It’s as important as ever to support the amazing collection of local restaurants that we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. To guide you on your journey, I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2024. View the full list OR download an abbreviated printable PDF file for your fridge or wallet.
I.d.
415 Genesee St., Delafield, (262) 249-6473
Iddelafield.com
Small plates
$$$
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If you’re looking for a beautiful place to dine, look no further than I.d. in Delafield where the aesthetic in the dining room is just as gorgeous as the chef-inspired shareable plates, pastas and flatbreads that come out of the open kitchen. But don't take it from me; I.d. was recently noted as one of the Top 50 most beautiful restaurants in America.
The menu is a team effort at I.d., so it showcases a wide range of styles; but you can be assured of finding bold flavors, global influences and fresh, local ingredients at every turn. And – for a few more weeks – you can enjoy them on the gorgeous I.d. patio.
The current menu features gems like Caprese Salad with Farm Happy grape tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, 12-year aged balsamic vinegar, pine nut basil pesto and fried garlic scapes; Tempura Foraged Mushrooms with honey walnut sauce, toasted walnuts, sweet chili vinaigrette and black sesame; and a shareable Indian-inspired taco plate with marinated blackened shrimp, fresh coconut and mango slaw, makrut lime vinaigrette and peanuts.
Don't miss the Elote Flatbread with saffron corn sauce, charred corn, chipotle mayo, pickled red onions and cotija cheese; or the Pork Belly Bao with strawberry char siu, yuzu lime aioli, pickled kohlrabi and togarashi.
Regardless of the season, you’ll find accessible fare that also turns things up a notch. Don’t sleep on their stunning composed desserts, which will stretch your palate with their wild-yet-scrumptious flavor profiles.
Recommended: House pastas; fish dishes; pork belly; desserts
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
