"Bar Month" at OnMilwaukee is back for another round, brought to you by Great Northern Distilling: grain to glass spirits, handmade in Wisconsin. The whole month of March, we're serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs – including guides, the latest trends, bar reviews, the results of our Best of Bars readers poll and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!
She said/she said is a series of rapid reviews written by the intrepid duo, Lori Fredrich (the foodie) and Carolynn Buser (the socialite). Tune in regularly for our latest meanderings on hot spots around town.
Destination: Story Hill BKC, 5100 W. Bluemound Rd.
Reason for visiting: Happy hour, which takes place Tuesday through Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Specials: $2 off all taps, including 8 tap cocktails and 21 tap beers; $5 featured wines by the glass (be sure to ask which wines are being featured for happy hour)
Pro tip: Note that Story Hill BKC's mid-day food menu is only available from 3 to 4:45 p.m. (the menu shifts to dinner at 5 p.m.)
Regular Pricing: beer $5-12; wine $6-12 per glass; tap cocktails $6-13;
Mood: Casual, friendly and bright. Grab a high-top in the bar area or take a seat barside and enjoy casual conversation with the bartender.
Go here when
Lori: Go here when you have the afternoon off and you’re looking for a great spot to hang out for an hour or two. Happy hour specials are great, but you won’t go hungry either. There are some great options on the happy hour menu, including a burger if you’re seeking out a late lunch.
We ordered the trio of chicken meatballs ($7) which come bathed in a delicious combination of truffle honey and green peppercorn sauce. Don’t neglect the side of pretzel bread, which you’ll want to use to sop up all the delicious sauce when the meatballs are gone.
We also snacked on the Wisconsin Cheese Plate ($12) which included a really nice selection of cheeses including Carr Valley " Cocoa Cardona," Hook’s "Blue Paradise," Koepke Farms "La Belle" and acourtrements like crostini, date compote, roasted grapes and sliced apples – all of which were delicious, with or without the cheese.
Carolynn: When you want a cozy atmosphere that is still bustling you can't go wrong with Story Hill BKC. The eclectic and modern farmy feel is perfect for a happy hour – though you can't go wrong with any mealtime there. The happy hour menu offers deals for wine, beer or tap cocktails and the food varies from salads, baked provolone, flatbreads and the aforementioned meatballs. Stay for dinner, you won't regret it.
Go back for
Lori: The wine! BKC has a great selection of both cocktails and beer, but I always find something I love among their wine offerings. This time around it was the Lunta Malbec, an easy drinking selection that’s plenty fruity, but balanced with wood and vanilla notes. It wasn't on the happy hour menu, but that was OK with me. It was a mere $7 a glass and $28 for a bottle. Better yet, it was just $20 in the wine shop, so I know where I'll be getting my next bottle for sipping at home.
On the food side, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered those chicken meatballs, and I simply can’t get enough of them. Definitely give those a try.
Carolynn: Story Hill BKC has quickly become one of my go-tos and I recommend it all the time. The location is central to just about any part of town and the menu has something for everyone. The tequila, orange, lime and lavender Lil'Rita tap cocktail was refreshing at our happy hour but I can't wait to have it during summer. Try the Connie Salad with it – hands down my favorite salad in the city.
Overall rating
Lori: Two thumbs towards the sky. I love the vibe. LOVE the meatballs. And I can’t get enough of the friendly staff, who genuinely strive to give every person who walks through the door a great experience. Better yet, the price is right. Even though Story Hill doesn’t offer happy hour food specials, we got our fill (including two drinks each) for under $50. Not bad, not bad at all.
Carolynn: All the way up! I've never been disappointed with an experience there and doubt you would be either. The happy hour food menu may be limiting to some but it offers some of the very best that Story Hill BKC offers.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
