Photography sourced from Pete's Pub social media.
Brady Street's hometown smash burger, from the neighborhood pub that's been feeding East Siders since 2020. The $5 happy-hour smash alone is worth the trip. Two 1/3 lb. smashed beef patties with extra sharp American cheese, choice of raw or fried onions, Roma tomato, and lettuce on a soft brioche bun. Served with choice of house chips, hand-cut fries, or coleslaw. Available as a single, double, or triple.
Photography sourced from Pete's Pub social media.
Pete's Pub on Brady opened in the spring of 2020, debuting with limited carry-out during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the former Brady Street Hardware building — a spot previously home to Harry's bar. Named for and owned by Pete Marshall, a Brady Street veteran who formerly ran Jack's American Pub, the pub quickly grew into one of the neighborhood's most beloved spots for elevated bar food and late-night eats. The Simple Smash Burger — available as a $5 happy-hour single on weekdays — became a Brady Street institution almost immediately.
Pete's smash is a study in simplicity: two 1/3 lb. smashed patties, extra sharp American cheese, a choice of raw or fried onions, Roma tomato, and lettuce on a soft brioche bun. The Hulk! Smash Burger layers on pork belly, fried egg, pickle chips, and Brady Street burger sauce for a more loaded experience. OnMilwaukee's Lori Fredrich reviewed the Double Simple Smash in 2020 and found strong potential; by 2025, Milwaukee Record was calling Pete's the pinnacle of Brady Street bar eats — a strong signal that the kitchen has lived up to its early promise.
Pete's Pub on Brady is first and foremost a Brady Street neighborhood pub and late-night bar, so this score evaluates the Double Simple Smash Burger specifically rather than the full bar program. 6 scored sources: 1 Tier 1 (OnMilwaukee Burger Trail), 2 Tier 1.5 (Milwaukee Record, FOX6), 3 Tier 3 (Google, TripAdvisor, Restaurant Guru). TripAdvisor has only 5 reviews — low sample size. No Tier 2 community sources found. Medium-high confidence per 6–7 sources / 1 T1 threshold.
Final score formula: 76.12 raw weighted average + +0.75 qualitative boost + +0 competition bonus = 77.
Pete's Pub stands head and shoulders above its bar and grill brethren on one of Milwaukee's best-known and most food-laden streets.
With just a few tweaks, Pete's Simple Double Smash Burger has the potential to be one for the books.
Pete's Pub [listed among] the best smash burger destinations in Milwaukee alongside Archie's Flat Top and City Lights Brewing Co.
This location delivers a solid menu for simple smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, and curds. Really good ingredients; crunchy, crispy, and fresh!
The Hulk Smash Burger is a must-try. The smash burgers feature great ingredients.
Salad and burger were top-notch.
The brioche buns are sturdier than some and offer a pleasantly sweet flavor and nice loft, providing a good bun-to-meat ratio.
Burger was awesome. Other food also hit the spot.