Barbiere's Italian Restaurant on Bluemound — Restaurant in Milwaukee

My husband and I, along with our 2 grand-kiddos, chose Barbiere's as our choice for the first time out for dinner in almost 7-months after a fun filled day with the kids. It was such a disappointment. We arrived at 4:45pm on a Saturday 3/1 (perfect for us with the littles- eat early before it gets to packed and can be out in case kids get unsettled to not ruin dinner for other patron). We were sat immediately and the dining room only had 2 other tables- a group of 2 and a 4top. The server was nice and friendly to start, took our drink orders, and then dinner (or so I thought) when she returned with the drinks. I ordered pasta with garlic butter for the 4yr old, chicken Alfredo for myself, and my husband ordered the chicken parm dinner special advertised on the board in the entrance. About 10 minutes later, the table behind us received their ordered pizza. In the next hour, the dining room became full, and tables around us began receiving drinks, salads, soups, and bread for their dinners. We have only been given our drinks. An hour later, at 5:45pm, I asked our server how much longer, she said it would be right up. I asked her if she put our order in as a la carte or the dinner since other tables after us have already received salad, soup, and bread. She said "I put in as a la carte, I assumed that's what you wanted". I told her, no, we are here for dinner". She then told us "oh I just assumed, I can get you a soup"...I told her if our dinner is being plated, no, just be sure we have bread, it's too late to get the other items at this point. We waited another 5 minutes, still no food. Our 6mo old was beginning to get finicky, so my husband went to the server stand and told her to just make ours to go (she was just walking from the kitchen with our plates at this point). She asked "oh why"....my husband told her it's been already an hour, and tables that came after us already had their entrees and we have received nothing- not our soup, salad, or bread yet. He returned to our table, we packed up the kids, and started leaving the restaurant. I crossed paths with our server and she said "I was just bringing your food"...I told her it's been over an hour, you made the choice to make our dinner a la carte while I heard you asking all other tables what type they wanted, tables that came after after us received starters and main meals and we received nothing. She responded saying our kitchen is very little and can only make so much at one time. I told her, 4 tables that came after us should not have received soup, salad, bread, and pizzas while we sat over an hour waiting for buttered noodles, chicken Alfredo, and a chicken parmesan. She responded by telling me our food was here (pointed to a bag) and this is our check and walked away. I was IRATE at this point. I told my husband to take care of the bill, and walked out with the kids. We drive home (45minutes) and pulled out our food. We waited an hour for buttered noodles (didn't expect much there), chicken Alfredo that taste like jarred sauce, and chicken parm (sauce was meh)..$51 for that with a diet coke, chocolate milk, and an n/a beer- which we were at least able to drink while we waited for the hour onsite. Again, the 1 opportunity we had to go out to dinner on a Saturday night, we chose Barbiere's and it was such a disappointment. We will not be back. Again, I work hospitality in events with clients spending thousands for a 1-time experience. I fully get things will go wrong, but it's how they are rectified that makes the most lasting impression. This was not handled correctly at all! Our server did not care, made excuses and blamed the kitchen, and already forgot about us before we even made it...

I have lived my whole life in Milwaukee, and have tried countless pizza places in my time, such as Balistreri's, Ned’s Pizza , Pizzeria Scotty, Zaffiro’s, and many more. Although all of these restaurants are great, there is one place that is incredible, Barbieres. It’s great service, atmosphere, and most importantly, it’s outstanding food makes it the best pizza place in Milwaukee and definitely the best pizza place I've ever been to. Why is the service one of the things that makes Barbieres so amazing? When you sit down, a server is always there to ask for drinks or starters shortly after. They are also always kind and respectful when they take your order, never rude when you are unsure of what you want to order. Every server is consistent in there visits to your table so that they don’t make too many stops at your table, but also enough stops. Along with great servers, the time that it takes for your drinks and pizza to arrive is much shorter than many other pizza places that I have been to. They even deliver right to your door. Along with it’s great service, the relaxing and private atmosphere makes this restaurant unlike many others in Milwaukee. When you walk in, you can sit wherever you want, which means you can make a choice between a booth or a round table. All though the restaurant is fairly small, you do not feel cramped when sitting down. You also feel comfortable because you aren't interrupted by the voices of fifty other people or loud music and obnoxious music. Also, with dimmed lights, a feeling of relaxation comes over you and makes you feel at home. Last, but certainly not least is the quality of food, which is what truly makes Barbieres as good as it is. Many places that compare to Barbieres do not have an outstanding appetizer, which is quite the opposite for Barbieres. This appetizer is their garlic bread. There are no appetizers that I have ever had that compare with their garlic bread. It may be one of the greasiest appetizers, but that is what gives it the unique and outstanding taste that it produces. Finally, what ties all of these things together is the pizza. The pizza uses corn meal as dough, which gives it a unique, but incredible texture. One key feature in determining if a pizza is good is whether or not their toppings slide off, but Barbiere's toppings do not do so, due to its unbelievable quality. It is also incredible how consistent they are in crafting their pizza, never once in all my countless visits, has a pizza been undercooked...

Our family normally loves Barbiere's and recommend them to others, but tonight our opinion changed. We placed a to-go order, including a pizza and 3 pasta dinners. We requested no soup and double salads for 2 of the dinners. We have made this request multiple times over the years, and it's never been an issue. The man taking our order tonight was polite, unlike the normal person who takes the orders, gave us a total and time to pick up. When my husband arrived and checked in, they forgot some of our salads so he notified the man working the counter, in turn, he told the man in the kitchen, which turned into a bigger issue than it needed it to be. He was very vocal about not wanting to make the extra salads and made my husband pay an additional fee because of this request. Instead of giving us the normal little container the salads come in, he "squished 3 salads into 1." Even after he paid and tipped, the man in the kitchen continued to complain and be rude. We never mind paying for special requests, but it has never been an issue before, it was not disclosed at time of placing the order, and even after paying the additional money, he continued to be rude. We understand restaurants get busy, and things get stressful, but it's no excuse to act like that or treat people like that. Barbiere's can do better. It is not the point, it's the principle. We are very disappointed. My husband came home upset, upsetting the rest of us. Our Sunday dinner was...