Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro

My colleagues and I routinely took out-of-town visitors to Lake Park Bistro for lunch before the pandemic because we liked the balance that restaurant struck between quality and price. Partly because it has not been offering lunch on weekdays since the start of the pandemic, I have not gone back to it until recently.Two of us showed up on a slow Sunday evening and found the place still elegantly decorated and offering impeccable service. Items on the Haute Bistro Menu sounded good to us that evening, and we ordered one set of dishes from the fixe menu plus two additional dishes from the A-La-Carte menu. The dishes we chose off the fixe menu were Crispy Confit Pork Belly, Pan-Seared Sea Scallops, and Walnut and Pear Stuffed Quail, plus Tarte Tatin as our dessert. The two additional dishes were Mushroom Soup and Roasted Monkfish Tail. Mushroom Soup (that day's special, which the server highly recommended) was truly decadent, and we both liked it a lot. Crispy Confit Pork Belly had very good flavors but was a bit saltier for our taste. The skin wasn't really crispy as indicated in its name, however. Pan-Seared Sea Scallops were cooked perfectly and had an excellent flavor profile. We found it to be the best dish we had that evening. Walnut and Pear Stuffed Quail was also delicious; the meat of the quail was tender and flavorful. Roasted Monkfish Tail was recommended by the server as "in season" when we were trying to decide whether to order the fish or the quail as our selection for 3rd course in the Haute Bistro set. We ordered the quail for fixe menu set and the monkfish as an extra dish. The description of the monkfish dish sounded very good, but it was not as flavorful as we expected. Perhaps the restaurant had a lot of fish in its fridge and wanted the servers to promote it?Overall, we very much enjoyed all the dishes, perhaps with the exception of Roasted Monkfish Tail. In addition, the servers were well trained and seemed to know what they were doing. We also ordered a glass of Bordeaux Superieur, which was very good.

Completely overrated. I've been here before, around 10 years ago. It's not as good as it used to be. First off, they charge $50 to make a reservation. Sure, they apply it to your bill when you don't with them. But that's not the point. The point? Keep reading. We made a $50 reservation months in advance, thinking February 15th would be a normal menu. The restaurant called the day before to confirm our reservation. After we said yes they proceeded to tell us there's a limited Valentine's weekend menu. Complete and utter BS.So this extremely limited menu is $125 per person.There are 6 choices for the appetizer course. My girlfriend and I ordered the same one (scallops) because there weren't two we were interested in. The two scallops were overcooked and the only thing that was tasty was some tiny gnocchi type pasta.There are 7 choices of entrees, one of which is the smallest lobster I've ever seen. And it cost an extra $15. The filet of St Pierre was a piece of fish. Nothing fancy, nothing special. Well cooked, but still just a piece of fish. The potatoes and cauliflower were the tiniest portions I've ever seen.There were 5 choices of dessert. We tried a cherry cake (a grossly inadequate description) and a raspberry pastry tort. Both were OK, although my girlfriend did not like either.My $12 beer was actually HALF a beer. Because the bartender apparently doesn't know how to pour a tap beer. Or they do and I'm just getting screwed out of $6.The $15 fig Manhattan my girlfriend ordered was tasty, but filled only 3/4. Again, either they don't know what they're doing or they're trying to screw their customers over.A cup of decaf was $6. Six bucks for coffee. Was it good? Yes. Was it worth the money? No. Maybe at $6 for two...The service was adequate. I guess that's just how it is now, since the only people that actually provide excellent service are old enough to rent a car.I'd like to describe the ambiance positively, but the building is clearly showing its age. And the entire dining experience was rushed, at least for this type of restaurant. Clearly, management decided to limit the menu so they could crank out a limited choice of food items as fast as they can to encourage high volume. It cheapened the experience, and that's in addition to feeling like we got charged $125 for what I would generously call $80 worth of food.Will I be back? Maybe a long time from now. Unless their full menu looks acceptable, whenever it returns. Or when my girlfriend wants to go back.

I've been going to Lake Park Bistro for years, and just had to write a review after yet another incredible evening! I always recommend making reservations, and when you do, the staff is great at acknowledging any notes or special occasions in the reservation when you arrive. We had made a 5:30p reservation as we had a show downtown to catch at 730, and they were cognizant during service, but never pushy! Top favorite starters are the Oeuf Mollet salad (the truffle vinaigrette is to die for!), the Steak tartare (they mix it table side with the yolk!) and the steamed mussels (get extra baguette, and dip in the remaining broth!).The winter seasonal mushroom is a MUST of they have it! Baguettes are nice and crusty, and the fresh salted butter is YUMMY! I've done the scallops as a main dish if we go hard on apps, they are always perfectly cooked and so flavorful. Our go to is the Confot Canard (duck)! Always beautifully cooked, and the fruit gives the perfect balanced sweetness. We typically ask to swap out the lentils for a potato of some sort, no problem! Brussel sprouts are a worthy side, and save room for dessert!The creme brulee is always perfection, but don't skip past the 10 year tawny port ($14) and the chocolate mousse if they have it!Highly recommend for a date night, special occasion, or just a dinner night to spend quality time with who you are with over great food. Will continue to support this incredible restaurant and staff!

Another incredible meal at Lake Park Bistro! I had the Hangar Steak and Frites for the first time and was so glad I ordered it. The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly (I ordered it Medium with some pink). I got the herb butter on the side and can honestly say I barely used it as the steak did not need anything additional. The frites were nice and crispy. I dipped the frites in a side of garlic aioli, highly recommend!! I enjoyed my meal with a smooth glass of Pinot Noir, which paired well with the steak. I had a window seat and enjoyed watching the snow fall outside. And I love sitting in this room and enjoying the mood- romantic dim lighting with lamps and candles.The service here is always top-notch. I never feel rushed and the servers are always very attentive and friendly. Shout out to Morgan for being so lovely!

Our waiter Brandon was such a nice guy and make our anniversary dinner special. We were greeted with a card and received champagne. The food was absolutely heavenly. The escargot was incredible.

Great ambiance and dinner! My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here and it was such an enjoyable experience.

What a great experience tonight at Lark Park Bistro! Exceptional service with Haley S. Guiding us through menu selections and the wine list! Always there with a smile and adviceFor dinner we enjoyed mussels as an appetizer, the steak fritters, coq au vin, and the duck confit. Everything prepared perfectly and served in a timely fashion.We were able to be seated overlooking the lake which was nice considering I celebrated my wedding in the same room 6/29/96. Again thank you to the staff and a shoutout to Haley.S.

We attended a private event at Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro recently and everything was fabulous. The event started with appetizers and wine, all which were delicious, and then main courses were served. Hubs and I shared our entrees which were roasted chicken and filet mignon. Both were cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. The filet melted in our mouths, and the chicken had crisp skin and was very flavorful and juicy. Both were served with sumptuous mashed potatoes. Bartolotto's then served an assortment of desserts, including their creme brulee and macarons. Divine!!All of the staff were really nice and service was impeccable. This would definitely be a favorite restaurant if we lived in Milwaukee.

Omg. This place has been in my list for everrrrrr-Probably since it opened I'm so glad my gf took me for my birthday few days ago. My palate is more mature and I'm older now and have a better appreciation for quality food and drinks. Ohhh and knowing there's a female chef- yes!!! girl power As we walk in, I immediately saw a champagne on ice set next to our table... soo sweet of her to think of that (screaming from excitement internally ha!) On the table is a birthday card written in French with a birthday cake drawn on it, such a nice touch. We then ordered the tasting menu of all seafood and I have to say that every bite melted in my mouth. Days later, I am still tasting the buttery halibut I had ordered. (To die for)Evening ended with a mini house birthday chocolate cake that was much better than the rum cake I had ordered for desert. Lake Park is definitely a must go for those looking for top notch perfectly prepared meals. I wasn't able to see the rest of the restaurant, after leaving found out there's a beautiful view of the water . I wish the wait staff had mentioned that it was a must see before leaving... They must have a lot of regulars but it's something I can look forward to the next time I go. Thank you lake Park for the wonderful birthday experience. Thank you gf for loving me enough to treat to a wonderful birthday

The food, the service, and the sommelier were top notch! With the ambience perfect for a French Bistro, it's a perfect date night choice!