Local's Favorite: Sobelman’s for Burgers & Bloody Marys

Dave and Melanie Sobelman founded the original location in 1999 in a historic Schlitz tavern in what was otherwise an industrial part of town. The fantastic burgers led to the restaurant gaining a cult-like following. After opening two more locations, the restaurant shows little sign of slowing down.

The Neighborhood

There are three Sobelman’s locations, two in Milwaukee and one in Mequon. The original location on St. Paul makes for a great destination given the history of the building, though there is not much else in the area.

For a delicious beer before or after, though, there is an excellent microbrewery a short walk away, Third Space Brewing. The other location in Milwaukee is on Marquette University’s campus, which basically has two campus bars to choose from, Murph’s and Caffrey’s Pub. The Mequon location has a spacious bar, making it a one-stop destination.

Sobelman’s Famous Bloody Mary’s

Although Sobelman’s makes tasty cocktails and offers an extensive beer menu, they excel at providing not only delicious but also really creative Bloody Marys. Try The Common Mary, which comes with typical garnishes in addition to a cheeseburger slider.

For something to share with a whole group, and just one of the things that have made Sobelman’s famous, go for The Bloody Beast, which comes with standard garnishes, and a whole fried chicken which seems to be made for Instagram-worthy photos.

Sobelman’s Burgers & Food

The burgers at Sobelman’s are outrageously good, but if looking for another choice, the chicken sandwiches, wraps, and the fish fry are also well done. No visit to Sobelman’s is complete without trying at least one of their appetizers. The wings are excellent. You get six boneless or bone-in wings with a variety of sauce options. Even better is the unusually named Bacon Cheese Crack, which is basically deep-fried bites of cheese and bacon, and yes, they are as awesome as they sound.

There are numerous burger options to choose from, some pretty standard while others get really creative. A must-try is The Sobelman, which comes with a combination of American, swiss, and cheddar cheeses, fried onions, diced jalapenos, and is topped with bacon. For something a little more unusual, try the Al Pastor, featuring habanero cheese, caramelized onions, pico de gallo, and al pastor meat from El Rey, a nearby Mexican supermarket and restaurant. Another tasty option is the Dino, topped with feta and a Kalamata olive spread. All burgers include fries or can be upgraded to include sweet potato fries, tater tots, onion rings, or cheese bites.