Philip Gissen

Review of Iron Horse Hotel

Open Table led us to believe the primary restauran...

Open Table led us to believe the primary restaurant at the Iron Horse Hotel, Ash, would be open for lunch. Instead, Ash was closed and after spending $8.00 for parking, we simply dined at the Branded bar, opposite the restaurant, instead.

This bar was a hang out of mine during the years I lived in Milwaukee, but I just called it the bar at Iron Horse. The hotel was "ground breaking" in its genesis, opening up in an area with absolutely nothing around it. The Fifth Ward was primarily an area of run down warehouses when the Iron Horse Hotel opened in 2005. Now the hotel is surrounded by condo developments, micro breweries, and hipster restaurants.

It hasn't changed in 14 years, and it is still very cool. The bar food is good, barkeeps friendly, and it still attracts an eclectic and trendy clientele. I do miss being recognized and treated like a VIP like in the old days, but not everything stays the same. I live in Utah now, and I'm just a well dressed stranger having lunch and a cocktail at a hotel in Milwaukee. Time doesn't stand still.