Centro Cafe

Centro Cafe has been our favorite date night spot for years - the food is always fresh and delicious, the atmosphere is lovely and quaint, and the drinks are amazing too! They have the best Negroni in Milwaukee and we love their rocket salad so much we started making a version of it ourselves at home. Great gluten-free options as well. Truly such a gem!

Just fantastic food!😋 Everything on the menu 🤩 Perfect 👍🏻 Italian 🍝 Go here, do this. You will return 😃 again and again.

Great resturants in River West. They accommodated our table of 6. Chicken Parmesan was great. Shrimp Alfredo awesome. Veggie soup was one of the best I've had. Italian salad can feed two. Cesar salad very tasty Thank you Annah.

Was very hopeful about this restaurant - first impression was very positive. The outside of the place looked very inviting - and the vibe inside did not disappoint. It was a typical Saturday - nothing crazy but service was slow - the host and wait staff were friendly but clearly seemed understaffed based on the slow water, drinks, and order taking and delivery. We sat 15 min before we placed a drink and app order. Then almost the same until the drinks arrived. Drinks and apps were good (warm olives) and would have liked to order another round but never got the attention. Finally ordered dinner and wine - took quite some time again. I am all for a paced meal but i go out to get service attention ! We ordered pasta - Cacio E Pepe and Scampi - both were overpriced, precooked tough flavorless pasta swimming in oil. Luckily the scallops and shrimp were not overly cooked! Based on the feedback the table next to us had the same reaction… The quality of this food did not justify the price paid(or even if we paid less!)

I came here a few years ago for a birthday dinner and really enjoyed the food and ambiance, HOWEVER, I returned tonight for take out and was sooo disappointed. And even more upset at the cost for what we got. My first sign should’ve been the empty restaurant apart from one table. The scampi had NO flavor aside from a hint of garlic & overcooked asparagus taste. The pesto was a little better but really mediocre and unimpressive. I did not care for the arugula salad either - I know take out might tend to prematurely wilt the arugula but it was just as disappointing as the pasta. I ended up filling up on the crostini & olives I got. Such a waste of $80 I’m so mad for returning here after seeing concerning reviews. I will not be back or recommend this spot.

A must go restaurant! Food was amazing and you can even watch the chef make the food in the main area. Drinks were incredible and would love to come back. Service was a little slow but its a small joint so its expected. Highly recommend!

Food was really good, but did not exceed expectations overall. The artichoke dip was the best item we got! Bolognese was heavy on the mushrooms for our taste, and the Giardiniera was flavorful, but I would go with something else next time around.

Food and service were nothing but exceptional. I had the spaghetti & meatballs, my wife had the chicken parmesan. The drinks were really tasty too! Will definitely come back!

I got a reservation booked the day before, for dinner with two friends who chose this restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by this charming restaurant with an upbeat vibe the rests somewhere between classic nostalgia and contemporary. The service was pleasant all the way around. Staff recommendations were spot on, but really I don't think you could go wrong with anything on their menu. The food came out in proper order, and everything was the right temperature. The appetizers and entrees were delicious, and most importantly flavorful! Even the desserts were good! The pistachio ice cream and the flourless chocolate cake are the two my table sampled. The prices are upscale--so get ready to empty your wallet. :-) I'd come here to celebrate a special occasion.

Have been wanting to come here for a while and it did not disappoint! The food was really good and we loved being able to watch the chefs! We had bread and olive oil, two pastas and tiramisu-- all of which were delicious! It is a cute little spot in river west and we can't wait to come back in summer for the garden!

Really amazing evening. Great vibes and great prices. Drinks were really nice and you could tell the restaurant cared about the experience. The bruschetta was a little bland but the rest of our meal was great!!

Celebrating Valentine's Day with a girls' night out at Centro Café was fabulous! I opted for the flavorful salsiccia pasta (sausage pasta), complemented perfectly by the spicy marinara sauce. While my friend and myself weren't thrilled with the bolognese due to the short rib being somewhat unflavorful and untraditional, our flourless chocolate cake was dense and delicious. Additonally, the waitstaff was quick, knowledgeable, and friendly. The lively atmosphere, complete with a live band, added to the fun vibe of the evening. While this is not the most authentic or my favorite Italian spot, this cozy restaurant in Riverwest offers some great food options and a lively ambiance. I can't wait to return and try their cocktails--they looked amazing!

My favorite Italian place in town. I love the cozy, romantic vibe here, and the open kitchen is so fun to watch. As soon as you walk into Centro you are practically assaulted by delicious smells, and it only gets better once you sit down. Everything here is good, and my Bolognese turned out great. The tiramisu at the end was probably the highlight of my night.

Oh man, don't even think about it twice and just go to this amazing place for a meal. I was delighted with my dinner. The meal was so enjoyable and beyond delicious, the service was not pushing us along to dine and enjoy our experience, and sitting by the window, a pure delight. I will to go back here soon and have yet another incredible experience.

Food and service were nothing but exceptional. I had the spaghetti & meatballs, my wife had the chicken parmesan. The drinks were really tasty too! Will definitely come back!

Such a great night at Centro Cafe! Nothing but good things to say about the atmosphere, service, food, and drinks. There's not a lot open on Monday nights, but I'm sure glad we found this place as a spot to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday! We booked in a reservation for six people, and were sat in the upper area. All of the seating options at this restaurant are different, all really great. I liked being almost tucked away in the back. You can also opt to sit at the bar area that overlooks the chefs at work - pretty neat. My husband and I arrived first and decided to grab drinks while waiting on the rest of the group. Absolutely loved the Loren cocktail - think gin, basil, lime, simple syrup. Very tasty, and strong ;) Once the rest of the group arrived it was a no-brainer to order a few apps. Huge fan of the prosciutto wrapped asparagus and the baked criostini because who doesn't like the pesto, moz, tomato, balsamic combo. Delish. For my main, I went with the Cacio e Pepe with Scallops. Oh my goooodness. I don't often eat pasta so this was an absolute treat. Note: you must like truffle oil to enjoy this dish, because it's heavy on that flavor. Loved the cappers, mushrooms, and fettuccine all blended. The whole thing was delightful creamy, and the four large scallops on top were prepared to perfection. The rest of the table spoke highly of their dishes as well. Keep in mind, you'll spend a pretty penny on dinner here but you do get what you pay for. Also, shout out to our server; he was extremely attentive and friendly. Plus he so kindly helped us execute a mini surprise for mom: decedent dessert that came out on our family's beloved birthday plate (a long standing tradition), topped with candles. It was some sort of German chocolate cake. The dense, creamy, kind that literally melts in your mouth and keeps you wanting another bite. All in all, a wonderful evening at Centro. A real hidden gem I'd say. Be sure not to overlook this spot on your next date night!

Wow! This place exceeded my expectations by a far! Very cozy, warm and inviting atmosphere. The aromas from the Kitchen had me feeling like home. An abundance of lasagnes, arugula salads and amazing baguette breads tasted fresh baked. I usually don't eat pastas out, but they both wowed me! The vegetable with cheesy ooey gooey goodness in every bite as well as the meats tasted like nonnas in Italy! Ate it all before realizing I didn't take pics.

I loved this place. I am generally vegan and they had so many vegan options. I had the autumnal pasta which was loaded with good veggies and dried cranberry which made it so good. The bruschetta and olive medley were to die for. And a great wine list!

Everything about this restaurant was delightful. We ate our meal on the patio that felt like we were in an old Italian city. The bruschetta was refreshing and light. The service was fantastic and timely and our server answered all of our questions on the menu. Definitely will be returning.

Absolutely delicious; authentic mouthwatering Italian cuisine I can't describe it any better

Bored and hungry yesterday so I decided to try Milwaukee's Italian side. (I also was hiding from that 100 degrees) anyways I found this place on google and decided to head down there! It's a cute little cafe on the inside with a bar and some seating outside. I dined at the bar and the bartender was very fast and friendly. The lemon drop was 10/10! For dinner I had the Vodka Gnocchi and IT WAS AMAZING! The sauce was very flavorful, hearty, and hot! The gnocchi texture was perfect! I definitely will be back!

I went to Centro Cafe to enjoy a jazz show when the kitchen was closed, so I didn't have the opportunity to try the food. As far as ambiance and acoustics, it was very pleasant and comfortable. There was one glaring issue for me that really needs to be dealt with-the abrasive bartender. He made everyone in our party very uncomfortable as soon as we walked in the door by scolding us for not showing our tickets to anyone at the door. After he calmed down, I I got him that there was no one there. At this point he located the person and started yelling at him. We then ordered drinks which were all horrible and expensive. I attempted to speak with him about it but was ignored. Because of this bartender, I doubt I will return and that's stinks because everything else was good.

Fabulous dinner drinks etc ! You won't go wrong if you decide to attend this establishment. I can't wait to attend this for a second time. The owner pat and his wife are very friendly and accommodating!

We had a lovely dinner at Centro Cafe! The space is so cozy and sweet with string lights and tulips at each table. The pasta was absolutely incredible! I highly recommend the gnocchi with the vodka cream sauce. Though, we all got pastas and I don't think anyone had any left over, so you really can't go wrong! Everything was fresh and the flavors all complimented each other. If you're in the Milwaukee area and looking for a new spot for date night, this is it!

Quaint little patio tucked behind what you would never expect from the outside, Centro Cafe serves up a fairly authentic Italian experience. During this visit, I tried one of their specialty cocktails, a variation of an old fashioned, and was pleased with the outcome. It was a slight detour from what makes the drink without venturing too far off track so as to derail it. For mains, it was the Shrimp Scampi. The dish was a bit unremarkable to the palette, but reasonably proportioned with fairly plump shrimp. It needed something, even a bit more cream or butter (maybe?) to take it up just one more notch. A great atmosphere, and the patio is outstanding.

This place was great! The building is super charming with an interesting decor. It was pretty busy, but we had awesome service. We really enjoyed our meals. The large cesear salad was enough for a meal, but we also had Scampi and Spaghetti & Meatballs for our main course. Reasonable prices and plenty of parking.

My husband and I used to visit Centro often when we lived in Riverwest 3 years ago. After moving to CA and not being able to visit again during the pandemic, we were finally able to fly back and try more food from Centro. I am happy to say everything is still just as delicious as it was in 2018 and I am so so very happy we decided to stop here for dinner on our trip back. We always started our orders with some garlic bread. You have a option to add cheese and marinara which we did and it was absolutely delicious! I picked the Cacio E Pepe as my entree and couldn't have been happier. The scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing with the spaghetti. There wasn't a time we had dinner here and left without earthing their Tiramisu. It was almost just as we remembered but they used to have some crunchy chocolate on top. The cake tasted perfect without them and the perfect end to our meal. I will always make time to stop at Centro for dinner whenever I am in Milwaukee and if you're visiting the area and looking for a nice place to have dinner, this is definitely the one!

Cute Italian date spot! This restaurant has an open kitchen concept. You can be seated where the chefs prepare the food. The open kitchen does a great job warming up the restaurant. I went here for a belated birthday dinner. I got the grilled calamari & scallops, duck bacon carbonara, and a nightly special risotto with saffron and prosciutto. Desserts change daily. The grilled calamari & scallops was the perfect starter. It was served with a fresh salad. My only complaint was that it came with only 2 small scallops. The carbonara tasted rich but it wasn't heavy. Lastly, the risotto had the perfect texture from the crisp prosciutto. If you're craving Italian, I highly recommend coming to Centro Cafe.

I got the gnocchi vodka which was meh- wouldn't get it again. I'd try the bolognese next time. The bruschetta was ok. Artichoke dip pretty good. My sister and dad got the scallop dishes and enjoyed them.

New summer menu is out with some phenomenal items. I went with a group of friends from work and we got wine, the appetizer special, and all ordered pastas. This place was referred to us as a must try and we had no major complaints! They had a great wine list but all in Italian so we had to ask for recommendations. It was in order from sweetest to your more dry wine. All the pastas were great. I got the cacio e Pepe with scallops. Overall good flavor and scallops were cooked properly but lacked seasoning. I don't think scallops need a lot but I don't think any salt was added at all. It had a good garlicky flavor but I think next time I will try a more marinara based pasta which seems to be majority of the menu. No complaints from my coworkers on their dishes but not any overwhelming reviews either. Our Prosciutto based appetizer was definitely a table favorite so I would definitely suggest any special that they are running!

Centro is one of our favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. It has a unique charm, is classy yet cozy, great service and a wonderful selection of food and drink. It's the perfect place for a date night, as there are many tables for two in the somewhat small space. However, they do also have a few group-sized tables too. And if you come at a busy time, there are lots of places to grab a drink nearby while you wait. (Company Brewing across the street, Foundation down a block and Centro is opening their own bar this year too.) And we never shy away from sitting at the counter if that's all that is available, because watching the chefs at work is mesmerizing and entertaining. Some dishes we love include: the flavorful giardiniera pasta, with which they are happy to accommodate a vegetarian diet by swapping out the sausage for the fake meatballs, their seasonal lasagna - often times it has butternut squash and is delicious, and, of course, their tiramisu. Their tiramisu is my favorite in town. It's a little out of the norm in that it comes in a cup rather than as a slice of cake. But this means it has extra of the incredible cream. They also have great cocktails, wine list, appetizers, and salads. My meat eating family members, really like the unique range of offerings, including their bison and prosciutto meatballs as well. With their wide selection of menu items, Centro is a great option for everyone. Though I think its fairly easy to find decent Italian, they set the bar at a new level.

Great little place for Italian in MKE! Came here for a big birthday celebration on a Saturday night and had an amazing time! We started with cocktails, I had the Loren which I highly recommend. My entree was also delicious, I ordered the lobster alfredo. It was lighter than I expected, which was perfect because I had a long night of celebrations ahead! I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu - it all looked so good!

This place was great! We came for a date night and had a great time. We sat at the kitchen bar, which was fun to watch the chefs making meals and being able to talk with the kitchen staff and waiters a bit more to learn more about the culture there. Both of our pastas were absolutely amazing. I really do not think you could go wrong with anything you choose.

One of my best friends works in the kitchen here, which was the perfect excuse to come in here. It was my first time eating here and I really enjoyed the experience. Terri was our server and she was fabulous. The atmosphere is a cozy and romantic, yet the layout of the restaurant with the exposed bar/kitchen adds a casual/hip aspect as well. Food was tasty and the bread was endless. Never say no to the bread here. It is so addicting and so worth the calories.

The food was over the top fantastic!! So many amazing flavors!! Loved sitting out in the patio area under the tea lights. Beautiful presentation

The outside of the building was quite unassuming but don't let that fool you! The food was amazing!!! I wanted something a little off menu and they made it happens with no questions. Service was impeccable. And the tiramisu was worth a trip back!!! So good.

Great experience!! I have been here twice and both times were amazing! Centro is a super cute Italian restaurant with a great ambiance and delicious food. I ordered a small rocket salad and it was much larger than expected so you could definitely split a small with another person. It was dressed perfectly making it a light salad before my meal. Bread is free so if they don't give it to you just ask! You can dip it in oil and balsamic. Next came my entree, the scampi. The shrimp were so big! It was light and delicious, I was on a detox so I ordered this because it fit my diet well but I am more of a creamy sauce girl. My friend ordered the bolognese, which smelled and looked so good and she loved it! This restaurant has a romantic vibe especially in their front room so it a great spot for date night! One of my favorite restaurants, I recommend trying it!!

One of the best. You cannot go wrong here. I'll waste no more of your time reviewing a 'true' 5-star place. ...if I still worked for Michelin...

A friend of mine mentioned this place for dinner since they were in the city tins. I took to yelp to check this place out because I'd never heard of it. I do see where a lot of the reviews were coming from, stating that the tables are too close together but I didn't think it was a big deal. I say, this place is a hidden gem. Definitely go here! I can see how this place could feel up quickly. It's small and intimate. They have great deals on beers. I was excited to get the cashmere hammer nitro as I love nitro beers. I'm sure they rotate through seasonally. We shared the goat cheese dip wit crostinis for an app. Loved how creamy the goat cheese was. For dinner, I went with the verde risotto- spinach and mushroom risotto, soooo good! And incredibly filling! Easily had leftovers for lunch the next day. It appeared like one guy was doing all the cooking but maybe they had a second kitchen somewhere else? I will absolutely come back here.

Alright, I'm torn. I've had great food, I've had okay food. I've had okay service and I've had bad service. Inconsistent but usually delicious if you order right. I find the Caesar salads to be disappointing but have genuinely loved everything else I've order. Their gnudi is out of this world. The creamy risotto is deliciously filling. I would sell my soul for the warm goat cheese appetizer. Service leaves a bit to be desired. Usually pretty slow but generally pleasant.

Hey - checked out Bar Centro Jazz night - music great - ambiance is set to be great - wanted it to be great - very loud people in bar - so mojo flow blow - no problem with the cover - but the $16 drink grab is egregious- when I asked the 1 bartender - no table service btw - he said $16 then immediately said I don't set the prices - so that's a tell right there - cute spot - needs a personalities upgrade - the millennial door guy who secures $10 cover - drinks while he works in his dirty golf hat - vibe suggests not managed well - lots of tables empty tables - it's a two star miss that should be a four star vibe and experience - great music needs very little amplification in the room - it's why people are yelling while they are trying to talk - leaving after 1 drink - $27 w/cover - how come nobody is here? This was promoted on social .

Centro has an amazing combination of fantastic food, excellent ambiance and perfect service. Our server on Tuesday July 6 was 1 of the best in a long time. She did very well for our table of 4. We had: scallops, asparagus, arugala, giardiniera penne, rigatoni with sausage....all top notch even compared to Roma, Milano, Firenze, Venezia, Capri....

Came down to Mlwke and went to this place for the first time. I got there around 8ish on 9/29/19. I was able to park right in ft of the establishment. The smell of food was in the air. I could not wait to get inside and check out the menu. This place was simply awesome. The 'vibe' of the staff was great. All the servers and workers were extremely friendly, kind and professional. You could tell all the people working there, were positive. The food menu has a variety of food. All the orders coming up around me looked absolutely awesome. I sat at the bar and there were 3 friends sitting together. All 3 had never been to this establishment. What they got looked really good and they all 3 gave me positive feedback on their food. I noticed on the menu that there are a lot of gluten free options and that is why those three people were there. I wasn't hungry really and was waiting on a friend. I just ordered a pepperoni pizza. It came out thin crust. That sauce had a great flavor. So that was a lame thing to order at such a great place for Italian food and or drinks. But it was a great experience. If I ever go back to visit Mlwke in a month or two I would for sure go back- but get something other that pizza and bring my appetite!

Pictures look great but the taste of the food is just ok. We arrived and were told there was a 25 minute wait, but that we could wait at their sister bar next door in the meantime. The bar next door was cute and the drinks were good (we tried a negroni and the nightingale house cocktail). We ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer which was good. The only thing I would've changed is that on the menu it said it came with a candied tomato jam, which it did, but there was such a tiny amount of it. It complemented the goat cheese well, so I just wish there had been more of it. Although it was good, I do not think it was straight up goat cheese. It tastes like they mixed goat cheese with cream cheese to make it creamier, which warrants a price drop! For dinner, we had three dishes: seafood risotto, bolognese, and carbonara. The seafood risotto was not well made risotto. It was over cooked and had some thin/watery sauce under the rice which is not how well made risotto should be. The bolognese was basically marinara with small bits of ground meat. It did not resemble the "ragu" that is typically associated with bolognese. The carbonara was probably the biggest disappointment. It seriously lacked flavor (probably due to the chef forgetting salt... he must have) and there was no salt on the table so I had to put a lot of Parmesan to make up for that. It was bland, although it looked nice. Moving onto dessert. We tried the "famous" tiramisu, the flourless chocolate cake, and the lemon gelato. The chocolate cake was good but nothing special, the tiramisu didn't taste like espresso at all, and the lemon gelato was actually unpleasant. It had an off putting taste, although I really do love lemons/lemon flavored things. All in all, it wasn't BAD or DISGUSTING, it was just so average. I wouldn't come again. Still on the search for some good pasta in Milwaukee, and I am not giving up my search!!

We had a pretty awful experience here. We made a reservation for 6 people and showed up five minutes late, only to find that they had given our table for 6 to the couple right ahead of us. The hostess was extremely rude and when we asked if they could seat us anywhere she said "no probably not" and then we left. We went over to the bar area next door and then got a call that they actually could seat us, so they moved the couple to another table. What followed was 15 minutes before we were even acknowledged by anyone. The server was friendly and then the rest of the time was not, and we couldn't really understand why. I got shrimp scampi and it was the worst I've ever had. Tasted like noodles in oil with shrimp and no flavor. Pricey too. Other dishes were much better.

I've been here a few times before but somehow hasn't ever reviewed this gem of riverwest. Everything is SO. GOOD. We had the goat cheese and gnocchi as apps for a table of 4 and each ordered a pasta dish and we each brought half our food home because portion sizes are so generous. Service was attentive and quick and we were not pressured at all even though we basically were the last people on the restaurant well past close. It's truly delicious, simple but elegant Italian in such a perfect cozy but cool environment. LOVE it here!

If you are looking for a restaurant with an amazing atmosphere for a romantic date, then this place delivers. The food is above average Italian. The gnocchi appetizer with duck bacon in a brown butter sauce was delicious. The bread they give out was warm and had huge nooks and crannies. Our entrees could have been better, perhaps salt the pasta water. Also, at these prices a parmesan cheese shaker is kind of a downer, give me a dish of parmesan or fresh grate the cheese. Their non-alcoholic drinks could have been better than coco-cola fountain drinks, but our waitress did offer to put in grenadine, which was well appreciated.

We ordered takeout for NYE and YUM! We've gone to Centro pre-COVID for pizza and loved it. During COVID, we were craving pasta and Centro was the perfect choice. I got the butternut squash ravioli (heavenly) and my husband got the spaghetti bolognese (delicious). They recently started offering delivery through Eat Street- which adds on quite a bit of $$. I think for future visits, I'll do carryout.

I go every year for my birthday and sometimes other special occasions. Truly one of the cities hidden gems. Trust!!!!

Centro Cafe is especially pleasing to the taste buds. This place is beyond great and I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed it sooner. We have been here more than a few times. Nestled into a quiet section of Center St. in Riverwest MKE is one gem of a restaurant. I enjoy many an evening sipping wine and drinking down cocktails out on the sidewalk patio area while enjoying some of the best Italian fare one could ever wish for. The menu has some seasonal dishes but Centro has some staples, they will and better never get rid of. Favs list: BAKED GOAT CHEESE - seasonal accompaniment, grilled bread & crackers Oh so delicious. Especially with the jam spread accompaniment. DUCK SAUSAGE FLATBREAD - Maple Leaf Farms duck sausage, fontina, roasted garlic alfredo & mushrooms, finished with arugula tossed in truffle oil Out of this world scrumptious GNUDI homemade ricotta dumplings, pancetta, wild & domesticated mushrooms, spinach & truffle oil I'm drooling right now! SALSICCIA - Scardina's Italian sausage, portabella mushrooms, spicy marinara, cream & fontina with penne It is spicy and spiced up correct! Not only is this place within walking distance but they serve up solid dishes. It is one of MKE's better restaurants and worth coming every time!

When people ask me about favorite places for Italian food, I seem to always forget Centro Café. It's not mainstream. It's just a super solid place in Riverwest. You wouldn't expect anything, but when you taste your food, you ask yourself why you don't go there more often. That's what happened to me Saturday. After hitting up some RW bars with my friend, she suggested we get dinner here. She already knew what she wanted without opening the menu. I had my eye on the special of the day, posted on the chalk board: shrimp, bay scallops, kale, tomato, shallots, red wine Alfredo sauce over linguine with fresh shredded parmesan ($20). My friend took over and ordered the Grilled Asparagus Wraps ($9.50) and a Caesar Salad ($6) for apps. Both were great, but the grilled asparagus wraps were amazing! The asparagus was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, had a delicious charred flavor, and were wrapped in prosciutto. I will admit a few bites were saltier than I expected from the prosciutto, but a great dish overall! The Caesar salad was also on point with three very basic ingredients, romaine, parmesan, and croutons. My friend ordered the Arancia ($16.50) with chicken, olives, capers, artichokes, a tangy orange tomato sauce, and Parmesan over cavatappi pasta. I tried some and we both liked it, but she expected something else. Turned out she was thinking of the Pollo dish and ordered the wrong one. The Foundation Mai Tai strikes again! The special I ordered was awesome! The shrimp, scallops and pasta were all perfectly cooked and the red wine Alfredo sauce was delicious! My friend agreed I had the better entrée, and I let her continue to share it with me because I was already getting full. Our server was great and we had fun chatting with the elderly couple next to us, who had some serious energy and were very fun! I've dined at Centro Café a couple of times before, but it's been a couple of years. I enjoy dining at the counter and watching the cook work the ranges and skillets. The heavier lifting is done in the kitchen in back. The tables are close together a la Pasta Tree, but if you're fun and you sit next to fun people, it doesn't matter. I need to get back soon to try the bison and prosciutto meatballs and the duck breast risotto! Maybe I'll try to get there this weekend!

This past summer, and again the last time I visited Centro (November 2014) they made awesome additions to their menu and if you haven't been, you really MUST go in right now. Go ahead. I'll wait. Okay, cool. You loved it, right?! I hope you tried their rotating housemade ravioli, which always proves fantastic. I'm still partial to the bolognese with vegan meatballs. They use a ton of local purveyors; you'll see Scardina's all over the place, woot! So, you gotta love that. I also love their baller beet salad. The small is a generous portion and perfectly balanced. I still love the cozy, intimacy of the place but they do offer take-out, which I'm about to take advantage of right quick.

My husband and I loved this place. The host was super attentive and kept random people from killing the vibe with asking for money. (We had a window seat) Our waitress was awesome. She was knowledgeable about the menu and extremely personable. I loved that you could see the kitchen! I had the prima Vera and loved it. I should've asked for shaved Parmesan on top but it was still very good without it. My husband had the vegan gnocchi and loved it. Our friends ordered the bolognese and both thought it was amazing. We finished the night with the flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet. Perfect ending to a phenomenal meal. This was an epic date night spot and they had live jazz next door. I'm certain we'll be back.

They are taking great precautions here during Covid. Food is delicious. I had the Pollo. Back in the day they used to have Cavatappi pasta versus Fettuccine that is in the dish now. My preference is the Cavatappi but it is still a yummy dish:). Ceasar salad delish as always. We sat on their back patio with very well spaced tables during Covid. The server was hustling. Not only is he serving but he is making the drinks as well. My hats go off to the server:) I hope these guys can make it this coming winter with Covid! I love these guys! Please support Centro!

Best pasta in Milwaukee. Great drinks. Great service. Fun atmosphere. Wish they'd bring back the chef's counter though.

Wow. Delicious, fresh, inspired. My friend and I came here on a Thursday night around 7:00. We were visiting from Madison and it was my first time at Centro. There were only three other diners, which baffled us. Exterior is welcoming with cafe tables and hanging flowers adorning the entrance. Inside is dark and cozy- perfect for a date night. The pendant lights over the table were a little harsh and there were no candles on the table. The kitchen is on the right bordered by a high top chef's table. Our server was wonderful- she knew the menu like the back of her hand and when asked for her favorites and recommendations, did not disappoint. I started with the drink special of the day- a mezcal martini. I'm a big mezcal fan and loved how the smokiness paired with botanicals of the gin. This should be on the menu full-time. My friend enjoyed the prosecco. We enjoyed the goat cheese starter- the cheese was deliciously salty and creamy. We asked our sever for her recommendations and they did not disappoint. She informed us everything can be made to order and substitutions would be no problem (I'm a vegetarian so this was well-received). My friend ordered the arancia with the vegetarian meatballs. It was basic marinara and pasta- but spicy and fresh. The veg meatballs were full of spices - coriander definitely prominent. I ordered the verse risotto which was a new additions to the menu. Oh.My.Goodness. It was AMAZING. The earthiness and umami is the mushrooms and the saltiness of the cheese was perfection. I'm not always a huge mushroom fan because of texture, but these mushrooms were cooked just perfectly that they weren't rubbery at all. The server also recommended the Barbera red to pair with the dish. We were perfectly satiated with about half of our mains to take with us. My only regret is that I left the risotto in the hotel fridge.

HOLY FREAKING COW. I had never heard of Centro until I saw the coaster in my City Tin. My friend and I came here for dinner tonight and I already can't wait to go back. It is a quiet quaint spot on the east side. It looks unassuming from the outside but it is a warm and inviting environment inside. Our service was outstanding (her name was Bridget) and extremely knowledgeable. I ordered a cosmopolitan from the bar and it was one of the best I've ever had- which is saying a lot! Then I had the Caesar salad. I ordered the small portion and still had leftovers to take home! For my main dish, I had the bolognese. It was DIVINE. I can't wait to dig into my leftovers in a few minutes once I'm not so full!