14 reader-favorite brunch spots in the Milwaukee area

With so many brunch options in the Milwaukee area, we wanted to know: What’s your favorite spot? Our followers on Instagram and Facebook delivered a buffet of answers. Here are some of the top responses, along with a few Journal Sentinel staff favorites, in alphabetical order. 

Blue’s Egg 

Blue’s Egg was the top response in this unofficial poll; wait times on weekends confirm the restaurant’s popularity. Hash browns are their specialty, stuffed with everything from ham to chicken chorizo. Cocktail offerings include Bloody Marys, mimosas, bellinis and beermosas, made with Spotted Cow. Coffee comes from Valentine.

• Brunch hours: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday-Monday 
• Reservations: Yes, online and by phone for parties of 6 or fewer
• Outdoor dining: No
• Phone: (414)-299-3180 
• Address: 317 N. 76th St.  

Cafe at the Plaza 

This 1920s-inspired diner in the Plaza Hotel serves brunch daily, with classic offerings from omelets and scrambles to buttermilk pancakes and chicken and waffles, all made with locally sourced ingredients. Bloody Marys, mimosas and iced Irish coffees make the menu, too. An intimate courtyard flanked by ivy-covered brick walls offers a spot to dine al fresco. 

• Brunch hours: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. daily
• Reservations: No, but you can call ahead to join the waitlist 
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 276-2101
• Address: 1007 N. Cass St.

Engine Company No. 3 

Firefighting items on the walls of this popular Walker's Point restaurant reflect the building's history as a firehouse, also evident in the large garage doors that are opened on nice days. The ever-changing menu features a range of global cuisine, with some tapas-style items that tie the restaurant to its sister, La Merenda, about two blocks east. Beverage options include the usual Bloody Marys and mimosas plus creative caffeinated offerings made with Valentine coffee. 

• Brunch hours: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
• Reservations: Yes, online at OpenTable
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 226-5695
• Address: 217 W. National Ave.

Golden Nest Pancakes & Cafe

A pandemic baby, Golden Nest opened in Wauwatosa's Mayfair Collection in August 2020. The restaurant's already grown up to include a robot that helps deliver food to tables in the natural-light-filled modern dining room. Pancakes are on the menu, of course, along with Benedicts, omelets, skillets, French toast and more. Drink offerings include coffee, espresso drinks, Bloody Marys and mimosas, the latter available in a four-drink flight.

• Brunch hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 935-2135
• Address: 11250 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa

HoneyPie Cafe 

This aptly named restaurant known for its pies moved to a new location in 2021 a couple blocks north of its original Bay View spot. Breakfast is served daily during the week, with brunch on weekends featuring buttermilk biscuits, Benedicts, omelets, French toast and more. Beverage options include house-infused Bloody Marys, Anodyne coffee and Pilcrow cold brew.

• Brunch hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (separate breakfast menu served 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday)
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 489-7437
• Address: 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

The Lafayette Place 

The owners of The National (a popular cafe in Walker's Point) opened this small vegan cafe on the east side in 2021. The menu features brunch classics like a breakfast sandwich made with vegan ingredients (Impossible sausage and Violife cheese), and a veggie burrito with roasted vegetables, black beans and tofu scramble. Drink options include the usual suspects like Bloody Marys and mimosas plus creative concoctions like a brunch old fashioned (made with a cold brew twist) and a lavender vodka lemonade. Non-alcoholic options include smoothies, Anodyne coffee, cold brew and Rishi tea. 

• Brunch hours: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Address: 1978 N. Farwell Ave.

Mad Rooster Cafe

The farmhouse motif at Mad Rooster isn't just for show — the restaurant sources ingredients from local farmers. The massive menu has everything from frittatas, omelets and skillets to from-scratch pancakes, crepes, waffles and homemade Greek yogurt. Beverages include Bloody Marys, Anodyne coffee, Rishi tea, fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies. 

• Brunch hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
• Reservations: No, but you can join the waitlist on Yelp before you arrive
• Outdoor dining: No
• Phone: (414) 231-9120
• Address: 4401 W. Greenfield Ave.

Mimosa 

The orange juice is fresh-squeezed for the mimosas at this restaurant, which now has locations in Brookfield and Franklin. There's also a non-alcoholic version with NA champagne, plus Bloody Marys, beermosas, Anodyne coffee and Rishi tea. Food options include classic brunch fare with creative twists, plus sandwiches, salads and mini versions of pancakes, waffles and more for kids. 

• Brunch hours: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily
• Reservations: Yes, for parties of five or more, online or by phone; smaller parties can join the waitlist online before they arrive
• Outdoor dining: No
• Phone: (414) 574 5132
• Address: 9405 S. 27th St., Franklin; 275 Regency Court, Brookfield

More:Breakfast and brunch the Mimosa way, in Franklin

North Avenue Grill

This Wauwatosa diner serves breakfast all day every day, offering everything from chicken and waffles to hashes and skillets. Bloody Marys, mimosas, coffee and more beverages are available, or you can finish your meal with a shake. Sister restaurant Midtown Grill, about a mile west, also serves breakfast all day. 

• Brunch hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 453-7225
• Address: 7225 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa

Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery 

Mexican dishes like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles fill the breakfast and lunch menu at this Bay View spot that's part restaurant, part art gallery. Other food options include silver dollar buttermilk pancakes with your choice of toppings (bruléed custard with bananas? yes, please), and the SBSBBS (s​picy b​rown s​ugar bourbon b​acon s​andwich), with​ five pieces of glazed bacon. Beverage choices include Bloody Marys, mimosas and jugo verde, a Mexican green juice made with fresh-squeezed celery, cactus, cucumber, spinach, apple and ginger. If you're there on a Sunday, pick up some hot ham and rolls from the restaurant's Hot Meat Market. 

• Brunch hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
• Reservations: Yes, online
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (312) 834-1929
• Address: 3216 S. Howell Ave.

More:The art of brunch at Sabrosa in Bay View

Story Hill BKC 

The owners of Blue's Egg have another brunch winner in Story Hill BKC, which was among Journal Sentinel dining critic Carol Deptolla's top 30 restaurants in Milwaukee in 2019. The menu features everything from crepes (both sweet and savory) and toasts (yes, including one with avocado) to shakshouka and a frittata. There's also a kids' brunch menu with smaller portions (and prices). The B in the name stands for bottle — a nod to the in-house bottle shop that sells beer, wine and liquor. A full bar sells a variety of Wisconsin and other craft brews (and will fill a growler for you), plus cocktails on tap, Bloody Marys, mimosas, "faux-tails" (mocktails), and Valentine coffee and espresso drinks.

• Brunch hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
• Reservations: Yes, online at OpenTable
• Outdoor dining: No
• Phone: (414) 539-4424
• Address: 5100 W. Blue Mound Road

Sweet Diner 

Sweet Diner encapsulates Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, offering brunch daily in an airy, loft-like space with a modern design. Eggs for the omelets, skillets and more are free-range and locally sourced, and pancakes, waffles, French toast and crepes are filled and topped with just about everything imaginable — including Nutella. Drinks include Bloody Marys, mimosas, fresh-squeezed juices and Anodyne coffee.

• Brunch hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: No
• Phone: (414) 488-9600
• Address: 239 E. Chicago ST.

Toast 

The '70's-inspired logo and decor (including a wall of vintage album covers) for this Walker's Point restaurant isn't the only thing that's totally rad — so, too, is the massive menu with items like Boogie Down Benedicts (three varieties) and Graceland Pancakes (with bacon, chocolate chips, bananas and peanut butter maple syrup). There's a Kids Korner menu, too. Groovy drinks include Bloody Marys, mimosas and bellinis (where you choose the flavor, bubbles and size), Kona coffee and Rishi tea.

• Brunch hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Reservations: No, but you can join the waitlist on Yelp before you arrive
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 539-4179
• Address: 231 S. 2nd St.

Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern

"Beer goes with breakfast" is a fitting motto for this Brewers Hill restaurant that feels like a cozy corner bar housed in a Cream City brick building. The Wisconsin-heavy craft beer list goes with items from Johnny cakes and raspberry pistachio French toast to biscuits and gravy and a baked potato omelet. The cocktail lineup includes the usual brunch suspects, plus fun creations like Rum Chai (made with Rishi chai, milk, rum and vanilla) and a few mocktails. An attached retail shop, Orange and Blue Co., provides a spot to browse while waiting for a table. 

• Brunch hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Monday
• Reservations: No
• Outdoor dining: Yes
• Phone: (414) 763-3021
• Address: 234 E. Vine St.

More:Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern brings a bar atmosphere to a delicious early meal

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story included Birch, which stopped serving brunch after July 31, 2022.

Contact Chelsey Lewis at clewis@journalsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew and @TravelMJS and Facebook at Journal Sentinel Travel.