We had a lovely time here. Our group was fairly large (9 people, including 3 kids) and they set us up in our own little room near the bar. Our server, Gracie (I think) was very good and handled the chaos well. The place was hopping and there are tv's. The one where were eating was off, thankfully. I can see how it could get really loud and crowded. While walking to the restroom, I noticed that some of the seating was a bit awkward. As for the women's restroom, it was clean but there are cobwebs all over the light fixtures and the stall doors. You're in anywhere from $18-41 for an entree but the entrees come with a salad or soup. Some come with a side of penne pasta, too. Beers are reasonable with the upper end costing $5, most were $4-4.50. I've seen some people complaining about the oil and garlic bread dipper, but I have to say I absolutely loved it. Then again, I'm a big fan of garlic. I had the half rack of lamb. While at first, I thought the chops were on the smallish side, it turned out to be enough food when adding the garlic mashed potatoes and the salad. I ordered mine rare and they were cooked perfectly to temp and seasoned well. Everyone else's pasta portions looked large with plenty of seafood, meatballs, sausage, and whatever else people ordered. The kids split a cheese pizza. It was good sized and plenty cheesy. The food came out in a decent amount of time. All in all, I would recommend Carini's to anyone looking for a really good Italian meal. read more

Came here on a recommendation that Carini's was very authentic and the "best Italian outside of Italy." I have no idea what that truly means but can say that it lived up to the hype. Service was alright, not bad. Food was very, very good. Some of the best bruschetta I have ever had. The breaded mushrooms were very good. The veal Marsala and the prawns on angel hair were very satisfying. We all left stuffed and happy. Would highly recommend eating here! read more

Carini's La Conca D'Oro - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Was new to the restaurant and wanted to get caught up to speed... the lady over the phone didn't offer no suggestions when ordering the food.... I didn't even know the total to my meal until I got to the location... the chicken fettuccine was dry with no flavor and for some odd reason the dish tasted like seafood when I order chicken ‍.... Hopefully next time will be better service read more

Great food and service! Went with another couple recently, who also had never eaten there... Each of us ordered something different. Everyone was happy with there choices. Will be going back. read more

The lunch buffet at Carini's has been on my to-do list for several months. I was intrigued by what I would find in an Italian buffet that didn't focus on pizza. I finally made it in a couple of days ago. There were four cold salads, including a Caprese and a pasta salad with bowtie pasta. They kept the cold section covered so it remained sufficiently chilled. There were also two soups, a white bean soup and an Italian Tomato soup. I tried the Italian Tomato soup and loved the savory flavor of the broth. The entrees included Eggplant Spiedini and Chicken Parmesan. The Eggplant Spiedini was sliced eggplant rolled and stuffed with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. It was tender and delicious served with their marinara sauce which is made from scratch. The Chicken Parmesan was made with thin cut chicken breasts, lightly breaded and topped with a small amount of marinara sauce so avoid saturation. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very tender. I didn't want to get another five or six from the buffet but I knew it would result in an uncomfortable feeling which would ruin a beautiful, sunny day, so I stopped after two. At $9.95 this was a great value for fresh food of this high quality. I overheard the server tell the table next to me that the desserts are made from scratch, too, including tiramisu and cannoli. She said the shell of the cannoli was also made there from scratch. I couldn't resist, and I was glad I made the call. The cannoli was large and delicious. I tried to eat it with a knife and fork, but Pietro (the owner and chef) said "it's a cannoli. you have to pick it up with your hands." Pietro spent several minutes talking with me, telling me the history of the restaurant and his story. He moved here in 1968 and worked in several restaurants until he bought the restaurant in 1996. He still does the cooking along with an assistant or two. Carini's specializes in seafood dishes as well and fresh seafood brought in daily. Weekends are much busier than weeknights. The front windows also open so you can eat in a covered patio setting. Carini's La Conca D'oro is one of the rare ethnic treasures serving up classic dining in a city that sees more "modern dining" places opening. Let's not forget the classics. read more

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We stopped by Carinis the other night for some Italian food. The service was great as was the food. We ordered the Mozzarella which was delicious and our pastas were great too. The fettuccini was pretty average, and would've loved a potential pesto option. However the primavera was great. The bread was meh and didn't come out until right before the food which was kind of nice since I didn't fill up on bread haha. Overall solid Italian food with great service. Would go back and try their pizzas! read more

A nice, unpretentious, friendly neighborhood Italian restaurant. This is the kind of place that where you feel at home.

I cannot believe this place has 5 stars. Bread was served with a raw garlic "pesto". It was literally oil, parsley and about a pound of chopped raw garlic. Ick. Fried calamari: Overcooked. Very rubbery. Salad: Fresh but nothing spectacular. Penne with marinara: The pasta was over cooked and the tomato sauce was more brown than red. Gross. Spaghetti with shellfish: The shellfish was horrible. The scallops were literally falling apart. Pesce Spada Spiedini: I literally spit out the first bite. The smell once it was placed on the table should have been the first indication. The fish was rotten. The breadcrumb filling was pink and pastey and flavorless. We sent it back. Meatball: it had a strange satiny sheen to it, like it was either boiled or baked and then frozen then microwaved. Pastey and flavorless. Bathroom was full of cobwebs and dirty. The manager came over and with a dead pan face said "What's the problem?" Rude and looked pissed. They did however take 1 meal and 10% off the bill. This restaurant is an insult to Sicily. We are from there and have been there. They wouldn't serve this food to their dogs. read more

Carini's La Conca D'Oro - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great food and friendly staff - A must-try restaurant in town! We've eaten here twice lately and will be back. The energetic atmosphere of the restaurant made our dining experience even more enjoyable. Pictures of Sicily adorned the walls and the staff moved efficiently through the busy restaurant. Everyone was friendly and welcoming and ensured that we had everything we needed. Outstanding appetizers. The arancini had a savory, mild flavor, and the breaded mozzarella was served piping hot, making it easy to eat without getting stringy. All entrees have been excellent. The spedini is my favorite so far -- generous portion and outstanding flavor. The whitefish pomodori special was great, too. Almost all of the desserts are made in-house by the owner, Peter. The tiramisu was perhaps the best I've had anywhere - flavorful and with the perfect texture. My partner enjoyed the cheesecake, which was also great. Peter even came over to our table to check on us and answer some questions about the desserts, which was a really nice touch. The prices are competitive given the exceptional quality and portions that are more than sufficient for dinner. On our first visit, we showed up without a reservation at what we thought might be a slow time on a Sunday. We were seated right away but the tables were full 15 minutes later. It's definitely best to make a reservation to avoid any wait times. Overall, we had an amazing experience at this restaurant and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for top quality Italian and Sicilian food, friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere. Don't hesitate to make a reservation - you won't regret it! read more

Carini's has quickly become our favorite Italian restaurant. We are in town for the weekend and decided on Italian food. We chose Carini's based on the expansive, but traditional menu and the history behind the restaurant. We were served bread and olive oil with garlic and spices to start the meal and we practically soaked up the bright and flavorful olive oil. Nonna's bolognese was a beautiful blend of tangy bolognese meat sauce, a touch of cream, and perfectly al dente spaghetti. The penne alla vodka was creamy, sweet, and spicy all in one bite. We finished with a slice of velvety cheesecake and a rich, and delicate tiramisu. The owner stopped by to check on us and was so welcoming and thankful that we chose to dine with them. Will be dreaming of this restaurant and will certainly be back! Recommend calling to make a reservation to dine in as it quickly filled as we were there. read more

Carini's La Conca D'Oro - Top: Penne alla Vodka Bottom: Nonna's Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We have been going to Carina's since it opened 20 some years ago. We have only had good experiences, so do yourself a favor and visit this lovely restaurant on Milwaukees east side. The service is unmatched. The staff truly cares about your experience. The food is absolutely amazing-- Highly recommend. William G. read more

The service was amazing and the staff was very friendly. I don't think my glass of water was ever empty. Our waitress, Lisa, seemed to love the restaurant and even brought us their garlic olive oil to pair with the bruschetta. The bruschetta was the best I've ever had. We ordered the filet mignon and Lisa's shrimp tortellini and they both were absolutely delicious. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly and the mushrooms did wonders to the dish. It also came with garlic whipped mashed potatoes which was also spectacular. The tortellini was rich and full of flavor. The shrimp were huge and cooked to perfection. We ended the night with a cannoli which was made in house. Overall great restaurant and we had the chance to meet the owner who was very nice. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good Italian place in the area. read more

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Wow. Just wow. Perfect Italian meal in Milwaukee. You CAN NOT go wrong here. Silcian but with an impressive Neopolitan pizza oven. No ce. Stand outs: - Friendly staff - ask for Katelyn at the bar! - Wine list - lots of options, every price point. - Clams were truly little neck - tender and small - with the perfect amount of fresh chopped parsley, garlic, butter andoil, with a slice of lemon to brighten it. - Salad dressings are all homemade. Nice. Garlic ranch was outstanding. - Pasta is also homemade, as were the sauces. Linguine with a simple marinara was rich yet light and very flavorful. - Rack of lamb is world class. Mary, rich and complex - outstanding. - Get a homemade limoncello and a cannoli. Outstanding southern Italian, in a nice setting that reminds you of a great family experience. Thank you Chefs and Staff! read more

This is an amazing, family run Italian restaurant. Awesome bolognese, fresh brushetta, and a killer house specialty seafood pasta. Not sure if they do this every Sunday, but when we went, it was 1/2 price bottle wine night which made a really good value already a ridiculously great value! read more

Still the best Italian on the Eastside. Thank you for all your hard Mr. Peter Carini and family. I love the the Eggplant and the Rice balls (Arancini). The large Caesar salad was enough for four or five easily. read more

Authentic Italian food! Excellent service - thank you Isabella! The food was delicious. We has calamari to start - very tender - excellent! I had Lisa's Shrimp tortellini - exceptionally tasty. And my husband was happy that they had Fettuccine Alfredo - his favorite! It was a treat to meet the owner - thanks for an outstanding dining experience, Peter! read more

The food was wonderful, the service that Lisa provided outstanding and the owner came to check on us to be sure everything was well. We enjoyed our birthday celebration dinner in a small private room of the restaurant. Great Italian restaurant close to home. Thank you Carina's for a wonderful dinner! read more

After a bit over two years since the first time we were there, we were back and tried the wood-fired pizzas to our delight. If I recall correctly, last time I had the pasta pomodoro as my entree, which was good and filling. But now, with the crispy crust pizza and the bruschetta we had as an appetizer, I am happier with the choices and pizza-including menu. The dining area is made to feel authentic Italian. Service is attentive. The wine menu is ample with many choices to pair up with your meal. We did not order dessert, but would be curious to see how good they are--maybe next time? Walking distance from UWM and the southern end of Shorewood. On the Green Line (bus). read more

This was our third visit. First visit ordered pizzas with another couple. Good. Second visit with our family, pizzas again also. Third visit invited friends and their family. Big disappointment. Service was super slow food was subpar read more

The food is always amazing...from appetizers, i.e, sweet eggplant strips with their yummy sauce and tender calamari, pizza with amazing crust and toppings, proscuitto and mushrooms my favorite--pasta's that will keep you coming back, pasta bolognese (probably one of the best I've tasted) or the linguine with clam sauce... you can't go wrong-just absolutely delicious...and don't forget the wine. While I love coming here on a weekend, it's great to just get away the weekday and sit at the bar and have a meal or app--makes it feel like a weekend. Love this place. read more

I'm not a huge fan of shrimp. Not a huge fan of mushrooms, either. When I tried the seafood tortellini, however, it was like my ancestors from Sicily hand-delivered this fantastic, rich, and flavorful dish. Like that scene from Ratatouille, where the food critic flashes back to his childhood, this dish was not disappointing. I look forward to trying more dishes in the future. Thank you to the hardworking staff there, salut! read more

This is our go-to dinner destination whenever we are in Milwaukee. The mozzarella marinara is a large portion and so delicious. We tend to get the same entrees because they are perfection - lasagna, chicken parm, and the Quattro Formaggi pizza. We are always stuffed after dinner but have fallen in love with a few of the desserts so we make room - cannoli and the chocolate cake with ice cream. Out server, Easton, is always polite and efficient. Cute atmosphere. Always an excellent experience! read more

Just read a review on Carini's that the customers were refused service because they were gay. I am gay and my wife and We have dinner there at least once a week and have thrown numerous parties in the back room with all our gay friends! This is unacceptable and could not be farther from the truth! The owners and entire staff are very welcoming and treat you like family! And, they happen to have the best Italian food in the city! read more

Lisa 10/10 Deep Fried Chairs 10/10 Spew Money Bome Ba 10/10 5 Daddies 10/10 ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Ohhh yeaaa read more

I have been going to Carini's for a few years now, absolutely love their pizza and the vodka sauce is the best I've ever had.. I saw a post earlier where someone had posted that they had a bad experience as a member of the LGBT community and I feel for that person. However, as a community member myself my family and I have never been treated with anything other than kindness and respect. PJ and his entire family have been awesome to us and our friends. All I can think is it's a misunderstanding and hope they give Carini's another try! read more

Second time here, we ordered a pizza, chicken marsala, and fried eggplant. The food wasn't bad, but we've had better. Service was good, and owner stopped by to check in. read more

My wife and I go there for the pizza. Went on sept 11, arrived about 4:15 pm. We were asked if we had a reservation we said no, then were told they were completely booked even though the restaurant was 90% empty...lol Been there many times but will no longer go in the future. There is an arrogance in this management that we don't experience in any other Italian restaurants we go to........ They should take some lessons from our favorite Italian restaurant Capri di nuovo read more

Pizzas are absolutely authentic and delicious. The service is very personal and feels like you're part of the family. Long live Carini's! This is a gem of a restaurant. We are lucky to have it in the neighborhood. read more

I had a city tin for Carini's but I did not know of many people who had been yet, so I wasn't sure what to expect. To my pleasant surprise, pizza was absolutely scrumptious. I can't speak to anything other than their pizza/foccacia, but if you're looking for a good pizza joint, this place is definitely worth a try. The dough was nice and crispy and puffed around the edges, and a little softer towards the middle--the authentic way Sicilian's cook pizza. I had the foccacia, and there was so much flavor on this simple dish. Freshly chopped garlic, oil, basil, oregano, and I added bruschetta tomatoes to finish--it was perfect. Light, yet flavorful. The chef also came around to each table to talk about how they cook the pizza and thank you for coming in, which added a unique touch to the evening. Highly recommend. read more

When thinking of Milwaukee the description "Italian food stronghold" may not leap to the front of the list. But this is good Italian, I promise you. No Olive Garden garbage, not some crappy marinara from a can with previously frozen garlic bread. The chefs will accommodate most any requests, I've had quite a few things not even on the menu. I don't eat cheese and my ex didn't eat wheat. What do the chefs do? Make a cheese-less lasagna using eggplant slices instead of wheat noodles. Friggen delicious. I live a mile outside North Beach in San Francisco which means a neighborhood with about 100 Italian restaurants, probably more. When venturing back to Milwaukee if I want anything even close, Carini's has got to be it. read more

Like the place but had a few problems. Our waitress was very nice, but English was not her strongest skill! She was actually really trying hard, and working hard to be a great server, but we did make some ordering mistakes because of not understanding her that well. Luckily the errors were correctable and we got what we originally wanted! The calamari was extremely good and it came out lightning quick... So quick I thought maybe that it was supposed to go another table! Loved the dipping sauce it came with too. Bread and oil came next. Here's a warning - the oil has a very strong garlic spice that will stay with you after you are done eating, and maybe until breakfast the next day! Some may like this. I will admit to a low spice tolerance. My Veal Parmesan was good. However the red sauce was top notch! I gotta believe that anything on the menu with this sauce is going to be good! One thing that did bother me.... We came in a few minuets after 8pm on a weeknight. It was reasonably busy for a Thursday evening, we got a nice table in the front room with a view of the street. By the time we were finishing our meal however, the place had completely cleared out except us. No big deal, except the staff must have been a hurry to get out (even though it wasn't 9pm - closing time). The TV's in the barroom were turned off (like most men, I was keeping an eye on the college FB game while spending time with my wife)! The bar stools had been all pulled out and the bar tender was busy sweeping the floor. Lights in certain areas were turned down and when I wanted to use the restroom, I had to zig zag around the obstacles that had been moved so they could clean. Really felt like they wanted to get out of there, and it took away from a nice dinning experience. read more

The main reason Carini's is my favorite aside from very good Classic Italian dishes, is the owner and staff. I have been here 3 times and always had great service. The stand out was when I brought a large group of my friends to celebrate my mom's moving back to PA. The owner continually checked on us, laughed with us, made my mom feel very special and bought our entire group a round of drinks! We had such a fun night! This experience makes Carini's untouchable in the Italian Restaurant category! You can keep your stuffy, expensive Bartolottas. I'll take the old school family oriented Carini's. read more

Good Italian food is hard to find, but Carini's made my list of places to return to. It was surprisingly very empty for a Sunday night at 6:30, but that just meant we had excellent service. I believe the owner stepped in to help us select a bottle of wine when our first choice of Prosecco was not available. Our waiter was great at being attentive with our questions and keeping us well served. We started with the arancini which I had heard about several times but never had the pleasure of trying. Crisp outside, gooey inside, wonderfully cheesy and flavorful with an excellent marinara. I'm picky about my red sauce and this one was not overly sweet as many sauces are. We also had the standard dipping bread - the oil was better than usual as they used a good mix of minced fresh garlic and spices, but the bread was a standard sesame-coated Italian which had little flavor and was served cold. Still, it was fresh and soft. My cousin's salad was wonderful, but my soup was the only disappointment of the night. I forget the name, it started with an S, but it amounted to a version of Italian Wedding Soup minus the meatballs. I should have gone with my gut feeling of unease when the waiter was explaining it and said it had a "water-based broth" - water = no flavor, and it was true. What it amounted to was a bowl of water just barely flavored with the escarole and onion and accompanied by tiny pasta balls. I had to add some of their seasoning salt and grated parmesan to get some flavor in there. My entree was their specialty, the La Conca d'Oro, which was a medley of mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari and scallops in their marinara with pasta. All of the seafood was cooked perfectly, especially the shrimp and scallops, and it had that wonderful slightly briny-sweet seafood scent. My cousin had the veal Marsala which was fork-tender and smothered in mushrooms. The Marsala was a bit too sweet for my taste, but it was an overall wonderful dish. The garlic mashed potatoes were also top rate. We had to opt for some of their homemade desserts - tiramisu and cassata cake. The tiramisu was light and not overly sweet or soggy as they tend to get. The cassata cake was creamy but not too dense or overly soaked in rum and the cannoli filling was just outstanding, and I am typically NOT a fan of cannoli cream. Their cappuccino was also delicious. I can't wait to come back - I would love to do a party here, it has great atmosphere! read more

Restaurant would not service us because we were gay. Pretty sad in this time of age that people can't treat people with respect. They didn't let us put in a to go order. read more

Always good. We are no strangers to Carini's and we are always treated like family! Santos was our server and was amazing! Very friendly and professional! Food, as always, outstanding! The bartender was Lisa and was amazing as well! One of out favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. read more

My first visit was on Sunday. I showed Greg a dish I had last month in Turin Italy. Greg said to come back on Wednesday. The dish is seafood pasta covered in pizza dough and baked in the pizza oven which brings out all the flavors. When Greg served the dish and cut off the pizza dough the aromas were fantastic. I used the pizza dough to mop up all the sauce after finishing the pasta. A truly great culinary experience!!! read more

Carini's La Conca D'Oro - Doug made me a dish I had last month in Turin Italy. Seafood pasta covered in pizza and baked in the pizza dough. - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ok am in town to visit my Uncle and he took me here to get pizza. I was very satisfied with the exceptional taste and quality. I have eaten a lot of pizza and outside of eating at joe bastianichs pizza place in Manhattan this is near the very top. Good assortment of traditional toppings. All pizzas are individual sized no larger for a group. But the pizza is plenty for a meal. I got the Samba which was a basic cheese and sausage pizza. The crust is creepy moist and thin and awesome. Definitely all homemade ingredients. Perfectly cooked excellent balance of cheese to sauce. Service was quick and friendly as well. They also have a nice bar area and good wine list as well as plenty of beer choices. If your in Shorewood a definite good place to try. read more

Non-pretentious, mom and pop Italian eatery. If we're judging by food alone, this place is 5 stars. The decor is slightly dated and it wouldn't be the most romantic atmosphere for a date, but I'd struggle to say enough positive about this family owned treasure. Everything is freshly made with fresh ingredients. Pizza is perfectly balanced between wood-fire char and sweet fresh tomato sauce. Chicken parm is everything it should be. Every dish we try seems to be packed with fresh flavor. Lemon Cheesecake... my wife hates flavored cheesecake and absolutely loves it! So good. read more

Wow! our server was very friendly and let us know how the owner/chef is very particular about his cooking. We came in for their lunch buffet on Thursday, and were a little surprised because it was around 11:30, and there wasn't any food out in the buffet line yet. (There were also no customers in yet either... Kind of sad. No one came in until we left, even) When we asked whether there was a buffet, the server said yet, so we sat down. The buffet is not really a buffet, per se... there is only one dish that is provided all you can eat style with soup and salad. They had a vegetable soup - which, by the way, was de-licious! it was tomato based with a bunch of vegetables, kind of like a minestrone, which is really one of my least favorite soups. But I had two cups of these cuz they were so good. I don't know how to express it. Then there were two salads - one already tossed in a vinegar dressing, and a regular side salad. The all you can eat menu for the day was chicken parmesan and penne pasta. The pasta came out perfectly al dente, and the chicken parmesan came out perfectly crispy even with the sauce on top. The server did tell us that is why there was no food when we came in. The chef doesn't start making it until someone is there, since he doesn't like for the food to sit there. Especially something like fish fries (buffet menu for Fridays, and chicken parmesan) So it was good, but I wouldn't necessarily go back for the Thursday buffet. The price is not cheap, and there really isn't too much of a selection, and I can eat only so much chicken parmesan. But I had another dish. I had the Fettuccine Clams and/or Mussels Macchiato - with just clams. Wow! I'm salivating thinking about this dish again. I really, really loved it. The noodles were perfect, the sauce was just wonderfully garlic infused, and I didn't feel like I got cheated on the clams (and I always feel cheated at fancy restaurants about the amount of seafood). I finished every bite of the dish since I knew it just wouldn't be good to go, and because I couldn't stop eating. And then we had the tiramisu. We never order dessert during lunch. We barely even do so for dinner. So we were really impressed with the food thus far. The fact that everything is homemade from scratch, including the dessert, was a big kicker. And we were wondering whether we would be disappointed... but we were not. The tiramisu was also top notch. The server mentioned there are two desserts on the menu that is not make by the chef himself. But they must be good too - I mean, it seems like this guy knows his food and wants to make sure they are up to par with his standards. So glad I found this little gem! It's too bad that they are tucked away in a weird corner of town... I think they would get so much more traffic at a better location... But that's OK. I found them, and plan on going back. read more

All the food we had was phenomenal. We had the rice balls and bruschetta to start. The table bread was good but wish it was toasted or warmed. For the main meal we had the specialty meal and the seafood pasta, both of which were very delicious. Everything was rich and perfectly cooked. If you order a salad with your meal be sure to order the dressing on the side. Mine came to the table with a lot more than I like on there. The owner was very kinda and came out to the table to check up on us. Overall I would recommend. read more