Scardina Specialties

I’ve been a regular here for about a year now. I’ve had every sandwich item on the menu, and I can say that I enjoyed every last one of them. They also have a ton of salad options, like potato, olive, Italian pasta and pesto pasta. And a ton of sausages and good meats to choose from for cooking at home or grilling out.
Service has been wonderful, it’s always been a pleasure to come in and chat with y’all. Thanks for the good times and great food guys!

Best sausage in town. Awesome meatball sandwich, sausage sandwich, and salads. Warm staff, and freah cannolis! My only beef is that they open super early and also close super early. My meatball time tends to hit after 3 pm. Have taken out of towners and others there around dinner time for a sandwich four times now and they’ve been closed. Since you don’t serve breakfast or coffee maybe open 10 – 8? Not sure of the logic. Just sucks at dinner time.

Love this little neighborhood deli. BEST sandwiches (I am seriously addicted to the «cubano»). Nicest people (love hearing the Italian banter, Italian radio, straight up old school goodness). Tiramisu that will make you cry it’s so delicious. Spiedini that melts in yo mouth (it’s our go to item when we have company, just bake em in the oven and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven). They also have take n bake pizzas. They make their own sausages. This place is the bomb. Eat here. Shop here. You will be happy.

We were driving by the Riverwest area and not sure what to eat. Riverwest area is like a gold mine of food joints.
So, I started looking and found Scardina Specialities food joint on my Unilocal.Reviews & food pictures looked amazing and we decided to give it a try.
This place is run by a couple and they both are very nice and took their time to explain things when we told them it’s our first time.
We ordered a Meatball sandwich & Sicilian steak sandwich. They both were really good. You can not beat their service, price, quality & quantity of their food.

I can only speak about their wraps because that’s the only thing I’ve had.
I was introduced to this placed when I was volunteering for the Amazing Milwaukee Race. Some other volunteers got wraps from there and I made the trek of a whole 2 blocks to get some food.
I got the turkey wrap — it had Smoked Turkey, Swiss, Lettuce, Tomatoes, and Pesto Mayo. When I was handed the wrap, it was really big. It was more like a burrito! For the price of $ 6.50, I’m not complaining! It was very good… it was more than enough food.
Recently I got a ham wrap (which included Ham, Mozzarella, Lettuce, Tomatoes, and Mayo) for my husband. He said it was very good — and he’s usually picky about his wraps.
They also have salami, various sausages and salads you can buy as well. They also had pizzas you can take home and bake.
There were also different panini on the menu. I haven’t tried them but if they are anything like the wraps, I bet they are good!
The staff there are pretty awesome & helpful.

Great neighborhood shop, and the pizza is especially good. It’s delicious, very easy, and reasonably priced. The sausages and sandwiches are really good too.

I’ve experienced items from Scardina Specialties before venturing to their location. The first time was at the Big Taste event at Discovery World, where they provided samples of 4 different sausages that they make in house, and again at Locust Street Festival, where I ordered a spicy Italian sausage sandwich. The sausage samples were very good, and the Spicy Italian sausage sandwich was amazing!
I saw a meatball sandwich on the menu at Locust Street Fest and vowed to go to their deli to try it. As I suspected, it was one of the very best I’ve ever had. The meatballs had the firm, yet soft texture that I look for and they were perfectly seasoned.
The menu board offered substantial options and all were priced to sell. My meatball sandwich was only $ 5!
The deli cases offer meats and salads. Pizzas are also available for purchase.
Don’t let the small size of this business fool you. They have a lot to offer and they do it well!

A true gem hidden in Riverwest. We just discovered this place, and boy I sure am glad I found it on Unilocal :) It’s an authentic Italian «made-​from-​scratch» joint. Their sandwiches are sooooo good, fresh, and addicting. Hot ham and rolls? Check. We’ve tried a few of their salads with our favorites being the Italian Pasta Salad, Pesto Pasta Salad, and Grandma’s Pasta Salad. We got a few cheesy brats to grill and loved those, too. They have take-​and-​bake pizzas and look forward to trying those in the future. The owners are super personable, appreciative, and we find ourselves sticking around longer just talking to them. I would highly suggest giving this local deli a shot. There’s free street parking so you have no excuse!

We love their veggie wraps. Everything prepared from scratch while we wait. The Sunday hot ham and rolls special is awesome, and everyone is so friendly!

Picked up a sub for the husb. at Scardinia’s the other day. I ordered him the u’puarcu, which has pancetta, arugula, and tomato with olive pâté with lemon vinaigrette. Of course, I had to have a bit of it before I gave it to him… And it was outstanding. OUTSTANDING. The olive pâté was strong without being overwhelming, and the lemon vinaigrette was complementary to both the pâté and the pancetta. I wanted to steal the sandwich for myself!

While hanging out next door I remembered that awesome jalapeño and cheddar sausages I bought two weeks ago and I have to get some more.
I didn’t know they close early because when I walked in I was told that they were closed by the two men cleaning the place. I told them that the jalapeños and cheddar sausages I had were super awesome and could they just sell me some more and I would leave.
I was informed that they were sold out and that they only make four pounds at a time so they go fast and made other suggestions for the sausages. I chose the mozzarella and green pepper and went on my way.
The mozzarella and green pepper sausages looked amazing, see my pictures. I’m sure they will be just as amazing.
The guys gave me a business card and said that if I call with two days notice they will make any sausages for me in any amount for me.

I found this local sandwich spot on a business trip in Milwaukee. The Cubano sandwich was out of this world deleicious! It had the perfect combination of ingredients and you can’t beat the atmosphere of a local family joint. I wish this place was closer to home, but I know I will be stopping by here every time I come through.

Nothing too fancy just your basic deli case and a few pieces of art and decorations on the wall. But the reason we came here was It’s a great little shop with great selections of house made sausage. Flavored from traditional brats, sweet Italian, spicy, mild, hot, chorizo to jalapeño, spinach and cheese.
Are you up for a challenge? Warning! the meatball sandwich can be a juicy savory hot mess to deal with. If you are not careful a bath in the near future may be required. It’s just that good you will risk wearing it. And wear it like a badge of courage.
Scardina specialties has LT’s famous gourmet cookies which are thick and full of flavor.
The cannoli are made to order to insure crisp light pastry filled with fresh cool filling. so much goodness in side this small footprint. I’m impressed I’m sure you will be too. Prices are very reasonable.
Food 5
Amb 4
Serv 5
Location 3 street parking Riverwest
Value 5
⁹⁶⁄₂₀₁₄

Descriptive phrase: authentic Sicilian pocket deli.
Scardina Specialties = much nom. This tiny little takeout deli is hidden in Riverwest, but people who seek it out will be rewarded. Meats I’ve tried: Italian, Polish, brats, chorizo, jalapeño cheddar, spiced chicken; all delish. Owners are from the island (reppin’ Porticello), and they serve plenty of old-​world standards. I highly recommend their canolis and mozzarella wheels ($ 7.99/lb makes each wheel only about $ 1.25, perfect snack). If you’re seeking a real, authentic taste of Sicilian (or Italian, n00bs) in the MKE, Scardina has the hookup on the near-​north side.

Awesome little deli in Riverwest– I would’ve never known it was here! We got to sample some of their very excellent homemade sausages, cannoli, and cookies. You can by sausages, Sicilian-​style prepared meats, and take them home for cooking. They also had antipasto salads, take and bake pizzas and sandwiches. Every thing is very reasonably priced (possible to get a can of soda and sandwich for under $ 5.)
They had a good selection of varieties of sausage (I esp liked their thai curry, chicken, and chorizo — but really I had to tear myself away from the grill altogether because it was allllll irresistible). The cannoli and cookies they brought out were fresh and delicious. They have a few tables set out on the sidewalk but mainly this is a takeout place.
Cute little deli. Stop in and grab sausages for a cookout or a sandwich to go!

Scardina Specialties, nestled on a little side street in Riverwest…
I was able to sample some of their fresh brat meat. There was nearly everything available: Italian, Spicy Italian, Polish, Bratwurst, Chorizo, Thai Red Curry, etc. etc. But MY personal two favorites were the Jalapeño Cheddar and Mediterranean Chicken (with feta, spinach and artichoke). The flavor of these were intense! And reasonably priced!
This meat will laugh in the face of condiments!
Ketchup and mustard can find another place to roll cause they sure won’t be welcomed at the fancy meat party at Scardina’s!
I plan on coming back when I’m heading to some Packer or Brewer party somewhere and need to bring a meat to grill. Forget your crappy brats at the chain grocery store, folks! Really, you will not be sorry.
Do you really want to be that schmuck showing up with Klements?
These guys are a family owned business. Mom, dad, son — they work hard and even have a restaurant in Italy. They’ve lived in Italy, too but came back to Riverwest. They want to expand and despite their current small space, they do it all to make it work for now and for the future! And are open every darn day of the week.
Stop by to grab sandwiches or take and bake pizzas. I’ve never seen so many spiedini in one spot, either. Holy Spiedini!
They have MINI cannoli’s, too! I am not a sweet person but these cannoli’s were much lighter. Not gritty in the filling from excessive sugar. And mini size was just plenty for moi! Perfect, in fact. Another thing that I think will be a great accessory when tasked with bringing something to pass for a potluck style party. That’s IF you don’t try the cookies, you might bring those, too. Really delicious. I tasted a sample of the almond. The tiramisu looked to DIE for, as well.
Check the website for more info regarding pricing, catering/​platters, cold cuts, salads:
Like them on Facebook for a chance to Win Sausage!
And DON’T boil your brats kids! Take if from the experts, you lose the moistness from the juices and flavor!

Scardina’s is a hidden gem in Riverwest, but hopefully not too hidden for long. The owners said they would love to expand the restaurant to provide seating year round, but right now they can’t. Don’t dock them for that! Until that day, they can only put a few tables out when the weather cooperates. I’m happy to do my part by visiting and grabbing delicious, good quality deli items.
It’s easy to find a sandwich or salad to anyone’s liking but what’s difficult is deciding which delicious dessert to take with. I think I’ve only had crummy cannoli because I never was really excited about them. Well, that changed when I tried Scardina’s. They’re the perfect size, not too sweet, and they’ll fill them fresh upon request. Scardina’s also has a couple of cookies that really impressed me.
They have various cold salads, including three different potato salads. I tried one and it was just the way I like it. They can whip you up a sandwich but if you want to take chorizo, sausage, speidini and more, home to cook they have plenty to choose from.
Overall, Scardina’s nails what they do. It’s a small enough menu while at the same time, offering enough variety to satisfy everyone and never breaking the bank. I will be back to try more sandwiches and wraps.

I had the awesome opportunity to visit this place after reading very positive Unilocal Reviews. It really is a very small Italian Deli and you will miss it if you aren’t paying attention. Now, don’t let the size of the place fool you into thinking that this place doesn’t have much to offer. This deli makes their sausage and can make a special recipe for you upon request. You can also request them to adjust their recipe as it suits your taste buds. I got the chance to taste them all: Italian & Spicy Italian, Jalepeno with Cheddar, Brat, Thai Curry, Green Pepper and Cheddar, Chicken Sausage, Chorizo
My top three favorites were the Italian, Jalepeno with cheddar, and Chicken
The Italian Sausage had the perfect combination of spices and was well balanced in flavor.
The Jalepeno with Cheddar Sausage had just the right amount of spice and the perfect sized Jalepeno chunks (Yes, you could actually see the Jalepenos! Perfect already!)
The Chicken Sausage had Spinach and Feta Cheese combined. The chicken was real chicken and not that mashed up processed stuff that you normally find in other foods. The owner also told me that his restaurant makes the Chicken Sausage sold at The Lakefront Brewery. How amazing that you can try it out there and if you like it, then you can stop by the local deli and buy it in bulk! Not so true for other restaurants.
Oh, and I cannot forget about the Cannolis! They were crisp and delicious! And they weren’t pre-​filled. He only fills them to order :) Also I tried the Turtle Cookie and the Grasshopper Cookie. The Turtle Cookie had big chunks of chocolate chips and everything that you would expect for a Turtle :) and the Grasshopper Cookie was an Almond Cookie. They both were delicious and had delicious flavors!
This deli also serves a variety of sandwiches (I’ve heard that the Meatball Panini and the Cubano are pretty tasty) and Italian side dishes. You should try the Mozzarella Pinwheel if you like raw prosciutto and fresh mozzarella. They have recently added take and bake pizza to their menu so be sure to grab pizza to take home when you stop by.
Overall, I was very impressed with this local Italian Deli!

Well, if this isn’t a little gem of a spot, I’m not sure what is!
This tiny, no-​frills, takeout only Italian deli is nestled in the heart of Riverwest on Chambers. If you blink, you’ll miss it; it’s simply a few windows, a door, and an awning peeking out of an old brick building. Case in point: I noticed Scardina at some point in the last six months, but I can’t remember when… it just sort of appeared one day. «Hey, look… an Italian deli in Rivewest! I’ll be damned. When did this pop up?»
This past weekend I finally ventured into Scardina to get a lay of the land and see what was up, and I’m definitely glad I did. The joint reminds me of a super basic Glorioso’s with sandwiches, wraps, and a few select prepared foods to go (pasta salads, lasagna, Spedini, etc.); they also make sausages from scratch and have a variety of deli-​ish items (hand carved meats/​cured delights/​olives, cheeses… those sorts of things).
The two gentlemen behind the counter were super-​nice while just kind of doing their thing. I recognized one as being the owner from the WMSE Foodslam. Italian jams/​talk radio/​one lonely Justin Timberlake song filled the space, aurally-​speaking, while we waited for our lunch and milled about, chatting and reading Shepherd horoscopes.
The mister and I snagged smoked turkey and genoa wraps, respectively, and both were simple yet super-​fresh and affordably priced. (I actually dug the smoked turkey more so, I think, though the salami was delicious.)
Next time, I’m looking forward to snagging some of the house-​made sausages for a Packer game. The lasagna looked great, too. And the tiramisu! Yeah. I’ll be back.
This is the kind of joint that epitomizes small and local; this ethnic deli is a great addition to the Riverwest neighborhood and MKE as a whole. Make it a point to stop by and try ‘em out if you’re the kind of person who appreciates quality, delicious ethnic eats, and small local businesses.
Word.

They make sandwiches, paninis, and wraps. There is a small deli and a selection of fresh meats, mostly sausage. i picked up this chicken kabob-​like thing, that i then took home and baked per the the pleasant gentleman’s instructions, and it was fantastic. I definitely recommend this place, and i certainly will be back.
There is no place to sirt in here to eat, so you have to take sandwiches, etc. to go.