Hungry Hippo: Transfer Pizzeria Cafe
This weekend, I had the pleasure of patronizing Transfer Pizzeria Cafe located at the intersection of 1st and Mitchell (www.transfermke.com.) I’ll admit that I wasn’t totally sold on trying it out. Driving by, I didn’t know what “Transfer” meant…is it a bar? Is it some Asian fusion restaurant? Perhaps a dance club that is far cooler than me? I was swayed by the argument that it got rave reviews in all respected Milwaukee publications–and with good reason.
Transfer was an interesting place, every part of our experience was just slightly left of center (…house wine in juice cups, perhaps a tradition I don’t know about?) The restaurant is housed in an old pharmacy, still fitted with original wood beamed ceilings and stained glass windows advertising “Candies, Cigars & Tobaccos.” The old-fashioned building is juxtaposed with decor half inspired by a 1950s diner, half by a modern day skate park. Sounds strange, but it works.
The menu features every Italian option you could want: salads, pasta, panini, pizza and of course, dessert. Without the kind recommendations of our waitress, we might have been overwhelmed by all the options but we were able to settle on a small Fiesta Pizza ($10, garlic sauce, mushrooms, red peppers, cheese) and a small Mario Pizza ($9, tomato sauce, bacon, cheese.) We were warned that the garlic sauce on the Fiesta was to die for and it surpassed the hype; it was the best pizza I’ve had in a very, VERY long time. The Mario was more traditional, but amazing no-less. The best feature of both was the beautifully rustic, crispy, bubbly crust, which is something pizzerias seem to struggle with.
Being short-sighted, hungry, twenty-somethings, we pigged out on the pizzas leaving absolutely no room for anything else. I suppose I will have to go back and I will get some more of that garlicky goodness. I advise that you do the same.
I give Transfer two thumbs up for effort and execution. Bravo.
Transfer Pizzeria Cafe
101 W. Mitchell St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 763-0438
