I have been wanting to try this place for a while...it finally happened! We celebrated our Anniversary last month and Sanford did not disappoint. We had an earlier reservation on a Tuesday. We each did the 7 course surprise tasting menu with the wine add on... everything was perfectly presented and prepared. The pairings went together nicely and the presentation made you want to savor each bite. The experience easily took 3 hours... we had the best of the best serving us. Great conversation, funny and very knowledgeable about what was being presented to us. Corrie Lynn really did a great job. We ended up staying until the close and Corrie Lynn and Carrie were so fantastic. I also got to meet some of the people in the kitchen that prepared our beautiful dishes. I am thrilled that I got to finally try this place and will definitely return!

Unbelievable experience. Met the chef on accident walking in from the grocery store from buying bananas. Just was great. The back story to the whole place and even the new chef from the old chef. I felt fine dinned and pampered. I came in from work. They made me feel right at home. Definitely a fancy place, no matter what your dressed in they will treat you like royalty. One of my favorite dining experiences to date. Wish my date wasn’t home in daytona. A must try but know it’s 4 courses and $100 a person. Minimum before you walk in the door. Worth it.

My family went to Sanford last night to celebrate my 40th birthday.. I have checked reviews before I booked, very disappointed I have to say ! The food was fixed 4 course menu, very average, is the food ok of course it’s a good if you don’t pay that much.. if you would go to any regular good restaurants I think you will get the same food instead . The first course out family ordered three different things we tried each one taste ok plating was not for upscale should be, the soup was the worst, then the beef tenderloin was good I did enjoy it.. the dessert was big and heavy, just over rated.. then let’s talk about wine,, what a ripoff, I have up load the picture as above, ok the first I thought I ordered 77 dollars bottle of wine , then I used my Vivino app to check the price, show me retail price is 10 Dollars per bottle.. I know they have to make money for the restaurant, but you don’t do 700 hundred percent over charge.. this is purely scam.. imagine how much the restaurant will pay for wholesale price for the wine.. the end when we pay I noticed our wine actually is 51 Dollars, ok that make me feel a little better then.. but still really 10 dollars wine you charge 51.. for this kind of restaurant just can’t believe.. well I know they probably doesn’t care if we would go back they have enough customers.. anyway just want speak my own voice how I feel that you think you would enjoy then you got the most disappointed feelings.. so frustrated!! I am rarely writing reviews like this, i just knew I have to!!! I rate 2 stars because the service was good…

Came into Sanford with an open mind, hearing many great things about the place. We were a party of 4 and many of us have done a variety of fine dining in the city. Service was well done. Kind, polite, and attentive. We ordered the house cocktails -- which were nothing to call home about. Our server took our wine glasses away despite us mentioning we wanted wine for dinner. We were never asked about additional drinks or wine during the rest of our dinner which has never happened to us before. The food was good, well presented and a nice mix of flavors. We didn't feel the quality or presenting was worth $100 per person for 4 courses, there are plenty of other fine dining meals that are far better in the city. We had an 8p reservation, and despite a weekday reservation and not a full restaurant, we ordered two separate dishes only to be told they had run out of that dish after the fact. Basically every single dessert was a tart, which was a little strange. Overall we left feeling disappointed...

Small, intimate restaurant that is focused on quality service and an exquisite tasting menu. We did the 4 course menu because we could choose each course rather than the surprise 7 course tasting menu. It's expensive but totally worth the money to experience the unique blends of seasonal food.

Sanford. We haven't been here in almost 10 years. It was one of the those experiences (the first time around) that helped to start our glorious foodie adventures. We were in over our head and out of our league with "courses" and fine dining, but that first time at Sanford made us want to explore more. Now, ten years later and under new ownership (Sandy D'Amato sold the restaurant to his Chef de Cuisine Justin Aprahamian) continue a lot of the traditions and accolades the former owner and head chef recieved. This is an elegant restaurant with small plates of food served in four courses or a seven course "surprise" dinner cooked up and changed daily by the Sanford staff. If your dining here, then you already know it's pricey... go all in and get the seven courses! Let Chef Aprahamian and his team prepare some special delights! I promise you, it will be worth the price, if you are at all a foodie! We liked every course, from the amuse-buche with yogurt, beet and bee pollen to the duck with buckwheat toast and hazelnut sorbet! I enjoyed the service immensely! They were attentive, kind and courteous at all times. My only wish, and this is minor, is that we could have received better explanations of the food from our server. She may have been newer and slightly inexperienced and perhaps forgot some things that were in dishes. Overall, ten years later and we still enjoyed it!

We celebrated my girlfriends birthday at the Sanford. First time visit for me, repeat for her. We did the 7 course tasting menu which actually left us quite full & happy by the end of the night! 5 stars for the food and wine pairings. The 1313 Cava we started out with was excellent. Having lived in big cities for many years, I was happy to find this restaurant in Milwaukee. We had to subtract a star when our bill came - charged with two wine pairings when we had only ordered one. This was quickly corrected, but I had to look carefully at the bill and ask our server. Subtracted a second star when our check was brought out without a cake/desert or happy birthday being mentioned at any time. I had confirmed we were celebrating a birthday when I made the rsvp and again when calling day of. I mentioned this while waiting for the updated check and a “happy birthday” plate was quickly brought out, almost as an afterthought. It consisted of little more than two gobs of whipped cream, a candle and some fruit. Finally, we chose to add back a final star for Kerry, who was not our waitress but her knowledge and enthusiasm for the history of the restaurant was infections and we enjoyed hearing her stories. Overall, a nice dining experience in Milwaukee which could be excellent with a little better attention to detail expected at this caliber of establishment.

Went to Sanford with great expectations but unfortunately we we’re disappointed. The front of house staff were very good. Our server Sarah was very helpful. The kitchen though had difficulty delivering a high end dining experience. We received rolls that were cold and stale. These were replaced with warm ones but they still seemed stale. My wife’s appetizer of salmon just smelled off. This was followed by a salad with pears and apples which were cold instead of room temperature. For a main course one of us had duck which was ok and the other beef tenderloin which was good but was topped with cold shaved Parmesan cheese which was strange. The desserts were good. We were asked twice if we wanted coffee by the same person that took our first order. For the most part these misses are evidence that the restaurant probably doesn’t have their kitchen in order. For this price point it’s reasonable to expect a better dining experience. We won’t go back as there are so many other restaurants to try.

Best restaurant in Milwaukee. Been there 3 times for the 7 course chef's choice with wine paring and everything I've had has been absolutely spectacular. Service is second to none. You definitely get what you pay for with Sanford's. If you have a special event or just looking for a gourmet meal, you can't go wrong with Sanford's!

Nothing short of incredible. Sanford is a special and unique place; it is quaint. The food was absolutely superb and the service impeccable. My husband and I live in Los Angeles, and have had the privilege of dining in many fine restaurants there, however, Sanford surpasses any Los Angeles restaurant we have dined in, hands down. Sanford has become our favorite restaurant, and we plan on patronizing it every time we are back in Milwaukee, which is often.

Wow! First time dining here and it was perfect for my sweethearts birthday dinner. The service was exceptional, the food was amazing and the specialty drinks unique and delicious. They do have a larger selection of wine and drinks. I highly recommend this experience. Be willing and able to pay for that experience. It's worth every dollar and I can't wait to go again.

Amazing food. Probably one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee. You don't need to drive down to Chicago to experience a high end restaurant. Sanford is definitely worth visiting at least once! I don't have the same palate as my husband, who definitely got more out of the experience than I did. I still appreciate finer foods & would recommend to those who do too!

Fun experience, highly recommend the chefs menu! The subtle and exceptionally executed individual elements married on each dish to a beautifully complex gestalten effect.

The staff at Sanford provided one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. From the warm welcome by the valet to the chocolates at the end of the meal, everything was fabulous! Four of us went to dinner and we all ordered differently so we could try different dishes. Needless to say, we were all happy with our decisions and only shared a little because it was all so good. I can't imagine anything on the menu is less than stellar... even the dishes I tried that I would have passed on because of an ingredient... were delicious! If you can, make it a point to visit Sanford, it'll be an experience you'll never forget.

Dining at Sanford is truly a memorable experience. The staff makes provides individualized attention making you feel like the only table at the restaurant. The food is exceptionally crafter by an award winning chef and beautifully presented. Try the Scallops and wine pairing with your meal!

What can I really say that hasn't already been said? Outstanding dishes and service and an overall wonderful fine dining experience. The menu is ever-changing, but some highlights from my visit to Sanford were the watercress gnocchi, the seared scallops, and the butterscotch toffee tart (one of the best desserts I've ever had). Before dining here, I read a few reviews and the most recent review stated that this restaurant seemed pretentious. I can't say I agree. Sanford isn't putting on an air to pretend it's something it isn't - it's genuinely a top notch restaurant where clearly each dish and the overall experience is created with thoughtfulness and intention. All staff members we interacted with were friendly, approachable, and happy to answer any questions.

We had a lovely time celebrating our anniversary at Sanford. We enjoy the 7 course tasting menu (shh... It's a surprise!). Our waitstaff did a fantastic job explaining what the food was, how it was prepped, and where it came from, which made the experience that much more interesting. Since there are seven courses, portion sizes are pretty small, but there was plenty of food and we definitely left full. We will be back!

We did the surprise tasting menu and it was excellent. The dishes were unique and full of flavor. The proteins were cooked to perfection. The scallop was awesome it melted in your mouth and the braised pistachios it came with were really interesting. I thought the portions were great and myself and the other guests in my party were very full at the end of dinner. Beverage pairing was really nice too. Service was excellent.

Fantastic! This place is a bit pricy but worth every dime. The Chef put together a unique combination of tastes that really worked. I wouldn't have missed it!

It'll blow your mind! Great creative cuisine! Not your regular steak and pasta but really well done multi flavored dishes. Well defined and bold. Just loved it!

Where do I even begin because everything from the food to the service and the atmosphere was amazing. We did the 4 course menu and there isn't a bad thing on the menu because everything we tried was delicious and had beautiful presentation. On top of an amazing dinner our server Ralph was amazing. He had an amazing sense of humor but at the same time was very professional and all the other staff refilling water and switching out silverware were on top of everything. This is by far the best restaurant in Milwaukee.

My fiance and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary and her birthday at Sanford. We had a lovely 4 course meal and a bottle of wine. The atmosphere was quiet and romantic. Amazing service by our waiter and valet attendant. This restaurant looks unassuming from the street but don't be fooled. The inside is lovely, cozy and intimate. The food is outstanding. We look forward to coming back and celebrating more at Sandford.