The Best Italian Restaurants in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has a goodly Italian community , which mean we ’re blessed with a wealth of authentic , fantabulous Italian restaurants to choose from . And althoughMilwaukee has some amazing pizza pie , we ’re not spill the beans about just those . We have in mind beautiful , fresh Italian food from all up and down the boot , from Northern gnocchis and polentas all the way down to Sicilian veal marsala .

Carini’s la Conca d’Oro

Carini ’s chef and owner Peter Carini came to the US from Palermo in the ' 60s , so it only makes sensory faculty that the eatery specialize in Sicilian food . Seafood is the name of the game here – Sicily is an island , after all . Start with octopus salad or clams , then move on to their signature dish of spaghetti with mixed seafood in marinara sauce .

Il Mito

Chef and owner Michael Feker has a big personality , which is reflect in his menu . Bold flavors and colors overtop his dishes , like fresh horseradish on braised short ribs , a roasted radish and feta salad , and " Fekerized lasagna " fill up with short ribs and topped with a roast mushroom-shaped cloud bechamel sauce . Can I Fekerize my vegetables too ?

Centro Cafe

The snug , dimly lit dining room of Centro makes it one of the most romanticistic restaurants in Milwaukee – especially if you could tally the secluded table in the front window corner . If you ’re looking for something more snappy , sit at the bar and watch your seafood risotto being made good in front of your eye .

Calderone Club

clean tablecloth , mural of Tuscan villages , and a pig Italian espresso car all full stop to the fact that you ’re in a fancy pant dining governing body at Calderone Club . The card is large , and includes all the practiced Italian - American favorites , like fry calamari , Neapolitan - style pizza pie , homemade pasta , and volaille marsala .

Tenuta’s

Located in the middle of a residential neighborhood , the folks at this little recess restaurant makes you feel at domicile . The owners come to the US from Italy in 1961 , and brought their cognition of intellectual nourishment and vino with them . We definitely recommend pairing your pizza , scallop , or butternut squash cappelletti with a wine-colored from the extended list .

Zarletti

Always acclaimed by local critic , Zarletti is where you take a first engagement if you really want to impress them . Traditional Italian dishes from all over Italy are represented : osso buco with Italian rice Milanese , pasta bolognese , and panzanella salad . Pro tip : go for the daily homemade ravioli special .

Onesto

Though the menu is trendy , with categories like " jars " and " boards , " the flavors at Onesto are classical Italian . A mussels starter with white wine , herbs , and tomato is good enough to be your entree , but near luck not ordering the furious mushroom ragu with homemade gnocchi anyway .

Balistreri’s

Of the two Balistreri ’s , the Wauwatosa position has the retentive account , having opened in 1968 . Plus , it ’s get an Italian - American scarlet sauce - articulation menu and does a lot of great pizza pie . But Balistreri ’s Bluemound Inn ups the ante with dishes like melon carpaccio and braised hare … try out them both , but we guess the great pergola - cut across patio establish the border to Bluemound Inn .

Giovanni’s

Giovanni ’s revivify a dear restaurant of the same name that close about 10 years ago . It ’s more upscale now , with a modest menu focus on heart and soul and seafood . Besides spiedini and veal picatta , this is one of the only spot in Milwaukee you could get chicken Vesuvio , a bake dish with white potato vine and lemon sauce that ’s popular in Chicago .

Capri di Nuovo

Capri has been around for decades – I go here as a child grow up . It close in 2012 , and was purchased by a couple who fondly remodeled it , giving the outer space a much required facelift . The menu is classic Italian - American red sauce . We urge ordering the lasagna special on Mondays and Tuesdays – it comes with a compact level of sauce and mozzarella broil on top .

Tre Rivali

A Mediterranean restaurant with heavy Italian influence , Tre Rivali has just recently opened in the posh new Kimpton Journeyman Hotel . Woodfire pizza might catch your heart , but it ’s interesting seafood prep like olive oil braised devilfish and shrimp bagna cauda with Raphanus sativus longipinnatus that stand out . Whoever think to make arancini out of paella is a genius .

Nessun Dorma

suppose of Nessun Dorma as a neighborhood tavern that just happens to serve Italian nutrient rather of miniskirt tacos . The emphasis here is on bruschetta , antipasti , and panini , with some soup and salad for well measure . day-after-day and hebdomadary specials bulk up the menu with pastas , salmon , and wimp .

SALA

Sala is a phratry affair for the brother and sis owner of this occasional spot across from UW - Milwaukee . A portrait of their dandy - gran even hang on the wall , and her recipes cater the fundament of ravisher like their sugo angel hair . Go for the classic pasta with meatballs for the ultimate in grandma ’s consolation food for thought .

Onesto