Il Cervo

We had the most wonderful experience here! The restaurant sits on the rooftop of a hotel, and the whole space feels cozy and intimate. We loved the subtle Christmas décor, which made our late-night reservation feel even more special. Everything we ordered was fantastic. The crispy pork belly was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever eaten — a must-order! We also tried the arancini, baked rotolo, and the filet mignon, and every dish was delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the portions were surprisingly generous for such an upscale spot. They have a great drink selection, including an extensive wine list, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We loved everything about our experience!

I ended up here after another restaurant canceled my reservation, and since they were open until midnight on a Sunday, I decided to give it a try. I had read a few reviews mentioning slow service and forgotten orders, and unfortunately that was my experience as well. My appetizer—garlic bread—never arrived. After waiting about 30 minutes for our entrées, I mentioned it to the server. He did offer to bring it out, but at that point I wasn’t sure how much longer it would take. Because it was my birthday, they kindly offered a complimentary dessert, but my nut allergy limited the options. The pasta I ordered was delicious, so that was a highlight. My boyfriend, however, did not enjoy his filet mignon. He said it was tough, lacked seasoning, and the sides were underwhelming—the potatoes had almost no salt, and the broccoli tasted like it had just been steamed and placed on the plate. For a $65 entrée, it was disappointing, but after already waiting 30+ minutes, he didn’t want to send it back and risk waiting even longer. Overall, our dinner took about an hour and a half, and that was with each of us ordering just one entrée and me having a scoop of ice cream. The restaurant wasn’t busy—maybe four guests total—and by the time our food arrived, it was just us and a small group at the bar.

This spot has the potential for 5 stars, they miss the mark on service and atmosphere. The food was absolutely on point. Food served hot, flavorful, and presentation was elegant without it feeling pretentious with reasonable portion sizes. We went at 6pm and sat in the main dining room. I feel like they could use some sound treatment because I had a hard time hearing my husband speak from across the table and my neighbors conversing was distracting from the meal. We made a reservation and called ahead to let them know I was gluten and dairy free. The information wasn’t relayed to the server and there wasn’t a menu provided to show what was gluten free. Eventually the server and I navigated the menu, where I was able to get a pasta dish modified with a cashew cream sauce that was delicious. They were also able to do a gluten and dairy free espresso martini! I feel like the staff was fluttered as they forgot my husband’s beverage and 2 glasses of celebratory champagne. I want this restaurants to succeed because it has such great potential. Just not quite there.

I dined at Il Cervo on October 31st for a pre-birthday dinner, and it was such a wonderful experience. My server was great. I wish I remembered her name because every dish she recommended was absolutely perfect. She was friendly, patient, and attentive, which made the whole evening feel really special. For appetizers, I ordered the Calabrian Chili Crisp Mozzarella, and it was pretty good. The mix of chili oil, cheese, and salami was rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented. For my main course, I had the Squid Ink Gnocchi with butter-poached lobster, squash-blossom cream, Calabrian chili, and preserved lemon. easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had as of recently. I also want to give a big thank-you to Manager Kylie A. She stopped by my table to make sure I was having a great time and went out of her way to make my birthday dinner feel extra special. You can tell she truly cares about her guests and runs the restaurant with warmth and professionalism. Everything about Il Cervo…the food, the atmosphere, and the staff made it such a memorable night. I’ll definitely be back soon and will be recommending it to my list of recommendations.

We absolutely LOVED our experience at Il Cervo! I had been before back in 2023 for a birthday dinner but was seated in another area of the restaurant. We had the arugula salad but the winner of the night was the foccacia bread with the fontina fonduta sauce! It was so good, we ended up ordering a 2nd serving. Our pasta entrees were also amazing: we went with the casconcelli and the crab pasta dish (oppeleti?). We also did two desserts (the italian wedding cake and the tiramisu). Both were excellent! Our drinks were also great. Our server Hailey did a phenomenal job of making suggestions and all of the waitstaff (hostesses, house manager, servers) were so welcoming! We will definitely be back again!

Cervo is a restaurant where every course feels considered, not composed to impress but to satisfy the discerning palate. The kitchen’s execution speaks with quiet confidence. The mozzarella with tomato jam and rosemary focaccia set a balanced tone, while the truffle pasta stole the show… silky, aromatic, and indulgent. The filet mignon was perfectly tender, and the Italian wedding cake with pistachios and raspberries ended the night beautifully. Service was impeccable. Aubrey was attentive, knowledgeable, and warm, elevating the experience to something truly memorable.

Il Cervo located in the Trade Autograph Hotel is an exceptional restaurant. When you stay at the hotel, you know you're at a great place to relax and enjoy some food and drink. Depending upon the time of day, all can be achieved at Cervo. In the lobby area I enjoyed sitting at the bar watching people checking in in the lobby. There were games on the TVs. The staff is very friendly and helpful with choosing both cocktails and food. I enjoyed some flatbread and a beer. They had a good selection both on tap as well as in the bottle or can. Wine and mixed drinks were also available. The bartender was also able to help my friend with a special blended cocktail. She enjoyed his creation. The White Flatbread we ordered was very good. Prices were reasonable considering we were in a downtown hotel. The crowd ranged from young to old both dressed up and in flip-flops. The bartender indicated that there were a number of special events that weekend. This hotel is near the convention center. Just as an FYI, Cervo is the name of 3 food venues, all within the Trade Hotel. Breakfast is served at the lobby location early in the day. The lobby bar menu is served all day. And the Italian restaurant is a high-end Italian white tablecloth restaurant that is open for the dinner crowd. All have the name Cervo on the menu but are all very different menus with the exception of some crossover foods. I enjoyed the food in all three restaurants. The staff in all of the restaurants are exceptional. Clearly they care about good service to their customers!

My birthday dinner here was 10/10! The staff was so kind and attentive, the food was incredible (my medium rare steak was cooked to perfection!), and the ambiance was perfect for our evening. My boyfriend booked us a table and requested a nice view and they did not disappoint! We got a corner table on the balcony and it was beautiful! They even brought me a GF dessert on the house at the end of the meal and the cheesecake was DELICIOUS! Always appreciate a place that goes above and beyond for their guests

Il Cervo located in the Trade Autograph Hotel is an exceptional restaurant. When you stay at the hotel, you know you're at a great place to relax and enjoy some food and drink. Depending upon the time of day, all can be achieved at Cervo. In the lobby area I enjoyed sitting at the bar watching people checking in in the lobby. There were games on the TVs. The staff is very friendly and helpful with choosing both cocktails and food. I enjoyed some flatbread and a beer. They had a good selection both on tap as well as in the bottle or can. Wine and mixed drinks were also available. The bartender was also able to help my friend with a special blended cocktail. She enjoyed his creation. The White Flatbread we ordered was very good. Prices were reasonable considering we were in a downtown hotel. The crowd ranged from young to old both dressed up and in flip-flops. The bartender indicated that there were a number of special events that weekend. This hotel is near the convention center. Just as an FYI, Cervo is the name of 3 food venues, all within Trade Hotel. Breakfast is served at the lobby location early in the day. The lobby bar menu is served all day. And the Italian restaurant is a high-end Italian white tablecloth restaurant that is open for the dinner crowd. All have the name Cervo on the menu but are all very different menus with the exception of some crossover foods. I enjoyed the food in all three restaurants. The staff in all of the restaurants are exceptional. Clearly they care about good service to their customers!

I would only recommend coming here if you are not in a hurry to get to a game or event at Fiserv. The food is pretty good, but the service is horrendously slow. Now it could have just been our server, but I would expect more consistency from a fine dining establishment. This place is located on the top floor of a hotel. They have valet parking or street parking, which can get very busy since it's downtown. We were fortunate enough to get a table by the window. However, the view on this side is just industrial buildings, so if you do not get a window table, it is not a big deal because there is not much to see. After we got seated, our server was nowhere in sight. We only had a party of two. We waited a while for someone to come to us. A table of four came in after us and a server came out to them right away, yet we were still waiting for our server. We finally had a blonde woman come take our order. We ordered the arancini, which was crispy and the risotto inside was perfectly done. The chicken parmesan was a huge portion and also so flavorful. The squid ink gnocchi was a small portion, but it complemented the lobster sauce nicely. The cheesecake was also rich and tasty. The issue was the slow service. We had a three course meal and the server only checked in on us once in the span of over 1.5 hours. After our server brought our appetizer, we needed a refill. She was nowhere to be found. The servers have their area to the side to wait, which was covered by a curtain. The curtain was not fully closed, and we could see our server there just chatting and laughing with another server in the back. There was no sense of urgency. When we were ready to pay, once again we could not find out server. We waited and waited, and eventually had to flag down another server to get our bill. If you come here, get your food to go. Otherwise it is not worth it!

This restaurant has it all. I love the views outside on the rooftop balcony on a beautiful evening. Their food is overly delicious with their fresh pasta. My absolute favorite is their focaccia appetizer with cheese. Servers. Always know how to discuss different options on the menu based on how you're feeling. I love this place.

I cannot recommend Il Cervo enough!! I've tried many restaurants in the downtown Milwaukee area and it is still my top recommendation for a modern, Italian dinner located at the top of The Trade. My top fave features include the beautiful MKE skyline views, outdoor seating options, fresh pasta and cheeses, and versatility in the menu. The Mafaldi pasta and chicken parm are my top two favorites dishes. I also recommend getting the tomato basil mozzarella with garlic focaccia for a starter, it is to die for! The service is also top tier as the staff is very knowledgeable about the inside outs of the menu. They have delicious cocktails (and na drinks) available as well- one of my favorite original espresso martinis in the city (and I've tried many)! Overall a must try if you are near the deer district and love Italian inspired food!

Loved the service once again! I was so excited to go back for a birthday dinner (they greatly accommodated 7 people) and our server was amazingly patient when a few friends were late. Finally got to try a pizza and I plainly got the whole milk mozzarella pizza which did not disappointed! I'm usually not a fan of thin pizza but the crust was delicious and buttery. I will say The creste de gallo was the real star. I was wowed by this dish, everything paired together so well. I especially loved the truffles and the cream. Honestly one of the best dishes I've tasted in awhile.

My friends and I ordered the pork belly, confit fingerling potatoes, garlic focaccia, and the arancini. The pork belly came with these delicious Brussels sprouts and perfect little gem like pomegranate seeds. It was UNREAL like so good I highly recommend. The potatoes were nothing to write home about but the sauce was delicious. The focaccia was perfect and delivered with a yummy fondue sauce, an easy crowd pleaser. The arancini was SO GOOD this was my first time having it. I really recommend putting a bit of the fondue sauce on it to take it to another level. For drinks we had lemon drops and the signature drink, aviation. All very good, and very strong. We sat at the bar and were treated so attentively and kindly even though it was crazy busy. This place can get pretty packed so I would recommend checking the bucks schedule before going. The ambiance feels very fancy but not too fancy like you won't belong there. They have a lovely rooftop portion that I recommend sitting at during the warmer months.

I am truly impressed by Il Cervo's staff and chefs in handling the otherwise chaotic NYE by serving incredible, high quality food, in such volume, effortlessly. Going up to Il Cervo the evening of NYE, we got stuck in the elevator of the Trade Hotel (womp womp!) but as soon as we were freed, the staff of Il Cervo made us feel extremely comfortable and really did dote on us. We got seated just a few minutes after our arrival and got introduced to the night's prix fixe menu. The brussels sprouts in the appetizer was crispy and absolutely delicious, the striped bass and steak was a good portion and got us super full and the calamari over the cabbage was a surprisingly tasty recipe (I am going back for more of that for sure!). Our dessert of blueberry meringue was the right balance of sweet and tart. It HIT THE SPOT! The server was polite and checked on us several times (despite having a lot of other tables). The manager, Jacob, really kept his cool even when a barrage of people kept come off the elevator every minute and easily got people seated. We enjoyed the view from the top and got to catch the fireworks too! Such a special night!

We checked out Il Cervo for a date night after passing by the Trade a few times. Fun for an upscale date night or celebratory dinner. Great fees right over Fiserv Forum and of the Milwaukee skyline! We had the paper plane and Hugo spritz which was great. Highly recommend both of them. We started with the arancini. It came with 2 different sauces that were both fantastic. We got the Mafaldi and the conchiglie alla vodka. The bolognese was a good mix of meat and sauce while the vodka pasta had great pieces of shrimp and a good balance of cream and tomato in the sauce. For dessert we tried the carrot cake and chocolate torte. I loved the detail on both desserts. The crispy carrots on the carrot cake and the hazelnut crumble on the torte. Service was impeccable and helped us decide on things to get, and answer any questions. Very personable and we had a great time! We will definitely be back here and it's a spot worth checking out in Milwaukee!

We decided that it was time to find a restaurant that us vegetarians could find adequate Italian food but also offered Filet Minion for my father. Il Cervo seemed like the right choice. So, the whole family headed into the city to give it a go. If any of you have read my previous reviews, I often point out my connection to Italia. Having lived in Piemonte and traveled extensively across the country, Italian is my favorite cuisine in the world. And, I'm very hard to please. However, damn. From the focaccia with heavenly garlic béchamel to the arancini, we were content. And, the pasta was perfect. My wife had the bucatini and I had the baked rotolo. We both were very, very happy. However, my father's filet wasn't up to his standards. He said the cut was tough and the medium rare request was more medium to well. He had a difficult time cutting it. Another patron told him to order the pork chop next time. With the perfect service to the rooftop atmosphere, we recommend giving Il Cervo a try. We shall return. Great experience.

Amazing rooftop dinner location. Tried the date appetizer and a Paloma with the meatballs, roasted potatoes and salad. Very attentive service. Would love to come back and try more menu items

While staying at the Trade hotel, I enjoyed dinner in the restaurant as well as a takeout pizza in the room. The wood fired pizza was fantastic. Usually pizzas with a delicate crust are under sauced and I love a good tomato pizza sauce on my pizza which is sparingly applied to this style. This chef knows how to make a perfectly crisp fired pizza with a rich and tasty pizza sauce balanced with cheese and whatever toppings you enjoy. Food, service, wine, etc... are all fantastic here and it's worth popping in if you are in the neighborhood.

Brunch! There was a great atmosphere around the whole restaurant as it is beautifully designed and decorated throughout. I couldn't get enough of the natural light that flooded in through the tall windows. Our food was very delicious and layered with flavor. I preferred the savory dish over the sweet, even the side of potatoes did not disappoint. The staff was nice, we were greeted promptly as we waited by the host stand and our server was pleasant.

The view is truly unbeatable. Stunning cityscape atop the trade hotel. Their pizza is delicious, and aperol spritz is pretty good. Service is quick especially in comparison to other places nearby Fiserv on a game night.

My daughter and I came here before a Bucks game and the food was amazing. Our server was awesome. The only thing I'll say was it was SO loud we couldn't even have conversation at the table.

Ambiance: Unfortunately, the atmosphere missed the mark. Despite making reservations well in advance, we were seated in the bar and told a dining room table was not possible. The bar was very loud, though to be fair, the dining room itself felt cramped--tables set up cafeteria-style and packed closely together. The views, however, were lovely. Food: We started with the pizza frita appetizer, which was excellent--simple, crisp, and delicious. Sadly, the entrées were disappointing. I ordered the Casoncelli; while the flavor was good, the bone marrow and short rib filling had such an unpleasant texture that I couldn't eat it. My son had the Chicken Parmesan, which he had enjoyed on a previous visit, but this time it fell short. My daughter-in-law ordered the squid ink gnocchi and stopped after one bite--the texture was crumbly and unpleasant, with only two small pieces of lobster. She ended up eating just the vegetables. Overall: With so many great dining options in Milwaukee, I likely won't return. The appetizer and views were the highlights, but the rest of the experience--from seating to entrées--was a letdown.

Woody our server was one of the nicest guys ever. He was so polite and helped our anniversary feel special. The manager with the red hair at the bar was very nice and helped us get seated due to us waiting an extra 20 mins after making a reservation. Also the lady who was helping as a bar back was the most friendliest at the bar. When waiting at the bar it was dirty but was quickly solved when we asked for a rag to clean the table. The man at the front who I believe was the host, could've at least looked at us when talking to us. The lady who seated us was super friendly and congratulated us on our anniversary. We had the New Year's Eve menu and it was absolutely diving. There wasn't anything that we didn't devour.

I've been here more than 10 times since my last review. The service is phenomenal and the people who work here are great. The food and drinks are delicious!

We finally made it to il Cervo! Nothing like a dual bday celebration to get mom and dad out for a date night. We're both so glad we picked this spot to celebrate. With a rooftop location overlooking the stadium and city skyline, lovely decor and furniture, a moody atmosphere, and friendly, attentive staff, what's not to love? Okay, maybe the prices (cuz they ain't cheap) but hey, in our opinion you pretty much get what you pay for here. I opted for the paloma (but I'll totally be back for an espresso martini because I saw one being made and it looked like they know how to make a good one!), and my husband went with a glass of cab. We ordered a handful of items from the menu to share, and really didn't have a bite we didn't like. The roasted garlic focaccia was simple and perfect. It paired great with the tomato basil moz ball. The crispy pork belly was dang good, with white truffle oil, stone fruit agrodolce, & broccolini. Even the confit fingerling potatoes were a delight - served with black garlic aioli and parm. Lastly for us was the grilled spring chicken. Juicy and tender. Plus I loved the grape verjus glaze and the harissa carrots to pair. Oh andddd let's not forget the complimentary dessert they brought over, as they knew we were celebrating both of our birthdays. We chose tiramisu and it did not disappoint. Mascarpone custard, dark chocolate, and dark rum? Delish. I'd encourage locals and travelers to give this place a try.

Went on a saturday night and the food was great. Limited options for gluten-free but was yummy! Service wasn't great for the price point. Our dirty dishes sat on our table until we left. We went to celebrate our engagement and put that in the reservation but it wasn't asked about or acknowledged. Our server didn't seem to know much about the drink menu and wasn't very friendly. Although the host that sat us was lovely.

The location of the restaurant and views were awesome to be able to watch outside with all the windows along the dining area. Service was good and she answered all our questions. My recommendation would be the chicken Parmesan as the best meal even though I ordered the recommendation of the waitress, the beef Bolognese, the most popular dish. They have homemade noodles and sauces. We also ordered the Arancini's, which were really good, but not the best that I've had. Also the order the sourdough bread and focaccia appetizer too, which were both really good also.

Everything about our experience from start to finish was phenomenal. Our server Chloe gave great recommendations and helped to guide us through the menu. We had excellent cocktails and pastas and the deserts were amazing also!! This is my go-to restaurant for great rooftop dining and anytime I have out of town friends that I want to impress. Always a 10/10.

I love IL Cervo. Every time I eat here, the food is tasty. The pizzas are a must try along with the crispy pork belly. The bread is delicious as well. I had a seafood gnocchi last time that was so yummy. I just wish the portion size was bigger. The service is usually good, and the view from the rooftop is one of my favorite views of Milwaukee. This is a great additional to Milwaukee's food scene.

Loved the recommended chicken parm. Ambience was cool. Sat at the bar. It was a dinner I enjoyed after a long day of work.

Our family was staying in the hotel and we were excited to try this upscale modern Italian restaurant at the top. The menu felt like it was trying too hard to be "innovative" with strange combinations of ingredients and preparations. The food was tasty though. It was a weekend night and the restaurant was busy and service was absolutely TERRIBLE. I don't think I'd come back. It was pricy for what it was and the service just left us with a bad taste in our mouths.

Considering this restaurant as a conveniently close to the stadium I'd definitely consider this restaurant to be high volume, chic, and elegant ambiance with an exceptional service. When I said exceptional service, I really mean it. The host was nice enough to let us know they just had a big party finish and would be turning it over. - It took about 30mins from the greet before our group of 10 was seated, another 20mins for water to be served I mean I get it "High-Volume" (a lot of bar standers not enough guests with a plate of food) I've seen about 3 staff in one area, not a greet nor a host hand off to server to guest. A proper hand off with an introduction and some sort of communication would have put us more at ease, I mean we were pretty parched, like SpongeBob when he went to visit sandy in her atrium. Some of us went to the bar just to grab water. Service: 6.5/10 Ambiance: 8/10 Food: 7/10 " i just got a salad. , you can't mess up a salad. Except add all the things you put on a Chicago dog and slap it right on the greens." The balsamic vinegar is the reason why i gave it a great 7 because if it weren't for the other stuff the dressing slaps. Would I recommend? Maybe if they had more Staffing and had a better approach on tending guest more.

We got a last minute reservation here for a girls trip. Got seated outside on the balcony patio and enjoyed a beautiful view! The food was AMAZING. Everything was so good - truffle pasta, romaine heart salad (perfect for 4) but our favorite was the squash blossom pizza. Soooo good. Great vegetarian options!

I've been here twice before on weekends and had good experiences with food and decent service. I was most recently here on a Monday evening celebrating a special birthday and am sorely disappointed in the service. As far as food, you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Some of the foods I highly recommend: Calabrian Chili Crisp Mozzarella The Crispy Pork Belly - the strawberry peach add on is so refreshing Any of the pizzas, the Italian Sausage and Prosciutto are my favorites The pastas, Conchiglie Alla Vodka, Squid Ink Gnocchi, and the Creste De Gallo if you're a mushroom lover The only complaint I had about our food is that we ordered the Squash Blossom Sourdough Pizza, and when it arrived, the pizza was cold. Our server was attentive with us until drinks and food were ordered and was never found after. We had to get up and call another waitress to attend to us twice, to order dessert and again to request the bill. It was frankly annoying. I'm not sure why it was an issue either, considering Monday evening was very low key and low customer traffic. Our server acknowledged we were celebrating a birthday, but the lack of service did not make this feel like a nice special dinner.

We first came here on Valentine's day and they had an amazing pre fixed menu. Sometimes that kind of negative but not here. We just went back again & same great food & experience.

Wanted to love this new rooftop bar in the deer district, but found it had an identity crisis: wants to be upscale with a fancy spendy menu but substandard food and a weird vibe. 2.5 stars Food: 2 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 3 Cost to worth it rating: 1 (way too expensive for what it was, appetizers $20, pastas $30) Opentableable: no, but Resy Return worthiness: no Highlights: - Rooftop seating: views of downtown - Lovely menu beautifully written to make all items sound so enticing - Large appetizer portions - Artichoke ravioli: 4 large ravioli filled w artichoke mixture topped with some breadcrumbs and chunks of fried pork belly. Fresh smooth flavors in the ravioli and nice texture and saltiness with the pork belly. 4 stars - Aperol spritz: solid version - Beautiful lounge and bar area inside - Waitress: was nice and excited about all items on the menu Midlights: - Focaccia: looked impressive with 6 pieces spread on top of a fonduta with some roasted garlic cloves. Actual bread was soft but very oily and was hard to eat already being embedded in the goopy cheese sauce that didn't have much flavor. 2.5 stars - Cocktails: just ok (but sounded good on the menu) Lowlights: - Arancini: large crispy balls but zero flavor. No sign of the pecorino or black pepper and just a hint of lemon. Tomato sauce was fine. 2 stars - Meatballs: large but way too dense and not much flavor. 1.5 stars - No happy hour - Super weird vibe outside which wasn't enjoyable--mix of roudy big groups and awkward couples wanting a fancy date nigjt - Can only reserve dining room or lounge--outside is first come Such hope for a place that did not deliver. Hopefully they can figure it out, but don't plan to be back.

Unfortunately we were not overly impressed with the food. For appetizers we ordered the arancini and the octopus. It's hard to mess up arancini. The octopus was grilled but it was over-charred and tasted more burnt than grilled. For dinner we ordered the striped bass, short rib pasta with broccolini, and the carrots. The striped bass entree was a huge portion overwhelmed by fingerling potatoes and a salad. The fingerling potatoes downscaled the whole thing. It was like eating French fries. The pasta was a small portion and tasted pretty good. The carrots were probably the best thing. Because we were so unimpressed we skipped the dessert. The drinks were good though. Our service was okay, nothing above and beyond since she barely checked on us. The ambiance was, however, the best thing about the whole night, especially the music!

Atmosphere was terrible for the price of drinks and food. Music was so loud it was hard to talk. Food was overpriced , I had the Mafaldi which was comparable to a hamburger helper and very disappointing for the $31 price. Drinks were pretty basic and overpriced. Service was slightly slow. This establishment wants to be more upscale than it is. Will not be going back again.

Malafandi was delicious with and the chicken "parm" was unique and delicious too, although definitely not traditional. We also got the dates which were very interesting and tasty, the pork belly, and the sourdough as well with the butter and giardinara. Desert was tiramisu and so good. The cocktails were also delicious: barbera, 2x friend, lover, I always forget, and the Campari one that was a little sweet. Great service! We split some dishes and they came out from the kitchen on four separate plates.

Let me tell you what this is the worst meal ive EVER paid for. I thought id treat myself before a concert and wow disappointment . First of all i wanted to barf just like what my plate looked like. The risotto was cold and completely bland honestly i only tried one small bite on the edge of plate which was cold. I could tell that they pre plated it then threw the Salmon on top. My server was such an entitled acting worker to. Ugh never again. Do not go here !!!

If I had to give one word to describe iL Cervo it would be FLAVORFUL!! Loved everything about it! To start, the vibe of the restaurant is unmatched. It sits on the 9th floor of the brand new (and beautiful) Trade hotel. We sat outside on the most perfect summer night and would highly recommend since the views are very cool. To start, and not pictured, we got the Rocket Baby sourdough. This was insanely good and the whipped mascarpone butter was *chefs kiss*. I got the Mafaldi and loved it! The homemade pasta was excellent and the sauce was so flavorful. My fiancé got the pizza which was so light and airy. You get a whole pizza so the portion size was generous. I tried our friends pasta (Casoncelli Ai Quattro Formaggi) and loved that as well! She mentioned the pasta was occasionally crunchy/maybe not cooked enough, but said she didn't even care because it was so good. Lastly, I also got to try the giant chicken parm! They don't cheap out on chicken, that's for sure! It was great but just know if you get it "hot", it's very spicy. So if you're not much for spice, make sure to just get it normal. The only thing we weren't huge fans of were there cocktails. The espresso martinis were just okay, and my fiancé did not like the Bocca Di Rosa at all. I've had better mojitos as well. Next time, I will skip the cocktails and just get wine. I'm not going to doc them points because everything else was so great, they definitely deserve 5 stars. If iL Cervo isn't on your list of places to try in Milwaukee, you gotta add it to the top!!

Went to Il Cervo for the first time last Friday. The menu is huge not just in options but actual size! Our server walked us through the menu since the headings are Italian. We started off with drinks (red wine and UN BEL VIAGGIO cocktail) and MEDJOOL DATES don't question it just order them they were very good! Also a lot larger than I expected. Next was the special pizza for the night which was great! Also $8 was donated towards Wilde fire rescue which is great, and it doesn't hurt that it was a great pizza flavor! Following that we ordered two pasta dishes CONCHIGLIE ALLA VODKA and the CRESTE DE GALLO. They came out with two bowls for each of us which was super nice since we did intend on sharing. I don't eat shrimp and they substituted the protein and swapped with chicken, the pasta was very flavorful! Now I personally wasn't a fan of the Crestse De Gallo but it's all mushrooms so many! I like mushrooms in small amounts and with certain things. We finished it up with the Olive Oil Carrot Cake- it was okay it make you dance in your chair good, but good all the same. Highly recommend and plan on returning!

The bottom line of Il Cervo is that the food is generally good and the service is generally not. The ambiance is not one of a romantic, calm dinner, but rather one of a very busy, crowded, and loud restaurant. Let's begin with the food. I have been to this restaurant twice now, and would say that their strength is their pasta. I have tried the mafaldi (which is like a bolognese, my personal favorite) as well as the cappelletti (beef cheek stuffed pasta) and the creste de gallo (mushroom truffle cream pasta). All of them have been good, but like I said, the mafaldi is the best. The crests de gallo is most certainly made with truffle oil, though, which they do not mention on the menu. They say that it has "black summer truffle" while the dish exudes the scent and taste of truffle oil (obviously a much cheaper and more pungent ingredient). I'd prefer if they would be more honest about that. The cappelletti was a bit of a disappointment because the filling was not hot, just barely warm. My friend tried the squid ink gnocchi with lobster which she really enjoyed. As for other food, the appetizers we tried (grilled octopus and fried olives) were also decent. The octopus was standard but good. The flavor could be amped up as it is a tame dish, but not bad. The fried olives were very unique. The dish came with the fried pitted olives on a bed of frisée with sliced banana peppers and a creamy white fish dip. The combo was very interesting and it actually turned out to be pretty good (even for someone like myself who doesn't like olives or white fish). We were a bit disappointed that there wasn't focaccia on the menu that was not drenched in a thick cheese sauce (some of our group is lactose intolerant). I personally tried the focaccia in the fondue sauce which was fine but extremely heavy and too much for me. I wouldn't order that one again. For dessert, we tried the olive oil carrot cake, tiramisu, and affogato. The olive oil carrot cake was lacking flavor and slightly dry. The tiramisu was extremely overly sweet and did not have enough cake compared to all the mascarpone. The affogato was delicious (it is a scoop of gelato with espresso poured overtop, so no cooking involved). The service was definitely the worst part of the experience. Our waitress was great and very attentive in the beginning. We ordered drinks and she brought them. Then we ordered appetizers and entrees at the same time with her and almost never saw her again. Someone else brought our appetizers out to us. We finished those plates (which were still sitting on our table) when another person brought our entrees out to us. He set them down on the tiny corners of the table away from each person/seat and tried to leave. We had a table full of empty/finished plates from appetizers that there was almost no room in front of us or on the table at all for our entrees. It was so strange that he would set them down in random corners of the table and leave. We asked him if he could clear the table and he took 3 small plates (out of the 6) and left the rest. Very strange. We had also wanted to order wine with dinner, but since we hadn't seen our waitress again, we were not able to do this, and dinner was already on our table. We were able to flag her down at this point, asked her to clear the table so we could eat our entrees, and ordered the wine. We started eating our food and the wine came out 20 minutes later. So it came when we were over halfway done with our meals, nice. Moving forward, I'd make a mental note to come here again only for the pasta. The pasta is a 4/5. Just sit down, order one simple pasta dish per person without drinks or appetizers because this restaurant does not do a good job with running smoothly and coordinating courses/drinks/timing/teamwork amongst staff. Especially for a restaurant that charges these prices and has a "high end vibe" that they desperately try to portray, it falls short.

We like the restaurant's beautiful and modern finish and decor, nice atmosphere, interesting and diverse menu, and the good city view. It's for sure one of the best options to go for a date night in the city. Also great for business dinners, small celebrations or just good food and wine. Smart casual is how I feel about the place. We went in a 8-people group including a toddler and a baby. The service was good. Our family ordered the crispy pork belly, the roasted garlic focaccia and the polenta tempura mozzarella for appetizers, Cappelletti and Creste De Gallo for pasta entrees, a non alcoholic cocktail, and Tiramisu for dessert. We also tried the whole milk mozzarella pizza ordered by our friends. I really like the appetizers and the dessert and would recommend them. They were flavorful and kind of unique. The crispy pork belly is perfectly cooked and served with a sweet and sour fruit sauce and balanced with veggies. The polenta tempura mozzarella is a step up from the normal cheese curds and worth a try! The focaccia is a "team's favorite" based on their Instagram post and is indeed cheesy, yummy and good for sharing! The tiramisu - you can't miss it - beautiful presentation and delightful texture and tastes. The pastas and the mozzarella pizza are good but not as impressive. We like all the mushroom ingredients in the pastas but the pastas themselves are ok. The braised beef cheek filling in Cappelletti tasted mushy so it feels a bit weird with the hard pasta dough outside. The pizza is ok - it's not too thin nor thick - so not sure which way it is going for. The dough is a bit hard and we all can't finish the edge part due to its hard texture and lack of flavors (the sauce is all in the middle). The parking may be a headache, especially when game season or summer comes. We did street parking and walked 7 mins to the hotel. Otherwise, definitely good for a try!

Pretty rough experience here not going to lie. The dinner took over 3 hours from start to finish for a group of 8. The first drinks took 45 minutes, than we ordered a bottle of wine which came over an hour later during the middle of dinner. This was a birthday dinner and the service was terrible. Extremely slow. The bar service had 4 bartenders that were unbelievably slow and there was probably 75 people around the bar waiting for drinks. They need many more bartenders to handle a massive restaurant and a massive bar. The wine blew our mind because we sat next to the wine cellar and the waitress was not allowed to get the bottle it had to be a manager. She could have walked in to the cellar and handed it to us in 5 minutes but it took an hour. Some people enjoyed their food, some did not. I had the Chicken Parm and it looked like they butterflied an entire chicken, fried it then tossed it on top of rice. Was very tough to finish. The broccoli was the worst I have had. They literally cut off the top of the broccoli and just served boiled stems with a wad of butter. Truly the worst side I have had in many years. This place has an incredible location and vibe but a poorly run restaurant that needs many fixes to get it right. Prices are high for such poor service.

First thing I have to say is that the view from this restaurant is beautiful. If you want to come here for a drink before a Bucks game or as a stop on a date night, go for it. It does feel a bit like a hotel restaurant, but I think that was the most obvious in the bar space (I'm probably a bit of a snob about that bc I've stayed at so many Marriotts). But I didn't think the food was anything worthwhile (most important!) and found the service to be underwhelming as well. I came here on a Thursday night for snacks at the bar and everything was meh. The pile of pepperoni on the fried olives was odd and overwhelming. The fried cheese was in a sweet jam almost that detracted from the flavor of the cheese itself. The sourdough was stale. The pork belly was missing a spice/seasoning element - it's so sweet with all the fruit. I won't be coming back here anytime soon beyond that 'drink before a game' scenario.

Cocktail and bar review only: Hubby and I went out for a Saturday night drink at the newest rooftop restaurant and bar. As big Bucks fans we had no idea this was open until a friend told us via word of mouth - so we had to check it out! The restaurant was quite busy when we arrived as the hosts we busy seating guests. So the hubby and I found the bar ourselves which was equally busy. Somehow we were able to find two seats at the bar - it was meant to be! The bar menu has a great mix of special cocktails and the OGs that people love to consume. I opted for the "I Forget Everything" cocktail which was a 9/10, honestly better than I expected it to be. There was a large piece of thyme in the drink which I kept calling my bush to my husband - he wasn't entertained. He kept it safe with a beer (O-Gii). Then at the end we split a Paloma which wasn't the best Paloma in town 5/10. The bar ambience was very lovely, I can't wait to come back for dinner. We scoped out the menu and it looks delish! We also walked around the rooftop patio area before leaving, the views are epic! On June 10th around 9pm and it was chilly (55°F) and windy, I think these views might be hard to enjoy for like 8 months of the year but us Wisconsinsites will soak up every nice day! Lastly our bartender, Melanie, was awesome! So personable and working her butt off, thanks for the great service! TLDR: Good spot for drinks and views before or after a date night!

Checked out this new rooftop restaurant in the Trade Hotel. Beautiful views, fabulous service, and some seriously delicious Italian fare! The fresh hand-stretched mozzarella alone is worth the trip. I tried the more traditional version with tomato and basil, and it was spot on. They have a whole list of other versions as well, with more inventive ingredients and I will definitely be back to try them! The crispy pork belly with broccolini was another favorite. Crispy, tender and melt in your mouth, and the white truffle oil was a nice touch. My aperol spritz was tasty as well, with a healthy pour. I could have used a bit less ice though, since it got watered down quickly. We were here in the winter, but in the warmer months the bar lounge area has glass garage doors that open out for Al fresco style dining. Can't wait to try that out come summer!

Beautiful anniversary dinner. Great view of the city and warming lamps kept the balcony warm enough for a drink outside. Our server had clarifications regarding the very detailed (and unique) drink menu. Upscale Italian some well with house made pasta, bread/dough and mozzarella.

Decided to go to Il Cervo on a whim. We had no reservations so we were pleased we got in. Seated at a high top in the bar. The vibe is exactly what Milwaukee needs. Upscale with beautiful views without being stuffy. Very busy on the day we went. Some people are dressed up and others are in jeans. Service was outstanding. My only complaint is that I asked for hot peppers and Parmesan cheese for my pizza. Waitress said she would bring them but never did. Maybe they don't have any but follow up would have been nice. Drinks were OK. I've had better but I've had worse. Food was enjoyable. The tomato basil mozzarella cheese was good but the focaccia bread appeared to be grilled with oil, almost like garlic bread. Would skip the bread. The meat on my calabrese salami pizza was over cooked. Homemade pasta had a nice texture and the beef bolognaise was so tender, flavorful and delicious. All in all, a nice experience.

Dined at Il Cervo for the first time last night. Great space in a great location with a great view. My friend and I ordered several dishes to share including the Roasted Garlic Focaccia, Crispy Pork Belly, Prosciutto Pizza, Spaghetti, and Tiramisu. The Roasted Garlic Focaccia was super delicious, and might have been my favorite dish of the night, based on flavor alone. I prefer focaccia to be light and airy, but this version was crispy and buttery like toasted garlic bread and served in a platter with a marscapone fontina fonduta to dip the bread in, and really delicious! The Crispy Pork Belly was served as 4 or 5 thin (compared to pork belly I've had at other places) medalions and not as crispy as I expected, BUT still nicely seasoned and served with broccolini, stone fruit agrodulce, and the menu says white truffle oil, but I did not taste the truffle oil at all. Still a solid appetizer. The Spaghetti is served with a housemade dry-aged beef meatball, a link of lamb merguez sausage, and a link of Italian sausage, all in a spicy tomato sauce. The lamb sausage was a tad gamier than I expected, but still good, and the spicy sauce was also different. Maybe Calabrian chili oil was used to spice it up. Not bad, just different from what I prefer, which is along the lines of a savory arrabiatta. The noodles were very soft, so don't expect al dente. The Prosciutto pizza is topped with arugula, three cheeses (ricotta, stracchino, and parmesan), anf shaved truffle, as well as truffle oil, which is not listef on the menu. First, I was disappointed that the crust looked nothing like the photos of other pizzas I've seen posted in Yelp for this restaurant. A wood-burning oven, when used properly with a properly prepared dough, will produce a cornicione with a fluffy and airy texture and a fair amount of charring. Second, I couldn't taste the prosciutto. All I tasted was the cheese (mainly the ricotta) and the truffle oil. My friend and I tried a couple of slices, but could not get past the mistakes, so we gave up and let our server know when she asked. She offered a different pizza, but we declined as we expected similar results. Later a manager (I assume) brought a new Prosciutto pizza, which had just a bit of char on half of the crust, while the other half lookef exactly like the pizza we didn't care for. She said they took the pizza off the bill and thought we'd like to try it again. I lifted a slice and saw a dense, gummy texture along the side and decided it wasn't worth trying. We didn't try it, and my friend took it home to try the next day with her boyfriend. Neapolitan style pizza requires technique when making the dough and also when making the pizza itself. The oven temp has to be 800-900 degrees, too. At any rate, they have work to do. Luckily many of their diners won't know the difference. The Tiramisu was a great way to end dinner. It is formed into an edible chocolate bowl. Nearly all of the flavors and textures of tiramisu are there inside the bowl. Great presentation and a nice job with their version of this classic. Our server, Liz, was amazing. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, made recommendations, and was very customer-focused and gracious, especially with helping us through the pizza issue. I plan to go back again some day to try the arancini and another pasta dish and an entree, but I'll skip the pizza section. :-)

We only had a drink at the bar so I cant speak to the restaurant or the food. We stopped by later on a Saturday night to enjoy a drink and some skyline views of Milwaukee. The bar was pretty busy when we arrived, but we managed to find a table to sit. The bar area is nice, comfy chairs and different seating options for groups. There are plenty of cocktail options, as well as wine and beer in the drink menu, but I opted for a classic diet martini. We didn't have to go up to the bar to order, not sure if it's just like that for Saturday night or if that's the normal. The bar is surrounded by seating, so you had to squeeze through chairs to order, it would be nice to have a walk up area if there isn't service. My husband said the men's bathrooms were dirty and the women's bathrooms were small so there was a line. We would come back, and would like to try the restaurant and to enjoy the bar at a different time. Beautiful balcony and views!

Service could have been better but the food was virtuosic. the restaurant was very nice inside and the outdoor area had great views of downtown milwaukee.

Il Cervo is a VIBE! The restaurant is on the 9th floor of a hotel. When you dine either inside or outside, you have a gorgeous view of Downtown Milwaukee. I ordered the following: Grilled Octopus Panzanella Cappelletti The food is expensive but the dining experience is worth it. Very tranquil. Well lit. A great place for a dinner date, anniversary, etc. Server: Zach. Zach was such a sweetie! Great service and a stellar attitude. He came and asked me how I liked each dish. If you have Zach as your waiter, make sure to tip him well! The grilled octopus was a 10/10. Tender, light, and refreshing. The tomatoes burst in your mouth. The Panzanella was a 10/10 too. Very fresh! You probably get a day and a half's worth of iron in the salad. Lots of greens! The Cappelletti was 8/10. I wish I had more room in my stomach to give it a full review. I liked the mushrooms and Lima beans. So, if you abhor mushrooms, I don't recommend this dish. Very mushroomy.

We recently took a group of six our for dinner and were looking for a place to impress. The recently opened Il Cervo hit all of the marks - the freshest pasta and cheeses that you can purchase in Milwaukee, in a brand new, stylish hotel, with excellent service. Upon entry to the restaurant we were immediately impressed by the modern and classy style. The views are gorgeous: we had a direct shot at the growing downtown area and fiserv forum. Our waiter was prompt, polite and offered great recommendations and easily explained the unique characteristics of this establishment. We were impressed to be sure. We shared a bread appetizer to start which was freshly made and delicious. Some on the table ordered the pepperoni pizza and gave it high marks. I ordered the bolognese, which was the most fantastic I've had in Milwaukee. Perfectly cooked pasta, with a flavorful and plentiful sauce replete with coarsely ground black pepper. It was nothing short of fantastic. I encourage you to get an early peek at this new and sure to be popular restaurant.

I brought our 9 year old son who appreciates a fine dining experience. He specifically asked if we could leave a review because this was his favorite dinner ever. Alejandro was our server and was a delight. We were seated at one of the best tables , right next to the window. Our meal was fantastic! They also made us custom mocktails based on our flavor preference. Our son said the ambiance was his favorite part. Excellent Italian food, excellent experience