Today and tomorrow Bartolotta's Harbor House, 550 N. Harbor Dr., on the lakefront at the foot of Michigan Street, is practicing for its lunch debut on Wednesday.
I went over to check it out and was amazed at the transformation. In the light of day, the transformation of the space is more visible than ever. Sunlight streams through three walls of windows, bathing the casual but classy decor constructed of dark woods and bright white table cloths with sunlight.
But even at night it's obvious. After all, the former Pieces of Eight's dated space was stripped down to nothing but a roof (which was raised to add another row of windows) and some support beams, before being reborn for this partnership between Joe Bartolotta and Michael Cudahy.
The restaurant further develops this corner of the lakefront -- which also boasts Discovery World and Milwaukee Art Museum -- as a major Downtown destination.
The menu is based on seafood, of course, and there's something pretty great about sitting at a window table, eating fried clams, gazing down at the waters of Lake Michigan, in the shadow of Milwaukee's beautiful Downtown. It doesn't transport you to Cape Cod, nor should it. Instead, it feels like heaven, eating fresh seafood right here in Brew City.
As we've come to expect from a Bartolotta restaurant, the service is top-notch, the dishes are reliably good and the atmosphere is stunning.
Bartolotta has wisely created different vibes and experiences at each of its restaurants. You'd never mistake one for the other. Dining in the Ristorante you'd never think you're in Bacchus, for example.
Here the vibe is brighter than ever and more casual. Of course you could have a romantic dinner at Harbor House, but it feels more like a place to bring a group for a lively meal. And although it's not excessively loud -- or at least it wasn't at lunch today -- it purrs at a level that makes it perhaps the most kid-friendly Bartolotta restaurant (not counting Pizzeria Piccola, of course).
Although I didn't get a chance to sit at the counter and slurp oysters today, I sure hope to get back and do just that sometime soon.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
