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Harry's Bar & Grill

3 star rating
based on 13 reviews

Category: Restaurants  [Edit]

3549 N Oakland Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-6800
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Alcohol:
Full Bar

13 reviews for Harry's Bar & Grill

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Photo of Phil M.

 

13

191

Phil M.

Madison, WI

3 star rating
11/3/2009

I really, REALLY want to like Harry's.  Decent, mixed menu.  Consistently-good (not great) food.  Well-stocked bar.  Always a game on.  

There are two consistent strikes against it (having a good time).  

One, the crowd.  It's all baby boomer housewives, and their parents.  Or, occasionally, just the grandparents.  It's like trying to have a good time, drinking at your grandmother's nursing home.  And, the bar crowd is remarkably-sparse, for that reason.  Which kind of sucks, as they run some decent happy hour specials.

Two, the staff.  The bar staff can be moody, and slow.  But, I attribute that to the effect of the general atmosphere.  It's pretty dreary, for a decent space.

Oh, yeah.  If you have kids, the kiddie menu rocks, and is relatively-inexpensive.  

Verdict:   If you have kids in tow, go for it.  If Grandma needs a burger, rock on.  

If you're up for a night out, forget it.

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Photo of Bill B.

 

1

16

Bill B.

Milwaukee, WI

5 star rating
9/21/2009

I love this place.  I have been in the neighborhood for almost 5 years and Harry's has become my neighborhood bar and grill.  I have never had a bad meal, the portions are big and the food of substantial quality.  

I often hit Sunday brunch and have always had perfect Eggs Benny.  It doesn't get better than that and. A bloody Mary.

The staff has always treated me well.

This is a great neighborhood bar!

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Photo of David M.

 

0

1

David M.

Whitefish Bay, WI

4 star rating
11/4/2009

Harry's is a regular favorite for my wife and I.
The crowd is mixed, often we see younger couples like ourselves and older grandparents.
To me, the food is exceptional.  I particularly enjoy their ribs, and their deserts are amazing.  My wife enjoys trying things from their large selection, but I always order the ribs.
The atmosphere is pleasant and despite not being roomy, feels private.  Low lighting helps.  During the spring and summer months each table always had fresh flowers.  Candles are also present.

Harry's is a great place to get some quiet time together with someone, and I would recommend it to anyone for a date and great food.

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Photo of Jenny D.

 

0

52

Jenny D.

Madison, WI

4 star rating
10/4/2009

Great burger and fries.  Oh, and beer.  Fun atmosphere.  Yeah!

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Photo of peter k.

 

4

76

peter k.

Milwaukee, WI

1 star rating
Updated - 8/30/2009

I'd still give this place 3 stars as a place to eat. But...

1 star as a drinking establishment.  The last few times we've gone to Harrys after 10 o'clock - the waitresses have been downright hostile about us not ordering dinner.  I don't know what that's about.

In Shorewood, most people go to bed early.  Few people are going out for a 10 PM dinner.  Certainly, we weren't taking a table that hungry diners wanted to use for a full meal.

Last week we were there, the waitress was almost shockingly rude towards us.  After our second round of drinks - she curtly brought us the bill - before we even asked for it.    Small things like this to let us know we weren't welcome.

The first time we had this experience - i figured it was just a server having a bad day.  The second time we had this experience, with a different waitress - I think it means something.

Harry's - if you don't want us coming in and ordering drinks-  we will gladly find other places to go.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    8/9/2009

    Decent food and acceptable service.

    Harry's is dependably alright.  Nothing *fantastic* here - but… Read more »

Photo of Sam E.

 

0

16

Sam E.

Milwaukee, WI

3 star rating
10/29/2009

harry's is a tad bit overpriced.  The food was above average but it still hit the spot.  I enjoyed eating there and would be curious to see what kid of a bar crowd they get.   I liked the food but felt i paid too much for what i as getting.  However, i would go back because i did enjoy it enough for a second helping.

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Photo of Noah D.

 

2

3

Noah D.

Milwaukee, WI

1 star rating
8/30/2009

So this bar was two to three stars until last night.  Then, it all went wrong.

First, all my friends are easily over 21.  Upon arriving, one of my six friends left her driver's license at home.  Apparently, Harry's cards everyone.  So, three friends turn around, drive to her place and get her driver's license.  Not a big deal and I understand that she should have a driver's license on her, but not a great way to start a night.
 
Second, this place has a complex about getting a table and ordering a full dinner.  We wanted a table and would have ordered some appetizers.  My friends were drinking beers at a decent rate.  A rate where they were serving drinks would be more profitable than serving us dinner.  They, however, wanted us to order dinner, PERIOD.  It was 10pm and this is Shorewood.  

I might let this go except that we showed up there a few days ago and a similar thing happened.  9pm on a Wednesday, we get a table and order drinks.  The waitress appears visibly upset that we were only ordering drinks.  I don't get this at all.  It's Harry's BAR and grill.  We are at Harry's BAR ordering drinks.  We were there for an hour, ran up a decent tab, and tipped 20%+.  Again, I'm just guessing that 9pm in Shorewood on a Wednesday night isn't prime dinner time.      

Third, they had a cover band on Saturday night.  The cover band was loud.  You don't go to Harry's for loud music.  The band was so loud that you could see people at the farthest table from the band having trouble talking.  The cover band also takes up the entire back of Harry's.  The effect is that this destroys 40% of Harry's seating.  To be fair, if the band wants to take up 40% of Harry's tables, they should have to order dinner too.  

Fourth, one friend asked about the drink specials.  The bartender lectured him that there were no specials on Saturday night, only Mon-Fri.  Why did he need to be lectured?  Just say no and move on.

So, what do you get at Harry's?  Apparently, a strict carding policy, where you have to order dinner to get a table at 10pm where a cover band blasts music with attitude.

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Photo of Jon W.

Elite '09

5

118

Jon W.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
10/31/2008

I was just up from Chicago, and my brother decides to take me here for dinner.  It is one of his favorite places, and it is now one of mine. First things first - pretty reasonable drink prices for happy  hour (till 6pm on weekdays).  I decided to go with the perennial MKE favortie, Sprecher's Amber  - good move.

Secondly, the first thing that jumped out on the menu for me was the BEER BATTERED BURGER.  Let's stop and talk about this....Does any beer drinking American man ever NOT dream about deep-frying damn near anything?  The answer is no, so combining beer, beef, and fried into one sandwich is Harry's gift to all Freedom Fry loving men in the city of Milwaukee.  

Thirdly, the burger should have been pronounced D.O.A. because it did not stand a chance against me!  It was covered with Pepper Jack cheese (as per my request) and carmelized onions, lettuce, and an adequate slice of red onion.  The meat to bun ratio was just right to Behold this Beer-Battered Bastion of the Burger realm.  Now, for all of the burger purists out there, the burger in question only comes Medium-Well, just hold your tongue if you are going to say what I think to, that Medium Rare is the only way to eat Steak or Burger.  This burger was absolutely FAN-tastic done medium well and so be it if that is the only way they offer it.  It is well worth it.

This may be the longest review I have written to date, that is only because apparently I am afflicted with a verbose mind when reminiscing about Harry's Bar and Grill's BEER BATTERED BURGER!  Yes!

Super - Duper!

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Photo of Celeste L.

Elite '09

153

362

Celeste L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
8/16/2006

I have gone here a few times and never been disappointed. I was really surprised to see a diverse menu from typical bar food like burgers to PISTACHIO CRUSTED TILAPIA! I was glad I tried it because not only was the the tilapia fillets encrusted with toasted pistachios, it was served with a mango salsa over white rice pilaf and sauteed veggies. I would have preferred Jasmine rice, but the pilaf was fine. The tilapia was cooked just right and my dish went very well with a pint of Miller Lite :-)!

Prices are reasonable, portions are big and the service is fast! They are open for lunch and dinner and from my past experiences, it's never crowded anytime you go. I am sure that I will go here again the next time I am in Milwaukee.

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Photo of Stephen S.

 

1

180

Stephen S.

Milwaukee, WI

3 star rating
12/17/2008

This place has never bowled me over but has always been consistently good.

Downside of this place on a busy night is that there can be no room to stand with a drink while you endure the wait.

That, and parking always blows around here also.

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Photo of Anne H.

 

4

40

Anne H.

Milwaukee, WI

4 star rating
4/10/2008

Small but nice. Good food, good atmosphere. Good drinks. Clean.

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Photo of Carolyn B.

 

26

212

Carolyn B.

Saint Paul, MN

4 star rating
5/11/2007

The food, drinks, and service are fantastic at Harry's.   They serve drinks until bar time and food until midnight.  The crab/cream cheese stuffed won-tons are legendary-- try them, you will not be disappointed.  The first time I came here I was (also) very impressed with the variety of flavors and themes on the menu. This place caters to those with traditional tastes as well as those who are looking for something different.  The atmosphere is unpretentious and chill.  There is an extensive drink menu for the evenings when vodka tonic isn't going to cut it.  Every bartender has been friendly and very knowledgeable about so just tell them what you're the mood for and you won't be disappointed.

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Photo of Lindsey D.

 

1

143

Lindsey D.

Milwaukee, WI

1 star rating
12/19/2008

I have been here a number of times, and I have never been wow-ed. There is never anywhere to stand when waiting for a table. I once came here with a large group for a friend's birthday, and they were very rude and we ended up leaving. The food isn't that special either. Service can be sort of slow and not that great.

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