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AJ Bombers
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (New) Bars, American (New) [Edit]
1247 N Water StMilwaukee, WI 53202
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
(414) 221-9999
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Melthouse Bistro features a diverse menu of chef-inspired gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, made with Wisconsin cheeses, local artisan breads, and all… read more »
174 reviews for AJ Bombers
Review Highlights
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"Had the Barrie Burger (the one with peanut butter." In 20 reviews -
"Travel Channel's "Food Wars" agrees." In 24 reviews -
"oh, juicy burgers, my only weakness in life." In 60 reviews
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174 reviews in English
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Review from Mike M.
5/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Do you like talking to bartenders?
Do you like music from the 80's and 90's?
Do you like friendly waiters that seem to be enjoying their jobs?
Do you like Schlitz in tall boys?
Do you like Bloodies with burgers and bacon?
Do you like burgers?
You'll like AJ Bombers.
I've come here a couple of times, and I highly recommend sitting at the bar. Not only do you get to see them bomb tables with p-nuts, but you get to see the staff interacting with each other. The conversations range from which laser vision would be better (Cyclops vs Superman), to how sad it is that MCA died (from the Beasties, if y'all didn't know). They throw p-nuts at each other. They make fun of employees for wearing trucker hats (He totally looked like Wayne from Wayne's World though, Party On!). I have never had a bad time here. I recommend it.
Oh yeah, the food's good too... -
Review from Nazgul W.
Minneapolis, MN
I had the Milwaukee burger: yum. I really liked the burger itself, the toppings were nice and the bun was really soft, yet slightly crispy. I enjoyed the colby, bacon and the abundance of Schlitz onions, but perhaps the Milwaukee was a bit of a conservative choice for me. I should probably come back and try the one with the peanut butter or something weird.
You'd think they'd have more options for toppings but they are keepin' it simple. I would like to try more of their sides. Onion strings sound good and I always appreciate a place that has a pretzel on the menu.
We split a half-order of fries and it was more than enough to share. The fries were OK, nothing shocking but good. The beer selection here is solid and the bloody mary comes with a cute little bottled beer chaser and half a bacon cheeseburger.
When we were here it wasn't busy at all but it was a Monday mid-afternoon or something. The bartender sent the peanut bombs our way for fun. AJ Bombers has a very comfy, relaxed vibe. The service was solid. I would definitely be open to stopping in again.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/10/2012
Thanks very much Nazgul, really appreciate you swingin by :) More » -
Review from Andy S.
Oak Creek, WI
4/30/2012
Pretty good burgers, but rather expensive.
I really dislike their fries, they seemed to be extremely overcooked on both of my visits.
Their onion rings are the bomb, and the sauce they are served with bounce them up to the amazing level.
Sit at the bar if you are an aj bomber virgin.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/2/2012
Thanks so much Andy, glad you enjoyed yourself. Sorry about… More » -
Review from Brian E.
4/25/2012
You are looking at the two stars and thinking "wow. That's unnecessarily harsh". I don't give out 5's a lot and really.... I only have given out a single 1 star review meaning that most of the places I will be at will fall under 2-4. The two stars really displays the below average aspect and I want to explain why I chose it.
Watch a lot of TV? You may have seen AJ Bombers on Food Wars where they beat out Sobelmans for Milwaukee's best burger. Cool I thought.. I haven't been to Bombers but i do love a good burger! So let's give it a chance.
If you are not familiar with the area this is on Milwaukee's Water Street. Parking can be an issue down here especially if you are coming at peek hours. Keep this in mind to avoid any frustrations :)
We came at a bit later on a Saturday Afternoon hoping to avoid a lunch rush. It was still rather busy and as we attempted to navigate our way in I could see why.
Upon entering my group was lightly scolded for letting the cold air in. We had held the door open as we assessed the situation. So we smooshed our way in as opposed to going elsewhere. After standing around for a few minutes we discovered that no one was taking names. After a little investigation we noticed the use of a chalkboard system where you write your name on it and party size and go from there. It's different and I wasn't the biggest fan. Also if no one tells you how the system works you'll never know. We had to inform a few folks of how it worked.
It appears we have some time to kill. Seating here is limited as this is a rather popular joint so you should expect a wait. What happened next was interesting. Some seats opened up at the bar. My friend quickly moved in and asked if we could sit there. They said "Yes" and we told them that we were waiting as we were on the list and they removed our name. The thing is we were at the bottom of a rather large list. I know if i was waiting for a while and didn't get the option to sit at the bar before some guy that just walked in I would have been upset. This benefited us but I did kind of feel bad for the people waiting as we jumped way ahead of them.
Ok. Now for the real issues. When we are talking burgers I always consider the "Can i do it myself?" option. I look at the cost of a restaurant vs what it would cost me. Obviously you have to allow some wiggle room for the business to make a profit.
I had the Barrie Burger which is a 1/4 burger with bacon, american cheese and peanut butter. When you look at the menu you'll notice that the organic grassfed option is an additional $3.50. That brings the price of a quarter pound burger to $10. This doesn't include the side option which you are paying extra for. So let's say you choose a side of fries this brings your food order to $12.
Now factor in a drink and a tip. You have just easily paid $20 for a 1/4 lb burger and fries. There is no real way to justify that. You can easily get far more for your money in terms of food anywhere else. I'd use Captain Mikes in Kenosha as an example. Outside of the fact that I don't like their service (personal interactions) you can get 10oz of burger done up far better with more diverse options for around the same price.
I ate peanuts while i was waiting, chatted up the bartender who was quite friendly and informative, i ate my meal and was obviously still hungry. The burger itself was fine here at bombers but again it wasn't $20 fine.
This is a tricky one because I could recommend places I hate over this in terms of food. Stack'd has a better burger but Stack'd is horrid in every other way. Your better bet is Oscar's on Pierce.
In theory at AJ's you either need cost to the customer to go down, include a side with the burger and/or increase the size of the burger. Also upgrading to the grassfed option is the most costly upgrade I have had for a burger for any location.
The other issue is the seating. The chalkboard method is interesting but with no real hostess interaction my group was left initially confused. You know what they say about first impressions!
Other then that it's a fun atmosphere. Kids will love the bombers crashing to a halt over their head and dumping peanuts on the table for them. The wait times will always be there as seating is limited. There is no real wait area once the place starts filling up which is a problem on colder days.
I wanted to like it here but for the aforementioned reasons I cannot even give it an average three star score. You'll pretty much get more for your money elsewhere.Listed in: Burger Joints
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/25/2012
Thanks for the feedback Brian. Much appreciated. I agree… More » -
Review from Rachel F.
Updated - 4/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Another update, another upgrade!
(Maybe I was a bit harsh in my first review. That said, it made sense at the time and I was frustrated. I didn't understand.)
So last night, my friend Amy and I decide we want to eat a thing and we decide that said thing will be a juicy, delicious, slab'a cow. I haven't had a burger in I don't know how long, so I justified it by telling myself that my self-imposed abstinence from Angus was lengthy and well-fought, and now was the time for me to give in. So I did.
Enter a return visit to AJ Bombers. Mid-way between her Riverwest and my Walker's Point, we went knowing full well we'd have to wait. (7pm on a Saturday night on Water Street? What were we thinking?)
But I wanted to give it another go, and she had never been, so? Saturday night on Water Street, Amy and I find ourselves at the bar at AJ Bombers. We got lucky and snagged two bar seats from these nice ladies who had finished and were cognizant of our wait time. (Nice people are so nice, sometimes... )
We sit, and I order a bloody and thought it was still light out, but a touch late in the day to be ordering a bloody. (Don't you judge me... someone had a big Friday night!) I jokingly/sheepishly qualified my order to the bartender, Matt, who came back with fun/witty banter and kept the jokes coming through our whole meal -- we sat at the bar. (Service this past visit? Totally spot-on!)
To the eats: Amy really dug her Milwaukee burger. I foolishly ordered a double Bomber burger (?) and ate all of three bites of the dang thing. While it was quite good, I did feel a bit underwhelmed on the whole. I mean, don't get me wrong... it's a solid burger. Totally solid. Not my favorite, but still good.
I'd probably give AJB a three and a half stars if I could, though the excellent service has me rounding up to four. One of these days I'll try the Barrie burger just because it sounds so ridiculous and inventive. Yes.Listed in: My Yelp 100 in Twenty Twelve, Downtown, things will be..., Burger Time!, Money Doesn't Grow on Trees..., Water Street Nonsense
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/4/2011
I'm only giving AJ Bombers two stars because, well, I'm still trying to make sense of it all. They'd… Read more »
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/4/2011
Rachel, I'm so glad that you took the time to visit and… More » -
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Review from Anne M.
4/2/2012 6 photos
Relax, think of burgers, and let me paint this picture for you:
- hypnotizing burger smells
- peanut-carting bombers being hurled overhead to designated (peanut) "drop-zones"
- peanut-shell-covered floor
- graffiti-covered walls, tables, condiment caddies
- bullseyes here, there, everywhere
- a fun, sensational combo of symbols: food/burgers, peanuts, military, espionage
...Okay, so maybe not so relaxing, but damn good food - that's for sure.
Prior to a recent Milwaukee visit with my sister, I did some Yelp-vestigating for a good eating outing. AJ Bombers made the cut. Thank you Yelp. You did me right, once again.
We had been walking around Milwaukee all morning long, working up a big appetite, so by the time we got to Bombers, we knew we were about to do some damage, food-wise. And did we ever:
- Poutine:
[ Skin-on fries + gravy + cheese curds (we were in Wisconsin, come on now...) ]
There was a lot going on here, and it was a beautiful combo. I've never ordered this dish before, but we enjoyed it, and ate an impressive amount of the big 'full' plate.
- (turkey) Bomber Burger:
[ Burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, bomber sauce; topped with a WI cheddar + muenster cheese-stuffed crispy fried portobello mushroom ]
Yah. So, this burger was the shit. Or - more appropriate for AJ's - this burger was da BOMB. I can't remember a better burger. It's my current #1, hands down.
- Turkey Burger:
[ turkey burg with seasoned mayo topped with sweet potato strings, served on cranberry focaccia ]
Definitely preferred the Bomber, but this was also really good. I loved the cranberry focaccia, but we felt this could have used another component - lettuce? sprouts? more sauce? Still - great turkey patty, and nice flavor combos with the sweet pot. strings + cranberry bread.
- Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich:
[ we got the small, but it was still pretty large. Two chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream in between ]
This was my tipping point. Still ( surprisingly? grossly? ) powered through most of it. Wish cookies were a tad softer, b/c they were hard to break up with the spoon. Still - yummy.
Fun atmosphere, fair prices and quick, attentive service. If you like burgers and you find yourself in Milwaukee, go here. And bask in all the peanutty - burgery glory that is AJ Bombers.Listed in: Veggie-Turkey-Hamburglars
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Review from Les O.
Arlington Heights, IL
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great burger. Buffalo chicken egg rolls were the bomb. Speaking of bombs, the p-nut drop was cool. Kids loved it.
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/10/2012
Thanks Les, love reading about happy mouths :) More » -
Review from Shelby S.
Pewaukee, WI
4/27/2012
I love @AJBombers. Full stop.
The only reason I don't make it in there as often as I used to is I don't live right down the street anymore.
I managed to stop in this week during lunchtime and nostalgia washed over me immediately. It's the friendly environment as you walk through the door. It's the way that (after you've been there a few times) everyone knows your name... or at least your Twitter handle. It's the sound of peanut bombs flying through the air, the delicious smell of the burgers, and the sight of every inch of wall space covered with the names of those in the Twitter community. That's the environment.
But you have to have more than an environment with good customer service and AJ Bombers has it. They have the food to back it up.
My favorite burger is and probably always will be the Barrie Burger, which has a generous spread of crunchy peanut butter on the bottom of a bacon cheeseburger. Eat this one upside down. Just trust me. As a side, I struggle to decide between the fries or the sweet potato chips. Sometimes I get both.
The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is just plain fun. This is not a restaurant you visit once a year. This is one that you make a special drive to visit as often as you can... at least I do.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/2/2012
Thanks very much Shelby. Love that you have such fond… More » -
Review from Whitney K.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
On our first trip to Milwaukee, my husband's only request was that we go to the burger showdown place that he had seen on tv. So off we went after checking into our hotel.
It was a quiet night around town and the wait list wasnt too long when we walked in, so we grabbed a beer and some peanuts and took a seat to wait. Then we waited, and waited some more, and consumed more peanuts. We saw all of the groups ahead of us be seated...and then we watched as a group of men that came in after us were sat. By this point we had passed the approximate wait time we were told, so my husband went to go ask. They apologized and said we were next.
Well 20 minutes after that, and after the hostess had brought over some comped apps, we were finally led to our table.
Damn. At this point, I was full on 3 baskets of peanuts and some sweet potato chips.
The man and I decided to share a burger and some cheese curds, since we'd never had any before. The burger was good, but they forgot my fried egg. So sad. The cheese curds were aight.
Plus- the people who worked there were nice. the atmosphere was fun.
I dont know if I'll be back to try again. Too many good recs for burgers in this town, so it'd take some arm pulling for me to want to wait for AJs again.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 3/27/2012
Whitney, consider your arm pulled! Next trip, it's on me… More » -
Review from Grace N.
2/20/2012
Imagine that you are your own front teeth - you sink first into the soft bread, into a satisfyingly crunchy exterior of a fried portabella mushroom, into the gooey melted cheese, and finally into the hot and juicy meat. Don't get me started on what your tongue is experiencing throughout this steamy journey of texture and decadence.
That, my friends, is what you'll experience when you order the Bomber Burger, not to mention that their bloody mary is one the best I've ever had if you like a tangy, spicy mix with fixings that could be a meal by itself. And I had my first "poutine" experience, which I could "poutine" to my mouth every day. The chicken gravy over the crunchy fries is a beautiful marriage, although the cheese curds didn't add anything to the dish.
The fried cheese curds were the sad, lukewarm step-cousin to the whole meal. I'd be embarrased to show up at the mouth party if I were this no-personality, poorly-dressed cheese curd.Listed in: Get Bloodied, Mary!
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/20/2012
Grace! Oh MAN what a great description. Thanks so much for… More » -
Review from Kirk L.
St Paul, MN
4/21/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Great atmosphere. Wonderful burgers and good selection of beers. Try the buffalo egg rolls....
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/22/2012
Thanks much Kirk, so glad that you discovered the buffalo… More » -
Review from Jackie R.
Pasadena, CA
2/9/2012
I had this whole dilemma when I came to AJ Bombers. Was I going to be able to eat the Milwaukee burger? It seemed so huge...and it had cheese, bacon, and onions.
I devoured it and probably could have eaten another one, it was so good. It was one of the top 5 burgers I've ever had...and I eat A LOT of burgers. It's not to be missed in Milwaukee!Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/10/2012
Hi Jackie, coming from a Californian that means a lot. The… More » -
Review from Tom A.
East Troy, WI
5/4/2012
This place is the real deal. A phenomenal burger and quite unique. They take the splat/flat burger approach vs. serving up the thick juicy variety but no flavor is sacrificed in the process. The bun is perfect, too.
Im docking this place one star because they don't get the fries right. They are fresh cut but soggy. They need to a potato consultant to sweep thru and teach them how to achieve the crispy fresh cut fry (soak those bad daddys in ice water and then do a par-fry, its easy, but just takes time).
Everything else works at this place. Great cheese curds. Oh, don't bother w/ paying the extra scratch for the grass-fed burger. It's not that much better, yet will almost double your cost. I am a huge grass-fed burger fan, but at Bombers, its just not necessary. Their non-grass fed burger rocks the house plenty.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/10/2012
Thanks much Tom, really glad you enjoyed yourself. Hate to… More » -
Review from Jen M.
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm going to give this place a great review in a sec but first, if you have a peanut allergy, don't even walk by the open door. This is a smash your peanuts and swipe them off onto the floor kinda place. In fact, they have a neat gadget-driven peanut delivery system, involving overhead cables and such. Great visual accommodation for customers with ADD.
AJ Bombers lets you customize your burger and sandwiches with unique toppings. My husband's burger was the best we've tasted in Milwaukee. YAY for %100 grass-fed organic beef. My stuffed 'shroom burger was FANTASTIC and super messy - because of the slippery cheese and avocado. The hot delicious messiness was no one's fault but that of my own greedy hungry self. We totally loved the sweet potato chips - they managed to be not dry but also crispy, tasty and just the right amount of salty, all at the same time. The service was super fast and friendly. The vibe was youthful and the music fun. Great place to go to eat while you are waiting for traffic going out of downtown to calm down after work. We'll definitely go back.Listed in: My Yelp 100 in 2012 List!
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/17/2012
Jen, really appreciate you adding your thoughts here. So… More » -
Review from Damon R.
1/31/2012
Did someone say they had the best burger in milwaukee or were competting for it? Ha! I dont think so.
I will start with saying that when i walked in i was unsure if i had just walked in to a drunked frat party were there was shit all over the floor. I guess they allow you to eat peanuts and chuck the shells were ever you please.Hmm i dont want elephant food on the tops of my sneakers ok?
They had hard ass wooden booths and stools along with the decor of signitures and markings in permanent marks on the exposed wood beams. Oooh wood beams equals = upscale and swank.....Not here buddy!.
Now the food:
Plain bad! i hate onion straws and then they topped the onion straws with some sort of pixi dust? There is no need to reinvent the wheel here! a Regular order of circular onion rings would have sufficed.
The turkey burger was average.
And thats about all i can remember because it was so not fufilling.
Go to Stackd or Applebees..........not worth the troubles trying to find a parking spot downtown.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/2/2012
Hey Damon, It does happen every once in a while that our… More » -
Review from Murr E.
Milwaukee, WI
4/25/2012
Alright Bombers you win- We always end up here, always! We love it here. The burgers are good and the service is good. I just hate how small it is. I haven't been here in the summer and I'm wondering if they have any outside seating at all (which I HIGHLY doubt). The one star off was because a friend and I came here at almost exactly 5pm. There was only two of us and we were told 30 min. wait. We waited an hour and forty-five mins. I understand how little it was and it was a saturday but some on... almost seven pm to get sat? There needs to either be another Bombers or it needs to move to a bigger location.
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/25/2012
Hey there Marye! So glad that you love the place. And good… More » -
Review from Minjee Y.
Elgin, IL
3/4/2012 7 photos
I'm a burger person, and the burger here was good. I like the concept, reminds me of some places back in Illinois. Eat nuts and their them on the floor. It gets really messy there though and unsafe, I can't believe those workers can walk around through all of that shit. Anyways, my burger was so yummy. I can't remember what it was called but it had sausages on it and blue cheese. The appetizer I got was so damn good. Real good, I want to even try making it. It was buffalo chicken egg rolls. UGH, so good...
If you're hungry in milwaukee and want something real good to eat, come here.
*One thing I must say, the bathrooms are very small! Which is stupid... I'm squatting over this toilet seat and the door is right in front of my face, not even 2 cm.'s away... It was weird and hard to squeeze in and out of the bathroom.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 3/10/2012
Minjee, thanks for the comments. So glad to hear that you… More » -
Review from Cornelius S.
Milwaukee, WI
4/28/2012
Me and the Wifey love this joint!
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 5/2/2012
Thank you! More » -
Review from Bethtina W.
Oakland, CA
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Holy cow!
All I can say is I've been dreaming about this burger for a year. So I booked a trip with the family to go to Chicago so we could drive to Milwaukee and everyone could have the burger.
I had the Milwaukee, my friends the bomber & AJ. It was absolutely divine. Best burger I ever had. Spotted cow beer & both fries.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/20/2012
Bethtina, Thanks so much for swinging by. Happy to read that… More » -
Review from Audrey C.
Columbus, OH
4/2/2012
The atmosphere and staff here is great. There was a small wait for a table, so we sat at the bar, and the bartender was awesome! He recommended the Barrie Burger (the one with peanut butter) to my boyfriend Nic, and suggested adding a fried egg to make it better. When a table became available, the bartender continued to serve us, and even left the bar to come refill our drinks! Nic thought his burger was pretty good, and definitely interesting. I got a regular cheeseburger, which was good, but I've had better. Overall -fun place to go! Food is not great, but definitely good.
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/16/2012
Audrey, glad that you enjoyed yourselves. Next time let's… More » -
Review from Paul M.
Aurora, IL
4/21/2012
Good bugers, but nothing special.
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 4/22/2012
Thanks for dropping by Paul, glad you enjoyed your burger.… More » -
Review from Kelsey S.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Despite being a self-confessed loyalist to one of those other burger places in town, I've given AJ Bombers a pretty fair share of chances. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it's a bit underwhelming, but generally, it's A-OK. Hence, the three stars.
During my most recent visit last week, I ordered the Milwaukee burger, which comes with cheese, Nueske's bacon, and onions. Overall, it's consistently a pretty good option. It's definitely a flatter burger, which can be great depending on your appetite, but it's also greasier than some other options. On this particular night, they were out of sweet potato fries, so we opted to split a large order of regular fries instead. They weren't what we had originally hoped for, but they were decent. Hands-down the best part of this meal was the giant cookie sandwich, made of two giant crispy chocolate chip cookies with thick vanilla ice cream in the middle. So. Good.
But should the best thing about a burger place be the dessert?
I'm not completely over AJB and still enjoy my visits, but I can't help but wonder whether its earlier over-hyping has simply faded out too quickly, leaving me feeling as if the honeymoon is over.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/26/2012
Hi Kelsey, thank you for sharing your experience with us.… More » -
Review from Hion L.
Fullerton, CA
It's difficult to not like a place that gives you a bacon wrapped burger strip as garnish for your bloody mary. As if that wasn't enough, they also garnish it with green olives and a slice of pickle. Of course, the actual bloody mary is delicious. It has a perfect blend of spice that is just enough to give you a warm tickle in your throat. I really liked the fact that it did not have that tinny V8 canned taste to it. Probably the best bloody mary that I have had - extremely well balanced. It also comes with a beer chaser, but I am a bit confused as to why that would be needed.
The burgers here are not as much gourmet as they are unique. The meat patties are no frill and retain a nice shapelessness that gives it that homemade touch. They are relatively thin, making it quite easy to stuff your face with - not one of those burgers that will give you lockjaw trying to take a bite. I tried the Milwaukee burger the first time around - 1/4 lb patty, double colby cheese, double bacon, and grilled onions. Surprisingly straightforward and surprisingly good. Unfortunately, I ate it so fast, that it did not spend enough time on my palate for me to be able to dissect its flavor profile too much.
Fries poutin were so-so and had a hard time keeping up with the burger. The pretzels with spicy mustard sauce sounded delicious on the menu, but fell a bit short. The dough for the pretzel is a bit more light and airy than your traditional soft pretzel, which could be a good thing, but under prolonged heat, it ended up being very dry.
Overall, it is a decent burger, but the real gem here is their bloody mary.
Best Thing - bloody maryListed in: Best Things I've Ever…, Milwaukee Foodie Tour
Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/21/2012
Hion, Thanks very much for dropping in. Happy to hear you… More » -
Review from Ariel W.
Beaver Dam, WI
2/19/2012 4 photos
If your craving a top notch burger, a beer and a chill atmosphere. Look no further. The waitress Sofia was really helpful. Walked us though the menu and specials. Also though out the service asking if we needed refills and asking how everything was.
I got the Veggie burger. The patty actually has chucks of veggies that you could see. Not mashed down to nothing. Had a tomato, lettuce and their bomber sauce. The sauce looked like thousand but was so much better. The bun was light, moist and fresh yeasty tasting. The Bloody Mary came with a piece of burger wrapped in bacon which was awesome. This was my first Bloody Mary so I can't really say much about it cause I have nothing to compare it to but I did like that it came with a chaser. Also got the poutine. Which is fries with cheese curds and gravy. The gravy could used some seasoning and was on the runny side. My dad the special. Tapps(one lucky costumer) which was a turkey burger with red peppers, avocado and pepperjack cheese. He usually doesn't like turkey burgers, but he said this was exploding with flavor.
Also don't forget to go on their website and sign up for their newsletter to get a free side of a free burger if you bring friend on you next visit. Follow them on twitter and facebook for updates and laughs.
Joe you should have once in a blue moon a gourmet poutine. I also love Monte Cristos. Great for brunch, lunch and dinner. Do your twist in a burger form. That is just me talking. What you got going is GREAT!Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 2/20/2012
So great to see you again Ariel, Enjoyed your review, glad… More » -
Review from Aaron Y.
Milwaukee, WI
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
The majority of Yelpers and Food Wars like the burgers at AJ Bombers. I however did not. It wasn't bad it just wasn't "best burger in Milwaukee' good.
I ordered the Milwaukee Burger; which won on Food Wars and it did not have much flavor at all. The bacon was about all I could taste. I really enjoyed the bun though and the french fries.
The next time I want a burger I'd rather go to: Oscars, Sobelmans, Hi-Hat, The Fire Pit (inside Potawatomi), or even Five Guys.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/18/2012
Hey Aaron, Thanks for your review. You're right, different… More » -
Review from Mark S.
1/30/2012 3 photos
It feels almost wrong in saying this, but I think I've found the best burger that I've ever had. I know, it's as shocking to you as it was to me, but it's true. The meat was perfectly cooked, and went along perfectly with the slightly grilled and steamed, but still a little raw onions. The bun was large and doughy, a perfect match. And the cheese - oooooooooh the cheese. Wisconsin knows what's up with cheese, and the cheese on this burger is perfection. Last but not least comes the salty deliciousness of the bacon, bringing it all together.
As if anything could get better at a place that now houses the best burger I've ever had, it did. I had nearly the perfect dining experience at AJ Bombers. Along with the burger, came our poutine. Potato-cheese curd-gravy heaven. Let's not forget about the appetizer of peanuts though, delivered by bomb and perfect for pre meal snacking.
And finally (with 4 square check in) came a free cookie, which was giant and pizza shaped, and also one of the best cookies I've ever had.
It literally can't get any better for me than AJ Bombers.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/31/2012
Mark. thank you so much for the compliments. We're so… More » -
Review from Andy K.
Mukwonago, WI
12/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I've been here numerous times since AJB opened. I really like the food and the atmosphere, c'mon, what's not to like about a pnut bomb!? At one point I would have agreed with others that this burger is the best around, but there are SO many other great burger places that I can no longer go five stars.
On a recent lunch trip they were packed, service was a bit slow and the burger came out with overly crispy edges. Such is the price of fame. I won't be rushing back.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/4/2012
Hi Andy, Great to hear from you over here at Yelp. We very… More » -
Review from Jenn G.
1/18/2012
Fast, friendly, cheap and delicious. Seriously - try and think of a better combo!
First, they deliver shelled peanuts right to your table in WWII style bombers. I dare you to not turn into a giddy 5 year old child when you witness this in person.
The food was really good for a burger joint. A veggie myself, I ordered the veggie burger (shocking, I know). It was really good. The Bomber sauce on it is like a thousand island dressing with a little chipotle kick to it. Well played on the variation, AJ.
It is a fact that all cheese curds are delicious. Don't even try and argue that point because you'd be wrong. All you can do is decribe the "differentness" of the current cheese curds in front of you. At AJ Bombers, they are white cheese curds and they are not heavily battered like most you find in the region. That actually gave them both an amazing flavor and texture. They also serve their cheese curds with a chipotle ranch type sauce (different than the aforementioned Bomber sauce). Though I do love a good dose of chipotle, this cheese curd sauce wasn't cutting it for me.
Overall, the service is EXTREMELY friendly. I went there on my way up for the Packers playoff game (insert moment of silence here) and the staff was super excited by my willingness to make the trek up there from Chicago.
This is definitely a great place to go with a group or for a quick but yummy bite to eat on any given night. If I lived in the area, this would be a regular stop for me!
OH - and how could I forget the mini beers. They serve these adorable little half bottles of beer. Is this a Milwaukee thing? I don't know. I didn't even order one. I just wanted to hug and squeeze one of those adorable litlle glass bottles of fermented delicious.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/18/2012
Jenn, So glad to hear that you enjoyed your experience with… More » -
Review from Jessica O.
Milwaukee, WI
12/1/2011
AJ Bombers is burger perfection. Period.
The atmosphere of the place is great - how do you not love a place that lets you draw all over the walls? (BRING SHARPIES!!!) Peanut shells litter the floors, peanut bombs zoom overhead, and the music is awesome...but none of that is the point.
I have had literally everything on AJ Bombers menu (most of them more than once), and I have yet to have a bad experience. Every time I go, my server is knowledgable, witty, and prompt, the food arrives quick and steaming hot, and exactly as ordered.
While the classic Bomber burger or other basic burgers are amazing, I was recently blown away by the turkey burger. If you aren't a fan of the greasy, cheesy, dripping concoctions that AJ Bombers is famous for, you have to try this. The burger is fresh and juicy (but you don't have to wash your hands after eating it) and comes garnished with sweet potato fries. It is served on the most amazing cranberry foccacia bread I have ever had. It is the exact opposite of everything I love about a burger...and yet I can't stop ordering it.
AJ Bombers serves up the traditional burger ten times better than anyone else in town, and comes up with unique items (like the buffalo chicken eggrolls) that are intriguing enough to peak your curiousity, and comforting enough to make you order them again and again. This place has it all!Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 12/10/2011
Thanks so much Jessica. We're lucky to have customers like… More » -
Review from Pete J.
1/14/2012
I returned today, not having been here in over a year, due to long wait times ( over 30 minutes) since they won "Best Burgers" in the Food Network challenge. I used to go a lot, right after they opened, but feared fame, notoriety, and ownership by the Marcus's would cause a deterioration in quality. Not to worry.
The atmosphere, the room, the bar, the peanuts, this place is 5 stars for the decor/room.
For a table of 4 at noon on a Saturday, we had to wait 20 minutes, and ended up with a window seat facing Water Street. The place still rocks, with free salted in the shell peanuts, feel free to throw the shells on the floor, delivered via overhead "bombs" to certain tables. Really superb bloody Mary's, get it with the "cheeseburger on a stick" if you are into meat. Given these are gourmet burgers (a blend of brisket, chuck, and sirloin, you can get a similar recipe from Thomas Keller's "ad hoc at home" cookbook), I do not think 20 minutes is a bad wait time. The service is very efficient and helpful (each person gets a form to fill out, getting their burger exactly as they wish (avocados? eggs? peanut butter? etc, etc.). They have both a veggie and a black bean burger as well.
The burgers were cooked to perfection, no mistakes in the orders. We had regular fries, sweet potato fries, and the poutin (fries covered in gravy and cheese curds). My son and nephew liked the poutin, I thought it was a greasy, fatty mess. Maybe it is a generational thing. I had a black bean burger, which was very good as well.
All in all, a good dining experience, probably one of the two best places for burgers in Milwaukee (the other being Mazo's on South 27th Street, where the hamburger is ground when you order it.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 1/21/2012
Pete! So great to have you back. I'm so glad that we didn't… More » -
Review from Kaitlin B.
Milwaukee, WI
11/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I feel like a schoolgirl writing a review on my restaurant crush. If you read my other reviews, you will see how eating burgers is a new thing for me.. (My count is still just under 10 for my whole life) that being said, 3 have been at AJ Bombers now.
I love the excitement of the peanut bombs that come rushing over to your table from the bartender and slam into the bulls eye. I love how "naughty" it is to throw the peanut shells on the floor. The bartenders are fun to talk to when you are waiting for a togo order.
Ive gotten the bomber burger every time that I have gone. So if you are looking for a differentiated review, this may not be it, Im sorry.. but I can tell you how good this burger is. Because of the NO BUN rule in my life (PS CAN YOU GUYS PLS GET GLUTEN FREE BUNS- hehe) I get it just on lettuce. Be careful if you are doing this too as one time I just got lettuce and none of the nummy toppings that accompany this burger. It was taken back and fixed after I let the server know. Ive found that when making special requests, its better to be overly thorough than assume that assume that your server is on the same page as you. And that's a general statement.
Anyway, the bomber burger is a beef patty with a portabello mushroom on top... mmm.. just thinking about it now makes me really really really really hungry. And I just ate lunch so thats something! They bake the mushroom and put a ton of cheese on both of them. I would recommend adding avocado to this as it really hits it home with that added flavor. Then you get your lettuce, tomato, and special sauce. Each bite is a treat!
I like that they have different specialty burger choices that I think they change up each week.. I cant wait to see what they come up with!
Like Rachel F I am also a little miffed on the whole Grass-Fed prices vs the patty that it comes with. My boyfriend always gets the price up one and usually multiple patties, and usually when we know I am paying haha.. Lucky for me I like the patty it comes with just fine.
The Sweet Potato chips are a super good side to try. Also dont forget to check in on FourSquare for a free treat.
GET THERE! also great for lunches!Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 11/25/2011
Thank you, thank you, Kaitlin! Really appreciate your… More » -
Review from Nicole H.
11/16/2011
Despite the rabid fan-base, I just can't find myself getting overly excited about AJB anymore.
The burgers are decent, maybe even above average, but I don't find them anything to write home about. I feel like because they are always so busy the burgers are thrown together and often come out messy and sloppy. The buns don't hold up to the sauces used and I usually find the burger falling apart in my hands.
There is always a line and I don't think the food is good enough to wait 30+ minutes for.
Its a place every one should go at least once - things like the Barrie Burger should be tried by everyone - and the folks are friendly, but I just don't go out of my way to go there anymore.
I love that they're so social media minded, but the place is too small to host tweet-ups or meetings while still trying to seat a dinner crowd.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 11/25/2011
Hi Nicole, appreciate you being candid in your review. I'm… More » -
Review from Jasmine G.
Mundelein, IL
3/17/2012
Yes, they're known for their burgers. Yes, their burgers are good. That's not what I'm reviewing.
The first time I came here, the waitress suggested we try the buffalo chicken egg rolls as an appetizer. Let me tell you, those things are GLORIOUS. It sounds like a strange combination, but those rolls are truly delicious, especially dipped in some bleu cheese dip.
The second time I came here, I got the egg rolls as an entree for myself. NO REGRETS. It was one of the best meals I've ever had, and let me tell you, I've had an eternal craving for their egg rolls ever since. If you go there, order some of these! You won't regret it; in fact, they may accidentally overshadow their Food Wars champion burger.
And while you're there, feel free to shoot them a tweet; you'll show up on their TV screen above the bar, and they'll shoot you a tweet back!Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 3/18/2012
Haha, awesome comments Jasmine. So glad you discovered the… More » -
Review from Cindi W.
11/7/2011
I met a friend for lunch at AJ Bombers (my suggestion) and we both enjoyed it; my friend indicated it was good, but not the best she ever tasted. Here's the breakdown:
- i requested a booth and was accommodated, which i appreciated, because we needed a private table to discuss private matters :)
- the peanut bomb thing...eh, it's funny if you're in the mood; otherwise it's just a shock to the system
- i enjoyed my peanut butter bacon burger very much and would place it in my top 10 all-time favorite burgers
- the onion strings had good flavor but were a little too greasy (i should have had the sweet potato chips)
- service was very good & the 70s 80s background music was awesome
I liked what I saw on the brunch menu, and plan to do a brunch at AJ Bombers in the near future. -
Review from Ari S.
11/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I will say that AJ Bombers is a very creative restaurant!
When you first walk in you see these shoots and drop ports where peanuts come flying out of. Then you see all of the writing on the walls, counter tops, and plenty of fun messages. I also love the laid back environment where the servers bring you the "menu" where you circle what you want, what you need to adjust, etc. Also you can eat peanuts till your hearts content! Big bonus... you can throw the shells on the ground! Legit!
The servers are very friendly and can give you their advice on what burgers are popular or which ones they love. I had a question about appetizers and the server was very helpful in letter me know how good the egg rolls were! Also an added bonus for their menu... there are tons of original burgers which sound like they have weird combinations but are actually delicious!
Also AJ Bombers won the food challenge on the Travel Channel against Sobelman's Grill.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 11/25/2011
Thanks for dropping in Ari. So glad to hear that you enjoyed… More » -
Review from Kevin S.
Brookfield, WI
2/14/2012
Love the atmosphere and the food! My favorite is the Barrie Hot Dog - all beef dog, covered with cheese, onions, wrapped in bacon and then hit with a slap of peanut butter. The only draw-back is I have friends with peanut allergies that cannot go near AJB because of their affinity to the peanut (it's everywhere). The appetizers are filling and diverse from cheese curds to sweet potato chips so pace yourself - it's easy to order more than you can handle.
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Review from Ashe D.
Milwaukee, WI
10/23/2011
Any friends that come to town for the first time, I always take them to AJ Bombers because it's everything I want people to remember about Milwaukee - friendly, fun, and different.
AJ Bombers is the Cheers of the 21st Century; their walls even proclaim "Where everyone knows your name, at least your twitter name". They take social seriously and interact with their customers constantly over Twitter, Facebook, and FourSquare sharing mouth-watering pictures, funny inside jokes (Ringy Dingy!), and just getting to know you.
As a veg*n, it's super hard to find a good veggie burger that lives up to the hype - AJ Bombers delivers with *two*! Their veggie burger is my personal favorite and what I tend to always get. Their black bean burger (vegan) is my boyfriend's personal favorite. We tend to share a large order of fries.
So if you're coming to Milwaukee and looking for a good burger - or just a good time - be sure to hit up AJ Bombers.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 11/1/2011
Thanks so much for the detailed review Ashe, love seeing the… More » -
Review from Nicholas K.
Milwaukee, WI
10/31/2011 1 photo
I dined at AJ Bombers for the third time last month, looking to get a quick bloody/burger/poutine fix to start my day. The service was quite prompt and friendly and for some odd reason it didn't feel quite as sterile as it usually does. On this occasion I decided to go a bit over the top and ordered a extra spicy Bloody Mary, triple bomber burger with a cheese stuffed portabella mushroom cap, bacon and fried onions and topped everything thing off with a side of poutine.
The Good:
The Bloody Mary was spot on, perfectly spicy and well composed.
The burger, in all of it's heart attack filled glory, was well seasoned and as expected...delicious
The Bad:
AJ Bombers has some sort of inability to prepare good fries. This is a glaring issue as to my knowledge I'm one of swarms to complain about the soggy, sad spuds. This visit was no different in regards to the complete lack of crispness to the fries. While I thoroughly enjoyed mopping up the gravy with my wilty fries it would have really elevated the dish to have some crunch, cheese curds can only go so far in saving a dish.
All in all I found my experience to be quite good with the food delivering what was expected and the service being spot on.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 11/1/2011
Hi Nicholas, so glad you enjoyed your experience again. I'm… More » -
Review from Sarah S.
Milwaukee, WI
8/4/2011
OK OK I still am a believer of Sobleman's BUT The Bomber's burger, it pains me to say... Was better. The true Bomber Burger with a stuffed portabella mushroom on it sold me on the shroom alone. The burger has a better sear on it, we went through a lot of napkins but it was delicious.
Atmosphere wise however, they're definately a bit silly and I wouldn't go there hungover to "chill" like I do Sobleman's. My friend and I walked in at 6pm on a Friday night and were told a 10 minute wait. I slid around on the peanut shelled floor a bit to take a look at the place and noticed 8 spaces at the bar open. I head back to the hostest and ask if the bar spots are reserved and she says no... I have to then ask her, "Is it ok if we just sit at the bar?". I understand life decisions can be difficult for people to make sometimes (not too quick that one). It was pretty loud with a good baseball game on with the sound off and not too crowded not sure why it would have been a 10 minute wait. Burger's took about 15 minutes to come out which is fine now that I know the end product.
Burger for Burger Bomber's wins, fries at Sobleman's are better, price at Sobleman's is a smidge better, atmosphere at Sobleman's is more intimate. But then again Bomber's has onion straws! I was like... Dang!! again more napkins but they were great.
K, I'd say if you have have a headache and want to be treated like family go to Sobleman's. And if you want the hype and have a friend or two go in for a quickie at Bombers. Does Bomber's have to go?Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 8/7/2011
Sarah, We really appreciate your willingness to give us a… More » -
Review from Stu N.
Milwaukee, WI
8/13/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm a vegetarian. And I am pleased to have a burger joint in my city and not only caters to vegetarians, but gives them multiple options! From the stuffed 'shroom, to the veggie and black bean patties, each and every choice is delicious. I think I was actually the first person to order a "veggie" quad burger. The only better than that quad, was my server's enthusiasm in getting me what I wanted (as this was a bit 'off the menu.')
I love the pickles, the frickles, adding an egg to my "burgers." The spicy dip for the fried cheese curds, and the mustard for large pretzels also perk my tastebuds up. Bombers is a great place where I've met some great people. The food is always a treat, and the menu is constantly being expanded with new offerings or burgers of the moment.
One word of warning: If it's just the 2 of you, do not, I repeat, do NOT get the large ice cream cookie sandwich. When they tell you it's huge, they mean it. A small will easily satisfy a couple out for the evening.Comment from Joe S. of AJ Bombers 8/13/2011
Hey Stu! Thank you so much for your generous review. We're… More »
