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Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
As a vegetarian, there are few breakfast joints around that give me a wide array of breakfast options. Usually, I have to choose from omelets or pancakes/waffles. Omelets are great, but veggie and/or cheese omelets with the same ol'-same ol' ingredients get after a while.
My first visit to Beans & Barley, I was in love. Sitting down to the menu I was thrilled (and totally overwhelmed) with all of the breakfast options that lay before me! And it is all DELICIOUS! Vegan biscuits and gravy?!? Who knew?? I tell people that there's a restaurant in Milwaukee that serves a vegan version of biscuits and gravy and people look at me like I just ate a squirrel, but it's true! And they're so good!
I have yet to branch out to the lunch menu, but I'm sure it's delicious. Perhaps that's a venture for next weekend.
My favorite place for four years (only four because I have since moved away). I went to Art College in Milwaukee and lived close to "Beans" as me and my girlfriends called it. I stopped in AT LEAST once a week for lunch, deli take out or groceries.
Recommended: the Walnut burger with avocado, anything with the Tahiti dressing, the 7 root vegetable soup they have in the winter... and just about anything else you might like. Oh and you've got to have the guacamole, you have to! The coffee is really good also and if you like pie, wait until the summer and try the blue berry! (everything is fresh and home made from their kitchen)
Bring a date or a great friend, it is cheap enough to take a date and yummy enough to frequent.
I miss the great items they have for sale in the market area, and I'm not even talking about all the foods they have. They sell Fred (http://www.worldwidefr... ) items and other really cool designer/ kitch items. I always spent 10 minutes of my visit scoping out the racks and usually taking a few items with me.
I miss Beans and Barley; but it is always the first on my list of places to visit on the rare occasions I get back to Milwaukee. It makes me miss my girlfriends and all the meals we've had there together.
Old reliable. We all breathed a sigh of relief when they reopened, in 1993. Great management. Fun/competent staff.
Great, hot line variety, and take-out salads. Good for vegan or carnivore. The veggie chili's a staple, for everyone within a six-block radius of Beans.
Decent market set-up, with an ample beer selection. Great pre-pak salsas and guac. Their black bean dip f*cking ROCKS! (I crave it constantly.)
Good, early-morning coffee bar. Nice to just chill, with a paper.
The dining areas always buzzing. The menu is ample. Not excessive. But, the product is consistently-yummy. Great breakfast/lunch place.
I can't give less than 4 stars to a joint I've eaten at as many times as B&B. The menu could use a little freshening up as it's been the same for such a very long time, but then again it's a solid menu so maybe it shouldn't be messed with.
I remember Beans and Barley when it was much smaller, before it had a fire back in the day, but it's always had a nice mellow vibe. Food wise for the veggies out there I recommend the TLT (tempeh lettuce and tomato), it rocks.
Service wise the wait staff in the restaurant is good and as are the deli folks. Check out counter too. The only complaint there I'd have is at the coffee bar.
There is this guy who's been there forever, like super light blonde hair, who is completely un-helpful. I was in town and visited the other day and needed some ketchup. My server was no where in site so I stood near the bar. Blondy sees me and I obviously need help, but instead of coming to me he makes eye contact and speed walks into the back. OK dude, I know you saw me. I've seen him there for years and he's always been the same grumpy looking quiet guy that's impossible to talk to.
So I stood there for 3 minutes just in case he was getting me help (whishful thinking) before I finally just walk into the kitchen. My server spots me and was very helpful after that, but WTF man, are you working at being the least service oriented server in Milwaukee? Luckily I never sit at the bar to deal with your awkwardness first hand.
Anyway, food is good, fresh juices are good, the grocery is very convenient and well planned out. Just don't sit at the bar if blonde frumpy guy is there.
Is Beans and Barley a specialty grocery store? Or a restaurant that serves vegetarian and non vegetarian fare? Or a counter deli? How about all three?
When it first opened- Beans and Barley was a simple, specialty grocery store carrying those items that you couldn't get in the larger chains. It has since evolved into a unique combination store and restaurant. This was actually helped along by a fire in the early 90's that took the whole place out and allowed them to rebuild it into what it is today.
When I lived in Milwaukee- while not a frequent visitor (not a big fan of alfalfa sprouts!) since I lived in the neighborhood- it was a convenient to stop in and grab a sandwich or coffee and catch up with friends.
I went back the other day to reminisce and to have lunch and I was surprised at how the service at this place has stumbled and fallen. We got there at 1pm for lunch and was told that we would be seated in a "few minutes". 40 minutes later we were still standing there. Guess I should have eaten at the counter!
Since I was on a tight timeline by that time- our server told us that the only thing she could get for us on a timely basis was a salad or soup. So that's what we ordered- although I did have my heart set on one of their vegetarian burritos which are great.
Our plates were plopped in front of us and the server never came back. Good thing that the salads were good- although my lentil soup had some kind of spice in it that I really didn't care for. Very odd given this place used to have servers who would chat with you and offer up so many suggestions you never did anything but go with their suggestions. Once again the memory of good service is just that- a memory!
The grocery area is still the same and I love the deli counter where you can take home larger portions of all the things you love from the restaurant in take home sizes (like the vegetarian chili)
But the best thing- the thing that reminded me that I was in Milwaukee again most of all? Parking meters where a quarter buys you an hour. How I miss the "good old days"!
Fresh and tasty.
Beans and Barley is great. I love their restaurant and the store. I know a lot of other (also great) options have opened up in the area but Beans and Barley continues to be awesome.
After a week stuffing myself silly with Hungry Man sized dinners during my 2 week stint in the midwest, I was glad to be taken to this very San Francisco like establishment.
The small grocery was remeniscent of Bi-Rite but with more breathing room. I was lured here by the Art-O-Mat (see picture posted) and I purchased some lovely dishtowels and several tokens for the machine so I could pull levers with glee and oogle over my little art prize.
My seester and I had dinner here as well. The Spinach Artichoke dip was excellent. The top of the dip was perfectly crisped and the insides gooey and hot. I had an awesome grilled veggie sandwich which takes first place in my veggie sandwich experiences. How they can stuff grilled broccoli, zucchini, red peppers and onions into a baguette that doesn't explode out the ass when you bite into it is ingenious. There is some serious engineering going on with this sandwich.
The seester's Chicken Pinenut Sandwich looked good, but I refrained from trying it due to the presence of mayo.
We split the Chocolate Cake. It was ok. The frosting was good, but after an entire day in the pastry case the cake seemed somewhat dry and cold.
I'm glad that this place exists. I'm glad it manages to survive across the street from a Whole Foods.
I will have dreams about that sandwich. Seriously. It's been years since I've inhaled a sandwich with that much enthusiasm. My seester wasn't even done with 1/2 of hers when I finished mine.
This place helps me survive my visits to Milwaukee to see my mom. Friendly service, good vegetarian choices - what more do you want?
I hope the giant new Whole Foods up the street isn't hurting this place as they are one of the original "health food" establishments in Milwaukee.
See you next time I'm in town!
HAHA! I totally know which guy Justin N is talking about. I always sit at the bar and that guy is the worst employee ever. One time I ordered a smoothie, he looked at me, returned to the conversation he was having, and finally after about 10 minutes, he made my smoothie. LOL. He is so bizarre that it's funny.
Anyway, the spinach lasagna is TO DIE FOR! It's not on their regular menu though, but if you see it on special, get it. On your way out, stop at the bakery and get a cookie.
Fantastic little neighborhood spot that challenges the notion that there is nothing by brat and beer places worth going to in Milwaukee. Pretty similar to a Dean & Deluca's, but more delicious. Great for brunch.
This is definitely my favorite place to eat in Milwaukee. Even if you aren't a strict vegetarian and prefer not to eat meat -- this place is perfect because they have lots of options. I don't make too big of a deal about eating organic but think it's cool too.
I've always gotten food take out here which is really nice because you simply pay for your meal vs. also paying for a tip. I've only gotten their burritos here and refuse to try anything else because they're so good. Also, I highly recommend their vegetarian chilli. Definitely the best or second best chilli I've ever had.
Great staple of the Milwaukee area! A real Mom-&-Pop-did-their-marketing-well type of place, that has a [nummy vegan knuck knuck] type following. Beansandbarleyheads, if you will.
Unfortunately my meal here wasn't exactly memorable. But I think that's because during the hour wait time (yeah, it was a weekend) I went from still-crazed from the night before to.... hungover. And my hangover took authority over the food. Service was admirable though.
If you go on a weekend, get ready for a wait. But waiting here is cool because it gives you time to peruse the market and look at all the fun knick knacks they have for sale. You'll enjoy it even more if you're not hung over.
My family has been eating here since before we even moved to Milwaukee. It was a savior for a bay area family who moved to the midwest. I have eaten almost every year here for my birthday since I was 5. I almost ate there everyday when I lived on the east side. Now I can only catch dinner. I pretty much have ordered the same thin since I can remember (works burrito no onions) or some variation of. Pshh. no doubtabout it I think I basically have a common law marriage with beans.
Coming from California, I was delighted when my Milwaukee-native fiance took me here for the first time. The food is amazing. And the chai tea is probably the best I've ever had (and I have had quite a few in my time!). Is it silly that the best thing about coming to Milwaukee is a trip here? Super yummy appetizers and tasty sandwiches and soups. And who knew that a Milwaukee kitchen staff could get Mexican food right? I honestly wish there was something like this near our house in California. Its just great.
And, after a wonderful meal, I enjoy walking around the store and checking out all the delicious-smelling organic soaps, lotions and candles. And the fiance digs the beer selection. Overall, LOVE this place! Good stuff!!
On a trip back to my old stomping grounds, I re-visited B & B and decided to write a review. Yes, it still rules. Every menu item is novel in some way. In fact, the egg salad is downright discussion-worthy. The unthinkable happened, and I became a fan of alfalfa sprouts by way of their egg salad.
Management must treat their employees well, because they always seem to be in a great mood, with not one exception. Maybe it's all that natural sunlight from the picture windows?
Usually there is a wait for a table. If so, then you can browse around and pick-up some eighteen dollar boisenberry/sage/root oil earlobe salve at the attached convenience store.
Being a vegetarian in Milwaukee, it's very rare to have a difficult time choosing what to eat of a menu. Too often it's the random salad minus the chicken, please. Here is one of the few times I've been overwhelmed with too many good choices! Everything sounds so good; the salads, the sandwiches, the soup, burritos and Mexican stuff! Wow.
I decided on the balsamic tofu sandwich. One of the best sandwiches I've ever had. My veggie friend had the stir fry which she also loved. I can't wait to go back and try everything...!
The store and deli are also great to run in and grab something. I saw they had 1/2 sandwiches of my balsamic tofu, I may have preferred that so I could get 2 halves to mix and match!
Beans & Barley is a good choice for healthy eating and varied cuisine.
The staff are always very upbeat and the prices are reasonable.
Great place for organic and vegetarian foods. This place has been around for a long time. I love their grocery store and deli counter too. Be sure to stop in on Saturday mornings during summer when they hold the Farmer's Market in their parking lot. It is a wonderful time.
It is so rare that I am stuffed after breakfast, unless it's 3 AM banana pancakes, but this place managed to do it. I don't know how--the pesto scrambled eggs did not look so large on my plate, but after finishing them I was just like "Blerg, I am so full of pesto. Pesto and joy." They were tasty, too, and the breakfast potatoes were flawless and crazy full of garlic. Perhaps best of all, they gave me a bagel, cream cheese, and jam instead of toast. The jam was totally the key element of the meal. Or maybe I just want to say jam. Jam jam jam.
It's actually reminiscent of The OtherSide Cafe in Boston, except the waitresses over there have tattoos of the Red Sox and Dropkick Murphys. The waitress at Beans & Barley had a giant red and green tattoo of Wisconsin across most of her left bicep. And seriously, I would not mess with her.
one word...
OVERRATED
Sure they were one of the original vegetarian catering places in Milwaukee, but laurels only take you so far. Overpriced, small portions, mediocre food with an attitude problem. I would rather walk across the street to Whole foods and eat in a grocery store with a thousand different vegetarian options that at Beans.
Never had a bad meal here. Seriously. Never.
The weekend breakfast is amazing....get the tortillas, eggs, salsa. YUM! It is my fav. But be prepared to wait ....the service seems slower than a normal restaurant however when you get the food, you are glad you waited because the food is phenomenal. Plus, breakfast is our favorite meal because we can relax, read the paper and drink coffee.
Another thing, the food is always consistent! My husband gets the vegan scramble (Not a Vegan) and loves it, so I think that is saying a lot.
We were worried about the Whole Foods opening up across the street possibly taking some of their business but it is clear that people are loyal to Beans. I have had some questionable deli food from there but the restaurant has always been great.
For dinner, I love their salads, very filling and good for you! My Mom always requests to go there so she can get something "light", she just loves that it is natural food and we don't have to roll each other out at the end of the meal because we are so full! :)
Ohhhh...I almost forgot. If the blueberry pie is in season, GET IT!! It is perfectly paired with home-made cool whip and is simply DIVINE! I am not dessert person but love it so much.
This is a great option for any vegetarians and vegans. The menu is decent sized and the food is not expensive. Their guacamole is rich and full of flavor.
I ordered the black-bean chicken burrito which was okay, but I thought it was a little too heavy on the bean part. I can't remember what my two friends ordered, but they were both happy with their meals too. I would definitely visit again, but I wouldn't order the burrito again.
The attached market is cool to check out and they have a nice assortment of items to buy. The service at the cafe is attentive and friendly. However, the cafe is quite crowded at times and I did feel a little squished. I didn't feel that was a huge deal, but it was a little clustered.
If you are in Milwaukee, you gotta stop here. Food and grocery are phenom!
Always a wait, but so worth it. Great meals and coffee. Wonderful staff. I'd love to transport this restaurant to my town!
Love the stir fry, the tuna, the grilled veggie sand, and the black bean and cheese quesadilla is to die for! Lots of veggie choices, but food for carnivores too!
http://www.beansandbar...
Wow. This is the best cafe-within-a-health-food-store that I've ever been to, and I've been to quite a few in my day. The store itself is quite nice, and it's almost like Cracker Barrel for vegetarians (insofar as there is a long-ish line for tables at brunch but you have a place to shop & entertain you while you wait). My favorite part of the store was the bargain wines section - coming from PA, where wine can only be bought in very specific locations (read: not grocery stores/markets/co-ops!), I was very impressed.
As for the restaurant half, the tofu pesto scramble that I had for breakfast was unbelievably delicious, and was made all the better by the awesome cherry almond scone that accompanied it. I love places that offer scones or muffins among their breakfast "bread" choices. There's patio dining, a pleasant waitstaff...really I can't say enough good things about this place.
I have been coming here for over 10 years and I can't stay away. I don't live in Milwaukee anymore, but I try to eat here each time that I visit.
This is a really wonderful restaurant for any meal of the day. They have healthy, filling ingredients in both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals (like sunflower seeds in the egg salad sandwiches). Their burrito platters, walnut burger, vegan chili and desserts are above reproach. At the risk of sounding a little square, one of my favorite menu items is the large garden salad. It's chock full of fresh veggies, seeds and nuts and comes with a multigrain roll. Ohhh, so good.
There's a 20-30 minute wait very, very often. The good news is that there's a wonderful, fun-item-filled market attached to browse in. The time flies like nothing when you're looking around there, I swear.
Amazing veg choices. Very cool that they have a little store attached to it. My non-veg friends and I wandered around there for like half an hour while we were waiting to be seated. I'm gonna have to go back just to go shopping!
Everything I've ever ordered here was great! Even my non-veg friends had veg food and liked it.
I think I've eaten here more times than any other restaurant. Maybe even more than all other restaurants combined. Maybe not. It's reliable. Sometimes the service isn't the greatest so it helps to find out who the good servers are, request them, and make nice. I recommend Pam, if she's available. I love the garden salad with tahini dressing. Love the marinated tofu sandwich. Black bean burrito. That black bean enchilada casserole they sometimes have on the specials menu. The soups are usually good. Desserts are always tempting and seldom disappoint. Good smoothies. Pleasant atmosphere.
I'm tempted to give this place four stars because the menu could be livened up. (It's been the same menu forever, which is fine because the menu is fine, but perhaps they could at least liven up the specials menu...) And also because of the poor service, although it occurs to me that the service has really improved in recent years. It's amazing how something like that will stick in your head even though you haven't had poor service somewhere in a good few years.
I guess I've griped about this place. (Beans & Barley AGAIN???) But the truth is, it's lovely and when I'm out of town I'm always complaining because there are never places like this. Vegetarian-friendly restaurants with pleasant, unpretentious atmospheres.
Anyway, even if this might be a four star place, the fact that you can browse in the store while waiting for a table or after your meal has to be worth an extra star, no?
This place rules!!! I will have to pull out some vintage photos of their food..oh so good for breakfast, take-out and deli. Beans & Barley were ahead of their time. I imagine everyone has played ketch-up to their wise organic and natural ways, but they were pioneers, man!
Small wonder Beans and Barley is among the most popular restaurants on Milwaukee's East Side. If you're looking for excellent food in a casual atmosphere that won't clean out your wallet but might clean out your arteries - and really, who isn't? - this is the place for you.
If you find yourself 30th on the list, (and the wait at typical meal times can easily run an hour or more in the 80 seat cafe) just browse the market to pass time. In addition to a surprisingly complete selection of health foods, the market also offers natural beauty products to sample and an alluring array of toys, trinkets, and other nifty items you won't need but will certainly want.
The open, well lit dining room has an an airy feel that is extremely comfortable, and changing shows of local artwork adorn the walls. It's easy to linger over coffee, carrot juice or wine and a gigantic piece of the poppy seed cake even while busy servers zip around; no wonder Beans and Barley is a longtime favorite meeting place on the East Side.
The vegetable stir fry, though not officially on the menu, is worth checking out. The burritos are extremely popular. Offered in vegan, vegetarian, and chicken varieties, they start as low as $3.75 and fill you up. The sandwiches are also excellent; with options like the dill havarti, the tempeh reuben, grilled vegetable, and the popular egg salad, you really can't go wrong. I could list everything on the menu; it's all fantastic and reasonably priced.
The fabulous food extends to breakfast as well, but if you're coming for weekend brunch, get here early, while most of the East Side is still asleep. You might like to try the almond french toast, vegetarian biscuits and gravy, or a standard omelet, but I hrecommend the tofu scrambler. Prepared with mushrooms, tomatoes and scallions, and seasoned perfectly, it's the perfect way to start the day.
Add the fact that you get a generous side of parsley shallot potatoes and your choice of toast, muffin, or bagel, and you've got one of the best breakfasts around- for a mere $5.00.
Hardly anyone - whether vegetarian or carnivore - tires of dining at Beans and Barley. With its high quality food, great service, and unbeatable prices, it's no secret why.
The BEST Eggs Benedict you'll ever encounter! Make sure you get the smoked turkey AND avocado, it just makes the bennies...mmmm.. During our most recent visit, I almost lost my frickin appetite on the way in this place, due to all the Obama stickers.
The food is very very good, there is plenty of items to select from. The only thing I do not recommend is vegan desserts.
Pretty good local beer selection for a vegan friendly joint. Not that you can't get meat there. I really enjoyed the chicken quesadillas I got there, as well as the chocolate covered macademia nuts. mmmm.
Beans & Barley was my vegetarian sanctuary back in the day. This restaurant was the one I requested for birthday meals and whenever else I could convince my parents to accommodate my eating habits. My whole family likes B&B now, and I still make a point to take a trip here whenever I'm back home. Mmm... oh my, their TLTs, veggie burritos, and avocado eggs benedict, tofu scrambles and vegan pancakes on the weekend... yes, yes, yes. Brunch is by far the best meal there. And their vegan apple pie? Heaven.
The store/deli section of B&B is fantastic, too. They have a great gift section, a decent wine selection and a nice (if pricey) little organic/local produce section. The deli is stocked with a lot of things they serve in the restaurant - salad dressings, baked goods, to-go portions of their menu items, etc.
It's small compared to the super-mega-Whole Foods that's moved in just a block away (damn them), but the food and selection is stellar. As much as I have a soft spot in my heart for Whole Foods, I love Beans & Barley even more. So support local business! Keep B&B going strong.
I live in San Francisco and have been fortunate enough to of had plenty of vegetarian organic meals in my time.
I was so impressed with this little market and cafe.
I came here for lunch, ordered a green tea (THEY HAD STEVIA!!!) and mushroom soup. Delicious!!!
I will definitely come back on my next visit!
Whole foods eat your heart out! Beans is GREAT! Its a market, its a deli and a cafe. They serve beer and wine. The mother-in-law got a portabello mushroom sandwich. It came with a very delicious potato salad. Wow! The mother-in-law was impressed. (she's a vegetarian and only eats 2 things) I had the chicken burrito and the cheese plate. You get to choose 2 out of 5 Wisconsin cheeses. They did a really nice job on the presentation too. As for the burrito, it wasn't authentic or impressive but it was tasty for being a healthy organic and predominately vegetarian restaurant.
They have a decent wine list for being a little cafe.
I enjoyed this place. I'll be back, the next time I'm in Milwaukee.
Other than the building, which is pretty good architecture and adds to the neighborhood, I've never had a meal here I was satisfied with. Seriously, I don't know why I've tried it more than 3 times, thinking that the results would be different on the next visit. That's the definition of insanity, right? :)
Want good vegetarian food? Get in your car and drive an hour and a half south to Blind Faith in Evanston. Yum!
Bean's & Barley is:
Great food at great prices in a great atmosphere. The coffee is STRONG since it's the local Alterra brew, and the refills keep coming restaurant style. I love what they do with tuna fish here as well as excellent quesadillas and a yummy portobella mushroom sandwich. You just can't go wrong here. If you're a vegetarian, this is an oasis for you.
Randomly taking the bus from downtown I found this restaurant/market. Boy was I lucky!
I had the polenta with vegis. WARNING: it will be soaked and I mean soaked in (olive?) oil.
I'm not on a diet or anything so I ate it up (yummy) and ordered a salad.
They had organic and sulfate free wine on the list - that was nice.
It was the end of the night for the waitress, but that doesn't mean you can just desert your customers. I almost just walked out on her. But finally I decided to walk inside and get the check from her. I had to wait another 5 minutes to get the check and yet another 5 to give it to her. umm. not happy. that pisses me off, but the food was good so 4 stars all the same.
this place does not need my review.
it's food and service speaks for itself.
just get your butt over there for some scrumptious hangover breakfast.
Milwaukee, WI
Category: Greek
Milwaukee, WI
Category: Grocery
Milwaukee, WI
Category: Coffee & Tea
Milwaukee, WI
Category: Vegetarian
Milwaukee, WI
Category: Coffee & Tea
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
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