Rare Steakhouse

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Classic Steakhouse Reimagined

RARE Steakhouse & Tavern was born from a straightforward conviction: eating out should be an experience, not just a meal. Founded by Wisconsin natives, the concept first opened in Madison, WI in May 2014, driven by a desire to revive the nostalgia and romance of the classic American steakhouse. The Milwaukee location followed in 2016, bringing that same ethos to East Michigan Street — fine dining grounded in Midwestern hospitality, with none of the pretense.

The Steaks

At the heart of RARE is a serious dry-aging program. Climate-controlled aging rooms allow carefully selected cuts to tenderize slowly before they are butchered in-house and cooked precisely to order. The result is a menu that spans wet-aged USDA Prime cuts — Filet Mignon, NY Strip, Capital Cut — and an impressive dry-aged selection including a bone-in Tomahawk, bone-in Porterhouse, and bone-in Ribeye. For those seeking something beyond the traditional, American and Japanese Wagyu are on offer, alongside New Frontier Bison Ribeye. This steakhouse takes the sourcing and preparation of beef as seriously as any kitchen in the region.

Beyond the Steak

The menu extends well past the grill. Starters like Roasted Bone Marrow with persillade and watercress, Maryland-Style Crab Cake, and Steak Tartare set a confident tone. Seafood towers — petite or grande — arrive with local oysters, chilled lobster, and scallop crudo. The tavern side of the menu keeps things approachable, with dry-aged beef sliders and Wisconsin Cheese Curds alongside a Wisconsin Old Fashioned made with Korbel brandy.

The Cellar

The wine program earned RARE a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024 — recognition that reflects genuine curatorial effort. Old World and New World bottles sit side by side, offered by the glass or bottle, with a staff educated enough to guide both the connoisseur and the curious. It is a list built to pair, not to impress for its own sake.

The Experience

Service at RARE is described by the team as bringing guests in "like family" — smart and sophisticated, but without snobbery. Hand-crafted cocktails, tableside preparations, and decadent desserts round out an evening designed to linger. Private dining rooms and semi-private spaces make it equally suited to a quiet dinner for two or a significant celebration.