Along Main Street in downtown Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, there is a cozy Italian deli and pizzeria that has become the town’s go-to spot for brick-oven pizza. 🍕
Bella Gusto serves up hand-tossed pizzas and gluten-friendly pinsas alongside a full Italian market, all built around family recipes and an Italian brick oven that gives every pie its signature char.
This is the kind of neighborhood restaurant where regulars know the specials board by heart.
How Bella Gusto won Oconomowoc hearts
Bella Gusto first opened its doors in downtown Oconomowoc roughly a decade ago under founders Renee and Thomas Burns, before passing to current owners Brett and Elle Huggins in 2023, who kept the same family-first spirit alive. 🍷
This family-owned pizzeria leans hard into that heritage, naming almost every specialty pizza and pinsa after a real family member, from Dr. Richards’ Deluxe to Aunt Sissy’s Margherita.
That personal touch has made the restaurant feel less like a corporate pizza chain and more like an extension of somebody’s actual family kitchen.
What keeps Oconomowoc locals coming back is the combination of a genuinely wood-fired pizza crust and a menu that never feels mass-produced, since everything from the meatballs to the marinara is made in-house. 🧄
Guests have praised the friendly, welcoming energy behind the counter, often singling out the owners themselves as some of the kindest in the area.
Between the Italian Brick Oven pizzas, the gluten-friendly pinsa option, and a deli case stocked with imported cheeses and meats, Bella Gusto has built the kind of loyal following that only comes from consistently good food and a genuinely warm welcome. 🧀
Food Highlights
- Brother Phil’s Philly Cheesesteak: White American cheese topped with London broil, green peppers, onions, chopped garlic, and mozzarella. 🧅
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Aunt Sissy’s Margherita Pizza: Fresh basil, mozzarella, roma tomatoes, and garlic extra virgin olive oil. 🍅
- William’s BBQ: Rotisserie chicken breast and mozzarella over Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, topped with cheddar cheese. 🍗
- Ronnie Sanfilippo’s Spinach Classic: Garlic extra virgin olive oil topped with mozzarella, spinach, Italian sausage, and a drizzle of EVOO. 🌱
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Dr. Richards’ Deluxe: House cheese blend and sauce topped with mild and hot Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella. 🌶️
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Reagan’s Meat Supreme: House cheese blend and sauce topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, pancetta, and mozzarella. 🥓
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Shea’s Italian Meatball Classic: Italian meatballs smothered in melted provolone and mozzarella over homemade marinara with fresh basil. 🍝
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Posey’s Pesto: Fresh basil pesto topped with mushrooms, onions, roma tomatoes, and fresh grated parmesan. 🌿
Atmosphere
Bella Gusto feels like a casual, come-as-you-are neighborhood deli that happens to also run a full Italian kitchen. 🕯️
The space stays family-friendly and unpretentious, with a specials board that changes often enough to keep regulars checking back.
Guests have described the owners as some of the friendliest in the area, adding to the restaurant’s welcoming, small-town feel. It is the kind of spot where a quick pizza run turns into a longer visit. ✨
Bottom Line
Go for Dr. Richards’ Deluxe or the Margherita Pizza, stay for the genuine family warmth behind the counter. Brick-oven pizzas, a gluten-friendly pinsa option, and a menu full of family-named specialties make this downtown Oconomowoc spot worth the visit. 🍕🍷
Address:
29 S Main St, Oconomowoc, WI 53066,
📞 (262) 354-3132
🕔 Open Tue–Thu 11 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 11 AM–9 PM (Closed Sun–Mon)