These Milwaukee-area restaurants are great for group dining

One of the biggest dining-out dilemmas is the big-group dinner. Selecting a restaurant that will satisfy everyone is a major undertaking, let alone finding a place that has the space for a larger crowd. Inevitably, there's a lot of calling around to see which restaurants can accommodate. Suddenly, the idea of a fun group outing feels more like homework than a gregarious get-together.

But Milwaukee has plenty of spots that will welcome larger parties. These are places where you don't have to rent out a private dining room for a large fee. In most cases, you can call ahead a couple days before or maybe even drop right in. (But if you're going with a group of 10 or larger, it's always a good idea to call as far in advance as possible.)

Whether you've got folks visiting from out of town or you're corralling a crew for a special celebration, here are a few Milwaukee-area restaurants that are great for larger groups.

For a celebration: Harbor House 

550 N. Harbor Drive 

Birthdays, graduations, retirement dinners … they all feel a little more special from the airy dining room at Bartolotta’s Harbor House, the New England-style seafood restaurant with arguably the most beautiful view in the city.  

The windows lining the expansive dining room reveal a view of Lake Michigan butting up against the spectacular architecture of the Milwaukee Art Museum. But the view isn’t the only thing that sets this place apart — its seafood is flown in from the coasts daily so diners can taste the freshness in dishes like whole grilled branzino, King Crab legs, Hudson Canyon sea scallops and a Maine-style lobster roll. For those who prefer turf over surf, the restaurant’s steak selections are top-notch, too. 

Dinners, lunches and weekend brunches feel special there in any season, but if you can snag seats on the Cape Cod-reminiscent patio, your group will be treated to the best waterfront dining in town. 

Call ahead to reserve a table for parties larger than six: (414) 395-4900. For more information, visit bartolottas.com/harbor-house. 

For beer lovers: Lakefront Brewery 

1872 N. Commerce St. 

This beloved riverfront brewery is already a go-to spot to bring out-of-town guests who want to sample some of the city’s best local brews. But its sizable beer hall is also a great place to gather with a group over laid-back grub like mac and cheese, giant soft pretzels, hearty sandwiches and sausage flights. And if out-of-town guests are looking for some of the city’s best cheese curds, this is the place! 

It's a fun spot to grab a bite before or after Lakefront's legendary brewery tour — another quintessential activity for Milwaukee visitors.

Give guests a taste of the full Wisconsin fish fry experience when you visit the Beer Hall on Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m. for Lakefront’s legendary fish fry accompanied by live polka music.  

The kid-friendly, counter-service space provides first-come, first-served seating with no reservations required. Check with the bar to make sure you can squeeze a few tables together for groups larger than eight. 

On Fridays, reservations are available from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; for groups of six or larger, call (414) 372-8800. For more information, visit lakefrontbrewery.com/beer-hall. 

For brunch: The Bridgewater Modern Grill 

2011 S. 1^st St. 

This stylish Bay View spot has an open and airy dining room with loads of space for larger groups, especially if you go during patio season, when its 245-foot patio is lined with even more tables for an al fresco morning meal. But if your group is getting together in cooler months, they’ll still be wowed by the gorgeous design and bright interior of this welcoming space. 

The brunch menu is varied enough to make any member of your group happy. Brunch here is more catered to those who gravitate toward savory brunch options, such as chicken and waffles, crab cake benedict, chicken salad sandwich, lobster roll and avocado toast. And the bar at Bridgewater makes a mean brunch cocktail, too, including a gingery spritz and a spirit-free juniper punch.  

The Bridgewater offers brunch daily, so if your group’s feeling like a mid-morning get-together on, say, a Tuesday, you’re in luck. 

Call ahead to reserve a table for parties larger than eight: (414) 299-6556. For more information, visit bridgewatermke.com.

For picky eaters: Cafe Hollander 

Four Milwaukee-area locations: 2608 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee; 7677 W. State St. Wauwatosa; 20150 Union St., Brookfield; 5900 W. Mequon Road, Mequon

When you’re eating with a group, it can be hard to please everyone. But this local Milwaukee chain with a European flair caters to crowds with varying tastes, making it easy for even the pickiest person in your party to find something they’ll love. Each of the four Milwaukee-area locations has a slightly different menu, but you’ll find everything from meatloaf for your comfort-loving dad to a falafel bowl for your vegetarian bestie. There are loads of sandwiches, too, like a hot fried chicken sandwich, turkey and ham Reuben and multiple burger styles. Salads, soups and all-day brunch items also show up on the well-rounded menu. Each of the locations is open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner. 

Cafe Hollander also has a separate gluten-free menu so diners in your group with gluten sensitivities have plenty to choose from.  

Each of the locations’ interiors is cozy and welcoming, many with two floors of dining space, making accommodating larger groups easy. Call ahead to reserve a table for groups larger than eight. 

To find the phone numbers and more information for each location, visit cafehollander.com.

For groups with kids: Reunion

It’s all in the name at Reunion, a laid-back restaurant that’s all about gathering together around food and fun. The two-level building features a first-level restaurant, second-level arcade area and an outdoor patio and games area. 

While groups of any size can dine at Reunion, the restaurant makes it especially easy to order for groups of 10 people or more by offering a special party platter menu with options portioned out to serve 10 to 15 people. Ribs, lasagna, mac and cheese, french fries, spinach dip, sliders, chicken wings and more can be purchased in these platter sizes suitable for group dining. 

Of course, diners can choose to order individually from the sizeable standard menu, too, with selections like stuffed Juicy Lucy burgers, steaks, pizza, pastas and more than a dozen appetizers. 

If kids (of any age) get fidgety after eating, Reunion has a full arcade on its second floor outfitted with classic video games, carnival games, Skee-Ball and foosball. And in warmer months, the outdoor area has a fire pit, sand volleyball courts, bag toss and more outdoor activities. 

It’s a place where parents can kick back and have a drink while the kids collect tickets in the arcade. But adults are encouraged to join in on the excitement, too. 

Reservations can be made online. Parties with 10-20 guests require a $25 reservation fee; 21 or more guests require a $50 reservation fee.  

For more information, visit reunionrestaurant.com. 

For shareables: Movida at Hotel Madrid 

600 S. 6^th St. 

If your group likes dining family-style (read: taking a little off the plate of everyone at the table), this vibrant restaurant specializing in Spanish-style tapas is fab place to pass some plates. The best bet here is to go for their unlimited tapas special. For $49, your entire table can load up on as many shareable plates and bowls as possible within 75 minutes.  

That means your group could try almost anything on the menu, such as tender Spanish meatballs, vegetarian empanadillas, pimento cheese spread, barbacoa tacos, patatas bravas, green curry noodles and more. It’s a fun way to taste around the menu, and if your group finds something they love, you can always order more and keep ’em comin’ throughout dinner. 

Movida’s lively patio is partially covered and heated, and tables can be pushed together to make space for large groups. And beginning in early 2024, Movida’s new two-story addition and four-season rooftop space will provide even more room for large groups to gather around their classic small plates and beloved paella dishes. 

Call ahead to reserve a table for parties larger than eight: (414) 488-9146. For more information, visit hotelmadridmke.com.

For something quick: 3rd St. Market Hall 

275 W. Wisconsin Ave. 

Maybe your group is getting together before a show at the Riverside, or you’re busy bopping around downtown during the afternoon. Maybe you’ve got some indecisive eaters who aren’t sure what they want. If you’re aiming to please a crowd and want something quick, stop into 3rd St. Market Hall at The Avenue, a vibrant food hall with 20 local vendors to choose from and 35,000 square feet of space for dining, drinking and playing.  

Grab a table for your group, then everyone can order exactly what they’re feeling. Get a dynamite burger and cheese curds from Dairyland or go for your favorite sushi roll at Kawa. Folks in your group could grab a Venezuelan arepa from Anytime Arepas or a three-meat combo from Smokin’ Jacks BBQ. What’s great about this place is everybody can get exactly what they want, then come back together for a no-fuss feast in a fun and friendly atmosphere.  

And if you have a little extra time to kill, 3rd St. Market Hall has shuffleboard, a turf area with backyard games and a video-game lounge — enough activities to keep anyone at any age entertained.  

The food hall doesn’t take reservations, so just pop in with your group and grab an open table or two for a quick bite on your way to your next destination. 

For more information, visit 3rdstmarkethall.com. 

For contemporary comfort: Maxie's

6732 W. Fairview Ave.

Even though Milwaukee isn't located anywhere near the South, you wouldn't guess it while chowing down on the Creole, low-country and Cajun eats at this lively Southern-inspired restaurant.

From po'boys and shrimp and grits to jambalaya and grilled oysters, Maxie's specializes in Deep South comfort with a contemporary spin. The menu is fantastic for big groups because there's a little something for any type of eater. Fried chicken, slow-smoked brisket, a burger and pecan-crusted trout are on the menu, too. The restaurant also goes out of its way to ensure vegetarians have a place at the table, too, with veg-friendly jambalaya, a barbecue tofu plate and vegetarian red beans and rice.

Maxie's dining room has seating for 175 and even has a second-floor space for large groups (call ahead to enquire whether the space is reserved for a private party). In warm-weather months, Maxie's recently expanded patio space is a fun place to eat some Southern grub in the open air.

Reservations for up to 10 guests can be made online. Call ahead to reserve a table for parties larger than 10: (414) 292-3969. For more information, visit maxiesmke.com.

For authentic Asian: An Ox Cafe 

7411 W. Hampton Ave. 

There’s no shortage of fantastic Asian eateries around Milwaukee, but An Ox Cafe stands out for its sheer size: nearly 9,000 square feet. That’s a lot of space for bringing together a big group that’s itching to try traditional Hmong, Thai and Laotian fare. 

The menu features soups like pho, tom kha gai and tom yum gai. Noodles like pad Thai, pad kee mao and pad see euw show up, too. Entrees include whole fried red snapper, crispy duck, Lao sausage, stir-fried baby bok choy with pork belly and spicy volcano chicken. There are multiple salads, appetizers and boba drinks, as well. 

While the menu is traditional, the atmosphere is anything but. An Ox Cafe is modern and industrial-looking inside, with large TVs mounted throughout playing live sports and more. On some nights, the restaurant hosts DJs, live music or karaoke.  

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Call ahead to reserve a table for parties larger than six: (414)336-0064. For more information, visit anoxcafe.com. 

For burgers and wings: Camino – West Allis 

7211 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis 

When Camino, a Walker’s Point restaurant that opened in 2015, opened their second location in 2020, it was a welcome addition to the West Allis food scene. The restaurant and bar is known for their top-notch burgers and sandwiches, house-made pierogi, sausages and wings, but its small space in Milwaukee made it difficult to go there for a group outing. 

The West Allis location has seating for 130, with large tables, plenty of bar stools and loads of airy space to gather with friends and family. Despite its size, it still has that cozy tavern feel that makes Camino a favorite hangout spot for pub fare fanatics. 

The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner and offers weekend brunch. It’s a favorite spot for beer lovers, too, with dozens of options from domestics to craft beer from celebrated breweries across the country. 

Reservations can be made online for parties up to nine. Call ahead to reserve a table for parties of 10 or more: (414) 810-4838. For more information, visit westallis.caminomke.com.