Max Meier’s Hartland Inn

Introduced to this delightful place by friends who live out that way and have become regulars. The long-​time owner was there, came by the table, and was also around to wish us well as we left. It felt like «home» (except the food was better).
They don’t always have the breaded duck («special» item) with stuffing, but I lucked out the night we went. It was absolutely magnificent. Call to find out if and when they will be serving it if duck is your thing. Really good and generoous martini started the evening, with warm and crusty bread.
Four of us each ordered different entrees, and they were all delicious. It’s a long way from downtown Milwaukee, but we found it well worth the drive. We look forward to our next visit and will go out of our way to return whenever we’re in the Western burbs for any reason.

Went here for dinner this evening Friday night fish fry the restaurant was half full we were seated right away.
It took about 20 minutes before our waitress came. Rather then wait we ordered a drink and 2 fish fries at the same time.
20 minutes later they brought a plate full of french fries and 5 very very small pieces of fish. They were gone in no time we did not see our waitress for another 15 minutes.
The fish was good the French fries were good the service was terrible. We will eat here again, but if this kind of service ever happens to us at this restaurant again, it will be our last time

I have lived in Hartland for 11 years and this is the first time I have eaten here… I wish I would have come here sooner! We went for the fish fry, and I have to say, I want to go back and try some of their other dishes!
The fish fry is $ 11 with fries and $ 1 more for potato pancakes. and is all you can eat (baked or fried) (Remember kids, all you CAN eat is not all you SHOULD eat) It is served family style at the table with light and dark rye, potato salad and a vinegar based coleslaw which is really good.
I ordered a cup of the New England style Clam chowder ($ 3) and was stunned. This is some of the best clam chowder I have had since I left the East Coast! Large chunks of tender sweet clams with carrots and potatoes in a rich base. My wife asked me if it was lobster, she had never had clams so sweet and tender.
Here’s the breakdown.
The Good
Nice large pieces of cod which are batter fried. Batter is not too thick or thin and compliments the fish. The potato salad is ok, and the slaw is quite good, the vinegar cuts the oil from the fried fish. The tarter sauce is interesting, a little on the sweet side, but again, goes really well with the fish. The potato pancakes were ok, stuffed with some vegetable in the middle, they were not my favorite (my wife got the pancakes and I got the fries and we split them.) The fries… Ok the fries were perfect. I’ll go back for the fries. Thick-​cut, crisp on the outside and creamy in the center. They know how to cook their fries! Waitstaff was very nice and the service was timely.
The Bad
The interior could use an update… Badly. You walk into the bar and you would swear that if you saw one of the cast of Madmen drinking there it would be normal. Forget Old World Wisconsin, this is Old School Milwaukee. There was an older crowd in the bar area, and it has a 1950’s supper club feel. It’s clean, just older. The dining room in the back is a little larger and there were some younger patrons and some children here too. Still oldschool, but comfortable.
Another «bad» would be that while we did not order more… we each had the 3 pieces of fish we were served with the initial order and were so stuffed we could not try the Crème brûlée… Yes… First World Problem tag here.
The Ugly
Not a whole lot to hate on here. Like I mentioned above the decore might scare some, but the food is worth it. Have a brandy old fashioned and settle back.
In Short
This is one of the hidden gems of the Lake Country area and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t give it a try!

I’ve been to Maxs Meier’s before for lunch and had a decent time. The food was good, heavy, but I suppose it is supposed to be German/​Swiss. However I went to a fish fry there last week. I am a bit of a fan of fish fries and try them all around the lake country so forgive me for being a bit critical of it.
First of all the front dining area near the bar is where I ate the previous time and just loved it. This time we were seated in the back which is, I assume, an area made for banquets that they open up when they get busy. The ambience is completely different. Not cute, more stark, bright and bland. I saw empty tables up front and wish we had requested one. We decided to try a few different things. We did get one fish fry, choice of cod, baked or fried. I was a bit dissapointed not to have walley or perch on the fish fry menu. This is an all you can eat fish fry so it is a good deal, I think it was 10.95. The batter and fish were great, no complaints. The potatoe salad was a mayonaise potato salad… not my favorite kind but it was ok. The cole slaw was a vinegar based cole slaw that could have used some flavor. The shining glory of this dinner were the potato pancakes. They charge you extra for them and you only get one, but it was about the best potato pancake I’ve ever had. We even ordered another one, another surcharge, because they were so good.
One of my guests had the Italian salad and it was ok, what you would expect in Wisconsin I would suppose and the other guest had veal schnitzel. The schnitzel was great, although the accompanying vegetables were a little sad. All and all, it’s an ok place, if you do go, get the potato pancake, it’s worth it.

I was introduced to the Hartland Inn by hubs & his family a few years back. And it’s so good that every time we come back to Hartland to visit family we inevitably spend a good time & a long time at the Hartland Inn for a delicious dinner.
The ambiance is upscale Wisconsin supper club — a myriad of comfy red booths by the bar, a plethora of tables in the main dining area and a screened in porch. Staff wise — you don’t get any nicer. Margaret, the owner, is incredibly sweet and makes a mean martini. But what you’re probably all wondering about is the food… here are a few things I’ve tasted over the years…
Apps at the bar: ⁵⁄₅: I have to mention both the homemade honey mustard dip & pretzels and the cheese ball & crackers. Both highly, highly addicting. Nom.
Tournedos: ⁴⁄₅: Delicious beef medallions served with your choice of veg & potato. Cooked to perfection and delectable.
Peanut Butter Pie: ⁵⁄₅: Just as you would expect — homemade peanut butter ice cream morphed into a giant slice of pie. Heaven.
Schaum Torte: ³⁄₅: Many of my family members really like this sugary, strawberry concoction (whipped egg whites — a la meringue), but I found it a bit sweet. Regardless, it’s made exceptionally well.
If you ever find yourself in Hartland, give this place a try!

Probably my favorite restaurant in the Lake Country area. Been coming here since I was a kid. The place has a true supper club vibe and serves great Swiss specialties like Fondue and Swiss salad. I always try to grab a table in the bar area. Not as quiet and the amount of people that come and go that know each other is evident in the conversations. Fish is always a great choice and my preference is the light Fish Dore (sp?). I sometimes can’t pass up the new york strip, which is always served perfectly with a side of rushtie potatoes and steamed veggies.
Great Fish Fry on Friday’s as well as Prime Rib on Saturday’s. But for a real treat my mom and I always love going on Thursday’s when I’m in town for the beef tournedos! Make sure to leave room for the peanut butter ice cream pie that is hand made.
All and all a great old school supper club that has modernized the menu, while keeping some old world classics and charm, such as cheese and crackers at the bar!

God, this place sucks. We came here as a family for Thanksgiving dinner and they gave us this one page menu. I’m a vegetarian and I expected there to be at least one option. Alas, there wasn’t one. Even the potatoes had bacon in them! Gah-​ross! I settled for some reheated sweet potatoes that just tasted awful and some steamed veggies with no flavoring. It was sick.
Next year, I’m doing the cooking!

The owner is the key reason for visits to this Swiss based neighborhood restaurant. Fine ambiance in the bar is Old World. The best Whitehouse sandwich in the county.