For more than a decade, Tenuta’s has provided the Milwaukee area with traditional Italian dishes in a cozy corner of Bay View. Its founders, Cesare and Antonia Tenuta, moved to the United States in 1961 from the southern tip of Italy, and they brought some amazing recipes with them. If you’ve already visited this seasoned establishment, you probably already have an old favorite.
When visiting for the first time, start with the burrata ($12)—a delicious cheese and cream mixture is waiting for you inside a fresh mozzarella pouch. Served with crostini, speck ham and basil-parsley pistou, this delectable appetizer has a tendency to disappear almost immediately upon delivery. Tenuta’s dinner menu features a good variety of traditional first- and second-course dishes. For your main course, I suggest you try the Peposo ($21). Tender, black pepper braised beef short ribs add richness to a plate of porcini mushroom risotto. This dish is lush with flavor.
If you’re just in the mood for pizza, Tenuta’s makes one of the best thin crust pizzas in the Milwaukee area. The cracker-thin crust lends a satisfying crunch to the well-balanced toppings. If you’ve ever worried about ordering toppings on thin crust pizza for fear it will make the dish soggy, you can have confidence that Tenuta’s will get it right. So, go ahead and add peppers or spinach and olives, though I might be a tad neurotic about it because Racine, my hometown, takes thin crust pizza pretty seriously.
If you’ve managed to save room for dessert, go for the tiramisu ($8). It’s big enough to share, but you may have a hard time splitting it fairly. From the espresso dusting on top to the cream filling, this dessert is smooth, delicate and oh, so good.
Tenuta’s provides friendly service and offers a wide variety of cocktails, beer and wine. Their prices are reasonable and align with fine dining. This is a delicious night out. Their dining space feels like an old-school restaurant that you’ve always known but where you’ve never grown tired of sharing good food and warm memories. Tenuta’s also offers catering and hosting private events. Reservations are not only accepted, they’re recommended.
