The transition has already begun for a pending transfer of management and operations oversight for the Mayfair Collection restaurants at 11200 W. Burleigh St. including Osgood’s, ABV Social, Cafe Grace and Taqueria El Jefe.
The changes were prompted by the dissolution of the management agreement brokered between the Bartolotta Restaurant Group and Chicago-based Phoenix Hospitality Group, which will take full effect on Nov. 1.
The restaurants were developed under a partnership between the two groups during which Bartolotta’s agreed to develop the restaurant concepts, design their look and feel, and establish operations for the four new restaurants.
"We are very proud of the restaurant concepts we developed and our partnership with Phoenix Hospitality Group, and we are excited to see the continued development of the Wauwatosa area," said Joe Bartolotta in a written statement on the split.
"As a company, the Bartolotta Restaurants will shift focus to our new projects in the fine dining and catering areas: the opening of Mr. B’s in Mequon and the Italian Community Center in Downtown Milwaukee."
Meanwhile, Phoenix Hospitality is gearing up to continue providing the consistency and quality of service that The Bartolotta's established.
"We at Phoenix Hospitality are much appreciative of the assistance the Bartolotta Restaurant Group has provided since the inception of the restaurants," said John Mangel, chief executive officer of Phoenix Hospitality Group. "Now is the moment we look to the outstanding talents within the team to advance to the next level."
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
