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Balistreri's Italian-American

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812 N 68th St
Milwaukee, WI 53213

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(414) 475-1414
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Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Balistreri's Italian-American - Milwaukee, WI
Reviews
( 22 )
( 13 )
( 2 )
( 1 )
( 1 )

Best

Tried for the first time the other night. It's the best pizza in town. And as someone has already mentioned, fresh mushrooms are the way to go. Staff couldn't be more friendly ...

Worst

I've been here 3-4 times and I like the red and white check board table cloth motiff and the service was friendly. The food is great if you have had you taste bud's shot off, sur...

Our waiter was excellent... 8/12/2013

We have been regular's here for 20+ years. The food has always been outstanding, until our visit on 8/3 for... more
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Our waiter was excellent... 8/12/2013

Madryn Provided by Partner
We have been regular's here for 20+ years. The food has always been outstanding, until our visit on 8/3 for mom's BDay. Our waiter, Matt, was wonde... more
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Editorial review from Citysearch 10/29/2012

i have always loved your restaurant, i can't wait to come back to milwaukee for a visit and experience your cuisine again! kathryn. more
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I have been a satisfied diner at 1/13/2012

I have been a satisfied diner at Balistreri's for over 30 years. A recent visit, however, indicated that the original is getting a bit long in the tooth, with numerous hand-scratch deletions on their menu (menu specialties, at that). I have been around since the Saturday Dungeness Sea Crab special. You not only can't find that, but their signature sicilian steak has gone the way of the DoDo bird. It also takes a tough swallow, that despite how good the pizza tastes, a recent visit of pizza and eggplant for three came in at over $60. I will go back, but not real soon.... more
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Best pizza in town! 6/27/2011

Tried for the first time the other night. It's the best pizza in town. And as someone has already mentioned, fresh mushrooms are the way to go. Staff couldn't be more friendly & helpful. 5 Stars, all the way! more
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4th Best Pizza Experience in Wisconsin 1/8/2011

When in Milwaukee for pleasure this is a favorite pizza stop of mine. I do love the supreme pizza and unfortunately I have never ventured away from the pizza selection at Balistreri?s. Next time I will have to force myself to try something different. The sauce is spicy and the crust is thin and tasteful so if this is what you look forward to in a pizza give Balistreri?s a try. ? The wait can be pretty lengthy so visit at an off peak time. ? The establishment is an older building with a medium floor space it can get kind of cramped. ? No outdoor seating. ? They could offer a better Italian environment. ? The staff is polite and courteous, quick to fill drinks and fulfill requests. more
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Excellent Italian Food 12/26/2010

I actually hesitate to write a review of this establishment, as the wait time to get a table is already quite lengthy, and I don't wish to add to it. That being said, I highly recommend Balistreri's Restaurant for anyone looking for high quality Italian-American fare. Their pizza is AMAZING (I do recommend paying extra for the fresh mushrooms vs. the canned)... it comes as NO surprise that it is consistently ranked among Milwaukee's best. The fried eggplant is a personal favorite (not available on Fridays until very late at night, after the fish fry is through). The Chicken Parmigiana is my favorite among the entrees. Entree portions are decently sized and affordable. Balistreri's is by far one of my favorite Milwaukee restaurants. If you haven't tried the food, do yourself a favor and fix that mistake soon! I would suggest going at an off-peak time, as the wait time can be quite lengthy during normal dinner times. more
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Good Food 1/4/2010

They have good food but the draw back for me is the wait to get seated, even when I did have a reservation.... more
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Good Food 1/4/2010

dan1736 Provided by Partner
They have good food but the draw back for me is the wait to get seated, even when I did have a reservation. When I drive by on the way to their oth... more
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unless you love canned mushrooms 7/9/2009

The service was fantastic. The pizza was awful. The crust has NO flavor -- it is, however, very thin...which is normally good. Like eating cardboard that was slightly burned. Nice amount of toppings...if you don't mind everything coming out of a can. Overpriced. The eggplant was incredibly greasy, and it's not peeled, so it also has a slightly bitter taste. There is a LOT of it, however.:( The sausage has a nasty texture, and slightly overwhelming peppery taste. We gave it three tries and are not going back, ever. Pros: GREAT service Cons: lousy food more
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Best Pizza We Ever Had 2/15/2009

Amazingly thin - real Italian sausage and stretchy mozzarella. You can't find a thin crust like this with all the toppings. We travel 600 miles three or four times a year to have their pizza. It's incredible. more
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Very disappointing. 2/23/2008

After reading so many positive reviews I was psyched to try the ""Best Pizza in Milwaukee"" Pros: Ambience Cons: Pizza more
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Hands Down, Best Pizza in Milwaukee! 10/13/2006

Being originally from Chicago, we tend to be extremely critical of pizza, italian beef and hotdogs. Balistreri's is easily the most flavorful pizza restaurant in town and rivals ""home Run Inn"" and ""connies"" from chicago. Both of their locations are equally great and only a couple of blocks apart from one another. Pros: Great food, period! Who cares about the rest. Cons: Can be the wait. Recommend going around the corner to their Bluemound location. more
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Best Italian Restaurant in Milwaukee 9/7/2006

My grandma gave me a dollar to try french fried eggplant when i was 8 years old, ever since, its been my favorite food!! The pizza isn't my favorite because I like thick crust, but I can assure you that if you like thin crust it's good. Also the pizzas there are made JUST LIKE they are in italy, when I went to rome the pizza there was exactly the same! Definitely try the eggplant, it tastes like french fries but better...ohhhhh its so good....but they dont serve eggplant on fridays because they have their fryers busy doing the fish fry on fridays! Its best to have an early or late dinner there on weekends, but if you have to wait its usually not more than 20 minutes or a half hour, and its definitely worth the wait. If you have to wait, then check out the chocolate shop next door! (Dessert!!) Pros: Amazing food, fast and attentive service Cons: Parking can be a problem when its busy on weekends, but you wont have to walk much more than a block when its busy more
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Best Pizza in Milwaukee Area 6/23/2006

I began my ""pizza career"" at the Caradaro Club in the third ward as a freshman at Marquette in 1953. When they went under I switched to Balistreri's which moved from 2nd place to first IMHO. Pros: Great food and service Cons: Long waits, crowded and usually noisy. more
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A Sicilian version of Chuck-E-Cheese Pizza 5/10/2006

I've been here 3-4 times and I like the red and white check board table cloth motiff and the service was friendly. The food is great if you have had you taste bud's shot off, surgically removed or otherwise wern't born with taste buds to begin with. They charge extra for (certain) ""fresh"" veggies on the pizza- meaning that its stright out of a can. The crust is thin alright but not crispy and the prices are to high for the product. I guess if you want the pricy nostalgia for Milwaukee's 1st pizza joint your in luck. If you want Italian food try another restaurant. It is ok for kids in that the blandness of the ingredients won't make them cry and you won't have to chase them through plastic ball pits either. more
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Soggy Pizza 5/10/2006

If you get more than 4 toppings, request your pizza WITHOUT sauce; get olive oil instead...I know it sounds crazy, and the sauce is good, but the crust is crispier if you have a lot of toppings... more
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Hooked on their Pizza! 6/15/2004

I've been coming here for years, and the pizza has always been great! They have the best thin crust pizza in the metropolitan area. The flavor will bring you back time and again. We've come here to celebrate various occasions, even a wake for my Mom 17+ years ago, who enjoyed Balestreri's too when she was with us. Be sure to have some eggplant, it's succulent taste will bring you back for more. Pros: Great Food, Friendly Staff, Quaint Interior Cons: , Peak time waiting more
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Balistreri's 6/14/2004

I've been going to Balistreri's since I was dating in high school which was 34 years ago and the food and atmosphere has not changed. I've introduced my children to Balistreri's over the years and now we have another generation going with my grandson. People travel big distances to enjoy Balistreri's and that's no tease - You don't even mind the wait at times - It's just part of the experience - You'll see... Outstanding! Pros: Excellent Food, Atmosphere, Inexpensive more
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Awesome Fried Eggplant!!! 6/24/2003

I know it sounds gross but my grandma gave me a quarter to try it when I was 8 and I've been hooked ever since!! I'm obsessed!!!! I love it!!! Try the french fried eggplant at least once!!!! Pros: Great Atmosphere, Friendly Service Cons: bad parking more
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Menu for Balistreri's Italian-American


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    There's always a crowd in this jam-packed casual Italian joint. Even in the dead of winter, expect to see folks linked up outside, waiting for a table. And, once inside, expect...

  • 1/6/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thur, 11 am - 11 pm; Fri-Sat, 11 am - Midnight; Sun, 2-10 pm
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Carte Blanche, Diner's Club, Discover, Visa
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