Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro

There was a lot of good here, but some bad.
Came here for a celebration, Saturday night so it was pretty busy but service was fast and good. They even gave us a free dessert for our celebration!
We ordered appetizers, a cheese plate and some people had soups and salad. I had a salad with mushroom and soft boiled egg that was to DIE for. My mom had cream of asparagus, I tried some, also fantastic.
Here’s where the problems began, problems that shouldn’t happen in a restaurant of this reputation. I ordered duck leg, and it was so overcooked it tasted like cardboard and was as dry as sawdust. I sent it back and got the duck breast instead which was cooked to perfection and they gave me a free cup of soup so that was awesome. The duck breast unfortunately had a line of gristle going through the slices. Seems like an elementary thing to leave on for a place this fancy.
My aunt ordered rotisserie chicken, which was also extremely dry and overcooked, though the sauce that came with it was great.
Overall I guess I was disappointed because I’ve had better food at restaurants without the reputation and awards as this place.
All of our desserts were great, but the coffee was really inconsistent. The first round was bad, so bad my mom out creamer in it, and the second round was great.
Our entire party agreed we didn’t think we’d be back. Not because it was horrible or anything, a lot of great things, but we all think it’s pretty overrated.

Good bistro, excellent staff with excellent food. Ample parking spots. It was my wife’s birthday and they brought out a small cake with lit candles to help us celebrate the night. The salmon was fantastic, halibut was a bit bland. Overall good experience, will definitely come back. I was debating giving this place 5 or 4 stars, only reason I went with 4 stars is due to some delays with service, but nothing horrible.

Pretty hard not to be repetitive of so many other wonderful reviews. I’ll keep it short with reference to an evening here celebrating a birthday. When I booked the reservation I included that detail in the notes. When we arrived there was a signed card on the table. Our waitress greeted us, making special mention of my wife’s birthday. A complimentary piece of flourless chocolate cake was brought out to our table, candle and all. Finally, when we went to leave they thanked us for celebrating with them. A first rate treatment of a special occasion in my opinion: details covered, without any annoyances that you might find in a far less classy establishment. A magnificent place to celebrate a birthday, or any special occasion!

Amazing! The chocolate egg dessert was amazing. Ive been here a few times and its never disappointed!

Beautiful view of the lake from the four seasons room seating area. The service was beyond fantastic and the food was absolutely phenomenal. Our waiter was so accommodating and knew every item on the menu (that recently changed for the season I believe) like the back of his hand… Wait I take that back. Better than the back of his hand!!! I would highly recommend this restaurant for a nice occasion. I had such a great experience there with my family!

If you have never been to lake park bistro and have a special occasion, it is a must go to place for Milwaukeans. Ask for the room with the view of the lake and the setting is simply stunning. In the summer, you could take a stroll outside… or go down the steps to lake front.
Today, I went with two others. They both ordered, at my suggestion, rainbow trout and they loved it. I tried a small piece. The sauce was excellent and the preparation also was excellent. The only place better, for rainbow trout is the dining room at the rushing waters, in Palmyra — where you catch the fish, they clean and cook it for you. Even there, the sauce is not as good as that at lake park bistro.
They did not have fois gras on the lunch menu. It had always been my favourite. I asked the waitress and she said it would be fine. I had them make me two appetizer orders of Fois Gras into one entrée. It was simply delicious. If you enjoy fois gras, as do I, Lake Park makes it amazingly well! It has the right combination of sweetness of fruit, resting on a toast.
The only negative is — at a high end restaurant like this, I expect warm bread and butter at room temperature. Not so here. Bread was fine but cold.
Overall, it was a delightful experience — perhaps especially so because my banker paid for it! :)

Dunno about previous reviews regarding lousy service, but I can’t say enough good things about our experience. Every member of the staff was gracious and helpful. Our server accommodated our daughters’ allergy and was kind enough to offer her a cheeseburger since she was a bit intimidated by the menu (she’s 11 years old).
We celebrated my husband’s birthday by bringing our own wine, with no sour looks from the staff for not purchasing from them. The food was… BEYOND excellent, as always. We started with the tartare and mussels, continued with veal cheeks, ribeye, sea bass and the aforementioned cheeseburger, and finished with a complimentary flourless chocolate cake, along with a few other desserts. I don’t recommend the Babas au rhum– it was a bit dry and dense. But the other items were wonderful.
All in all, we had a great time and will definitely be back for more.

I’ve been to LPB before, but my date had not.
We had a great start, the hostess was professional and we were greeted fairly quickly once seated — at a lovely table near the window. However, the night kind of went downhill from there…
We ordered a glass of wine each, and carded both of us. I get it, this is Milwaukee and lots of people try to underage drink. However, I’ve never been asked for ID when ordering wine in one of the nicest places in town. Especially not with my silver-​hair roots showing. But, okay, I awkwardly dug my driver’s license out of my bag. When our server brought the glasses to us, she had mixed us up. Not that big of a deal, they were both white. We just switched.
We started off with soup — he had the French onion which was fantastic as always, and I had the special, which was a mushroom soup — to DIE for. Possibly the best mushroom soup I’ve ever had in my life. My date even loved it, and he doesn’t even like mushrooms!
I ordered the trout, one of my favorite dishes, and my date had the duck. The food was amazing. Definitely no complaints there.
The service, however, left the worst taste in our mouths. We could both tell that the server either very much disliked her job, was having a very bad night, or thought we were not going to tip her. In fact, we were treated like a group of kids at the Olive Garden on prom night, rather than just regular patrons at a really nice restaurant. I have never felt so condescended to — especially since this was not my first experience with French food, a ‘fancy’ restaurant, or even this exact restaurant! I’m not sure what we did to annoy our server so much… but I doubt we’ll be back.
I think the biggest disappointment came from the fact that the tables around us, which had different servers, seemed to be getting exceptional service.
Shame, because the food is amazing, really. Some of the best in Milwaukee. Guess we’ll head elsewhere for our French cuisine fix.

Oh. My. Lanta. If you have GERD, you might need Mylanta after their extensive classic brunch. But Oh. My. Lanta. This place is delicious.
My roommates took me to this lovely establishment for my birthday brunch. Their brunch offers a la carte options and a 3-​course brunch option. We opted for the 3 courses. Everything was delicious! And for the amount of food you get, it was very fairly priced. Service was fantastic, and they were very accommodating for my roommate with a food allergy.
The place overlooks the gorgeous Lake Michigan. It’s to the point of wearing a nice shirt (and not the sweatshirt I was in. Whoops!). It’s also definitely a place I will keep coming back to.

Lake Park Bistro has been our go to place in Milwaukee for the last 10 to 15 years +. This includes celebrating our 15^th anniversary with a little very large group of people there some years back. I’m afraid I’m going to have to go against convention here for a place with such a fine reputation, but our last couple of visits have been less than stellar.
The most recent being this past Sunday evening when we took our daughter there for her 25^th birthday on a Sunday evening and left completely disappointed. Maybe we should known better than to make reservations at 7:45 on a Sunday evening, but because of family obligations that’s exactly what we did. The beginning of our experience was just fine but halfway through things began to trail off. After our main courses we had one cup of coffee and no desserts even though we had mentioned when we arrived that it was our daughter’s birthday — no mention, or offer of a piece of birthday cake to share. We thought we might end the evening with a Brandy Alexander to share but were told there was no ice cream left in the restaurant — find that hard to believe. After we paid our check which was not inexpensive by any means, we noticed on the way out that the bar was already closed down and the lights went off as we exited the bar area… It was 9:35pm at this point… we barely made it to the door and the lights were out. For the amount of money that we spent that evening on a less than extravagant meal, we certainly felt like we were getting pushed out the door and the waitstaff was less than enthusiastic to take care of us. We don’t care if we go there at prime time on a Friday evening or later in the evening on a Sunday — the service and experience should be the same at a restaurant with this pedegree.
Sadly, my guess is that this is our last visit to Lake Park Bistro, there are too many new up-​and-​coming places in Milwaukee that are eager to have our business and to put their best foot forward.

This lovely treasure came recommended and although you can easily tally up a bill of $ 100/​person, we did each have multiple drinks, all shared an app, all had an entrée, dessert and coffee. To be expected. Now, this was some of the best French food I have ever had state side.
I order the lamb and the were cooked perfectly medium rare as I requested. The accompaniment sauce was perfection, as were the gnocchi in the appetizer. The haricots very were also a great pairing to be shared with the table.
I wrapped it all up with the lemon tart with was indeed tart and fresh and delicious. The bread and butter were crusty and fresh, just the way it should be. Mmmm. Topping it off with quality service by two waitstaff made the evening very special and I would easily recommend Bartolotta’s to anyone!

Most excellent! Great food and super waiter Paul! We will be back. This server made our experience here exceptional, considering that we just happened upon it and were totally underdressed, coming from a nature hike. After telling him that we were from out of town he served us dessert, on him!!! And did I mention that the food Is delicious!!!

Another great experience here (went on Valentine’s Day ’15). We came her for a night out without the kids this past Saturday. We made an early reservation so that we can get a table facing the water.
The first thing that you’ll notice when approaching the building is its history. There’s a bocce ball area and golf course flanking each side. And then there’ this white building with large, sweeping glass.
The food was great. They were running a 20^th anniversary special with a 20 year old Bordeaux wine. Tasty. We had a cheese plate to start. And a beet salad and French onion soup for appetizers. We both ordered steak for the main (flank steak and filet). Everything was good (except for the soup which was a bit salty). For dessert we had the crème brûlée. Tasty.
The best part — the service. Excellent. Feels like a royal treatment.

I’ve had the good fortune to dine here on several occasions and it never disappoints. First and foremost the service has always been impeccable. Last time I was hear I ran into an old friend from the Capital Grille staff who’s always fantastic and it was great to see her at another MKE staple.
The food here regardless of what I’ve tried over the years is great, and in a traditional european fashion tends to flow a bit slowly from course to course with smaller portions. The wine list is extensive with options at many price points, but mostly catering to a bigger budget.
Location here is something special. From the outside it comes off like an old mansion located on top of a great bluff. Inside the décor is clean and classical. I recommend getting a window table if possible. The views here are gorgeous of the park, the lower stairs, and the lake. A sunset dinner here would hit all the romantic notes for a special occasion.
Really the only draw back I have here is the price tag. I feel like it’s on par with several other restaurants I love but somehow packs a little harder punch on my wallet when I leave.

Plan accordingly if your going for lunch during the week. It’s definitely a slower paced lunch. So if your on a time crunch this probably isn’t the best choice.
By the time my food came out I was only able to scarf down a ¹⁄₃ of it so I did t get to really enjoy it. The onion soup was ok. I’ve had better and I’ve had worse.
The mussels (they few I had) were delicious. It’s just a shame I left the majority of them there cause of time and I really don’t think mussels is one of those dishes you want to reheat later at home! Frys were the skinny shoe string style. Just straight up fries with a little salt.

I’ve dined at Lake Park Bistro literally dozens of times. You could read that one statement and stop reading this review and simply decide to go. Who would repeat like that if it wasn’t great?
There are certain restaurants that are not just a meal, but rather an experience. I’ve found them in places like Miami (Casa Tua) and San Diego (George’s California Modern). This is Milwaukee’s version. A symbiotic alchemy of 5-​star service, impeccable décor, wonderful food and the best view of any restaurant in Milwaukee come together to transport you to another place and time when dining was not eating — it was dining. Conversation is easier, time slows and you are at ease as course after course of perfection comes to the white-​linen-​clad table.
While I could review the items I’ve eaten there it is scarcely necessary, whatever I’ve had, whether a special occasion brunch, the champagne tasting event, a private party in the room overlooking the lake or a romantic dinner, has been a simple and graceful pleasure.
One thing not many people do that I highly recommend is to simply stop at their bar. Enjoy the view and a few great cocktails or even order some items to eat at the bar. You simply can’t go wrong here. Bartolotta’s got this one very right and it has stood the test of time as a classic destination restaurant in Milwaukee.

This is actually my third visit. I am an out of Towner my in-​laws live in the area and this is their go-​to fine dining spot.
Holy cow what a disappointing experience. While polite enough I’ve had better service at Denny’s. We had to ask for more bread, once our order was taken we hardly ever saw our server again including our servers never came to ask about coffee or dessert. The entrées took way to long to come out and my hanger steak ordered medium rare came out well done and burnt and I had to track our server down to address this But she did remove the item from the bill. I won’t be returning.

I had forgotten all about having this place bookmarked, so it was such a delightful surprise when Boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner. The view of the lake is beautiful, but it would have been nice to be here on a slower night and sit right next to the window. The service was attentive, which is probably because they have so many people working here! No complaints from me, I’ve just never seen so many employees in such a small space.
The drink menu is interesting; my pear martini tasted exactly like a juicy pear without being oversweet. His dirty martini made him happy, especially with the bleu cheese olive garnish. We shared the scallops to start. Perfectly cooked, I wished for a thousand more. I stuck the serving spoon in my mouth to get the last of the sauce, that’s how good it was. I’m poorly behaved in nice places. When they brought around the bread I was disappointed at how tough it was to eat. As I just stated, I’m trouble in fancy places. Please don’t make me wrestle with the bread while trying to maintain manners. Boyfriend ordered the veal special, I got the salmon. We both could not have been happier with our selections. All of our food was perfectly cooked and flavored. I was torn between inhaling it out of excitement and trying to eat slowly for enjoyment. So amazing. I was too full for dessert, but there were at least 3 things I would have loved to try. Maybe next time. When I’m nestled against the window.

Can’t believe i have never added a review for one of my favorite restaurants. Love this place and everything about it. Beautiful views, great wine selection, great food and service.
Great place for date night or just a romantic dinner.

The place: a little louder than I remembered, but pleasant, comfortable, a romantic ambiance, with a colorful painting of a pig, that you can catch a glimpse of on your way out. Service is excellent. Food was timed well, wine pairings came out just moments before the dishes.
The taste: Lake Park Bistro did not disappoint. From the buttery flaky crust on the succulent escargots and jumbo scallop on an apple through the salmon that melted in our mouths like butter… everything was deliciously decadent. The duck confit was paired with a refreshing frisée salad with slices of grapefruit, over a bed of lentils that were cooked perfectly and gave some heartiness to the dish. The cheese course came with an apple butter that was intensely sweet, but when eaten with the Brie like cheese and nut bread was divine. The lemon tart resembled the best lemon bar I have ever eaten. And because we were celebrating husbands bday, he was brought a chocolate dessert that was also excellent. The crêpe dessert — the Mille feuille wasn’t our favorite, but admittedly, we were a little stuffed at that point.
My face: Smiling that we spent $ 180 (with tip) quite well. Currently pregnant with a foodbaby that will stay with my a while, but hopefully not as long as the memories of this awesome meal.
Bön travail lake park!

***Lake Park Bistro serves up good but not great food; however, given its great location (nice views of Lake Michigan) and consistency from starter to entrée and dessert, it is probably a great choice for a satisfying (albeit expensive) lunch or dinner in Milwaukee***
I was hesitant about trying Lake Park Bistro. Though it has won a James Beard award, it is also part of a restaurant group (the Bartolotta family) with many dining concepts throughout Milwaukee and it is a French brasserie (which I find can be satisfying but not necessarily exciting). It is also a straightforward French brasserie – very true to its origins so the menu features a lot of items that I have seen too often.
Lake Park Bistro is not exciting, but it is satisfying and consistent throughout the menu. Their complimentary bread of French baguette was good – nice and soft in the center with a crispy and chewy crust.
For my starter, I had their frisée salad, which was topped with shallots, chives, sautéed mushrooms, a truffle vinaigrette, and a crispy fried soft boiled egg. The egg was clearly the star. It was really crispy. The crust was also perfectly melded with the egg white and did not come apart when I cut it. The yolk was runny and rich.
The mushrooms were also good – great flavor, very evenly cooked and buttery. The frisée was fine as was the truffle vinaigrette – maybe a tad overpowering for this dish (and pungent truffle oil just does not have the smooth flavor of fresh truffles).
For my entrée, I had the steak au poivre, which was filet medallions over potato purée and green beans. The entrée was topped with a green peppercorn and brandy sauce. The flavor of the dish was great. The green peppercorn had a nice flavor and was thin but rich (it did not become overly peppery and that happens often with this sauce). The green beans were very nicely cooked – cooked enough so they were not bitter but not cooked too much (the green beans still had a very good snap).
The potato purée was very good – good flavor and a great consistency (very thick). There were things about the plate that could have been better though. The potato purée was not cold, but it could have been warmer. The filet was also not the best quality. It was not cooked to the right temperature either. It should have been medium rare, but one medallion was medium well while the other one was medium. The meat still had a decent flavor though and was surprisingly tender. The very center of the meat was juicy, but the it was a tad dry towards the edges.
Fur my dessert, I had their warm chocolate cake. It was a traditional warm chocolate cake, but at least it was made to order (a lot of desserts do not fall in that category these days). The center of the cake was not molten but fudgy. The flavor of the chocolate was good, but it would not stand out among chocolate desserts. The garnishes were good. The mint ice cream was creamy and refreshing (a slight bit of iciness) and it had a great mint flavor without ruining the other elements on the plate. The nut brittle tuile was great – very rich caramel flavor and both crispy and crunchy.
Service was good. My server was working two dining rooms so he could not be as attentive as he probably wished. Still, the food came out at a quick and consistent pace and the staff was a mix of professional and friendly, which are both necessary to capture the regulars like this restaurant does.
The dining room was nice – lots of French brasserie touches and decoration without being garish. The bar had a great French brasserie look. The dining room also provided great views of Lake Park and Lake Michigan. The exterior color was a stark white (including nice white pillars) and it was surrounded by a park and lush lawns; it had a country club feel that can be hard to find on the west coast.
Starter and dessert prices were reasonable given the quality. I felt the entrée was too expensive.
Lake Park Bistro serves satisfying food. In a major metro with greater food options, Lake Park Bistro could not compete dish to dish with similar restaurants I have given 4 stars. That being said, Lake Park Bistro showed great consistency throughout the menu, which LA restaurants I have given 3 stars do not always achieve. This makes Lake Park Bistro a satisfying restaurant in most cities and probably a very good option in Milwaukee.
Lake Park Bistro shares a free self parking lot with Lake Park.