"Open for: Lunch, dinnerPrice range: $$When it opened in 2013, Bavette seemed unique, European, and pricey — the kind of place you’d find in Chicago, not Milwaukee. Following Karen Bell’s many James Beard nominations and semifinalist nods, this whole-hog butcher shop and subtly sophisticated restaurant has come to feel more like an old friend. The lunch and dinner destination is fit for all levels of craving, with crudos and carpaccios, porchetta and pierogies, sardines and sourdough, a corned beef tongue Reuben, and enough cheese and charcuterie to make a meal out of snacks. In an expanded Third Ward home, Bavette’s growth feels indicative of the maturation of the city itself. Must-try dish: Bavette’s is the best muffuletta in town, though you could say something similar about most of the sandwiches." - Todd Lazarski
