Address and Contact Information
Address: 2900 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone: (414) 914-1025
Website: https://www.hobmke.com/mothers
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Mother’s – House of Bridges
Mothers.MKE – Milwaukee, WI – Instagram
Mother’s Restaurant – Milwaukee, WI – OpenTable
Reviews
I had never been to Mothers, and I originally booked a normal reservation at the beginning of February. A couple of days later, I received a voicemail from them explaining that their booking software glitched and that the only reservations they had for Valentine’s was their Tasting Menu Event. They were incredibly kind and apologetic about it and offered options when I called back. They offered other days if I didn’t want to pay for the tasting menu (since the tasting menu was a pre-paid reservation) but I was lucky that we were able to join them for the experience.
Night of, they were running about a half hour behind and came out to announce the menu and apologize for the delay. Whatever was going on behind the scenes was causing there to be a lot of time between each dish throughout the night, which was clearly not their norm. By the third course, the owner stood up in front of the room, apologized, and offered everyone a $100 gift card for the delay. There was clearly something that happened at the beginning of the event, and instead of being shaken by it and allowing the night to fall apart, they continued service.
The food was absolutely incredible. I was so excited for this menu, and the food did NOT disappoint. It was the perfect mix of experimental while still being familiar and absolutely delicious! We also had the wine-tasting menu that paired with it, and we had such a great time, regardless of the delays. Time flies when you have great company.
Despite the clearly unprecedented situation, the staff was still incredibly kind and helpful. We stayed until almost the end and declined the offer for the $100 gift card since we felt like the amazing food and wine were worth our money, and we didn’t feel like compensation was necessary for us!
At the end of the day, stuff happens, and part of community and supporting community businesses is giving people grace and also giving accolades where it’s due. I really hope that everyone that was dining there can appreciate that the staff was doing their best with whatever circumstance was happening and had to navigate clearly very stressful situations.
On top of that, standing up in front of a room of potentially angry patrons for something out of your control and having to apologize takes a lot of courage, and it was nice that they offered money back for everyone even though they continued service. We were also personally checked on not only by the waitstaff but also the owner.
We were sat by the door and I personally heard the staff being polite and apologetic to each person that needed to speak with them; whether that was over their reservation issues or them getting upset with the wait time. I heard them try to resolve issues and offer compensation, and I heard how distraught they all sounded trying to appease everyone who was upset during this clearly stressful situation.
I understand frustration with delays and I understand the annoyance with an event not going the way you anticipated, I really do. But I also think the staff was put in a BUNCH of impossible situations that night, and compassion for that takes precedent over my food taking a little longer than anticipated. Besides, sitting with my lovely partner for an extra hour and laughing over wine is not a chore for me 🙂
I hope all is well with the staff and I will definitely be back! Thank you guys for an amazing Valentine’s Day. <3
The service was a bit uneven and confused, with different people bringing occasionally the wrong dish to our table and sporadic timing between plates. The prices seem a bit high, but it makes sense once you remember that tax and tip are all included (we still tipped on top, but it’s stated that that’s not expected).
Overall it seems like they are doing great things with the space and really exciting work with the food and I would definitely go back and recommend it to anyone.
We had reservations at 6:00 on a Saturday night. (It was cold, a little drizzly, and windy out.) The front entrance has several steep steps, and when you walk through, you are literally at the host station. They were going to seat us right behind the host station, but we knew it was going to be a problem as people went in and out. We asked to be seated a little farther from the door, and after a bit of discussion (it sounded like this was going to be a little issue), they were able to find a table for two in the parlor. So glad!
Got settled in right away with menus and waters. Our server did a good job of getting us up to speed on the menu, the service, and the cocktails. They did a very good job throughout the evening (thanks, Roberto). We settled on the Window Seat (Beef Tallow and Rosemary Washed Vodka, crazy but true) and the Night Clubbing (with espresso-infused Campari). Both were very good choices.
We decided that we wanted to start with three dishes and then regroup if we needed more. These included the Bok Choy Salad, Cumin and Cinnamon Braised Pork Shoulder, and Venison Tartare (Dijon Ice Cream?).
The Bok Choy Salad was a real surprise, with the entire collection being so bright and flavorful. The dates had a meaty quality. The dressing with Nuoc Cham was savory with just a bit of heat. We both decided that we could have made an entire meal of that.
The Pork Shoulder came next and was a good portion, with the meat tender and flavorful. The Quinoa Polenta was interesting, but I can’t say that it was something I would seek out.
I have had Beef Tartare before, but this was a first for Venison Tartare, so of course I just had to order it. What struck me first was that the entire thing (not just the Dijon Ice Cream) was very cold, almost frozen. I tried a couple of bites, and it was so cold that unless you let it sit in your mouth to thaw out, it was somewhat tasteless. I spread it around the plate to thaw out, and it was a big improvement. It’s a good-sized portion, and even after loading up on the three pieces of bread, there was still plenty left (maybe a couple more pieces of bread?).
There were a couple of desserts that we would have loved to try, but we were full and had a performance to attend. So we will have to wait until next time.
Really enjoyed our first dinner. Loved the inventiveness of the menu. The staff all seem to really care about the business and the diners. With the placement of the front door and the draftiness of the dining room, we will likely book our next dinner when the weather turns warmer.
We got the jerk lamb dumplings to start. They were perfectly fried and the flavor was amazing. We followed that with the Madeira mushrooms- even if you’re not a mushroom fan you need to try this dish; it will change your mind! Finally we had the queso birria lasagna, which absolutely stole the show. It was such a flavorful and unique take on that dish.
We will definitely be back.
My husband & I cleared our day & planned a visit to Milwaukee last week to eat at Mother’s for the first time. We wanted to try it all, & luckily for us, this is her best of…the biggest hits from all her pop-ups…so we had already tasted some of these dishes…also, fortunately, we have big appetites. If you can’t eat as much as us, I would recommend ordering the Liang Fen, Tikka Masala Gnocchi, & the Madiera Mushrooms. And leave room for dessert…pastry chef Nick’s quirky sensibility and phenomenal talent pairs perfectly with Chef Vanessa’s, & he puts together flavor combinations you can’t even begin to imagine how they would taste. Together they are magical…wonder twin powers, activate!
My reviews of restaurants are typically extremely long & full of my impressions of every plate…but this is food that transcends words…I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Vanessa’s food is a feeling…like looking at the most beautiful work of art…& it brings you to tears for reasons you can’t explain. Put Mother’s on your list of places you must try. Soon.
A lot of people have mentioned about the pricing, but it’s nice to have tax and tip included. Wish this became standard in the industry. I must say that when you figure out what the menu prices are in the traditional way without tax and tip being included, they are quite reasonable especially for what you get.
I will be back and will recommend it to anyone looking for a great night out place.