Ask Rachel: Where in Milwaukee should I go for a fun birthday dinner?

Readers write in to Journal Sentinel dining critic Rachel Bernhard every day — sometimes with very similar questions. Each month, she picks the top FAQs in her inbox to answer publicly. Have a question for Rachel? Ask it at rseis@gannett.com.

Q: I’m celebrating my upcoming birthday with a group of friends. Where should we go? 

Rachel: It must be birthday season in Milwaukee (shoutout to my fellow Aries!), because over the past month, I’ve fielded a handful of questions about where to celebrate the happy day.  

Like reader Jessica Campolo, who was looking for recommendations for where to ring in a milestone birthday. “Not too fancy or intimidating,” she said, but fun for a group of around eight women in their late 30s to early 40s. 

Ah, right in my wheelhouse. I’m always looking for a spot just like this when getting together with my friends. Casual and carefree but still elevated enough to make the guest of honor feel … well, honored. A place where we can reserve a table, put on a fun outfit, pass around plates and not get side-eyed if our laughs grow louder as the night goes on. 

La Merenda, 125 E. National Ave., fits that bill perfectly. I’ve been to plenty of b-day dinners at the tapas-style restaurant in Walker’s Point and its celebratory vibe always hits the sweet spot between easygoing and elevated. Same goes for another Walker’s Point tapas standout: Movida, 600 S. Sixth St., is such a fun spot to sip sangrias and try Spanish-style dishes — especially on the restaurant’s stylish (covered and heated) patio. 

Speaking of style, I’ve sent many groups to The Wolf on Broadway, 600 N. Broadway, since it opened last November. The dining room is a little small, so keep your group to four to six, but it’s such a chic spot for a celebration with a clever menu that has a little bit of everything: snacks for sharing, sandwiches, salads and playful entrees. 

Italian food is usually a pretty safe bet for group dining, and with shareable pizzas, pastas and antipasti that can please a crowd, spots like Sorella, 2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (try to snag a patio spot if it’s nice out) and Tre Rivali, 200 N. Broadway, make group ordering a cinch, both with stylish spaces that feel celebration-worthy. 

If your friends are into sushi, Kin by Rice n Roll, 7484 W. State St., Wauwatosa, is a vibrant spot in the Tosa village with loads of sushi options for every taste. And even if your friends aren’t into sushi, I bet they’d love the Thai specialties and ramen on the expansive menu. 

Bonus Q: Where’s a fun Milwaukee spot for a birthday dinner for two? 

Rachel: I love a big celebration dinner spent with friends, but sometimes you want to keep it simple. If dinner-for-two sounds better to you but you still like that middle ground of unfussy but refined, we’re one in the same, too. 

When my friend Brie asked for birthday dinner ideas a couple weeks ago, the first place I thought of was Odd Duck, 939 S. Second St. It’s where I celebrated my birthday last year, and, aside from the buzzy atmosphere and the fun, keep-’em-comin’ global dishes on the menu, I appreciated sweet touches like a handwritten birthday card on the table when I arrived.  

This year, I celebrated just up the street at Morel, 430 S. Second St., and it was the perfect choice. I love its farm-to-table menu with Wisconsin ingredients at the forefront, but the cozy dining room and friendly staff make the night feel extra special. 

The Diplomat, 815 E. Brady St., has a similar vibe, warm and friendly with upscale Midwestern food that expands your palate but doesn’t intimidate. Try the sublime peanut butter pie and you may never go back to birthday cake. 

I’ve had a memorable birthday at The Original, 2498 N. Bartlett Ave., too, and I’m always excited to see what’s new on their rotating menu. The vibes inside are a little speakeasy-style — dim and cozy but relaxed. And you can’t beat the cocktails. 

Sometimes, a birthday brunch can top a birthday dinner (start the celebration early, I say!). In that case, Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery, 3216 S. Howell Ave., will make you feel special (its pancakes are some of my favorite in town), or head to Story Hill BKC, 5100 W. Blue Mound Rd., for killer crepes and fun cocktails and mocktails. 

Happy celebrating! 

Rachel Bernhard joined the Journal Sentinel as dining critic in June 2023. She’s been busy exploring the Milwaukee area food scene to share her favorite finds with readers along the way. Like all Journal Sentinel reporters, she buys all meals, accepts no gifts and is independent of all establishments she covers.   

Have a question for her? Contact her at rseis@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelbernhard or on Instagram at @rach.eats.mke.