Mamie’s Tavern

Last year I saw Mamie’s Tavern featured on an episode of Around the Corner with John McGivern about Silver City on Milwaukee Public Television, and bookmarked Mamie’s for future reference.
While heading home from Mayfair, we were looking for someplace to grab a bite for lunch and ended up close enough to Maimie’s that it popped up on my Unilocal search, so we headed there.
The current owner has been there close to 34 years. Inside you will find antique pedal cars hanging from the ceiling, several old lighted signs, a parquet-​topped bar and an Art Deco-​styled back bar. There’s a pay phone off in the corner, and there were some baskets of popcorn available.
They didn’t have a food menu, but there was a soup of the day available plus chili, and hamburgers and cheeseburgers. We ordered cheeseburgers which were $ 3.25 and the patties were juicy, topped with gooey american cheese and mine with grilled onions nestled in soft white buns. The burgers were served with hamburger pickles on the side. The patties were prepared in a somewhat intriguing gadget on the counter that looked similar to a pizza oven. Domestic draft beers were $ 1.75 and domestic bottles were $ 2. They do not accept credit cards, however there is an ATM on site.
There was a fairly diverse small crowd around the bar at this watering hole, some presumedly from the neighborhood and some who seemed to be there for the first time. I wondered what brought them in, and after going to Mamie’s, I’m sure the reason I bookmarked it was because they feature professional live Blues music on Friday nights. We miss hearing the Blues, and may have to force ourselves to stay up for a «late» night sometime to take in some tunes at Mamie’s which starts at 9:30.
On our visit, people were friendly, service was good, prices were great and the food was tasty.

Solid– this is Blue Collar Silver City at its best. This townie joint has everything you need. A friendly atmosphere, cheap drinks, cheap food and a lot of local flavor to watch.
Cheeseburgers, daily soup, chili, and a few other specials during the week. The cheeseburgers are made in some tiny contraption at the end of the bar. I asked the bartender what it was, a broiler? An oven? A fryer? «It’s a hamburger cooker» came the reply. Well that does make sense.
On Draught is PBR, Lite, High Life and Bud. Plenty of booze for mixers.
A solid CD jukebox means cheap tunes and NO touch tune fees! 3 plays per dollar. Pool table and poker machines, no other amusements (seems like this would be the place that had an old Atari game in the back, but no).
Lots of neat crap to stare at, antiques and clientele both. They have live music on Tuesdays and Fridays. Mostly Blues, starts at 9:30–
We spent an afternoon, Two cheeseburgers, one bag chips, 4 beers– $ 20 with tip. Man, that is a Silver City deal!

I have only visited Mamies at 6am after 3^rd shift hours. It is decorated with a lot of old time collectibles and has a Cheers type of atmosphere. Very relaxing place to stop after working 3^rd shift.

Comfortable, laid back atmosphere and a diverse crowd. Good nightly specials.

You just never know what to expect when you walk into an unfamiliar tavern. Will you feel threatened? Unwelcome? Out of place?
I’ve experienced all of these at one time or another — sometimes all at one time. (I’m looking at you, up north Wisconsin bar next to the Bad River Tribe of Chippewa Indians reservation. I walked in to pick up a six’er in the midst of the Wisconsin spear fishing conflict in the late 80s — a conflict in which I had no opinion or care. I was lucky to leave that bar not only with my 6-​pack, but without a pool cue uncomfortably positioned as a permanent part of my anatomy!)
Mamie’s is the kind of place that won’t give you any of those feelings. In fact, it’s one of the most welcoming, melting pot bars I know of in the city of Milwaukee.
For years I was curious about this classic looking lounge at 33^rd and National. I made my first visit on a Friday night as Mamie’s was hosting their annual Halloween costume contest. My wife and I, sans costume, took only a few steps into Mamie’s before a kind fellow dressed as a mobster handed us a couple of chocolate kisses. A few minutes later, a Madam Marie Laveau lookalike placed strands of beads around our necks.
As we glanced around the joint, we couldn’t help but notice the great mix of ethnicities libating together — African Americans, Mexican Americans and southside Milwaukee, Joe 6-​pack Americans. All enjoying a festive Friday night and the live blues and jazz provided by Chanel le Meaux and the Dapper Cads.
Mamie’s is a great place to take in live blues music. Friday nights are reserved for the pros, and Tuesday night is for the others (open jam night; if you can play, you can join!). If you’re lucky enough to visit on a night when Chanel le Meaux is performing, you’re in for a real treat. She’s a total pro.
I can’t say that every Friday night at Mamie’s will be as fun and as welcoming as my first visit, but even if it is not, I will look forward to future visits. I’ll definitely be checking out the Open Jam on Tuesdays. I’m a bit of player myself and I’d like to find out if my chops are worthy.
Plus, it’s certainly better than a pool cue in the ear.

Stopped by for a quick lunch… Nice little neighborhood bar. $ 1.50 beers $ 2.00 burgers, & fresh chicken tortilla soup. Not a bad deal! Bring cash…
Mamies ain’t the Ritz but it’s far from the pits…