If there is one thing that all five Fratello's Waterfront Restaurants have in common, it is, as the name suggests, their proximity to Wisconsin waters. Other than that, each location -- two in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and now Milwaukee's Third Ward -- has its own distinct flavor that reflects its surrounding environment.
The Supple Group officially opened its Third Ward's Fratello's at 102 N. Water St. Monday, April 14, in what CEO Jay Supple says is an exciting finale to a long search for the perfect locale.
"We've been looking of years in the Milwaukee market, but we wanted to make sure we had three things: To be in the Third Ward, to maximize our water visibility and to have a patio," he says.
The Riverwalk spot he found has a bowing boardwalk that allows more than 100 diners to feast on seafood, pastas, sandwiches, pizza and steak within mere feet of the Milwaukee River.
The contemporary, urban feel of the neighborhood carries over into the restaurant's décor, which utilizes cement pillars supporting a chic dining room and full bar with waterfront views.
"What we liked most about the site was the amount of frontage we have that overlooks the water and no matter which table you're at in the restaurant, you have a view of the river," says Supple. "It's a big part of the Fratello's concept."
Although the menu is the same at all five Fratello's restaurants, Milwaukee's Chef Clarence Grice brings his own culinary flair, having previously worked at Ristorante Bartolotta and Osteria del Mondo.
You'll find a handful of steaks, an abundance of seafood -- including sesame seared tuna and crab stuffed walleye -- 10 varieties of pizza (some stone-fired, some on wafer thin flatbread), stromboli (sandwiches of pizza dough and fillings baked in the oven) and an array of specialty sandwiches, burgers, salads and pastas dishes. Most items are priced between $10 and $20.
Although the new Milwaukee location doesn't have its own brewery counterpart, the company has two -- one in Oshkosh and one in Appleton -- that brew six craft beers. The Caber Tossing Scottish Ale, Buzzin' Honey Ale and Fox Light are the best sellers, says Supple. The brewery also brews a seasonal batch of fruit beer. Currently, you can sample the peach, but look for blueberry brew to sprout this summer.
The extensive wine list is a highlight, as well.
"We have a great, knowledgeable staff, and our general manager Brendan Moore is a second-level sommelier, so we have a great wine list and it's nice to have him out there on the floor talking wine, and helping people pair it up with food."
Overall, Fratello's sets a casual, yet interesting scene -- the kind of place to fraternize with friends over dinner or grab lunch with co-workers. The spirit is lively and mature and the views make it a nice Downtown stop during a pleasant Milwaukee summer. The Supple Group is also opening a Montreal Bread Company in Milwaukee this year.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
