The East Side's Third Ward Caffe has been serving locally sourced Italian favorites since 1982.
From the restaurant's website:
"Third Ward Caffe: an authentic Italian experience in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward district. Located in a converted 1875 produce warehouse on the historic "commission row" the Third Ward Caffe run by Jane and Randy Nelson. Today the menu features veal, beef, chicken, pizza and over 20 pastas complimented by seasonal specials which take advantage of the herbs and vegetables grown on their 20-acre Door County farm. This authentic menu is enhanced by over 100 specially selected Italian wines."
Full bar. Serving lunch Tue–Sat, dinner Tue–Sun. Sat brunch 11 am–2:30 pm. Closed Mon.
"For me, this is one of the few places in the city where it's worth taking a few missteps to find that brilliance."
— Amy L. Schubert,
OnMilwaukee.com, Nov. 17, 2008