Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant

Excellent restaurant. Service was exceptional, particularly with regards to helpfulness and knowledge of the wine list (they tracked down details on the vintage years of the Barolos we were considering). Food was excellent as well. Not sure it’s worth even calling out what was particularly great because everything was great (the steak options are esp solid). The only ding would be the price point, but in this case I think you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Spent our evening celebrating a special bday with Bacchus. Wonderful décor, great service, and impeccable food. Did not feel overly stuffy, which can happen at a higher end restaurant. Plus the music playing in the background was eclectic. Wine list/​book is overwhelming, but the server can help you make an excellent choice. Scallop and lamb entrees were perfect. Couldn’t have asked for a better night!

This is my first time feeling the need to review a restaurant. We went to Bacchus to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The service was fine. We had 6 people at our table. When our main courses arrived, we were shocked at how small the portion size was. And for this high of a price point. We travel to Chicago quite often and pay these prices but we weren’t hungry when we left the restaurant! If you want to feel like you have overpaid and then went home for more food, then try Bacchus. Otherwise, there are just too many wonderful restaurants in this city to enjoy. Very disappointed.

Had the Mothers Day brunch today after we couldn’t get reservations to Lake Park Bistro (another Bartolotta restaurant).
We sat in the green house area — bring your sunglasses on Sunday mornings!
The staff and service was outstanding!
Food???
The menu is a three course prix fix for Moms Day.
I started with the shrimp cocktail and tried the granola with fruit compote. Shrimp was acceptable with a mild cocktail sauce (miss the horse radish?) granola was very good.
Entrée was the tuna which was excellent.
Desserts were all good.
I guess, I would some up the meal as good, not very flavorful, and lacking any inspiration or special flair. I’m not sure if this is accurate or not but it seemed to be catering to an older crowd not fond of a lot of flavor or experimentation!?!

I can always rely upon Bacchus for a high-​quality dining experience. While the menu is not the most creative, everything on it is prepared to perfection. I’ve never been disappointed. The waitstaff are attentive and I appreciate the small touches they provide like a hand-​written birthday card on the table. The restaurant’s ambiance is upscale yet inviting; ideal for business, romance, or special occasions.

This place is definitely solid. I loved the ambiance and the service. However, the place is a bit overpriced for what you get. We got the foie gras (of course what would anyone else ever get!!!) And it was delicious. Not the best I’ve had but good. Then we got the veal ravioli-​too salty but fiancé liked it. We split a bone in filet mignon. Also good but not melt in your mouth. For dessert we had a chocolate cake which was solid.
Overall a good place. I am glad I tried it once but for the price this place should have gotten a 5 star… just sayin… def only 4 star worthy.

This was a decadently delightful experience. The service is impeccable and the ambience is low light and comfortable but without stuffiness or pretention. You could hear other patrons enjoying themselves and the servers were warm and approachable.
We had a party of three and enjoyed bourbon aged gin martinis that were surprisingly delicious. The aging took the bite out of the gin, so if you like the bite, stick with a traditional one.
The 6 course tasting menu followed and was impressive. I’ll try to remember everything (why don’t I take notes??).
A crispy shrimp, seared foie gras with pork belly and a quail egg, a beet salad with goat cheese curds, a scallop (perfectly prepared), * veal ravioli, * New Zealand Venison filet with black truffle risotto. There were palette cleansers and a rich chocolate mousse/​cake combination for dessert.
It was beyond satisfying and most dishes leaned toward being very rich. However, that is why this tasting menu is perfect. Nothing overwhelms you in that respect– with taste and quality, yes!
* = my favorites of the night.

Amazing that I have been here many times and have yet to write a review! First, I will get this out of my system that this is part of a local «micro» chain of restaurants but I must admit I was still very impressed.
Service at any Bartolotta Restaurant is always impeccable. Your water glass is constantly full and your cutlery is always clean. Leaving the table they fold your napkin waiting for your return. It is attentive; however, they don’t smother you and let you dine.
We opted for the six course tasting dinner and it was perfect! First we thought it would be items that weren’t on the menu but all were mini versions of the full items. Since there were so many great things to taste we got the best of the both worlds. Here is a recap of what we had:
Amuse Bouche — Crispy shrimp with soba noodles
Beet salad with goat cheese curds and champagne vinaigrette
Foie gras with mini quail egg over french toast brioche with pork belly & maple syrup (so cute)
Signature dish of scallop over polenta with mushroom frisée salad and black truffle vinaigrette
Veal Ravioli with spinach, toasted pine nuts, beurre fondue
Venison loin with black truffle risotto brussel sprout leaves, red wine sauce
Palette cleanser
Dessert of Pana Cotta — devil’s food cake, cocoa nib tuile, tarragon sorbet
The venison and the scallop were probably my favorite items. All were delicious but these stood out above the rest. Our friend said the veal ravioli was her favorite.
For drinks I tried their bourbon barrel aged gin in a martini. OMG… I think I bought the second martini just for the blue cheese stuffed olives that they hand stuff there. The bourbon barrel with the gin calms down the «piney» flavor and really amps up the drink.
Because Bacchus has been around for some time, I think people tend to overlook it. I rank their six course tasting menu up with some of the better restaurants in Milwaukee. The only difference is that you won’t get anything crazy adventurous but sometimes safe tastes amazing!

I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed Bacchus. Our event tonight prompted me to check. I shouldn’t be that surprised, since there are many places in Milwaukee, and Minneapolis, I’ve been to over the past few years and still haven’t reviewed.
I’ve dined at Bacchus at least 4 times over the past 5 years, most recently last Spring. I’m a Bartolottas rewards member, so I receive a post card every year for my birthday for a few bucks off my bill. Combined with the gift certificates I earn from dining at the various Bartolottas restaurants, including Downtown Kitchen, I like to take turns trying their restaurants.
I’ve been to all of them except Joey Gerard’s in Mequon, but I’ve been to Joey Gerard’s in Greendale.
Bacchus has become my second favorite Bartolotta restaurant, behind Ristorante Bartolotta.
The dishes I’ve enjoyed the most on my visits were a steak special I enjoyed last Spring and a seafood risotto from a prior visit.
The décor is elegant and the service has always been excellent.
On my last visit, I dined at the bar. The bar has a classy happy hour vibe to it, even after happy hour.
Bacchus stands out to me as what a downtown restaurant in a major city should be.

When a recent work event scheduled at Rumpus Room got moved to Bacchus due to a water main break I was excited. I had been here once before but that was years ago. We had a private room which was very nice once they turned down the music. Shrimp appetizers and the veal ravioli were excellent. I had the filet with mushrooms and potatoes. It was devine! For dessert I had the lemon tart. The lemon filling was excellent but I didn’t love the meringue puffs. Great wine selection including several malbecs which isn’t common. Best part? I didn’t have to pay the bill!!!

The food and service were amazing. Although the atmosphere is a bit dry, the food is worth a visit. I would say this is definitely one of the best restaurants in the area. I highly recommend it.

Our lovely meal started with some drinks from the casual bar. We were then led into a very airy dining room. We started our meal with some crispy shrimp. They were delicious, savory and actually made me more hungry! My husband and I are somewhat Steak snobs. I am very partial to steak places in Chicago. I have to say Bacchus is now tied with #1 as my favorite steak place in the world. We both had the special of bone in Ribeye. It is a very simple steak with a mushroom topping. The chef did it right, it was not over seasoned or cooked. The steaks are of such a high quality that their own flavor really comes through. The bone in really makes a difference in flavor. It is also a huge huge hunking piece of meat. The little potatoes cooked in duck fat were to die for. We finished our meal with a trio of sorbets. They were an excellent finish to a perfect meal. Our waitress was attentive, friendly and somehow filled my drinks without me even seeing her! Go with a big appetite, and save a little room for dessert. Can’t wait to go back!

Omg. This is THE place to visit if you’re looking for top notch service and steaks. We plan entire weekends around our visits to Bacchus as we live in Chicago (supposed home of steakhouses). We have yet to experience the quality in food and service as we have here. We always order the porterhouse for 2 and it is deeeee-​vine. Love you Bacchus

Had grilled salmon with roasted, pureed beet and Brussel sprout leaves, with garden salad and strawberry mousse for dessert. Absolutely AWESOME!

My wonderful dining partner treated me to dinner here last night for a special occasion. We had a gift-​card we were itching to use, too, and it seemed liked the perfect place to select, seeing as neither of us had been!
As others have said, the ambiance is beautiful — nice and cozy for an evening meal. We had a reservation and were seated right away in a corner booth for two. Pam, our server, started us off with a GREAT wine recommendation (a French Pinot Noir that perfectly fit what we wanted and our price range) and we got to ordering. We selected a small cheese plate to share (great selection — some standards with some I hadn’t ever seen!) and they brought us some delicious bread.
I started with the mushroom soup (rich, comforting, incredible) and decided on 2 apps for my meal — scallops with pumpkin purée and the squash ravioli. Both of my dishes were DELICIOUS. Perfect. Seasonal without being overly FALL (like, the pumpkin purée was tasty without being aggressive). Scallops perfectly charred. Ravioli tender and complimented by brussels and BUTTER. Every flavor on point. I sampled my companion’s flatiron steak with risotto and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned — I’m not a steak lover, but I loved that steak!
You don’t skip dessert at a place like this, and we selected the Elvis themed-​dessert. It was a perfect blend of banana and light chocolate and PB flavors and not too heavy — refreshing, yummy. Great end to the meal.
Nice & attentive service, knowledgeable staff, quality food that comforts the belly and the soul. (Seriously, my food was THAT good). Can’t wait to return!

We had a really good birthday dinner for my wife here. Got a nice cocktail, rabbit ragout, venison and wagyu beef. Ragout and venison were our favorites, especially the venison. They also brought out some sorbets to celebrate her birthday, and we ordered the Elvis dessert, which was delicate but pretty good. The atmosphere is upscale but cool, and the service was quick and very friendly. Based on what I’ve seen, this should be a top pick for a nice meal in Milwaukee.

Amazing service and food– we really liked the filet, tomato and burratta salad, and Smore dessert sundae. I highly suggest dressing to impress, and setting up a reservation for most nights!

So I’ve been here a few times now from brunch and dinner, and can finally give it the five stars that it deserves. I have yet to have a disappointing or «just okay» meal. What I appreciate most at this restaurant is their commitment to customer service. Appetizers plates are cleared before you blink, water glass is always full, and the servers are not afraid to provide honest appraisals of their dishes. Really great with corkage as well.
As far as my favorite appetizers go, the braised rabbit ragout was very good. If you love the duck ragu at affiliated restaurant Ristorante Bartolotta, you’ll love this as well. The veal ravioli and seared scallops are also noteworthy. The foie gras is a showstopper. I know lot of people don’t like that livery taste, and there’s really not a hint of it in this dish. Paired with the French toast and the quail egg, it’s texturally sensuous and rich. Great stuff.
I’ve only had the veal chop here. The truth is I can’t bring myself to have anything else: this dish is unbelievably good. I could talk about the individual components and how wonderful they all are, but I’d really like to highlight the veal sauce here. I don’t know if a saucier is employed here, but that sauce just really pulls everything together. Meat and potato on fork, swab it across the plate to get as much as you can on the meat. Oh man my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Must find recipe.
I’ll summarize by saying this is a restaurant where you’ll always get what you pay for, and usually more than. I usually bring do corkage, but the wine program here is making me reconsider. While the list has the best of the best (DRC, CVNE, Lafite, Latour, Screaming Eagle, etc.), they also have some really good wines in the $ 50 – 90 range that really deliver (esp. from Oregon and Spain).
Word of advice, dress the part. White tablecloths… put on a decent jacket.

One of the top fine dining spots, if not the best, in MKE! A lovely, classy spot for that special occasion.
Every entrée was stunning and well prepared and beautifully presented. The service was impeccable. Of course with a name like Bacchus, they stand true to an impressive wine list.
I wish people dressed up their attire a bit more here, I don’t know if that’s just Wisconsin or what though…
My only complaint, and I mention this as a tip, is that I booked reservations for a special occasion (birthday) one whole month in advance. We had requested a window seat out in the atrium/​glasshouse section but were informed when we arrived that there was a private event (a wedding reception) being held there. On top of that, they did not even have us down for reservations as they booked the proper date BUT on the wrong month! (Mistakes happen.) So ask/​double check if you want the atrium seating. Fortunately we were sat right away with a great table but I don’t think they were busy at all.

Had beet salad, fois gras, and halibut and dessert of chocolate cake.
Food was good.
Service was solid.
Atmosphere is very good.
Solid 3.5 stars

This review is more like a 4.5 but this place is closer to deserving a 5 then deserving a 4.
The only «complaint» I have (if any) is that if you dine here before the sun goes down it’s not a very romantic or formal atmosphere as you would normally expect from a place of this caliber. Because of the big windows and location, it’s extremely bright in the place if the sun is still up, so going to dinner here at 6pm felt like a lunch atmosphere.
The service is excellent as you’d expect from a place at this price level. The server was extremely accommodating, knowledgeable and friendly.
We ordered the Fois Gras (spelling?) for an appetizer. It came with a quail egg wrapped in french toast which was absolutely to die for. If I was a millionaire, I would have my chef make this for breakfast every morning. The fois gras on the other side of the plate was also fantastic.
I’m somewhat picky so I ordered a custom Filet Mignon and requested a bleu cheese topping and a different side then it came with and the server accommodated both my requests.
When the filet came out I was kind of concerned because it was sliced into four pieces across the bed of potatoes. I’ve never had a Filet presliced before so that was somewhat concerning. But it didn’t matter at all. It was cooked absolutely to perfection (my medium rare request) and the flavor was fantastic. It wasn’t the best Filet I’ve had in my life but it was certainly top 10 if not even top 5.
I would highly recommend this place for someone looking for a wonderful dining experiences but keep in mind the prices aren’t cheap — at all.

This place had amazing food, and this compliment is coming from a Chicagoan! The service was excellent, especially because out table had several food allergies and special requests. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a date night, special celebration or just treating yourself!

Literally changed my life, went with scallops, perfectly seared and ready to be served like a king
Service, style, finesee of what they do is uncomparable and it still is #1 in my book

My family enjoyed Easter Brunch at Bacchus this year.
It was a pretty fair price and the food was amazing! Everyone was happy and the service was some of the best I have had in a while. Potato Leek soup was the most flavorful and wonderful soup I think I’ve ever had. The Salmon entrée was a beautiful piece of fish and cooked perfectly.
Just one gripe. We are sitting at the bar, waiting for the rest of our party and decide to order a round of Bloody Marys. The very kind bartender pulls of an unrecognizable bottom shelf vodka, Zing Zang mix, and a very limp, sad-​looking celery stalk. When he serves them to us, he reminds us they do not come with a beer chaser. He decided to open up a bottle of High Life Light and pours it in three glasses for us to share, completely unasked for. The tab: $ 35. I’m pretty sure he even charged us to the crap beer. I expected a lot more from Bacchus. Very disappointing! I mean, Zing Zang is good, but it is what I some times resort to at home, not at a fine dining restaurant. I expected a hand-​mixed drink with quality ingredients.

Exquisite all around fine dining meal: best I’ve had in Milwaukee and even makes my overall top meal list which is saying a lot. Love the option for shared plates and entrees.
Food: 5, Atmosphere: 5, Service: 5
Cost to worth it rating: 4
Eve award: best filet sauce preparation
Highlights:
— Filet: peppercorn bourbon filet. I order filet often and this was one of best I’ve had ever. Heavenly sauce and tender perfectly cooked steak.
— Pumpkin gnocchi: another highlight. Pillowy potato fall pumpkin nuggets seared and paired with Brussel sprouts, pepitas, and shaved Parmesan. I’m a gnocchi fan and I’m sometimes disappointed. Nothing to complain about here.
— Arrancini: perfectly crispy and textured outside and cheesy not too al dente or mushy inside
— Foie gras: seared with brioche (always the best bread pairing) and a quail egg. At the time it was still banned in Cali so it had that bad boy quality to it.
— Format: bunch of shared plates and entrees so you can choose or mix and match to you liking. My sis and I just picked a bunch of stuff to share from both sides.
— Atmosphere: white tablecloth sophisticated nice but not stuffy or uncomfortable
— Service: helpful waitress and loved the special touch of a birthday card hand signed by the staff for my sister.
— Wine menu: fantastic options to compliment the extraordinary food
Lowlights:
— We couldn’t possibly eat everything on the menu – even though we wanted to
Awesome holiday season meal with my sis that proved Milwaukee restaurants can hang with the best of them. Stands up to the Bartolatta local empire name. Would love to return for more on a subsequent visit.

Being that I’m not from Milwaukee I tend to trust what the «locals» say when seeking out a restaurant. You know, eat where the locals eat. Well I searched for «best restaurant in Milwaukee» and time and again, Bacchus was the top pick. Rave after raving review on service and quality of food said this is fine dining at its absolute best. Having lived around the world and eaten at some of the best restaurants as rated by Unilocalers, Zagats and much more prestigiously, Michelin, Bacchus simply didn’t make the cut!
While the service was relatively attentive and the food and ambience decent, it was honestly no better than most Ruth’s Chris steakhouses. Now don’t get me wrong, the place is nice, however top billing seems to be more of a result of «big fish, small pond» with the limit offerings for true fine dining available in Milwaukee vice any semblance of World Class fare. Sure, I recommend Bacchus, but only if you don’t have the liberty or time to hop a train and venture into Chicago (1.5 hrs away).
4 stars as the best Milwaukee has to offer.
I will add props for the valets, funny yet very professional!!!

Came in for dinner last night and was impressed. Bacchus is clearly and high-​end dinning option in MKE that executes well. Service was flawless, setting was trendier fine dining and the food was solid. Here’s the rundown:
— Cheese Course (A-​) — It’s Wisconsin, do it
— Tuna Tartare (A-​) — Fantastic
— Pumpkin Gnocchi (A) — Light, delicious, perfect
— Arancini (A) — I’m generally a huge skeptic of fried rice balls, but these were small Arancinis paired w/​Heirloom Tomato Jam & Basil Aioli — excellent
— Veal Ravioli (C) — huge miss. Barely any flavor
— Venison Carpaccio (A-​) — great, original
— Loup de Mer (B+) — solid
— Chocolate Coconut Dessert (C+) Pass — way too firm
— Chocolate Hazelnut Cake (A-​) Ridic — Pastry Chef nailed it
Worth putting on the shortlist for a higher end meal. Impressive wine list if you’re into that sort of thing.

Bacchus is one of those restaurants you save for a special occasion. So when the boyfriend asked where I wanted to go for my big birthday and before he was even finished with the question, I blurted out Bacchus.
We ordered the Porterhouse for two. This is a 40 oz steak brought in a cast iron skillet with sides of mashed potatoes, spinach and a blend of sautéed mushrooms. I have to say this steak has ruined me for all future steaks! It was cooked perfectly and so much flavor. We ended up taking home quite a lot of leftovers and the steak was just as good the next day heated up.
Service was on point. My only complaint about our experience was that they had not updated their dessert menu online. I had scoured their menu for several days prior to our reservation and had my heart set on this bananas foster dessert. I was pretty disappointed when the no longer offered this dessert.

Beautiful room, great food, fantastic wine list; what more could you want?
As you might expect from the name, the highlight here is wine. There are hundreds of offerings, and most of the markups are below typical restaurant pricing. We had a wonderful bottle of 2007 Nicholas Potel Chambolle-​Musigny that was exactly the kind of earthy, complex Burgundy we were looking for.
The ratatouille appetizer (which I apparently had during its last day on the summer menu) was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and the tuna tartare was refreshing, although I thought it could have been a bit more flavorful. Crispy shrimp was indeed very crispy, and was served with a tasty blend of sauces that combined sweet with a bit of spice.
The halibut entrée was perfectly cooked, and served atop deliciously rich fennel.
We finished with a 5-​cheese assortment, and found several artisan cheeses that we loved.
Service was friendly and helpful, and our meal was relaxing and fun.

Absolutely LOVED everything about Bacchus!
From start to finish, the food, the décor, the people. All of it was fantastic!
I started off with the curried squash soup, which had a great mix of fall and winter flavors in it. Pear, pomegranate, curry, squash, pecans. I had the braised short ribs as my meal, which came served on top of a really creamy sweet carrot, yes, carrot purée. The short rib was so tender and perfect along with the sweetness of the carrot purée.
Then for dessert, we shared the molten hazelnut cake and cinnamon sugar fritters, which are essentially elaborate churros. Awesome elaborate churros. Save room for the desserts here.
Bacchus is a great place if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion or have access to an expense account and need to entertain clients. Or just want to treat yourself for whatever reason you deserve.
The staff works well together to ensure a seamless experience when you arrive and throughout your meal. The valet was even notified before we walked out the door once we finished our meal, so we didn’t have to wait in the cold for the car to be brought around when we were ready to leave. Talk about great service!