Romans' Pub

Romans' PubRomans' Pub
Romans' PubRomans' Pub
Bar

3475 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53207-3169
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.52
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
59
pDev:
11.95%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of slasich
Reviewed by slasich from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This is the only bar in Milwaukee I make sure to visit every time I am in town. Perfect local bar feel with a well curated beer list, both tap and packaged.
May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.57 by A_Rad from Wisconsin

Apr 21, 2017
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.9/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Comfortable bar with outside patio seating. Great tap selection and "cellar". Sports and news on the multiple big screens, but this is not a sports bar. Owner Mike will point out that he runs a full service bar that features craft beer. Great guy to talk beer with too.
Aug 06, 2016
 
Rated: 1 by JacksonSmith from Wisconsin

Dec 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.32 by BigBadBeerSnob from Wisconsin

May 25, 2015
Photo of Bshaw22
Reviewed by Bshaw22 from Wisconsin

4.24/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5
Place has great beer. Kind of a weird vibe w/ wood on the walls and chincy tables. Owner knows a lot of stuff but can be a bit crass. Don't look for a whole lot of conversation unless your his bro.
The Beer is the main thing though and it keeps me coming back.
Mar 13, 2015
Photo of Steady_eddie1
Rated by Steady_eddie1 from Michigan

4.23/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Anyone remember when Webb's was down the street?
Feb 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.76 by je1129 from Iowa

Jan 27, 2015
Photo of MKE_b33r_n00b
Rated by MKE_b33r_n00b from Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Bartender can be cantankerous but best beer selection!
Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by thelambicbasket from Wyoming

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.32 by Pukey2k2 from Wisconsin

Nov 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Fireslayer from Wisconsin

Oct 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Stezz420 from Illinois

Oct 03, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Alpar from Wisconsin

Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by WiscoHabsFan from Wisconsin

Jul 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by MilwaukeeBeerMaker from Wisconsin

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by BarrelAgedG from California

Jul 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.8 by Eman17 from Illinois

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by WesMKE from Wisconsin

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by bowzer4birdie from Illinois

Jul 11, 2014
Photo of robear
Reviewed by robear from Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
Atmosphere- nicely designed clean bar with a patio. In a nice part of St. Francis. Can't think of any reason why I wouldn't want to go drink a beer here. Romans himself is a jovial fellow who loves talking beer. As long as you bring your craft beer chops, you'll be fine.

Quality- no shitty beer here. Even good borderline beer (Spotted Cow) doesn't get a handle here. If you don't feel like looking up taplists but want to be guaranteed 10-12 awesome beers and a few more pretty good ones, Romans' is your stop.

Service- If you're at Romans' drinking a beer, then Romans' himself poured you that beer. Can't beat that.

Selection- Well curated. I'd love it if he had 50 taps, because I know he wouldn't put anything he didn't approve of on any of them.

Value- yes. You'll get great beer at a good price.

Romans' isn't your typical bar. It's well-lit and clean. If you're looking for a place to take a frat house or a bachelor party, this isn't it (although I have the feeling he might say ok to a craft beer drinking bachelorette party...)
May 24, 2014
Photo of JayCheG
Reviewed by JayCheG from Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
If you are looking for a laid back environment to enjoy awesome beer this is the place to go. If you are looking to rage I recommend looking elsewhere because Mike, the owner, makes it abundantly clear this is not the place for that. The beer is awesome and there is always something good to drink. Mike knows his beers and goes to great lengths to make sure that he is getting his customers the best beer he possibly can and that they are drinking at the right time. It is my understanding that this is one of the first bars in the area and the interior is almost unchanged which provides a great environment to enjoy those great beers. If you consider yourself a beer aficionado or an aspiring beer geek with a good attitude check this place out!
Apr 01, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by GregHicks from Wisconsin

Feb 22, 2014
Photo of hansenm72
Reviewed by hansenm72 from Texas

4.8/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Mike, the owner, is actually a really great guy and more knowledgeable about beer than anyone else I've met. When it gets busy and he's the only one behind the bar, maybe he can come off as a bit short but I've had nothing but great experiences there. They also have never hesitated to let me try a beer before committing to a full glass. I love the place and go there every chance I get.
Feb 12, 2014
Photo of Nemers
Reviewed by Nemers from Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
Best beer in the City of Milwaukee. Lines are cleaned almost weekly to keep the beer tasting great. The owner knows his beer and the menu is constantly changing. Only gripe is that the bar is a bit small. This place is a must on any beer enthusiasts list.
Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jnoff78 from Wisconsin

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by DersOne from Wisconsin

Nov 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by TheRealPour from Illinois

Oct 30, 2013
Photo of atone315
Reviewed by atone315 from Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.75
My opinion of this place has changed (for the better) over the years. My first experience with Mike (Roman) really clouded my view of what is a pretty sweet beer bar. One of the best in Milwaukee, in fact. Always 6-10 solid choices on tap and a few more sprinkled in, there is something for everyone. Unless you drink BMC, get the f@*& outta here if you want that. Mike can be a "beer nazi" but if you know your stuff, you are all good. If you have never been, make plans to get here.
Oct 16, 2013
Photo of coldriver
Reviewed by coldriver from Texas

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Visited on the afternoon of June 27th. With Milwaukee's Summerfest going on the rather small place was almost empty. That was okay, because we got the owner's (Mike Roman) nearly full attention as he patiently explained the local beer selections to us out-of-staters. Must say he was spot on with his recommendations! Mike obviously takes his beer very seriously, with a fantastic tap selection and impressive glassware. He's somewhat of a dichomoty because he's not what you'd expect such a meticulous craft beer bar owner to look like (pardon the profiling here) - in fact he looks more like someone you'd expect to see hanging out with your dad in a bowling alley after a hard day driving a steamroller. Don't mean that in a bad way, he's a friendly dude who loves great beer and sharing his love for beer with his customers which makes him the best kind of bartender in my book. He does not serve food.
Jul 01, 2013
Photo of DrDom
Reviewed by DrDom from Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
What's not to like. Great assortment, interior is true to it's original heritage. Mike Romans, the proprietor, is as friendly as they come and makes the whole experience fun and interesting. He knows how to properly pour a beer, and has proper glassware for the products he pours. I found it interesting that on the night we were there, the customers included a couple of other bar owners. That's usually a sign of a great place. Never had to wait or ask twice when we needed refills, or wanted to try something different. Highest recommendation.
Jun 11, 2013
Photo of crossovert
Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -14.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Stopped in this place after the Palm tavern on a Wednesday night. The bar was full but the rest of the small place was empty. Unlike the Palm this one has a bright sports bar vibe but with some old school Milwaukee traits thrown in.

The bartender is a friendly guy. Also drinks on the job which I respect. The music is sort of loud and sort of crappy. The vie in this place could be better.

The beer list though is amazing. There was a Fullers "hand pull" which I had and it was good. Also a nice variety of craft on tap, nothing extremely out of the ordinary, just a solid list. The prices were reasonable.

Overall a great stop on this road with many.
Dec 15, 2011
Photo of Mscarpen
Reviewed by Mscarpen from Tennessee

4.74/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
What a fantastic bar! When you go out in Milwaukee and ask around, this is where the local bartenders will tell you THEY go to drink. Turns out it's true. In fact, last night I even met a local beer distributor who had chosen belly up to the Romans bar. The proprietor, Mike Romans, is simply a cool dude and is 90% of the reason I love this place. He strikes a beautiful balance between old-school Milwaukee barkeep and beer nerd. There is nothing fancy about the Bay View watering hole, but once you get inside you will quickly discover why those who "know" come here. Old school service, a great beer selection, and a fun crowd
Oct 11, 2011
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

4.94/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Went back here yesterday and luckily the owner, Mike, was bartending. Not only did we get rare treats such as Sierra Nevada Juniper Black Ale, but we got to enjoy a good measure of Milwaukee humor - dry, biting, and loads of fun. They have a nice beer garden that complments the coziness of the pub itself. Mike is the quintessential beer pub owner: knows his beers inside and out, the intricacies of the biz, how to be a first rate bartender and to tie it all together. A real fun place to go to. Already looking forward to a return.
Jun 05, 2011
Photo of duffcalifornia
Reviewed by duffcalifornia from Wisconsin

4.74/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Went to Roman's the other night because it was the one great beer bar in Milwaukee I hadn't been to yet. It's a decent enough sized place - ten or so seats at the bar, some booths and tables, and an outdoor patio that appeared heated in the winter.

First off, the tap selection is great. You can search for it online and see what they have on tap, what's coming soon, and what they have sitting in the cellar. I headed over there because they said they had KBS on tap. Got there, sat down, and chit chatted with the owner Mike who was running the bar. Had a ~8oz pour of KBS for $8.50 just before the keg kicked. Besides the KBS, there's a wide selection of American craft brews (JP, Founders, Tyranena, "No Spotted Cow - not now not ever", Bells), Belgians, and German beers. For a Friday night, it was easy to walk in at 11p and get a seat at the bar. Not too loud or too crowded.

Mike was super helpful talking to other patrons about various beers, and beers were almost always poured into an appropriate style glassware.

If Roman's serves food, I wasn't made aware of it.

A pretty cool place, if a bit out of the way. Will definitely be going back.
Mar 28, 2011
Photo of MarcatGSB
Reviewed by MarcatGSB from Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Great place. Not an overwhelming amount of taps, but very well thought out and had a great variety. The price for the taps was just right, and I enjoyed the place greatly. Definitely a mid-west style bar, with a few TV's, small maybe 8-12 seat bar, with booths on the side. Seems like a great local bar, and the owner is there most of the time, so can learn your name and taste profile. When driving by, be sure to keep your eyes open as you near, because from the outside it resembles a residence. Worth the hunt, you wont be disappointed.
Feb 04, 2011
Photo of drpdaddy
Reviewed by drpdaddy from Wisconsin

4.54/5  rDev +0.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Stopped by with my brother and our wives to check the place out. I had been checking out the tap-list regularly via their web page. I was not disappointed in the selection. All taps are easily visible on a large dry erase board over the bar. There was a great variety of different beers, some of which I hadn't tried. The place wasn't too crowded and there was ample seating and a large outdoor room for smoking cigars. My overall impression was very favorable except, the restrooms seemed were dilapidated, it was like I was in a third world country.
Jan 04, 2011
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Roman's Pub was originally my first and only choice for a beer bar in MKE. I'm glad I learned about The Sugar Maple and went there first, though! My wife and I liked it better than Roman's.

But Roman's is very good too. 30 taps, with 3 Belgians and 4 Germans among them and the British Fuller's ESB on the beer engine. Selection was very good but not as great as I expected it to be, considering the amount of kudos this place gets.

I felt teased by the "upcoming" brews listed on the menu: Burton Baton, Founders CBS, Avery Samael, North Coast Old Stock '07, Goose Island Bourbon '09... when I asked the very nice bartender (whom I believe was Roman himself) he said those rare brews would not be tapped for months. Why list them already then?

Love the ambience, blue-collar atmosphere, very nice, no hipsters here. Great garden too.

No food, though (too bad). I tried Tyranena HopWhore and Hinterland Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale, both local Wisconsin brews.

Prices were higher than Sugar Maple ($7-$7.50, as opposed to $5-$6), and no happy hour was available that I know of.

I would definitely come back if I were a local, but I favor Sugar Maple.
Oct 04, 2010
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
I'm happy to have finally made it out to Romans' after hearing about it constantly. This place was worth the drive for me. I made my way down to the south side and found the place on a Monday night. I met my cousin there for some Pumking on tap.

Once inside this small house that's easy to miss, you find yourself basically inside a living room. The bar is to the left and covered in massive tap arrays. To the right are benches for drinkers to sit in groups. I saw, through the window behind the bar, the outside lounge which looked nice as well as the back room with more seating available.

It was nice to meet Mike finally who is quite a blast to talk to. Fantastic service! Got a fresh beer in a squeaky clean glass. For a Bell's tulip full of Pumking, $7.50 seemed a little steep considering a 22 oz bottle costs less, but I wasn't about to complain about it considering the great conversation that came with it. That and it's the south (ish) side. It's to be expected.

As for the selection, there was plenty of great beer to be had there. Taps all over the place and bottles behind the bar. I went in knowing exactly what I wanted so I only took a light gander at the selection, but it was something worth coming back for time and time again.

Thanks Mike! Hopefully I'll see you again soon!
Sep 19, 2010
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.51/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Amazing taps. We just left Roman's, and it was easily the best tap selection in Milwaukee (missed Sugar Maple this time around).

Friday night, there was a good crowd, fairly mixed age wise. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the awesome tap selection. I had an '08 vintage Expedition and Third Coast on tap as a nightcap...pretty sweet! Plenty more goodies, too many to choose from, Imperial Brown Goose, Torpedo, Duchesse, and a bunch i'm forgetting. Atmosphere seemed like a standard WI bar at first, yet it was stocked well with beer and cigar aficionados. The stucco walls were covered with an impressive collection of tin beer signs and breweriana. Mike was behind the bar, who was a friendly regular guy. A few booths were opposite the bar, with a few more in back. The only drawback was the smoke, but it was less smoky in the back.

Our experience was as genuine as it gets, and worth seeking out for sure. I regret not stopping at Roman's before, but I always showed up before 5pm when they open. Next time it will be an evening-only affair...

Additionally, Roman's has a "no large groups" policy that reflects the fact they are a tiny place with minimal staff on hand, this ensures equal service for everyone.
Nov 28, 2009
Romans' Pub in Milwaukee, WI
Place rating: 4.52 out of 5 with 59 ratings