Balistreri’s Bluemound Inn
6501 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53213
Balistreri’s Bluemound Inn Menu
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Address :
6501 W Bluemound Rd
Milwaukee, WI, 53213 - Phone (414) 258-9881
- Website https://www.balistreris.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Suzanne P.
Mmmmmmm.... who doesn't love delicious, homemade pizza with hearty toppings on a light, thin, airy crust? We had the deluxe pizza (everything with anchovies - although I love anchovies on pizza, my friend hates them!) The service was prompt, the decor was warm amd food was delicious. I used to waitress at a Milwaukee pizza joint called Pete's Pizzeria (the best pizza that I've ever had - they unfortunately closed down years ago after being opened for decades) and I could never find pizza that tasted similar to theirs until I tried this place! So that was a nostalgic on top of a delicious experience for me.
(4)Jamie W.
Love that the kitchen is open until 1:00a.m. Service is always spot on, and dining room options are fantastic: old-school Italian bar, dining room, and service, as well as patio dining. The baked, fresh (buffalo) mozzarella was out of this world (I will go back for that alone!), and the eggplant Parmesan was the best I've ever had - and that is my go-to Italian dish. Our waiter, Antonio, was incredibly professional and attentive, and his suggestions were perfect. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Alexandra T.
Called in a to go pizza tonight around 7 and when I arrived at the end of the estimated time (25-30 min) there was no order under my name. The manager had taken my phone order and forgot to ring it in. He offered a free drink card which I did not want- I drove to pick up a pizza for dinner, why would I have a drink and drive home? I had to wait 25 minutes for them to make the pizza. My order should have been discounted or comped. Terrible customer service.
(1)Mike S.
I love walking into Balistreri's! From the soothing Italian/Sinatra music gently playing over the speakers, the old wooden horseshoe bar, and the dimly lit rooms- everything about Balistreri's atmosphere is all that you would want from a Milwaukee original Italian restaurant! However, people don't come here just because of the relaxing, and enjoyable environment- they come here for the food! After being told we had a 30 minute wait, my fathers words say it best, "you'll sometimes have to wait when you're trying to get good food." After so many years of coming to Balistreri's, I know I'm about to have a good meal when I walk through the doors, and I'm certain you will too!
(5)Jalaine M.
We had a large party, and the wait staff was wonderful while we waited for the last two to show. The place just got better from there. They kept up with water on the table and came around often to see if any other drinks were needed. The fried eggplant was the best! The Balisteri special pizza was wonderful (we ordered it with extra sauce). And one in our party had the vegetable lasagna. Was told it was very good and they will be coming back for more of it.
(5)Steve S.
2nd visit very disappointing. Veal parm was tough and pasta lacked any flavor - will stick with pizza going forward
(3)Chris S.
We frequent this restaurant 2-4 times a month. Most often we are very pleased with the service (speedy, and polite even without a reservation). However, this evening we sat at a small 2 person table in the back room closest to the bathrooms. After about 8-10 min. We had our drink orders taken and served with a bread basket. We placed our order at the time the drinks arrived. Then we waited over 30 minutes. We watched as our waitress served a party of eight, they ate and she cleared nearly all the dishes off their table and she disappeared. Finally, I got up to go look for her and she came out with our food- no apology, nothing. Both fish fry dinners were great, as usual. Unfortunately the service was far below par on this visit.
(3)Aubrey G.
Balistreri's Bluemound (NOT their location on 68th Street!). A very good neighborhood restaurant. Linen napkins and table cloths. Nice bar area with lots of seating. Good drinks and food at reasonable prices. PLUS: The same famous pizza that their sister restaurant (on 68h Street) serves...... We eat here several times a year. Ate dinner tonight, 10/1/2012. I had the veal piccata, Caesar salad to start, and angel hair pasta as the side. Excellent, large salad that I could honestly make a meal on if I wasn't so hungry tonight . The veal piccata was very tender and excellent. I had a happy face. :} My better half ordered a chopped (side) salad and a pepperoni pizza. All I heard, as she ate, was "...mmmm....mmmm...mmm." This place reminds me of the old school supper clubs that Milwaukee used to have years ago. It feels quaint and homey here. I'd honestly give the place Five Stars, but the service can be sporadic, from time to time, especially if they are busy. Although a Monday night, our server was running herself ragged. Yes, it was that busy. In fact, the bar was packed with no seating at around 7:00 when we got there. On a Monday nite!?!?! May have to do with their participation in shuttling fans to Brewers games. Having said that, though, they have a very large sign in their parking lot, telling "shuttle -ee's" to park on the street to allow their restaurant "dinner" patrons the lot parking.
(4)Blossom L.
We ordered a sausage, pepperoni and cheese pizza for takeout and our family loved the pizza. The sausage tasted like it was freshly made, the crust was perfect and cheese was fantastic. We will definitely come back for the pizza.
(5)David Z.
Six of us stopped for pizza on a Friday night, not possible without reservations, and hardly a place for quiet conversation. The place was electric, many on the way to a Brewer's game choosing pizza from the vast menu of interesting Italian choices. We chose a large cheese and sausage from the more general pizza category and a large Chicken San Remo from the Gourmet pizza category. The pizzas in the latter category run a couple dollars more than those in the first one. Although one of us thought the San Remo was "too weird" for her traditional pizza taste buds, most of us thought it outstanding-- if not a traditional pizza, then a wonderful meal of its own kind with generous chunks of chicken, Portobello mushrooms, spinach, red peppers and goat cheese. The more traditional cheese and sausage had a thin crust that remained crispy throughout the meal in the outer third of the circumference, a minimum amount of well-flavored sauce, a generous coating of cheese, great but somewhat greasy (said one) sausage, and sprinklings of Italian herbs. Beverages always double the price, but the pizzas were in the low $20s each. In all, among the top five pizzas in Milwaukee, and for some of us close to the best.
(4)Parker C.
Accidentally wrote a review but for a different review. Sorry Balestrarie's. I will update this review once I try them next.
(5)Mike C.
Brocciuloni is beef filets pounded and stuffed with salami, Italian sausage, peas, eggs, provolone and asiago braised in tomato sauce. Yes. You read that right. It's meat stuffed with meat and more meat and some cheese thrown in for good measure. I mean, c'mon on! Ridiculous, right? This sounds like something to watch Adam Richman eat 14 of or something on TV. And if Adam could eat 14 of these little rolls, he'd be a very lucky man because ... it's delicious! And a good value too. I've lived a few miles from Balistreri's Bluemound Inn for many years, but have only eaten there a handful of times and last night was the first time in years. Right now the place is well decorated for Christmas and has a nice, warm cozy feel. We ate our dinner at the bar; it was a little clumsy, but we preferred the ambiance there to the dining room -- not that the dining room was poor, but the bar was a glowing and warm social environment. My wife had the Linguine Carbonara: crispy pancetta, shallots, garlic, white wine cream sauce finished with egg yolk and parmesan reggiano. Sounds good, doesn't it? I've traveled a lot lately and, thus, dined alone. The nice thing about dining with a significant other is--if they'll let you--you get to try their food too! The flavor of my wife's carbonara was very different than my plate of meaty, cheesy, tomatoey goodness, but it was equally as tasty. Balistreri's Bluemound Inn is a very relaxed place to dine with good food at a respectable value. I will NOT wait years to dine there again. In fact, I'm kind of in the mood for their Tortellini Ai Salsicce In Brodo tonight! ;)
(4)Lynne C.
Cool place! Friendly, but slow service. Great pizza and real mozzarella sticks. Bar looked like it would be a fun place to have a few.
(4)Nancy R.
I have eaten at Ballisteri's on 68th St a number of times and rate their pizza tops in Milwaukee (and possibly the world), but I had never been to the full monty restaurant until tonight. I sat at the spacious and friendly bar and immediately felt at home. The bartender and waitress could not have been more friendly or attentive. I had the Ballisteri's Salad as an entree which comes with garlic bread. The salad was simple and delicious. The homemade mustard based vinaigrette was tart and I really liked it. Of course, the garlic bread was to die for with the perfect amount of butter and garlic for me (I.e. not soaked in butter and a hefty dose of garlic). As was mentioned the decor is supper club with white linen table clothes and napkins. This will be a must visit when out of town guests come to visit!
(5)Travis D.
This place was just okay for me. I was kind of disappointed with the pizza, after being told how great it is supposed to be. The spaghetti I had was also just okay, I felt it was a bit bland and that there wasn't too much that was special the food here.
(3)Sandra S.
I was excited to be introduced to this place, until I got here. The older bartender (Dave) was a complete jerk and I had to leave shortly after arriving.
(1)Joanna T.
Is it a coincidence this Italian Supper Club is located within just a few blocks of several union headquarters, including the Teamsters? I'm just saying, Balestreri's looks like a place Jimmy Hoffa might have liked. Not to be confused with the pizza place on the 68th, this Balistreri's is the "classy" one with many fewer screaming children. It's still owned by the same people and serves the same recipes though. Key differences: *Much quieter and less chaotic. It gets busy but the crowd is much older. *More comprehensive menu with more entrees and higher price points *A swanky bar upfront *Free shuttle to Brewers games! I'm a fan. The food is good, the people are nice and it's swanky in an old school way (dress up clothes not required). Plus you can scarf down a pizza on game day and grab the shuttle. WIN!
(4)Richard T.
After several pleasurable meals here, my friend and I were severely disappointed this time with the efforts of the kitchen. We ordered our wine and the wait person, obviously, had not been taught by the bartender how to open a bottle; feeling sorry for her struggling attempts, I helped her conquer the cork. We ordered the Bruschetta, classic version to share. What a disaster - lightly warmed large loaf slices with a disgraceful attempt at a topping - more resembling an overpowering pico de gallo without the kick, dumped in a soggy lump, like a scoop of melting ice cream, drenching the bread. Bruschetta Classico should have been prepared thusly: baguette sliced on a bias, lightly brushed with EVOO and slowly grilled until slight char marks appear; Italian parsley, herbs, tomatoes, onions and mild peppers mixed, then pulse blended to a slightly coarse texture and spread like frosting over the grilled bread, heated until lightly browned tufts appear, then lightly drizzled with a high quality EVOO and served with small bread plates corresponding to the number of diners sharing the item. My Linguini Trieste was superb: flavorful, rich, appropriately seasoned and subtly fragrant with hints of a smoothly blended compilation of Italian herbs.... Overall a pleasing entree. My companion ordered Linguini de Mare, which was the greatest disappointment of the night...the crab meat smelled fishy and tasted "off"; thereby rendering the entire plate inedible and a potential food poisoning hazard! The Chef is responsible for everything in the kitchen; for most of the evening he must have been on a smoke break or schmoozing people at the host's/wait captain's podium, where several staff members were congregated. Again, a disappointing departure from our previous experiences here. To bad we wasted our time traveling 75 miles for an anticipated superior dining experience that was the equivalent of a flat tire.
(2)Kelley K.
How is this place not on Kitchen Nightmares? I fondly remember this place being one of the fanciest, best Italian restaurants in the city. Mind you this was 10 years ago, or so. Recently my fiance and I decided to try this place out, my fault because I raved about it and how I remember it being amazing. Everything we ordered was sub par and tasteless, not to mention overpriced for the low quality of the food we received. He ordered chicken parmesan, I had shrimp something. Both of the dishes took forever to come out and were room temperature by the time they reached us. We both just kind of wondered 'is this it?' as we sat in the dated, low lit (which I kind of like) 1970's decor. I think the plastic grapes on the window sills haven't been dusted since 1999. The only redeeming factor was the creme brulee which was homemade and fresh. We even went back a few weeks after thinking maybe we just caught them on an off night. Wrong. Same experience we had previously. Truly sad as the Bluemound Inn really holds some fond memories for me. Please call Gordon Ramsay ASAP.
(1)Richard S.
Well, what is there to say about this place that has not been said? Not sure, but here we go. The pizza is great the wait is too long. That being said, I really enjoy their food. I would recommend you call before you come as on the weekends this place is slammed. Overall, this place is worth the hassle,
(4)Melissa F.
My husband and I took my parents for lunch when they came up to visit. Based on the reviews, I expected this place to be some great Italian. I had the Ravoili Trio. It tasted like something that was once frozen. The sauce was tasty though. The rest of our party had various sandwiches and thought it was fine. No rave reviews in the group. My meal came with soup or salad and I never received either nor was I asked for it. I had to ask about it later and then was asked if I wanted it after my meal nor was our bill adjusted for it. For the fact that we were one of 5 parties in the restaurant, the service was incredibly slow. Took a long time for my dad to get a drink refill, took awhile to find our waitress to alert that we did not get all of our food (2 of four meals came incomplete). It also took quite a bit of time to get our check taken to be paid. I don't think we'll be back here even based on the positive reviews by others. I expected more from a Balistreri's restaurant!
(2)Julie E.
If I have ever had a worse dinner, I don't remember when! All the servers, hosts,etc were delightful, kind and welcoming . I had the salmon and only ate a few bites before I realized it ...along with the side dishes ..was basically inedible. My husband had pasta carbonara which was so salty he could not eat it. The bread was dry and flavorless. The salad was soggy with dressing. We were both physically ill when we got home. We have loved Balistreris pizza for decades and wish we would have just ordered a pizza. Apparently to post the review I need to select a star rating...and there are no minus stars to select so I am forced to give it a single star when it deserves none or less!
(1)Andrew S.
Love the Pizza - probably the best in Milwaukee! Dave the bartender is a very nice guy too!
(4)Michael O.
I went out this last Friday for an 8PM dinner with my wife, my sister, and her semi-boyfriend. It was my sisters birthday. 4 stars for food and 2 stars for service. Almost went with a 4-star, but I had to go for the avaerage. I want to break this one down... Ambiance- Before even reading any reviews, I thought that this place reminded me of a supper club. I love the sit-down wrap-around bar, and I plan to go back just to eat at it. We were sat in the area to the left of the bar which was very nice. Service - Average, at best. Our server was new, and she seemed to have a bit of a cold. That being said, she just did not seem that into helping us. We tried to drum up conversation, but it was not getting us anywhere. We waited for everything, we had to ask for a lot of things (plates, condiments, etc), and we were there over 2 hours. We also had a birthday at the table, which we let everyone know about. Aside for an acknowledgement, she really did not do anything. I was not expecting a cake and candles, but what happened to the good old days of a restaurant celebrating a birthday with dessert or a drink? We would have gladly paid. Food - Outstanding! I really liked it. We went a bit overboard, but I would be fine going back for some pasta, salad, and bread. Here is what we ate: Appetizers - smoked salmon Terrine and onion ring stack. The salmon was layered with cream cheese and capers, and it came on a salad with some crunchy bread. The onion rings were really good...the kind you just cant stop eating...but they needed a sauce. We ordered ranch, but it came after most of the onion rings were gone Meal - One 10 inch pizza, one fried code fish fry, one pasta carbonara, and one Balistreri's salad. The pizza was very good. Nice and thin, with fresh toppings. The fish fry was also very good, with a light, crispy breading. I enjoyed the tartar sauce it came with. The pasta seemed good, though I did not try it. It seemed to have a lot of peas, which I know I would have enjoyed. It came with a Caesar salad that also looked good. The Balistreri Salad was good, but a bit too much mustard for most everyone we were with. I had it the day after, and I liked the mustard flavor along with the blue cheese. All-in-all a solid meal. Overall we had a good experience, and it might have even been a nice change of pace to sit at a restaurant for 2 hours. We were really able to talk and relax. I will go back to try more of the Italian items, and I definitely was surprised at how late they serve food. It just became a new late-night eats place on the radar!
(3)Kimberly B.
Delicious late-night food and a huge fan of Dave the bartender who is there on Wednesdays and Sundays. Dave is friendly, attentive and makes delicious drinks. The pasta and sangria are simply the best in the City; I love sitting at the comfy bar chairs.
(4)Brian M.
When I turn 70, this is where you will find me. I really like this place. It has a very warm "homey" feel. From the horseshoe shaped bar that sears about 20, to the linen napkins, and constantly changing seasonal decor. If your Grandma could run a restaurant, it would be a lot like Balesteri's. Their menu is full of all the classic Italian dishes you would expect: lots of veal, red sauce, and many creatures from the deep. I had the sautéed walleye last night. It was nothing to write home about, but I appreciated the option. Of course, the pizza is always great. We usually hit up the 68th St. location for pizza and come here when we want something "a little nicer." in general, the food is always a respectable 3.5, but this place has so much more going for it: 1. Young, but good waitstaff. Typically teenagers, but expect to find many of them working for Joe Bartalotta in a few years. 2. High Brandy Old Fashioned - to Coffee ratio amongst the more "seasoned" patrons. I love seeing old people out on the town of a Friday night. It warms the heart. 3. That cool wheel-type fan over the bar. The only other place in the 414 I have ever seen one for those was at Jackson Park Grill. 4. Good sized parking lot. Typically filled with Buicks and Cadillacs. 5. Very family friendly. 6. Bartenders in white shirts and black ties. If I only had a nickel for every Old Fashioned they've made over the years....
(4)TJ V.
As a native New Yorker I know good dinning and good Italian food and unfortunately this is neither. Without getting into every detail the meal was dreadful. The decor was lost in the 1970's. The service was ok. On a positive, I get pizza from the 68th street location frequently and it's great.
(1)Shawn L.
Excellent Italian food with prompt, courteous service at a very competitive price. The meals have good bread, a wide selection of salads and large servings to ensure you are filled. .
(5)Emily S.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. The service seemed a bit off; we waited for a good 10 minutes after being seated for someone to come over to our table and take our order, even though we had been trying to flag down a server. Sort of strange. The indoor decor is a bit outdated, although the patio looks gorgeous. I had the tomato bisque (too thick for my preference, but edible), and the linguine pomodoro (no chicken). It was all decent. I liked that I could still taste the white wine in the sauce, and the ingredients seemed to be very fresh. The Thorny Rose wine was wonderful - glad they had it. All around a decent meal...although I would suggest that they turn the music down. The diners in our room had to talk over the music quite loudly in order to hear one another, and it became very noisy. Otherwise pretty good.
(3)Michael S.
My wife and I just came from here and had a disappointing experience. We were seated on the patio which admittedly was very beautiful. The only thing that ruin the ambience was a loose wire on the speakers which caused the music to cut in and out and we're blared loudly when it came back on. Our waitress took the time coming over try table to take a drink orders. We ordered our food and had to wait to see her again until the food came out. We would've loved some of the bread other people were being served but apparently our waitress didn't think we needed some. Finally when she appeared with the food we had to ask her for some and it was very good and it seemed to be homemade and baked there rather than Bakery bought. My wife had the English fish and chips at the suggestion of the waitress who thought it was the more adventurous choice between that or fried cod. I ordered a hamburger. I specifically requested medium. The fish and chips was $12 my burger was $11. Of course the burger was cooked incorrectly and I have to send it back it was way overdone. My wife's fish turned out well and she enjoyed it with the malt vinegar. We both ordered fries and we're very disappointed to see they were frozen crinkle cut fries. I would think a restaurant that charges that much for basic food would be able to afford to hand cut fries and cook them themselves. Overall the food was no better than any basic restaurant where you would pay 7 or 8 dollars for a burger and maybe 9 for a fish fry. I don't mind paying more money for food but believe I should at least get excellent service to go with the steeper prices. As another reviewer on here noted I think the bus staff was much better than the waitress. On a side note the music in the men's room came through just fine. Overall I do not feel that the dining experience in the quality of the food justified the prices that were being charged I would never go back unless maybe we are getting pizza which is supposed to be there specialty I guess according to all of these reviews. Based on the quality of the basic dishes I would never order a $20 pasta from this establishment.
(2)Tony C.
Really an exceptional restaurant in Wauwatosa. They have great pizza, a wonderful fish fry, and some very good pasta dishes. I particularly like the lasagna, which can be a risky call sometimes. The lasagna is made in its own individual dish, so you know it's fresh and not prepared days earlier and reheated. The main criticism I have is that the pizza prices are out of control if you get anything other than just cheese. A veggie pizza for two is going to run more than $25.00
(4)Mary V.
We stopped by Saturday night for an early dinner and were very pleased with the food and service. We started with the calamari which was lightly breaded and tender with a delicious house made tomato-based sauce on the side. Next we shared a side salad-sized house salad in which the lettuce was wonderfully crisp and cold. The dressing was outstanding. For our entree we had one of the gourmet pizzas that included extra anchovies -- it was wonderful. The only problem was a table of extremely loud patrons at the next table. They did come over to apologize when they left, at least.
(4)David C.
Did you want your change? The food was ok, not fantastic. I had high hopes for this place but found it to be about the most unprofessional restaurant I ever visited. The waitress was rude, and when dinner came and I asked for ketchup was told they had run out for a short time???????? Finally when I wanted to pay the waitress asked if I would need change. Since I gave her a large bill I thought this was a bit out of line. She vanished and never returned. I finally went to pay at register where the person did not give me my full amount of change. When I pointed this out the response was " did you want the pennies?" This was beyond rude. Having worked in restaurants and retail for 10 years I would never ever have considered doing such a thing. "keep the pennies," I said. Never again. The star is for the ok fish fry.
(1)Carol K.
I haven't been to the Bluemound Inn in years, yet on a recent visit to Milwaukee, I stopped in for a nightcap with a friend and all the memories of this place came flowing back. First, the smell. It smells like pizza fresh out of the oven, and warm bread sticks and melted cheese. Smells can instantly transport you to another place and even though I had just had dinner- my mouth was salivating at the smells in this place. I was reminded of all the times we stopped in here for dinner and had the pizza or one of their pasta dishes. The portion sizes are huge and one meal usually equals two or three. A great value for sure! The decor is old school Milwaukee supper club all the way. Even the bar that was decorated on this visit for the holidays with lights and ornaments strewn about, still looked dark and intimate. The drinks are cheap, the clientele interesting (what was with that crazy guy at the bar?) and the bartenders quick to listen to what ails you. And if you are a regular (as our new friends who invited us there were) the bartenders take great care of you! If you find yourself in the area, stop in and see what a classic Milwaukee restaurant looks like. With all the chains moving in, they are getting harder to find these days. Then sit a spell, have a beer and some pizza and create your own memories of the place!
(4)Jay G.
The fish fry is good alot of food the server was at best fair buss girl did a better job
(3)Eric M.
4.5 stars. A truly excellent old school supper club. These sub-par reviews make my blood boil. You can't find pizza better than this is Milwaukee. The crust is soft and delicate and the cheese is gooey and delicious. The toppings are excellent and the whole product is something to love. My family has been getting pizza here for quite some time and it is our favorite place in Milwaukee to get pizza. Sometimes we dine in, but many times we drive it all across town just to have a night of Balisteri's pizza. If you like pizza, and who doesn't, stop in and try a pie and see if you don't agree. The antipasto and sides are also delicious. This family style restaurant is a Milwaukee gem, and worth the trip out to Tosa is you're coming from the city.
(4)David K.
My wife and I had our anniversary dinner on 12/15 and everything was great. Food was awesome and our waitress was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!
(4)John A.
On Saturday December 3, 2012 my wife and I stopped at Balisteri's for a drink. Their Christmas decorations were beautiful to look at so we decided to stay for another drink and order a partially baked pizza to go. A short time after ordering the waitress came out with our pizza. I took it to my car and returned to the bar. I was told that I have the wrong pizza and I cheerfully went back out to my car and returned with the pizza. A bit later the same waitress came out with our pizza and we promptly paid the bill and I took the correct pizza back out to our car. We finished our drinks paid the bartender in cash and left the restaurant. Upon entering our car we noticed the bartender running out to the car accusing us of not paying our bar bill. My wife told him that we gave him two twenty dollar bills and he gave us our change and we left a nice tip. At that point he must have realized he made a mistake since we had just paid him a few minutes ago. This was embarrassing and put a damper on the evening. The pizza was just OK. Getting the wrong pizza is understandable but being accused of running out on the bar bill is not. John and Laura, Wauwatosa, WI
(3)David P.
Awesome food. i would give it 4.5 if I could. Parking isn't the greatest (hence the 4 stars), but for the price and location you can't go wrong. I always go for the house salad and their pizza.
(4)garrett p.
Good food at a good price. The tables are a little to close together for me.
(4)Leah M.
We took the day off and headed to Chicago for the day to do some shopping at Gurnee Mills. After a few long hours, we decided to head back to Milwaukee to eat dinner. One of my friend's had gone online and did a search for Italian restaurants. He came up with Balistreri's because they had Beef Carppacio on their online menu. We got to the wrong location and decided to head over to the Bluemound Inn to get the beef. We arrived at this quaint old fashioned dining room and found out the online menu was very out of date. No Beef Carppacio. We sucked it up, ordered appetizers and entrees and sat back to watch"Dancing with the Stars" on the four big tvs. It was an odd addition to this old-style restaurant. Appetizers came(we ordered Bruschetta, Bleu Beef, Mozz and Matoes. The brushetta was good but the garlic overdone. The beef tips were so-so and the best thing about the Mozz and Matoes was the balsamic vinegar reduction. Our entrees came but we were too full to eat anymore. We each had a few bites, found all of it was very good( I had Pasta Balistreri, T had veal cutlets, Frank had pizza and Tanja had Bow Tie Pasta). We had to take it home. The doggie bags were full. It was a nice experience but not what we expected. It was a little more casual than we wanted but the leftovers were tasty the next day.
(3)Laura P.
best fried eggplant in town!!
(5)D J.
The warm, homely milieu at Balisteri's is the perfect refuge from these dark, depressing wintry weekday afternoons in West Allis. Don't be fooled by the forlorn exterior here: inside, the luscious dark tones, the pleasant tunes and the holiday decor in full bloom set the mood for an enjoyable lunch break. I've been here a few times for lunch and have been quite pleased with my options - soups, salads, sandwiches, pillows of cheese (ravioli) - they're all quite delectable. Love the hearty tomato bisque soup and the caprese salad in particular. Service is not their strength - at least not always; just today we barely ducked a liberal shower of ice cubes, had our bread and dipping sauces brought in when we were about done and listened to many a gratuitous tip about cutting our lunch costs! Nevertheless, this little restaurant is quite the neighborhood favorite and justifiably retains its loyalty base.
(3)Tonya C.
This is more than just a pizza joint; this is a place to enjoy a full-blown celebration meal. Their gourmet entrees feature steaks, fish, and other, more elaborate offerings. Their spiedini stand toe to toe with homemade cooking and their steaks come with sides that make them truly shine. But be sure to save room for dessert... I fell in love with a seasonal offering that had a creamy custard and fresh berries that I STILL dream about (which, unfortunately, I don't see on their latest menu any more... but for that, the chocolate and white chocolate mousse is just as delectable).
(5)Erin B.
The food here is great. I went for dinner for the first time with a friend last month and it really exceeded my expectations. This was always the "I've been meaning to try that" places that I just recently got around to. The service was great. Let me let you in on a little something that I absolutely LOVE (that happened to me here): when I'm done with my meal and just sitting around chatting with friends, the server still accommodates me and continues to refill my drink! Fantastic! I had a seafood pasta dish that was filling without being heavy, with just the perfect amount of garlic and olive oil. I heard the leftovers were even better the second day, but I can't attest to that because they were wolfed down by Mr. Erin B before I even had a chance to warm up the microwave. I probably wouldn't make this my weekly date-night restaurant, but it's definitely worth another visit! Entree (sans cocktails) + appetizer about $30/each for 2 people
(4)Tony J.
Came for brunch recently. It was tasty and filling except for mold on my gf's fruit. I also came here for Sunday brunch a few years ago, I remembered it being better back then. The place is nice and classy but it has a dated look, the chef must be dated too. I think they need to spruce things up, until then, I won't be going back. Too many other options around town
(2)Thomas N.
How did this place receive four stars they use canned mushrooms on their pizza?
(2)Skydiving N.
This place says it was one of Milwaukee's top 5 fish fry dinners. If that's true Milwaukee doesn't know how to fry fish. The fish try we got from here was AWFUL. The pieces of fish looked nice and big but the first bite revealed that it was 50% breading. I can't speak to their other dishes but don't get a fish fry here.
(1)Jen Y.
Nice, simiple Italian meal. Reasonable prices and huge portions! My favorite thing here is definately the rice balls. I make these at home and this is the first time I've seen this on a menu. They are very big, usually end up taking lots of food home. Big menu w/variety of Italian items. This is where we tend to go with the fussier eaters as they are sure to find something here!
(4)Steve G.
The chicken parmesan meal came with a breast so big, I thought it was an implant! But Balistreri's didn't get the chicken from Los Angeles so it turned out to be 100% chicken. The pizza was really thin and delicious. All the typical toppings are available to choose from and they put just the right amount on the pizza. I could only eat half of it and can't wait to raid the fridge later tonight.
(4)