I frequent this chancery and I really like it. Â It's a local bar, so don't expect grandeur but the food is good and the cocktails are strong. Â They are trying to expand their beer selection but the specialty beers are kind of expensive.
The happy hour specials are amazing. They have a fun trivia night and the bartenders are all very nice.
The food is above average bar food.  Artichoke dip is very good; creamy and  a little spicy and comes with a hot little loaf of bread. The nachos are little different but pretty delicious.  Chicken fingers, cobb salad, citrus salad and cheese curds are all solid.  The onion rings can be greasy and the select your own pasta can be underwhelming but I don't think I've ever had anything actually bad and they have some great specials.
Good but not great.
We had lunch at a table near the window overlooking the river which on a quiet afternoon is spectacular. Â By the middle of our meal, however, the room was almost filled and was uncomfortably noisy. Â The high ceiling exacerbates the chatting diners, and I couldn't wait until we left. Â The food was good - I had the avocado + fruit salad, but all their prices are a bit high. Â No complaints about the service. Â And I'd like to mention I like their bar and the people - "Tosa folks".
We went to the Chancery on Mother's Day, with a reservation. Â Eight in our party, including two young children. Â Will never make the mistake of going there on a holiday. Â Even though they accepted reservations, they had far too few waitstaff on. Â We waited over thirty minutes for them to take our order. Â Waiter took our drink order after fifteen minutes, and brought it to our table twenty minutes later, which is when he finally took our order. Â Kids filled up on popcorn, which is complimentary, because it took WAY TOO LONG for our food to come. Â Food was decent, service was terrible.
Review Source:We come here every couple of months, but our most recent trip was somewhat disappointing.
Our wait wasn't too bad for a Saturday night. Once seated, our waiter greeted us and took our drink orders. When he came back with them, he had a little trouble remembering who had what, and there was only 2 of us.
Our dinners were very good, and my lower rating is based on the poor service we received. We ordered the lettuce wraps for an appetizer, then I ordered the campfire fish while my boyfriend ordered the Hey Curley, Where's Moe.
The appetizer was slow coming out. Our waiter came by after a while and got us a refill on our drinks, explaining they were backed up in the kitchen. I was almost through our second drink by the time the came out. The lettuce wraps are really good (we like them better than PF Chang).
We were just finishing with our appetizer when our entrees came out. Both were very flavorful and the food here is consistent.
However, the plates from our appetizer were never cleared, and our waiter never stopped at our table to see how our first bites were. We didn't see him until we were both finished, when he made the comment "I guess you really enjoyed these by the empty plates." Duh!!
While clearing our plates, he asked if we wanted anything else, and, after feeling ignored by him much of our visit, told him no, we just wanted the check. And then we waited...and waited. Getting increasingly impatient, I finally was able to flag him down and remind him we wanted our check. After another little disappearing act, he finally arrived with our bill, explaining they were having problems with the machine which is what took so long (funny I didn't see that with the other servers). He also comped the appetizer because it took so long to come out. Tired of all the waiting, we paid exact cash and left, nearly 2 hours after we were seated.
We haven't had any issues with this location in the past and we'll give them another shot. Like I said, the food is really good, but if we experience the same poor service again, we won't be back.
Had a great experience here tonight. Excellent service and was surprised by the good food! My French dip was so flavorful and yummy. Not the best or the most tender French dip I've ever had, but I still really enjoyed it.
My husband got the shrimp BLT and it was amazing! Incredibly flavorful and nothing beats good gulf shrimp.
Also, I got coleslaw on the side and it was the best coleslaw I've had in a long time. It was slightly sweet and had just the right amount of vinegar. Lots of carrot and a few cranberries (I think they were cranberries).
2 entrees and a beer for $25 too. We will definitely be returning!
After hearing that this place was only mediocre from several people, I have to admit that it wasn't my first choice for Sunday brunch.
I was in the mood for some down home hole in the wall diner food - a corned beef hash to be precise, and to my dismay that is much harder to find in Tosa than it should be! Chancery was a last ditch effort to fill my stomach before the mimosas began.
We were greeted and seated promptly, right by the window and the heater, which was nice enough. We were approached by our young server quickly offering beverages. I opted for a bloody mary, which I probably wouldn't get again. The mix tasted like pure vodka and clamato, nothing special. It was topped with a pickle that looked like it had sat out all weekend, one olive, a lime, a beef stick, a celery stalk and an ENTIRE green onion?! It was the most bizarre topping, who's just going to chow down on a green onion?
I ordered the meat lovers skillet. There were three tables around us who ordered after us and got their burgers before us. We waited almost 40 minutes for some very simple breakfast dishes - which was annoying.
The only hot sauce they offered was a tiny bottle of franks (which alone was big points, I could drink frank's), but there were maybe two splashes in it, and the top was crusted shut. The meal itself was fine, but given how long it took, it was still hard to award more than three stars. It might be a good drunk spot.
I am moving to Milwaukee, was apartment hunting nearby and stopped here for lunch. Split the the beer and cheddar soup with my fiance (it was delicious!) and the cheesehead dream burger. It was one of the best burgers I've ever had and it was really affordable. The atmosphere was nice and there were so many choices on the menu I couldn't even choose, so now I just have to go back! Our waiter (Chad) was really friendly and quick, and the lady who seated us was also very friendly! If you are health concious they have a healthy menu, a gluten free menu and they even have a seafood menu, so they really have something for everyone! My fiance got a local beer and loved it. I don't really understand the negative comments, unless I just ordered the right things and everything else sucks??? I'll be back!!!!
Review Source:You know, I do not usually frequent places like the Chancery. That is not to say I don't enjoy local restaurants with comfort food selections - it just that I am more partial to Farm-to-Table, micro-sourced restaurants.
Now - with my snob disclaimer statement made right up front, I must say that the Chancery is a really, okay, decent, get-your-comfort-on sort of place.
The atmosphere is a bit surreal. Almost a Denny's meets an Apple-bees in an alley and decides to remake itself into a corner pub. The dishes (the actual dish-ware) is all plastic. This was a bit of a surprise for me (as I last ate on plastic dish-ware in my Junior High school cafeteria) - but it was by no stretch of the imagination a "deal breaker."
I went to the Chancery on a business lunch. Our intent was to get a quick bite before heading back to a meeting in the afternoon. True to form, the server quickly came to our table and took our orders. In what seemed like only a couple of minutes, our salads (I ordered a Cobb and my colleague ordered the Avocado Salad) magically appeared at the table. Within another 15-minutes the check appeared. Not one moment of this felt rushed or out of sequence. Rather, it felt like the Chancery staff were fully rehearsed in the "business lunch" shuffle.
The food was good - but by no stretch of the imagination great. The service was very friendly and timely. Overall, this was a nice place to gain some calories and prepare for an afternoon meeting.
The Chancery is a solid 3-star establishment.
This Chancery location has one redeeming quality: The beer cheese soup.
Other than that, we have always been consistently disappointed by the lackluster service and mediocre food.
The whole restaurant needs a reno, or at least a REALLY good scrubbing (don't look too closely at the floorboards, ceiling, tables, condiments, etc...or in day light. You may lose your appetite).
This local chain has been steadily declining since the mid-2000's and is obviously resting on their laurels at this point, instead of making a standing effort to provide good food at a good quality. What is remaining is bar food quality, nothing greater.
Don't bring your out of town guests here for a first impression of Milwaukee cuisine.
Great food! Love their burgers. But prices? Whoa...
Basically. It's an overpriced version of Applebee's. Better than Applebees for sure, but quite expensive for what you get. I wanted to order a Cheesehead Dream burger and a cup of soup. Burger cost $10, and a cup of soup cost half of that. $5 for soup? Come on, Chancery. I can't afford you!
Please lower your prices!
Otherwise everything else is great.
I recently went back to the Chancery for brunch, and I must say I was very underwhelmed. Â The food has gone up in price and down in quality. Â I looked through the breakfast menu and decided to order the lobster & avocado omelet. Â You would think for $12.95 that there would be some good flavor, Â This was not to be. Â The eggs were overcooked and the lobster was chewy. Â I know, I know.....I should have expected as much, but it just sounded so good on the menu, that I was holding out hope that it would meet my expectations. Â My husband's meat lover's skillet was also nothing special. Â We could have gone to any Greek restaurant in the area and had a better food for about $8 less. Â They still do have the basket of bacon, which we just had to order, but the price is now $1.99. Â In my opinion, the Chancery should give up on breakfast and just go back to lunch and dinner.
Review Source:A decent Perkins. Â I'm bummed to write a bad review, believe me. Â But you must know what you're in for. Â We went there on a Friday night and had the following: kids grilled cheese with fruit side (mandarin oranges and strawberries), Fish Fry with waffle fries, and the cheese Quesadilla appetizer. Â
The grilled cheese was decent, same with the fruit. Â But for $13 it was the worst fish fry I've ever had. Â The fish was dry, and the waffle fries were hard and almost inedible. Â It was very apparent that the food had been sitting out or under a heat lamp for quite a while...dry and hard. Â The quesadilla was fine if we had paid like $5 for it, but it was around $9 (without chicken or avocado) and came with just a tiny container of some blah tomato salsa. Â
We did get beer, and the selection was great. Â Service was pretty good, also. Â
However, I'll probably not try it again because of how expensive it was for food that was no better than fast food. Â Sorry Chancery!
Mmmmm, comfort food!
If you're looking for a cozy little eatery, this family-style diner will leave your stomach surely satisfied. Â When I went to high school in Wauwatosa, The Chancery was only a stones throw away and is nestled in an area the majority of Wauwatosa residents dub "The Village".
Start your evening off with an order of Onion Strings, which consist of freshly cut and hand breaded onions. Â They are slender, greasy, and best eaten by the handful. Â Dip them in some gooey buttermilk ranch for an appetizer that will leave you so full you might just consider skipping your entree.
Move onto the most decadent adult mac and cheese you've ever feasted your eyes upon AKA Zach's Three Cheese Chicken Mac. Â It's made of cavatappi noodles, hearty bits of chicken, cheddar jack, several artisan cheeses, and herb bread crumbs.
Tip of recommendation: leave your diet at the door and make sure to wear your stretchy pants. Â It's comfort food, c'mon!
Had a lil work lunch at Chancery, ordered the grilled fish tacos and they were served on a crunchy corn tortilla.. Â That was a first for me! Â And it was good. Â I really like their fish tacos, but the service was a tad off. Â We still had a bill to pay and she left us like we were already done and set to go. Â
I like Chancery's location, and my co-worker swears this is her spot - but I would need to try it a few more go rounds before bumping up the rating.
Each of my many visits to the Chancery has been a good experience. Firstly, the Tosa location has its own parking lot, diligently watched over by an attendant, so only Chancery customers partake of it (in theory). There's always seating available and the decor is ok. The back room with views of the river and the railroad tracks is my favorite (I know, that sounds weird).Its fun when a train goes by, and this room is very open and sunny, with unique ceiling fans. I appreciate the whimsy incorporated in the menu descriptions, and the meals there have yet to disappoint. I love the fish tacos for lunch, served with fruity salsa and black beans. Wrap sandwiches are served with awesome waffle fries.Raspberry lemonade comes in a GIANT glass. I have found their happy hour deals in the bar area to be tremendous - my friend and I can each have a drink and split two appetizers for around 11$! And this is all filling enough to be dinner! An engaged and congenial crowd gathers around the bar for Packer games, making it a fun atmosphere.
Review Source:Listen - it is what it is.
If I'm in this part of town, this really isn't my first or fifth choice because there are so many better options in this neighborhood. But if I've got a group or kids and I need to make sure everyone will find something they like, the Chancery fits the bill.
The mac and cheese is the same stuff you had and liked as a kid. The menu still covers basic, hearty comfort food. I like the build-your-own-pasta concept.
The drink special the night we were there was some sort of cherry limeade deliciousness, so they get points for liquoring me up with surrounding me with loud children.
It ain't grand, it ain't bad. It serves the area it's in well, because you always see young families here.
The staff was fairly friendly, all be it extremely slow. Â We waited fifteen minutes to get our check and the place wasn't very busy. Â The rueben panini was okay but their signature Bloody Mary was weak in the flavor department. Â My son had their macaroni and cheese and it had zero flavor. Â Probably the worst part was being asked to pay $.75 for a side of honey mustard. Â I'm sorry, but condiments should be included. Â Overall, we were not impressed and will not be going back.
Review Source:This is more of a 3.5 than a 4, but I'm rounding up for two key reasons:
1) value- The Chancery is not fooling around when it comes to portion sizes in relation to cost. Oh, you want a basket of bacon (the B.O.B, as they call it)? $1. You want to do happy hour? 50% off all rail drinks and free munchy food.
2) family friendliness- Its hard to find a restaurant designed to be kid and family friendly that isn't *too* themed or a mega chain. Average people of all sorts go here- college students, elderly couples, young families, random dudes camped at the bar..
People keep hating on the Chancery as very Applebee's-esque, but I'd go here over Applebee's any day.
Went this evening for the fish fry, which is not just on Friday's but any day of the week. Â It was battered cod and very good. Before adding any tartar sauce or anything, the fish was very well seasoned and very good. We even asked to make sure this wasn't just a special recipe for Friday because we were very surprised it was so good. Â It came with the traditional sides, coleslaw, which was quite good with cranberries added and really fresh marble rye bread. Â We'll definitely be back again for the fish fry.
Review Source:Started off with a bacon and eggs Bloody Mary, and, while only 6.95 with a beer back, was thin and tasted right out of the bottle.
The Asian lettuce wraps were covered with a heavy Hoisin like sauce and was in the "what are they thinking?" catgegory.
The fresh veggie side was flavorless.
Will not be returning.
I'm not a fan of national restaurants but have been pleased each time I went to Chancery. Â They may change the menu soon but I had their pasta which is half off on Thursday so was quite a deal. Â Our server was attentive and friendly. Â I made reservations for a group of ten but someone showed up with two extra ppl so they had to add chairs. Â Did so without complaint. Â She had to repeat the specials several times as she took the orders of each person at table because we were talking/laughing so not paying attention. Â Again she stayed pleasant. Â Pasta was good and you get to choose several items to top it. Â Place is in busy section of Wauwatosa but they have a good size parking lot just a little way from entrance of restaurant.
Review Source:ORDERED: White Cheddar Cheese Curds - $5.95 Â Marvin's Original Burger - $5.95 Â Warm Bean Salad - Side
TASTE: The cheese curds are served in a basket with wax paper which soaks up any excess grease. They have a crisp bite and aren't overly salty. The side of ranch that accompanies them is the perfect way to add more fat to milk fat that's fried in plant fat.
The hamburger rivaled any burger I've had in the last few years. A piping hot, juicy third pound patty on a toasted sesame seed bun with thick tart pickles, shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. When I've watched enough Man vs. Food to make me crave a hamburger, this is where I'm coming. Â Marvin: Thanks for sharing!
The Warm Bean Salad was a cup of tangy fiber induced goodness. Turn the salad into a drinking game and see how many of the bean varieties one can identify. Loser buys a round.
RESISTED: Telling my fiancée that yellow curds don't actually TASTE better than white one because they're the same thing. The yellow is actually a flavorless coloring called "annatto".
SERVICE: I've been to the Chancery a few times and the service has been acceptable but slow. The place gets really busy and our food has arrived hot so it can be overlooked.
This place was recommended to us by a guide at the Miller Brewing Company, we requested a place where the locals go, and this is where he told us to try.
We got there about 2:00 in the afternoon, so it was pretty dead. Â The menu was quite big and had lots of choices, and the prices were reasonable.
The best thing we had was the Beer Cheese Soup, it was creamy, cheesy and oh so delicious. Â We also tried some sandwiches that were fine, nothing special and I got the Hook, Line & Sinker basket which had fried fish, shrimp and crab cakes. Â The crab cake and the shrimp were good, the tartar sauce was pretty bland.
This seems to be a popular place in the Milwaukee area, and I think it fits the need for casual family fare if I lived in the area. Â But it is not special enough to recommend to out of towners.
I just don't get the appeal of this place.  I've met so many Milwaukeeans who rant and rave about this place.  I'm baffled.  It's ok food for an ok price.  There's absolutely nothing special about it.  Food is  pretty bland, nothing exciting and nothing that stands out from any 24 hour greek restaurant around the city.
Review Source:The Chancery in Tosa has solid food options that are tasty if not great. Â It's pretty standard American fare but I haven't found anything that I love here yet. Â The prices are pretty reasonable with most meals in the $8-10 range.
They have a happy hour special from 4-6 on weekdays with buy one get one free domestic beers and FREE WINGS! Â They have the wings sitting in a metal warmer and you can grab as many wings as you want without any hassle. Â It's a nice set up. Â
The restaurant is never that busy when I go and the bar is usually almost empty. Â This makes it easy to go here with a big group. Â There are a bunch of other restaurants/bars in the area on/near State St. that are worth a look too if you haven't been to this area before.
We had a large group and the service was OK as was the food. Reminded me of an upscale Bennigan's. I was annoyed that we were put in separate dining rooms and the parents were served their meals before the kids. Hamburgers looked small and charred, pasta also looked drab. Blackened chicken sandwich was good. Free popcorn from the bar is always a hit. Prices were reasonable.
Review Source:I'm an automatic fan. Â Came here for lunch today. Â Great service, pretty fast and the dish was "delicious"! Â I had the "make your own pasta" dish. Â Wine garlic butter sauce, penne, salmon, spinach and mushroom. Â The lunch portion was perfect and the food was soooo good, I couldn't stop eating. Â The price was also ridiculously inexpensive. Â That dish was only $7.95! Â What?! Â That's crazy. Â The area was sooo cute, reminded me of old town New England or something like that. Â It's next to the park as well. Â My colleague had the chicken teriyaki and she said it was very good as well. Â I will definitely be back....
Review Source:As we continued down some memory lane eating while back in Milwaukee, after the morning and afternoon at the Milwaukee County Zoo we headed over to The Chancery.
I agree with most posters that it can be hit or miss. Â The last time I was here it was a miss, but I'll give it 4 stars for our last trip since everything was fabulous.
We had some of the beer cheese soups for appetizers and most of us had burgers. Â I decided to continue to slam my arteries shut and had a burger that was topped with some kielbasa and then Merkt's Cheddar cheese spread and THEN, Onion strings. Â Yeah, I didn't even try to eat this as a burger and ended up eating it open-faced.
The actual burger wasn't that great, but with all the stuff on top, it saved it.
We left filled and happy. Â Our server was really good and attentive and made sure our drinks were constantly filled. Â It wasn't that crowded for 2:00 on a Saturday which may have helped in our great service. Â But it's still a place that's been there more than 20 years, so they must continue to deliver for a fair amount of people.
We have been going to this Chancery location for over three years now and it has really gone down hill. The food quality and service have went way down, while the prices have gone way up. Â Even the drinks from the bar are watered down. The servers are not as friendly or knowledgeable any more. The staff in general is not as welcoming. We used to go weekly, sometimes twice a week, but now we go maybe once a month if that. I can't see spending all that money on a meal that is unsatisfying when I can go elsewhere within walking distance for the same price and better everything else. Soon Cafe Hollander will be opening up next door. I think it might push Chancery out of business if they don't step it up a lot.
P.S. Do not go on Wednesday evenings around 9pm if you want a relaxing dinner. There is karaoke at the bar next door and the sound creeps through the walls. You'll want to put steak knives in your ears!
Whenever I am in the mood for a meal out the Chancery is always a top suggestion in my group of friends. Â I have been to almost all of the locations, but frequent the tosa location the most. Â I think its great that they still give free popcorn (even though these days you have to ask). Â For appetizers I LOVE the Chicken Nacho Cocktail. And I compare every other artichoke dip I eat to the one at the Chancery, the bread they serve with it makes it even better. Â I have a few favorite entrees that have never failed me, one is the Chicken Crunch Salad with Honey Sesame dressing, I've never tasted any other breading even remotely similar. Â I also get the Teriyaki Chicken Pita, which is very messy but tastes great. Â
I have friends that swear by the Freddies Roasted Garlic Mayo Chicken Sandwich, which uses the same breading thats on the Chicken Crunch salad, and is an extremely generous portion of chicken. Â
The burgers there are really good too, I go for the French Kiss, which is HUGE, but stuffed with artichoke cream cheese. Â And the waffle fries are great, if they aren't over cooked. Â
I have been getting the Peanut Butter Cup dessert since I was a kid. YUM. It is also very kid friendly, Kids 10 and under pay their height on Tuesdays and a popsicle or animal crackers come with every kids meal. Â
A casual relaxed atmosphere makes the Chancery easy to pop into at any time, I don't have any memorable waitstaff experiences, but that can often be a good thing.
A charming place that's maybe a step up from the usual TGIF/Applebee's, etc generic chain. Â Menu has a big variety but nothing outstanding. Â Maybe 2 vegetarian selections, the wrap is pretty good. Â This place is usually busy but really not worth a very long wait. Â But for some reason I get happy when I see a cookie included with my meal. Â Even though it's not really a great tasting cookie, it still makes me smile!
Review Source:What separates the Chancery from "the evil corporate chain restaurants best left unnamed" is that it is unique to the Milwaukee area.  They manage to play off the wood interior rustic theme without it appearing that  10 marketing "dudes" discussed the placement of some rustic "gone fishin' sign." (And so what if it really actually did take 10 marketing "dudes.") The food is tasty;  the fish fry never disappoints. It's a nice place to take your picky eater friends. They have a few spicier and unique entrees that deviate from the burger and fish sandwich standard, so as annoying as your picky eater friends may be at least you can both be satiated this time.
Review Source:This seems to be a place that people either love or hate in our family. As Nancy noted, the prices have increased in recent years, and that was enough to decide one brother-in-law that he would not return. His sister, though, is still a regular. For me, I'm lukewarm... except for the back patio room, that somehow reminds me of India with it's fan-flaps hanging from the ceiling and large collection of hanging plants. So you can enjoy a good steak and the fresh-baked bread delivered on its own cutting board (though the crust isn't as crusty as I prefer), and *really* enjoy it if you sit out back.
Review Source:I'm a little biased toward the Chancery...I've gone here since I was young, and while it's gone a little downhill in my book, it's still a place I love to return to. Â If I was basing it on my favorite meals, it would get 5 stars...but not everything on the menu is stellar. Â And they've greatly increased the prices over the years (not that expensive, just annoying). Â That said - here's what makes worth the trip - if you're an artichoke dip fan - you MUST get it. Â This is my all time number one favorite artichoke dip. Â Served with a small loaf of warm bread on a minicutting board. Â I dream about this dip. Â Also - Chicken Crunch (chicken finger appetizer), Chicken Crunch salad, and Freddy's Chicken Sandwich. Â I swear, not obsessed with chicken. Â The wraps are blah, pasta's ok...but I can't speak for much else, because I've basically ordered the same thing for 10 years. Â Not a 5 star restaurant, but a great casual place to bring the fam if you're around Tosa.
Review Source:A small local chain found around milwaukee, with good food and friendly service.  Every time i go home i stop in for a bite and a beer, always friendly service and reasonable prices, if  you make a trip to milwaukee it is not a must but if  in the neighborhood why not stop by for a pint.
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