Very cool idea and building. Awful service. It was my third time there and to say the least it was a disaster. The server told us it'd be a ten minute wait.
No big deal. We wait for 40 minutes. The server comes up to us and asks what our names were and she says she's been looking for us. We never moved away from the server booth! How did she not see us?! She walked past numerous times. Â Â Â
 This was nerving because we were on a time restraint.  We were going to the Brewers game right after and were not expecting to spend two hours here. Our waitress poured our drinks and spilled all over the table, even on my food and didn't even act like it happened!
 Upon exiting we wanted to take the fun exit but you need a quarter to do so. We went to ask if we could get change and the guy we asked was very rude and said "We don't give out quarters" in a very snippy way.  Of course I don't  expect them to give out money that's not what I was asking.
Used to love this . It'll be hard for me to bring a new person here with the fear it'll be this bad again. What a shame.
After Summerfest we were still looking for somewhere to get our drink on and decided to check out "that spy bar". Â Using our trusty google maps we were lead right to it and lucky for us we knew the secret password.
I say lucky, because I really don't know if our group could have passed the tasks as a couple of them had overindulged at the fest. Â The bar was dead for a Friday night and the only people there were a couple of pockets of tourists. The drinks are reasonably priced and the theme is done well. Â I just couldn't get over the fact there were so few people and of course most seemed to be tourists. Â I figured this out when I noticed all the ladies wandering around looking for the bathroom. Â
Overall, I think it's something to check out while in town. Â I think if you see it once, it might be enough.
This is a super tourist trap of a place, but fun nonetheless!! After my initial late night venture that consisted of little more than having a few cocktails, I returned with a tourist for happy hour one day. Â This was a much more satisfying experience!! For one, I was now armed with the password (no, I'm not telling!) and got to watch my little sis fight off imaginary ninjas to prove her spyworthiness from the closed-caption TV in the bar. Â Second, the hostess offered us a secret mission (basically a page printed with all of the gimmicks to check out around the place).
This place is huge! And there's a lot going on - it's a real museum aside from the ejector chair, the alibi booth, Mata Hari's lookout, etc etc. Â (A bunch of stuff was out of order, but still enough to entertain.)
It's a kid-friendly place with a full menu and mocktails even. Â I wouldn't bother with the food (how do you know an enemy agent hasn't slipped in some Polonium?!! I can't bring my Geiger counter with me everywhere!); but if you appreciate a spectacular show, order a martini, shaken. Â The shaking involves sending your drink on a journey throughout the entire place via a series of pneumatic tubes (like the ones at banks!). Â You can see them whip by every now and then!
Make sure you leave by the secret exit! No good spy enters and leaves by the same door.
I was not at all happy with my recent experience at Safe House. We arrived around 4:45 and were quoted a 30 minute wait. We were finally seated around 6:15. Our thirty minutes had stretched to an hour and a half with no updated wait time from the hostess. When we asked about the wait, we were repeatedly told that it would be "a little longer." They told us at one point that there was a table ready but they would not seat us because the waitress and kitchen needed time to "catch up." I tried to explain that we just wanted to sit down since we'd been taking up space at the bar not drinking. We were refused the table until the waitress was ready. The manager came to my table at my request and apologized after I complained. Nothing else was done. I always took friends and family to Safe House when they came to visit me and my husband. Sadly, this will be my last visit. The server was nice and the food was good but not worth the wait and the lies. Sorry, Safe House. You've lost a loyal customer.
Review Source:I hate to use this expression, because it's a bit of a cop-out, but Safe House is what it is. It's a clever shtick and lots of fun, but don't go there hungry. The food is cafeteria-quality. The service is good to very good and always fun, and it's definitely worth a trip, especially with the kids.
Review Source:It's fun the first time you go, and after that, it's fun when you go with someone who has never been before. Not necessarily my favorite place to go, but the atmosphere is fun and it's good for bucket lists. Things to note: the martini shaker that travels through the building in a pneumatic tube, the magic bar (if it's even still there, it wasn't there last time I went) and the phone booth. Also, it's easy to get turned around in this place, especially when you're looking for the bathrooms, as there are decoy bathrooms.
Review Source:This place is a Milwaukee gem. I have been here more times than I can remember and certainly look forward to the next time I go.
The first visit was very random as a visiting friend had heard rumor of some semi-hidden bar and we decided to seek it out. When we got there, we were not entirely sure of the password and had to prove our allegiance. That was a fun surprise. Once inside we were impressed by just how thoroughly the theme is applied and the amount of detail throughout the bar. Now that I know the password, it is a great place to bring people new to town, tell them the wrong password, and get to watch them on the monitors at the bar while they have to do as they are told. Each visit also brings new details to light and bares other quasi-secrets.
The house drinks are varied and all stay close to the overall theme. If you are a collector of glassware, they offer multiple drinks with corresponding glasses that also, if you can keep them in one piece (they are not immune to tripping on stairs), will allow you a discount on future drinks.
That said, the food is not the focus nor forte here, but will satisfy your hunger if that is your aim.
If you haven't been, go. If you have, go again and take someone new. And every once in a while, use the wrong password.
Absolutely one of my favorite places! Â You have to know a secret code to get in or else you have to perform a mission... Â There are surprises around every corner, you won't want to stay seated. Â The bartenders are great, the drink choices are awesome & you get to keep your glass which is a fun bonus. Â You might even find a bartender who does magic on the side! Â I can't wait to return!
Review Source:This place is a museum which serves drinks. It is a Milwaukee icon and if they ever change it I will be heartbroken. Don't go for the food. The food is for either people who aren't picky or for people who forgot to eat before they went out partying. It is my mission to take my husband before they remodel.
Review Source:Descriptive phrase: I'm just here to export things...
The International Export Ltd aka The Safe House is a Milwaukee experience, to be sure. I won't divulge much of anything regarding the place itself because I think everyone should come and experience it in person.
However, I will make a few notes from my most recent visit.
I came on a Saturday night around 8PM for dinner and there was a $5 cover. There was no mention of this being waived if you had dinner, and we had to specifically ask our waitress about it. She took the $5 off the bill as long as we weren't staying for whatever clubbing happened later.
The service was nice and the waitress was in character. The food came out immediately, scary fast.
I had a bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup ($5) and the Isle of Capri Delite salad ($8). While I appreciate the speedy service, I wish I had had time to eat the soup before the salad (my meal) came. It all came together and it was just too much at once.
The soup was giant, I would get a cup next time. It had a number of ingrediants I couldn't place but it all kind of mushed together. Not bad, but not great.
The salad was a bed of lettuce absolutely covered in giant slices of tomoato, red onion, and mozzarella. I'm normally a mozz guy, but this batch just wasn't fresh. The garlic bread served alongside was toasty but much too garlic-y. Maybe my taste buds were off that night because it looked fantastic and I love all the ingrediants normally, but this dish did not agree with me. I only ate about a quarter.
I tried a companion's chicken fingers ($10) and they were fantastic. Others liked the To Your Health ($8) and the Bourne Identity ($12). My meal won't dissuade me from coming again, I just wouldn't recommened what I ordered.
Such a neat idea. I don't want to give away too much and spoil your fun so I'll keep this review somewhat vague.
My friends and I came here for our friend's bday. When we entered, we didn't have the password so we had to complete a mission before we were allowed to enter. Let's just say, it was entertaining. The whole place is covered in posters and pictures of spy  movies/actors. The food was good. I highly recommend getting cheese curds! I had a passion fruit margarita. You can't taste the alcohol at all but it's definitely there. Yum! I also had the Agent Provacateur Steak sandwich. It was good...nothing unique though.
This place is also fun for birthdays. We weren't able to stay long enough for our friend to do the birthday tour of the place. But I suggest that if you get a chance, have a birthday person go through the tour.
Only come to this place for drinks. period. Two decades ago, The Safe House was a target destination. The spy decor hasn't been updated since then -- so the whole place feels as dated as the cold war itself. Â If you haven't been, I recommend going ONCE. Â You'll need a password to get in, but half the fun is getting through the door and exploring the dated, spy-themed decor. NEVER GO HERE FOR DINNER - EVER. Â The food isn't high quality and they routinely stable visitors in the bar for 60-90 minutes so they'll purchase additional drinks (which are good) and appetizer (which aren't). Â We ordered the Nacho plate while waiting. For $8, it was a single serving of stale, bagged chips and processed cheese sauce. Â Even our middle schooler wouldn't go near it. Â The quality of the food is as low as the price is high. Â The Reuben sandwich I ordered came on soggy bread. I had to send it back. It came back barely edible. Â The steak sandwich we ordered was bland. The wrap was forgettable. The best bargain in the house? Pay a quarter to leave. The journey out starts in a phone booth.
Review Source:This concept bar is truly amazing! Think Jack Rabbit Slims in Pulp Fiction. If you don't like this place I would love to know what you do for a good time. I'm from Chicago and didn't know what this place was but was told to go looking for a safe house in an alley somewhere near the Pabst Theatre. The locals seem to enjoy the quirkiness of this place as much as the staff do. We drank 3 (or 4?) drinks inside as we explored all the fun things to do. I'm convinced we didn't get through all the mazes and puzzles so I can't wait to go back! This place really puts MKE on the map as there is nothing else like it in the world. Definitely nothing like it in Chicago.
Review Source:I went with friends and while getting in was fun, having the bartenders ignore you was not so fun. Â They would take your glass away without asking if you would like another, the would flat out look at you and when you tried to order, they would walk away. The tip I gave certaily reflected the poor service.
Review Source:What an incredibly fun concept for a bar!
They had a lot of drink selections to choose from as well as some fun "girlie" drinks, which I like. Â My husband was impressed w/ their beer selection, so that kept him happy!
The TVs to spy are fun. Â We didn't try any of the food since we were still stuffed from lunch, but it smelled pretty good! Â
I would definitely return!
We really had high hopes for this on a recent trip to Milwaukee. Â Of course half the fun is finding the place and getting in is fun too. Â If you've read any other reviews, I'm sure you know about the password and doing crazy stuff prior to entering, so there is no sense of reinventing the wheel there. Â Instead, I'll focus on our brief experience once inside.
We were busy doing lots of Milwaukee stuff so we decided on a late dinner.  We arrived at about 8:50, and got past "security" at about 9.  Upon entering the actual restaurant portion, we were not greeted by anyone.  After standing there a couple of minutes we figured we'd just seat ourselves.  As we walked around we saw the "shabby chic" decor which was kind of fun and seemed in the spirit of the spy theme.  We sat down in an area that was virtually vacant, but had server traffic back and forth.  After about 5 minutes, no one had even acknowledged our presence so we thought maybe we had sat in a closed section.  From there we moved out to what seemed more like the bar area as there were a few scattered groups drinking and talking.  Again we sat for about 5 minutes with no acknowledgement, so I flagged down one of the several servers standing in a group talking.  I asked her if we could get a server and was then informed that the kitchen had closed at  9 pm, but the bar was still open.  She then said the kitchen would re-open about 10 pm with typical bar food available i.e. burgers and such.  We wouldn't have minded having a drink and waiting, but we aren't that big of drinkers and the prospect of sitting for about 40 minutes drinking overpriced booze waiting on bar food didn't exatly appeal to us.  I told her that we were going to just leave and asked if we could have our $10 cover back that they charged us at the door, which they did do without any problem (which is why I gave them 2 stars instead of one).
My impression of the place though is that it would be a good place to bring kids to for an early dinner or lunch so that they could experience the fun (schtick). Â Other reviews vary on the food, so look there for guidance, but if you're looking for a bar to drink at, look elsewhere and save the cover charge. Â Hopefully they will post a bit more information on their website that lets people know when the kitchen is closed.
What can I even say about the Safe House without spoiling any secrets and blowing any covers?
This place is guaranteed a uniquely fun time. From the moment you enter to the time you leave there are surprises around every corner. My first time here I had an awesome burger, then hailed as a chief, and humiliated (not necessarily in that order). During my second time I had a better grasp on things, but I was with a group of friends with no clue and were ultimately good company to see their reactions.
One thing to remember is to bring your sense of adventure. I always keep mine in my back pocket, but just be sure you have yours.
I would also suggest dressing up to play the part as well; I was wearing a suit during my second visit and I completely felt like a spy. You can judge me all you'd like, but I loved every minute of it.
Keeping this review short and sweet, the Safe House is a must visit spot in Milwaukee and something to write home about for sure.
Good luck.
This review will self destruct in ten seconds.
(not really
"You have to go to Safe House" Â "You're going to Milwaukee? Â Oh my god you have to check out Safe House"
These words were said not once, not twice, but countless times by friends and acquaintances when they found out we would be passing through Milwaukee in October. Â I looked it up and read reviews here on Yelp and figured, why not? This bar is tucked into an alley way with not markings on the outside that say "HERE WE ARE!!" and you have to know a password to get in... Â Because of Google it was not hard to get the password so when we walked in and were greeted by a woman in a scantily clad police uniform (it was the Saturday before Halloween) we whispered the password into her ear, showed her our IDs, and watched the walls behind her open up. Â This place, while cheesy and extremely outdated, was fun. Â On a normal night when patrons arrive in normal clothes its probably not as funny. Â Â We were there for a Halloween party so everyone had on something silly and cheesy. Â We were the only two normal looking folks in the whole building. Â When we got there the bar was full except for one loan seat at the end. Â I should have known better but I sat in it anyway and acted confused as the seat lowered to the ground. Â I jumped up and was convinced I did something wrong so as it raised itself back up, I sat back down again and of course it lowered itself again. Â I looked around and saw multiple people staring at me laughing.. I did it, I fell for one of their stupid tricks! All in good fun though, right?
I ordered a crappy cocktail and Chris ordered a crappy beer and we took a seat near the entrance. Â We watched the closed circuit TV as bar hoppers dressed as Beeker, slutty nurses, and more piled into the bar for their share of the awkward action. Â Â If you do not know the password the woman at the front will make you dance like an idiot, cluck like a chicken, or maybe turn you away. Â You are not a customer... you will be called a spy. Â Good evening, spies! Â It was an interesting evening.
After we felt that we received our fill of the strange, we made our way to the phone booth exit we read about online. Â Put in a quarter, dialed the "code" and watched as the wall opened up revealing a basement like exit out the back.
My experience with Safehouse was definitely not negative. Â It was interesting and I have enjoyed telling the story of this strange place to anyone that asks about my time in Milwaukee. Â Would I go again? Â Maybe. Â If I find myself in town with friends who have never been, sure. Â Would I go out of my way to go there for it? Â No. Â
But if I happen to hear someone is heading to Milwaukee, I will throw it out as my list of places to checkout...
I have been to the Safehouse a few times over the past 20 years. Â I recently returned with our nephews to introduce them to them fun. Sure it is kinda old and run down, but hey that is the fun. Â They had a blast. Â I think this place in today's world is more for kids than adults.
But this place needs a new chef. Â I am no food snob but I was served extremely old wilted lettuce and not so great Portobello sandwih. Â I have had better at Panera Bread. Â The staff was really fun being in character which the kids loved, but the food is not very good. Â The menu is fine, but the food is subpar. Â This place needs a real chef who can run a kitchen. Â If not, it won't make it. Â Cut your menu in half and hire a decent chef for your kitchen.
How often do you get to go on a mystery hunt trying to find the location of a restaurant? Â It's almost as if this place goes out there way to make it hard to find. Â
Once we found it, we where clueless on how to enter the restaurant. Â Once I thought we found the secret passage, a voice came over the loud speaker and said "that's not it". Â We were asked to supply the password to gain entrance. Â We did not know the "secret password". Â Because we did not know it, we were asked to sing "Ring Around The Rosie" to gain entrance. At first we scoffed at singing this song, but since were from out of town, what did we have to lose? Â After singing, we were permitted entrance. Â We walked in to a room full of patrons laughing and clapping. Â Little did we know we were on video camera the whole time.
We toured the restaurant and enjoyed seeing all the spy memorabilia. Â This place is like a spy museum. Â The food was okay and I got a drink that came in a nice glass as a souvenir. Â
If I'm ever back in Milwaukee, I will stop by, especially if I'm with someone who has never been before.
What a strange place. Not in a charming, quirky way, but in a "let's please leave NOW" way.
My roommates and I went while visiting Milwaukee for the first time because people told us to check it out as a fun, unique bar. What we found was an incredibly outdated, run down bar with weak, unremarkable drinks. It was so kitschy I felt embarrassed for them. The specialty cocktails were basically a concoction you might make in college at a house party. Another bizarre aspect of the bar was that in some parts people were eating dinner in rooms with no music, and then another part people were humping on a dance floor with disco balls, and then another part were groups of families celebrating 21st birthdays.
Didn't help we were hit on by two middle aged men wearing pirate costumes talking about recent divorces.
I think the spy theme was cool when it first opened, but they seem to have done nothing to update and of the features, so it just seemed sad. It isn't even one of those places that you should go to once just to have been there. I would skip it altogether. Still makes me uncomfortable to think about.
Came with a group of friends. This is a must visit location if you are in the Milwaukee area.
First off, finding the building is a puzzle in itself. If you do some internet research, you will find that the entrance is off an alleyway with an alias name placard "International Exports". I love how they make you do some type of goofy punishment if you don't know the password. Low and behold, everyone in the bar area watched us doing the "Staying Alive" disco dance to get in. It's great that people will cheer you in after watching your various performances to gain entry.
Loved being called a "spy" by every staff member. Definitely need to spend time goon through the entire building. So many mysteries to reveal. The answer to the secret password for entry is located inside the building. You have to do the work and it is a fun challenge. The secret exit is amazing! We came back for a second visit to figure out that one. Well worth the visit. I'd give this place 6 Stars if I could!
Wow! Â I went to the Safe House this past weekend for the first time in about 15 years. Â And, surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) nothing has changed. Luckily I still remembered the password.
It is a cool pace to take visitors from out of town, or better yet just suggest they go. Â
The food was OK. Â Nothing to write home about, but not horrible. Â Not sure anyone actually goes to the Safe House for their menu.
If you have never been, check it out. Â If you have been before, you know the drill.
This is going to be a super short review for two reasons.
1) I do not want to give too much away because it would ruin the experience for first timers.
2) I went with Ashley A and she had a pretty in depth review already :)
When I got here I had to pretend to be Michael Phelps escaping sharks while Ashley A laughed at me as it was fed through on to the TV into the bar. Â I now know the password.
Everyone here is really into their roles. Â We had a ton of fun here. Â One of my favorite things was the scratch and sniff in the ladies room... check it out for yourself. Â I also liked the magician bartender.
I had a martini here which was good. Â They run about $10. Â If you buy the dirty martini it goes through a tube throughout the bar and you get to take home the shaker!
I cannot wait to go back and explore this place further!
I have been to the Safe House several times, both for lunch, dinner and drinks.
Overall it's a really gimicky place, really fun to bring people who have never been there or to Milwaukee before, but not such a place for Milwaukee regulars.
This place needs two seperate reviews:
First - the atmosphere: 4/5
Finding the place is half the job, as they go by "International Exports Ltd", instead of the safehouse, and nowhere are they advertised on the outside of the building. The entrance is down the alley on Front St, and you must choose between two doors. Once in the correct door, you enter a small library, and are asked for a password. If you do not know, you must preform a task to get through. The wall opens up and you go through a secret passage to the restaurant. Little do your guests know that their task was being televised to the entire restaurant.
Once inside it seems like you stepped onto a movie set -everything is spy themed. Down to the servers approaching your table and greeting you "welcome spies", everyone is in character.
There are several rooms and passageways, and the table centerpiece gives you a cleverly worded scavenger hunt of all the cool things in the restaurant - ranging from a naked Burt Reynolds, to a 'disappearing' barstool, to a rotating dinner booth. There are some really cool features that you only discover by going with someone who has explored - or taking the time to explore yourself.
Downside, is that the place has clearly not been updated in a while. It's run down and dirty, and needs a new coat of paint.
Now for the quality of the dining experience:
The fact that the appearance is dirty is the first problem I have with this place. The booths are full of crumbs and dirt, the carpet is barely there, the paint is chipping and missing, and the bar is overrun with knick knacks. Maybe that adds to the allure of a 'safe house', but not to the allure of the restaurant.
All the servers I've had have been great, really in character and fun. The prices are much to expensive for the quality. They have been changing the menu around, which frustrates me because they are taking the good things I like, and mixing them with others. Appetizer wise, the control spread of dips is the way to go. Like I said, way to expensive for what you get, but it is a hummus, a garlic spread and a spinach artichoke dip. I want to say its more than $15, which is insane, but the garlic spread alone is ALMOST worth it.
The sanwiches, salads and burgers are good, but I still have a hard time justifying the prices.
The drinks are another story. I've tried most. They rack up the prices insanely, and let you take the glass you get it in home with you. The Code Beer is the drink to get if you like beer. It is compareable to a Fat Tire, that it's more of an amber ale. It comes in a mason jar with a handle on it, and my cupboard at home is full of them. If you bring your Code Cup in, you get the beer for only $2.50. We also tried the Silencer shot, which contrary to what the server said, was literally just a shot of Blue UV....for $9.00. The Spies Demise is good, like an alcoholic kiddie cocktail.
My wrap-up recommendation for this place, go around 4:30, and bring people who have never been here. Get a couple apps and some drinks, take your cups home, and enjoy dinner somewhere else.
This place has kitsch written all over it.
When you walk in - if you can find the door in the alley, that is, you enter into a small room, that is housed with antique furniture, and you are asked if you know the password. If you do not, then you are required to do something slightly embarrassing for the onlookers upstairs.
I wish we could have explored a little more of the memorabilia. We only had drinks while we were there, and I love how they have New Glarus' Spotted Cow on tap there - which is no where on the menu.
Our waittress was very nice, but we couldn't stop giggling whenever she kept on calling us spies. "Oh, take your time Spies!" or "I'll be back soon Spies!" "Here are your drinks, Spies!" I think you get the idea...
It's a little divey, and could use a good scrubbing, but the lighting helps to hide all of that.
I don't really know what I was expecting, honestly. This would be a great place to bring either kids or spy-nerds - guys that are into spy movies would probably get a kick out of it. I probably won't be back, but it is a very cool idea.
Such fun! Â So I saw this on a show ("Drinking Made Easy"), but didn't really pay attention to it. Â When the girls rolled into town, one of them mentioned the place and instantly I remembered it! Â They had done some research so before our show we went for some drinks. Â It was pretty easy to find and according to the website if you go before 8 p.m. you usually won't be challenged, but that's not true. Â We all got the password wrong, so we ended up playing "Ring Around the Roses". Â The awesome thing is when they grant you access and you get to go through the "secret" doors.
Everyone greets you with, "Welcome Agents." Â The walls are covered in spy memorabilia and they have memorabilia you can take home with you. Â Some of the drinks come in glasses that you can take home and you can purchase mustaches for your next disguise. Â We didn't realize that the place was a restaurant too, but if you are going to eat, you may want to make a reservation. Â The place gets pretty busy. Â We lucked out and snatched up this little booth-like table. Â Note: Â To save yourself from being birthed from the seat as other patrons watch, the table lifts up so the person sitting in the seat at the back can get in an out. Â Ask Cara, my fellow Yelper. Â I thought I was going to die from laughter.
The thing is... when we sat down, someone came over and said, "Oh, let me clear this for you." Â However, no one ever came back to take our drink orders. Â They took orders for everyone around us and we tried to get a waitresses attention, but it just wasn't happening. Â So I offered to go up to the bar and get us drinks. Â The drink menu is fun too... with names like Miss Moneypenny and Oddjob. Â The staff at the bar were very nice and even told us for some of the drinks we ordered with souvenir glasses, if we brought them back to the bar, they would wipe them up and but them in a bag for us. Â Lovely! Â The drinks were good and the atmosphere is fun. Â The thing that kind of put a damper on things were the children that were running around. Â Quite a lot of them, bumping into things, yelling... one staff member even told them off, but that lasted all of a minute.
If you are looking for something different from the usual bars, definitely try this place out.
A good place for a bachelorette party dinner if you aren't a bunch of rowdy skanks. Â We were a pretty tame group.
My friend made an 8:00 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night, but I don't think we got seated until 9:00 p.m.
I asked for a ginger ale, and what I received was flat soda. Â I asked for a sprite instead, and the waitress said, "oh I'll get you another ginger ale." Â She came back with a Coke mixed with Sprite. Â This is NOT ginger ale.
Everyone was happy with their menu and food they ordered. Â Nothing stood out in particular other than the blood orange martini that my underage (yep, underage) cousin ordered. Â They don't card too hard here.
There was a DJ as we were leaving, so it could be a fun spot to stay a little later. Â The kitschy spy decor is fun if you have the time to take a look around.
From the other Yelp reviews, I see people are actually eating here. Quite honestly. I never even knew they served food. It's just too fun to sit down for dinner. Now serious drinking ... That's a whole other story.
Not sure what I could possibly add to most of the reviews. This place is definitely cheesy and fun and can be a blast as long as you don't take yourself or this place seriously. Only fun people who want to explore the place and just laugh at how crazy The Safe House is are welcome. Party poopers and other boring people who would rather sit in front of the TV can stay home.
This is a fun place, but don't expect good food. In fact, you should plan to eat somewhere else. Come here for a few drinks and for the fun.
I love the idea of this place, and they do a great job of pulling it off. I can't imagine there being many locals that eat here, though. If they improved the food I could see coming here more than once.
Great fun, though.
I can now give this place a great review because I've been here for lunch, dinner and drinks!!
To start out I love this place. I think its more fun to drink and eat when you have to give a password. And no I will not tell you what the password is. Be careful though if you do want to have a meal here make sure you have a reservation because it apparently gets packed for dinner. Also make sure you arrive atleast 10 minutes before your reservation to make sure you have time to get through the secret passage way. Also if you do come at night on the weekend just know they do have a cover and you need to bring cash.
Cons
-No parking
-Low Lighting
-Kind of Dirty
-Always need reservations for meals
-Takes awhile to get in
Pros
-Awesome Theme
-Awesome Staff members who are nice
-Fun stuff to do during dinner
-Delicious drinks that come with a free glass1
-Decent food
-Bartenders are freaking awesome
-The martinis get shaken in a tube!
To be completely honest I can't put how awesome this place is in words. Â There are so many cool things for you to do while your waiting for your food. Your food will be yummy and the drinks are awesome too. Make sure while your here look for burt reynolds and the berlin wall.
This is a great place to bring visitors if you're just not sure what they'd like to do.
Here's my scenario:
"Here's a list of things we can do while you're here!"
"Okay, whatever would be fine with me!"
"Sure! Is there anything on that list you'd like to do?"
"I don't know~ I'm fine with whatever"
"Pick something."
"Ummm... whatever!"
"Why are we friends."
"I'm still coming to visit!"
I love that even finding this place is a bit of a mystery. Which damn door is it?? Then you have to know the password. Â (I know it now. No, I won't tell you.) Once inside, there are distractions galore. Find the neat hidden gems from the list, or just wander around observing on your own.
The food was surprisingly good. (I didn't expect much because restaurants that rely on gimmicks usually ignore the importance of good food) Â I had the french dip sandwich done Philadelphia style. It was messy and delicious, and filled me up to food coma status.
Get here early if you're visiting on a weekend. There's a cover charge after 7, I think. They take reservations. We didn't have one, but enjoyed a drink while we waited for our table to be ready.
Want a mysterious, kinda kooky bar experience? Come to SafeHouse!
Here is what our experience included:
a magic show
a secret escape/exit route
watching people who don't know the password make fools of themselves
a tube system that runs throughout the entire bar that shakes the signature martini
a free beer mug with a Code Beer purchase
a literal whole in the wall with a funny little surprise
a retro sexy man photo in the ladies' washroom that scared the heck out of me (touch the heart)
I have never experienced a bar like this. It is so fun! There is so much to see and I'm not just talking about the random photos & posters on the wall. Don't expect to get in without having to perform some Broadway performance that is recorded and broadcasted on a tv above the bar unless you know the password (it is indeed written in several places throughout the bar and it's not just one word, by the way). I heard that even if you do know the password, but are with people who do not know it, the girl at the front door might still make you do something funny to get in. Oh, and don't try to exit the bar the way you came in. I think that may have been my favorite part. I accidentally fell upon the exit when my friend and I were wandering around, checking out the place, but it would have been more exciting if we were ready to leave and had to go on a scavenger hunt to find the exit.
This bar has been featured on several television programs, which is where I first heard about it. I completely forgot about the place until one of our friends mentioned going when we made a trip to Milwaukee for a Yelp Elite event. So glad he reminded me about it!
There is a really cute private booth straight ahead when you first walk in. It is sort of hidden and a great seating area for a date. There are also a couple tables surrounded by hanging beads, which is cute.
Make sure to explore if and when you decide to check this place out. So much to see and experience! The guy who gave us a magic show mentioned this bar is the oldest magic bar in the country, I believe. Just ask for a show if they don't mention it. While we were exploring, we asked him where the password was written and this led to a discussion that led to the magic show, so I'm not sure if they regularly give them.
I only had the Code Beer, which was decent. I didn't try any food, but would like to. It's not often I visit Milwaukee and like to try new places, so I'm not sure I'll return, but I definitely recommend this place to anyone who has never been! Have fun!
This is a place you should go to once just to experience. Whoever came up with the idea was brilliant! It's so clever. From the fake from door, to the entrance way, to the secret code word to get it, its fun by the time you even sit down! And the decor is great too, all kinds of spy memorabilia on the walls, fun rooms to explore and check out and the staff gets in on it too. We were called spies at least 15 times. Yes, I counted. The food was ok, not bad, not amazing. My boyfriend had a beer at the bar after eating which was good and the bartender was friendly and helpful pointing us in the direction of other activities nearby.
Go once for the fun, but I won't see going back again for the food if I lived there. Be sure to have a quarter for the secret escape phone booth!
Also, be sure to make a reservation as it gets busy on the weekends!
There's an hour I will never get back.
No, drunken bachelorette partier, I do not want to buy you a drink. Â I do not care that your name tag is shaped like man junk.
I do not dig this place.
More than anything, I am not a fan of gimmicks. This place is full of them. Buy this rotgut drink and keep the cup! Â Watch as your cocktail whizzes around the room before you enjoy it a little! Better know this password or you'll get probed or something. Â Baaaarf.
Bad music. Horrifically bad music about some girl that wants me to call her, maybe.
I will no doubt end up back here against my will sometime and will proceed to brain myself against the wall.
This place may be touristy and a little gimmicky but it's really fun. We explored the whole place but I'm sure there were still nooks and crannies we missed. We came in for one drink since they do get spendy. I loved the atmosphere in here. It was laid back but energetic to. I didn't know the password so me and two of my friends had to do an irish jig to get in and were promptly greeted to cheers when we walked in the bar. I loved that you walk through a bookcase into a tiny hallway before getting into the actual bar. That right there sets the mood for the place. WE had a blast.
Two complaints: why try and turn this place into a club at 10 on the weekends? This place should be playing the Rat Pack and Etta James at all times. The clubby music and mini laser lights just felt really out of place and weird. It kind of killed the atmosphere. Second, I really wanted a mini martini shaker but they don't sell them individually. I would have had to order the pure vodka martini to get it. I am not physically capable of drinking a martini just made of vodka. And what sense does it make to not sell them by themselves? I found that weird.
Oh, I wish I could be a first timer here again! Â It's a fun place to explore, see if you can find every little trick and enjoy the memorabilia on the walls. Â (Burt Reynolds alarm! Â Two way mirror! Â Where's the men's room?) Â Yes, dive-y and kitschy but amazingly fun if you go with the right mindset and a group of people.
I have been to the Safe House at least a half dozen times because all of my out-of-town visitors get a kick out of it. Â It's good to try this place at different times of day, because earlier there is no cover and the News Room is part of the Safe House, but later a wall closes between them and people start having to give a password to come in or hamming it up for the closed circuit television.
The food is so-so but I usually come for the drinks and dancing. Â They have a few unique drinks, like one that they put in a shaker and send flying around the ceiling of the establishment in 600' of plastic tubing to shake it up. Â Usually there's a bachlorette party dancing, but otherwise the dance floor is empty, making it a good place to dance with your friends without someone bothering you. Â
Most recently I brought my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday, where I bought him the "Hail to the Chief" experience. Â An employee randomly escorted him away without an explanation. Â I don't want to tell you what happened next because it's a fun surprise, but let's say it involved a chair, a shower, some moving parts that made everyone near the bar cheer, and a video.
Sadly, this time the telephone for the escape route was missing (torn off the wall), so I hope it gets replaced soon. Â That definitely adds to the lore that makes the Safe House a memorable visit.
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