Anniversaries often serve as moments of reflection and recommitment to one’s purpose. In that spirit, The Bartolotta Restaurants is announcing that its award-winning Bacchus — A Bartolotta Restaurant will close temporarily beginning July 22 for a series of planned upgrades and renovations to mark the venue’s 15 anniversary. Updates to the interior and the menu will enhance the restaurant’s features, creating a more vibrant dining experience for the Milwaukee community.
“As part of our commitment to our employees, our guests, and the community, we are injecting new energy when our restaurants reach certain milestones,” explains The Bartolotta Restaurants Co-Founder and Owner, Chef Paul Bartolotta. “This is an opportunity to demonstrate that commitment, refresh and revitalize Bacchus, and showcase the talent of Executive Chef Nick Wirth and his incredible team.”
Bacchus will undergo a redesign that will transform the dining room and bar into a brighter and more lively space, with a new lighting design that complements the natural light from the adjacent Conservatory. Additionally, upgrades will be made to the interior design — flooring, bar top, and seating areas, among others — and the Lakeview Dining Room will be updated to become a new tasting room.
“We want this stage for Chef Wirth, who has been with Bacchus since 2009 and who I consider to be a chef worthy of national recognition,” adds Chef Bartolotta, a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef. “Chef Wirth and the culinary team will evolve the menu while remaining true to Bacchus’ reputation for modern cooking using seasonal ingredients, complemented by the city’s most extensive wine program, stewarded by General Manager and Sommelier Patrick Erdman and Restaurant Wine Manager and Certified Sommelier Joe Kane.”
The inspiration for a new Bacchus experience came from The Bartolotta Restaurants Co-Founder Joe Bartolotta, who passed away in April 2019. The design elements for the renovation, conceived in partnership with Amber MacCracken of Kahler Slater, were among his last projects.
“My brother envisioned a beautiful space and he was very excited about re-energizing the overall restaurant experience,” explains Chef Bartolotta. “Completing the renovations and reopening Bacchus will bring his ideas to life and ensure that his legacy will live on for decades to come.”
The temporary closure will begin on Monday, July 22, and Bacchus is scheduled to reopen to the public by September 16. During this time, guests are invited to visit bartolottas.com to explore other restaurants in The Bartolotta Restaurants portfolio and to make their advanced reservations to be among the first to experience Bacchus after its re-opening.
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, 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.
