Lisa's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Milwaukee

I went a couple months ago (two weeks after they changed ownership) and again last weekend and unfortunately I have to take them off the list of places I am willing to go. The first visit - literally everything that could go wrong did in the worst way I’ve ever seen in the service industry. I won’t go into to many details about that visit, but will just say you know it’s bad when two hours later they have to come back out and take your order again (and offer to comp every single table’s meal). Last weekend I was hoping to see improvement. While it was better, it was still unacceptable for a restaurant. I felt bad for our server who was trying so hard and hustling because none of it was her fault. It was clear that they don’t know how to cook a pizza that has fresh ingredients (which have more moisture) and don’t know how to manage a restaurant. It took an hour for the appetizer to come out and when the pizza finally came later the crust was COMPLETELY raw (think goopy dough). If they are going to be a pizza restaurant, they need to know how to cook a pizza. I had read some reviews about people having that problem when they’ve ordered to go under the new ownership, but I was shocked that they would send out a pizza like that to someone dining in restaurant. Because it was completely raw dough we had to send it back. They cooked us another pizza which was a little more cooked, but frankly not that much better so we only ate a few slices around the edges which seemed at least cooked enough to not get sick. We also watched as multiple people came to pick up to go orders, but the manager (and possibly owner?) had disappeared and so no one was even there to help them for at least 15 minutes. I’ve been to places before and seen other businesses struggle with learning to cook fresh ingredients, but give them a little time and they figure it out. However, at Lisa’s - if it is three months in and you are serving COMPLETELY raw dough to people it’s time to reconsider your industry. I had high hopes for the new ownership, but given just how severe it was I unfortunately have to cross them off my list of...

Whenever a restaurant comes under new ownership, there is always a question of what will happen with the recipes that made it noteworthy. Lucky for us, the new owners (Hannah and Dean) kept what worked and added their own amazing additions, backed by their own developing culinary backgrounds and experiences. For example, along with the traditional sauce that made Lisa's pizza so delicious, there is also Hannah's own dessert recipes, an espresso martini made with Dean's own cold brew coffee recipe and the garlic bread, also created by Dean.

While small changes have been made to the interior, with more slowly on the way, you will still find the dining room dimly lit and intimate. Although service was a little slow to start, our girl who seemed to be running the whole show did the best she could. Then Dean arrived, and he did an excellent job engaging and assisting us. He was kind enough to answer all our questions and make recommendations.

The large cheese, sausage, mushroom and onion pizza we shared was fantastic and made with a generous amount of toppings. The combo plate veggies had a crispy coating, which kept their texture tender but not soft. The cheesy garlic bread was to die for. One of, if not THE best, I've ever had. DO NOT go here without ordering some! Then there's the Tiramisu. WOW. You could taste the coffee, although not overwhelmingly so, and the cream was fluffy and not overly sweet.

Lisa's has been a Milwaukee staple, and it was wonderful to experience the classic flavors that brought us back, as well as new flavors that will keep us coming...

My partner and I were in town and decided to eat here. Saying that the food was miserable was a giant understatement.

Our first clue should have been that the address on Google is completely wrong as it brings you to a random place across the street.

SERVICE: Then when we arrived we noticed that the service was lacking with only 3 other tables in the entire restaurant we thought we would be in good hands but boy were we wrong. We had to approach the bar in order for us to receive drink service before even ordering our meal. We were never even greeted by anyone when we walked in, welcoming us into the establishment. All we were told is take any table you want. I have worked in the customer service field for nearly 25 years and have never been treated so poorly in my entire life.

APPETIZER: We ordered an appetizer to start, a good old fashion calamari. The appetizer came out beyond words rubbery to the point it was nearly inedible. The tentacles of the calamari were so over breaded that it made eating them near impossible.

MAIN COURSE: Then our main course arrived. We were both excited about this as we had been craving pizza all day long. The crust of the pizza was nicely done with a great and satisfying crunch. The middle of the pizza though was raw. It was so raw that it would make Gordon Ramsey blush.

My partner and I were so disappointed with the service and the food. If you are looking for a good tavern pizza, do not…I repeat do not go to Lisa’s pizza. You will be very...