Things in downtown Milwaukee are about to heat up. Literally.

Edgar's Calypso recently opened at 628 N. Water Street last week with a soft opening. The restaurant is the dream of Michael Dillon who also owns local graphic design company, McDill Design, which is located upstairs from the new restaurant. Edgar's Calypso is in the same space where Swank used to be right next door to Steamer's.

Dillon's love affair with the caribean began when he was 24 and went to Jamaica. "I've gone back to Jamaica every year for the last 30 years."

I stopped by this past weekend to check things out and see what we might be able to expect from this little gem on Water. Immediately upon arrival into Edgar's Calypso I felt transported to a lively tropical island - far away from the very cold Milwaukee night that was surrounding me. Dillon hand painted the colorful scenes throughout the restaurant to reflect his love for his favorite island, Gaudalupe.

Though the menu was limited I was very pleased with my selections. (A bigger menu will be unveiled down the line.) We started out with the tostones which were incredibly delicious. The dipping sauce really made this appetizer worth it. I don't tend to like sauces that much but this one was zesty and scrumptious. I almost licked the bowl clean.

I also tried the Red Pepper soup which was the perfect antidote to the frigid, brisk wind whipping around the streets outside. The flavors in the soup were rich and "punchy". The soup could have been served a bit warmer but ultimately did the trick.

For my main dish I had the Atlantic Salmon with sweet potato fries. My fish was incredibly moist and flavorful. The filet was quite large as well and I had a very hard time eating it all. The sweet potato fries were heavenly. The sweet flavor combined with the crunchyness of the fry danced playfully on my pallet. Only after I ordered the fries did I realize it was an odd pairing with my fish dish but I was quite glad that I did.

My partner ordered the cheese quesadillas. The limited menu is actually a challenge for vegetarians, something I hope Dillon will correct with the expanded menu. The quesadillas were quite tasty and the jalapenos inside them made them a nice spicy pick-me-up.

Not wanting to deprive ourselves, we decided to also order the Chocolate Bread Pudding. This dessert was fantastic. The rich chocolate flavor paired with the carmelized bananas were what every sweet tooth dreams of. Every bite I made sure to get a little bit of the pudding and banana. Delish!

Edgar's Calypso might have only did a soft opening last week but with the current menu, friendly staff, and inviting environment it will only be a matter time before it becomes a new favorite for many Milwaukeans.

Edgar's Calypso is open for lunch starting at 11am. Dinner ends at 10pm Monday - Thursday and 11pm on Friday & Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.

CONSUME is our new restaurant feature here at DyerTimes. We will continue to highlight Milwaukee resturants as they open and may even throw in a few that have been around for ages. If you have a restaurant that you'd like to see us review send us a note at info AT dyertimes DOT com.