MILWAUKEE — High Stakes by Bartolotta, a new European-inspired steakhouse and cocktail lounge, opened this month near the intersection of Water Street and Highland Avenue, placing the restaurant in the middle of one of downtown Milwaukee’s busiest nightlife areas. The restaurant occupies the former Rumpus Room space, which was previously operated by the Bartolotta Group before closing in 2020. The company says the new concept is intended to bring activity back to a prominent stretch of downtown. High Stakes pairs a steakhouse menu and lounge atmosphere with design elements drawn from London private clubs, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. A casino motif appears throughout the space, including custom playing cards used as coasters. The adjacent Peacock Lounge offers a separate setting for cocktails. Bartolotta said the project grew in part from a design idea sparked by a brightly patterned pillow his wife bought at a London department store. He brought the pillow to a meeting with the restaurant’s designer to convey the mood he wanted. The resulting design, Bartolotta said, aims for a balance between the formality of London clubs and the glamour associated with Los Angeles or Las Vegas, without becoming overly gimmicky. For Bartolotta, the restaurant is also a statement about downtown Milwaukee’s future. “It’s my stake in the ground, saying we are investing in Milwaukee,” he said. “Doing something on Water Street is critical. It’s a major thoroughfare.” The opening comes as downtown Milwaukee continues to rely heavily on restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to draw visitors and support activity outside traditional office hours. High Stakes adds another hospitality business to the Water Street area while reviving a space that has been vacant since the Rumpus Room closed.