Review Brio Trattoria - Milwaukee

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.

My husband & I are in Milwaukee for the weekend & we're walking around the streets near the hotel & seen this small restaurant where you could see the chefs in the basement windows cooking. We did not have a reservation so had to wait about 30 mins. When we decided to go back in we went to the bar & they offered us service at the bar. Liz the bar tender was AMAZING! She made our whole time there exceptional. We order a pork belly appetizer which was AMAZING, the cornbread was cooked to perfection! I ordered the chicken Alfredo & my husband order the herb crusted chicken with veggies, remarkable. We also ordered dessert, the cheesecake & a tiramisu. Both fantastic. I highly recommend this place if you are craving real Italian! Just place a reservation first!

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.

Beautiful interior, super friendly/attentive staff and most of all THE BEST food I’ve had in a really REALLY long time! You can tell there’s so much thought and love that goes into each dish they prepare. I ordered the fried calamari, bruschetta, eggplant and the Fusilloni Al Pistachio with the creamy pistachio pesto. First of all you NEED to try this pasta. I’ve never tried it before, but decided to go off the waiters recommendation, and I’m SO glad I did!! I literally crave this pasta! Yes it’s THAT GOOD! Lol The calamari is cooked to perfection and the bruschetta was so fresh and had a beautiful creamy goat cheese that just melts in your mouth. I also bought a bottle of the ‘SAFINA’ olive oil made in Sicily from their very own olive trees in their home town and it’s been a dream to cook with. I can definitely say I will be a regular customer here.

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.

Why go to Italy when Italy is only 15 min away from me! The place is very cute and cozy, felt like home. Food, was out of this world. We got bruschetta, insalate di mare, fusilloni al pistachio, chicken parmigiana just to name a few. If it was acceptable for adult to lick a plate in public, this would’ve been the place. Everything was sooooooo good. The flavor was on point! Can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the items on the menu!

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.

Safina undoubtedly offers the finest Italian cuisine in Milwaukee, accompanied by commendable service. Nestled in a splendid, historic building, its old-world charm enhances the overall dining experience.

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!

Hands down best Italian food in Downtown Milwaukee. Since Giovanni’s closed years back I’ve been lost, Safinas hit every taste bud in my mouth and brought back memories of a home cooked meal by my Nana. 👌🏽🙏 I’ll definitely be back to try everything on that menu 🔥

Everything was perfect. Food was delicious. Service was great! New favorite place to dine!

So many people have been talking about Safina’s! And I mean really really good talk! Having been to Italy and little Italy on the north end of Boston we are always on the hunt for really tasty Italian food. We are pretty harsh critics. The whole fam was in agreement that this was a fantastic experience. I am literally craving it again today! The bread comes warm and it is a triple olive oil dip which is absolutely heaven! We started with calamari- we did a half and half platter. One half was normal deep fried and the other was as well but was tossed with a sweet and sour sauce. It sounded bizarre to all of us but when in Rome 🤣. To our surprise it was a huge hit!!! Probably one of the best calamari we have had! This was so tender and yummy. Then we had the Bruschetta ---oohhhh my. We had to order more because it was so creamy dreamy. Such fresh tastes. The cocktails were all on point! Now for the main meal. The choices are tough because it all sounds amazing. 3 ordered fusilloni pistachio pasta. I look forward to that next time as it was outstanding! I had frutta di mare. What a wonderful dish full of flavors that blend so well. One had mammas vesivo it was gone before I had the chance to try it so I am going to say it was a hit Lastly was Sicilian grilled maiale. This is a bone in pork chop my husband always goes to. I get ordering pork is always Hard for me in a restaraunt but this was really really outstanding. The presentation was on point! It was gorgeous. And how many different ways can you say- melt in your mouth. Wow! Perfection! We are blessed to live two blocks away and will be back again and again!

So excited to have the Safina family back making Italian food. Amazing menu and wine list.

First time dining at Safina and since my parents are from Sicily and I have traveled there I had high expectations. I loved the cozy atmosphere and the service was great. Calamari was tender, house salads perfectly dressed and delicious. The seafood in the frutta de mare pasta was tasty and cooked perfectly although I prefer a different type pasta and sauce typically with that dish. My husband had the pork chop and it was very good. The olive oil (served with bread) was the standout, so peppery and wonderful. The cannoli is right out of Sicily and not to be missed! Excited to come back and try some other items on the menu.

Such a great experience, so comfortable that it makes you feel like you're coming home. The malted chocolate martini was exactly like the beloved Centanni fav! We ordered a majority of the menu items and everything was delicious! The server was very sweet and attentive! What made my heart more full than the food in my belly, was the cutest father walking around and bussing tables and when we asked if he was the owner he said that he was just the bus boy and that his son was. (Insert crying emoji.) I believe his son was hosting. This is old school hospitality gold. I will send everyone I know to this establishment and I will come back to order the other half of the menu soon-Love everything about this place!

Interesting place…an assortment of wines on tap including a chilled red. Wine & cocktail list available. Accommodating staff….overall pleasing atmosphere, a bit too loud for my companion. Chicken Parm was a bit undersauced but staff quickly brought a side of marinara. Humble cross cut petit bread loaf served tear and share style with house olive oil. Calimari Fritte appetizer was crisp, tender and tasty.

Everything we ordered was amazing! Loved the calamari, beef carpaccio, rosa salad and the Sucilian stuffed tenderloin was just as I remembered it from the 90's. Melt in your mouth fantastic! Thanks Safina family for another great restaurant. Cant wait to go again.

Excellent cocktails, meal and wine. The stuffed filet is outstanding and the oven roasted shrimp is equally as good! We cannot wait to go back!

My wife and I frequent other Italian restaurants in the Milwaukee area and while we have a few favorites, it only took one visit to see that Safina is truly in a class of it's own. It's a beautiful new space matched with a very friendly and attentive staff. The frutta di mare was exceptional and the Fussiloni al pistachio was to die for. By taking ordinary ingredients and making something extraordinary, they seem to have captured a bit of Italy and brought it straight to our taste buds in Milwaukee. To put it simply, we'd come back to dine again if all they had left was their bread and oil.