Wisconsin, northern

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

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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 →