At the southwest corner of Knapp and Water Streets you’ll notice quite a change.
The location has been a revolving door for taverns over the years. But just a few months ago, Joe and Angie Sorge decided to take it over and make it their own, turning the familiar spot into AJ Bombers.
There are no remnants of The Corner and Water's End, the places that inhabited this space just months ago. In fact, the Sorge’s have gutted and remodeled the interior so that it looks completely different.
Oh, and don't be alarmed if you hear a large crashing sound coming from inside the place. That's just the sound of someone getting free peanuts via a comical contraption where Loney Tunes meets Pee-wee Herman in WWII. Folks are encouraged to toss the shells on the floor, but no cigarette butts – AJ Bombers is Water Street's first smoke-free bar/restaurant.
On Thursday, a couple of my closest friends and I – I've dubbed us the "Fiveviewers," something inspired by Milwaukee Magazine – were invited by Joe to taste some of the dishes on AJ Bombers' menu. In return, I promised Joe five candid reviews.
But before I share each of the Fiveviewers' opinions, let me level with you. None of us are food "critics." Sure, some of us have a pretty well-founded knowledge of food and food trends, but the rest of us simply know what tastes good – or bad. So, we won't allocate a certain number of stars or analyze what kind of spice went into the Bomber sauce. Instead, you're going to get thoughtful, honest reviews from one of your neighbors, an average Joe who just likes a good eat and isn't afraid to offer up a plainspoken rant or rave.
Karen (BTB), 26, Milwaukee
What I ordered:Appetizer: Gi-normous fries (shared), $4 (full order). Entrée: Stuffed ‘Shroom, $5. A crispy fried portabello mushroom stuffed with Wisconsin cheddar and muenster cheeses and topped with lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce. Dessert: Ice cream cookie sandwich, $4.
Taste/presentation: Appetizer: The Gi-normous fries were warm and fresh, hand-sliced into thin strips and seasoned with a dash of salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. While the fries were definitely tasty, there wasn’t anything extremely surprising about them nor anything “Gi-normous” for that matter. Instead, I would have liked to see giant steak fries or something – large wedges would live up to the “Gi-normous” title at least.
Entrée: The portabello was lightly breaded with a thin layer of Panko flakes, and then it was fried until golden brown. The Panko crust added a nice crisp and flaky texture to the soft, delicate portabello. As a glutton for cheese-filled anything, this sandwich was fantastic. It wasn’t overly filling or greasy either, yes, even as it burst at the seams with gooey, melty cheese. Oh my god, I’ve got to get me another – I’ve been craving this dish since I left!
Dessert: The ice cream sandwich was so enormous I had to share it. The thick, saucer-sized cookies came out warm and soft and were chock-full of chocolate chips that were on the verge of melting. I definitely needed a napkin and a nap after that.
Atmosphere/service: I loved the atmosphere – casual yet fun. The highlight upon entering was the clever peanut delivery system where peanuts are dumped by a bartender into a comically painted "bomb" and are thrown on a track across the bar, dropping the peanuts into a chute that empties out into a bowl. The service was amicable, accommodating and attentive. I'll probably be back next week.
Eric, 29, New Berlin
What I ordered: Appetizer (shared): homemade Sweet Potato Chips, $4 (full order). Entrée: Black Bean Burger, $6. Served with lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce, and topped off with onions and mushrooms for an addition $1 each. Dessert: Sprecher Root Beer Float, $5.
Taste/presentation: Appetizer: The sweet potato chips had a great flavor – really crispy and light, not oily at all. They looked really interesting, thin and gnarly. I kept eating them even after I was stuffed.
Entrée: I usually stay away from vegetarian dishes but I ordered the Black Bean Burger because it seemed like an interesting idea. Surprisingly, it had a lot of flavor for a veggie dish and the texture of the bean patty was really good – I was worried it was going to be like eating bean paste but it wasn't at all. It also tasted great with the extra grilled onions and mushrooms.
Dessert: The ice-cream in the root beer float was really, really creamy and good. I guess you can't really go wrong with Sprecher Root Beer and good ice-cream.
Atmosphere/service: The atmosphere was fun. The decor was interesting and tasteful. Sometimes themed places can be a bit tacky but this definitely was not. The bomb peanut dispensers are cool as hell – I’ve never seen anything like that before. The service was fast and friendly, too. Besides that, it would be nice if there was an easy way to signal the bartender to send a peanut-filled bomb down the track and into our bowls for a refill. Having to wait to get his/her attention on a busy night would be a pain. Although there are peanut dispensers around the place where you can help yourself to a fresh scoop, it's not quite as cool as peanut shrapnel.
Tess, 24, Milwaukee
What I ordered: Appetizer: Wings, $6 (one pound of BBQ and one pound of Buffalo). Entrée: Bomber Burger, $7.50. It’s the AJ Burger, a 1/4 lb burger topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce, that’s topped with a Stuffed ‘Shroom, a fried portabello stuffed with cheddar and muenster cheeses. Dessert: Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich, $4
Taste/presentation: Appetizer: The delicious BBQ sauce had a tangy and sweet after taste that paired perfectly with a dollop of blue cheese dressing, which is served on the side. The Buffalo wings were covered in a spicy sauce that was even enjoyable for someone who can't usually take the heat.
Entrée: The burger was tender and juicy as it was cooked to medium “doneness.” The stuffed, flash-fried portabello offered a nice crunch atop the burger and upon my first bite it exploded with melted cheese, adding even more complexity to the sandwich. I greatly enjoyed the burgers many textures and flavors.
Dessert: The ice cream sandwiched was delightfully creamy and the perfect end to a scrumptious meal.
Atmosphere/service: The atmosphere was warm and welcoming; I felt welcomed the second I came through the door. AJ Bombers is pleasantly different from most bars and restaurants on Water Street. They offer up a smaller service restaurant with a smoke-free environment. The restaurant is uniquely designed and entertaining with writing on the walls and peanut launchers that deliver peanuts to your booth. While I enjoy being able to throw the shells on the ground, it raises some concern. With the large quantity of shells on the ground I wonder how often, or if ever, people slip – I almost did.
The service was fantastic! All of my questions were answered by the wait staff and owner. They were supportive in taking us through the menu and pointing out combination ideas and recommendations. If the only thing that worries me about the restaurant is the peanut shells on the ground, then I think AJ Bombers is a hit – or should I say the bomb!
Justin, 27, Menomonee Falls
What I ordered: Appetizer: Cheese Bullets, $4. Fried Wisconsin cheddar and muenster cheeses served with spicy ranch. Entrée: Single AJ Burger, $4. Topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce, and capped with one fried egg for an extra $1. Dessert: Sprecher Root Beer Float, $5.
Taste/presentation: Appetizer: The Bullets were huge and delicious. I was not a fan of the dipping sauce only because of the hot peppers, which made it too spicy for my liking. Regardless, the Bullets are a great idea, a step up from the cheese curds.
Entrée: The AJ Burger was also delicious. I loved the fact that fried egg was offered as an extra topping seeing as it’s not a typical option at many places that I’ve been to in Wisconsin.
Dessert: This was your basic root beer float, made with Sprecher Root Beer, but nothing special.
Atmosphere/service: The service was good. Each person was very accommodating, cheerful and overall entertaining. I loved the peanut dispenser and the atmosphere was very chill. The only issue I had was that I wish all of the TVs were airing the Brewers game, I mean, peanuts and baseball, c’mon, it’s a given.
Jim, 32, Bay View
What I ordered: Appetizer: Wings, $6 (one pound of BBQ and one pound of Buffalo). Entrée: Double AJ Burger, $6.50. Served with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Bomber sauce, and topped with grilled onions for an extra $1. Dessert: I'm the last man on the planet that needs to order a dessert. Just sayin’.
Taste/presentation: Appetizer: The appetizers are plainly served on a platter covered in paper. Nothing fancy but it didn't require anything fancy. The BBQ wings were amazing. The sauce is slightly smokey, but not too sweet or too rich.
Entrée: The owner, Joe, recommended the burger and said that to best enjoy it, you should not use ketchup or mustard. He proceeded to describe in detail the process by which they choose the meat, the overall “science of the burger,” if you will. I was so enthralled that I both ordered the burger and ate it as he suggested. I now have a new “Best Burger” in Milwaukee. The beef was flavorful, much more so then you expect from regular beef. It also tasted fresh, not frozen. Add to it the cheese and onions and you have the perfect burger. With choices from 1 to 4 patties, you can get it in just the size you need to be both thrilled and satisfied.
Dessert: As you can clearly see by my obvious intoxication with food, I have made the choice to skip desserts – It's the only thing keeping me from weighing 600 pounds.
Atmosphere/service: I'm not a fan of Water Street in general, but the second I walked in to AJ Bombers I felt comfortable. It's a theme bar – WWII theme – but comically done, kind of how Buggs Bunny might do a WWII themed bar, if that’s possible. The peanut-delivery system needs to be seen to be believed – that alone is worth a trip.
The staff is friendly, although the bartender's attention was hard to get even though the bar was far from busy. Beyond that, everyone seemed very intent to please, but in a relaxed and non-aggressive way. The crowd was super relaxed and, best of all? NO SMOKING! This is the kind of bar I will bring people to; in fact, I already have plans to go back with a bunch of co-workers.
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AJ Bombers
1247 Water Street (corner of Knapp and Water)
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
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