MaraJonas32: @ryanseacrest Quick Question: Did you host a boat race thing in Jamaica about seven or eight years ago? I think you were there. I was.
about 5 minutes agoMaraJonas32: @ryanseacest Quick Question: Did you host a boat race thing in Jamaica about seven or eight years ago? I think you were there. I was.
about 6 minutes ago
craigsoprano: @Chaqlat yeah summers nice the beaches and boat jetski. Winter is nice tooadd quiet. Monmouth county U got fam or frens out here ?
about 20 minutes ago
Marliimarl: @kiwiblockhead Yup. Will deffo see you in either Miami or on the boat :)
about 39 minutes ago
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One of the best views in town. |
 | By Molly Snyder Edler   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Molly Snyder Edler |
| Published Sept. 9, 2004 at 5:42 a.m. |
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Many diners arrived at Barnacle Bud's by boat, but those of us who didn't had a heck of a time finding the place. Tucked away next to Skipper Bud's boat launch on the coast of the Milwaukee River, Bud's (1955 S. Hilbert) is secluded -- definitely off the local restaurant radar -- and feels more like the Bahamas than Bay View.
Although there's a quaint beach shanty with a bar and a dozen tables, the outdoor deck is the place to be if the weather's smooth sailing. There, boats of all kinds dock and undock, while diners and drinkers talk, joke, smoke and lazily lick barbeque sauce off their fingertips.
Many of the customers seemed to know each other, yet as "outsiders" we didn't feel displaced. Perhaps it's because the clientele -- although completely Caucasian -- is quite diverse, including preppies in Polo shirts, heavily tattooed "Sailor Jerry" types, women old and young in bikini tops and other folks just looking for a good meal and a unique view of the river, downtown skyline and Jones Island.
And at Barnacle Bud's, a good meal is indeed on deck.
The menu features appetizers, sandwiches ($4.25-$7.95), ribs, seafood entrees ($12.95-$15.95), pasta dishes and a Friday fish fry ($6.95-$9.95).
We started with index-finger-long mozzarella sticks, deep-fried to gooey perfection, and a basket of seasoned fries, crispy and satisfying. For dinner, my date had the grilled chicken wings, which came (approximately) 18 to a basket and very tender. We appreciated that they were grilled, but wished they were a little spicier.
I had the Mixed Grill, a plate of buttery fettuccini topped with soft scallops, firm and fresh shrimp, white fish and one crawfish, complete with a creepy eyeball. Aside from the way-too-fishy tasting crawfish, all of the other sea treats were delicate and flavorful. Maybe not knock-your-Docksiders-off amazing, but a solid B.
We ordered two margaritas, unfortunately made with very little booze, but quite refreshing in icy glass jars with green sugar on the rim. We later ordered two taps of Fosters because bottles are not available.
We heard that the service at Bud's is slow, and although we found the reputation true, we didn't mind for two reasons. First of all, our waitress was clearly working her tail off and made numerous gestures and comments letting us know that we were not lost at sea. Also, the atmosphere is so mellow -- almost dripping with that good-time-vacation-vibe -- that we really didn't care if we sat there for hours. (Which we didn't; our meals arrived within 30 minutes.)
Bud's isn't particularly family-friendly -- they don't have highchairs and there is mention on the silly menu copy that obnoxious kids will get stuffed -- but we brought our own booster seats and made it work. The constant boat action was a hit and although there isn't a children's menu, hamburgers, soft chicken breast and fries are available.
Barnacle Bud's reminded us a little of Crabby Al's, an upscale indoor/outdoor seafood joint under the 6th Street viaduct that closed a few years back, but we found Bud's more authentic, affordable and about as tropical as you can get in Brew City.
Pass the sunscreen and make mine a double, matey.
Barnacle Bud's is open from the last day in February until the end of October. For more information, call (414) 481-9974.
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4 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by favel1234 on Sept. 21, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (report)
I understand that OnMilwaukee is trying to promote Milwaukee, but comparing Barnacle's Bud with Bahamas is just a joke. I can forgive that you confuse murky waters and industrial buildings with sandy beaches and palm trees. At the end, we all know that Milwaukee is not Bahamas. But we know that people in Milwaukee is friendly and courteous, so you should not promote a place where service is simply rude. After 3 attempts to draw the attention of a server and 25 min of waiting, we took off "Bahamas" and returned to Milwaukee, so I can't comment on the food, although I feel that the comments from BriantheHudson are more accurate than anything Ms Snyder said. Please, do not put this place and so many other excellent places in the same pot. It is just a poor service to the community.
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Posted by BriantheHudson on Aug. 13, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (report)
I was very excited to check out Barnacle Buds last Friday, that is until about 5 minutes after I got there. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy the "Ed Debevic's" thing as much as the next guy, but there is a line that can be crossed which takes things to a whole new level. Putting lines on your menu that say "The sign says open, not welcome - act accordingly" and the complaint bucket on the wall in the shape of a urinal with toilet paper as the complaint writing paper is fun and fitting - that's the theme. But when you and your servers are seriously rude and unhappy(and not on a joking, ha-ha, funny level) and have such a "screw you" attitude, that they deny patrons even the minimal service, it's no longer fun. My buddy and I arrived at 6:30 to get on the list for a larger birthday party to arrive at 7:30 and told one the servers after we had told the host. She was about 5'-4" with the hair of a sewer rat and she looked and smelled like she hadn't showered in weeks. Her attitude was as ugly as she was and she tried bringing us down to her level by treating us like trash. Then I tried to get a pitcher from the bartender "Gene" who was a cheap immitation of a real carribean sailor. He tried to make up for his complete incompitence behind the bar with jokes that weren't funny. After standing there for twenty minutes and watching him snicker as he didn't serve me while taking care of his regulars, I decided it was no use and I should just wait for my table. We finally got our table at 8:30 and then our food at 9:30 (which tasted like it was trucked over from long john silvers). The people joining us at our table got fed up and took off before their food even got there. If it hadn't been for the birthday boy's request to stick around I would have been out of there shortly after I saw the server with rat hair. My experience at Barnacle Bud's was a real shame. It's a very cool little place in a nice southern bayou type setting. However, the disgusting, rude, lazy people that staff the place make it the worst restaraunt / bar experience in the city.
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Posted by OMCreader on July 7, 2006 at 1:27 p.m. (report)
Debbie Smith said: My husband and I went there for the first time on the 4th of July. Just trying to find some new place to go, I'm sure it will be oneof our favorite places for a long time. We went for a drink and a appetizer at the bar, and ended up a lot of drings later, a meal, and our jaws hurt from laughing so much. Can't wait to go back again.
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Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 21, 2005 at 4:16 p.m. (report)
Donald A Luebke said: First experience at B B's was back in June. Enjoyed it so much, have been back no less then ten times. Everything we have tried on the menu has been great. Can't beat the atmosphere, servers, drinks and the entertainment (proprietor). Just a fun place to go. Going back tonight. Wish they were open all year round............
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