Apertivo is a restaurant I unfortunately may not pay a second visit to. We arrived to the restaurant as a group of 6 without a reservation and were seated an hour later, which is completely understandable. The ambiance was nice so we were able to enjoy ourselves. The main problem was that after we ordered, we had to wait an extremely long time for the food which was quite disappointing. We also did not get any appetizers and just entrees so we were all quite hungry. After the hour long wait, we found out that they messed up the order for a friend so she had to wait for an additional 25 minutes. The new dish she received was cold and the pasta was not al dente. I got the Rigatoni Alla Vodka which was pretty good but the overall experience dimmed my enjoyment. In summary, the food is good but the service was below par. read more

I tried Apertivo with a girlfriend and we were really impressed! We walked in on a Thursday and were able to choose our seats. There's a bar area and then these large booths that are super cute so we chose that. We tried the focaccia bread appetizer, rigatoni allá vodka and the diavola pizza. We loved everything. The sauce was really yummy on the pasta and the flavors worked together so well on the pizza. I would definitely return. They also have happy hour- 8 dollar drinks is definitely a win. read more

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I stopped in to read a book and drink a glass of wine on the patio because the weather was amazing!! It was super comfortable. I had the Sangiovese wine which was so so good. I also happened to still be there when happy hour started so I got a hummus plate. I was by myself and unable to finish it so I got it to go. During happy hour there's a $1 charge for to go containers (which is annoying but I understand why). The hummus was great. Nice flavor, and the pita was warm and delicious. This is a great wine spot for sure. read more

Aperitivo - Happy hour hummus - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The perfect spot for a fun date night, girl's catch up, or larger group hang. The inside has a historical atmosphere with exposed brick, beautiful wood floors & bar features, and old artwork on the walls. Do not miss seeing the back bathroom doors as well! My cousin and I stopped in for Friday Happy Hour and enjoyed $8 wine as well as shared some pastas. I preferred my cousin's Joel Gott Sauv Blanc over my Italian Vitiano Bianco. We shared both the Rigatoni Alla Vodka and Lemon Herb Fettuccine. We preferred the Rigatoni Alla Vodka as it was straight forward, creamy, and hit the spot. The Lemon Herb Fettuccine was unique in flavor but rich. It would be extremely difficult to finish the entire plate as one person in my opinion. Either way, both pastas were flavorful, al dente, and great portions! Pro Tip: Happy Hour times change from 4-6pm Tuesday-Thursday to 4-5pm on Friday. read more

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Service was good staff were nice. Food was good just had pizza and a simple pasta dish. Just disappointed with my drink. Spacious with high ceiling. read more

Wonderful happy hour. Service was impeccable. We had the flatbread and Caesar salad. Excellent.

Great vibe, great bar, staff is in absolutely no rush to serve you anything. 3 in a row with a not-so-busy night and just gave up on the food order and closed out. read more

Came in without a reservation, would probably suggest on busier nights from Friday-Sunday since it's smaller inside. There was space at the bar and bar tender was extremely friendly. Started with the app of foccacia bread with olive oil and balsamic which was amazing. My daughter order the rigatoni vodka pasta and I had the margherita pizza. Both were delicious! read more

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Certainly a hidden gem in Milwaukee! The food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was fantastic. Everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. Such a great spot downtown, and I'll definitely be back! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in Milwaukee! It's such a hidden gem. We go here for all of our special days or just an impromptu night out. I never need a reservation but it always has a good crowd there. My favorite is to sit at the bar even if tables are available. I love the ambience, like a casual upscale with perfect dim lighting and beautiful decor and furnishings. Their pizzas are great. Our go to dish is the spicy sausage rigatoni. The flavors are so impactful and vibrant. Their homemade tiramisu is also amazing. They make the best Aperol Spritz! read more

I love coming to the Historic Pritzlaff Building! It's very cool to see, outside and inside. I love the rustic and modern look inside Aperitivo. Always great service and friendly staff. I also enjoy the lighting and the TV's. The TV's look like paintings on a wall, which gives the restaurant an artsy and modern vibe. I went there for lunch today at noon with my mom and a friend and we were seated right away in a large booth. I like that the booths are roomy and the walkway to the bathroom is spacious, this is important to me because my mom is disabled and walker-dependent. The food was good; we enjoyed the caprese sandwich, veggie and hummus wrap, Brussels sprouts, and fries (cubed breakfast potatoes). For dessert, we had the chocolate cake. The cake was dry and we wouldn't order it again. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and love the history and ambience inside Aperitivo! read more

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Apertivo is a great spot for a date night or a wine night with the girls. Located in the bottom of the Pritzlaff building, it dones the cream city brick interior. Great prices at happy hour, but also decent during the other times of the day. They offer a variety of small plates to share, and have a great wine list to choose from. read more

The lemon Alfredo pasta with chicken is AMAZING! The BEST lemon pasta I've had and I'm obsessed! Definitely recommend! I wish it wasn't just on the dinner menu (which starts at 4 btw) They have both indoor and outdoor seating! The service and ambiance were great as well. The portions and prices were good- I had leftovers which reheated perfectly! I got a paloma which was great! I definitely want to come back for the happy hour! They are also located near the public market and many other cool spots to go to before/after! read more

Aperitivo - Lemon Alfredo pasta w/ chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We just recently had our wedding reception here, and Ricard and his team went above and beyond! Would absolutely recommend the buyout option! Will definitely be returning! read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Really great HH deals (even on a Friday!) for both food and drinks. I'd love to come back and try the regular food menu. Service was decent, it was busy. I would definitely recommend making a reservation - some were turned away at the door! Our large party was accommodated at a table that still allowed for everyone to talk to each other which I appreciated. Chic Third Ward vibes. read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This was such a cute and cozy spot, especially on a chilly night downtown! There was an array of cocktails, wine, beer to choose from. I am a big espresso martini gal and theirs was one of my favorites. Very coffee forward, not sweet. I also tried the crème brûlée espresso martinis, which was surprisingly very mild and not sweet at all. I loved it! Lastly, I tried the limoncello spritz, very delicious. Refreshing. For food, we got the whipped feta flat bread. This was amazing, the walnuts with the honey pulled it all together. We also tried the lemon herb fettuccini with shrimp... one of my favorites. But super rich, so I recommend splitting it. The only negative was the service... it was a Wednesday night and not packed at all. Only my husband and I + a group of three at the huge bar. We were never greeted. It took forever for our drinks while the three bartenders were too worried about cleaning glasses. But overall, I would go back! read more

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My friends and I went here on a Friday night. It wasn't too busy so we found a table right away. The waitress was attentive and friendly. We ordered the chicken Caesar sandwich and bbq chicken pizza. Both were really good! The only thing I will say about the sandwich is the focaccia was very think so a large chunk of the sandwich was bread. However, the bread was amazing so it wasn't a huge deal to me. The American fries are like cubed breakfast potatoes but I enjoyed the seasoning and peppers in them. This place is great for a night out with friends or a date night! read more

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The restaurant is very quaint and was close to the hotel my client was staying at. Our waitress was very attentive and ensured we had what we needed throughout our stay. The drinks were great and the food was even better. You know a restaurant is good when your guests staying in a hotel take their leftovers to eat later. We'll definitely be back! read more

Great service... great food.... Great location! Went for lunch ... Cobb salad & Bacon Jam flatbread were very well presented, flavorful & terrific ! read more

This was the new restaurant of the week and I got parking almost in front of the place. This place is beautiful on the inside with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, wood floors, wood pillars, ceiling trusses, nice bar etc etc. The bar and walls are lit up so it must look so cool at night. This place certainly retains most of its originality and you have to see the cool old door on the mens room. service was great with the Asian woman taking care of me and making a suggestion from the drink menu. She suggested all along the watchtower which was delicious. For my lunch I decided to do the signature sandwich named after the building, the Pritzlaff which is roast beef, caramelized onion, blue cheese, mayo, roasted mushrooms on a toasted sub roll. This sandwich was pretty tasty and that fresh bakery style roll was perfectly fresh/soft. The roast beef was so tender and it practically melted in your mouth. This is a very cool place to enjoy some adult cocktails and food with a setting from back in time, I'm so glad that this building is a survivor and was never dozed over. read more

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This was our first time here! It was busy due to a rehearsal dinner, but that didn't stop our amazing waitress Bianca! She was reciprocative and communicated that the bar was busy but still had our food and drinks in a timely manner. Bianca was the highlight of our evening and made the ambiance fantastic! Definitely try a cocktail or two! read more

Aperitivo - Pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A wonderful experience. Not only was my whipped feta flatbread with walnuts and honey delicious (my sister also enjoyed her panini) our server was a very friendly, pleasant and efficient young woman. To top it off, the part-owner gave us an impromptu private tour of the historic building, which is filled with beautifully restored relics from the 19th Century. A simple lunch stop turned into a memorable afternoon for my sister and me. read more

Fantastic place. Great food (vodka sauce was terrific), great wine, and wonderful artwork on the walls.

Amazing service and the absolute BEST tuna melt I have ever had! We continue to come back just for the tuna melt!

I love this place and I've only been here once. It's located at the Pritzlaff building. I did get married there so that goes along way with why I love this spot. I love the building and the feel of old Milwaukee. The food was bomb! And I got a glass of wine. I'd say a bit upscale but also very welcoming. A great spot for a date night, a lunch that feels like dinner. It's the best of both worlds posh and industrial. We will be back, soon hopefully! read more

This is a go to spot for us - They have the best tuna melt and the staff is always wonderful! 10/10 spot if you're looking for good vibes and a great tuna sandwich! read more

In the mood for pizza and charcuterie? Look no further. I got the spicy sausage, mushroom, and onion pizza. It was large enough for two, so we shared it with some charcuterie. We have a larger group and the staff was helpful and timely. The ambiance/ decor is inspired has a modern, industrial feel. read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Expectations temper an experience. With the name Aperitivo and the website's concept, I expected what I encountered in Milan, where almost every block has an elegant bar serving small bites and aperitifs. Stylish, exuding that European caché, the Milanese pose and prance before and after dinner at these bars. They are very cool. Aperitivo is nothing like this. It is Wisconsin and Walker's Point true. There is nothing bad about that but nothing what I expected. With lots of wood and paraphernalia, showing off the industrial age at the turn of the twentieth century, the bar has the requisite cream city brick of the neighborhood. There is nothing European about Aperitivo. Drinks are good, Wisconsin poured, and the menu eclectic with many choices. A large wooden bar takes up much of the space in this out of the way spot near the railroad lines and the post office. Service was friendly and very down to earth. As a place to go, Aperitivo is just fine. However the name conjures up a cosmopolitan panache that is rare in Milwaukee. Aperitivo doesn't have it, but it's a nice place to drink and eat. read more

We recently discovered Aperitivo even though it's been here for a while now. I loved how it has a very old Milwaukee third ward feel to it and at the same time has a very modern bar and seating! This place is perfect for a Aperitif or drinks or date night or just hangout with work friends. We ordered the fungi pizza which was yum and the charcuterie cheese board. The quantity was quite good and we enjoyed the variety. I also loved reading about the unique history of the place and they have some great fixtures of that on the wall. They have booth seating plus bar and high table top seating which brings in lot of space to pick from. read more

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Went during happy hour! Plenty to choose from. Started with an Aperol Spritz. Hubby and I shared the quarter pounder with cheese, Caesar salad, and added the American fries which were more like breakfast potatoes. Server was nice and attentive. read more

I was just waiting for a morning that would finally reach 40º to finally check out Aperitivo for a quick breakfast. It's one of those places that you know it's there, but with construction (2019), 2020 (the year speaks for itself), and winter, it's easy to just keep on the agenda "for later." But not anymore! I placed my order online via Square and took a walk over there, leisurely since it would be ready half an hour later from the time of placing the order. Once in, the place is cozy and inviting, something to look forward to enjoying in the (hopefully) near future. The staff wears masks and gloves. And the best thing is that my craving for a delicious croissant was quickly satisfied, and this was easily the best Matcha latte with soy I've ever had. read more

Aperitivo - Outside - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I started scribbling notes on this review after my first couple bites. It's hard to make a first impression with takeaway, but they certainly have made a great one on me. I ordered a pretty simple meal: a build your own panini, Caesar salad, and a fresh baked cookie. The sandwich and salad were great - the cookie could use some love (didn't seem house-made). I know I created the sandwich but y'all the flavors were so good - chicken, bacon, blue cheese, bbq sauce. Perfectly crispy bread. I'd definitely order this again. The Caesar salad was great too - made up of fresh bright romaine, house-made croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Ordering online was very easy as was curbside pickup. I'll definitely be back - considering trying a pizza next time but it'll be hard to beat this sandwich and salad combo! Pricing was very good too. I can't wait to come back for cocktails!! read more

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I came here for drinks and dinner with friends and was very pleased with my experience overall! I called in advance to make sure the patio was open but unfortunately the internet was out which affected the phone, which I was told by the manager when I emailed them after I tried to call. The manager/owner (not sure which one) responded promptly and told me that he could accept our group of 5 for outdoor seating. Once we got there parking was so easy to find, as it was free right outside the building and we were the only group there at the moment. There were 6-7 tables with umbrellas outside of the restaurant, and a table for 5 set up for us. The rest of the tables were set for 2-4 people. We walked into the restaurant to let them know we were there and the interior was absolutely gorgeous. It looks like a very classy place inside! The server said she would be with us so we took a seat at our table outside and the server came out with menus. The menu is very extensive, multiple pages long for cocktails, wine, beer, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas. Each cocktail is ~$8-$11 and food ranges from $8-$14 as well. I ordered a Bellini which came in a beautiful glass and was absolutely delicious and costed $9. My sandwich was only $8 and it was HUGE. My friends got similar items and everyone loved their food and drinks. The server was very kind and checked on us multiple times to see if we needed anything else. I really hope that more people check this place out and give it some business so that it is here to stay. The concept behind "Apertivo" is Italian, where you order a drink and a small food item comes out with it, similar to the concept of tapas in Spain. However, due to covid-19, they are unable to do that right now and they currently do not have happy hour, which I was disappointed about but I understand. I am looking forward to returning with the apertivo concept and happy hour are back as well! Enjoy this place for outdoor food, indoor drinks, and/or take-out for both! read more

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This place is literally a hidden gem. It is never busy at all even at peak hours. I've come here a couple times during 5-8 and it literally was not busy at all. This place is super cute tmduring the summer months to sit on the patio and have a light snack and drink with friends and have a chit chat. The service is very much serve you and check in on you but they very much allow you to have and enjoy your time with your friends that you don't feel too bothered by the servers. I enjoy this a lot compared to some bars / restaurants that keep bugging you. Decor is cute, the food is aesthetic af, the drinks aesthetic af. It's def more a wine wine type place. They also have a variety of options of drinks. They do do wine by the glass via the bottle. / maybe it depends on which wine but that was my experience when here. read more

Service was just okay. Their website showed two pages of menu but we only received one. The happy hour also did not include any drink specials which was odd. Food was decent but nothing crazy good. read more

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This spot is cozy - from intimate booths to wood construction. I went for a happy hour and they had a great menu for cocktails, wine, beer, and apps! The hummus, cocktails, and pizza were all yummy - and a great deal. Nice low key happy hour spot to add to the list. read more

Beautiful space! Went during happy hour and instead of drink specials, you get a complimentary "Aperitivo". Today was a chorizo quesadilla with salsa verde. I had a mojito that was freshly muddled along with the cevapcici & Caesar salad. Our server was lovely and even split our salad on 2 separate plates without even asking. Can't wait to go back to try more menu items! read more

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I am updating my review by one more star. Although I have yet to go back to this restaurant since my last experience, I really appreciate the owner taking the time to comment on my review and explain the situation that occurred that day. I am hopeful that when I return, it will be just as awesome as my usual Richard's experience and that I can update my review once more :) read more

Definitely one of my favorite places to go. Their pizza and pasta is delicious, and pairs well with their excellent wine selection. The ambiance is hard to beat as the restaurant is smaller and consists of only a few big cozy booths. This is the best type of restaurant to watch the snow fall outside. They are very friendly and give you and appetizer to taste while you're pondering the menu! Their Valentine's Day selective menu was a great deal for the price and was phenomenally prepared. read more

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Love this rustic, warm and hidden spot in Milwaukee. They have great drinks and even better service. I love Aperol Spritz, but the bartender let me try different Apertivos to see what I actually like. Loved the intimate and thoughtful experience! This place is surprisingly never busy but always hits the spot. Great small bites too!! read more

Aperitivo - Love this ambience! - Wine Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin