This morning, the Bartolotta Restaurants announced the new concept that will replace Rumpus Room (1030 N. Water St.), their Downtown restaurant that has been closed since 2020. The new venture is called High Stakes by Bartolotta and the press release describes it as a “sophisticated and distinctive” European-inspired steakhouse. The targeted opening is this summer.
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Owner/co-founder Paul Bartolotta has long talked about investing in Milwaukee’s Downtown and the importance of having a presence in the city. Bartolotta calls High Stakes “unlike anything The Bartolotta Restaurants has done before, serving as a stylish and energetic destination in downtown Milwaukee…”
Using the same interior designer (Jay Franke) that worked on The Commodore, the Bartolotta group’s supperclub on Nagawicka Lake, the new steakhouse will reportedly be influenced by Paul Bartolotta’s Las Vegas tenure (he operated Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare from 2005-2015). Design influences include London lounges and private social clubs and 1930s art deco.
The restaurant space will also feature the Peacock Lounge, which will serve cocktails and “light bites,” and offer music.
More info – including, I hope, menu details – will be released later.
