The Diplomat

“Divine experience. Chill vibe of being in a library in someone’s manse. Warm woods, eclectic decor, coupled with sublime fare. High recommend!”

“I generally have a rule about not ordering chicken the first time I try a new restaurant. It just doesn’t feel that special, and frankly, it’s not the best way to let a restaurant’s skill really shine. If ever that rule should be turned on its head, though, it’s at The Diplomat. When I saw their chicken was priced above the New York strip, I thought: that’s a bold claim—and one worth testing. The Knife and Fork Chicken, currently priced at $72, is exquisite. First, it should be said upfront: it’s enough food to feed two people. Second, it is just that good. I don’t know what they do to make it so ridiculously delicious, but it’s phenomenal. The whole dish has a way of warming your soul like a Thanksgiving dinner. I highly recommend this for a date night. Split between two people, the price isn’t outrageous at all.”

“Amazing food AND drinks! Lots of unique house made infused liquors. We had the Oeuf en Meurette, Diplomat fries, Haystack parsnips, and the Diplomacy burger - all amazing but the Oeuf was my favorite. Prices are on the higher end but the plates are made to be shared and the food is absolutely top notch. One of the best gourmet restaurants I've ever been to. The bartender, Sam, also great! Fun to talk to and very knowledgeable on all the menu items and various specialty drinks. Will definitely be going back and highly recommend!!”

“The I Like It Okar (Whiskey grape cocktail) was different but very good. The Salt Cod hashbrown was deliciousz And that dill lemon tartar sauce could have been eaten by the spoonful! The deviled eggs were also fantastic with the extra dill. The Diplomac, an elevated take on a Big Mac was very good! It was very juicy and loaded with thousand island and pickles. The highlight though was definitely dessert. The chocolate mousse was fantastic! It was salty, sweet, and creamy with great texture from the nuts and dusting on top and the salted whipped cream. I also liked the brownie pieces in it. The peanut butter pie was smooth, thick, and topped with fantastic caramelized bananas. This is one of my new favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. I’m definitely coming back for the knife and fork chicken!”

“The Diplomat has been on our list of places to try, so when our friends suggested a night out and picked this spot, it felt like a bonus. One of the reasons I was especially excited was all the hype surrounding the Diplomac Burger. Ironically, it wasn’t the best thing we had that night. Food: We started with craft cocktails. The Diplomanhattan for her and the Wisconsin Old Fashioned for me. Both had great flavor profiles, generous pours, and easily lasted the entire meal. The menu is entirely tapas-style, so we ordered items meant for sharing. We chose a mix of starters and entrees, which arrived in a typical staggered order. Our selections were the Haystack Parsnips, Onion Salad, Diplomac Burger, and the Knife & Fork Chicken. Everything was excellent with one small exception, the Diplomac Burger. It may have been because we cut it into four pieces, so you lose the satisfaction of picking it up and taking a big bite. For me, it also came down to the meat-to-bread ratio. I’ve had many excellent Milwaukee burgers without the extra middle bun, and I’m also not a big fan of shredded lettuce on a burger. That said, the item that completely stole the show was the Knife & Fork Chicken. It’s fully deboned, spatchcocked, and pan fried in cast iron. Absolutely fantastic. I wish I had left more room, because the portion was generous and I would have happily eaten more. The accompanying sides were all noteworthy as well, especially the biscuits with honey butter. You would think we were completely stuffed, but then we saw Peanut Butter Pie being served to another table. That sealed it. We ordered one to share between three of us. Just enough to satisfy our sweet tooth. Service: Service throughout the evening was excellent. We were seated promptly and set up with waters. Our server checked in early, walked us through the menu, and patiently answered our many questions. The pacing between courses was spot on, and the two-plus-hour meal flew by. Thanks to Anna and the rest of the team for taking such good care of us. Atmosphere: It’s not a large space. You enter into the bar area, where the bartender was quick to greet us. The bar itself is spacious enough to comfortably enjoy a full meal. The dining room is through a separate doorway. Lighting was subdued without being dark. The restaurant was about half full, and the noise level stayed reasonable. The interior design leans European, with dark wood, intimate seating, and distinctive wall art. An excellent experience overall. This one is definitely on our list to return to. Next time, I would start with the Knife & Fork Chicken and take it from there.”