Onesto Italian, Milwaukee WI
Step out of the cold and into the cozy at Onesto Italian in the Third Ward. The warm glow of the overhead lights - which look like golden glass balloons - adds to the ambience and had me slightly mesmerized throughout the night. The interior boasts my favorite decor in this area - exposed ductwork, dark woodwork, and Cream City brick walls.
Step out of the cold and into the cozy at Onesto Italian in the Third Ward. The warm glow of the overhead lights - which look like golden glass balloons - adds to the ambience and had me slightly mesmerized throughout the night. The interior boasts my favorite decor in this area - exposed ductwork, dark woodwork, and Cream City brick walls.
There was a short wait (15 minutes) so we grabbed a seat at the bar. It was pretty busy tonight, but it didn't seem overly loud or crowded. A mix of trendy disco instrumental music played in the background, not too overpowering that you couldn't have a conversation without shouting. We tried a few craft cocktails - my Cranberry Pomegranate Mojito (light on the lime) was fruity without being too sweet, his Third Ward Manhattan was just right.
Our table was ready after just a few sips - the hostess apologized for the wait, but it was so minimal that it was unnecessary. I was grateful that we were seated at a back table, farthest from the front door, so we didn't feel any draft from outside. Our waitress was also extremely friendly and knowledgeable in what was gluten-free - or could be modified to do so - on the menu. She was happy to check with the kitchen to confirm what was safe for me to eat. She was patient with us as we read the menu over and over; it was so hard trying to decide what we all wanted to try, so we ended up putting in our order course-by-course as we came to our decisions.
There were two soups available tonight; both were gluten-free so we got a cup of each. The roasted chicken vegetable soup tasted like it was straight out of grandma's kitchen - it was the perfect way to cut through this week of bitter cold, snowy weather. The tomato soup tasted roasted, with a hint of peppers, very thick and delicious, with a garnish of shredded basil on top (they left off the croutons to make it gluten-free). Between the two of us, both cups were almost licked clean.
The arugula prosciutto salad included juicy purple grapes, chunks of celery, and a smattering of mushrooms, tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. It could have used a little less dressing, and I added a bit of ground black pepper, but overall it was a great combination of sweet and savory flavors.
Our table was ready after just a few sips - the hostess apologized for the wait, but it was so minimal that it was unnecessary. I was grateful that we were seated at a back table, farthest from the front door, so we didn't feel any draft from outside. Our waitress was also extremely friendly and knowledgeable in what was gluten-free - or could be modified to do so - on the menu. She was happy to check with the kitchen to confirm what was safe for me to eat. She was patient with us as we read the menu over and over; it was so hard trying to decide what we all wanted to try, so we ended up putting in our order course-by-course as we came to our decisions.
There were two soups available tonight; both were gluten-free so we got a cup of each. The roasted chicken vegetable soup tasted like it was straight out of grandma's kitchen - it was the perfect way to cut through this week of bitter cold, snowy weather. The tomato soup tasted roasted, with a hint of peppers, very thick and delicious, with a garnish of shredded basil on top (they left off the croutons to make it gluten-free). Between the two of us, both cups were almost licked clean.
The arugula prosciutto salad included juicy purple grapes, chunks of celery, and a smattering of mushrooms, tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. It could have used a little less dressing, and I added a bit of ground black pepper, but overall it was a great combination of sweet and savory flavors.
We couldn't decide on just 2 entrees - we wanted to make sure that we also tried one of their housemade pasta dishes, so we got 3... best decision! My crispy seared salmon was very tender, served on a bed of sweet tomato sauce, peas, and onions. The small clams that came with it had just a tiny bite to them, but excellent flavor when mixed with the sauce. His seared chicken was served with a blossom of prosciutto on top and a basil marinara sauce that made the dish (the chicken had a few spots where it has been seared a touch too much, so the sauce covered it a little.)
The highlight of the meal was the brisket bolognese. At first, I couldn't wrap my head around the combination of these two concepts, but with the housemade gluten-free fettuccine noodles, it was amazing. It was surprisingly light, as the bolognese sauce was subtly tossed with the noodles. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender and blended perfectly with the sauce and noodles. I am glad I waited to try it until the end of the meal... the perfect crescendo of flavor!
We walked away, satisfied but not overly stuffed, with enough leftovers to make at least 2 more small meals. Definitely check out this warm, friendly spot - especially during the blast of winter weather we're having!
OVERALL RATINGS:
5.0 stars for service
4.5 stars for food
5.0 stars for decor
4.5 stars for value/price
We walked away, satisfied but not overly stuffed, with enough leftovers to make at least 2 more small meals. Definitely check out this warm, friendly spot - especially during the blast of winter weather we're having!
OVERALL RATINGS:
5.0 stars for service
4.5 stars for food
5.0 stars for decor
4.5 stars for value/price
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