A Visit To One of The Best Italian Restaurants In Wisconsin Will Take You Back To The Old Country

Wisconsin is full of hidden gems. Some are hiding in remote locales. Others are hiding in plain sight. Centro Cafe in Riverwest is definitely the latter. But its unassuming exterior hasn’t kept it from getting noticed. Not only is the cafe an area favorite, but it was recently named Wisconsin’s best Italian restaurant. Take a look:

With a small, modest sign and a location on a busy street, it’d be easy to pass right by Centro Café – but you definitely don’t want to do that.

Opened in 2009, the eatery has been featured in regional publications several times. A couple of months ago, its popularity reached new heights as MSN named it the state’s best Italian restaurant.

Well deserving of its new title, the restaurant’s menu features a wide range of Italian inspired dishes, including pasta, seafood, salads, and unique pizzas. (Look close; there are raviolis on the pizza!)

Each and every item is super fresh and made with local ingredients whenever possible, resulting in some mouthwatering dishes.

Offering something for all tastes and diets, the menu features a slew of gluten-free and vegan options. In fact, nearly every pasta dish and pizza is available gluten-free.

And for the real cherry on top, there’s an equally fantastic dessert menu.

What’s more, the menu changes seasonally, so there’s almost always something new to try (and an excuse for a return trip).

A quaint and cozy dining room only adds to the café’s charm.

You can also grab a seat at the bar and watch as your food is made in the nearby prep station.

And for special events, there's a private room that can be rented.

Ready to rate this restaurant yourself?

Visit Centro Café Monday - Thursday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. For more information, call (414) 455-3751. You can also visit the Centro Café website or Facebook page.

Address: 808 E Center Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53212

Have you heard of Centro Cafe? Ever visited? If so, what'd you think of the food? Have another favorite spot for Italian? Tell us in the comments section.

This isn’t the only eatery that belongs on your bucket list. Read about another here.