Wisconsin, northern

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 →