There’s an old joke that some local neighborhoods have a tavern on every corner, but it’s no exaggeration on 60th Street in West Allis. Laymen Brewery is on one edge of the street and The Crooked Crow, 1309 S. 60th St., is perched on the other.
Although both taps appealed to us, we ducked into The Crooked Crow because we found the name and the sign appealing. Crows are inquisitive, social birds, which we tend to be when visiting dive bars.
Established in 2020, The Crooked Crow opened in the space that formerly housed Remedy. General Manager Joshua Hansen says the interior underwent a fairly large transformation that included fresh flooring, an additional wall and a new – aptly black – ceiling.
The back bar was rebuilt with the wood of crates found in the basement stamped with the Milwaukee address 234 Broadway St. The building, which is now condos, once housed wholesale grocers, coffee roasters, furniture showrooms, a clothing company and myriad manufacturers.
“We like having unique things that tie us to Milwaukee history,” says Hansen, who is also the general manager for Brickyard Pub & Patio in Cudahy and Walter’s On North in Wauwatosa.
The Crooked Crow’s food and drink menu sticks to the classics. Especially at the bar. “We serve Old Fashioneds and Bloody Marys, but mostly, we sell a lot of beer here,” says Hansen.
Hansen is considering stocking THC and CBD drinks as he’s aware of their popularity but is yet to pull the trigger.
The food menu is also focused on the classics, but aims to serve above-and-beyond tavern fare. Chef Valfred Diaz hand-forms all of the burgers and rolls. The nachos are fried to order. The wings are coated in signature sauces.
The Crooked Crow also offers a Tuesday Taco Night with beef or chicken tacos for $3; Wednesday Burger Night with burgers starting at $4 and an affordable Friday Fish Fry. A weekend brunch menu is also in the works.
“Overall, we want to keep our food cheap without sacrificing quality,” says Hansen.
Gambling games, bar dice, darts and free pool are a big draw for the clientele, but the main attraction according to Hansen is the staff.
“The staff here is very tenured. Most have been here from the beginning,” says Hansen. “They all have regular shifts and they bring in a lot of people. This is a great place if you wanna have a few drinks and shoot the sh-t with a bartender.”
Ashley Wakeland was behind the bar during our visit and has worked at the bar for 4 1/2 years.
“I’ve made so many friends here,” says Wakeland. “I really love it here."
The Crooked Crow is open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to close; Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to close. Follow the bar on Facebook and Instagram.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
