The Riverwalk Bistro

Downtown Dining Week wraps up today.

Dave and I took advantage of the promotion on Sunday evening for dinner. I really wanted to try Osteria Del Mondo or Nanakusa, but both were unfortunately closed on Sundays. So after looking at the different menus on the Downtown Dining website, we decided on the Riverwalk Bistro.

It’s a fairly new place in the Third Ward on Water Street that has outdoor seating along the Riverwalk (obviously). Dennis Getto (Journal Sentinel food critic extraordinaire) called the Riverwalk Bistro "One of Milwaukee's Best New Restaurants of 2005" - and he knows his stuff - so we went with it.

We got there for our 6:00 reservation and the dining room was empty except for one table of four. It was so cute inside though with intimate little tables along the banquettes lit by candlelight that when the hostess asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside, I actually said “well, can we just see the outside?” thinking that we’d stay inside.

But once we saw the patio – which was hopping with people – we decided that we must sit outside. We were led to a small wrought-iron table up on the walkway and the early evening sun shined bright on us as we looked over the menu.



Once we decided what we wanted, we just enjoyed the absolutely perfect weather while we sipped our drinks and waited for our food to arrive. A lot of people walked by our table on the walkway as we sat there, but they weren't a bother at all. The couple sitting just a few feet from us, though, was a bit of a bother. They were obviously on a first date, had had a little (or a lot) too much to drink and were laughing incredibly obnoxiously as they tried to impress one another. I think Dave and I both wanted them to fall into the river, and when they finally ordered some food, we were relieved because they had something to do with their mouths now besides talk.

Anyway, for our first course we had fried calamari and bruschetta. The calamari was quite tasty but the portion was much too large, even for two people, and the bruschetta was more like cheese bread with soggy tomatoes on top than actual bruschetta. We were hungry, though, and so we polished all of it off.

The entrees were much better than the appetizers. I had an awesome piece of barbecue pineapple salmon that was served with jalapeno mashed potatoes, field greens and grapes. I loved it. Dave had an oriental chicken salad that had these yummy noodles mixed in and was topped with a soy dressing.



For dessert, we had both ordered chocolate cheesecake but our waiter came out to tell us that they had run out and therefore were substituting a chocolate indulgence cake. Hey, anything with the word "chocolate" in it and I'm there. The desserts came out and they looked like they'd be pretty great, but they were just alright. I should have just eaten half and saved myself the calories but what can I say? I love to eat, even if the food doesn't wow me.



The setting of the restaurant right on the river was great, and one of the owners even stopped at our table at one point to see how everything was, which was appreciated. We had a very pleasant evening, though we probably won't go back anytime soon. There are so many restaurants in Milwaukee that unless a place really blows me away, I won't be back until I've exhausted my other options – which could take years.

Comments

[Derek]

Remember I left you a comment last week saying I was going there for lunch on the first day of downtown dining week? Well it was the single worst dining experience of my life in Milwaukee. The only positive thing was the sitting outside because the weather was great. We were only the second table of people there and we had to leave to go back to work before desserts came because we had already been there an hour and a half. For lunch!

Food was average, for those of us who got the correct food, and the service was just horrible. Never came back to check, never refilling anything, no explanation or apologies for anything. Quite the contrary actually. I will never go back there.

[Amanda]

Isn't it sad that some restaurants just can't get their stuff together? Great good, but lacking in service. Service was excellent, but location didn't wow. Amazing ambiance, but good was mediocre at best.

But then again, that's what makes a fantastic restaurant all the better. When the three main points of a restaurant all come together in perfect harmony...it makes you appreciate them so much more.

[Jeff]

First, let me correct you. Dennis Getto often does NOT know his stuff. Numerous times I have followed his reviews to places in town and been very disappointed with the food and service. Dennis has been in town for a long long time and almost every restaurant knows who he is (if they don't have a picture of him in their kitchen they aren't doing their job) so I think that there are some places that make sure everything is perfect for him. The true gems are those places who have great food and great service no matter who you are.

With that being said, I think my experience was similar to yours at Riverwalk. The bruschetta was a joke. They made it sound so good but all I tasted was olives. I think they have eliminated the olive tapenade version on their new menu. Bruschetta is supposed to let you taste all of the fresh ingredients and this dish failed. My dinner, grilled Halibut, was outstanding as was my wife's crabcake dinner. Both of these items are not on the newest menu but I hope they return.

[Andre]

I ate at Osteria Del Mondo for the first time a few weeks ago. The service was slow and the place was dead (Saturday night), but the wood was pretty damned good. It was the first time I've had scallops in the Midwest where they tasted like they do near an ocean. They were a little smaller than I expected, but the taste and texture were dead-on. Usually around here they taste like bland muckballs.

Nanakusa is super kickass. Pricey as all hell, but I'd say it's worth it. Especially if you're out with a hot girl (well, not if you are out with one, but if I am).

The Bistro looks decent, but I'm pretty put off by the table umbrellas. I little on the tacky side, no?