Best pizza on this side of town. Used to go to Marchese’s but now that they closed this is our place.
Myra P.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
I miss you so, garden special pizza. Sigh.
Cassandra B.
Place rating: 4 Brooklyn, NY
I was SO happy when they started carrying vegan cheese about 6 years ago. I think they did so to compete with Palomino, which is totally okay by me. They have all the usual veggie toppings, plus some soy meats, if that’s your thing. You can also have the items put into a calzone if you like. I’ve had numerous vegan pizzas here over the years and I’ve always enjoyed them. The pizza is much better and much more«authentic» than Classic Slice, which is nearby and also offers vega options.
Lawrence P.
Place rating: 5 Milwaukee, WI
Best pizza in milwaukee… Great old school italian neighborhood resturant feel… Great service that is attentive and friendly… bring the kids or take the grandparents out for some good food
Patrick B.
Place rating: 1 Indianapolis, IN
They charge you 1.35 for a soda and with out ice it is 2.00 and they have the nerve to serve you soda from a 2 liter and it was flat don’t go there they are highway robbery
Ben C.
Place rating: 1 Milwaukee, WI
I was sad when Pizza Man burned, but am despondent now that Olive Pit has been shuttered. I loved the OP bar and the nice gals who served me wine while I waited for my carry-out pie. Great atmosphere and terrific pizza. And good music. So I have been on a quest to find a new go-to pizza. I know plenty of places, but had gotten into an OP habit, so I neglected others. Now I’m on an odyssey to reconnect with Milwaukee pizza. I’d welcome any thoughts/recs(and am open to anywhere in Milw County), but I am posting this thread to relay my experience at a place I loved 15 years ago and just re-vsisted last night – Mama DeMarini’s. If one word sums it up: creepy. When I pulled up, I thought they were out of business. Their formerly brightly-lit sign was dark. But then I noticed a beer light in the window, and what appeared to be a large mental patient or zombie shuffling slowly behind the bar. Cautious, but encouraged, I parked and went in. I walked into a David Lynch movie. The tables were empty. Two older patrons drank in the rear near some sort of video game or gambling device. The bar was occupied by three pairs of drinkers. And a giant, sloth-like creature was lurching behind the bar. The TV was blaring«Wheel of Fortune» while the zombie played along. I sat at the bar with the hope of ordering a pizza and getting the hell out fast. I immediately noticed a terrible, sewer-like smell emanating from the floor or wall behind me. The bartender eventually made his way to me and took a drink order. My Lakefront IPA(a favorite) reached me after several minutes, but the bartender darted away quickly without taking my order(his speedy movement in this instance, I would learn, was out of character). Unfortunately, the beer was undrinkable. A sign Mama doesn’t clean her taps. I really just wanted to order. The smell, the tainted beer, the TV, the type of clientele that would actually return for this; it was all too much. But somehow, even though there were 8 patrons in the building, the bartender was busy, slowly filling all their mixed drink orders before he finally made it back to take my order. He moved with the grace and alacrity of Montgomery Burns. I just wanted a beer I could drink. I just wanted my pizza so I could get out of what had the charm of a smelly family room in an Appalachia trailer park. I seriously considered walking out without ordering. The bartender was giving me that chance. But I never seized it(sadly). Instead I ordered a sausage and pepperoni pizza to go. Then I moved to a table to get away from TV and the smell(by now I had identified it as the men’s latrine near the east end of the bar). I didn’t drink the beer. I got my pizza in quick enough order. A server brought it to me. I told her to add the beer, then I paid and got up to leave. The bartender, once again demonstrating he was capable of quick movement now and then, wheeled and yelled that I had a bar tab to settle. I told him I paid the server and hit the door. The pizza looked fine, except it was completely buried in sausage. I mean, I’ve never seen this much sausage on a pizza. I know that seems like an odd complaint, but it was overwhelming. There was no balance to the pizza. And the sausage was just ok. Not great. Overall, I give the pizza two stars on my 5-star scale. Except when I consider the hygiene of the place, then I give them one star. The place was dubious in every way. Anyway, my march continues.
Brian A.
Place rating: 5 Bay View, WI
I grew up around and in Bay View and any local knows what De Marinis is. You have the original, which is Mama DeMarinis and then you have Phil & Dom’s DeMarinis. Both of them make excellent pizza, but we usually always end up ordering from Mama’s. We typically take the pizza out since we have family on South Shore Drive. It is a small place, but don’t let that scare you, because its all about the pizza. There have been times where we would arrive early for a take out and they would just ask us to take a seat at the bar and have a drink, on them, while we wait. That is old school customer service at its best. Ask for the«Jackson Special» when you order your next pizza. Not sure it is on the menu, but its a delicious Cheese, Sausage, Mushroom, Onions, and Extra Cheese 16″ pizza; its to die for. This one is why our family has been ordering from there since I was born(1979). I don’t often see them come up on «best of Milwaukee» pizza places, but trust me, it is one of the best; you need to try it.
Jenn T.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
Usually when I say to myself that I want delicious, thin-crust pizza, I end up at Zaffiro’s. However. I think this is going to change for a while. I hadn’t been to this place in ages. A birthday party drew me back and WOW I’d almost forgotten how amazing their pizza really is. This tiny little joint that has been quietly churning out some of the best pizza in the city for decades. The crust is thin and crispy, the cheese is amazing, the sauce a quiet compliment, and the toppings are fantastic. Nothing unusual or experimental here, really but I highly recommend getting a side order of anchovies to dash on a piece or two. It’s divine. And the garlic bread is phenomenal. The place itself is classic Bay View. Old-school corner joint whose most recent decore update probably happened somewhere in the 80’s. But who cares. The place is always jumping with fellow pizza-lovers, the staff is friendly and efficient and the drinks are stiff. What more can you ask for?
Paul M.
Place rating: 5 Milwaukee, WI
One of the 5 best pizzas in Milwaukee. I’m giving it 5 stars mostly for the pizza. That’s all I typically eat there. But sometimes we ask for a plate full of meatballs for an appetizer. There are about 5 great pizzas in Milwaukee. This is one of them. They have a very unique, light, flavorful crust. Their sauce is rich and compliments the crust nicely. This is traditional pizza. There are no exotic choices in toppings. So everything works perfectly with their crust and sauce. Finally, their Italian sausage is delicious. And it is my understanding that they press their own sausage in-house. Get the sausage on your pizza!
Tom G.
Place rating: 5 Madison, WI
To put it in context, If I didn’t love the place so much I wouldn’t write a review and would keep this place a secret for my close friends and family. As it is, this little jem needs to be shared. Excellent, crispy, thin crust pizza the way it used to be made. Homemade sausage, cold, cheap, pitchers of beer(including the ever popular New Glarus brews). The atmosphere is something lifted out of the old Milwaukee we know and love. Blue collared, warmly welcoming, and was once so proudly emblazoned as our state slogan, «you’re amongst friends.»
Jason A.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
Have only picked up pizza to go from here, but the few times I have, it has been worth it. I drive 15 minutes from the east side of MKE when I want to have a great pizza… because this place has it for sure.
John A.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
Great great and Great. Well worth it. Definitely will be back.
Danielle M.
Place rating: 5 St Louis, MO
For my 100th Unilocal review, I’ve decided to go back to my roots. Mama De Marini’s. This was the pizza of my youth. I have many(many, many) good memories of driving over the Hoan Bridge as a kid with my dad, to go pick up pizza from here. It was always dark and smoky, but I never minded it. My dad would enjoy a beer, I’d enjoy a Sprite, and we would wait for the magic to be ready. We’d then head home, with me holding the hot and magical smelling pizza box in my lap, and we were the saviors of dinner. Now, whenever I am home, I try to make it here — not only for the amazing pizza, but for their decent local beer selection — Lakefront and New Glarus, notably! Don’t order food other than pizza from here, it’s all about the pizza. And, you must get sausage. My God, the sausage. Your taste buds will thank you — your waistband will not. Much love to one of the great south side establishment of my youth. I’m drooling now, just thinking about it.
Mick B.
Place rating: 5 Waukegan, IL
A friend recently moved to Dallas and she says that one of the things that North TX lacks is good pizza, so naturally«pizza» is one of her requests when visiting«back home». On a recommendation we tried Mama De Marini’s after picking her up at MKE from DFW. I liked the neighborhood feel, and our hostess/waitress was very helpful and treated us like we were regulars. Although the Bar/Smoking section was crowded, I didn’t see much of a smoke haze in the air and on leaving our clothes didn’t have a tobacco smell. The air purifier apparently was doing its job. I thought the best part of the pizza was the thin but not crackery crust; there was something different about it and in this case different is definitely GOOD. I was also impressed with the list of toppings(I don’t know any other local pizza place that offers a choice of canned OR fresh mushrooms!) and the sauce which had the right mixture of garlic, ripe tomato sweetness and spicy tang. I confess that I didn’t check out the beer list carefully– when I saw that they had Sprecher on tap that was all I needed to know(I forgot to ask if they had Sprecher Root Beer… which for those who prefer a soft drink, is well worth seeking out). We only ordered pizza but the family style salads and the pasta dishes ordered by other customers looked tasty. Overall I felt we had a great casual dining experience and will certainly be back again when we are in the area.
Taylor R.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
Classic. The pizza’s great, as are the sausage sandwiches. Milwaukee’s timeless pizza place.
Jess O.
Place rating: 2 Buffalo, NY
So they have great pizza and I really like the atmosphere at this little bar restaurant, but the non-pizza food is pretty bad. I am briefly off dairy and had a pleasant conversation with an employee about what I could order that would not have cheese. We got mostaccioli with meatballs, fried eggplant, and a large salad. The meatballs were tasteless, the sauces lacked spice, the options were few. I found the eggplant edible but far below the quality you find elsewhere. The salad was okay but covered in cheese. only a problem because I had told them I couldn’t eat cheese. Folks who work there are very nice and the prices are reasonable. I’ll go back once I can eat cheese again but not much to draw otherwise. Can’t wait until there is no smoking there.
Jason W.
Place rating: 5 Milwaukee, WI
I grew up eating this stuff. If Heaven had a southside bar with good Italian eats this would be it. Even if you don’t get pizza you’ll still be happy. I’ll take a large works with green olives please and a captain & coke tall.
Jake N.
Place rating: 5 Milwaukee, WI
Yes, I blame my father for my love of this place. This was his favorite pizza place, to the point he had my mother bring him some a few days before he passed at the hospital. That’s how good the pizza is… I bring people from out of town(Chicago, New York, San Francisco) here to eat when they visit. Not one person I’ve taken here has not enjoyed the pizza at Mama’s. It’s quite a large number. Fantastic. Only knock I have on it is the restaurant portion is small. That’s about it.
Leigh A.
Place rating: 4 Milwaukee, WI
Delicious pizza, hands down. Reasonable prices. Service is good. Decent mom and pop place in Bay View. If I am in the area, I will stop by for a pizza to go. Good for families and groups. Be sure to make reservations if you have a group.
Keith O.
Place rating: 4 Beverly, MA
I was in Milwaukee for a short stay and checked Unilocal for help finding a place to eat for 7 people. We were not prepared to walk in to the small family atmosphere with a bar you can smoke at. We all came from a no smoking indoor state. I definitely had second thoughts when we where yelled at not to sit at any of the three open tables and asked what we wanted to eat while we stood in the doorway dodging the blond waitzilla. Just as i was about to walk out feeling like we were being shunned as the out of towners we were. Our table opened up that fit us all comfortably and Jesse pleasantly waited on us. The food is outstanding and the portions are large. I will be back in town for the 105th anniversary and I plan to stop her and eat at least once