Amilinda recently reset its opening from July to early August. While chef/co-owner Gregory Léon is undoubtedly a little distracted by the work that needs to be done to the building (315 E. Wisconsin Ave.) before the debut, he says of all things, he’s “least worried about the food.” That’s partly because Léon – an Oklahoma native with close to 20 years of experience at restaurants in the San Francisco area – along with his partner in business and life, Orry, hosted regular pop-up dinners at The National (839 W. National Ave.), among other places, before announcing Amilinda’s permanent home in January.
If you were lucky enough to attend a pop-up dinner, you might have eaten Galician tuna empanadas with tomato marmalade; Alentejana-style pork chop with manila clams, roasted fingerling potatoes, and red pepper broth; or chicken Naufragado with mashed plantains, spicy coconut sauce and herb salad. Gregory and Orry found their venue serendipitously. Gregory says the building, with a sign advertising the space’s availibility, was the first thing he and Orry saw after a bus ride from their home to Downtown. As they peered inside the window of the space, Gregory noticed something he liked quite a bit: a kitchen hood. He was sold.
As for Amilinda’s menu, the chef is all for constant change, emphasizing the seasons and keeping the cooks engaged and excited. The bar menu focuses on Spanish and Portuguese wines, local beers, and traditional cocktails like Manhattans, gimlets and so on. Dinner hours-to-be: Tues-Thurs 5-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5-11 p.m. Lunch service will follow at an undetermined time. Amilinda is accepting reservations beginning August 4.
