Reviews of Tess. (Restaurant) in Milwaukee (Wisconsin).

Tess

361 Reviews

224 Comments

Restaurant

New American restaurant

2499 N Bartlett Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States

Description

Information of Tess, Restaurant in Milwaukee (Wisconsin)

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

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

Map

Open hours of Tess

Reviews of Tess

Montana Krukowski

Definitely go enjoy a meal here. $$/$$$ prices but portions were fulfilling. We wanted to try somewhere new and we’re headed for Original but saw the patio across the street and glad we changed plans. Service was so PLEASANT and the outdoor space was really cute. Food was some of the best I’ve had in Milwaukee. Steak in the mushroom and wine reduction was so good I asked for more bread (also delicious) to sop up the leftover juices. My friend got the ravioli and I stole a couple extra bites from his plate. Honorable mention goes to the neighborhood setting of the location. Vibe and atmosphere was perfect for casual conversations/small celebrations/nice meal with old friends/date night.

Jayna Marie

Definitely A hidden spot on the east side. The cioppino was out of this world! Mussels were super fresh, sauces were absolutely delish. We also shared a well put together Mediterranean salad with a citrus vinaigrette. Not to mention the flourless chocolate cake and butterscotch pudding was the highlight of my day. 10/10 would recommend especially those with gluten allergies the waitress and cook was super accommodating! they also have a very good wine list!

Ryan Barnard

Cute and cozy place just off Oakland Avenue on the upper east side. The food was excellent and the beer list was great too. Our server was fantastic; knowledgeable about the menu, very friendly, and the perfect amount of attentive. I would be happy to eat at Tess again and again.

John Pires

Food and drinks are very good. Plenty of space in a nice outdoor patio. Really a nice spot.

Christina Moreno

One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee, hands-down. It is such a cozy atmosphere and the food is always amazing! The service is great and we feel welcomed all the time. I cannot wait to visit again whenever we are in Milwaukee!

Dan Turpin

My wife and I went for a dinner date after being gifted a certificate for Tess as a wedding present. I am amazed we had never been before. Such fine food tucked away just off of Oakland on the eastside. I highly recommend Tess.

T M

This is my 4th time dining at Tess, and the experience was as good as ever. The location, atmosphere, service, drinks and food are all top notch. Living out of state, we put Tess at the top of our list of dining venues to patronize when we are in Milwaukee.

Lauren Selingo

Absolutely fantastic experience eating here! The staff was friendly and didn't rush us with the meal; the food was great and the wine list was varied and large. We would absolutely eat here again!

Coach Cole

Just excellent food. Great atmosphere, staff is on point. Great for couples looking to have a nice evening out. Make reservations they are busy and only open certain hrs in the evening. Highly recommend

Next_Gen_ GT

Food was amazing, well worth the price and then some. 100% will be back.

Rae Piette

Beautiful outdoor seating area--we didn't know we'd be dining outdoors so I didn't bring a jacket or sweater. Luckily, they have a basket of fleece blankets by the door if you find yourself in the same situation! The food was just incredible. The fresh bread served when you are seated is fresh out of the oven, nice and warm to melt the butter! I highly recommend the carnitas (pork) taquitos for an appetizer, but rest assured anything you eat will be delicious. Each dish we ordered had a perfect balance of flavors. Pair it with a groupon for an AMAZING value!

Brandon Hernandez

First time going to a fine dining restaurant like this and I definitely wasn't disappointed! I had the crispy brussel sprouts as an appetizer and I swear it was the best I've ever had! The entree I had was the San Francisco seafood plate and the scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful along with everything else on the plate. Only complaint is that I wish there was more scallops 🤤😂 5/5

Elmoore Audain

Would I dine here again? - No For $$$ restaurant, there is not enough attention to detail. The entrees were barely warm enough to eat - didn't finish. If you go, sit outside, the interior feels like a basement and smells like air fresheners.

Alek Waters

A very nice family restaurant, great service and tasty foods. Been there a few times, always enjoyed my experience

Nicole Iding

We just visited Tess again for our wedding anniversary, and it was absolutely wonderful as always. The ambiance and service was phenomenal and the food was delicious and cooked perfectly. We've been coming here for 10 years and there has never been a time we left disappointed, I definitely recommend checking them out!

Lovely Miya

I enjoyed my meal and would definitely eat here again! I don't usually like quinoa but all the different flavors in my dish was very tasty.

Bre Bre

Food was delicious and service was on point. We sat outside, could have been a little more soft light areas but no biggie.

Mark Przybylski

Outstanding food, service and atmosphere. The only issue is trying to decide on one entree! So many great options, we’ve yet to leave underwhelmed.

Sarah Stockel-Bounyavong

One of our favorite staple East side restaurants. The first moment you step in, you feel transported to Europe. Quaint/pic perfect in general, lovely patio with even some heated patio seating & fine art - all wrap the fabulous food into a unique dining experience. The food is always exceptional and of the highest quality. The drink menu is great, wine and cocktail drinkers will be pleased. Great for dates, celebrations or just a week night dinner just because!

abhishek mishra

Small cozy place. We tried the duck meat - It was really good. The blueberry jam that it was paired with, added a very special flavor to it. Slightly expensive.

A. Sasley

Really loved the food. Everything was a bit oversalted though, but still good.

Ian Addison

Nice spot! Very quaint with a small cozy atmosphere. Definitely seems like they have their regulars. Semi-rotating menu so should always be on the fresher side. Duck was stellar - wouldn't bother getting the parfait as it wasn't anything special.

Tammy harlow

Food was amazing. Very small place but very inviting.

James Riemann

Great food and drinks, service tonite was a bit slow, but a pleasant experience nonetheless!

Joshua “Josh” Zimmer

Pretty rad! this refurbished bar is full of oddball art, closely packed - elegant linen covered tables (on the inside, too chilly for patio service so I can't speak on that) and a bizarre but charming music selection. The service was fantastic, sadly I do not remember our servers name but cheers to her, she was helpful with recommendations and knowledgeable about the menu, on top of being pleasant! The food was incredible, our server recommended latin styled dishes as the head chef hails from Mexico City, we stuck to this and we're not disappointed. It's not cheap, but the price of admission is well worth the quality experience you'll find in dinner at Tess. Until next time!

Jacquie Romain

Excellent food! The chef is very creative. The menu offers a nice variety of unique, some unusual dishes. The back patio had a nice ambience and the service was great! We also liked the beer and wine offerings with some special local craft brews. The Turmeric Blackberry dessert was great!

Michael Engel

We don't eat here often enough, but when we do, it's always a treat. It's clear that Tess, like all the restaurants in the City of Milwaukee, has done their best to sort through all the various and mixed COVID restrictions and mandates, leaning on their outdoor space and more or less clearing out the interior. The menu seems to be shrunk from what it once was, which I mean as a compliment because it's a recognition that with the shortage of labor and difficulty of finding steady sources of high-quality product, it's better to do fewer things that can then be executed well... ...which is exactly what we experienced on the night we were there. The food was terrific, as was the service. The wine list remains well thought out, with a number of bottles that are underpriced for the quality. If you haven't been here in a while, you'll do well to just relax, accept that it's different in some ways, but the same in all the most important ones.

Amy S

Hmmm, been going here for years now as one of our favorite places. The last few times quality seems to have taken a step or two done. Of course at first experience like this we tried again, a few times, because everybody is entitled to an off night. Unfortunately there seems to be a pattern not sure we'll be back. Filet ordered by husband definitely didn't look like a filet cut and it was hard to cut through even with steak knife; ordered medium rare, it should cut like butter. He also ordered double potatoes, didn't receive, but did get charged despite pointing out to waitress. The sides accompanying my duck tasted great but were cold. When reported to waitress she said they were supposed to be that way....ummmm, I don't think so... And finally the fatal service flaw, no water refills

Mike “MapleMan”

Our go to place for special events, out of town guests, birthdays, etc. Friendly staff, very good food, small menu But Nice selections and very good preparation. And we prefer the mid week, early time, before any crowd that may arrive.

Tess Maile

Had to go there since my name is Tess. I went there on the weekend with my boyfriend and we both had a great experience. Our server (i feel like her name was sarah but at the same time im forgetful) was amazing, was always smiling, seemed she loved to be working there, and reacted great with our humor. We especially loved the mussels and with all the entrees we were definitely full and satisfied when we left. We got the Butterscotch Budino dessert togo and even eating it a day later of it sitting in my fridge it was one of the best desserts ive ever had and couldnt imagine how even better it wouldve tasted fresh to our table.

Bruce Heilbrun

Brittany provided great service and accommodated a few minor substitutions. The broiled fish was served burned on one side and uncooked on the other,, the result was a dry fish dinner. My pork tenderloin was outstanding!

Kyle McHugh

Quaint, personal, romantic. Three words to describe the dining experience at Tess. My date and I had the onion tart, which was decadent for all cheese lovers. Each had out own pasta which is all made from scratch. She had a white sauce and I had a red sauce pasta. Both were tremendous. Highly recommend this spot for a date.

Elizabeth V.

Wow! Returned to Tess after too long a time, looking forward to dining on their secluded patio. We were rewarded tremendously. Kind and attentive service, fine foods, garden atmosphere -- and such special dishes! Most notably the crab cakes, grilled Faroe Island salmon, and caramel budino were heavenly. Yes to Tess!

Aditya Karandikar

One of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee! Excellent, well-prepared dishes with complimentary fresh bread brought out beforehand. Been here several times and am always impressed. Feel like the kitchen had really taken time and thought into envisioning and making the food. Most of the menu seems appetizing to me, which is rare. The service is friendly, accommodating, and helpful. I always appreciate when waitstaff can assist with your decision making or provide some meaningful input. The atmosphere is a touch more formal but there is also a casual area at the front of the restaurant. Tess is definitely not cheap. I would say priced on the higher end of reasonable for what you get with the overall experience. It won't break the bank if you're a young professional or more established but probably won't be somewhere you can frequent regularly if money is still fairly tight.

Sarah Johnson

The steak was the best I've had in years. The crab cake was fresh and packed with flavor. Their wait staff was attentive and kind. The ambiance was cozy and intimate. The chocolate flourless cake was decadent and rich. It was the best dinner I've had in Milwaukee in 10 years.

Jane Mendelblatt

Had a wonderful meal at Tess last night. Wonderful meal... The onion tart was delicious for starters and the rest of the meal was just as good. We dined on the patio which was lovely and relaxing and or wait staff server was perfect. Always enjoy my evenings at Tess.

Jenn Nowak

Great place. I never heard of it and we had a group of 12 for a birthday. We sat outside in their beautiful fenced off garden area it it was really pretty. The food was all good and they had a diverse menu with something for everyone and the crab cakes were the best I've had anywhere. Wish the desserts were a little better but they were fine and I'm pretty picky. I would highly recommend for a quaint casual dinner, especially if it's nice out.

Callie Murphy

Hands down, best dining and culinary experience I’ve had in Milwaukee. The team was incredibly helpful, fun and detail oriented. The Barracuda fish, mussels and homemade bread were to die for. Already can’t wait to come back!

Auria Rivera-Garrett

The service was excellent. The fried chicken was good but wasn’t anything spectacular. The spaetzle tasted like bland macaroni and cheese. The crab cake was pretty good. The creme Brulee was really good. The flavor of the week was cinnamon. Beautiful presentation. I would definitely go back but would order something else.

Makarios Masoad

Food is very average. Not worth the money you spend on it. A place with the same cost and better food would be Odd Duck. Otherwise, the place is small. The workers are nice, but the kitchen is very close to all the tables, you can hear the yelling and whatever goes on in there.

Michael Jandora

This place is worth what you're paying for. The selection of beers is great. They had a beer from 2016 which was being aged. The seafood dishes are what we stuck to for the night and it was great. We ate outside, where there were minimal bugs. It's a dimly lit backyard converted into a nice little courtyard with tables spaced out enough to not feel like you're eavesdropping on someone or vise versa. Great spot to impress a date!

Peter Sukus

I had high expectations so maybe this isn't completely fair. My food was good but, it was not blowing me away for what I got. I feel I could have spent 5-7 dollars less (my meal was $26) and been much happier overall. I tried my girlfriend's special fish order and I was horrified as was she. She took a chance and did not come out ahead let's say. Dessert was ok but again seemed a bit inflated for what it ultimately was.

Luc Benavides

Amazing food served by an attentive staff and a very welcoming atmosphere.

Keith Bright

Absolutely Awesome! My wife and I have been to Tess many times. Every time it's great. Service is awesome, food is awesome and the restaurant is awesome. Tess has fantastic food. The Entre's are always so well prepared. The Appetizers always taste fabulous. What a awesome experience! Just went again in July 28th 2017 and man this place is like a slice of heaven. The shrimp dish is divine. Service is flawless and the ambience outside is like being in another world. Boy do we love this place!

B M

Tess, located in the Riverwest area of Milwaukee, boasts a seasonal menu and a fish fry that will definitely satisfy the Friday crowd. Food: My wife started out with the steamed mussels, and I chose the Bison Tostada. Both were very flavorful, especially the bison tostada. Also, portion sizes were quite big for the cost. We both chose the Panko Breaded Lake Perch for our meals. Admittedly, I am no connoisseur of fish fries as I usually shy away from seafood from restaurants that don’t specialize in seafood. That said, we both really enjoyed it. The Asian slaw was a great contrast to the fish, and the homemade tartar sauce was really good. Overall, very pleased Atmosphere: Your account may vary, but we sat out on their back patio, on a nice day, so that was hard to beat. The actual restaurant is very cozy and quite. I’d liken it to Pasta Tree, or many other small local restaurants. Service: Staff was great! Our bartender was very nice, and the hostess was able to sit us early which was very kind. My score: 8/10. Would definitely recommend for a small party of people. Location and parking can be a bit of an issue, but overall a cute place for date night.

Nikki Elizabeth

We had a Groupon and it was only a few blocks away so we decided to check it out. AMAZING. We were walking around the night before and poked our heads in to make a reservation for the next night (because the Groupon was only valid Friday and Saturday). We requested an outside table. The next evening the hostess remembered us by name and had a table in the indoor heated patio set aside for us because it was much colder out than we had anticipated. This is just the first example of excellent service. Then it came time for the meal. Oh my goodness. The food was simply fantastic. The meat was tender and cooked to perfection. The side dishes and sauces were seasoned so well that they not only complimented the meat, but also stood out on their own. Incredible. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an incomparable meal in Milwaukee.

Bob Burke

Food was very good. Waitress was attentive, but kitchen was a bit slow Because they were busy. Next time I'd order an appetizer as well.

Emilio Dlism

The server was very knowledgeable about the menu and was able to answer a lot of our questions about the menu. Per everyone's recommendation, we ordered the steamed mussel as our appetizer. I would say this is the best appetizer decision I have ever made! There were at least 2 dozens of mussels in that plate.

Dylan

Absolutely stellar food and service. Well worth the price. The Duck was out of this world as was the Onion Tart, Corn Bisque and the Sea Bass Special.

Doris Fonseca

Wonderful service. Small and cozy restaurant. Food was fine, nothing too special. Not worth coming back.

Harris Connell

They have new, amazing specials every day. Their salads and sandwiches are top notch. Their staff are the best people in the entire world. They have a fridge filled with delicious drinks. They're pretty dang quick for how busy they are. I love this place.

Pete Wahlen

It was our third time there. We seem to go there about every 18 months. I don't know why, it's cozy, the help is great, the portions are ideal, and very favorable. Maybe, because parking on the east side streets can be a challenge, also getting a table in this neighborhood bistro. I don't think anyone could go wrong dining here.

Natalie

Tess is the most underrated restaurant in Milwaukee. The food consistently impresses. Flavorful and well-crafted, every meal I have had at Tess has been a dream. The ravioli and butterscotch budino, in particular, are to die for. It's a cozy, simple space that reminds me of European restaurants where the food is more important than flashy decor. In the summer, they have a lovely patio area as well.

D Haban

Wow, what a great experience! They have a very comfortable indoor seating area as well as outdoor seating in their patio area. The staff is incredibly friendly and efficient. Definitely a nice, hand picked team ... you can tell they have standards when hiring. Tess also has a large variety of whiskeys and bourbons to compliment their impressive drink menu. We even saw and tried an excellent organic white wine. We started our meals off with their Corned Beef Croquettes. I have to say that this is an excellent combination of the classic croquette and delicious corned beef. I think the sauces that come with the croquettes could use a little work, but the appetizer in its whole is just a great way to start an initial experience there. As for entrees, we ordered the San Francisco Cioppino along with the Puffed Rice Bowl - Chicken. Well, both entrees we're finished completely as they were so go. You can tell that a lot of care was put into everything including where they order their ingredients, how they designed each entree and how much care was placed into the cooking of each item. The seafood and tomato components of the Cioppino were all spot on. Generous portions of mussels, shrimp, scallops and a large piece of salmon are perfectly cooked and added to a light tomato based sauce. So perfectly good. The Puffed Rice Bowl was clever and delicious. The poblano pepper adds a nice, light spicy tone to the tomatillo flavors in the pesto. All together, the dish is just all around perfect. We have our favorite spots in Milwaukee and Tess will now be on that list. Delicious!

Mitch Nelles

We had a fantastic birthday dinner here. I always enjoy the atmosphere and the food. The outdoor area is one of the best in the city

Emily S

We had an enjoyable evening on our first visit to Tess. The space is welcoming and pleasant, with a cozy and adorable patio that feels like it might be a friend’s backyard. The service was great, and the food was good. As craft beer lovers, we were impressed with the selection available – anything from the more accessible New Glarus Moon Man to a handful of delicious and harder to find barrel aged options. For an appetizer, we chose the Steamed Mussels. The coconut milk and chipotle broth was fantastic; this was probably our favorite of the evening. The hint of spice was perfect, and the freshly baked bread was just the thing to soak up the extra broth. As our entrees, I had the Crispy Frenched Chicken Breast while my significant other tried the San Francisco Cioppino. The chicken breast was good, although I was expecting more of a cheddar taste from the sharp cheddar spaetzle, and felt like it was almost a little mustard-y. He enjoyed the spaetzle sauce slightly more than I did. The vegetables that accompanied were done perfectly. The Cioppino was also tasty, and had a really nice serving of the seafood included. The scallops, salmon, and mussels were all cooked well, although we both agreed the shrimp was overdone and a little chewy; probably because it was sitting in the hot marinara sauce. It was a good dish, although the marinara almost took away from the seafood as it was a little overpowering. The portion sizes for everything were solid, especially the steamed mussels starter. We used a Groupon for our visit, so that helped, however I would say this would be a good treat yourself/date night restaurant as it was somewhat pricey. I think when we return it will probably be for the patio, appetizers, and the excellent beer list, not a full dinner. It was an enjoyable experience and I would recommend checking Tess out, but be prepared to spend $100 for dinner and a couple of drinks for two.

Jason Hochstatter

We went here for a romantic evening and had a table outside. We were there at 8pm on a Friday The ambience was fantastic. The patio felt very secluded, and was very romantic. The service was great, everything that I would have expected, and our waitress was great. The food was expertly prepared with close attention to detail. The bread was very warm when they brought it to our table, and came with a specialty olive oil. The bison tostadas were served cold with coleslaw. I was surprised they were cold, but it turned out to be perfect. This was one of the best tostadas I've ever had. The entrées looked amazing, and tasted even better. I had the mussels, shrimp, and salmon in a marinara sauce, and I would definitely order it again. Everything was cooked just right, and the sauce was perfect for the dish. We shared the flourless chocolate cake with coffee flavored frozen for dessert. It was designed to be like doughnuts and coffee, and if real doughnuts and coffee tasted like that, I'd be eating them every day. This place was awesome for a romantic night out, I can't wait to be back.

Dean Schuetze

One of the finer restaurants in Milwaukee. Small menu that changes frequently. Cozy indoor space that is very comfortable. Nice bar seating if you are alone. The patio is great for summer dinning.

Tanner D.

Social distancing was good, service was great, food was delicious, steak was a little over done, but the salmon was perfect! Girlfriend had an excellent birthday dinner.

david pankiewicz

Great place for an outdoor dining experience in August. We normally don't do an appetizer, main course and desert but we couldn't pass up all of the great options. Great tart, special ribs and sauce, ravioli, and flourless chocolate cake.

Brooke Gilbertson

Just got curbside takeout for dinner. Highly recommend the Korean Fried Chicken - so good! Pick up was easy and felt very safe. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself while supporting a local business.

John Peck

Went for drinks after church up the street. My wife and friends enjoyed their cocktails and bought more "City Tins" from the helpful bartenders. I had an Imperial Mexican Lager from Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis, which I found out from my son who lives there that my daughter had last weekend when visiting him...of course he suggested Dad would like it and to bring some home for him but....too much to carry when hitting a bunch of taprooms and distilleries, ha!

gavin rice

Great food and service! The menu is set up in courses, and if you’re hungry I recommend ordering from all 3. We shared from the 1st and 2nd courses, had our own 3rd and own desserts, and were well fed but not stuffed. Plus it’s a good excuse to try more things 😊 …

Steve Wellenstein

The food was fantastic, the service was great. My only wish was that the patio would have been open, but rain does that. I am just going to have to suffer and go back again when it is open, enjoying the food, service and outdoor ambiance.

Mike Neubauer

The food is incredibly here. The service is great and it has nice atmosphere. I always look forward to coming here and will continue to eat here whenever I have the chance.

Scott Conrad

This has, and always will be one of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. The service and food NEVER disappoint - this is about as well run of a food operation as you'll find in Milwaukee. Bring a Groupon if you can :)

Trent Nimmo

Absolutely fabulous. Feels like a little hidden secret. I personally think Milwaukee has the best restaurants in WI but Tess is a definite must-try. Highly recommend.

Peter Georgson

What a treat! The meal was so flavorful and so well balanced. The roast pork tenderloin was excellent with the roasted golden beets & chickpeas. Our server Roxanna was fabulous!

Beth Neptune

Excellent service, nice wine list, interesting menu.

Robert M

We hadn't been to Tess in many years, but tonight we returned and gave it another try. It was very good. The crab cake app could have used more crab, but it was very flavorful. The pea salad was fine, but was kind of dry (could have been dressed a bit more), and the fennel could have been more thinly sliced. The barramundi entree was delicious, though the black garlic sauce, cilantro pesto, and shishito peppers competed against each other in the flavor department. The marlin was excellent; the best dish of the bunch. We enjoyed a bottle of verdicchio, and our server (Roxanne) was outstanding.

Michael Rodriguez

Best tasting food in Milwaukee. Try to get on the beer and dinner pairings. The menu is completely customized and delicious. Great value. Mitchell is very polite and great. Martin is an amazing chef.

Eric Nutting

I had the Red Sorghum Paella with shrimp and mussels and was rather disappointed in it, while our appetizer and other food choices were great. In the paella the green peas tasted like they were from a can, there was only one slice of generic black olive in the entire dish (described by the menu as "kalamata olives"), the shrimp were overcooked, and the mussels were fishy and otherwise bland.

Lori Nashban

Charming outdoor dining area. Food was excellent. We had a Barrunda fish with a chimichurri sauce and SeaBass with a chutney. Both were flavorful and the presentation was great. Also had the flourless chocolate cake with coffee ice cream for dessert, delicious!

Meagan Hess

The food was very good and the outdoor seating was great, but the service was slow. We waited quite a while to place our order and to receive our food. Overall, we still had a nice experience.

Jon Tesch

Amazing food and beer selection. One of the best restaurants in the Milwaukee area. We have been going there for a few years and everything we have ever tried is delicious. Keep up the great work.

C. Ray

Very tasty! I had three courses and would have eaten more, it was that good. Price point is in line with service and quality of food so no complaints.

Christian Acosta

Hands down best 'fancy' (if you could even call it that) restaurant in Milwaukee. The wait staff is always on point. They remember my wife's allergic reactions by just her name when we sign up (or show up) for dinner. Good choice of drinks, and the food can't be beat. Ask to get on the list for beer dinners! They are the best. Usually five rounds of food with each round coming with a special beer pairing. They feature a different brewery every beer dinner.

Justin Fermenich

Had a lovely new years dinner takeout. Before the pandemic this was a regular stop every couple of months. The food is always creative without being pretentious.

Ben Garnatz

Always amazing food and wonderful service. Dining at Tess is a real treat. They really knocked it out of the park tonight with the chocolate bread pudding.

Hartmut Marschall

I love this place. We were sitting at their heated patio. Great food and very friendly service. Will definitely go back.

Conrad Magalis

We decided to stop by Tess while on vacation in Milwaukee. My date and I ordered the bleu cheese, pancetta and apple tart, along with steamed mussels for starters. We split the duck leg confit for the main. We enjoyed all of the courses, especially the mussels and the tart. The duck was also cooked perfectly (maybe a bit less sauce would be my only critique). Portion sizes were just right -- we left feeling satisfied, but not overfilled. Service was good and the atmosphere was down-to-earth. I'd recommend going there for an intimate night out.

E Will

Our first time there - The wait staff was really nice and we couldn't have asked for a better evening to dine out on their patio. Service was excellent and they have really great bread.

Remonda Ippolite

Highly recommend. Food and service are outstanding

Jamie Kivisto

My fish was way way over cooked, I had to use a steak knife to cut. The place smelled so bad, like mold and stale cigarettes. Not worth the money. The wine list was also not impressive.

Joshua Sheeran

Tess is hands down one of my favorite spots in MKE. It is definitely a hidden gem. The food is always incredible, and they have the service to match.

Jeremy Anderson

Good food, great service, pleasant atmosphere. The oldies music didn't really jive. Without the Groupon it would have been quite expensive though.

Alex Brown chicken brown cow

While we were hoping to spend the night on the patio, we didnt make a reservation on a friday night. No big deal our bartender was fantastic. The food is excellent. Would 100% stop again

Jennifer DeSandre

Truly loved the server we had. Great draft selection, food was amazing and outdoor atmosphere was great. Had a wonderful evening there!

Tyler Rudzinski

One of those small restaurants that makes you feel fancy enough but drains your bank account. Food was incredibly tasty. Everything I had there was full of flavor.

Andy Ware

Tess has great food, great service and excellent beer choices. My wife has a gluten intolerance and she loves the number of choices at Tess. We have yet to have anything but a great experience at Tess.

Christianne Varela

Always pleased with our experience at Tess. Kind, welcoming and delicious.

Philip Kassner

Absolutely first class. Wonderful food and relaxing atmosphere.

Brian Wolf

Carry out from Tess was terrific. Every salad, entree and dessert we had was first-rate. And, they deliver! Highly recommended.

Michael Mosesson

This restaurant not only offers good food, nice presentations, and excellent service, but the ambiance is delightful.

Arrcee X

Excellent beef tenderloin with truffled wild mushroom and red wine sauce, butter mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. Very good house wine.

Brittany Johns

A bit disappointed with the quality of the food for the price. I ordered a salad and the chicken, neither of which I'd make another trip for... My dining partner seemed to love the soup special though!

Morgan Siwicki

Amazing food and nice outdoor seating. The barramundi was incredible. I can't wait to tell more of my friends to come here. Would absolutely go back again!

Capricious Christine

All of their food has been delicious, however, if you g Have the opportunity to try their Mahi Mahi for supper, go for it! It is out of this world!!! A definite must!

R May

Rack of lamb was great, so was frenched chicken but the sauce for the ravioli was laced with too much hot sauce and ended up too spicy.

brian santner

Our server was awesome! Delicious food and east side atmosphere. We enjoyed

Justin V

Fantastic hidden gem in Milwaukee- quaint atmosphere and wonderfully prepared food that is evidently driven by quality ingredients and technique for a cost lower than would be expected for this cuisine.

Karie Clement

The food is great--I had the mahi mahi special and it was to die for. The service was good. She was friendly, but I remember our server the first time we were there and she was awesome.

Tom Jahn

Awesome food here as always. We don't get down here as much as we should, since the food is so good. As always the creme brulee is out of this world.

Erik Kasabuske

We did curbside pickup yesterday and had the mole crusted pork tenderloin. Amazing meal and value and the curbside pickup was flawless.

Jasna Coralic

Amazing food and a great atmosphere. Good drinks as well!

Mark Marzion

My wife and I came here for dinner after The Lakefront Festival of Arts. We sat outside on the patio. EVERYTHING about our experience was wonderful. Would highly recommend!

Paul Bachowski

The food is always fantastic. Try the special for flavors that put a smile on your face. I have never gone wrong coming here.

Josh Lee

Fantastic food all made from scratch. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great meal at a decent price.

Candice Sprenzel

Such fresh seafood....Homemade ravioli is the best I've EVER had...And SO many gluten free options...Def my FAV restaurant! Love the staff too!

Evan Knapp

A very nice little classy romantic restaurant. Smaller but when great ambience and awesome food. Definitely worth a try for date night.

Freund Carmen

Wonderful food quiet small intimate ....staff excellent... reccomended by the owners of Triskele's

Joshua Sheeran

I love Tess! It's easily one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. The food is always incredible!

Erik Christianson

Intimate setting with great food and service. One of my favorites.

Marty Wegner

Excellent food, great atmosphere, a very enjoyable experience. We are definitely returning in the near future.

Scott Zimmerman

Food and service are consistantly very good. Really enjoy dining on the outdoor patio in the summer.

Ashanti Cook

The service was wonderful and the portions sufficient. I had the rack of lamb, which was served rare and was a bit rubbery, but flavorful.

Ross Heintzkill

Fantastic food, lovely seating area, good staff. Very worth a trip - fantastic menu.

Kanteisau Johnson

Excellent! Great wine, crab cakes, salad and chicken. My wife enjoyed everything she had as well!

Dan LeTendre

Romantic, old-school vibes; Great quality fine dinning; Less expensive than most places of similar quality; Top notch patio.

Renee Thimm

Eat here about once month. Food is always food. Love the groupon discount.

Dwight J.

Great wine list, well priced. Fun creative food, served well. Had Ramps in season, impressive.

Gwen Addison

Service was very nice. Green beans need to be sauteed longer. Atmosphere nice. I would go back

Andrea Cockerham

Lovely European atmosphere. Creative, tasty food. Excellent service.

Cynthia Davy

Delicious food, but the environment was stuffy. It was a great date night for individuals decades older than us.

Nancy Resto

Attentive service & delicious food. Nicely paced.. Didn't feel rushed as we do elsewhere

Aidan Raidy

I'm often next door to Tess so I'm just reviewing so I stop getting asked to review by Google. My girlfriend lives next door and she's pretty cool so 5 stars.

Jeff Cavanaugh

Great food, good service, and the best low key patio in the city!

Lara Hau

Not officially open yet. The dish that I think is pork belly is absolutely spectacularly delightful. The hospitality was impressive.

Jill Robertson

Great local restaurant that serves creative dishes and is friendly to those who are gluten intolerant. Great outdoor patio and good service!

Alexei Marshakov

Great cosy restaurant in residential neighborhood north of downtown Milwaukee delivering expertly cooked and presented food. Highly recommended

Tony Gierke

Amazing food. Great pricing. Will absolutely be back!

Car Pac

Thy best mussels, in town! Great service and atmosphere! Highly recommended.. .

Ron Kral

Our waitress was very helpful, knowledgeable and attentive. Wonderful addition to an excellent meal.

Matt Harr

Very nice meal and staff. I had the rack of lamb. Really enjoyed.

Vickie Dominski

Service and food was outstanding. This was our first visit to Tess and we will definitely be back.

dee

great server, quality food. Soup great but not hot. Dangerous entryway and dark entrance.

Dori Tos

It was amazing! Great service. Awesome food. So over all a great experience.

Kevin Paprocki

Tucked away location with fantastic food. Try one of their beer dinners; they're beyond incredible.

Samuel Wos

Amazing neighborhood resturant, solid menu and great drinks! A must visit if you are in the area.

ben long

Was excellent! Food was perfection.

John S. Rowland

What a great little resturant. Very nice menu, great preparation , and service. ate outside and a very nice patio

David Redjinski

Sat at the bar & almost preferred it. Fast service & very knowledgeable bar tender.

Brian Smith

Great food, great atmosphere and excellent wait staff. Will definitely be going back.

Rebecca Hasler

Beautifully plated food and delicious! Would definitely go back

Kurt Meyers

Very good service food was very good waitress ? Rocksann was very good though out are stay we will return again.

Sheryl Leonard-Schneck

Loved it! Cozy, quiet and great food. The bison tostados were awesome

Hannah Pringle

The duck was absolutely amazing as well as the appetizers. The wait staff was also very responsive and friendly

brian peters

Service was very good, nice atmosphere. I had the special which was a red fish very tasty.

vesna pikelja

Great good and service

Boris Sherman

Good food, friendly atmosphere.

Chanel Chanel

Lovly place if I could afford it I would it here once a way...Howevere every dollar is worth the visit ...Great food and people!!!!

Julia Dorn

It was okay. Came here with a Groupon. Restaurant was beautifully decorated though.

Jake Meinnert

Best date night experience. Customer service was very welcoming. Love it.

Arlensiu Garcia Novelli

Loved the raviolis! Great place for a Romantic night. Order the mussels!!!!

Rose Winter

Love little out of the way places in a neighborhood. Super outdoor dining and great food.

Greg Nagel

Food was great, atmosphere was a bit too loud.

Julia Sterzinger

Excellent food and it is consistent. I go there about once every 3 months.

Sarah Streicher

Great food!

Steve Brown

Wonderful patio, best dinner I have had in MKE

Dave Blader

Nice place. Enjoyed the fish fry. Good atmosphere.

David Bresnahan

Just a great meal, had some super craft beer also.

Robin Dominski

Great Valentines Day Dinner. Food and service was perfect

TJ Sopoci

Fantastic ambience mixed with delicious food and great beers. What more can you ask for?

Steve Thoms

Nice and cozy. Food was very good and the service was impeccable.

Christian Lucchetti

One of my absolute favorite places to dine at for dinner.

Eric Thompson

Great cuisine. Will definitely visit again.

Patti Sherman-Cisler

Always wonderful. Terrific seafood. Cozy. Great service

Robert Snow

Super menu...fresh and creative...nice wine selection

Geneva Felder

Food and service was great. Will definitely return.

Paul Rosowski

Intimate, great service and food. Sea Bass was outstanding!

Todd Dominski

Fantastic fresh food and superiour service. Will be back again and again.

Shelley Carpenter

Amazing food. Cozy space. Great service.

C H

Awesome restaurant, great staff, great food.

Benjamin Hynes

Had a great experience. Good service and great food!

Andrew Abrahamson

Great food, service, and beer selection

John Holtz

Great food. I proposed to my wife here.

Muriel Mullen-Burkart

I love the patio and the food is great.

Steven Johnson

Great food, great service and great atmosphere.

Carlo DeSando III

Excellent food. Took a little time to get it from the kitchen

Grant Beardsley

Servers, waitress, food and drinks were great.

Natalia Woehl

Great meal! Delish chocolate cake!

Olas

Great for date night or too enjoy with friends.

David Jordan

Off the beaten path. Good food .... great patio

Elliott George

Amazing Amazing food....super friendly service...

Jim McNulty

Quaint location, great service, excellent food.

Charlie Drummond

Excellent food and exceptional service!!!

David Reber

Great Perch Friday Fish Fry!

Ed Kutz

Great food and service. Thanks to the entire staff.

Jeanne Burkart

Always great food and service!

Gerard Capell

Excellent as usual, love the patio.

Sharon Kay Beyer

Fabulous!

Rafael Hidalgo

Great food, friendly people

Tommy Beier

To be honest, it didn't stick out in my memories.

Matt Craib

Great food and beverage list.

Peggy

Excellent food with impeccable service!

Anthony Erba

Love the beer pairing dinners!

Jared Scholz

My favorite place, incredible good, outstanding service

troy hanley

Great food, great staff

Michael Polacek

Excellent food in a cozy setting

Joyce Frievalt

The best.

Terry Schulz

Great group of people here!

M Nasgowitz

Nice beer and food paring.

Danny Duenas

Great food and service!

Reed Thomas

This place is always fantastic!

Patrice Smith

three words, fried oyster bruschetta.

Mehgan

Cinnamon creme brulee 👍🏽 …

Marlon Davis

Very quaint..good food

Kevin Timm

You'll get exactly what you're looking for here

Bradley McManus

Beer dinners are a must!

Dönnerssön Penna

Great place!

TIM JACKSON

Great drinks and food

Diane Berndt

Awesome, as usual.

Adilene Havinga

Amazing as always!!

Tom Poulakos

Cioppino was wonderful

Robert S

Awesome

Chris Geiger

Phenomenal food!!

Mary Stoker Smith

Just lovely!

Tony Berger

Hard to beat

Paul Burzynski

Excellent!

Abid Hossain

Good place.

Penny Oquendo Fulsom

Angeles Arias

(Translation) Very good salads very tasty meals (Original) Muy buenas las ensaladas las comidas muy ricas

Keith Wischer

Bill Rice

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