Shorewood’s Oakland Avenue is about to get a serious Jersey accent. The team behind Bay View’s popular Italian spot Sorella is rolling out a new sit-down pizzeria next to Three Lions Pub, called Pizzeria Di Lusso. The restaurant will spotlight two regional pie styles — Trenton-style and grandma-style — and is aiming for a late-spring or early-summer opening. Owners say it will operate in the late afternoon and evening and will skip pizza-by-the-slice at first.
Co-owners Kyle Toner and Paul Damora told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they expect to start service around 4 p.m. and to open five nights a week initially. According to the Journal Sentinel, Pizzeria Di Lusso will launch as dine-in only, with carryout and delivery coming later as the team gets its footing. The focus, they say, is on whole pies and a full sit-down experience rather than quick slices.
Menu and approach
As reported by Milwaukee Magazine, Toner describes the Trenton-style pies as “thin, it’s crispy, but it’s still got some chew,” while the grandma-style pies will offer a distinct, equally thin take with their own texture. Milwaukee Magazine notes that the partners plan to pair pizzas with appetizers and salads and to run a full-service, sit-down dining room instead of a grab-and-go slice counter.
Space and buildout
The pizzeria is taking over the former Nana Sushi space, which closed in March 2025, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The paper reports that the owners have tapped local design firm FORM, led by Beth Miller, to rework the interior into a casual, full-service dining room. Toner and Damora told the Sentinel they want the new spot to feel like a neighborhood hangout while bringing a distinct Jersey-influenced pizza approach to Shorewood.
The move expands the duo’s footprint beyond Bay View, where Sorella has grown into a neighborhood favorite. Urban Milwaukee chronicled the partners’ opening of Sorella and their roots in local kitchens. Shorewood diners can expect more details and an official opening date as the buildout moves along. For now, the promise of Jersey-style pies has Oakland Avenue talking.
