Sanford Restaurant

Sanford Restaurant After 36 years, Sanford continues to welcome our guests with open arms and delicious food. Jackson St.
(741)

Sandy D’Amato grew up in Milwaukee, where his father and grandfather operated a grocery store for nearly 80 years. He attended the Culinary Institute of America where he studied under Chef Peter Von Erp. Shortly thereafter he became the first American cook at Le Veau d’Or and worked under Chef Roland Chenus through the groundbreaking opening of Le Chantilly. D’Amato returned to Milwaukee and made

his mark as the chef at John Byron’s restaurant in the First Wisconsin Center. In 1989, D’Amato and his wife, Angie, opened Sanford Restaurant in the building that formerly housed the family grocery store at 1547 N. The restaurant quickly became regarded as one of the best in the Midwest, earning accolades from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Esquire, Wine Spectator, Zagat Guide, AAA and Best Chef: Midwest from the James Beard Foundation. D’Amato has cooked for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, was one of 12 chefs chosen by Julia Child herself to cook for her 80th birthday celebration and was chosen to cook for the Dalai Lama in 2007. In December of 2012 Sandy and Angie sold Sanford to their longtime Chef De Cuisine Justin Aprahamian. He and wife Sarah, who is also a long time employee of Sanford, continue to run the restaurant with the friends they have been working side by side with for years. They embrace the traditions that have been laid before them and are excited to continue to grow and evolve in the coming years.

This one’s a throw back to 1991 when we had a very special guest join us for dinner. Julia Child joined us in 1991 when ...
09/02/2026

This one’s a throw back to 1991 when we had a very special guest join us for dinner.

Julia Child joined us in 1991 when the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Institute of Food & Wine hosted a “Weekend with Julia Child” featuring cooking demonstrations and classes with the icon herself.

After she’d go on to select our namesake, who many of you know and love, Sandy [Sanford] D’Amato as one of 12 chefs to come and cook for her 80th birthday dinner.

Some of you may recognize another special face in this photo.

If you guessed Ralph, you’d be correct!
If you’ve dined at Sanford at any point since we opened our doors, you have likely either come across or had the pleasure of being served by Ralph.

While he’s cut back largely on how much he works, Ralph still graces us with his presence once a week, give or take. We are so lucky to have him.

We launched our newest Exploration Menu this week! Inspired by, and created in loving memory of Sarah’s Aunt Judy. Join ...
08/27/2026

We launched our newest Exploration Menu this week!

Inspired by, and created in loving memory of Sarah’s Aunt Judy.

Join us for this extra special treat Tuesdays-Thursdays now through September 17th.

Call for reservations
414.276.9608

There are a handful of spots left for our Portugal Wine Dinner next month on September 9th. Call to reserve your spot no...
08/19/2026

There are a handful of spots left for our Portugal Wine Dinner next month on September 9th.

Call to reserve your spot now!
414.276.9608

Join us on Tuesdays-Thursdays now through August 21st for our Wisconsin State Fair inspired Exploration menu.Call to res...
08/12/2026

Join us on Tuesdays-Thursdays now through August 21st for our Wisconsin State Fair inspired Exploration menu.

Call to reserve

414.276.9608

Our next wine dinner just went live, and we can’t wait to host you. $185 per person, all inclusive. Your reservation inc...
08/11/2026

Our next wine dinner just went live, and we can’t wait to host you.

$185 per person, all inclusive.
Your reservation includes the reception, five-course dinner with wine pairings, valet parking, tax, and gratuity. We’ll take care of the rest — just come ready to enjoy the evening!

First time at one of our wine dinners? Here’s what you need to know:

Doors open at 6:00pm
Arrive early and enjoy a glass of wine and a snack and mingle with your fellow wine lovers before finding your seat.

Seating is communal! So whether you’re coming solo or with a friend, we’re all friends for the evening (and maybe beyond!)

Dinner starts at 6:30

Chef Justin will talk briefly about each course, the inspiration he pulled from or how it’s made, or sometimes why this dish vs something else. Then Les will talk us through the wine pairing, a little bit about where it’s from, or why he thought it paired nicely.

Call for reservations Tuesdays-Saturdays after 1:00pm
Payment will be taken at the time of booking, however,
your card will not be charged until Tuesday, September 8th

And in case you missed it, here’s a little blurb from Sarah and Justin that went out with our email about it:

This year, we’ve had the opportunity to explore wines from some of the world’s most compelling yet often overlooked regions. We’ve loved sharing these discoveries with you and creating menus inspired by the wines, the places they come from, and the traditions behind them. We’re excited to continue that journey with an evening celebrating the wines and flavors of Portugal.

Join us for a menu inspired by the regional cooking traditions of Portugal, paired with wines from across the country. Throughout the evening, Les Huisman will guide you through each pour, sharing the stories and character behind the wine.

Seating is communal, so expect great food, great wine, and great conversation around the table all evening long.

We look forward to raising a glass with you!

Sarah and Justin

Seared duck breast in a bright Thai green curry, alongside shrimp dumplings, grilled bok choy, and fresh market tomatoes...
08/02/2026

Seared duck breast in a bright Thai green curry, alongside shrimp dumplings, grilled bok choy, and fresh market tomatoes

Grilled caraflex cabbage in a creamy Mysost sauce, with spruce tip oil, pickled red currants, ale bloomed mustard seeds, finished with finely shaved venison heart pastrami and fresh herbs

Chilled Sweet Pea and Asparagus Soup, Sugar Snap Peas, Herb Cream
07/31/2026

Chilled Sweet Pea and Asparagus Soup, Sugar Snap Peas, Herb Cream

“Is Schneider photobombing?” “Do you want me to?”Justin got the last couple of days off to celebrate his birthday with h...
07/25/2026

“Is Schneider photobombing?” “Do you want me to?”

Justin got the last couple of days off to celebrate his birthday with his family, so we celebrated today at staff meal with wings, pie, and all sorts of snacks.

Happy Birthday Chef!

Summer means fresh fruit tarts become the star of our dessert menu. Blueberry tart with Michigan blueberries thanks to T...
07/23/2026

Summer means fresh fruit tarts become the star of our dessert menu.

Blueberry tart with Michigan blueberries thanks to Tree-Ripe Fruit Co.

Grilled Georgia Peaches, Whipped Tofu and Braised Seaweed, Peach Sake Gastrique
07/16/2026

Grilled Georgia Peaches, Whipped Tofu and Braised Seaweed, Peach Sake Gastrique

Address

1547 N Jackson Street
Milwaukee, WI
53202

Opening Hours

Tuesday 5:30pm - 9pm
Wednesday 5:30pm - 9pm
Thursday 5:30pm - 9pm
Friday 5:30pm - 10pm
Saturday 5pm - 10pm

Telephone

+14142789608

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