Our Story
About
ABOUT CHEF GREGORY LEÓN
Amilinda is owned and operated by Chef Gregory León, who you can find in the kitchen cooking every night. Chef León is a three-time James Beard Award nominee, honored as a finalist for Best Chef Midwest in 2022 and 2023, and as a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in 2024.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chef León moved to his father’s native Venezuela at age 5. In 1989, the family returned to the United States, and Chef León began his culinary career shortly after.
Chef León moved to San Francisco where he spent 18 years cooking and consulting at restaurants including Poesia, Mirtille and Horatius, along with a few stints in Madrid, Spain.
Dec 2013
FIRST POP-UP
Amilinda hosts and sells out their first pop-up dinner in December 2013. The pop-ups continue throughout Milwaukee through June 2014.
May 2014
POP-UP HOME
Nell Benton, then owner of The National Cafe, rents her space to Amilinda every Saturday, creating a semi-permanent home for the pop-up.
Jan 2015
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
Amilinda finds a permanent home at 315 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Aug 2015
AMILINDA OPENS
DESIGN
Designed and built by Orry Leon, a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Art, Amilinda’s interior draws inspiration from Spain and Portugal, from the Gaudi style wall murals and exposed brick to the Portuguese roosters scattered throughout.
