It's been a long year for Scardina Specialties, which was forced to seek out a new home after a raze order was declared for their original location at 822 E. Chambers St. in summer of 2021.
But, after months of searching and almost seven months of construction, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the brand new Scardina Specialties, which recently reopened at 715 E. Locust St.
The shop is not only decorated for the holidays, but step up to the counter and you’re likely to get a whiff of good old fashioned Italian cooking thanks to stock simmering in the deli kitchen and meatballs being shaped and cooked to fill a wall’s worth of holiday catering orders.
In fact, guests hoping to pick up spiedini, sausages or other items should definitely call the deli to inquire about availability of specific items (and/or to place an order), since the cases of meats, cheeses and housemade salads are growing lean and the kitchen is currently operating at full capacity.
But second generation owner, Damien Scardina, says that – once the holidays have passed, the deli will be prepared to start the New Year at full steam, offering their full menu of deli items, including take and bake pizzas and pastas along with their full menu of wraps and panini including favorites like hot Italian beef, Sicilian steak, meatball and their Capa-Goo panino featuring spicy (or mild) capicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato, mayo and red onion.
The deli will also be stocked with new offerings like tap beers including Black Husky’s Vain (American pale ale), Lakefront’s Riverwest Stein, plus Italian beer and Prosecco, which guests can enjoy right onsite thanks to a new liquor license and a small seating area which was built out inside the new deli space.
The New Year will also bring forth a slew of daily specials, including $2 off take-and-bake pizzas on Tuesdays; lasagna dinners on Wednesdays; spiedini dinners on Thursdays; fish specials on Fridays; Sicilian style pizzas on Saturdays and hot ham and rolls on Sundays.
Watch for updates on Scardina’s Facebook page.
Scardina Specialties is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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