Bartolotta to Open Downtown Milwaukee Steakhouse
Bartolotta Restaurants will launch a new steakhouse named High Stakes by Bartolotta in downtown Milwaukee. The restaurant will be located in the space formerly occupied by the Rumpus Room. This opening expands the group's dining portfolio in the city.
- The previous tenant at 1030 N. Water St., the Rumpus Room, was also a Bartolotta-owned gastropub that closed in early 2020. - High Stakes by Bartolotta is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026 with a European-inspired steakhouse concept. - The restaurant's design is inspired by 1930s Art Deco and London social clubs, created by Jay Franke Design, which also led the design for the group's award-nominated restaurant, The Commodore. - The concept is influenced by owner and co-founder Chef Paul Bartolotta's experience leading his acclaimed restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. - Chef Paul Bartolotta is a two-time James Beard Award winner, earning the Best Chef: Southwest award in 2009 during his time in Las Vegas. - The steakhouse will feature a dedicated "Peacock Lounge" for cocktails, light bites, and music, intended as a destination for socializing before or after dinner. - This opening is part of a stated commitment from The Bartolotta Restaurants to help reactivate Water Street and support the growth of downtown Milwaukee.
