Good location smack dab in the middle of the Public Market. Great wine list with a couple of happy hour choices. It gets a little busy. I was there on a Friday after work and there were people waiting when we left.
Oh, and it's also a store so you can buy a bottle instead of sitting at the bar. Nice selection and a good stock of $10 bottles.
Okay, I need to set up this review with a little story:
So, I'm from Minneapolis, and last weekend we decided to visit a friend in Milwaukee. After a disastrous and trashy night at Summerfest (seriously... does every high schooler smoke cigarettes now? And have to take Instagrams of them doing so?) we were hungover/maybe a little drunk still. Whatever, it's the weekend. Our friend wanted to show us the very cool Public Market, so we stopped in. I head to the bathroom quick and next thing I know, my friends are ordering bottles of wine at Thief. None of us are big wine drinkers other than when we were abroad, so this comes as a bit of a surprise to me... but I order a glass of champagne and just roll with it. I have a weird thing for champagne, okay?
This would have been just a weird little 10:00 AM whim if it had not been for the EXCELLENT service we received. So, they don't have champagne, but the bartender suggests a similar cava, which was delicious. She suggested a petite sirah for the bottle drinkers. It doesn't stop there- she starts explaining the wine and what we were tasting- not snobbily but in our terms. I totally appreciated the way she treated us- like we wanted to learn, not like we were some college aged idiots who drink only Keystone. Mad props to her.
Not even being a wine drinker, I would totally suggest checking out this place to anyone with any interest in wine.
I am very grateful that Thief Wine is in the Public Market. You can often find me there on Saturday afternoons, pulled up to the bar with some wine (or a beer) and falafels from Aladdin or red velvet cakeballs from the bakery. I love that we can bring food from other vendors and sit centrally in the MPM - perfect people watching from Thief Wine's location!
The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The wines that I have had have all been great. If you're not sure what to get, the staff will have an informed suggestion for you. Another option is to order a flight and try a few! They also offer small plates (cheese/nuts/dried fruits/etc) which pair nicely with their wines.
Recently, they've done a few Groupons - so I encourage you to come out and try Thief Wine.
The wine was awesome.  Found the servers to be a bit snooty:).  Did not like servers putting their nose inside the carafe to sniff...I can do that.  Don't bother to order food, luckily you can order at  other vendors.  Love the Milwaukee Public Market, love good wine, but the people at Wine Thief need a reality check.  Pay attention to your customers, engage in conversation....quit sniffing everything even the food you are serving.
Review Source:If you stop by on a random Friday afternoon...You might find me sitting at the bar (fairly tipsy) ranting on about something or another. It's the perfect place to play hooky or just get away from the madness for an hour (or three) with a glass of wine (or three). I've been there once (or thrice).
Review Source:Conveinent location inside the market. Â Great place to grab a gift but you pay a litlte more for the convience. Â People here are very helpful though. Â My husband who's not a wine guy even feels comfortable asking questions here. Â
We also like to grab food then sit here for drinks. Â Great selection and wine flights.
I attended a Pinot Noir tasting, at Thief Wine Bar, and it was excellent. Â They did a great job of selecting a variety of low and higher end wines, and I feel I really learned more about what's pleasing to my palate. Â Our server was very knowledgeable. Â We were offered great discounts on buying bottles afterward.
Review Source:Break away from the jarring crowds forming from Friday business lunches and tourists, and find yourself a seat at the partitioned area that belongs to Thief Wine. Â This place is a gem in the middle of the busy Public Market. Â The bar area is surprisingly peaceful amidst the chaos surrounding you. Â I enjoy stopping and parking myself at a bar height table. Â I highly recommend visiting with company, but only one other person. Â It keeps it intimate. Â Order a carafe of wine--a great value for some stellar vintages--and find your piece of oeno-heaven. Â Thief offers some small plates, but you may also stop at one of the vendors nearby for a food plate to accompany your wine. Â In my case, my wine side was a cookie from C.Adams Bakery. Â My gingersnap went very well with the Sancerre. Â Never underestimate the power of a dessert, more specifically, a cookie paired with a great wine. Â I bet you never thought of anything more than wine & chocolate. Â If you do need a pairing recommendation, speak to the knowledgeable staff. Â They know their wine list and what will go best with each of their menu items or even your snack fetched from the Market. Â This bar would make for a fab, unexpected pre-dinner date stop. Â The wine will flow, and this spot will help the conversation flow as well.
Review Source:Thief Wine doesn't have the largest selection of wine in Milwaukee. Â Instead they have a widely representative sampling of wines from around the world at many price points. Whatever your budget, you'll find good quality. Phil, the co-owner, is as knowledgeable about wine as anyone you'll meet. His weekly wine tastings are well organized and informative without being pretentious. Â The wine bar has a wide variety of offerings by the glass or carafe, and the menu changes every couple of months reflecting new acquisitions. They also have a no hassle rewards program. Sign up and you earn points with each purchase that translate into future discounts. At the public market location you can buy food from another vendor and bring it to have with your wine. All said, this is my favorite wine place in town.
Review Source:Vino! I love red wine....don't even let me get started with the song. Red, redddd....
Ok, so I'm not gonna lie to you. I didn't actually buy anything. However they have a small, but amazing selection. They have more rose wine than I typically see places, and they had some very interesting reds that I really wanted to get.
This was my first trip to the public market, so I didn't want to get carried away. I plan on going back for the two bottles I had my heart set on: Â Some Young Punks "Lust Collides" and Alpha Box & Dice "Tarot".
They also have a little bar where you can sit and have a glass of wine, which I probably would have opted for if I hadn't just had a margarita. The blessing & curse of so many options!
J'aime le vin. Seriously. I'm really just a well dressed wino, in secret. I've purchased wine from Thief before, but hadn't ever visited the actual wine bar section until recently. I stopped there during a visit to the MKE Public Market because 2 foxy lady friends of mine were there having a sip. I sat down with them for a girlchat and checked out Thief's red wine selections. Impressive!
I ~love~ that you can get a few swigs as a sample, but I guess I got spoiled by Camelot Wine Bar in Columbus Ohio (the place where I got my wine education); their samples are a bit cheaper. Â But you know, with a good red wine you don't need a whole lot anyway, and Thief had some pretty tasty selections so I didn't balk at the price at all. The malbec I had was smooth & lifted me right out of my seat.
Even if you're a novice to wine, they can help you figure out the perfect vino for you. Don't be scared to try something new; with the extensive knowledge of the staff there, they couldn't steer you wrong. Â The service was friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed myself- good company, good wine.
I really like this place. It's a small, well stocked, with a warm, friendly knowledgeable staff who knows all about wine. Â I've bought about 8 bottles of wine here and really enjoyed all the recommendations. I also love meeting friends, coworkers, and cute boys here for drinks. FTW.
Super fun fact. Grab your lunch at any one of the yummy public markets foodie type places  walk over to wine thief and grab a glass of wine with your lunch. Awwwwww yeah...
I write this as a somewhat wine and experience-snob. When I buy wine, I want both a vast selection and a boutique-y feel. Thief's got so much going for it ... so much ... and I come here quite frequently since I love the MPM, but sometimes their staff is a little bit meh. The owners are kick-ass, no doubt about it. They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Hell, their whole staff is knowledgeable. But the staff can seem very cold and rushed and 7/10 times they ruin the entire experience for me. I know I'm comparing it to my favorite wine shop in all of Milwaukee ... but my experience is lackluster at Thief. If they could give a little more personal attention to their guests, I'd probably buy a lot more wine.
Review Source:ALL THE WINE. (Hyperbole and a Half, anyone?)
Well, not really. Like Joanna said, there are certainly spots in the city that boast a broader, vaster, selection.
But this shit's nuanced, folks. Boutique-y. Wine dorks would be pleased. See also: everything's picked with care, and not just because. There's a reason, and that reason is because the Thief staff know what's up. At every price point, the offerings are quality... and that's no accident.
Four stars for convenience, although I prefer buying bottles at the Shorewood location for some reason. I haven't sat and sipped at the MPM Thief bar... unsure why? Maybe this should happen.
Scratch.
Yes, happening. Sooner rather than later.
By a country mile, my favorite wine bar is Thief. Phil, the proprietor, has a very extensive knowledge of wine and is one of the few people not only in the state, but in the Midwest with his certified level of expertise. Unfortunately at this time, I do not remember the name of the certification. Anyways, last time I checked in with him he was studying for the final phase of testing. His selection is great, and he can always give you a spot-on recommendation based on your tastes. I love Sauv Blancs, Red Zins, Red Bordeaux, and complex cabs...and there's always a few items on his menu (which is frequently updated) that suit my tastes.
He also sells wine by the bottle/case. Generally I'll give a list of five or six wines I'm looking for and he'll get back to me within a day or so to let me know if his distributors carry it. Then I generally mix and match whatever's available into a case. So it's also one of my favorite places to buy wine as well.
The Shorewood location is nice, but the Milwaukee Public Market location is way better IMO. Â There's something about drinking wine in the middle of a sophisticated urban project like the MPM in the heart of a trendy area of town that adds so much more to the experience.
They have a very helpful staff. good selection of high quality but low price wines, and I'm sure there are a number of pricey wines too if that's your thing. Thief is not only a store, but also a wine bar that serves individual glasses and various flights. I'm not too much of a Wino myself, but yum.
Review Source:Always a great stop on my way home. Â I love their selection! Â They've got something for every price range.
I have never bought a bad bottle of wine from this place! Â You can tell they care about the wine/beer selection. Â It's great for any time of day--and they give you a discount on a bottle of wine if you buy a glass at the bar! Â I love having a wine shop of this caliber downtown!
Also, they have a frequent buyer's program so make sure and sign up for that. Â The only thing disappointing about this is if you go to the location on Oakland, you can't combine your points.
Thief has really grown on me. They don't have the biggest selection in the city, but it's remarkably well chosen. Looking for a hard to find French Cremant? They have it. A Spanish dry rose? Done. A table of really decent wine for less than $10 a bottle? Oh yeah. Beringer White Zin? Hell no - but I'm sure they would politely steer you to something else.
Since they are in the Public Market, it's easy to stop on the way home or to grab a bottle to pair with all the tasty items you just bought. The staff is generally helpful with recommends and they have a frequent buyer program that rewards you for being a drunk.
There is an adjacent wine bar for those who just can't wait to have a glass, but I've  never tried it. I probably should, it looks very nice.
I love this location at the MPM. Very bright an oasis in the middle of a Market, a place to sit back unwind and take a break from the busy shopping areas and crowds.  Great deals are to be had for wines from all over the world.  Where is my Google earth? I still get lost on this planet. This is the Original store with a good selection and tastes for all budgets.  Tables along the bar  allows a great vantage point for people watching and occasional celebrity / local musicians and artist.
Review Source:This review is for the Thief Wine Bar on Oakland Ave.
The first time I went to this wine bar I had a great time because the wine guru there, named Chris made it such a fun experience. He has excellent customer service skills & took very good care of us.
The second time I went there it was a complete 180 of my first experience. The woman working there named Nicole, was very unfriendly, unhelpful, & basically rude. I could go on & on but don't have the energy for that but what really made me feel like I wouldn't go back there was when I complained to the owner about the awful time we'd had there he just said " oh I'm sorry you didn't have a good time". That was it.
There are plenty of places where you can go & taste good wine but I want to go somewhere where I can have a fun time not br made to feel like I'm wasting some ones time.
I've always been one to browse their wines but never bought anything. We got a Groupon for Thief wine and upon finding out that it could not be used for to buy bottles for take home, we decided to use it on wine flights to try and find a wine to take to an upcoming "Open That Bottle Night" party.
After drinking our red flight, we selected the 2006 Cellar Vall Llach Priorat Embruix to take to the party, something I never in a million years would have chosen out of the blue.
The wine was a huge hit with our friends, and I recently came back to grab a few more bottles of it.
Once you find a wine store or wine bar that "gets" your palate you stick with it. Phil and Amy work really hard to understand what you like and make great suggestions to match your tastes and your budget. This was perfectly illustrated tonight when they helped me organize a wine and chocolate tasting in conjunction with Indulgence Chocolatiers (see my recent review). Phil chose reasonably priced wines that were accessible to wide wide range of experiences that my friends brought to the party tonight. He went above and beyond by offering tasting notes on the 4 wines they selected and helped us organize the event for essentially the cost of a corkage fee. It was a great event largely because of the thought Thief put into choosing wines that matched my preferences but would also pair well with the variety of chocolates and truffles we had delivered for the tasting. Â We took over a few tables upstairs at the Public Market for my party and it was a great venue for my 40th.
Thief has a very good selection of wine and beer at a great range of prices. They also run some regular specials such as the free corkage on Thursday night for bottles over $20, happy hours, etc. The MPM venue is perfect for grabbing a light meai in the market and then heading over to Thief to pair it with a glass of wine. I also heard from others that have gone to Thief with limited wine knowledge but an idea of what they liked who got great recommendations on wines for purchase. Thief makes wine accessible to a wide audience and I have never felt intimidated by their knowledge or presentation. Whether you are a connoisseur or a novice drinker, you should give them a try.
Thief is my favorite downtown spot to shop for wine. They've got a great selection of low- to high-end with very reasonable pricing, especially when you consider their location.
I've managed to find some of my absolute favorites (Argyle Nuthouse Pinot Noir) and some interesting new wines that came in crazy cheap (Evodia Garnacha $10).
The service here is friendly and knowledgeable, both in retail as well as their quirky little wine bar. They pour nice sized glasses for their price and are happy to suggest pairings for any food you bring from the other vendors to eat at THIER counter. Which is awesome, as most places are too pretentious to allow that.
In closing: great service, awesome prices, easy location at the Public Market = win
I love that you can have a good glass of wine while enjoying other aspects of the Public Market. Â The bar itself is a gorgeous blend of different types of wood. Â They also have great specials from 4-6pm. Â The staff is always kind and knowledgeable. Â I think it's nice when you go to a wine bar and they can teach you something without making you feel like a fool... that is exactly how Thief is. Â They also have frequent events, be sure to check their calendar.
Review Source:Stopped by for a glass of wine with a friend for my birthday on Monday. Our bartender (I think his name was David) was very knowledgable and informative, helping us pick out what wine flights to choose. He was particularly sweet when he found out it was my birthday and poured my friend and I a taste of champagne. The *best* dried cranberries I've ever had were served with our small cheese plate -- try it, it's worth the cranberries alone. Right next to the bar there's a retail area that functions like a wine boutique; lots of wines to choose from with a bartender nearby to tell you all about it. You can even have the bottle uncorked and enjoy it at the bar.
One of the perks of the location is that you can peruse the shops at MPM and bring back your dinner and enjoy it with a glass of wine at the bar.
Unbelievable.
I happen to know a fair amount about wine and snobbishly pride myself on this fact.
My friend and I came here on a Groupon (I have wanted to try it for months). Â I tried to Old World Flight and it was delicious, as was the artisan cheese plate. Â Really good wine, really good price.
I occasionally grab a glass of wine at Thief, but I love it because this is where I go to buy my wine. I feel confident that any bottle I pick up here is going to be enjoyable. As a result, I buy a wider variety of wines and feel smarter about my wine choices elsewhere. Awesome!
The staff are knowledgeable and a pleasure to talk to, and the shop at MPM is well designed. Â Sometimes sitting at the bar is a little too laid back for me; I like a some rock n roll with my wine, and the music selection at the market just doesn't fit the bill. However, the solid selection is really what wins me over and gets me to consistently try something new.
We love the Public Market and Thief Wine is one of the reasons why. They appeared to have a great selection of wines and we really enjoyed the wine bar. My husband had a great glass of the cc: 2009 Chardonnay, which was delicious, and I had the Varietal Expressions flight. The prices were really reasonable and they have daily specials. Best of all, the woman who served us was amazingly friendly. We can't wait to go back.
Review Source:Thief Wine has become a must stop for my husband and I. Â Phil and Aimee have a way of making wine knowledge attainable for the uninformed, and they manage to do it without making you feel like a member of the unwashed, 2 Buck Chuck drinking masses. Â Since they've opened, we've managed to learn a little something about wine (I was called a wine snob last night! Â Not my proudest moment, but apparently I've picked up more knowledge than I realized...and I still can't tell a Merlot from a Bordeaux to save my life), as well as find a few new varietals we never would have tried without their guidance. Â The pricing is more than reasonable, and they have a great rewards program. Â Looking forward to the Shorewood location opening in the coming months!
Review Source:We made 2 stops at this wine bar and shop in the Milwaukee Public Market on the same day. First, a late lunch, trying several wine flights and appetizers from the limited food menu. (they also let you bring food from other market vendors) to enjoy with your wine. The flights are a good way to try several different similar wines to find the one you like best, then have a full glass. Then we stepped across the aisle to check out more than 500 different wines by the bottle from around the world, and take advantage of the bottle discount if you've tasted in the wine bar.
Later the same evening, we visited again, after our Milwaukee Food Walk that ended at the market. On both visits we enjoyed the friendly service, and learned the owners/servers were Sonoma wine country veterans Phil Bilodeau and Aimee Murphy. Learn more on our blog post of Milwaukee <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travelingwiththejones.com%2F2010%2F07%2F16%2Fweekend-wanderings-milwaukee-wisconsin%2F&s=b120e9212212c53eb7b614bda9d4e75371cc87a3ff2f914f0a1fb496121e9105" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.travelingwith…</a>
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