The Original is an upscale-casual New American restaurant and cocktail bar at 2498 N Bartlett Ave in Milwaukee‘s East Side, in the Murray Hill and Oakland Avenue corridor near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It opened in 2017 with a simple pitch: contemporary American cooking paired with inventive craft cocktails in a dressed-up but unstuffy room. Diners come for date nights, celebration dinners, and weekend brunch, and the bar stays open late for those who only want a drink.
What to Expect at The Original
The kitchen works in the New American idiom: familiar ingredients, seasonal swings, and plated presentation without fuss. The printed menu is organized into starters, entrées, and desserts, plus a section billed as “The 414!” that nods to Milwaukee’s area code. The restaurant publishes separate dinner and brunch menus, so it is worth checking the official site before you go, since offerings change by season and by meal period.
The drinks program is the other half of the identity. The restaurant divides its list into Unique Craft Cocktails, a feature called “The Ice!” cocktails, beer, and wine, with a separate classic cocktails and spirits list for traditionalists. That structure makes it easy to build a evening around a cocktail flight-style progression: start with a house creation at the bar, move to a table for dinner, and finish with something spirit-forward alongside dessert.
- Unique Craft Cocktails: House-developed drinks sit at the center of the beverage menu, designed to pair with the kitchen’s New American plates.
- “The Ice!” Cocktails: A dedicated menu category built around ice-forward presentation, a distinctive feature of the bar program.
- Classic Cocktails and Spirits List: A separate printed list for diners who prefer a well-made Old Fashioned or Manhattan over a house creation.
- “The 414!” Section: A locally flavored menu category that signals the kitchen’s Milwaukee roots.
- Weekend Brunch: Saturday and Sunday brunch service with its own menu, running from mid-morning into the afternoon.
The Original at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2498 N Bartlett Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 |
| Neighborhood / Area | East Side, near Murray Hill and Oakland Avenue |
| Operating Hours | Sunday brunch 10 AM to 2 PM; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday dinner from 5 PM; Friday and Saturday dinner; Tuesday closed. Confirm current hours on the official site, as service windows are listed differently across sources. |
| Admission / Price Range | $$ (entrées typically in the mid-range for upscale casual dining); cocktails priced as craft bar drinks |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2.5 hours for dinner; about 1 to 1.5 hours for brunch |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes along North Avenue and Oakland Avenue; metered and street parking on surrounding blocks |
| Official Website & Phone | theoriginalmke.com | +1 414-763-4811 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Reservations are handled through Tock, linked from the restaurant’s official site, and booking ahead is the safer play for Friday and Saturday dinner or any celebration party. Weeknight walk-ins are easier, and the bar is a good fallback if the dining room is full. If you plan on cocktails, arriving a little before your reservation gives you time to browse the multi-part drink list, which is longer than most neighborhood restaurants offer.
The restaurant sits in a walkable residential and commercial stretch of the East Side. Parking is on-street, so allow extra minutes in the evening, particularly on university event nights. Bus service on North Avenue connects the area to downtown Milwaukee. For accessibility, call 414-763-4811 ahead to ask about entry, restroom access, and table configuration. Within a short walk or quick drive, you can pair dinner with a stroll along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Lake Park, browse the shops and bars along Brady Street, or catch live music and film in the surrounding East Side venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Original’s hours and best time to visit?
Dinner is offered most evenings, brunch runs on weekend mornings, and the restaurant is closed Tuesdays, with the bar noted for cocktails into the late evening. Hours are published differently on the website and in listings, so verify the current schedule at theoriginalmke.com or by phone. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest; weeknights and Sunday brunch are calmer.
Do I need a reservation, and what does it cost?
Reservations are recommended for weekend dinners and larger groups and are booked through Tock via the official site. The restaurant sits in the $$ tier, so expect mid-range upscale-casual pricing for entrées, with cocktails priced in line with craft bars. Current menus are posted as PDFs on the website.
How much time should I budget?
Plan about two hours for a full dinner with a cocktail and dessert, and roughly an hour to an hour and a half for brunch. If you want a drink at the bar before or after your meal, add 30 to 45 minutes.
Is The Original good for families or special occasions?
It suits date nights, celebrations, and business dinners best, thanks to the refined but relaxed setting and cocktail focus. Brunch is the more family-friendly service. There is no formal dress code stated, and smart-casual attire fits the room. For specific accessibility needs, call ahead at 414-763-4811.
When planning your Milwaukee travel guide or comparing verified restaurants and new american restaurant in Milwaukee, pair this stop with standout local spots including The Diplomat, Renaissance Milwaukee West Hotel, Harbor House, and Black Cat Alley (0.5 km away).
