Louise’s

We generally have good experiences with this restaurant, however last night, 1/​23, was an exception. My friend and I found seats in the bar area at a table with our daughters — this was around 3:00. We started out ordering cocktails and kiddie cocktails for the kids. The waitress/​bartender was great and overly accommodating. The whole restaurant was quiet so we basically had the place to ourselves. Around 4:30 our husbands and and sons joined us after a day at the Monster Jam. We ordered more drinks and eventually some pizza. We had a new waitress who was great, but the manager basically tried to shoo us out about an hour before we were ready to leave– we only stayed till 6:30. I believe they didn’t like the fact we had kids with us. Although our kids are well behaved, they were full of energy and happy to be out together at a restaurant. He kept peeping around the corner at us, had a staff member tell us to condense our area twice, once making up a story about someone with reservations was coming in… Although there were plenty of other tables available. Overall a good restaurant, nice servers but a terrible manager who needs customer service training.

This place is pretty good! As a gluten-​free diner I am usually nervous about going to Italian restaurants, but the waiter was very knowledgeable and offered that I could substitute risotto into any pasta dish, which was great– I had the bolognese.

Didn’t realize this was the same place I eat at in Brookfield. I truly Love this place. They have an excellent Brunch and a solid dinner. The wood fired pizzas are great and so is every dish i’ve had here.
The sandwiches are great at lunch
PROSCIUTTO & GOAT CHEESE SANDWICH — fresh baguette toasted with goat cheese, layered with prosciutto, fresh grilled zucchini, asparagus, and herbs, drizzled with truffle and Italian oils.
OMG!
TENDERLOIN PANINI — beef tenderloin with fontina cheese, caramelized onion, arugula, and roasted red pepper aioli on fresh baked foccacia.
Tasty!
Also love the freshly baked bread they serve with peppers and oil before and during any meal.
They have a couple of killer drinks:
JALAPENO MARGARITA — Tanteo Jalapeño infused vodka, triple sec, sour and a splash of Mezcal. This drink is so refreshing and so tasty!
MOJITO — Bacardi Limon with fresh muddled mint leaves and a splash of sour, topped with a press. Your choice of regular or Watermelon.
Solid Mojito! good Stuff!

Was so hot in there, I was dying. Brucetta had way too much basil. Not a good experiences.

4.5 Stars hands down!
Not sure why this is a 3 star place. The food was good and the restaurant looked very nice. The server was very attentive and knowledgable.
Bread– warm and fresh!!!
Watermelon & Feta salad– good! This was prepared freshly and all the ingredients together made it taste really good.
Braised Beef Ravioli– I would never get something like this. A different combo for me but it caught my attention. Beef was good and sauce brought it all together. Very good!

Going to see Wicked with my best friend during my first visit to the city where she has lived with her husband for 8 years was such a great time — having dinner at Louise’s as a treat by her employer made the night even more awesome! We started with a fantastic greeting by our energetic and entertaining waiter, Kyle. We couldn’t have asked for a more personable waiter. He was just fabulous. My friend’s martini was a delight and the brandy and triple sec infused sangria was robust and refreshing. Not surprisingly, I selected the pepper crusted salmon. It is supposed to be paired with a parmesan risotto but I asked for a substitution to the sage version. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the risotto was prepared to perfection. My companion thoroughly enjoyed her juicy and flavorful stuffed chicken breast. The bread that is served before the meal was a nice treat and my friend filled up a bit too much on it as she ended up taking half of her entrée home. I feel the prices were reasonable and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I don’t usually choose Italian restaurants, however, I am extremely pleased that we dined at Louise’s for our «reunion meal» as we hadn’t had diner together in years. One of the highlights — we asked Kyle to take our picture — and he sneaked in a selfie — such a fun young man who really added to this fun experience.

Food was very good here, authentic! We had the fried raviolis and they were great! Our server was a little slow and seemed to forget about us a few times. Would recommend though for good Italian food.

Service was weak at best, server was not familiar with menu or common Italian staples… Weak! Way to many people involved from the service staff for a table of 4… No continuity.
Portions varied for the same plate a cross our table.
Food was very good, but the poor service and lack of knowledge are big detractors! They can do way better with some focus and effort!

Standard American Italian food. Right off of Cathedral Square, so plenty of opportunity to hit up nearby events (like Jazz in the Park, Bastille Days, the weekend market, etc) — though service can be a bit slower and parking more difficult on such occasions. Their appetizer bread with oil is complimentary and amazing. They have the standard pasta dishes and pizza, of course, but the real gem is their calzones. One of the cheaper items on the menu, they never disappoint and you will always find yourself full (with leftovers to spare, depending on your appetite!).
Of the several times I’ve eaten at this location, it has been consistently good. Nothing to write home about (if home is Italy), but an easy pick.

Great food, great ambiance, friendly service. The only reason I can’t give 5 stars is because I found the service to be quite slow despite the number of waitstaff on a not-​very-​busy night.

On the whole, the food was good but not spectacular. The service was friendly but unbelievably slow, particularly since there were probably less than ten other tables there at the time.

I had their pepperoni pizza @ Jazz in the Park with my mom for $ 19…she requested extra sauce and when I peeled back the cheese, after I too noticed it being dry — there was no sauce on the pizza! Then, I went up to the counter to ask for sauce and they told me I had to walk to the restaurant in order to get some. Ok… so I waited there and he asked how much I wanted. I said as much to cover the pizza, since the whole thing was very dry and no sauce was out on, the pizza tasted like cheese bread sticks. My mom & I were disappointed and would not come back.

I would not go back. The food was edible but that’s all I can say. The food was pretty meh. Waste of money. The sauce on the pasta was water totally bland. The coipanni was the worst I have ever had. Bottom line they should invest in chefs that can put out good food. This place is going to tank. Gordon Ramsey would be in a tiff if he walked in this place. Don’t spend one dime in this joint you will regret it!

I am rather reluctant to try Italian restaurants after traveling to Italy.
I came here with a friend during Milwaukee Downtown Dining week. I opted for Louise’s purely because they had the most dishes to select from that fulfilled my dietary restrictions [I only eat vegetarian + seafood].
To start, the waiter brought out seasoned bread with this olive oil + balsamic vinaigrette glaze. The bread was soft and perfectly seasoned with herbs. The glaze was out of this world. It was nothing shy of phenomenal.
For appetizers, we ordered fried ravioli and bruschetta. The fried ravioli was decent but nothing out of the ordinary. The bruschetta, though, was extraordinary. It consisted of goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a basil + balsamic glaze. The irony is I am not even a fan of goat cheese but it was my favorite ingredient of the dish. The cheese was fresh and very soft. I am still drooling about this appetizer.
For the main course, we had the pepper crusted salmon + risotto as well as the asparagus mushroom ravioli. A brilliant addition to the risotto were the vegetables. It helped add texture to the dish, as otherwise risotto’s texture can become monotonous. The salmon was a little bland, even though it was pepper crusted. I will admit, though, the quality of the fish was excellent and very fresh. The ravioli was average but the pesto cream sauce was wonderful.
For dessert, we had a homemade chocolate crème brulee and homemade tiramisu. As I had never had a chocolate crème brulee, I enjoyed the flavor twist.
Overall, I had a magnificent time at Louise’s. I was impressed in the quality of the food, particularly given it was downtown dining week. I would have expected the quality of the food to diminish with the decrease in price. This was definitely not the case. The presentation of the dishes were an unexpected plus, as was the décor.
To anyone seeking Italian food, I would avoid the chain restaurants and come here instead. The prices are just as comparable.
To end, I am wondering if I can somehow take a bottle of the balsamic vinaigrette home.

Just not my pick. Having just been to Italy b4 this visit accentuated how I’d rather have unAmericanized Italian food. Nothing wrong with what they do at all. Gloriously tasty, just damn heavy. I’ll steer anyone who wants Olive Garden or Joey B’s here instead if I can.
To start, who wouldn’t want a deep fried motz ravioli? An al dente step above the motz stick app that everyone else has. I would rather choose it’s oily herby cheesy goodness any day over it’s non-​pasta-​brothers; yet the why have such a gluttonous treat at any other time than the State Fair.
Even Gordon Ramsy couldn’t bitch about how the risotto was done underneath the parm crusted salmon. I would eat it all day, yet again just too heavy for me. Nothing at all wrong with the salmon, didn’t need the parm to cover the taste.
Other entrée we had was another generously cream covered ravioli. I normally avoid ravioli as it’s near impossible to cook the edges and filling properly at the same time. Louie’s is thin enough to about pull that trick off, but the dairy treatment… I get it, great flavor, again just not my pick.
I liked that their tiramisu was an actual desert instead of place to put left over espresso. It just wasn’t screaming home-​made as the rest of the offerings were. The choco crème brûlée was another budding entry into the State Fair, deep fried milk chocolate Jello Pudding Pop.
Service on the Friday evening of Downtown Dining Week had issues. Entrée arrived on top of app with no room at the bar table to hold it all, and then later a 15 min gap right when drink number two was needed. It wasn’t that busy, and set menu should have helped the timing.
So downtown living, normal Wisconsin dairy loving, bit budget conscious Italian eater will enjoy Louise’s, I’m just not going to join them very often.

Friendly service (a bit spotty, uneven but this is downtown dining week, so unfair) Nice location. Well for those of us who live a block away. There is street parking but I can only imagine how busy that gets at night. Warm yet contemporary interior. I like watching the grill fire up. Pretty loud in here so I can’t tell you what the music is. Really odd complaint I have: the feel of the table, I don’t like the rubbery center (window tall table), it’s sticky, sorta gross. It’s clean, I just think it’s the material.
To start: Free bread: I like the little square one best, sorta a herby cheese… The Other is like soggy pizza.
Downtown dining week. I thought this would be the perfect time to stop by, we live super close. For me downtown dining week is about getting out there, trying places you haven’t been before. Louise’s has a great menu for this event. I recommend trying them during this special week if you are seeking new places, on a budget, just looking to hang with friends. Too loud for a date IMHO.
Appetizer: Fried ravioli. Or shall I say tastes like a fried pirogi/​mozzarella stick. Really good, really unhealthy. Through caution to the wind and try them.
Main: The salmon with risotto. It’s really unfortunate what was done to the salmon. The salmon itself was cooked perfectly. Really exceptional then they put cheese on top. Why? Why? The risotto is heavy, really heavy. It’s good but heavy. Beware all cardiac patients. Did I like this. Absolutely. Should I eat this often. Probably not.
Also: The asparagus ravioli. It is good. Nicely cooked but again heavy on the sauce. I liked this but preferred the other entrée off the downtown dining menu.
Dessert. The tirrisui is a little weak. I didn’t like or dislike it. Needs more of an espresso kick but that’s why the husband actually thought it was okay. Everyone’s different:) The crème Brûlée was different. Like chocolate mouse with Carmel on top. Interesting take. I liked this better out of the two.
Drinks… The salted Carmel vodka is all you need to remember:) yes please!
So listen. I don’t know how to rate this place. If you like Olive Garden and are looking to branch out this is your place. 4 stars. If you like onesto (that’s me) I give this a 3. Why. Too heavy, too much. Not bad at all, I just like things a little lighter. That’s a personal preference but don’t let that deter you if you are a dairy loving person from the Midwest:)

Good variety, fresh pasta, great tiramisu. Can be bland, service hit or miss, and the espresso machine broke and nobody has fixed it yet… Umm why?

This a nice brunch /​lunch spot in downtown Milwaukee. They have several different kinds of salads for those that like to eat lighter lunches. Personally, I love the Caesar salad with blacked chicken added in top. Free bread and herb seasoned olive oil /​balsamic dip for every table. Their sandwiches are very good as well and decently filling.
Overall, I feel like this place gives a higher quality product then you really expect for lunch. During summer the outdoor sidewalk seating is nice as well.

I’ve eaten here twice for dinner. To start, Pasta/​italian food is usually my last choice — I just am never really in the mood or completely satisfied with it. I do really like Louise’s though.
I think my favorite thing is the bread and oil. It’s not your average pre-​dinner bread basket — its like an actual appetizer — for free. The bread is like a ciabatta and has some cheese crusted on it. The oil has balsamic mixed in I believe and its just awesome. The first time I went I got the chicken fettuccine Alfredo and it was really good! This was probably the most satisfying italian dinner I’ve ever had. I also had a good strawberry basil drink of some kind.
Second time I went I think I got the same thing, but my boyfriend and I also split a pizza just to try it and it was also very good. I recall the waiter trying to help me find the drink I had the first time I was there (which was no longer on the menu) and then he tried to make something similar. While it didn’t turn out as expected his efforts were very nice and I appreciated the attentive service.
though I have only been here twice, I have enjoyed every aspect of my meal and experience each time.

I went here for Brunch on Saturday right when it opened. Didn’t even know this Italian restaurant had American-​style brunch until I walked by.
The outdoor dining area is nice, wooden chairs and tables, and not too crowded.
The brunch menu has some good items, but somewhat limited to Frittatas, Omelettes, French toast, etc.
The prices were normal for Brunch in MKE, I had a Ham & Cheese Omelette (8.25) and a Screwdriver double (7.75).
The food took surprisingly long to come out considering there was only one other person dining at that time besides myself.
Despite the slow service, the server was polite.
When the food came out I was a bit overwhelmed by the size (but a good overwhelmed). On a huge white circular plate, the omelette filled up half of it.
The ham was cube chunks which would be my second choice to sliced ham. There was an obnoxious amount of cheese inside the omelette, which made it hard to finish.
The four cheese blend tasted fabulous however. Accompanied with the omelette were potatoes that had melted Parmesan or some sort of cheese on them — delicious.
Also on the plate was an array of fruit sliced in picturesque form.
When my meal was half finished the server decided to drop off some warm Italian breads and oil, the kind you’d get before an Italian dinner.
It was somewhat unnecessary and I was already full but the bread and oil was quite tasty.
Overall, I wouldn’t mind coming back to Louise’s for brunch, but maybe would rather spend $ 18 somewhere with more of a variety on their Brunch menu. But for what they had, the food was good and plentiful.