Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro is celebrating 30 years of serving authentic French cuisine and award-winning hospitality in one of Milwaukee’s most historic and scenic settings.

Since opening its doors at 3133 E. Newberry Blvd. on Sept. 28, 1995, the restaurant has become a cherished destination overlooking Lake Michigan, known for both its exceptional food and its warm, community-centered spirit.

Co-founded by Paul Bartolotta and his late brother Joe, Lake Park Bistro was the second restaurant in their growing culinary portfolio, following the success of Ristorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa. Inspired by his years training in France under culinary legends like Roger Vergé, the Troisgros family and Paul Bocuse, as well as studying pastry at École Lenôtre, Chef Bartolotta brought classic French flavors and techniques home to Milwaukee. Many of the iconic dishes from the opening menu remain guest favorites today.

Preserving a landmark

Located in a historic 1903 pavilion designed by Milwaukee architect Alfred C. Clas, Lake Park Bistro is a standout example of how public and private partnerships can preserve a landmark while giving it new life.

Working closely with Milwaukee County Parks, the Bartolotta team reimagined the space as a restaurant that remains deeply connected to the community. The pavilion’s lower level continues to serve as a public community room, while the restaurant supports Friends of Lake Park initiatives, ensuring the venue remains a gathering place for neighbors and visitors alike.

“As we celebrate 30 years of Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, I am filled with gratitude for the community that has embraced us from the beginning, and for Milwaukee County Parks’ unwavering support,” says Chef Paul Bartolotta.

“Joe and I wanted more than a fine dining destination—we wanted a place where memories are made, where families and friends can celebrate life’s milestones, and where our passion for hospitality could be shared with everyone who walks through the doors.”

Over the decades, Lake Park Bistro has become woven into Milwaukee’s social fabric, hosting generations of birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and celebrations of life—including Paul Bartolotta and his wife’s own wedding in 1999, and Joe Bartolotta’s daughter’s wedding just last summer.

Today, the restaurant continues to offer a classic French dining experience through its Haute Bistro menu, featuring elevated French bistro dishes that have delighted guests for three decades. Executive Chef Amanda Langler, a 15-year Bartolottas veteran, leads the kitchen, while General Manager and Certified Sommelier Mariana Popescu, who has been a presence at Lake Park Bistro for 17 years, oversees the restaurant’s extensive all-French wine list.

Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro is open Monday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a three-course Sunday brunch served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations can be made online or by calling (414) 962-6300.