Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Milwaukee

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Milwaukee? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Safina

4.9

4.9 (418)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

It’s been over four years since guests last tasted the Sicilian dishes from longtime Milwaukee restaurant Giovanni’s. But all of that changes with Safina: a new casual Italian concept that comes to the historic building at 785 N. Jefferson St.

Focusing on comforting dishes with roots in Sicily and the southern regions of Italy, Safina's goal is to keep the menu familiar and accessible. The restaurant also features a full bar and second-level seating, complete with wood and marble finishes that highlight the rustic, modern Italian ambiance.

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food! The pistachio pasta and the frutta de mare pasta were incredible!!

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Santino's Little Italy

4.8

4.8 (236)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Santino's Little Italy, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood with rich history echoing years gone by in the City of Milwaukee. The building housing the restaurant is over 130 years old and has been beautifully remodeled by talented designers and carpenters. The vibe has an old school Brooklyn New York feeling and is the perfect place to make wonderful memories with friends and family.

The menu features delicious gourmet pizzas / house-made pastas / salads / appetizers / deserts along with delicious Italian wine / cocktails and are professionally served to you by our attentive staff. Our amazing Neapolitan Style Pizza is hand made with the finest and freshest ingredients and cooked in a 6,000-pound Italian woodfired oven. With humility and gratitude our pizza was ranked nationally as the 46th best pizza in North America and we are very proud to serve many happy diners here in Milwaukee.

Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. We look forward to serving you.

Top review

Dave

Dined 1 day ago

Great experience...as always...from the moment you walk in until you leave the staff is attentive. Food was great as was the wine...always enjoy Santino's.

Zarletti - Downtown

4.9

4.9 (2988)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

DINE IN & CURB SIDE SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE!

CURBSIDE FOOD AND RETAIL WINE SERVICE
MONDAY-SATURDAY 1:00PM-8:00PM

DINE IN FOR DINNER ONLY
MONDAY-THURSDAY 4PM-8PM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 4PM-9PM

PLEASE CALL 414-225-0000

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Zarletti is a fine dining northern Italian restaurant located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Executive chef and owner Brian C. Zarletti focuses on creating regional Italian cuisine inspired by lessons learned in his grandmother’s kitchen and on his extensive travels in Italy.

Top review

Louise

Dined today

Food was fantastic, and service was above and beyond. Pasta is always great, and the veal was just perfect!

Onesto

4.8

4.8 (2726)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Onesto, which means “honest” in Italian, serves a modern twist on Italian fare with an emphasis on fresh, handmade, flavorful cuisine. We also feature an approachable wine list and a craft cocktail menu. When you visit, be sure to check out our dramatic event space.

Top review

Paula

Dined 1 day ago

I truly enjoy this restaurant and have dined here quite a few times. Last night, however, I was disappointed at how loud the dining room became. It was more than « energetic ». Rather, it was uncomfortable and my friend and I had difficulty hearing each other. Perhaps some additional soft surfaces would help to absorb the sound.

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Roasted Pepper Bruschetta

Maggiano's - Milwaukee

4.6

4.6 (2817)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Join us for lunch or dinner at Maggiano's Mayfair Mall and savor the rich flavors of Italian-American dishes inspired by Nonna’s traditional recipes. Sit and enjoy a delicious Italian meal at our two-story location, which offers 3 banquet rooms, a beautiful patio and an award winning landscape giving guests a memorable experience. Visit us at 2500 N Mayfair Rd. and book your reservation today!

Top review

Kathi

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

Excellent food and our server, Jackson, was excellent

Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993

4.7

4.7 (3333)

$50 and over

Italian

Wauwatosa

About the restaurant

Nestled in an historic brewery building in the Village of Wauwatosa, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 is the flagship restaurant in The Bartolotta Restaurants portfolio. Conceived by The Bartolotta Restaurants co-founders, restaurateur Joe Bartolotta and his brother, Chef Paul Bartolotta, it is acclaimed for its handmade pasta and authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy, intimate setting. Executive Chef Juan Urbieta presents the popular “Un Viaggio in Italia” menu series, highlighting a different city or region of Italy with a four-course, customizable menu that takes guests on a journey of Italy and changes monthly.The restaurant was recently awarded the coveted Marchio Ospitalità Italiana certification of excellence by the Italian Union of Chamber of Commerce. This prestigious award honors a restaurant for its commitment to “Made in Italy” quality and authenticity. Reservations are recommended, and we have a 15-minute grace period, so please call us if you are running late.

Top review

cathy

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

The four course offerings were just ok but service and location are great. Outside patio was wonderful.

Brick Pizzeria & Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (67)

$30 and under

Italian

Franklin

About the restaurant

Brick Pizzeria & Ristorante brings an authentic brick oven Italian experience to Franklin. By way of Steamboat, CO. Partner and Pizzaiolo Leopoldo Demusis spent every summer among the hills of Sant'Angelo all'Esca, in the Campania region of Italy, where he found his love of food. In 2016, he realized his dream of bringing Neapolitan-style pizza from Napoli to Steamboat where he is a wildly successful restaurateur. Brick is our hometown connection to a little taste of Italy from the hand built, 100% brick oven to imported tomatoes and flour, we will do our best to maintain the integrity and vibe of southern Italy.

Top review

JeanVIP

Dined on May 2, 2025

Excellent service. Loved some of the new items. Especially the burratta. Had to get the tiramisu too.

Sorella

4.6

4.6 (1209)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Old school meets new school, East Coast meets Midwest, with a Southern-style Italian restaurant landing right in the middle of it all. Delivering distinctly Italian cuisine that’s easy to pronounce and even easier to share, guests will enjoy seasonally inspired dishes throughout the year. Sorella serves healthy foods with elegant flavors, which are often made with locally sourced products.

Top review

Patricia

Dined 4 days ago

A vibrant restaurant in Bayview with really good food. A wonderful choice for a celebration.

Zarletti - Mequon

4.3

4.3 (1170)

$31 to $50

Italian

Mequon

About the restaurant

Zarletti Mequon: A dining experience designed by restauranteur, Brian Zarletti. The restaurant reflects Brian’s lifelong passion for Italian wine, food, and culture bringing a genuinità to Zarletti Mequon that can be felt throughout.

We hope you enjoy the simple, thoughtful cuisine. Whether it’s our Neopolitan pizza, hand-crafted in the wood-burning oven imported from Italy, or one of our many housemade pastas, each dish is prepared and presented with both appetite and aesthetic in mind.

We are thrilled to welcome you to the world of Italian food, wine, and fun! Buon appetito!

Top review

ErikaVIP

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

Food was pretty good. Ravioli were a little chewy and overdone at the edges. Rigatoni sauce was phenomenal. Balsamic vinegar on house salad was so acidic I couldn’t finish the salad. Service was on the slow side, but food delivered quickly.

Bravo Italian Kitchen - Milwaukee - Brookfield

4.3

4.3 (1278)

$30 and under

Italian

Brookfield

About the restaurant

Bravo Brookfield is an upscale-casual Italian restaurant in Brookfield, perfect for those seeking authentic pasta, wood-fired pizza, and signature entrées. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails and wine in our inviting, family-friendly atmosphere, surrounded by stunning Roman-ruin décor. Planning a holiday party or Thanksgiving celebration? We offer catering services and easy reservations to make your event special. Whether dining in or ordering online, Bravo Brookfield is the place to eat in Brookfield, WI for great Italian cuisine. Visit us today-reserve your table or order online!

Top review

RichVIP

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

Food excellent as usual. TJ was a fantastic server. Very fast service on a Saturday night.

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