The Branded Steer opened a second location in April 2009 in the Park Place Business Complex in Milwaukee. The location serves business and residential customers alike as it is conveniently just off the freeway at Highway 45 and Good Hope Road, in a spot that was previously a Tumbleweed's Restaurant. The parking lot and restaurant, located at 10950 W. Good Hope Road, are spacious, with plenty of availability even on the busiest of nights.
However, a recent visit to the restaurant left this reviewer unimpressed overall. The meal began with an order of "onion lassos," which are a plate of onion strings piled high with a saucy dressing for dipping on the side. The dipping sauce was bitter and the onion strings were extremely salty, and actually lacking in onion or breading flavor. At $6.25, this appetizer was also overpriced.
On to the entrées, the first of which was a filet sandwich priced at $14.95. The dish included a tender cut of meat served on a piece of Texas toast. The toast was completely dry, lacking butter and garlic seasoning. Another piece of dried toast was included on the plate as a garnish. While the toast lacked, the filet itself was delicious, cooked exactly as ordered and flavorful on its own.
Service at the Branded Steer II seems friendly yet inexperienced, with orders mixed up and service extremely slow. An order of French fries was supposed to come with one meal and did not, instead it contained more onion lassos and mashed potatoes, both of which were lacking in flavor. The potatoes were dry and bland. The wait staff did correct the order by later bringing the French fries, but combined with the lack of flavor in the meal the corrections were not enough to change the opinion of this reviewer.
The second entrée ordered was a "runaway fajita" burger, which was average in flavor but again, cooked well. At $9.25, this dish came with French fries and a soggy pickle off to the side. The burger was generous in size, and enough to fill up someone with a hungry appetite.
It's obvious that the Branded Steer II does know how to cook meat. While this restaurant does have the potential to compete with Outback Steakhouse, especially with its location on the North side of Milwaukee, it would need to improve its service, price, and overall meal experience in order for that to happen.
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