Comet Cafe

Comet CafeComet Cafe
Comet CafeComet Cafe
Bar, Eatery

1947 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202-1409
United States

(414) 273-7677 | map
thecometcafe.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.22
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
36
pDev:
6.64%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rilesmiles:
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Rated by Rilesmiles from Wisconsin

4.36/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

Dec 23, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.36 by bowzer4birdie from Illinois

Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by BarrelAgedG from California

Feb 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by adamranders from Wisconsin

Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.88 by beer_ben

May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by djhowell from Wisconsin

Apr 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.56 by RJB66 from Wisconsin

Jan 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by AndyEdgar from Illinois

Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by WesMKE from Wisconsin

Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by patdunkel from Wisconsin

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Eman17 from Illinois

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Dief88 from Indiana

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BLTalpos from Michigan

Jun 23, 2014
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Reviewed by robear from Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.75
Milwaukee's quintessential comfort food diner.

Atmosphere- diner on one side, bar on the other. Love the design. Gets cozy but not uncomfortable. Eat at the diner counter, in a booth, or at the bar. Something for everybody.

Quality- expect a good beer selection from good craft breweries. Some macros in cans as well. Food is locally sourced.

Service- servers and bartenders have always been awesome and friendly here.

Selection- 10-ish taps and about 40 cans? Usually there is a beer or two I'd like to try on tap. If not, the food is so good that I can be satisfied with a can of Dale's Pale or a bottle from Central Waters. Occasional awesome beers like ZD, Hopslam, Black Husky.

Food- Well made. Locally sourced. Expect heaping quantities (read: share) and lots of cheese/deep-frying/grease. That being said, the best meatloaf in MKE. Some GREAT vegetarian options, too. Sunday night is bacon basket night- free basket of bacon with a drink purchase. Be forewarned- I think it's deep-fried.

Value- great bang for your buck. You'll leave full with left-overs. Beer prices are right on target and you can often get a happy hour deal.
May 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Feb 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Klinesausage from Wisconsin

Nov 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cindy_C from Wisconsin

Nov 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by TheRealPour from Illinois

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by atone315 from Wisconsin

Oct 16, 2013
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Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Stopped here for a hangover brunch in between Brewers games. The bloody mary was the best I've ever had. The beer selection? Okay, but nothing special.

The place was packed at 10:30 AM on a Wednesday, so I'd imagine it'd be pretty hard to get into during the weekend. The vibe was hipstery, and again that would probably intensify at night so venture in at your own risk. During our visit it was fine. But I know stuff like that can get quickly out of hand for some of y'all.

Personally, I don't got nothing against hipsters. Especially foodie hipsters, and especially when those foodie hipsters are making me food. Good god, the food here was excellent. The best poutine I've ever had in the states and a vegetarian breakfast platter that was to die for.

But the beer--like I said, the selection ain't nothing special. They do a good job of displaying it--each beer is given its own trading card, and the "menu" is a leatherette booklet containing said cards. But the selection wasn't all that special. (Signs did make mention of a semi-exclusive beer club that met periodically to share rare, cellared beers, but this news was of little use to a tourist like myself) Still, there was a beer for nearly every mood, and taking that into account along with the quality of the food, I'd call this place a borderline must-visit.
Jul 30, 2013
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.64/5  rDev -13.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
I enjoyed this place mostly because of its access to where I was staying. friendly environment,though there are ven friendlier ones in the city. a couple of bars and tables, enough room for me but i can see where it can get very crowded on the weekends. Only a handful of taps, and that rarely changes, for example 3 Floyds mild is always on. A good bottle selection, but then again almost everything available in the stores. Reasonable prices. Again, location was the best part of this for me, as well as being reasonable safe part of town.
Sep 05, 2011
Photo of beerwolf77
Reviewed by beerwolf77 from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -12.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped in here last night with a couple BA buddies for dinner.

Typical diner look and feel. Tap handles and chalkboards with beer specials are the only clue that it's more than a typical greasy spoon.

The beer list is pretty solid. Not and amazing tap list but the bottle list is quite long. I come here for the food mostly. It just so happens that I can enjoy a top tier craft brew with my entree. Speaking of the food. It is top notch. Homestyle comfort food any grandma would be proud of.

Service is always a touch slow but nothing I can't overlook.

Overall a great place for down home cooking served with a great beer.
Aug 25, 2011
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Reviewed by bierbrauer from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Visited Comet Cafe (Comet Coffee Shop appears to be a dated BA title) for lunch. Open, but split interior, with cafe seating on north side, bar & booths to south and tables outside. Varied clientele, including a family with 3 generations represented. The tables and booths appeared to be full, but it didn't feel crowded. Received immediate seat and service at bar, with separate menus for food and for beer/wine/mixed drinks.

8 taps that the web site states "rotate daily." Range of choices today included Reissdorf Kolsch, 3 Floyds Pride & Joy, Unibroue Éphémère Cassis, Bells Oberon, Stillwater Statesman Saison, Founders Breakfast Stout, Ommegang Aphrodite, Oskar Blues GUBNA -- 4 under, 4 over 6% ABV. Menu showed 120 bottles, divided into 10 categories -- Pilsners; Ales (largest group); Wheat, White & Fruity; Belgian & Belgian Style Ales; Lagers; Stouts; Porters; Ciders; Strong Ales; and Barley Wines. Bottle menu included Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, an all but extinct species in WI since DFH (& Stone) pulled their distribution.

Alert, attentive and knowledgable bartenders provided info, taste samples, well-drawn taps and infinite ice water. Has been a "serious beer bar" for six years and the help is clearly invested in beer knowledge and culture. Offers weekly specials, e.g. Wednesday $1 off taps, Saturday $1 off craft bottles and Sunday $2.50 3 Floyd's taps + free bacon(!)

I had the 3F P&J, thinking "what has kept me from trying this acclaimed midwest brewery?" Over-the-top six pack art design, association with a disgraced cyclist or who knows? Whatever the source of my previous hesitations, it was a very good mild ale and I look forward to discovering their other types. Arriving promptly, the Vegetable Heaven Salad w/ grilled chicken was a direct hit, with fresh and varied greens, lightly roasted peppers and a very good ginger dressing. With this delicious salad, I tried the Unibroue Saison, knowing it would be well out of my normal taste zone. But that's something I appreciated about Comet, the potential of trying something that's a bit off center.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I look forward to future visits to Comet Cafe.
Aug 20, 2011
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Reviewed by DabblinWiscCraft from Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I lived around the block from Comet for three years, and it was a place I would frequent at least once a week during that span. It has a fun vibe: While it certainly caters to the hipsters, it also is a place that absolutely values good beer, good cocktails, and good food. I love that they put on beer schools and really work to educate the community and their clientele on new and rare specialty offerings. The bartenders--for the most part--are very knowledgeable and friendly, and the wait staff are usually friendly and sometimes knowledgeable. The food is dubbed "slow food," and it is all along the vein of classic American comfort foods. There are also many dishes that appeal to vegans and vegetarians on the menu. Everything I've had there is great. My favorite would have to be their Commuter Sandwich (perfect with sourdough, eggs over medium, provolone, and bacon) for around 5 bucks. As others have mentioned, the tap selection is limited; but they always have good crafts in rotation, and they have a very solid collection of bottles.

Much like this site, Comet is a place that respects and appreciates beer and wants to share that respect and appreciation with others. When I think of Milwaukee beer destinations, this place is right at the top of the list (which is incredible considering it only has 8 taps). This is a great place to bring friends who are just visiting Milwaukee. You won't be disappointed.
Jul 11, 2011
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Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

3.83/5  rDev -9.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Practically lived at this place during my time at Marquette. Lived literally across the street (not Koppas) and spent over 100 hours in this place.

Different now (bar where what, laundry or chinese food used to be?) but yet, the same. Anyways, cool atmosphere, lots of east side type of people, basically doing the early 90s Seattle grunge look but through the indie lens that you can see in just about any large city in the US of A (SF, Detroit, NYC, Seattle, Sheboygan ha etc. . . ).

Bottle and tap list was very nice, over 100 beers to choose from. Service has always sucked. Scenesters. No beer knowledge. No desire to be quick or helpful. Everyone just looks and acts pissy. I dunno, maybe they are in training for that dream job at Toronado SF. Parking has, and always suck on the east side, the meter maids are super vigilant.

Great food, even if they kinda scoff when you order something not vegan.

Check it out. Everything is excellent except for the service.
May 04, 2011
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Reviewed by mtunnell from Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I am fortunate to live within walking distance of Comet though my heart probably doesn't feel that way on account of the bacon on Sundays. The same philosophy that leads to free bacon also applies to Comet's menu, which is greasy, salty and more than ample. In fact, the food holds the primary appeal for me. The menu's sandwiches are delicious and reliable, especially the Reuben and the Cuban, but there are also occasionally interesting specials available (most recently Duck Confit poutine).

The bar pours from a modest selection of 8 taps, but at least one is always pouring a 3 Floyds beer, which is $2.50 on Sundays. The other beers range through Wisconsin locals (mercifully not Spotted Cow) and other American craft with the occasional Wittekerke available. The bottle list is deep and reasonably priced with a number of options in many styles. My only real complaint about the bar is that they don't provide the best glassware. Bottles are always served with an 8oz glass which I find frustrating. Moreover, their goblets are tiny and weirdly shaped, arriving filled to the brim (and often spilling) with no room for head or aroma.

There are TV's behind the bar but the sound is usually turned off and the air is filled with punk rock and other, hipper, music, which is fine by me. The staff is generally friendly and helpful, though it can get pretty crowded so there might be some waiting involved.

On the whole, I recommend Comet highly, and when friends visit I usually bring them there. Any trip to Comet has a high enough upside to make me forget my small gripes about glassware.
May 04, 2011
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Reviewed by jmp485 from Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Started going to the Comet Cafe about 2 years ago and can't think of a better place to hit up on Sunday evenings for great food, excellent beers, free bacon (yup free baskets of bacon Sunday nights) and a really great atmosphere.

The food is all about comfort. Big sandwiches, compact turkey dinner, meatloaf and pretty solid daily specials that you should try from time to time. The baked goods are awesome and the wife can't leave the place without a piece of cake or pie, or a cupcake for the road.

Since appearing on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives last year its popularity has picked up, so expect crowds most evenings.

The tap beer selection is limited to 7 or 8 selections, but there is seldom a loser in the bunch. You can count on at least one FFF beer on tap (usually Alpha King or Pride & Joy). Its pretty common to see them running the leftovers from their Beer School (1st Tuesday or each month) on tap, which are usually harder to find beers. They have a knack for getting kegs of stuff the other beer bars in the area can't find. They also have a good selection of bottles including bombers at decent prices. Bar staff is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.

Definitely worth stopping in if you're in the area.
Sep 23, 2010
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Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
have al. ways been intrigued by this place - stopped in for lunch on my birthday, prior to the CUBS-brewers game a few weeks ago

lots of natural light on a sunny day - there were a handful of tables outside, but we settled into a booth. They serve breakfast most of the day but also have a lot of large-portion creative sandwiches. I had some pancakes stuffed with bacon - all the food on the table looked good.

KBS was on the beerlist but wasn't actually present - there was 8-10 taps of fairly high quality - we had flying dog raging bitch. They also had 3F pride and joy, ruination, and some various high quality locals. I didn't even catch a glimpse of the bottle menu, but it sounds like its fairly comprehensive

cool spot - would be more inclined to return because of food than tap selection.
Jun 19, 2010
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Reviewed by Beerfayce from Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +10.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Comet Cafe is an excellent bar that serves "from scratch" meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to a number of excellent craft taps and numerous specialty bottles.
The atmosphere of the place is comfortable and often lively; you'll find local art on the walls, comfortable booths and a dark wood bar along with a diner style counter opposite the bar that features a beautiful curved wood back. It is a popular place to go, and not a very large place, so expect it to get quite crowded during evening and weekend hours- but don't let that stop you from going.
Of the dozens of times I have visited this establishment, I can only think of one or two times where the service was not outstanding! The menu is not complicated (sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, dinner plates such as homemade meatloaf with some delicious options for our vegetarian friends as well) but consistently good with daily specials if you need a change from the norm. The baked goods are also from scratch and are made in Bayview daily; I have never had a cake, pie, or cupcake there that I didn't love.
I often go there for the beer alone, although they make great cocktails and have a decent wine list as well. They stock many different bottles and have a large selection of bombers, plus 10(?) craft tappers. They always have a FFF on tap, and I can't remember visiting them without having at least a Great Lakes, DFH or Stone tap as well along with a variety of imports and regional beers passing through. The prices for the tappers can get a bit steep sometimes, but the quality is excellent and the food is very reasonably priced as well.

It is a bar aimed at the younger, "hipper" crowd, but Comet has revamped itself from a humble coffee shop in recent years and become a really stellar place to eat and drink.
Jun 15, 2010
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Reviewed by bonk0076 from Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Lived a couple blocks from here and used to love coming here for brunch and an eye opener on the weekends. Atmosphere is great - at least if you are into hipster type stuff. Gets pretty crowded on the weekends though and service can be a little slow. Free bacon on Sunday afternoons is always a plus!!! Selection is excellent and thought they only have a few tap beers, they seem to bring in a decent enough variety for them. Bottle selection is solid. Would go there and fill the girlfriend with Piraat, while I fooled around with a variety of decent craft and import beers.
Dec 10, 2009
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Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Checked into the Comet Cafe after a stop next door at Bullseye Records, on a recommendation from the folks over at Green Gallery.

A total doppelgänger interior, night/day setup of a bar half and a diner half. Scratches both itches I guess, or maybe just appeals to different crowds. On the bar side, brown naugahyde booths are along the wall, under wildlife scenes of geese and beavers. Narrow chairs at the bar with a flatscreen or two. Even with these modern touches, it still felt like something out of Ghost World or Twin Peaks.

A handsome tap tower held gems like NG Unplugged Cranbic, FFF Broodoo, La Chouffe, He'Brew 13th, and a couple others. Bottle list was very extensive, even including a traditional lambic, Hanssens Oude Gueuze, and Jolly Pumpkin Fuego (listed as Autumnal Fire) & Calabaza Blanca.

Service was attentive, it seemed like there was a shift change going on with several staff members around. One surly guy was cutting fruit/etc. in front of us, occasionally cursing someone late on the next shift. Oh well, the beer was good, and so was our bartender. Large hipster contingent in this area, as identified by earlier reviews...
Nov 28, 2009
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Reviewed by Brophmstr from Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Stopped in here for dinner. Place has a goood vibe, felt like I was in a Seatle cafe, young hipster crowd. Great bottle selection, including what could be the last of the Three Floyd's left in WI. Had Avery, Victory, Ommegang, Founders, Lagunitas, to namea few. Good Belgian selection too. The draft selections were good but not as numerous, sounds like the switch it up a lot. Bartender was very knowledgable, helpful in making selection and describing offerings.

Food was very good and at a reasonable price. Lots of vegetarian offerings. Highly recommend the seasoned fries.

On Street parking kind of a pain in the neck, worse with snowbanks. had to circle the block a couple of times to get a spot.
Mar 17, 2008
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Reviewed by Flyer from Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Is it a diner? A coffee shop? A bar? It's all three. Tremendous bottle selection and a handful of good but not great beers on tap. Happy hour prices are great. Mostly a younger east side crowd, but it's impossible for anyone not to feel welcome here. The atmosphere is pleasantly anti-establishment (but not in the "angry" way some similar places can be). One negative is that it can get too crowded, but the bottom line is that I love this place. Food is very good -- I recommend the ahi tuna sandwich.
May 20, 2007
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Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 2 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This place is a relatively new place on Farwell in Milwaukee. A friend of mine told me about it, and I recently stopped in for lunch with a different friend of mine.

The place is definitely got a young hipster kind of attitude to it. It was noon on a Friday when we stopped in, and there were a fair number of artistic-looking people taking in a late breakfast, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes.

While I'm unlikely to find too much in common with the majority of the clientele, everyone was very friendly and the beer experience was extremely impressive.

First, the selection of beer is excellent. There are about 10 beers on draft and another 115 in bottles on the beer list. The quality of beers featured is exceptional. They feature a Lakefront IPA (Mangey Rabbit) I'd never before heard of on draft. They had a black pepper pale by Furthermore (Knot Stock) that was also good. The 115 bottles would be the envy of many liquor stores.

The service was friendly, but not really beer savvy. To be fair though it was noon on a weekday and I dealt with a server rather than a bartender.

The food was good. The menu features a variety of vegan dishes. I am not a vegan, so I was quite pleasantly surprised when my lunch arrived and was clearly the opposite of vegan. It was a meatloaf sandwhich with gravy and covered in bacon strips. So, they seem to have an understanding that the world is not populated entirely by vegans. My sandwhich was good. We had a side of fries wit spicy mayo that was exceptional. Simple food at reasonable prices.

Last, Comet Cafe appears committed to craft brewing and has a variety of specials and events to expose the public to craft beer. Most impressive is a "Beer University," held on the first Tuesday of the month (for a $15 fee). They also have craft beer specials including a discount on draft beer on Wednesdays [I think] for patrons sporting beards. The going rate for beers was reasonable, and hitting some specials I believe would make an evening at the Comet downright reasonable.

I would definitely revisit this place to see what's new. I hope they're successful in their business.
Dec 17, 2006
Comet Cafe in Milwaukee, WI
Place rating: 4.22 out of 5 with 36 ratings