Stella Van Buren

Directly off the lobby of the Westin, only the bar is open due to covid restrictions right now, but this is a perfect place to grab a drink before heading out or as a last stop for the night. Brian brings great conversation along with the cocktails. I will definitely be returning anytime I'm staying in Milwaukee, and can't wait for this excellent restaurant to reopen fully.

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Very nice bar/restaurant in the Westin Hotel. When we first arrived it was a Friday after work and the bar was very busy. However, the bar staff were highly efficient without seeming rushed. Service was exemplary and done with a smile. Tap beer selection appears to rotate monthly or so but you should have no problem finding one you like. The restaurant is comfortable and the food is very good. The chairs around the table are rather short and although I’m 6 feet tall it felt like I needed a booster seat.

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My brunch visit to Stella Van Buren was akin to a high thrill roller coaster with the experience starting off steadily rising up to a peak with a quick plummet, and a rise back up. My guest and I started off with the Brown Sugar Crumb Cake which arrived at a value town premium with a great taste/cost/portion ratio. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes on the other hand were some of the worst brunch pancakes I've had to date (says a lot considering I'm a huge fan of Lemon Pancakes), that practically begged to be drowned in Blueberry compote that was massively over sweetened. The brunch quickly rebounded with a delicious well blended Usinger's Italian Sausage Hash dish. The restaurant features a nice open classy decor, a great view, and a very fair brunch price for the location.

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Honestly I struggled with how to rate Stella. The bar and atmosphere are great, lots of space. Very loud when it's crowded. Great drink selection. Staff are friendly. My reason for three stars was the food. The mussels were tasteless and although the sauce was good, it was only at the very bottom of the bowel. The meatballs were soft and tasted good. The burrata texture was well done but had strong sweet and sour tastes from the vinaigrette. The pasta itself was perfect, but all of us had sauces without much flavor. The pancetta that came with the dish were huge sliced cubes, and not fried, so it was basically very soft, fatty, and chewy. A disappointment to the evening.

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My wife took me here for my birthday! Satisfied my craving for good Italian cuisine! We got a bruschetta appetizer to share, and pasta dishes as our main and then a tiramisu for desert, as well as a Fig&Rose cocktail. Everything was phenomenal! Our waiter was hilarious and very attentive! I definitely recommend this if you're in Milwaukee area and looking for a delicious meal!

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