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    Stella Van Buren

    4.1 (260 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Stella Van Buren Photos

    STELLA VAN BUREN ATMOSPHERE

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    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Stella Van Buren

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    Burrata Bruschetta
    Tarik B.

    Let's start with Tayler, our server, she was absolutely awesome, very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu all of her recommendations were 10/10 hits! The beef was from Linz Heritage Farms (code for halal protein option ) was cooked perfectly, the crispy Brussels sprouts were delicious and well seasoned. But the three main stars of the night were my wife's ravioli (even though it was too spicy for her, I ate it the next day for lunch, shoutout to Tayler for helping to get her a more mild version as well) , the Baratta bruschetta, and the those Italian donuts... I didn't even have room but you best believe I polished off those donuts they were special! Great date night spot! Will be back for sure!

    An excellent, if a tad peppery, carbonara.
    Warren D.

    Date of visit: April 6, 2025 I'm rather shocked that despite being open for seven years, I've never dined at Stella Van Buren! I've been in the building (the restaurant is part of the wonderful Westin) for events, but never really spent any time here, a faux pas on my part for sure. The decor is wonderful, with semi-circular booths and sheer curtains breaking up the space and lending a touch of privacy to your meal, but still allowing you the opportunity to see and be seen, if that's your thing, of course. Menu is Italian with some unique twists on the dishes--definitely not your staid, old school Italian. My carbonara did not have the overly salty taste that many carbonaras do from the prosciutto, if anything this one was too peppery, but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the entree. My husband had the chicken parmesan and he was pleasantly surprised that the pasta did not overtake the chicken, as so many preparations of this dish do, with a healthy portion of the meat. We were treated to dessert and I selected the tiramisu, which had a wonderful presentation. My spouse went with the bread pudding (ice cream on the side, because lactose) and the bite I had was great. It was a near perfect meal; our friend who made the reservation had to remind staff that he had indicated it was a birthday (despite receiving an email confirming that the restaurant was aware and would make it special) and our server was very nice, but seemed a bit nervous, perhaps she was new. At any rate, certainly not enough of a concern to prevent us from dining at Stella Van Buren again, and definitely sooner than seven years from now!

    Van Buren Old Fashioned
    Shelly R.

    I can't say enough about the amazing experience we had at Stella last night. From the phenomenal Old Fashions to the sea scallops and Waygu hot stone appetizer and the whipped Yukon gold potatoes, everything was amazing. Our table also got steaks, raviolis and three types of desserts (tiramisu, bread pudding and gelato) and they were the perfect topper for the evening. Service was top notch as well. We cannot WAIT to visit again!

    Ny Dry-Aged New York Strip*
    Sam P.

    Can you guys burn this steak any more? Not only this, you guys need to reevaluate your dry age or cooking process, the steak was sour. The worst steak I have ever had in Milwaukee

    Wedge Salad 10/10!!!

    We had the best time! Felt fancy for the night. We had the BEST waitress ever, I think her name was Katie! Honestly we would have been perfectly happy just ordering a bunch of apps to share. Those were our best! -GOAT cheese Brushetta 8.5/10 -Wedge salad 10/10! Big ol slab of bacon and sooo much flavor with the Gorgonzola -Spinach/Mushroom Ravioli 3/10 (came out kind of cold) -Vodka Rigatoni 7.5/10 (good flavor, the meat was in big chunks and it could have been creamier) Overall I would go again!

    Karen T.

    Was here hosting an event in sept and had breakfast. Fast service and tasty food. Would recommend.

    Banana Bread
    Ryan V.

    We stayed at the Westin and decided to head downstairs to check out Stella's for breakfast. The restraint is very clean and the staff is very friendly with outstanding service. The breakfast menu isn't huge but they do everything on there well. I'll let you in on a little secret, get the sourdough bread and it comes with preserves (you're welcome). I also would highly recommend their banana bread. They crisp it up on the flat top and serve it with butter and the butter melts on an each warm piece of banana bread. I went back for more banana bread and it's the best I've ever had from a restaurant. Don't sleep on Stella's for breakfast if you're in the area or staying at the Westin in Milwaukee.

    Mac and cheese | Italian salad
    Zoe W.

    The restaurant itself is very pretty and clean, the bar is mesmerizing! Service was great. Ordered the Mac and cheese and a salad. Salad was mid, nothing special. The Mac and cheese was very, very good! Would come back just for that!

    Steakhouse Wedge Garlic Parmesan French Fries
    Lauren S.

    Came here for dinner last night and thought the atmosphere itself was stunning. The bar was very ornate but also modern and it seemed like a hot spot for happy hour. My steakhouse wedge salad was delicious. The Parmesan fries were just okay and slightly under cooked.

    The American*  Note the blueberry pecan preserves... make sure you try these!!!
    Rob K.

    Let's start with the positives. The vibe is very cool. The view is nice as well. Large selection of spirits and the staff is super nice. They still have a limited menu, which is confusing 2 years out from Covid. I had the Porchetta. It was good, not great. Perhaps I should have stuck with a steak but I wanted to try something new. The person I was with got the Bolognese. I didn't try it but they're comment was that it was spicy. So, know that going into it. I also had a specialty cocktail that didn't impress. (Pecan old fashioned). Not tremendously balanced, very sweet. I stayed at the Westin, so figured I'd give breakfast a try because it was bitter cold outside. Breakfast was awesome. The little dish on the side of the plate has a blueberry, pecan preserve. It tastes way better than it looked. So I'd say, hit this spot up for breakfast or drinks. If drinks, stick to your normal order not the cocktail menu.

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    Good spot. Service is wonderful. Food is fine. Nothing stand out but everything is solid. Would return for the wedge salad and apps

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Stella Van Buren

    Do we have to dress up?

    Don't think you have to, but a most people at dinner had at least a buttoned shirt, even with jeans and casual shoes....for men's attire… Read more

    So they have gluten free pasta / bread options?

    Hi Paige, we make our own fresh pasta daily however it does contain gluten. We also keep gluten free pasta and a gluten free bread on hand for guests that are gluten free. thank you for your inquiry.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Onesto - Fusilli

    Onesto

    4.1(690 reviews)
    0.4 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!

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

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    Safina - Chicken parm

    Safina

    4.6(74 reviews)
    0.3 miEast Town, Downtown

    Food, service, and ambiance ...excellent. We celebrated…read moreEaster 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!

    Went on a Saturday night with no reservation and we were able to get bar seats. The bar area can…read moreturn 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.

    Photos
    Safina
    Safina - Seasonal bruschetta (goat cheese, Brussels, pistachios, some fancy honey AMAZING

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

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    Santino's Little Italy - Agrigento Pizza

    Santino's Little Italy

    4.7(425 reviews)
    2.1 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

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    Tauro Cocina - Guajillo Risoto

    Tauro Cocina

    4.6(186 reviews)
    1.1 miLower East Side
    $$

    I had my bridal shower in their event space on 04/11/26. It was the most magical day with all my…read moreloved ones! The staff were great - they were attentive, friendly, and overall wonderful to work with. We were able to customize our floor plan with different tables and chairs that fit our vision. The decorations and colors matched perfectly with my theme (Love is in Bloom)! They also provided a projector and screen that we used for the games. My sister made a Spotify playlist specifically for this day that they played as well! My sister and I toured the venue about a year in advance and immediately booked it; I'm so glad we did because there were multiple inquiries later on which goes to show how many people truly want their special event held here. The owner, Ahidé, was such a dream to work with during the process. She was informative, kind, and always made sure we got what we needed throughout. We ordered the brunch menu which included eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, lemon ricotta french toast, pastries, and a small parfait bar. The food was seriously 10000/10! My guests gave so many compliments on the food, the drinks, the decor, and everything in between. Ahidé even went the extra mile to customize the bar and brunch signs that matched my theme! She made sure to check on us right after the food was served and was available if we needed anything at all. Every little detail was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank you SO much Tauro Cocina for making my bridal shower a dream come true

    The food was great the first time I went. Not sure why it felt a little underwhelming when I went…read morethe second time maybe it was just a weird day. The risotto's are really good! Appetizers can be a little more descriptive because the bruschetta was not the regular style so definitely ask before ordering. Ambience was really nice and the service is great as well. I would recommend this place for its unique taste.

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    Tauro Cocina - Back room and bar

    Back room and bar

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    Ilegal en Milwaukee

    Stella Van Buren - italian - Updated May 2026

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