Dining/Restaurants/Food Scene

[homer]

We've been very impressed with the food scene in Milwaukee since moving back to town. My top 5 "nice" places (stars equals number of visits):

1. Goodkind*******

2. Odd Duck***

3. Purslane*

4. Morel**

5. 1033 Omakase*

Honorable Mention: Three Brothers, Amilinda, Lebnani House, Room Service, Story Hill BKC

Still to try: Sanford, Le Rêve, Ca'Lucchenzo, Lake Park Bistro, Bacchus, The Diplomat

[Jim French Stepstool]

Milwaukee has been home to great dining options for a long time. I'm not familiar with some of the names on your list, so thanks!!!

If I may add another place worthy of a look-see----Santinos' Little Italy.

[homer]

On 1/8/2026 at 3:42 PM, Jim French Stepstool said:

Milwaukee has been home to great dining options for a long time. I'm not familiar with some of the names on your list, so thanks!!!

If I may add another place worthy of a look-see----Santinos' Little Italy.

We have gotten carry-out from there quite a bit. Very good Neopolitan-style pizza. Speaking of pizza, I could use some additional Milwaukee recommendations. A few we've tried below (FYI there's "pizza" thread somewhere around here):

Balistreri's (68th St in Wauwatosa) - tavern-style thin crust, "Milwaukee style" some people might call it. This is my favorite pizza in town. I love eating at the restaurant - old school charm with Christmas lights up all year long. Get the deep-fried eggplant + marinara appetizer.

San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana (downtown Milwaukee) - they literally brought a dude over from Italy just to make the pizza. Great place to go before an event at Fiserv. Next door to Calderone Club (same owner, I believe). 

Transfer (Mitchell and KK near the bus "transfer") - We got this for carryout a few times and I wasn't a huge fan but then I went in with friends a few times to dine in and enjoyed it. I guess it didn't travel well? They just bought an old bus and turned it into an outdoor dining space. Good place to take the family in the summer I'd imagine. 

Sorella (Bayview) - a nice Italian restaurant that also serves pizza. The pies are decent, IMO. I prefer their entrees. 

I want to try:

Flour Girl and Flame (West Allis). I love Detroit style and they have a special every wednesday but I haven't made it there yet. They were profiled on Wisconsin Foodie (as was San Giorgio I think).

 

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

10 hours ago, homer said:

We have gotten carry-out from there quite a bit. Very good Neopolitan-style pizza. Speaking of pizza, I could use some additional Milwaukee recommendations. A few we've tried below (FYI there's "pizza" thread somewhere around here):

Balistreri's (68th St in Wauwatosa) - tavern-style thin crust, "Milwaukee style" some people might call it. This is my favorite pizza in town. I love eating at the restaurant - old school charm with Christmas lights up all year long. Get the deep-fried eggplant + marinara appetizer.

San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana (downtown Milwaukee) - they literally brought a dude over from Italy just to make the pizza. Great place to go before an event at Fiserv. Next door to Calderone Club (same owner, I believe). 

Transfer (Mitchell and KK near the bus "transfer") - We got this for carryout a few times and I wasn't a huge fan but then I went in with friends a few times to dine in and enjoyed it. I guess it didn't travel well? They just bought an old bus and turned it into an outdoor dining space. Good place to take the family in the summer I'd imagine. 

Sorella (Bayview) - a nice Italian restaurant that also serves pizza. The pies are decent, IMO. I prefer their entrees. 

I want to try:

Flour Girl and Flame (West Allis). I love Detroit style and they have a special every wednesday but I haven't made it there yet. They were profiled on Wisconsin Foodie (as was San Giorgio I think).

 

 

Agree re Balistreri's. We're out in the lake country now so don't get there too often anymore but it's always been a favorite (along with Santino's).

Pizza-wise, I'll add DiStefano's to the list. It's on 46th & Forest Home and is carryout & delivery only. The qualifier is I haven't sampled it in years but if it hasn't changed it's terrific. When we lived in Greenfield I was addicted to the stuff.

I never had their pies, but back in the day when I would hang out downtown I loved the entrees at Calderone.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Ricardos in Greendale and Capri di Nuovo on 84th and Beloit have really good pizza.  Ricardos has a great sauce. Capri has a great deep dish and great breadsticks as well.

[TURBO]

If you guys ever find yourselves in Appleton, Sal's Pizza on College Avenue is sooooooooo good!  

Sold by the slice, or you can order full pies.  Authentic Italian pizza and my favorite place in the Fox Valley for pizza.

Lunchtime special gets you a slice, a soda, and a "to die for" garlic roll for $6.50.  They have at least 10 pizzas out at a time so a really good selection.

If you ever come up for Mile of Music, it's right there on the Ave...

[homer]

10 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Agree re Balistreri's. We're out in the lake country now so don't get there too often anymore but it's always been a favorite (along with Santino's).

Pizza-wise, I'll add DiStefano's to the list. It's on 46th & Forest Home and is carryout & delivery only. The qualifier is I haven't sampled it in years but if it hasn't changed it's terrific. When we lived in Greenfield I was addicted to the stuff.

I never had their pies, but back in the day when I would hang out downtown I loved the entrees at Calderone.

Have you ever had Maria's? It's on 50th and Forest Home.

 

FYI here is the pizza specific thread:

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

7 hours ago, homer said:

Have you ever had Maria's? It's on 50th and Forest Home.

 

FYI here is the pizza specific thread:

 

Went to Maria's once. I'll bet it was 20-25 years ago. I don't recall if I had the pizza or something else, but neither my at-the-time GF or I were impressed & we never returned. I would assume we just had the random bad experience because they're still there, so they must be doing something right.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Could anyone out there recommend what they consider to be a good gluten-free pizza? My wife has celiac. She eats like a bird but sometimes is in a 'pizza mood'.

[Samurai Bucky]

We don't get downtown too much to eat.  We are trying to expand our horizons...

Ann's Italian Restaurant in Hales Corners on 108th / Forest Home is very good.  They have some of the best thin-crust pizza around, although it is pricy.  The lasagna is awesome. 

Ricardo's in downtown Greendale is good, too.

On 1/11/2026 at 9:34 AM, homer said:

Have you ever had Maria's? It's on 50th and Forest Home.

We have driven by it a lot, but haven't stopped there.  I hear it is very good.

We also like Los Mariachis Mexican restaurant on Layton just east of Loomis.  Before that, we would go out of our way to hit Señor Luna in New Berlin on Calhoun by the railroad tracks.  That had / has been a staple for a very long time.

Some pricier steakhouse options are Carnivore downtown, and the Steakout on Loomis and College in Greendale.  Both remind me of Flemings in Brookfield, or Morton's found nowhere in Milwaukee.  I would put Carnivore at the top of the list.

We might need to have a separate thread for wings... 😉

[Baldkin]

On 1/3/2026 at 12:17 PM, homer said:

We've been very impressed with the food scene in Milwaukee since moving back to town. My top 5 "nice" places (stars equals number of visits):

1. Goodkind*******

2. Odd Duck***

3. Purslane*

4. Morel**

5. 1033 Omakase*

Honorable Mention: Three Brothers, Amilinda, Lebnani House, Room Service, Story Hill BKC

Still to try: Sanford, Le Rêve, Ca'Lucchenzo, Lake Park Bistro, Bacchus, The Diplomat

If you go to Ca'Luchezzo, there is a two top table by the bar you can reserve if you are a couple that is secluded and amazing

[homer]

On 1/12/2026 at 10:07 AM, Samurai Bucky said:

We might need to have a separate thread for wings... 😉

Todd I Believe I Can Fry has excellent wings and karage (deep-fried boneless chicken thighs).  I usually get the Thai Chili sauce but the buffalo sauce was very good.

[homer]

On 1/10/2026 at 1:18 PM, homer said:

I want to try:

Flour Girl and Flame (West Allis). I love Detroit style and they have a special every wednesday but I haven't made it there yet. They were profiled on Wisconsin Foodie (as was San Giorgio I think).

Can cross this one off the list. It was fantastic. They close up shop in April and only do catering and their food truck all summer. Hopefully, I can get back one more time before then.