James Beard-Recognized Dining

Allow us, if you will, a few moments of culinary persuasion. Because we have a sense of how you might think of Milwaukee’s dining scene, and it probably has something to do with cheese, brats and beer. Sure, we do enjoy a tasty wedge, a grilled link and a frosty mug from time to time. But trust us - we’ve got a lot more on our plates here. And frankly, you should, too.

Milwaukee's dining scene has quietly become one of the Midwest's most exciting, earning recognition from the James Beard Foundation and drawing national attention from publications like Condé Nast Traveler, Midwest Living, AFAR and more. Our chefs are innovating, honoring traditions while pushing boundaries, and creating experiences that rival any major food city in America.

The James Beard Award winners and nominees you'll find here represent the depth and diversity of Milwaukee's culinary talent. From inventive fine dining to neighborhood gems that have perfected their craft over decades, these restaurants prove that Milwaukee has earned its place at the table.

So come hungry, stay curious and prepare to discover why those in the know have Milwaukee's dining scene on speed dial.

2026 James Beard Nominees

Opening in 2024, 1033 Omakase earned a nomination for Best New Restaurant, marking a milestone as Milwaukee's first omakase restaurant, a chef-curated multi-course experience showcasing sushi and Japanese cuisine.

Three Milwaukee chefs received nominations for Best Chef: Midwest. Zak Baker of Ca'Lucchenzo, whose career spans from Ristorante Bartolotta in 1993 to Pizza Man, operates this cozy East Tosa spot with his wife and business partner, Sarah. Lisa Kirkpatrick and Paul Zerkel, the longtime partners behind Goodkind in Bay View, co-own the restaurant with cocktail maven Katie Rose. And Vanessa Rose, who grew Mother's from a pop-up into a Bay View brick-and-mortar in June 2024, earned herself an Emerging Chef nomination.

And craft cocktail lovers are drawn to Outstanding Bar nominee The Mothership, a popular Bay View watering hole, redefines "take me to your leader" as an authentic corner bar that slings serious cocktails.

Milwaukee's James Beard Legacy

Dane Baldwin, chef and co-owner of The Diplomat on Brady Street, was named Best Chef Midwest in 2022. His seasonally changing menu offers an approachable mix of small and full-size plates. Don't miss the trout when it's available, and always save room for the peanut butter pie.

Solly's Grille perfected the Wisconsin butter burger since 1936 and was named an America's Classics winner in 2022 for its indulgent masterpiece: a ground sirloin patty topped with stewed onions and a generous dollop of Wisconsin butter.

Kyle Knall of Birch was a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in both 2022 and 2024. Odd Duck earned semifinalist recognition for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022, with chefs Samuel Ek and Ross Bachhuber advancing as Best Chef Midwest semifinalists in 2024. Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite of EsterEv and Gregory León of Amilinda were semifinalists for Best Chef Midwest in 2022, with Jacobs and Van Rite advancing as finalists for the award in 2024.

Baldwin is the fourth Milwaukee chef to earn the Midwest's top honor. Justin Aprahamian won in 2014 as chef and owner of Sanford. He purchased Sanford in 2012 from Sandy D'Amato, who opened it in 1989 and won Best Chef: Midwest in 1996. The seasonal modern ethnic menu remains committed to locally sourced artisan ingredients.

Adam Siegel earned Best Chef Midwest in 2008 and opened Lupi & Iris, a 2023 semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. The downtown fine-dining destination features seafood and pasta inspired by the French and Italian Riviera, with ingredients sourced locally, from the coasts and from Europe.

When Siegel received his award, he was the executive chef at Lake Park Bistro, still one of Milwaukee's premier fine-dining spots. Beyond outstanding French cuisine, it offers one of the city's best views from atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Harbor House, another spectacular lakefront option specializing in seafood, shares the shoreline with the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World. Both are Bartolotta restaurants, and owner Paul Bartolotta was a finalist for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2020 after years of Beard recognition.

Black Shoe Hospitality, led by Joe Muench, Dan Sidner, Amy Kerstein and Jason Kerstein, was a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2022 and 2023. Their portfolio includes Blue's Egg, Story Hill BKC and Maxie's.

David Swanson, chef and owner of Braise in Walker's Point, was a Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist from 2013 to 2016. The restaurant sources ingredients from over 40 Wisconsin farms for its rotating seasonal menu.

Three Brothers, tucked into a quiet Bay View neighborhood near Lake Michigan since 1956, earned a James Beard America's Classics award in 2002 for its dedication to traditional Serbian cuisine. One bite of their famed burek explains why.

Raise a Glass

Beer may always be foundational to Milwaukee's bar scene, but we also know a thing about spirits, and the Beard Foundation knows we know. Goodkind was a semifinalist for the Outstanding Bar Program award in 2022. Co-owner Katie Rose is the driving force behind Goodkind’s expertise at pairing the perfect cocktail with chef and co-owner Paul Zerkel’s seasonal Americana cuisine.

Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge opened its doors way back in 1938 and has gained a national reputation for its classic combination of atmosphere and mixology. Among its many honors through the years was Beard semifinalist recognition for Outstanding Bar Program in 2013 and 2019.

And Agency, nestled inside the Dubble Dutch Hotel, earned a semifinalist James Beard nod for Best New Bar in 2025. Owner Ryan Castelaz crafts innovative, boundary-pushing cocktails as one of the nation's first fully hybrid cocktail bars. The lounge-style bar is an intimate space that beautifully blends historic charm with contemporary mixology techniques.