I go here 2 or 3 times a month, one of two "nicer" places to eat in Riverwest. Intimate, inexpensive, and unpretentious, a seat at the bar with a nice glass of wine (or a $2 tallboy of Bitburger) is a most coveted neighborhood perch. I used to tend bar when this was the Stork Club, possibly the dive-iest bar of all time, save for the Uptowner, with which Nessun Dorma shares a city block. It's a great space, warm woods, low lights (sometimes so low it's impossible to read the menu, but I think I have it memorized.) Ciccio appetizer (warm grilled bread, olives, cherry peppers, provolone, capicola, salami.) Formaggio sandwich (4 melty cheeses & roasted red peppers). Get dessert. It's good. So are the fish specials on weekends (like tilapia with a yummy black bean chorizo sauce). I've had a few so-so pasta dishes and a weird incident when the bartender served my "espresso shot" in an actual shot glass when like, 10 espresso cups were on top of the machine & acted sort of snotty when I asked for one, but nothing to stop me from going back. read more

Get the artichoke dip, it's amazing! Their sandwiches are also great and super cheesy. Their beer selection is amazing with a great variety. The happy hour is a great deal and prices are reasonable other times. I've found the servers and bartenders very friendly with a great environment. read more

Has a corner bar feel, tucked in an unassuming neighborhood in Riverwest. Artichoke dip was a highlight of the meal, but the pasta was great too (Wednesday is pasta night). Large beer menu with many unique varieties. Great for dates. read more

Been here multiple times since moving to Milwaukee four months ago. Been great every time. Small beer selection, but always quality stuff on tap for a reasonable price. Good whiskey selection. The food is awesome- limited menu, but that just means you'll get to try everything eventually. Highly recommended. read more

Neat place! I loved the building's woodwork - very warm and inviting atmosphere. Small place. I agree with other reviews...The artichoke dip is outstanding! Some of the best I've had. For the main meal, I ordered one of the specials that night: Linguinie with a mushroom marinara and salad. EXCELLENT. Great food portions for the price. Oh, and the wine was delish too. read more

Had the Creamy Artichoke Soup and the Formaggio Panini with a great fresh side salad. Both were just wonderful. We sat outside on a great summer night. Unbelievable list of wines, beers, and liquors-really extensive. I only wish there might be a few entrees and maybe a gluten free bread option. read more

Go to spot for awesome beer selection and great wine offerings, great salads and soup. There was a time when I would call almost daily for the special and soup listing. I think I might have called the bartender more than his girlfriend, but he never seemed to mind. I like the artichoke dip, but it's a little on the spicier side than a lot of places. That being said - it's nice to know that they are cooking a staple like that in a unique way. Chicken is always cooked well in the panini (I really can't spell this word, and don't want to accidentally spell another word - so figure it out) - never had one overdone! read more

I have always loved Nessun Dorma. It is a great place for a casual bite to eat, sipping wine or beer from their fantastic selection, and certainly a lovely place for a first date! I absolutely love the ambient atmosphere. Their staff is excellent. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Above all, they have a fantastic drink selection that can cater to the PBR drinkers as well as the whisky aficionados. read more

Such a great atmosphere: it feels like a best-kept secret and a "how can you not know Nessun" place all at the same time. A brief but delicious menu, great craft cocktails and familiar servers and bartenders. The corner location makes eating outside in warm weather amazing, it overlooks a Rockwell-like corner of Riverwest and it brings the calm. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the neighborhood swarmed their to-go order offers, proving our love for this doing-it-right neighborhood gem. Love the pasta specials, soups and caesar sandwich. The artichoke dip and bread breaks anyone of their no-carb diet. Brunch waffles are the perfect weekend indulgence. read more

these people are not lying, the absolute best spinach artichoke dip you will have in your entire life... its got a nice little kick to it, and it is served with fresh toasted bread... i loved this stuff so much i wanted to take it out behind the middle school and get it pregnant.... there wine and beer list is quite extensive... very nice bottled and tap beers. the sandwiches are amazing. i had the italian and changed to chibatta bread. it got better with each bite... i really just loved the overall decor as well, it is in an old house over in river west. everything about this place inside and out made me feel like i was back in williamsburg or greenpoint brooklyn... love love loved it. read more

Decent beer list and specials, not to mention amazing (and HUGE) paninis.

I felt incredibly comfortable here, not only because of the company I was with, just because it is a very cozy place. I read some reviews, they said to get to artichoke dip, I did. And glad I was, it was fantastic. Spicy, artichoky, deliciousness. Great beer selection, and it was a fill in staff that was knowledgable and polite. Can't wait to go back again to sample more food and atmosphere. read more

A Tuesday night date consisting of $2 pints of Riverwest Stein and creamy artichoke dip? Sign me up! I'll even excuse my man's resultant garlic breath. Round out the meal with a flatbread, panini, or salad. Oh, did I mention it's cheap and cozy? Casual date night at it's best! We'll certainly be back for more. read more

Cool! I will never forget my experience at this place! We had a big group and they did everything they could to accomodate us. The waitress was the coolest person in the city of Milwaukee (maybe I'm biased because she is a White Sox fan). She even bought a drink and a dessert for the birthday girl. The rest of the night was a full-on feast. Can't wait to go back. read more

Nessun Dorma was a quaint spot for a recent dinner. It's such a chill and relaxed atmosphere. It is so cozy and a great place to share a bottle of wine over good conversation. I had a portabella panini sandwich and it was delish! I cannot wait till Summer so I can sit on the sidewalk outside to dine. read more

Love this place. Always recommend it to my foodie friends from Chicago who think that Milwaukee just isn't as cool.

My "Go-To" Restaurant. I LOVE everything about this place. I get the same thing everything I go....can't help it. 1.) Bittburger 2.)Artichoke Dip 3.) Portabella Philli Panini-served with olives and salad The food is ridiculously cheap...the atmosphere is so cozy..the food is among the best in Milwaukee---what more could you want? read more

Visited here for dinner with a friend. Skipped the drinks, and both had Formaggio paninis. They were really tasty! For a vegetarian sandwich, I really enjoyed the flavors. I brought home a chicken caesar panini for the BF, and he really liked it. The ambiance is very comfortable, and I noticed that the drinks were really well priced. Will be returning! read more

Always great for a proper cocktail and a great glass of wine. Usually run into at least one neighbor while having drinks. I really love the laid back but classy atmosphere. But the menu could use an overhaul. I always get the salad because I can't have bread or cheese. So Dorma is never my pick for dinner. Sometimes the specials or soup du jour hits the spot but really just update the menu! read more

I've been here a couple of times now. Last time, it was the best decision EVER. We had just drank a lot of beer at Estabrook, so a sandwich really hit the spot. The Artichoke Dip was amazing; I could have eaten a meal with just that dip. And then I got the Puccini, which was equally awesome. They have very good service to boot. read more

Good, creative menu. Execution not the best. Our Alfredo pasta side was obviously pre-made and pre-portioned then microwaved. They do have better than average artichoke dip but it is served with standard sandwich cut toasted white bread. Olive oil on the top of a martini might sound interesting in theory but comes out as gross. This place could be great, but it's not. read more

My wife and I stopped in for a drink and then we were going stay for dinner. We changed our minds after ordering our first and only drink. We arrived just after they opened at 4:00pm and the bartender was outside drinking and having a cigarette . He said hi and asked if we were coming for a drink. We were the first people in the door so we sat at the bar and looked over the drink menu. My wife ordered the Italian old fashion and I had Pre-Prohibition Sazerac. The old fashioned turned out to be watered down and not much flavor the Sazerac was just okay. As it turned out the bartender didn't bother to stock the bar yet and we think he was using old ice. He didn't bring up new ice until after he made our drinks and another couples drinks. (Buckets full). Then he told the other couple he couldn't make anymore old fashioneds because he ran out of bitters and would have to wait for another bartender so he could run to the store to buy more. What cocktail place runs out of bitters. So we decided not to stay to eat as we thought if you can't get the bar straight first what would the food be like. Now we have been here for drinks and dinner before, but it has been awhile. But it didn't make a good impression this time, not sure if we will be back. read more

I was pretty excited that this place added a few new things to the menu. The menu is a minimalist but everything is fantastic (that ive had) I have noticed that the service has been getting faster and more efficient and I have seen more wait staff which is excellent and much needed as this place is never dull for being a small place its always been completely full sometimes with long waits. This place still has 1 of the best wine lists and beers to chose from if you cant find something for everything its not the menu fault :P Anyway i love this place the ambience, the service, the food, and the wine! will keep going back read more

Nessun Dorma is a nice way to go out without making a huge deal out of everything. Their beer selection is pretty amazing- my favorite in Riverwest for sure. For a sandwhich/apps place, there is something for everyone. The paninis are amazing- I always get Portabella Philly and it always does me good. My one warning would be to those avoiding dairy- their soups are almost always made of heavy cream, and of course there paninis are doused with cheese. I love it, but be prepared for the consequences. read more

Wonderful place. I love Nessun Dorma, their food is always great and the service is friendly. I had family come in from out of town for my graduation and everyone found something they loved. The prices are unbeatable and they have a fantastic wine and beer selection. I would recommend Nessun Dornma to anyone. read more

We rolled into this place completely unaware of what exactly it was. The beer list is phenomenal, and while the menu is limited, the amount of food you get is spectacular. The way I think we will probably order from now on is to get a bruschetta or appetizer to share between the two of us, and split a sandwich. Plenty of food, and the bottom line is that it tastes awesome. Simple as that. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in the city. The food is always good, the liquor/beer/wine/tea selection is fantastic. The atmosphere is perfect for the neighborhood; there's no pretense, no dead animals on the walls, no ikea wall paper. You can easily have dinner and drinks for two for under $40. the artichoke dip is especially good and if the crab cakes are on special get them, eat them, love them. read more

Great food, great service. You can't go wrong. Menu isn't big but you're bound to find something you like. Just left Balzac off Brady because of the ROTTEN service we had. Came here, they're just as busy with one server and we had AMAZING service. Way to go, we will be back. read more

Nessun Dorma is tucked away on a quiet street in Milwaukee with excellent Italian food, an incredible beer and wine list, and great service. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for great food and drink for a great price. read more

This place is bang for the buck for sure, without fail. I've been there for dinner at least 100 times and for the money i am always more than satisfied. $2.00 bitburgers everyday and the the side salads are great, never been disappointing. read more

This small restaurant is such a gem. We have been coming here regularly for years. Their specials will surprise and delight every time, not to mention a small but well-done regular menu. A great salad is served with every entree, Italian with great greens, a nice vinaigrette and a penchant for great olives. Over the top alcohol selection from beer, wine to bourbon. Wait staff is pleasant and know their stuff! Awesome atmosphere, small, dark, cozy, warm. read more

Nessun Dorma is a unique restaurant in Milwaukee a diverse neighborhood most suburbanites don't frequent. I like it that way. They have a small dinner menu but everything on it is great. They also have nightly specials that never miss. Big beer list with many unusual selections on tap plus $2 big Bitburger cans every day. I'm a big fan. read more

Just moved to Riverwest & I'm already convinced Nessun Dorma is the best restaurant the neighborhood. Cheap food for the quality, a decent beer selection, great french wines, & different specials each night of the week. Normally, BF & I spend about 150 on "date nights" - we love this place because we're both full & drunk for 50 bucks & it's a cute place. The artichoke dip is my favorite because it's different... it has a kick to it. The menu is small but what they have is good. They have some good belgian & german beer, but not a huge selection on tap. Overall a great place. read more

A riverwest gem. The menu is basic/simple but delicious and the daily special makes each visit unique. If you ask nicely they will make the caesar salad with mushrooms... The outdoor dining during the summer allows for classic riverwest people watching read more

This is a great place for late night food and drinks. Nessun Dorma has an amazing wine list, beer list and tea list (they serve Rishi Tea!). Highly recommended. read more

This is such a great date place. It's so cozy and cute. The food is excellent and their menu is perfect sized. The server that is usually there, Kelley is just lovely and great at her job. They also have a pretty good bottled beer selection. I love coming to this restaurant. read more

I LOVE THIS place. Excellent beer selection, food is delicious and the service is A+! One of my favorite things to get here is the "honey crisp" cider in a 22oz bottle to drink and the "ciccio" to eat! read more

Nessun Dorma still rocks my face off. It's become my standard place to bring out-of-town guests for dinner and drinks. (Though part of me feels a little guilty because of the inevitable pouty "I wish there was a place like this at home" on the way out.) read more

Came here based on Yelp reviews and it was so terrific. The atmosphere is so cozy casual and we loved that it is nestled in a completely residential area. Street parking was a breeze. No hostess here, just find a table and a have a seat. The beer selection is excellent! We began our meal with the hot artichoke dip. Steaming hot, creamy and decadently delicious! For once a restaurant provides a enough toast for the hot spreadable appetizer (so many times you have to ask for more and by the time it comes the appetizer is cold). My husband had bowl of the soup of the day, lentil ham. I think that he really liked it but he was so enamored with the beer selection and in particular with the Lexington Bourbon Barreled Aged one that we ordered that it was a bit hard to tell. I had the Formaggio sandwich -, fresh mozzarella, provolone, fontinella, and roasted sweet red peppers on Asiago ciabatta with basil pesto mayo , for my main. It was good, all gooey and toasty warm., a really upscale grilled cheese sandwich. (Came with a side of salad - nice) I think I might try something a bit more heart healthy next time. We finished our meal by sharing a slice of homemade carrot cake. It was okay but I wouldn't order it again., the carrot was completely pureed in so there weren't any of those nice sweet carrot pieces and no nuts either.. We will be back for sure! read more

We finally stopped in after 2+ years of talking about trying this place. I'm sure a bit more research would have helped, but I was surprised at how limited the menu was. There's a number of sandwiches and appetizers and some good tap beers. We had 2 different sandwiches and the antipasto. Everything we ordered was fantastic, and you could tell it was made with care and good ingredients. This is a great casual place to get a solid meal for a good price. Nothing fancy but very good food! read more