Inside all of us, there are two wolves, but today, there were three of us inside The Wolf. Located on North Broadway and East Michigan Street, The Wolf offers an upscale, hipster brunch vibe with warm service and magical eats. The Wolf has a down-to-earth, retro swagger that appeals to millennials with hats and beards. As we walked through the door, we immediately felt at home in the spacious ‘staunt. If you arrive at peak brunch hour, like we did, expect a 30–45 minute wait. However, as luck would have it, seats at the bar opened up after only about 20 minutes. Immediately, we were greeted by our bartender and each of us ordered a drink: Amelia ordered an orange juice ($3), Pearl ordered an iced chai ($5), and Enzo ordered a grape soda ($3). The orange juice was pulp-free and smooth, just like Amelia likes it. She rated it a 9/10. Pearl’s iced chai was creamy, spicy, and super sweet. The pebble ice (similar to MOD Pizza’s) complimented it well. She gave it an 8.3/10. The Wolf, just a year old, still makes grape soda the old-fashioned way. Enzo rated this sizable drink an 8/10 and had four refills. As we waited for our food, we chatted with our wonderful server, Peter, who informed us that The Wolf has been howling since last Black Friday as the newly-opened sister restaurant of Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern, a quaint duplex on Brewer’s Hill. The executive chef Kristen Schwab is a very well-versed chef in the Milwaukee restaurant scene, which Peter explained is very interconnected. You can find her menu items at fine dining experiences all over Milwaukee and on Instagram (@tbone_cooks). Peter also told us that democracy dies in darkness.

We ordered three separate entrees. Amelia ordered the Baja Hash ($22), Pearl ordered the Chicken Banh Mi ($18) and Big Enzo ordered the Big Wolf Breakfast ($18). When our food arrived, the first thing we tried were the potatoes. They were cracked. The potatoes were roasted in the oven, then smashed, then fried, then seasoned. Amelia’s dish, the Baja Hash, featured seasonal squash, poblano, chorizo, onion, cabbage, Baja Sauce, cilantro, queso fresco, sunny-side-up eggs, and WOLF’S BLOOD! The dish was the perfect amount of spice and creaminess; it truly was PACKED with flavor. Amelia thought the dish was absolutely breathtaking, considering it took her breath away as she scarfed it down. This delectable dish scored a 9/10 for Amelia. Pearl’s dish, the Chicken Banh Mi, was beautifully constructed on a brioche bun. The cross-section of fried chicken thigh, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro, and fish sauce aioli made a very impressive sandwich. The immediate freshness paired with the creaminess of the aioli and the savory juicy chicken was drool-worthy!! With the heavenly potatoes on the side, this dish scored a 9.3/10 for Pearl. Enzo’s good-old-fashioned breakfast meal was refined yet classic. It consisted of two scrambled eggs, three strips of bacon, two slices of toast, and the delectable aforementioned house potatoes. While the eggs were a little runny for his taste, Enzo enjoyed the freshness and quality of all the ingredients involved. This deluxe rendition of a classic American breakfast scored a 9/10 overall, although the price was a little steep.

The food was certainly a huge highlight of our experience, but the service and community at The Wolf made our brunch a truly memorable experience. In our opinion, it is worth paying the extra money to support a local business with high-quality ingredients and service. Not only was the service exceptional, but the owner, Wolfgang Schaefer, clearly is passionate about the work he does. After our meal, we had the chance to ask him what sets The Wolf apart from other restaurants. He said, “Everybody who walks in the door, you gotta treat like a regular. Every first-timer is gonna become a regular if you do that.” His approach to customer service is noteworthy, and we have plans to visit The Wolf’s other locations soon. Considering the high-quality food, the friendly staff, and the comfortable and casual atmosphere, we gave the Wolf a final rating of 9/10. If you want to get roasted, smashed, fried, and seasoned, hit up The Wolf. Signing off, this is Enzo, Pearl, and Amelia. Spread peace and love.