"Open for: DinnerPrice range: $$$$All it took was dinner at Odd Duck. That’s the moment chef Gregory Leon credits as inspiration to leave his San Francisco kitchen post and make Milwaukee home. Since opening Amilinda, Leon has earned multiple James Beard nominations for Best Chef Midwest, and this year he can remove the geographic qualifier, ascending to a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef. In his buzzy downtown den, he offers deep Spanish and Portuguese flavors in a short, ever-changing menu that’s saucy and risky, but still homey. A pork belly salad comes with green radish and honey, braised beef tongue is topped with nora chiles and pepitas, and the spicy piri piri chicken gets ‘Sconnie-ified with “Wischego” cheese. Amilinda might be the only spot in town for salmorejo, an Andalusian puree of tomato and bread, and one of the few to take dessert as seriously as dinner (think chocolate and olive oil mousse). Best for: A big night out downtown, with a pre-dinner drink across the street at Blu, on the top floor of the Pfister Hotel." - Todd Lazarski
