![fishless fry [tofu] with Cajun potatoes, house-made tartar sauce & ranch slaw - available every Friday! at Celesta in Milwaukee](https://images.happycow.net/venues/1024/12/25/hcmp122563_601825.jpeg)
Vegan
American
International
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Fusion
Gluten-free
Open Jun 2018. Vegan fusion restaurant offering international cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch. Reported closed May 2021.
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 21 May 2021 by saudade
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Added by saudade on 09 Jun 2018
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28 Reviews
First Review by JohnGardner
JohnGardner
Points +664
First! - Edit
New small restaurant, small menu on which everything looked good. Had the buffalo tofu sandwich with the Kake Caeser salad, and the Lima Fries. Those fries are fantastic!
Read morecelestarestaurant
Thank you, JohnGardner!
Read moreGuest
Vgngurl123
Points +79
Killer food - Edit
Food is amazing!!! Best vegan food ever. It’s safer for me that I’m not local lol. I’d be here too often 😜
Read morePros: Great staff, Excellent food, Fast take out service
Cons: Narrowing down what to order
Guest
db0303
Points +63
So Yummy! - Edit
Everything was incredible - definitely stop here if you’re In mke!
Read morePros: Variety of options , Everything was super yummy, The humans I interacted with were VERY kind
Guest
nahbud
Points +84
Hit Or Miss - Edit
It’s all vegan, the servers are incredible and some things are amazing. The Bang Bang Broccoli is hit or miss, the Lima Fries are incredible. It just seems like they make up the rotating meals on the fly with no extensive menu testing or professional experience in cooking. The Ramen tastes reheated and the noodles lack what makes good Ramen noodles good. The lasagna is microwaved and tastes like it. I mean, maybe if they paid their workers well (rumored that most make under $10/hr which is super low for cooks) maybe the food would taste better and be more consistent.
Read morePros: It’s all vegan., It’s good sometimes., It’s creative sometimes.
Cons: Overpriced for what it is., Can be really bad., Not as socially progressive as they seem.
Guest
livtokimoo
Points +173
Amazing food! - Edit
I had the seitan and waffles and they were very good. A bit overcooked, but good nonetheless. Cinnamon roll has amazing too. Will definitely come here again.
Read moreEdit: Just came here again and it was even more good! I got the popcorn chicken and mac n cheese and they were so delicious.
Updated from previous review on 2020-06-24
Pros: Good food, Cinnamon roll
celestarestaurant
Thanks for coming! We appreciate your support.
Read moreGuest
sarahesparkles
Points +24
Delicious and worth it - Edit
Everything at Celesta is vegan and made from whole food in house. The southern plate is amazing. Their lasagne is my favorite dish to get out in Milwaukee. That almond ricotta is the stuff dreams are made of. They have a ton of decadent desserts and awesome cocktails, too. It's my reigning favorite date night restaurant.
Read morePros: Bomb vegan food, Great service, Lots of options cuisine wise
Cons: Limited seating, make a reservation
celestarestaurant
Glad you enjoyed it!
Read moreGuest
jordanel425
Points +137
Solid vegan restaurant - Edit
***Note: you should probably make a reservation
Read moreThe food here was good! My mom had the buffalo sandwich and I had the southern plate. I would recommend the buffalo sandwich most, but I also liked the Mac and cheese that came on the side of the southern a lot. The fried drummies weren’t very good, but their dessert was the real star of the show. Overall, I’d eat there again!
Guest
erickaburz
Points +16
Will be repeat customer - Edit
I have been here for brunch, lunch and dinner. Biscuits and gravy were sooo good! I have to have the arancini every time I go-red sauce is divine. Lasagna is one of the best I have had. A must try is the rose water lemonade, a nod to Abu’s which was a restaurant in the same space years ago. Also!!!!! Desserts!
Read morePros: All vegan! Desserts!
Cons: Make a reservation (not really a con:))
celestarestaurant
Thank you, Ericka!
Read moreGuest
audiogeekdesign
Points +68
I Came Back - Edit
😋 vegan food with a variety of options. Soups, sandwiches, tacos 🌮, entrees and specials. Everything from a healthy bowl to a diner sandwich.
Read moreGuest
Krystina
Points +259
Definitely worth checking out - Edit
This place can be hit or miss. Some days I'll get something here that will be the best dish ever, and some days I'll order something and really hate it. They have a chalkboard that lists the specials of the day (always a taco, a bowl, and a soup) and a small menu of daily items. Their Friday "fish" fry is AMAZING and their weekend brunch chicken & waffles is so so so good.
Read morePros: Fully vegan
Guest
figwoahsthebomb
Points +48
Yas! - Edit
I have Celiac's Disease PLUS I'm vegan.
Read moreThis place is amazing! Very little but cute & cozy. Staff is very sweet. Food is to die for. I had Vegan Gluten-Free tacos. Bomb! 🔥
Pros: Vegan Options & Gluten Free Options
celestarestaurant
We're so glad you joined us.
Read moreGuest
realrachelsd
Points +142
Best ramen ever! - Edit
I was extremely surprised. Went it for brunch but apparently they only do brunch on Sundays which i didn’t see posted anywhere. Was a little disappointed until I got my creamy spicy ramen! So many flavors and perfect consistency, it’s a must try!
Read morePros: All vegan, Fun menu , Reasonable prices
Cons: Small so there might be a wait
Guest
ameuleners
Points +234
I would go back right now! - Edit
This place is my new favorite place to eat in Milwaukee! My husband and I enjoyed a date night here when we were in town. The place is tiny so reservations are a must.
Read moreWe ordered the bang bang broccoli, the Elote dip, the kale Caesar and the soup and salad. It was all delicious! The soup of the day was a flavorful curry vegetable. I’ll for sure be back to this restaurant the next time I’m in Milwaukee.
Pros: All Vegan. , Gluten free options
Cons: No GF entrees except salad.
celestarestaurant
Thanks so much for coming!
Read moreGuest
galaxygirl
Points +58
Delicious!! - Edit
This place is a MUST while you’re in Milwaukee. The food is amazing and the service is fantastic. Terrific decor as well. I’m excited to go back to Milwaukee and visit again.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Great staff and service , Good price
celestarestaurant
Thanks so much, Galaxy Girl! We're honored you plan to return.
Read moreGuest
Dragonfruit.Princess
Points +66
Soul Feeding - Edit
This place is really special. We were just in Milwaukee for the evening, and honestly were worried that the "Dairyland" meant we would be stuck somewhere munching a sad side-salad, and leftover gas station peanuts. Boy were we wrong.
Read moreThe place is small, and quaint. If you're looking for a cozy date-spot, this is a great destination. We didn't book a reservation, but it would have been wise (take note future travelers,) as the place filled up quickly after we arrived.
The waitstaff was very kind and attentive, and was able to answer any questions we had. It was also so great to know right off the bat that everything on the menu (including the alcohol) was vegan! Applause for that, comrades. That isn't the case with many "vegan" spots.
It was our anniversary, so we went the whole nine-yards on drinks, dinner, and dessert, and it was absolutely worth it. The cocktails were out of this world: well balanced, and unique (not to mention aesthetically pleasing.) Being a southern girl, I went for the Southern Plate, and it did not disappoint: the mac n' cheese was very pleasing (savory, good portion, not too noochy,) and complemented well with the bbq baked beans, green beans, and crispy seitan. My husband had the chikn parm, which was sinfully divine.
We rounded it off with a slice of carrot cheese cake, that was roll-your-eyes-in-the-back-of-your-head good.
As vegans, I feel like we don't get these indulgent, exquisite, and artfully done dinners very often. It made our day extra special - I would recommend this place to anyone, vegan or otherwise.
Thanks, y'all. The dairyland wasn't so scary after all😉
Pros: Friendly Attentive Staff, Delicious and Beautiful Food, Drink Menu Vegan!
celestarestaurant
We're so honored you spent your anniversary with us. Thank you!
Read moreGuest
tklein
Points +40
Awesome - Edit
Excellent service, great space, variety on the menu to fit every mood. And the Bang Bang Broccoli is out of this world! I’ll be back soon.
Read morecelestarestaurant
Thank you so much for coming and for your review.
Read moreGuest
McMallory
Points +2855
Very nice! - Edit
Food was excellent and prices were decent. Definitely try a range of items, because everything was really good. The Friday “fish” Fry is a lot of fun, if you’re there on a Friday for dinner.
Read moreThey have some really creative cocktails, which was fun.
Haven’t tried brunch yet but will be back to check it out.
celestarestaurant
Thanks, Mallory!
Read moreGuest
RavenousRabbit
Points +452
Pretty good - Edit
I’ve been following this place since they opened and have been very much looking forward to trying it. They post specials regularly (and other things the owner shares) & the food always looks and sounds excellent. Last time we came to Milwaukee, we missed it bc they are closed on Mondays. This time we planned around it, in fact, it’s really the reason we decided to take a day trip up from Chicago. I’m sad to report that we were not super impressed. Maybe we ordered wrong, but if some place is really on point, that shouldn’t be possible... everything on the menu should be dope.
Read moreThe good: We got the Lima fries, which were really good and unique (though small portion) and the bang bang broccoli which was also delicious. Flavors on both of those were very tasty, but to be fair, it’s kinda hard to f&%k up deep fried foods. They had a Bloody Mary cocktail special that was bomb! It was $10 for just the standard drink that only came w half a lil pickle and lemon wedge? Or for $4 you could add a fried faux chix slider, which we did and it brought the drink up to a small meal level status. Always a little jealous and disgusted seeing so many meat places serve decked out Bloody Marys, so glad to see a vegan spot step up the game. They should add this to the cocktail menu permanently imo. In that case, I may come just for that and would def come back to try brunch sometime.
The not so good: We ordered the Mac n cheese bc we basically always try it at new places and are usually disappointed. We asked if it was sweet before ordering bc we’ve found that most places are using a veggie mix for their cheese sauce, including carrots sweet potatoes and/or a sweetened milk, which ruins it for my bf (I don’t mind it as much) the server told us it was more like authentic cheese, not sweet. She was right, but it lacked flavor and was pretty basic and plain. I liked it ok, but bf was not a fan at all. Bf ordered a Spicy fried tofu sandwich w a side of kale Caesar. Both were not only not impressive, but we didn’t even want to eat them, until we could take them home and doctor them up. the tofu was sour, a HUGE pet peeve of mine, & it was not crispy or spicy at all. There was a very scant smattering of slaw on it, almost undetectable. The salad was a flop. Dressing tasted like nothing and there was barely any, just a tiny bit on the kale, which was not massaged and half was yellowing. Feel like I’m being a little harsh, but I had very high hopes with this restaurant.
Pros: All vegan , Outdoor seating
Cons: Some disappointing items
celestarestaurant
Thank you for coming to see us at Celesta. If you are unhappy with any of your dishes, please let us know and we will try our best to rectify the situation.
Read moreGuest
ChynaCat
Points +398
I was feeling a little depressed in my airport hotel... - Edit
and then I took an Uber to this awesome place! Great food (they make their own seitan!), nice atmosphere, and kind staff. Completely turned this work trip around! When in Milwaukee, go here!
Read morePros: Vegan, Yummy, Nice
celestarestaurant
Glad we cheered you up! Come see us again soon!
Read moreGuest
vannessasiria
Points +53
Creativity and flavor collide! - Edit
I came across Celesta during a recent trip to Wisconsin and I was pleasantly surprised to find such a cute, trendy, vegan spot! I will say that its location is not ideal and the restaurant itself is tiny but the service is great and the food is yummy! My husband, who is not vegan or even vegetarian, enjoyed the food very much, which says a lot! He especially liked the Roasted Za'atar Cauliflower, as did I! The Ramen was also very tasty and contained a great deal of creativity, which is always a plus in my book! Everything was well-seasoned and well-plated as well as fresh.
Read moreI'm not giving 5 stars, though, because the portions are small compared to other similar establishments. I would return if I find myself in the area again but I wouldn't make Celesta a regular part of my routine if I lived there.
Pros: Tasty food, Friendly service
Cons: Small portions
Guest
Kplant
Points +5204
Great Food Hip vibe - Edit
Totally vegan. Great homemade food. They make their own cheezes. I had the Mac n cheese and also indulged in the Lasagna. I hear the pizza is amazing on pizza night though I had to pass.
Read moreGreat vibe of 90s music rocking out to. The perfect little vegan corner vegan neighborhood restaurant.
Pros: Home made food. Not pre-made store bought.
celestarestaurant
We are so glad you enjoyed your experience.
Read moreGuest
SarahV1117
Points +133
Wonderful vegan addition to Milwaukee-elevated and inspired! - Edit
Had a wonderful dinner at Celesta. Intimate seating, service was as friendly as it gets and between the regular menu and daily specials...many return visits are needed because you will want to try everything! I am a visitor to Milwaukee (used to live here) and Celesta competes with any of the top vegan restaurants I have experienced in bigger cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York. You won’t regret a visit!
Read morePros: elevated and inspired (all vegan) comfort food, Friendly and courteous service, Stylish and on trend atmosphere
Guest
LivingBeing
Points +42
This food is as good as it gets - Edit
On my visit to pick up a cake order , I ordered the lasagna off the menu. Not only was the lasagna the best I've ever had but so was the cake (and I've had plenty of cake in my lifetime). The lasagna managed to be filling but not heavy and had great flavor. The arugula salad was a bonus. And the cake (chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream) was moist and the frosting was freaking incredible. Too often I've had cakes where the frosting is too sugary, not the case here. Everyone loved the cake and two others also stated it was the best cake they've had. Service was great (both during dining/pickup and through online cake order communication). Restaurant itself is very pleasant. Been to many vegan restaurants across the country over my twenty years as a vegan and none of them beat the food here.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2019-04-10
Pros: Food, Service
Cons: Parking (you know how it can be on the east side)
celestarestaurant
We really appreciate that you took the time to write a positive review. Thank you!
Read moreGuest
AnnaRebecca
Points +18
good food waaaay overpriced - Edit
I had their fishless fry and a cupcake. Both were delicious but 15$ for three pieces of fried tofu and some potatoes? Ehhh not worth it to me but it tasted great. I’d suggest you go to one of the cheaper vegan restaurants in MKE though.
Read morecelestarestaurant
We are glad you stopped in, AnnaRebecca and are sorry to hear you think our Fishless Fry is overpriced. We use locally sourced tofu and two kinds of seaweed, so we price the dish at market value. We hope you will come see us again and try something agreeable to your budget.
Read moreGuest
Vibingveggie
Points +64
AMAZING - Edit
Absolutely beautiful place, friendly service, food to die for, great music, good prices. By far the best vegan place if been to so far
Read morePros: Beautifully arranged , Great food, Friendly people
Cons: Parking, but that’s ok. I can walk
celestarestaurant
Thanks for your review, ShantayLauren!
Read moreGuest
milos99
Points +671
Inspired vegan fare! - Edit
We visited Celesta for a date with friends that are not vegan. We and they found too many dishes to order and ghoutougjzky enjoyed our time at the restaurant. It’s a bit of a mix of comfort food and fusion - all delicious! That block with Strange Town around the corner is fast becoming the vegan beacon for MKE!
Read morePros: All vegan all the time
Cons: Small dining space, staff still getting used to o
celestarestaurant
Thanks for coming!
Read moreGuest
WiderVistas
Points +1847
my new special occasion restaurant - Edit
We drove in from an hour away and it was worth it. The menu included comfort food and fancier treats like arancini and carpaccio. Everything we tried tasted wonderful, obviously fresh and housemade. The ambiance was classy cafe, a step above casual. While some guests wore shorts or jeans (which was fine), most wore cute dresses, nicer polos and slacks. It truly felt like a night out. Service was friendly. Waitress even brought over club soda when I got some tomato sauce on my clothes. The owner Melanie came out of the kitchen to greet us. We really felt special.
Read morePros: variety of choices
Cons: too far away from me
celestarestaurant
We are so glad you enjoyed your visit. Please come see us again soon!
Read moreGuest
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