Benno's Genuine Bar & Grill

Benno's Genuine Bar & GrillBenno's Genuine Bar & Grill
Benno's Genuine Bar & GrillBenno's Genuine Bar & Grill
Bar, Eatery

7413 W Greenfield Ave
West Allis, Wisconsin, 53214-4614
United States

(414) 453-9094 | map

Opens at 5pm.
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.06
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
18
pDev:
8.87%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BoilerUpNavy:
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Reviewed by BoilerUpNavy from Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
From the outside, one would think Benno's is just another Milwaukee-area tavern, but viewing the taps is a pleasant surprise. A better than average spread of craft brews from not only Wisconsin, but also spreading out regionally (Great Lakes, Upland, 3 Floyds) and across the country (Stone, Left Hand). About 30 taps, plus more in bottles.

If the owner is around nice to converse with about beer and also mountain biking (he heads up a local club).

And go to see the claim-to-fame "Restrooms" sign from the late Brewers' County Stadium!
Dec 08, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.86 by UncleDrewBeer from Michigan

Oct 03, 2015
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Rated by 03fatboy from Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -21.7%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3
Lots of Craft Beers & Taps too
Jul 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Jan 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by InVinoVeritas from Wisconsin

Jan 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Localdrinklax from Wisconsin

Apr 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by LLL_MKE from Wisconsin

Feb 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by atone315 from Wisconsin

Dec 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jnoff78 from Wisconsin

Dec 11, 2013
Photo of beerwolf77
Reviewed by beerwolf77 from Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
This is a perfect example of not judging a book by it's cover. From the outside and actually once your in this place looks like any other hole in the wall. Upon closer inspection you notice the extensive array of tap handles behind the bar. Great selection of Midwest craft. Focusing heavily on Wisconsin. The bottle list is fairly impressive as well. Every time I've been in here it's me drinking craft and a bunch of regulars downing Pabst. The service is always solid. No complaints there.

I've never eaten here but my friends tell me the food is legit.

Overall a nice place for a craft tap. It's close to work so it's convenient for me.
May 11, 2011
Photo of jmp485
Reviewed by jmp485 from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -8.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
DO NOT judge this place by its exterior. To be honest it looks like a crap-hole townie bar from the outside. Inside it gets very interesting very quick, and I mean that in a good way. As soon as you walk in you see the bar that runs just about the full length of the place and you see a fairly impressive selection of tap handles. BMC offering take up half the taps, but the remaining ones are most regional Wisconsin micros including one Sprecher, Tyranena, New Glarus, Milwaukee Brewing Co., and Lakefront (Benno's used to sell a self-branded IPA that was actually the Lakefront IPA). The last few taps go to regional craft brewers like Founder's, FFF, and Great Lakes, with the occasional Rogue or Stone mixed in. Don't expect much from the bar staff. They know a little about the beers they sell, but are usually friendly and willing to let you sample something if you ask nice.

The wife and I go there primarily for their Friday Fish Fry which is above average both in terms of quality and price. One of the better ones in the area IMO. It can get very loud and very busy there on Fridays and don't be surprised if the wait staff doesn't know what all is on tap. WI has also gone to all non-smoking in bars and restaurants, which makes this place even better now.
Sep 23, 2010
Photo of bound4er
Reviewed by bound4er from Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I have been visiting Benno's once or twice a year for the past 10 years. Always have liked this place and tonight was no different. Started off with a FFF Alpha King - yummy stuff. Followed with a Founders Dirty Bastard - this was off to me but still drinkable. Finished with a FFF Gumballhead - very good for a wheat ale with a great hop kick that is uncommon to this style. I could have easily tried another 10 beers I have never had before - great selection here. The atmosphere is typical Milwaukee "southside-ish" which I love. The beers I had were all fresh and the bartender seemed knowledgeable too boot. My cajun catfish with fries and a spicy cup of hot beans was very good. Overall a great place to relax and kick back with a good beer and some comfort food.
Feb 28, 2009
Photo of logansboat15
Reviewed by logansboat15 from Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I'm a big fan of Benno's, whose hallmark is a nice selection of local micros, a handful of regionals and a few international beers on tap. The ambience is blue-collar, comfy, laid-back Milwaukee, with good food and good value. Tonight however, they committed a cardinal sin. After having a delicious Leinie's Big Eddy Imperial IPA with my fish fry, the waitress took my order for my next beer, which was a Capital Blonde Bock. After finishing my first, I waited so long for my second brew that I had to leave my table and run up to the bar to order myself! She apologized for forgetting, but it was quite a disappointment, considering I was there for the beer, never mind the food. It's not cool to leave a customer decked out in micro-brew shirt and cap with an empty pint glass! For shame! Undaunted by this oversight, I will be back!
May 05, 2007
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Here was another place with a fairly nondescript front. I entered through a glassed-in vestibule that was reminiscent of an old phone booth. Immediately inside and on a buttonhook left was a small area with a couple of tables plus electronic darts and a Golden Tee machine.

The curvy, snaking, Formica-topped bar began just past the golf machine, still on the left side of the space. The back bar was long and enormous with a movable ladder on a rail, such as you might see in some libraries or bookstores. They had about thirty (30) taps with Miller Lite, Leinenkugel’s (Leinie’s) Honey Weiss, and Guinness at the low end. Lots of Wisconsin beers though, including one Sprecher, four Tyranena, five New Glarus, three Lakefront, as well as Founder’s, Great Lakes, and Rogue all being represented. The cabinets at the bottom of the back bar were used primarily to store macro bottles. To the extreme right of the back bar was a cooler with another forty or so bottles with little duplication.

The washrooms were straight aft past the bar and the coolers. Aft on the right side was a game room with video games, pinball, and a Grabber machine. Beyond the game room was the kitchen. The dining room was to the extreme right and extended aft to the game room. We partook of the Friday Fish Fry. Man, I loved being in Wisco.
Jan 07, 2007
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 2
I had read about Benno's on this site, so I stopped by to take a look.

The sign outside proclaims "Home of Microbrews," and their beer list is impressive. There are 30 mostly-craft beers on draft, and although they are of high quality, most of these 30 aren't terribly uncommon (New Glarus Fat Squirrel, Sprecher Amber, etc.). The decor is unremarkable...it's modern with a shoebox shaped bar with an adjacent room with seating.

I sat at the bar and had a "classic taco." The service was quick and relatively friendly, and my impression upon hearing the bartendress give a beer recommendation to a customer led me to believe that they have a familiarity with at least some of their draft beers. I was pretty underwhelmed by the food...the tacos at McBob's (4919 W North Ave) are much better.
Dec 21, 2006
Photo of brewQ
Reviewed by brewQ from Missouri

3.94/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A clean, classic Milwaukee beer stop along Greenfield/"Main Street" downtown West Allis. Close to the Fair Park/Milwaukee Mile.

Thirty taps celebrate Wisconsin plus:
5 Lakefront, 2 New Glarus, 4 Sprecher,
Founders DB, Alpha King, Spaten, Hacker Pschorr,
Delerium Tremens, Rogue IPA and more ...

Wisconsin's love affair with wheat for the summer was obvious with 8 of the handles offering some type of Weiss.

About a dozen bottles of interest at the time with Harbor City, Gray's and DFH WW Stout memorable.

Clientle run the gamut and keep it real, interesting.

Food looks like a good value and down home Milwaukee.

Your hosts: Suzanne and Marty "Hey Beerman" Weigel.
(He has been a regular on beer for local cable).
Jul 07, 2006
Photo of brewcrew76
Reviewed by brewcrew76 from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
I stopped in at Benno's when they opened at 4pm on a Saturday so there was only 2 other people in the bar. Nice bar with a decent sized seating area. They serve food and I have heard they have a nice Friday fish fry but I did not eat here. Typical pub atmosphere with a Golden Tee in the corner and several tv's above the bar.

The bartender did not know a lot about the beers but she was very friendly. I also met one of the owners and she was very nice as well. Most pints seemed to be $3 with a few of the 22oz or other bottles in the $4-$5 range.

The highlight of this bar is the beer. There were 30 taps behind the bar with only 1 occupied by a macro product. There were an assortment of micro's and imports. Sprecher, New Glarus, Great Lakes, Founder's, 3 Floyd's, 2 Brothers, Anchor, Anderson Valley and a few imports and Belgians. They have Benno’s Lakefront IPA that I have never seen before. The owner told me it is made special for them by Lakefront.

There are many empty bottles above the bar showing the variety of bottles they have carried. Don't forget to look in the cooler at the end of the bar to check what bottles are currently in stock (12oz and 22oz). I found a Flying Dog Gonzo Porter, Dogfish Head Barley wine and a Gumballhead.

Overall, I found this bar to be a big surprise and plan to stop in when ever I am in Milwaukee. I highly recommend it for any beer advocate in the area. There is a parking lot in back if you have a hard time finding parking on the street.
Aug 09, 2005
Benno's Genuine Bar & Grill in West Allis, WI
Place rating: 4.06 out of 5 with 18 ratings