Food:

I'm not sure what to make of Ristorante Bartolotta. I went there with a small group on a Wednesday, and arriving right at 530, we were seated immediately. They have a team of two servers helping you, and they were fantastic. Very friendly, and the bartender was more than willing to answer questions or help out.

Please know that this is an Italian place. Expect seafood, with few options if you can't choose those options. The caprese and bruschetta were delicious, with very fresh tomatoes and very tasty mozzarella. I ordered the pork chop, and when it arrived, it looked amazing. Perfectly browned and carefully arranged on the plate. The server recommended that it be cooked medium, but what I received was just shy of well done. It was tasty, but very tough. I struggled to cut it with a knife, but enjoyed the flavor. I'm not sure what to make of it.

Overall, this is a nice place for a night out, but it is very expensive. Definitely not a place we will frequent, mainly due to the cost.

Recommended, but with some reservations.

Food:

This is quite simply the best restaurant in Milwaukee for my money. It is one of the only places I will go to order steak. Their annual truffle menus are my wife and my Christmas gifts to each other, and if I was ever sentenced to die the black truffle risotto would be my last meal. Be sure to ask your server if there is anything off-menu they would recommend. Those requests have never been met with anything but enthusiasm when I've requested them. Truly a bright spot in Milwaukee's dining culture with an excellent hand-curated wine menu, knowledgeable friendly staff, and a wonderful ethos Joe Bartolotta works hard to create and maintain.

Food:

Excellent food for the price. Server initially misheard my order and rectified the situation when I received the incorrect entree. She even gave me

Food:

Dinner for two here was a fantastic experience. The service was exceptional. Attentive team of two waiters. They made wine suggestions and water was always refilled.

I was a little apprehensive about the calamari with mint, but the small pieces of mint was a great combination to the crisp calamari.

There was nothing wrong with the caesar salad, but also nothing exceptional.

Finally, I had the duck ragu. How could I not given how many reviewed raved about it? The duck was very tender and delicious, the pasta was perfectly cooked. However, the sauce was too salty for my liking. A minor blemish to a delicious dish.

And since it was my girlfriend's birthday, we got a free desert, which was a pleasant surprise to end the meal.

Overall, this is fantastic Italian restaurant. But for the price, I was expecting more out of my food, thus the 4 stars.

Food:

It was our first time here and we ate white truffles for the first time too. The risotto was outstanding. Arugula Gorgonzola salad was rich and smooth. The pappardelle was divine - an explosion of flavor with the duck ragu. The salted caramel custard with chocolate ganache... heaven.