Trattoria di Carlo & Pizzeria
| Address: | 8469 S Howell Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154, USA |
| Phone: | +1 414-768-0001 |
| Site: | dicarlopizza.com |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 3–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–11PM 3–11PM 3–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
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A Private User
I review this restaurant for the now-defunct MKE magazine. I suggested to our editor that we review it because I had been going there regularly for years and knew the review would be excellent. And it was. However, that was before the remodel. I returned to DiCarlos a few times since the remodel, and every time service and food has gotten steadily worse. We made reservations for Valentines day two weeks in advance, and had to wait an hour for our table because they double booked the restaurant and were accepting walk-ins over reservations. They also failed to mention that Valentines Day had a special menu when we made the reservation, a simple curteousy that tips you off to higher prices and the fact that your favorite dish may not be available. And they made no qualms about it being more expensive, when I asked the (very rude) hostess if there was a limited menu, she replied with, "Yes, its smaller and more expensive." Thats nice. I wrote the owner (who I had previously spoken to about the MKE review) after our experience, and he, or anyone else from the restaurant, never got back to me. While I miss some of the food dearly, I will not go back to DiCarlos after what was essentially a slap in the face, and a stupid one at that. It seems like theyre losing loyal customers left and right, but they dont care, considering there are always people waiting in the giant lobby to sit in their tiny diny rooms.
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A Private User
although the pizza crust is great, that is where great ends. the ingredients, price, and service is awful. for what they charge for a pizza, one would expect fresh ingredients. we called in for pick up, and asked specifically if the mushrooms were fresh -- they said they were indeed fresh, so we ordered sausage mushroom. we got the pizza home, opened it up, and it was canned mushrooms! our pizza tasted like a tin can. i called and complained -- they offered to make a new one if we wanted to come back and pick it up (we did not). then they offered to give us $3 off our next pizza. then they changed their mind, and agreed to give us half off our next pizza. i ordered the next pizza with fresh portabello mushrooms and spinach, and got that pizza and the spinach was canned (i should have asked!) it tasted like dirt. oh, and they do not do half and half. they will make it for you, but charge each ingredient for the price of whole. when i questioned why, they said that they put it on half, but put the amount of ingredients that they would normally put on a whole only on half (essentially putting double amount on to compensate). well, that is why half of my pizza was COVERED with canned spinach and tasted like dirt. doubling the ingredients is not a good solution, it is too much ... i do NOT recommend this pizza.
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A Private User
I will give DiCarlos 5 stars (for the food quality and ambiance) even though the service was a bit rough at times. They were very crowded (on a Saturday night) and with good reason. The food was absolutely outstanding! The menu selection and wine list were a tad overwhelming, but who cares? More is more in this case. The tables were placed a little too close together in one of the dining areas, so it gets a bit cozy if you are a big guy like me. Back to the food...we have now been there 3 times, I wanted to at least go a few times before writing this review. If you go during the week, the service is much better. My wife had a simple cheese ravioli and is still raving about the delicious sauce. I tried the shrimp parm on our first visit. Outstanding flavor, and just the right amount of food. My mother had the scallop special and LOVED the preparation. Another night we had the lobster ravioli and the garlic stuffed filet. Both were incredible. The pizza was the final item we tried. I am a pizza buff. I have had pizza in all the great meccas of pizza. Brooklyn, New Haven, Chicago...this is very above average. Maybe not unique enough to call great. But I will say we really enjoyed it and made it disappear. Order it at the restaurant though, it is just better tan carryout or delivery. DiCarlos is the real deal.
TO
Tom Sara
Going to give the favorable 5-star since 4.5 wasnt an option. Ill start with the negative, in case readers are looking for the quick out: Wednesday night, place was empty when we arrived, were seated in the corner of the large main dining area ready for a romantic candle lit dinner (so far so good...), then an elderly group of four came in. Dozens of open tables, so take a guess where the host sat them? Bingo, right frickin next to us. Ethel used her phone to light up the menu, which she said didnt help b/c the font was too hard to read. Henry likes to tell the same story multiple times highlighting a different aspect each time, by the end we knew way to much about them and almost felt obligation to give hugs goodbye. - Im complaining now, but remember I still gave the 5 stars despite this. BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS PERFECT! I had a bacon blue cheese infused steak after we indulged in mouth watering bruschetta which was loaded (like hold over your plate, there will be tomatoes overboard upon biting). OK, I thought of another disadvantage, steak sizes are deemed tiny for anyone 12-60 years old (8oz). But really, check this place out. Wife an I ate and drank royally for $82.
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Carol R
So far this is the best Italian Ive had in the Milwaukee area. I dont order their pizza, because Im a New York–pizza snob. But Ive loved every dish Ive ordered here. The fish fry has a nice delicate batter that isnt at all greasy, and the fish is thick and moist. The Chicken Marsala is beautifully prepared, and of course the sauce is fantastic. This past Friday, I tried the Tilapia Mushroom Gorgonzola. I was a bit skeptical of a strong cheese like gorgonzola paired with such a subtle fish like tilapia, but it works, and is absolutely delish (my leftovers were just as good). And the portions here are quite large, so unless you have a huge appetite, youll usually have leftovers. I didnt order drinks, but a couple of my friends reported that the lemon martinis were great. Ive always had great service here (I especially like Amanda). I prefer the back room where its a bit quieter (easier to talk). If you have your heart set on clam chowder, call ahead, because they seem to run out of it frequently. Oh! Two other things that are very good: minestrone and canoli.
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unknown shy
If you like cold food and having something wrong with each of the 6 items that you ordered after waiting an additional 30 mins after the assigned pick uptime this is the place for you. The girl handing the food over the counter to the carry out customer was actually sniffing the food before handing it over. The calamari was cold and disgusting it was a blob sitting in a bath of cold garlic and parmesan goo. The shrimp poor boy had x-tra of the one item I asked them to be sure not to have on any of the items. Chicken fingers were actually hollow in the middle. When I asked why I was waiting so long for my food I was told that there were more important tickets in front of mine. Yeah, we will not be going back there. There are lots of Italian places in the Oak Creek area, I advise that you drive right on past this one.
