Review Tenuta's Italian Restaurant - Milwaukee

This place was just WOW. I’ve lived in Milwaukee since 2012 and it’s my first time visiting. We absolutely loved the food. We got the meatballs for appetizers & Cesar salad. We got the Virgin classic pizza- we LOVED IT. Seriously so delicious. We also got pastas and they were great as well. We didn’t make a reservation so we had to sit at the bar which was no problem for us. Would definitely make reservations next time, they seem VERY busy. Service great- food great- can’t wait to come back!

Ate outside, shaded was perfect. Scampi, Special, Tenuta salad, Burrata.. took a thin and crispy to go sausage pepperoni heated up well the next day.. it was both thin and crispy... I'd repeat the same food or try something new. Try the espresso martini shaken over ice.

The perfect date night/dining experience. Our server was wonderful and the food and drinks were phenomenal. The calamari was the best. The Agnello pasta was to die for. The lasagna was flavorful and made with love. The tiramisu was perfection. 10/10. Cannot wait to go again for the pizza.

We tried Tenuta's this evening, and it was delicious! We had an extra long wait for our reserved table but not because of the restaurant staff. The people at the second table we needed just wouldn't leave. I can understand staying and talking for a little while, but when you see the entryway FULL of people waiting to be seated, be respectful and move outside or to the bar so others can be seated to dine. The staff was very apologetic even though it was not their fault, and offered a couple appetizers for our inconvenience. Very nice. Dinners come with bread and a side salad, which can be upgraded to a Cesar or one other (sorry can't remember). The bread is a very nice, hearty Italian that comes in baskets for the table. Orders included a couple Marsala, a couple Shrimp Scampi, a Bolognese, and a pizza. I had the Marsala and it is so delicious. The chicken is very tender, the mashed tators had a nice level of garlic and were very smooth, the broccoli was nicely cooked and still crisp, and the mushroom sauce...oh my, the sauce. Amazing. I was offered a taste of the Bolognese, so of course I did taste it. So yummy. Our server was excellent. Checking on us regularly even though they were at capacity and he was very busy. I really hate when I forget to ask their name if they don't offered it because they deserve to be recognized when they provide great service. Tenuta's is a small, neighborhood restaurant that is very busy...because they are very good. Reservations are a must. I highly recommend.

The Bolognese was amazing 👌. This was a great place to carb load before my triathlon. When we got there the place was very busy. Ended up getting seated quick and service was perfect.

This place is amazing! didnt have a reservation and was able to get seated within minutes. this is a teeny tiny VERY cozy restaurant nestled in a cute little neighborhood. the food is incredible! we had the calamari as a started. SUPER crispy and flavorful. came with two sauces. the main courses came with soup or salad- salad and bread which was also very yummy. i had the gnocchi and got a side of meatballs. the gnocchi was so delicious- sauce was super creamy and was loaded with mushrooms. YUM! the meatballs were extra tender as well and truly mouth watering. my partner had the salmon with risotto. the salmon had a crisp crust from the cook, and soft and delicious inside. the risotto was a little funky/ different but still PERFECT!! not to mention, they had a non-alcoholic beer which was a great find for those who are recovering/ not drinkers! love this place. we will definitely be returning very soon!

Very Boston "Little Italy" vibe. Smaller, very cozy. Wait staff, bartenders, even busboy were all very attentive and helpful. Went there on a Tuesday night for a birthday dinner and it was still full. And last but not least, the food was phenomenal. We could not have been happier with the experience and we'll certainly be back.

Came here for Father’s Day dinner. Staff was friendly and gave great advice on the various pasta dishes which we were grateful for as everything sounded amazing. It turns out, you really cannot go wrong. The traditional Carbonara was amazing (but rich!), short rib (Manzo) was fabulous, and the mushroom ravioli (Funghi) will be remembered in our taste buds until we return to have it again! The smallest pizza size is very very generous. The virgin-style crust was puffier than we were expecting, but fabulous. Stop by this place for your next splurge dinner out if you haven’t been here yet!

I don’t claim to be an expert in Italian cuisine but I just returned from a trip to Italy recently and this restaurant would rival any of the ones that I tried over there. The flavors were well-balanced and the meat quality was excellent. I highly recommend giving this place a try. It’s definitely worthy of its 4.7 rating.

My party of 6 had dinner here the other night. Everything was wonderful.....the wine, bar staff, wait staff, and especially the FOOD! To see a restaurant being full at 6pm on a weeknight and then remaining full until the time we left at 9pm really says something. I'll be going back soon! Wonderful experience!

wait time was a bit long for such a small place. You have a reservation and sometimes you aren't seated right away and other people.come in and you are sort of squashed until your table is ready unless you wait outside. But IT IS DEFINETLY WORTH THE WAIT. FOOD WAS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. I had the pan seared salmon..OMG I was in love

Terrific food and cozy atmosphere at this neighborhood restaurant. Highlights included the carbonara, the meatball appetizer and the garlic bread (with marinara dipping sauce). The crispy kale really complemented the sweetness of the butternut squash ravioli. The Oregon pinot noir we ordered was perfect with the meal.

Sometimes you need a reminder as to why you pay for food when dining out. Absolutely delicious and the service was great. Not pretentious, but exactly where you to go when you need great food in a great environment. I had the Agnello and the wife had Funghi. Both were absolutely delicious and it's nice to see people putting care into the food that they are making. Big shout out to the Balsamic dressing. Enjoyed drinking Delirium Tremens on tap. Absolutely recommend coming here if you want a great dining experience that is seldom found in the U.S. today.

Ridiculously fresh and delicious Italian food with great service in a very quaint setting. We took a Lyft from downtown and it was sooo worth it. Calamari, arancini and meatballs were amazing and very light. Definitely try the basil martini; very refreshing. Entre portions were more than adequate and tasty as well.

I was a little disappointed if I am being honest. Our server was a little cold to us throughout the evening (especially when you compared it to how she was talking to the other tables), had to ask about the special and was met with an unenthusiastic list of ingredients (it was chicken with kale and penne pasta as far as she told us, yum, maybe?). The Burrata was alright, and per my husband the carbonara was okay, but I could hardly eat my bolognese....For a place that boasts "authentic" and "traditional" "Italian" fare, and charges the prices they do, I am a little embarrassed for them. Bolognese should have next to little tomato sauce/paste, and in fact, there menu did not describe it as a tomato sauce. On their menu, they called it, as should be expected for bolognese, a "slow simmered meat sauce". When they set down the plate of tomato sauce caked onto my pasta, I was bummed. I would expect a place that boasts "americanized" and "commercial" Italian food at bargain prices to give me something like this. People in Bologna are shaking their heads at you for this travesty. I know, because they told me about people and places like you, ruining genuine, Italian food. And if this place was honest about how unauthentic the experience was going to be, maybe out would have rated them better. But, then I tasted the sauce. :( there was some sweetness to it, but mostly it tasted like canned tomato paste... I could not find or taste one bit of pancetta (in all fairness it may have been buried under the tomato paste and sauce I was eating, but why waste the money at this point Tenuta - just skip it if you are going to ruin it with tomato sauce anyways...). They DID have carrots in it, so that is something... Our server asked if we wanted dessert, but we had no idea what they had as options, no menu, she did not offer any hints as to what they had after we said maybe... If she wasn't going to sell to us, we decided after this hour-long venture, we weren't going to try to pull the information out of her any further. The food was not necessarily inedible, but it was not worth my time and definitely not worth my money. Wont be back on purpose.

Absolutely loved this place the atmosphere is very romantic & welcoming great 1st date place , our waiter & staff was very attentive they never allowed our water glasses to get empty , food was delicious I am definitely coming back

Went there for Mother’s Day brunch. Love the friendly vibe of the staff. Great decor. Intimate # of tables. Food was great. Most of us ordered the fried chicken with Italian sausage gravy plus 2 eggs and crispy diced potatoes. My daughter ordered the carbonara. Everything was delicious and the servings generous. Service was friendly and efficient. Highly recommend. I also love that they take reservations.

My friend lives around the corner from the restaurant. Every time I come in from Chicago, we make it a point to have dinner at the restaurant. Last night 9/2 we have a fantastic server named Laura. I can't say enough great things on her service. She is an asset to Tenuta's. Oh and the food was excellent as always.

The staff cares about your experience...add to that the excellent pizza & pasta choices. Specials are always spot on. Highly recommend.

I came here last night with my coworkers and their significant others. There were 12 people in our group. The staff was very accommodating to our party. The service was excellent, food was awesome, and they make a very good drink. The other guests that were there were very friendly and was easy to strkie up a conversation with. I would highly recommend Tenutas to any of my friends and family! I'm looking forward to going back there and trying the pizza!

Every single time I’m in Milwaukee this is a must. The food is out of the world and the staff is amazing. You won’t be disappointed it’s a must! Keep up the good work