Victor S.'s Profile

Passed by here on Saturday night, and whaddya know, there was a car show going on. Loved it!

I didn't want to enjoy my experience at Bigg's Road House, but I did.

The bad lightning, hog/tavern hybrid themed interior, and over-accommodation of people really turned me off. Wait time was about 15-20 minutes on a Friday night. However, I'm not one to shy away from an experience and sometimes when you're put out of your element, you open up and begin to enjoy things. Especially if the food is good and the company you're keeping is...better.

I tell myself, OK, I'm not paying so what harm could it be? I've been in worse places but the lighting here is horrid. And it's way too noisy. Drinks are ordered and we receive our buffalo skins starter (Idaho potato skins with cheese, bacon crumbles, chicken, onions, and spicy buffalo sauce). The skins arrive momentarily. They are unappealing to me, and my companion says they're cold. After notifying the waitress, she graciously replaces them with a much warmer bunch. Still not appealing and after one bite, I wait for my food. You can tell I'm not an "appetizer" kind of person. Not a good start so far...

Being that it was a Friday, I want to get my fish fry on. All-You-Can-Eat Icelandic beer-battered cod with a side of coleslaw and mashed potatoes for $10.95? Why the hell not. This stuff is good! Cod was cooked well, tender, & crispy. Mashed potatoes were buttered to a well enough flavor. And those rolls...let's just say I would go to Bigg's for only the rolls if I could. So, I go back for two more rounds of cod and at this point, I'm on cloud nine. I've completely zoned out into fish fry heaven and the lighting in the place stops becoming an issue.

And just when I think it can't get any better, we order the caramel apple crisps - four warm (my mouth is salivating while I write this) apple crisps drizzled in caramel sauce wrapped in a crispy crust and served with vanilla ice cream. The best 10 minutes of dessert euphoria I've experienced in my life.

Overall, the experience was great. I've gone back two times after this experience and the chicken fajitas I had at each occurrence were OK. Not spectacular. Waitresses are very thoughtful. I still think they should do something about that lighting, though.

Disgusting food.
Dirty interior.
POOR service.
Real rash atmosphere.

Being drunk, let alone unconscious, will NOT save you from the abomination that is Marquette Gyros. This place deserves no more of my words. Proceed with caution.

I don't think I can say more that what others have already said, so this review is kind of pointless. $1.50 for 6 amazingly tasteful donuts that are fried to order. $3 for a large bag of 12. Or $14 for a pack of 60. You have your choice of cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, a combination of both, or just plain regular (not in the menu, so you should ask).

The usual go-to place for drunks on the East Side during early hours of the morning, these donuts are probably what keep this place running. In case you're silly and don't want to go for the donuts, there's your usual choice of hot dogs (plain, Chicago style, chili-cheese, veggie), coffees, expressos, bagels, hot tea, hot cocoa, and muffins.

But seriously though. Just get a large bag of cinnamon sugar donuts and you'll thank me later.

National Bakery & Deli is a frequently visited place for not only myself, but everyone in my family. Being that I was born in St. Francis Hospital (located across the street) and spent 18 years of life visiting my doctor, stopping by NB&D was somewhat of a tradition and a reward for being a "trooper" when I was younger. Now, I just go if I'm in the area for the nostalgic experience...and those damn sugar cookies.

As the years go by, I begin to value the location and its employees for being gracious. Most importantly, for them knowing exactly what designs to put on the sugar cookies to make the kiddies crack a smile. Notice how devoted I am to these things? I'm an adult and can still appreciate a well-designed sugar cookie. In addition to that, you can indulge the usual cupcakes, cakes, danishes, scones, and bread - freshly baked each morning. On the pricey side, but not much of a difference from what you would pay at a grocer.

Although I'm not a deli-meat kind of person, a small portion of the place does sell bologna, corned beef, ham, turkey, and the-like. A sub-par offering compared to other places in the city, but hearty enough that the locals appreciate it for what it is.  

Unless you have a strong sweet tooth and/or have been raised on this place, chances are you won't leave with a memorable experience. The place is pretty basic. You will, however, appreciate the hospitality and doing good for the community.

It's really disappointing when small locations once extremely popular and known through generations close because they can't compete with the majors. This can be said for Boy Blue.

For those who don't know, Boy Blue used to have many locations in Milwaukee and steadily began closing them when they struggled to stay in business. Probably because of other "drive-in" competition. To my knowledge, this Boy Blue location is the last location in the surrounding Milwaukee area and at the condition it's in, I don't think it'll stay open for long considering the prices are kind high. Breaks my heart just thinking about it.

Surprisingly, the owner has said they still get a good amount of customers in the summer. Which gives me hope, because Boy Blue allows me to relive my childhood every time I purchase chocolate coated vanilla soft-serve on a waffle cone. And you wanna know what's more awesome? You can actually see the chocolate coating happen. So worth the $2.50. I wish I still had the photo I took several weeks ago. Unfortunately, I randomly deleted it from my phone.

Also available is your normal menu of ice-cream varieties and snax food.

I don't understand comments about the owner being "rude," and "weird." Maybe it's just me seeing beyond that or it being a good day, but I've yet to have a bad experience. And I don't think the location is THAT eccentric either.

I used to frequent the North Prospect Avenue location a lot before it closed several years ago. It was a small location (much like this one) merely drowning amidst its competition just a few steps down the street, Whole Foods. I don't think that was the actual reason it closed, though. With only this one left, I couldn't possibly imagine someone wondering why this place should not stay in business because of one bad experience.

Soup Brothers is cute, homely, and quirky. Terms I think could used to describe the essence of the variety of soups it offers. Every time I eat there I feel like I'm in a completely different location (like somewhere in the South).

Go for my usual Broccoli Cheese...and that delicious large half-lump of bread which makes the place famous. Between $4-$7 for a reasonable portion of warm goodness and side of bread, how can you go wrong? Great location to get some soup.

In all honesty, no words I write here can amount to the greatness of the Urban Ecology and its major impact/influence on the Greater Milwaukee area. It is establishments exactly like these that continue to genuinely educate the community on the importance of environmental principles by setting an example. UEC does this by embracing what modern eco-design has provided contractors and architects for years. Only, it takes the people and community themselves to really complete what this area represents by putting forth enough passion for the well-being of the area and the future of the environment.

Aside from providing such an amazing location for children, young adults, and the elderly to learn and exercise their "green-thumb," the UEC has done a fantastic job at advocating what it means to live environmentally friendly outside of their Park Pl. location and into the urban community. Speaking by experience, I commend them for this!

The location itself, as others have mentioned, runs completely "off the grid," meaning it runs entirely on energy obtained through the sun, wind, and water. In total, the UEC contains 246 solar panels, providing 44-kilowatts. As as a result, it is known as Wisconsin's largest solar power system. The sun provides the electricity for the building and only rain water runs through the toilets. In addition to that, the outside sees one of the most amazing rain gardens I've ever seen in my life.

To my knowledge, the UEC has the capability to become LEED certified, but they choose not to only because the money itself can be put to better use, like you know,  keeping the place running and doing all the great things they do. A wise choice, in my opinion.

In addition to cutting-edge design, UEC contains themed rooms where students and adults can learn about solar energy, Aquaponics, composting, and nature. Notable areas include a small area of reptiles and turtles, "secret door," composting room, slide that leads to the outdoors, rock-climbing wall, and tower.

Throughout the year, UEC provides equipment to those interest and even hosts a festival to commemorate the summer solstice. They run summer camps for children and hold so many workshops + events it's ridiculous. I, myself, have volunteered several times with other students to clean invasive greens around the area - an event that happens several times during the week. Not only that, but it also is situated alongside the Oak Leaf Trail which parallels the Milwaukee River. Can it get any better than this? If there is one place I BEG everyone to go to, it's here.

Major love for the UEC. I totally fan-girl 4 u.

This location is the best of all Value Village places in the Milwaukee + surrounding area. Why? It's cleaner, frequented by less people, plus you're more likely to find a greater selection of semi-legit vintage pieces. That is to say I've had more success finding what I want here than at St. Paul's/Salvation Army. And, if you're that fancy, there's nice "designer" section set up at the entrance.

Clothing is split between gender and their appropriate article of clothing, then organized by color. Accessories and shoes are towards by the back. Electronics and furniture have their own corner towards the back-right of the store. Way-right houses music, books, housewares, and little pathway where you can find all different types of new + vintage fabrics. You'll find things neatly organized, but the shoe section does tend to get a little messy.

What most impresses about this location is how much it houses and how kind the employees are. Most of the time, I just like walk in, browse, and eventually come out with more than I imagined. Very frequently I purchase things at half-price. Like a previous review mentioned, sales are according by date of the week:

MTuTh - 50% off clothing, shoes, and accessories.
WF - 50% housewares, electronics, books, music, fabric, and furniture.
Sat - 50% off everything.
Sun - 50% off everything.

NOTE: Sales are different in each location. (Check sales for particular locations here: http://www.valuevillag...)

Lastly, I'm pretty sure they don't take credit/debit. And of course, wash the clothes before wearing them :)

I feel guilty writing this review, only because the last 10 times I've ordered in from home, it has been exclusively with Super No 1. As a result, I see it as an obligation to put forth an honest review on something that could possibly give me a heart attack sometime in the near future.

So let's call Super No 1 a beautiful mistake.

Often compared with the likes of Chopstix, Super No 1 is known for its super delicious and greasy Chinese-American cuisine. The closest Asian restaurant to my home (aside from Pho 27), I strictly see it as an alternative to the regular unhealthy food I can force myself to eat once a week. Only, Super No 1 is good and slowly burning a hole in my pocket.

What I think may distinguish Sup No 1 from other notable joints can come down to several things:
1) Crab Rangoons - A lot sweeter tasting than other places. I've suffered from dealing with the usual bitter and overdone crab rangoon, but this is different and best served HOT. Tastes much better.
2) Fried rice - Nothing makes me more happy picking through my dinner plate of shrimp lo mein and rice to find bits of steamed chicken. Yummy!
3) Their Singapore Chow Mei Fun is disgustingly amazing and I recommend that to anyone and anything.

With that said, is their Sweet & Sour Chicken, Kung Po, General Tso, Egg Drop Soup distinct enough to provide a totally unique experience different from anything you've had before? Probably not, but it gets the job done in those moments of severe gluttony.

The interior of the place is extremely small and could use a little bit more organization and cleaning. I mostly get food my food delivered, and have had one case of whoever doing so forgetting to bring extra change for bills $20+. Kind of annoying having to tip someone $2+ for a delivery less than a mile away.

Super No 1, I wish I could quit you.