Oso planning to go pro
Zarletti's downtown, hey?
Glorioso's is incredible.
TAMUI do know, Newsie is right on you knowing ball.
Per Mrs TAMU: "I would rather eat Rocky Rococo than Gloriosos"
Her loss. It's awesome.Like The Lens said, you aren't going there to sit down and eat dinner. But to pick up some stuff you can make at home for dinner and grab a sandwich for lunch while you're there, it's amazing.
Glorioso's has some hits but I've had some genuinely awful stuff there (whatever they used to call their approximation of an Italian sub had an insane amount of peppers, the cannoli is insanely sweet, like icing instead of ricotta sweet)That said I don't think it's anything particularly special that you wouldn't find in most larger cities. Ive for sure found various approximations in St Louis, Chicago, Boston, & NYC with some better and some worse.
Chicago has bangin italian food. That being said...Ca'Lucchenzo on the edge of Tosa is fantastic. Wonderful updated takes on traditional italian. Killer wine list. Also don't sleep on the Rocky Rococo sausage super slice w/ the bread sticks and cheese sauce.
We haven't gotten to Ca'Lucchenzo yet. High on our list.
Glorioso's a grocery store, deli. Amazing lunch spot but I wouldn't do dinner there. Calderone is solid but has benefitted from their location. You'd have to have the MECCA's management not to be packed being where they are in relation to the FF + Baird Center. I do love their sister spot next door San Georgio (VPN Pizza) but it's pricey. In the Hauser days a lot of Steven Point royalty (Point Beer) would dine there on MU weekends. Good people. As for Calderone, Gino has done a nice job but I think Carmelo's spot up in Fox Point is better. All that said...Red sauce / pizza: Carini'sFancy / big occassion: ZarlettiGreat date night: Ca'Lucchenzo
Chicago has bangin italian food. That being said...
Il Mito in Tosa. Mrs. TAMU is the granddaughter of four Italian immigrants and none of their children married outside the tribe. She turns her nose up at every Italian joint we go to because it's nowhere near as good as her familys (and being a regular consumer i can confirm she is correct). Il Mito is the one exception we've found in Milwaukee.I loved Onesto personally (Mrs TAMU says it was okay)
Was not super impressed by Il Mito. Ambiance was lacking (stereotypical Italian restaurant soundtrack interrupted by commercials!) Food presentation was middling. Food was pretty good, with the exception of the pasta. Tasted boxed. I’d go back, but there’d have to be a few other spots booked first before I turned to it.On the other hand, recently went to Morel in Walker’s Point. Great food, great cocktails, good service.
Tenuta’s is better
Ate at Smyth last week for my birthday and while it was truly incredible i wasn't blown away. I thought for a 3 Michelin star restaurant it'd be doing something out of this world but it was seemingly on par with the likes of El Ideas and Sepia. Maybe my expectations were too high?
I got confused for a sec and was thinking "The Smith is absoutely not a 3 star resto" lol. I'm a dummy.RE: Lloyd's burger comment - I'm excited to try Mott St this weekend. The last notably good burger I had was at Leavitt St Tavern, owned by an MU alum. Divy, delicious, in Bucktown - https://www.theleavittstreet.com/
Will have to try- heard it's great.