Mader's Restaurant
Best German Restaurant in Milwaukee · WI
Schnitzel among the suits of armor
Mader's has served authentic German cuisine in downtown Milwaukee since 1902, when German immigrant Charles Mader opened the doors. Sauerbraten, pork shank, and Wiener schnitzel come in a baronial dining room hung with a multimillion-dollar collection of medieval armor and stained glass.
A destination for presidents, celebrities, and generations of Milwaukeeans marking special occasions, Mader's is the city's grand old German restaurant — Old World spectacle and Bavarian comfort in equal measure.
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Mader's Restaurant met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Milwaukee since 1902 — 123 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Milwaukee.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Milwaukee has kept Mader's Restaurant busy for 123 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Milwaukee regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best German restaurant in Milwaukee for 2025 for more than a century of pork shank and pageantry since 1902.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best German Restaurant in Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Mader's Restaurant
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Mader's Restaurant.
- Legal / trading name
- Mader's Restaurant
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1902, Milwaukee, WI
- Location
- Milwaukee, WI
- Centurion Award
- Best German Restaurant in Milwaukee — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Mader's Restaurant against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Mader's Restaurant?
Serving German food since 1902 in a hall of steins, carvings, and armor, Mader's is Milwaukee's old-world dining landmark.
Is Mader's Restaurant award-winning?
Yes — Mader's Restaurant is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best German Restaurant in Milwaukee, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best German restaurant in Milwaukee for 2025 for more than a century of pork shank and pageantry since 1902.
Where is Mader's Restaurant?
Mader's Restaurant is in Milwaukee, WI.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.