I dine at Caterina's often, and each visit continues to be an outstanding experience from start to finish. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between refined and welcoming, creating an environment that feels both special and comfortable. The menu reflects a clear commitment to quality and thoughtful preparation. Each dish is consistently well-executed, with fresh ingredients and flavors that are both balanced and memorable. It's evident that great care goes into both the culinary vision and the presentation. What truly elevates the experience is the presence of Tony Jr., whose personal engagement and hospitality set the tone for the entire restaurant. His attention to detail and genuine connection with guests are clearly reflected in both the service and the overall culture. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the team consistently demonstrates strong knowledge of the menu along with a clear pride in what they deliver. Overall, Caterina's provides a dining experience that is both elevated and approachable. With leadership like Tony Jr. at the helm, it's easy to see why I continue to return. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for exceptional food paired with warm, thoughtful hospitality. Mike Lewis read more

Can't say enough great things about Caterina's - a staple for YEARS - I won't say how many because I'd age myself! I've had my staples which are usually the pan fried chicken or the shrimp/scallop garlic pasta with asparagus and tomato - absolute perfection. Recently, I tried the prime rib, available on Saturday nights, and have to say it is some of the finest in the area. Very old school supper club flavor, generous portions, and I highly recommend. The bread and cheese/sausage tray provided prior to dinner is delish. Reservations are recommended. read more

Caterina's - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This was our first time here and it was amazing! The inside of the restaurant is super cute and the food was so good. We got 2 different chicken dishes and they were both so good. We also got the mozzarella marinara and it basically melted in your mouth. The service was excellent as well, many people asked how our food was and if we needed anything. We will definitely be back! read more

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Met another couple for a mid evening dinner for 2 couples. The other couple is Italian and knows a few of the staff at this restaurant and it showed. The waitress appeared as soon as we were seated with an appetizer board of cheese, small cut meats and a bean salad along with a basket of warm crust bread, oil and butter and bowl of parmigiana cheese. Drinks were brought over by the bartender who served the drinks at the bar. Explanations of the nightly specials were delivered by the waitress and then orders were placed for our meals. The entire night was spectacular, with the delicious split pea with ham soup or salad presented prior to the main courses. The entrees were cooked perfectly and really well seasoned and delicious. The final topper was a lemon cello cake, shared by each couple and a great ending. Everyone needs to experience this restaurant. read more

Caterina's - Pork shank with tomato risotto - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Worst experience ever from a loyal person who came here all the time for excellent food & service .. the food was Terrible .. I ordered the Sicilian steak med rare .. it should have been breaded , it came out looking gray and not breaded & rare . Hubby had veal parm , gad no taste , garlic noodles as well .. the waitress knew the food was terrible .. never came over to ask us how our food was .. I had 2 glasses of wine, hubby had a martini, bill came to $250 without tip.. don't bother going terrible experience .. spend your $$ somewhere else .. read more

Let me start by saying if you like Italian and seafood their menu is for you! They always have great service. It is a small place and you truly feel like you are at Grandma's for some Italian. We had the crab legs and lobster and it was really good! Good to perfection. I had the shrimp scampi with garlic noodles and it was large shrimp and good flavor. The eggplant appetizer was lack luster. Just tasted like friend breading. read more

First of all, it was beautiful inside and very quaint. Secondly, we had an incredibly informative waitress who was so pleasant and never left us unattended or wanting for anything. The food was second to none I ordered escargot and my husband ordered the filet mignon with fries and a whole salad and he said it was possibly one of the best steaks he's ever had. If you're going to spend your money on fine dining this is definitely a place that I recommend they have a delicious white Moscato wine and their lime margaritas well blended with salt are delicious. read more

Waitress was rude and rushed. Food was good, but salads were worse than mcdonalds . Iceberg lettuce, 2 slices of tomatoe and 2 slivers of red onion. Just embarrassing for a "fine dining" restaurant. Italian dressing basically just tasted like vinegar. Back to the waitress.We were the only diner's and she truly did a poor job of make our eating experience special. We will not be returning. read more

Been awhile. Favorite grilled swordfish absent from menu. Specialty used to be northern Italian; now seems just Italian.

Caterina's is an old school classic that never misses. Awesome pours from the bar. Stellar service across the board. The small touches of the anti-pasta tray to the warm bread and olive oil are both delicious and so appreciated. No matter what you're in the mood for it- it's going to be delicious. My husband had the Lasagna--it was a generous portion with outstanding layers of well balanced flavor. I had the Chicken Marsala. It was light and not too sweet. Perfect. Keep Caterina's on your classics list and go often. read more

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We drive past this restaurant dozens of times & finally decided to try a carry out. I ordered a veal Alfredo pasta - very bland tasting & disappointing! The calamari was greasy but a bit more tasteful. My wife's penne pasta was ok, but not appealing to her for a return visit. I usually don't ever write reviews but thought these meals need a review! read more

Always phenomenal. From pastas to seafood. Amazing wine list! The owner tony is always at the bar and always at the ready to give the best service possible. This old school italian place is an event. Many celebrations and families have been coming to this establishment for decades. read more

Love this place. The server Maddie is super friendly and the owner is an awesome person.

I've been to Caterina's twice now, and I've had a great experience both times. The food is yummy and the service is good too. You never have to wait very long for your meal to arrive. One thing that is so cute and unique about this restaurant is the charcuterie board and the warm bread with olive oil that are delivered to your table as an appetizer. There is a great little assortment of meats and it pairs well with the cheese. The little garbanzo bean/chickpea salad is a nice touch. The bread is perfectly crusty and warm and it really soaks up the olive oil (which is seasoned well). This time around, I ordered the meat stuffed shells for an entrée and it was delicious. However, the menu said that the ground beef mixture had cheese in it, but you couldn't taste it at all. Some Parmesan on top would have been nice. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it. If you're worried about getting a table, it doesn't hurt to call ahead. Also, the parking situation isn't great - the lot is pretty small. I'd totally recommend trying out Caterina's. I think it's totally underrated and worth the drive out there if you're not from the area and looking for a delicious meal. read more

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I have been driving past this place for years and since a celebration dinner was coming up I thought that I would finally stop by for dinner. The place has a deep history that you can look up so I won't get into that. The place is small and cozy with a nice bar, cozy booth and tables of different sizes to accommodate guests. Service was stellar with three different people checking in on how everything was my whole time. I started with a brandy old fashioned sour naked, no fruit or olives which was very adult tasting and not skimpy, thank you. I ordered the calamari with lasagna which comes in courses, a very relaxing/leisurely dining experience which made it so enjoyable. I was started with a bread/butter basket that I passed on because I can't eat all what I ordered to start with. My second course was the appetizer tray with 2 cheeses, 3 meats mortadella, salami, pepperoni and a fresh diced onion/green pepper salsa thing. The appetizer tray was delicious with the aged provolone being the star. My 3rd course was the fried calamari that came with red gravy and a big bowl fine grated cheese. The calamari was hard and not seasoned/bland so super average at best. My 4th course was the squash/sausage soup which was absolutely fu#king delicious, the sausage is very tasty which completely made the soup. The lasagna is unique because it's not pan style but an assembled/layers thing with meat, cheese and sauce. The pasta was cooked a hair past Al dente which is needed for all the layering/ball shape for a single serving since it's not pan style. The lasagna was also delicious in the pool of red gravy topped with fine grated cheese. Overall my service was excellent and the food totally satisfied my crave for Italian food and a perfect place for a celebration meal. I would definitely recommend this place for a date place because it's romantic with great food. read more

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the food is amazing the staff is outstanding! it's the perfect italian vibes! the losbster is some of the best i've ever had.!

First time coming by Caterinas, I work in the area and I love local businesses. Service was great and food came out rather quickly! However I do feel the price was a little high for the product. read more

The last time I was there in December, the beef tasted slightly spoiled and everything else had been frozen and reheated. Not good.

The good? Veal Parmesan Chicken noodle soup Bread/Charcuterie Table service The bad? Spiedini, holy bread crumbs Batman. Straight trash. Appetizer salad, yawn. Over eager busboy, needs training. Value. Cleanliness, sticky tables. Tight seating Honestly? I probably will not come back. The bill was over $100 for 2, and I walked away feeling a little bit ripped off. It's really unfortunate considering the great meals I've had here over the years. Looks like time has passed Caterina's by. Better value, better food available elsewhere. read more

Exceptional service. Wonderful food. Daily specials and warm bread. Such a great atmosphere:):) great fish fry too!

I have been coming to Caterinas since it opened- and Tony was there in front to greet everyone. If it were lunch or dinner, it was always one of the best places in Milwaukee. Yesterday , ( with reservations made a month in advance) 9 of us went to dinner . I have to say I was shocked to see the place less than half full. Thought we were just lucky. Although the atmosphere hasn't changed, and the food was " okay" ( no where near what it was but certainly not awful) the point of this review isn't that. There were 3 couples and 3 single individuals. We asked at the onset for separate checks. We did this because some had very expensive martinis and some had diet cokes. Some had very expensive dinners (40-55$) and some had pastas. We were told " can't do that!" So, after 3 hours and a check of $600 dollars WITHOUT tip , we sat there for nearly an hour trying to figure out who owed what ! It was a disaster, annoying, and something none of us plan to ever do again. We've been to other fine dining rooms across the city and have NEVER had this problem. The waitress could have easy jotted our orders down even though she gave us one bill- but she didn't . By the time we were done paying, all we wanted to do was go home. As much as I hate to say it, my old favorite has been eliminated on the list of places to go. We will NOT be coming back. When you pay $55.00 for a single dinner, you tend to expect luxury across the board. Acting like a retail clerk closing out the register at the end of the night was not in our plans, and won't be again. read more

Nice atmosphere and good food. A bit on the pricier side so it is more for a special occasion for me.

What a joke. I walked in this place to kill some time and was immediately confronted with an odor that could only remind me of wet basement. I ordered a Tito's and soda and then asked for a second round. The bartender used my old glass, wet ice and drink leftovers. He proceeded to fill it over the bin of new ice, and gave me a splash of Tito's. Clearly, disgusted, I asked for my check. Immediately, I am I was confronted by Caterina Karen, who asked me "what was my problem". I explained to her that my drink was a short pour and he used a dirty glass and old ice. She told me that's what most people want and I should go to Olive Garden if I wanted a stiff drink and a new glass. So I did. read more

Caterina's - A stupid restaurant that you will never wanna go into if you have 1 ounce of dignity in your body. - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A friend introduced me to this restaurant. It was amazing! I tried the penne asparagus with scallops. Oh my! The flavor was delicious! A hearty serving size of pasta and a delicious salad and bread. Absolutely a wonderful experience! read more

Caterina's is the Italian restaurant I was hoping to find on Milwaukee's west side. The food... delicious. The service... friendly and attentive. The wine and bar selections are the type you'd expect to find at a high end steakhouse. Tony and is family are offering up a community gem that everyone needs to experience. read more

Our all-time favorite. Had our first date there and it was truly memorable. Service was excellent as well and the food

Great spedini, mozzarella marinara and the dry aged steak was wonderful too. Never been disappointed in stopping here for dinner, generous portions, & complementary soup or salad with all Entrees. Plus free cheeses and meats, fantastic service. read more

Enjoyed our experience at this cute little Italian restaurant. Tony Jr was tending bar. He was attentive and friendly. There were four of us dining, we tried the Sicilian steak, a GF chicken in wine sauce with Asiago cheese, breaded veal and salmon. The salmon was outstanding! It was nice they offered GF pasta (with an up charge). Salad was just lettuce, tomato and onion. Could use some shredded carrots and cucumbers? The bread was rustic and delicious. Complimentary small serving of cheese, salami, mortadella and Italian salsa was a nice touch. Prices a little steep dinners were 29.95-42.95 for most. Wine generally $11 a glass. Decent wine and pour. Overall, we all enjoyed our evening read more

Great Food. $$$. Seating is tight and reservations are required. Wear the loose pants ;) read more

Great meal! Filet and lobster is expensive but worth it! Drinks are strong as well! Most of the staff has been there a while and that's a good sign. read more

Everything was fine but not remarkable until we got the entrees - her lamb shank was decent and tender and had a nice flavor. My $50 steak was the worst piece of tough shoe leather I ever been served. You can get better steak at George Web. read more

Would not go back. It wasn't bad just extremely overpriced for what you're getting. The food is pretty bland and meh. Honestly noodles & company is more flavorful and fresh tasting even olive garden, and both more worth the price. I got the shrimp scampi and it tasted like straight up butter and the noodles were over cooked and also tasted like just butter. The service was good just the food itself is not worth 40+ a plate. It's cute but feels a little dated. read more

The steak sandwich for $25 is not worth the money. I could go to the local butcher and get a great piece of ribeye and make two beautiful steak sandwiches. The sandwich was boring and tasteless. It was the meat, a piece of lettuce and tomato. I would have asked for some onions and horseradish w Mayo but the waitress didn't come back to ask how our meal was. Not worth $25 at all. On that note, the fries were good. read more

Honestly, this was one of the worst meals I've had. The best part was the bread and meat/cheese platter they give you for free, which must explain why their prices are ridiculously high. Three of the five of us mistakingly ordered the shrimp and orzo down with feta. It was four shrimp with an entire entree size bowl of orzo. Super bland. Couldn't taste any feta. Fish fry was ok. Lasagna was just ok. Also, their menu is nothing like what's listed on their website, although our server said they can make pretty much anything. read more

This place is an absolute gem. Wow. The service, the food, and the ambiance were exactly what we were looking for. First I'd like to address a couple of the other reviews that I read. First, the smell - we only could smell deliciousness upon walking in, no damp basement that we could smell. Second, the over-zealous bus boy - he was indeed quick but we appreciated his attention. As for the food, it really was delicious. The bread and meat/cheese platter was great and it's served with a super tasty garbanzo bean salad. The fresh baked bread basket is served with a whole bowl of olive oil with big chunks of garlic, seriously good for dipping. It also comes with a whole bowl of Parmesan cheese, no skimping at Caterina's. The clam chowder was fresh and not thick and gummy like most chowders. Yum! My husband said it was the best lasagna he's ever had; this is quite an endorsement coming from him. The tomato sauce was delicate with just the right balance of salty with a hint of sweetness. It also was enough lasagna for two-three people, it was huge. The breaded scampi was to die for! Four big shrimp that legit tasted like lobster. The last thing that needs to be addressed is the price. It's quite expensive, no other way to say that. But, it's worth it. The food, the service, and the experience is top notch. The owner came over to ask us how our meal was-that's the kind of place this is. It's pricey because they pay attention to the details, and it's worth every penny. read more

I had a wonderful Mother's Day dinner at Caterinas rina's tonight. I have the split king crab legs and they were amazing. So much meat. My husband had the bone in pork chop that is always a favorite of his. It was my kids first time coming and they were very impressed with how good the service is and how good the food is. read more

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Service was excellent, food not so much! They have a good handle on desserts, especially the tiramisu, but I can't in good conscience recommend anything else. The food isn't terrible, it's just really bland and not very flavorful. This is a pretty big disappointment considering the price. read more

I really enjoyed my dinner at Caterinas. The ambience, staff and even other patrons simply made it enjoyable by being nice and friendly. Having a little spot ready for me at the bar when I called and asked if they had a bar to eat at (because I was solo) left a very memorable impression on me. The bartender was the owner. I liked that, too. The antipasti that comes with the meal was unreal and a meal in and of itself. The garlic slices -- well, let's just say I'm a garlic lover. So it was pretty awesome. It's a homey feel, unpretentious so if you like pretentious maybe go to Bartolotta or Bacchus or something. Cause this place is great and they deserve a lot of appreciation for who they are. I plan in making it back sometime when I'm in that area. read more

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Four of us went on Saturday 7:00 PM reservations, we were seated immediately a drink order was taken by a very nice server. A antipasto plate was served as was a loaf of very good bread, The Chicken soup was very good. Entrees were Spiedini it was dry and over cooked. Veal Parmesan it was good. Veal Marsala was terrible it went back because of a watery Marsala Sause, When it returned the veal was now over cooked and chewy. The Veal Alla Catarina was a huge disappointment 3 small pieces of veal drizzled with Fontina cheese. All the side pastas had very little red sauce and you can get a better tasting red sauce from Prego. these dishes were $42.00 way over priced. We won't be going back. read more

Dined a few days before Valentine's Day and we really enjoyed ourselves. Had a nice little table by the window. I ordered the stuffed beef shells. Was fantastic. If you're looking for great Italian you will enjoy Caterina's! read more

Caterina's - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin