Captain Mike's Beer & Burger Bar

Captain Mike's Beer & Burger BarCaptain Mike's Beer & Burger Bar
Captain Mike's Beer & Burger BarCaptain Mike's Beer & Burger Bar
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

5118 6th Ave
Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53140-3404
United States

(262) 658-2278 | map
captainmikespub.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.19
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
25
pDev:
16.95%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ShawnL:
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Rated by ShawnL from Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25

May 27, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by SocialLoneGirl from Wisconsin

Jan 30, 2018
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Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Total dive with a good craft beer selection on tap and in cans/bottles. I go here whenever I am in the area. The service and the food is better than you would expect. Recommended.
Apr 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.53 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by Stezz420 from Illinois

Oct 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Fireslayer from Wisconsin

Oct 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.04 by BUNZILLA from Indiana

Sep 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Alpar from Wisconsin

Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by canuck_fan

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Mugenlude from Wisconsin

May 31, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Leiting from Wisconsin

Mar 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Buttermilk from Illinois

Mar 08, 2014
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Reviewed by BeerSnobProbs from Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
This place weirdly wasn't reviewed that well on Yelp, but after asking the guy over at Tenuta's he absolutely recommended it. Glad we took his advice! This place might be a little 'rough around the edges' but the beer selection was top notch, the menu fun & simple and the food freaking amazing. If you want a fantastic burger and a great brew in Kenosha, this is the place!

I only had a few small issues with the place,. One being they had way more barstools than necessary (made it a bit crowded). The second, you had to place all orders through the bartenders (even food) which was just a little annoying when sitting at a table. Finally the beer list on the chalkboard was hard to read, but once we realized there were menus (our table just didn't have one) it was fine. But with that said everyone who worked there was super nice and very accommodating.

All in all I'd recommend this to anyone and would absolutely go back. Fantastic!
Sep 01, 2013
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Reviewed by ttraci614 from Illinois

1.44/5  rDev -65.6%
vibe: 1.25 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5
I have heard many good things about Captain Mike's until I got there and realized it was a big mistake. I wanted to take a friend, from out of town, to experience Captain Mike's but was completely horrified by the service we received.

We first sat at the table for about 25 minutes until I flagged a waiter and asked how the process works. You would have thought he might have said something to us earlier, considering he only walked by about eight times. He told me I had to bring the menu to the bartender and get my drinks from there. Okay, no problem. I order a coke for my son, who is 17 and a beer for my friend and I. The bartender asked for my ID, sure you can see my ID, I happened to be 45 years old but no problem. She then asks to see my friends ID, he presents his ID, again he is 46 but no worries. Then she wants to see my 17 year old sons ID and he does not have his ID with him. She proceeds to get a horrible attitude and tell me she can not serve any of us because he needs to have an ID. I explained to her that he is my 17 year old son who is having a coke and all we want to do is enjoy a meal here at Captain Mike's. She says this is a bar and no minors should be in the building. As I proceed to look directly to the table next to us, there sits two little boys about eight years old with there parents, I assume. I asked the very rude bartender, why can these two little boys be here but, we have to leave. She states that they are a bar and no one without their ID's are permitted anywhere near the facility unless with a parent. The discrimination towards us was humiliating and left us feeling horrible.

This was the WORST service I have ever received. Nobody should be treated the way we were treated and I will be sure to NEVER recommend Captain Mike's to anyone.

I should file a complaint for harassment, but they are not worth anymore of my time.

If I were you, I would go someplace else, maybe next door.
Aug 20, 2013
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Reviewed by graphicsguy from Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 5
This is one of my favorite places for food and beer in the area. They have a solid tap lineup, and a good list of cans and bottles. They have a facebook page to update patrons on special release bottles and kegs they are tapping, and if you ask nicely they may go above and beyond to help secure a special bottle for you. I saw a few weeks ago they helped someone get a bottle of Utopious to enjoy at the bar. They have indoor and limited outdoor seating. It is on the small side, so, it tends to get pretty crowded on the weekends, but, the food is phenomenal and it is worth the wait. They have a mostly burger and mac and cheese menu, with a handful of clever combinations you can order, or if you prefer, you can build your own from their list of a few dozen ingredients. Highly recommended.
Jun 26, 2013
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Reviewed by beerwolf77 from Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
This place has eluded me for awhile now. Well damn I wish I had made it sooner. It has sort of a beach bar vibe with a solid tap line up. Wide open front so you get an outdoor seating experience while sitting at the bar.

Tap list wasn't insane but solid enough to keep beer geeks happy for a meal. Speaking of food. We had the build your own Mac n cheese. Wow! Some of the best I've ever had.

Service was outstanding. The bartenders were super friendly and well schooled on all things beer. Offering samples, advice and general fun conversation.

Overall a great find in downtown Ktown. If I'm ever in the area again I will certainly be stopping by.
Aug 04, 2012
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Reviewed by Mscarpen from Tennessee

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Great little gem hidden on the shoes of lake Michigan. Really nice tap list and an even better bottle list. Amazing burgers with literally dozens of variants on toppings and preparation options.

Service can be literally awful at times, but once you demonstrate your beer cred a bit, the bartenders tend to warm up and be more attentive.

Great prices and great hidden gems in their bottle collection. Make sure to check out their sister bar, Mike's Highway Pub on I94 for an even bigger beer selection!

Always a treat to visit with the captain!
Oct 29, 2011
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Reviewed by mykd from Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
2011 - This is a bar I really enjoy spending time at. With 30 taps and 150 bottles available, from imports and domestics to micro-brews, this place has it all. And there always something going on to keep things interesting, like Tuesday night beer bingo (play $.50 a card for 6packs of beer). If your into music, they've got some of Kenosha's finest playing on Thursday and Sunday nights.

The burger bar is also very good. Your get a lot of options for burgers, I recommend the Cheeseburger Walrus with peppered bacon, or you can build your own with an amazing list of ingredients. Due to the popularity of the food, the wait can seem excessive at times, but it's always worth the wait!

If you visit Kenosha, this should really be on your list of places to visit.
Oct 15, 2011
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Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
2011 re-review:
Stopped in here twice over the weekend. Sat outside the first time at the patio tables, and didn't realize they didn't have table service. Airy open windows in the front, nice update of the shabby old porthole windows and macro neons from a few years ago. Service was quick and they offered tastes of tap beers. Food service was pretty slow, they said it would take an hour to get a couple appetizers, so we skipped it. It seems they've adopted the "Kuma's approach" with gourmet burgers with wacky names, and renamed the bar to reflect this.

O'so Hop Whoopin was the highlight the first time. Second time (same night), we ordered the same beer, and it tasted totally different, which was strange. They were also out of the next two different beers we tried to order. There was a live band doing covers and a guy ID'ing at the door on a saturday night. Pretty lively with a mix of people at all times. Beer selection had too much filler, lots of taps but only a handful of interesting stuff. Granted, the "interesting stuff" was great, but i'd like to see more seasonals, and more local Wisconsin beers. A few WI breweries were strangely absent from the bottle list: O'so, Ale Asylum, Potosi, Hinterland, Furthermore, Central Waters. Add more local beers!

2009:
Selection has greatly improved, 30 taps with the likes of Hopslam, Goose IIPA, Ruination, and Tyranena "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" Cherry Porter.

03-24-2008
Look for the little 2nd floor lighthouse above the door, Captain Mike's is situated on a corner facing a small harbor in Lake Michigan. The nautical theme is played up, but stops short of putting sand down on the floor.

A large inset aquarium is high on the back wall, rope ties decorate vertical supports along the bar, and the tiny porthole windows feel like peering out of a ships cabin. Apparently there is a large mermaid painting on one wall, but it was covered by a projection screen playing a basketball game. There were countless TVs in here, one every few feet. Some were screens for buzztime & poker, others were all playing sports. The weather channel was on behind the bar. Five video slots in the back, electronic darts and games in the front. They had an arcade version of "bags" aka cornhole...just bizarre.

On a sunday afternoon there were a few regulars, and it filled up more as time went on. Three ceiling fans at full blast took care of the handful of smokers at the bar. Service was very friendly and accommodating. The bartender took the time to chat with us, and with others who obviously weren't regulars. Had to ask for a glass, but got one the next time right away. The bottled beers were poured for you. We ordered food with our first round, and stayed for a couple more. Pizza and hot wings (25c on sundays), standard, but decent. Small menu of bar food, sandwiches, pizzas, and the usual appetizers.

Selection was interesting, the focus was on local micro and US craft. Many obscure WI choices such as Sand Creek and Harbor City, but sadly nothing rare or one-offs such as NG Unplugged or Tyranena (at all). 4 Founders, 3-4 Goose Island, 5 New Glarus, and 5 Bells. 17 countries were listed, many only had 1-3 options. Germany, England, Mexico (Corona), and Canada (Labatts) were in the 4-5 range. Overall decent, but after coming here a few times, you might get bored of the selection. Fin Du Monde posters advertised the only 750mL bottle in the place for $12.There were 9 options for buckets, and they all had odd names. The "zoo bucket" had a variety of "animal-name" beers like Fat Squirrel and Flying Dog. The "bucket of bullsh*t" had Lakefront Fuel Cafe, Hacker-Pschorr, Oktoberfest, and Leinies Apple Spice...uh, ok.

Seemed to be a friendly place with alot of regulars. Charity bartender nights, and beer bingo on mondays. The staff mentioned another new establishment they just opened, "Uncle Mike's" in Pleasant Prairie, claiming 300 beers.

You can get here by Metra train from Chicago, it's several blocks from the last stop of the Union Pacific North line.
Aug 29, 2011
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Reviewed by brew3crew from Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -30.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
A- went on a Monday night and it seemed crowded with friendly people.

Q-looks clean. Nothing to sway it either way

S- no waitresses so have to go to bar. Only two bar tenders addition they seem kind of scattered brained (but attractive). Have to time your requests til when they are by you. Food takes really really long. 25+ minutes for 10 wings. And still not here. Damn. Do not plan on getting your food in any way of a timely manner. Borderline in sane

selection- great tap selection and most under $5. Driving up from Chi town this makes it a welcome relief.

F-wouldn't know. Took too long

V- the old adage is true here, you get what you pay for. Good beer selection at a decent price, slow service. wait makes me not want to come back, but the tap list will make sure I swing buy for a beer, not any food
Aug 09, 2011
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Reviewed by sonoma01 from Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I stopped at Captain's last night for the "Buy the Beer, Keep the Glass" promotion that they run every Monday night. Picked up a couple of nice Duvel tulips filled with Duvel Green.

This is a really nice local hangout with a great beer selection for a small location and great burgers. All orders are made at the bar by you as there is no wait staff.

They had 27 beers on tap including Founders Imperial Stout which I tried and was excellent.). They have a large bottle menu with some rare and hard to find beers. Duvel bottles for $10 and 2011 KBS for $13 a bottle. I picked up two bottles of KBS (1 2010, 1 2011) at Uncle Mike's during a special Sunday promotion for $3.80 a bottle. The KBS is a little pricey but it is a hard to find beer this year!

All beers are served in the appropriate glassware.

I will make a return visit. I prefer the atmosphere and beer selection at Uncle Mike's Highway Pub better as they have some wilds and sours that they have started to get with there new taps.
Mar 30, 2011
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Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
My wife and I spent a couple of days at a lakefront house in Kenosha and stopped at Captain Mike's twice.

This is a really nice local hangout with a good beer selection and a great burger menu (organic grass-fed beef or Kobe, plus tons of fixin's). Ordering from a write-down menu is a lil' annoying, and there is no table service (but no biggie anyway).

27 taps, nothing super crazy special except for Founders Breakfast, New Glarus Unplugged Abt and Ale Asylum Satisfaction Jacksin (I guess). Their bottled selection offers some great things: I had a Founders KBS!!! ($12 for 12 oz, though).

Low prices overall -under five except for rarities. Proper glassware was used.

The atmosphere is nice, with live music and a cozy neighborhood-joint vibe.

Service was awful the first time (bartender had an attitude and was AWOL, had to beg for beer) but super nice and attentive the second time, so my rating reflects both.

I'd go back if I were a local or were in Kenosha for any reason, but I would favor Uncle Mike's over Captain's. Better beer and service!
Oct 06, 2010
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Reviewed by blackhawks87 from Illinois

5/5  rDev +19.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Visited this establishment on last Friday 7/16. Made the short drive up solo to Kenosha from Chicago in order to try the Canadian Breakfast Stout that they tapped that day. Never had heard of or been to this bar before so I didn't know what to expect. I got there about 4 p.m., and figured I would go in and have one CBS and then drive back home, being by myself and all.

Couldn't ask for a better atmosphere at a bar. Music was not so loud that I couldn't hear the bartenders or friendly BAs next to me that I struck up conversations with. Several HD screens showing appropriate sports, lots of cool sea faring/ ocean themed decorations, being as the bar is right on Lake Michigan.

All the right glassware was used for beers. This bar's footrest is not a little pole like at some bars, it is a nice hefty ledge that you can comfortably rest your feet on while sitting on one of the bar stools. It is at precisely the right height for your feet. I can't count the number of bars I've been to that have a crappy pole for a footrest that I can hardly reach from the bar stool. So I had to give the quality a 5.0 based on that factor alone.

Service was also exceptional. Very friendly bartenders. The female bartender that served my first drink suggested that I try the CBS before she even knew that's the reason I came there. Also had a different bartender give me a glass of water with ice in it while I wasn't even looking, which shows that they are knowledgeable of how high ABV beers can dehydrate you. Or maybe she did it because it was hot out. The water was refilled several times without me even asking. Granted I got there before the crowd, but it was a nice gesture.

Selection was exceptional. Having the opportunity to try the CBS on tap warrants a 5.0 almost on its own, however they also had KBS bottles and I couldn't resist splitting one with a friendly BA who I was sitting next to me. Many tap handles spanned the length of the bar and I noticed an extensive bottle selection behind the bar. Both taps and bottles included local Wisconsin beers as well as great beers from across the country.

Didn't try the food but the burgers looked delicious. There was a giant burger menu taking up half of one wall the walls and I believe it mentioned using only grass fed and responsibly raised beef in their burgers. Lots of exotic burgers were on the menu and when I make it up there again I plan on trying one.

I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with my visit and I could really tell that the owners care about the customers and the bar itself. I highly recommend visiting this establishment if you can and it is more than worth the drive up to Kenosha from Chicago and I plan on going up there again. I ended up staying for several CBS's and other drinks because everyone there was so friendly. Big thanks to fellow BA Kevin for sharing some pours of several extraordinary beers and also to one of the owners who I met, Jason, was very friendly.
Jul 19, 2010
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Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I went on Mother's Day for lunch, and unfortunately the cooks weren't showing up until 4. The bartender could have told us this before we filled our menus out.

It is a small bar on the corner of the downtown harbor area of Kenosha. There is lots of dining in the area as well.

The beer menu is like the other Mike's locations; pretty extensive. This one seems to care more about the proper glassware than the other ones. Like the others there was loud rock music blaring, but it was relatively empty.

The tap listincluded alot of good stuff such as GI Pepe Nero and Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast. The beer of the day was Gubna and they had a special on it. I saw KBS in the fridge and was also tempted.

The beer was a bit cold but pretty much the right temp. They did serve oberon in a frosted glass, though it is understandable since non beer people order that, no orange slice though.

I would go back if it had something on tap that I wanted, otherwise I would stick to the Highway one. And that is purely because of it's relativity to my house.

---

Went again today for a little bit of the CBS Mike ahd kindly set aside for the locals who couldn't make it the night before to try it. The taplist currently is probably one of the best I have seen at any bar ever.

Got to try the food today, It was amazing, the burgers are amazing, the best I have found in Kenosha, maybe ever. The staff was also very accommodating this time.

They recently renovated one wall so that now part of the bar is open air, it opened the bar up and made it really a nice place to dine and drink at, no smoking any more either. The only problem I could see is the beer in the coolers is more exposed to the light, I'm sure they will find a way around it.

Great place.
May 09, 2010
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Reviewed by Ktown67 from Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This is by far the best beer bar in Kenosha. They have "99 bottles of beer on the wall" to choose from. They range from imports to microbrews with some real gems from Bells, Founders, Goose Island, etc.

They now carry well over 200 beers and have added additional taps. (I believe they have 24 now.)

On Tuesdays they run $2 specials on Imports and Micros. Includes almost all of the beers on the wall with just a few exceptions (higher end Belgium Ales and limited release micros).

Last week, I tried Samichlaus for the first time!

They also have a beer club/challenge. Drink all 99 beers in a 12 month period and enter a drawing to win a trip for two to Las Vegas plus other prizes.

As of Feb 2010 - Awesome gourmet burgers. 20 to choose from or build your own. Grass fed beef. Simply the best burger I've ever had!
Dec 24, 2006
Captain Mike's Beer & Burger Bar in Kenosha, WI
Place rating: 4.19 out of 5 with 25 ratings