This is such a quaint and romantic pasta shop! What makes this restaurant so interesting and unique is that on their menu, they write in all caps: "All items subject to change without notice." I do hope that their pistachio pasta and veal dish don't go away. For starters, I ordered the Seasonal Bruschetta, which had citrusy notes from the diced tomatoes and pickles with mortadella. For the main course, I ordered the Giovanni's Original Veal Parmesan with fettuccine alfredo. This dish is prepared in the style of Parmesan or Corletta served with your choice of pasta. The veal parmesan was nice and crispy. But the most memorable dish of the night was their Fusilloni al Pistachio. The creamy pistachio pesto, Guanciale, and Brontë pistacho panna crudo brought this dish together so well! I loved the sauce so much that I ended up pouring the sauce all over the fettuccini alfredo. Staff was very attentive and friendly--striking the perfect balance between being available when needed and allowing me to enjoy my meal at my own pace. I ended the night with a classic cheesecake, which was the perfect way to end the night. read more

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It's been on our list for a while, and this was our first time coming here. Food: Excellent! One of the best Italian meals we have had. We started with a couple of the signature cocktails. My Papa Gio's Old Fashioned was outstanding. The additional Cynar amaro is a stroke of genius. For starters, we ordered the Fried Eggplant (Melanzane Fritte), which was probably the best we have ever had. It arrived piping hot, and the breading was fried to perfection. The eggplant itself was mild, with no hint of bitterness. The accompanying marinara sauce was thick and flavorful. For entrées, we ordered Gio's Stuffed Filet and the Chicken Parmesan. The filet was cooked perfectly to medium-rare and was delicious. The Chicken Parmesan was a huge portion. There were literally three chicken breasts, each with well-seasoned breading and fried to a beautiful golden crispness. It was excellent. We had plenty of leftovers and enjoyed several more meals at home. (The eggplant reheats especially well in an air fryer.) Service: We had a 5:30 reservation and were seated right away. We let our server know that we had a performance to attend and were assured that we would be out with plenty of time to spare. For the vast majority of the evening, the service was great. Unfortunately, things changed toward the end of the meal. We literally could not find our server, and we suspect they may have also been handling a party upstairs. Since we needed to leave, we had the host help us get our bill paid. Feeling rushed at the end of the meal took a bit of the polish off an otherwise excellent experience. Atmosphere: The restaurant is small and has an authentic feel to it. The photos and décor make you feel as though you're dining in a typical European restaurant. The tables are close together, and it was a bit noisy at times. Overall, we had a very good experience. I can't say enough about the drinks and food. I just wish the service had been more consistent throughout the evening. We are looking forward to our next meal there. read more

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Went on a Saturday night with no reservation and we were able to get bar seats. The bar area can turn quickly as there was quite a few people waiting for their tables. The bar area was good but can be loud. The bartender and host were very nice. We started with the bruschetta special which had fig jam, honey, chili oil, and prosciutto. We could have done without it. It sounded very interesting and just was not impressed. We got two pasta dishes to split and our favorite was the Fussalloni al pistachio, it was amazing! The sauce was delicious! The Chicken Parmesan was also really good with almost three pieces of chicken, lots of meat. read more

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Walked in on a Wednesday after dinner plans fell through. What a great experience! Hanna (sp?) was informative and attentive. We started with the calamari which was light and crispy. The wife ordered Aneletti alla siciliani and I had the speidini which was a daily special. A bottle of montelpuciano rounded out the weekday. Would love to come back on a weekend when I can try the dessert and aperitifs. read more

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Solid Italian and Best Desserts... Wonderful environment for an intimate evening! Bon appetite read more

We love Safina! We've been a few times and it's always excellent. The dark cozy vibes are perfect for a delicious Italian restaurant. The service is always top notch. We have had a few different entrees. My favorite dish is the fusilloni al pistachio - we usually get this as an appetizer so everyone can enjoy!! All the drinks are excellent. Highly recommend for a date night or family dinner! read more

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This place is a hidden gem of downtown Milwaukee. This place is smaller, but perfect for a romantic evening.Service was excellent and they were very knowledgeable about each menu item and the restaurant's history. The portion sizes were generous and the food was authentic Italian . the fried eggplant was nice and hot and so delicious.The pasta and garlic bread was amazing..The penne àlla vodka was also delicious.. This place is worth a try, go check them out read more

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Safina is a gem in Milwaukee. From the moment we sat down, the service was flawless--multiple staff members checked in often, making sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. It felt like genuine hospitality, the kind you don't see everywhere. We started with their fresh bread and mozzarella, which set the tone right away--warm, crusty bread paired with creamy mozzarella that was just indulgent enough to make you want more. The penne alla vodka was rich, silky, and perfectly balanced between savory and slightly sweet, with just the right kick from the sauce. It's one of those pastas you keep eating even after you're full because every bite is that good. For dessert, we shared both the cannoli and the tiramisu, and honestly, I can't pick a favorite. The cannoli had that perfect crunch with a smooth, lightly sweetened filling, while the tiramisu was cloud-like, layered with espresso and cocoa in all the right proportions. Safina nails what Italian dining should be--warm, welcoming, and consistently delicious. We left already planning what we'll order next time. read more

Safina - Cannoli and Tiramisu - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Excellent in all categories Food, Service and ambiance. Cocktails were excellent- especially the malt ball martini for dessert. Just get the pistachio pesto - incredible. I wish I would have skipped the mozzarella app- not because it wasn't delish but because this pasta was so damn good and I wanted to eat more of it. Bryant was an excellent waiter- sweet, charming, attentive. I'd go here again in a millisecond. read more

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I wish I would have taken more pictures. Perfect waitress and took care of a table of 6 flawlessly. Water, cocktails, bread and olive oil brought to table quickly. Refills before drinks completed. The food was incredible and will definitely be back. Was also nice speaking to a few of Giovanni's employees about the recipes used. Calamari was so light and crispy without any chewy parts. The FRUTTA DI MARE was so good I would have eaten another serving even though I was not hungry. Recommend 100% read more

Safina - FRUTTA DI MARE - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Service: Staff was very friendly, but service was a bit slow. After we had our calamari, we had to wait a good while for entrees. Decor: Great ambiance for a date night. Food: We had the calamari which was a great portion and very crispy. I had the Chicken Parmesan and my husband had the veal. We loved how flavorful the sauce was, it was delish. However, there was just so much of it that it made the breading very soggy, which was not the best. Portion wise, they are very large and we probably could have shared one dish! Overall, we did like our visit and recommend it for anyone looking for Italian in the city! read more

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Restaurant is gorg, service was phenomenal, food and drinks- chef's kiss! Can't wait to come back read more

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So awesome- nicely managed. You feel they care and want you to have the best experience. Food was outstanding. Ordered the fried zucchini- was such a big portion- we actually shared them with the table next to us! So good- could have ate the whole plate for dinner.... Didn't take one pic of dinner- was so good that we just dug right in. Shrimp diavolo and ragu al forno.... Both outstanding. Our waitress was pleasant and our dinner was perfect. We sat at the bar for an after dinner drink. read more

Safina - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After two visits, I can confidently say this is one of the premier Italian restaurants in town! The Safina family owned and operated Giovanni's on Brady Street "back in the day," and they've been engaged in the city's bar and restaurant scene ever since. They also own The Sofie. I've enjoyed the Calamari, Eggplant Fries, Frutti de Mare, Tiramisu, and tonight's Beef Spedini special! My friend also let me try her Eggplant Parmesan, and it was also delicious! The textures and flavors of all the dishes I've tried have been on point, and the service has been friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The portion sizes have also been generous. We both took home leftovers tonight! Safina is on my list of favorites, and if you haven't been yet, you need to go soon! read more

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Our new fav italian spot in mke! I was surprised by how good this place was, especially given the somewhat basic menu. Definitely a romantic sort of restaurant with more upscale vibes. I fear I may have been underdressed w my fit bc I did not look up the dress code beforehand and was not expecting it to be so fancy. Our waitress was concise and a no bullshit gal and I appreciated her straightforward recommendations. We pretty much got everything she suggested -- the pistachio pesto pasta is a MUST get. Perhaps the best pesto pasta I've ever had in my life. tomatoes on the bruschetta were so fresh and I loooved the straciatella cheese under. The veal (served "cotaletta" style) was very tender and so fun to try. We were so stuffed by the end of dinner but made room for cheesecake and that was also so delicious!!!!! absolutely can't wait to come back to get the pesto pasta again read more

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Date of visit: December 14, 2024 O. M. G. What a wonderful gem of a restaurant! While I had never heard of it, some good friends of ours were huge fans and it is so easy to see why, everything was fabulous! We were seated upstairs, which was wonderful--except for when a giant group came in and attempted to talk over each other simultaneously... Thankfully that was at the end of our meal and was time to head out anyway. All of the food was wonderful. The ragu with meat sauce was fabulous and I almost forgot about the appetizers--you can never go wrong with fried cheese and calamari--as they were a wonderful start to the experience. And did I mention the tiramisu? I didn't, because you save the best for last and this truly was The Best! Honestly, my only complaint is that they were trying to be a little TOO authentic Italy with the room temperature water at the table. Girl, we need ice here in the States; don't have us drinking that tepid water! read more

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We kicked off 2025 with dinner at Safina - the perfect place for a quiet date night! The ambiance is top notch - the dining room on the main level is intimate and cozy. They offered a Peroni NA beer, which my husband enjoyed, and since I didn't see any other NA options, I just stuck with water. We absolutely loved the bruschetta with goat cheese, crispy Brussels sprouts and honey - every bite was perfectly composed and so delicious. The perfect start to our meal! We ordered the fusilloni al pistachio and the shrimp diavolo. The server rated it a 5/10 for heat, which sounded great. The food came out quickly and piping hot, and the portion sizes were generous. My husband said the shrimp should have been rated a 7/10, and he really likes spicy food, so maybe beware a little if you're not looking for something too spicy. The fusilloni was fantastic - our server said it was their most popular dish. Toward the end of our entrees, we noticed most of other tables had bread and oil - so perhaps we were supposed to get it as well and did not? We opted not to ask since we were done with our meals, but I do love freshly baked bread! Not the end of the world. One other issue was our waters were only refilled once, when we were almost done with our meals, and since I was only drinking water, that was a bummer. It was tough to get our server's attention to get more. For dessert we shared the chocolate panna cotta and it was phenomenal - so good! Cherry preserve, chiffonade of mint, crunchy toffee brittle - we loved all of the flavors and textures, and it was a great way to end our meal. Overall, a fantastic evening, and we would go back. Be sure to try Safina if you haven't yet! read more

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Wonderful dining experience!! Will be returning and saving room for dessert and an after dinner drink (or just go there and sit at the bar for said items) Our dinner was amazing and our server was spot on with her recommendations. I am still thinking about the bruschetta and the Fusilloni Al Pistachio (which tasted amazing the next day as well) If you are a calamari fan I highly suggest ordering as it was probably one of my all time favorites. This place is lovely, the service is impeccable and the food was delicious. Love the quaint feeling and how nice everyone was here. Will be making our way down the menu! read more

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I've had the pleasure of dining at Safina twice so far. Both times were rather pleasureful and left me beyond full. This time, I took my wife and son to have them check out the Sicilian fare. The vibe is really warm, dim, and cozy. Safina is located in a historic building downtown and gives off the energy of a place that is loved. The staff were really attentive, kind, and made the evening smooth. Twice, the owner and the manager came by to check in on us. But, that alone doesn't make a place great. It all comes down to the meal. Safina is Sicilian, but really seems like it has more of an American/Italian menu. Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken isn't anything one would find in Sicily, for example. I don't even recall eggplant parmesan or fried strips of eggplant while I visited the island. Still, the food is well made and absolutely yummy. I had the fusilli with pesto cream. My dish was really good, but a bit too much cream and not enough pesto for my liking. My wife had a burrata salad, which she thought was really fresh and tasty. The boy had the classic American fettuccine Alfredo. He downed it quickly. We capped off the evening with tiramisu (cheer me up in Italian). Safina is a good, perfectly run spot and a romantic place for people looking for some quality American/Italian fare. read more

Safina - Fusilli with pesto cream - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The restaurant was beautiful and the service and food were good! My only problem was that I think we went on a day that was was either the beginning of their week, or the end, and because their schedule varied and they source their ingredients fresh, a hand full of things that I was looking forward to eating, they said that they were out of. I shouldn't be upset about a restaurant outsourcing fresh ingredients, but I was disappointed and it was something that I didn't know before going! We would have chosen a better day to visit haha. read more

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Highlights 1) Great Service 2) Gluten-Free Friendly* 3) Good for Groups Came here for a dinner with a group of 6 on a Thursday night. I had made a reservation in advance which was easy to do online. We were seated in their upstairs dining area promptly upon arrival. Our service throughout the night was friendly and paced just right for our meal! We did a cheese plate and the roasted veggies for appetizers to share and then we all got a variety of pastas. They have gluten-free pasta which is awesome! *Not sure if this is a fully dedicated GF kitchen. I would recommend calling ahead if you have additional questions. I had the gluten-free pistachio penne and it was great! Start to finish, this was a fun and delicious meal. Can't wait to be back! read more

Safina - Gluten Friendly Pistachio Penne - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Food, service, and ambiance ...excellent. We celebrated Easter on Saturday April 4 2026. . It was a great culinary experience! I had the Chicken Vesuvio, uniquely prepared and savory. My daughter had tangy shrimp Diablo, her husband, Chicken Parmesan. Definitely the tastes of authenticity. While dining, the owners strolled through the restaurant stopping at each table. A special touch. Equally impressive was the pricing experience. We had a starter , 5 cocktails, 3 main dishes (huge portions) and two desserts ...all slightly over $200 dollars. I have been living in Chicago for many years and Milwaukee's Safina is a Gem!! If I lived back in Milwaukee it would be one of my "go to" favorites. I am looking forward to coming back! read more

My girlfriend picked Safina for our September birthDATE, and I couldn't wait to try some classic Sicilian dining. The restaurant was cozy and seriously smelled like a grandmom's kitchen. They brought out some bread with olive oil from their family farm?, which was a great start. But let me tell you about the eggplant fries--they were absolutely addicting, and they gave us such a generous portion. Perfectly salty, not oily, and not soggy at all. I made the rookie mistake of getting carried away with them before my ragu alforno with garlic bread arrived. Hi carbs! The ragu was on the sweeter side, but still rich and homey. My friend got the fusilloni al pistachio, and wow, the guanciale and cream sauce were chef's kiss. It was an unexpected pesto that was very savory. You can't go wrong with either dish, depending on if you're in the mood for something more traditional or a little different. We ended our carb feast with a very big birthday tiramisu, and it was the perfect finish. The staff was super sweet, with multiple people checking in on us. I'm really interested in trying more of the menu (carpaccio, veal, and nonna's eggplant parmigiana) and now, everyone I told wants to go too. read more

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Food was awesome, authentic. Cozy atmosphere. Service was excellent- we will be back!

From the food to the service to the atmosphere, Safina exceeded every expectation. Every course -- drinks, appetizers, entree, and dessert -- impressed with top-quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. Our server, Bryant, was exceptional, checking in regularly and making sure we were well cared for. The dining room felt calm and relaxed (we ate at 5 pm), which made the experience even more enjoyable. I'm still dreaming about the pasta -- Safina has now become one of my favorite Italian restaurants, and i have tried PLENTY. Highly recommended. read more

sooooo good & everybody is so nice. best restaurant in milwaukee . get the cheesecake too so worth it God bless Italy read more

What a great addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene. The food was so good, the service was great, the ambiance was just fine. We went rather early on a weeknight and thankfully had reservations because it was busy! You're started with crispy bread and tasty olive oil. I kind of wish they had balsamic too. We ordered a salad to share amongst the three of us and it was perfectly portioned to do so. One of us ordered the chicken parmesan, the other the fettuccine alfredo, and the last the fusilloni al pistachio. All were so good. The chicken parmesan came with a side of pasta and a pretty large portion of chicken. The fettuccine can be topped with a protein (or not!) and the fusilloni was creamy goodness with a breadcrumb topping. Reservations are easy to make on the website. Parking nearby can be tricky, but you'll definitely find a spot within a block or two. The seating is very close in the restaurant and it's pretty loud. The chairs weren't the most comfortable either. I do think it's a vibe though. Overall, I'll definitely be back. read more

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We celebrated a birthday with 10 ladies Saturday. First timers all around. Everyone loved it. Delicious food, good wine, great setting plus attentive service. We will come back. read more

Wow! This place is immediately one of my favorite MKE restaurants! The noise level was that perfect one where there's no music needed and you don't feel awkward because everyone around you is in their own conversations. We recently traveled to Italy and this is the closest we've felt to being back. The food was just amazing, I can't say enough about the pistachio pesto, it was that good! Everything we had was delicious, the family olive oil and bread, the cannoli, the bruschetta, the chicken Parmesan and the pesto. Everything was amazing! If you're looking for the best place in MKE to split a bottle of wine and have great Italian food, this is the place! read more

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I have had this restaurant on my list for several months so was excited to try it! The exterior is unassuming but sophisticated, as is the interior. It's a small restaurant with a bar area in the back. The one issue we had was being seated quite late when we had already made a reservation - likely because of how small the restaurant is but it was somewhat disappointing. We ordered two appetizers: the bruschetta and the mozzarella. The bruschetta was unique and enticing with eggplant pieces - it was a fresh take which I really enjoyed. For a main dish, I ordered the fusilloni al pistachio, which was incredible. The rich flavors and crunch from the pistachios was perfect. We did save some room for dessert and ordered the cheesecake, which was also delicious. Overall really enjoyed my visit to this restaurant! I hope next time the service is a bit more organized since we had made a reservation. read more

We stopped in Safina after reading raving reviews about the pasta. However, the energy of the restaurant seemed high stress and overall was an extremely mid experience. Our party of 2 got the bruschetta as a starter and personally, was not my favorite and would avoid ordering again. For our mains, we got the fettuccine alfredo and fusilloni al pistachio. The alfredo was lackluster and nothing to write home about. The fusilloni was my favorite part of the night. My partner argued however that the cheesecake we got for dessert was the best part. As mentioned earlier, the energy was pretty chaotic. The second we set our forks down, they'd take the plate away or ask if we needed a box. I appreciate the speed but everyone working seemed pretty on edge while we were there and were trying to get us out as quickly as possible. Nothing was bad per say, just for the price, wasn't worth it and have no real desire to come back. 6/10 read more

Great service, environment and food! Calamari was amazing with the sauce and the penne alla vodka with shrimp was amazing also. The shrimp tasted really yummy. Cannoli was also really good. Highly recommend! read more

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Such an amazing restaurant! It has a small, intimate feeling, and the food is outstanding. The owner was walking around and he was very sweet. We got the eggplant fries (which is a HUGE portion), and I tried the penne alla vodka, which was super unique and tasty. I wish I had remembered to take pictures, but the food was so good I ate it all before remembering!! Can't wait to come back read more

Everything gets 5 stars at Safina: Service (shout out to Brian) - 5 stars Ambiance - 5 stars FUSILLONI AL PISTACHIO - 5 stars FRUTTA DI MARE - 5 stars MELANZANA FRITTE - 5 stars PINO'S BURRATA - 5 stars Giovanni, the owner, was filling our waters and so humble. Safina is our new favorite Italian restaurant in Milwaukee!! read more

What an absolutely charming restaurant! From the moment we walked in, everything exceeded our expectations. The olive oil served with the bread was so flavorful, and the bruschetta had a unique twist that really stood out. We enjoyed several dishes, including the penne alla vodka (my personal favorite), Momma's Vesuvio, and the fusilloni pistachio -- each one was delicious in its own way. We finished the meal with a classic tiramisu that was the perfect sweet ending. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the service was excellent, and the food was unforgettable. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, and I'm already looking forward to our next visit! read more

Safina - Penne Allá Vodka - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Why go to Italy when Italy is only 15 min away from me! The place is very cute and cozy, felt like home. Service was wonderful and everyone who works there makes you really feel like family! Food, was out of this world. We got bruschetta, insalate di mare, fusilloni al pistachio, chicken parmigiana just to name a few. If it was acceptable for adult to lick a plate in public, this would've been the place. Everything was sooooooo good. The flavor was on point! We also ended up Coming with the whole family (10 people) and everyone enjoyed every bit of the food. Some even keep coming back for the famous eggplant ;) read more

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Food and service were top notch and they were reasonably priced. Good wine and dessert selections as well. read more

Safina - Dark Chocolate panna cotta. - Sicilian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We went here to celebrate our engagement, and they made it really special. We ordered the vodka penne, and the pistachio pasta dish. Both were amazing. We had the calamari for an appetizer and it was probably the best I've ever had. Also the tiramisu?! Incredible. Perfect to share (for 2). read more

Loved it! Very quaint! I have had a lot of halibut dishes in my life and Safina's was the best I have ever had. Service was also great!

First time trying Safina and it was great! Small dining area, but very nice, service was very attentive and friendly. Had the fried eggplant for an appetizer and it was the best we've ever had, will get this every time we go. My wife had the chicken Parmesan and I had the stuffed filet mignon. Both were terrific! The chicken parm was a huge serving, three chicken breasts over fettucine in marinara sauce, plenty for dinner and heated up the next day. The stuffed filet had cheese and prosciutto and a ton of onions, both carmelized and fried strings on top. All the flavors came together wonderfully and the steak was cooked perfectly medium, on top of fingerling potatoes (more like a steak fry). The only critique was probably about half the amount of onions would have been fine, enjoyed both but just too many, although wouldn't stop me from ordering this again, it was great! read more