Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Milwaukee by diners

It's no surprise that, in most countries, traditional national cuisine is the most popular, according to a . But Italian food isn't just top-rated in Italy鈥攊t ranks as the second-most popular cuisine in Germany and France and takes the bronze spot in the U.K., Mexico, and India as well.

Of course, it's also among Americans' favorites鈥攁nd there's lots to love about it. Just thinking about dishes like chicken Parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs is enough to get your mouth watering, even though many of these world-famous dishes are actually more so than true Italian fare. Traditional Italian food embraces an assortment of sumptuous recipes that aren't dependent on fried breadcrumbs and red sauce鈥攖hink frittatas and focaccia, or carpaccio and panna cotta.

Italian immigrants have been weaving their cuisine into the fabric of the American food landscape for generations since they arrived in the United States nearly 150 years ago. And the cuisine, like the culture it hails from, tends to give off warm and fuzzy "family" feelings. For many people, the quintessential local Italian American restaurant鈥攃omplete with its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, pour bottles of olive oil, Parmesan cheese shakers, cute little jars of red pepper flakes, and wicker baskets of oven-fresh bread鈥攂rings back memories of special life moments, like first dates and milestone birthdays.

Luckily, today you don't need to be in a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles or an area with a large Italian or Italian American community to score top-notch buon cibo. You can find excellent Italian offerings in almost every city from coast to coast. To celebrate all things mozzarella and marinara, compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Milwaukee based on diners' reviews on as of January 2025.

Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.

1 / 30

#30. Pizza Man Milwaukee

- Rating: 3.4/5 (438 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2597 North Downer Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars, Italian
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2 / 30

#29. Sammy's Taste of Chicago

- Rating: 3.7/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1234 South 108th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Italian
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3 / 30

#28. Filippo's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6915 West Lincoln Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
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4 / 30

#27. Caterina's

- Rating: 3.7/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9104 West Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
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5 / 30

#26. Balistreri's Bluemound Inn

- Rating: 3.8/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6501 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

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6 / 30

#25. Barbiere's Italian Inn

- Rating: 3.8/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5844 West Bluemound Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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7 / 30

#24. Zaffiro's Pizza

- Rating: 3.8/5 (398 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1724 North Farwell Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars, Italian
-

8 / 30

#23. Maria's Pizza

- Rating: 3.9/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5025 West Forest Home Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

9 / 30

#22. Tanino's Italian & Amer Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3525 South 76th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

10 / 30

#21. Il Cervo

- Rating: 3.9/5 (146 reviews)
- Address: 420 West Juneau Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Italian
-

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11 / 30

#20. Calderone Club

- Rating: 3.9/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8001 North Port Washington Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
-

12 / 30

#19. Lisa's Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2961 North Oakland Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Italian
-

13 / 30

#18. Calderone Club

- Rating: 4.0/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 842 North Old World 3rd St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

14 / 30

#17. Sala Modern Sicilian Dining

- Rating: 4.0/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2613 East Hampshire St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
-

15 / 30

#16. Onesto

- Rating: 4.1/5 (636 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 221 North Broadway Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Italian, Wine Bars
-

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16 / 30

#15. Transfer Pizzeria Caf茅

- Rating: 4.1/5 (546 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 West Mitchell St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Gluten-Free
-

17 / 30

#14. Dorsia

- Rating: 4.1/5 (557 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1301-07 East Brady St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Bars
-

18 / 30

#13. Stella Van Buren

- Rating: 4.1/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 550 North Van Buren St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, American
-

19 / 30

#12. Egg & Flour Pasta Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2273 South Howell Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
-

20 / 30

#11. Carini's La Conca D'Oro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3468 North Oakland Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Pizza
-

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21 / 30

#10. Tenuta's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (426 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2995 South Clement Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
-

22 / 30

#9. Marco's World Famous Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8411 West Lisbon Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

23 / 30

#8. Centro Caf茅

- Rating: 4.2/5 (283 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 808 East Center St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Bars
-

24 / 30

#7. Zarletti

- Rating: 4.3/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 741 North Milwaukee St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
-

25 / 30

#6. Lupi & Iris

- Rating: 4.4/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 777 North Van Buren St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wine Bars, Italian
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26 / 30

#5. Sorella

- Rating: 4.4/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2535 South Kinnickinnic Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
-

27 / 30

#4. Nessun Dorma

- Rating: 4.4/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2778 North Weil St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Italian
-

28 / 30

#3. Glorioso's Italian Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (598 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 East Brady St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Delis, Italian, International Grocery
-

29 / 30

#2. Tauro Cocina

- Rating: 4.6/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1758 North Water St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
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30 / 30

#1. Santino's Little Italy

- Rating: 4.7/5 (387 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 352 East Stewart St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.

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