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. read more

Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant - Such a delicious meal. Shared plates. Peppercorn bourbon sauce filet, pumpkin gnocchi, and arrancini were highlights. - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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. Entree 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!?! read more

Went with a family event, very accommodating for 7 and easy to make a reservation on Friday night. Strange that you pre slice my filet , when I've dined previously that was not case. Wondering what's going on w this place -dead on a Friday night? Bad sign. Also small amount of items on menu. Not many choices left some of our party in the lurch. Service was ok but not top notch. read more

10/10. Should have Michelin stars. Best meal I've ever had (even dining at similar dining levels). If you're gonna go here, do it up. It's well worth it. A night to remember for the rest of my life. read more

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Our last meal in Milwaukee and we're going out with a bang! Hubby and I chose the tasting menu, and while I'm sure the items change from time to time, what we had was nothing sort of amazing and would satisfy even the most discriminate of foodies. Started off with a minestrone shooter and basically it was the most delicious swig of soup you've ever had in your life! Super good carmelized onion flavor; just divine! 1st course - Lobster duo which was tempura lobster with honey glaze and a lobster salad on brioche as a play on a lobster roll. 2nd course - Pork ravioli with spinach and veal jus and an indulgent beurre fondue that I swear I'd drink if it came in a glass. 3rd course - Scallop with artichoke, fennel and fava bean with saffron butter sauce. BUTTER SAUCE. There's honestly nothing else you need to know. 4th course - Chicken duo which had a mushroom-stuffed roulade of breast and then a chicken thigh with carrot puree. 5th course - Wagyu filet with gruyere sauce and giardinara on top. An upscale philly cheese steak! Served with fingerlings because OF COURSE. 6th course - Cheese plate! Soft brie with apricot preserves, almonds, honey and cranberry/nut bread. I love build-it-yourself things and this was no exception. 7th course - White mocha cake with white chocolate mousse, dulcey ganache and coffee gastrique. Sound fancy? IT IS. Such a delicious way to end the meal. Bacchus is definitely well worth your time and money. Food was exquisite both in taste and presentation and an experience you'll want to have over and over and over again. Kudos to Bacchus! If we ever get to Milwaukee again, we're coming for you! read more

Bacchus is never a bad decision. The food is always sublime and the service can not be beat. Honestly, we've never had a questionable meal or experience here. Bacchus will deliver every, single, time. We both had a caesar salad (that was the best I've ever had) along with a filet, mash, asparagus and a delightful lemon tart w/meringue for dessert. Simplicity done to delicious perfection. read more

Bacchus well deserves a 5 star rating four of us dined starting with a garden salad light and delicious with a great assortment and sliced or prepared vegetables. The Foi Gras with quail egg was pure decadence in flavor, pork belly also wonderful in flavor with a korean flare of real kimchi and the phyllo covered prawns and sauce were scrumtously delicious. For mains we had the venison tenderloin on butternut risotto garnished with cranberries and fried basil and a wine basalmic vinegar reduction sauce. The straus veal chop was delicious cooked or seared to perfection. The braised rib beef with sauce and stir fried kimchi was out of this world. Overall great service and ambiance. Highly recommended for the special occasion or client. Hats off to the chef and staff. read more

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We've had their 5 course dinner as well as their 7 course, delicious every time! I initially judge a restaurant simply by their bread and even that is spot on. They easily made special accommodations for me in the 7 course dinner because I am pregnant and even gave us a trio of ice cream sampler because it was my birthday (very thoughtful!) read more

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Great new menu for winter. 4 went for a celebratory dinner. Everyone had different selections and everything was delicious. The Sommelier is spectacular and had wonderful recommendations. Especially loved the foie Gras, scallop & bolognese. Filet was perfectly cooked & swordfish was Mediterranean style with olives & tomatoes. All the desserts were phenomenal. read more

We really enjoyed our dinner. All meal was so good. Drinks are good top bartender made for ya perfect martini. Super nice service. Will come back if I'll come Milwaukee again read more

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Went here about a month ago with our foodie club with a large group. A few things to say: 1. All the food is amazing, apps to dessert. Try the mushroom soup, garnished with a fontina-filled beignet. You can't go wrong with a filet mignon with whipped mashed potatoes. The app with pâté and a quail egg is also amazing, as is the New York steak with spinach purée and espresso sauce. Desserts were unreal. 2. Wine list is out of this world, and the staff is well versed to give great recommendations. If you love Rosé try the Chateau Noziéres, it smelled like cotton candy and tasted like the south of France in a glass. 3. The staff is amazing and attentive 4. Beautiful atmosphere Worth every penny! read more

Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant - Our little wine tasting. Rosé, dry Riesling, Grenache, Sangiovese. All under $40 per bottle and all unreal. - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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AMAZING! Service was the best I've ever experienced and with every appetizer, entree, and dessert we were blown away at how good it was. Went for a birthday celebration and they had a personalized card, free dessert and (I'm assuming the manager) came by to wish happy birthday as well. We ordered the steak tartare and crispy octopus to start, lobster bisque, 16 oz ribeye with garlic butter, and a side of asparagus, and then ended with donuts with 3 different dipping sauces (berry was the best). Food and drinks were delivered very fast, but with the perfect amount of time between. Ambiance was great. Covid protocols made it very comfortable. 10/10 will be coming back!! read more

Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant - Steak tartare - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary at Bacchus and thoroughly enjoyed our experience! We chose the 3 course option- we both were able to pick our courses so we got the chance to try twice as many menu options and wow so worth it! Everything was delicious, full of flavor and presented with care! Our servers were great, gave us time to put our masks on before approaching the table and timed our courses perfectly! Overall great experience, great food and cocktails- we will be back next time we're in town! read more

We definitely enjoyed the food at Bacchus. Service and ambience could've been better. Having dined in most of the Bartolotta restaurants, I can think of several others I would hold in higher esteem. That being said, I would definitely eat there again. read more

The food was great, service was stellar and the General Manager Mr Dursun was extremely nice to our group. Recommended for business dinners.

All-around great restaurant. Great food, great staff, great decor. While pricey, the price matched quality. We had our toddler with us and for an upscale restaurant it actually worked out quite well. The restaurant is located in a condo building and we were able to take her out into the lobby throughout the dinner when she got antsy. Definitely a bonus for us as no one wants a squirrelly toddler during their nice meal. All in all, nothing too unique, but definitely met expectations for a fine dining experience and we would be happy to go again. read more

This dinner was nothing short of amazing. First time at Bacchus but won't be the last. We went for our 18 yer wedding anniversary and the wait team made our evening very special. We opted for the 7 course chef's tasting menu. Every plate presented was perfectly balanced in taste and texture and we were in love with each creation. So often $$$ establishments can leave you wanting a better experience and value for your investment. This was not the case. The mushroom soup with cheesy beignet was so velvety and smooth. The freesia salad was refreshing and all the flavors perfectly balanced. And the rabbit ragout was savory and satisfying. Of the seven courses these were our favorites. But try the sea bass or the venison...with cranberries and root veggies. A perfect meal on a cold day. We shall return. Thank you for a lovely foodie experience. read more

We went on a Thursday night around 730 and there were only two or three other tables. The atmosphere was nothing exciting. The service was good. The wine list was good. The food was okay (we got the pear salad, beet salad, pasta, bass, and a caramel mousse). It just didn't live up to what I have experienced at other Bartolotta Restaurants. read more

I came here for a private event that was held in the library area. My sister and I ordered the Scottish Salmon and my friends ordered the filet mignon. The salmon was a little over cooked and the glaze that came with it didn't have much flavor but my friends really enjoyed the filet. Overall, the service was great and we enjoyed our time here. read more

Bacchus - A Bartolotta Restaurant - Salmon - It was a little over cooked. - New American Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Is it outrageously expensive? Yeah. Is it slightly pretentious? Absolutely. Is it worth every penny? Without. A. Doubt. Bacchus is my go-to restaurant every time we're celebrating something special, and/or we're really looking to indulge. The service is always impeccable (never a stray crumb on the table, or an empty water glass), the food is to die for (the beet and goat cheese salad, the scallops and the Porterhouse for two are all incredible), and the atmosphere is subdued and romantic. I'm sorry, I can't think of a single thing to nitpick, I seriously crush on this place so hard. read more

So my opinion is obviously not a popular one. I'm not sure how this could be considered good food let alone fine dining. It's a nice restaurant. Clean decor. Food, not so great. We started off with Foie gras for an appetizer. The presentation was nice with a quail egg over french toast. But that's where my love affair with this dish ended. I cut into my foie gras and the vein was still intact. I am not a chef but I know enough that the veins need to be removed before serving. I tried to eat around the vein but it made for a tiny portion. I ordered sea bass for my entree. I LOVE sea bass. I eat it a lot and also make it quite a bit at home. This "sea bass" looked and tasted like a cheap white fish along the lines of orange roughy. Strike two. Get my desert which was nothing more than whipped cream, raspberries and a small piece of phyllo dough topped with sugar. the best thing I ate all night. Not sure how they could have screwed that dish up but it was pleasing enough. I walked out of Bacchus completely mind fu**ed as to how that dinner could have been so poor. read more

Stunning and housed in a historic building that solicits images of the Rat Pack, Bacchus is an establishment that challenges the culinary industry. I dined here with fellow work peers and we all left wanting more. Star 1- The service. I have never had better service at a restaurant. Wait staff was knowledgeable, extremely attentive, ..... I could go on and on. Star 2- The flow. It was almost like they anticipated our needs. The food and wine were timely and not a distraction. Star 3- The food. To compliment the flow of wine I started with a poached pear salad made with arugula, Dunbarton blue cheese, and Marcona almonds. The main meal was a fliet mignon. Succulent, juicy, and topped with bourbon peppercorn cream, sauteed mushrooms, and potato mousseline. Star 4- The dessert. I'm a fan of bread pudding. The spiced bread pudding made with vanilla creme anglaise and pomegranate seeds was re-visited in my dreams that night. Multiple flavors that re-invented the traditional recipe. Star 5- The uniqueness and commitment to Milwaukee for providing a destination unlike any other in the city. I can't wait to go back. It's pricey, but worth every penny. We all need to treat ourselves every once and awhile. If you do, consider Bacchus. read more

Bacchus has always been the Bartolotta restaurant that I like, but I never give the proper consideration to it when choosing a place to dine. I always end up wanting to go to Lake Park Bistro (even though I had a ho-hum experience there last time...but I will still return eventually because the food is great). But we're talkin' bout Bacchus here, and Bacchus doesn't mess around. The atmosphere is very neutral in a good way. It has the timeless look of what you would expect from a nicer downtown restaurant. The décor is stylish, but not stuck in any particular decade (i.e. you won't hear a saxophone playing "Careless Whisper" in your head when you walk in). The service is always solid. You'll usually get a couple of servers taking care of you throughout the night. Since Bacchus shares its name with the god associated with everything wine, you can be sure that they have a nice wine list, but I'm never much for wine at a restaurant. Do what I do and cut to the chase; order a martini. It compliments everything on the menu. My wife and I both had the Green Beans salad, which was a nice light start to the meal. The green beans were chilled and came with a generous amount of blue cheese. The radishes and toasted hazelnuts complimented the tanginess of the cheese quite well. The salad was pretty large, too, so keep that in mind when you're factoring in portion sizes. I went with my usual of flank steak and my wife got the halibut. Both were superb. The flank steak was perfectly cooked and had been rubbed with a generous amount of salt, which really made the flavor stand out in the sear. The summer vegetable salad that accompanied it was also tasty and offset the heaviness of the meat. My wife really enjoyed her halibut and it looked well-cooked and was well-presented. I've never been big on dessert, but Bacchus is the exception for me. I like to opt for their cheese plate. Bacchus has a wide selection of Wisconsin artisan cheeses that rotates throughout the year. At this point, I can't even tell you which three cheeses we had, but I will suggest that you speak with the server about them if you're unsure. They are usually able to describe each one so you can get an idea of which will best suit your preferences. To me, Bacchus doesn't get enough credit around the area. Perhaps that is because it's a straightforward approach to fine dining and doesn't have a focus on something ethic, local or different. But it doesn't need to. It stands up on its own just fine and does a better job than most of the competition. read more

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 puree and the squash ravioli. Both of my dishes were DELICIOUS. Perfect. Seasonal without being overly FALL (like, the pumpkin puree 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! read more

There are plenty of great reviews of this restaurant, so I will try to hit the highlights. 1) The ambiance and decor is tastefully modern and classic. It feels like you are eating at Restoration Hardware with dim lighting. 2) Definitely a place to take someone for a special occasion. White table cloth, attentive wait staff and great bar. Surprisingly, I have seen slightly more casually dressed individuals dining there as well so I wouldn't necessarily feel too out of place if you were wearing a polo shirt and khakis (depends on your own personal comfort level). But then again, this is coming from a guy that has worn camouflage cargo shorts to a Ruth Chris before. 3) I would describe this food as "upscale comfort food". You will have the typical stuff like Filet Minion, Scallops, Salmon, etc for main courses. I think even the most pickiest of eaters wouldn't feel left out here. They will use Wisconsin local ingredients where possible. Not too much "fusion", nouveau cuisine. 4) Personally, me and my fiancée like to get several small plates to share instead of a main course. It gives us a chance to sample several different dishes and feel as though we had a multi-course meal without the multi-course price. I mean, if you are a foodie, how many times can you have a steak and it taste different from one restaurant from another? 5) Three words. Spinach Risotto Fritters. Amazingly good. Anything fried usually is, but these take it to another level. Just get them. 6) We have been here twice...once in the fall of last year and January of this year. I would be curious if the menu will change with the Spring season. 7) They take OpenTable reservations which is great. I booked reservations using my iPhone and they always were great about accommodating my special requests the 2 times I was here. Was able to surprise my fiancée for her birthday just by typing a special request in the reservation itself. They seated us in a booth with a handwritten thank you and towards the end of the meal, they came out with a complementary in-house sorbet sampler for dessert. Bottom line, it holds the Bartolatta reputation for delicious dining. read more

Bacchus is a good choice for anyone looking for a nice meal. The music was slightly too loud however the rest of the meal made up for this one negative. The service was good, our server knew what he was talking about and was able to answer all of our questions. The Food was fine, however the menu was different than the original due to valentines day weekend, they were able to accommodate us with their vegetarian options when asked. I have had better restaurant experience at other Milwaukee establishments, I would not seek out Bacchus if you are truly looking for a good meal at this price level, there are many other options however our experience was alright and I have no large complaints. read more

They probably expect 5 stars by now and clearly earned :) They were awesome enough to get us in at 6 pm on a Saturday (I think we were lucky someone didn't use their reservation). The service was fantastic. It was our first time there, and we were dressed slightly funky (not badly, mind you, just dressed to go to an "adult prom". So kind of goofy). The dress code seemed to run the gamut between dressed up prom-goers (it was across the street at the university club) and people wearing jeans. From what I could see regardless of dress, all patrons were treated well...we were in the atrium part of the restaurant so we had a pretty good view of what was going on. Even after I admitted that the 120 dollar caviar service would be wasted on me (I like caviar but my palate is far from refined in that area...I' just plop a big hunk of it on top of egg salad and eat it. Yum) he didn't treat us like we should be getting the bums rush. My martini was quite good. A bit much tiny floating ice chunks for my taste but admittedly I'm extremely picky in that regard. I prefer mine stirred, NOT shaken. I had a glass of Johan Vinyards Pinot Noir. It wasn't bad but next time I'd upgrade. I should know the stick to California. My boyfriend and I had 2 small plates: Foie Gras: delicious and quite darling. Served seared on top of mashed rhubarb (I'm sure I'm getting this wrong), and with a schmear of maple syrup and pickled rhubarb. On the other side of the plate is a yummy little french toast round with the tiniest little quail egg, cooked sunny side up no less (how the HECK do they do that???? I can barely cook a huge chicken egg that perfectly) and the tiniest little bacon strip. I took a picture because it was so cute but I see there is one already posted here. Soft shelled crab: I believe it was beer-battered and served with some kind of delicious sauce and arugula. It was also wonderful. For dinner I had the filet. The cut was awesome and quite a fair cut, I'm going to say ~7 or 8 oz. The mushrooms and mashed potatoes were great, and the gravy...I can't imagine how they make it so good. It tastes like they cooked the roux for a really long time, similar to how you would for a gumbo because it's very sweet and caramelized tasting (it has that slight copper tint as well) and maybe it has some truffle oil in it? I so wish I knew what was in it because I think it was probably the best I've had in my life. My boyfriend had the halibut and I tasted it. It was almost as delicious as my filet. For dessert, we had the chocoholic. Chocolate mousse with vanilla cream in the center, ice cream and some raspberry gel. The mousse was very very good (I make mine a little softer and prefer that) but it was the right size for a couple of bites. Of course people will talk about the price but frankly from what I could see for the quality of the food, it's very clearly in the correct range and not overpriced. I think the steak was 38 dollars, the Foie Gras was 19 dollars, the soft shell crabs 14, and the halibut was 32. Really not too bad at all in my opinion. read more

I went to Bacchus with my wife for my birthday this past July and my experience was definitively A-OK, the apparent standard for three stars here on good ol' Yelp. Every single thing we ate was precise and delicious and priced appropriately for Bacchus' intense (alienatingly so) elegance. We each had a salads to start and for the main course I had short ribs and my wife had pan roasted chicken. My wife will tell you with wide eyes was the best chicken of her whole damn life and, believe me, many a chicken have fallen to my wife's poultry-craving palate. We also had a dessert and a bottle of wine and the bill was huge. It wasn't a surprise and I wasn't offended by the bill. I'm not the type to complain about the cost of any meal, because menus are public domain and there is never a gun to anyone's head forcing them to eat at Bacchus. Where my issue lies with Bacchus was the service. I noticed a gentleman and presumably his wife having dinner together and it became immediately apparent that these two were high priority. While the service my wife and I received wasn't bad per se, it was notably less specific and attentive than that being delivered to the table to my life. I got your usual high-energy, highly literate, ultra-regimented, super precise military style of service one typically gets in a fine dining setting, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Given the amount of money I make and what I'd typically have to spend in order to eat at Bacchus, it's definitely bracketed as a "special occasion" restaurant. That being said, I think I'll spend those occasions somewhere that isn't writing me off as a young dude eating beyond his means. Food: A- Ambiance: A- Service: C read more

I managed to have dinner here thanks to a lecture. Its the sort of place I'd imagine eating at if I were an I-banker or an executive, or [insert something else that I'm not]. Dark woods, patterned carpets, and extremely tasty food. A part of me really wanted to have a seat in the wingback chair in the corner. Unfortunately, I had left my monocle, brandy snifter, and top hat at home (don't worry, I had my handle-bar mustache). The salad tested like... a salad, the greens weren't overpowered by the vinaigrette. The steak was cooked just to my liking and the seasoning was perfect. Then there was chocolate mousse for dessert, which was sensational. I had no idea how much the dinner cost, but I can't imagine it being cheap in a place like this. Nothing bad to say about this place, but its just not for me. Maybe in 20 years. Maybe not... I mean, I still eat Taco Bell more often than I'd like to admit. read more

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 entree 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. read more

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. read more

I've been here for a variety of occasions -most recently my best friends wedding. Let's start with the staff who are amazing. There's this one waitress, Danielle, request her. She's my favorite. The girl knows her stuff. It is here that i've had the best steak I've ever eaten. I've had dreams about the mushroom risotto. Have the bartender create you a drink. I've never been disappointed. It's a bit on the pricey side but it's definitely worth it. You get your money's worth in food and experience. Perfect for events, celebrations, and special dates :) read more

Once again an excellent experience here. Just had wine and an appetizer but the service was first rate! Always amazed at Bacchus' customer service. Hats off to all who work here! read more

Went here for 7:15 reservations on a Saturday night with my parents and my girlfriend. My parents had been there and thought it was spectacular. We pull up and get valet parking, which was $4. Friendly service thus far. We arrive about 25 minutes early so we belly up to the small bar for a few cocktails. The drinks were pretty good. Expensive, yet this was expected. Wasn't that impressed with their cocktail list, but the bar itself was pretty nice. We are seated and immediately were presented with menus and waters. The waiter had a great, fun personality and joked with us when he realized we were not the 'prim and proper' regular clientele they receive. We had two servers the whole time, so the service was really great. The other server was a woman with a noticeable, funny WI accent. She was nice and attentive. The bread and water guy was less attentive and only gave us one piece of bread each. We would have preferred he give us the whole bread basket. Oh well. For wine, I had during the dining experience a glass of 2007 Brassfield Pinot Noir, High Valley, CA. I would call it average at best. Not sure why they selected it as it seemed watery and mild. For my next glass, I had 2006 the Hobo Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, CA. This one was much better yet I still was not really blown away. At $13 a glass, I guess my expectations were much higher and usually when I've eaten at restaurants of this caliber in the past, the wine list was more spectacular. We each had our own appetizer. I tasted all of them, so I had a good feeling of each of them. Foie Gras - Apple Compote, French Toast, Blis Maple Syrup, Fried Quail Egg $21 First time trying foie gras. The other flavors took away from the main ingredient. I thought the taste of the foie gras was so good on its own that the syrup, french toast and apple took away from its greatness. Spinach Salad - Fried Egg, Bacon Lardons and Grainy Mustard Dressing $10 The egg was ok. The dressing was minimal and almost flavorless. The portion was small. The bacon was ok. Worst dish of the entire meal. Not sure what they were going for with this. Wisconsin Artisanal Cheese - Acacia Honey, Fruit Preservers and Raisin Nut Bread $10 We laughed at this one. Two pieces of cheese on a plate with grapes and some honey. The nut bread was not even served with it. No fruit preserves either. The cheese was 4 year aged cheddar and some blue cheese. Big deal. At that price for two small pieces, I was expecting better, more exotic cheese than that. C'mon, really? From the tasting menu, they had pork belly with a sauce made from one of my favorite beers; New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red. The dish was pretty good, but was not great. There were beans served with the pork belly which I thought seemed out of place. The sauce was subdued and did not really shine though. The pork bellies were good, but the dish was never really brought all together. We each had an entree as well and I tasted all of them. Tagliatelle Pasta - Maine Lobster, Artichokes, Lobster Cream, Brown Butter $32. Average, overpriced, underportioned pasta dish. Was good, but not great. Ricotta Ravioletti - Butternut Squash, Sage Leaves, Parmigiano, Amaretti Cookies $24. I have had this at Italian restaurants and thought it to be really great. They underperformed, overcharged and underportioned on this one unfortunately and I was left thinking it was ok, but certainly far from great. The sage leaves were great and executed perfectly., but the sauce did not push itself into the great category. In addition, I was left still hungry. Strauss Lamb Loin - Cranberry Bean Ragout, Hon-Shemeji Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic Lamb Jus $32. I only tasted a bite of the lamb on this which was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was pretty good. Can't really comment on the dish as a whole. Maine Lobster - Cauliflower Cream, Oyster Mushrooms, Champagne Butter $44. This was the highlight of the experience. A spectacular dish. Lobster not overcooked at all which I've found to be very common when ordering it out. The sauce was what made the dish. Such a unique, elegant taste that kept me wanting more and more. The portion size was just about right. If all of their dishes were on this level, it would be a 5 star experience. Overall, at this price level, I was expecting nothing short of spectacular, yet dish after dish, I was left wanting more. Don't get me wrong, most were good, only one was great and one was bad. I don't think I will come back here. read more

We celebrated the husband's birthday at Bacchus last night, and it was a fabulous experience from start to finish. The food, drinks and service were worth every penny for this special occasion. Highlights: - Our waiter, Dan. Dang good guy who humored us with an ideal amount of conversation and friendly banter. - O'er the Thames cocktail. But don't drink too many to forget the amazing meal. - Lobster bisque soup. I had an internal struggle on whether or not to lick the bowl. - Spinach salad. The combo of a poached egg, spinach and pork belly was a like brunch dance in my mouth. - Scallops. Sauteed to perfection. - The handwritten card and sorbet trio for the birthday boy. A nice touch. A highly recommended restaurant for a special occasion. They nailed it. read more

This review is for the "Friends of James Beard" Dinner on October 21, 2009. First off I must admit something. I am a complete Top Chef Geek! I have seen every episode and could write a book on Padma Lakshmi. So when I had the opportunity to attend this event that featured the last two winners; Hosea Rosenberg and Stephanie Izard, I couldn't resist! The evening began with a silent auction and several Hors D' Ouevres presented by Chef Adam Siegel of Bacchus, which included Strauss Free Raised Veal Tartare with Mustard and Celery on Brioche, Foie Gras with Cranberry Jelly,Sherry Vinegar and Crispy Sage, Lobster Risotto with Braised Savoy Cabbage and Lobster Cream and Duck Confit Tart with Apple and Watercress. I loved all of these, but my favorite was the Foie Gras. The richness of the Foie, sweetness and tartness of the jelly and vinegar and the earthiness of the sage created the perfect bite. These were all served with a bright, crisp, clean Brut Rose Lucien Albrecht "Cremant D'Alsace." 1st Course by Hosea Rosenberg Wild Alaskan Salmon with Porcini, Fennel, Celeriac-Pear Puree paired with a 2006 Domaine Serene Chardonnay "Etoile Vineyard." A simple preparation really let the quality of the ingredients shine. Impeccably fresh Salmon starred with support from a slightly acidic Shaved Fennel Salad as well as the subtle sweetness from the Puree. The citrus notes and minerality of the wine worked perfectly with this dish. 2nd Course by Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Las Vegas. Oven Baked Crepe with Italian Alpine Cheeses and White Truffles. Paired with A 2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir "Evenstad Reserve" Oh My God! Easily the Simplest Dish of the night and possibly the best. Just cheese inside a beautifully tender crepe, baked to a golden brown and then decadently covered with Shaved Truffles. The wine was amazing. Deep and complex with lots of spice, cherry and herbal notes, it was perfect with this simple, wonderful dish. 3rd Course by Stephanie Izard Seared Scallop with Smoked Goat, Wilted Greens and Huckleberry Gastrique. 2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir "Winery Hill Vineyard." When we saw "Smoked Goat" on the menu, my friend and I both thought cheese. It was actually goat! This was one of those dishes where each part was excellent, but it didn't really come together as a whole. Along those same lines, the wine was outstanding but didn't really work with the food for me. 4th Course by Sanford D'Amato, Sanford, Milwaukee Glazed Squab Borscht with Root Vegetables and Foie Gras Pierogi. Paired with a 2006 RockBlock Syrah "Reserve". Chef D'Amato is well known for putting a gourmet twist on Milwaukee ethnic cuisine and that is exactly what he did here. Elevating simple beet soup and a Polish dumpling to new levels. The Squab had a nice crisp skin and tender moist flesh. The wines cherry and plum notes accented the flavor of the Borscht. Dessert by Sebastian Cannone Litchee Jellified Brioche with Raspberry Creme and Caramel-Fleur de Sel Ice Cream. Paired with a 2007 RockBlock Viognier "Del Rio Vineyard". One of the best non-chocolate desserts I have ever had! Like the Scallop dish, this had many different components, but this time they all worked seamlessly. The sweetness of the Litchee, the tart Raspberry and the salty Ice Cream made my taste buds very happy! I actually appreciated the fruity Characteristics of the wine more after I had finished dessert, which didn't take very long! This was a wonderful night of food, wine and fun that I was very fortunate to experience. If Bacchus handles an event like this so well, I can't wait to come back for dinner. The staff was friendly and they are wheelchair accessible. read more

Could I please eat here everyday!? Service and Beverages: The service was friendly but not intrusive while you were enjoying your meal. The wine list was extensive and the cocktail menu had something for everyone. Food: We started out with non-traditional caviar baked in phyllo dough which was out of this world! They have a separate vegetarian menu which I was beyond excited about! I am a pescetarian (i.e., I eat vegetarian with the exception of fish) and loved feeling like I had a variety of options to choose from. The arbitrary vegetarian dish that some places tac on their menus gets old in a hurry. I recommend the roasted root vegetables and crispy fried tofu! YUM! Ambiance: Formal attire is the norm here. Loved being able to dress up in clothes that I normally do not have occasion to wear. However, if you are in the mood for upscale causal dinning this is something to keep in mind. Great place for a special date or when you feel like treating yourself to amazing food! read more

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! read more

Bacchus is a consistent pleasure in Milwaukee. I have dined and drank here many, many times and each time I leave satisfied with not only the creativity and taste of the food but also the excellent service. I truly believe this is the flagship of the Bartolotta restaurant empire. A couple of their other locations should study what is going on at Bacchus. The food at Bacchus is consistently delicious, the cocktails consistently creative and the ambiance spectacular. The feel of the restaurant is akin to the finest New York City restaurants. It is equally appropriate for a romantic date as it is high-end business dining, and private parties (in a spectacular atrium with lake views). My one complaint is that they used to have a late night small-plate menu at the bar. I miss that! I number Bacchus among the top five restaurants in Milwaukee. Well-deserved kudos! Highly recommended. read more

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. read more