Wisconsin

The Ranch Supper Club (update), Hayward, WI., 8/29/25

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exterior – 10590 N Ranch Road, Hayward, WI., 54843

The Ranch Supper Club serves the prime rib dinner on Saturday and fish fry on Friday.  The prime rib dinners are on this site from 2023 and 2022 – and you can see those by clicking on the dates for more history and photos.  This trip we wanted to try their “signature steaks’ and they come with the same supper club set up of relish tray, salad, bread and choice of potato.  The bar is a gorgeous one topped with colored inlaid stones. There are two dining rooms and the one behind the bar is my preference with vintage cooking, sporting and farming equipment hanging on the walls and a fireplace topped with an old sewing machine.  The menu has plenty to chose from and lists the numbers of drinks served in one year.  I’m including photos of it as the prices have increased since last year.  The service is friendly and efficient and the food isn’t novel but it will definitely satisfy and they have ice cream drinks for dessert.  I know I’ll be back and hope to see you there. Continue reading →

Manypenny Bistro, Bayfield, WI., 8/29/25

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building – 201 Manypenny Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

Manypenny Bistro is a family run place that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with offering take out options.  It touts itself as serving classics as well as inventive combinations, and indeed it does.   Lots of pizza options and burgers for later in the day but we were there for breakfast.  In addition to the good sized menu they had daily specials.  One room is filled with tables and streaming with sunlight from all the windows in a corner building.  The second room has the bar and high-topped tables for dining.   The menu sounds inviting and I hope to get back to try some of their dinner options, like whitefish livers which are rare to find and exquisite when done well.  At breakfast they also offered special of raspberry fritter French toast which also sounds fun to try.  The service was attentive and efficient and the portions were large and good.  We were not ordering adventuous options so I look forward to getting back and trying more things.  Let me know if you get there first and what you try. Continue reading →

St. James Social, Bayfield, WI., 8/28/25

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building – 200 Rittenhouse Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

St. James Social is a hotel and restaurant combination that offers a new and modern take on things in the restored original 1883 St. James hotel.  Annalisa and Cody Bermel bought the building in May 2022 and they manage, bartend and do whatever is needed along with their 2 daughters.  .  The first floor is a large space with a lounge area, curved bar counter with seats and tables for dining.   The two story room is filled with wood, brass, chandeliers and mirrors along with artwork to give it an urban yet comfortable feeling.  Upstairs they have a 8 rooms and on the roof is a small lounge area for hotel guests.  The kitchen uses local ingredients when available, which for this short growing season are amazingly abundant.   One of their specialties is pizza and Tuesday they dedicate the menu to their artisan Neapolitan style pizzas.  They have a sourdough crust with more on that later. Thursday through Saturday they offer the Chef’s menu with more plated options and a fewer number of pizza varieties.   Sunday is brunch only.  The service is great and the vibe is too.  We really enjoyed our evening there with some long time friends.  I would highly recommend a meal and maybe a stay here when you visit the lovely town of Bayfield. Continue reading →

Shell Lake Lunchbox, Shell Lake, WI., 5/24/25

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building – 36 W. 5th Ave., Shell Lake, WI., 54871

Shell Lake Lunchbox was a small family-run restaurant serving breakfast and lunch daily adding dinner on Friday, in the heart of the tiny town of Shell Lake.  It’s a casual place with a combination of tables, booths and counter seats inside as well as a few outdoor tables for dining.  Music was in the background and as the name would indicate, lunchboxes filled the walls as decorations.  The menu offered a variety of choices, supplemented by daily specials.  Appropriately for Wisc, they also offer drinks, beer or wine to accompany your meal.  Food was fine, quick and reasonable and service was friendly and efficient.  I’d call our meal “nothing to write home about”, but perfectly acceptable even though it’s pretty bland. Continue reading →

The New Frontier, Turtle Lake, WI., 1/5/25

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sign outside – 440 US-8, Turtle Lake, WI 54889

The New Frontier  is a casual dining spot in a free-standing building on the highway.  They serve breakfast and lunch and in addition to their large menu have posted specials on a whiteboard, including lots of pies and cakes.  The simple interior is mostly Coke-related items with Formica tables and red chairs on a black and white floor.  The dining areas are 2 rooms on either side of the kitchen and service area.  Service was efficient and friendly and delivered by a well run staff.  The place was clean and well lit with generous and reasonable portions of food.  I will probably go back and try more things in the future and hope you will too and let me know what you tried.  I couldn’t find much history about the place but it is a winner. Continue reading →

Kennedy’s Cafe, Somerset, WI., 10/5/24

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exterior – 260 Main Street, Somerset, WI., 54025

Kennedy’s Cafe was a small town cafe on the main street of Somerset.  Mike Kappers and his family bought it from the Parnell family in 2018 and renamed it for his then second-grade daughter.  The small building has been a cafe for years.  The first floor had a few stool seats at a counter, a few booths (with red-topped tables) and a couple of center wood-topped tables.  There was additional seating upstairs but I didn’t visit, nor did I visit the basement where the men’s bathroom was – the ladies was on the ground floor.  No music was in the background but the place was packed so conversation filled the air.  It had lots of lights as well as windows to the street and the walls were covered with some photos and tons of funny-saying signs.  Service was super friendly but a bit slow (probably due to the crowd).  A cozy little place that serves only breakfast and lunch.  It was fun to visit but the food was mostly bland. Continue reading →

KD’s Bear Den, Drummond, WI., 8/2/24

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building – 52450 Wisconsin Ave, Drummond, WI 54832

KD’s Bear Den was in the heart of downtown Drummond in a building that has housed numerous other places over the years.  They are open Wed. through Sat with the kitchen closing before the bar some days and accept only cash.  It was a medium sized interior with seats at the bar for food and/or drinks as well as seating on the patio.    Carpet was on the floor, artificial flowers hung from the ceiling, there was a good sized parking lot outside, the TVs were on but muted, no music was in the background,  the walls were covered with signs and decorations and they had air conditioning.  Service was friendly and very effecient and the drinks were on the weak side.  Wednesday was the chicken dinner special and Friday was fish fry but hamburgers and pizza were also available.  We were there for fish fry and it was an early crowd and there was a short wait for a table.  The owner Katie seems to double as cook and came out to visit with some of the folks.  It was a good enough I might go back and try the chicken dinner. Continue reading →

Not Justa Cafe, New Richmond, WI., 7/27/24

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building – 50 N. Knowles Ave. New Richmond, WI., 54017

Not Justa Cafe has 4 locations with a variety of owners, two of which also include Not Justa Bar and/or catering service.  According to our server they all vary slightly on the menus and ambiance.  The New Richmond location serves breakfast and lunch everyday with a small counter area and it does offer drinks.    It was a large place spread over several rooms and offered daily specials as well as being open to customizing your order.  Country music was in the background and they had a variety of tables, counter stools and booths for seating.  At the entry where you wait to be seated was a round glass case of dessert options and items for sale.  In the seating areas kitschy signs decorated the walls and carpet was on the floor.  There were uncovered window to the outside and plenty of parking our front.  Service was terrific, friendly and efficient and the food was mostly good. Continue reading →

Denny’s Diner, Wisconsin Dells, 7/21/24

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exterior – 2 W Munroe Ave, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Denny’s Diner has been owned by the Van Schoyck family since 1980.  Named for Molly Van Schoyck’s husband Denny, it serves breakfast and lunch every day 6:30 am to 2:00 pm.  Filled with toys and collectables they are noteworthy for their daily baked cinnamon rolls.  Most importantly they are not in anyway affiliated with the national Denny’s chain restaurant.  Seating is in a number of booths next to the windows to the street and tables that can be re-arranged to accomodate groups of many sizes.  There is also seating at the counter.  After you’ve looked over the large menu you can entertain yourself with the 50s-60s music in the background as well as watching a toy train go round overhead or visit Superman in the old phone booth.  It’s a visual feast of items.  My advice is go for a drink and cinnamon roll of any variation and skip the rest of the food.  Please note that it is cash or check only. Continue reading →

Del-Bar, Wisconsin Dells, 7/20/24

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exterior – 800 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

The Del-Bar has been in business since 1943 when Jim and Alice Wimmer took the plunge and bought an existing roadside restaurant known for its char-broiled steaks.  The restaurant had its 75th anniversary in 2018 when the third generation (two grand-daughters) of the Wimmers took control.  This large place is about tradition and the supper club experience with several bars where you can enjoy a cocktail before dinner in the many dining rooms.  It’s a more elegant scene with table clothes and tasteful decorations.  The building was Prairie-style architecture and was actually designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, James Dresser.  Carpet was on the floor and no music in the background which made conversation easy.  There was a combination of booth and table seating in the dining room as well as patio if you wanted outdoor dining.  I really liked the look of the place and the service was professional and friendly but the food was mixed. Continue reading →

Courtyard Cafe, Wisconsin Dells, 7/20/24

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street entrance – 434 Broadway Ave, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

The Courtyard Cafe has had the current owners for 3 months.   The Lohr’s bring with them 30 years of  local restaurant experience and you’ll find their parents, kids and sibling all there helping. They serve breakfast and lunch in a large high ceiling room next to the Wizard Quest courtyard.  At one entrance they also have an ice cream counter and advertise specialty coffee drinks.  Beer and wine are available as were a few cocktails.  We sat at the counter but there were numerous tables of many sizes in the dining room.  We were there in a transition time so both the breakfast and lunch menus were in play.  Currently you cannot get served in the patio but you can pick up to go and eat there.  It was refreshing to see a less cluttered interior and anticipate straightforward food.  I would recommend this place, especially the onion strings or anything with the jalapeno popper spread.

Set-Up

courtyard entrance
interior
interior
interior
Frankie pointed out their hours
specials menu
menu
breakfast menu
breakfast menu
lunch menu
lunch menu

 

Food

I had to start with an order of the Mini Donuts that are billed to be “just like at the fair.”   They came out with the cinnamon sugar on them and it was a generous serving.  They were not hot but still plenty soft and tasty.

mini donuts

 

As an appetizer we shared an order of the Haystack Onion Rings which are served wtih housemade ranch dressing on the side.  They were hot and crisp with well cooked onions inside.  The coating adhered nicely to the onion.  They were delicious with or without the dressing.

onion strings

 

The Ultimate Turkey Club contained turkey, bacon, lettuce, cheddar and mayo on white toast.  Some of the toast pieces were overly toasted and the bacon could have been crisper.  Removing the middle piece of bread helped but it’s still a mildly flavored sandwich.  Pickle slices were a mild dill.

Ultimate Turkey Club

 

The Grilled Ham and Cheese was made with cheddar and smoky salty ham.  I made it ‘Gregg’ style by adding their famous jalapeno popper spread for $2.  This was a key to making this one sing.  The server suggested it was his favorite way to eat it and it did add a good amount of spice as well as creaminess to the interior.  It was a generous mound of thin sliced ham and well melted cheese on perfectly toasted bread.  It was very good.

Grilled Ham and Cheese
side view

Ishnala Supper Club, Lake Delton, WI., 7/19/21

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above entry – S2011 Ishnala Rd, Lake Delton, WI 53940

Ishnala Supper Club is named for a Winnebago Indian word meaning “by itself alone.”  It overlooks Mirror Lake in the middle of Mirror Lake State Park.  Settlers bought the lands from the tribe in 1826 and constructed a log cabin trading post.  The Coleman family bought it in 1909 and made it into their dream home but it changed hands in 1953 when the Hoffman Brothers bought it and created the Ishnala Supper Club, as it is today.  Robert Prosser, who started work there as a busboy in 1973,  bought it in 1993 .  When we went he was at the door greeting guests.  It’s a huge place with an extended driveway to the grounds and parking lots, but if they fill there is parking where you turn in and a shuttle to get you to the restaurant and its 4 bars.  You check in and will be given an estimate on how long your wait is as they take no reservations.  The bars open at 3:30 and the restaurant at 4:00 but the line starts forming by 3:00.  We got there at 3:00 and were happy that they started letting people in about 10 minutes early.  When we left, the reception person said the wait was 2.5 hours.  It’s a machine.  There were chairs everywhere on porches and in the various bars located on many levels. Continue reading →

Tavern at White Stag Farm, Hayward, WI., 6/26/24

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exterior – 12695 WI-77, Hayward, WI 54843

The Tavern at White Stag Farm bills itself as “serving delicious food, prepared from scratch daily, using only the freshest ingredients, including produce grown on our own farm.”  However this is not a traditional Wisc. supper club.  You do enter through a separate bar area but they encouraged us to have our cocktail at the dinner table and there was no relish tray nor ice cream after dinner drinks.  Owner Michele DeYoung and her husband Jeff purchased the property that had been Club 77 in the fall of 2018 as part of their dream to create a destination for visitors that includes the restaurant as well as  an inn (McCormick House), a farm, an orchard and a dairy barn. They hope to utilize these resources to provide a changing seasonal menu.   The dining room seats up to 60 on an eclectic grouping of chairs and tables.  Some are covered with white clothes topped with black and white checked cloths and others are smaller bare marble tables.  A couple couches are on one wall and match up with the small marble tables and their chairs, which also vary at tables.  Pillows and faux fur pelts add to the decor which has lots of art on the walls and wide planked old wood floors underneath.  The ceiling felt lower, music was in the background and lots of large windows looks outside.  The wine list was more ambitious than at some places, including some pricey cabernets supplemented by lower price wines.  While their service was friendly and assured us this was fine dining, there were some not fine-dining touches.  I applaud what they are doing but don’t think I’ll be one of their regulars. Continue reading →

Hoops Dockside, Bayfield, WI., 6/25/24

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order area – 207 Wilson Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

Hoops Fish Market has two retail shops (second one opening in 2019) operated by Craig Hoopman Fisheries.  The Hoopman family has had 6 generatons of commercial fishing from Lake Superior with the primary catch being whitefish.  The family went all in to open Hoops Dockside this year which is a short walk down the driveway next to their retail store.  They are open during the summer and have live music on weekends from 6:30 – 10:30.  The music line up is on their Facebook page.    They have built a lovely seating area with stools along the sides facing Lake Superior.  You can watch the boats go by to the marina next door as the band plays and you munch on whitefish caught that morning.  It’s a simple menu of fried whitefish, fries and slaw in a basket.  He cooks the fish and his wife and son were taking payments and selling drinks.   It is truly a family operation.  They have wine by the glass, beer and soft drinks.   As you enter the booth is on your right and you make your order, pick up drinks and pay.  They call you when your fish is ready.  The band that night was not my particular favorite but what a stunning backdrop for a fun, casual dinner.  Coming from the heat of Texas it was particularly lovely to be able to sit and enjoy the outdoors.  I thoroughly recommend you check it out. Continue reading →

Irma’s Place (update), Clear Lake, 6/22/24

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building – 955 US-63, Clear Lake, WI 54005

We visited Irma’s Place in January of this year and nothing has really changed in the physical space but they are now open every day except Wed for breakfast and lunch.   There’s plenty of parking in the lot in front and a side covered patio was there for outdoor dining but the sign said no service was available on the patio.  I noticed some of the art and photographs on the wall were for sale and they offered some cold coffee beverages, probably because it’s summer.  There were still baked goods to order or for sale.  Service was friendly and efficient with lots of refills on coffee.  It’s a place I’ll gladly visit again but now have a little more insight on what to order.  Their Mexican influenced options are well prepared. Continue reading →

Sandy Shores, Ashland, WI., 5/24/24

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back entrance – 2524 Lake Shore Dr W, Ashland, WI 54806

Sandy Shores Cafe took over the building that used to house the Lake Shore Cafe and although the new owner, Sandy Marsland and her partner Bob Truchon have made changes you’ll easily recognize it.  Even some of the staff are still working there, which is a good thing when you know how welcome Priscilla makes all the guests feel.   A coworker suggested that Marsland could name a restaurant Sandy Shores should she ever open one and in July 2021 she and Truchon did just that.  They’ve tried to keep the prices low and portions generous but it’s a difficult challenge, however whatever they’re doing it seems to be working by the  number of folks patronizing the place.  They’ve kept the menu similar to before and offer daily specials which they publicize on their Facebook page.  They have a combination of seating options with counter stools, free standing tables and booths.   Along the window wall is a direct view of Lake Superior.  It’s comfortable with lots of parking available around the outside of the building.  The food is good, simple and plentiful and along with the great service you can bet I’ll be back.  Hope you try it if you are in the area.

Continue reading →

McGregor’s Blink Bonnie, St. Germain, WI., 5/23/24

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building – 1506 County Road C, Saint Germain, WI, 54558

McGregor’s Blink Bonnie Supper Club  was started by Jack andJudy McGregor in 1971.   More of a steakhouse than a traditional supper club it has been wildly popular with locals and tourists.  Now owned by the third generation of McGregors – James and his two sons. The name Blink Bonnie is Scottish in origin roughly translated to “welcome warmly”.  They open at 4:00 pm and the line can start as early as 3:30.  The dining room has just 11 tables so the first wave fills it and if you’re not in that you are looking at a couple hours wait.  However the room you enter in is a bar with stools at the counter and a few tables.  No food is served in here but drinks are strong and reasonably priced.  The walls in the bar are covered with mounted animals whereas the dining room had more fish mounts and equipment.   The dark wood bare tables are all the same size but a couple of them had fold outs to accommodate tables of 6. No music was in the background but there were a lot of windows to the outside.   Steaks come on a sizzling platter which is their trademark and it doesn’t take long for a haze to fill the room even with a ‘smoke eater’ machine but it is a wonderful smell and conducive to an appetite.  This place is mentioned in many lists of supper clubs but there is no relish tray and dessert choices are limited.  It was a fun experience, since I’ve heard about it for some time but I’m not rushing back.  Maybe if I lived closer I’d feel differently. Continue reading →

Country Skillet, Cumberland, WI., 5/18/24

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building – 1233 2nd Ave., Cumberland, WI., 54829

Country Skillet is a medium sized place that serves all day breakfast and lunch everyday except Wed (when it’s closed) and offers dinner on Thursday and Friday till 8 pm.  They do have daily specials and lots of baked goods.  The main room has a few tables but mostly has counter seating and the service area.  A second room had more tables and the corridor to the bathrooms.  New owners took over in 2023 and have worked to update the place, food and staff.  They did pretty well in my opinion.  Service was a bit slow but it was pretty crowded and only one server seemed to be taking orders, delivering food and cleaning tables – so with that in mind service was good.  She was very pleasant and efficient.   The walls have lots of signs with cute sayings and one TV was above the bar but it was muted.  The food was good enough that I look forward to going back and trying more options and maybe a baked item.  Let me know what you think if you get there. Continue reading →

Delta Diner (update), Delta, WI., 2/17/24

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exterior – 14385 County Highway H, Delta, WI 54856

The Delta Diner has been visited by Frankie several times and today she found some new items on the menu to try.  Our last visit was about burgers and before that, the Tap Shack but today was the main Diner where they serve breakfast and lunch all day.  Owner Todd Bucher was back at the front grill and it was fun to visit with him as well as see all the merchandise options now available – so you can take a little Diner with you.  Frankie particularly liked the coffee bar where the new blends being roasted on-site are all available for you to try.  You simply take your mug up there and pour which you want and I will say there was quite a bit of difference in the flavor profiles.  Seating is either in one of the booths or at the counter and you can designate your preference when you sign in.  I’m usually ‘first available’ which is probably the counter.  There you get to chat with other guests as well as watch the cooking action.  It’s also a good opportunity to see other dishes and decide what to order for your next visit.  It is out in nowhere but if you find yourself anywhere nearby you should visit.  Check their website <deltadiner.com> for their hours as these change with the seasons and staffing.  Just a heads – up, they’ll have live music this summer at the Tap Shack which may not have breakfast items but it does have beer and some fun grilled items. Continue reading →

Irma’s Place, Clear Lake, WI., 1/3/24

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exterior – 955 US Hwy 63, Clear Lake, WI., 54005

Irma’s Place opened in Oct. 2023.   The owners are two sisters, Stacy and Sasha Rondeau who named the place after their grandmother Irma.   They serve breakfast and lunch Tues through Sunday.   The day we were there, several groups were eating together at the medium-sized place.  Exposed duct work, wood walls, high ceilings, and a combination of booths and tables made up the building that was decorated with memorabilia on a high shelf and art for sale on the main walls.  It’s right on the highway so a perfect stop on our way to our house up north.  It’s simple food but I’ll be back to try some of the breakfast options and maybe more of their freshly made baked goods.  The friendly server was also efficient and explained the darkened parts of the menu were the most popular. Continue reading →

Red Brick Cafe, Barronett, WI., 11/11/23

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building – 2974 US Highway 63, Barronett, WI

This small place was right on the highway in an old building that has been pleasantly updated inside.  Owner Deb Lehmann has had it 16 years and took it on after having her fill of low-pay-for-too-much work factory jobs.  She had no restaurant experience but it sure doesn’t show now.  The cozy spot was decorated with lots of newer wood paneling on the walls, old narrow gauge wood flooring, light wood tables and lots of bears from her collection.  Three stools are at a low counter and the tables by the windows are booth-style seating.  Fresh cookies, muffins and pies are listed on a whiteboard and there was one breakfast special combination.  Then there are the homemade caramel and cinnamon rolls that she makes herself every couple of days.  These are not to be missed.  Service was super friendly and welcoming and when we inquired about the building Deb came out from the kitchen to talk and answer questions.  They are open from 7 till 2 daily except for Tues and Thurs but she suggests you check the Facebook page for temporary closures due to staffing difficulties.  It’s a place I heartily recommend you try – no tweezer food here just good solid honest food served with a warmth we could all use these days.  Give it a try – I’ll be back! Continue reading →

R Place Cafe, Cable, 8/30/23

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building – 41080 US-63, Cable.WI., 54821

R Place Cafe is a small place on the highway in northern Wisconsin.  They serve a variety of breakfast options till 1:00 and dinner on Wed and Friday from 4-6.  They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.   It’s a small family-run place with mom cooking in the kitchen and daughter waiting tables.  There’s a variety of tables and a few seats at the counter.  They bake their own bread as well as biscuits.  We’d driven by many times and never stopped but this day we did and we weren’t sorry.  The menu is on a chalkboard on the wall and there’s lots of brick-a-brack on the walls and surfaces to look at while you wait for your food.  Our server was super friendly and the food was good, honest items made with care.  I will go again and hope I’ll see you there. Continue reading →

The Ranch Supper Club (update), Hayward, WI., 7/29/23

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exterior – 10590 N Ranch Road, Hayward, WI., 54843

We visited The Ranch Supper Club in 2022 and had a great time so decided to go again, but this time we didn’t have a reservation.  Not a good plan for a Saturday night.  The wait wasn’t as bad as they thought so it was only a half-hour – time for a martini and a look around the bar area.   The bar is a hopping place and they turn out a decent cocktail but their wine list is not too exciting, so we stayed with cocktails for the evening.  The bar itself has a beautiful inlay of stones and the wood room is decorated with fishing objects and sporting goods.   It’s a good meal with nice service. Continue reading →

Louie’s on the Lake, Cumberland, WI., 6/21/23

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building – 1780 Arcade Ave, Cumberland, WI 54829

Louie’s on the Lake was the byproduct of Doris and Louis Muench Sr. moving to Cumberland from Chicago, where he had been a meat cutter. In 1970 they opened Louie’s Finer Meats and from that came the opportunity for family dining featuring Louie’s meats.  It’s a small place with booths on the sides of the room and tables in the middle.  A few more tables are in the entry room where there is also a counter selling meats.  There is a large outdoor patio which the dining room looks out to, as well as the parking lot.  The bare wood tables are set with flatware wrapped in a napkin and other condiments for seasoning the food.  You can see the lake on an angle from the back windows.  Open every day except Tuesday, they serve breakfast and lunch and close earlier on Sunday.  Service was friendly but not the most efficient, but then finding workers in small towns is difficult.  The food was very acceptable and I’d go again but it’s not worth driving out of your way for. Continue reading →

Nick’s Family Restaurant, Spooner, WI, 5/17/23

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exterior

Nick’s Family Restaurant is a large place, with seats for 120, and famous for its ‘pizzaburger.’  It has been in business for over 50 years and with it being locally owned and family run by the Tyler family since 1979.  Windows to the street are on many sides with booths next to them.  In the middle of the rooms are tables of various sizes.  The first thing you see when you enter is the display case filled with pies and the check-out counter where you pay.  They have a large menu that is supplemented with daily specials for lunch and dinner and serve breakfast all-day.  Closed on Tuesday, they are open 6 am to 8 pm daily and are even open earlier during the week.  They serve wine and beer but no full bar.  Service was amazing considering how few were working there and how many people continued to arrive.  The food was mixed but edible.  It looks like a no-frills place and that’s the food it serves too.  Nothing wrong just not calling you back to eat there again. Continue reading →

Nook, Madison, 5/11/23

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exterior – 2138 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704

Nook is a tiny 12-seat tasting menu experience.  It’s what I continually search for – a relaxed, fun-filled evening filled with wonderful flavors and textures.  The restaurant is family owned by Noah and Julie Przybylski and they cook and present the evenings’s meal.  Aided by some extra servers in the service, you can’t help but be consumed by their joyous and adventurous spirits.  The couple met in Chicago in 2005,  where the dream of opening their own restaurant hatched.  They married in 2007 and welcomed a son in 2014 (whose artwork you can see downstairs).  Now they have brought the dream to life with a restaurant that celebrates all that Wisconsin has to offer. A bargain at $125 per person for a 12-14 course meal.  Wine pairings are available, but we ordered our own bottle.  The tables each seat 2 and they’re lined up about 3 inches apart from each other.  As the evening moves on conversations begin to cross over the small separation.  Noah presented and explained each course as it came out with good pacing and portion control.  I strongly recommend this fabulous place, if you can get a reservation – they go quickly. Continue reading →

Alimentari Deli, Madison, 5/11/23

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exterior – 306 S Brearly St, Madison, WI 53703

Alimentari is basically Italian for food/groceries.  This deli is in an 1,800 square foot former laundromat space and sells fresh pasta, sauces, freshly cut meats and cheeses as well as sandwiches and other dry goods.  The sandwiches are made to order and there is no place to eat in the store.  They also had a gelato counter but we didn’t try it.  It looked like a great place to shop for Italian ingredients but for us we wanted a sandwich for the car.  Similar to last week, we wanted a snack before we went on a tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright site, but this time is was Taliesin.  I must say this sandwich was way better than the last both because of the filling but also the bread.  The buns for their sandwiches are made daily by Madison Sourdough.  They have a great chew with a crisp crust and a soft interior but it’s not too big that it dwarfs the fillings or hard to get your mouth around.  I actually found myself wanting to eat parts of the bread without any filling, it was that good.  If you need ingredients or just a snack, I’d head to this place right away. Continue reading →

L’Etoile Restaurant, Madison, 5/10/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – US Bank Plaza, 1 S Pinckney St, Suite 107, Madison, WI 53703

L’Etoile Restaurant was opened by Odessa Piper in 1976.  She was an early supporter of the sustainable food or farm-to-table movement.  In 2005 she sold the restaurant to her Chef de cuisine, Tory Miller and his sister Traci.  They continued the tradition of supporting local farmers and expanded to open a bakery and a casual lunch spot also.  Dianne Christensen became a co-owner in 2007 and envisioned a new space for ‘L’Etoile and the addition of a gastropub.  Chef Miller was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest in 2012.  The new space is in the US Bank Plaza building with 3 walls of glass looking out at the dome of the Wisconsin capital building.  The widely spaced tables are covered with white cloths, sitting on carpet with a high ceiling overhead and music in the background.  Parking is on your own, so allow extra time to make your reservation.  They offer a “5” course tasting with 2 levels of optional wine pairings as well as an a la carte menu.  The full bar and wine list has a fairly hefty mark-up but it is a good selection.  We chose the tasting menu which included multiple extras and chose a half bottle of white and full bottle of red to accompany the meal.  The food is excellent as was the service and if you have the chance this is a place I would recommend, but it’s not cheap. Continue reading →

The Plaza Tavern & Grill, Madison, 5/10/23

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building – 319 N Henry St, Madison, WI 53703

The Plaza Tavern and Grill is the home of the “world-famous Plazaburger.”   The burger is dressed with a Plaza sauce which is a secret recipe from 1964.   The Plazaburger is ordered separately from a regular burger but they also offer a number of other food choices.  Inside is a long bar that runs the length of the long room and booths run along the opposite wall.  The middle of the room is open but you’ll find various game machines around the room.  A number of televisions were around the room and midday they were playing an old animated show.  It’s conveniently located by the capital and UW and open Wed to Sat from noon to 2 am.  Goggle wrongly said they weren’t open till 3 pm on Wed but that is not the case.  They were super friendly and cooked our burgers on the grill right behind the bar.  It is a cash only place. Continue reading →

Paul’s Pel’meni, Madison, 5/10/23

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior – 414 W Gilman St, Madison, WI 53703

Paul’s Pel’meni is a small place near the UW campus serving Russian style dumplings.  The owner, Paul Schwoerer, once lived in Alaska and found that Russian cuisine was good for colder climates.  While there he learned to make these dumplings from a man who wanted to move back to Russia.  Now he and his wife are in their 3rd location having been in business for 18 years.  Everyday in the kitchen downstairs he rolls the dough and stuffs it with mashed potatoes or a savory ground beef mixture.  Sour cream is the standard accompaniment but they still seemed plain to him.  Now he adds a topping of yellow curry, butter, sweet chili sauce with vinegar and cilantro.  They are sold in full and half orders of the beef, potato or mix.  You order at the counter and they are out quickly.  In the next room are tables and a water jug and a room with a bar.  Later in the evening they’ll be serving lots of cocktails and draft beer to go with the dumplings.  It was a quick and very satisfying lunch for us and I highly recommend you check the place out. Continue reading →

The Harvey House, Madison, 5/9/23

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior (daytime) – 644 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703 

The Harvey House is a modern take on a supper club and train travel,  located in an historic train depot.  The old Baggage Claim House and a train car next door make up the interior spaces.  Opened by Shaina and Joe Papach, he runs the kitchen and she provides the design and business development portion.  Lots of Wisconsin classic cocktails are served as well as newer craft cocktails, but the wine list is limited.  The private car, which we could see out the window in our dining room, is used mostly for private parties according to our server.  Even so, it is a large place winding around different floors and rooms with music in the background.  A parking lot outside can handle some of the cars but parking can become an issue.  There were some area rugs on the hard floor but with all the brick walls and marble-top tables, noise quickly became an issue.  The lighting is very lowered which also became difficult as the sun went down.  The food was mixed but service was fine.  I do love supper clubs, but as much as I admire what the owners bring to the dining scene I probably wouldn’t go back. Continue reading →

Oakcrest Tavern, Madison, 5/9/23

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exterior – 5371 Old Middleton Rd, Madison, WI 53705

The Oakcrest Tavern opened in the 1950s and it’s famous for its burger made from “steak trimmings” but they offer a number of things on their menu, including a fish fry on Fridays.  It’s a casual place with the bar counter filling half of its space.  The cooking area is inside the bar area and a parking lot surrounds the building.  There were lots of TVs around the room but the sound was muted and music was playing.  Lots of beer paraphernalia decorated the wood walls.   The staff was all super friendly and they were quick with the food and you could see it was made to order.  We enjoyed Leinenkugel’s beer, which was served nicely cold in a bottle, with our lunch.  I suggest you give this place a try if you have a chance but be forewarned – it’s said to get quite busy at some hours. Continue reading →

Riverstreet Family Restaurant, Spooner, WI., 2/22/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 519 River St, Spooner, WI 54801

Riverstreet Family Restaurant is a fairly large place divided into 2 rooms by a partial wall.  The good-sized tables are mostly in one room with the other having the bar facing the service area and opening to the kitchen,  Plenty of parking surrounds the building and music from the kitchen radio bleeds into the dining areas.  The interior is a combination of wood, brick, shingles, metal and windows to the outside covered with blinds.  A couple of deer head mounts and various signs complete the eclectic interior.  The large menu features breakfast all day, a lot of burger variations and is supplemented by daily specials.  The portions are large and the staff quite efficient and helpful as well as knowledgable of the names and situations of many of the regular customers.  Coffee comes as a pot on the table and overall the food was good but regular.  In other words, I would go again but not go out of my way to get there. Continue reading →

Landmark Restaurant at Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield, WI., 10/1/22

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exterior – 303 Rittenhouse Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

The Landmark Restaurant is in the Queen Anne Victorian home called the Rittenhouse Inn in Bayfield, Wisconsin.  Located on a hill, overlooking Lake Superior it provides a wonderful view of the water and quaint town.  The well-maintained brownstone also houses a bed and breakfast inn, there and in other buildings off-site.  Three rooms on the main floor make up the dining area, kitchen, and the beginning of the cherry staircase that leads to 12 guest rooms upstairs.  The 1890 house was purchased in 1973 by Mary and Jerry Phillips who began running the B & B.  It was expanded in 1985 to add more guestrooms upstairs.   Out back is a dedicated parking lot.  The menu is small and one special was featured the night we were there, but you do have the option of making it a 5 course tasting and choosing from the soup, salad, sorbet, entree, and dessert options, some of which have an upcharge.  Each small room has a different color scheme, with lots of windows to the outside, a fireplace, and various decorations.  The tables come in an assortment of shapes but most are large and are covered with white tablecloths.  They do not have a bar but your server can make cocktails.  The wine list is limited but there are some ‘special’ bottles in the cabinet out front you can additionally choose from.  Service was friendly and fairly efficient. Continue reading →

The Ranch Supper Club, Hayward, WI., 8/27/22

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building – 10590 N. Ranch Rd., Hayward, WI., 54843

The Ranch Supper Club started out as The Aladdin in 1931.  It had a varied following from lumberjacks to timber tycoons to Chicago gangsters.  It changed ownership several times during the ’40s and ’50s but finally became the Ranch Supper Club in 1960 when the “colorful personality”, Vivian Levinson owned it.  In 1987 Beth and Barney Morgan partnered with Cheryl Haupt to run it for the next 30 years. After Haupt died in 2016 the Morgans were happy to have their daughter Haley and her husband Nathan Bochler take the helm a year later.   Haley was raised in the business and her husband is also from northern Wisconsin.  They spent 13 years in California learning more about the food industry where she earned a sommelier certificate.  We visited on a Sat. night and the place was packed.  A large parking area is outside with 2 doors that lead into the large bar area with tables too.  Don’t miss the beautiful counter at the bar that is made with colorful inset stones.  The dining rooms are behind the bar and have a separate hostess station for check-in.  Windows to the woods out back make up one wall with tables in the middle and booths along the opposite wall. Another dining room was in the opposite direction.  Faint music is in the background and farm and cooking implements decorate the ceiling and walls along with wood beams.  The lighting was lowered, the wine list was above average, the bare wood tables were set with flatware wrapped in a cloth napkin and service was friendly and attentive. Overall it was a good meal but I expected more. However, if you’re in the area I’d stop by and try it out I think it has potential and any drink would taste better drunk over that beautiful bar. Continue reading →

Cranberry Over Superior, Herbster, WI., 8/26/22

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exterior – 86985 Lenawee Rd., Herbster, WI, 54844 

The Cranberry Over Superior is so named as it overlooks Lake Superior and is on the Cranberry River. One block from the Herbster beach, they have drinks from a full bar as well as non-alcoholic choices, lunch and dinner. The regular menu has lots of fun-sounding options but they also have daily specials. Seating is at the bar, on the patio or in 2 inside rooms.  We sat on some bar stools looking out at Lake Superior and listening to the radio music from the kitchen.  Lots of memorabilia is on the walls for other visual entertainment.  The owner, Lacey Lynn Lueth, was tending the bar and taking orders but later moved into cooking in the kitchen.  She opened the place in Feb. 2022 and you can visit Thursday – Sunday.  All the people working there were super friendly and welcoming and the food is good – give it a try. Continue reading →

The Local Bar and Grille, Ashland, WI, 8/10/22

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exterior – 3000 Golf Course Road, Ashland, WI., 54806

The Local Bar and Grille is on the Chequamegon Bay Golf Course and the dining room and bar have views of it and the surrounding trees.  It’s a large space and open every day for lunch and dinner.  They opened in Dec. 2021 in a building that was and is available for rental – it’s a large space.  A husband and wife team, Mike and Natalie Skinnes, joined up with friend Brad Moulett to try and make some dreams come true for the three that grew up in Wisconsin.  They call their menu ‘pub fare’ with a twist.  There’s plenty of parking out front.  When you enter the bar is to your right with a few tables also.  The rest of the room is a large space set with 4 tops covered with brown cloths and a large fireplace is at one end of the room.  Windows look out on the golf course and lovely hanging baskets of plants.  A separate door is on the golf course side for those sports people to pop in for a short respite.  Between the windows and lights, the room is well lit.  Service was friendly and attentive and the food was good and generous.  With a smaller lunch crowd I might have closed off part of the large room, but everyone wanted a window table to watch the outdoors. Continue reading →

Real Chili, Milwaukee, 12/4/21

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exterior

Real Chili has 2 locations both on Wells St. One is near Marquette and the other at 419 E. Wells near Cathedral Square Park.  It is warm, friendly and really old-fashioned with red walls and black and white floor.  You order at the counter and then pick up when they call your number.  There are individual tables along the wall as well as bar seating and long communal tables with red topped stools.  The first location opened in 1931 by Francis Honesh who bought the recipe from Chili John’s in Green Bay.  The chili comes in 3 levels of heat and is served with spaghetti and beans – a Cincinnati style variety.  It also comes with a bowl of oyster crackers to mix in for crunch.  Cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, onions are in separate bowls and each cost extra.  It is nothing fancy but good, honest comfort food in a totally welcoming environment.  Go if you’re in the area. Continue reading →

Kopp’s Frozen Custard, Milwaukee, 12/4/21

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments

building

Kopp’s Frozen Custard started in the 1950’s and now has 3 locations in the Milwaukee area.  It specializes in frozen custard and large burgers.  You could watch the large stainless makers extruding 3 different custards as we waited for our order.  It was a huge place with no chairs or tables.  Outside was a concrete patio with benches but also no tables.  It struck me as odd to have such a huge place and do only takeout and this didn’t seem to be a Covid reaction.  They also do a good business in takeout bulk orders of custard.  Elsa Kopp opened the place after her husband Karl developed Parkinson’s disease.  Initially it was just vanilla and chocolate custard but gradually she began experimenting with other flavors. Her son Karl now runs the chain and has opened out of state locations. Continue reading →

EsterEv, Milwaukee, 12/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building

EsterEv is a small dining room inside the DanDan Restaurant that serves a tasting menu only.  Named for the great-grandmothers, Evelyn and Ester, of the owners Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, whose passion for cooking inspired a place for celebrating around a table with friends.  In 2015 the 2 Dan’s opened the Chinese food with midwestern sensibility, DanDan and not long thereafter their fine dining option EsterEv.  The menu changes regularly and wine pairings are available as are cocktails in the small room off the kitchen that looks to seat about 20 persons at individual tables.  Music from the surrounding restaurant bleeds in and the lights are lowered.  Many of the serving dishes are made by Dan Jacob’s wife, a ceramic artist.   The pacing is great and the portions are on the small side. Continue reading →

Story Hill BKC, Milwaukee, 12/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior

Story Hill BKC (Bottle, Kitchen, Cocktail/Cup) is a medium sized wine and spirit shop that also serves upper-midwest inspired cuisine in brunch, lunch and dinner formats.   Lunch is a smaller menu but gave us a good idea of what they are capable of producing – and it’s a good pronouncement for those who are around Milwaukee.  There is a small parking lot behind and lots of street parking around this corner spot.  Music is in the background and lots of windows let in much natural light.  On one side of the room is the retail shop with wine, spirits and beers for sale.  You can also purchase a wine to drink with your meal there for a small corkage fee.  The bare blond wood table was nice sized and set with a cloth napkin.  Two daily specials were listed on the menu.  Service was friendly and very helpful. Continue reading →

Sanford Restaurant, Milwaukee, 12/2/21

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments

entrance

Sanford was opened by Sandy D’Amato and his wife Angie in 1989 in the building that formerly housed the grocery store his family operated for nearly 80 years. In 2012 the D’Amato pair sold the place to longtime Chef De Cuisine Justin Aprahmian and his wife Sarah who continue to run the place in the tradition in which it was started.  They want to use the best quality ingredients from local farms if possible with seasonal fluctuations. They want guests to feel as if they’ve been invited into their home for dinner.  The white cloth covered tables vary in size and are accompanied by music in the background, lowered lighting and parking on the street or $10 valet.  The menu is a 4 course (you chose out of choices) or 7 course surprise tasting with optional pairings and there is a full bar.  Service was friendly and attentive.  Pacing and portioning of the tasting were good. Continue reading →

Blue’s Egg, Milwaukee, 12/2/21

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building

Blues Egg is where the EGG stands for Everyone’s Good Graces.  Opening in 2010 it serves breakfast and lunch with the same attention to dishes that go into fine dining.  They offer standards and a few daily specials.  Known for their fresh hashbrowns that are cooked in butter and offered stuffed with various ingredients.  It’s a large place that can serve 4,000 eggs, 400 pounds of bacon and 700 pounds of hash browns in a busy week.  Inside there is a long bar with stools and a mix of high top and regular height tables.  Music is in the background and a good sized parking lot offers free parking out front. They have a full bar and friendly efficient service. Continue reading →

Ardent, Milwaukee, 12/1/21

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entrance

Ardent is a small place that serves only a 12 course tasting menu from Chef Justin Carlisle on Wed. through Sat.  Set below street level, music is in the background and the blond-wood counter only has a few seats.  Opening in Oct. of  2013, chef stopped by the kitchen but was not there to cook.  Three others handled the evening’s menu (along with dishwashing, polishing and making coffees) and 3 other staff serviced the floor and counter which could  accommodate about 15 guests.   Service was excellent and interactive.  Wine pairings were available as well as bottles of wine and this time we enjoyed the pairings with the good menu of food.  They were a bunch of quality choices.  It’s a cozy, relaxed setting that’s fun to eat in. Continue reading →

Bavette La Boucherie, Milwaukee, 12/1/21

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building

Bavette started out as a butcher shop and evolved into a restaurant.  It still has the butcher shop concept and procures the whole animals raised on local farms and then uses the entire carcass to generate less waste.  Now the consumer can buy retail cuts and/or prepared foods from the counter or sit back and enjoy the food in a restaurant setting.  Most of their produce also comes from local farms mandating a seasonal type menu.  Also available are craft beers, wines and cocktails.   It’s a medium sized place with music in the background, a high wood ceiling with exposed duct work and plastic partitions between tables. Although currently in the trendy Third Ward section, the word is that they want to move to a larger location soon, so check their website before going <https://bavettelaboucherie.com&gt;.  Service was relaxed and very friendly and the food was excellent. Continue reading →

El Zarco Restaurant and Cantina, Grand View, WI., 6/4/21

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front

El Zarco is on US Highway 63 in Grand View, WI.  It offers “homestyle fresh Mexican Cuisine and hand crafted margaritas. “  They have been open 4 months in a building with 2 rooms, one of which is dominated by a pool table and bar and the other having a combination of tables and booths. The website said they open at 11:00 but the sign out front said noon however, the owner was kind enough to let us come in and start early. On weekends they open earlier and have brunch options. Inside are tile floors, wood ceiling, AC, music in the background and walls decorated with photos and memorabilia. Two TVs were in the bar area but both just streamed scenery visuals and they have free Wi-Fi. Talking with the owner he asked if it was our first visit and when we said yes he pulled out 3 flavors of tequila and said we were due a complimentary shot to welcome us. He was so nice and friendly it felt like we had been coming for years. I know I’ll be back. Continue reading →

Delta Diner (update), Delta, WI, 5/3/21

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exterior with coffee shop showing

Almost 2 years ago we visited the Delta Diner and that was an update on their new addition of a Chicken Shack and Tin Tap House to the left as you look at the Diner. Five years ago we looked at a lot of the food and some of my consistent favorites to order there, like the Deli sandwich.  But today we visited on a Burger Monday and that’s what they serve all day every Monday.  There are a number of ways to have your fresh meat patty prepared or you can enjoy the vegetarian option of a black bean burger.  All are served on soft, fresh griddle toasted buns.  After a long year of Covid closures and curbside service the Diner is finally open for limited inside seating.  New additions of partitions are between booths and stenciled with a drawing of the Diner.  They are incredibly tasteful and fit right in.  No plastic partitions and the staff are all properly masked and vaccinated. The counter stools are limited and space is left open between customers.   There are plenty of picnic tables with beautiful settings if you want to order and carry your food outside. Continue reading →

Buskey Bay Resort, Iron River, 4/30/21

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exterior

Buskey Bay Resort was previously Hyde’s and before that the Hermitage.  Deciding to make a change from their city lifestyle Chris and Brenda Diesing and Valerie and Kevin Zimmerman purchased it the first part of 2021.  Next to the restaurant/bar building are cabin rentals and across the highway is an available dock for your boat or pontoon rental.  Covid-19 has made it a challenging time to open but they are gradually being able to open back up with in house dining Wed. thru Sunday and specials most night.  Inside now you will find 2 rooms decorated with numerous animal head mounts shot by the owners and muted TVs.  The entrance room is surrounded by windows and the more interior room houses the large bar that does have stools available for drinking and/or dining.  Fun instrumental music was in the background and Chris was at the bar making cocktails.  Tables were well spaced and staff wore masks.  We went on a Friday which is fish fry and had good martinis to go with it.  The server was slow in getting our order but once it was in, service progressed rapidly. Continue reading →

Barnes Trading Post, Solon Springs, WI, 8/17/19

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Barnes Trading Post serves breakfast,  burgers, chicken and pizza.  It was packed every time we drove by so we decided to stop in and try the pizza.  It’s a large place with lots of game machines.  There are stools at the large bar counter as well as various sized tables around the room.  A low ceiling, lots of light, many TVs, beer signs and lots of light wood make up the family friendly atmosphere.  Paper napkins and condiments are on the table.  Service was friendly. Continue reading →

Good Thyme Restaurant (update), Washburn, WI, 8/16/19

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IMG_1302We visited Good Thyme Restaurant again on a Friday but this time opted not to have fish fry and instead try things off their regular menu.  Nothing had changed in the physical facility and the service was friendly and efficient. Continue reading →

Delta Diner (update), Delta, 7/13/19

~ hsnixon ~ 5 Comments

exterior
exterior

It’s been 3 years since Frankie and I wrote up some visits to the Delta Diner in the “middle of nowhere” Delta, Wisconsin.  The Chequamegon National Forest is another draw for this area but the Diner, a real draw, can commonly have a wait for seating in the summer months. Now you have an alternate dining option with The Tin Taphouse and the Chicken Shack – a bit of Jamaica in the middle of the Northwoods.  It’s only open on weekends and probably will close in October, as it is open air and it starts to get cold up there about that time.  But during the warmer months there could be no better way to enjoy the weather than at one of the picnic tables in the back (overlooking the White River) or on one of the stools at the bar enjoying the fun people manning the taps for locally brewed Earth Rider beers.  The place is composed from two railroad containers joined with an arch of metal.  Bright murals are painted on the outside walls and lots of plants bring the essence of a lush island setting.  Owners of the Delta Diner, Todd and Nina Bucher, are grilling up the jerk chicken and making the sides that will help absorb the quantities of beer you’ll want to consume.   There’s lots of parking and then you can walk into Island time.  For additional details check their website <deltadiner.com>. Continue reading →

Scenic Drive Resort, Delta, 6/15/19 & 7/13/19

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Builbing
Building

Scenic Drive Resort is in the Chequamegon National Forest, on Lake Delta.  The owners, Terry and Patty Pajtash, bought the resort in 1990 and built the new lodge building in 2000.   Their two children, Arianna and Wyatt are often seen in the bar helping out.  Terry is the main cook but Patty is equally at home on the charbroil grill.  They have rental cabins in addition to the restaurant in the main lodge building.  It serves food year round as well as having a full bar but in the summer months they offer a Saturday night special of Steak Kabobs, and thus I am putting out this write-up promptly so you have a chance to get up there and have one.  (Another note is that the owners have the place for sale, so we don’t know how long this will go on).  They start serving at 6:00 pm and it’s first come, first served so don’t be late because there are no reservations for kabobs.  There are other things if you come another night that I can vouch for, including Terry’s ribs that are award winning and a good ribeye steak sandwich.  For additional details about the place, they have a website at <scenicdrive.com>. Continue reading →

Good Thyme Restaurant and Catering, Washburn, 6/14/19

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building
building

Good Thyme Restaurant is in a 100 year old yellow house on Highway 13. It also does catering in the area and is run and staffed by mostly women.  It is a large place with a porch outside equipped with lots of furniture to enjoy the weather.  A fireplace is in the middle of the first floor where you enter and is surrounded by rooms full of copper tables and comfortable seating.  Windows look out on the grounds and the walls are decorated with art, much of which is for sale.  In the back is a copper bar incircling a mountain of liquor bottles.  Some people chose to eat at the bar as well as the many stopping there for a cocktail before dinner.  It was packed with people and reservations are a must.  They are only open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday during the summer.  Service was friendly, helpful and efficient.   It is not a large menu but there is good variety and they do have the Friday Fish Fry which is common in the area.  We were there to try that. Continue reading →

Rookery Pub Fine Dining, Cable, 1/4/19 & 2/8/19

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building
building

Bill Brakken opened the Rookery Pub Fine Dining restaurant in 2008.  The building originally was constructed in 1978 and had the restaurant on the upper levels.  Bill made those areas into the lodge when he bought it in 2005 and then renovated the downstairs to become the Rookery Pub Fine Dining, named for the breeding colony of Blue Herons nearby and to signify a general place for social gatherings.  Interestingly, Bill worked as a bartender at the original Kliszcz’s Karczma, the Polish Palace as it was known then, the first year it was in business.  Now as you enter the place you see a building on your right with stairs and that is to the lodge and the lower sidewalk goes to the restaurant.  You enter into the large bar area and to the right is a hallway, opening onto a row of 4 booth seats, which leads to the small main dining room.  The walls are lined with prints of animals (most of which have prices if you want to buy one) and in the corner is a fireplace.  The bare wood tables are good sized and well spaced.  The menu covers a good breadth of choices with some changes for seasonality and the wine list is better than most.  You can have cocktails at your table or enjoy them at the bar before you are seated.  Service was efficient and super friendly.  Portions are large. Continue reading →

The 300 Grill, Iron River, 1/3/19 and 2/7/19

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exterior
exterior

The 300 Grill is the restaurant attached to the bowling alley, all owned by the Carignans.  It is a small place with about 3 booths and some assorted sizes of tables.  They serve burgers, pizza, sandwiches and Henny-Penny broasted chicken.  It is extremely casual.  The walls are adorned with framed old photos from people and places in Iron River, Wisconsin.  A window into the kitchen is on one wall and the check out counter is at the back.  The tile floor and bare wood tables are set with rolled up flatware and napkin dispensers, along with some fresh flowers.  Service is friendly and efficient.  The food is good but not compelling.  Our first visit was pretty good and it made me want to go back and check out more things.  Maybe if you hunt around the menu you’ll find just the right thing for you but otherwise I think it may be a good place to snack if you’re bowling. Continue reading →

Hyde’s on Buskey Bay, Iron River, 11/10/18

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exterior
exterior

Hyde’s on Buskey Bay is a couple of miles down County Road H when you turn on it from Hwy 2 in Iron River.  It overlooks a large lake which you can see if you chose seating on the enclosed porch.  I always have preferred to sit in the back section, which is the older portion with softer lighting and where the bar is located.  This night had live music in the form of an electronic keyboard playing at a nice volume in that back portion.  In the winter it’s less crowded but in the summer or other more tourist heavy times you are best to call ahead for a reservation.  The welcoming owners, Don and Helen Hyde, divide the duties with Helen running the kitchen and Don watching over the dining area while tending bar.  The large menu is all a la carte with nightly specials Wednesday thru Saturday.  All dinners and specials come with a trip to the salad bar, soup and dessert bar.  Many plates also include a choice of potato.  Portions are generous as are pours in the wine-by-the-glass.  Selection of wines is limited but a full bar can provide cocktails and beer.  This night our server was efficient, friendly and good with pacing. Continue reading →

Sawmill Saloon, Seeley, 11/9/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior
exterior

The Sawmill Saloon is a huge place with several rooms, each having a different feel but all getting food from the same kitchen.  The first rooms are on either side of the large bar and decorations fill the walls and hang from the ceiling.  Crowd noise fills the background but it was still easy to talk with companions at the table.  Service was efficient and super friendly.  The good sized menu pizza, burgers, salads, sandwiches and a selection of snacks/appetizers. They also offer a Friday night fish fry and a Saturday prime rib. Continue reading →

Cedar Lodge Steakhouse and Grille, Barnes, 9/14/18 and 10/14/18

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building
building

Cedar Lodge Steakhouse and Grille started in 2009 in the location that used to be called “Downtown Barnes”  Owners Collen and Scott Ruhman spent a good bit of time updating and remodeling and adding to the original location.   It is a good sized building that houses a large u-shaped bar in a room that also has room for a couple tables, games and lounge furniture in front of a fireplace.  It opens into the main dining room that is fairly bright with soft background music.  The only televisions are in the bar area.  Bare wood tables are polished to a high shine and fitted with comfortable chairs.  Flat-paint plum walls work well with the copper metallic shiny ceiling.  Walls are decorated with paintings and other objects.  The full bar is available for order in the dining room and they provided a better than average wine list.  The large menu was supplemented by a daily special offering.  All dinner plates come with a trip to the salad bar that also offers a housemade soup, as well as seasonal vegetable and a choice of side dish.  Our friendly server, Denise, turned out to be the owner’s sister and helped steer our order.   Continue reading →

Garmisch Restaurant, Cable, 8/28/18

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exterior
exterior

Garmisch Inn Restaurant is in the main lodge of the Garmisch USA 65 acre resort.  It is a large complex, where the main lodge and many of the guest homes date back to the 1920’s when they were built for a wealthy Chicago family’s vacation retreat.  The large dining room overlooks the south shore of Lake Namakagon.  It was completely paneled in wood with large wood columns and beams in the ceiling.  Some art hung on the walls but the main decorative touch was the curved window that looked out on the lake the the surrounding woods of the Chequamegon forest. The well spaced white clothed tables were set with black napkins and heavy weight flatware.  The larger tables were in the center of the room and the walls were lined with tables for 2-4.  The lights were lowered.  An equal sized bar was off to the end with the bathrooms in between.  On the way you pass a spiral staircase that led down to guest rooms.  They had a large menu with some German specialties. Service was super friendly and accommodating. Our server Bree had just been there 2 weeks but she couldn’t have made our meal more fun. Continue reading →

Kimball Inn, Hurley, 8/23/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior
exterior

Kimball Inn was much smaller than I expected, considering the breadth of their menu.   The entire interior is finished in wood paneling with low ceilings and fairly low light in the dining room.  The good sized bar area is more lit and also had a few tables where additional diners could eat.  In the dining room there were 2 booths with low, straight back benches,  a small window to the street and a few photographs of animals on the walls.  On the way into the dining room was a large chalkboard with the nightly specials.  It cannot be seen from the seating area, so study it on your way in.  The options sounded interesting but somehow they didn’t come off as well as they sounded.  Portions are large.  They offered a number of wines by the bottle but it was not an overwhelming selection.  The server was inefficient and not particularly helpful, sometimes disappearing for long spells and never coming to check if you needed anything.   Continue reading →

DaLou’s, Washburn, 7/24/18

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exterior
exterior

DaLous is a small restaurant with a tiny patio area for extra seating.  They need that extra space cause this place is packed and people that will wait for tables. Chef Dale Hanson specializes in pizza from a wood fired oven but they also offer one baked pasta dish each night in addition to a featured pizza combination.  They have a number of delicious salads to go with the food and house made gelato and other sweets made by his partner Lois Stensvad.  A la the name Dalou’s was born.  There is a small wine list and beer available but they do not have a liquor license.  A mustard and red color theme is carried out in the menus, table napkins and wall paint.  Service is friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is pretty casual with bare wood tables.  Music plays in the background but the hum of the crowded room is the main source of noise. Continue reading →

Frankie’s Pizza, Ashland, 7/23/18 and 8/25/18

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments

entrance
entrance

Frankie’s Pizza is on Lakeshore Drive (U.S. Highway 2), in the eastern part of Ashland and has been family owned for 54 years.  The Mickey and Chuck Iverson family bought it in 1963 from Frank Ledin, who was thought to be the first to offer commercial pizza sales in Ashland.  Frank and Joyce Ledin started with a root beer stand that was later remodeled into Frankie’s Pizza.  The Iverson’s children now run the place that survived a fire in 1982 and a visit from Johnny Mathis who tipped every server $20, Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Bridget Fonda.  It is a medium sized place that is open every day for lunch and dinner, except for Sunday when they don’t open till 4:00 pm.  It had windows on three sides of the place but it is still a little darker inside than out.  They offer a combination of booths or tables for dining and the walls are lined with cute signs, awards and pizza related items.  Hanging lights and nets adorn the ceiling.  The menu is almost all pizza with the addition of salad, burgers and an assortment of fried snacks.   Service was friendly and helpful.  For example the server suggested we order a pitcher of soft drink rather than by the glass cause it was a cheaper deal.  They do offer beer and wine.   Continue reading →

Aroma’s Bistro, Maple, 7/22/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building
building

Aroma’s Bistro recently opened in a space where another restaurant had been.  It is a small place with a couple small tables, a bunch that could seat six, and some counter stools.  It looked like they were thinking about starting outdoor dining under the canopy that used to shade the gas stations that have been removed.  It is in a small town, Maple, on Highway 2 and open for breakfast and lunch.  Attached to a small convenience store, the restaurant has counters where they sell hand dipped ice cream, coffee drinks and pastries.  However, even though they have an sign for a number of coffee drinks the server admitted she’d have to consult her book to make anything other than the 4 standard orders.  The place is clean but bright and a bit sterile.  Not many personal items are on the walls and the view out the window is of the highway.  The server was very friendly and helpful.  The same menu is served all day.   Continue reading →

Dreamland Supper Club, South Range, 7/21/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior
exterior

The Dreamland Supper Club is not far off Highway 2 when heading east out of Superior, Wisc.  The current owners, Dan and Terri Patterson have had the place for 19 years.  Dan runs the front of the house and bar while Terri is the chef in the kitchen.  It is only open for dinner and has a good flashing bulb and neon sign signaling you to turn in.  You enter into the large dining room and the good sized bar is to your right.  Most people seemed to be having their cocktails at the table rather than in the bar, so we followed their lead.  The carpeted dining room has well spaced tables covered with an oil cloth set with paper placemats.  A cloth napkin stuffed with flatware is at each place.  The place is filled with paintings and one large mural of dogsleds in winter.  Half walls divide the room and the open spaces are decorated with artificial ivy.  The lights are lowered, music is in the background and the ceiling is loaded with stars and glitter – a real dreamland-like affect.  They are open Thursday through Sunday and in addition to the regular menu have a special offered every night.   Continue reading →

The Brick House Cafe, Cable, 7/21/18

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building
building

The Brick House is in an old brick house that has a small interior dining space and order counter.  There were also a number of tables on a patio outside and a couple small metal ones on the porch of the house.  A couple of rocking chairs are also on the porch and would be a nice place to enjoy your morning coffee and maybe a muffin.  We were there during the breakfast hour but they also serve lunch and then close at 3:00.  There were lots of flowers around the house and inside, probably because it was summer time.  Inside the walls are filled with placques and pictures and the wall over the coffee machine is primarily about Diners, Drive-ins and Dives visit to the place.  No music is in the background but there was a constant stream of people coming and going.  Natural light comes in through the many windows, but air conditioning is there if it gets hotter.   Continue reading →

Round Up North, Brule, 7/20/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building
building

Round Up North is a large place on a small road that runs parallel to Highway 2.  Joe and Linda Scaccia moved ‘up north’ from Chicago and brought along a number of their Italian family recipes.  It is a dull looking building but when you step inside you are greeted by a good sized bar area and walls covered with stuff.  A low wall divides the large room between the dining and bar areas.  We were there on a Friday night which is also fish fry night and it was packed with people,  As were with a group of friends I got to photograph some of the fish fry options as well as the pizza.  The place serves dinner daily and lunch on Friday and Saturday.  The service was super friendly but struggled on timing and maintenance probably due to the crowd.  Tables are of bare wood with an oil cloth covered doily in the center and come in a variety of sizes so they can easily be assembled to accommodate a large group.   Continue reading →

The Robin’s Nest, Hayward, 5/12/18

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exterior
exterior

Robin’s Nest is about 15 minutes outside of Hayward and a fairly large place spread over several rooms, all with windows to the outside.  It and the kitchen take up most of the room on the first floor of what looks to be an old house.  It has been in business with the same family for 16 years and serves breakfast and lunch.  They had monthly specials when we were there that included a southern fried pork tenderloin served with eggs, potato and toast, and the pancake of the month which was cinnamon raisin.  Tables are nicely spaced and draped with an oil cloth cover.  There is plenty of parking and service is friendly and efficient.  In the back room they had several shelves with products to sell – books, jam, syrup, etc.   Continue reading →

Coop’s Pizza, Hayward, 2/8/18

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exterior

Coop’s Pizza has been in business almost 40 years and serves primarily pizza but also serves sandwiches (including burgers), salads, snacks, pressure fried chicken and a few Italian plates.  They offer a good lunch deal but you have to be willing to eat buffet style.  It seemed to be the popular choice but we wanted to just try their fresh made pizza.  The large place has a few counter seats, lots of tables spread throughout a couple rooms and booth seating.  One set of booths is in a smaller room with windows to the street out front where a large patio is also available in better weather times.  A couple of the tables in the largest room are next to a huge aquarium and the rest of the place has lots of pictures and other decorations to look at.  There are a ton of horns around some used for door handles and some for lighting fixtures.  We were there in the winter and Christmas decorations were everywhere adding to the casual atmosphere.  Service was efficient and friendly.   Continue reading →

Twin Gables Café Bar, Brule, 11/16/17 & 1/8/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building
building

Twin Gables is a large place right on Highway 2 that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner but the hours vary daily except for opening at 7:00 am and being open at least till 2:00 pm,  so I’d check their website if you’re looking for dinner.  There is a nice sized dining room when you enter that is a combination of booths and free-standing tables and a back room with less tables but counter seating at a bar.  The third room looks like it could host a buffet line and there is a glass enclosed counter with pieces of their various desserts.  Windows are on two sides so there is lots of natural light during the day.  A large menu has all the standard breakfast foods and lunch is mostly burgers and sandwiches.  They also have daily specials.  Food is simple and homey and service is efficient and friendly.  We visited twice to try their breakfast and lunch offerings.   Continue reading →

Chippewa Inn, Hayward, 1/5/18

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments

building
building

Chippewa Inn is a large supper club in Hayward that has been in business since the 1930s.  They specialize in dry aged meats and German entrees.  You enter into a large full liquor bar with many stools and a few tables.  The friendly owner Tom Landgraf is the bartender and his wife Debbie manages floor operations.  The vibe is relaxed and comfortable and there is fun conversation between those sitting at the bar.  The place is filled with souvenirs of many years in business.  There are 2 main dining rooms and the second one has some fabulous doll houses (I’ve included a few pictures of them that I took a couple years ago at the end of this post) that were made for Debbie.  Even if the room is not in use when you go make sure to go in and see them.  Service is efficient and super friendly.  Kelli, our server, couldn’t have been nicer.   Continue reading →

Lake Shore Cafe, Ashland, WI., 9/29, 11/11 & 11/15/17

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building

You could drive right by Lake Shore Cafe, it is that non-descript.  On the main highway coming into Ashland, Wisconsin, it does have a lovely view of Lake Superior and a crew of regulars who eat there.  The large menu covers breakfast and lunch as well as having chalkboard daily specials.  Prices are pretty reasonable and try to snag one of the fresh iced cinnamon buns on the counter if they’re still there.   Booths line the walls with the lake view windows and the rest of the place is filled with tables and some low stools at the counter opposite the pass through window to the kitchen.  Staff are super friendly and efficient.   Continue reading →

El Dorado, Ashland, Wisconsin, 8/14/17

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building
building

El Dorado is on Lake Shore Dr. as you exit Highway 2 to go into Ashland.  One side of the medium sized place is windows overlooking the Chequamegon Bay – part of Lake Superior – and the other side, where the entry is, faces a one story motel.  There is limited parking around the restaurant but the sign by the door says additional parking is available at the motel however the motel clearly has their spaces marked “for hotel parking”.  Inside you will find a bustling place full of workers, families and folks just stopping for lunch.   Service is efficient but not overly chatty or attentive.  For example, if you need a beverage re-filled or additional utensils or napkins, be prepared to snag a waiter and ask for them.   Continue reading →

Anglers Bar and Grill, Hayward, 6/5/17

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exterior
exterior

Anglers Bar & Grill is a large place located on the main shopping strip in Hayward.  It has a huge patio, that was crowded with people, a good sized interior with tables, booths and a large bar.  There is also an old bowling alley which was not in use when we were there.  The place goes back to the 1930’s when it was more of a gambling and drinking establishment.  Inside it is covered with cases of hunting and fishing trophies as well as old photos and memorabilia.  Service was efficient and friendly and there were lots of children.   Continue reading →

The Anchor Bar, Superior, 6/1/17

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

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building

The Anchor Bar & Grill is a medium sized place with additional seating available on an outdoor patio, when weather permits.  Tables are of varying sizes and there is a long bar with seating also.  Most of the tables are large enough that small parties will often share them.  It serves almost exclusively burgers with a full bar and is cash only.   All burgers come with chips but you can substitute fresh made fries for $1.25.  There is a good selection of tap and local beers.  Prices are very reasonable.  All that said, even if you’re not hungry but in the area, it’s worth a stop just to look around.  The place is packed with collected nautical memorabilia.  Service is friendly but not overly chatty.  If you go at prime hours expect a crowd.   Continue reading →

Kounty Quarthouse, South Range, WI, 2/16/17

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building

Kounty Quarthouse is a large bar/restaurant just outside of Superior, Wisconsin.  They were featured on the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives TV show and got quite a bit of notice from that, however they sold a little over a year ago.  The sale did include all the recipes and information that got them the original notice, but maybe some soul is missing because the inventors are no longer running the show?  Even though the sign indicates otherwise, they only take cash and checks right now. Continue reading →

The Other Place, Iron River, Wisconsin, 1/5/17 & 2/18/17

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Building

The Other Place, or as it’s commonly known the O-P, is right next to the grocery store on the main road in Iron River.  It’s been through a number of owners but for as long as I’ve known it, it offers an array of burgers, sandwiches and fried snacks.  The large room has been re-done in past years to cover it with light wood and add better TVs.  There are lots of tables, hi-tops and regular, as well as counter seating at the large bar.  Right on the ‘corridor’ it gets lots on snowmobile and ATV traffic. It is cash only.  The staff are friendly and the manager Morgan Kalk is often in the open kitchen cooking.   Continue reading →

Cable Cafe, Cable, Wisconsin, 8/29/16 & 10/3/16

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Exterior

Cable Cafe is a small place that you’d easily drive by but inside you’ll find good, solid home cooking. It’s made up of a counter that seats about 6 and a dining room of another 6 tables. The bathrooms are around back, so you have to walk outside to use them.  There’s usually one waitress, one cook and a counter full of ‘regulars’ sharing conversation. Shirley, the owner, is usually in the kitchen and Jamie is waiting out front. They are a perfect in-tune pair of workers.  It is cash only.  The place is filled with whimsical decorations which can entertain you if you sit in the dining room and have to wait for food. Snag a seat at the bar if you can and whoever is there will start a conversation with you in no time. Also Jamie will keep your cup filled and you can get a glimpse of the other food coming out of the kitchen.   Continue reading →

Tally ho, Hayward, 8/14 & 25/16

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building
building

Tally Ho has been in business for over 60 years in northwest Wisconsin, the area of many supper clubs.  In the early 90’s the original structure was added on to, doubling the size of the bar and enlarging the kitchen as well as adding additional dining/entertainment space. The interior still sports many of hunting club decorative touches in a comfortable space, but a tad bright for an intimate evening.  All the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming and Chef Susan Birkey turns out some really nice food. I’m ready to go back! Continue reading →

The Spot Supper Club, Iron River, 7/13/16

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

front sign
front sign

The Spot Supper Club is located on Buskey Bay just off Highway H from Iron River, Wisc. It is a medium sized place that is only open for dinner.  The low ceilings, windows overlooking the lake and collection of unusual decorations all add to the cozy atmosphere.  Co-owners Pam and Kevin Jungst are always in the house with Pam at the door playing the roll of hostess unless she’s in the kitchen cooking and Kevin is the bartender and cuts all the steaks they serve. They usually have a nightly special as well a large menu and often offer special buffets for holidays. Continue reading →

Delta Diner, Delta, 6/3-7/16

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

Exterior
Exterior

The Delta Diner is located in northwestern Wisconsin in a small town called Delta. It is a rebuilt 1940’s Silk City Diner that opened in 2003 and gets quite a crowd of locals and destination eaters, especially in the summer.  It doesn’t have a printed menu but rather uses the old fashioned menu boards  which are explained by your server. Last year they went to a no tipping policy and instead a 20% service charge is added to your check which is used to allow both back and front house staff to make a living wage.  They were ahead of the curve in implementing this policy and for those concerned about the quality of service – there is no need to.   Continue reading →