I’ve been fortunate enough to basically live down the street from Zaffiro’s Pizza my entire time in Milwaukee. The East Side is full of pizza places, and they all stand out in their own way. And for the most part, the pizza is what is going to be bringing you back to Zaffiro’s.

Right when you walk in, you’ll notice that the place is pretty small. The bar along the left is usually full, as is the dining room in the back. The red and white checkerboard tables are extremely close together, so don’t be expecting a quiet, romantic dinner with your sweetie. If you come in on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, expect to wait almost a half hour for a table. It’s worth the wait, trust me.

Both the bar and dining room are very dimly lit, even in the daytime. The place has been around since 1954, and you kind of get the feeling that not much has changed since then. You can definitely tell they totally embrace the family-owned neighborhood bar vibe. Their topping selection is limited to the classics. You want pineapple on your pizza? Tough shit. Spinach and feta? Fuck off, hippie!

Aside from pizza, they offer a variety of Italian dishes and sandwiches. I’ve never had anything other than their pizza though; if I’m going to Zaffiro’s, I’m going there because I want some fucking pizza.

THE GOOD: The crust is probably the thinnest, crispiest crust I’ve ever had. The edges are usually a bit burnt, and that suits me just fine. The sauce is slightly salty with a hint of spiciness to it. The toppings are perfectly placed: not too much, not too little. It’s never loaded up to the extreme, but it’s never too sparse either. Just perfect. The price is very similar to most other pizza joints in town: most large pizzas run between $12-15, with only the “Everything” pizzas topping $20. All of the appetizers I’ve had were well worth ordering, especially if you’re famished from the wait.

THE BAD: Having to wait 20-30 minutes almost every time I’ve gone there is a lot to handle, but it’s worth it. As long as you expect a wait going in, you’ll be fine. But while you’re waiting, you’ll have to dodge every server and customer that comes through, as there is almost nowhere to stand when the place gets busy. And with the tables so close together, it gets a little crowded in the dining area as well. And with that type of crowd comes a LOT of noise. Don’t expect I quite meal during peak dining hours.

TRY: If you’re looking for a quieter Zaffiro’s experience, show up between lunch and dinner. That’s the only time I’ve ever been here that I didn’t have to wait for a table and the place was quiet. Or you can skip going there altogether, since they now offer delivery service weekdays during lunch hours (Monday-Friday, 11AM-4PM). Also, they’ve expanded to serve their pizza at several theaters in the greater Milwaukee area (see here for more details), so grab a slice before seeing some shitty movie.

RATING: Five stars, eight thumbs up and one extreme high-five

As hard as it is to pick favorites, Zaffiro’s is probably my personal favorite pizza in Milwaukee. And that says a lot, because there is a shitload of amazing pizzerias in this city. If you haven’t tried their za and you like your crust cracker-thin, you should definitely check it out.

Milwaukee, Zaffiro's