VIA Downer

Awesome place.
First time here.
Sad they are closing
Pizza was great!

I am so sad they are closing!
I’ve been eating here for many years, and glad I got to go again recently right before the news broke that they have been sold to another hospitality group.
I’m not even going into detail on about how great their pizza, pasta and apps are…
Fast and friendly service to boot!
I can’t fail to mention that they give discounts to people who show up via bicycle or bus and how progressive they are supporting social change.

This place has some fine tasting dishes. This is not the first time coming here and I have no idea how I have not reviewed VIA yet. Without further adjournment, I present to you my overdue review.
Lucky for VIA, this was not my first visit because I had encountered an unpleasant pissy or host/​manager with a bow-​tie at my most recent visit. I came with a friend for a late dinner on a Saturday night after moving some furniture. The manager/​host seated us against the wall at the tiniest table possible shoved against the wall with another table a foot away from us. I requested a different seating further back in the restaurant because I did not want to be crammed against a wall at a table that was smaller than the driftwood Kate Winslet could hardly float on which consequently killed Leonardo in the movie «Titanic». The host/​manager told us we cannot be seated back there because they were closing the area down soon. The back area did not seem to be «closing» as there were many parties seated, many of whom were still browsing the menu. I am not angry about the seating, but the way we were treated. He obviously did not want anything to do with us with his nasty attitude. I will return to VIA because my previous experiences there were phenomenal, but this was unacceptable.
In the end, we sat at the bar, far from the jurisdiction of the unpleasant man with the bow tie. The food was great, as usual. I even somehow like the Bruschetta there even with my strong distaste towards raw tomatoes. Their specialty pizzas also make a perfect tizer’ to share. I had Blolagnese for the first time and finished every bit of it. You can always count on their food being delicious every time.

I came here on a Thursday for an early dinner with my fiancée’s family. I was unaware Via Downer was associated with Transfer prior to coming here; I love Transfer so I knew we would have a good dinner. And we did!!!
We arrived early enough to partake in the happy hour drinks: $ 3 rail cocktails, and they had tap beer specials as well. We order garlic bread for an appetizer and then pizzas — we ordered a pizza for every two people and that was plenty of food. I had the roasted potato chicken, a garlic cream sauce based pizza. EXCELLENT!!! Everyone was very pleased with their pizza choices.
You can get any pizza made with gluten free crust, which is a fantastic thing as I know several people with gluten sensitivity.
Our server, Angie, was very nice and diligent. She made sure we had a good experience and it was much appreciated as it was a celebratory meal for my fiancée — he had just done his public thesis presentation at UWM. It was all-​around a fabulous meal and fun time. Great place to go for pizza especially if you have never been here or Transfer!

I could not be happier that VIA has finally brought back brunch, and they serve it on Saturdays and Sundays.
Drinks first — three fantastic new bloodies jump out from the menu. Now their «old» bloody was better than many I’ve had in the city, but kudos for trying to improve.
Last time I went I had their Supper Club Bloody which is traditional in garnish and taste. So today I went with their Caprese version and was glad I did. The mix was a great balance of Clamato and tomato juice (too much Clamato can lead to a fishy taste). And the garnish could not have been a bigger delight. A sizable portion of fresh, fresh mozza cheese wrapped in a large basil leaf and topped with a grilled cherry tomato — delectable!
Always a fan of specials — I order the smoked salmon benedict and was impressed with this dish a well. A fresh english muffin was topped with tender flaky and perfectly seasoned and smoked salmon. The egg was one of the best poached versions I’ve had in recently. Too many Milwaukee area restaurants that I’ve dined at lately do not understand the art of poaching an egg. Uncooked white film and slime on the edges is unappealing and unattractive and there’s none of that at VIA, just a perfectly poached beauty topped with just the right amount of well balanced hollandaise.
Service is generally spot on and today was no exception!
The clusters of people waiting for tables at Hollander and Pancake House should take note, those places are good, but VIA is great!

IMO this is the best pizza in Milwaukee. Milwaukee pizza has defintely taken on a uniquely confused brand, and i am OK with that. I think that VIA has embraced the Milwaukee «puffy» thin crust. The toppings are always fresh, cooked to perfection, and the option for gluten free crust is an nice addition.
I have always been pleased with the wait staff and the wine selection. I would eat here over their neighbor down the street any day.

After my first encounter with VIA Downer I just HAD to come back for more. Sure enough I did not leave disappointed. I vowed to try every pizza they had there, but found it very difficult to stay away from the Roasted Potato Garlic and Stacys Pizza… what a vice of mine they have become! I did, however, manage to try a few other pizzas… the Paisano, Vegetarian, and the Cheese pizza. The Paisano was a bit spicy, had tomato and sausage as far as I can recall. Id recommend the Paisano if you enjoy a meatier taste to your pizza and can handle the spice. The Vegetarian Pizza has some peppers (red and green), onions, mushrooms, cheese and sauce. Im definitely not a vegetarian but boy did this pizza have flavor and freshness! Lastly there was the cheese pizza which like the others was very well prepared. Honestly it is very difficult to dislike the pizza.
A few non-​pizza related dishes Id like to comment on were both the smoked mozzarella tortellini (SMT for short) and the Fettucini Alfredo (not on the menu). Ive had the SMT twice now and it has been the best pasta dish I have ever had, hands down. Normally it is just pasta, but I asked to add chicken to which they said of course! (Chicken addition is usually for the pizzas only). The pasta has tortellini shells filled with mozarella, and the shells themselves are covered in a green-​basil sauce (almost certain its basil) with cherry tomato halves… TALK ABOUT FLAVOR!!! This dish delivers like no other! And to top it off the chef made great presentation and improvised VERY well with the chicken addition. The dish alone is 5 stars in my book
As if that werent enough, on my birthday yesterday I brought my family for the first time so I could impress them. We got 3 pizzas (4 in total), the SMT, and fettucini alfredo. Let me clarify that alfredo is NOT on the menu, but my sister is a picky eater of Italian foods. She asked if there was anything similar but nothing on the menu was close enough. Our waitress, Roxanne, saved the day and ensured that the chef agreed to make an Alfredo dish, which again was beyond expectation! The dish had a smokey taste, like other alfredos but 10x better! My sister loved it and insisted it was the best Alfredo she had ever had! Now about the extra pizza, my mom and sis wanted half vegetarian and half cheese. The staff had accidentally made an all vegetarian one which Roxanne caught quickly and apologized for. Immediately we were offered an extra cheese pizza at no cost! To top it off, I was given a chocolate Gelato for my birthday. Truly the staff knows how to make someone feel special and they truly place the customer first.
In addition I again would like to comment on the remarkable service of the organization. Roxanne was our waitress last night and she really delivered. She was very patient and very helpful with my family since this was their first time. She was on top of everything, gave us refills on time and really worked hard to ensure a good time. I also recall another time with one of the male waiters (idk his name but I think he had a shaved or bald head) who usually serves me when I come in. I remember a time in February (when it was cold out) where I forgot my To-​go box and he ran out in the cold to deliver it to me a block away. cant ask for better service than that! Lastly, the entire staff is just a joy to watch. The joy they have in working together and the positive chemistry they have with each other really does add to the upbeat feel of the restaurant.
To the manager I must say you know what you are doing. You have picked an excellent staff who creates the perfect dining experience.
Well, thats all for now after writing a novel but man once you like a place you cant stop! I will definitely keep coming back to VIA Downer and cant wait to bike here in the Spring/​Summer!

Update! I have been back to Via several times since my last review and I have to hand it to the management, all of my experiences have been wonderful. The service has been consistently friendly and attentive, the food has been delicious, and the atmosphere – as always – has been excellent.
Last night there was a (totally minor) kitchen snafu with the timing of one of our entrees, and our server and the manager were extremely gracious and MORE than made up for it. I think the true test of a restaurant is how they handle those snafus, and Via has really knocked it out of the park.
I am also continually thrilled with their gluten free options, and the consideration given to those with dietary restrictions. Out of every restaurant in Milwaukee, I would bring my fussiest friends to Via, no questions asked.
So happy Via has hit its stride. Go there, you won’t regret it.

Went out for dinner with some friends, and was thoroughly impressed! I opted to try a pasta dish instead of pizza. I ordered the Seafood linguini, and it was exactly what I was in the mood for! The pasta was perfectly al dente. The seafood was tender and sweet. The sauce — not too boozy or heavy.
We sat at the bar, and got great service. (Tip: make a reservation ahead of time for a Friday night.)
We’ll definitely be back!

I came to VIA originally as a plan b, after the original restaurant I wanted to go to was unexpectedly closed.
I had walked by VIA before, and wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I walked in, however, as soon as I came in the front door, I was welcomed by the smell of fresh baked dough and melting cheeses, and live upbeat lounge music being played by a small band in the corner (monday night event).
Our server sat my guest and I on a small table against a wall, and helpfully explained what the restaurant was known for (gourmet pizza), after I told her I had never been to the restaurant before.
Our server was very keen, and managed to appear only when needed, and was not hovering over us, however, the live music was a bit loud for table talk, even though we were half the restaurant away from the band.
The food arrived promptly, and was fresh and fantastic. I ordered the Thai pizza, which has a peanut sauce, and chicken, and it was amazing. I’ve been craving it all day even thinking about it, and my guest had the Hawaiin pizza, which was also very good, and had large chunks of pineapple and ham.
I’m usualy not a huge fan of pizza, since I don’t like greasy food, and I don’t always handle dairy well, but this pizza was not greasy, and had just enough oil to be moist, and not messy.
The prices were fair, with each pizza coming to around $ 13, and I can honestly say, it was worth every bite. (approx 33 cents per bite, assuming 5 bites per slice, 8 slices per pie).
I am looking forward to going back soon, although I might try to go on a night without the live music.

Thoughts on via:
–I love (love!) Transfer’s pizza. I hate referring to food as a religious experience or a «mouthgasm» (**shudders**) but their garlic pizza came pretty close. It was probably the best pizza I have ever had any way. So I figured I would totally love via… maybe a little more since its closer to home base.
The good:
–our service was very good. It was quiet early in the afternoon but quickly picked up.
–décor. Sort of modern italian diner/​espresso bar with an open kitchen. Nice without being overdone.
–mussels. Good, served with lots of bread/​toast and lots of flavorful juice.
–price point. We had a groupon which made two lunches and with two nonalcoholic bevys $ 10 total. Even with out it the lunches individually all seemed under $ 10.
–had it not been lunch time I would have loved to try some of their interesting adult coffee bevys. They had lots of espresso based drinks too.
The «eh»
–I tried the pizza and it was just not working for me. The crust was sort of overdone and the toppings didn’t wow me
–the portion size of the pasta was small and the cream sauce was a little dry. (It is referred to as «light» but I just didn’t care for it.)
Overall: with the stories I hear on Pizzaman wait times and with the deals you can get, this is a decent option in the downer area. Transfer is still my fav for pizza though.

VIA!
I’ve seen VIA on a few different occasion — most typically when family or friends come to town I turn to this trusted place. My first time the Downer Classic was unfolding right outside and made for an awesome environment to watch the bike race while enjoying a cold one and some pizza. More recently, I’ve visited VIA Thursday nights for live music and trivia. After switching from other trivia places in Milwaukee, this crowd isn’t too serious and mostly attends for the atmosphere. They’ve got a pretty cool set up where a solo artist performs… solo… and trivia is read between sets.
Deals on Thursday nights: Starting at 9pm — cue up the half priced appetizers and 2 for one drinks. I recently learned that the token they give you for your second drink doesn’t have to be used that night and can be saved for any other time. When our host said «any time,» I assume that means when the special isn’t happening.
Similar food to what you’ll find at their sister restaurant, but with a little more than just pizza. Salami Bruschetta. Get. It. Now.

A very solid meal. I rarely, and I mean rarely give pizza joints 5-​stars. But this one deserves it.
1) Service was outstanding. Friendly, but not over bearing.
2) Food was spot-​freaking-​on. Pizza had the right balance. Garlic lovers was especially good. As was the calamari app.
3) Prices were reasonable.
Don’t take my word for it. Go there yourself. Especially if the wait for Pizza Man is 2 hours long on a Saturday night :)

Descriptive phrase: trendy sit-​down pizza.
VIA Downer in Murray Hill is the close cousin of Transfer Pizzeria in Clock Tower Acres: same owners, same interior theme/​décor, nearly identical menu. But I just wasn’t as impressed by VIA.
I do like the outdoor seating on Downer. I do like the open-​ish kitchen area. I do like the friendly staff.
My drink at both locations, the Tinto Transfer ($ 5) was delicious and refreshing. I adored my order of Bruschetta Salami ($ 8) at Transfer so I ordered it again at VIA.
I’m not sure why, but the dish wasn’t even close to the same. VIA’s was six palm-​sized crostinis (vs 6 face-​sized at Transfer) with garlic sauce, a slice of tomato (vs more than 1), a slice of deli salami (vs multiple slices), and some shaved asiago cheese. There was no additional olive oil & vinegar like at Transfer.
The Bruschetta Salami at VIA is by no means bad, but was a huge disappointment in comparison to what I had at Transfer (though they are the exact same on the menu). I should also note that in my subjective view the pizzas at VIA seemed smaller than at Transfer.
I also got to try the Fried Ravioli ($ 7). Decent dish, with crispy ravioli and marinara sauce. Nothing revolutionary, though.
I’ll be honest, if I want the goods from this restaurant owner I’m hitting Transfer instead of VIA.

First time at Via last week on a Wednesday night. My boyfriend and I got there kinda late for a fast dinner, their kitchen closed at 10 pm and we were sneaking in at 9:30 pm. I’m not one who likes to do that to staff but they were really friendly about it and we noticed plenty of other people had just been seated as well.
I really liked the look and feel when we walked in. High ceilings, cream city brick, view of the pizza making area, chalkboards, just a cute place overall. Not to mention they have a smaller patio in front but we opted for inside due to the humidity.
Our server was Ashley, she was knowledgeable and friendly, not too pushy or hovering over our table. I like how they provide you with a carafe of water instead of having to come back and check if you need more. Wednesday night is my favorite night (so far) because they have $ 5 martinis and if you ride a bike or bus there you get a discount on the food portion of your bill. It’s cool because it seems they have daily specials like this but they are advertised only inside of the restaurant.
Our drinks were good, the pear martini was a lil sweet but I expected that. We ordered the caprese salad which is one of my favorites, it included kalamata olives in the center which was a nice addition. My only complaint is that they use shredded basil instead of whole leaves. Boo.
We opted to build our own veggie pizza which turned out delicious, next time we plan to try the gluten free crust as well.
My boyfriend and I are both excited to eat there again soon and try one of the many other items on their menu. It’s a lovely place and I’m sad I didn’t try it sooner! Eat there!

My husband and I go to Transfer all the time– it’s our favorite pizza place. We were on the east side, and I convinced him to give Via a try. He was immediately skeptical– didn’t think it was going to be as good as Transfer– even though they’re owned by the same people *head shake*
But, we now have a Via convert! The menu is different than Transfer (the rice balls are out of this world– and the tomato sauce that comes with them is insanely good); the pizzas are just as delicious as at Transfer and the space is warm and inviting. I love their happy hour specials and their wine flights; and it’s a space that’s comfortable enough for a first date or for family dinners. All around, it’s a winner.

VIA Downer really gets to me. I’ve been there a couple times, and each time I leave I always feel the same way: «meh.» It’s a lovely space, the servers/​bartenders are quite nice, but the food leaves a lot to be desired.
I went with a friend the other day, and we ordered the Smoked Salmon Crostini. It’s basically a baguette with goat cheese and pieces of smoked salmon topped with a little dill. I love all those things, but not the cold bread.
For dinner, I ordered the Principessa salad and my friend ordered the Mirtillo salad. We were both unimpressed. Too much dressing (the Principessa dressing is very bland — the salad had no taste), too much of the added things and not enough mixed greens.
I really WANT to love this restaurant. I haven’t given up hope. The next step is to try a pizza and sit at the bar. We’ll be back!

Yum. This is fast becoming one of my favorite restaurants in the 414.
I just have to say that their Bruschetta Salami is scrumdiddliumptious. It’s the garlic sauce.
I’ve had the Davinci pizza (pesto and feta!) and the roasted potato and chicken pizza. Both were so good that I’d want to get them again, but I also want to branch out and try a handful of others that look delish. Greek pizza, Thai chicken, Florentine… you’re all up to bat.
The pizzas are about the right size to share if you’re not too hungry and/​or you get an app (cough cough-​the bruschetta). Or you can order one for yourself and make all your coworkers jealous when you eat your leftovers. However you do it, whatever you order at VIA Downer will be enjoyed.

My boyfriend and I visited VIA Downer on a Wednesday night for a little mid-​week date night. It was pretty full for a weeknight, which is fine by me because I love to see local businesses getting supported!
I decided to get a drink, because all martinis were $ 5. I selected the pear martini, which had my favorite liqueur in it (St. Germaine). It was really quite strong, which is refreshing because at certain bars «specials» are often significantly less alcoholic.
For an appetizer, we chose the smoked salmon crostini. It was a nice, crusty bread with goat cheese spread, smoked salmon, and dill on top. Yum, I recommend it.
We shared two pizzas: the thai chicken and the verde. The verde has avocado, garlic sauce, and cheese. It stole the show. The thai chicken was okay, but I probably wouldn’t get it again. The peanut sauce tasted a bit off to me, and it’s not spicy, which I’m used to when enjoying a thai-​themed meal.
The atmosphere is romantic and cozy, with an urban vibe splashed in. It’s a lovely place to go with a date or a group of friends. I hear they have good lunch specials, as well as some solid dinner and drink deals. Check it out!

I’ve been sitting on this one for a while now, mostly because I’ve found it hard to express how much I enjoyed VIA. I was here for a fantastic dinner for the 2012 Unilocal 100 challenge and good god did they take care of me and my fellow Unilocalers. I really wish I had grabbed one of the menus from our dinner because so much time has passed that I can’t really remember specifics so I’m gonna pop a big umbrella over this one.
For starters our servers were incredible. It’s gotta be tough wrangling a table of 20 or so but they did it with what appeared to be ease. Courses came like clock work and drinks were also delivered quickly. Kudos for that.
The food? I can’t come up with the words to describe it. A whole lot of love went into it, and I cannot overstate that. It really warms the soul. I loved the mussels the most, and a pasta dish with vodka sauce comes a close second. I’m really not doing the menu justice with my poor memory.
I’m a man who enjoys an adult beverage (KJK gon’ drank? OH HE GON’ DRANK!) and VIA’s cocktail menu was a treat. Really liked the Friars Delight (Coffee with frangelico and disaronno) and the Miltowne Old Fashioned (Made with GLD’s Kinnickinnic Whiskey).
I’m serious dudes. I only tried to be funny once and that’s a record for me. This is kinda that place.