Zen on Seven

Perfect spot for a gathering: good views of downtown, contemporary furnishings and a zen-​inspired water feature.
Staff was awesome.

Me: «taste this.»
**hands dining companion brass monkey**
Dining companion tastes drink.
**hands drink back to me with face I interpret as «why do you keep dragging me to these fancy places and ordering ‘hood drinks?”**
The (very potent) Brass monkey notwithstanding, the Skyy vodka drink collection up on Zen on seven was pretty good. 8 – 9 vodka mixed drinks, maybe $ 6 or $ 7 each. Tasty with cute names.
The sushi menu is more before dinner appetizers– light bites than a full meal but it was a thoughtful collection including spicy tuna (pretty spicy), shrimp, veggie, «lox without the bagel» (i.e. salmon and cream cheese), & some type of fruit/​dessert type sushi roll; edaname & thai beef salads, & Gelato or Italian ice for dessert. Things were priced about as expected with rolls approximately $ 10. Although it wasn’t a big selection, the rolls seemed well prepared — they didnt fall apart and the rice wasn’t chewy. All the flavors worked and the ingredients were fresh.
Obviously the food and drinks take a backseat to the chillout-​ish roof top zen garden atmosphere overlooking Milwaukee street. It was a little chilly when we were up here but luckily there’s a small glass enclosed room that houses the bar as well. Since it’s outdoors, this is one of those establishments to visit on a night where you’re trying to decide if you should get A/​C or if you can survive til fall by just continuing to go out on nights when its sweltering.
One problem: we received forks (!) instead of chopsticks (!) I have been eating sushi with chopsticks for so long I wasn’t even sure how to attack the roll with a fork. Cut it in half? Take out each piece of tuna one at a time? Stab it down the center? Ah, the horrors! I (clearly) can always manage to chow down but it did throw me for a loop! Chopsticks with sushi please and thank you! !

I was very much looking forward to Zen on Seven having never been here until last night. My first impression of Zen was a very relaxed night life feel. Bring some friends and relax either at the comfy chairs near the fire place, or enjoy a beverage by the railing which looks out over Milwaukee. Quite a different view of Milwaukee up here. Yes, you are surrounded by buildings, but hey it’s actually alright!
I was quite disappointed on arrival when we were told that they were «out» of sangria – the reason we came. If you are going to advertise $ 5 sangria, please prepare in advance and make a lot. After about 15 – 20 minutes the bartender came back out to the patio and told us that sangria was now available. I found out that the bartender was making trips downstairs to make more sangria each time they ran out. Quite a crazy and unproductive system if you ask me. Maybe just have all necessary ingredients with you? Hmm what a concept. Once I got my sangria – I had both red and white – I was not disappointed anymore. Quite delicious and worth trying!
Worth a stop since only open in summer! Hoping to go back and have a better experience.

This place truly is a «zen». Beautiful setting with a saltwater spa and lounge area with fireplaces and chairs. The sangria is yummy! The bartenders are friendly but didn’t seem too literate on bar drinks. I like the fact that it is so relaxing perched high above the city streets but has an airy, open feel. It’s cool to be surrounded by buildings yet be above the street. Honestly, thinking back, I’m not sure why that would be so nice but it is.

This is a pretty nice place that I would not have known about were it not for a Unilocal event there last night. It’s a pretty nice place. They’ve got a really nice patio with places to chill after a long day of work and a cool water feature. They even have weddings there from time to time (but they have a low capacity so it would have to be a small wedding). Plus, there are nice views of the surrounding city from this rooftop bar.
The white sangria makes me happy, and they make other good mixed drinks too.