About
The Restaurant
One of Milwaukee's favorite new restaurants, Birch welcomes guests to enjoy its contemporary farm to table American cuisine, warm hospitality, and unparalleled service in The East End of Milwaukee. Chef Kyle Knall's ever-evolving seasonal menu showcases the restaurant's relationships with local farms and purveyors.
The restaurant opened in 2021 by restaurateurs Kyle & Meghan Knall in The East End development just east of the city. Chef Kyle was nominated by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 for "Outstanding Chef" in the United States.
Chef Kyle Knall
Executive Chef and Owner
Kyle Knall has always had a passion for food, one rooted in the traditions of the American South. After studying at Culinard in his hometown of Birmingham, Knall went to work for the influential, multi-time James Beard Foundation winning chef, Frank Stitt. After four years under Stitt, Knall moved to New York City in 2008, immediately securing a line cook position at the Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern. Working closely with chef Michael Anthony, another decorated James Beard honoree, Knall was promoted to sous chef for his final two years at Gramercy.
In 2012, Knall was approached to serve as executive chef and partner of Maysville, a position he accepted at Anthony’s encouragement. Here, he tapped into his Alabama roots to present imaginative Southern cuisine, executed with high-quality produce sourced from greater New York. Maysville received a two-star review from The New York Times, which praised Knall’s “understated American style ... a winning blend of the refined and the unpretentious.” The accolades continued as Knall and his partners opened Kenton’s in New Orleans in 2015. New Orleans magazine named it the “Best New Restaurant” of 2016.
In 2018, Kyle took the position of executive chef of STARR Restaurant’s Electric Lemon, located in Hudson Yards’ Equinox Hotel, Knall presents light, balanced and bright cooking, keeping flavor at the forefront as he celebrates the bounty of the Mid-Atlantic.
In 2022, Kyle was nominated for Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation. Today, he is the Executive Chef and Partner of Birch Restaurant and is the Culinary Director at Stone Bank Farm.
Jeff Cleveland
General Manager and Sommelier
Jeff Cleveland is the General Manager and Sommelier of Birch in Milwaukee. The Flint, Michigan native has spent over 20 years working in the hospitality industry. Before relocating to Wisconsin in 2020, Jeff worked as a Bar Manager at James Beard Foundation award-winning Workshop Kitchen + Bar and as a lead bartender for the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel.
Upon returning to the Midwest, Jeff held management roles with both Hotel Metro Autograph Collection and Movida at Hotel Madrid. In 2022, he joined the team at Birch where he focuses on upholding the restaurant’s commitment to a team-first culture and further developing the restaurant’s thoughtful wine and beverage programs. The same year, the restaurant landed a coveted spot on The New York Times’ list of the best restaurants in America, “The Restaurant List.”
Jeff holds a Level 1 Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and has completed the Pernod Ricard USA’s BarSmarts program. When he is not behind the bar or on the floor, Jeff likes to travel with his wife Kat. The two travel annually to France, making it a point to meaningfully visit different wine regions on each trip. To date, they have visited Champagne, Cognac, Bandol and, his personal favorite, Cassis.