The Bartolotta Restaurants
Press Release

The Bartolotta Restaurants Announces Key Leadership Appointments at The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant

General Manager and Executive Chef to lead teams ahead of grand opening

By - May 13th, 2024 12:26 pm
General Manager Justin Crowe. Photo courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

General Manager Justin Crowe. Photo courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

MILWAUKEE, WI – The Bartolotta Restaurants, the premier restaurant and catering organization in the Greater Milwaukee region, is announcing key leadership appointments ahead of the grand opening of The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant. Justin Crowe has been named General Manager and Chef Jesse Kloskey has been named Executive Chef. Additional hiring efforts are ongoing.

“We are proud to welcome these two incredibly talented individuals into The Bartolotta Restaurants,” says The Bartolotta Restaurants Chef, Owner, and Co-Founder Paul Bartolotta. “In the search for the General Manager and Executive Chef for The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant we knew we had to find team members who truly understand the ethos of our company, who live for hospitality and strive for excellence. We are thrilled to welcome Justin and Chef Jesse to our ‘Bartolotta Table’ to carry on the hospitality heart that has been beating throughout our company for the past thirty years.

“With these two critical appointments, the leadership team for The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant takes shape, setting the framework for the level of excellence we aim to achieve.”

Mr. Crowe joins The Bartolotta Restaurants from Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri, where he served as General Manager of the destination’s five Top of the Rock food and beverage outlets. He was previously Senior Operations Manager for Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee, and his extensive, two-decade long career in hospitality includes roles at Las Vegas’ Red Rock Resort, Casino, and Spa (as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage); Excalibur (as Director of Food and Beverage); and Delano (as General Manager of Food and Beverage). Mr. Crowe has also served in multiple management roles for bars and restaurants, and he is a two-time Advanced Flair Bartending World Champion.

“Joining The Bartolotta Restaurants as the organization prepares to debut The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant to the world is a great honor for me, both personally and professionally,” says Crowe. “I am looking forward to building and leading the team that will usher in a new era of hospitality in Lake Country, and beyond.”

Executive Chef Jesse Kloskey. Photo courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

Executive Chef Jesse Kloskey. Photo courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

Chef Kloskey most recently served as Culinary Director of the luxury Chatwal Lodge in White Lake, New York. He has held Executive Chef roles at Red Sushi and Rare Steakhouse in Madison, Wisconsin; he has served as Culinary Director and Director of Food and Beverage for six IDM Management Group hotels; and he has also overseen kitchens for Bon Appetit at Google’s Mountain View, California campus and La Folie restaurant in San Francisco. Chef Kloskey’s hospitality career spans more than two decades, and in that time, he also founded the startup Earthly Origin Catering and Consulting.

“The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant will further solidify The Bartolotta Restaurants as culinary and hospitality leaders in this community, and throughout the country,” says Chef Kloskey. “As Executive Chef for this impressive estate, I look forward to working closely with Chef Bartolotta to execute his vision and provide the finest experiences for our guests.”

The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant is currently hiring for multiple front-and-back-of-house positions including management, cook, prep cook, sous chef, server, banquet server, and more. A list of available positions and links to apply can be found here.

Developed within an historic Nagawicka Lake waterfront property that first opened in 1902 as the Pleasant View Hotel and Resort, The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant is a multi-level venue that pays tribute to its past, with modern touches that will carry the destination into the future. The venue boasts a remarkable suite of dining and event experiences, with the capacity to host groups, galas, private dining experiences, presentations, weddings, reunions, and other celebrations.

For event inquiries and further information about The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant, please visit https://www.bartolottas.com/commodore.

About The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant

Located on the shores of Nagawicka Lake in the heart of Lake Country, The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant inhabits the historic property that first opened in 1902 as the Pleasant View Hotel and Resort. Operated by The Bartolotta Restaurants, the premier restaurant and catering organization in the Greater Milwaukee region, The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant is named for the leader of classic yacht clubs and embraces the historical significance of the past with modern touches of elegance. The unique, expansive property has been thoughtfully reimagined to include a remarkable suite of dining and event experiences, including a restaurant, intimate private dining rooms, and expansive outdoor space for groups and gatherings.  More information can be found at thecommodoredelafield.com.

About The Bartolotta Restaurants

The Bartolotta Restaurants is a nationally recognized restaurant and catering organization co-founded by four-time nominated and two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta and his late brother, Joe Bartolotta. Since the opening of its flagship restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, The Bartolotta Restaurants has grown to become the premier culinary brand in the Greater Milwaukee region, offering first class service and cuisine across a portfolio of 18 one-of-a-kind restaurants and catering venues, including fine dining, upscale casual, upscale food hall, and quick-casual concepts. More information can be found at bartolottas.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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