Palms Bar and Bistro is a great place located on Broadway street in Milwaukee's Third Ward. When I go out to eat, this is exactly the kind of place I am looking for.

Palms is quite, fairly dark, comfortable, well spaced, and has great service. We were greeted immediately at the door, and when the hostess found we were two, she took us directly to the table. The seating was comfortable, (we sat in the high backs by the window) and not to close to other diners. Our waiter was over after a few minutes to take our drink orders and give us menus, which is always nice. I want to stress here that like our hostess, the waiter was not in a hurry. The service was great, but I never got the sense the waiter was rushing around, or speeding, he seemed like he was always sauntering, which led to a more relaxing meal. At the same time, he was not lazy, and never late with anything.

The food at Palms is spectacular. I can't decide exactly what "genre" of food they service, but I will call it "flavors." No matter what, they combine different flavors you might not expect together, and those flavors work well. The menu is exotic but never outlandish. Take, for example, the sesame seared sea bass and spicy shrimp pad thai with pineapple soy reduction. I had never heard of a pineapple soy reduction before, but in the end it was a delicious fish, the pineapple sauce just added to it, it didn't distract. The same with the salmon, which is served with match stick plantains, avocado tempura, and sofrito sauce. The salmon is grilled to perfection, and if you like avocado tempura, well, that is a bonus.

Palms raises a spot in my book for having my favorite dish: gnocchi with blue cheese sauce. I have had this dish only a couple of times in my life, and I love it. Palms does theirs very well, even adding chicken. It is the first time I have seen it with chicken, but it worked.

If Palms dinner menu is not enough, they have some of the best specialty pizzas in Milwaukee. All of the specialty pizzas are good, but the caramelized pear and prosciutto, Gorgonzola cream, fontina, and caramelized onions is hands down the best. This pizza even seems to bet getting a little bit of a reputation around Milwaukee.

I recommend Palms. I have been there for dinner, for drinks, and for both, and have never been disappointed. It is a little pricier than I usually go, but not by much, maybe 2-3 dollars a plate. For the service, food, and presentation, I think this could be priced in the top tier in Milwaukee.

Palms Bar & Bistro
221 N Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
5 of 5 stars