The best room service you will ever have

I don’t even know where to begin to describe this incredible restaurant. Room Service is still in its soft opening phase and is serving some of the best food I’ve ever had in Milwaukee. It opened in May and is partnered with the owners of Rice ‘N’ Roll. Reservations are not easy to obtain; Walk-ins are welcome, but there is usually a wait, and it’s definitely worth all the hype.

Located in the newly constructed retail space on Kinninnickic Avenue at the northern tip of Bayview, room service is eye-catching even from the outside. Upon entering, you are greeted by indirect lighting, rich colors and textures adorning the walls, and flashes of gold everywhere you look. There is a traditional bar and a sushi bar in the back with seating. The dining room can probably seat around 50 guests and every space is used intentionally. It’s breathtaking.

Their menu is extensive with cuisines from all over Asia, including Thai and Japanese dishes. The name Room Service comes from the idea that you can get what you want from a global perspective. It’s luxurious, welcoming and meets what you need. Most importantly, the food is delicious.

Once seated, we ran into a few people we knew who had the same good idea as us to go see what everyone was talking about. We each tried a different cocktail, each beautifully presented when brought to your table. The one you probably see on Instagram is the One Night in Bangkok which puts on quite a show.

Chef’s choice

After speaking with the manager, Golf, we agreed to let him send us three starters and three main courses chosen by the chef. This article would go on for pages if I listed descriptions of each dish, so here is the list of what we got and I highly recommend it.

• Royal flower dumplings (starter)
• Chashu Bao Buns (starter)
• Kinnic Crispy Shell (starter)
• River shrimp Tom Yum (soup)
• Samurai Signature Set (sushi rolls)
• Sotum Kai Tod (entrance)
• Namya Pu (entrance)
• Mango Mango (dessert)
• Matcha Crème Brûlée (dessert)

This assortment was a great illustration of what room service offers, but it only scratches the surface. It would be hard for me to pick a favorite, but it probably comes down to the Somtum Kai Tod, Samurai Signature Set, and Matcha Creme Brûlée. Ugh, this is even too hard to print because I’m already thinking about the ones I didn’t write.

The menu can be intimidating, so I highly suggest checking it out before entering the restaurant. And the staff will be happy to guide you and make suggestions. Room service is a great place for groups to taste a little bit of everything before coming back for what you already know you love. You’re going to order and eat a lot, so be prepared. But ordering a thing or two for my single coworkers will work too. And they can work with you on spice levels, which is important given the type of cuisine.

Make your reservation if you haven’t already. Come back for more if you’ve already been there. This will be a Milwaukee staple and is a welcome addition to the already excellent restaurant scene in Bayview.