The food here was far to generic, especially considering the price. The drinks were terrible, I had an old fashioned and it tasted like dirt. Far to small for the amount of seating they try to squeeze in to the space.
(1)
Rick R.
It's been several years since I've dined at Zarletti, but the handful of visits I had put this place in my Top 10-15 favorite Milwaukee restaurants. A friend visiting from Texas suggested it for a group dinner because she used to frequent Zarletti when she lived in MKE. One of last night's specials was Seafood Risotto, one of my favorite dishes! I had my eye on three other dishes, but this option simplified my decision making process. The risotto was cooked perfectly with a somewhat firm, yet soft and creamy texture. The risotto was surrounded by mussels, plump jumbo shrimp, and calamari rings, which were not of the breaded and deep-fried variety. A single, large and perfectly cooked scallop topped the risotto. Everything about the dish was delicious and perfect! A couple friends swapped samples of their dinners with me, so I was able to try the Pasta Salciccia and The Pasta con Funghi. Both with perfectly cooked pasta and savory sauces. The sausage in the Salsiccia dish was tender and well-seasoned. In the past I remember an amazing Osso Buco that came with a small spoon for scooping out the bone marrow. Other past visits featured various pasta dishes. Every dish was excellent. Dinners do not include soup or salad, although the server will ask you if you'd like to add one or the other. Fresh baked bread is brought to the table, warm and crisp, accompanied by soft butter and a plate of oil and minced garlic. The service is excellent and the staff very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. I've never had anything less than a stellar experience at Zarletti! They're 10+ years in business is a testament to their quality. If you've never been, make it a point to visit soon for some of the best Mediterranean food in town.
Our second visit, and it won't be our last. Terrific service, a nice Italian wine list, and a robust menu with Italian classics supplemented with interesting seasonal twists (roasted pheasant in your Ragu, perhaps?!). It's a quiet and classy place (no TV) and I highly recommend it.
(5)
Mary Ellen J.
We had dinner here on 8/8/2014. We were seated on time and service was excellent - our waiter was attentive and courteous with helpful suggestions. T We had the scalamari appetizer which was very tender with an excellent flavor. The house salad had an excellent balsamic vinagrette dressing which we enjoyed. I had the osso bucco which was fall off the bone tender with an excellent flavor and seasonings. My companion had the pasta of the day which had a wild boar ragu. He said it was very good. The portions were very generous. We would definitely return to this restaurant! The atmosphere is very nice - it is a smaller restaurant which I really liked - and the music was quiet.
While visiting Milwaukee I decided to have some Italian and ran across Zarletti. I asked to be seated outside so I could enjoy the scenery and cool summer evening. I ordered Pasta Salsiccia which is served with mushrooms and sausage in a Marsala sauce. Amazingly great dish and very good portion too. Prices were inline for the service and quality of the food- in fact it was a nice surprise of value. Highly recommend eating here.
(5)
Steve S.
And the downfall of Zarletti begins. I used to hail this place as having the best Italian in the city but not anymore. I dined with a new sales rep and the quality of the dining experience and food was just poor. It started out okay however my dining companion asked for lemon for water. Our waiter said "Of course" and then never returned with the lemon. We let it go. For my entree, I went with the Pollo con Finocchio, The chicken was dry and all you could taste was whatever was on the outside of the chicken. But the worst thing was the side dish, a big pile of wet fennel with onions on top. It was the most beige, boring thing I've ever tasted. Whoever thought this was a good addition to the menu is insane. Even the cheesecake at dessert was subpar. Halfway through dinner, they sat 3 large groups of people who all happened to be the noisiest groups I have ever encountered. It made conversation nearly impossible. It sucks when you can see how far a restaurant has fallen. It's worse when they seem to ignore it and just keep going. Do everyone a favor, Zarletti's, improve or close up.
(2)
Rachel F.
Price points at lunch = totally reasonable/approachable. Dinner menu = looked fab, will return to check it out! Additionally: Don't be put off by the white linens and proper "French-style" service despite this joint being an Italian-American one. This place seems slightly unapproachable from the outside - in part due to its location, perhaps - but that is definitely not the case. If you've been thinking about checking out Zarletti, I say go for it! Plus, they have that butternut squash ravioli that everyone keeps raving about... (was really hoping for that option at lunch but to no avail. I'll just have to hunt it down another time.) Had: Caesar salad w/ grilled shrimp + the soup de jour (it's the soup of the day, guys), a little white bean and sausage number. Solid quality and execution on the little things matter, too. Service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely return for dinner and give more comprehensive after the fact!
(4)
Ramsey B.
The Gamberi Al Forno (shrimp appetizer), Salad D Caprese, followed by Salmone en Pedella...just what the doctor ordered. Great tasting entree which included a side of cheesy mashed potato. The restaurant is a cozy venue which provides upscale Italian selections. The service is excellent...consistent through the entire meal. I never had to request service. The servers are on top of their game. I'll be back!
(4)
Gary B.
Very nice REAL italian in the center of Milwaukee. You will find italian food there exactly as you would find it in Italy. Cosy atmosphere, good price/quality ratio.
(4)
Chai Y.
Be there one month before, good environment and friendly staffs. I ordered lamb and friend ordered fish, and we shared salad. Still always red wine for me. It was good! Careful, it's weekend, very hard to find a parking sport!
(4)
john r.
arrived after 9pm on a very cool fall Saturday night. I did have some hesitation, because we had not planned on dining at this spot and i was under-dressed. We entered and were seated quickly at a window table. The waiter stopped by with the menus, and took out drink order. The Order: Appetizer: 3-stars - ordered bruschette - points of grilled house baked bread surrounding a tomato, basil, and garlic relish. the bread was wonderful - but something was lacking. Starters: 3-stars - wife had minestrone, which she said was not as flavorful as she had hoped. I had the Caesar salad - which was plentiful and flavorful Main course: 4-stars - this the the reason you are here, and they do a very good job. wife has a shrimp pasta (Gamberi alla Putanesca) - she again thought it was slightly bland. I had the chicken/tomato stuffed ravioli with a cream sauce (Ravioli del Giorno). We both loved it, and the wife wants to revisit...jut for this item!! Dessert: 4.5 stars - the chocolate torte was simply fabulous Ambiance and Service: 3.5 stars - room is dark, fairly loud - but a nice space. The service was not rushed, but did not feel that the server was really into it, and seemed slow at times. It's somewhere between 3 and 4 stars..and i rounded down in this case..BUT I am sure we will revisit, and give them a chance to up it to 4-stars
(3)
Samantha Y.
Has been half a year since last visit, time flies but haven't got a right friend or someone special to go with. It was quite exploring of first visit, me and best friend had a tradition of looking for places never been to. Believe to not a winter night we were driving downtown to a brazil place but failed to find parking spot, while wondering around we found this beautiful place on the corner and of course with a parking spot right off the door. The place is decorated warm and neat, I guess more for business people happy hour or a special date, so GLAD wasn't under dressed that night. I had the best pasta ever!!! The homemade pasta is just beyond description, you feel the tender the flavor with teeth and tongue, mind and soul. It's not for swallow, taking your time and chew for over 20 times for sure, just kidding. Save this place and come for delicious, be happy and you can mark this place with someone for years.
(5)
Terry D.
Dinner was perfect....We arrived on time and our table was ready and waiting for us. Our waiter was very nice, informative and just made us feel at home. Any questions we had he was ready and willing to help, made a great selection for wine too. I had the Veal Oss Bucco, which was perfectly cooked. Fantastic, cozy restaurant!! Will definitely return soon.
(4)
Kevin T.
I want to like Zarletti, but I've been there three times and had three very sub par experiences. The first time, the osso bucco was inedible. The second time, the shrimp was overcooked. The latest time, I had veal and it was very ordinary--dry, not flavorful, etc. I can't recommend this place, despite what others say.
(2)
Katherine A.
Sent the following letter to the restaurant, but also wanted to share it with others, particularly those mothers and fathers with little ones: I wanted to share with you a horrible dining experience that I had earlier today attempting to go to Downtown Dining week at Zarletti. My friend and I tried to go to lunch (and I had a stroller with my 8.5 month old son). I understand that it is downtown dining week and that you are busy, but please hear the entirety of my story. As I walked into the restaurant (my friend was parking her car while I walked in alone with the stroller), I did not receive any assistance from any of the three men standing near the hosts station. As I attempted to get up the two steps into the restaurant and the open the door to the restaurant, no one assisted me but just stared at me. Then, I asked one of the three gentleman if they had any room for 2 adults and a stroller. I want to note that ~75% of the restaurant was empty at the time that I was there. After posing the question, one of the gentleman said "we don't have any availability for you." When I asked why, the host repeated: "sorry, we don't have any availability for people like you," and emphasized "people like you." I clearly got the message that the problem was that I had an 8-month old in a stroller and not some other issue. By that point my friend had come inside and asked about the seating at the bar and if we could put the baby in a high chair or hold him. To this comment we were told, "sorry, we're full." Even though, two seconds earlier someone else who was a walk-in just like us was told that they would be seated shortly. We know that they were walk-ins because we heard them say to one of the other people seating individuals that they did not have a reservation. I want to say that from having experiencing this I am incredibly frustrated and upset. I have taken my son out to plenty of downtown dining establishments that I would classify as much more "upscale" and "higher-end" than Zarletti (i.e., Capital Grille, Harbor House, Bartollata's Lake Park Bistro, La Reve). And, some of these establishments we have attended with him in the evening--a time when these establishments are often much busier and the ambience is a bit more "quiet." I have an incredibly well-behaved and quiet son. I am an attentive parent who would not attend finer dining establishments with him unless I knew that him and I could handle it. Being discriminated the way that I was this afternoon was incredibly disheartening and upsetting. My friend and I have shared concerns with two "mom's groups," as well as other people that I know in the area. In sharing my story, I have heard of a few parents experiencing similar issues at your Mequon location. I share this with you so you know what I have experienced and that apparently it is not the first time something like this has happened at one of your restaurants.
(1)
Jessica O.
Oh my gracious Zarletti. You are delicious. I've visited this establishment twice now, and both times, got the butternut squash ravioli. I feel bad for talking about it now, since it probably won't be on the special list again until next fall, but if this is on the menu, order it. Order it twice. With the signature homemade pasta, sweet, pumpkin-pie-esque filling, and savory brown butter and sage sauce on top, this is just perfection. It's almost dessert, but not quite. On one occassion, we ordered the cheese ravioli as well, which was nice to go to when the sweet got to be a little much. There is also a fish selection with a pistachio crust, cherries, and mashed potatoes that is hands-down one of the greatest things I have ever eaten. This is a place that I will definitely be returning to, because I am going to have to try everything on this menu.
(5)
Maria-Elena T.
This is a family owned restaurant and it shows from the great food and service to the little personal touches. The lighting was perfect- still light outside and we sat against the window. There was no intrusive instrumental music in the background. I started with the Caesar no croutons and extra anchovies. It was good- I needed some veggies. My friend got the minestrone soup stating its thickness was a wasn't surprise. They served a warm bread with an olive oil dip that had grated cheese in it. For my main, I had the four cheese ravioli with baby zucchini and pesto. They were pillows of smooth creamy, cheesiness. I could only eat 3 of them. I wanted to eat more! I will dream of them. I will crave them. They will forever torment me because I doubt I'll ever be back in Milwaukee. My friend had the Pasta Bolognese and it took me right back to Italy. We ended with the Tierra chocolata for dessert. It was not heavy yet it was substantial with an icing that was lighter than whipped cream. In between the chocolate cake layers was hard chocolate. Yummy! The homemade limoncello, a generous pour, for $5 was the perfect ending. Be warned- it is made with Everclear (150 proof). Our waiter was a true professional.
(5)
Shane M.
If you are downtown and looking for some fabulous fresh Italian food, this a must. The homemade ravioli and their homemade red sauce. Wow, is all that can be added.
(5)
Amber L.
Nice and small restaurant with more of a businessy atmosphere than romantic. I had the spicy duck dish: what! An Italian restaurant that offers duck? ! Hooray! Drinks were very good, pretty attentive service, id definitely return.
(4)
Jonathan H.
We enjoyed an excellent dinner last weekend. Our waiter was terrific and recommended stellar wines by the glass. I had the scallops pasta with mushrooms which was great although the pasta was not homemade. My friend had the homemade ravioli which she loved. We also had the calamari stuffed with crab app which was excellent, especially the sauce. Tiramisu and gelato for dessert were delicious. Would have given it five stars but for the store bought pasta. An excellent value overall and we will be back.
(4)
Ryan Z.
How does this place only have four stars? Yes it's a bit pricey, but oh my god... Il Mito used to be my go to Italian in Milwaukee. Frankly my dear, it's the Olive Garden compared to this place. The balsamic pork chips I had were stuffed perfectly, and the Gorgonzola mash? Are you serious? Insane. If you are reading this, go...just go. Dress up, take a date, drink a nice glass of scotch, have an amazing meal and go home knowing you will NOT find better Italian anywhere in Milwaukee....or the area. It's physically impossible.
(5)
Carina S.
Great food and great service! A nice little gem in downtown Milwaukee. The homemade pasta was amazing. Affordable wine list too!
(5)
Nina K.
Usually, Zarletti has been one of our favorite restaurants. Not tonight. Downtown dining was going on so maybe that was the problem. For an appetizer, we had Trenizi which was very good. Our waiter completely forgot to bring us bread which is do good here. We finally asked for it after our main meal was served. We sat with dirty dishes for quite a while. That is my pet peeve! My husband ordered the pasta with duck. The waiter made a mistake and brought him the Saliccia..the one with the Marsala sauce which he usually orders. He asked if that was correct. It wasn't. Boy it should have been. They brought him the Pasta with the duck and it was awful. He couldn't eat it. Ok so it was a miss. Worse than that the waiter didn't come back for well over 20 minutes to see how it was. When we told him, it was like oh well. They did take it off our bill. I had the halibut which is great! I think we were much more disappointed in the server than even the bad dish. I have had many good servers here. I don't think this is his calling. For dessert, dh had the Tirramisu. Don't bother. It tasted like curdled milk especially for $7.00. It was sour. I had a chocolate martini. It was half the size of most of the other restaurants and more expensive. Stay away from the pasta with duck sausage! I will give this restaurant another chance. It may be a while. I have always liked the lamb chops and the pasta with the Marsala. Tonight was just a miss fire! Waiter was Tom. Steer clear. Husband asked for more coffee and was ignored. Tonight was just sad :(
(2)
Nikita V.
If you're looking for somewhere to take that special someone, this place impresses during dinner time, just be prepared to drop a hundred if you're planning on 3 courses and drinks. While on the pricier side, this restaurant never disappoints when it comes to service and quality. In the fall, the butternut squash ravioli is a delectable treat, but you can find wonderful Italian staples anytime of the year. Save room for the tiramisu and plan to share it! There's nothing more romantic than fighting over the last bite! This place gets an extra star for ambiance.
(5)
Jack S.
This place is Amazing! The food is excellent! They accommodated for kids and very very friendly staff! The menu is full of exquisite food! I was there yesterday for my 13th birthday, and it was definitely memorable! I could live off their food! Our waiter had brought out a "trio" platter that was just scrumptious! The lamb was perfect, the shrimp was mouthwatering, but the crab cake was very different. I got the Ravioli of the day. It was simply unique and delicious. And finally their homemade gelato was the BEST thing EVER! If I didn't live in Florida, I would eat here everyday!
(5)
Austin R.
This was my second time going to this restaurant. I am from Florida visiting family in Wisconsin, and after we went here last time, I decided to make a stop here again. This place has a very great feel and a great menu and wine selection. The food has gotten nothing but great reviews from the people I have come with, and even from me until the last time I went. I got some noodle dish that was okay, but no where near as good as anything else on the menu. They have a special that is some sort of squash ravioli or something and that is absolutely amazing. I really wish they would put that on the menu as a regular item. Overall I would recommend Zarletti, particularly if you are staying at a nearby hotel like the Pfister.
(4)
Jim M.
Best Italian restaurant in mke area. We started with drinks at the bar and talked with the gm, who was very knowledgeable on the bourbon selection. Good selection. I found the 10 yr eagle rare for $10 far superior to the $20 15 yr James Pepper, but that could just be me. In any case, we came for Italian food so the bourbon selection was a bonus. One criticique would be that they don't start food service until 5:00. Yelp shows 11am until 9:30pm. Let's get to the real review. First, we happened upon the best waiter we ever experienced bar none. Not in a formal way, as those are a dime a dozen. This guy, who I choose to call "Tony" since he is so genuine, not just knew the menu and provided great recommendations, he was downright entertaining and a joy to have as a waiter. BTW, real name is Alessandro, if this review inspires you, ask for him. I can honestly say I have never, ever, even considered returning to a restaurant and asking for any specific waiter or waitress by name, but will here. Ok, as to the food.... absolutely superb. I know this review is starting to sound like one done by the restaurant, but y if you see my other reviews, you'll see it is not because I usually slam them pretty good. I had the pork chops, which I would never had ordered, but it was one of Tony's recommendations. I must say, they were great. Not tough at all from the typical over cooking that most restaurants do with pork. The soup was awesome. Wife had the chicken, that actually had pulled chicken meat in the soup! , Wife had 4 cheese ravioli, which we share Wine chooses were tremendous, but not being wine connoisseurs, we elected to go with Tony's recommendations. He did not let down. Great selection. Dessert was terrimisso. Tremendous. Enough for two.
(5)
P P.
I'm Italian so I can't be witty and urbane about pasta. It's a serious business. Took a friend for my birthday here as I was craving Italian. I am visiting Milwaukee so I trusted the Yelp reviews. Bottom line, the service was completely satisfactory but the pasta...ugh...a plate of carbonara...made with penne rigate...no. Oversalted...yes. Oily...yes. Another plate of butter-nut squash ravioli. They looked like huge, nuclear, deflated wontons. The pasta was crude and thick (it had to be because of the overstuffed pie filling) and the plate was filled to the brim with them! Two, perhaps three would have been sufficient. This kind of portioning was like a stout man at a Vegas buffet. (No offence to the new breed of exceptional buffet chefs) From the standpoint of restaurant financials I can't believe they can support this. The saucing was heavy-handed and unrefined. (though it matched the clumsy ravioli). At the pass and through the open kitchen door I could not see an Italian anywhere in view. Enough said on that front. We passed on a second course and instead of dessert here we went next door to the Pfister and had champagne and a surprise bit of birthday cake complete with the birthday song by the deliciously cheesy lounge pianist.
(1)
Te H.
I have never encountered such a rude waiter in my life! Last night (May 16th), we had a party of 7 to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday and was allowed to make reservation at 9:30pm (they close at 10). As soon as we sat down, our waiter started serving us with an inpatient and a very annoyed attitude. We asked him if we could do separate checks, he replied no. Ok, we thought, we'll figure something out. Anyway, because we were not familiar with Italian food and it was our first time there, we asked him some questions regarding certain dishes and he seemed to have gotten annoyed at us for doing that. He then started brushing off one of my sister who was asking him about their seafood dishes. Two of our party had yet to arrive and when they did, which was right after we ordered, he goes to them and says in these exact words that "the kitchen is about to close so if you want food, you need to order now." Totally rude! If you're that pissed off about serving us late, then your restaurant shouldn't have allowed us to make such a late reservation! Finally we were done eating and he brings us the check. We asked him if we could at least pay with separate cards. He says yes and walks away. We started trying to figure out who ate what and how much they owe. All this could've been made easier just by having separate checks in the first place. Duh. The waiter comes back and hovers over us, waiting impatiently. So I asked him, how would you like us to do this? And he goes, "you're not splitting the check equally?" I say no. He got annoyed and handed me a pen. So we write down what amount goes on what card while he stands by watching us. Three of our party decided to pay with cash while the rest of us put it on our cards. We were planning to figure out tip afterwards. The waiter comes back and complains rudely that "the cash did not cover his gratuity and that he wasn't going to lose out on that." My sister tells him to just put it on her card. We couldn't believe he just did that. Assumed we weren't going to tip him and basically rudely demanded it. Honestly, he didn't even deserve any. Before we left we told him how rude he was and his response was, "that's ok, that's ok." I will never go back to this place and would never recommend it to anyone!
(1)
Nancy R.
Today for lunch I had the absolutely best cream of mushroom soup I have ever had. The flavor of this soup was like ambrosia. Creamy, rich goodness... The service here is always top notch with gentlemen in suits to cater to your every whim. Unfortunately, I made a poor lunch choice. I had the Del Boscaiolo panini and simply did not like it. The Italian bread was delicious and cooked to perfection. The ingredients included: ham, mushroom, artichoke, sage, and provolone which should have suited me perfectly. I asked the waiter if there were anchovies on the sandwich because something tasted fishy. It may have just been the types of mushrooms, I am not sure. My waiter offered to bring me something else, but I declined since I knew I would not be able to eat anything else. Oh, well. This won't prevent me from returning to Zarletti's, but I will never again order this particular panini.
(4)
Sara K.
My first visit to Zarletti. The food was great. Our waiter, Matt, gave us great service for a great overall experience.
Very good Italian food. The minestrone soup is more of a tomato bisque, but it was delicious. Best minestrone preparation I have had from any Italian restaurant. For my entree I had linguine with veal meatballs. Very good. Pana cotta desert was excellent. All for $30 (tip included).
(4)
Dave M.
Fantastic. Went to their restaurant in Mequon and was disappointed. However, the original Zarlettis downtown was excellent tonight. Great food, drinks, service. Well done.
(5)
Katie S.
Zarletti is in that snooty part of downtown where noses turn up at the sight of denim. However, husband and I went in for a celebratory dinner (and we had a giftcard!). Everything on the menu sounded delicious. I wanted to try all of it. We started with a bottle of wine, and I was willing to spend, but the server suggested moderately priced options, and brought me three different wines to sample, which was helpful since his suggestions weren't that good. Luckily, I'm not a wine snob. Our server was chatty and on point, but I couldn't tell if he was being condescending or if he also thought we were as funny as we did. He put up with us anyway. So we ordered olives and a cured beef appetizer. The olives were tasty, but the cured beef just didn't taste like much. I felt adventurous and ordered a pasta dish with pheasant as a primi. It was pretty tasty, and turns out, pheasant mostly tastes like chicken too. For secondi, we had another pasta dish with sausage and veal cutlets with lemon sauce. The veal was a suggestion of the several veal options, claiming that the regulars order it. It was very good, but I have no other veal dishes in my repertoire to compare it to. The sausage pasta was pretty excellent. We capped off our tasty diner with tiramisu which was spot on and a digestif of house made limoncello. Warms you right up in a citrusy kind of way! Despite our efforts to splurge, the total bill wasn't outrageous, but definitely more than we would normally spend. Overall, it was really very good and a great spot to get a little spendy just for fun!
(4)
Julie C.
I have been here many times and have never had a bad meal. Their gluten free pasta is first-rate!! And the wait staff are very well informed as to which sauces are gluten free. Today I had the "ragu of the day" which was ground pork. It had a slightly spicy kick and was absolutely delightful. They also have an excellent wine list. I would recommend reservations on Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)
Clay K.
I hadn't been to Zarletti in about 3 years so felt it was time to go back. What a huge disappointment. This place has taken a precipitous nose-dive. Last time there I had a delicious, well-prepared and presented lamb chop. This time I tried two three course meals by trading off with my date. I started with a house salad which consisted of a single type of lettuce, a few croutons and an inordinate amount of out of the bottle Italian dressing - a really boring salad that was badly overly dressed. The other starter was tomato basil soup. My theory is that they left the peels on the tomatoes before pureeing as the soup was really bitter and very unpleasant. It had no garnish and the basil was overcooked into the soup. Next up was the entrees. I tried the grilled swordfish. It was cooked beyond recognition leaving it with the texture of a firm hockey puck. I sent it back and later got a slightly better albeit half as thick steak. The swordfish itself had no preparation at all, no sauce, nothing - making it dry and uninteresting. Simple preparation is one thing, no preparation is something else altogether. The swordfish was accompanied by their Gorgonzola smashed potatoes. They were fine but the portion was ridiculous. On the plate there was about three times as much potato than fish. There was no green vegetable served with the dish making for a starch and fish combo that was really flat all the way around. The service came from an inexperience, young girl who didn't know the menu and offered only a go-between to the kitchen. No conciliation was offered for the returned swordfish. She also didn't know the names of common cocktails nor the brands of vodka carried at the bar. Service was slow and inattentive. The second entree was a veal saltimbocca. It was just okay - a huge portion of meat. I will say the meat was well prepared, moist and tender and had a melt in your mouth texture. The plating, however was a total mess. It was just a huge stew portion thrown on a plate. The deserts were good, particularly the tiramisu. Overall, however, this place really needs to get back to its original level particularly in creativity and presentation although the flavor of these meals was also really lacking. With the competition on their street they have severely fallen behind.
(2)
Jax B.
Downtown Dining Review: Zarletti's was awesome! I had a tomato based soup that was great! The grilled cheese panini and fries were good. The gelato dessert was refreshing and lovely. We sat outside on a warm day. The server was great about making sure we had plenty of ice water at all times. I secretly wished I would have tried the linguine as my entree, but I'll just have to go back soon! I will be back!
(5)
Keyshaun S.
Jessica was amazing and beautiful. She recommend the Halibut and it was one of the best that I have ever had. I will definitely rerun here the next time I return to try something else. I really want to try the pastas at this place to really be sure that I love it here.
(4)
Alberto R.
When I first walked in was a bit skeptical, not very busy a bit of a hole in the wall. Boy was I wrong! Excellent food the traditional angel hair pasta with the tomatoes sauce was like that I have had in Italy. Very fresh ingredients and tasty. The food unlike many chain Italian joints was prepared fresh! I would definitely return.
(4)
Allyson U.
I have nothing bad to say about Zarletti. Everything here is excellent- the food, the service, the atmosphere. Things I have tried: duck ragu- seriously one of the best things I have EVER eaten; ossobuco- very rich, but oo so delicious- served with amazing risotto; walnut marsala- rich and creamy without being too heavy; lemon- mint rack of lamb- lamb was perfectly cooked, and the lemon mint rub is soo good. And several appetizers, all of which were good. I really can't express in words how good their food is. The service has always been friendly and professional, without being too over the top. They have a pretty decent wine list, with serveral bottle options under $40, which helps since the food is on the expensive side (but worth it!) Just trust me and go here!!!
(5)
Jen Y.
One of the best Italian places in the city!... nice home made pasta, including daily ravoli specials. Sauces are great, drinks are great.... everything amazing! We were worried it looks a little stuffy but everyone was very friendly and accomodiating. One of my favorites to visit on downtown dining week!
(5)
Katie T.
Enjoyed a recent dinner at Zarletti. The atmosphere is really cozy and romantic--low lighting, white tablecloths with butcher block paper, fresh flowers on the table. While my companion enjoyed her meal greatly, I was a little disappointed. The bread was warm and fresh but nothing special. Our mushroom appetizer was decent but not a standout. I ordered the four-cheese pesto ravioli as my entree. It felt a little sloppy--too much pasta and ricotta and not enough zucchini and pesto and a little bland as a result. Ricotta was the only cheese I noticed. We each ordered a glass of wine and the pour was not generous, though the wine was good and the stemware lovely. Our server was great and attentive. I'm sure I would have added an extra star if I tried the desserts--they looked heavenly.
(3)
Julie L.
Zarletti's was fantastic! Our server was awesome and knew everything there was to know about the food and wine menus. Party of 4 enjoyed the butternut squash ravioli, marsala, pork chop special and the last dish escapes me. All were extremely pleased with their meals. We had tickets for a show at Riverside and our server made sure we kept within the time frame needed to walk to the theater. Our bill was $150 which included 1 bottle of wine and 4 entrees. One might say that's a bit pricey, however, the qualify of food and portion size made it well worth it. We would definitely go back!
(5)
Erik S.
I come here several times per month. the service and food are always excellent! I love the specials like ragu of the day and ravioli of the day - as well as the regular menu items. my favorites are the wild salmon and the Strauss ossobucco. they use the best ingredients and they always prepare the food well. this is the best Italian in the city - probably the state.
(5)
Joe T.
Absolutely delicious! I had the pork chops and was reassured that I would be bringing home leftovers. There was no way a single bite was staying on that plate. Service was solid and atmosphere was nice. A bit cozy on seating arrangements, but all in all a great experience.
(5)
Joe C.
Great
(5)
Joanna T.
This review is for lunch only - it's close to work so I go here all the time. The interior is beautiful - chocolate walls with spa blue accents and big windows looking out onto milwaukee street. It seems like it would be a romantic place at night, not so much for a work lunch... Food: definitely creative and above average, and I've tried most of the menu. The standout is the homemade raviolis, the fillings vary daily but they are always really, really good. Salads are big and fresh and their bread is good too. Service: even when they are busy (basically that would be every day) I've had good service. I see the owner here regularly and it looks like he runs a tight ship. Prices: best hope you can expense your lunch 'cause it ain't cheap! Those delicious raviolis will set you back $15 and most salads are over $10. Paninis are more reasonable at $7-8. I'll have to hit this place up for dinner sometime but it's never let me down for a classy lunch.
(4)
Marietta M.
Had a wonderful dinner here tonight. The only reason I only gave it 4 stars is because the herbs in my husbands dish were a bit "off" so that one stood out more than the others and threw the balance of the entire dish off. Other than that it was a great experience! Thanks also goes to our server Chris who was excellent!!
(4)
Unyime E.
First off, the bartender makes the best tom collins in the city. To date Zarletti my favorite italian restaurant in milwaukee. I've probably dined here for lunch/dinner at least seven times over the last two years and have never been disappointed. The osso bucco is simply wonderful, and with the very bold flavors it's easy to see why this is their signature dish. I always love it when they include the small spoon for scooping the marrow from the included bone. Very tasty.
(4)
Jessie G.
I enjoy the atmosphere of Zarletti. It was the first time here and we didn't have a reservation but there was only two. I enjoyed the lighting and cozy yet attentive atmosphere. If your looking for a place to take that special someone for an anniversary or date this is your spot. The bruschetta was awesome! Great attentive server. The food was a descent portions and warm bread to start!
(4)
Tony K.
Came here today for a work lunch. We were seated rather closely to the serving/wait station - that wasn't ideal. But I won't hold it against them. The service was outstanding - the gentleman was very attentive to our needs - but not bothersome. I feel this is an easy line to cross. The food - I got the Ravioli del Giorno - "a homemade pasta stuffed with roasted butternut squash and parmesan cheese, topped with savory brown butter and fresh sage." Sounds amazing right? Well - let me tell you - I made the right choice. I also felt the menu had more options than most other places for vegetarians as myself. So - dearest Zarletti's. How did I not know you existed?? Well - I do now and I can't wait to come back on a hot date. Seems like you'd be the perfect place.
(4)
Randy M.
Excellent food, nice wine list. Top notch service. Space is a little crowded.
(4)
Stephanie L.
I was reminded yet again why Zarletti's is my favorite place for Italian. Let me be more specific. Pasta. Everything pasta that this kitchen puts out is spot on. I like that Mama Zarletti is the one adding her special touch to their dishes too, whether it be one of her recipes or her making some of the items herself. Delicious. The pillows of veal-filled ravioli are so luscious and rich, I feel exposed and naughty with every bite. Everyone can see me enjoying this food. I have a romantic tie to this food, a true love affair. The other dishes made my heart flutter too. Pappardelle with carrot puree, sage, and brie was indulgent. It had the richness that I miss at other Italian restaurants, and it joined cheeses not often seen in pasta dishes. I like to taste more than mozzarella and Parmesan. Zarletti delivers its diners from boredom. The only adjustments would be in the osso bucco dish. The meat was tender and fell from the bone, but it lacked serious flavor. It tasted like a piece of meat and not much else. It was a little disappointing after seeing how beautifully and easily the meat separated from the bone. The serving size was abundant and filled the plate. If they make the necessary tweaks to the herbs and spices, this dish could shine as much as the pasta dishes. Before you make your way to the main entrees, you should most certainly order the antipasto. This starter paves the way for what is to come. I have had many platters of this sort, and I have not seen another that is presented as well as it is here. There are olives, marinated artichokes, charcuterie, and nice cheeses. With a glass of Pinot, you will find a similar happy experience. The only problem may be that you will not have room for dessert, and Mama makes them too!
(4)
Roger G.
Bryan was a fantastic bartender and ambassador for this beautiful establishment. He was knowledgeable not only about the food and wine menu, but about the local area. The food was amazing! My wife and I kept stealing bites of each other's plates. We will definitely be back next time we're in town. You can often judge a place by how many people walk in and know the bartender, and better yet, he knows them all by name.
(5)
Neven Z.
This place is the best hands down the food is soooo good your mouth melts when u take a bite of any of there food and the the owner is one of a kind very nice person to talk too.. And Brayn the bartender make amazing drinks and vino as well also an amazing person !!!!!!! I highly recommend this places........
(5)
Jan L.
Fabulous dinner last night! Bread served piping hot, green salad was good. My husband had homemade pasta with bolognese sauce, and I had pistachio crusted halibut. Both were wonderful! Our waitress was very attentive, but not overly so. Would definitely recommend!
(4)
Steph O.
I've been here twice. I'm from out of town and this place was recommended by a local who's a friend of a friend. The first time, I had the pasta aglio e oglio with shrimp, and the second time, the bolognese. Both were very good. The second time, I also had a Negroni, which was excellent, and a red wine from Friuli, which was yummy. The torta di cioccolato was pretty darn good too. Price point was a little high but you can pay this much at some places in Boston's North End and it won't be as good as Zarletti. Both times, my friends that I came with were happy with their food too (ravioli of the day; shrimp puttanesca). Service was efficient and professional.
(4)
MV M.
Went here for Valentine's day. All aspects of the trip were phenomenal! The waitstaff and front of house were warm, welcome and very hospitable. Our table was a little shaky and they fixed it without a problem. Our waitress was very attentive and gave great suggestions from the menu. The food was fantastic! We had two appetizers, the bruschetta and wild mushroom crepe. They were excellent and flavorful. We had the house salad as well which was very good. My wife ordred the tortellini with mushroom and I had the halibut with pistacchio crust. Both dishes were excellent and if I could have eaten more, I would have! The portion sizes were perfect as well. We finished with tiramisu which was a great desert to cap off the meal. I would recommend making reservations on weekends and special occasions. This a great place to take a date or for an intimate dinner. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Antonia S.
My parents and I came here on a Thursday evening and we had a wonderful experience! We were staying at the Hilton City Center and it was about a 10 minute walk to Zarletti. When we got in, we were promptly greeted and seated right away (we had made a reservation). The service all night was impeccable - our waitress was attentive, but never bothersome. We ordered the caprese salad and the eggplant appetizers and both were phenomenal. The salad was light and fresh and the eggplant was cooked to perfection with an excellent sauce. For dinner, I had the salmon dish (YUM!) - the fish was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning. The mashed potatoes that came with the salmon were supposed to be gorgonzola, but I didn't taste the cheese at all (I personally love gorgonzola so I would have liked a little more of that flavor, but some people find it overpowering so that may be why it was subtle). My dad had the osso bucco and it was AWESOME! The sauce was so rich, the meat was tender, and the risotto that was served with it was amazingly delicious. My mom had a scallop pasta dish that was good - the scallops were great, but the sauce could maybe have used a little something more and she ended up leaving most of the penne in the bowl. Prices were just right for an excellent dinner. We were raving about Zarletti all weekend! We will be back!
(5)
Drew W.
Went on aThursday night during Summerfest. Had heard a lot of great things about this place and I love Italian, so being new to MKE it was a natural for me to try. We sat outside (as it was a gorgeous night), minimal ambience...just a couple of tables an chairs thrown out on the side walk. Food; Caprese and Caesar salads...so-so...very bland, kinda boring. Table bread-terrible, would have rather had breadsticks from the olive garden. But shockingly the bread on the Tre something or other appetizer was decent-as were the ricotta and olive tapenades-red sauce was just that-watery red sauce in a ramekin. Would have been better reduced down and more "spread" like for the application. We ordered another appetizer, but a couple of days later I can't remember what it was...never a good sign. Carbonara-weak, relatively flavorless Ragu was a rabbit which had no detectable rabbit flavor, but perhaps in a "tongue-in-cheek" move by the chef tasted prominately of carrot? Gelato was really ice cream, but good none the less. Service was okay, if a little disinterested, probably because the place was slow and no one else was siiting outside. Overall, wanted to like it, had high hopes, its was okay, would I go back...probably not.
(2)
Kelly C.
I went here during downtown dining week for the first time. I was hooked immediately. It has a dimmed elegant yet casual setting. There is patio seating. The waitstaff was wonderful and polite. Great place for a romantic meal. Delicious specialty drink menu. The house mixed greens salad is a great starter. There is a decadent selection of entrees including vegetarian. The sea food is fresh and worth the price. Deserts are light and definitely a must to finish your meal! The gelato is superb.
(5)
Brenda M.
Everything about this place was wonderful. The food, the service and the atmosphere were awesome!
(5)
Craig L.
Went here for a business lunch. Warm, homemade bread with butter that felt like..well, butter in your mouth. I had the ravioli of the day with butternut squash - excellent! Dessert was good, coffee just right. Service was timely, crisp, and not overbearing. Generally a business lunch crowd - plenty of guys in neckties. Would definetly come here again.
(4)
Emily C.
We came to Zarletti before a show at the Bradley Center. It was fabulous! The service was excellent - our waiter recommended some cocktails and appetizers that we all loved (the goat cheese with portabella mushrooms was our group's favorite). I had the fish stew and it was very flavorful. Great service! We told them we were heading to a show and they got us out in time and called us a cab.
(5)
John C.
Excellent find in downtown. Friendly staff, awesome food! Definitely on our "do again list" when visiting Milwaukee.
(4)
Rachel G.
I was very impressed with this place. It was packed, but the service felt un-rushed - normally most places would be rushing you - so they can turn the table. I would have given it 5 stars, if they had made their own pasta. To my knowledge, the only pasta they make is the daily ravioli. Their sausage is a special blend from Butcherbock. And their bread is from Miller Bakery. They make their desserts in-house. We had the warm olives, pear / Gorgonzola / walnut salad, pork tenderloin and the sausage / mushroom / onion / walnut pasta. Everything was excellent. Again, the only reason they didn't get 5 stars - because they don't make thier own pasta.
(4)
Michael H.
The service was excellent. The cocktails were spot on. The food (appetizers and pasta main dishes) was exceptional. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Charlie J.
i had a ragu that was to die for. seriously, one of the best i've had in a long long time. service left a bit to be desired, but i got over it as soon as i took my first bite of that gem. well worth the visti.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Thank you to the stars above for leading us to this wonderful, intimate, romantic, delicious spot. We were driving around trying to find a place to eat and I spotted Zarletti. Something inside told me "Stop! Eat here! You know you want to!" See, women's intuition is good for something! We found street parking not far away and walked in to a nearly empty restaurant, though it was close to 10pm. That was fine by me, because it made an already romantic spot even more special. Our server was very sweet and made sure to check on us periodically throughout the meal, though a bit too much for my taste. I certainly won't take any stars off for that, though. The wine list had some great options and the prices were decent. The menu wasn't necessarily extensive, but I suppose it's better to just do a few things and do it right. And I'll tell you what, everything we ordered they did better than right! We started with a carpaccio with shaved parm and arugula. It was a perfect, light appetizer before our huge portions of pasta came out. I ordered the carbonara, which I usually don't do unless I'm actually in Italy, because generally I am disappointed. No disappointments here. It was made just the way it should be. My boyfriend ordered the gamberi puttanesca, which he adored. The shrimp was cooked well, not overdone, and the sauce was a wonderful complement. If you are in downtown Milwaukee, this is a must-try restaurant.
(4)
Jim F.
My favorite Italian place in Milwaukee. The staff is friendly and professional. The atmosphere is elegant, but relaxed. And, most importantly, the food is outstanding! Must haves include the osso bucco if it is available and the homemade ravioli is always great. Both lunch and dinner are outstanding, and you can sit outside in the summer. Nothing compares to the food in Italy, but this is as close as we have come to replicating that experience in Milwaukee.
(5)
Carrie B.
The atmosphere is good. The service is timely. I had the pistachio crusted halibut with a side salad. It was very good. The only complaint I had was that the tables were kind of close together. Other than that it was great. We went with another couple and everyone was happy with their food. I would go back again.
(4)
Alice G.
I visited with Brittany B. for our anniversary and also had a great experience. Our server Nicole was incredibly nice and the food left me fully satisfied. I would recommend the ravioli - but I am glad that we shared a plate - the flavor of the lil cheese pillows does start to get monotonous. The veal cutlets in lemon pan sauce lived up to the recommendation from our server. Overall, good value for the money
(4)
Jody N.
Ate here last week. Can't say enough about the food. WOW!! 2 other friends were with me and we were all blown away with the flavors. One friend had the butternut squash ravioli, probably the best ravioli or pasta dish I've ever had or at least remember. Another had the ragu of the day a wild boar tagliatelle, I have to say it was really really good. I had the veal osso bucco, extremely delicious, made you feel like curling up and taking a nap afterwards, very rustic but refined dish. The waiter was very friendly and gave great suggestions as well. Had the panzanella salad, very fresh!! One friend had the calamari appetizer, GREAT! Too stuffed from the homemade bread which I used to mop up the sauce from the calamari appetizer to even think about desert. Not terribly expensive for the quality. Italian food doesn't get much better than this.
(5)
Bobby G.
Super solid. Staff training spot on. food wonderful. Only critique is that I wish the menu grew n evolved more.
(4)
Mopsie B.
Thank goodness for Zarletti! I only wish we'd known about this place the entire weekend we were in Milwaukee instead of suffering through the generally mediocre food at the Pfister! Anyway, we had lunch at Zarletti today and it was a real treat- terrific wine list, attentive, professional and personable service, very good modern Italian food. When we are next in Milwaukee, we will definitely be back. The sauce on my pasta pomodoro was perfect- I do wish the basil had been the full leaf variety but the shrimp were plump and flavorful and the insalata di casa was huge and exceptionally tasty! The server told us that the owner's mother makes all of the desserts- we had the sorbetto and it was very creamy and delicious. I liked the bar, the intimacy of the room and the entire experience. I am only sorry we didn't know about it two days ago.
(4)
Mark B.
We had reservations for the 21st at 5:45 pm. We were a little early and decided to have a drink at the small well stocked bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable of his product line a helped with wine samplings. Following his suggestion we settled on a bottle of a nice Italian wine. We started to enjoy our choice when the OWNER took the bartender aside and told him to get us moving to our table, that it was ready and we were taking too much time at bar. Understanding it was a Saturday night and they are getting busy, he lacked any tact border line rude. He took us to our table was terse and obviously agitated that we would dare drop $80 on a bottle of wine at his restaurant and go 5 minutes over our reservation time. That being said the waitress was great as was the bartender, the food was fresh and delicious. The owners mother makes the desserts and I highly recommend the chocolate cake. Would have given it 5 stars but the owner really put a damper on it. I own my own business and could not imagine treating my customers like that.
(3)
Burt I.
We walked in at random after walking out of another restaurant I won't name. The food was excellent, but the service was beyond excellent. Our waiter (Kurt) was among the most competent and professional servers we've run into in a long time. Every detail of service was perfect from the initial contact to receiving the bill. Next time in Milwaukee we would be sure to return.
(5)
Pat H.
Excellent food, enjoyable experience. General manager waited on us and it was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Food was phenomenal. Definitely willi do again.
(5)
Alex D.
The Quick: Great Italian Food in a clean, modern space. I wouldn't call it kid-friendly. We got here in a lovely spring blizzard. It was very warm inside and the staff was so friendly. The bartender poured us a round (at he NON-SMOKING) bar while we waited for our table, which was ready quickly. our waiter was very friendly and helpful with the suggestions. We started with a grilled shrimp appetizer that was well-cooked and spicy, though I'm guessing not very Italian. We ordered a nice bottle of wine that was reasonably priced. We had a soup of the day and the minestrone, both were excellent. Our entrees were dynamite! The wife ordered a pasta dish with sausage, mushrooms and walnuts in a Marsala cream sauce that was so perfect for a snowy evening. Very hearty and delicious. I had heard the Risottos were good, so I ordered the New Zealand rack of Lamb that was served atop a mushroom risotto. Both were excellent. The Lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked evenly throughout. The risotto was dense and rich, but not sticky like you usually get them. Got a slice of cheesecake with a chocolate caramel sauce on top that definitely tasted homemade and not just a thawed out slice from a frozen cake. If you're in Milwaukee and have a taste for Italian, go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jane S.
This was my first meal at Zarletti, but I will definitely go back. We went because of Downtown Dining Week, but ended up ordering off of the regular menu. First was the soup special, a creamy tomato basil, which was piping hot and a little chunky with fresh tomato flavor. The bread was served warm, which made it hard to resist. I had the Pera e Gorgonzola salad, a spinach salad with pear, cherry tomato, gorgonzola and toasted pecans tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. My companion had the Tagliata alla Fiorentina - char grilled New York strip served sliced on a bed of arugula and tomato. Topped with caramelized onions and a drizzle of white truffle oil. I loved my salad, be we decided that next time we would order the New York strip and split it. It was cooked exactly to medium rare, a little crispy outside, and the arugula, tomato and onion complemented it perfectly. I wish I could remember the server's name, but she was excellent.
(5)
Brittany B.
My g/f and I had our anniversary dinner at Zarletti's and we were very impressed. The restaurant has a contemporary feel but with old school service. Very attentive staff and we LOVED our waitress. When we told her we were in from Chicago she suggested other interesting spots to visit and even wrote them down for us! She also put a candle in our gelatto to make our celebration more special. The food was delicious. The ravioli was very robust and full of flavor and my main course (chicken with prosciutto) was bright and perfectly paired with gorganzola mashed potatos! YUM! Best gelatto I've ever had... and took a piece of the cheesecake home- delicious! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody living in or travling to Milwaukee.
(4)
Jennifer C.
I'm basing my rating on any Italian food I've had. If I were to rate it solely on Italian restaurants in Milwaukee, I'd have to give it 4 stars because Milwaukee is really lacking in good Italian and this would probably be one of the better Italian restaurants in the city. However, I've had Italian in different cities in this country and Zarletti's is just average. The ambiance was nice and the server (Madeline) was very helpful and gracious. The food was average. We started with crab cakes. They were alright, I probably wouldn't order them again as I've had much better at a few different establishments throughout the city. I had the pistachio encrusted halibut with a door county cherry sauce on it. It was good but nothing I'd rave about. The sauce was the best part of it. I had gorgonzola mashed potatoes. They were just ok. My dining companion had the ravioli of the day which was pork and beef stuffed pasta. He liked the red sauce on the ravioli as it didn't have any tomato chunks (he hates tomatoes) and it had a nice flavor but we both agreed that the ravioli was rather bland and in need of some bolder flavors. We then shared the Banana Semi-Freddo for dessert. It's a semi-frozen banana custard with a macadamia nut brittle and topped with a brulee of sliced bananas and definitely the best part of the entire meal. I think it's ridiculous when you're paying $20+ for a meal and soup or salad is not included. I get it, you're trying to establish yourselves as a high end dining restaurant so you do the pretentious ala carte BS but seriously, you're just a pasta joint, not a steakhouse, get over yourselves.
(3)
Alyssa S.
I went with Sarah - so I'll second a lot of what she said. I had the seafood stew-thing and it was really delicious. The wine list was pretty good for what I've seen in Milwaukee. One thing I really liked was that our waiter, Arturo, told us the prices of the specials, so we weren't surprised by a fifty-dollar spaghetti and meatballs or something. Arturo also split our bill between three credit cards without getting an attitude. I liked Arturo.
(4)
Sarah B.
Solid Italian fare. Just went this weekend and had shrimp scampi, which was quite good. There is a selection of pastas, as well as "secundi"--entrees of fish, beef, chicken, and lamb. Coffee was delicious and, while I didn't have any, the panna cotta looked delicious. Our waiter was timely and knowledgeable, although a little dour--I don't think he cracked a smile the entire night. Prices are a bit steep ($17.95 for pasta bolognese?) so while I am tempted to return, I don't know if $32 rack of lamb is worth a trip to Milwaukee, when I can get it for the same or less in Chicago.
(4)
David R.
Probably the best Italian food in Milwaukee. A bit better than Osteria. Mimma's has better pastas (barely) but that's all Mimma's has. Zarletti's has great pastas, but their real specialty comes from their Secondi menu. The Osso Bucco here is probably the best I've had. The New Zealand rack of lamb with the Porcini Mushroom risotto is absolutely mouthwatering. The veal cutlets in the pan lemon sauce are fantastic. Wine list isn't huge but there are a handful of very good bottles priced below $40. The place is small but modern, decent little bar area and the bartenders here know how to mix a proper drink. Bottom line: never had a dish here that was short of excellent. Best Italian food in Milwaukee.
I recently had the joys of a free meal at Zarletti. The atmosphere is very hip and modern, and definitely not for those just getting out of a Marquette basketball game (I was invited to dine after MU beat Syracuse, and although my yellow Polo sweater and jeans were appropriate for the game, not so much for the white tablecloths). Without any knowledge of Zarletti, I joined my friends. I must say I was a little under the weather, so my mood may have been altered by my unbalanced mind, but I only give Zarletti 3 stars. If I were just giving the ambience a critique, a definite 5-star rating, but the food and the staff are just ok. I thought everything I had was equally similar to other Italian places I have been to, and nothing was that special. I think we sometimes get caught up in the lighting and the prices of places, and we just create a 5-star experience. Mine, not so much. We had plenty of food, all of which I tried -- 3 appetizers (the crab cake, the shrimp wrapped in bacon, and the bruschetta), the pear salad, the ravioli special (for the table to try), the chicken entree with gorgonzola mashed potatoes, followed by a lemon chello, cheesecake, vanilla bean gellato, and tiramisu. We had a big group of people, and the food was endless. I would say I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, but I honestly only truly enjoyed the dessert the most, the food wasn't the greatest. Someone mentioned a ravioli special with butternut squash and parmesan - if that were on the menu, I may have been more positive about my review. Maybe the key is to get a pasta dish and not a meat dish. I don't know - I don't think I'll be back to find out though.
(3)
Bob S.
Ate here on 11/11/11. Great meal all the way around from a knowledgeable server to excellent food. We started w/ the steamed mussels in a light mustard broth. Perfect, and we sopped the broth up with first rate hot bread. We then had the caprese salad with terrific tomatoes and mozzarella. Enjoyed a crisp 2009 Zuani with app and salad. For dinner we had Pork tenderloin in a satisfying ragu with pasta. Also, had Grilled sirloin cut thin served over fresh tomatoes and arugula. Stuck with the Zuani for dinner as we were really enjoying the wine. Fished it off with Coffee and killer cheese cake. We will be back !
(5)
Stephen S.
MERAVIGLIOSO! Hands down Milwaukee's best Italian (that other place is in Tosa). OMG...the risottos are so good I almost want to jump up from the table and rip all my clothes off and run mad up and down Milwaukee Street!!! I had a special Butternut Squash ravioli and it was BY FAR the best I've had anywhere! And if the risotto made me want to do what I said above my God, not sure what would top that but the Carmel Apple dessert (get it with the ice cream!) is seriously so FAR OUT that I would make out with Rosie O'Donnel AND Roseann Barr for a piece of it! Service was A+ too! Amy was attentive and friendly and was always there filling our water and wine...she even puts up with witty, corny patrons...so if you're like me the staff here apparently won't take you as some cornball. They have THEIR OWN valet!!! Don't use the crowded and slow Milwaukee Street valet. Zarletti's valet is on Mason Street! Right out front! And during the winter they have this nice heated waiting space so you don't have to stand out in the cold and wait for your car! If you're thinking of hitting the Pasta Tree instead of here...don't say I didn't warn you...Pasta Tree is like the girl you kissed first...sure, she was cute, but lacked class and sophistication...Zarletti's is like the hot babe you're with right now...which would you rather be rolling with tonight?
(4)
Cardinal S.
I had ravioli here for lunch. It was good, but it wasn't worth $16. I should have asked about its price before ordering it, since it was a special of the day. This felt like a bad deal considering that there are a lot of other tasty and cheaper options around.
(3)
Jess M.
Great food and even better service. Perfect for a nice but quick meal.
(4)
T A.
Went there with my boyfriend last weekend because it was across the street from our hotel so we opted for the convenience - SO happy we did! We both had one of our best dinners ever. Went there for some good Italian dishes but ended up getting fish and pork and both meals were absolutely incredible. I had the pistachio crusted grouper and my boyfriend had their special pork chops stuffed with dry aged provolone and prosciutto - both came with gorgonzola mashed potatoes. My mouth is watering as I type this! We didn't have reservations but got there early enough to be ok. Not a huge place and was very busy by the time we left. Prices are reasonable, the portions were perfect for the both of us, and wine was great. Though I can't speak for the pasta, the food we had was excellent. I highly recommend!
(5)
rebecca p.
This place is amazing! I had the homeade ravioli and it was excellent. They also even made me affagato even though it wasn't on the menu. The bartender was great too.
(5)
April A.
I thought the food was good until I found a chunk of bark in my salad...Which went into my mouth because I thought it was a crouton. The waiter was apologetic and offered us dessert, however we were on our way to a show and had no time. Our check arrived and nothing was taken off of it, not even the salad. This, along with the bark, left a bad taste in my mouth about the restaurant. My advice is to sift through your salad carefully so you don't end up chewing on a piece of bark.
(3)
Tonya C.
I recently started a new job downtown, and to celebrate joining the team, my colleagues took me to lunch here. Since my husband's half Italian, I've been spoiled by experiencing only the best of Italian fare... and this place actually measures up. We shared appetizers, including an olive tapenade that was outstanding--and which I'd return for on its own merits. I had a chicken and pasta dish with artichokes that was large enough that I ended up with leftovers to save for lunch the next day. A couple of my colleagues went for the special of that day, a yellow-squash-filled ravioli that was so good they consented to share a bite with those of us who had waffled away from that selection. Once I described my experience there to my husband, he said we'd have to return together to try out their dinner menu.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
William B.
The food here was far to generic, especially considering the price. The drinks were terrible, I had an old fashioned and it tasted like dirt. Far to small for the amount of seating they try to squeeze in to the space.
(1)Rick R.
It's been several years since I've dined at Zarletti, but the handful of visits I had put this place in my Top 10-15 favorite Milwaukee restaurants. A friend visiting from Texas suggested it for a group dinner because she used to frequent Zarletti when she lived in MKE. One of last night's specials was Seafood Risotto, one of my favorite dishes! I had my eye on three other dishes, but this option simplified my decision making process. The risotto was cooked perfectly with a somewhat firm, yet soft and creamy texture. The risotto was surrounded by mussels, plump jumbo shrimp, and calamari rings, which were not of the breaded and deep-fried variety. A single, large and perfectly cooked scallop topped the risotto. Everything about the dish was delicious and perfect! A couple friends swapped samples of their dinners with me, so I was able to try the Pasta Salciccia and The Pasta con Funghi. Both with perfectly cooked pasta and savory sauces. The sausage in the Salsiccia dish was tender and well-seasoned. In the past I remember an amazing Osso Buco that came with a small spoon for scooping out the bone marrow. Other past visits featured various pasta dishes. Every dish was excellent. Dinners do not include soup or salad, although the server will ask you if you'd like to add one or the other. Fresh baked bread is brought to the table, warm and crisp, accompanied by soft butter and a plate of oil and minced garlic. The service is excellent and the staff very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. I've never had anything less than a stellar experience at Zarletti! They're 10+ years in business is a testament to their quality. If you've never been, make it a point to visit soon for some of the best Mediterranean food in town.
(5)Suzan H.
Cute small restaurant on Milwaukee street that'll definitely satisfy your pasta cravings! Any table in the house will have a great view of people watching on the streets. The service was great and the food was amazing. To start I had the Crostini Misti which was by far one of the best appetizers I've ever had! They have 3 different kinds and I had 1 of each. As a main dish I had the Fettucine Capasante e Funghi which is scallops, sautéed mushrooms, and penne. The noodles were a little undercooked and I felt as if the mushrooms could've had a little more flavor. The scallops were perfect.
(4)Marcie M.
Our second visit, and it won't be our last. Terrific service, a nice Italian wine list, and a robust menu with Italian classics supplemented with interesting seasonal twists (roasted pheasant in your Ragu, perhaps?!). It's a quiet and classy place (no TV) and I highly recommend it.
(5)Mary Ellen J.
We had dinner here on 8/8/2014. We were seated on time and service was excellent - our waiter was attentive and courteous with helpful suggestions. T We had the scalamari appetizer which was very tender with an excellent flavor. The house salad had an excellent balsamic vinagrette dressing which we enjoyed. I had the osso bucco which was fall off the bone tender with an excellent flavor and seasonings. My companion had the pasta of the day which had a wild boar ragu. He said it was very good. The portions were very generous. We would definitely return to this restaurant! The atmosphere is very nice - it is a smaller restaurant which I really liked - and the music was quiet.
(4)Louise M.
Treacherous day to be driving quite a distance to Milwaukee. Between the sleet, snow, and rain, it was a perfect Midwest winter day. However, I always keep a promise. I was looking forward to see my old friend. So, off I went and luckily my friend knew me so well to make it worth my while for coming. This place was absolutely a surprise for Milwaukee. A nice surprise... First off, it wasn't a Bartolotta's restaurant. Surprise, right? I'd say. It was trendy and downtowny chic. It was pretty tiny and it looked new. I did book mark it on Yelp and while checking out the photos and reviews, I was so ready to try it. I had a very good feeling about it. Obviously you already knew that my hunch was right. We started with calamari appetizer. The calamari was stuffed with crabmeat and breadcrumbs and it was swimming in this beautiful tomato sauce. They served it with two humongous toasts that were the exact thing you needed to scoop that velvety sauce. There was no fried calamari on the menu. Surprise, right? I'd say. I ordered the puttanesca with grilled shrimps. Hooker's food they say as it is easy to whip together for dinner before they have to work the night. It's one of my favorite pasta dishes and rarely on a menu. It was done well and they didn't skimp on the shrimps. I savored the farfalle alongside the huge caper berries and kalamata olives. The brininess of the capers and olive really balanced this simple wonder on a plate. My friend opted for the four cheese ravioli. The raviolis were stuffed so solidly and they were gigantic. It would fill up any man. They looked so vibrant being served with various rondels of vegetables and light oily sauce, sprinkled with more pecorino. After some happy stories and some sad ones, we looked through the window where we sat by and watched the snow that kept on falling. There's also some griping about cars. This is part of my friendship life. Lol. Yet, Season after season, locations and relocations, we still go and get caught up. Loyal and true friends.. This is not a surprise. We closed with the banana semi fredo that was a very surprising dessert. It was just different than the regular tiramisu and panna cotta. The semi fredo was frozen towards the bottom like ice cream while the top was warm and creamy from the banana while it was brulée. Yum! I loved it. It was sophisticated just enough to be memorable. Our server was fantastic. She was so attentive and very helpful. I didn't quite enjoy my cocktail and she encouraged me to change it to something else that I would enjoy more. So, after several tries of convincing, I did and glad I listened to her. It is a little spendy here; so, might as well get what you would enjoy. Living in Milwaukee for 3 years 15 years ago made me love this town. It was small but charming. It was close enough to Chi town if I wanted more drama. When I passed my old loft at Third Ward, it still looked great. Life back then was so easy. Life back then rocked. Wish I could turn back time when things were beautiful and what's that word? Happy...Like Ariel little mermaid happy getting feet. Happy now is yay I get carded! Milwaukee has changed too in fifteen years. It does not age. In fact, it gets better with age. These new great restaurants, all these fancy overpasses, Milwaukee looks like a million bucks. What a town.
(5)Sam S.
While visiting Milwaukee I decided to have some Italian and ran across Zarletti. I asked to be seated outside so I could enjoy the scenery and cool summer evening. I ordered Pasta Salsiccia which is served with mushrooms and sausage in a Marsala sauce. Amazingly great dish and very good portion too. Prices were inline for the service and quality of the food- in fact it was a nice surprise of value. Highly recommend eating here.
(5)Steve S.
And the downfall of Zarletti begins. I used to hail this place as having the best Italian in the city but not anymore. I dined with a new sales rep and the quality of the dining experience and food was just poor. It started out okay however my dining companion asked for lemon for water. Our waiter said "Of course" and then never returned with the lemon. We let it go. For my entree, I went with the Pollo con Finocchio, The chicken was dry and all you could taste was whatever was on the outside of the chicken. But the worst thing was the side dish, a big pile of wet fennel with onions on top. It was the most beige, boring thing I've ever tasted. Whoever thought this was a good addition to the menu is insane. Even the cheesecake at dessert was subpar. Halfway through dinner, they sat 3 large groups of people who all happened to be the noisiest groups I have ever encountered. It made conversation nearly impossible. It sucks when you can see how far a restaurant has fallen. It's worse when they seem to ignore it and just keep going. Do everyone a favor, Zarletti's, improve or close up.
(2)Rachel F.
Price points at lunch = totally reasonable/approachable. Dinner menu = looked fab, will return to check it out! Additionally: Don't be put off by the white linens and proper "French-style" service despite this joint being an Italian-American one. This place seems slightly unapproachable from the outside - in part due to its location, perhaps - but that is definitely not the case. If you've been thinking about checking out Zarletti, I say go for it! Plus, they have that butternut squash ravioli that everyone keeps raving about... (was really hoping for that option at lunch but to no avail. I'll just have to hunt it down another time.) Had: Caesar salad w/ grilled shrimp + the soup de jour (it's the soup of the day, guys), a little white bean and sausage number. Solid quality and execution on the little things matter, too. Service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely return for dinner and give more comprehensive after the fact!
(4)Ramsey B.
The Gamberi Al Forno (shrimp appetizer), Salad D Caprese, followed by Salmone en Pedella...just what the doctor ordered. Great tasting entree which included a side of cheesy mashed potato. The restaurant is a cozy venue which provides upscale Italian selections. The service is excellent...consistent through the entire meal. I never had to request service. The servers are on top of their game. I'll be back!
(4)Gary B.
Very nice REAL italian in the center of Milwaukee. You will find italian food there exactly as you would find it in Italy. Cosy atmosphere, good price/quality ratio.
(4)Chai Y.
Be there one month before, good environment and friendly staffs. I ordered lamb and friend ordered fish, and we shared salad. Still always red wine for me. It was good! Careful, it's weekend, very hard to find a parking sport!
(4)john r.
arrived after 9pm on a very cool fall Saturday night. I did have some hesitation, because we had not planned on dining at this spot and i was under-dressed. We entered and were seated quickly at a window table. The waiter stopped by with the menus, and took out drink order. The Order: Appetizer: 3-stars - ordered bruschette - points of grilled house baked bread surrounding a tomato, basil, and garlic relish. the bread was wonderful - but something was lacking. Starters: 3-stars - wife had minestrone, which she said was not as flavorful as she had hoped. I had the Caesar salad - which was plentiful and flavorful Main course: 4-stars - this the the reason you are here, and they do a very good job. wife has a shrimp pasta (Gamberi alla Putanesca) - she again thought it was slightly bland. I had the chicken/tomato stuffed ravioli with a cream sauce (Ravioli del Giorno). We both loved it, and the wife wants to revisit...jut for this item!! Dessert: 4.5 stars - the chocolate torte was simply fabulous Ambiance and Service: 3.5 stars - room is dark, fairly loud - but a nice space. The service was not rushed, but did not feel that the server was really into it, and seemed slow at times. It's somewhere between 3 and 4 stars..and i rounded down in this case..BUT I am sure we will revisit, and give them a chance to up it to 4-stars
(3)Samantha Y.
Has been half a year since last visit, time flies but haven't got a right friend or someone special to go with. It was quite exploring of first visit, me and best friend had a tradition of looking for places never been to. Believe to not a winter night we were driving downtown to a brazil place but failed to find parking spot, while wondering around we found this beautiful place on the corner and of course with a parking spot right off the door. The place is decorated warm and neat, I guess more for business people happy hour or a special date, so GLAD wasn't under dressed that night. I had the best pasta ever!!! The homemade pasta is just beyond description, you feel the tender the flavor with teeth and tongue, mind and soul. It's not for swallow, taking your time and chew for over 20 times for sure, just kidding. Save this place and come for delicious, be happy and you can mark this place with someone for years.
(5)Terry D.
Dinner was perfect....We arrived on time and our table was ready and waiting for us. Our waiter was very nice, informative and just made us feel at home. Any questions we had he was ready and willing to help, made a great selection for wine too. I had the Veal Oss Bucco, which was perfectly cooked. Fantastic, cozy restaurant!! Will definitely return soon.
(4)Kevin T.
I want to like Zarletti, but I've been there three times and had three very sub par experiences. The first time, the osso bucco was inedible. The second time, the shrimp was overcooked. The latest time, I had veal and it was very ordinary--dry, not flavorful, etc. I can't recommend this place, despite what others say.
(2)Katherine A.
Sent the following letter to the restaurant, but also wanted to share it with others, particularly those mothers and fathers with little ones: I wanted to share with you a horrible dining experience that I had earlier today attempting to go to Downtown Dining week at Zarletti. My friend and I tried to go to lunch (and I had a stroller with my 8.5 month old son). I understand that it is downtown dining week and that you are busy, but please hear the entirety of my story. As I walked into the restaurant (my friend was parking her car while I walked in alone with the stroller), I did not receive any assistance from any of the three men standing near the hosts station. As I attempted to get up the two steps into the restaurant and the open the door to the restaurant, no one assisted me but just stared at me. Then, I asked one of the three gentleman if they had any room for 2 adults and a stroller. I want to note that ~75% of the restaurant was empty at the time that I was there. After posing the question, one of the gentleman said "we don't have any availability for you." When I asked why, the host repeated: "sorry, we don't have any availability for people like you," and emphasized "people like you." I clearly got the message that the problem was that I had an 8-month old in a stroller and not some other issue. By that point my friend had come inside and asked about the seating at the bar and if we could put the baby in a high chair or hold him. To this comment we were told, "sorry, we're full." Even though, two seconds earlier someone else who was a walk-in just like us was told that they would be seated shortly. We know that they were walk-ins because we heard them say to one of the other people seating individuals that they did not have a reservation. I want to say that from having experiencing this I am incredibly frustrated and upset. I have taken my son out to plenty of downtown dining establishments that I would classify as much more "upscale" and "higher-end" than Zarletti (i.e., Capital Grille, Harbor House, Bartollata's Lake Park Bistro, La Reve). And, some of these establishments we have attended with him in the evening--a time when these establishments are often much busier and the ambience is a bit more "quiet." I have an incredibly well-behaved and quiet son. I am an attentive parent who would not attend finer dining establishments with him unless I knew that him and I could handle it. Being discriminated the way that I was this afternoon was incredibly disheartening and upsetting. My friend and I have shared concerns with two "mom's groups," as well as other people that I know in the area. In sharing my story, I have heard of a few parents experiencing similar issues at your Mequon location. I share this with you so you know what I have experienced and that apparently it is not the first time something like this has happened at one of your restaurants.
(1)Jessica O.
Oh my gracious Zarletti. You are delicious. I've visited this establishment twice now, and both times, got the butternut squash ravioli. I feel bad for talking about it now, since it probably won't be on the special list again until next fall, but if this is on the menu, order it. Order it twice. With the signature homemade pasta, sweet, pumpkin-pie-esque filling, and savory brown butter and sage sauce on top, this is just perfection. It's almost dessert, but not quite. On one occassion, we ordered the cheese ravioli as well, which was nice to go to when the sweet got to be a little much. There is also a fish selection with a pistachio crust, cherries, and mashed potatoes that is hands-down one of the greatest things I have ever eaten. This is a place that I will definitely be returning to, because I am going to have to try everything on this menu.
(5)Maria-Elena T.
This is a family owned restaurant and it shows from the great food and service to the little personal touches. The lighting was perfect- still light outside and we sat against the window. There was no intrusive instrumental music in the background. I started with the Caesar no croutons and extra anchovies. It was good- I needed some veggies. My friend got the minestrone soup stating its thickness was a wasn't surprise. They served a warm bread with an olive oil dip that had grated cheese in it. For my main, I had the four cheese ravioli with baby zucchini and pesto. They were pillows of smooth creamy, cheesiness. I could only eat 3 of them. I wanted to eat more! I will dream of them. I will crave them. They will forever torment me because I doubt I'll ever be back in Milwaukee. My friend had the Pasta Bolognese and it took me right back to Italy. We ended with the Tierra chocolata for dessert. It was not heavy yet it was substantial with an icing that was lighter than whipped cream. In between the chocolate cake layers was hard chocolate. Yummy! The homemade limoncello, a generous pour, for $5 was the perfect ending. Be warned- it is made with Everclear (150 proof). Our waiter was a true professional.
(5)Shane M.
If you are downtown and looking for some fabulous fresh Italian food, this a must. The homemade ravioli and their homemade red sauce. Wow, is all that can be added.
(5)Amber L.
Nice and small restaurant with more of a businessy atmosphere than romantic. I had the spicy duck dish: what! An Italian restaurant that offers duck? ! Hooray! Drinks were very good, pretty attentive service, id definitely return.
(4)Jonathan H.
We enjoyed an excellent dinner last weekend. Our waiter was terrific and recommended stellar wines by the glass. I had the scallops pasta with mushrooms which was great although the pasta was not homemade. My friend had the homemade ravioli which she loved. We also had the calamari stuffed with crab app which was excellent, especially the sauce. Tiramisu and gelato for dessert were delicious. Would have given it five stars but for the store bought pasta. An excellent value overall and we will be back.
(4)Ryan Z.
How does this place only have four stars? Yes it's a bit pricey, but oh my god... Il Mito used to be my go to Italian in Milwaukee. Frankly my dear, it's the Olive Garden compared to this place. The balsamic pork chips I had were stuffed perfectly, and the Gorgonzola mash? Are you serious? Insane. If you are reading this, go...just go. Dress up, take a date, drink a nice glass of scotch, have an amazing meal and go home knowing you will NOT find better Italian anywhere in Milwaukee....or the area. It's physically impossible.
(5)Carina S.
Great food and great service! A nice little gem in downtown Milwaukee. The homemade pasta was amazing. Affordable wine list too!
(5)Nina K.
Usually, Zarletti has been one of our favorite restaurants. Not tonight. Downtown dining was going on so maybe that was the problem. For an appetizer, we had Trenizi which was very good. Our waiter completely forgot to bring us bread which is do good here. We finally asked for it after our main meal was served. We sat with dirty dishes for quite a while. That is my pet peeve! My husband ordered the pasta with duck. The waiter made a mistake and brought him the Saliccia..the one with the Marsala sauce which he usually orders. He asked if that was correct. It wasn't. Boy it should have been. They brought him the Pasta with the duck and it was awful. He couldn't eat it. Ok so it was a miss. Worse than that the waiter didn't come back for well over 20 minutes to see how it was. When we told him, it was like oh well. They did take it off our bill. I had the halibut which is great! I think we were much more disappointed in the server than even the bad dish. I have had many good servers here. I don't think this is his calling. For dessert, dh had the Tirramisu. Don't bother. It tasted like curdled milk especially for $7.00. It was sour. I had a chocolate martini. It was half the size of most of the other restaurants and more expensive. Stay away from the pasta with duck sausage! I will give this restaurant another chance. It may be a while. I have always liked the lamb chops and the pasta with the Marsala. Tonight was just a miss fire! Waiter was Tom. Steer clear. Husband asked for more coffee and was ignored. Tonight was just sad :(
(2)Nikita V.
If you're looking for somewhere to take that special someone, this place impresses during dinner time, just be prepared to drop a hundred if you're planning on 3 courses and drinks. While on the pricier side, this restaurant never disappoints when it comes to service and quality. In the fall, the butternut squash ravioli is a delectable treat, but you can find wonderful Italian staples anytime of the year. Save room for the tiramisu and plan to share it! There's nothing more romantic than fighting over the last bite! This place gets an extra star for ambiance.
(5)Jack S.
This place is Amazing! The food is excellent! They accommodated for kids and very very friendly staff! The menu is full of exquisite food! I was there yesterday for my 13th birthday, and it was definitely memorable! I could live off their food! Our waiter had brought out a "trio" platter that was just scrumptious! The lamb was perfect, the shrimp was mouthwatering, but the crab cake was very different. I got the Ravioli of the day. It was simply unique and delicious. And finally their homemade gelato was the BEST thing EVER! If I didn't live in Florida, I would eat here everyday!
(5)Austin R.
This was my second time going to this restaurant. I am from Florida visiting family in Wisconsin, and after we went here last time, I decided to make a stop here again. This place has a very great feel and a great menu and wine selection. The food has gotten nothing but great reviews from the people I have come with, and even from me until the last time I went. I got some noodle dish that was okay, but no where near as good as anything else on the menu. They have a special that is some sort of squash ravioli or something and that is absolutely amazing. I really wish they would put that on the menu as a regular item. Overall I would recommend Zarletti, particularly if you are staying at a nearby hotel like the Pfister.
(4)Jim M.
Best Italian restaurant in mke area. We started with drinks at the bar and talked with the gm, who was very knowledgeable on the bourbon selection. Good selection. I found the 10 yr eagle rare for $10 far superior to the $20 15 yr James Pepper, but that could just be me. In any case, we came for Italian food so the bourbon selection was a bonus. One criticique would be that they don't start food service until 5:00. Yelp shows 11am until 9:30pm. Let's get to the real review. First, we happened upon the best waiter we ever experienced bar none. Not in a formal way, as those are a dime a dozen. This guy, who I choose to call "Tony" since he is so genuine, not just knew the menu and provided great recommendations, he was downright entertaining and a joy to have as a waiter. BTW, real name is Alessandro, if this review inspires you, ask for him. I can honestly say I have never, ever, even considered returning to a restaurant and asking for any specific waiter or waitress by name, but will here. Ok, as to the food.... absolutely superb. I know this review is starting to sound like one done by the restaurant, but y if you see my other reviews, you'll see it is not because I usually slam them pretty good. I had the pork chops, which I would never had ordered, but it was one of Tony's recommendations. I must say, they were great. Not tough at all from the typical over cooking that most restaurants do with pork. The soup was awesome. Wife had the chicken, that actually had pulled chicken meat in the soup! , Wife had 4 cheese ravioli, which we share Wine chooses were tremendous, but not being wine connoisseurs, we elected to go with Tony's recommendations. He did not let down. Great selection. Dessert was terrimisso. Tremendous. Enough for two.
(5)P P.
I'm Italian so I can't be witty and urbane about pasta. It's a serious business. Took a friend for my birthday here as I was craving Italian. I am visiting Milwaukee so I trusted the Yelp reviews. Bottom line, the service was completely satisfactory but the pasta...ugh...a plate of carbonara...made with penne rigate...no. Oversalted...yes. Oily...yes. Another plate of butter-nut squash ravioli. They looked like huge, nuclear, deflated wontons. The pasta was crude and thick (it had to be because of the overstuffed pie filling) and the plate was filled to the brim with them! Two, perhaps three would have been sufficient. This kind of portioning was like a stout man at a Vegas buffet. (No offence to the new breed of exceptional buffet chefs) From the standpoint of restaurant financials I can't believe they can support this. The saucing was heavy-handed and unrefined. (though it matched the clumsy ravioli). At the pass and through the open kitchen door I could not see an Italian anywhere in view. Enough said on that front. We passed on a second course and instead of dessert here we went next door to the Pfister and had champagne and a surprise bit of birthday cake complete with the birthday song by the deliciously cheesy lounge pianist.
(1)Te H.
I have never encountered such a rude waiter in my life! Last night (May 16th), we had a party of 7 to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday and was allowed to make reservation at 9:30pm (they close at 10). As soon as we sat down, our waiter started serving us with an inpatient and a very annoyed attitude. We asked him if we could do separate checks, he replied no. Ok, we thought, we'll figure something out. Anyway, because we were not familiar with Italian food and it was our first time there, we asked him some questions regarding certain dishes and he seemed to have gotten annoyed at us for doing that. He then started brushing off one of my sister who was asking him about their seafood dishes. Two of our party had yet to arrive and when they did, which was right after we ordered, he goes to them and says in these exact words that "the kitchen is about to close so if you want food, you need to order now." Totally rude! If you're that pissed off about serving us late, then your restaurant shouldn't have allowed us to make such a late reservation! Finally we were done eating and he brings us the check. We asked him if we could at least pay with separate cards. He says yes and walks away. We started trying to figure out who ate what and how much they owe. All this could've been made easier just by having separate checks in the first place. Duh. The waiter comes back and hovers over us, waiting impatiently. So I asked him, how would you like us to do this? And he goes, "you're not splitting the check equally?" I say no. He got annoyed and handed me a pen. So we write down what amount goes on what card while he stands by watching us. Three of our party decided to pay with cash while the rest of us put it on our cards. We were planning to figure out tip afterwards. The waiter comes back and complains rudely that "the cash did not cover his gratuity and that he wasn't going to lose out on that." My sister tells him to just put it on her card. We couldn't believe he just did that. Assumed we weren't going to tip him and basically rudely demanded it. Honestly, he didn't even deserve any. Before we left we told him how rude he was and his response was, "that's ok, that's ok." I will never go back to this place and would never recommend it to anyone!
(1)Nancy R.
Today for lunch I had the absolutely best cream of mushroom soup I have ever had. The flavor of this soup was like ambrosia. Creamy, rich goodness... The service here is always top notch with gentlemen in suits to cater to your every whim. Unfortunately, I made a poor lunch choice. I had the Del Boscaiolo panini and simply did not like it. The Italian bread was delicious and cooked to perfection. The ingredients included: ham, mushroom, artichoke, sage, and provolone which should have suited me perfectly. I asked the waiter if there were anchovies on the sandwich because something tasted fishy. It may have just been the types of mushrooms, I am not sure. My waiter offered to bring me something else, but I declined since I knew I would not be able to eat anything else. Oh, well. This won't prevent me from returning to Zarletti's, but I will never again order this particular panini.
(4)Sara K.
My first visit to Zarletti. The food was great. Our waiter, Matt, gave us great service for a great overall experience.
(5)Martin L.
If you are looking for a nice place for a dinner date, not in a hurry, and price is no object, and this is the place for you. As other reviewers have already pointed out the food is excellent and The ambience in the restaurant is very nice as well. That being said, I personally am not accustomed to paying Chicago or LA prices for a restaurant in Milwaukee so a $13 cocktail and $10 salad were a little offputting to me. Although our server was definitely pleasant, the service was so slow that even he had to nervously joke about the fish being flown in from Alaska--and this after us telling him we were on a little bit of a timeline. The restaurant was not busy when we entered but it was full by the time our meal arrived and I noticed at least one other table that arrived well after us but got their food much sooner so I'm not sure if there was some kind of a problem with our entrées. I would be willing to give them another try were it not for the exorbitant prices.
(3)Stefan L.
Very good Italian food. The minestrone soup is more of a tomato bisque, but it was delicious. Best minestrone preparation I have had from any Italian restaurant. For my entree I had linguine with veal meatballs. Very good. Pana cotta desert was excellent. All for $30 (tip included).
(4)Dave M.
Fantastic. Went to their restaurant in Mequon and was disappointed. However, the original Zarlettis downtown was excellent tonight. Great food, drinks, service. Well done.
(5)Katie S.
Zarletti is in that snooty part of downtown where noses turn up at the sight of denim. However, husband and I went in for a celebratory dinner (and we had a giftcard!). Everything on the menu sounded delicious. I wanted to try all of it. We started with a bottle of wine, and I was willing to spend, but the server suggested moderately priced options, and brought me three different wines to sample, which was helpful since his suggestions weren't that good. Luckily, I'm not a wine snob. Our server was chatty and on point, but I couldn't tell if he was being condescending or if he also thought we were as funny as we did. He put up with us anyway. So we ordered olives and a cured beef appetizer. The olives were tasty, but the cured beef just didn't taste like much. I felt adventurous and ordered a pasta dish with pheasant as a primi. It was pretty tasty, and turns out, pheasant mostly tastes like chicken too. For secondi, we had another pasta dish with sausage and veal cutlets with lemon sauce. The veal was a suggestion of the several veal options, claiming that the regulars order it. It was very good, but I have no other veal dishes in my repertoire to compare it to. The sausage pasta was pretty excellent. We capped off our tasty diner with tiramisu which was spot on and a digestif of house made limoncello. Warms you right up in a citrusy kind of way! Despite our efforts to splurge, the total bill wasn't outrageous, but definitely more than we would normally spend. Overall, it was really very good and a great spot to get a little spendy just for fun!
(4)Julie C.
I have been here many times and have never had a bad meal. Their gluten free pasta is first-rate!! And the wait staff are very well informed as to which sauces are gluten free. Today I had the "ragu of the day" which was ground pork. It had a slightly spicy kick and was absolutely delightful. They also have an excellent wine list. I would recommend reservations on Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)Clay K.
I hadn't been to Zarletti in about 3 years so felt it was time to go back. What a huge disappointment. This place has taken a precipitous nose-dive. Last time there I had a delicious, well-prepared and presented lamb chop. This time I tried two three course meals by trading off with my date. I started with a house salad which consisted of a single type of lettuce, a few croutons and an inordinate amount of out of the bottle Italian dressing - a really boring salad that was badly overly dressed. The other starter was tomato basil soup. My theory is that they left the peels on the tomatoes before pureeing as the soup was really bitter and very unpleasant. It had no garnish and the basil was overcooked into the soup. Next up was the entrees. I tried the grilled swordfish. It was cooked beyond recognition leaving it with the texture of a firm hockey puck. I sent it back and later got a slightly better albeit half as thick steak. The swordfish itself had no preparation at all, no sauce, nothing - making it dry and uninteresting. Simple preparation is one thing, no preparation is something else altogether. The swordfish was accompanied by their Gorgonzola smashed potatoes. They were fine but the portion was ridiculous. On the plate there was about three times as much potato than fish. There was no green vegetable served with the dish making for a starch and fish combo that was really flat all the way around. The service came from an inexperience, young girl who didn't know the menu and offered only a go-between to the kitchen. No conciliation was offered for the returned swordfish. She also didn't know the names of common cocktails nor the brands of vodka carried at the bar. Service was slow and inattentive. The second entree was a veal saltimbocca. It was just okay - a huge portion of meat. I will say the meat was well prepared, moist and tender and had a melt in your mouth texture. The plating, however was a total mess. It was just a huge stew portion thrown on a plate. The deserts were good, particularly the tiramisu. Overall, however, this place really needs to get back to its original level particularly in creativity and presentation although the flavor of these meals was also really lacking. With the competition on their street they have severely fallen behind.
(2)Jax B.
Downtown Dining Review: Zarletti's was awesome! I had a tomato based soup that was great! The grilled cheese panini and fries were good. The gelato dessert was refreshing and lovely. We sat outside on a warm day. The server was great about making sure we had plenty of ice water at all times. I secretly wished I would have tried the linguine as my entree, but I'll just have to go back soon! I will be back!
(5)Keyshaun S.
Jessica was amazing and beautiful. She recommend the Halibut and it was one of the best that I have ever had. I will definitely rerun here the next time I return to try something else. I really want to try the pastas at this place to really be sure that I love it here.
(4)Alberto R.
When I first walked in was a bit skeptical, not very busy a bit of a hole in the wall. Boy was I wrong! Excellent food the traditional angel hair pasta with the tomatoes sauce was like that I have had in Italy. Very fresh ingredients and tasty. The food unlike many chain Italian joints was prepared fresh! I would definitely return.
(4)Allyson U.
I have nothing bad to say about Zarletti. Everything here is excellent- the food, the service, the atmosphere. Things I have tried: duck ragu- seriously one of the best things I have EVER eaten; ossobuco- very rich, but oo so delicious- served with amazing risotto; walnut marsala- rich and creamy without being too heavy; lemon- mint rack of lamb- lamb was perfectly cooked, and the lemon mint rub is soo good. And several appetizers, all of which were good. I really can't express in words how good their food is. The service has always been friendly and professional, without being too over the top. They have a pretty decent wine list, with serveral bottle options under $40, which helps since the food is on the expensive side (but worth it!) Just trust me and go here!!!
(5)Jen Y.
One of the best Italian places in the city!... nice home made pasta, including daily ravoli specials. Sauces are great, drinks are great.... everything amazing! We were worried it looks a little stuffy but everyone was very friendly and accomodiating. One of my favorites to visit on downtown dining week!
(5)Katie T.
Enjoyed a recent dinner at Zarletti. The atmosphere is really cozy and romantic--low lighting, white tablecloths with butcher block paper, fresh flowers on the table. While my companion enjoyed her meal greatly, I was a little disappointed. The bread was warm and fresh but nothing special. Our mushroom appetizer was decent but not a standout. I ordered the four-cheese pesto ravioli as my entree. It felt a little sloppy--too much pasta and ricotta and not enough zucchini and pesto and a little bland as a result. Ricotta was the only cheese I noticed. We each ordered a glass of wine and the pour was not generous, though the wine was good and the stemware lovely. Our server was great and attentive. I'm sure I would have added an extra star if I tried the desserts--they looked heavenly.
(3)Julie L.
Zarletti's was fantastic! Our server was awesome and knew everything there was to know about the food and wine menus. Party of 4 enjoyed the butternut squash ravioli, marsala, pork chop special and the last dish escapes me. All were extremely pleased with their meals. We had tickets for a show at Riverside and our server made sure we kept within the time frame needed to walk to the theater. Our bill was $150 which included 1 bottle of wine and 4 entrees. One might say that's a bit pricey, however, the qualify of food and portion size made it well worth it. We would definitely go back!
(5)Erik S.
I come here several times per month. the service and food are always excellent! I love the specials like ragu of the day and ravioli of the day - as well as the regular menu items. my favorites are the wild salmon and the Strauss ossobucco. they use the best ingredients and they always prepare the food well. this is the best Italian in the city - probably the state.
(5)Joe T.
Absolutely delicious! I had the pork chops and was reassured that I would be bringing home leftovers. There was no way a single bite was staying on that plate. Service was solid and atmosphere was nice. A bit cozy on seating arrangements, but all in all a great experience.
(5)Joe C.
Great
(5)Joanna T.
This review is for lunch only - it's close to work so I go here all the time. The interior is beautiful - chocolate walls with spa blue accents and big windows looking out onto milwaukee street. It seems like it would be a romantic place at night, not so much for a work lunch... Food: definitely creative and above average, and I've tried most of the menu. The standout is the homemade raviolis, the fillings vary daily but they are always really, really good. Salads are big and fresh and their bread is good too. Service: even when they are busy (basically that would be every day) I've had good service. I see the owner here regularly and it looks like he runs a tight ship. Prices: best hope you can expense your lunch 'cause it ain't cheap! Those delicious raviolis will set you back $15 and most salads are over $10. Paninis are more reasonable at $7-8. I'll have to hit this place up for dinner sometime but it's never let me down for a classy lunch.
(4)Marietta M.
Had a wonderful dinner here tonight. The only reason I only gave it 4 stars is because the herbs in my husbands dish were a bit "off" so that one stood out more than the others and threw the balance of the entire dish off. Other than that it was a great experience! Thanks also goes to our server Chris who was excellent!!
(4)Unyime E.
First off, the bartender makes the best tom collins in the city. To date Zarletti my favorite italian restaurant in milwaukee. I've probably dined here for lunch/dinner at least seven times over the last two years and have never been disappointed. The osso bucco is simply wonderful, and with the very bold flavors it's easy to see why this is their signature dish. I always love it when they include the small spoon for scooping the marrow from the included bone. Very tasty.
(4)Jessie G.
I enjoy the atmosphere of Zarletti. It was the first time here and we didn't have a reservation but there was only two. I enjoyed the lighting and cozy yet attentive atmosphere. If your looking for a place to take that special someone for an anniversary or date this is your spot. The bruschetta was awesome! Great attentive server. The food was a descent portions and warm bread to start!
(4)Tony K.
Came here today for a work lunch. We were seated rather closely to the serving/wait station - that wasn't ideal. But I won't hold it against them. The service was outstanding - the gentleman was very attentive to our needs - but not bothersome. I feel this is an easy line to cross. The food - I got the Ravioli del Giorno - "a homemade pasta stuffed with roasted butternut squash and parmesan cheese, topped with savory brown butter and fresh sage." Sounds amazing right? Well - let me tell you - I made the right choice. I also felt the menu had more options than most other places for vegetarians as myself. So - dearest Zarletti's. How did I not know you existed?? Well - I do now and I can't wait to come back on a hot date. Seems like you'd be the perfect place.
(4)Randy M.
Excellent food, nice wine list. Top notch service. Space is a little crowded.
(4)Stephanie L.
I was reminded yet again why Zarletti's is my favorite place for Italian. Let me be more specific. Pasta. Everything pasta that this kitchen puts out is spot on. I like that Mama Zarletti is the one adding her special touch to their dishes too, whether it be one of her recipes or her making some of the items herself. Delicious. The pillows of veal-filled ravioli are so luscious and rich, I feel exposed and naughty with every bite. Everyone can see me enjoying this food. I have a romantic tie to this food, a true love affair. The other dishes made my heart flutter too. Pappardelle with carrot puree, sage, and brie was indulgent. It had the richness that I miss at other Italian restaurants, and it joined cheeses not often seen in pasta dishes. I like to taste more than mozzarella and Parmesan. Zarletti delivers its diners from boredom. The only adjustments would be in the osso bucco dish. The meat was tender and fell from the bone, but it lacked serious flavor. It tasted like a piece of meat and not much else. It was a little disappointing after seeing how beautifully and easily the meat separated from the bone. The serving size was abundant and filled the plate. If they make the necessary tweaks to the herbs and spices, this dish could shine as much as the pasta dishes. Before you make your way to the main entrees, you should most certainly order the antipasto. This starter paves the way for what is to come. I have had many platters of this sort, and I have not seen another that is presented as well as it is here. There are olives, marinated artichokes, charcuterie, and nice cheeses. With a glass of Pinot, you will find a similar happy experience. The only problem may be that you will not have room for dessert, and Mama makes them too!
(4)Roger G.
Bryan was a fantastic bartender and ambassador for this beautiful establishment. He was knowledgeable not only about the food and wine menu, but about the local area. The food was amazing! My wife and I kept stealing bites of each other's plates. We will definitely be back next time we're in town. You can often judge a place by how many people walk in and know the bartender, and better yet, he knows them all by name.
(5)Neven Z.
This place is the best hands down the food is soooo good your mouth melts when u take a bite of any of there food and the the owner is one of a kind very nice person to talk too.. And Brayn the bartender make amazing drinks and vino as well also an amazing person !!!!!!! I highly recommend this places........
(5)Jan L.
Fabulous dinner last night! Bread served piping hot, green salad was good. My husband had homemade pasta with bolognese sauce, and I had pistachio crusted halibut. Both were wonderful! Our waitress was very attentive, but not overly so. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Steph O.
I've been here twice. I'm from out of town and this place was recommended by a local who's a friend of a friend. The first time, I had the pasta aglio e oglio with shrimp, and the second time, the bolognese. Both were very good. The second time, I also had a Negroni, which was excellent, and a red wine from Friuli, which was yummy. The torta di cioccolato was pretty darn good too. Price point was a little high but you can pay this much at some places in Boston's North End and it won't be as good as Zarletti. Both times, my friends that I came with were happy with their food too (ravioli of the day; shrimp puttanesca). Service was efficient and professional.
(4)MV M.
Went here for Valentine's day. All aspects of the trip were phenomenal! The waitstaff and front of house were warm, welcome and very hospitable. Our table was a little shaky and they fixed it without a problem. Our waitress was very attentive and gave great suggestions from the menu. The food was fantastic! We had two appetizers, the bruschetta and wild mushroom crepe. They were excellent and flavorful. We had the house salad as well which was very good. My wife ordred the tortellini with mushroom and I had the halibut with pistacchio crust. Both dishes were excellent and if I could have eaten more, I would have! The portion sizes were perfect as well. We finished with tiramisu which was a great desert to cap off the meal. I would recommend making reservations on weekends and special occasions. This a great place to take a date or for an intimate dinner. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Antonia S.
My parents and I came here on a Thursday evening and we had a wonderful experience! We were staying at the Hilton City Center and it was about a 10 minute walk to Zarletti. When we got in, we were promptly greeted and seated right away (we had made a reservation). The service all night was impeccable - our waitress was attentive, but never bothersome. We ordered the caprese salad and the eggplant appetizers and both were phenomenal. The salad was light and fresh and the eggplant was cooked to perfection with an excellent sauce. For dinner, I had the salmon dish (YUM!) - the fish was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning. The mashed potatoes that came with the salmon were supposed to be gorgonzola, but I didn't taste the cheese at all (I personally love gorgonzola so I would have liked a little more of that flavor, but some people find it overpowering so that may be why it was subtle). My dad had the osso bucco and it was AWESOME! The sauce was so rich, the meat was tender, and the risotto that was served with it was amazingly delicious. My mom had a scallop pasta dish that was good - the scallops were great, but the sauce could maybe have used a little something more and she ended up leaving most of the penne in the bowl. Prices were just right for an excellent dinner. We were raving about Zarletti all weekend! We will be back!
(5)Drew W.
Went on aThursday night during Summerfest. Had heard a lot of great things about this place and I love Italian, so being new to MKE it was a natural for me to try. We sat outside (as it was a gorgeous night), minimal ambience...just a couple of tables an chairs thrown out on the side walk. Food; Caprese and Caesar salads...so-so...very bland, kinda boring. Table bread-terrible, would have rather had breadsticks from the olive garden. But shockingly the bread on the Tre something or other appetizer was decent-as were the ricotta and olive tapenades-red sauce was just that-watery red sauce in a ramekin. Would have been better reduced down and more "spread" like for the application. We ordered another appetizer, but a couple of days later I can't remember what it was...never a good sign. Carbonara-weak, relatively flavorless Ragu was a rabbit which had no detectable rabbit flavor, but perhaps in a "tongue-in-cheek" move by the chef tasted prominately of carrot? Gelato was really ice cream, but good none the less. Service was okay, if a little disinterested, probably because the place was slow and no one else was siiting outside. Overall, wanted to like it, had high hopes, its was okay, would I go back...probably not.
(2)Kelly C.
I went here during downtown dining week for the first time. I was hooked immediately. It has a dimmed elegant yet casual setting. There is patio seating. The waitstaff was wonderful and polite. Great place for a romantic meal. Delicious specialty drink menu. The house mixed greens salad is a great starter. There is a decadent selection of entrees including vegetarian. The sea food is fresh and worth the price. Deserts are light and definitely a must to finish your meal! The gelato is superb.
(5)Brenda M.
Everything about this place was wonderful. The food, the service and the atmosphere were awesome!
(5)Craig L.
Went here for a business lunch. Warm, homemade bread with butter that felt like..well, butter in your mouth. I had the ravioli of the day with butternut squash - excellent! Dessert was good, coffee just right. Service was timely, crisp, and not overbearing. Generally a business lunch crowd - plenty of guys in neckties. Would definetly come here again.
(4)Emily C.
We came to Zarletti before a show at the Bradley Center. It was fabulous! The service was excellent - our waiter recommended some cocktails and appetizers that we all loved (the goat cheese with portabella mushrooms was our group's favorite). I had the fish stew and it was very flavorful. Great service! We told them we were heading to a show and they got us out in time and called us a cab.
(5)John C.
Excellent find in downtown. Friendly staff, awesome food! Definitely on our "do again list" when visiting Milwaukee.
(4)Rachel G.
I was very impressed with this place. It was packed, but the service felt un-rushed - normally most places would be rushing you - so they can turn the table. I would have given it 5 stars, if they had made their own pasta. To my knowledge, the only pasta they make is the daily ravioli. Their sausage is a special blend from Butcherbock. And their bread is from Miller Bakery. They make their desserts in-house. We had the warm olives, pear / Gorgonzola / walnut salad, pork tenderloin and the sausage / mushroom / onion / walnut pasta. Everything was excellent. Again, the only reason they didn't get 5 stars - because they don't make thier own pasta.
(4)Michael H.
The service was excellent. The cocktails were spot on. The food (appetizers and pasta main dishes) was exceptional. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Charlie J.
i had a ragu that was to die for. seriously, one of the best i've had in a long long time. service left a bit to be desired, but i got over it as soon as i took my first bite of that gem. well worth the visti.
(4)Jennifer P.
Thank you to the stars above for leading us to this wonderful, intimate, romantic, delicious spot. We were driving around trying to find a place to eat and I spotted Zarletti. Something inside told me "Stop! Eat here! You know you want to!" See, women's intuition is good for something! We found street parking not far away and walked in to a nearly empty restaurant, though it was close to 10pm. That was fine by me, because it made an already romantic spot even more special. Our server was very sweet and made sure to check on us periodically throughout the meal, though a bit too much for my taste. I certainly won't take any stars off for that, though. The wine list had some great options and the prices were decent. The menu wasn't necessarily extensive, but I suppose it's better to just do a few things and do it right. And I'll tell you what, everything we ordered they did better than right! We started with a carpaccio with shaved parm and arugula. It was a perfect, light appetizer before our huge portions of pasta came out. I ordered the carbonara, which I usually don't do unless I'm actually in Italy, because generally I am disappointed. No disappointments here. It was made just the way it should be. My boyfriend ordered the gamberi puttanesca, which he adored. The shrimp was cooked well, not overdone, and the sauce was a wonderful complement. If you are in downtown Milwaukee, this is a must-try restaurant.
(4)Jim F.
My favorite Italian place in Milwaukee. The staff is friendly and professional. The atmosphere is elegant, but relaxed. And, most importantly, the food is outstanding! Must haves include the osso bucco if it is available and the homemade ravioli is always great. Both lunch and dinner are outstanding, and you can sit outside in the summer. Nothing compares to the food in Italy, but this is as close as we have come to replicating that experience in Milwaukee.
(5)Carrie B.
The atmosphere is good. The service is timely. I had the pistachio crusted halibut with a side salad. It was very good. The only complaint I had was that the tables were kind of close together. Other than that it was great. We went with another couple and everyone was happy with their food. I would go back again.
(4)Alice G.
I visited with Brittany B. for our anniversary and also had a great experience. Our server Nicole was incredibly nice and the food left me fully satisfied. I would recommend the ravioli - but I am glad that we shared a plate - the flavor of the lil cheese pillows does start to get monotonous. The veal cutlets in lemon pan sauce lived up to the recommendation from our server. Overall, good value for the money
(4)Jody N.
Ate here last week. Can't say enough about the food. WOW!! 2 other friends were with me and we were all blown away with the flavors. One friend had the butternut squash ravioli, probably the best ravioli or pasta dish I've ever had or at least remember. Another had the ragu of the day a wild boar tagliatelle, I have to say it was really really good. I had the veal osso bucco, extremely delicious, made you feel like curling up and taking a nap afterwards, very rustic but refined dish. The waiter was very friendly and gave great suggestions as well. Had the panzanella salad, very fresh!! One friend had the calamari appetizer, GREAT! Too stuffed from the homemade bread which I used to mop up the sauce from the calamari appetizer to even think about desert. Not terribly expensive for the quality. Italian food doesn't get much better than this.
(5)Bobby G.
Super solid. Staff training spot on. food wonderful. Only critique is that I wish the menu grew n evolved more.
(4)Mopsie B.
Thank goodness for Zarletti! I only wish we'd known about this place the entire weekend we were in Milwaukee instead of suffering through the generally mediocre food at the Pfister! Anyway, we had lunch at Zarletti today and it was a real treat- terrific wine list, attentive, professional and personable service, very good modern Italian food. When we are next in Milwaukee, we will definitely be back. The sauce on my pasta pomodoro was perfect- I do wish the basil had been the full leaf variety but the shrimp were plump and flavorful and the insalata di casa was huge and exceptionally tasty! The server told us that the owner's mother makes all of the desserts- we had the sorbetto and it was very creamy and delicious. I liked the bar, the intimacy of the room and the entire experience. I am only sorry we didn't know about it two days ago.
(4)Mark B.
We had reservations for the 21st at 5:45 pm. We were a little early and decided to have a drink at the small well stocked bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable of his product line a helped with wine samplings. Following his suggestion we settled on a bottle of a nice Italian wine. We started to enjoy our choice when the OWNER took the bartender aside and told him to get us moving to our table, that it was ready and we were taking too much time at bar. Understanding it was a Saturday night and they are getting busy, he lacked any tact border line rude. He took us to our table was terse and obviously agitated that we would dare drop $80 on a bottle of wine at his restaurant and go 5 minutes over our reservation time. That being said the waitress was great as was the bartender, the food was fresh and delicious. The owners mother makes the desserts and I highly recommend the chocolate cake. Would have given it 5 stars but the owner really put a damper on it. I own my own business and could not imagine treating my customers like that.
(3)Burt I.
We walked in at random after walking out of another restaurant I won't name. The food was excellent, but the service was beyond excellent. Our waiter (Kurt) was among the most competent and professional servers we've run into in a long time. Every detail of service was perfect from the initial contact to receiving the bill. Next time in Milwaukee we would be sure to return.
(5)Pat H.
Excellent food, enjoyable experience. General manager waited on us and it was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Food was phenomenal. Definitely willi do again.
(5)Alex D.
The Quick: Great Italian Food in a clean, modern space. I wouldn't call it kid-friendly. We got here in a lovely spring blizzard. It was very warm inside and the staff was so friendly. The bartender poured us a round (at he NON-SMOKING) bar while we waited for our table, which was ready quickly. our waiter was very friendly and helpful with the suggestions. We started with a grilled shrimp appetizer that was well-cooked and spicy, though I'm guessing not very Italian. We ordered a nice bottle of wine that was reasonably priced. We had a soup of the day and the minestrone, both were excellent. Our entrees were dynamite! The wife ordered a pasta dish with sausage, mushrooms and walnuts in a Marsala cream sauce that was so perfect for a snowy evening. Very hearty and delicious. I had heard the Risottos were good, so I ordered the New Zealand rack of Lamb that was served atop a mushroom risotto. Both were excellent. The Lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked evenly throughout. The risotto was dense and rich, but not sticky like you usually get them. Got a slice of cheesecake with a chocolate caramel sauce on top that definitely tasted homemade and not just a thawed out slice from a frozen cake. If you're in Milwaukee and have a taste for Italian, go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Jane S.
This was my first meal at Zarletti, but I will definitely go back. We went because of Downtown Dining Week, but ended up ordering off of the regular menu. First was the soup special, a creamy tomato basil, which was piping hot and a little chunky with fresh tomato flavor. The bread was served warm, which made it hard to resist. I had the Pera e Gorgonzola salad, a spinach salad with pear, cherry tomato, gorgonzola and toasted pecans tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. My companion had the Tagliata alla Fiorentina - char grilled New York strip served sliced on a bed of arugula and tomato. Topped with caramelized onions and a drizzle of white truffle oil. I loved my salad, be we decided that next time we would order the New York strip and split it. It was cooked exactly to medium rare, a little crispy outside, and the arugula, tomato and onion complemented it perfectly. I wish I could remember the server's name, but she was excellent.
(5)Brittany B.
My g/f and I had our anniversary dinner at Zarletti's and we were very impressed. The restaurant has a contemporary feel but with old school service. Very attentive staff and we LOVED our waitress. When we told her we were in from Chicago she suggested other interesting spots to visit and even wrote them down for us! She also put a candle in our gelatto to make our celebration more special. The food was delicious. The ravioli was very robust and full of flavor and my main course (chicken with prosciutto) was bright and perfectly paired with gorganzola mashed potatos! YUM! Best gelatto I've ever had... and took a piece of the cheesecake home- delicious! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody living in or travling to Milwaukee.
(4)Jennifer C.
I'm basing my rating on any Italian food I've had. If I were to rate it solely on Italian restaurants in Milwaukee, I'd have to give it 4 stars because Milwaukee is really lacking in good Italian and this would probably be one of the better Italian restaurants in the city. However, I've had Italian in different cities in this country and Zarletti's is just average. The ambiance was nice and the server (Madeline) was very helpful and gracious. The food was average. We started with crab cakes. They were alright, I probably wouldn't order them again as I've had much better at a few different establishments throughout the city. I had the pistachio encrusted halibut with a door county cherry sauce on it. It was good but nothing I'd rave about. The sauce was the best part of it. I had gorgonzola mashed potatoes. They were just ok. My dining companion had the ravioli of the day which was pork and beef stuffed pasta. He liked the red sauce on the ravioli as it didn't have any tomato chunks (he hates tomatoes) and it had a nice flavor but we both agreed that the ravioli was rather bland and in need of some bolder flavors. We then shared the Banana Semi-Freddo for dessert. It's a semi-frozen banana custard with a macadamia nut brittle and topped with a brulee of sliced bananas and definitely the best part of the entire meal. I think it's ridiculous when you're paying $20+ for a meal and soup or salad is not included. I get it, you're trying to establish yourselves as a high end dining restaurant so you do the pretentious ala carte BS but seriously, you're just a pasta joint, not a steakhouse, get over yourselves.
(3)Alyssa S.
I went with Sarah - so I'll second a lot of what she said. I had the seafood stew-thing and it was really delicious. The wine list was pretty good for what I've seen in Milwaukee. One thing I really liked was that our waiter, Arturo, told us the prices of the specials, so we weren't surprised by a fifty-dollar spaghetti and meatballs or something. Arturo also split our bill between three credit cards without getting an attitude. I liked Arturo.
(4)Sarah B.
Solid Italian fare. Just went this weekend and had shrimp scampi, which was quite good. There is a selection of pastas, as well as "secundi"--entrees of fish, beef, chicken, and lamb. Coffee was delicious and, while I didn't have any, the panna cotta looked delicious. Our waiter was timely and knowledgeable, although a little dour--I don't think he cracked a smile the entire night. Prices are a bit steep ($17.95 for pasta bolognese?) so while I am tempted to return, I don't know if $32 rack of lamb is worth a trip to Milwaukee, when I can get it for the same or less in Chicago.
(4)David R.
Probably the best Italian food in Milwaukee. A bit better than Osteria. Mimma's has better pastas (barely) but that's all Mimma's has. Zarletti's has great pastas, but their real specialty comes from their Secondi menu. The Osso Bucco here is probably the best I've had. The New Zealand rack of lamb with the Porcini Mushroom risotto is absolutely mouthwatering. The veal cutlets in the pan lemon sauce are fantastic. Wine list isn't huge but there are a handful of very good bottles priced below $40. The place is small but modern, decent little bar area and the bartenders here know how to mix a proper drink. Bottom line: never had a dish here that was short of excellent. Best Italian food in Milwaukee.
(5)Eddie R.
On our way to the theatre we decided to dine at this corner Italian restaurant. They offer valet but you can also park on the street. We began our meal with the Calamari Ripieni; calamari stuffed with crab, tomato, and bread crumbs- sautéed in a white wine, tomato sauce. The dish was very small but had a good flavor. I decided to go with 3 wine flight and it was definitely a perfect pair. For dinner I had the marinated and grilled pork tenderloin with a creamy leek and mustard sauces served with the gorgonzola mashed potatoes. The pork had a good flavor but was missing something. The potatoes are a MUST!! My girlfriend had the veal cutlets pounded and lightly breaded and sautéed with a lemon pan sauce. The veal had a strong tangy taste and again was just missing more flavor. We did not have time for dessert as we were praised for time. This place could be better I think I would rate it 3.5 if I could. The staff was friendly and the decor and atmosphere were perfect for our occasion.
(3)Allyson C.
I recently had the joys of a free meal at Zarletti. The atmosphere is very hip and modern, and definitely not for those just getting out of a Marquette basketball game (I was invited to dine after MU beat Syracuse, and although my yellow Polo sweater and jeans were appropriate for the game, not so much for the white tablecloths). Without any knowledge of Zarletti, I joined my friends. I must say I was a little under the weather, so my mood may have been altered by my unbalanced mind, but I only give Zarletti 3 stars. If I were just giving the ambience a critique, a definite 5-star rating, but the food and the staff are just ok. I thought everything I had was equally similar to other Italian places I have been to, and nothing was that special. I think we sometimes get caught up in the lighting and the prices of places, and we just create a 5-star experience. Mine, not so much. We had plenty of food, all of which I tried -- 3 appetizers (the crab cake, the shrimp wrapped in bacon, and the bruschetta), the pear salad, the ravioli special (for the table to try), the chicken entree with gorgonzola mashed potatoes, followed by a lemon chello, cheesecake, vanilla bean gellato, and tiramisu. We had a big group of people, and the food was endless. I would say I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, but I honestly only truly enjoyed the dessert the most, the food wasn't the greatest. Someone mentioned a ravioli special with butternut squash and parmesan - if that were on the menu, I may have been more positive about my review. Maybe the key is to get a pasta dish and not a meat dish. I don't know - I don't think I'll be back to find out though.
(3)Bob S.
Ate here on 11/11/11. Great meal all the way around from a knowledgeable server to excellent food. We started w/ the steamed mussels in a light mustard broth. Perfect, and we sopped the broth up with first rate hot bread. We then had the caprese salad with terrific tomatoes and mozzarella. Enjoyed a crisp 2009 Zuani with app and salad. For dinner we had Pork tenderloin in a satisfying ragu with pasta. Also, had Grilled sirloin cut thin served over fresh tomatoes and arugula. Stuck with the Zuani for dinner as we were really enjoying the wine. Fished it off with Coffee and killer cheese cake. We will be back !
(5)Stephen S.
MERAVIGLIOSO! Hands down Milwaukee's best Italian (that other place is in Tosa). OMG...the risottos are so good I almost want to jump up from the table and rip all my clothes off and run mad up and down Milwaukee Street!!! I had a special Butternut Squash ravioli and it was BY FAR the best I've had anywhere! And if the risotto made me want to do what I said above my God, not sure what would top that but the Carmel Apple dessert (get it with the ice cream!) is seriously so FAR OUT that I would make out with Rosie O'Donnel AND Roseann Barr for a piece of it! Service was A+ too! Amy was attentive and friendly and was always there filling our water and wine...she even puts up with witty, corny patrons...so if you're like me the staff here apparently won't take you as some cornball. They have THEIR OWN valet!!! Don't use the crowded and slow Milwaukee Street valet. Zarletti's valet is on Mason Street! Right out front! And during the winter they have this nice heated waiting space so you don't have to stand out in the cold and wait for your car! If you're thinking of hitting the Pasta Tree instead of here...don't say I didn't warn you...Pasta Tree is like the girl you kissed first...sure, she was cute, but lacked class and sophistication...Zarletti's is like the hot babe you're with right now...which would you rather be rolling with tonight?
(4)Cardinal S.
I had ravioli here for lunch. It was good, but it wasn't worth $16. I should have asked about its price before ordering it, since it was a special of the day. This felt like a bad deal considering that there are a lot of other tasty and cheaper options around.
(3)Jess M.
Great food and even better service. Perfect for a nice but quick meal.
(4)T A.
Went there with my boyfriend last weekend because it was across the street from our hotel so we opted for the convenience - SO happy we did! We both had one of our best dinners ever. Went there for some good Italian dishes but ended up getting fish and pork and both meals were absolutely incredible. I had the pistachio crusted grouper and my boyfriend had their special pork chops stuffed with dry aged provolone and prosciutto - both came with gorgonzola mashed potatoes. My mouth is watering as I type this! We didn't have reservations but got there early enough to be ok. Not a huge place and was very busy by the time we left. Prices are reasonable, the portions were perfect for the both of us, and wine was great. Though I can't speak for the pasta, the food we had was excellent. I highly recommend!
(5)rebecca p.
This place is amazing! I had the homeade ravioli and it was excellent. They also even made me affagato even though it wasn't on the menu. The bartender was great too.
(5)April A.
I thought the food was good until I found a chunk of bark in my salad...Which went into my mouth because I thought it was a crouton. The waiter was apologetic and offered us dessert, however we were on our way to a show and had no time. Our check arrived and nothing was taken off of it, not even the salad. This, along with the bark, left a bad taste in my mouth about the restaurant. My advice is to sift through your salad carefully so you don't end up chewing on a piece of bark.
(3)Tonya C.
I recently started a new job downtown, and to celebrate joining the team, my colleagues took me to lunch here. Since my husband's half Italian, I've been spoiled by experiencing only the best of Italian fare... and this place actually measures up. We shared appetizers, including an olive tapenade that was outstanding--and which I'd return for on its own merits. I had a chicken and pasta dish with artichokes that was large enough that I ended up with leftovers to save for lunch the next day. A couple of my colleagues went for the special of that day, a yellow-squash-filled ravioli that was so good they consented to share a bite with those of us who had waffled away from that selection. Once I described my experience there to my husband, he said we'd have to return together to try out their dinner menu.
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