Best Italian Restaurants in Milwaukee

1

Ca’Lucchenzo

Ca’lucchenzo opened in 2019 and quickly shot up to the top of the list when it comes to best housemade pasta in Milwaukee. The chef at Ca’lucchenzo brings with him a passion for making fresh pasta and years of experience working with chefs in Italy. For us so far, Best Dish is the Tagliatelle Verde al Ragu` Bianco della Casa - spinach ribbon pasta, white veal ragu`, parmigiano-reggiano. But the menu does change, as it takes inspiration from Northern & Central Italy in the cooler months and from Southern Italy and coastal regions in the warmer months.

Best Dish Tagliatelle Pasta

2

Zarletti

741 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Zarletti touts itself as the best Italian in downtown Milwaukee, and we are here to confirm that that very well may be true. Zarletti focuses on flavorful, northern-regional Italian inspired dishes, and while the pasta is handmade and delicious, it’s the wild-caught fish dishes that we especially crave. We also love the warm bread served with seasoned parmesan oil, and the service and atmosphere make a visit to Zarletti’s even more enjoyable.

Best Dish The Pesce al Pastacchio - pistachio encrusted seasonal fresh fish with a Door County cherry beurre blanc sauce

3

Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993

7616 W State St, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

Milwaukeeans are very familiar with the Bartolotta Restaurants, and Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 located in downtown Tosa is widely recognized as their flagship location. Named one of The 25 Best Italian Restaurants In America by Thrillist.com, Bartolotta offers delicious traditional Italian options from a Michelin-experienced chef, and a romantic setting.

Best Dish Primi - it's all about the handmade pasta, and you can't go wrong no matter what the season

4

Il Cervo

420 W Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203

Il Cervo, pronounced il-CHAIR-vo (we said it wrong for months), has a few things going for it. For one, it has a breathtaking rooftop patio and view of the Milwaukee skyline as it is located on the 9th floor of the Trade Hotel. Another is that it is located in one of the more touristy spots of Milwaukee near the Fiserv forum where hundreds attend Bucks games and concerts annually. But most importantly, Il Cervo boasts a fresh, housemade mozzarella and pasta menu that will have you not thinking twice about whether all the carbs are worth it. You’ll want to try one of four Mozzarella a Mano offerings from the menu, and add the sourdough they outsource from one of Milwaukee’s best bakeries, Rocket Baby. To make decisions even harder, they bake their own focaccia and the Roasted Garlic Focaccia with mascarpone fontina fonduta is also out of this world. At Il Cervo we suggest pasta over their pizza offerings.

Best Dish Mafaldi and Ricotta Cavatelli

5

Onesto

221 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Italian for “honest,” Onesto puts a contemporary twist on Italian cuisine that’s fresh and flavorful. Onesto is also located in what might be considered the most popular spot for out-of-towners seeking the quintessential tourist experience, Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. The menu changes with the seasons, but on our most recent visit we were blown away by the Duck Confit Raviolo, a single large pasta filled with runny egg yolk. For your appetizer, order the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio- you won’t be disappointed.

Best Dish Fusilli Truffle Cream Pasta with the seared scallops added

6

Santino’s Little Italy

352 E Stewart St, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Most popular for their Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, we love Santino’s because of the lively Sinatra-esque vibe. At Santino’s (located in Bay View), the pizza is made with special Caputo 00 flour and San Marzano tomatoes, and unique pizza offerings make up most of their menu. While pasta is not the star of their menu, we’ve found that their Pasta Carbonara is the best we’ve had in the city to date.

Best Dish Margherita Pizza

7

Safina

785 N Jefferson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Safina focuses on cuisine from south Italy, specifically Sicily, but with a twist of Wisconsin supper club style. Located downtown in the Cathedral Square area, Safina’s warm and upscale yet inviting atmosphere with commendable service is a solid date night choice. There is also a strong family presence as it is named after its owners, the Safina family, who have served food in the Milwaukee area for decades (previously running the late Giovanni’s on Old World Third).

Best Dish If you like lots of seafood, the family highly recommends their signature dish the Frutta di Mare, but we were also impressed with the unique Fusilloni al Pistachio pesto dish.

8

Sorella

2535 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

In all honesty, when we first visited Sorella, we weren’t in love with our order. But, we’ve been back a couple of times since and were very impressed with both their pizzas and side offerings. Sorella (which means “Sister” in Italian) is located in the beautiful Kinn Guesthouse in Bay View, and usually boasts a full dining room on weekends. The menu is updated seasonally, but the roasted broccoli with apricot and chile is a staple menu item that is a favorite among guests (and us!). As a bonus, Sorella also offers a swanky bar with impressive artisanal cocktails.

Best Dish Roasted Broccoli

9

Dorsia

1307 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Dorsia may be the most trendy Italian restaurant on our list due to it’s popular location on Brady Street, and the fact that it is so cleverly named after Patrick Bateman’s favorite impossible to get into restaurant in the dark comedy American Psycho. But what also makes Dorsia great is their ingenious idea of the pasta flight: a smaller portion of 2-4 of their delicious pastas so you don’t have to choose just one.

Best Dish The Signature Pasta Flight with the Duck Carbonara as Option 1

10

SALA - Modern Sicilian Dining

2613 E Hampshire St, Milwaukee, WI 53211

SALA, located on the East Side, offers a modern presentation of traditional Sicilian food and dining experience. SALA is family owned by a traditional Italian family with strong Italian roots, and known for their fresh ingredients and small neighborhood restaurant vibe. We recommend SALA if you are craving a traditional Chicken Parmesan, or anything with their fresh herb Sugo sauce.

Best Dish Breaded Eggplant

11

Egg & Flour Pasta

Numerous Locations

Adam Pawlak claimed local celebrity status shortly after opening the wildly popular Egg & Flour, when he joined Season 19 of Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen. While [spoiler alert] he did not win, we were impressed with Adam’s calm expertise in the kitchen and think that the food at Egg & Flour confirms his talent. Pawlak’s restaurant first opened at Crossroads Collective on the East Side, and has since expanded locations to Bay View and Wauwatosa. It is also the only entry on our Italian list that offers counter service casual dining. Egg & Flour’s slogan, “great effing pasta”, is true and to the point, thanks to fresh made pasta options. We especially love their use of burrata, and are firm believers that their Caprese is the best in the city.

Best Dish Burrata Caprese with Pesto and Crushed Nuts

12

Centro Cafe

808 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Centro, located in Milwaukee’s Riverwest, is a cute spot with a romantic atmosphere. They specialize in traditional Italian comfort food options, so make sure you come hungry. Centro offers a seasonal menu, and is most well known for their creamy risottos, which include a seasonal option and the regular, a Seafood Risotto with clams, scallops and shrimp. Centro also offers almost all menu items with a gluten free or vegan alternative.

Best Dish Seafood Risotto

Best Italian in Milwaukee