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    Safina

    4.6 (74 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    Safina Photos

    SAFINA ATMOSPHERE

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    Aneletti alla siciliana - delish
    Bruce K.

    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.

    Dessert
    Emily D.

    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!

    FRUTTA DI MARE
    Bill S.

    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%

    Kimberly K.

    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!

    Ashley S.

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

    Ronda D.

    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.

    Tiramisu
    Rick R.

    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!

    bread
    Michelle L.

    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

    Tiramisu. Chef's kiss!
    Warren D.

    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!

    Cannoli and Tiramisu
    Sofia M.

    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.

    Seasonal bruschetta (goat cheese, Brussels, pistachios, some fancy honey AMAZING
    C P.

    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!

    Exterior
    Jill B.

    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!

    Fusilli with pesto cream
    Tim R.

    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.

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    16 days ago

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

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    11 months ago

    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!

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    Semolina

    Semolina

    4.4(7 reviews)
    2.8 miBay View

    Took a cooking class with Semolina. It was a nice experience, but honestly I felt like I didn't get…read moreto make very much pasta to take with. It wasn't even enough for two people for dinner. For the cost of the class, I would have thought I would have got a bit more. The other thing that disappointed me was the glasses are open to all ages of children. In my class, I was there with a middle school boy who somewhat took ownership of the class and wasn't behaving very appropriate for what I thought was an adult-only class. This was an event I purchased as an adult-friendly evening, I do wish this was stated when signing up for classes or at least offer adult-only or all ages classes. It just wasn't the vibe I was going for that evening and frankly was pretty annoying. Although, the owner did try to play down the boy's presence and kindly answer his questions, etc - I probably wouldn't take another class there unfortunately. I do enjoy the shop and the pasta is tasty.

    Review is for mostly the pasta class but also the store! I had been eagerly awaiting the classic…read moreegg pasta class for a while, and we were not let down. Petra and Andy take such pride in their shop and it shows! We started wandering (and salivating over) their small but impressive selection of sauces, oils, salts, and Italian goodies. They have samples of most of their items, so definitely ask when you're in! The class started with Petra giving a brief overview of the general recipe and then we got our hands dirty almost immediately kneading the dough. The dough got to rest for a bit while we got to sip on some beautiful red wine and Petra taught us how to make a puttanesca sauce. When we went back to knead some more, Andy had magically cleaned the stations and set us up for the next round! On our next rest break, Petra finished assembling the puttanesca with some pasta she made earlier that day and we got a healthy serving of fresh pasta and puttanesca, followed by a sample of some of the most amazing Panettone I have ever had. The care that Petra and Andy put into their work is evident, and their commitment to supporting organic, high quality foods is remarkable. Looking forward to many more classes here!

    Photos
    Semolina - Curlurgiones. Italian dumpling. Omg.

    Curlurgiones. Italian dumpling. Omg.

    Semolina - Lots of wine to choose from!

    Lots of wine to choose from!

    Semolina

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    Egg & Flour Pasta Bar - 4/18/2024 special: French Onion Bucatini that Chef Adam made on the Beat Bobby Flay episode.

    Egg & Flour Pasta Bar

    4.2(126 reviews)
    2.6 miBay View
    $$

    Tonight's visit was maybe my 4th or 5th (with every time leaving me wondering "why don't I come…read morehere more,") and it is tonight that I've decided that Egg & Flour is quintessential Milwaukee. This may be the extra helping of wine (I sat at the bar, and the gentleman politely asked "would you like some more wine?" and politely topped me off, because - quintessential Milwaukee), but in short: we have incredibly delicious pasta at reasonable prices in a fast-casual type setting. There's a world-class chef at the helm, but with any sort of air of being pretentious crowded out by video games, kitschy homey decor, and Midwest friendliness (and I'm not just talking about from the generous wine distributor, but his colleague also was very kind in making sure I had a good experience and welcoming me back soon). Tastes good and feels good. What's not to love?

    Not what I expected but Solid choice!…read more I have always seen this place in bay view and wanted to give it a try especially since I found out the chef was previously on food network. This place is a no frills pasta with a more takeout feel. I think the food is solid past place. They will help you work through the menu if you have never been which I appreciate but wish they had a few more options as it seemed limited and not 100% as creative as I would have loved.

    Photos
    Egg & Flour Pasta Bar - Can't say enough good things about the staff and pasta here

    Can't say enough good things about the staff and pasta here

    Egg & Flour Pasta Bar - Daily special: shrimp Alfredo

    Daily special: shrimp Alfredo

    Egg & Flour Pasta Bar

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    Onesto - Fusilli

    Onesto

    4.1(690 reviews)
    0.5 miHistoric Third Ward
    $$$

    We had an amazing time at their annual Galentine's dinner. All five courses were prepared fresh and…read morewere favorites of the restaurant. The beet salad was delicious. The three pasta dishes all very flavorful. The chocolate covered strawberry was a nice way to end the meal. Attention to detail was not missed from fun photo ops to a heart shaped jello on our aperol spritz. Chef Corrine came out and spoke about each dish. So great to hear about the incredible women running this place. Table decor was fun with heart shaped glasses at each spot. We for sure plan to attend next year!

    Date of visit: March 27, 2026…read more This was our birthday dinner with our dear friend Jack; we had not been to Onesto in years and this was as good an opportunity as any to visit an old favorite. Despite the frigid temperatures, the place was very busy! Given that, we weren't able to be seated before our reservation time but that was fine, we hung out at the bar for a bit and the host grabbed us and guided us to our table with expert care. I do wish we didn't have the table closest to the door as there isn't a ton of places for folks to wait and they weren't always courteous about not leaving the door open for those of us already inside. But the window vantage point was nice, as was the birthday card signed by the staff (and I just realized that in our haste to hustle back the several blocks to our car, we forgot it at the table! We must seem so rude!). Ally was our server and she did the best she could with the general busyness at 715 on a Friday night. She did have some assistance with the food delivery by other staff, which I did appreciate as things took a while due to the aforementioned popularity of the restaurant. Food-wise, everything was very good overall but didn't quite stick the landing: - Clam chowder was creamy but a bit heavy on the parsley and not served with crackers. I really love that crunch of the oyster cracker with the cream of the soup. - Bolognese was a very generous portion and the short rib was excellent, but it needed just a little more sauce to keep everything moist. - The tiramisu was several layers and looked perfect, but while the marscapone was delicious, the booze flavor was way too strong for a teetotaler such as myself. Despite some opportunities, this was still a very wonderful meal!

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    Onesto
    Onesto - Agnolotti (Maine Lobster, House Ricotta, Peppercorn Cream, Lemon Oil)

    Agnolotti (Maine Lobster, House Ricotta, Peppercorn Cream, Lemon Oil)

    Onesto - Hot ToTTi

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    Hot ToTTi

    Bavette La Boucherie - Previously retired 80-yr old butcher

    Bavette La Boucherie

    4.5(463 reviews)
    0.5 miHistoric Third Ward
    $$

    Was in town for the weekend and TikTok said the only things I should do in Milwaukee were Discourse…read moreCoffee and Bavette. LISTEN... The only crime here is that this place isn't a chain and it's miles away from me. Our waitress was amazing, the vibes were perfect, everything felt intentional in the best way. The heirloom tomato salad was so fresh and delightful. A full 5 out of 5. And those beef tallow fries were unreal. I am still thinking about them and genuinely wish I could figure out how to recreate them at home. TikTok actually delivered on this one. Very happy we ended up going.

    I was excited to be in Milwaukee today, given the many restaurants that have earned recognition…read morefrom the James Beard Awards. Most of those spots only open for dinner, so I was thrilled to find that Bavette La Boucherie now serves lunch. My friend, a local, told me the restaurant originally began as a butcher shop. While that's no longer the case, the space still pays tribute to its roots -- shelves lined with kitchen knick-knacks, butcher-block counters, and a display of local provisions that hint at its past. Chef-owner Karen Bell leads the way here, and you can feel her touch throughout -- from the creative menu to the casual-elegant vibe. The décor blends exposed brick and warm wood with soft light and a friendly hum from the open kitchen. Our server, Matthew R., had only been with Bavette a couple of weeks, but his background in restaurant management showed. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and offered great suggestions. Before our sandwiches arrived, we shared a cup of pork and tomatillo pozole topped with cabbage slaw and a dollop of sour cream. It was piping hot, bright, and deeply flavorful -- the kind of starter that makes you stop talking for a minute just to enjoy the next spoonful. Having read rave reviews of the Korean steak au jus, I nearly ordered it, but Matthew suggested the roast-beef with cheddar since I'm not a big lunch eater. Excellent call. The sandwich was divine -- tender, flavorful beef layered with melted cheddar on a crisp, perfectly toasted roll. The beef-fat fries had great depth of flavor, though I'd love them even more if they were twice-cooked for that extra crunch. Being more of a gin or vodka drinker, I couldn't resist the Gin Old Fashioned on the cocktail list. It was delicious -- smooth, aromatic, and balanced enough that I happily ordered a second. Great food, warm service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Bavette La Boucherie is a gem I can't wait to revisit.

    Photos
    Bavette La Boucherie - Fresh-cut roast beef w/pickled veggies and brown mustard

    Fresh-cut roast beef w/pickled veggies and brown mustard

    Bavette La Boucherie - Everything here is SO delicious!

    Everything here is SO delicious!

    Bavette La Boucherie - Charcuterie Plate

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    Charcuterie Plate

    Ca'Lucchenzo - Focaccia (1000/10)

    Ca'Lucchenzo

    4.7(158 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$$

    Well shit, no wonder this place is nominated for a James Beard Award. I'm literally still thinking…read moreabout all the good food 24 hours later. It's actually shocking I've only just made it here because Ca'Lucchenzo has been on my to-go list for years. Lucky for me, my girlfriends planned a dinner to catch up and one of them chose this spot. Hot tip: make the reservation. Those go fassst! We went on the Tuesday night and it was full, with repeated table turnover. Delightful atmosphere. Very cozy, with warm tones, dimer lighting, and thoughtfully curated Italian'esque decor. Loved that there is a whole area where you can look onto the from-scratch pasta being made. However, that's over in the dining room and we actually sat on the bar side. There's maybe a dozen seats wrapped around their full-service bar, and then a small high-top tucked behind, where we sat. Our server, Malichai, new allllll of his stuff. When I tell you this menu is so clearly planned with immense detail, and changes pretty much daily, but this man knew every thing there was to know. We found that to be so helpful because as first timers it's hard to know what - and how many dishes - to choose. In the end, we landed on a handful of picks from the antipasti section, which we're all great shareable sizes. And then of course we needed pasta, so selected two of those to share as well. Can I recall what each dish was? No. Can I recall everything being extremely flavorful and enjoyable? Absolutely! From goat cheese and white asparagus, to creamy potato ravioli and the most insane/delicious focaccia of my life... we all noted how great every bite was. Oh and the drinks + dessert selection lived up to the hype too. I had a citrusy gin cocktail, and we finished with some sort of hazelnut chocolate cake. 10/10. Super duper excited to bring my husband here. He appreciates the craft of good food and boy that is what this place is alllll about.

    My son and I came here for my birthday. It was restaurant week. I had a 4 course meal with…read morecarbonara being the main dish. I also ordered the pork loin for my son. The host was brilliant saw I was in a walking boot put down a wine box for my leg. Service was a big slow. The dinner was almost like 1 hour and 45 mins, there is quite some time between courses. Ambiance was cozy, it was quite busy for a Thursday night.

    Photos
    Ca'Lucchenzo - Corner table

    Corner table

    Ca'Lucchenzo - Crudo

    Crudo

    Ca'Lucchenzo - Gnocchi with mushrooms

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    Gnocchi with mushrooms

    Santino's Little Italy - Agrigento Pizza

    Santino's Little Italy

    4.7(425 reviews)
    2.3 miBay View
    $$

    The sauce is so fresh and delicious. It tastes like Nonna is in the kitchen making her homemade…read moresauce. The customer service is outstanding. Friendly and polite. It's just the Best. Enjoying their lasagna today which is better than any I've ever eaten Always a winner!

    First time here. Came with another couple. It was a Thursday night, and we had 6:30 reservations…read more The place is a small, friendly looking standalone building on the corner. When you arrive, there is a bar with a seating area. There is also another seating area with a separate bar, which is where we sat. What I noticed first is that there are TVs set up throughout the restaurant playing Moonstruck, the 1987 movie with Cher and Nicolas Cage. It runs continuously, and I think without sound. I didn't have a direct line of sight, but I did notice it a few times throughout the evening. It's a quirky thing, and I like it. The inside is dimly lit, but bright enough to read menus and make out all the essentials. The lighting on the bars is a rich red, and it really sets off those areas. The walls are adorned with photos of iconic Italian female movie stars like Sophia Loren. I liked the classic vibe. The place was very loud. We were seated right away and settled in with waters, drinks, and menus. Our server did a nice job walking us through the menu details. It's mostly specialty pizzas, with a few appetizers, salads, and a couple of entrees. For drinks, there were a couple of Santino Sangrias, which were unique in that they included gin, a nice touch. There was also a Paper Plane Martini, which was very good too. I mentioned before that it was loud, and it was especially loud with a large group behind us. It got much better when they cleared out. I noticed that they have sound absorbing materials on some of the walls, which probably helps, just not enough. For dinner, we started off with a couple of Caesar salads. They were a good portion and easily shared by two. The dressing was fresh and the right amount. It was a great start to the meal. I would have liked to try the calamari, but nobody else was interested, maybe next time. There were three pizzas at the table, Margherita, Paisan, and a make your own with cheese, sausage, mushroom, and onion. I decided to be different and tried the Gigante Meatball Plate. The pizzas are Neapolitan, with bubbly, charred edges. All of them had excellent presentation and flavor. Neapolitans are not known for their sturdy centers, so you have to hold on tight to keep everything from sliding off. As expected, the meatball was very large. It's served with penne pasta, which was okay, though I would have preferred spaghetti. The sauce and cheese had good flavor. A solid entree, though not amazing. We were celebrating a birthday, so we saved room for a few shared desserts. We tried the flourless cake, tiramisu, and the chocolate hazelnut gelato. They were all good choices, satisfying, but again, not amazing. Lots to like about this place. Nice atmosphere, great service (thanks Tommy), and an excellent selection of pizzas. Would come back again, and this time order one of the specialty pizzas (Da Vinci).

    Photos
    Santino's Little Italy - Interior

    Interior

    Santino's Little Italy - San Marzano tomato sauce with sausage, pepperoni and Italian ham

    San Marzano tomato sauce with sausage, pepperoni and Italian ham

    Santino's Little Italy

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    Safina - sicilian - Updated May 2026

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