Welcome to La Merenda, a casual tapas bar & restaurant located in Milwaukee's historic Walker's Point. From antipasti to meze, local brews to South American wines, we will satisfy your craving for regional and international flavor. We have complimentary valet parking.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Phone
(414) 389.0125
Location
125 East National Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Hours
Lunch:
M-Fri 11-2pm
Dinner
M-Th 5p–10p
Fri-Sat 5p–11p
Bar
M-Fri 5p–close
Sat 5p–close
About
We are a full service casual bar and restaurant featuring small plates from around the world. From the Indonesian delight Sambal Goreng Udang to the Spanish favorite Patatas Bravas to authentic Colombian empanadas, you'll find it at La Merenda.
In Italian, La Merenda means "early snack" and refers to an Italian custom of early evening socializing and gathering to share food and drink amongst friends and family. We are honored to have been gathering with you at La Merenda since February 14, 2007.
La Merenda is located in a renovated woodworking shop which has been painted and decorated in bright colors to make the restaurant energetic, full of light and fun so people enjoy a unique cultural experience. The restaurant features a welcoming bar of concrete, walnut base and Italian ceramic tile, as well as restored and stained antique tables and chairs. In 2013, we added a patio with ample seating, varying degrees of shade, an outdoor bar and fireplace, and a vegetable garden from which we source some of our ingredients.
field | campo | reimse | parang
$8.5
Local Artisan Cheese (Wisconsin)
farmstead cheeses | roasted olives | Troubadour Bakery bread *gf upon request
$8.5
$8.5
La Merenda Salad (Italy)
local arugula | cherry ginger vinaigrette | Sartori Dolcina gorgonzola | roasted hazelnuts | braised cherries *gf
$8.5
Brightonwoods Orchards apples | toasted almonds | LaClare chevre apple vinaigrette *gf
Wisconsin Farmers Salad (Wisconsin)
Milaeger's greens | pickled River Valley Ranch mushrooms | pickled local beets | local carrot |
Brightonwoods Orchards apples | toasted almonds | LaClare chevre apple vinaigrette *gf
$9
$9
$8.5
Pistachio Salad (Italy)
local arugula | candied pistachios | Sartori Dolcina gorgonzola | pistachio vinaigrette *gf
$8.5
$7
Empanadas Vegetarianas (Colombia)
savory fried pastry | local sweet potato | Driftless Organics chili beans | local squash | grilled sweet corn | sofrito *gf
$7
$6.5
Sautéed Spinach (Italy)
garlic | parmesan cheese *gf
$6.5
$5.5
Truffled Potato Skins (Wisconsin)
potato skin peelings | Sartori SarVecchio parmesan cheese | truffle oil *gf
$5.5
$8
Seasonal Vegetable Tart (Wisconsin)
local seasonal vegetables | local WI cheeses | gastrique | micro salad | honey lemon vinaigrette
$8
$10
Fundido de Hongos (Mexico)
River Valley Ranch mushrooms | Clock Shadow Creamery Menonita | cilantro | onions | truffle oil | house-made corn tortilla chips *gf
$10
$9
Risotto con Funghi (Italy)
River Valley Ranch mushrooms | arugula gremolata | parmesan cheese | Milaeger’s microgreens *gf
$9
sage brown butter | shaved Uplands Dairy Pleasant Ridge Reserve
Local Squash Cappalletti (Italy)
local squash & LaClare chevre stuffed cappalletti | Brightenwoods Orchards apples | toasted pecans |
sage brown butter | shaved Uplands Dairy Pleasant Ridge Reserve
$10
$10
sea | mare | farrige | dagat
peanuts | cilantro | mint | tamarind vinaigrette
Malaysian Shrimp Skewers (Malaysia)
satay marinated gulf white shrimp | spicy peanut rice noodles | green papaya | jicama | carrots |
peanuts | cilantro | mint | tamarind vinaigrette
$13
$13
$14
Trout Creole (New Orleans)
Rushing Waters trout fillet | fried polenta cake | housemade andouille | maque choux | *gf
$14
$13
Gambas al Ajillo (Spain)
gulf white shrimp | garlic | olive oil | red pepper flake | grilled Troubadour Bakery bread | lemon *gf upon request
$13
$15
Ensalada de Pulpo Gallego (Spain)
grilled Spanish octopus | local potato | grilled red pepper | local arugula | romesco | smoked paprika vinaigrette *gf
$15
pasture | pascolo | fearaigh | pastulan
$15
Local Artisan Cheese & Meat (Wisconsin)
farmstead cheeses | roasted olives | house charcuterie house pickles | Troubadour Bakery bread *gf upon request
$15
$9.5
Prosciutto Salad (Italy)
local arugula | pistachios | Sartori Dolcina gorgonzola | La Quercia prosciutto | pistachio vinaigrette *gf
$9.5
$8.5
Beef Empanadas (Colombia)
savory fried cornmeal pastry | malbec braised Wisconsin Meadows beef | golden raisins | green olives | aji *gf
$8.5
$10
Goat Cheese Curds (Wisconsin)
LaClare Farms goat cheese curds | Tia Paquita chorizo cream sauce | crostini
$10
$14
Cappalletti con Ragu di Agnello (Italy)
Wisonsin Meadows veal ragu | River Valley Ranch mushrooms | shaved Uplands Dairy Pleasant Ridge Reserve
$14
$14
Veal Stracotto (Italy)
Wisconsin Meadows veal | Engine Company No. 3 bacon | River Valley Ranch mushrooms | risotto | arugula gremolata *gf
$14
$13
Pinchos Lomo con Chorizo (Argentina)
Maple Creek Farms pork loin | local potato | housemade pork chorizo | Spanish salsa verde | garlic aioli *gf
$13
$13
Jamaican Goat Curry (Jamaica)
spicy LaClare Farms braised goat | tostones | green papaya & jicama slaw | rum coconut vinaigrette *gf
$13
$12
Thai Black Bean Crepes (Thailand)
house-made red curry crepes | Thai braised Maple Creek Farms pork belly | River Valley Ranch mushrooms | black bean sauce
$12
seasonal agridolce | fried sage *gf
Duck & Rabbit Sausage (Wisconsin)
Engle Farm rabbit & Maple Creek Farms pork sausage | seasonal root vegetable hash |
seasonal agridolce | fried sage *gf
$13
$13
$12
Pork and Shrimp Dumplings (China)
Maple Creek Farms pork | gulf white shrimp | spicy garlic broth | scallions | sesame seed | white rice
$12
$9.5
Chorizo y Patatas Bravas (Spain)
Tia Paquita chorizo | fried local potatoes | spicy bravas sauce | garlic aioli *gf
$9.5
$10
Butter Chicken (India)
Three Brothers Farm chicken | curry | cream | ginger | garlic | chile | turmeric | tomato | cilantro | cashews | rice *gf
$10
$16
Argentinian Style Beef (Argentina)
grilled Wisconsin Meadows organic grass-fed beef tenderloin | chimichurri | mashed plantains | walnuts *gf
$16
$13
Sopes de Pato (Mexico)
Maple Leaf Farms duck | housemade masa cake | local radish | crema | cilantro gf*
$13
The *gf tag means the dish itself is prepared without wheat or gluten. However, we have gluten in our kitchen so we cannot guarantee a completely gluten free experience - but we promise there is no love lost.
DRINKS
BOTTLE ONLY
$58
'15 Ghostwriter Chardonnay
(Santa Cruz Mountains, CA)
$58
$65
'14 Melville Chardonnay
(Santa Rita Hills, CA)
$65
$65
'13 Domaine Robert-Denegent Macon-Fuisse - Les Taches
(Burgundy, France)
$65
$50
'12 Domaine Des Baumard Savennieres
(Loire, France)
$50
$86
'14 Cantina Tramin Kellerei Stoan
(Alto Adige, Italy)
$86
$44
‘14 Brandborg “ Benchlands” Pinot Noir
(Umpqua Valley, OR)
$44
$48
‘14 Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella
(Piedmont, Italy)
$48
$67
‘13 Produttori Barbaresco
(Piedmont, Italy)
$67
$50
‘15 E. Guigal
(Crozes-Hermitage, France)
$50
$54
’15 Melville, Verna's Estate Syrah
(Santa. Rita Hills, CA)
$54
$66
'12 Botromagno Murgia Pier delle Vigne Aglianico/Montepulciano
(Puglia, Italy)
$66
$74
‘13 Trione, Henry's Blend Bordeaux Blend
(Alexander Valley, CA)
$74
$50
'14 Gundlach Bundschu Merlot
(Sonoma Valley, CA)
$50
$56
‘15 Decero, The Owl & The Dust Devil
(Mendoza, Argentina)
$56
$110
‘14 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Savignon
(Rutherford, Napa Valley, CA)
$110
$64
’13 Chateau Respide-Medeville Graves Cabernet Sauvignon
(Bordeaux, France)
$64
$75
'15 Famille Perrin, Les Sinards Chateauneuf-du-Pape
(Rhone, France)
$75
$52
'13 Mitolo, Angela Shiraz
(McLaren Vale, Australia)
$52
SPARKLING & ROSE
$10
/
split
Canella Prosecco
(Veneto, Italy)
$10
/
split
$7.25
/
$34
Gruet Blanc de Noirs
(New Mexico)
$7.25
/
$34
$7.25
/
$34
Gruet Sparkling Rose
(New Mexico)
$7.25
/
$34
Market Price
Rotating Rose
Market Price
HOUSE WINES
$5
/
$22
Chardonnay
$5
/
$22
$5
/
$22
Pinot Grigio
$5
/
$22
$5
/
$22
Malbec
$5
/
$22
$5
/
$22
Cabernet
$5
/
$22
$5
/
$24
Sangria
$5
/
$24
WHITE / BIANCO / BLANCO
$6.5
/
$28
‘14 Michel Fonne "Grains de Genie"
(Alsace, France)
$6.5
/
$28
$7
/
$30
‘16 Selbach Incline Riesling
(Mosel, Germany)
$7
/
$30
$7.50
/
$32
‘16 Marlborough Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
(Marlborough, New Zealand)
$7.50
/
$32
$9
/
$38
’16 Huber Gruner Veltliner
(Traisental, Austria)
$9
/
$38
$8
/
$34
’17 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris
(Valle De Calchagua, Chile)
$8
/
$34
$7
/
$30
‘16 Little James’ Basket Press Viognier/Sauvignon
(St. Cosme, France)
$7
/
$30
$7
/
$30
‘16 Basa Rueda Verdejo/Viura/ Sauvignon Blanc
(Rueda, Spain)
$7
/
$30
$6.50
/
$28
‘16 Chateau Bonnet White Bordeaux
(Bordeaux, France)
$6.50
/
$28
$9.5
/
$40
‘15 Raeburn Chardonnay
(Russian River Valley., CA)
$9.5
/
$40
$6.5
/
$28
'15 True Myth Chardonnay
(Edna Valley, CA)
$6.5
/
$28
$6.5
/
$28
'17 Chateau L'Emritage, Auzan Roussane/viognier/Granache
(Costieres de Nimes, France)
$6.5
/
$28
RED / ROJO / ROSSO
$9
/
$38
‘15 Bouchard Pere Fils Pinot Noir
(Bourgogne, France)
$9
/
$38
$9
/
$38
‘16 Decero Malbec
(Mendoza, Argentina)
$9
/
$38
$6.50
/
$28
‘16 Errazuriz MAX Carmenere
(Aconcagua Valley, Chile)
$6.50
/
$28
$8
/
$34
‘15 Ramon Bilbao Limited Edition Crianza Temperanillo
(Rioja, Spain)
$8
/
$34
$8
/
$34
‘16 Morgan Cotes du Crows Grenache/Syrah
(Monterey, CA)
$8
/
$34
$7.5
/
$32
’15 Elqui Red Blend
(Elqui Valley, Chile)
$7.5
/
$32
$8
/
$34
’13 Terre Rouge Syrah
(Clement Hills, CA)
$8
/
$34
$6.5
/
$28
‘13 Di Majo Norante Montepulciano/Aglianico
(Molise, Italy)
$6.5
/
$28
$9
/
$38
’15 Portal del Priorat Granacha/ Carignan
(Priorat, Spain)
$9
/
$38
$8.5
/
$36
’16 Atrea Old Soul Red
(Mendocino, CA)
$8.5
/
$36
$9
/
$38
'14 Decero Cabernet Sauvignon
(Mendoza, Argentina)
$9
/
$38
$9
/
$38
‘13 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz
(Clare valley, Australia)
$9
/
$38
$9
/
$38
‘14 Surani Heracles Primitivo
(Puglia, Italy)
$9
/
$38
$8.5
/
$36
'16 Tua Rita Rosso Dei Notri
(Tuscany, Italy)
$8.5
/
$36
$9
/
$38
'15 Le P'tit Paysan Granache/Syrah/Mourvedre/Counoise/Cinsault
(Central Coast, California)
$9
/
$38
$8.5
/
$35
'16 Farage Wine Co. Cinsault
(Itata, Chile)
$8.5
/
$35
$9
/
$38
'16 Aranjuez Tannat
(Tarija, Bolivia)
$9
/
$38
$9
/
$38
'15 Ancient Peaks Zinfandel
(Paso Robles, California)
$9
/
$38
BEER / CERVEZA / BIER / BIRRA / BIERE
DOMESTICS
$3.25
Miller High Life
$3.25
$3.25
Miller Lite
$3.25
$3
Pabst 16oz Silos
$3
DRAUGHT
$4
/
$13
La Merenda’s National Avenue Red Ale
$4
/
$13
Market Price
Co. Brewing (Rotating Tap)
Market Price
Lakefront Brewery / Milwaukee, WI
$4.50
IPA
$4.50
$4.50
East Side Dark
$4.50
$4.50
Riverwest Stein
$4.50
Old Abe Brewing / Hartland, WI
$6
Bramble On Blackberry
$6
$6
Maple Twist Pale Ale
$6
Karben4 / Madison, WI
$5
Fantasy Factory IPA
$5
Ale Asylum / Madison, WI
$5
12oz Curl Pilsner
$5
Central Waters Brewery / Amherst, WI
$5
Rift IPA
$5
$5
Satin Solitude Imperial Stout
$5
Barley Johns / New Richmond, WI
$5.50
Little Barley Session Ale
$5.50
New Glarus Brewery / New Galrus, WI
$4.50
Spotted Cow
$4.50
JK's Scrumpy / Flushing, MI
$6.50
Orchard Gate Gold Cider
$6.50
Grupo Modelo / Toluca Mexico
$4.50
Victoria Lager
$4.50
Brasserie Lefebvre / Belgium
$5
Blanche de Bruxelles
$5
SPECIALTY DRINKS
$8
CAIPIRINHA
Cachaça Brazilian rum | lime | sugar
$8
$9
PIMMS COOLER
Rehorst Gin | Pimms No. 1 | lime | mint | Ginger Beer
$9
$9
SPICED PEAR WHISKEY SOUR
Bulleit bourbon | St George spice pear liqueur | Ancho Reyes chile liqueur | lemon
$9
$11
PINK GIN
ReHorst Gin | Bittercube Jamaican #2 bitters | lemon | rosemary syrup
$11
$11
RED EYE FROM PARIS
Death's Door Gin | Lillet Blanc aromatized wine | Campari | lemon | Fee Brother's grapefruit bitters
$11
$11
THE AVENUE
Copper & Kings Brandy | Sweet Vermouth | Aperol housemade dram | Fee Brothers' orange bitters
$11
$10
IN BLOOM
Rishi jasmine tea infused Rehorst Vodka | jasmine syrup | St. Germain elderflower liquor | Fee Brothers' cherry bitters | lemon
$10
$10
TRES REYES
Pasote Reposado tequilla | St. George NOLA coffee liquor | 43 liquor | ArtiSans cola
$10
Glass 6
/
Pitcher 24
RED SANGRIA
House fruit puree | triple sec | red wine | Arti.Sans citrus soda
Glass 6
/
Pitcher 24
SEASONAL COCKTAIL
Please ask your server
MAKE A RESERVATION
For reservations of 6 or less please feel free to use our online system.
For any special needs or parties of 7 - 24 please call us directly and we will love to take care of you
For gift cards, questions and comments, please feel free to stop in, call us at 414.389.0125 or contact us.