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Discover Safina, Southeast Wisconsin’s top-rated authentic Sicilian dining venue. Since Giovanni Safina came to the United States at the age of 23, he and his family have been producing some of the greatest Italian food in the Midwest. Giovanni Safina was born and raised in a small village in Sicily. At Safina, we prioritize excellent service, a unique atmosphere, and the freshest of ingredients to transport you straight to a Sicilian family dinner table. Ideal for any occasion and featuring a private room for exclusive parties. Create your reservation online today.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 785 N Jefferson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 677-8518
Website: http://safinamke.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=1&utm_content=primary
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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Related Web Results
Safina: Best Italian Restaurant in Milwaukee, WI
A CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS SICILY. Our goal at Safina is to connect people to a dining experience that feels like they’re at our family’s dinner table. Our …
Safina | Milwaukee WI – Facebook
Safina is more than just a restaurant. It’s our story, our heritage, and our way of sharing a piece of Sicily with the community we love. Every dish is made …
Milwaukee Italian Food (@safinamke) • Instagram photos and videos
Photo by Safina | Milwaukee Italian Food in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. May be an image …
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Reviews
Daniel Silver
I was very impressed with this homey Italian restaurant. The service was honestly some of the best I’ve had in Milwaukee! Our waitress and the other staff were super friendly and attentive. Thankfully, the food matched the amazing service! The olive oil with the bread on our table is a mix of olives directly from Sicily, which I think the waitress said is from the owner’s father’s olive orchard. Our Rosetta salad was also great with the mixed greens, artichokes, olives, pepperoncini, etc. For my entrée, I got the pesto pasta which was also delicious. The fresh, creamy pesto was great with the fresh pistachios and fusilloni noodles catching all the sauce in between the strands. For dessert, the tiramisu was HUGE and one of the best I’ve had in Milwaukee with a super soaked coffee bottom. This restaurant is truly a Milwaukee gem and a great way to start 2026! Also this dinner was to celebrate my fiancée’s birthday, and she was just as happy as I was!
… moreAdam Colak
We had an amazing experience here! We ordered the calamari, melanzane fritte, and the fettuccine Alfredo everything was incredibly delicious. The service, the atmosphere, and all the small details were perfect. It was my wife’s birthday, and they surprised us with a complimentary cannoli dessert with a little candle, which was such a thoughtful touch. Thank you for making our evening so special. We’ll definitely be back!
… moreJayvian T
*4.5 stars*
This place is cute, and the waitstaff was great. I recommend the Parmesan eggplant fries, that and the cheesecake were the best things we ate. I had the chicken Parmesan as my main meal and it was good but I’ve had better. I do appreciate the fresh taste of the ingredients, you can tell it’s homemade.
I would come back to try some of the other dishes.
… moreThis place is cute, and the waitstaff was great. I recommend the Parmesan eggplant fries, that and the cheesecake were the best things we ate. I had the chicken Parmesan as my main meal and it was good but I’ve had better. I do appreciate the fresh taste of the ingredients, you can tell it’s homemade.
I would come back to try some of the other dishes.
Chuck Runge
Safina – Milwaukee
★★★★★
From the moment we walked into Safina, the evening felt special. The Sicilian-inspired space strikes the perfect balance: warm, elegant, and lively without ever feeling stuffy. Soft lighting, beautiful tile work, and just the right level of background music set an inviting tone.
Our server greeted us with genuine warmth and a quiet confidence that carried through the entire meal. When we ordered the bruschetta, Marianna smiled and said, “Just so you know, we don’t make ours like everyone else.” She wasn’t exaggerating. Instead of the usual tomato-basil topping, Safina’s version arrives as golden crostini drizzled with honey, crowned with crispy roasted Brussels sprout leaves, creamy goat cheese, and a touch of balsamic reduction. Sweet, earthy, tangy, and crisp all at once, it was easily one of the best bruschettas I’ve ever had. We practically fought over the last piece.
For entrées we went with the Stuffed Filet and the pasta special in pistachio cream sauce. The filet, stuffed with prosciutto and provolone, was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, tender and deeply flavorful, with a rich demi-glace tying everything together. The pasta (coated in a silky, subtly nutty pistachio cream) was pure comfort elevated to fine-dining status. Portions were generous without being overwhelming, exactly what you hope for at this price point.
Dessert sealed the deal: a flawless New York-style cheesecake and a beautifully executed dark chocolate mousse. Paired with a strong espresso and a pot of fragrant herbal tea, it was the ideal nightcap.
Throughout the meal Marianna was attentive yet never intrusive, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in just often enough. Every interaction felt polished and sincere.
Safina delivers the rare combination of inventive Sicilian-American cuisine, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger for hours. It’s already on my short list for return visits, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a memorable meal in Milwaukee.
… more★★★★★
From the moment we walked into Safina, the evening felt special. The Sicilian-inspired space strikes the perfect balance: warm, elegant, and lively without ever feeling stuffy. Soft lighting, beautiful tile work, and just the right level of background music set an inviting tone.
Our server greeted us with genuine warmth and a quiet confidence that carried through the entire meal. When we ordered the bruschetta, Marianna smiled and said, “Just so you know, we don’t make ours like everyone else.” She wasn’t exaggerating. Instead of the usual tomato-basil topping, Safina’s version arrives as golden crostini drizzled with honey, crowned with crispy roasted Brussels sprout leaves, creamy goat cheese, and a touch of balsamic reduction. Sweet, earthy, tangy, and crisp all at once, it was easily one of the best bruschettas I’ve ever had. We practically fought over the last piece.
For entrées we went with the Stuffed Filet and the pasta special in pistachio cream sauce. The filet, stuffed with prosciutto and provolone, was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, tender and deeply flavorful, with a rich demi-glace tying everything together. The pasta (coated in a silky, subtly nutty pistachio cream) was pure comfort elevated to fine-dining status. Portions were generous without being overwhelming, exactly what you hope for at this price point.
Dessert sealed the deal: a flawless New York-style cheesecake and a beautifully executed dark chocolate mousse. Paired with a strong espresso and a pot of fragrant herbal tea, it was the ideal nightcap.
Throughout the meal Marianna was attentive yet never intrusive, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in just often enough. Every interaction felt polished and sincere.
Safina delivers the rare combination of inventive Sicilian-American cuisine, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger for hours. It’s already on my short list for return visits, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a memorable meal in Milwaukee.
Yesi Prado
Came here in October from out of town. We didn’t make a reservation but the host was able to seat us right away even though it was a Friday night. Our meals were good but the tiramisu and espresso martini was the best part
… moreKZ
Really beautiful restaurant! Service was top notch. Food was to shelf! From the bread to the desserts, all 100% delicious. Red sauce is usually just red sauce, I’ve never had red sauce like this. It was a whole new level. Look at all the pictures, everything was delicious! When we got to Milwaukee we didn’t know where to go and found Safina on Google maps. It was walking distance from our hotel and we are glad we found it. When we’re back in Milwaukee we will be going back to Safina. Btw…we didn’t have reservations but we were lucky to get a seat. Better off making reservations to to make sure you get a seat. We literally got the only open table, we lucked out!
… moreNibs
Excellent Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown. Everything our group had was fresh, tasty and hearty. They don’t skimp on the portions here! The pasta puttanesca served with the halibut was the tastiest pasta dish I’ve had in a long, long time. Cocktails and wine were as good as the food. Staff were the perfect blend of attentive but not overbearing. Wonderful meal. Highly recommended.
… moreJeremiah Johnson
Very nice atmosphere with nice finishes, cream city brick and candles at each table. Both the bruchetta and calamari were light and flavorful. Main dishes are generous, and cocktails were good as well. They gave a free dessert for our anniversary. The service was quick and friendly. We will return.
… moreM B
Not cheap but amazing service and food.
Walked in on a saturday night but they were booked. While walking out the manager chased us down and said he’d squeeze us in.
So happy he did. The food was amazing and the portions large.
Service was exceptional. Water always filled and very attentive throughout the meal.
Cannoli was very good and my wife and kid loved the tiramisu.
Wife had some special shrimp pasra dish she said was divine.
My kid had a duroc porkchop, they cooked it m/mr perfectly and was sensational.
I had the recommended eggplant parmesan with pasta. Was top notch. One of best ive had. Very nice breading and sauce/cheese. Im a big guy with big appetite and i barely ate over half.
The dinner salad was also exceptional. Dressed perfectly with red wine vinegar.
Definitely a must have italian destination if in downtown Milwaukee
… moreWalked in on a saturday night but they were booked. While walking out the manager chased us down and said he’d squeeze us in.
So happy he did. The food was amazing and the portions large.
Service was exceptional. Water always filled and very attentive throughout the meal.
Cannoli was very good and my wife and kid loved the tiramisu.
Wife had some special shrimp pasra dish she said was divine.
My kid had a duroc porkchop, they cooked it m/mr perfectly and was sensational.
I had the recommended eggplant parmesan with pasta. Was top notch. One of best ive had. Very nice breading and sauce/cheese. Im a big guy with big appetite and i barely ate over half.
The dinner salad was also exceptional. Dressed perfectly with red wine vinegar.
Definitely a must have italian destination if in downtown Milwaukee
MaiN
From the moment we walked into the cozy, quaint, elegant setting, we were greeted by the restaurant owner. He proceeded to seat us at a table next to the bar. Our courteous waitress came by to take our order. She suggested a few dishes. We decided to go with Frutta Di Mare and my boyfriend, ordered a center cut steak with fingerling potatoes and carmelized onions. Both dishes were exquisite and flavorful! We also had calamari that was lighted battered and deliciously tender. Each bite left us desiring for more We left no morsel behind. To top it off, we ordered tiramisu for dessert. It was simply the best with a deliciously delightful yet delicate balance of sweetness whipped to perfection. We savored each bite. There is no mistaken that we will return for the exceptional quality, impeccable service and exquisite cuisine! We would like to thank the restaurant owner and his father for dropping by our table several times to make sure everything was to our satisfaction.
… more