32 Wisconsin Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

ACROSS WISCONSIN — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in Wisconsin. Despite the hardships, several were able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in Wisconsin. This year, 32 restaurants in our city earned a nod from Wine Spectator.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners,

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.

No restaurants in Wisconsin won the Grand Award, but plenty were recognized. Check out all of the restaurants in our State that earned nods for excellence this year:

• Bacchus, A Bartolotta Restaurant, Milwaukee.
• Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee.
• Immigrant Restaurant, Kohler.
• Lake Street Café, Elkhart Lake.
• Story Hill BKC, Milwaukee.
• Canoe Bay, Chetek.
• Eddie Martini's, Wauwatosa.
• Geneva Chophouse, Lake Geneva.
• Harbor House, Milwaukee.
• Hunt Club Steakhouse, Lake Geneva.
• I.d., Delafield.
• Jake's Genuine Food & Cocktails, Pewaukee.
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, Eau Claire.
• Lago Su Bella, Oconomowoc.
• Mason Street Grill, Milwaukee.
• Mr. B's - A Bartolotta Steakhouse, multiple locations.
• Muse at Sentry, Stevens Point.
• Palmer's Steakhouse, Hartland.
• Rare Steakhouse, Madison.
• Red Circle Inn and Bistro, Nashotah.
• Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, Wauwatosa.
• Sanford, Milwaukee.
• TJ's Highland Steakhouse, Oshkosh.
• The Bottle Room, Green Bay.
• The Capital Grill, Milwaukee.
• The Grandview Restaurant, Lake Geneva.
• The Walnut Room, Green Bay.
• The Wisconsin Room, Kohler.
• Velvet Buffalo Modern Italian, Beloit.
• Vino!Vino! Wine Bar, Bailey's Harbor.
• Ward's House of Prime, Milwaukee.

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.