The Bartolotta Restaurants Announces November 11 Reopening of Bacchus in Downtown Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee’s premier destination for award-winning fine dining returns Wednesday, November 11, when Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant reopens with reimagined menu options and an elevated standard of safety and service that has come to define the new era of The Bartolotta Restaurants. The reintroduction of Bacchus is the latest in a thoughtful strategy that allows The Bartolotta Restaurants to continue to reopen one restaurant at a time; while also marking the return of approachable, gracious dining in downtown Milwaukee, just in time for the holiday season.

Located at the base of Milwaukee’s famed Cudahy Tower, Bacchus will welcome guests with reservations five days per week (Tuesday through Saturday), with two menus to choose from – a customizable three-course signature menu and a five-course tasting menu; both conceived by Executive Chef Nick Wirth and The Bartolotta Restaurants Owner and Co-Founder Chef Paul Bartolotta.

Highlights of the three-course menu ($65) include Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Grilled Spanish Octopus, Strauss Veal Ravioli, Seared Sea Scallops, Wagyu Beef Short Rib, Grilled Venison, and Petit Filet Medallions; with Salted Caramel Mousse, Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, and a Wisconsin Cheese Trio among the dessert options. The tasting menu ($80)  includes several of the aforementioned dishes, an Amuse Bouche, chocolates and petit fours, as well as a choice of complimentary sparkling or still mineral water. Both menus are complemented by Bacchus’ acclaimed wine cellar – a recipient of Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” every year since 2006 – an expansive wine list and for those choosing the tasting menu, an option to elevate the experience by adding a wine pairing.  

“With our commitment to outstanding service and locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, Bacchus has consistently raised the bar for fine dining since 2004,” says Chef Bartolotta. “With so few activities still available, restaurants remain integral to our social fabric and especially the ones that guests can rely on for a standard of excellence in food, hospitality, and even more so for health and hygiene.

“In this new era, we are elevating the experience once more; broadening our palate with inspiration from global cultures and cuisine, while applying new standards of safety that allow guests to dine comfortably with confidence.”

Bacchus will also host its third annual High Steaks Dinner on December 3, where Corporate Executive Sous Chef Aaron Bickham has partnered with the Wisconsin Grass-fed Beef Co-op to create a full head-to-tail menu highlighting 100 percent grass-fed naturally raised Wisconsin beef. The evening will include five courses, and tickets are available for purchase on the Bacchus website for $179 per person, plus service charge and tax. In addition, on December 17, guests can toast the holiday season with celebrated champagne and dazzling dishes at Bacchus during the annual Holiday Champagne Dinner featuring a five-course pairing menu created by Executive Chef Nick Wirth. Tickets are available for purchase online for $184 per person, plus service charge and tax.

Having reinvigorated its dining experience with a 2019 remodel and significant upgrades to its bar, dining rooms, and conservatory, Bacchus offers a spacious, energetic setting that aligns perfectly with today’s social distancing standards. As they have done with every reopening, The Bartolotta Restaurants is committed to enhanced health and hygiene protocols for all guests and employees, including:

  • Face masks are required to be worn by staff members at all times

  • Face coverings are required for all guests during the following instances:

    • When walking in at any of the restaurants

    • When ordering or addressing a Bartolotta employee

    • When walking in common areas

  • Reservations are required (reservations will be held for 15 minutes and will be limited to 1.5 hours) and temperature checks will be taken upon entry

  • Touchless payment options and QR codes available to view menus on smartphones

  • Rearranged dining rooms that offer distance and privacy between tables; as well as custom-made safety partitions where applicable

  • UV-C technology that destroys microorganisms in the air and on hard surfaces

  • Meticulously and deliberately cleaned tables with every new reservation

The reopening of Bacchus follows the reintroductions of Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 in Wauwatosa, Harbor House on Lake Michigan, and Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse in Brookfield. In addition, Bartolotta Catering continues to safely execute various weddings as well as other business and social events at Discovery World, the Grain Exchange, and the Italian Community Center.

“We have taken a cautiously optimistic approach to our reopening strategy, based on our safety standards and the level of excellence we can provide, as well as local guidelines, and overall consumer confidence,” Chef Bartolotta explains. “We are staying on a long-term plan to reopen our fine dining restaurants, one at a time, fine-tuning its relaunch. Regardless of the headwinds, we are thoughtfully moving forward.”

Guests can review the full Covid-19 Response Plan, see dining menus, and make reservations online at https://www.bartolottas.com/. 

ABOUT THE BARTOLOTTA RESTAURANTS

The Bartolotta Restaurants is a nationally recognized restaurant and catering organization co-founded by restaurateur Joe Bartolotta and his brother, two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta. Since the opening of its flagship restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, The Bartolotta Restaurants group has grown to become the premier culinary brand in the Greater Milwaukee region, offering first-class service and cuisine across a portfolio of 17 one-of-a-kind restaurants and catering facilities, including fine dining, upscale casual, upscale food hall, wood-fired pizzeria, and quick-casual concepts. Additionally, its presence as a forward-thinking, respected, and community-minded company has produced a charitable arm, Care-a-lotta, which supports numerous nonprofit organizations throughout Milwaukee. More information can be found at bartolottas.com.