Tauro Cocina / Leo Lounge
1758 N. Water St., (414) 488-2941
taurococina.com
Latin and Italian fusion, pizza
$$
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Flavors collide (in a good way) at this family-owned East Side spot which fuses Italian staples (like pasta and pizza) with Mexican flavors. You’ll find pastas dressed with poblano pesto and mezcal chipotle cream sauce; pizzas topped with beautifully cooked mid-rare hanger steak, tomatillo salsa and Oaxacan cheese; and even some nostalgic 90s era flavor combinations like figs, goat cheese and balsamic glaze.
Don’t rule out their well-designed brunch, which incorporates Mexican staples like slow braised beef birria alongside American classics like French toast. If the weather is cooperative, don't miss the opportunity to take a seat on their quaint courtyard patio, complete with its burbling fountain.
Recommended: Burrata frito; mussels with chipotle butter and white wine; asada pizza
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.
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