Off the Clock Bar & Grill

Closed? This place ain’t closed.
At least not while I type this at the bar beside a second Guinness & some french onion soup. You owe me a check-​in.
Watch me Live-​Yelp this mo-​fo.
I was just driving by, looking for a place to do some work whilst I eat, & I noticed that the neons were a-​glowin’.
The people strolling about the bar talked a bit about new things & lists & pricing & all that jazz. The bartendress inquired knowingly about a few of the patrons’ children.
I liked the french onion soup. It was fine. The quite pregnant bar lady is now carrying hot wings to my face. I’ll have to try one & sauce up my keyboard.
…break for scarfing…
Hey guys, just got back from a quick hand/​mouth washing in the men’s room. I washed my own hands & mouth. Those wings be saucy. But the real story comes from the old dude I chatted-​up at the sink. He was washing a bit of elbow grease off of his hands left from laboring in the bar’s preparations. You see, today is the first day they’ve opened since the close.
Hot damn. What do you know?
Well, I don’t have much knowledge of any new directions the place is taking because I didn’t ask (looks the same). I was surprised by the once dormant neon signs shining in the window, so I stopped. They didn’t seem to be closed all that long, did they? Two months?
I’ve been here a few times in the past because a solid cool dude worked here, but he ain’t around anymore. The decent bar food & straight forward American Midwest style of the place makes it quite accessible.
You’ll have to ask the workers/​managers/​owners for yourself about the upgrades (overheard mumblings of it while typing). You’ll also have to try some of the many other food options for yourself. They still have their Unilocal sticker in the window, but they seem to be trying some new things. Get at it, Unilocalers.
I hope things work out well.

My husband and I were here for lunch on our recent trip to Milwaukee and it was ah-​mazing! I don’t remember what my husband ordered, but I had the OTC Mac and Cheese, a baked mac and cheese with chicken and poblano peppers topped with plain potato chips. Delicious! I tried to eat it all, but I was sad when I couldn’t because taking food to go is practically impossible on a motorcycle. The atmosphere was nice and I especially liked the blue paneled walls, it was a unique touch. Also, the service was prompt and friendly. I would absolutely recommend Off the Clock Bar & Grill to anyone planning on visiting the area and I can’t wait to go back!

What a great find! Really clean (really really), very friendly and great service.
The burgers are juicy and delicious, if you are feeling adventurous try #10 which is sandwiched between two bacon grilled cheese sandwiches. My husband had the hugest grin while eating it. The sweet potato tots were good too, but I would have liked a spicy dipping sauce.
The Mac and cheese has won awards and deserves them. The OTC Mac was amazing with great flavor and texture, the poblanos were perfect in it.
The only thing I wouldn’t order again was the cheese sticks, I didn’t find them particularly special.
Can’t wait to go back and try the wings!

Was in town for the weekend and stopped here for a quick bite. I was with a group of four and everyone left satisfied. It is obviously a neighborhood joint and the vibe was laid back and welcoming. We were seated right away and our server was attentive and helpful.
They have Fish Fry Friday everyday of the week and you can get your fish blackened, broiled or fried. My buddy went with blackened and he liked it so much he proceeded to talk about it every time we drove by the place for the remainder of the weekend. In my opinion the highlights were the sweet potato tots, the daily special (enchiladas on Thursday), and the overall feel of the place.
My only suggestion would be a bit larger local beer list, but I was happy with the New Glarus. Check it out for some good grub while watching the game.

Great service — appetizers were tasty, good draft selection. The wings are amazing! Very accommodating to our 10 person group as well.
Fair prices too and a good location, with a little parking lot in back.

Out of all the places located on Howell Ave, this is probably going to be the best place to eat. The outside isn’t as much to look at, other than their huge red LED lit sign.
They do have some parking, and obviously street parking as well. Walking into the place, it has an old feeling to it, but it’s inviting. Majority of the seats were filled with patrons enjoying themselves and people watching a few of the following basketball championship games. Immediately, the bartender saw us walking through and greeted us, and walked us to our table. Very friendly bartender.
Our waitress showed up soon after and was very welcoming and got our menus and we ordered our drinks. During our whole night, I could tell she was very attentive and observant when checking out our table without bothering us. I like that, because it’s not being too pushy and she comes by when we do need attention to something.
The menu was one page, front and back and had a lot of interesting food. I wanted to try a lot of their food. It was mainly comfort food you would eat as a kid, but with an interesting twist on things that grab your attention. A whole section on different types of mac and cheese I wanted to try out, but I decided that the Clock Stopper burger was the choice to get. It was described as something I would see on Epic Meal time.
It was a hamburger that had grilled cheese bacon sandwiches as buns. An interesting yet tasty choice. Served with seasoned french fries. They will give you a choice of either fries or a salad.
One thing that strike me interesting was the table cloth. The bottom had some some of soft grey vinyl and then topped with white butcher paper. It worked well, but just never seen vinyl used as a table cloth.
Our order came out in about 15 – 20 minutes in baskets. The clock stopper was just amazing. I felt so fat eating it, yet it was so good. The hamburger patty was very juicy, tender, and flavorful. Fries were cook really well and tasted pretty darn good.
Overall, their food and service was quite good. I will be coming back here if I am ever in the Milwaukee area.

I’m diggin’ it. I stopped here tonight on my way from the airport into downtown. Going off recommendations from the ever-​trusty Colin A., I ordered the OTC mac ‘n’ cheese, which was a tasty blend of their classic mac with chicken, bacon, and poblano peppers. Perfect comfort food for a chilly winter night and just the right portion size to feel full but not stuffed. My husband took a chance and ordered the clock stopper — which is basically a burger between two bacon grilled cheese sandwiches. He gave it a pleased 4 out of 5 stars and says he’d order it again — let’s just hope it doesn’t become a go-​to item and, consequently, an actual clock stopper. Yikes. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was chill. Two entrees, two beers, and a soda = $ 29. Just my style for a casual Thursday night.

Solid bar food just south of Bay View and north of the airport in a homey/​neighborhood-​y atmosphere. Me gusta, Unilocal Milwaukee!
Why do I gusta, you may wonder? Here’s a conveniently concise, numbered breakdown.
1. Great drink specials that rotate frequently… specials actually change based on time of day (Off the Clock, you know? Get it?)
2. A super solid menu all around, from wings to burgers and nachos and wraps.
3. Attentive service yet chill service.
4. Teevees w/​sports! if sports! are on.
I must mention the honey-​Sriracha wings because they’re my freaking JAM, you guys. Sweet, a touch spicy, and cooked so well every single time.
Damn. Now I’m salivating.
I’ve also heard really good things about their brunch, but I’ve not been. I really should make it a priority, because I’ve also heard they have FRESH DO (UGH)NUT HOLES!
Do want.
Verdict: want a burger or some mac ‘n cheese and a pitcher of beer in a chill, laid-​back, pub-​type atmosphere? OTC’s your place!

I’m an out-​of-​towner and needed a place to eat. I searched Unilocal and found several, this place looked the most like a good bar. It delivered. Burger was good, bun was fantastic, and wings were big, juicy, and tasty.
Downside: the music situation is a pay-​to-​play juke box and two young drunk, gleeful lads were on a Ke$ha and Adelle kick. When their dollar ran out, I pumped in $ 3 to get some good bar music going for awhile… but it eventually ran out and and it got uncomfortably boring and quiet in there. I hope the joint isn’t staying afloat through the music machine — add some character and texture with nonstop tunes. Also, the tv’s were out — it looked like the trivia program wasn’t happening, but not something I wanted anyhow.
Oh yeah, free wifi — I’m writing the review using it right now!

Went here for Fish Fry on Friday. I have heard such amazing things about this place from both reviews and friends alike, so I was excited to make it our first Fish Fry stop of the «season».
We were very disappointed. The service was non-​existent. The male bartender barely said two words to us (we drank and ate at the bar) even when we tried to start conversation. The female bartender was more worried about when she could have a cig than helping anyone (she was talking about it constantly and had them in her hands!) She only paid attention to the men there, tell tale sign was the only time she paid attention to our group was when my friends husband arrived after our meal for a drink. Annoying. As a seasoned bartender (about 10 years experience) I noticed they had no idea how to make drinks. Watching them butcher recipes was almost getting to me. I saw them make a White Russian… she made it then put it in a martini shaker and shook it! What??? Yikes… come on here. This is Milwaukee. You can throw a random rock and hit a bartender… hire up.
The food was just alright. Maybe i had high expectations because of all the hype. I had the battered cod and my friend the blackened and we split. Both were just ok. The sweet potato tots were lack luster and far too sweet. she had a side salad that looked like it had sat there for days. No color to any of the veggies from lettuce to tomato. Again, food was not bad, it just wasn’t… good.
Hostess was a very pleasant girl, I want to make sure to mention that. Had a very good grasp on the what seemed to be busy night for them.
I would try it again, but not anytime soon. I would stay far away from the bar and give the waitstaff a chance.

While Milwaukee is certainly not without its fair share of neighborhood pubs, our increased willingness to travel for libations means that watering holes need to have more than Miller Lite and a stool to attract a new generation of regulars. I imagine this was the challenge that ultimately brought down Roberts, though I can’t say for sure because — despite having been aware of its existence for the better part of two decades — I never went in. Perhaps getting my foot in the door was progress enough, though at least some of that credit goes to Unilocal.
Off the Clock is not an overwhelmingly successful restaurant — for example, my chili had way too many tomatoes and the Italian beef, served plainly and with au jus on the side, was too similar in design to the prime rib sandwich to warrant much distinction, but they are clearly making an effort to ensure that everything is made from scratch, and the resulting product is good enough to make me a fan. Besides, how much can you fault a place that has an entire section of the menu devoted to mac and cheese? A burger with two grilled cheeses as buns? A restaurant that understands the pleasures of a really well-​fried sweet potato tot?

What I loved about Roberts was the unique old school atmosphere; the ability to order liver sausage sandwiches, and knowing you were supporting a neighborhood tavern serving home cooked food. We finally ate at Off the Clock and the Rroberts atmosphere still survives. The pub food was very good (love the Big M@c burger), wings were large and had good spice (though we are not a fan of breaded wings). But what really stands out is the excellent service, so rare in our fine city. We arrived 20 minutes before kitchen closing, but the bartender didn’t miss a beat, and treated us like we were the first customers of the day.
I know we’ll be back many times.

Went here for some wings & beers. Wings were good, deep fried and tossed with sauce. They had some unique flavors & the wing size was no joke! The drinks were served cold & fast! Can’t go wrong! See ya soon!

First off let me say that I am definitely not a Cheers kind of guy. I don’t want to go to a bar where everyone knows my name, nor do I aspire to be a «regular» anyplace. That being said, I have probably been in this fine establishment more than in any other bar or restaurant in the last year.
The atmosphere in the bar is bright and cozy in this clean early 1900’s building. The craftsmanship of the interior woodwork makes you feel like you should be in an upscale restaurant rather than in a friendly, casual, family oriented restaurant and sports bar.
The food rates near the top of my scale for relaxed dining. The menu offers a good selection. If you are looking for an app, try the homemade mushrooms or their huge award winning chicken wings. For a main course, although their burgers are exceptional, and their pizzas are thin, crispy and delicious, try one of their Mac and Cheeses or a Prime Rib sandwich if you are really hungry.
Adult beverages are plentiful. A good beer selection, a couple wines and well poured cocktails are delivered quickly by the welcoming service staff. I have never been been disappointed by the inattention of a server.
The prices are quite reasonable. There are daily and even hourly specials on drinks and food specials are offered regularly. The weekend of this review, Off the Clock was participating in Fox 6 Days of Dining week, where for $ 10 at lunch you received an app, an entrée and a dessert from a special menu.
You might not want to be a regular at Off the Clock, but don’t be surprised that after a visit here you just may leave humming…
Making your way in the world today, takes everything you got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Amazing food, incredible atmosphere, and excellent service. This place is the absolute perfect local bar/​grill, with superior attention to detail.
The afternoon before the Packers game, my friends and I went here to get brunch and were blown away with it. Really varied menu, made it hard to choose. I had the Southwest burger with poblanos and pepper jack, one of my friends had build your own mac-​n-​cheese with hamburger and onions, and another friend had the steak sandwich. That was one of the best burgers I have ever had, though a touch on the greasy side, but we all agreed that the appetizers were the big winners. Sweet potato tots, pretzel bread with mustard and cheese, and these amazing cheese sticks of mozzerella and cheddar deep fried in wonton skins and dusted with parmesan. Incredible.
The beer special was 2 for 1 domestics, which was awesome in itself. But looking at the menu, the specials throughout the week are amazing. They have specials throughout the day based on different 5 O’clocks, like the Moscow vodka special, as well as different specials for work shifts.
The very best part, however, has got to be the atmosphere. The space has a few rooms, but it’s laid out in a sprawling organic way that makes it feel like one big room with little niches. For this reason, while it was pretty crowded and a rollicking pre-​game crowd, at our table we still felt comfortable in terms of space and could hear each other well, but we weren’t so isolated that when the bar broke into song we missed out on joining in. Great beer hall décor, also, and our server was fantastic.
All around a great neighborhood place with enough personality to take it over the edge from good to great.

This place is EXACTLY what you’re looking for in a local bar/​grill. It’s got that hole-​in-​the-​wall, off the beaten path vibe, but in a clean, homey kind of way that makes you feel comfortable eating there. It’s also got a menu loaded with grill staples, but with adventurous twists on comfort food like sweet potato tater tots, and reuben macaroni and cheese.
My husband and I went here twice with fellow Unilocaler Colin A. On our first visit, we ordered the OTC macaroni and cheese as an appetizer. It sounded delicious, with its blend of cheeses and crispy potato chip topping, but none of us wanted to commit to it as an entrée. So we shared it and it was pretty spectacular. As Colin A. mentioned, it’s on the thick side. I think it would be too rich to have as an entrée, but it was delightful to share between three people.
I ordered the Italian beef, which was decent, but notthing spectalar.
HOWEVER
It was on my second visit that I discovered the menu item so good, it will definitely become my OTC staple: The pulled pork sandwich.
Normally, I find pulled pork to be kind of a safe bet, and since I wasn’t too thrilled with my Italian beef, I thought it would be a good choice. But after that first bite, my mind was officially blown.
The pulled pork comes piled high with meat, but also has this incredible sweet, sour, spicy relish on top that takes the sandwich to a whole other level. My taste buds sang, I made uncontrollable «yummy» noises, and I guarded my meal against the curious onlookers at my table with a ferocity that probably worried them a little bit. It was that good.
So…minus one star for the lackluster Italian beef, but then an additional 99 stars for that pulled pork. Home run OTC. Home run.

I have a strong feeling I will become a regular at Off the Clock — it’s a nice near-​Southside neighborhood place with a stellar menu, great specials, and spot-​on service.
I dined here recently with a couple of fellow Unilocal-​ers and the only problem I had was deciding what to order.
Pub and grill type menu with everything from burgers to wraps and sandwiches, along with wings, appetizers and the like. There is even a Prime Rib special one day of the week.
I noshed on a blackened pork chop sandwich (3.5 stars — which was actually two chops) and sweet potato tots (4 stars), while my dining companions seemed to enjoy the Chicago Italian beef and shaved prime rib sandwiches. We shared the OTC mac n’ cheese (3.5 stars) as an appetizer, though this could have easily been an entrée if one so desired. Two items that kept my sandwich and the mac n cheese from receiving 4 stars: 1) the pork chop sandwich would have been much better without cheese — the cheese overpowered the otherwise delicious flavor (I’ll have to order without next time) and 2) the mac and cheese had so much going on in terms of cheese and topping that it took a bit to cool down and when it did so was a bit «thick» for my taste.
The service was stellar all around; I was equally impressed with the way the staff treated my dining companions’ young son. Refills were prompt, we were checked on an appropriate number of times, and encouraged to return.
There were so many other items on the menu that sounded fantastic just from written descriptions, so I know I’ll be back at OTC for sure. If you haven’t found this gem just yet, I recommend doing so. I can’t wait to return, especially for brunch!

The wings are huge. I think they may have come from pterodactyls rather than chickens. They are really big. They have your typical sauces, but more than that too, somewhere around 12 to choose from. The Medium sauce is pretty close to your typical Buffalo sauce, but my wings were a little dry. Either they had absorbed what sauce they had or there wasn’t that much to begin with. They were still pretty good though.
I got a side of their hot sauce just in case the medium wasn’t hot enough for me. I am one of those guys who thinks the food isn’t hot enough unless I am sweating. The hot made me perspire a bit.
I also got the Sweet Potato Tater Tots which were little nuggets of joy. If you love tater tots, but don’t want all the simple carbs that come with them, try the Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Awesome. Plus they come with a tasty dipping sauce (which also might make a good salad dressing.
They have a decent, not great, selection of beer. The service was good. The server did her best to keep all 12 or so of us happy, and i do believe that she did.

I’ve only been here once — for wings for Cassie’s Birdy 30, but I was impressed.
First and foremost, our waitress, Rachel, was great. We had about 15 or so people at a few tables and she served us all. She kept everyone’s meals straight and gave us all individual checks at the end with no mistakes on a group that was constantly asking for more of this or less of that. She was on the ball. I was impressed and tipped accordingly.
The wings are large! I was impressed on the many flavors they offer (10 or so?). I had some teriyaki and some garlic parmesan. The flavor on each was strong and tasty. The wings had a crunch under the sauce, which was also nice.
Additionally, the serve Strongbow. And it was relatively inexpensive.
I would go back here again without question. Good, hearty fare. Thanks for having us!

They ran a Rehorst Gin and Tonic special… Which is my favorite drink, so i had to come in-​there was no question. Love a place that carries local and even puts it on special.
I did the fish fry. The potato pancake was great. The fish fry was what you’d expect from a south side bar. Which is not an insult it’s actually a compliment coming from this girl :) It was exactly what I was looking for.
I’m hearing good things about their brunch and am definitely heading back! Menu is more creative than you’d expect to find so close to the airport (No offense Howell Ave, but you know it’s true).