northern Wisconisin

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

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
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 →

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

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

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

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

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 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 →

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 →

Coop’s Pizza, Hayward, 2/8/18

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IMG_1403
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 →

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 →

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 →