Harbor House by Bartolotta

I went to Harbor House on a Wednesday evening for a retirement party that had about 20+ people. The service was fantastic! The food was phenomenal. The views, breathtaking! For apps, we had mini crab cakes, filet with brandy peppercorn sauce, crab legs, shrimp, tuna, and more. It was all amazing! For a starter, I had the Maine lobster bisque, which was outstanding! The texture was creamy with chunks of lobster and the flavor was delicious. I can't wait to have this bisque again! For dinner I had the Poached Wild-Caught Alaskan Halibut, the halibut was cooked perfectly. I really loved this dish! The herbed couscous was flavorful and the basil pesto paired well with the fish, couscous, and veggies. For dessert, I had the Crème Brulee, it was soooo delectable, it was sinful! So good! The entire experience was 10/10 for me! Can't wait to go back.

We went for mother's day dinner, which included a special menu. There were plenty of options and service was excellent. Portions were generous and well presented. The dining room views were awesome looking out onto the harbor...and kudos to whoever cleans the windows!

My husband and I visited this restaurant during our trip to Milwaukee from Southern California in March on a Saturday night. There was a wait for a regular table, but plenty of space in the bar area, so we sat in one of those. The ambiance is really nice, you're right by the lake, which adds to the experience. The service was excellent! They have a raw bar, and we ordered half a dozen oysters, the chef’s reserved ones were especially delicious. Out of the oysters, I absolutely loved the Totten Virginica the most! It had a perfect balance of brininess and sweetness, definitely a standout. We tried the beer-battered seafood basket (even just the starter portion was plenty!) and the Canadian Black Bear Bay mussels, which were my favorite, the sauce was rich and creamy. We also tried the crab cake, but that one was just okay, not my favorite. Overall, a great spot by the lake!

Tried Harbor House for Valentine’s Day. The menu was set so that is important to note for our experience. The drinks were phenomenal, the espresso martini and white cosmo were perfect. We were seated after about a 15 minute wait and had to switch tables due to proximity to the serving station. It felt like they stuck and extra table in the hallway of the restaurant but we were able to move without much fuss. Our servers were absolutely amazing, I believe her name was Carmen but I could be wrong. 10/10 service and attentiveness from her and her assistant. Plates were cleared quickly, glasses were never empty, and questions were answered thoroughly. The chef’s reserve oysters were delicious as an appetizer, creamy and smooth. We had the lobster ravioli, which I did not care for at all, and the loaded lobster bisque as our appetizers. The lobster bisque was the best dish of the night. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the broth was rich. They were out of a few items which was disappointing considering the menu was already limited for the holiday. They were out of the scallops which was the main reason we made the reservation but the filet mignon was cooked to order and done well for a seafood house. I did not care for the lobster tails either, the lobster tasted like it was seasoned with an acidic, alcoholic, sweet something that just was not doing it for me. The lobster was cooked well, we might have just gotten a bad tail or whatever they brush on top of it just isn’t for me. The desserts were okay, the espresso crème brûlée was the winner of the night and had adorable chocolate espresso beans on top. The hazelnut and chocolate was too rich and dense for me but I also do not enjoy opera cake and misordered on my end. Overall, the service was fantastic but the food was slightly underwhelming. We will be back this summer to give the full menu a shot and Harbor House a second chance.

Had a beautiful Saturday brunch at Harbor House. The views are absolutely stunning and really set the tone the moment you walk in. The service was impeccable, attentive without being intrusive, which I always appreciate. I ordered the scallops with risotto and it was delicious, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Paired it with a Sauvignon Blanc that was chilled just right, which made the whole experience feel effortless and elevated. Valet is a great added convenience, especially on a busy weekend. Overall, a lovely place to relax, enjoy the view, and have a truly enjoyable meal. I’ll definitely be back.

​An absolutely fantastic place. I came here with my girlfriend, who made a special trip just to accompany me to Milwaukee. I spent over a semester here as an exchange student at Riverside University High School 17 years ago, so coming back was all about taking a walk down memory lane. Naturally, we wanted to treat ourselves to a proper meal. ​At 31, I couldn't exactly just go grab fully loaded fries near Riverside anymore—that would be a bit embarrassing! So, we decided on this restaurant. ​To be completely honest, I usually don't have high hopes for fine dining. Back when I was studying in Philly, I dropped hundreds of dollars at way too many places only to be met with mediocre food, bad service, and painfully slow pacing that left me starving. But this place was a completely different story. The food was simply exquisite. It’s a real shame I was too full; otherwise, I absolutely would have tried their strawberry soufflé. ​The absolute standout for me was the oysters—I couldn't believe they were actually sweet. Between the two of us, we ordered a half-dozen each of four different varieties. Every single one was delicious, even the larger ones (which, in my experience, usually fall short), but here they were phenomenal. The fried calamari was also excellent and not at all greasy like you find in other places. The grilled fish was served whole, which feels like a bit of a rarity in the US. I got the paella, and while it was a tiny bit salty, it made complete sense given the cured ham. ​For drinks, they served Saratoga sparkling water—an essential premium American brand in my perspective, which earned them major points. The asparagus was beautifully tender, and the mussels were phenomenal. The clam chowder was just okay (or more accurately, it just didn't shine quite as brightly as everything else on the table). ​The service, however, was impeccable. They would remove your plate exactly as you finished them without watching you. They are apparently well trained. I can be a bit of a penny-pincher and rarely leave massive tips, but this time I left around $70. Honestly, you could buy a whole meal with just the tip on a regular day, haha. The final bill came to about $425, so roughly $210–$220 per person. I found it completely reasonable for what was truly a spectacular meal. ​A Few Honest Tips: ​Dress Code: If you want to blend in with the crowd, ladies might want to consider wearing heels. My girlfriend and I dressed way too casually—sneakers, flip-flops, and t-shirts. We looked a bit out of place and might have been a slight eyesore for the other tables! That said, they don't actually have a dress code, so you can really do as you please. ​Portion Sizes: I can't recommend this place enough, but be warned: their portions are incredibly generous for fine dining, so definitely pace yourself. One appetizer, one main entree, a cold plate, and a drink is more than enough for one person. Don't go ordering three appetizers and two mains, or you'll be painfully stuffed and likely won't finish it. Order a little less, so you can save some room for dessert. ​All in all, this journey back to chase down the old days was deeply satisfying. Thank you, Milwaukee.

Views are phenomenal! Halibut dish was incredibly fresh and the perfect summer dish. It was my birthday and was greeted with a birthday card. Great way to end the day!

My husband and I dined here on a Friday evening to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The food was delicious, service was attentive and friendly, and we were even presented with an anniversary card upon arrival and a glass of Prosecco each to end the evening. The atmosphere was classy without being stuffy, and we enjoyed the lovely view of the Milwaukee skyline. There is some free parking nearby, but rather hard to come by, so be prepared to pay a few bucks for valet service if you go.