The Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee has a rich and colorful history. A big part  of that history is the Ward’s great Italian tradition. After the Great Fire of 1892, where 440 buildings in the Ward were destroyed, the predominantly Irish Warehouse district morphed into a thriving Italian neighborhood. Anchored by the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Catholic Church, the neighborhood boasted 29 Italian saloons, 45 Italian groceries, an Italian bank and two spaghetti factories. Until just after WWII, the Ward, known for its distinctive “Raw Urban” Architecture was a thriving and prosperous center of Italian life and commerce.

Ryan Braun’s Graffito

celebrates the Ward’s wonderful Urban Italian tradition. Staying true to the roots of great Italian cuisine, we make everything “tutto cucinato al momento””, or cooking from scratch. Our menu is a celebration of the Italian sensibility; fresh local product, the best ingredients, long traditions of family recipes adapted to the evolving culinary world, matched perfectly with great wines crafted to enhance the food and warm the heart. The design of the restaurant celebrates the Historic Third Ward, capturing the raw urban feel of its architecture, while celebrating the ancient Italian “graffito’, the original ‘urban art’.

At Graffito, our goal is to create an experience for our Guest that cannot be found anywhere else. Not only great food and beverage, but the warmest, most engaging, legendary hospitality possible.  It is our goal to make sure that every bite, every sip, every interaction that our Guest’s enjoy at Graffito exceeds their expectations. We are here to stimulate all of their senses and provide an experience that is day in and day out a celebration of

“La Dolce Vida”!