Photography sourced from Yelp and Crafty Cow social media.
A Milwaukee institution since 2014 - top-five Milwaukee burger ranking and 2024 Wisconsin Best Burger Elite Eight finalist, now operating three Wisconsin locations. Two Oklahoma Onion Smashed Burger Patties, American Cheese, Pickles, Special Sauce, served with Waffle Fries. Add Bacon & Avocado (+$5) for the "Cali Style" version.
Photography sourced from Yelp and Crafty Cow social media.
Crafty Cow started in December 2014 with a single location in Oconomowoc, built around chef-driven burgers and premium sourcing in a casual neighborhood setting. Co-owner Devin Eichler expanded to Bay View in April 2017, then Wauwatosa around 2021. The Bay View location on S. Kinnickinnic Avenue brought the brand's Oklahoma Onion Smash Burger concept to Milwaukee proper - where it earned a 4th-place finish in OnMilwaukee's citywide burger rankings and later reached the Elite Eight of the inaugural Wisconsin Best Burger Contest in 2024.
The Crafty Classic puts two Oklahoma Onion Smashed patties up against American cheese, pickles, and special sauce - served with waffle fries since all burgers come as a meal. The beef is sourced from Creekstone Farms and arrives never-frozen, antibiotic-free, and humanely raised, giving the smash technique a better-quality canvas to work with. The lacy, crisped edges from the flat-top press have drawn favorable comparisons to Kopp's from TripAdvisor reviewers. Thursday Burger Night ($6.50 build-your-own) is a cult favorite.
Crafty Cow has multiple Wisconsin locations and some of its strongest editorial coverage predates the current Smash Atlas scoring window. This page scores the Crafty Classic and primary Bay View Milwaukee location while noting legacy Oconomowoc and brand-wide burger coverage.
The True Grit Burger is a beaut.
Crafty Cow's inventive Bay View burgers rounded out the top five best burgers in Milwaukee.
Crafty Cow is not just another burger joint.
The bun, a demi-brioche with a nice toasty sheen, was a winner - soft and flavorful, an excellent vehicle for the substantial patty.
The Dirtiest Swiss remained juicy from the Swiss cheese even after cutting.
Their Smash Burger Was Delicious - tasted better than the Kopp's burger.
The burgers are fantastic! My dad, who doesn't usually like smash burgers, loved his.
A simple burger is great for a $6.50 sit-down restaurant burger.