
Located on the west end of Brady Street of Milwaukee’s Lower East Side, The Diplomat brings approachable American fare in a shareable plate format. Join Chef Dane Baldwin and his team for a night of food, fun, and cocktails at this new neighborhood establishment.
Friendly outpost for American standbys with a contemporary edge plus inventive cocktails.
Hours
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 4–9 PM |
| Saturday | 4–9 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 4–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 815 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 800-5816
Website: https://www.thediplomatmke.com/
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Reviews
Food:
We started with craft cocktails. The Diplomanhattan for her and the Wisconsin Old Fashioned for me. Both had great flavor profiles, generous pours, and easily lasted the entire meal.
The menu is entirely tapas-style, so we ordered items meant for sharing. We chose a mix of starters and entrees, which arrived in a typical staggered order. Our selections were the Haystack Parsnips, Onion Salad, Diplomac Burger, and the Knife & Fork Chicken.
Everything was excellent with one small exception, the Diplomac Burger. It may have been because we cut it into four pieces, so you lose the satisfaction of picking it up and taking a big bite. For me, it also came down to the meat-to-bread ratio. I’ve had many excellent Milwaukee burgers without the extra middle bun, and I’m also not a big fan of shredded lettuce on a burger.
That said, the item that completely stole the show was the Knife & Fork Chicken. It’s fully deboned, spatchcocked, and pan fried in cast iron. Absolutely fantastic. I wish I had left more room, because the portion was generous and I would have happily eaten more. The accompanying sides were all noteworthy as well, especially the biscuits with honey butter.
You would think we were completely stuffed, but then we saw Peanut Butter Pie being served to another table. That sealed it. We ordered one to share between three of us. Just enough to satisfy our sweet tooth.
Service:
Service throughout the evening was excellent. We were seated promptly and set up with waters. Our server checked in early, walked us through the menu, and patiently answered our many questions. The pacing between courses was spot on, and the two-plus-hour meal flew by. Thanks to Anna and the rest of the team for taking such good care of us.
Atmosphere:
It’s not a large space. You enter into the bar area, where the bartender was quick to greet us. The bar itself is spacious enough to comfortably enjoy a full meal. The dining room is through a separate doorway. Lighting was subdued without being dark. The restaurant was about half full, and the noise level stayed reasonable. The interior design leans European, with dark wood, intimate seating, and distinctive wall art.
An excellent experience overall. This one is definitely on our list to return to. Next time, I would start with the Knife & Fork Chicken and take it from there.
Burger was 9.8 / 10. I could argue that was the best burger I’ve ever had. At $18 it’s definitely the best I’ve had for the price. A bit messy so unless you’re a fast eater it would be a struggle because you don’t want to set it down. I’m here for a good time not a long time though so it works perfect for me.
My bartender’s name was Sam. Nice dude. It was honestly the perfect vibe for a crappy mood. He talked to me when I said something to him. Left me alone when I didn’t. Asked once how my food was. The music was great and they have a tv in eye shot if you’re looking for that.
We arrived without a reservation and were seated in a small dining area near the bar — a choice that turned out to be a pleasant surprise and added to the atmosphere. The service was warm, calm, and attentive without being intrusive.
We had the opportunity to meet the Chef and his wife — genuinely kind and welcoming people. They even treated us to a complimentary dish that wasn’t listed on the bill, a small gesture that spoke volumes about their hospitality.
The evening started with a signature cocktail — well balanced, precise, and elegant, the kind of drink you’d gladly order again. The appetizer and main courses were executed properly, with clear attention to technique and balance.
The hash brown stood out with its clean flavor and perfectly crisp exterior. For the mains, the fish was delicate and well prepared, while the striploin steak was sliced and cooked to the correct doneness, served with an excellent garnish and a beautifully prepared oyster mushroom.
The dessert recommended by the staff rounded out the dinner perfectly.
This was our first visit, and we left genuinely satisfied. Five stars for atmosphere, food, and hospitality. A restaurant we would happily return to.
What made the experience even better was the bartender—who just happens to be the James Beard award-winning chef’s wife. You know what they say: behind every great man is an even greater woman. And that’s totally her. She was welcoming, helpful, and just plain awesome.
The burger? Absolutely lived up to the hype. Juicy, flavorful, stacked to perfection. The Diplomac isn’t just a burger—it’s an experience. And trust me, you’ll be pleased.
Ps. The ketchup is homemade ! And the fries are hand cut !