We attended the La Merenda pop up Easter brunch at the event space at the old Engine company no.3. The food is always superb. The venue is stunning inside. The service is tops. The menu had breakfast as well as lunch tapas to share. Look for more of these popup kitchen events.
Daniel Smith
The elegant and pristine palace the is the Engine Company Number three is poetic in the way of food. The atmosphere is a certain je ne sais quoi if a may be so bold. Hmmm. Which I may!! If you have yet to go treat yourself, just tell them Dan sent you. It will do nothing for you but it sounds cool to act like you know someone working there.
Dianne White
Favorite brunch, tapas style.We will miss you. Good luck in the new year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
N K
Life-changingly good food. Fantastic service. Can't wait to come back! We had the goat cheese curd starter, the espresso pancakes, and the quiche florentine. Seriously the best brunch ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joshua Deacon
There are a few restaurants I would recommend to anyone almost unconditionally. This is one. I'm glad I got one last brunch before it transitioned into a mostly event space for La Merenda.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sushiluv
I learned recently that Engine Company No. 3 will no longer be serving as a restaurant, but will be strictly an event space. I had to get there one more time before that happened. The food was FANTASTIC, as was the service and the cocktails. The owner also has La Merenda restaurant right down the street. The food offered there is equally great, so I highly recommend enjoying a meal there.
TimM
Disappointed does not accurately describe how we feel about there decision to end their brunch service. Engine Co 3 was easily in our top 10 regular meal destinations in Milwaukee. They will be missed.
Amy
I was expecting smaller portions when I heard their brunch described as a tapas situation-- but really, everything was very well portioned. The hot chocolate isn't super sweet, so if that's something that will break your heart do not order it.All dishes were superb, perfectly seasoned and apportioned. Patatas bravas perfectly seasoned, the chorizo add-on is a MUST. Shakshuka could have more bread served with it-- there's not enough to really use it to eat the amount of tomato/pepper mixture that you get. The hostess/serving staff didn't seem to be fully attentive, but they weren't impolite and the dish that wasn't brought out didn't appear on the bill so it seemed she just missed the order altogether.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
delilah jones
One of the best places to eat in town. Cute restaurant. Quick service and knowledgeable staff. I would definitely go here again and refer this restaurant to my friends and family. Thank you engine company number three.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The DeloDelo
I have not been here for over a year, and I'm kicking myself for that. I love this place. The food is fantastic, and the service is even better. How is that possible?!? Post COVID!A few of us came here for lunch on a Friday, and it wasn't even crowded. Our bartender/waiter was great. He was super attentive and even made us a custom bloody mary. No mix! From scratch!We ordered several small plates, and it seemed like each one was better than the last. I will be coming back much sooner, I can guarantee you that!Vegetarian options: Lots of good options...
My family and I have been coming here for years and love the experience each time.I love their menu selection for breakfast as this is my favorite to eat anytime. The food is always hot, exactly what I ordered and the wait staff is courteous.We have shared this space to share beautiful news with family over good over the years.Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adelheid
The service was fantastic when we got there. We had a member of our party that was unable to do stairs and we had to be moved downstairs. They were VERY accommodating. The food service was a little slow. The waitress didn't seem to really care what we ordered and got a couple orders wrong. My husband ordered the same thing he always gets and it was a runny, sloppy mess. I ordered the quiche Lorraine (which I get every time) and it was not good at all. I could barely eat half of the tiny portion and did not want to take the rest to go. Three different people got sides of bacon and they were all brought together and burnt. My son got the French toast with a tiny bit of syrup. My step daughter got pancakes and also a tiny bit of syrup. They both asked for more. One dish was brought for the two of them (who were seated at opposite ends of a table of 10) and we were charged. I had two glasses of Prosecco and one was extremely flat. No one had their water refilled and when we got the bill a 20% gratuity was added. I guess we figured out why the waitress didn't seem to care. We have been here MANY times and it has always been fabulous. Everyone was really looking forward to the meal. After this I'm not sure we would go back. We were very grateful they made the change for remember of our party. Just disappointed in the food.
JenP
I like this place very much and love to bring friends here. I was a little disappointed to see walk ins getting the more desirable tables with we had a reservation. The staff attempted to seat us right outside the bathrooms and said there were no other tables, but she eventually suggested the bar. The bar was lovely and a great great deal better than the bathroom hallway. Just saying the better seats in the house should maybe be reserved for the guests who reserved tables.
Mandie B.
This may be a bold take, but Maxie's isn't the best shrimp & grits in Milwaukee. They are way better here! We also had the monkey bread, my husband had a tenderloin Benedict, and my son had pancakes. The building itself is really cool - used to be a firehouse. And the service was exceptional. We came on Sunday during peak brunch without reservations and the hostess thought creatively and found a way to squeeze us in earlier than initially expected. Our server was super nice and sweet to our toddler, and when we forgot the diaper bag inside, one of the employees (all of whom were so patient with our toddler on the stairs) chased us across the street in the rain and brought it to us! Farm to table deliciousness!
AnnA
We all loved the menu choices because there were some really unusual options. We tried several different items and everything was outstanding, reflecting careful preparation and very high quality ingredients. The service was excellent as well.
We attended the La Merenda pop up Easter brunch at the event space at the old Engine company no.3. The food is always superb. The venue is stunning inside. The service is tops. The menu had breakfast as well as lunch tapas to share. Look for more of these popup kitchen events.
The elegant and pristine palace the is the Engine Company Number three is poetic in the way of food. The atmosphere is a certain je ne sais quoi if a may be so bold. Hmmm. Which I may!! If you have yet to go treat yourself, just tell them Dan sent you. It will do nothing for you but it sounds cool to act like you know someone working there.
Favorite brunch, tapas style.We will miss you. Good luck in the new year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Life-changingly good food. Fantastic service. Can't wait to come back! We had the goat cheese curd starter, the espresso pancakes, and the quiche florentine. Seriously the best brunch ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There are a few restaurants I would recommend to anyone almost unconditionally. This is one. I'm glad I got one last brunch before it transitioned into a mostly event space for La Merenda.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I learned recently that Engine Company No. 3 will no longer be serving as a restaurant, but will be strictly an event space. I had to get there one more time before that happened. The food was FANTASTIC, as was the service and the cocktails. The owner also has La Merenda restaurant right down the street. The food offered there is equally great, so I highly recommend enjoying a meal there.
Disappointed does not accurately describe how we feel about there decision to end their brunch service. Engine Co 3 was easily in our top 10 regular meal destinations in Milwaukee. They will be missed.
I was expecting smaller portions when I heard their brunch described as a tapas situation-- but really, everything was very well portioned. The hot chocolate isn't super sweet, so if that's something that will break your heart do not order it.All dishes were superb, perfectly seasoned and apportioned. Patatas bravas perfectly seasoned, the chorizo add-on is a MUST. Shakshuka could have more bread served with it-- there's not enough to really use it to eat the amount of tomato/pepper mixture that you get. The hostess/serving staff didn't seem to be fully attentive, but they weren't impolite and the dish that wasn't brought out didn't appear on the bill so it seemed she just missed the order altogether.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
One of the best places to eat in town. Cute restaurant. Quick service and knowledgeable staff. I would definitely go here again and refer this restaurant to my friends and family. Thank you engine company number three.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have not been here for over a year, and I'm kicking myself for that. I love this place. The food is fantastic, and the service is even better. How is that possible?!? Post COVID!A few of us came here for lunch on a Friday, and it wasn't even crowded. Our bartender/waiter was great. He was super attentive and even made us a custom bloody mary. No mix! From scratch!We ordered several small plates, and it seemed like each one was better than the last. I will be coming back much sooner, I can guarantee you that!Vegetarian options: Lots of good options...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
My family and I have been coming here for years and love the experience each time.I love their menu selection for breakfast as this is my favorite to eat anytime. The food is always hot, exactly what I ordered and the wait staff is courteous.We have shared this space to share beautiful news with family over good over the years.Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was fantastic when we got there. We had a member of our party that was unable to do stairs and we had to be moved downstairs. They were VERY accommodating. The food service was a little slow. The waitress didn't seem to really care what we ordered and got a couple orders wrong. My husband ordered the same thing he always gets and it was a runny, sloppy mess. I ordered the quiche Lorraine (which I get every time) and it was not good at all. I could barely eat half of the tiny portion and did not want to take the rest to go. Three different people got sides of bacon and they were all brought together and burnt. My son got the French toast with a tiny bit of syrup. My step daughter got pancakes and also a tiny bit of syrup. They both asked for more. One dish was brought for the two of them (who were seated at opposite ends of a table of 10) and we were charged. I had two glasses of Prosecco and one was extremely flat. No one had their water refilled and when we got the bill a 20% gratuity was added. I guess we figured out why the waitress didn't seem to care. We have been here MANY times and it has always been fabulous. Everyone was really looking forward to the meal. After this I'm not sure we would go back. We were very grateful they made the change for remember of our party. Just disappointed in the food.
I like this place very much and love to bring friends here. I was a little disappointed to see walk ins getting the more desirable tables with we had a reservation. The staff attempted to seat us right outside the bathrooms and said there were no other tables, but she eventually suggested the bar. The bar was lovely and a great great deal better than the bathroom hallway. Just saying the better seats in the house should maybe be reserved for the guests who reserved tables.
This may be a bold take, but Maxie's isn't the best shrimp & grits in Milwaukee. They are way better here! We also had the monkey bread, my husband had a tenderloin Benedict, and my son had pancakes. The building itself is really cool - used to be a firehouse. And the service was exceptional. We came on Sunday during peak brunch without reservations and the hostess thought creatively and found a way to squeeze us in earlier than initially expected. Our server was super nice and sweet to our toddler, and when we forgot the diaper bag inside, one of the employees (all of whom were so patient with our toddler on the stairs) chased us across the street in the rain and brought it to us! Farm to table deliciousness!
We all loved the menu choices because there were some really unusual options. We tried several different items and everything was outstanding, reflecting careful preparation and very high quality ingredients. The service was excellent as well.