Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Wisconsin

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Wisconsin? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

EsterEv

4.8

4.8 (132)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Located in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood, EsterEv offers a 6-course chef's tasting experience, which evokes globally inspired nostalgic flavors from grandma's kitchen. Presented by James Beard Best Chef Midwest nominees Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite.

Top review

Terri

Dined 3 days ago

Absolutely amazing food. One of my favorite dinners in Milwaukee ever.

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Experience

EsterEv Tasting Menu

Experience

EsterEv Tasting Menu at the Bar

Experience

EsterEv Holiday Tasting Menu

MOXIE Food + Drink

4.8

4.8 (1289)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Whitefish Bay

About the restaurant

Inspired American comfort food, cocktails and wine. Dining room, patio and curbside. Now serving lunch, brunch and dinner.
Reservations or order online: www.eatatmoxie.com.
Our Reservation Policies:
- We do not take PATIO reservations. Patio seating is first come, first served.
- Maximum reservation/table size in our DINING ROOM is 6 guests.
- All guests must arrive within 15 minutes of reservation time.
- Payment with one check is required for parties of 6 or more.
- A 20% gratuity may be added to parties of 6 or more.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 2 days ago

We always have a wonderful time at Moxie - the food is great, service personable and the bar is outstanding. Highest praise

Buck & Honey's - Sun Prairie

4.7

4.7 (1571)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Sun Prairie

About the restaurant

At Buck & Honey’s, we've taken great care to ensure your first visit makes you feel like you're stopping by an old friend's. We're locally owned and offer a wide variety of traditional fare made from scratch with only the freshest available ingredients.… Sun Prairie's taken notice by awarding Buck & Honey's 'Best Restaurant', 'Best Steak', 'Best Dinner', 'Best Place for Live Music', 'Best Lunch', (and more) every year! Great pastas, tender steaks, fresh entree salads, unique specialty sandwiches, critically acclaimed Friday fish fry and our deliciously crispy thin crust pizzas round out our offerings. Check out the extensive wine list. Join us for live entertainment and special events. Now serving brunch from 10A-2P on Sunday!

Top review

Dave

Dined 2 days ago

Great food and friendly staff! It’s a great place to meet friends for cocktails and dinner.

Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2373)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant is set in a sleek, stylish space in the Cudahy Tower in downtown Milwaukee. Its menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients and its wine list is among the most extensive in the city. Bacchus offers several exclusive spaces for private events, including a glass-enclosed conservatory. Valet is available Monday through Saturday from 5 - 9 PM.

Top review

Mike

Dined 5 days ago

Food was incredible and it was a wonderful dinner experience.

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4.7

4.7 (1711)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Delafield

About the restaurant

A modern American kitchen located in the heart of Lake Country. Small plates, featuring locally sourced ingredients, and craft cocktails headline this farm-to-table restaurant. Choose from the artfully curated wine selection or let the sommelier on staff make expert recommendations. The Sunday brunch menu boasts one-of-a-kind dishes and breakfast classics. Private space for every event--from intimate dinners to large gatherings.

Top review

Jean

Dined 1 day ago

We hadn’t been there in awhile. Everything was wonderful. The setting was beautifully decorated for the holidays. The service was outstanding and the food was so delicious-we couldn’t pick a favorite. It was a great night with friends. I’d highly recommend!!

Buck & Honey - Mount Horeb

4.7

4.7 (84)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Mount Horeb

About the restaurant

At Buck & Honey’s, we've taken great care to ensure your first visit makes you feel like you're stopping by an old friend's house. We are privately owned and offer a wide variety of traditional fare with only the freshest available ingredients, curated by our Executive Chef, Sammy Millan. We are new to the Mount Horeb community and couldn't be more excited! Great pastas, tender steaks, seafood, fresh entree salads, unique specialty sandwiches, critically acclaimed Friday fish fry and our deliciously crispy thin crust pizzas round out our offerings. Check out our extensive wine list too. We offer a cozy environment with amazing staff. Join us for live entertainment and special events. Also We serve brunch from 11am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. We also have an amazing event venue on the second level. We are here to show what Wisconsin hospitality is all about!

Top review

Ashley

Dined on Nov 28, 2024

A group of my girlfriends and I went out to eat for my birthday and we had such a great experience. Not only was the food and drinks amazing, but so was our service. Our server was so sweet and attentive, and they gave us free champagne for my birthday which was so nice! I would highly recommend Buck and honeys for any occasion!

Buckley's Restaurant & Bar

4.7

4.7 (349)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Buckley's is a cozy neighborhood spot in the heart of Milwaukee's East Town. Located two blocks from Lake Michigan and the Calatrava, Buckley’s is an ideal all occasion restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. An ever-evolving menu showcases seasonal ingredients from local farmers and purveyors. To compliment your dining experience, peruse the thoughtfully curated 200 bottle wine list or select a beverage from an extensive cocktail program that has consistently been recognized as one of the best in the city. Customize your dining experience to meet your needs whether you choose to enjoy a four course meal or simply grab a burger at the bar. However you choose to enjoy a visit to Buckley’s, do not forget to order a signature house-made dessert. You won’t regret it!

At this family owned and operated restaurant, guests are treated like family. Come see for yourself!

Top review

RobinVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Delightful service, cozy ambience, creative cocktails, pasta was perfecto and those desserts!!! Wow! A neighborhood gem ❤️

Buck & Honey's - Monona

4.6

4.6 (1462)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Madison

About the restaurant

At Buck & Honey’s, we've taken great care to ensure your first visit makes you feel like you're stopping by an old friend's. We're locally owned and offer a wide variety of traditional fare made from scratch with only the freshest available ingredients.… Great pastas, tender steaks, fresh entree salads, unique specialty sandwiches, critically acclaimed Friday fish fry and our deliciously crispy thin crust pizzas round out our offerings. Check out the extensive wine list, craft cocktails and beer selections. Join us for live entertainment and special events. Located on the Yahara River in Monona, featuring 23 boat slips for boat parking and dock side carry out.

Summer months include patio seating, that is first come first serve, and non-reservable.

Top review

Ashley

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

The waitress was EXCEPTIONAL! We came after graduation and they were able to seat and serve us very quickly. She was very attentive and friendly! Despite being later in evening, we weren’t rushed and the staff let us enjoy our food and family time. Normally we go to the other one, but now I’d highly recommend this location too!

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4.6

4.6 (2164)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Come enjoy an upbeat, contemporary dining experience at one of Milwaukee's favorite restaurants. The Knick offers an exciting menu and great nightly specials. A big city feel with friendly service, we offer an unique specialty drink menu and feature over 60 different vodkas from around the world. Enjoy our homemade desserts or a "Great Maltini" as a nightcap after a night on the town. End your weekend with our fabulous brunch and indulge with our signature "Queen Mary".

Top review

David

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Our server was so sweet and was on the ball throughout our entire experience. Big kudos to her! Service and food were both excellent. Atmosphere was wonderful. We will definitely be back… and soon!

Red Circle Inn

4.6

4.6 (1393)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Nashotah

About the restaurant

- Wisconsin's Oldest Supper Club -

A lot’s happened since we opened our doors in 1848, and I guess you could say we’ve seen it all. From dirt road to plank road to railroad, Red Circle Inn has been serving up good food with good service for generations of people in Lake Country. Over the years, we’ve been a stomping ground for traders, trappers, settlers, working class, high class and everyone in between. There’s so much history in these walls, you can almost taste it.

It was former owner Captain Fred C. Pabst who gave Red Circle Inn its name and iconic red circle logo, a nod to his Pabst Brewing Company. He made the restaurant the place to see and be seen around the lakes, not just for a beer, but for high-quality food and warm hospitality.

Over 170 years later, the legacy lives on. As you enjoy your meal and the nostalgia of Red Circle Inn, you’ll learn why guests have been returning, generation after generation. Some might call Red Circle Inn a legend…that’s fine by us.

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Nice evening put..excellent service and food. Steak and Salmon were top notch...

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Popular dish

Wedge

Experience

FAMILY STYLE SUNDAY SUPPER

Experience

New Years Eve 2024 Pre-Fixed menu

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