Although the name sounded a little strange, it seemed trendy too. And when we walked into it, the name matched the decor and everything else in it!
Kil@wat, at InterContinental Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is named after its location, which is on the intersection of E Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. The contemporary interiors, furnished with accents of orange and green, was warm and inviting for the two incredibly hungry people in chilling Milwaukee! Quite a stimulating change from the usual, neutral American design, this restaurant was bursting with color and happiness. The ambience was welcoming with families sitting down for that weekend meal. Not austere like many luxury restaurants could be, Kil@wat was pleasing to revel in.
Serving traditional American cuisine with contemporary twists, we decided to try the weekend brunch here. With a long road trip ahead of us after the brunch, we knew we could do with some calories and carbs.
Classic case
The brunch menu at Kil@wat is quite classic with traditional American favorites. Starting with freshly squeezed orange juice, which was quite refreshing, we mulled over the menu. It wasn’t very extensive, but just enough with some familiar, tempting options listed on it.
As would anyone looking forward to a quintessential American breakfast, we ordered eggs, pancakes and waffles. The three egg omelette, with a filling of onion, spinach and cheddar cheese, was served hot, just like my companion liked, and cooked well. Melt in the mouth, the omelette was served with potato hash, and my companion was completely satisfied and spoilt for anything else on the table.
The buttermilk chocolate pancakes, three large, plump ones by the way, were oozing with chocolate. Well cooked, slightly crispy and fluffy, it was just the way I liked it! Served with some delicious maple syrup, which paired well with the chocolate, I gulped down some hot bites before stopping for a tiny break.
The malted Belgian waffles were what caught my attention though first. And they were so pretty that I ate them the last. Tiny and oh-so-cute, the golden brown waffles were served with a little shell-shaped butter piece each on top, warm berry compote and maple syrup. Exquisite and crispy, I literally kept the fork and knife aside, and picked them up to by hand.
More to enjoy
Though we had our fill, I think one visit was not enough to explore Kil@wat completely. If pancakes and waffles are not enough, you could order a Classic Big Boy burger. Egg favorites included other options such as benedicts (traditional and California), Southwest Skillet, Tofu Scrambler and more.
The lunch and dinner are a completely different affair at Kil@wat. Sage Turkey Burger; Reuben (with grilled rye, shredded corned beef, aged swiss, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing); and Rosemary Polenta Cake (with wild mushrooms, mission figs, baby arugula and truffled balsamic vinaigrette) are appetizing options for that quick, lavish lunch between meetings.
Dinner assumes classier proportions with Grilled Veal Skirt Steak salad. Lump Crab Cake or a Charcuterie platter will start you quite well. Seared Salmon, Grandma’s Chicken (with green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and crispy onions); and Orecchiette Pasta (with Bolognese sauce and Grana Padano cheese) are hearty meals that will satisfy you surely.
The service at Kil@wat was excellent. With prompt execution of requests and occasional (but non-intrusive) checks on guests, you felt the genuine attention of the staff. A restaurant that combines excellent cookery with happy ambience, Kil@wat has become one of our favorites when visiting Milwaukee!
Coordinates: 139 East Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202
