

Traditional Neapolitan pizzas, plus pasta & drinks in a rustic setting with an 1890s Brooklyn vibe.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 352 E Stewart St, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone: (414) 897-7367
Website: https://santinoslittleitaly.com/
Menu Photos
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Santino’s Little Italy – Bay View, Milwaukee, WI
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Reviews
The only cons: lack of parking. Street only. Prepare to walk if it’s a busy day- I don’t mind.
If you’re someone who can’t tolerate even a little bit of spice, you won’t like the Italian sausage they use on their pizza. Personally I loved it.
What I noticed first is that there are TVs set up throughout the restaurant playing Moonstruck, the 1987 movie with Cher and Nicolas Cage. It runs continuously, and I think without sound. I didn’t have a direct line of sight, but I did notice it a few times throughout the evening. It’s a quirky thing, and I like it. The inside is dimly lit, but bright enough to read menus and make out all the essentials. The lighting on the bars is a rich red, and it really sets off those areas. The walls are adorned with photos of iconic Italian female movie stars like Sophia Loren. I liked the classic vibe. The place was very loud.
We were seated right away and settled in with waters, drinks, and menus. Our server did a nice job walking us through the menu details. It’s mostly specialty pizzas, with a few appetizers, salads, and a couple of entrees. For drinks, there were a couple of Santino Sangrias, which were unique in that they included gin, a nice touch. There was also a Paper Plane Martini, which was very good too. I mentioned before that it was loud, and it was especially loud with a large group behind us. It got much better when they cleared out. I noticed that they have sound absorbing materials on some of the walls, which probably helps, just not enough.
For dinner, we started off with a couple of Caesar salads. They were a good portion and easily shared by two. The dressing was fresh and the right amount. It was a great start to the meal. I would have liked to try the calamari, but nobody else was interested, maybe next time.
There were three pizzas at the table, Margherita, Paisan, and a make your own with cheese, sausage, mushroom, and onion. I decided to be different and tried the Gigante Meatball Plate. The pizzas are Neapolitan, with bubbly, charred edges. All of them had excellent presentation and flavor. Neapolitans are not known for their sturdy centers, so you have to hold on tight to keep everything from sliding off.
As expected, the meatball was very large. It’s served with penne pasta, which was okay, though I would have preferred spaghetti. The sauce and cheese had good flavor. A solid entree, though not amazing.
We were celebrating a birthday, so we saved room for a few shared desserts. We tried the flourless cake, tiramisu, and the chocolate hazelnut gelato. They were all good choices, satisfying, but again, not amazing.
Lots to like about this place. Nice atmosphere (although loud), great service (thanks Tommy), and an excellent selection of pizzas. Would come back again, and this time order one of the specialty pizzas (Da Vinci?).
From the top-notch service, to outstanding food, what isn’t there to love? Fresh ingredients, awesome selections, and friendly + knowledgeable staff. All of the workings of a great business. You can tell they truly care about everything they do.
While they’re known for their incredible pizza (which arguably IS some of the best in the city), do NOT miss out on the their Rigatoni Alla Vodka OR Pasta Carbonara.
If I could leave more than 5 stars, I would. Can’t wait to come back! This is a hidden gem, and one of Milwaukee’s finest 🙂
We ordered the calamari fritti, melanzana fritti, and the paisano pizza — and we couldn’t get enough! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared.
We can’t wait to come back and enjoy the patio this summer!
It was our daddy-daughter date and this one was special.
Try the fried eggplant, the pizza is phenomenal; don’t forget dessert. I’ll come back better dressed~