Balzac Wine Bar

4.6

72 Reviews

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Top Tags:

Balzac believes that there is nothing that brings us together more than sharing food. Our kitchen is designed for the preparation of small plates, and to encourage our guests to share. You can expect dishes to arrive fresh, as soon as they are prepared; which means they probably won't show up at the same time. We hope you enjoy the flow of the courses, the evening, and don't forget the wine!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 30, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Wine Bar, Tapas / Small Plates, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(414) 755-0099
Website
http://www.balzacwinebar.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Owned/operated by
Women
Executive chef
Vanessa Rose
Private party facilities
Balzac offers a wide array of catering experiences including, but not limited to:Semi-Private DiningWine TastingsWeddings and Rehearsal DinnersPrivate Brunch PartiesBridal and Wedding ShowersBusiness Dinners

Location
1716 N Arlington Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Neighborhood
Milwaukee
Cross street
N. Arlington between E. Brady and E. Hamilton. Nearest to E. Brady.
Parking details
None
Public transit
Bus Stop at Brady and Arlington.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Wisconsin

Experiences

Wine Tasting
$40.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
If in the app, scroll down for regular reservations. You will sit down with a Sommelier for a tasting of five wines that are selected for your group. It is an intimate experience in a comfortable environment where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the wines. Wine upgrades are available and are detailed below! Select them on the "add-ons" page next. Standard(40pp): Wines we pour by the glass. Premium (45pp): Unique wines are opened and poured specifically for your group. Somm's Picks (75pp): Some of our Sommelier's favorite wines. They average over $100 on our list. Fortified/Dessert (70pp): 5 different styles of world-class, rich styles of wine Please, do not book within an hour of the time of your tasting.
Wine Tasting
$40.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
If in the app, scroll down for regular reservations. You will sit down with a Sommelier for a tasting of five wines that are selected for your group. It is an intimate experience in a comfortable environment where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the wines. Wine upgrades are available and are detailed below! Select them on the "add-ons" page next. Standard 40pp): Wines we pour by the glass. Premium (50pp): Unique wines are opened and poured specifically for your group. Somm's Picks (80pp): Some of our Sommelier's favorite wines. They average over $100 on our list. Fortified/Dessert (70pp): 5 different styles of world-class, rich styles of wine Please, do not book within an hour of the time of your tasting.
Wine Tasting
$40.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
If in the app, scroll down for regular reservations. You will sit down with a Sommelier for a tasting of five wines that are selected for your group. It is an intimate experience in a comfortable environment where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the wines. Wine upgrades are available and are detailed below! Select them on the "add-ons" page next. Standard(40pp): Wines we pour by the glass. Premium (60pp): Unique wines are opened and poured specifically for your group. Somm's Picks (88pp): Some of our Sommelier's favorite wines. They average over $100 on our list. Fortified/Dessert (70pp): 5 different styles of world-class, rich styles of wine Please, do not book within an hour of the time of your tasting.

Board$21.00
Bread & Butter$5.00
Olives$6.00
Eggplant Pate$13.00
Papas Bravas$9.00
Pickle Board$5.00
Sac Mac$8.00
Shaved Brussels Wedge Salad$12.00
Asparagus$10.00
Soup$6.00
Risotto$11.00
Hummus$10.00
Crackers$1.00
Toasted Crostini$1.00
Untoasted Bread$1.00
Gf Rice Cracker$1.00
Full Order Naan$6.00
Half Order Naan$3.00
Stuffed Endive$13.00
Bao Buns$15.00
Serrano$14.00
Pig Goat Sheep Sammy$15.00
Beef Sope$15.00
Salted Caramel Pot de Creme$10.00
Dessert Carry in Fee per person$3.00
Fudge Bar$10.00
Ice Cream$6.00
HH Fries$5.00
Papas Bravas$9.00
Pickle Board$5.00
Small Wedge Salad$5.00
Soup$6.00
Olives$5.00
Fried Cornichons$5.00
Prix Fixe Food$30.00
Prix Fixe Wine$20.00

What 72 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Wisconsin
Romantic
Milwaukee
Healthy
Milwaukee
Romantic

Sort by

OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
So much great food. Loved. Great start to girls night.
MP
MonaP
Milwaukee
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food3service3ambience3
This is the third time I've dined at Balzac. The first two times were several years ago and the food was outstanding! I was disappointed with the food this visit. Except for the mac n cheese, the food was mundane. I felt a little ripped of with the bread and butter: five thin slices of baguette and a huge puck of butter.
NJ
NJTW
Phoenix
15 reviews
vip
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
This is mainly a "small plate" restaurant. Dishes are meant to be shared. We all found something we liked and enjoyed our meal. Small plates are not my favorite dining style. However, we had an enjoyable evening. Our table was ready on time and the service was really great.
AG
AnnG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our table server was very good and attentive. Food was tasty. Decadent risotto. Our Argentinian caberbet was excellent as well. I'm not a local, but I'd go back if I had the chance.
TG
TosaGirl74
Milwaukee
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Despite being sold out of a few of the items on the menu when we arrived after 5:30pm on Mother's Day, we had another exceptional experience at Balzac. Our waiter, Tom, was friendly, funny, knowledgeable and all around awesome. Our food was excellent, from the coq au vin bao buns to the olive oil cake. And the drinks and wine were outstanding. We will definitely be back!
TB
TerB
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food2service5ambience5
Love the vibe and service but the food has become so salty the last couple of years you can’t even eat it. Sadly we won’t be back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Lovely, great service & atmosphere - they run a lot of specials on wine and have a fab happy hour that is great
JH
JillH
Milwaukee
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and wine! Especially love that ability to find great menu items with gluten free options. The beet charcuterie was FANTASTIC!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Detroit
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
After not going to Balzac since the pandemic began, we returned last night and had our usual wonderful experience there. On Tuesday night, it was not at all crowded which suited two late-seventies seniors who don’t want to get Covid an extra level of comfort.
G
Goat
Milwaukee
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was excellent. Wine selection was broad with interesting options although bottle prices were hefty.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
There were 4 of us and we ordered almost everything on the menu. It was absolutely the right move.
A
Anon
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tom was an absolutely amazing sommelier and made the experience an absolute blast. Would definitely do a tasting again!!
LG
LeslieG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We did the wine tasting and it was fantastic! The sommelier was very knowledgeable! This was a surprise for my friend and I found out she was pregnant the day of and the Balzac was very kind and accommodating!
M
Mick
Milwaukee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall4food3service3ambience5
The wine list used to be better. The recent menu changes didn't have much interesting on it. The cheese board was much better the last time I dined there with homemade crackers. The multigrain crackers didn't go as well with the cheeses I selected. We were also looking forward to some kind of steak dish and there was none to be found.
KG
KyleG
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went here for my fiancé’s birthday. She’s a wine person and I’m typically not but all of the wines we had at our tasting was outstanding as well as the food. Very welcoming, laid-back atmosphere and kind staff. We’ll be back again!
PZ
PamZ
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
Great food, delicious mocktails (The reason we went). One suggestion is to list pictures of food in the menu. With their unique food choices/presentations it would really help to make a decision on food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Was great to be back! Haven’t been to Balzac with my wife in quite some time. Loved it! Can’t wait for the patio in back to open up!
AS
AlexandriaS
Milwaukee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience5
Had a great night as this is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. My couple tidbits of feedback. The pace of the food was a little fast for me. Maybe I am just a slow eater, but I had a hard time keeping up with both food and drink. I like to savor a little more and have time for conversation. Also, wasn't a big fan on the discounts offered to people with 3+ attendees. Other than that I really enjoyed my time and the food was fantastic!
RK
RyanK
Chicago
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 22, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
They have recently updated their menu. It was a struggle to find items on their menu to eat. The green beans, buns, and pork were good. The prior menu I could have ordered the entire menu. They have absolutely destroyed the pot de creme. It is nowhere near what it was. Can't go wrong with half of bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Service was phenomenal!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I love this place. We used to go almost every Friday before kids! Great food and wine!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Me and my friend had a great time yesterday! I been here with my wife many times and we always had a great experience.
M
Melissab
Milwaukee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Food was amazing. Attentive staff. Great selections.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2023
overall4food5service1ambience5
Untrained waiter - watched multiple instances of poor service around us that were cringe worthy. Water spilled on phone - apps dropped - not understanding how to open wine. Otherwise it’s a great place
D
Disappointing
Milwaukee
6 reviews
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience2
Food was disappointing. I made reservations far in advanced and asked for a private table and got the exact opposite- a very small table for 2 in the middle of the restaurant between other parties. Cocktail was good! But the food was just ok for the hype. Salad was very overdressed (which they comp’d us for) and they were out of the specials. Cute decor but not our favorite. Service was just ok, nothing special.
S
Seank
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing and had a decent variety. Drinks tasted good. Wait staff was very supportive. 10/10 would go again.
M
Miller74
Des Moines
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
This was a fun place for a date night with my wife. Good wine selection, small plate foods were good, and our waiter and hostess were friendly, fast, and had good recommendations. We will be back.
LD
LDRN
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is great, drinks are great, and it’s pretty affordable for a nicer dinner!
BP
BriceidaP
Milwaukee
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2023
overall2food1service3ambience4
Food was mid, service was okay, would not come back
E
Ewbtal
Milwaukee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was awesome. Love the small plates! Really rich and deep flavors throughout. Especially loved the duck Bao buns. Also, the mushrooms were to die for our server was cheerful, attentive, and wonderful.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Always a good place for a glass of wine and some tasty treats!
KS
KarmenS
Milwaukee
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 3, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
We were excited to return to Balzac after it being a few years since we visited. The ambiance and service were both as great as ever. I was a bit disappointed by the limited menu. The bread and butter was not my favorite as the butter had an off taste to it. The Sac Mac was greasy and lacked flavor. It was an unfortunate update to their previous iteration. The blue cheese Brussel sprout salad was unique and delicious. The mushroom soup was tasty. We ordered the olive oil cake and it was inedible. It almost tasted foul and completely over salted. There is no way it was presented the way it was meant to taste. We will try it again as we have always loved it there but this fell short in comparison to other visits. Service was proficient and professional so hoping it was just an off night.
CT
CT2WIS
Milwaukee
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
We really enjoyed our evening at Balzac: the ambience was cool; the service was excellent; and the food was also very very good — especially the potatoes, bao buns with pork, and mushrooms — but the Brussels sprout salad was too salty and the pork broth was not a favorite. Will be back.
J
Jamie
Charleston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service and food was amazing! I loved getting to try more of the menu with the small plates and the non alcoholic drinks were delicious! I would definitely recommend Balzac for unique food and great service and ambiance!
PJ
PeterJ
Milwaukee
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience5
Great atmosphere for New Year’s Eve. But food was substandard, especially given the price of the prix fixe dinner. All dishes Luke warm, for instance. Pasta rock hard etc
EM
EaMilwaukee
Milwaukee
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on December 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The wine tasting with Tom the Somm and following meal were great! V is one of the best chefs in Milwaukee!
M
Misha
Jacksonville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We randomly decided to stop in for a couple of glasses of wine and a few small plates and ended up thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We got the charred green beans and papas bravas, both were phenomenal. The music selection was great and overall the ambience was classy yet cozy. So excited to come back sometime soon!
EA
EmilyA
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Balzac is our absolute favorite place in Milwaukee. The wine list is always exciting, and the service is wonderful. Food is also fantastic. Cannot recommend enough!
JS
JeremiahS
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The ambiance was wonderful here. Was a very romantic and enjoyable setting. Was a stormy winter week night, so very few people were there. Staff and food were great
c
cathdav
Milwaukee
146 reviews
vip
4.0
146 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
We enjoy Balzac and have been a number of times. Wine list is fantastic and we always enjoy small plates that are ver creative.
MS
MattS
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Simply delightful. Updated menu has been outstanding

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Balzac Wine Bar is rated 4.6 stars by 72 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 30, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

1716 N Arlington Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
N. Arlington between E. Brady and E. Hamilton. Nearest to E. Brady.
Neighborhood
Milwaukee
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
Cuisines
Wine Bar, Tapas / Small Plates, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
None
Public transit
Bus Stop at Brady and Arlington.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Women
Executive chef
Vanessa Rose
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.balzacwinebar.com/
Phone number
(414) 755-0099
Private party facilities
Balzac offers a wide array of catering experiences including, but not limited to:Semi-Private DiningWine TastingsWeddings and Rehearsal DinnersPrivate Brunch PartiesBridal and Wedding ShowersBusiness Dinners

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Wisconsin

Balzac Wine Bar

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Wisconsin

Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting

Food

Board$21.00

Bread & Butter$5.00

Olives$6.00

Eggplant Pate$13.00

Papas Bravas$9.00

Pickle Board$5.00

Sac Mac$8.00

Shaved Brussels Wedge Salad$12.00

Asparagus$10.00

Soup$6.00

Risotto$11.00

Hummus$10.00

Crackers$1.00

Toasted Crostini$1.00

Untoasted Bread$1.00

Gf Rice Cracker$1.00

Full Order Naan$6.00

Half Order Naan$3.00

Stuffed Endive$13.00

Bao Buns$15.00

Serrano$14.00

Pig Goat Sheep Sammy$15.00

Beef Sope$15.00

Salted Caramel Pot de Creme$10.00

Dessert Carry in Fee per person$3.00

Fudge Bar$10.00

Ice Cream$6.00

HH Fries$5.00

Papas Bravas$9.00

Pickle Board$5.00

Small Wedge Salad$5.00

Soup$6.00

Olives$5.00

Fried Cornichons$5.00

Prix Fixe Food$30.00

Prix Fixe Wine$20.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is Balzac Wine Bar restaurant rated?

Is Balzac Wine Bar currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Wisconsin