Engine Company No. 3

I think this place is ok but not great.
Wait was not as long as they said it would be (an hour) but that’s even better because the house Bloody Mary I got wasn’t too tasty. Luckily my GF liked her drink after they had to remake it in a glass that wasn’t dirty.
The girl that served us was nice enough but we were a little distracted by one of the hostesses who had her breasts so far out of her shirt that I think we both got pregnant.
The potatoes were good, the pancakes weren’t bad but they were dry. Luckily another spoonful of syrup was Only .50c
The building is really cool and the place isn’t bad but I think we can do better.

This place is incredible. The quality of then food never disappoints, and they’re constantly changing their menu and adding new things. The only downside is that there is usually a wait because it’s so popular, but they have lots of comfortable seating and a bar while your waiting.

Definitely a «foodie» place. Dishes are inspired by ethnic signatures from all over the world and there are some interesting (in a good way) flavor pairings. The staples are still there too, and are delicious. If you can make room, get a cinnamon roll to share among your table. It is SOOOO good.
Brunch is pretty much always going to have a wait if you show up after 8 or 9… depending on weather. They do take reservations, which is nice. You can also just plan it into your morning and it’s not unmanageable. The building is beautiful and there is a second floor loft to wait in, where there are games and drinks. Everything looks clean. Service is typically friendly and prompt. Prices are not diner cheap, but reasonable considering the unique culinary offerings.
My only suggestion is that you request your breakfast sweets (french toast, pancakes, waffles) be served with toppings/​seasonal condiments on the side until you know how you feel about them. As an example, the seasonal jam was cranberry based the last time we went and was served on top of our breakfast. It went fine with my pumpkin pancakes but totally overpowered my partner’s earl grey french toast.

What has taken me so long to write this? We have not had a bad meal here ever. Very consistent food and service.
I can say that you cannot go wrong with the omelet of the day. I love how they pair the meats and cheese. Last one I had was called a Lebanese omelet with delicate flavors of coriander, nutmeg, and cinnamon with mushrooms and Gouda cheese Always a treat. Another favorite of mine is the spaghetti squash. Just delicious! I personally feel the side potatoes have a bit to much salt but I am not a salt person. My friend will tell you they are the best potatoes she has ever had, so that is just my perspective.
Drink wise, once upon a time they had on the menu a really nice, what tasted to me like a dreamcicle. I still ask for this off menu: their own homemade orange cream soda, with orange bitters, and tuaca a southern comfort vanilla liquor!!!
Again, great place, fantastic service, they support our farmers with mostly farm to table! Just a reminder, they are busy. really, really busy. Grab a drink upstairs while you wait.

This is less of a mom and pop breakfast joint, more of a Sunday afternoon brunch place.
The dishes were just a touch out of the ordinary– earl gray French toast with raising and apple (we think) currant. Omelettes with creative veggies. All are well done. Decent tea, decent coffee. Friendly staff. A solid above-​average brunch place.

How have I not updated my review to this place?
Sheesh!
Stopped by on a weekend morning to celebrate the boo-thang’s birthday. We showed up without a reservation, so there was a wait, but we expected that. I absolutely love that they now have an upstairs area to drink and hang out in. I ordered some tea and we got cozy on the couches they had there.
We finally got seated, earlier than we were originally quoted. I ordered a scone to go with my tea, but I’m really upset that it was barely edible. The boyfriend got the cinnamon roll and I really wish I had gone with that, instead.
The actual meal, for me the Spaghetti Squash Carbonara, and the boyfriend, the blueberry pancakes, were absolutely AMAZING. I was looking for something savory and tasty and this definitely hit the spot.
Service was great and attentive.
Aside from the scone, I am so so happy that we came back, and would recommend that other folks try it, too!

The Patacon con Huevo!
In case you were wondering what to eat, get the patacon con huevo. It comes with cilantro rice (delicious) on top of a bed of plantains. Super tasty and equally filling.
I’m not saying you should skip everything else on their menu, because the earl grey french toast was really good too, but if I’m going back, I’m getting the patacon again, and again.
The space is actually fairly large, and they have a huge hall upstairs where you can order drinks at the bar and hang out while you wait for a table.

I had high hopes for Engine Co. No. 3 when I entered but the high hopes were quickly dashed when I tried the food. The French Toast had an odd flavor to it that was not pleasant on the palate. The pancake on the other hand was extremely dry and bland. The maple syrup was much too sweet and there was far too little of it for the plate of food I was served. I asked for another syrup to choke down the pancake and when I got the bill they charged me $.50 for it. I was not very impressed with the menu and insulted (on principle) with the charge for the very skant aadditional syrup. If someone asks for a simple condiment item, and there is a charge for it, then let the customer know at that moment. Don’t let it show up on the bill after the fact. That’s tacky, very tacky! I will NOT be back. The atmosphere is nice but the food was a disappointment PLUS!

A new favorite brunch spot!
Like the sister restaurant La Merenda, the dishes here are inspired from around the world. My favorite dish by far is the Patacon con Huevo — Fried plantain, cilantro rice, salsa, beans and eggs. The combination of these flavors is so good, and I’ll be back just to get this again. I also had the Earl Grey french toast, which was also pretty tasty. They use brioche bread so it’s nice and fluffy, and there is a fruit compote on top. It wasn’t overly sweet, but after eating the whole thing I definitely had my fill of sugar. I also got a side of bacon, and while I’m a crispy bacon fan, I loved this soft, fatty pork belly bacon.
The only downfall for me was the bloody mary. As some other reviewers stated, it was a bit watery. And they will not make it spicy even if requested. The waitress brought out some sriracha and Cholula hot sauce so I could doctor it up myself, but it just wasn’t the same.
Also to note, this place can get a little crowded during the weekend brunch rush, but they do accept reservations. They also have a big waiting area on the 2^nd floor with a full bar so you can get your morning libation immediately while waiting for a table.

Am from out of town. Walk in to a warm greeting. If you choose to wait for a table or spot at the bar, you can go upstairs to a very spacious waiting area with couches tables and a bar that you can order drinks from while you wait. The hostess will take your phone number and text you when your table is ready. We waited less than 10min. Our waitress was very friendly and made our visit personal. The food is fresh, local and very very good. The prices are perfect. Two meals and two drinks came out to 20 $. The menu is simple and offers many flavors. Would definitley come back and eat again!

We came in on a dreary Tuesday morning, so were seated right away. Our server was great, and took the time to carefully explain some of the dishes when we were indecisive.
First up, they serve Valentine coffee, which is a bonus. I enjoyed it with the soundtrack of old soul and indie rock mix, which is right up my alley. The dishes we ordered were the Columbian Patacon con Huevo, and the Duck Confit and Waffle. I really liked the former. It was interesting and flavorful and filling. The Duck & Waffle just wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It was good, but a little too sweet for my tastes. I expected savory with a touch of sweet, but it was really the opposite.
The menu itself is interesting, with an international theme. I almost wish there was a tasting menu so I could sample portions of things rather than commit. Another great thing about this place is the interior, which is like a museum to Milwaukee firefighters. (I overheard that many items are from the Milwaukee Firefighters Historical Society.) It’s really cool to walk around and take a good look. How international cuisine fits in with this, I have no idea, but whatever. It’s a cool spot with an interesting menu that’s not for everyone, but it’s a fun escape from the everyday breakfast.

Whoa! The last time I was here was on a Saturday right at the peak of busy time, so it was hard to form an impression. Had brunch with my brother this past Friday — AMAZING! The menu has changed a lot and now includes a designation of what is or could be made gluten free. This is nice, but I really need you guys to make gluten free french toast — it is a thing.
I had a lovely mimosa, and my brother was very pleased with his Bloody Mary. The pickled beets in the garnish were a nice touch! We both had the basque-​inspired «Urtain», and each piece of the meal was perfectly executed. Steak, fries, sausage and egg were done perfectly and balanced each other out. The service was friendly and attentive. Excellent food, wonderful music playing, very chill vibe — perfect for a crisp fall Friday.
Message to the kitchen — what’s with the tiny portion of honey? I prefer honey in my coffee, which the waitress accommodated almost instantly — with a pitcher with a minuscule dollop in the bottom. I’m about to drink at least four mugs of your excellent coffee — it would be nice to not have to send her back four separate times.

Finally, a Sunday with nothing to do!!! So, brunch it was. We only had a half hour wait for a table, which was made bearable by the upstairs seating area and bar. A wait for brunch is awful when you’re crammed into a small area with 35 other hungry brunchers. We played Trivial Pursuit, had a drink and waited for our table. Lovely. Also– the Irish coffee is one of the best I’ve ever had– the vanilla cream MAKES that drink. My husband that the Bombero bloody– which was perfectly spicy and well dressed.
The food was a treat. The spaghetti squash carbonara was savory, rich, and a great take on a classic dish. A touch salty, but no real complaints. The husband tried The Queen’s Brekkie and loved it. The curried eggplant was our favorite part.
All and all; a great brunch experience and we can’t wait to go back– especially since the menu changes seasonally.

I like the ambiance — very cool. The breakfast & lunch menu is very intriguing, not full of stuff that every brunch place offers, so that was great for a exploring eater like me. Today I ordered the Wednesday special ramen — the ingredients sounded good together, and the presentation was pretty good, too, but somehow one or two spice (s) were too poignant and overwhelmed the flavor of pork belly and noodle broth which should be the soul of a ramen. That was a bit of a turn down — I hope they can work on improving the flavor to be more broth and pork belly flavor focused not spice focused.
The hand crafted soda was great. Tasted the lavender one — wasn’t quite my thing. But the orange cream is great for my taste buds.

We found this restaurant on Unilocal and instantly wanted to try. Seemed like our kinda joint. We arrived and I was very impressed with the entire concept, absolutely love the repurposed Fire Station. Seated without a wait, Wednesday morning and all. I marveled at the architecture and décor. Beautiful. I ordered the Breakfast BLT. was just OK. Wifey ordered the Croissant and Gravy. The gravy was OK, the Pulled Pork was so salty, when I tried it, my tongue went numb. Was pretty much inedible. Her side of bacon was limp soggy and undercooked. Needless to say, we left there disappointed and vowing to never return. Great idea, maybe great product, just poor execution.

Meh. That’s how we felt after going here. Meh. Lots and lots of buildup. Since its opening we’ve had our eye on this place. Since then, lots of high reviews.
So why did we feel it was a miss? We went Sunday morning. We were there to wait in line before they opened. We sat at the bar so we could stay in the atmosphere vs in the back room. The atmosphere is unique. They did a good job with the fire station feel and red accents on the pipes. The bartender/​server we had was great.
To start we had a mimosa and a beer mimosa. We both ordered the eggs, potatoes, and toast with a side of bacon. Eggs were done perfectly, but the potatoes, toast and bacon were a miss. The potatoes are listed as «smoked», but they tasted like they were dipped in liquid smoke. Too much. The toast came out as bread and we sent it back to have it toasted longer. The bacon came out undercooked as well.
We are planning to give it another shot…

A weekend morning the family and i were looking to try something new. I had researched this place before hand. It was either this place or another one. We chose Fire Engine #3. Upon entering I was told that there would be at least an hour wait and we could go upstairs to the seating area and wait there and perhaps grab refreshments.
The interior is amazing, the job that was done on the restoration of the old fire house is superb. There is a seating area in the front outside. Im unsure if the seating area upstairs doubles as seating room to eat? If it doesn’t im more than sure that it should. The upstairs is more of the same in terms of the interior or restoration.
The wait was actually less then an hour which was fine. We were seated and we looked at the menu while upstairs so we placed our food order quickly. The order was french toast, pancakes and 2 orders of 2 eggs.
The smoked potatoes were actually confusing for me. They tasted good however im not a fan of bbq or smoking. So that left a taste in my mouth that reminded me of pork. I have not eaten pork in about 15 years. The pancakes were standard, the blueberry pancakes had lots of blueberries in them. The french toast was entirely to sweet. there was some sort of drizzle on top that totally took away from the taste of the brioche and the amaretto. It was sent back so that left the table with 3 orders of 2 eggs which includes (Toast, Eggs, Smoked Potatoes). The only other thing is that they syrup wasnt the best.
There was a time where the waiter argued me down about one of the orders of eggs. There was originally 2 orders of this item. However only one plate came out with double eggs. I told the waiter he asked if i needed a smaller plate as if it were gonna be shared. Im like bro i need another order. He says i see you have double eggs. I asked for two complete orders bro please listen. I had to shut him up he would not stop.
We just ordered and left it was a pain by that time. I would come back so that i could sample some of the other food. I think that with the interior and the direction of the menu, the food could be a lot better than subpar.

First time trying this place that already has a local reputation. I ordered the lemon ricotta hot cakes vs blueberry pancakes in the advice of our waitress who shared that blueberry were served every day but these only in Sunday brunch. Good suggestion as they were deliciously light and thin the way hot cakes should be. The lemon flavor was fresh but the ricotta was a bit secretive. Covered in a raspberry drizzle there was really no need for syrup although I did try it and it was quite good.
Coffee was tasty although they only had stevia on the tables. I prefer Splenda.
Ordered the special sausage of the day as a side which added just the right amount of protein to my entrée. It was tasty and the perfect texture.
Overall I’m convinced I will return to try other menu options. Décor was unique and appropriately themed. With the front rolling doorway completely open to outside its a great spot to start the day without any alarms.

If I could give this place an extra star I would! Visiting a friend in Milwaukee, we went out to find a place for brunch on a Saturday morning. We were quickly greeted when we arrived. Of course there was going to be a long wait for 4 people, but we were told we could hangout upstairs. There was a wide open space with lots of natural light shining on the bar, couches and tables.
While we waited upstairs we decided to order some one-​of-​a-​kind drinks. A bloody Mary with pickled veggies, mimosa, a Shipwreck (beer & bourbon drink) and a homemade soda. Our table was ready in less than 20 min.
The entire menu was all locally sourced and listed on the back of the menu. Narrowing down what to eat was tough, since it all sounded appetizing. I went with the daily special, which was a vegetarian omelet with goat cheese, white cheddar mashed potatoes, toast, with homemade jam. I had a unique experience-​I wanted to eat the food super slow, to preserve the delicious taste!
Everyone I was with thought their food was phenomenal! This is rare to enjoy everything we ate and drank. I also want to put a shout out to the staff-​very friendly, quality service, food arrived quickly and price was reasonable.
It’s worth waiting in line for this place. Also, make sure to take a trip to the bathroom. It feels like Aunt Sally’s craft room blew up in here, AND I loved it! Thanks for such a wonderful brunch experience Engine Company No. 3, wish I lived closer!

I attended a fundraiser for the Meta House called Food for Thought Monday night. Chef Gil Petrovic from Engine Company No. 3 and Jennifer Grundy, owner of 5 Lilies home made jams, brought Sicilian Meatballs.
They were the best damn meatballs I’ve ever had and the sauce was the best damn sauce I’ve ever had.
I got word last night, that today’s lunch special at Engine Copnay No. 3 would be these same meatballs and sauce on toasted Ciabatta. SOLD!
I went in for lunch today with my cousin, and he agreed that they were the best he’d also ever had.
The sandwich ($ 10) was served with a delicious side salad, but I was there for the meatballs.
The meatballs were moist and seasoned with more flavor than any other I’ve had. The sauce was also amazing. Each on their own would have made me happy. Both together blew my mind, seriously!
I don’t know when the meatballs will be back on the menu, but there are plenty of other great options on the menu for you to try. Maybe you’ll luck out on your visit.
Most menu items are under $ 12, you’ll still find lunch and brunch items during the week. If you still haven’t been, get on it. Make a reservation so I don’t have to read about you whining about the wait. That’s what reservtaions are for. I used the OpenTable on my phone this morning and got a Noon rezo for 2. It works!