McGillycuddy’s Bar and Grill

I have not eaten here, so this review is purely about the nightlife. I would definitely say this place draws a younger crowd (people in their 20’s) and gets pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.
That being said, I did not have to wait in line to get in and once in, there is a gorgeous outdoor patio with plenty of space to drink, dance and socialize. The inside appeared to be more crowded/​congested with people so I am not sure if this would be my top place to go in the winter, but when it is nice out, it is definitely worth stopping by if in the Water Street area!

A big bro bar with a lot of drunk frat looking guys. there was a constant security presence that could be both good and bad, perhaps a sign of constant trouble. the security guy I asked said they are there to prevent trouble. There was a large screen for sports that nobody was watching in the back part of the bar and the front of the bar was packed. This place seems pretty cool if you want to be around some young bros who may be a bit overserved. the female presence in this bar was negligible.

I went here as of last night around roughly 11:00 upon arriving and walking in the door I was denied entry by a very rude and unhappy bouncer for having my sunglasses on personally appalled by the way I was treated and spoke too purely won’t ever go here again to spend any of my money and I hope others won’t either because manners are paramount in a family owned business situation no matter the amount I may have spent a customer is a customer and sunglasses as a basis of grounds for not letting me into a bar is incorrect and wrong

As you can see, I posted this review on Saturday night. Within 24 hours, I had someone send me a direct message, claiming to be a customer on line behind me, and denying that he worked at, or for the bar, yet he seemed to know what happened all too well. He attacked me with derogatory comments and very aggressive and abusive language. This confirms exactly what I previously posted, and only makes the bar look that much worse. So if you make the decision to go here, keep your expectations for good service and a positive encounter to a minimum. You can expect to be treated very poorly, while being insulted. But hey, at least no one will be wearing flat-​brimmed caps, but you never know what they be carrying in their unsearched bags.

This place overall wasn’t bad. It was a quick stop – just a few drinks and appetizers before a show at The Rave but it was decent. I ordered a Smithwick’s and was surprised to find and «Irish» bar (though, c’mon, it’s really not) didn’t even have it. But, hey, can’t win ‘em all! The appetizers we got were actually very very good. Very delicious. And odd-can’t forget that. I have honestly never seen chicken waffle slider or pretzel brat skewers at any restaurant… EVER. It was cool. And the prices?! Outstanding! For 4 beers and 2 appetizers, a total bill of $ 18? How do you complain with that?! If I’m back in the area, I would definitely check this place out again, no doubt.

We walked in, were told to find our own table in which we sat for twenty minutes waiting to be served. No one came around at all to check if we needed anything. We finally just got fed up and walked out.

I have been going to McGillicuddy’s for about a year and recently had the worst experience and will not be going back. After going to the bar with a few Puerto Rican friends, all of age the bouncer told my Hispanic friend that there was no way he was going to let her in because she had a Puerto Rican legal ID. He also told her to go pay her taxes. She is a legal citizen and does pay taxes but that does not excuse the racism and ignorance he displayed as a reflection of McGillicuddy’s.

Not my style. Lots of drunk 20-​somethings, especially on weekends. The patio is nice though. I usually just get take out from here, which is pretty decent. (The stars are pretty much just for the food.)

Love the outdoor patio. Unfortunately it doesn’t make up for the racist and homophobic owners/​managers. Wouldn’t let my friend in because he was carrying a bag that was equivalent to the size of most of the women patron’s purses. Will find any excuse not to let black people in: wearing sunglasses, white t-​shirt, sports jersey, tennis shoes… seriously. This establishment should not have a dress code like its some sort of fancy restaurant. It’s a dang ratchet sports bar. So your dress code is clearly your legal way of not letting black folks in. Oh. And they play music that hasn’t been relevant since the early 2000s and isn’t good enough to be considered classic. If you just turned 21 and you’re a straight white male, this place is perfect! For anyone else, go somewhere else.

Descriptive phrase: fratty sports pub.
I agree with others that McGillycuddy’s Bar and Grill is the epitome of a Water Street bar: large enough to cram hundreds of drunks in at once, plenty of TVs, music/​sound too loud, wild temperature fluctuation, passable pub food, overpriced drinks. It’s kind of Irish, in that Milwaukee is kind of part of Canada. I will say, that the service we had was friendly and accommodating. We came for a Badger basketball game and it was fine for that time but I wouldn’t return. Not my jam.

To end my day trip in Milwaukee, my friend took us out-​of-​towners to McGillycuddy’s to meet up with her hometown friends and watched the March Madness game that Wisconsin was playing against UK. It was a great atmosphere, everyone seemed like they were having a blast. We stood around the very back of the bar (outside tent) and it was pretty spacious. I did not like how people were smoking INSIDE the tent. Granted, it was the outside part of the bar but it was still a tent, there was so much smoke at one point and I hated it so much. We were lucky enough to find street parking nearby and I think it is free after a certain time. So definitely, this is a good place to go to if you have a big group of friends that want to watch the game.

Wasn’t too busy when we went on a Friday night. Female bartender was friendly but we didn’t see her do much work. The male bartender was awesome. My girlfriend asked him to create a shot for us so he just put something together. I asked if they had pickle backs and he went and found some pickle juice for us. Great bartender!

My fiancé and I just went here this last Saturday (3÷21÷15) and we were very unhappy with our experience. The bartenders at the front bar (the bar right when you walk in from Water St) were fairly busy, but that doesn’t make an excuse for not serving us (even though we were standing directly in front of the bar) for about 20 minutes. After the 20 minute wait, the male bartender asked what I was drinking, and I replied a Vodka/​Soda for my fiancé and a wheat beer for myself. After telling him this, I assumed that he was going to get our drinks. Nope! He went down to the end of the bar and asked another patron what they were having and preceded to get the drink for that other patron. I’m not sure if he is a complete idiot and forgot that I just ordered drinks from him (5 secs ago) or if he just playing favorites with a regular. Either way, I was not happy. As I told my fiancé that we should leave and never come back, the female bartender finally asked us what we would like. I replied the same, «Vodka/​soda and a wheat beer.» She came back with the drinks and my fiancé said that she couldn’t even taste the vodka and that she wasn’t sure if there was any even in there. We ended up leaving halfway through our drinks because of the shitty service and shitty drinks. Plenty of other options on Water St to put up with this. Never again!

It’s pretty pathetic when the manager of the bar is swinging and trying to fight people… Will never go to this place again… What a joke

«Sausage breakfast sandwich over easy» = over medium with sausage (maple syrup) on the side. Home fries (I don’t think I like them anywhere so this doesn’t count against the rating — but go with the waffle fries). 3d floor is bears games, more friendly, down to earth, and educated crowd on 3. Rated down as the glasses are thick– READ: faux 14 Oz «PINT».

Worst bar in Milwaukee, the owner is a prick.
They discriminate against tattoos, hats, and people of color.
I’ve seen first hand a young man walk in before me (Caucasian) with a flat-​brimmed hat on, and had no hassle. It was also an African American bouncer, who then was going to allow my boyfriend (who is also, African American) in with a flat brimmed hat until the little, stumpy, midget behind him said the hat had to go. Shocked; we questioned it and I offered to take his hat back to the car. The owner told us it didn’t matter once you were denied entry, you were denied for the night.
Great business owner, I gladly take my business elsewhere.

Was removed by the ridiculous staff last night because I was donning my gear I wore to the brewer game which included athletic pants. They whined but let me in but came and hunted me down upstairs 5 minutes later.
My buddy had just ordered a beer so he felt bad to stay to finish. He asked about the rule and wasn’t allowed to leave and harassed by the bouncers.
Completely classless place. Do not go here.

I often start my reviews with the sometimes lame «about ten years ago…» etc. etc. **insert older person story**. For this place though, I couldn’t even say that, because my memories go much farther back.
Before it was the current bar, it was «bayou» (not the former bayou that is now stubbys, this was a different restaurant altogether), before that it was Brooklyn’s, a pizza place I still kind of miss, and before that you’re gonna have to put me in a trance and do some sort of post-​hypnotic suggestion cuz i can’t remember the name of it for the life of me.
But I digress…
Anyhow…
I always think of mcgillicuddy’s as a sort of anchor to water street. Its been around forever, is sort of reliable for what it is, and has a pretty nice patio. When I was in my twenties, this usually was a stop, and often the final one for the night.
So winding up here at 6 pm on a Tuesday… well, that was a little surreal! The crowd was a mix of younger office workers for after work drinks, a helping of older dudes watching sports, a pinch of out of towners, a smattering of bros, and then us and our groupon.
We had the Irish nachos and I had some baked potato soup. I love baked potato soup, so its hard to screw it up… a little gloopy but I licked the bowl clean so it must’ve been good. The irish nachos were what I’d think. Corned beef, potatoes, cheese… and then… sauerkraut? And jalapenos? A little confusing but it was a’right.
Our server was really sweet though. I’m sure serving food in the early evening on a Tuesday on water is not always exciting but seemed genuinely nice.
So this place is still A-​OK. Not top of my list of anything, but if I’m on water (that phrase is sort of like «when in Rome…») I’ll stop in.

If you are looking for Bro Central, congrats! You’ve found it here. Music is average. Ambiance is bro-​y. Service is average. It’s great that its two levels so you can get away from some of the bros for a bit upstairs. Drinks aren’t anything special. So there you have it average, average, average.
Drinks: ³⁄₅
Service: ³⁄₅
Location: ³⁄₅

This place is really, really not my speed.
I told myself, a little over a year ago, that I would open up. That I would stop being the curmudgeon I can be from time to time, and that I would do my best to abolish any negative, preconceived notions of places and organizations in the hopes that I would pleasantly surprised.
Sometimes, you just don’t like a place, and that’s that. And that’s what this is, folks.
To be honest: McGillycuddy’s is a true Water Street bar in every sense of the word. Kids with flashy new IDs drinking Bud Light Lime and doing bombs, lots of groping/​puking/​general awfulness, mediocre bar food, the ‘meat market’ scene it’s truest form.
Go, if: You’re 21 and really enjoy frat parties. Go if: You’re any age and wish you were still 21 and enjoying frat parties. Otherwise? I wouldn’t bother.