MILWAUKEE— NCG Hospitality, a leader in real estate development, and hospitality management, announced yesterday the restaurant partner and concept for the ninth-floor restaurant located atop The Trade Hotel. Joined together with Food Fight Restaurant Group and leaders of the Milwaukee Bucks and Deer District, NCG Hospitality hoisted a 4,500 lb. stone hearth pizza oven to celebrate.

Il Cervo, which means “the deer” in Italian, will serve classic and original interpretations of traditional Italian food and drinks. Among the fare they plan to bring to the menu, patrons will find options like dry-aged steak served Florentine style, butter-poached lobster, grilled whole fish, hand-rolled pasta, fresh-made ricotta and mozzarella and, of course, hand-stretched sourdough pizza that will be fired over a four-inch-thick stone hearth.

“With The Trade Hotel, our focus is to add to the fabric of downtown Milwaukee, all while celebrating the rich history of tradespeople who built this city,” said Andy Inman, Chief Development Officer of NCG Hospitality. “We celebrate how things are made — including food and craft beverage options.”

Whether it’s before a Bucks game or concert at Fiserv Forum, or during a five-course dining experience, patrons can enjoy a robust, Italian-focused craft cocktail and wine selection, in addition to a draft list that will highlight the rich brewing tradition of Milwaukee.

“Our trade is cooking, and every dish we serve at Il Cervo will be made with skill and care,” said Caitlin Suemnicht, CEO of Food Fight Restaurant Group. “Branching out to Milwaukee was an easy decision for us with NCG Hospitality as our partner. Both of our companies share a passion for hospitality, and for providing exceptional experiences to our guests, employees and the greater community.”

The restaurant, operated by Madison-based Food Fight Restaurant Group, will open on the ninth floor of The Trade Hotel in Spring 2023. Hotel guests, sports and entertainment fans from Fiserv Forum, and Milwaukee residents alike, will be welcome to enjoy the food and beverage options the restaurant offers while taking in the elevated views of Deer District and the Milwaukee skyline. Il Cervo will feature an open kitchen with a vibrant bar, dining room, lounge, outdoor terrace and a private indoor/outdoor patio all designed to offer guests a modern upscale experience with touches of old-world Italy.

“We join NCG Hospitality and Food Fight Restaurant Group in shared excitement of this announcement. “