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Rip Tide
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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14 reviews for Rip Tide
It's pretty difficult to mess up seafood, especially the American staples such as fried shrimp. Rip Tide somehow managed to do it. The food is pricey, which is expected for a seafood place. However, I could not get over just how bad the food was. When I first go to a mid-range seafood restaurant, I tend to order fried shrimp as sort of a litmus test. Some places use prepackaged shrimp, and some bread their own. The size of the individual shrimp, as well as portion size can give you an idea of how the restaurant processes its other dishes. At Rip Tide, you get 6 pieces of fried shrimp, red potatoes and steamed vegetables. Unfortunately, the shrimp were the prepackaged kind that were over-battered and overcooked. The small amount of shrimp meat that was inside was dry and flavorless. Even the cocktail sauce that they served tasted like it had been diluted with ketchup, since it had no horseradish bite whatsoever. The potatoes and vegetables were not even seasoned, and had only butter on them. To top it off, the steamed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini ) were cut so poorly into gigantic pieces and undercooked that it was hard to even cut them with the silverware.
It just seems like this place is charging premium seafood prices while attempting to cut corners wherever it can. Even the salad that came with the meal was the wilted stuff from a bag and the bleu cheese dressing was obviously some cheap wholesale brand that can be bought by the gallon.
The one thing that Rip Tide does have going for it is the large outdoor seating area and the nice view. This being Wisconsin, where its cold 6 months out of the year, the management is going to have to wise up if they want to stay in business, especially when you can't bank on the outdoor seating for half the year. They need to hire a chef who knows what they're doing and stop skimping on the quality of ingredients.
Then again, I saw throngs of people entering the restaurant while I was there. Perhaps the majority of the clientele don't mind the crap food and are only concerned with how the campy maritime decorations make them feel like they can hear the fog horns of distant fishing boats.
The worst and most expensive seafood dishes. There was a layer of grease under the food. Not only that but the food had no taste. It was almost embrassing to bring my friend from Miami there. She only took a few bites of her dish.
I've only been there twice. The first time I ordered takeout and it wasn't so bad.. so I thought I would take my friend and sister there.. not a good idea. Its nice that they have outdoor seating close to the lake but I'm not a big fan of Hansen's Landing and Harbor Front. I don't think I will ever go back to Rip Tide.
Rip Tide is all about seafood which is not my favorite thing. I will eat fish frys and the one they serve is just OK. If you don't order fish, there's nothing good to eat here.
On the other hand, if you like fish like my husband does, this is good. There's a nice variety on the menu but it's expensive. Definitely not a good value.
The bar is fantastic. And you cannot beat the view. Drinks out on the outdoor deck cannot be beat. I highly recommend a stop for drinks.
I'm in agreement with some of the other reviews - Rip Tide does have a nice vibe. But oh man, don't go there for the food. I can honestly say I've returned food about 3 times when dining out, and this was one of them. AVOID the seafood nachos at all cost - chips were both burned and greasy, the cheese was the 'nacho' processed cheese food, shrimp was tiny and probably canned, crab... seafood sticks and the guacamole was - no lie - dark brown.
Service was so so.
What was good you ask? The beer was cold, the hushpuppies were good. The lobster wraps - okay.
I would go back ONLY to enjoy the patio, have a beer and hush puppies, then go somewhere else to eat.
Went back with a friend for dinner the other night. Sat outside on a beautiful night. I had a Margarita and a really nice Scallop dish. This may be the nicest outdoor dining spot in Milwaukee.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/19/2009
Went here with a friend today. They have a Sunday Brunch for $22, but we ordered off the menu. We… Read more »
Went at 130 for Sunday lunch of calamari appetizer $8.50 & seafood panini w/ fries or coleslaw $15. They do have a $22.95 brunch (which is $17.95 betw 11-12am) but I'm not that big on that much food. The service was great, the food was fine, & the view's ok.
Great patio, worst fish tacos I've ever had. Go for drinks & appetizers, but go elsewhere for dinner.
I am going to start this review by stating that I am not a huge seafood fan, I hesitate to try most things that come out of the water besides fish...And, I L-O-V-E-D Rip Tide!!! We went on a Thur. night and sat at the bar and received superb service! Plus, there was live music which made for a great experience. We did not attempt the outdoor area as it was still pretty cold out, but the outdoor fireplace and seating area looks very inviting for warmer days and nights. I am going back next weekend already!
The place seems like it would be better than it was. The place has a cool feel to it being on the river and surrounded by very little, but I'm not really sure what they're aiming for here. The drink menu isn't exactly exciting, and the food menu is something between bar food and Red Lobster. For having so much tasty sounding seafood on the menu, I guess I expected a little better quality. Roll with the punches I suppose. Don't get me wrong, you could have a good time here but don't expect much from the food.
Overall Review 4 of 10
This is a success story gone bad. It has all the making of one of our favorite new places in town: location and atmosphere but just failed miserably on the food.
What We Had 2 of 10
This is our worst review to date, and for good reason. To start, they don't have real Ice Tea. They do, however, have a limited bar with root beer on tap. The food was miserable. We had a Shrimp Poor Boy sandwich and seafood tacos. The shrimp part of the po boy didn't exist, but was rather filled with scallops that had their guts still in them. Is that cheaper or something? Gag. My tacos were thus in question thereafter. We actually sent some of it back.
Atmosphere 7 of 10
This is where Rip Tide excels. They have a great location, right on the river mouth in the Third Ward. Take a look
The atmosphere is clearly boating. It is big, clean, and cool inside, with plenty of outside tables and bar room on the river. This would be a great place for a after work drink, or the like.
Other 8 of 10
Parking is no problem here, with plenty on the street or in their lot.
Excellent food. We orderd the Raw Oysters, Seafood Nachos (1/2 order is plenty!), Lobster, and King Crab Legs. The Oysters were huge and delicious. The Nachos were amazing. The Lobster and Crab Legs were a Thursday Night Special for $16.95 per pound. We each orderd a 1 pound lobster, and it was fairly good size. The Crab Legs were amazing as well.
The Beer Selection is also very good. I would definitely go back as soon as possible.
We went in the winter, but during the Summer, it would be fun to go out on the deck and eat. The atmosphere is very tropical.
Ok food. Sub par bloody. Crap service.
Unbelievably awful!!!! The shrimp dinner was boxed frozen shrimp, served with lukewarm boiled red potatoes, and steamed veggies. Neither of these sides had any seasoning, salt, butter, nothing. Even the diinner salad was served sans any dressing, just a splash of red wine vinegar and that's it!. This place needs a chef that knows food, how to flavor it, and make it appealing.. Our server was an older gal with a grey, helmut head hair-do, who had about as much warmth and personality as a garden snail. The last time I ate at Red Lobster it was way more enjoyable than Rip Tide.
At the southern end of the Third Ward, this place has a dining area with great window views outside and an outdoor deck overlooking the confluence of the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic, and Menomonee rivers. I had a pretty good cheeseburger there.