictures on the walls. And a dimly lit ambience. The wine selection gives you just enough from each key region

Bob Wooten

We've never had an unpleasant experience here, the food and wine is always fabulous. The one dish we didn't care for was nicely removed from our bill. Impeccable service at the bar and restaurant. They're always trying something new based on the ingredients of the day. Highly recommended!

Jessica m

The menu is unique, and the food is ok. I went a couple months ago, and all 4 dishes we ordered were so salty. I gave it another try, as I’ve always heard such great things. We ordered totally different dishes tonight, and they were super salty again. I probably won’t go back.

E Will

Overrated! I was with a party of 5 on a Thursday night. We each ordered 2-3 plates from the menu. The waitress was in such a hurry that she left the table before everyone ordered – We had to ask another wait person to get our waitress. Our server was in ‘drive-by mode’ because when the food finally started to arrive she literally slid the plates on our table as she passed by. The only thing she acknowledged is when our drinks got low (I guess they know where the margin is). When we did want something we had to flag down another person to get their attention. There was not one plate stood out as extraordinary in taste or presentation. I am a great cook in my own right, so my disappointment comes from the fact that nothing we ordered came close to what comes from my kitchen on a given night. – I have no interest in ever going back.

Devin Tischer

Delicious food and great service. Each dish is fantastic and features recipes from all over the world but with local farm produce (most of it.) Would highly recommend if you are looking for something different with tons of options.

Jim Dier

Always great food and wonderful atmosphere. I love that the menu changes with the season and we are always surprised with a new favorite dish. Great for small get togethers and sharing/passing plates.

Rebecca Osmolski

Such great food! Wonderful atmosphere! They can have a large wait time, so get on the list and head to purple door for some ice cream while you wait. Definitely recommend for those with food allergies or restrictions.

Kelly Conway

I've never been much if an adventurous diner but La Merenda changed all that! Every time I go try different dishes...things that are all new to me and have never been disappointed. Every menu item is a simply delicious.

Joe Schmidt

Wonderful variety of flavors. There was no a single bad bite of food. I went with a large group of people and we're were able to order at least a third of the menu and we all shared so that everyone was able to try as much as they wanted. I would definitely come here again.

Sebastian “Bash” Baker

Some of this food genuinely left me speechless. Absolute 10/10 for sure. Not from the area and chose it on a whim and MAN!!!! FANTASTIC! Great staff and even better food!!

Jesse Franklin

Great tapas resturant with delightful and well thought out dishes. Went with friends and ordered several dishes that we shared. The food has great flavors.

Patricia Adams

Could not dine, they had a private function. Many smaller restaurants are doing "venue gigs", so call ahead. We failed. Management turned us away in a very polite and apologetic fashion. Will return.

Kayla McNeil

Wonderful food, and super attentive to allergy and dietary needs. Highly recommend all around, there were so many options for food. Ingrida was an amazing waitress!

Josh Eide

Food is great here. We had one individual who couldn't eat dairy in our group and the server did a great job of suggesting and accommodating the need. Some of the best tapas in town. I will be back here! It is pricy but to be expected given food quality

So Thereitis

nice little joint, the food is good, usually i find that this is great food to share with friends or family. great selection of food and the atmosphere is rather comfortable. its a bit darker and nearly rustic inside although i think that is a nice niche they have. the atmosphere paired with the food is a great combo for comfort.

Jenny Johnson

One of the best meals I've had in Milwaukee! Our table of 3 ordered four dishes and a dessert plus a round of drinks for a hundred bucks. For the quality of food, it was a deal!

Grace Zupancic

This place gets super packed, so prepare to come early or sit at the bar. Loved the sangria and selection of tapas dishes from around the world. My favorite was the butternut squash ravioli and Wisconsin cheese board. Free valet on the weekends is also a plus!

Anna Diaz

Every time I come here I always leave content. Must have a reservation though because this place gets packed. They have a rewards card too that makes eating there often, worth it. Love the Argentinian style beef. My favorite dish was taken off the menu (veal spedini) but it's still amazing.

Jessica Torres

Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates fresh food with incredible flavor. We had the Ensalada de Pulpo, Duck Flautas, Patatas con Chorizo, and the Gnocchi con Ragu di Agnello. Our server's name was Rachel, and she was attentive, polite, and funny! Overall great experience, and we will return soon!!!

G D

I’ve been going here since they first opened. The food is incredible and reasonably priced especially for the amazing quality. I moved an hour away and still come here

Derek Loseke

Fantastic dinner. We had 4 different plates and they were all phenomenal. They did a great job with COVID precautions as well.

M Kresovic

Terrific Tapas restaurant, get there early, wide variety of farm to table plates and craft drinks, service was fast, hot and fresh!

Kim Centgraf

First visit and did curbside takeout. Online ordering and payment was super easy process. Especially appreciated that I could order ahead for later in the evening. Pickup was ready at time requested, packaged beautifully and securely, delivered outside their front door to my car and was still hot! The food was fabulous!!! All of it! Recommend goat cheese curds, beef empanadas, truffled potato skins, mushroom risotto and car bomb cake. Thanks for the great take out evening. Can’t wait to come inside after COVID is over. We will be back!

joe mcgrew

Every thing was amazing. We tried the beef empanadas best empanadas ever. The mushroom fundido and truffle potato skins were great. Best butter chicken ever. The 2 specials chicken quesadillas and Italian sausage with polenta were also incredible. BlackBerry old fashion was also one of the best old fashions I've had. Definitely need to go back to try more items!

Shirley Stachowiak

We have been wanting to go to this restraurant for some time. We throughly enjoyed our meal-- pricey but food was very good. So why the low rating? I absolutely detest going to a restroom and having to wash my hands in ice cold water because the hot water has been shut off-- really? I'm pretty sure that with the prices they are charging for cocktails and food that they could afford to give patrons in the least warm water to wash their hands.

Kati Schuda

I enjoyed my dinner here. The food is fresh and tasty, and the drinks are excellent. Also the prices are very reasonable. I loved that they offer valet parking, as there is limited street parking.

Becky Valcq

The food is consistently flavorful and delicious. The outdoor dining area is the perfect place to safely enjoy a wonderful meal.

Leonardo Wack

I had such a great time. Of everything I tried, I really enjoyed the Empanadas Vegetarianas stuffed with sweet potato, chili beans, squash, and corn. With the sofrito sauce, it tasted like a party! Then the Goat Cheese Curds in a Tia Paquita chorizo cream sauce with crostinis to sop up every drip drop was so gewd! With over 30 tapas choices and a vast cocktail menu, this spot's excellent for sexy dates and mixed groups.

Alex Francis

A variety of locally sourced ingredients to prepare delicious world cuisine. Try the La Merenda salad and the Salmon Ravioli special. You won't be disappointed.

Annamaria Zarate

Bartenders are kinda dry. Food was great the different tastes , spicy, sweet, savory, succulent... Do not suggest the creme brulee (basically chocolate pudding with a toasted topping)

Maria Kuhn

Got to go on toast and was so happy with all of the stuff we ordered! Our favorite was the mushroom risotto but you clearly can’t go wrong here- something for every palette

Jim Coach Krupke

Food was OUTSTANDING Our waitress was VERY difficult to locate? What wonderful menu! Don't miss the truffle potato skins or gnocchi

Javier Mendoza

My party had to wait 40 minutes after the reservation time to get seated however all the food was awesome, the atmosphere fun and relaxed. The prices were very reasonable and the restaurant bought us some free appetizers to make up for the long wait. Very memorable dinning experience, definitely recommend :)

Janelle Hupp

Delicious food. Great atmosphere. Each of the 3 people in our group picked 2 small plates and shared. Food was delicious. Fun experience! Don't miss this one!!

Dan Hendricks

La Merenda is an exciting adventure to foods you may want to try for the first time! This was my second time here The staff, management,and foods are amazing. Make a reservation ! You will never be disappointed. Bring your friends and family, if you leave hungry its your fault. Lol

Andrew Smith

My go-to restaurant in Milwaukee. A bottle of pinot noir, the pistachio salad, gnocchi, mushroom risotto to start... pork and shrimp dumplings, lamb Bolognese, Argentinian pork belly confit...and always the special of the day. Love the butter chicken as well. Food is always, ALWAYS perfect. I love eating at the bar in the winter and on the patio in the summer. The busy, homey atmosphere creates a really positive and relaxing vibe.

Larry Jobe

Great international types of food. Nice aviance. Main waitress was good and knowledgeable. Auxiliary waiter could have been more attentive to details..clearing dirty plates, refilling water, etc. Also thought it a bit pricey.

Victoria Pink

Fun place. Excellent cocktails and small plates. Portion size was enough to share and at a price point you can feel good about ordering several to try. The restaurant also makes a point of serving local food which is great!

Abby Thompson

This is always the TOP spot I send visitors to in MKE! Food is always consistently delicious, staff is always willing to make recommendations based on dietary restrictions, and restaurant has a great atmosphere. Totally recommend making this a regular dinner spot!

Camille Goldman

The food is consistently amazing. The staff is well versed with the menu. I've tried other tapas in the area and there is no comparison. Place is small, so be prepared to wait even with reservations, but it is well worth it!

Ada Lai

Excellent! We discovered this place by accident when we got lost in Milwaukee 🤣 and decided to try it because we like tapas. We got the beef empanadas, goat cheese curds, and potato skins. Everything was delicious! Drab outside, nothing fancy inside, but warm and friendly and inviting! …

Bridget Costigan

I cant begin to explain how incredible every thing was for our girls lunch out. From sangria, to 9 different tapas for our party of 5 and 3 desserts (tres leeches, car bomb, chocolate creme brulee) we all shared everything. Glad I only had coffee this morning as I was able to try duck, chorizo, risotto, shrimp and pork dumplings, truffle and parmesan potato skins, pistachio salad, pork belly I always love la merenda. Fresh, flavorful, not overpowering and we had great service on the beautiful back veranda. As always, casual relaxing and absolutely delicious lunch. So fulfilling I don't need even a nibble for dinner

Matt Young

One of the best restaurants I have ever been too! The food is fantastic, the service is great, and the atmosphere on the back patio is so pleasant. What an amazing restaurant, can't wait to go back next time I am in Milwaukee!

Maurice Woods III

Some of the best and most unique food I've had in a long time! Plates are small (but not bite-sized) so you can satisfy many tastes . Quality eats!

Jennifer Martin

La Merenda is a wonderful tapas restaurant. There is a wide variety of options so something for everyone. I think the prices here are very reasonable, considering many ingredients are sourced locally and they do have some special options such as octopus. I highly recommend their beef empanadas (Columbian style), octopus salad and mushroom risotto.

Christina

The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The Rissoto was the best I've ever had. Some of the other plate were a little too spicy for me and had flavors that I didn't care for. All in all it was a good experience. I will go back for the Rissoto and drinks and try some other entree' s.

Linnea Taglia

Delicious vegetarian and gluten free foods! Really good sodas made in house and a great atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!

Neil Franzen

One of my favorites in Milwaukee. Locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal selections keep things dynamic on the menu. There are some standards that stick around all year, but the fun in trying new flavor combos during each visit is a blast. Whether going as a couple or with a large group, the dining room is energetic and lively. Most recently, had Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad--wonderful earthy flavor. Truffled potato skins are a decadent potato chip. Trout "Rundown" was fantastic on a bed of curried coconut rice. For dessert, the standards like Tres Leches and Car Bomb Cake are fantastic. Be sure to try the new house-made sodas. I had the ginger beer and was a big fan. You'll want to be a ginger enthusiast for this one, as the flavor is very front and center.

Samantha Lobo

The sangria is a must. Loved the empanadas, anything with chorizo, potatoes. Very impressed! Four of us shared two pitchers of sangria and 6 or 7 plates and it was easily 35$ a person. Not bad!

Lisa Wittbrot

Outstanding food. We loved everything we ordered, empanadas, pad thai, short rib gnocchi and butter chicken.

Dylan Mitchell

One of my clear favorites for a nice dinner with friends or a date. I'm not sure I knew much about tapas until I discovered this place. It's a nice treat for a birthday, friends or family visiting, or really any special occasion. Be prepared to wait upwards of an hour if you try to get a table without a reservation during peak dinner time. Some of the highlights include butter chicken, shrimp masala, and the empanadas. Oh, and their Irish car bomb cake? Amazing. I could go on... They have great weekly specials as well! My only request is they bring back the potatas bravas soon.

Emily Trombley

Paddle Tavern Boats were ignoring that and parking their boats there as well. I don't know that Lakefront will enforce it, considering they're bringing large groups of people to spend money there.More like Riverfront Brewery, as we showed up on our kayak rentals. First thing I appreciated was the dock that was set aside for kayakers to dock. It was labeled as only being for kayaks but the newer

Emily B

Great food: mindful, local, and quality. Authentic. Owner and staff are lovely. Great wine and infused alcohol. Variety of flavors and prices for any occasion.

William Weishapple

Food and service was outstanding! Ryan took EXCELLENT care of us. We ate 7 delicious courses plus an exquisite dessert! Craft cocktails were also very tasty!

Caleb Kopczyk

Excellent food and drinks, wonderful service! Can't be beat! We really appreciated their social distancing changes too!

David VanCleve

Kyle took amazing care of me and my wife for our first date out since Covid. The food was magnificent and the atmosphere was so perfect. We will be back soon!

Judith Rodriguez

La Merenda is a great small plates place that won't break your bank, hosts a night of 1/2 wine bottles, has a great rotating menu, and flavors from all over the world. If you haven't adventured much in other cuisines, I urge you to try la merenda for a taste of argentinan beef, indian butter chicken, ceviche, empanadas, the list goes on. So easy to go and order something new every time you go.

Maureen A. Johnson

AMAZING FOOD! Cozy atmosphere, sharable plates, a bit pricey for the portions but oh so good! Worth it! If you are going to eat out, the food better be next level and here...it is!

Jana B

For the price, the ambiance and menu are hard to top. Fresh ingredients, locally curated for an eclectic menu that was pleasing on every level. Our server was fantastic as well. I will indeed be back!

Andrea Villa

I wish I lived closer so I could eat here every weekend. The Argentinean beef with plantains is something I could eat everyday and never get tired of it! Service is always great and the atmosphere is so nice. One of our favorite places!

nick person

TAKE A CAB....The food was great, but our rental car's window got busted and our GPS and a cell phone was stolen. I did notice the restaurant was in a very shady area. I even had rock star parking, right in front under a street light. I called the restaurant when I got back to our hotel and girl acted like it was no big deal, almost like it happens to people all the time. Not too sympathetic beings we drove 5 miles without a passenger window in subzero temperature. Like I said good food, but lousy area...

Janice Lynch

La Merenda is a great small plates place that won't break your bank, hosts a night of 1/2 wine bottles, has a great rotating menu, and flavors from all over the world. If you haven't adventured much in other cuisines, I urge you to try la merenda for a taste of argentinan beef, indian butter chicken, ceviche, empanadas, the list goes on. So easy to go and order something new every time you go.

John Mesch

I decided to go to this "sharable plates" restaurant by myself for lunch one day. I got stuffed af on 3 plates. I would def suggest going with more than just yourself so you can try way more plates. Super good food and dope drinks

Erin Carlson Rivera

Wonderful food! Would go again. Everything we had was delicious. I especially loved the beef empanadas, gnocci con pesto, and Argentinian pork belly!

Adriana Salgado

Love the food, goat cheese curds a must have, and sangria. Best to make a reservation, but the bar is an option. Also just discovered the back patio which is so nice.

certified forklift driver

this place 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 maybe not milwaukees BEST restaurant but definitely my FAVORITE. Beef empanadas and Argentinian steak are a NECCIESSITY my man

Cole Downey

High quality small dish spot.

Luke Burkholder

Unique and delicious food that you have to try, but after a few visits it's easy to work your way through the menu. Surprisingly cheap for such high quality. Very welcoming to large groups.

Angela Hackbarth

Best spot in Milwaukee! Make sure you order at least two -three plates to share.

Sean Bellinger

Busy but very friendly service, unusual and interesting wine list, great choices on the menu featuring local producers. Dishes were well balanced, spicy but not overpowering.

Morah 215

Overall found place to be ok. Food wasn't as good tasting as I would of thought. For example thought the empanadas were a little too salty. They do have some unique dishes though.

Will Edwards

The waitress suggested that we might each need two to three small plates. As it turned out a plate and a half was ample. My wife and I shared a cheese plate and I had the buttered chicken each of which were excellent.

Douglas DeNicola

Consistently one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee. Such a great Atmosphere And staff

Christine Vetter

The menu has something for everyone. The staff excel.

Cris Poquette

The ambiance was great and the menu is full of such variety. However, the food itself is a bit blah. Some dishes were begging for salt, other needed half as much. Much of the ethnic choices didn't meet expectations. Great concept, but falls short.

Amy Lauersdorf

This is my favorite date night restaurant. Their food is always amazing! My new boyfriend stated he was surprised how affordable our meal was because of how amazing he thought the food was as well.

Beth Graham

Delicious tapas / shared plates restaurant. Great place for a date, fun dinner with friends or family celebration. Can be very crowded during typical restaurant busy hours. Service is very consistent.

Roanne Reyes

One of the best restaurants in Milwaukee! Definitely going to come back for more great food and to try more of the dishes. Honestly everything on the menu sounds amazing

Abi L

Delicious, my favorite spot Never had a bad menu item here.

Narin K

Omg! This place serves extremely tasty food. Visited here once and enjoyed every item I ordered. It’s tapas style, very unique menu. Will be back to try other items on the menu when I visit Milwaukee again.

brian tenant

The food was fantastic. In particular the beef empanadas and the Jamaican goat curry. The patio is huge and has an outdoor bar. Would highly recommend.

Arrcee X

Shrimp masala was superb. All other dishes simply wonderful. House-made soft drinks were enjoyed by all. Only issue was food was a bit over salted.

Jennifer Peronto

Service, food, atmosphere were all awesome. We had the grilled octopus, Greek goat, Argentine beef, salads, car bomb cake. All were outstanding.

Elizabeth Colvin

Oh, the empanadas... They are so yummy that I could eat them daily. It certainly doesn't hurt that the flavors change while the delicious factor stays the same. Mushroom tostadas? All of them please. Butter chicken? Absolutely. La Merenda never disappoints.

Christie Porter

One of the best places I have ever eaten at in my life. The goat cheese curds are to die for. The la merenda salad as well. Oh and the cocktails are impeccable.

Brian Kramer

Great food and an interesting style (at least to me). The beef was my favorite. Only downside was quantity per dollar wasn't much. I also recommend their ceviche, Delicious!

Arturo Navarrete

I was the for lunch. Place wasn't busy which I was okay with. Regular menu with very tasteful dishes. Dishes are small and are meant to be share or for people to order 2 - 3 options from their menu.

Jesse Zoltowski

This was my first experience with a small plate restaurant. The food and service were amazing. It's nice not being stuck to one entree. Will definitely dine here again.

Heather Franklin

I love the small plates and the food was amazing. Great atmosphere too.

Lynne Bialk

Variety of farm to table options. Great for at least 4 people. Ability to try many small plates. All served in a nonrushed manner. Valet available.

Ryan Smith

Shared about 8 plates between a group of four people and every one was delicious! There's a reason this place has been around so long, great food and service.

Jazzmon Hughes

Phenomenal meal! Everything was so rich and flavorful. I can't wait to go back.

Robert Dennis

By far my favorite place in the downtown area. The food is reasonably priced and always flavorful. The building itself has a good vibe to it - very clean and modern but not stuck up and stuffy. Check it out if you haven't already.

Michael Orth

Fun tapas restaurant. Plates were a little hit and miss. I couldn't find much fish in the ceviche. The braise goat was excellent.

Lue Yang

Sad they took off the Argentinian Rissoto but the food was still amazing ad always. Get the salad as a starter. Theybare all great.

Wally Ross

Good food and staff. Too easy to drive by. Needs better signage. Our bill was $310 including 20% tip for 6 adults with adult beverages.

thinlatvia “cheese boi”

Very nice and cozy atmosphere. Great artisan food and locally sourced. The Irish Car Bomb Cake is a must try!

Kirstin McMillen

Their food is stupendous. Desserts are delicious. The patio is one of the best in Milwaukee.

Janet F

Grill? No. Small plates, flavors from many continents. Helpful server, good pacing for a Fri. night. Watch it: $ adds up fast, & very LOUD. Not romantic. Res. recommended or come early.

Christina Witmer

Every single dish was delicious and we ordered almost all of them. In a time of uncertainty for restaurants, this place is getting it right.

Trevor Gunn

The tapas are amazing. I really enjoyed the pork tostadas. My drink of the night was the Spiced Pear Whiskey Sour. Highly recommend

Yancy Piepenburg

Service was good. Our server suggested items from the menu and they didn't disappoint. A couple items could use less salt, but they still tasted good.

Jennifer Claunch-Meyers

By far the best place in Milwaukee for tapas. Highly recommend. Ask for Amanda and she'll give you an unparalleled dining experience!

Shane Schmitz

Very friendly staff and most exquisite food I have had in a long time with comfortable atmosphere. Highly recommend.

S K

Really amazing food and enjoyed their outdoor patio this past summer for a nice sangria with friends. Their menu is also diverse and caters to different crowds--including vegetarian.

Peter Wierzba

Very good service, server was very entertaining and pleasant to interact with. Good was very good and they were very good about making sure you were enjoying your food. Would love to come here with a large group to try everything

Elaine Kressin

This is my favorite dinner spot in the city, but it's a perfect lunch stop also. It was quick and had all of the same great menu options!

Erin Lilly

Five. Star. Restaurant. Hands down the most incredible food I've ever had. I was beyond impressed with the service, presentation, atmosphere, and wide variety of flavors.

Julie Munsch (The Travelling Munschkin)

Food was original and varied, flavours from around the world. My favourite was the Penang Curry and tostadas. Will definitely go back, so much more to try. Excellent service.

Adrianna Rebatzke

First timer! Wonderful experience! Excellent food! Wonderful variety! Great company! Best birthday lunch!

CS 4

Excellent! We are visiting from Detroit, MI and although we have some pretty great food, we don't have this!

marjorie pisca

Had lunch here today with a friend. Was very impressive. Small plates but, enough for lunch. Will definitely go back.

Anna Remillard

Everything we had was amazing! Such a fun experience too.great Milwaukee tapas!

Brooke Moersfelder

Always great food and great service! I only wish they had more time slot availability for a reservation so I can go more frequently but I guess that’s part of the draw and desire to go

Sophie Connor

Delicious food with wide variety. Especially liked the mushroom pesto gnocci. Attentive staff and good company. Very packed in winter

Amanda Smith

A new favorite Milwaukee spot! I love the unique tapas and the servers are so knowledgeable and friendly.

Mike Stancato

Very enjoyable lunch. Relaxed atmosphere, attentive staff, and great menu. Will return next time we're in Milwaukee.

Kirstin Anderson

Great food, reasonable portions for sharing, nice dining aesthetic. Will return in the summer when the large patio is opened, too.

Samantha Walters

Wonderful, awesome, refreshing, clean, great service are all words I would use to describe my experience at La Merenda. So great to know where my food is coming from and that they support local farms!!!!

Andrew Hofmann

Always delicious. More than any other restaurant I've been to recently, they take Covid precautions seriously.

Sarah Pellico

Really good food and dessert. I wanted to order everything on the menu. Plus the portions are big for tapas!

bridget g

Love the interesting dishes, really creative. Took a large group and everyone enjoyed. Service kept up with lots of plates well.

Elizabeth Callin

Amazing food and even better atomosphere out on the patio. I will definitely be back. Everything we ordered was fantastic.

John Arneson

Absolutely amazing food and the wait staff adds to the great experience with their professionalism, knowledge and recommendations! Can't wait to return!

Natasha Blum

The plates come out as they are ready, and each plate was better than the last! Was an entertaining and delicious meal that kept us excited for the next plate to come out.

Christopher Sommerfield

All the dishes came out fast and hot. Pictured is a prosciutto salad with pistachio vinaigrette, arugula and toasted pistachios.

Amber Nicole

This is one of my favorite restaurants to go in Milwaukee. Service is very professional and attentive. Food is local and mouth watering!

Magdumpmoravec

Great food. Menu changes so its something different during the year. Reasonable prices

Kristina Shonat

Best tapas dinner in Milwaukee. Local ingredients and cozy ambiance. Outside seating for warmer weather is lovely.

Monica Amborn

Delicious food and excellent service - Amanda was awesome! Be sure to try the mushroom risotto and the veggie pad thai👌 …

Maura Jozwik

This is by far my favorite restaurant. The goat cheese curds are a must (It might sound a little weird but I promise you'll love them).

Chris McArdle

Another great meal as we celebrated their 14th anniversary. Keep up the good work, Peter!

Elise

My favorite date night place in the 5th ward. I've never had a bad dish there and you can try multiple things with the tapa size plates.

Patty Button

Great tapas restaurant, love La Merenda's, the atmosphere is a lot of fun. The food is AMAZING...so many delicious choices on the menu!

Laura Carlson

Excellent service chill atmosphere.

Linda Settler

The marriage of flavors, in an array of small plate samplings, tantalizes the taste buds. La Merenda is a must when entertaining out of town guests.

Joyce Gutilla

Took my brother, a foodie and we were both VERY happy with the service and d food. Service was wonderfully timed and waiter was very knowledgeable (bad on me for not noting his name :/ )

Harvey Kurtz

Taste sensations in every dish. Many new menu items. Great birthday dinner all around.

Kelsey K

Sooo delicious! Great for groups who like trying new things and sharing small plates. Very warm welcoming atmosphere.

Keith Jenkins

Our server Rachel was fantastic! The food was even better can't wait to get back there again

Max Gareau

Such a unique little place. With tapas dishes from 20+ different cuisines, they really manage to pull of something special.

Yoyo Chang

Very good. The pork belly was soooo good!!!

Gary Woodward

The food no matter what we order is always delicious. Never a disappointment.

Lee Ann Knippel

Outstanding lunch & dessert! Reliably delicious. Enjoyed the patio experience

Lakiesha Townsell

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and the wait staff were very pleasant. The food was good but it is a bit pricey.

Henry Thomas

Clean and classy!! Great wine and awesome date location. Food was fresh and delicious.

David Schaefer

Absolutely fabulous food. Try small plates of excellent recipes from all over the world. You won't be disappointed.

Kimberly Hardy

Service was great, food was amazing, drinks were tasty. Cocktails are kinda small for the price.

Julie Johnson

The food was truly exceptional! Excellent service. Charming decor. We would return in a heartbeat.

Karin Conway

Such delicious small plates... Which don't seem that small lately. Always very happy with the wine selection.

Heidi M

Great service, variety of cuisine options, and so tasty. Good portion sizes to share.

James “Brad” Saffell

Excellent food. Loved the empanadas and Argentinian beef. The knockwurst special even had risotto, my favorite!

Devin Fisher

Great food! Definitely try their daily specials and don't forget to save room for dessert.

Yuri Diaz

Friendly staff, great food and the perfect atmosphere for a romantic night :) And it was easy to find parking on the street!

Sharvari Deshpande

Very good food. The butter chicken was better than most Indian restaurants. The dessert was yummy

quilla banks

Had a great time. Very good food and service. Plan on going back 😊 …

Cuau Sandoval

Great dinner restaurant of locally sourced ingredients. Served as small plates, it gives you the opportunity to try several different ones.

David Arnone

Great food and service, always busy and lots of energy. Several reasonably priced wine bottle options.

Cristal Dominguez

I go here every year for my birthday dinner! It's the best! PLEASE bring back that cheese/honey/nut/fruit dessert!

Gregg Wolf

It's always amazing here.

Christopher Roller

Fantastic small plates, great service staff. Come after 730 on a weekend if you don't have a reservation to get a table.

Daniel Harris

This was delicious fun. Nice atmosphere courteous staff. Coming back for more. Ginger beer was tasty too.

T T

Everything on their menu is so good! 10 out of 10!

Wendie

Hadn’t been there in a while and it was so good. The sangria could have been a little stronger considering it was $30/pitcher.

Lawrence Leis

Great variety of foods-all unique and delicious. Great service. Very friendly and efficient staff

Alyssa Delforge

Always feel welcomed and everyone is helpful and so efficient!!!!! I always LOVE the food, just extraordinary in all the good ways.

Chris Mattern

The food ranged from mediocre (the ceviche had almost no fish) to very good (the duck was my favorite dish). Service was bizarre.

KevKev

Amazing tappas sourced from locally-available and seasonal ingredients. The artisianal cocktails are above-and-beyond.

Krystal Kekula

Amazing food! Small plate style. So many things to try! This place always seems full.

Glazer Macgyver

Good eating quality ingredients La Merenda (tv personality voice)

Mary Rogers

Love being able to have several wonderful small meals and not over indulging. Such wonderful, delicious taste sensations.

May Boeder

Great food with local ingredients.

Jeremy Anderson

Great service, loved that it used so much local food, but the taste just wasn't worth the price.

Sandi Kirchen

First time here. Great food and service

Austin Erickson

Quaint, edgy, and just a little loud. I appreciated the mission to serve the community by buying their ingredients locally and the prices were surprisingly fair plus the food was delicious.

Cheryl Andres

A little pricey, but quite a nice experience. Unique menu with delicious foods I'd never tried before!

Chris Gradone

lively, casual spot with a friendly staff, incredible food and drinks. Recommend the guava margarita and 5 spice duck

Ellen Sejkora (Defenderfer)

Delicious tapas but definitely make sure you make a reservation a few days in advance, it's worth the wait though!

Hasina Postlewaite (Sina)

First time here...Great food just make sure they put napkins and silverware in your take out bag

Cameron Bentrott

Great selection of tapas to go along with excellent wine and desserts. Top notch joint.

Alexei Marshakov

Great small plates from the various world cuisines. Outside patio is very relaxing on a warm summer night.

Matthew Boyer

The food was 4/5, but had some of the best dessert I ever had.

Adam Berger

A true favorite in Milwaukee, incredible food, locally sourced everything, and authentic atmosphere with one of MKE's best outdoor spaces.

Patrick Davies

Wonderful plates to share. Each one was delicious. Not inexpensive, but well worth it.

Matt Palomaki

Solid food and excellent service. Building is old and is cinder block building - an upgrade to facilities is why I knocked a star off.

Jessica Sobojinski

The specials were on point tonight - not surprised. Always great food and service! Highly recommend!

Gemlyn George

Love the food. Love the wine list . I ve always had trouble being seated though. 😶 …

Michael Luethe

Amazing food that is consistent everytime I visit. A must try if you haven't and are considering it.

Paige Donaldson

I’m not sure why everyone goes nuts for this place. There are way better tapas places in Milwaukee. Everything I had here was underwhelming and bland.

Gregory Mauldin

Great drinks, outstanding food, and pleasant service. One of my favorite tapas restaurants.

Arnie Gunderson

Local products prepared with skill and love. Wonderful variety on the menu and the wine list.

Gary Clayson

Delicious food and a good drink selection. Small plate style so be prepared to share :)

dave warner

Tapas!!! The Argentine beef is amazing as well as the pork and apple empanadas. The menu is seasonal and international.

Debbie Knee

Delicious food, lots of gluten free options and great service too! Highly recommended!

renee martin

The service, food, and atmosphere were ALL amazing. We went back the next week.

S Joers

Food was great and. Good selection. Service was great

Kerri Justason

Scrumptious food, excellent service & great ambiance!! Very reasonably priced as well!

Marlon Smore

The place was a bit small but their food was excellent. Their service is also exceptional with their nice staff.

Jon Carbon

The tapas from La Merenda are phenomenal! It's no wonder this place is constantly rated as one of the best in the city!

Nate Broadbridge

This place is incredible. Great service and fantastic food. A must for anyone who loves tapas! Love this place

Brian Green

Inspired dishes, many gluten free options, charming, service, farm-to-table. So good!

Tarek ElGammal

Quite cool place with tasty tapas! Looking forward to the patio in summer

Ray Forgianni

good, locally sourced food, not outstanding but solid. Nice white list & wines priced affordably.

Evgen Lostrikov

Great grilled food and tapas.Great atmosphere and friendly staff.We enjoyed beer and tapas a lot.

Kayla Wheeler

Awesome place, nice tapas and drink menu. Service wasn't half bad either

Prakash Vedarajan

Good international tapas. I was skeptic when I walked in initially, but I was glad I tried this restaurant. I will definitely be back.

Dave Bloedorn

Great tapas. The shrimp and pork tostadas were awesome.

Erin Pearson

First time here. Food was amazing. Smaller restaurant. Great for dinner for 2.

Nevina

The food is amazingly delicious! One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee.

Ed Price

Just awesome... great food and service. Menu is fresh and local. Dont miss this place

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