Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Milwaukee

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Milwaukee? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Dim Sum Give Some

5.0

5 (9)

$50 and over

Dim Sum

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite are proud to announce the return of Dim Sum Give Some for its seventh year, benefiting the Kennedy’s Disease Association (KDA). The 2026 event marks a meaningful milestone: 10 years since Jacobs was diagnosed with Kennedy’s Disease.

Presented by OpenTable, this year’s Dim Sum Give Some will be the largest yet, bringing together 35 chefs from across the country to celebrate culinary talent and charitable impact. Get ready for the most impressive lineup of chefs on record, featuring talent including Jacobs' fellow Top Chef and Tournament of Champions contestants, and award-winning chefs from cities such as New York, Boston, Miami, Denver, Austin, Salt Lake City, Raleigh, and Oahu.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Apr 19, 2026

Fantastic event, great chefs and food for a good cause.

Screaming Tuna - Mequon

4.7

4.7 (79)

$30 and under

Sushi

Mequon

About the restaurant

The Lil' Tuna is the long awaited baby sister to Screaming Tuna Milwaukee. Located in the Mequon Public Market, and serving ramen, wontons, sushi, cocktails and more, it's the perfect size sushi bar to put a little extra love into every bite. And when you're done hanging out with the chefs you can peruse the stellar lineup market neighbors: Good City Brewing. Boca Rica. Purple Door Ice Cream. Lakeside Cookie Co. Santorini Grill. Mad Rush Pizza. Aloha Poke.

Top review

FloydGold

Dined on Apr 9, 2026

Wyatt did a great job serving us tasty sushi. Friendly, efficient staff.

Nakama

4.9

4.9 (41)

$50 and over

Japanese

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Nakama is...
... the culmination of a combined 75 years of hospitality experience, with half of that time spent collaborating and working alongside each other in countless venues, events, pop-ups and even cities.
...a fellowship of dreamers and doers, with heads in the clouds yet feet firmly in trenches, working every hour of every day to build that dream for our guests.
...an Omakase Bar, a HandRoll Bar, an homage to the Japanese Listening Bar.

And We CAN’T WAIT, for you to find your way to our dinner party.

From Roku TV's Chef Jason Morimoto, comes this Lower East Side escape. With a finely focused menu of nigiri, temaki (handrolls), otsumami (small plates), complimented by an equally refined selection of the best in our beverage program.

Top review

Jenny

Dined 6 days ago

Absolutely outstanding dining experience all the way around. Attentive and above and beyond service, incredible food, amazing ambience. We can’t wait to come back!

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4.9

4.9 (603)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

It’s been over four years since guests last tasted the Sicilian dishes from longtime Milwaukee restaurant Giovanni’s. But all of that changes with Safina: a new casual Italian concept that comes to the historic building at 785 N. Jefferson St.

Focusing on comforting dishes with roots in Sicily and the southern regions of Italy, Safina's goal is to keep the menu familiar and accessible. The restaurant also features a full bar and second-level seating, complete with wood and marble finishes that highlight the rustic, modern Italian ambiance.

Top review

ScottGold

Dined 4 days ago

Service was impeccable and food was fantastic as always. We drove up from Chicago just to go to the restaurant !

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San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana

4.9

4.9 (141)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

San Giorgio serves Authentic Neapolitan pizza straight from Naples, Italy in a buzzing modern space.

At San Giorgio, our Neapolitan pizza dough is made fresh and naturally fermented in accordance with the strict standards of the authentic Vera Pizza Napolenta. Our pizza is cooked at 900°F in a Stefano Ferrara, wood-fired oven and is finished in 70-90 seconds. This extreme heat creates a pizza with a light and fluffy “cornicione” (crown) and a soft, thin center.

We also serve pasta and local and international beer, wine and spirits.

Top review

DanGold

Dined 5 days ago

Absolutely delicious, truly authentic Neopolitan pizza!

La Merenda

4.8

4.8 (2821)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

La Merenda is a bar and grill located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that specializes in serving globally inspired cuisine, local beers and wine. The restaurant offers a casual dining with upscale flavors.

La Merenda has an emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients as much as possible, so the menu is constantly being updated with new dishes based on available ingredients. The main menu at La Merenda offers a selection of snacks, seafood and meat entr�es. Menu selections include such dishes as Wisconsin farmers� salad, seasonal gnocchi, veal stracotto, Sambal Goreng Udang with Gulf shrimp and pork and shrimp tostadas.

Top review

Will

Dined on May 18, 2026

Excellent dining experience. Brandon was our server, and he truly knows the menu. I took out a couple of colleagues and both enjoyed the experience as well.

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Popular dish

Mushroom Risotto (Italy)

Popular dish

Beef Empanadas (Colombia)

Popular dish

Argentinian Style Beef

Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993

4.8

4.8 (3375)

$50 and over

Italian

Wauwatosa

About the restaurant

Nestled in an historic brewery building in the Village of Wauwatosa, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 is the flagship restaurant in The Bartolotta Restaurants portfolio. Conceived by The Bartolotta Restaurants co-founders, restaurateur Joe Bartolotta and his brother, Chef Paul Bartolotta, it is acclaimed for its handmade pasta and authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy, intimate setting. Executive Chef Juan Urbieta presents the popular “Un Viaggio in Italia” menu series, highlighting a different city or region of Italy with a four-course, customizable menu that takes guests on a journey of Italy and changes monthly.The restaurant was recently awarded the coveted Marchio Ospitalità Italiana certification of excellence by the Italian Union of Chamber of Commerce. This prestigious award honors a restaurant for its commitment to “Made in Italy” quality and authenticity. Reservations are recommended, and we have a 15-minute grace period, so please call us if you are running late.

Top review

Devin

Dined on May 12, 2026

Food, drinks, and service were incredible. Will always come back.

Calderone Club - Downtown Milwaukee

4.9

4.9 (126)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee, just steps from the Deer District, Old World Third Street, The Baird Center, Panther Arena, Miller High Life Theater and more, Calderone Club combines the warmth of a family trattoria with the sophistication of fine Italian dining. Family-owned and family-friendly, Calderone Club brings authentic Italian flavors to every table, crafted with imported ingredients and fresh, organic produce. Savor the award winning meatballs--crowned Milwaukee's Best--or enjoy local favorites like Penne con Salsiccia Picante and our signature famous pizza. Every dish is made with passion and authenticity. Whether you're gathering with family, meeting friends before a game or show, or celebrating a special occasion, Calderone Club invites you to experience true Italian hospitality in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

Top review

Peter

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food and service. Eggplant appetizer is the best I've ever had. Any of the fresh pasta and sauces are very good.

Morel

4.9

4.9 (846)

$50 and over

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

A modern American restaurant that's dedicated to source consciousness, Morel's menu finds inspiration from Chef Jonathan Manyo’s roots: Wisconsin. Morel explores natural flavors, colors, and textures from local farms, purveyors, foragers, and artisans. For eight years, Jonathan has remained dedicated to featuring a menu comprised of nearly 100% Wisconsin-sourced ingredients.

Top review

Justin

Dined on May 19, 2026

Top 5 meal I’ve ever had in my life, worth every penny!

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Experience

Morel Mushroom Dinner '26

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