**Thank you to Visit Milwaukee for hosting our visit. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
Mader's in Milwaukee brings a little Oktoberfest to the world every day. Walking into Mader's is like stepping into a piece of Germany without leaving the city. Greeted by Mader's German chalet look when we drove up, I knew that we would love Mader's and it would always easily live on as a fond childhood memory for our daughter.
Mader's is the perfect place to bring your family on a Milwaukee vacation. The interior warmly embraces you as you sit back, enjoy German specialties and connect as a family. Of course, my husband had to have a brew in a boot---see, relax!
Truly, we had a difficult time remaining in our seats while dining. You see, Mader's houses an impressive collection of German artifacts that are peppered throughout the restaurant--so bring your camera! Some of the artifacts date all the way back to the 14th century. Amazing finds in a restaurant! The authentic medieval suits of armor are some of the stars of the collection!
Personally, I loved the sculptures--each quite intricate and unique. Armor, stained glass and more, the decor is a treat for the eyes!
Another curiosity--Mader's is the World's Largest Hummel Store! Upstairs, you will find a delightful collection of Hummels and a cache of beer steins.
The Mader's story began back in 1902 when German immigrant Charles Mader set out to serve the best food and drink. When Prohibition set in, Mader's emphasis centered on perfecting his rustic German dishes. And perfect he did since the restaurant's German fare is renowned around the country. Of course, at the end of Prohibition there was jubilation and Mader's was the first restaurant to serve a legal stein of beer in Milwaukee! Prost!
Fast forward through the decades and even though Mader's underwent changes, the original restaurateur's emphasis on good German food remains. One of Mader's most celebrated additions during its years is the Viennese Brunch on Sundays which is a great way to sample much of Mader's fare. The brunch has an enormous selection--no one will leave hungry!
Opening the menu, we literally felt like kids in a candy store glancing at all of the choices. My husband and I both settled on schnitzel and my daughter went for bratwurst and knockwurst platter. Dinner began with a lovely pretzel bread.
My schnitzel was the Count Esterhazy Schnitzel which is a turkey schnitzel featuring a Black Forest Mushroom sauce with julienne vegetables. The sauce was amazing and I loved that there was a decent heap of bright veggies! Of course, who can resist the accompanying spatzle!
My husband devoured the Franconian Chicken Schnitzel which features a Madeira wine veloute sauce, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic and julienne veggies atop spatzle!
My daughter became a true fan of the brat while in Milwaukee so she happily obliged Mader's by indulging in a bratwurst and knockwurst from another Milwaukee staple---Usinger's! In all truth, my pint-size doppelganger did have some to take home and eagerly ate it for lunch the next day. Yum!
Somehow, we all managed to salvage a little room for dessert. When in Germany, you have to try something--don't you? After listening to the selections, we quickly went for the bread pudding which was a wise choice. I normally am not a bread pudding fan but I loved this one topped with a pleasant berry sauce. Loved it!
As you may have guessed, we totally fell in love with Mader's. Still owned by the Mader family, the restaurant provides a place where the family can get together for a unique family meal. While we were there, families delighted in combing through the restaurant observing the many artifacts. When food was served, you could see jovial families connecting while eating. Such a warm place!
Have a seat in the big chair and stay awhile! What a family adventure!
Mader's is open every day of the week. Lunch is served Monday-Saturday 11:30AM-4:00PM. Dinner is served 4PM-9PM Monday-Thursday and 4PM-10PM Friday-Saturday. Brunch is served Sunday 11AM-2PM and dinner is served 2PM-9PM. I do recommend arriving a bit earlier in the dinner service so that there is more room to move around and appreciate the ambiance and artifacts. Mader's is located at 1041 North Third Street in Milwaukee. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 414-271-3377. There is free valet parking.
Thank you to Mader's for hosting our visit!
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