Brio Trattoria

My wife and I went for our 28th anniversary on the recommendation of a good friend. Lovely space; no problem parking. Service (by Kayla) was warm and impeccable — and she shared her thoughts on selections, which helped. Food was terrific with excellent presentation (the pork chop — wow!). And to top it off, Kayla had graciously taken a photo of us at the beginning, so she knew it was a special outing. After dinner, she surprised us with cheesecake compliments of the staff and wished us a happy anniversary. The host came over to give us her best wishes as well. We found Safina to be an absolute treasure. Thanks to everyone there for giving us a memorable evening out.

This is a Milwaukee must. The same amazing, quality food as Giovanni’s in a more casual environment. Smaller, intimate dining room. Great service. Also vegan friendly for someone in our party.

I went here for my birthday dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Atmosphere was small, there were only a dozen tables, so the sound level in the restaurant is very low. Pace of service was great, and we felt genuinely taken care of by our server Lex and all the staff there. Absolutely recommend and we will be back! Frutta de mare was to die for, bruschetta was delicious and the Alfredo was homemade.

When I first found out Safina’s was open, I was so pleased to have “Giovanni’s” food available again! From start to finish, everything was excellent. Kayla was our bartender for a cocktail before dinner, & Jacqueline our server. They’re both great at their jobs. There is so much attention to detail. We ordered eggplant parmigiana as an appetizer @ the bar & it was done to perfection. Our meals were out of this world, & the special was beef spiedini, my absolute favorite dish from Giovanni’s back in the day. We also had the salad (Rosetta), Busiate con Gamberi & Giovanni’s original Chicken (Parmesan). No complaints from any of us, only that I wish spiedini was on the menu. We were so full & no room for dessert. Giovanni came to talk to us, & shared that the pastas are all imported from Sicily, & they also have their own “Safina” olive oil. Sal also checked to see how our meals were. Looking forward to going back again to try their other dishes.

What an extraordinary experience this was Friday evening. After a slight delay waiting at the host desk, we were seated promptly by Bentley who would also be our server tonight. It was our first time here, my friend and I, and we were very much looking forward to the first time experience, as it were. We were not disappointed. We started out with a glass of Pinot noir for my friend, and a glass of Pinot grigio for myself. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer and it was stellar. Very crispy bread topped beautifully with olive oil, cheese, and fresh tomatoes. Glorious flavors. The fresh bread service came with Sicilian olive oil which was smooth with a hint of earthiness. I would suggest some chopped olives to add a bit of salt, or some herbs, either for needed texture. The bread was soft - was hoping for a bit more crispiness in the crust, or perhaps some sesame seeds baked into the crust; just a personal preference. Then... the entrees. Mother of God, they were fabulous. My dining partner's fettuccine alfredo was both silky and decadent. The pasta was nicely cooked, and the sauce was a pleasantly sweet compliment to the pasta. I went out on a limb and I ordered the fusilloni al pistachio which was highlighted with guanciale, otherwise known as pork cheeks. The pesto and crudo were flavorful and the guanciale added a smokiness that was not overpowering. The only thing I would have changed was the texture of the pasta which was cooked a bit too long for my liking; again, personal preference. The portions were generous so we decided to skip dessert. Excellent, attentive service, reasonable prices, and great clientele. Will definitely be coming back!