Disclosure: I received a gift card to Café Benelux in exchange for writing about my experience in Milwaukee. This assistance in no way affects the opinions expressed in my posts about the city. All opinions are my own.
Cafe Benelux is an American restaurant in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward named after the Benelux region in Europe (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) that serves hearty cuisine in a casual dining environment.
I stopped by one afternoon for an early dinner and was immediately captivated by the warm, bright and chatty atmosphere inside. It’s the kind of place that’s perfect for grabbing a meal with some friends on a weekend.
In deciding what to order, I noticed that most of the entrees are in the double digits under $20 – arguably a little bit pricey, but not too bad since the portions are big. In the end, I opted to go with a Sprocket Burger and then darted my eyes around the menu to find a beer to order as well. Luckily, the menu has suggested beverages to pair with the entrée – something my server pointed out for me – so I went along with it and got a Riverwest Stein Beer from Lakefront Brewery.
Overall, I thought the food here was okay (based on the one burger I had), while the beer was great. The burger I had was a little oilier than I prefer, but I was definitely full afterward. The highlight was really the dining atmosphere, which I took some time to indulge in even after eating because there are so many places to sit inside, outside, and upstairs.
The seating upstairs is pretty charming and intimate with lights hung across the top and nice views of the Historic Third Ward. I also kind of wish I had eaten my meal upstairs instead because it felt so nice up there, but it does seem like more of a place you’d eat with a significant other or some friends.
Despite my one okay burger at Cafe Benelux, I wouldn’t mind coming back again to give some of the other food a try, mainly because of the dining environment and all the different places you can sit. I’d definitely recommend it as a spot to dine out with family and friends in Milwaukee.