People looking for an adventure can delve into the world of secrets, covert ops and espionage with a trip to the Safe House restaurant. The spy-themed restaurant has been a staple of Milwaukee's dining scene for almost 40 years.

"A man named David Baldwin opened (the Safe House) in the 1960s, after the third (James) Bond film came out," said Mike Butler, a Safe House manager. "The spy thing was really popular, all the spy movies and catchy sort of things that caught on."

The Safe House takes its theme seriously and cloaks itself in secrecy. Don't look for any signs advertising where the restaurant is; word of mouth is the best way to find out its location. A diner's best bet is to look for the offices of International Exports Ltd.

"A majority of the people are people that have been here and are bringing other people or are people who don't really know too much about the place." Butler said.

In the stereotypical spy movie, to get into secret meeting places a secret knock, a secret handshake or a secret password is needed. The Safe House is committed to the spy rules and they too institute a password only secret agents know.

The password is "a unique item that they have here that not everyone knows," said Mary Piper, a member of the Safe House staff.

The password is all in fun. If a person does not know the password, they will not be turned away. Instead they will be told they need to perform some antic to gain entrance.

"Asking the password at the door goes along with the theme, so does the interrogating of the different people coming in here." Piper said.

The Safe House's unique décor also makes it stand out.

"The place is a big place," Butler said. "In every room we have famous spy stuff all the over the place and each room has a theme."

Diners may be surprised with the amount of spy paraphernalia the Safe House has accumulated over the years.

"When people think spies they think of James Bond, but in the place we have all sorts of unusual stuff we've collected." Butler said. "The crew of Air Force One has given us stuff, the Secret Service has given us stuff, we have two oil paintings from the KGB headquarters, one of Lenin and a founder of the KGB."

There are plenty of other surprises and interactive items throughout the restaurant and bar area, including moving bar stools and a puzzle wall.

The puzzle wall is an interesting and fun part of one of the Safe House's theme rooms and will keep diners entertained for a while. The wall has a riddle to be answered and with a push of a button the wall will move.

Of course, Safe House is a restaurant and the food should be the center of attention. The spy theme shows itself on the menu as well, with spy jargon concealed in its covers. The Far East Chicken Salad is a favorite meal choice, Piper said.

Diners who seek adventure in their dining experience may want to try one of the Safe House's specialty drinks, including a few that need reservations.

The Safe House is a place in Milwaukee that should be visited at least once for the experience, Butler said.

Students "can afford it, it's close (to campus) and people get a kick out of the place," Butler said. "I work here and I've never been a place like it."

More information on the Safe House, 779 N. Front Street, is available at www.safe-house. The site includes a sample menu. Patrons can call 271-2007 for reservations.