Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993

Authentic Italian food. Every five weeks or so they switch the menu to feature a different region of Italy. We went for our anniversary, for our first visit. Service was excellent and they were helpful in sharing the menu. The meal is four courses and well paced. Although the servings are smaller, we left satisfied. They were featuring white truffles during our visit, and although we did not add them to our meal, they popped by our table to show us a large truffle, which was a nice touch. The dining area is pretty tight, with tables very close which takes away from an intimate feel. Overall the area is charming. We each had a cocktail and meals, which totalled $210 before tip. We will return in the future.

Tucked inside a historic brick relic from Milwaukee’s brewing past, Ristorante Bartolotta doesn’t just serve dinner. It tells a story. From the warm greeting at the door to the final, foamy sip of cappuccino, the experience feels carefully orchestrated yet completely relaxed. The evening unfolds through a four-course tasting menu. Tonight’s narrative, Un Viaggio in Emilia-Romagna, is inspired by the chef’s travels through the northern Italian region. The dishes echo the flavors and warmth of countryside kitchens with the precision of fine dining. To begin, a Fiore di Cecilia mocktail sets the tone. A playful, non-alcoholic aperitivo where blood orange and pineapple meet a floral Italian spritz. Light, vibrant, and honestly, kind of addictive. Fresh focaccia and ciabatta from a local bakery follow, with generous helpings of butter and olive oil to keep things grounded. The antipasti hits a savory high note. Paper-thin slices of prosciutto, salami, and lardo (rendered into a creamy pistà as gràs) pair unexpectedly well with gnocco fritto. These puffed pillows of fried dough are equal parts crisp and indulgent. For Primi, the lasagna verde is a showstopper. Layers of spinach pasta, velvety béchamel, and deep, rich Bolognese ragu get a final snowfall of white truffle. It’s classic but with just enough flair to remind you this is not your nonna’s kitchen. Secondi brings a no-nonsense grigliata mista featuring beef striploin, pork ribs, lamb chop, and a snappy Italian sausage. Each is kissed by the grill and served alongside perfectly roasted rosemary potatoes. The flavors are bold, rustic, and deeply satisfying. Then comes the restaurant’s signature tiramisu. Unchanged since 1993, and for good reason. It’s layered, delicate, and nostalgic. A surprise amaretto cookie filled with orange paste adds an unexpected note of citrus and crunch. A little wink at the end. The cappuccino closes the evening with a flourish. The foam is thick and silky, a final detail that shows how much this place values the total experience. What stands out most here isn’t just the food. It’s the feeling that every detail, from service to setting, has been thoughtfully considered. Ristorante Bartolotta blends tradition and polish without ever feeling forced. It’s easy to see why it’s become a Milwaukee institution and why it continues to evolve without losing its soul.

What an amazing dinner at Bartolotta! The tour of Sicily is absolutely incredible. The dishes are simple, but so flavorful. Our servers Sarah and Tony were so knowledgeable about the dishes and helpful when trying to choose an option. They took such great care of us. This restaurant has incredible service and the most delicious food! It’s worth the trip to Wauwatosa.

We were sitting outside and it is beautiful there. The service is great. We had high hope but were bit disappointed with the food. Some of my pasta were overcooked and some were undercooked. The risotto was tasty, we loved the dried fig, it was a great combination but too bad the risotto was overcooked. The pork collar is cooked right but not much to it. The best dish was the lamb. The soggy tiramisu was a huge letdown. Overall the food didn’t live up to the hype.

A Culinary Journey to Remember at Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 Dining at Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 was nothing short of extraordinary. The evening centered around the rare and celebrated white truffle, showcased in a way that was truly out of this world. Each dish felt like a carefully created fine Italian cuisine with layers of flavor unfolding effortlessly and taking my taste buds on a journey I never wanted to end. The wine pairings elevated the experience even further. Each pour was thoughtfully selected to complement the food, but the standout surprise was the Lambrusco. What I thought I knew about this wine was completely transformed. The depth, elegance, and character it displayed challenged every preconceived notion I had it was breathtaking. Adding to the magic was learning about the rich history of the Bartolotta family and the incredible support they’ve given throughout Milwaukee. Their commitment to community, hospitality, and culinary excellence shines through in every detail. This was an experience that could easily hold its own against any Michelin-starred restaurant. From start to finish, it was memorable, heartfelt, and truly exceptional. Thank you, Ristorante Bartolotta, for an unforgettable evening of exquisite food, wine, and warmth.

Exceptional service and fine dining experience. The tour of Sicily dinner was amazing. Wine delicious. Ambiance perfect.

Experience delicious food in a fantastic atmosphere that guarantees an excellent dining experience. You pay a fixed price and select one option each for antipasti, first course, second course, and dessert. Don't miss out on this exceptional culinary experience to travel to Italy with your senses!

Awesome experience as always. From the time you enter until the time you leave, they have you wrapped up in incredible service. Every little thing is attended to like few restaurants can pull off. Spectacular service, food and drinks. It was our Anniversary and I dropped off a new ring for my wife earlier in the day. They brought it out with dessert and my wife wasn't going to open it as she thought it was from Bartolotta's. Not mantra places compare to them!

Oh wow, what a delightful experience this was! Honestly I'm not a regular at Bartolotta restaurants, so my rare visits feel extra special. We came here on a Monday night for my dad's birthday dinner, a few of us being first timers. My initial thought was how much the place, and overall atmosphere, gave off a true Italian experience. From the decor and white table clothes, to the wonderful staff offering great service, it was really nice. I had no idea that this was the kind of place where the menu is set up in courses, so you truly have to order four total. And listen that's not a complaint because everything was delicious. The menu rotates every few months to having dishes from different regions of Italy (how cool!), and during our visit it was Lazio. Lots of great options to choose from, and our sweet serve Carissa was so helpful in explaining each and offering her favorites. I started with the Insalata Mista for course one, which was fresh vegetables, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. For my pasta dish I chose the Pizzicotti alla Reatina aka Rieti-style "pinched" leavened pasta that came in with tomato sauce, basil, and Pecorino Romano. Very unique for a pasta dish, and I thoroughly enjoyed. Course three was the Petto di Pollo alla Romana, free-range chicken breast with braised sweet peppers, in a tomato sauce of sorts. And my meal finished with flourless chocolate cake which was to die for. Not only were all of the dishes flavorful, they were the perfect small portions, allowing you to get through them all. In addition to all of the Italian eats, you can of course find copious amounts of wine options here, and other various cocktails and beers. We split a vino for the table, which paired well. This is definitely a special-occasion spot in my book. Would highly rec.

Atmosphere was beautiful, staff friendly, The 4x coarse for 75 was not a problem as I was on expense account. (No other options 4 coarse only) ). With that said if it were my own monies I would have been disappointed. The reviews got me through the door yet pasta spaghetti fell short, the gnocchi was amazing and the vegi risotto missed the mark by a long shot. The theme idea of dishes from parts/regions of Italy is novel but I'd rather have you perfect one region well vs trying to cover multiple regions of Italy In short: I wouldn't return if spending my own money.

Finally came back to give them another try. The food was much better, still not what it has been: The shrimp dish was a little too fishy, a tad under-seasoned, and the shrimp mealy. I generally prefer fish and seafood but it wasn't hitting for me that night. The duck ragout as always was phenomenal. They need to bring back the duck papardelle-- if the tiramisu can be a regular staple, it can too!!! I loved the bean pasta this time too- so savory and just reminded me of a great home cooked dish. The sea bream was again a little fishy for me, but the mushrooms were the best part. The rabbit dish was also my husband's favorite. The tiramisu, as always, made my husband so happy. The almond cake was a bit dry for me but I loved the cream anglaise. Our server was very attentive at first but as the restaurant got less busy (only around 9pm, mind you!) we had to search for her and flag her down to order more drinks near the end of the menu. Will certainly be keeping them back in the rotation when in the Tosa and MKE area.

I had dinner with my two closest girlie cousins for one of their birthdays. When I arrived they were seated outside. Even though I had never been there before, the feel was so familiar. Ah, it's because it reminded me of Tuscany! I loved the decor, the plants, the color... My favorite area in Italy happened to be the theme of the menu - Culinary Journey to Tuscany. I LOVED IT! For my four dishes, I chose: Tanglier Di Salumi Topic Toscani (assortment of traditional Tuscan cured meats), Pappardelle al ragu d'anatra (duck ragu), Branzino con salsa crudo (sea bass), and then Tiramisu and a cappuccino. I was not disappointed! Everything was perfecto. I finished every single delicious morsel. I'm very picky, so this is saying a lot! I did not have any wine since I'm cutting down on my alcohol intake. The sparkling water was perfect with a twist of lemon. Parking was a bit of a challenge, but the food made it all worthwhile. I will be back to try the next menu!

I was hesitant to try this restaurant due to some conflicting reviews, but I am SO glad I went! The food was delicious, and the service was great. I tried meatballs, ravioli, perch, tiramisu, and small complimentary desert wine. It was such an outstanding meal, I cannot wait to come back! I think the rotating menus make it such a fun and unique experience. Although it is pricey, I think everyone should check it out at some point!

My girlfriend and I stopped in here to celebrate our anniversary, we have never been here and I wasn't sure how the food was going to be or what the atmosphere was going to be like, so I decided to book our reservation. We were seated outside like I had requested, but little did I know we were the only ones outside. We had the entire patio to ourselves! It felt like it was out of a movie or something, it felt very romantic. Carissa, our server was excellent. She gave us a history of the restaurant and the dishes that are served! She really knows her stuff and she made us feel very welcomed. I have attached some pictures of our wonderful night, we can't wait to come back again!!

If you want to treat yourselves, this is the place to do it! They serve a 4 course meal based on an area in Italy, which is so special. You choose one item from each category (antipasti, primi, secondi, dolci). We had the tiny clams, couscous/lasagna, mixed grill/shrimp, tiramisu/chocolate-coconut financier with olive oil sorbet. Portions are the perfect amount to not leave you overstuffed by the end of the evening. Our servers were Carissa and Karla, who were incredibly attentive and knowledgeable about the menu! I cannot suggest enough to sit outside if it's nice out. It was like dining in an Italian garden. Drinks were also delicious!

I think this is one of those restaurants where you might come once but probably won't return. The atmosphere is nice and shooting for romantic but honestly the chairs are not comfortable at all. The food is probably the most disappointing. It is a 4 course meal and you get to choose from 3-5 choices for each course and a couple of them will be for extra charge. That would be fine but honestly for the price, quantity, and choices i really didn't think it was worth it. You can definitely get better food for the same price you would pay here. For the anti pasta we tried the Carne Salada Alla Trentina and Polenta Di Mais E Patate Con Ciuiga Del Banale E Formaggio Di Malga Trentino (yes, the names are long). The shaved beef was really good and we enjoyed it but the sausage was horrendous; it was burnt and just sad. For the primi we went with Rufioi Mocheni Con Burro Fuso E Salvia and Strangolapreti Agli Spinaci Con Crema Di Formaggi Dolci D'Alpeggio. The ravioli was good but not phenomenal and the gnocchi was really not great. I actually probably didn't like the gnocchi the most out of the courses we had. For the Secondi, we got the Puntine Di Maiale Con Cavolo Rosso In Agrodolce and Guancette Di Vitello Al Teroldego Con "Oro Rosso Di Storo" Polenta. These two we liked but were on the fatty side. The ribs were deff on the burnt side but the veal was cooked really well. Finally the desserts, we went with Strudel Di Mela Con Gelato Alla Cannella and Budino Di Mou Salato. The strudel was ok but the pudding was a killer. I really liked it and would happily go back if i can just get that :)

I have eaten here twice. I was reluctant to try it because of the fixed price menu and the lack of vegetarian main courses on it. However, during their Ligurian month, I took the plunge. I was astonished on how serious they took their cuisine. I'm not easy to please. I lived in Italy for four years, learned to cook from my friends' grandparents and have traveled the world in search of great epicurean pleasures. When I say they had it right with their pesto, I mean it. Was it exactly like dining in Genova, no. But, do the majority of American Italian restaurants even know what pesto is? no. So, I was happy. Everything they made was delicious. I left very satisfied with the confidence to put Bartolotta dal 1993 in my top 10 MKE finds. Bravi.

I've been here prior to them forcing you into the 4 course meal and that's where part of the problem is. Sometimes I just want to sit down have an app and the duck ragu and move on with my day. My last trip here the duck was removed off the menu the day before and we had made reservations in advance. My dining companion is vegetarian. This is an issue apparently because you are forced into the 4 course meal and a lot of the options were meat centric. Not an issue for me but I could see they were dismayed at the selection which shoehorned them into what little choice was left. We made mention of this to the waiter who didn't offer a solution, didn't offer to check and ask the kitchen as to how this person could be accommodated. Sometimes making the effort is appreciated. The only other complaint is that some of my food was room temperature. Not sure if it was sitting? I think at this price point, where dinner for two could put you at 200-300 (depending on drinkings or if you get the white truffles), you need to be executing at the highest possible level. I think it's safe to say they are not and that is the difference between good and great. If you only go to a place like this for the rare special occasion then it's probably good enough. If you frequent other high end dining options then you might feel as though things could use some improvement.

A few things, when I went here the service was very good. However, they make you order off a selected three course menu which ends up being quite expensive. What I did order off the menu, I was extremely disappointed for the large up charge for duck, which was such a small amount it wasn't worth the money, and overall the food was very bland.

Last review was 2018, so I should update. This is still my favorite Bartolotta restaurant, with Bacchus being a close 2nd. They changed their menu format to Tours of Italy with 5-6 dishes in each menu section (Antipasti, primi, secondi, and dolce) representing a region of Italy, and the region menu changes about every 6 weeks. Last night's menu featured the smaller islands of Italy. It's a four-course dinner that starts at only $65, and each diner chooses his/her own items from each course, which is great because you get to try more! We ordered Caprese salad and Fried Soft Shell Crab from the Antipasto section; Risotto alla Torcellana with Vialone Nano Rice, Porcini Mushrooms, Veggies, Grana Padano, Bigoli in Salsa with house made spaghetti with stewed anchovy-onion sauce (very heavy on the anchovy), and Tagliolini alla Granseola house made ribbon pasta with spider crab, cream, tomato, white wine from the Primi section (I paid extra to add the risotto because the Tagliolini was highly recommended but Risotto is my favorite Italian dish, so I wasn't leaving until I had some); Mixed Grill with Beef Strip Loin, Italian Sausage, Pork Rib, and Lamb Chop and Duck Breast with white polenta with spinach from the Secondi section; and Carrot-Radicchio Cake with marscapone and Tiramisu from the Dolce section. Everything was amazing, although, the anchovy in the sauce for the Bigoli was too strong for our preference, but I'm sure anchovy lovers would say it's the perfect amount. We dine on their beautiful patio, and received excellent service from Tony and Erica. So yes, I still love this restaurant, and if you haven't been here, make it happen ASAP!

Phenomenal meal and service! They are currently focused on Lazio region ( where Rome is) for the pre-fixe. Some of the highlights were the torta salata, cacio e Pepe and mixed grill. And of course the desserts

A truly spectacular evening. My wife and I enjoyed every second. We dined out on the patio, a lovely brick and floral space. Service was extremely attentive and knowledgeable, giving excellent recommendations on wines and desserts. Meal is served coursed, with one meal price, in four courses. Each course had fantastic and varied options for every taste. We split the mussels and prosciutto arugula wrap for starts, and soaked all the delicious broth with stellar focaccia bread. Pastas were homey, but inventive. So satisfying. The meat course was cooked perfectly. And then dessert. My god, the options are fantastic and it's great to serve varied tastes, but forget everything and get the Tiramisu. I would eat it by the pound. I have sampled many, but this is truly the finest iteration of my absolute favorite dessert. There is nothing like it and I'm dying for more. Can't recommend this spot enough for a date, anniversary, or anything that would benefit from romance, and decadence.

Anyone may feel free to contact me about this review at any time. I do not write reviews regularly on here because I typically only review places on Google Maps, but this was such a negatively memorable night that the business practices of this place deserve alerting everyone possible. On 2023 Saturday, Nov. 4, what was supposed to be a significant birthday dinner for a member at my table ended up being the worst dining experience we've had all year, and my personal worst that I can remember since moving to this region years ago. This is the first time I have ever rated a restaurant this low on Google Maps, and I hope it will be my last; I don't do so lightly, but if The Cheesecake Factory would have made for a superior visit given such a high-end place, something is seriously wrong. We were given only a costly 4-course menu for some reason and were not told that there were other options available. One of the courses was a steak for which the server didn't provide rarity options; one ended up being served too raw for its recipient's liking. Additionally, two of the desserts ended up being poorly made, with a gelato tasting like nothing beyond average, and one cake surprisingly ending up like mostly flavorless bread. At least 2 of the courses came appallingly late (the very first one took as long as 30+ min after our choices were made), even consistently later than parties that arrived after us, yet were served first; one of them was even seated adjacent to us. For some reason, it seemed as if our original server intentionally avoided eye contact with us as he proceeded to serve other tables, and we may never know why. Worst of all, when my group finally got upset enough to point all this out, the server only apologized and said, "We'll do better next time," with no explanation of why multiple tables were served ahead of us, and his manager gave canned responses like, "I'm sorry you feel that way" (when it was an objective fact that we saw at least 2 tables served ahead of us), and "You have every right to feel this way," instead of simply zeroing in with, "I'm sorry we messed up our order of priority." Let me put it this way: one table with a party who arrived after us received their appetizers before us and FINISHED their entire meal before we were served our last course. The dodging was absolutely atrocious for such a high-end restaurant, and all they did was comp us drinks and dessert (half of which was subpar to begin with). With such an absurdly long wait between courses and even for the check: given how my group had even made a reservation, all I can think of is that they either silently discriminated against my race and/or against one member at my table who faces mobility challenges and needs a scooter to get around. I suppose if you treat disabled-people-who-take-up-space like crap, they won't come back, giving more physical space for more able bodies to dine and rake in more profit. They definitely succeeded in blacklisting themselves among every member of my party, at least for as long as the current management is in place.

Date of visit: 11/6/21 We were given a gift card for Bartolotta restaurants and was pretty excited to use it as we haven't had much experience with this family of restaurants in the past, despite being lifelong Milwaukeeans. Some friends also had a gift card and we used the opportunity to do a double date before catching a movie at AMC. All four of us being virgins, we didn't know that this was a fixed-menu affair with multiple courses, but the staff was efficient and did their best to move things along quickly and enable us to make our movie. Also appreciated that the menu looks at different areas of Italy so if you come back in a couple months, the menu will be all different. Highlights: A solid bread basket is brought to the table with a couple different kinds, each of us quickly seized upon our favorites. The gnocchi had a slight cinnamon flavor that was not expected! The salame meatballs were excellent--I could have three servings of those little lovelies. The tiramisu was fantastic, even finished a couple days later. Great staff, from the host to the servers. Opportunities: I was expecting a bit more food given the per person price. The fruitcake was just awful. We got it thinking that if there was ever a place where it would be good, this would be it. We were wrong.

Actually, EVERYTHING went well! I had the awesome tagliatelle with duck ragout, can't remember what my companion had, but he loved his too. That particular dish is no longer on the menu, but there are many lovely pastas with savory sauces. Don't miss the extraordinary tiramisu for dessert. It's destination dining and priced accordingly, but if you bypass the white truffle oil (!) and the pricier wines,you won't have to take out a second mortgage on your house.

I am not one for posting reviews but I people need to know. Please check to rotating menu before g coming to this place. Everything I looked at online looked amazing. Long and behold with the rotating menus none of these Italian staples were available. Sorry to say, all the meat on my plate, was dry...... The potatoes had that dirt taste like they were not washed prior to preparing for service. It's unfortunate with a bill for over $200 at a two top, I thought maybe just one thing would be amazing. Sorry to say the best thing here was the service.

Been here many times and wonderful as usual. Currently the prie fix menu was the islands of Italy tour. All the options were mainly seafood related which was very nice as I usually come in the dead of winter. I took a leap and ordered the soft shell crab to which I was told you can eat the whole thing and to my surprise it was awesome. Will be back for the next seasonal menu.

I have been a loyal fan of this restaurant always, but the respect (and number of visits) has skyrocketed during the pandemic. Ristorante has continued business with an elevated safety protocol in place (all servers wearing masks, spacing, air purifiers etc) and still continued to produce some of the most incredible Italian fare in the state. I love the new approach they're taking - visiting Italy and incorporating their authentic recipes into fantastic dishes. The "Tour of Italy" concept, of swapping out their prix fixe menu with different regions for a four-course inclusive meal is genius. You can always expect to find something different each time you visit. My most recent visit was "Un Viaggio in Valle D'Aosta" and there wasn't a bad dish to be had. They mention little notes of history and influence under some of the dishes and regularly offer supplements to them (like truffles during season!) I went for my birthday and was greeted happily and wished a happy birthday on arrival. The Rocket Baby bread served is always incredible, and the timing of firing courses is always spot on, never rushed. That is leaving out the absolutely mind-boggling wine list. The staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and the wines and always happy to help you choose something complimentary. They also are very conscious and accommodating of food allergies - huge plus! Take yourself for a treat, $65 for a fixed four-course meal, expect food you won't soon forget and service better than you could imagine - shout out to Peter for always nailing it! One warning, don't expect to bring home a doggy bag, you will be licking your plate clean for each plate.

Yes, it's a prefix menu, but it changes every six weeks and there are plenty of options. I had an enjoyable dinner, and I will return after the menu changes again.

Love the menu format - tour of Napoli is the current theme. The food was spectacular! My only critique is that the staff was so very focused on the timing of each table's next course that they didn't seem to have time to talk or visit with us. Having said that, they were very busy and may have been understaffed. I will definitely go back to the experience the next menu.

5 stars to the dining environment and ambiance 5 stars to our server Peter 5 stars to the bread and my lamb chops entree 3.5 stars to the risotto (salty and dry) 3 stars to hubby's crispy chicken entree (one piece of chicken was a bit undercooked while some of the Brussels sprouts were burnt) Hubby and I had a great time at Ristorante Bartolotta. The ambiance is fabulous for a date. Portion size is big for an entree. The lamb chops are to die for. Overall, this restaurant is a solid 4 to us. We are happy to go back!

I've been dying to try one of the new menus since they reopened. Love the 4 small courses for $59. Some have supplemental charges so pay attention! Their COVID handling made me feel comfortable. They took temperatures, had plastic shields between some of the seating areas and they had you put your mask on before your server would approach the table. While other reviews show that folks seem annoyed by this, I appreciated the effort. The food was great but I was pretty disappointed in the tiramisu. The last time I had it here, it was creamy, smooth and flavorful. This time it just tasted waterlogged somehow. I'd try again now that they're rolling out the new menu, but I'll definitely skip the tiramisu.

Small tables, and you are very close to your neighbors. Menu is fixed and rotates with the region of Italy they are highlighting. Wasn't our favorite Italian food.

We went last night for my birthday and had a great evening. I knew ahead of time what style of menu I was choosing (regional exploration, changing every few weeks, fixed price with smaller portions). We just really enjoyed it. Staff was great. Food was not boring. getting to choose 4 items was fun. I loved it! My favorite was the stuffed squash blossom. My husband's was the meat "sampler" (that's not what it was called.) We were both deliciously surprised by the charred spaghetti.

Pow! This is a 6 star, one of the best meals we have ever had! I am glad I don't live in Milwaukee, I would eat at this place every chance I could. The rici bici was amazing, the duck ragu...boom!

This is your stereotypical great Milwaukee Italian restaurant (sarcasm). I never would have guessed that I would eat some of the best Italian food of my life in Milwaukee, but I just did. This place is fantastic in nearly all regards. First, it is a great space. Quaint and thematically on point. Second, the service is quite good and the servers know the menu and what's good. To begin, I had the Black Manhattan cocktail. It was good, not great. But this was the only thing that let me down of the entire evening. There is an extensive wine list which is better suited to a trip here and I'd recommend you order from that. For starters, I had the calamari, which was fantastic. It was light and flavorful. The best came after this. The Pappardelle Al Ragu D'Anatra was out of this world. It came highly recommended by the waiter and it did not disappoint one bit. There is so much flavor in the duck ragu and the housemade noodles bring out the best of this dish! I also had the Costollete D'Agnello a Scottadito, without much expectation. This set the meal on another level. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender, and tasted amazing! But we're not done... The Budino al Caramello. Just order it. I can't really say anything more! It's a wonderful little dessert. The pasta, lamb chops, and budino were some of the best dishes you'll taste anywhere. Get them all and thank me later!

My friend was visiting from KCMO and we decided we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out. Once we read the menu and peeked at the lovely outdoor grotto area, we had to eat here. It was a Thursday evening, but early, around 6pm. We asked the host if we could get a table, having not made a reservation. He was clear that they were fully booked, but he did manage to find us a two-top. Upon entry, he took out temperatures and told us the rules about their masking protocol - put yours on whenever a server approaches the table. They all wore masks and gloves. It was the best protective acts I've seen thus far. We ordered drinks - my Negroni was wonderful. The restaurant is doing a tour of the regions of Italy right now, focusing on an area for three weeks. You can choose four courses. The food was sublime. Every course was amazing. I could tell you about the dishes, but what we had is no longer available. Suffice it to say they are masters of seafood. The pasta is epic. The sauces are both delicate and multi-layered. The tiramisu is light and dripping with espresso. The service cannot be beat. Highly recommend.

We've been eating at Bartolotta's since they reopened last summer. Really love their ever-changing menu (about every month or so, they switch up their menu to focus on a different region of Italy). Every meal is a fixed price (usually around $65) for four courses, with some special dishes an extra charge. Almost everything we've had has been terrific, but the menu this past weekend - the Marches region - was, by far, the best. I started with the cuttlefish - which I don't recall ever having before - delicious! My wife had the polenta with pork ragu and really enjoyed it as well. For the pasta course, I had the veal and sweetbread lasagna and it was very rich and tasty. Amy surprised me by ordering the spaghetti with mussels and shrimp. It was a surprise because she never orders shellfish that are served in the shell - the way mussels are. But she couldn't stop raving about it - it turned out to be her favorite dish of the night. Another unusual thing about the meal was that we both ordered the same main course. I usually wait for Amy to order and, if she picks what I would have gotten, I order something else - just so we can taste more dishes. This time, though, we both got the fillet of beef with foie gras and black truffle sauce. Wow! Some of the best steak we've ever had! The sauce was incredible - also matching well with the creamy potatoes that came with the dish. And the foie gras was a relatively big slab and perfectly prepared. I've never really thought of foie gras as being particularly Italian, but whether it is or not, this dish was spectacular. Wrapping up the meal, I had what was described as Pope John Paul II's favorite dessert - vanilla cream and almonds in an amaretto crust - think a very fancy ice cream sandwich with a pastry cream filling instead of ice cream. Addictive! Amy had the custard tart with Amarena cherries. Very smooth and creamy with a great pop of flavor from the cherries. Overall great food (great cocktails too!) and a great evening. What else could they get but five stars!

Usually love this place, but had a bad experience last night. Hopefully it was an anomaly as it's been such a great spot for years. Many tables were empty on a Saturday night, which is not a good sign, but perhaps that was because it was a nice night and more people than usual were sitting outside. Overall the service was very slow and staff wasn't knowledgable about the menu. Also, this is personal preference, but I'm tired of the tasting menu. It's $75 / person and it's missing many of my favorite dishes. Plus, the portions seem to be getting smaller. The food was okay, but not special. Octopus was chewy inside and slimy outside. I only ate a few bites and couldn't finish. That's rare! Staff didn't notice or care when they cleared it. Rest of the dishes were good, but portion and quality were not the same as it's been in the past.

This is my first Yelp review but I felt compelled to share our experience. My wife and I were walking around the village of Wauwatosa and decided to pop in and grab some dinner. Only after we were seated and ordered a drink, where we shown the menus and explained that it was a set menu at a set price. I was not interested in a set menu for $75 but because we had ordered the drinks we didn't want to be rude and get up and leave. We proceeded to see multiple people experience the same surprise attack, with some people electing to finish their drink and leave. All I would ask is that they explain to people coming in about the set menu and price before being seated and ordering drinks. The deceptive strategy put a bad taste in our mouth about this restaurant and we will not be returning. In fact left me with a sour taste for the entire Bartolotta chain.

Service was excellent they made us feel at home. Food was really exceptional. The restaurant really spaced the tables really well. Will definitely go back not only for the food but also for the service.

So, this place is ON IT for COVID19 precautions. We booked a table on the patio- well spaced out, servers are very up front about what they will be doing and why ( and they have their names embroidered on their masks). The menu is prize fixe with a couple of choices for each course. They had just changed their menu, so they were still working on timing and whatnot. We didn't feel like we were waiting. Al the food was pretty good. The duck, however, was excellent.

The gnocchi was not good. Sad, no flavor, mashed potato texture. The white truffle lacked flavor I was hoping for. Pike was pretty good. Overall the food is not as good as it used to be. Service was excellent. Ambiance is great. Like most Bartolotta restaurants, overpriced for what you get.

this restaurant has become so very pretentious. the award winning food has not changed my life- but the prefix menu, the prices and the monotony has changed my celebrating special birthdays and anniversaries or meeting for a business dinner here. having a drink and dinner at the bar are days gone by. I'm fine though...I'll just be across the street ordering the best nachos and a pickle bloody mary, welcomed by the friendly staff! There's no looking back. Still- wish you the best

Ambiance is stuffy, which is ok if that's what you're after. Service was appropriate. I thought the food was overrated when compared to the pricing. Not the first, second or third place I would think of when celebrating a fancy occasion. That was about 7 years ago though.

My wife and I came here for a special dinner and wanted to try something new to us. We had always heard great things about this restaurant and the homemade classical Italian dishes they have. The food here is definitely tasty and classical. The service was outstanding. It has a small dining room, but didn't seem to get overly loud in there when it was full. So why three stars? For me it came down to value. We have no issues paying a premium for good food, but for the price I did expect more. No real WOW factor here (although it does taste like they make their own pasta). We have decided with so many great restaurants in the area, we would try those first before considering coming back here. With that being said, you should really at least come here once to form your own opinion on it. Who knows, you may just love it.

Prices fix menu 4 courses great service. I felt slightly rushed despite my request not to be...nice ambiance...Bread with really good salty butter..,White asparagus with a mustard sauce and shaved prosciutto...gnocchi stuffed with plums in a butter sauce ( very odd. Sweet and sprinkle of cinnamon. I would not re order)...pan seared lamb loin with horseradish (slightly overcooked but good)...gelato affogato. I usually don't have room for dessert but the portions were small.

WORTH IT! Amazing ambience and experience. Expensive but totally worth it! They only offer a 4 course meal with several options to choose from that change every few months focusing on a specific region in Italy. We each ordered a glass of wine which were both great! For the antipasti, I ordered the white asparagus which had a really yummy mustard and prosciutto in it! My bf ordered the potato pancake which was an up charge but he really liked it! For the 1st course we both got the ravioli, UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! So many delicious flavors and perfect for Fall. For the second course, I got the lamb chop, really yummy and my boyfriend got the goulash which he thought was excellent! And best for last, dessert! I got the tiramisu, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Sooo good! And my bf got the affogatto which if you like expresso is delightful! Everything was small portions so don't go here if you want a big bowl of pasta but I was full by the end of it! It's a really cool experience and I highly recommend. The service, atmosphere and food were all amazing, I can't wait to come back!

I love that this place has an alternating menu showcasing cuisine from the different regions of Italy! I came on a Sicilian evening and there were 4 courses offered. I chose the insalata mista, the bucatini with broccoli and raisins, the amberjack fish, and the highly recommended tiramisu. Salad was least impressive, but everything else was great! Bucatini was highly unusual and light and the amberjack fish had a nice crust and was paired with cabbage, cherry tomatoes and capers. Tiramisu was out of this world! I have been raving to friends and can't wait to come back.

Over-hyped. Highly over priced. Service was hit or miss. The hostess wasn't very friendly and came off kind of agitated for how empty the restaurant was. Our two servers were very nice though. Food was very underwhelming. We went in thinking we were going to eat some top notch Italian food so we very disappointed. We ordered the Mozzarella for an appetizer and it was ok, not great. Then my fiancé ordered the assorted seafood entrees which was almost entirely flavorless. Portions were small. I ordered the lamb chops and once again, entirely flavorless. I have never added salt/pepper to anything at a restaurant but found myself searching for salt (none on the table). One could argue it was because we "ordered outside their specialty and the pasta is better" but why have other things on your menu you can't do well? Not planning on returning to waste the money on figuring that out. Salted caramel desert was delicious and the ONLY thing redeeming about our dinner. Also, wouldn't recommend going here for a special occasion if you want an elevated experience. Would not recommend.

The restaurant is very small, so it's very hard to get a table. Parking is a challenge as the village is small and you usually have to park quite far and walk to the restaurant. The ambience is very much like in Italian Ristorante. The only complaint I have is that lately you can only order off of a predetermined tasting menu. I liked it better when you could make choices off the menu.

Great ambience and service. This would be expected from a high end restaurant. The substitution process was limited and not cheap. The risotto was the best I have ever had outside of Italy. Three of us had the Busiate Trapanese and while the description was very appetizing the dish was just to salty and lack flavor. The 2nd plate was a mixed grill and the lamb outstanding the beef tenderloin was non descript and sausage was over powered by salt and missing the traditional Italian seasoning, the ribs where flavorful by dry. All the desserts were excellent. In closing not a fan of the semi fixed menu and not likely to go back any time soon.

This is a restaurant that we have dined at many many times over the years. First time back since they went from an Ala cart menu to a pre fixe menu. The only reason I gave this 2 stars is because the service was excellent. The food quality and selection was not to our liking at all. It's rare when 4 people dine together and all receive food that isn't good. I think the pre fixe design is a cost saving measure for restaurants vs Ala cart. Less product to have on hand. This is not a restaurant we will frequent aga

Joined friends for a celebration dinner at Bartolotta's in Wauwatosa Village. I had thought that the restaurant had returned to its normal menu, but sadly they are still doing only a prix fixe menu, and that is so frustrating to me. First of all, I generally don't order four courses when I dine out, even if they are smaller plates. It's just too much food in courses I wouldn't normally order. Second, the base price was $75 without drinks (and some of the options had additional charges). I'm willing to spend that if I want $75 worth of my choice of foods, but not on courses I don't want. I admit it was my fault for not checking the menu in advance. I would've recommended a different place. The pea risotto with Parmesan and pancetta was very good as was the main of pan seared scallops in wine and lemon. The salad was ok as was the fugassa dessert -- neither of which I would've normally ordered. The service was prompt and professional. The restaurant is small-ish and intimate, which is nice although at the neighboring table people dropped by to visit, squeezing into the bench seating and crowding us a bit. Clearly this menu model must work for a Bartolotta's or they would've ended it by now. I'm sorry to say that I won't be returning until their normal menu is back.

Food, service and ambience are always perfection! Love the new concept of touring different parts of Italy, and enjoying the food of those regions.

It had been a couple years since we visited this Bartolotta location and it is a bit of a drive but hey, it was my wife's birthday.... I was greatly impressed by the new terrace, a benefit of Covid, I suppose. As an aside, they might want to consider a swimming pool like cover that can be rolled out when it rains, but that's another story. We started out with a couple glasses of Prosecco, although we were initially told it wasn't available by the glass - corrected by our head server. And then we were delivered the menus. What's this? Fixed price? When did that start? The rolling Italian regional presentation is an interesting idea but what we were looking for and had experienced at Ristorante Bartolotta over the years was an a la carte menu, where we could pick and choose. I have, in the past, ordered an appetizer and an entree and a couple of drinks and maybe / maybe not a dessert. Kind of what I have grown to expect from most good Italian restaurants. But by the time the menus were delivered, it was too late. We were there. Now, you might ask, as the server did, if we had checked the website. Why would I do that? This was not the kind of surprise I appreciate. But, I'll bet it is more cost-efficient..... The food was very good, although not at the level that I remembered from the past. The service was outstanding. And the ambiance, well - as I said - I was very impressed with the outdoor terrace. That in, itself might warrant another visit but, for me, the expectation of a 4 to 5 star experience wasn't delivered.

We just had another exceptional meal @ Ristorante Bartolotta. The service was exceptional. They do an amazing job of maintaining masking, keeping social distancing, and allowing you to drink your wine and eat your food. The service here has always been exceptional, and their standards haven't slipped even a little. You can't beat them for knowledge of food and wine, and attention special dietary considerations. The rotating regional menu they are doing now is excellent at evoking the different regions of Italy, and I can hardly wait to try the next one.