The Red Dot

We had brunch at the red dot on sunday and it was super busy. My wife ordered the breakfast poutine, and I had a breakfast burrito. The food was amazing and came out quickly for how busy it was. We sat at the bar, the bartender was a nice guy, and made a cpl of great bloodys. Thanks red dot we will be back.

I have been to The Red Dot a couple of times. To summarize, the food is good, but not good enough to make up for the poor service. I was there tonight with a group of friends. The servers were slow and at times inattentive, but on a busy Friday night, that is forgivable. I went there on a week night a few weeks ago when the place was almost empty. The bartender was aggressively rude. I have given them the benefit of the doubt, but when there are so many other excellent bars and restaurants nearby, I will go someplace where I know I’ll get great food and great service.

Met some friends for dinner at Red Dot last night. Each of us had only been there one time before (they had been for brunch, my boyfriend & I had been for dinner) and all prior experiences were peachy.
It was busy when we got there at about 6:15, but nothing crazy. We ordered a drink while we waited for our friends to arrive. They got there — ordered drinks — and we were asked if we were ready to order. Needing a few minutes to settle in & look at the menu we asked her to give us a little time. Big mistake. In the meantime, a few more tables had come in and it suddenly became very obvious that our server was in fact the only server working. She proceeded to take care of every single other table before she finally got back to us. We ordered dinner (and more drinks since ours had run out in the amount of time we were waiting for her to return). Then we waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally 3 out of the 4 beers we ordered had arrived (delivered by a different girl — perhaps they called for backup?!). Realizing they shorted us a drink, she went back to the bar to get it for us. Then we waited, and waited, and hey guess what — we waited some more (again) for our food. The crowd was thinning out by this point and we are all kind of wondering what was taking so long for some fish & chips, and 3 sammies …
Eventually the food did come out (hallelujah) and it was admittedly, totally delicious.
My friend orders another drink, and asks for the check right away (expecting it to take a while) and I asked for the box.
Check comes, split incorrectly (but not horribly), no box. My friend asks if they take AmEx — our server says they do. Great — both parties give their cards, she comes back a minute later (still no box, so I asked again), sorry, we don’t take AmEx (even though we were just told you did) — ok no worries. Comes back with the copies to be signed (guess what?! still no box! so I asked again…) and a box magically appeared. I should also add we kind of thought they might comp the round of beers that took (literally) forever to get to us but, they didn’t.
I guess you could call last nights dinner a comedy of errors … maybe it was an off night, maybe they weren’t expecting to be so busy on a Thursday?! Maybe it’s a place known more for being a ‘bar’ and less about a place to get ‘dinner’ (although I’m thinking not, since 98% of the people there were there to in fact, eat). Who knows.
Long story longer …
food = great
service = definitely awful

I went here on for fish fry with my folks and I wasn’t disappointed at all. They have easily the top 3 best fish fry in Milwaukee, and we came at just the right time on a Friday night before it got busy and noisy. The only bad part I would say, it’s a little dark and cold inside.

Poutine. Get the Poutine. If your into that sorta thing. You know french fries/​tater tots smothered in poutine gravy topped with wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds. Personally I am and can tear a plate of these up. The Eastside location is a nice spot tucked in around the corner from the mayhem going on around the corner on the East Side. Red Dot has plenty of drinks to choose from as they have a beer list that is to be envied. They make a mean Moscow Mule too. Watch out for specials they have throughout the week such as pizza night and wing night. Two of my favs. In the summer its nice to sit out in the patio area and get a little of the outdoors. Red Dot is a solid spot all around!

Considering the prices, the food here is pretty amazing. They really rave about the poutine here because it’s «traditional». When you get your poutine, what it means is that it’s made with a dark gravy v.s. light gravy. The poutine was pretty amazing but, it’s SUPER rich. We were joking around the table, that we never need to eat it again not because it’s bad but because it’s so intensely flavored! I ordered the turkey and brie, it was amazing! They definitely don’t skimp on the brie! The beer selection is also pretty extensive. We managed to make it for the happy hour special which ends at 7 and all drafts are $ 3! One of the downsides is that splitting the check can be troublesome for larger groups. We had a group of 7, I was happy that we could get the check split up 3 ways, you basically write your amount that you’re going to pay. The menu states that gratuity is included for groups of 6 or more but we didn’t see it on the bill. Then again, it also says that they don’t split up tabs for groups of 4 or more but they split ours up so who knows! I would just be sure to bring cash!

Can’t go wrong with a quick brunch at the Red Dot! Delicious vegan hash! Could definitely serve two! Classic brunch drinks and food. Clean restaurant, quick and friendly service.

I’ve been a big fan of their brunch for years, so this review is mainly for that. I like their brunch for several reasons. For one, there are so many over-​hyped brunch spots where you end up waiting an hour to get some okay food. I’ve never had to wait here (maybe I’ve been lucky). The bloodies have always been awesome. The service is hit or miss, but usually ok (much better than at their Tosa location, in my numerous experiences).
Be aware it’s a bar, some reviewers seemed to have been shocked by this. It’s cute and a little trendy (although not a dive in my opinion), but not too snobby hipster (like, um, Comet).
The brunch is hearty, the portions are great, and I think of it as great hangover food. Get the poutine, as a starter or an upgraded side, and get it with the tots. (Keep in mind – I’ve been to high end places that serve poutine with elk ragu and truffle fries, etc. This is not that kind of place.) I love the burrito, the benedicts, and there’s a ridiculous sandwich (the name escapes me) which is huge and delicious.
I’ve taken my parents, I’ve gone with friends, and we’ve always gone back. Just know what to expect.

Good little dive bar with decent food and great prices.
I ordered the cheeseburger with pickles and special sauce. It wasn’t too special re: flavorful, but it came out speedily and only cost $ 9.
Tasty cheese curds. Lots of salty, garlicky flavor and once again, well priced. If you’re looking for inexpensive, bar food, look no further. Service is good, prices are totally reasonable and the food is decent. I’d come back for a beer or two.

Probably more of 3 ½ stars. Stopped at the Red Dot for dinner on a Thursday night. The restaurant is kind of tucked away off of Oakland Ave.
I ordered a 12 pack of wings (50¢ wing night on Thursdays) & some good ol tots. The wings were ok, nothing out of this world but satisfactory. My wife ordered the Poutine (fries, cheese curds & gravy) & it was delicious!

This is a cute little restaurant that is just among house. I have always enjoyed little restaurants. Our server was very nice, and attentive. We had an appetizer of cheese curds, and they came out fast. They also seemed to be a home made, instead of just coming from a plastic bag from a freezer.
The meal itself was good too, but it did it awhile to come out. It was a darker lighting as well which some may prefer.

Red Dot… red dot… missed the spot…
I stopped at the location off of Oakland. Its very divey. Yea, didnt know that. Its kinda of dark, kinda of tavern like. They have drink and food specials for most days of the wee. Parking can be a pain, this I found out, even at happy hour time in the middle of the week. There are a couple of other bars or food spots with in the block. It is located directly across the street from Tess.
I looked at the menu before ever stopping in. So i knew that there was food that I could eat. I settled on the cheese curds and chicken wings. I ordered some rum punch. The punch was awesome… what was to come was anything but awesome. The cheese curds didnt have the Wisconsin squeak that they are known for. I asked the waitress what type of cheese was in the curds she had no idea. The cheese was really sharp and bitter at the end. It left a taste or film on my tongue, I didnt appreciate this what so ever.
The chicken wings were not good either. They are were dry/​overcooked and they had no salt what so ever! It was like they didnt put any seasoning on the chicken. I guess the sauce was supposed to mask the non seasoning? I dont eat sauce so it was plain for me. This was a big no-​no. Make sure that you get sauce on your wings.
I didnt have a good time. I give this place two stars because the food came out quickly and the waitress was awesome. She kept asking if i wanted other food and she didnt want me to be hungry. I was really happy she was positive about the experience and i wasnt food shamed for not liking the food that i ordered.

Great little local joint. How I have lived in Milwaukee for 8 months and had not even heard of this place which is 2 minutes from me is astounding. Great burger, maybe a little skimpy on the fries but very tasty nonetheless. Will most likely be back after I try the handful of other local MKE restaurants I have not been to yet.

Descriptive phrase: tasty pubgrub specials.
Came to The Red Dot on a rainy Thursday night to find this hidden pub comfortably full. It’s a nice space, like a cleaned-​up old corner bar. Happy Hour til 7 got us our beers for $ 3, and their special that night was $ 0.50 wings. I opted for 6 BBQ and 6 Teriyaki, both of which I found meaty and nicely-​drenched in the tangy sauces. I’d probably skip Teriyaki for their Bourbon sauce next time.
Their authentic Poutine ($ 6 regular, enough for 4 people), with gravy brought in from Canada, was decadent and fatty goodness. Worth a quick stop in itself in my opinion.
I liked The Red Dot a lot, and feel like it’s one of those great neighborhood hangout spots Milwaukee is famous for. Keep on doing you.

Went for taco Tuesday. I’ve been here on other nights for regular food and overall I’d say its all pretty good. For a small place they have a decent sized menu and drink selection too.
We started off with poutine. I just wanted fries as I’m not huge on gravy, but my bf wanted the whole shebang. Thankfully we had a wonderful server whom offered to put the gravy on half. We both got exactly what we wanted. As a non gravy-​lover I will note that their gravy taste like French onion soup and is pretty thick… Take that tip and use it how you please.
My one complaint: the chorizo taco was not good. I’ve had chorizo other places and usually like it, but not here. Something is just off. I also got a chicken taco, it was dry but okay flavor. The Tacos are very basic, and I wasn’t a fan of the tomatoes they used as a topping and in the pico, I felt like they were sandwich/​stew tomatoes vs. The ones typically used in Mexican dishes (yea i know, weird comment but its true!)

So I finally got around to checking this place out and I think I’m overall pretty happy. I do have one big complaint though, which I’ll cover.
Their menu is relatively eclectic and it seemed like there’s probably something here for everyone. I was here for one main thing, though…
That poutine. I mean, I know it’s kinda hard to screw up fries, curds, and gravy, but there’s a certain something that it’s been difficult to find outside of Montréal. Maybe it’s the consistency of the gravy, maybe it’s the way the fries are cooked – I don’t know – but I can honestly say that the poutine here rivals poutine I tried when I made a trip to Montréal a few years ago. On poutine, The Red Dot lives up to the hype.
I had the Charlie Melt with tortilla chips. I was pretty satisfied with the sandwich, overall. The tuna steak was flavorful and juicy, not at all overcooked.
So why three stars? I mean, up until now I’ve been nothing but positive about this place, right?
My ladyfriend’s burger:
Sopping.
With.
Grease.
She got the southwest burger. When she picked it up, the bottom bun was inedibly saturated with grease. She used several napkins to try and blot it up, but to no avail. She took a bite, and grease poured out onto the plate.
That’s just not acceptable.
I would have no problem recommending this place for their poutine, but if this experience was any indication, I would avoid their burgers.

Just a follow-​up to my original review… my boyfriend and I went last night around 7 to enjoy a drink and some food. The place was busy (could it be because of their special?) 50 cent wings and $ 1 something or another beef burger sliders. We got lucky and were seated within 2 minutes although we thought it might be longer.
I decided to get the veggie burger that they were out of last review I did and added a side of poutine. I chose the Southwest Burger and it came out HUGE and was pretty darn good. I’ll be eating the leftovers for lunch shortly :)
The poutine was of course great as usual. My boyfriend got the hot wings and they for sure had a kick. Neighboring tables had ordered the sliders and they looked larger than most sliders I’ve seen. Seems like a good deal for the meat eaters.
The cocktails got us buzzed so all in all, a decent experience. We even talked to our neighboring tables a little bit which is easy because of the cozy atmosphere.
They’ve earned another star.

Poutine poutine poutine! Get it with tots instead of fries.
This place has really good bar food. Like, I come here for food and not really to drink. The eggplant fries are pretty good, but could be a little crispier.
As far as sandwiches go, I’m a fan of the BBQ Pork and the McDot, which is essentially a really great Big Mac that you can feel slightly less terrible about after eating. These come with a side, and you can upgrade it for $ 2 to poutine.
They have an okay beer selection. If you’re looking for good variety, I’d go somewhere else. I am pretty fond of their bloodies, and I typically opt for that.
As far as service goes, I’ve experienced everything between excellent and okay, but nothing lower than okay, so that’s a plus in my book.
This place is pretty small and parking is a doozy. Plenty of TVs inside that usually have sports on (no complaints here). The patio is my favorite, weather permitting. Good vibe, nice twinkly lights, etc.
There’s a review on here from someone who had a really bad time with the nachos, and while I don’t think they’re that bad, I’ve had em once and have never felt compelled to get them again.

Update! They also have good lunch and dinner. I’ve had a few sandwiches here including their Greek Chicken Pita (super!) and a burger (alright). Gluten free? You can ask for a GF bun at a slight extra charge. Cheese curds were decent, but not the best Milwaukee has to offer. However, you can still get tater tots with EVERYTHING.
Beer selection doesn’t rotate much. I’m sad I no longer live a block away.

Do NOT… Get nachos here.
Problems:
1) the chip to toppings ratio was probably 4:1. (4 is for the chips) a shame
2) there was barely any cheese
3) the jalapeños were pickled not fresh
4) they forgot the meat
5) they brought a side of meat that was so overcooked and dry that it had black spots. It also had no seasoning.
6) they still charged me for this shit meat anyway
7) when I told the server about the disappointment in nacho toppings, I was told in regards to ordering the dish at all, and I fully quote, «THAT’s NATURE OF NACHOS».
I’ve had nachos many many times before.
I assure this pierced face girl, it is indeed not «THE NATURE» of nachos.
This experience was pretty terrible. I’d describe it as «dry». We only went here because I suggested it. That won’t happen again.
When you can’t even make a simple dish such as nachos, that’s pretty sad.
I wouldn’t recommend this place again.
Should have stuck with the Ian’s pizza idea.
I wonder if they effed up the pizza they’d say «THAT’s THE NATURE OF PIZZA».
You know what I think? When I think of failed nachos?
«THAT’s THE NATURE OF SUCKING»
«THAT’s THE NATURE OF INCAPABILITY»
And
«THAT’s THE NATURE OF A DAMN OVERLY HIP AND POPULAR LOCATION AND RIPPING PEOPLE OFF TRADING MONEY FOR INEXCUSABLE FOOD».
It’s no longer just the nachos that now bothers me… It’s compounded that the Red Dot turned me into «that» person who’s uses the all caps in a review.
This is bad. Really bad.
I wish I never walked in to the Red Dot! It’s changed me as a person.
My friend liked his steak sandwich. Although it was also dry.
The theme of this place is DRY!
I probably won’t order nachos again for awhile after this. I’m traumatized.
They are more known for poutine. But if you can’t make anything but poutine then don’t put anything else on the menu but poutine.
Alright… I’m going to stop myself from writing anymore.