Zarletti is a fine dining Northern Italian-style restaurant located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Uniqueness and History
- Established: Zarletti was established in 2004.
- Cuisine and Inspiration: Owner Brian C. Zarletti focuses on creating flavorful, northern-regional Italian inspired dishes, drawing on lessons learned in his grandmother’s kitchen and his extensive travels throughout Italy. The dining room is described as reflecting the owner’s passion for Italian food and culture.
- Atmosphere: It is a small, minimalist, comfortable upscale restaurant that offers a warm and familial setting, having served elevated takes on Italian classics for 20 years.
- Mequon Location: There is an associated location, Zarletti Mequon, which was formerly known as Salotto Zarletti. It opened in 2014 and changed its menu and name in 2015 to align more closely with the original downtown location, adding authentic, hand-crafted Neapolitan pizza from an Italian-imported Acunto wood-burning oven.
Menu Highlights
The menu features creative Italian cuisine, with nearly all ingredients often sourced entirely from Wisconsin (with exceptions for things like seafood).
- Pasta: House-made pasta is a highlight, with dishes like Pasta alla Bolognese (rigatoni with a slow-stewed pork and beef tomato sauce), Ragu ai Napoletano (handmade pappardelle with a Naples-style, slow stewed tomato, meat sauce), and various ravioli, including a highly-praised Ravioli ai Quattro Formaggi and a special of Ravioli di Bufala (homemade pasta stuffed with ground bison with a spicy red sauce).
- Appetizers and Salads: Offerings include an Antipasti Platter (meats, cheese, olives, artichoke hearts), Bruschetta, and classic salads like the Cesare* (Caesar).
- Desserts: Signature desserts are prepared from recipes passed down through generations, such as Tiramisu and Torta di Caprese (flourless chocolate cake).
- Beverages: The restaurant is known for its extensive selection of wines, offering selections by the glass and by the bottle, including unique options like Sardinian wines, and a selection of unique cocktails.
Customer Feedback
Customer reviews frequently praise the exceptional service and food quality.
- Diners have described the food as “delicious” and “top-notch,” with the pasta often highlighted as “tender, al dente,” and sauces like the arrabbiata being called “the best.”
- The atmosphere is often noted as intimate but not crowded.
- Service from staff members has been consistently rated as “phenomenal,” “excellent,” and “top-notch.”
- Guests enjoy the overall welcoming atmosphere and have recommended it for both casual and formal business dinners.
Significant Events
One significant event mentioned in the context is the restaurant’s adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In March 2020, Zarletti pivoted its entire business model from a fine dining restaurant to a curbside delivery restaurant.
- This required revising the entire menu, converting the wine list to a retail list, changing service standards, and adjusting hours to offer carryout and curbside pickup.
- They offered specials like Aperol Spritz packages and a “Raid the Cellar Wine Program” offering retail pricing on hand-selected fine wines.
Location and Contact Information
Address: 741 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Contact Information: Phone: (414) 225-0000
