Italian Restaurants in Milwaukee (2025)
James Beard winner Adam Siegel channels the French and Italian Riviera with handmade pastas and wood‑roasted mains in a striking downtown room. Featured by Eater and Milwaukee Magazine; active East Town events confirm its 2025 momentum.
A pasta bar devoted to regional Italy—extruded and hand‑rolled shapes, Venetian‑style cicchetti, and seasonal seafood—run by locals deeply tied to Milwaukee’s dining scene. Celebrated by Milwaukee Magazine and OnMilwaukee.
Downtown’s long‑running standard for northern Italian—handmade ravioli, osso buco, and a thoughtful Italian wine list—helmed by proprietor Brian Zarletti. Frequently recommended by Thrillist and beloved by OpenTable diners.
VPN‑certified Neapolitan pies blistered in a Stefano Ferrara oven, from the Fazzari family. Profiled by local food writers for exacting technique and Italian ingredients with Milwaukee soul.
An old‑school, family‑run institution for red‑sauce classics and Milwaukee’s famed thin‑crust, tracing its pizza lineage to the Caradaro Club. Praised by local critics and a downtown favorite before shows.
Bay View’s family cornerstone since 2002, serving recipes rooted in the Tenuta family’s southern Italian heritage. Recognized by Shepherd Express readers and active in neighborhood causes.
Riverwest’s intimate Italian‑inspired spot with seasonal pastas, flatbreads, and a small but thoughtful Italian wine list; deeply involved in community initiatives and local producers.
Since 1954, the Zaffiro family has defined Milwaukee’s cracker‑thin pizza and Italian‑American comfort; a staple lauded by Thrillist and chronicled by local writers.
Brady Street’s modern Italian crowd‑pleaser pairs cocktails and late‑night energy with pastas, pizzas, and playful pasta flights. Covered by OnMilwaukee and popular for weekend nights.
Southern Italian favorites with a Jersey accent in Bay View’s Kinn building—think arancini, rigatoni alla vodka, and wood‑roasted specials. Highlighted by Milwaukee Magazine and OnMilwaukee in 2025.
A family‑run East Side fixture for over two decades, SALA brings modern Sicilian cooking—sugo, seafood pastas, and pizzas—to a cozy corner near UWM. Loved by locals and still evolving with daytime hours.
