Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009
Today
Hi: 53
Lo: 41
Mon
Hi: 50
Lo: 39
Tue
Hi: 50
Lo: 40
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts

  • tfaville:
    @BrotherD oh dude....have fun. The least you could do is go to Dick Clarks American Bandstand Grill or Donato's Pizza

  • SuchBuys:
    2b lil Elvis or Marilyn? link Click to a medium screen, pizza Any Video w Ads, the ads can show w subsequent videos

  • Whatleydude:
    @amandagore Pizza. Just order it in. Or come round and I'll order it for you/us...

  • CookingOutdoors:
    Hot dogs can be served in many ways – on a bun, on a tortilla, as part of kabobs or even as a topping for a grilled pizza.

  • BargainTravels:
    Any Video w Ads, the ads can show w subsequent videos too, eg Elvis or Marilyn .. link Click to a BIG SCREEN, and pizza


Follow us on Twitter ...
In Dining Briefs
Maria's Pizza is the real deal
 
By Molly Snyder Edler RSS Feed Twitter Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

Published July 22, 2002 at 5:53 a.m.
Tags: pizza, italian, italy, kitsch

"Welcome to Maria's," says a recorded voice when you walk into the bright, blinking pizza parlor. "Have a happy and safe Fourth."

It's two days before the 4th of July, so naturally, Maria's Pizza (5025 W. Forest Home Ave.) is decorated with dozens of American flags, mammoth red, white and blue bows and a posse of plastic Uncle Sam statues. Add these embellishments to the usual decor of paint-by-number religious paintings, a red Elvis Presley guitar that's also a clock, strands of colored lights and tables topped with classic red-checkered cloths and vases of fake roses, and suddenly you have an eatery that's half grandma's funhouse, half pizza heaven.

Sisters Mickey and Bonnie are the main waitresses, and the daughters of Maria, the original owner of the restaurant. They are quick to wink at you and wear red dresses that are sometimes dusted with flour if they are helping out in the kitchen that night.

Maria Traxel was a 4' 9" woman who loved to cook. In 1957, few people had heard of pizza, but Maria was certain that Milwaukeeans would love her thin crusted, bigger-than-the-tray pizza pie, so she scraped together enough money to open a small restaurant on 7th and Greenfield. Maria painted the walls red (her favorite color) and covered the cracks in the walls with family-made religious paint-by-number oils.

Sure enough, people pilgrimaged from the far corners of the city to sample Maria's saucy pies. A priest loved the pizza so much that he blessed each of the holy paintings.

In 1971 Maria moved the restaurant to her current location on Forest Home Ave. In honor of her first restaurant, she painted the ceiling red and hung all of the original paint-by-numbers.

Maria was denied a liquor license because there were already many bars and restaurants in the area, and she never reapplied. To this day, soda is the most potent beverage on the menu, but don't let this deter you. It's worth the trip just for a Styrofoam cup of blue raspberry pop, complete with big, square ice cubes clearly made in ice cube trays and not in a commercial ice machine.

Maria's pizza has a thin, soft crust and is served on square metal trays with the edges hanging over the sides. Most people tear off a large piece and roll it up or fold it in half. ("Like a taco," says Mickey.) Pasta, sandwiches and deliciously greasy garlic and cheese breads are also available.

Maria passed away in 1993, but her daughters are dedicated to keeping the family business alive. Lucky for all of us, because whereas restaurants like Buca di Beppo are kitchy and ironic, Maria's Pizza is truly a slice of life.

1 comment about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 1, 2006 at 4:17 p.m. (report)

Lee .C said: the crust is thin and soft in the middle of the pie but as you work your way to the edges you find the crust getting more and more crispy till the very edge of the crust which in many many cases is actually burnt and blackened in some spots. there is nothing like a maria's pizza and pitcher of cola on the side. every time i'm back in wisconsin for a fishing trip i must make it back to Maria's at least twice. There is also no better snack than cold maria's pizza on the drive up to eagle river...Lee

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5



Recent blogs/briefs by Molly Snyder Edler
What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. "Beer water" is not beer and that's OK
Nov. 14, 2009
Let's get a few things straight. MGD Light 64 and Bud Select 55 are not a beer-drinker's ...

Three restaurants say goodbye to Milwaukee diners
Nov. 09, 2009
Two Milwaukee restaurants closed recently, and a third will serve its last meal this Sunday. ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Nope, pipes and kids don't mix
Nov. 06, 2009
Recently, I dated myself without even realizing it. My son told me he wanted to make magic ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. 11 benefits of being an adoptive mom
Nov. 02, 2009
The adoptive mom lets go of a lot, but she receives an abundance in return, too. Here ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Can you politely "unfriend" on Facebook?
Oct. 30, 2009
A real friend from the real world told me she wanted to clean up her Facebook page and ...

OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | britneysnation.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | FanaticPhotog.com | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnDoorCounty.org | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLakeCountry.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | Wisconsincustomhomenews.com | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest