Milwaukee Delicatessen Company

A coworker and I had this delivered for lunch today (through The Bike Waiter). We both got the roast beef sandwich with a side of German potato salad. I also got a cup of soup, spicy fish and pork miso. My coworker was displeased with her sandwich, stating the au ju tasted like water, which was surprising due to all the visual herbs in it. My review was to the same tune. The soup was extremely oily; although the noodles and vegetables were nice, the pork was very dry. In the end the oil was too much and I had to stop eating it. The sandwich. I first want to say thyme is my favorite herb, but it was extremely heavy handed on this sandwich. The culprit? The onions, which weren’t even caramelized. The worst part? It wasn’t even fresh thyme, it was dried. Onions are my favorite food and I had to take them all off, the amount of thyme was inedible. The sandwich was fairly bland overall. It was better tasting chilled but still not something worth $ 10. The German potato salad was bland and the texture was unpleasant.
The reviews are so good here, I’m extremely let down. I will not be eating here again even though I fear I may be missing out on delicious pizza. I was truly disappointed today.

Kc corned beef and the original corned beef are the items me and my fiancé ordered. Kc corned beef was pretty good. On the sweeter side due to the coleslaw. Original corned beef was a little too mustardy for our liking. Next time will definitely order the pizza. Huge slices and looked delicious from what I could see on other tables. Nice downtown location and good atmosphere.

An interesting combination of bar and deli, MDC offers a small selection of sandwiches, pizzas (huge — a single slice will do you) and ginormous calzones in a cozy, post industrial setting. As an added bonus, they have a great bourbon selection for a place of this size, and the owner John is often there hustling and attentively keeping things flowing.

Great ambiance. The perfect city neighborhood bar. Laid back, great service, & tasty food. Plus they have carry out, which will come in handy after long work days. So glad I tried this place.

While reading this review, please keep in mind that I have only been here one time and my order was served to-​go. With that in mind let us proceed!
First and foremost, the food was a clear 4 out of 5 stars! We ordered four items: The Milwaukee Reuben, The Roast Beef & Cheddar sandwich, a slice of pepperoni, mushroom, and black olive pizza, & lastly a healthy slice of red velvet cake.
Starting with the sandwiches, they were both excellent, the meat was of high quality & both sandwiches were bursting with flavor. If I had to choose a favorite among the two, I would choose the Reuben-​it was an easy ⁵⁄₅! My only issue with the sandwich is not the sandwich itself but the side. Although, the German potato salad was not bad it does not come anywhere close to the German potato salad that is served at Werner’s…in my tastebuds opinion.
Moving on to the pizza, I loved the slice & side of ranch that I was served! Apparently, it is the same pizza that is served at Pizza 51, which I have never been to, but after this slice I plan on making the sojourn. The slice was huge considering the cost, which was no more than 5 $-it was bigger and better than a slice from D’Bronx. I always find it an extra nice touch when the ranch is extra yummy, which it certainly is here!
Let’s talk about their homemade pickles for just a second; they are great! Not a ⁵⁄₅ NY deli pickle but easily a ⁴⁄₅ homemade KC pickle!
Finally, I have to sing the praises of the delicious & (also) huge slice of red velvet cake! It was moist, flavorful, and had a cake to icing ratio that would make any red velvet lover happy!
Overall, the food here earns a 4.5÷5. The prices are too expensive (other than the pizza slices) for what you get, if I order a 12 – 15 $ sandwich I want loads of that great corned beef, not just a few slices; thus my value rating is a 2.5÷5. The service here earns a 5/​5, I know takeout can often be difficult for some, but the staff at this restaurant were 100% professional & courteous! The ambiance (given that I was not there too long) appeared to be a ⁵⁄₅ & is enough for me to come back and sit and the beautiful bar and get a drink or two!
For a place that has recently opened, they are doing quite well; and I strongly suggest that other KC Unilocalers (as well as friends & family) come give this place a try! I will, without a doubt, return to the Milwaukee Delicatessen to sit at the bar and perhaps grab a slice and a Reuben! Please do not forget that this review was based on takeout & I believe that totally alters the dining experience!

Our fav neighborhood pub. Friendly and low key. You can actually have a conversation with your mates. Great playlist.
We tend to order a slice, but the sandwiches won’t disappoint. My fav is the meatball.
The building was set to be demolished. Thank heavens John restored it. Hints of the old décor remain. Check out the photo mural on the West wall.

This is a place that we’ve wanted to try for a while. We were impressed walking in. It is a beautiful space. I enjoyed looking at the paintings for sale on the wall and watching the bartender mix up drinks. It had the right number of people… Not so many that it felt crowded, but also not deserted by any stretch.
I ordered a freshly squeezed lemonade and pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. The lemonade tasted watered down. It was disappointing, particularly for $ 3 per glass and $ 1 refills. The sandwich was OK, but the seasoning was odd. It would have tasted better with a BBQ sauce, I think. I wasn’t a fan of the coleslaw. It had a slightly bitter taste to it. I think it would have been better with a bit of sugar and a bit creamier. I liked, however, that the vegetables in the coleslaw were nice and crisp.
The service left something to be desired. When we first arrived, they indicated we should sit at the bar, because none of the tables had been cleaned off (there were at least five empty tables). I got the impression that the staff was put off when we indicated we’d prefer to wait for a table. When our food first came out, we both received cottage cheese instead of cole slaw, although the waiter quickly made it right when she walked by. My husband asked for bacon on his sandwich, but it arrived without.
We were disappointed by this visit, but I’d give them a second chance if I’m in the area. The pizzas looked great coming out of the oven and I’d probably try that next time… It seems strange, however, that a Delicatessen Company should have better pizzas than sandwiches.

Great atmosphere, pizza slice was huge and good. Sides were ok next visit u’ll try sandwich.

This is one of my absolute favorite date spots in KC, and my husband loves it just as much as I do. We spend less than $ 30, generally, unless we hit the craft draught beer menu pretty hard. Even still, their craft beer menu is priced comparably to any with similar selections.
While they do serve Pizza 51 pizza, it is WAY better than in any other location, and just for reference we already love the Pizza 51 on Oak-​this is just WAY better. We love the single slice with 5 toppings for $ 5.99. Quality and quantity is part of the appeal, but the freshness and variety of seriously tasty toppings is the selling point.
If you need a specific recommendation, our favorite 5 are sausage, chicken, jalapeños, pineapple, and cream cheese. Not your thing? Good. More for us. This slice is HUGE. MORE than satisfactory for one person, even big enough to share if you also get one of their freaking fantastic salads. Also huge, and fresh, and proportionately balanced with the base of greens and toppings.
My hubby loves the sandwiches more than I do. They are simple and fabulous, and it’s hard to choose which one to get.
The only choice that’s not hard to make is that you should for sure order the pickle plate filled with at least 5 different pickled things. The best is the green bean.
The staff is awesome, too. Attentive but not pushy or clingy. We love the regular bartender, wish we remembered his name.

Really like the ambiance of this place. Windows abound and It has a nice urban feel, with a great bar and old time pressed tin ceiling. The pizza is great and there is a fantastic upstairs that gives you an excellent view of the entire place. Ive heard they have great sandwiches and I definitely will see how their pastrami stacks up soon. It’s also in a great location-​right around the corner from the old Kansas City club and very close to the downtown library. We need more downtown places like this.

Came here for Happy Hour this week and I don’t recommend. The staff acted like what was on HH was a super secret and didn’t tell us when it was ending, even after confirming which two beers were on special. Yep, that’s right. Only 2 beers on the happy hour menu. They are not trying to cater to those of us who work downtown and want to grab a drink after work.
We were trying to get off the beaten path (namely, P&L) for happy hour but I’d rather go to Bar Louie where they are on their happy hour game!

First trip here with my best friend last week. I love the interior of this place. The ceiling, old tile floors, 2^nd story balcony over the main dining area and bar. All beautiful.
We discussed splitting a piece of pizza, but realizing it’s Pizza 51 we passed because we already know we love it. I had the pulled pork and she had the Ruben. Both were great, flavorful sandwiches! She really liked the German potato salad, but I wasn’t as impressed… only because yellow potato salad with egg always gets my vote.
We’ll definitely be back!

Pizza slices are huge! They do not skimp on toppings.
They have a full bar and the drinks were great. We ordered salad to start with and I wish we had shared those since the plate was overflowing with vegetables.

This place rocks. 5 stars

Great place that has quickly become my go-​to for a quick, convenient meal within walking distance of river market and downtown. My usual order is the pastrami sandwich. Otherwise the turkey panini is also good. Haven’t tried their pizzas but those are on the menu as well. Decent beer list which is one of my major criteria when I’m looking for somewhere to eat.
I can see myself becoming a regular at Milwaukee Deli!

Every time I come back here I wonder why I don’t come every day. «What’s good here?» my friends ask me when I bring them. All of it, I say. Whatever you want. It is delicious.
I get their pizza. It’s Pizza 51 pizza and one slice is big enough to feed my whole loft building (that’s not entirely accurate but it feels that way). Their Rubens are considered one of the best in the city. Their German Potato salad is unbeatable. It’s perfect, perfect comfort food.
The space is marvelous and historic and classy. They have a full bar. They have an excellent menu. It is geared toward more typical lunch time fare although they are open for dinner. They are not open Sundays. My roommate constantly walks over here (we live two blocks away) on Sundays and always forgets they are closed. Lunch times are overflowing with people, especially when it’s nice. Come early to claim a seat! Dinner time is a lot more low key. This is not really a good first date place but more of a just-​watched-​a-​movie-​and-​need-​a-​slice-​of-​pizza-​and-​a-​beer-​at-​a-​classy-​place place. In fact, maybe that’s what I’ll do tonight.

There’s that moment when you walk into any new restaurant or bar and privately wonder, «was this a good decision?,» or «am I going to like this place?»
Answer: definitive yes, yes YES!
1) Friendly staff. the people working really enjoy being here. It’s busy but the bartender is happy and has time to visit, the waitresses are smiling, the cook comes out of the kitchen and she’s got a cool attitude and is in a good mood. I like these people. You can’t fake this kind of atmosphere. Go ahead, try.
2) Food not only came out quick, but, wow, what great pizza. Ordered a sausage and spinach slice that was spectacular. At just over $ 5 I was happy to leave a ten spot for the total.
3) Alas, I had to be somewhere but they had a wonderful selection of fine beers I like and great spirits to boot. This I will return to explore.
And the music… I’m sure it changes but the Bob Wills and Western Swing Pandora channel had me hooked. Great room, the acoustics enough so you can actually chat with someone and hear them. Struck up a conversation with an interesting guy at the bar that lasted a half hour. Walked in a stranger, left feeling like I had way more than a pizza and a glass of water. Definitely returning… probably next Wednesday when I’m usually in KC to play music with friends.
What they’re doing here is way, way more than drinks and food. They’re serving human connection. People there last night mattered. And that, my friends, is priceless.

If Milwaukee Delicatessen Company’s KC Corned Beef isn’t on every best sandwich list in KC, every best sandwich list in KC is wrong.
As I sat looking at the menu, I contemplated the roast beef or the pastrami. Two of my favorite sandwiches. But, my eyes kept getting drawn back to the KC Corned Beef. Normally I am not a huge fan of Reubens or corned beef sandwiches. This sandwich wins on every piece of sandwich perfection.
I like corned beef. I don’t like strong corned beef which steers me away from corned beef sandwiches and makes me not a huge fan. I love the flavor, but I don’t love the flavor still lingering three days later. The corned beef at Milwaukee Delicatessen Company is perfect. You get that awesome taste that makes corned beef unique, but it doesn’t overwhelm. The corned beef is thick cut and you get a decent portion piled onto sandwich bread. I love a good sandwich on simple sandwich bread. Some sandwiches need a different bread, but if a place can pull off yum between two thin slices of bread, they are tops in my book. The sandwich bread is light and fluffy with excellent taste and holds up well to the contents it is hugging in place. It probably helps tremendously that the bread is made by Sasha’s Bakery just a few skips away. As if the yummy corned beef and amazing bread wasn’t already enough, the sandwich is topped with a fantastic slaw. The slaw doesn’t overwhelm the sandwich and let’s the meat shine, but adds that perfect creaminess and a hint of bitterness that comes with cabbage. Finished with some Swiss and just the right smudge of Russian dressing making this sandwich a sandwich lovers dream!
I had the German potato salad with the sandwich. It was simple potatoes with a light vinegar dressing. I was expecting it to be warm being a German potato salad, but being I am not a huge potato eater, that was probably a bad assumption on my part. It was a nice compliment to the sandwich and a welcome change from the standard fries everywhere offers. You can also get cottage cheese, cole slaw, chips, or a salad or soup for a small up charge. The variety of sides available is a huge plus for me! Only one thing that would elevate the potato salad, throw some chunks of the corned beef in it!
I watched as many pizzas went out from the kitchen. Both for patrons dining in and many picking up to go orders. The high volume of pizzas in a sandwich shop makes me want to hurry back and try a slice. It will be hard to pass up the corned beef though.
The staff was absolutely fantastic. I sat at the bar which was busy. The bartender was very attentive while super busy tending to the bar area and fixing drinks for the rest of the tables. What really struck me was that no one really was pigeon holed into a job function. Sure, they probably don’t send the cook behind the bar, but food doesn’t sit in the window waiting for the server. If the servers or bartender is busy, the kitchen staff delivers the food. The chef even stopped after delivering some food and asked how my sandwich was. I love seeing great teamwork like this. It makes me feel like not only is this a place with great food, but a good place to work, somewhere I want to spend my money!
The restaurant is off of the beaten path a bit, but take the time to stop when down for an event. It really is a short walking distance from the many of the theaters and you will not be disappointed.

Kevin’s Excellent Lunch Adventures Continues with… PIZZA!
About 10am my stomach was growling and it was telling me today would be a great day for pizza. So I hopped online and did a little research and found the Milwaukee Deli Co. and boy am I glad I did.
Open the door to an old brick and mortar building to see this place near capacity except for one spot at the bar already set with silverware and menu like they were awaiting my arrival. I took my inviting slot at the bar and scanned the menu for the pizza options. I selected a slice of «Cowtown», their version of a meat combo with pepperoni, Canadian bacon and sausage… a carnivore’s delight!
Now here is the only negative of my experience is that I waited almost 20 – 30 minutes for a slice of pizza. I assume that pizza by the slice is always premade and in a warmer and they just bring it when ordered, but maybe they actually hand make every slice. Not sure and to be honest once it arrived it was worth the wait!
The slice was HUGE (like the size of my head) and loaded with toppings (a solid deal for $ 5.99). The crust was sort of NY style thin but soft and the sauce had great flavor. I did eat the whole thing but it was a challenge!
I would also like to give kudos to the bartender working on this particular day, he rocked! The bar was packed and I never had an empty soda glass nor did anyone else at the bar. He served everyone in a timely manner and with respect. Cheers to you and the Milwaukee Deli for a most excellent lunch!

In the saddest corner of downtown that’s not east of Grand, a fabulous building was saved from demolition and now houses (among other tenants) a pretty awesome little bar and restaurant. Come in and get yourself a beer and a slice, and you’ll be a happy man or lady.
First things first, this pizza is amazing. A slice is definitely a full meal, but they offer full pies if you’re with a group or need props for your home reenactments of your favorite scenes from Se7en. They don’t have a huge variety of pre-​planned slices, but you can always build your own and there are ample toppings to choose from. If you like things that are folded, get a calzone!
Even their non-​pizza food is good. The reuben is what I hear the most about, but i’ve only had a bite. Granted, it was a delicious bite. What I HAVE eaten is their wedge «salad». I Iceberg lettuce with blue cheese AND ranch, plus cucumbers and — get this — just random chunks of roasted meat! See, they take the stubs from their deli meats, chop them up and cook them, then serve them on this salad. It’s amazing. It’s a salad I could actually be excited about eating.
The build-​out is gorgeous and respectful of the building’s history. Lots of carved, dark stained wood. It’s all pretty ornate. Look up. The ceiling sure is pretty. They have an OK selection of beer. It’s better than say John’s Big Deck up the street, but it’s nothing to write home about. Still, for a neighborhood watering hole you could do a lot worse. This is a neighborhood bar for people with jobs, rather than people who smell like pee.
Parking is mostly street, though if you’re looking for something covered, there is a nearby garage that services the library.
There is one area in which I’m a bit grouchy with MDC. When they first opened they advertised that they would be offering limited delivery. We obviously have different opinions of «limited», because while I live less than a mile away, they won’t deliver to me. Turns out their radius is like a block and a half, and they’ll only do it if they’re not otherwise busy. It seems like a major lost opportunity and a disappointment for residents in the neighborhood.