Pizza - Milwaukee Style

Being the child of a New Yorker, I grew up in a home where we cut our pizza's in triangles and were encouraged to fold them in half if at all possible.  I remember quite well the first time I saw pizza cut into squares around the age of 6.  I was at a sleep over at my best friend's house and I thought to myself, "WHAT ON EARTH ARE THEY DOING!"  I couldn't believe my eyes - and then it got worse - some people started eating it with a fork!  A FORK!  The blasphemy!  I quickly learned this is common in Wisconsin and that actually many a person eats their pizza like that, and it has a name.

While Chicago lays claim to the deep dish pizza, and New York to the large triangular slices, Milwaukee is home to the incredibly thin and crispy crusted pizza that is cut into squares and called TAVERN style pizza.  I have to admit, it's growing on me.  Now, don't be mistaken, there are many places in Milwaukee to find a Chicago style or New York style slice, but lately, I'm into this tavern style pizza and I want you to know where to get it!

Zaffiro's, which is just off of Brady street opened in 1954 and has been serving magically thin pizza ever since.  They have a special secret to getting their pizza that thin, which you can hear all about if you take Milwaukee Food Tours Brady Street Tour, but until then, my lips are sealed.  Zaffiro's is a second generation business with really friendly staff.  If you are one of those people who judge a book by it's cover, or a restaurant by it's store front, then you might have driven past this place a million times and never taken notice, but I promise it's worth the stop, with this zippy sauce, even layer of gooey cheese and ridiculously thin crust.  Make sure you stop at the original, the Marcus Corporation just franchised this recipe and will be opening locations through-out the country!

Another great place to try tavern style pizza is the Caradaro Club.  The Caradaro Club is the birthplace of Milwaukee Pizza.  To get people interested in pizza they passed out slices downtown for free, and it worked!  The restaurants long history has carried through and today they have two locations.  This pizza is also really tasty with wonderful fresh ingredients.

I think most people who like pizza, say there can't be a really awful pizza and so far, I find that to be the truth in Milwaukee, but you haven't had a TRUE Milwaukee experience until you try the tavern style pizza, thin and crispy just the way we like it!