Second Ristorante Bartolotta delights East Side
with authentic Northern Italian cuisine

GOOD IDEAS in the restaurant business are worth repeating, even for one of Milwaukee’s leading independent restaurateurs.

Ristorante Bartolotta, the first restaurant opened by brothers Joe and Paul Bartolotta in 1993 in the historic Village of Wauwatosa, anchors the growing Milwaukee restaurant group. The latest addition (2005) returned to that original mode with a second Ristorante Bartolotta on Milwaukee’s East Side at 2625 N. Downer Ave.

Ristorante Bartolotta at 7616 W. State St. in Wauwatosa quickly became known in Milwaukee and throughout the Midwest for authentic Northern Italian cuisine, using the freshest ingredients and served by a knowledgeable staff in a setting that resembles restaurants in Italy where the brothers learned their craft.

Like the original restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta on Downer Avenue is designed to take diners to Tuscany, from the décor and attentive service to the extensive list of Italian vintages.

The Downer Avenue location has “more of a neighborhood feel,” notes manager Katie Kneepkens. Only minutes north of downtown and just south of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, the restaurant is tucked among boutique shops, bookstores and a gourmet grocery store.

On a recent visit, the friendly atmosphere (and some wine) led us to ask for recommendations from the next table. Rave reviews from our fellow diners and suggestions from the knowledgeable staff promised an evening of memorable food.

Executive Chef Juan Urbieta ensures that menu selections parallel those of the first Ristorante Bartolotta. From appetizers such as Gratinato di Pomodoro e Scamorza (melted Scamorza cheese baked with imported “San Marzano” tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil then served with grilled crostini) to entrees like Braciola di Maile (grilled pork loin chop with sautéed oyster mushrooms, Parmigiano potatoes and a creamy Marsala wine sauce), the cuisine is authentically prepared and beautifully served.

At the Downer Avenue location, notes Kneepkens, visitors also are enjoying Ristorante Bartolotta’s inventory of Italian wines, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays. On those days, all the bottled wine is half price!

Both locations are open from 5:30-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs; 5:30-10 p.m. Fri.; 5-10 p.m. Sat., and 5-8 p.m. Sun. Call 414-962-7910 for reservations at Ristorante Bartolotta on Downer.

Bartolotta Restaurants also operates Lake Park Bistro, a specialist in authentic French dishes near the Downer Avenue location in Lake Park; Mr. B’s, an Italian-style steakhouse in Brookfield; Bacchus, a stylish  restaurant overlooking Lake Michigan, and Pizzeria Piccola, specializing in thin-crust Neopolita pizzas and located adjacent to the original Ristorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa. Bartolotta Catering extends the group’s menus throughout the Milwaukee area, including exclusive service at Pier Wisconsin and Boerner Botanical Garden. For additional information, visit www.bartolottas.com.