In search of a big bowl of pasta like Nonna used to make? A plate of veal saltimboccacca? A warm Italian smile on a cold day? We hear you. And we’ve pulled together a list of spots where you can get one or more of the above.

Some of these eateries have been around for decades. Others are newer on the scene. In either case, they serve us well as the little “red sauce joints”: the neighborhood spots where we seek respite at the end of a long day, celebrate a casual birthday or seek out intimate tables for a first date. The vibe is friendly and casual. The seating is close. 

Walk into the dining room and you’ll see a crosssection of folks. A young couple shares an appetizer at a corner table. A family catches up over pasta and pizza. A chortling crew of regulars gathers at the convivial bar’s far end. When the restaurant is busy, the dining room hums like a neighborhood cocktail party as guests savor glasses of wine alongside simple plates of pasta, eggplant parmesan and meatballs.

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Enjoy chef made classics with a modern flair Savor every bite of your new favorite freshly made, authentic entrée in the cozy dining room. Celebrating, or just thirsty for the flavors of Italy? Enjoy a bottle of wine paired to compliment the flavors. Sala offers a modern twist on traditional Sicilian cuisine, crafted from recipes passed down through generations at this local favorite. Nestled in the charming East Side of Milwaukee, Sala serves morning coffee and pastries, lunch paninis, flatbread and soup, and a full dinner menu with featured specials. See the menu Sala Modern Sicillain Dining · 2613 E Hampshire St, Milwaukee

Balistreri's 
Italian Ristorante, 812 N. 68th St., (414) 475-1414
Bluemound Inn, 6501 W. Bluemound Rd. (414) 258-9881
balistreris.com
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If you’re near Wauwatosa, you’ve got two classic choices within just blocks of one another. Balistreri's Italian Ristorante is best known for its delicious pizza (a descendent of Milwaukee’s original thin-crust recipe), but also serves a variety of other traditional Italian-American favorites in a lively, intimate setting. Or you can step back in time at the family’s Bluemound Inn location, which serves up that same pizza in a charmingly time-warpy environment alongside a larger menu of favorites like veal picatta, linguini carbonara and eggplant parmesan.

Calderone Club
842 N. Old World 3rd St., Milwaukee, (414) 273-3236
calderoneclub.net
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A classic checkered-tablecloth Italian restaurant, Calderone dishes up a copious menu of classic dishes. Whether you’re craving a mound of delicious pasta, a plate of chicken parmesan or some of the city's most beloved thin-crust pizza (derived from the “original” Milwaukee thin-crust recipe).

Capri di Nuovo
8340 W. Beloit Rd., (414) 543-5510
capridinuovo.com
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Long known simply as “Capri”, Capri di Nuovo has been a community staple since 1972. Long known for its generous servings of pasta – including classic lasagna and fettuccine alfredo – there’s comfort to be found in this family-owned gem, which also serves up fantastic garlic bread and housemade thin-crust, hand-tossed, deep dish and pan-style pizzas. 

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Carini's La Conca d'Oro
3468 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 963-9623
carinislaconcadoro.com
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Long known for its seafood-based Italian cuisine, Carini’s menu reflects co-owner and chef Peter Carini’s Sicilian heritage. Favorite dishes include their namesake conca d’oro featuring shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari in a marinara wine sauce and Peter’s housemade vodka sauce. Guests will also find tender racks of lamb and Sicilian spiedini, which is still painstakingly made by hand in the restaurant’s tiny kitchen. There’s also Neapolitan-style pizza, thanks to the restaurant’s wood-fired oven.

Centro Cafe
808 E. Center St., (414) 455-3751
centrocaferiverwest.com
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Among the coziest spots in Riverwest, Centro Cafe welcomes diners with seating at their salvaged marble-top bar or dining tables accompanied by repurposed church pew seating. It’s a great spot to order up affordable plates of heart-warming pasta and pan-fried gnocchi. Be sure to ask about the daily specials!

The Pasta Tree 
1503 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 276-8867
pastatreemilwaukee.com
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It’s pretty hard not to get cozy at The Pasta Tree where narrow dining rooms and closely spaced tables create an intimate environment. Thanks to its housemade pastas, hand-stretched mozzarella cheese and more than 30 sauces it’s also a spot where you’ll find it impossible not to find something delicious.

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Safina 
785 N. Jefferson St., (414) 488-9578
safinamke.com 
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The Safina family has long been a part of Milwaukee’s restaurant scene, and for good reason. At their namesake, Safina, you’ll find comforting dishes with roots in Sicily and the southern regions of Italy. That includes frutti di mare, bruschetta, Sicilian pork chops, branzino and a selection of housemade pastas served with classic sauces like slow-simmered bolognese. Be sure to order a slice of the cheesecake; it will surprise you.

Sala Modern Sicilian
2613 E. Hampshire St., (414) 964-2611
salaitalianrestaurant.com
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This cozy family-operated restaurant sets the perfect stage for gathering with friends, getting together for a family meal or enjoying an intimate date. Start with the baked goat cheese in tomato-basil sauce and follow up with dishes like housemade gnocchi, chicken parmigiana and pork Marsala.  Pay your visit during the daytime hours and rub elbows with UWM faculty who’ve popped by for a panino.

Santino's Little Italy
352 E. Stewart St., (414) 897-7367
santinoslittleitaly.com
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Stepping into Santinto’s feels a bit like popping into a classic Italian joint in New York; but the hospitality is distinctively Midwestern. Distinctive wood-fired pizzas rule the menu; but their small menu of classic Italian dishes (and sometimes a special or two) are well-executed making them well worth exploring. Be sure to ask for a glass of amaro to end your meal!

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Sorella
2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 301-6255
sorellamke.com
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Maybe the most modern of the bunch, Sorella still offers up a casual, neighborhood restaurant feel and a cozy collection of shareable seasonal dishes inspired by Southern Italy and shaped with a bit of East Coast inflection. You’ll find a mix of antipasti, vegetable-forward plates, pastas and wood-fired pizza along with compelling, moderately priced entrees that are unlike any other restaurant in the city. 

Tenuta's
2995 S. Clement Ave., (414) 431-1014
tenutasitalian.com
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This family-owned restaurant with Southern Italian roots offers cozy digs, a convivial atmosphere and reasonable prices right in the heart of Bay View.  Their housemade pizza is a popular pick, but you can also choose from memorable dishes like spicy Italian sausage with vodka sauce, housemade mushroom ravioli or chicken piccata.