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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T Anderson
I ordered the Linguine with Clams; the Clams that they used was not fresh clams, they are frozen clams. I have been eating this dish for years and years and could tell if it is fresh or frozen. I will not order this dish again. I now just wonder if the Mussels are fresh or previously frozen?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
brooklyn
Harbor House is hands down my favorite restaurant. The food is always amazing and the service is consistently great. It’s also a really special place for me. After my engagement we came here for dinner, so it always feels a little extra meaningful when we visit. I’ve also celebrated my birthday here with a big group, and even with a large party the food came out at the same time and we weren’t left waiting at all. Everything was organized so well. Highly recommend for both special occasions and a great night out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Hayes
Lobster was flavorless and the fillet was over cooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
MARK DOLLAHITE
The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was above and beyond. Im sure views is great in summer. We got a snow storm thou.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sompa Jahan
I came here on a whim for a Friday dinner and was not prepared for any of it. Not the view, not the food, not the fact that I'd spend the entire drive home trying to figure out when I could reasonably come back without it being weird. We started with the Lobster Bisque, which already felt like a steal before it even arrived. Creamy and rich, finished with tomato, brandy and tarragon, it was the kind of opener that sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the meal. We split it and I regretted that immediately. The fully loaded version with two ounces of Maine lobster is very clearly the correct choice. I know that now. I didn't know that then. Live and learn. From there we moved to the Berkshire Pork Belly Confit, which came plated over a butternut squash purée with wild mushrooms and a maple-apple cider reduction. It sounds like something you'd order in October and it tasted like the best version of that idea. The pork was tender all the way through with just enough caramelization on the outside, and the purée underneath pulled every component together in a way that felt almost architectural. I kept eating slowly just to make it last longer. Then came the Pan-Seared Grouper, and honestly the night peaked here. Topped with lump crab, potato purée, sautéed broccolini and a tomato-caper sauce with fresh oregano, it was a plate that knew exactly what it was doing. The sear on the grouper was perfect, the crab on top felt genuinely generous rather than decorative, and the brightness from the tomato-caper sauce kept the whole thing from ever feeling too heavy. I cleaned the plate and felt no shame about it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keleir
Food was warm not hot, no flavor with the food. But pretty good quality would only go here again to get a drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Pamela Halliburton
My co-worker and I were out for a celebratory dinner. We were both looking forward to this. I had the fillet mignon with scallops, potatoes and green beans. I was extremely disappointed in the steak. I ordered it medium rare. I don’t believe it was prepared that way. I think it was medium-well, very tough and no flavor. I added pepper which I normally never do. The scallops were good but you only get two with the combo. I’ve been to Harbor House before but it’s been years. My previous experiences were great! I should have said something while at the restaurant but just wanted to get home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Willa Olson
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.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Heather Lee
Everything was exceptional. Server was knowledgeable and helpful. We had oysters, mussels, lobster bisque, scallops, sea bass, and the vanilla gelato. Will be back again next time we are in the area! Thank you!!
Best Valentine's Day spot, restaurant held a pre dinner on Friday the 13th none the less the 14 was all booked; I tried booking 3 weeks in advance, recommend to book with a lot of time for holidays. Got an early dinner reservation next to the window, had an amazing view/ lovely champagne/ always an amazing service, food was outstanding. I will say it's a bit pricy, but, it's well worth not skimping on (tip we always get a bottle of wine for the table saving a bit of the bill) enjoy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ryan Mackman, MBA, MHA
My wife and I have eaten at Harbor House a number of times. Anytime you go to a Bartolotta restaurant, you know you’re getting good food and good service, and Harbor House is no different.
I’m a big fan of the crab cakes to start. I’ve always enjoyed the filet with crab Oscar or the Atlantic salmon for dinner. If I’m dining in for lunch, the lobster rolls are great.
My son loves the lobster mac and cheese, and my wife usually goes for the branzino. You really can’t go wrong. Just don’t leave without crème brûlée for dessert.
My wife and I chose Harbor House to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year and made our reservations well in advance. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were seated at what felt like one of the worst tables in the restaurant, right by the restrooms with staff constantly passing around us.
The food was good overall, but we’ve had better dining experiences at Ristorante Bartolotta. The service was average at best. While the assistant waiter, Wilber, was attentive and helpful, we rarely saw our main waitress throughout the evening and even had trouble getting simple things like a water refill.
For the price, the overall experience fell short of expectations.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Robbin Vester
The Harbor House has been my absolute favorite spot for about 20 years. My husband and I and many friends have shared many wonderful meals and experiences here. Today is my birthday and we went and as usual we requested table 72, the chefs table. We like it because it’s big, sort of private and easy to navigate the restaurant. We ordered two delicious martinis with blue cheese olives while waiting for our table. Once we got there our server was Sam and Cory was our runner for the evening. While we were looking over the menu Chef Michael Genre came to our table and chatted with us. We were in no way expecting this, we have eaten at this table many times and this was a first. He was delightful and made great recommendations about dishes. We started with the Virginaca (?) and Boso (?) oysters! The virginaca are meaty, silky, smooth mouth feel! The boso was mineral and salty and yummy! Both were so good all you need is a little squeeze of lemon. While we were eating Chef brought us the new lobster ravioli appetizer (can be a main) and you need to come for this alone! It’s like the lobster bisque on steroids with tarragon, sherry, olive oil and perfect pasta pillows stuffed with a lobster mixture. We ordered two Stone Crab Claws since it’s the season. These were light and sweet and huge! Next we enjoyed the clam chowder, we never ordered it before it was delicious! Not stodgy, not heavy but just right lots of clams and veg and fresh cracked pepper and chives on top, wonderful. We ordered steaks and added a lobster tail to the entree. The special 30-day dry aged strip and pan seared boneless ribeye! The lobster tails were tender, sweet, delicate and just what you want it to be! The strip was served with au gratin potatoes and a cauliflower blend. The ribeye was served with smashed fingerling potatoes and the best roasted broccolini with garlic ever! The peppercorn sauce for the steak is served on the side and I appreciated that. For desert Chef Michael made my night! He brought out the Caviar and Gelato and this dish should not work but it does! The base is an Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuscany it’s as grassy, peppery and bright as it comes. This is topped with a scoop of vanilla gelato, that is topped with a dollop of Platinum Osetra Caviar with a sprinkle of flake salt! This dish is served with beautiful mother of pearl caviar spoons to get you to slow down and take small bites of everything. It’s fresh, cool, briny and delicious. We cannot thank Chef Michael, Sam, Cory and everyone at Harbor House for making my birthday memorable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tayyaba Rana
I made a reservation for my husband’s birthday celebration for 8:pm and requested a nice table. We were told that a table by the window was not open but if we waited a few minutes they could accommodate us. We grabbed drinks at the bar and they didn’t have a table for us till 8:30. The food was good but since we were the last one’s in the whole restaurant, we felt like they were in a rush to get rid of us. The waiter didn’t even acknowledge my husband’s birthday or bring a complimentary dessert. Overall I was very disappointed because I wanted it to be a special birthday dinner for my husband.
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered the Linguine with Clams; the Clams that they used was not fresh clams, they are frozen clams. I have been eating this dish for years and years and could tell if it is fresh or frozen. I will not order this dish again. I now just wonder if the Mussels are fresh or previously frozen?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Harbor House is hands down my favorite restaurant. The food is always amazing and the service is consistently great. It’s also a really special place for me. After my engagement we came here for dinner, so it always feels a little extra meaningful when we visit. I’ve also celebrated my birthday here with a big group, and even with a large party the food came out at the same time and we weren’t left waiting at all. Everything was organized so well. Highly recommend for both special occasions and a great night out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lobster was flavorless and the fillet was over cooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was above and beyond. Im sure views is great in summer. We got a snow storm thou.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I came here on a whim for a Friday dinner and was not prepared for any of it. Not the view, not the food, not the fact that I'd spend the entire drive home trying to figure out when I could reasonably come back without it being weird.
We started with the Lobster Bisque, which already felt like a steal before it even arrived. Creamy and rich, finished with tomato, brandy and tarragon, it was the kind of opener that sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the meal. We split it and I regretted that immediately. The fully loaded version with two ounces of Maine lobster is very clearly the correct choice. I know that now. I didn't know that then. Live and learn.
From there we moved to the Berkshire Pork Belly Confit, which came plated over a butternut squash purée with wild mushrooms and a maple-apple cider reduction. It sounds like something you'd order in October and it tasted like the best version of that idea. The pork was tender all the way through with just enough caramelization on the outside, and the purée underneath pulled every component together in a way that felt almost architectural. I kept eating slowly just to make it last longer.
Then came the Pan-Seared Grouper, and honestly the night peaked here. Topped with lump crab, potato purée, sautéed broccolini and a tomato-caper sauce with fresh oregano, it was a plate that knew exactly what it was doing. The sear on the grouper was perfect, the crab on top felt genuinely generous rather than decorative, and the brightness from the tomato-caper sauce kept the whole thing from ever feeling too heavy. I cleaned the plate and felt no shame about it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was warm not hot, no flavor with the food. But pretty good quality would only go here again to get a drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
My co-worker and I were out for a celebratory dinner. We were both looking forward to this. I had the fillet mignon with scallops, potatoes and green beans. I was extremely disappointed in the steak. I ordered it medium rare. I don’t believe it was prepared that way. I think it was medium-well, very tough and no flavor. I added pepper which I normally never do. The scallops were good but you only get two with the combo. I’ve been to Harbor House before but it’s been years. My previous experiences were great! I should have said something while at the restaurant but just wanted to get home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
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.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Everything was exceptional. Server was knowledgeable and helpful. We had oysters, mussels, lobster bisque, scallops, sea bass, and the vanilla gelato. Will be back again next time we are in the area! Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Best Valentine's Day spot, restaurant held a pre dinner on Friday the 13th none the less the 14 was all booked; I tried booking 3 weeks in advance, recommend to book with a lot of time for holidays. Got an early dinner reservation next to the window, had an amazing view/ lovely champagne/ always an amazing service, food was outstanding. I will say it's a bit pricy, but, it's well worth not skimping on (tip we always get a bottle of wine for the table saving a bit of the bill) enjoy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
My wife and I have eaten at Harbor House a number of times. Anytime you go to a Bartolotta restaurant, you know you’re getting good food and good service, and Harbor House is no different.
I’m a big fan of the crab cakes to start. I’ve always enjoyed the filet with crab Oscar or the Atlantic salmon for dinner. If I’m dining in for lunch, the lobster rolls are great.
My son loves the lobster mac and cheese, and my wife usually goes for the branzino. You really can’t go wrong. Just don’t leave without crème brûlée for dessert.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Whole Grilled Branzino, Key Lime Pie, Wedge Salad
My wife and I chose Harbor House to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year and made our reservations well in advance. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were seated at what felt like one of the worst tables in the restaurant, right by the restrooms with staff constantly passing around us.
The food was good overall, but we’ve had better dining experiences at Ristorante Bartolotta. The service was average at best. While the assistant waiter, Wilber, was attentive and helpful, we rarely saw our main waitress throughout the evening and even had trouble getting simple things like a water refill.
For the price, the overall experience fell short of expectations.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
The Harbor House has been my absolute favorite spot for about 20 years. My husband and I and many friends have shared many wonderful meals and experiences here. Today is my birthday and we went and as usual we requested table 72, the chefs table. We like it because it’s big, sort of private and easy to navigate the restaurant. We ordered two delicious martinis with blue cheese olives while waiting for our table. Once we got there our server was Sam and Cory was our runner for the evening. While we were looking over the menu Chef Michael Genre came to our table and chatted with us. We were in no way expecting this, we have eaten at this table many times and this was a first. He was delightful and made great recommendations about dishes. We started with the Virginaca (?) and Boso (?) oysters! The virginaca are meaty, silky, smooth mouth feel! The boso was mineral and salty and yummy! Both were so good all you need is a little squeeze of lemon. While we were eating Chef brought us the new lobster ravioli appetizer (can be a main) and you need to come for this alone! It’s like the lobster bisque on steroids with tarragon, sherry, olive oil and perfect pasta pillows stuffed with a lobster mixture. We ordered two Stone Crab Claws since it’s the season. These were light and sweet and huge! Next we enjoyed the clam chowder, we never ordered it before it was delicious! Not stodgy, not heavy but just right lots of clams and veg and fresh cracked pepper and chives on top, wonderful. We ordered steaks and added a lobster tail to the entree. The special 30-day dry aged strip and pan seared boneless ribeye! The lobster tails were tender, sweet, delicate and just what you want it to be! The strip was served with au gratin potatoes and a cauliflower blend. The ribeye was served with smashed fingerling potatoes and the best roasted broccolini with garlic ever! The peppercorn sauce for the steak is served on the side and I appreciated that. For desert Chef Michael made my night! He brought out the Caviar and Gelato and this dish should not work but it does! The base is an Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuscany it’s as grassy, peppery and bright as it comes. This is topped with a scoop of vanilla gelato, that is topped with a dollop of Platinum Osetra Caviar with a sprinkle of flake salt! This dish is served with beautiful mother of pearl caviar spoons to get you to slow down and take small bites of everything. It’s fresh, cool, briny and delicious. We cannot thank Chef Michael, Sam, Cory and everyone at Harbor House for making my birthday memorable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I made a reservation for my husband’s birthday celebration for 8:pm and requested a nice table. We were told that a table by the window was not open but if we waited a few minutes they could accommodate us. We grabbed drinks at the bar and they didn’t have a table for us till 8:30. The food was good but since we were the last one’s in the whole restaurant, we felt like they were in a rush to get rid of us. The waiter didn’t even acknowledge my husband’s birthday or bring a complimentary dessert. Overall I was very disappointed because I wanted it to be a special birthday dinner for my husband.
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