Cafe Centraal

Got in very late and found this as one of only a few options to eat.
Wow place has a good tranquil feel and their menu has very nice options for just about anyone, even being there past 10pm they were very accommodating to my special requests and likes. They staff is awesomely friendly and the chef came out to ask about a certain preparation to which he nailed spot on. I enjoyed the mushroom soup, probably the best I have experienced, followed by a roasted beet salad prepared as it should, exquisitely, along with the special request dressing I asked for. Also ordered the wings, in-​sauced, as I am picky, but I will tell you, they put a side of their sweet chile sauce, and I did taste it, of course it was fantastic as well. I finished my meal with one of their dessert plates which consisted of the Grady of some cookies a cheesecake and a brownie I will have to tell you this place has it going on it is definitely a must try and definitely a repeat place. Hats off to all the staff you do a wonderful job thank you. Oh I also forgot to mention they are very reasonably priced.

A year ago, Café Centraal was awesome. Now, not so much. The food has become rather bland with sloppy execution. The staff is hit or miss. The last time we visited we asked to sit in the red room. We were seated at the ONLY dirty table (which I interpret as «FU» for asking to sit somewhere). Tap changeovers seem to be a struggle. We ordered a beer from the draft list. Five minutes later we learned it was not available because of the changeover. Ordered another. Another five minutes to learn that one was unavailable for the same reason. Whoever is managing this place is not winning.

Went here with a friend for a drink and appetizer recently one night… somewhat disappointing. Our server came to our table twice within 5 minutes of us being there. It takes a long time to read through their book of a beer & cocktails menu! Then once we were ready we had to wait another 10 – 15 minutes. The guy had one other table. The safari martini I had was tasty (not a whole lot of alcohol from what I could tell though). We each got an order of the scotch eggs… delicious and the garlic aioli was a perfect accompaniment. My friend’s old fashioned was very sweet and he ordered it sour. I’ve been to Centraal many times in the past but this was by far the most disappointing experience. Had a little further south on Kinnickinnic… there are better options.

I’m not in love with Café Centraal; I’m on the fence. I love supporting the Milwaukee based Lowland Group Grand Cafes (Café Hollander, Bavaria, Café Centraal, Café Benelux), but I always go as a last resort. All the cafes seem similar, so when I talk about one, I’m talking about all of them.
This is why I am a half fan of Café Centraal. A great menu has ten things that should grab your attention right away. This menu— maybe. Normally, I just stare at the menu unsure if I want a sandwich or hopeful for more than just two soup options. The food is mediocre when paired to the cost. The flavor has always been great. The portions are good, but I rarely need a to-​go box. The staff seems polite. I have always had spectacular service at Café Hollander, and a-​ok service at Centraal. This visit tonight– my service was good. Three stars for being a-​okay. Average. Predicable. Good.
A great place to watch a sports game by yourself at the bar to waste time. A great place to sip and nurse your drink. A great place to take your Chatty Cathy to split an appetizer and catch up.

Good Bloody Mary. Good location with plenty of seating. Nice staff. The food can be hit or miss, but the last few times I have left very happy! Enough choices to satisfy everyone. It’s a solid option in the neighborhood!

Excellent.
Bar has anything you may want.
Food is excellent and good prices.
Highly recommended!

Went on a late Friday afternoon. Café Centraal is an okay place with average food. It’s a little more expensive. I ordered a burger and to be honest I would rather go to Red Robin. The dipping sauces are good though.

Good brunch and kid friendly, but lunch and dinner has been hit or miss. Like the environment, but wish the food was a little more consistent.

This place was recommended to us by another business in the area. We stopped for lunch and were very impressed by the food. My husband had the Gordo Burrito. It’s a huge breakfast burrito. He managed to finish the whole thing. purely because he couldn’t justify leaving a bit of the goodness behind.
The bar has a great selection of craft beers as well as a variety of cocktails. Their draft beer is competitively priced. However, we were surprised to learn that my husband’s bottle of a standard 12 oz craft beer was $ 10.

Enjoyable experience. I had a rosemary lemonade which to my delight was a great blend of flavors, considering my initial skepticism. For my entrée I had the braised pork tacos and they did not disappoint. I was impressed by the menu choices and will certainly revisit in the very near future.

A swell beer drinking place with an extensive menu of exotic items that you don’t usually find at a bar. A very impressive place in the heart of bay View. This place seems popular it the many times I walked by and when finally visiting the place I was not at all disappointed.

The food was okay even though it took a long time to come. It is tempting to blame the kitchen for this, but the service was lacking to say the least. I have had food that was way better and better service within a few blocks of this place. I had very much looked forward to trying this place, and I hate to s as y that I was disappointed.

Can’t say enough about this place. Super friendly staff. Casual atmosphere, huge selections of beer, with a beer pairing for every item on the menu. I’m not even a beer drinker but they recommended a raspberry one for me. It didn’t taste like beer at all, IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD. Food was large portions and fairly inexpensive. I got the short rib over mash potatoes and Brussels sprouts (drool worthy). Saved room for dessert (was too much food so I had to take half to go, I couldn’t pass up dessert). I got the brownie with pretzel ice cream on top. Currently writing this review in a blissful coma like state on my couch. And I just might do it again tomorrow.

As a vegetarian I will admit that I can be pretty darn hard to please. So, the fact that I was absolutely floored by the Rosemary Goat Cheese Mac at Café Centrall is saying a lot. This was the second time we dined here and I have been very pleased every time. While I will admit I’m not nearly as big a ‘hipster’ as many of the other patrons (I never could grow a beard and I totally prefer belts to suspenders…) I highly recommend this place to our friends on a regular basis…(And, my wife, who enjoys a nice juicy burger or steak, says the non-​vegetarian dishes are pretty incredible, too!). Plus, they have board games available and I was able to beat the guy seated next to us at the bar at cribbage, so this may be my new favorite place…

A work colleague suggested this place as we went here for a couple of drinks. I’m a beer guy and they had a great selection of craft beers. I always like menus when they’re sorted by the type of beer, makes it easier to find what you usually like to drink. There were a lot of beers from Belgium here. It’s a good opportunity to drinks some beers that you’re not familiar with.

Nothing out of the ordinary here. Great for Brunch or lunch and that’s about it. Food choices are decent and food is good but nothing that make it stand out above and beyond other similar establishments. Typical American fare all around.

To quote a previous reviewer, it was meh. Got a blood mary during brunch time and the bacon tasted old. The side of beer seemed to have warm pee in it, I asked for a domestic beer side and I was told I came to the wrong place if I wanted that kind of beer, she said with a squinty embarrassed face.
My chicken sandwich came with bbq sauce on it, I asked for it on the side (which they did) and got charged. The ranch is watery and overloaded with dill. The food was decent, but when I looked at my bill I was filled with regret.
Overall, they are trying to be good but the snotty, hair flipping teenagers that are working there are like totally too busy with their cellphones to create a pleasant atmosphere.

Bonne sélection de bières belges. La cuisine est bonne sans être exceptionnelle et un peu chère.
Le service est agréable et l’ambiance du bar est bonne.

The lowlands group brings you yet another restaurant with good beer selection and a satisfactory (if not overpriced) menu… This time in Bay View!
If it’s brunch you seek, expect a bit of a wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. Also beware the hornets on a summer day on the patio — order the Monkey Bread for a nice sticky trap (cruel, but so true — stupid hornets). Have taken co-​workers from out of town to Café Centraal and the skillets are always a hit.
Staff is friendly, and knowledgeable on the beer list. The Bloody Marys are a bit overrated, but still delicious. Parking is what you’d expect for Bay View (aka it can be a bit of a mess, make sure you’re an expert at parallel parking or expect a long walk).
If you’re a fan of Café Hollander, Café Bavaria, Trocadero, or any of the sister restaurants — you’ll likewise enjoy Café Centraal. It’s of a similar ilk and menu and consistently decent.

Centraal! Not enough good things to say about this place. Tragically, they informed me that my favorite «seafood hot pot» will not be returning, but-​the spring menu has a lot going for it. The spicy shrimp salad comes with a good portion of shrimp for the price. The frites with Sriracha mayo made an excellent pairing, and kept my dinner from being TOO healthy.
While, I’m constrained to New Grist, the server was very knowledgeable about all of the beers, and when the one my friend selected was out, he brought a small flight, unasked, so she could select the next closest. A noir, I think (thought that only referred to movies, but ok). She loved it and we both had a second round.
Comfortable ambiance, fantastic service, and the host on the door was authentically welcoming, a very nice touch. This restaurant was once my introduction to modern Milwaukee dining, and there’s a reason it’s still my favorite.

I like this place a lot more than I let on. They have a huge beer menu, and that means a lot to a guy like me, with a gut like mine. A million choices, with a million flavors, bodies, colors, and alcohol per volume.
The food is really good, and I’ve had almost everything on the menu, & tons of specials. The sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads are all SILLY!!! They also do the whole mussels app/​entrée/​food orgy that this «chain» (Hollander/​Benelux) specializes in. It’s all really great, and the servers are friendly, knowledgeable, and hip without being TOO hipster (it is pretty hipster.)
If there’s a reason I resist Centraal, it’s because I’ve been there 9000x.